What to Watch for: Nov 2 – Nov 8
The Cavs lost at home. Melo lost his cornrows and his attitude. Rajon Rondo is the MVP. Manu Ginobili won a fight. And the Suns and Heat are undefeated. WHAT?!
The first week of the 2009 NBA season has been anything but predictable. However, week two of the season looks even more intriguing with a bunch of huge matchups and questions that need to be answered.
Monday
Minnesota T-Wolves @ Los Angeles Clippers
If there is a must win game for any team this week it’s this one for the Clippers. An atrocious 0-4 start for a team that many people had going to the playoffs this year isn’t sitting well in Tinsel Town. Baron Davis looked lifeless in the first four games and seems to have lost his jump shot. If they can’t beat the T-Wolves it’s going to be a long season…again.
Tuesday
Washington Wiz @ Cleveland Cavs
The Wizards have looked really good so far in this young season. This will be their biggest test so far as they go into Cleveland trying to prove they belong in the top tier of the Eastern Conference. Lebron James always seems to light it up against the Wizards and Gilbert Arenas is looking like the Agent Zero of old and averaging 28.0 ppg. Look for Caron Butler’s defense on Lebron to be the decisive factor in the game along with the Wiz finding an answer for Shaq Diez.
LA. Lakers @ OKC Thunder
A quick 2-0 start for the Thunder had people jumping on their bandwagon as surprise playoff team of ‘09. The Blazers quickly stomped those hopes out for now after demolishing them in Portland. If the Thunder wants to make a run they have to beat the elite of the Western Conference and what better way to make a statement than knocking of the defending champs.
Phoenix @Miami
In the hottest matchup of the week the Suns go into Miami to take on the Heat. The battle between the two unexpected undefeated teams will look more like a track meet. The Suns are rejuvenated with the return of J-Rich giving the team a much needed swingman. Oh and they have to figure out a way to stop Dwyane Wade…Good Luck.
Wednesday
L.A. Lakers @ Houston
The Lakers were trying to make a big splash in the offseason signing the always controversial Ron Artest. So far he’s been a total bust only averaging eight points and five rebounds a game. However, they got Artest to give them a little toughness to match up against scrappy teams like the Rockets. This is the game he will need to shine.
Thursday
San Antonio @Utah
I know its early but these two teams could be right up there fighting for the top three spots in the Western Conference. Gotta love early season games with playoff implications. (It gets me all giddy.) The big question coming into this game is will Manu Ginobili confuse Jerry Sloan for a bat and take a swing, I can only hope.
Friday
Cleveland @ NY Knicks
King James returns to MSG against an even more pitiful Knicks team than last year. Look for him to put up the best statistical game of his career and make Stuart Scott officially come out of the closet for him. (Just kidding, but seriously Scott’s gotta chill with all the love he gives Lebby. Or at least call No Homo.)
Saturday
Denver @ Atlanta
Could Carmelo be as good as we thought he was coming out of ‘Cuse. This year he seems to be a rejuvenated player with one purpose, to prove all his haters wrong. Going into Hot-Lanta and coming out with a W will be no small task especially if the Hawks play any sort of defense. The only thing is the Hawks have allowed 105.7 points per contest, never a good sign.
Boston @ New Jersey
Trap game for the C’s. Devin Harris and the Nets will give the Celtics all that they can handle, especially after the Celtics are coming off a tough matchup against the Suns the night before. The Nets seem to fit the mold for teams that give the Celts a hard time in the past. Young, athletic, fast, and not scared of firing up as many quick looks as possible (i.e. 07 Hawks, 08 Bulls)
Five Players That Have Something to Prove
Baron Davis- Davis needs to have the week of his life to not get run out of town. The Clippers big investment has been absolutely worthless so far. He is supposed to be a leader of this young bunch, like he was in his days with Golden State. If he can’t right this ship before Blake Griffin comes back watch out for Clippers fans to get their pitchforks and torches out and force the organization to trade him
Kevin Durant- This is supposed to be Durant’s break out season. The Thunder plays the Lakers and Magic at home this week. As a wise man once said if you are going to be the best you must beat the best. Forget about just the scoring title for Durant, if he can beat both of these teams he’s my early season MVP.
LeBron James- Christmas comes early for Knicks fans this year as they get to watch King James do his best Hulk Hogan impersonation and run wild all over the depleted Knickerbockers. If they didn’t want Lebron enough after his last trip to MSG, they will covet him even more after he puts up an even bigger triple double than last year. Prediction- Lebron’s points, assists, and rebounds > points scored by the Knicks.
Rajon Rondo- He got his five years $ 55 million dollar contract extension. Now he can focus on playing basketball. That’s very scary for the rest of the league.
Jermaine O’Neal / Michael Beasley- If the Heat have any hopes of going deep into the playoffs they need solid production from these two night-in and night-out. Jermaine O’Neal needs to prove he can stay healthy and Beasley needs to prove he can stay clean.
-Sean
A few disagreements or corrections with this article:
1. Caron Butler is injured, non factor against Lebron.
2. Devin Harris is out two weeks, again non-factor. The Celtics are going to dominate that game anyway.
3. It’s week two, no game at this point has any playoff implications. San Antonio vs Utah should be an awesome game though.
4. Kevin Durant has nothing to prove, he is only in his third season and he done things that has Lebron has never done, or correction, he has done them more than (Buzzer Beaters). He is averaging 22.3 points and 9.3 rebounds so far this year, and he’s played inconsistently. He has yet to have a good game. He has a two decent games and one terrible game, but not one good one. Durant has nothing to prove.
true true, but one even without Devin Harris the Nets will give the Celts a run for their money. It’s that early season game that may get overlooked. Obviously the Celts are by far a better team but look at last year the lowly pacers gave them their first loss. Just saying gonna be a good game.
About the whole Kevin Durant not having something to prove is ridiculous. He has to prove that he can lead his troops against the best teams. The Thunders entire season is relying on Durant’s ability to get the best out of his teammates every night, all the greats do it its time for Durant to step into that role.
Mr. Smith, before you rip Sean get your facts straight. Caron Butler said he was going to return Tuesday for the Cavs game.
Also I think Durant does have something to prove. He has to prove he is a leader and that he can carry a team when they need him most. Like a LeBron or a Kobe or a Roy.
I think Durant did have two great games by the way. Granted his shooting percentage wasn’t Durant-like but he had 11 boards in game 1 of the season and 12 boards in game 2. He is 12-14 from the charity stripe and had 1 turnover in those two games. How is that NOT great?
The Thunder’s season is not only relying on Durant’s shoulders, its on Jeff Green and Russell Westbrook’s as well. And Durant has nothing to prove because he has exceded many expectations. Are you meaning to tell me, that you thought the Thunder will be competing for playoff spot after his third year in a season with no veterans, a rookie coach, and the second youngest team in the league. Give me a break. The scary thing is Kevin Durant is just getting started, if he was in his prime and you said this, fine. It is way too early to say he has that much to prove, especially when he DOES bring the best out of his teammates unlike the King.
Yeah, I actually have said that. Thunder built through the draft well. I predicted it for the Tampa Bay Rays in baseball and I predicted it for the Thunder. The transition of building through the draft in the NBA is quicker than MLB so yes I thought this would happen.
And to say LeBron doesn’t make his teammates better is idiotic. He basically has put Mo Williams and Delonte West on the map.
My points:
1. Season not being on Durant’s shoulders? Please. I can’t wait until the Thunder start tanking, and I’m not going to have to waste my breath (er…fingers to type).
Are the Thunder promising? Yes.
Is Durant a budding (super)star? Yes.
Is Russell Westbrook nasty? Yes.
But….
Are the Thunder the 3rd worst scoring team in the league? Yes (89.0 Ppg)
Did Nenad Kristic and Thabo Sefalosha, 2 starters, combine for 2 points in the loss to the Blazers? Yes.
Aren’t the Thunder in arguably the toughest division in basketball? Yes (Nuggets, Jazz, Blazers, T’wolves
Haven’t the Thunder lost to the only playoff team they played? Yes (Kings=W, Pistons=W…Blazers=L)
Will the Thunder make the playoffs this year? Helllllll No.
The Thunder WILL NOT be over .500 after November. Stop being Silly. At least I know when I’m being silly, like picking the Sixers over the Celtics for the division.
The only reason Durant might have something to prove is because people are actually believing this is a playoff team.
And really, the LeBron jab was unnecessary lol. You replace LeBron with Durant on the Thunder, and I you could argue they make the playoffs.
G, your Thunder bashing made me smile
Derek I have to disagree with that Durant has nothing to prove. I look at last nights game against the Blazers. Durant shoots 3-21, and the team only scores 74 points. If they are to make the playoffs, he has to consistently step up every night.
And yes, I agree he exceeded expectations last year. But the expectations for this year are huge in comparison. I look at Westbrook and Green as potential superstars…but not on the same level as Durant.
When you average 20 points in your first year, get the Rookie of the Year award, then finish 6th in the NBA in scoring in your sophomore season, the expectations are high. I got that.
The point I’m trying to make is that sometimes its not always about statistics, or how many points you end up scoring. It’s the intangibles of the game. Can Durant pick his team up if they are down 11 points at the beginning of the fourth quarter? Can he find other ways to produce when he is having an off night (by the way, Durant had 0 assists on his 3-21 night against the Blazers). More importantly, can he lead this team?
His physical ability and talent have never been discounted. But in my opinion, Durant has to lead this team and make players produce around him. I think he will do this, which is why I’m a proponent of the THUNDERCATS making the playoffs…WOO!
I will take this one at a time:
Jay: Both Mo Williams and Delonte West had almost identical numbers before they got to Cleveland, specifically Mo Williams, thats why he was such a big signing two years ago. Moot point and mind you… None of my comments on basketball is idiotic. You should know better.
Galen:
1.All of your negative comments come from a lack of team offensive output in one game, not only Durant, the whole team. Great and well thought out argument.
2.Of course their scoring is going to go down when they score 74 points one game… out of THREE.
3. I never claimed they were going to win the division. This team will beat the teams they are supposed to and teams that are better than them.
Dutra: Don’t be a Democrat: you flip-flopped your argument 3 times in your comment…your better than that.
Just because they put up the same stats doesn’t make it a moot point. West was a NOBODY until he teamed up with LeBron. No one cared about Delonte West except for JB and that was because West makes some of the dumbest comments ever (beside the point). Mo was a good guard ON THE BUCKS. No one cared what he did. Once he got with LeBron everyone started to notice he was a legit PG and a threat. Without LeBron driving, dishing and creating these guys are stuck on crap teams and nobody cares who they are and what they do.
GAME OVER.
My post was written out of order.
Summary:
If Durant is to emerge as a superstar in the NBA, he has to prove to everyone that he can lead this team. We know he has the talent, but does he have the intangible qualities to make other players better around him?
That’s a huge question mark. One way to answer it? Take the Thunder to the playoffs.
This should be settled in the podcast. Great radio is among us!
I love looking back at this conversation to see that I was right all along. It hurts being this good.
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