Nba High Five

1. Planet Oramge still glowing

Stoudamire is back, for the first fulll season since being bustled out of the playoffs by San Antonio (again). While he's not in true STAT form as of yet, the signs are there he, and the Phoenix Suns, could be more than just an eight seed contendor. Shaq is one of the greats, but his time in a Suns uniform did not help the team. Thats no slight on him, or the team - it was just a bad fit.

I like the play of Jason Richardson. It's his first full season as a Sun, and without Shaq in the paint, J-Rich should have the room to drive the lane. Sure he's no Joe Johnson of the 04-05 team but he can create (for himself) off the dribble, and can shoot the long ball.

Grant Hill is playing as well he has in the last 10 years. Increidible to think but heading into the Orlando game Hill was averaging 20-10.

Then you have Channing Frye. A mixture between a Boris Diaw and a Shawn Marion (minus the rebounding). Frye is perhaps the best piece they have acquired in recent years. Boris was a fascillitator, could play a number of positions, but was a reluctant shooter (now for the Bobcats he always shoots. Go figure). Marion was Mr Dirtywork - a player who needed zero plays run for him (but was not a solid outside shooter).

The burning question is How much has Steve Nash lost off his game since 05-06?
That is really the key for the Suns. They have just as good a lineup on paper as they have ever had, but if Steve Nash can't consistently shoot the three, finish around the hoop and demonstrate supreme handles, the Suns simply will not win. Last year Steve looked old and I was thinking - this guy is done, but so far this season, particularly on Tuesday night against Miami, Steve Nash looked like he was back. He needs to hit those shots in the lane to draw the defense. If he only draws a soft covering he won't have the passing options he has as an elite scorer.

Another key for the Suns - Bench play.
What a difference a year makes. Last year, just when the vets needed more rest, they were actually needed more than ever because the bench absoloutely sucked (asides from Barbosa).
This year the Suns actually look at times even better with the likes of Dudley and Amundsen on the floor. For the first time the Suns have players who aggressively get after the ball. They show great hustle on D and on the boards, an identity the Suns have never had.

2. Teams with more than one play on offense

I'm really becoming frustrated with basketball at times. Maybe its just the result of a diluted player pool, but sometimes the game is a simple one-on-one playground style contest. Sure this can be fun to watch - Some of the best moments in the history of basketball were from one-on-one duels (Bird vs The Human Highlight Reel, Lebron going for 20 someting straight against the Pistons), but undoubtedly the team who wins has more than one option on offense.

Last night's game featuring Miami and Washington was a prime example. While it was exciting to see these two superstars go at it, I just looked at it and was thinking - is this all you have? Boston, Orlando, San Antonio, Cleveland and L.A Lakers all have at least two options on offense. I just don't see how these othert teams can possibly compete if they are a one-trick pony.

Chris Paul and the Hornets take head. Without him on the floor you guys have nothing. Same goes for Dallas. They need Dirk on the floor, illustrated by their shocking loss last night. Portland were their but now have others who can generate.

Don't get me wrong, at the end of the day the most important player on any team in crunch time is the dynamic slasher who can get to the free-throw line, but will they be effective in the final minute after already going 47 on the floor just to keep their team's close?

Orlando have Dwight, Cleveland have Shaq, Boston have Garnett, the Lakers have Bynum/Gasol, and the Spurs have Duncan. All these players change the flow of the game and give the superstar a rest for at least one play. Teams need to be able to change the flow of the game through a "conventional" low post target.

3. Dirk's 29 point 4th Quarter

After watching three quarters of one of the worst NBA ganes i have ever seen (excluding the play of Derron Williams), Dirk suddenly sprang to life. With 8 minutes left in regulation the Mavs were down by plenty and seemingly on route to a horrible loss at home. Two minutes later I was thinking 'Okay, yes, Dirk is heating up but he's going to need some help if they want to tie it'
.
With three minutes remaining Dirk had tied the game and I was wondering if Utah was going to do anything to try and stop him getting the ball. With one minute to go the game was a foregone conclusion. Dirk had just dominated. He was not doing anything spectacular by an stretch. He just looked like a player who could get the shot he wanted when he wanted. What was Jerry Sloan doing? I think he was just enjoying the show. Boozer has been stinking it up this season, and maybe Sloan was happy enough seeing him stink it up defensively on the former 2006-07 MVP


4. Bill Walton retires from broadcasting

Congratulations to Bill Walton. Another career cut short by injury. No no - despite being true, it's unfair to a man who deserves the utmost respect. Bill Walton has overcome adversary numerous times, and while this may have crushed lesser men, it only made Bill stronger as a person.
In my mind Bill Walton should have been a musician. He was a philosopher of sorts, and the way he said things was like poetry that didnt make sense, but did. Thus was his career as a basketballer and as a person. His path to greatness was truly unconventional, and through basketball and the challenges it posed to him, Bill learnt what at one stage he thought he never would.

As a player Bill Walton was possibly the best passing Big Man in the history of the game (to go along with Russell). He led the Portland Trailblazers, under head coach Jack Ramsay to a title in 1977, seemingly on the way to perhaps cementing himself as possibly the best ever. Walton had all the skills, but after 3 short years was plagued by a series of injuries for the remainder of his career.

I will miss Bill behind the Mic. While just plain annoying at times, seemingly not even watching the same game as you, he looked at the game on a different level. Fundamentals an and understanding of knowing who you are playing and what needs to be done in order to win. Some of my favourite Waltonisms were:

Player A is of course forgetting that Player B is Left-handed
His elongated use of the word 'Pleeeease'
“Come on, that was no foul! It may be a violation of all the basic rules of human decency, but it’s not a foul.”

For more - One Off Waltonisms click here

Do yourself a favour and take a moment ro read up on one of the true greats of NBA basketball. Click here

5. The Lakers hanging tough on the road

What do the New York Knicks and the Los Angeles Lakers have in common? Well a couple of things. Phil Jackson has been a key part of both franchises, both teams represent the biggest east coast and west coast cities, but most frighteningly: both teams have participated in back-to-back (yeah-YEAHHH) Overtime contests.

On Tuesday Night the Lakers ventured out of the Staples Centre for the first time of the season - a short two game road trip to Oklohoma and then Houston.

I don't know whether we should be praising the Lakers or murdering them for scaring their fans to a virtual 'do not ressusitate'. The Thunder are an improving sqauad, by no means vying for a playoff spot this year, but they appear ready to make a move in a year or so. How could the Lakers almost lose this game?

And then in Houston, sure the Rockets have started well, but they are severly undermatched when it comes to taking on the Lakers. The Rockets had this one, but a costly turnover in the final minute, gave Kobe another 2 free throws resulting in OT.

This season already has a sense of familiarity to it - Boston starts off extremely well, just plain punking teams, while L.A looks all out of sorts, but still coming through in close games with the occassional loss against a team that leaves you scratching your head.

But let's look at it for the Lakers. In 2007-08 the Lakers begun the season with a dark cloud hanging over Kobe Bryant and his commitment to the team (he asked for Bynum to be traded - and just didnt like the direction the franchise was heading), but then in possibly the biggest trade coupe of all time the Lakers acquire Pau Gasol, basically for Kwame Brown (and the rights to Mark Gasol - who may be even better than Pau when both careers are said and done). So they have a big new part to integrate and Pau, while fitting in better than most, still looked a bit of whack in the Lakers offense.Then their trump card, Andrew Bynum, goes down for the remainder of the season not long into the new year. So the Lakers have a big piece missing (by no where near the loss offensively he woudl be this year, but definitely in terms of rebounding and defense around the baslet).

Last year, with a full compliemnt of players at their disposal the Lakers cruised to a 7-0 - along the way beating Portland (20), Denver (7), Houston (29), Dallas (7), New Orleans (7). That's every team from last year's playoffs excluding San Antonio and Utah.

This year, they are missing Pau Gasol to start the season, and while Bynum, looks like a beast you still get the feeling that the Lakers are a little thin on both ends of the floor, particularly when they turn to their bench. Devin Brown has secured a spot in the rotation (along with Odom when Gasol returns to the starting 5), but beyond that they don't have too much. Artest has been Artest, for the most part struggling on offense (give him time to fit into the system), but being a lock-down defender. Mr Bryant has just been Mr. Bryant. 40 here 40 there. Ah Yawn.

The real difference for the Lakers this season, which makes for the reduced offensive production from years past with Gasol, Ariza, Vujacic and Radmanovic is the play of Andrew Bynum. Offenisively he looks much more polished. He is getting much better position down low and also understands when to cut to the rim on a Kobe drive. Most importantly, Bynum is not rushing. He looks settled on the block and seems to have at least one go to move - his developing hook shot. Sure his numbers will drop when Gasol returns but he is a more than adequate third option.
I guess the question is. Which year is it? Is it 2007-08 where the Lakers were missing some vital parts and looked pretty shaky all year, but still making it into the Finals, meanwhile Boston destroy opponents and are too good come playoff time?

Or is it 2008-09 where the Lakers haef all their pieces healthy, win well., while the Celtics once again start well and suffer a major injury.

Well its neither. Its 2009-10 and I'm hoping that no one gets injured. These two teams deserve the right to face of for all the marbles this year. They do need to earn the right however, and this season will be the toughest of all for both teams with some stellar compeititon to get through first in each conference.

Oh. One other thing  The difference between the Knicks and the Lakers? The Lakers won both of their overtime games while the Knicks did the opposite.

TOP PERFORMERS (2 past nights)

Chris Paul (N.O) - 39 pts (14-23), 3/4 3's, 5 rebs, 7 asts +3 rating
Kobe Bryant (LAL) - 41 pts (15-30), 6 rebs, 4 asts, 4 stls +2 ratng
Dwayne Wade (MIA) - 40 pts (14-26), 4 rebs, 5 asts +12 rating

The Mayne Mayne is....

Dirk Nowizki - 40 pts (12-22), 15/16 FT, 11 rebs, 5 asts, 5 blks +23 rating

A record setting night for 'The Diggler' as he eclipses Mark Aguirre's record for most points by a Dallas player in a quarter. Mark scored 24 points, back in 1984 against Denver in a quarter. The record stood for over 25 years but was beaten and then some by Dirk's 29 in the fourth.