NBA High Five

1. The rise of the 07 Draft Class
Kevin Durant (#2) is looking like a monster. Greg Oden (#1) already looked like a monster, but now he's starting to play like one. Al Horford (#3) has added post moves and a solid 16 foot jumper to his impressive inside game. Then you have the suprises - Joakim Noah (#9) has become on the best hustle big-men in the game, Thaddeus Young (#12) can fill fill up the box score on any given night.
Even down lower you have two promising point guards - Rodney Stuckey (#15) and Aaron Brooks (#26) have cemented their spots as team playmakers for teams looking to rebuild.
Oh yeah - and I forgot to mention Big Baby Davis taken 35th and Jarrod Dudley taken 22nd who is having a fantastic season on a rejuvinated Suns team.

2. A slice of Allen Iverson Anyone?

Wouldn't A.I be the perfect Thanksgiving gift. Or is now just a big fat turkey who'll put ihs teammates to sleep? Maybe teams like the Knicks are worried about picking him up because they are already tanking, but if you remember the A.I in Detroit experiment. I say to any team wanting a high draft pick. Pick Iverson up, let the rest of the team take the season off and let him play 1 on 5. IT sure as hell will be entertaining and you'll still get your draft pick in June.
3. The Rose-Hendrix Garden Experience

Portland is by no means the largest city in the United States. Considering what the supporters have ednured over the years, The Bowie draft pick, falling just short vs the Pistons and the Bulls and nearly toppling the early 2000's Lakers juggernaut and the still to be decided 'hit-or-miss' Oden draft choice, you really have to hand it to the supporters and the city. This place gets packed out.

Its seemingly like any typical stadium on the outside, situated just across the river from Downtown, it has all the hallmarks of your typical modern day arena. Its all Rip City though baby.The colours, the lights, the pumping heart-beat of the backing music. This is their house.

A unique tradition to Portland is the ceremonial game ball passing. Each game a section or row of seats gets chosen and the ball gets trasferred from the prominade level and is passed down person-by-person until it gets to the court. Its's a nice touch and really amps everybody up. it kind of makes you feel that basketball is something to be treasured and that it is a sport not just for the mere mortal.

The announcing for the most part is just on the right level. Too often court announcer's are asking everybody to 'get on your feet and make some noise'. If this happens maybe twice a game fair enough, just don't tell us when and how to support our team ok?

Portland do make good use of all the facilities a modern areana can provide - personalised sound bites for each player (We love L.A - for Lemarcus Aldridge etc), fun graphical stuff on the prominade ring, and funny animations on the scorebaord. I particularly liked the Flinstones - Bam Bam! for the Defense chant.

Different stadiums hanlde in game music in their own way. I personally enjoyed the Celtics homecourt the best. It's very understated with no in-game music - it does have the occassional 'Loud-o-meter' but for the most part it's a very traditional presentation. If you ever go to TD Garden just hope and pray that the Celtics are blowing out their compeition. If so you may spot 'Gino' busting out some disco moves on the big screen,

Portland's presentation was like a dance party. Not loud, but you really got a cool kind of electrified feeling from the bass-beat that gave the arena its own flavour. This was used only for the first 5 minutes of the game. A nice touch that possibily locals haven't noticed and are then found wondering why they are so involved in the game halfway through the first period.

The only thing I really hate about some arena presentations is the dropping of streamers after a regular season win. C'mon. If you are that desperate to celebrate your team shoudln't even win the championship. Leave the celebrating and falling tinsel until then. Portland do it, the Lakers do it. Just stop it.

4. Streaks

Pro Sports are a fantastic thing. There are so many things we can look at and turn into a story - a player putting up some big numbers, trade rumours, betting scandals, fantasy teams, singular highlights, trash talking, and a team's winning or losing streak.

This year we have a chance to make history. In what should more be in my 'Down Low' article i guess, the New Jersey Nets have a chance to get to the 0-17 mark which is the worst starting record in NBA history. What a great way it would be for the Nets to end their tenure in Jersey.

5. Top Performers

Kobe Bryant (Lal) - 34 pts (14-20), 4 asts, 5 rebs, 3 stls, +25 rating
Monta Ellis (G.S) -37 pts (15-29), 8 asts, 4 rebs, 4 stls, +8 rating (11 turnovers)
Danny Granger (Ind) - 36 pts (11-27), 7-13 3ptrs, 5 asts, 9rebs +/- 0 rating

The MAYNE MAYNE is...

Antawn Jamison (Was) - 32 pts (13-23), 3 asts, 14 rebs, +7 rating

The whily vet is back in action for the Wiz. This guy gets down and dirty but has the outside touch to boot. With Jamison back holding court the Wiz are set to rebound from a less than impressive start.