NBA: Let’s Start Judging (Part 2) Written by: Aamir Syed
So last week we talked about some of the top teams. Let’s talk about the odd vibes that some NBA players are putting out this year to start the season.
There are so many players we could talk about that are having terrible starts or even surprising starts. Many expected Steve Nash to slow down tremendously, but there he is, running circles around everybody and keeping his team at the top of the West, and even giving Boston their lone loss thus far into the season.
But there are some players that do provide some peculiar thoughts to the first two weeks of the NBA.
Let’s start with the obvious.
Allen Iverson - Everybody has already beaten this topic down, but when he pulled the same stunt in Detroit towards the end of the season (see here), I lost a lot of respect for AI…and really thought he was going to be a refreshed player and learned from his dumb mistakes. Season starts and he’s got his cornrows back magically and all of a sudden the old Iverson has returned.
Sad story… for real.
Trevor Ariza - Ok, so him and T-Mac switched numbers (kind of) because McGrady wanted #3 to promote his new charity/movie/project “3 Points” but I didn’t know it also meant Ariza was allowed to shoot at will…from anywhere he felt like. As a starter last year for the Lakers, Ariza took 596 shots through 1,998 minutes. This year, he has played 233 minutes and has already put up 100 shots. He’s showing his worth getting 20 points a game, but with T-Mac apparently making a comeback this month, where does that put Ariza’s shot selection? Will he be anywhere near productive, better or worse?
But it still remains questionable if Ariza is effective as a go-to player which is what he wanted…
Andre Miller - Playing the smallest amount of minutes he has ever played in his career is resulting in a career worst shooting percentage, being under 40% for the first time ever. Not sure this is what Miller had in mind when he came to Portland, but word on the street is Portland only signed him to make a move this summer after they failed on Milsap AND Boozer. Miller will likely be used as a trade asset come February.
Sasha Vujajic – Once the prized back-up guard for Kobe, Sasha was used willingly on the Lakers. Closing last year on an incredible low, the metro Euro dating Maria Sharapova looks like he could be the odd man out this year in Los Angeles. Only getting just under 8 minutes a game, it makes me think and hop that Vujajic might be out of LA by February, if the Lakers can convince somebody to take the sporadic shooter and overly-aggressive but typically-useless defender.
Ryan Anderson - I know what you’re thinking. WHO? You have Dwight Howard, Vince Carter (here and there), Jameer Nelson and then some…but you still have Ryan Anderson taking almost 7 threes a game through six games. Even with Lewis out, that’s a lot of threes for a role player.
Chris Paul - All these blowouts and Chris Paul telling the media that they can’t make a stop OR they can’t score anybody…makes me wonder when he’ll start asking for a trade. He’s too good to be on such a worthless team.
Blake Griffin - Blake Griffin, the second team in Los Angeles needs you…desperately. More so than before.
Stephen Jackson - This is situation has gotten a little out of hand with his agent personally attacking Don Nelson. There’s no way Captain Jack ends up with a contender anymore. His best roster is playing there in Golden State, but he isn’t having it. A lot of people forget that Jackson actually has a Championship ring with the Spurs. Should be interesting to see where he goes.
Kevin Martin - Imagine if this guy was on a playoff team like Utah or a team that has solid pieces, just needs a solid shooter. Kevin Martin is a bonafide scorer in this league, and he does it well. Averaging 30 points a game this season and looking to be injury free finally, Martin will surely be looking to show his worth to the rest of the L. After dropping 48 points a few nights ago, I don’t think that will be his last.
Utah Jazz - Speaking of the Jazz, how does a team get to the 2nd round of the playoffs 2 years ago, make no changes, then get booted in the 2nd round again…and still not make any changes a third year in a row to become better? Especially with all the teams around them getting bigger, strong and deeper? It doesn’t make sense.
Brandon Jennings - He was right. He was ready for the NBA two years ago. Maybe even in his junior year. He’s quickly becoming a top point guard in the league and then two games in, Michael Redd goes down again, and this officially is becoming Jennings team.
Does anybody even remember Michael Redd being relevant? Oh wait, he won a gold medal.
It is never too soon to start talking about trading players, especially recent free agents, who technically can’t be traded until some point in December. And then there’s the expiring contracts that teams love to take on as well.
And now, we are only two weeks in and there’s already all types of drama. You have Allen Iverson’s fiasco, the unofficial Lebron James sweepstakes, the return of T-Mac, Utah fans outright believing Carlos Boozer is tanking the season, starting gaming 1 – and so many more to come.
If that’s only exemplary of the beginning of the season, can’t wait for things to get serious.
November 11th, 2009 at 5:02 pm
Ariza is playing with a lot of confidence of course McGrady isa cooler so we will see what happens
November 11th, 2009 at 11:38 pm
I say bring AI and CP to Philly and allow AI to be himself. What can I say? I'm a fan. AI is a beast that doesn't like to be tame so don't tame him. Love me some AI