Observations from around the league

Since this is the first of the series let me start by saying after all the Saturday games are done each week I will blog about important things from the week before.


Most Impressive Team:
Every team has now played at least one game, but it is a team that has played three that has done the most impressing. Right now the San Antonio Spurs, the Houston Rockets and the Indiana Pacers are the lone 3-0 teams and it is the Rockets who stick out the most. The Rockets won on the road against a potential (although not all too likely) playoff team to open the season against The Los Angeles Lakers. They followed it up by defeating the Utah Jazz who could easily end up being as high as the 2 or 3 seed in the West. Then on Saturday dominating a Portland Trailblazer team from beginning to end. What's more impressive is how the Rockets big two (Tracy McGrady, and Yao Ming have dominated, and the Rockets bench especially Mike James have been phenomenal.

McGrady is averaging better than 32 points a game 4.33 rebounds and 4.66 assists. Meanwhile Yao is averaging just under 20 points a game better than 11 rebounds a game and 2.66 blocks. Leading the Rockets bench is Mike James with 15 points a game, Ball State alum Bonzi Wells is averaging 6.3 points and 4.3 rebounds while playing very good defense. Luis Scola, more then likely a soon to be starter is averaging 6.7 rebounds in just 18.3 minutes. Throw in one of the games top 3-pt shooters in Luther Head and the Rockets have scorers, rebounders, defensive specialist, and 3-pt specialists on the bench. And just think Steve Francis has yet to make an appearance once he is in shape (rumered to be working hard to get so) and the Rockets could make a run for the No. 1 seed and best record in the NBA this season.

Honorable mentions: Spurs, Rapters, Celtics, Detriot

Least Impressive:
Hands down no bones about it this accolade belongs to the Washington Wizards. A playoff team (even if it was in the East) last season has begun this season 0-3. Worse yet the losses come to Boston, Indiana, and Orlando none of which were playoff teams last year (although all three look to be this year). Even worse yet the losses are by an average of 13.7 points proving the team is truly struggling.

The problem is a lack of depth. The Wizards has two 20 point scorers in Gilbert Arenas and Caron Butler, plus one just under with Antawn Jameson. They have two guys averaging a double-double with Brandon Heywood (1 0 points, 13.7 rebounds) and Jameson (19 points, 10.3 rebounds), and another just under with Butler (20 points, 9.3 rebounds). However after those four only Daniel Songaila is averaging more than 5 points a game.

Also not helping is a complete and utter lack of a point guard. Arena is the lone player to average better than 2 assists a game, and his average is a dismal 4.

Honorable mention: Phoenix Suns (21 point loss to Lakers and were down by as much as 33 points)

Biggest Surprise team:
Again no question here got to be the Indiana Pacers. Just about every expert predicted them in the bottom third of the Eastern Conference. However they now sit tied with Houston and San Antonio as the only 3-0 teams. New coach Jim O'Brien really has this team clicking, and believing already.

When you think about it the fast start shouldn't be all too big of a surprise. The Pacers are a matchup nightmare for most teams. They have four starters 6' 8" or taller with Ike Diogu, Mike Dunleavy, Danny Granger, and Jermaine O'Neal.

Biggest surprise for individual performance for the Pacers is one of two players. First Granger is averaging over 22 points a game and close to 9 rebounds. Not bad for a third year player who averaged under 14 points and 5 rebounds last year. The other player is Dunleavy. His stats mirro Grangers. He averages just over 22 points and right at 9 rebounds a game. In addition he is dishing out 3.7 assists a game. Not bad for a guy who averages 11 points and 4.8 rebounds a game for his career.

Do the Pacers have what it takes to actually make a run. The answer to that is a bit of a fence sitting position, and yes I know the fence hurts. Can they be a top 4 seed in the East, yes, can they actually compete with Toronto, Chicago, Boston, or Detriot in a 5 or 7 game playoff series, no.

Honorable mention: New Orleans (2-0 and winning by 17 points on average)

Quickies:
- Kobe Bryant should be a Bull already even if the trade has to include Luol Deng

- Shawn Marion may or may not be creating unrest in Phoenix

- Andrei Kirlenko seems to be giving 100% and hasn't made a stir about being in Utah still ... yet

- Denver Nuggets are 2-0 with two big wins but they come at the hands of Minnesota, and Seattle

-While Durant will someday be a great player he is not yet despite averaging 22.5 points a game. He is shooting just 40% from the field proving anyone who chucks it up an average of 22.5 times a game can average 20 points.

- Portland is bound to get at least one NBA title in the next 5-10 years with LaMarcus Aldridge, Brandon Roy, eventually Greg Oden, and what other top 5 pick they get in next year's draft.

- Tracy McGrady could be this season's MVP

- If Boozergate had never happened LeBron James would already have a ring because Carlos Boozer is a FAreak.

- Golden State either is nothing without Stephan Jackson or were a fluke last year after an 0-3 start this season. I'm going with the later.

- Sacramento will trade Ron Artest in the next month because the team sucks and it is only matter of time until Artest tells the whole world that dropping his stock.

- Dirk for Kobe? Uhh yeah if I was Cuban I would take that. Then again if I was Cuban I would have sold the Mavericks by now so I could make sure I get the Chicago Cubs.

- Yi Jianlian will eventually be a 20-10 guy, and could very well average that over the last few months of this season.

- Deron Williams should be in the conversation for the top point guard in the NBA (Look at his stats and then try to argue).

- Kevin Garnett has to be the MVP favorite and is proving why he could be the most talented player in the NBA.

- Marcus Camby is hands down the best defensive player in the NBA.

- Jason Kidd is still a triple-double machine (should have gotten more of a MVP look last season).

- Chicago needs to either trade for Kobe or announce they have washed their hands about it because the team can't win until they do one or the other.

- Miami is not a playoff team, and Shaq isn't even a top 5 center. One could argue he isn't even top 10, maybe if he lost say 50 pounds. Depressing to watch Blue Chips and see how athletic and skinny he used to be.

Parting shot:
Philadelphia and Minnesota should just trade rosters because neither are worth a penny.