NBA 2008/09 SEASON SO FAR

 

 

Well, it's coming up to the 2009 Allstar Game so before the big game in Phoenix, it's best to look at what the heck's been happening so far this season. The biggest news preseason came when the Seattle Supersonics, a team that had been around since 1967, went on to win the 1979 NBA championship, were in the NBA Finals led by Shawn Kemp and Gary Payton as recently as '96 and had won the Northwest Division as recently as '05, are no more. Instead, they have turned into the Oklahoma City Thunder off the back of claims that their old arena in Seattle was not viable. Have to say I was stunned by the news given that the Sonics had such a strong fanbase in Seattle but then again it was only a matter of time before "OKC" got it's own team after they wound up babysitting the Hornets post-Katrina. Still, Sonics RIP.

First stop is the Atlantic Division, where the team to focus on is the reigning champion Boston Celtics. Not much has changed in Boston, the Celtics still look intent on picking up where they left off and go into the Allstar break off the back of a two game winning streak and a 44-11 record that not only means that they lead the division but it's the best record in the entire entire Eastern Conference. The biggest surprise is that the guy with the best averagePPG at the moment is actually Paul Pierce. Elsewhere in the division, well the Sixers are in 2nd with a 27-24 record, the Nets are in 3rd on 24-29, the Knicks are in 4th with 21-31 and the Raptors bring up the rear with 21-34.

Next up is the Central Division and how are Luol and the Bulls getting on? Answer, not so good. Luol himself has had injury trouble and the Bulls as a whole have been left with a 23-30 record going into Allstar weekend that won't do them any good whatsoever, in fact the Bulls owner has been ranting at the players to get their act together. Their last result was a 95-93 home defeat to the Heat, with Luol only picking up 6 points and the Brit's average PPG is 14.3. He can definately do better. In the meantime, the Cavs are leading the division with a 40-11 record, the Pistons are in 2nd on 27-24, the Bucks are in third on 26-29, the Bulls are in 4th and the Pacers bring up the rear on 21-33.

Then we have the Southeast division with the team to focus on being the Magic. Despite the fact that their last result before the Allstar break was a 82-73 home defeat to the Nuggets, the team celebrating their 20th anniversary this season are still topping the division on a 38-13 record. Dwight Howard is still Superman in this part of Florida with an average PPG of 20.5. Grant Hill may have left to join the Suns but the Magic still mean business. In the meantime, the Hawks are 2nd in the division on 31-21, the Heat are doing OK on 28-24 despite Dwayne Wade being injured for a large chunk of the season, the Bobcats are in 4th on 21-31 and the Wizards are bottom on 11-42.

Out West, well the first stop is the Northwest division and the team to focus on has to be the new Thunder who remain in the Sonics old division despite the fact the OKC is no where near Seattle. The most interesting event in the Thunder's history so far has to be a trip to Portland...where they were ambushed by disgruntled Sonics fans but overall things aren't looking so good with a 13-40 record though sophomore Kevin Durant shows promise with a 25.5 average PPG. It's the Nuggets that lead the division though on a 37-16 record, the Blazers in 2nd on 32-20, the Jazz in 3rd on 30-23, the TWolves in 4th on 17-34, the Thunder coming in bottom.

In the Pacific division, well the Lakers are dominating proceedings with a 42-10 record that not only is untouchable by anyone in their immediate neigbourhood but no one in the West can touch it either. That's despite losing their last game 113-109 in Utah, before that they were on a five game winning streak! Kobe is still doing what he does best, outclassing most oppoents this time round to the tune of an average PPG of 27.7. Elsewhere, the Suns are in 2nd on 28-23, the Warriors are in 3rd on 19-35 though they are on a three game winning streak, the Clippers are in 4th on 13-40 and the Kings bring up the rear on 11-43 and a five game losing streak!

Finishing off in the Southwest division, well the big guns in this part of the league are still the Spurs with a 35-16 record despite losing their last game 91-89 in Toronto to finish off an East coast road trip. Tim Duncan and Tony Parker are continuing to do the business together with average PPGs of 20.8 and 20.4 respectively though the team from San Antonio can't take anything for granted quite yet, the rest of the division is still pretty tight. Still, they head up a Texas 1-2 with the Rockets on a 32-21 record. The Hornets are in 3rd on 30-20, technically pushing the 31-21 Mavs into fourth on percentages. The Grizzlies trail badly on 15-37.

Next up of course is the All Star Game and here's what the starting fives look like.

East		West
	Allen Iversen: Now adding a degree of class to the Pistons, it's crazy to think that this will be his 10th AllStar game(9th as starter) given that I can remember when he was a Sixers rookie.		Kobe Bryant: Another sure bet for the Allstar game who first proved his class at the '97 Slam Dunk contest. This'll be his 11th Allstar game, all of them as starter.
	Dwayne Wade: Now a more consistent player than his former mentor at the Heat Shaq, this'll be his 5th Allstar game and 4th start.		Chris Paul: One of the most interesting picks. He's been the main man for the Hornets for the past few years and has an average PPG this year of 21.5. 2nd Allstar Game, 1st as starter
	LeBron James: Now who 'didn't think he would start the Allstar Game.Probably the best individual player in the East. His 5th Allstar game, all as starter.		Tim Duncan: What else do I need to say about this man. In the '97 NBA draft he was the surest bet you could make. 11th Allstar game, 10th as starter
	Kevin Garnett: No arguments here either. The man responsible for the Celtics resurgence, though the TWolves will never forget him. 12th Allstar Game, 9th as starter.		Amare Stodamire: Hmmm...certainly been a consistant performer for the Suns, with an average PPG of 20.8 this season. 3rd Allstar Game, 1st start
	Dwight Howard: The Eastern conference's only real quality centre, this'll be his 3rd Allstar game, 2nd as starter.		Yao Ming: Has pretty much replaced Shaq as the dominant centre in the NBA. Not bad for China's man man in the NBA. 6th Allstar Game, all as starter.

 

As for the bench mobs, well in the East it's Joe Johnson(Hawks), Jameer Nelson(Magic, technically his 1st Allstar Game but now he won't play due to injury), Ray Allen(still solid), Danny Granger(Pacers - 1st Allstar Game), Paul Pierce(mentioned him earlier), Chris Bosh(technically picked but injured), Mo Williams(Cavs), Devin Harris(Nets - 1st All Star Game a reward for a consistant career so far), Rashard Lewis(first ASG since '05, first for the East). The East are coached by the Cavs Mike Brown(the Celtics may have the best record in the East but Doc Rivers coached them last year and you can't coached two Allstar Games in a row).

The West bring this lot to the party: Dirk Nowitski(still doing what he does), Shaq(fading but back for another big night), Brandon Roy(Blazers), Chauncey Billups(now with the Nuggets), Pau Gasol(probably the best European in the NBA at the moment), David West(still solid for the Hornets), Tony Parker(mentioned him before. The West are coached by Phil Jackson(can't keep a legend down).

Showtime.

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