CELTICS, CAVS, HAWKS, MAVS, NUGGETS, LAKERS SET EARLY PACE

 

 

From the time Eurobasket ended, the focus of the basketball world was back on the club scene and despite the ramblings of certain individuals who claim that it isn't even a sporting contest, the NBA is still the biggest and best of the bunch. The big preseason news had to be Shaquille O'Neal's trade to the Cavs. The ultimate big man was never going to fit into the Suns playbook but if you pair even a 37-year old Shaq with LeBron James then you surely have the team to beat for the NBA title. Other interesting trades were Allen Iversen signing for the Grizzlies(before announcing his retirement and 'then' finally returning to the Sixers), and Pops returning to the NBA, signing first for the Rockets then the Raptors.

Over the first month or so of the season the Celtics have been the main players in the Atlantic division, heading towards Xmas with a 21-5 having just beaten the TWolves 122-104. No one player can really claim to be dominating the Cs right now though Paul Pierce is leading the team in PPGs. Further down, the Raptors are 2nd in the division on 13-17 though Pops is only averaging only 2.1 PPG in 13 games so far. The Knicks aren't having that bad a season in 3rd on 10-17 despite not having any real big name players. AI's still to hit top form with the Sixers who lie 4th while the Nets have become synonymous with "useless". Bottom of the heap on a seven game losing streak.

In the Central division we find Luol's Bulls...not doing so well. Yes Gordon has bailed but while Luol was doing the business in the first couple of weeks, his guys have since dropped to 10-15 leaving them 4th in the division though they have won their last two and Luol has grabbed 20 points both times so maybe they're not done yet. In the Cavs that are running the show though, Shaq may be getting a bit slow but he is a damn good backup guy for LeBron. Cavs on a five game winning streak. Bucks are 2nd in the division mainly off the back of an awesome rookie called Brandon Jennings who's already had a 50 pointer. Pistons third with the Pacers bringing up the rear.

In the Southeast Division we have a bit of an eyebrow raiser. The Magic, now with Vince Carter back on form having paired up with Dwight Howard may be leading the division on 20-7 but it's the Hawks of all teams that are duelling with them for the division crown. They hold a 19-7 record with |Joe Johnson being the main man on form there. Further down the Heat are well in the mixer on a 13-12 record despite having lost their last game. Bringing up the rear are the Bobcats who are on a three game losing streak and then the Wizards are bottom of the pile despite some analysts predicting them as one of the surprise teams of the season.

Out West and the Southwest division is as always, Texas dominated. The Mavs are top of the pile with a 20-8 record and having beat the Cavs of all teams 102-95 despite Nowitski being injured. That hasn't stopped the German ace from running the show when he's fit though. The Rockets are second in the division despite both Yao and T-Mac being injured! In the meantime guard Aaron Brooks and new signing from the Lakers Trevor Ariza have been picking up the slack. The Spurs lie in third place and bit further off from their rivals but still on a two game winning streak. At the bottom of the division, the Hornets have a slight edge over the Grizzlies but it's the latter side that are on form.

Heading up to the Northwest and it's the Nuggets who've continued to prove themselves the main basketball force in that part of the States, with a 19-9 record and Carmelo Anthony very much running the show with 30.5 PPG. Behind them the Jazz and Blazers are fighting it out for the "best of the rest" spot with the Jazz having the edge in that particular battle but only by the skin of their teeth, we're talking win percentages. Both sides won their last game. Bringing up the rear, well the Thunder have settled into the league now and have their uses but are still off the pace. The TWolves well...5-23 says it all. They've still got a Kevin Garnett-sized hole to fill.

Finally we're out in the Pacific division where no one is arguing with the Lakers. 22-4. Four game winning streak. Ron Artest has joined the party in LA but this is still very much Kobe's show but his backup is still proving solid as ever. Having said that, having ditched Shaq the Suns are back to their best. Amare Stouamire may have the highest PPG but it is most certainly Steve Nash that is back on top form and running the show. Behind them, the Kings are in third and the Clippers 4th. At least those two teams are on something resembling positive form, each having won their last game. The Warriors on the other hand are on a five game loser and going nowhere fast.

Having done that, it's time to return to events on this side of the Atlantic. One thing is for certain. I will not be going to Turkey in the name of GB basketball in 2010. GB have not been given a wildcard for the FIBA World championships. Give us some credit, we were one of eight teams that were being considered for a spot. However the sticking point was almost certainly that basketball isn't taken seriously enough in this country(the powers that be definately needed to get a TV deal set up in advance). Instead, the wildcard spots have gone to Russia(missed out of qualifying through Eurobasket through skin of their teeth), Germany(made second round of Eurobasket despite Nowitski taking the summer off) and Lithuania(traditional European power but were relatively poor in Poland).

So what now? Well the next target for GB is Eurobasket 2011 in Lithuania. How do we get there? Through the Division A qualifiers. Best anyone can tell here's how it's going down. 15 teams, split into three groups of five. Four home games, four away games to take place over August 2010! Six spots at Eurobasket up for grabs but if FIBA Europe want to retain an Additional qualifying round then it will not be as straightforward as top two from each group. Will I be there? To some extent yes. At least two home games annd maybe an away. Fingers crossed we'll be at full strength this time around and if we are Division A should be a case of "been there, done that".

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