APPROPRIATELY, the defending champion Celtics jumpstart the 2008-09 season tonight against a shimmering Cavaliers edition they are all but guaranteed to meet in mid-May or in the Eastern Conference finals later that month.
Inappropriately, Robert Horry, Dikembe Mutombo, Alonzo Mourning, P.J. Brown, Flip Sanders, Lindsey Hunter, Avery Johnson, Darrell Armstrong, Randy Pfund, Billy Knight, Eddie Jones, Billy King, Austin Croshere, Larry Harris, Damon Stoudamire, Troy Hudson, Nenad Krstic, Josh Childress, Jannero Pargo, Bostjan Nachbar, Carlos Delfino and David Craig (37 years with the Pacers) are no longer affiliated with an NBA team.
As The Shield’s Vic Mackey would say, “Lem was family.”
Here are the Western Conference’s projected playoff teams:
HORNETS: Body language is loud and clear. Painful lessons learned from last season are serving as a constant reminder the margin of error in this league is infinitesimal between a payoff and layoff.
The difference in their defensive approach is most conspicuous; making Byron Scott’s job easy, Chris Paul is demanding teammates use their hands, feet and mouth to lock into the mindset that failure to sweat, crowd shooters and help is unacceptable. Questions still nag regarding contributions of Melvin Ely and Hilton (doing a better job battling in the crowd for ‘bounds) Armstrong. Julian Wright is making quicker good decisions – when to pass or shoot – and busts his butt running the floor and chasing the ball.
When paired with James Posey I see deflections and disrupting attempts vs. post feeds. Very healthy peer pressure has made an impact on Devin Brown; looks like he took an assertive training class. Shooting is streaky (a la Pargo) but shares and handles and drives the gap for kick-outs.
LAKERS: Phil Jackson’s re-invented, rehabilitated team also is defending harder and smarter and in greater numbers. It can be easily explained by Andrew Bynum availability to spread his length to rebound and block shots and coalesce with Pau Gasol from the git-go, Trevor Ariza’s athletic prowling on the perimeter and Jordan Farmer’s glaring improvement.
Since the endowments of Kobe Bryant and Paul figure to balance out each other, and their club’s second units are reasonably equal (as long as Lamar Odom accepts sixth-man role status in a free-agent year and is a productive member) the showdown between New Orleans and L.A. apparently will be settled by their frontlines – Gasol, Bynum and Vladimir Radmanovic vs. David West, Tyson Chandler and Peja Stojakovic.
ROCKETS: If Yao Ming stays on his feet for a whole season . . . if injuries don’t force Tracy McGrady to sit out more dances than not . . . if Ron Artest is able to control himself . . . if Rafer Alston’s fights with the law continue to result in wins . . . if Shane Battier comes back strong from injury . . . if a decent backup center (Dikembe Mutombo?) or at least another big man (they’re shopping Luther Head for one) is added to the mix . . . and if Steve Francis’ ligaments and filaments can re-learn how to work . . . they’re still third at best.
SPURS: If the regular season weren’t 82 games and Tim Duncan was on the downside of his career and Tony Parker was born in ’72 instead of ’82, Manu Ginobili’s ankle surgery (out of action for first two months or so) and Brent Barry’s free-agent exodus to Houston might be sure signs for Gregg Popovich to protect his glossy coaching record by re-hiring Bob Hill.
While Bruce Bowen, Michael Finley and Kurt Thomas may not be able to remember seeing better days, marksman Roger Mason was an excellent pickup and San Antonio will be as hard as ever to bump off . . . unless it turns out Manu is through.
JAZZ: Assuming Deron (IR) Williams’ bum ankle is only a bad sprain and Matt (IR) Harpring can do what he does best once he’s at full strength following summer surgery, and owner Larry Miller is well enough to run his motivating mouth in the locker room and on the fringe of Jerry Sloan’s huddles, they are experienced and talented and versatile enough to take any team to seven games in the later rounds.
MAVERICKS: The pressure to win it all or be perceived as a flop is off. Friction between the coach and owner Mark Cuban, which seeped into the locker room and onto the court, ceased with Avery’s expulsion and Rick Carlisle’s appointment.
Dirk Nowitzki feels loose and loved. Josh Howard won back fans the first day of camp by apologizing for his behavior. The starting backcourt of Antoine Wright and Jason Kidd (free to run again) is exuding New Jersey Pride.
Meanwhile, Brandon Bass (better than ever, especially his jumper), Jerry Stackhouse (body looks 10 years younger), Jason Terry (equally adroit at backup point or official scorer), Gerald Green (see recent column) and DeSagana Diop (time-sharing the pivot with Erick Dampier) means there’s no hesitancy in calling up reinforcements. Warriors of two years ago wouldn’t want any part of ’em.
NUGGETS: Why are so many observers reducing George Karl’s posse to lottery rank? Very weird. Very, very unwise. I understand the defensive void left by Marcus Camby – gifted to my Paper Clips expressly to lop $21M off the cap over two seasons – and Eduardo (Nets) Najera. I fully appreciate their relocation means it’s mandatory Nene and Kenyon Martin remain abnormally healthy an entire schedule.
Still, Denver is loaded with shooting stars at the opening tap (Jamaal Tinsley is needed to distribute) and off the bench. Is one or two or all willing to sacrifice? Crapehangers are betting none.
CLIPPERS: Greg Oden’s preseason performance (over 11 points and almost eight rebounds in half a game) gives us one more exceptional reason to root for the Blazers to reach the postseason. If I didn’t get my seat for free and didn’t have NBA TV, and couldn’t get Paul Allen to leave me a couple freebies, I’d pay to see Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge, Sergio Rodriquez, Rudy Fernandez, Channing Frye, Travis Outlaw, Martell Webster (IR) Steve Blake and Oden.
Too bad, they’re not good enough to beat out Baron Davis, Camby (IR), Chris Kaman, Al Thornton, Tim Thomas, Cutino Mobley, Eric Gordon, Ricky Davis and second-round find Mike Taylor.
Afterthought: Spencer Hawes is fast becoming a favorite watch with or without the ball. He’s a combo Clair Bee instructional books / John Wooden Pyramid / Big Fundamental. Agile and accurate, the Kings’ 7-footer sophomore also passes every bit as well as Brad Miller, meaning the veteran is exceedingly obtainable.