Week in Review. 10 Thoughts on the NBA by HD MM
1. Kobe lit up the Knicks last night for 61 pts and showed everyone that he's still the game's greatest offensive force. Which, unfortunately, isn't what they need him to be. That won't work against the type of teams by which the Lakers are measured. There's a lesson to be found in the fact that Bryant has scored almost seven points fewer in Lakers wins that losses this season.
2. Andrew Bynum will have to miss 8-12 weeks with an MCL tear in his right knee. A serious blow to a dominatnt team. Can the Lakers still win a title without Bynum?
3. Why can't big guys hit from the stripe? It seems like a simple question, but after Wilt Chamberlain (51.1%), Shaq (52.7%), Chris Dudley (45.8%) and Ben Wallcae (41.8%) struggled for years, it seems to have gone unanswered.
4. Introducing the 2009 NBA All Star Jersey's....
5. Looks like both Bosh and Colangelo are denying the reports of Chris Bosh wanting out of Toronto. The latest in what's going to be an ongoing story until the free-agency class of 2010 is on the market – including LeBron James and Miami's Dwyane Wade – came Sunday when ESPN entertainer Stephen A. Smith, citing no sources, said Bosh had already informed Colangelo he wouldn't re-sign when he's a free agent in 16 months.
"It obviously didn't happen," said Colangelo. "It's one of those things that unfortunately I guess there's an obligation to answer the question. … There just doesn't seem to a lot of accountability with respect to the topic sometimes."
6. LeBron James named Player of the Month for January. Not bad for a month that included a trip out west: "Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James was named today as the NBA's Eastern Conference Player of the Month for games played in the month of January. In 14 games during the month, James averaged 27.5 points on .456 shooting, 9.6 rebounds and 8.1 assists per game. James has now won the award for the ninth time in his career and for the second time this season."
7. The
News Herald reports that Cavs SG, Delonte West might be back a bit before the all-star break.
"The last report I got, this is coming off on Thursday," he said. "This is exciting news. Plus, I'm running out of suits."
8. Remember Antonio McDyess and how he finagled his way back to Detroit after the AI-Billups trade? First off, credit the guy's loyalty. He had no idea that the team he was returning to would struggle on the court with rotation questions, identity problems, and potentially chemistry problems with their coach. But fast forward to today, how does he feel now?
"You look at the other side sometimes and think, but I don't try and second guess myself," he said. "I made this decision. I'll live with it, and move on."
I wonder if he's regretting not accepting the offers from Boston and Cleveland?
9. Who woke up the sleeping Giant in the San Antonio Spurs?! They've won 13 of their last 16. I guess the Spurs do have more gas in the tank after all. This team is going to be a force in the West this playoff season.
10. This Wednesday, LeBron and the Cavs will visit Madison Square Garden for the last time this year. Once again, I'm fretting the Big Apple buzz that's sure to come.
