Team of the Week Philadelphia - Still rolling along as
the NBA's only unbeaten team. We'll finally see what they're really
made of this week against the Spurs.
Other notables Minnesota - Cranked out an impressive
win over San Antonio and continue to play competitive ball despite inner
turmoil.
Sacramento - If they can keep playing
defense they'll stay near the top of the Pacific.
Game of the Week - Philadelphia
vs. San Antonio
Philly gets its first real test of the
season against a very good, very tall San Antonio team.
Prime Timers Stephon Marbury - Giving the Nets a much
needed superstar with great play on both ends of the floor.
Kobe Bryant - Kobe's been playing huge
the last week or so, especially with Shaq hurting. Could Bryant be
on the verge of taking over as this team's leader? More on that later.
Antonio McDyess - With many people starting
to question his abilities, Antonio has stepped it up in helping Denver
win three out of four, including their big comeback win against LA.
Shawn Marion - Last year's rookie sleeper
is off to an awesome start and filling in the holes left by the injuries
to Penny and Googs.
Pine Timers Sam Cassell - Looking bad while his team
continues to lose.
Vancouver - Quickly dropped four straight
after a promising start.
Orlando - Struggling big time without Grant
Hill and lacking the teamwork they displayed last year.
X - Factors Shawn Bradley - Showing signs of life
down in D-Town. If he can produce every other game the Mavs will
be in a better position to make the playoffs.
Jeff McInnis / Tyrone Nesby - The Clips
still have a losing record, but these two have really stepped up to help
Lamar Odom. The Clippers continue to give teams fits.
Here and There * Free Corey Maggette - This guy
can play and if he ever gets to a situation where he can display his talents
the Magic and possibly the Clippers will be sorry they let him slip through.
Every time he gets decents minutes he produces, but he's still playing
third on a Clippers team that's loaded with two's and three's. The
Heat are said to be interested in a swingman and Riley could definitely
develop this guy into the star he could be.
* How long in LA - Rumors of a rift
between Shaq and Kobe are once again surfacing, but with Kobe cranking
out the big performances, one has to begin to wonder how long the Lakers
can hold back his progression into a superstar. If Kobe had his own
team, he'd probably average 30 a game, easy. The triangle is made
for a guard of his talents and with Shaq slowed by injuries, he's delivering.
He also carried them in their overtime victory against the Kings, not to
mention last year's unforgetable comeback against the Blazers. Somewhere
along the line, Phil's going to have to slowly change the role of leader
from Shaq to Kobe, similar to what happened with Magic and Kareem. Maybe
not this season, but definitely in the near future.
* Lack of understanding - Often,
players in all sports are given the labelled "injury-prone," and after
suffering through a number of injuries their toughness is called into question.
Is this practice fair? Most say let them get out their and earn their
millions and I agree to a certain extent. Yeah, they're getting paid
a lot, but they're still human and today's athelete takes a serious pounding
in practice and during games. No matter how talented they are, the human
body can only handle so much. So after reading articles on the web
trashing Marcus Camby and Danny Fortson, I simply ask those writers how
many 82 game seasons their bodies have endured. None? That's
what I figured. Quit attacking athletes for things they can't control.
Life is precious and no one should have to risk their future well-being
for anyone, no matter how much they make. Instead, I think we should
see more writings in the mold of the one on this site about Penny Hardaway,
another player whose career has been ravished by injuries.
The Top Ten 1. Philly - The best start in team history
2. San Antonio - Beat the two best teams
in
the West in Utah and LA.
3. Utah - Could be a photo finish in the
Midwest between them and the Spurs.
4. LA Lakers - Champs seem to be on cruise
control, but better wake up soon.
5. Phoenix - Shawn Marion the league's
most improved player?
6. Sacramento - Peja's playing great all-around
ball
7. New York - needs consistency.
8. Portland - still haven't pulled it
all together, but they'll get it right.
9. Minnesota - KG's doing it all
10. Dallas - They can't be overlooked
any longer
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InsideHoops.com
