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The NBA Through Travis Colored Glasses

- A lot of things to talk about as the first month of the NBA season winds down.

- Remember when I told you a few weeks back that the Seattle Sonics would eventually be exposed both offensively and defensively for their lack of a legitimate inside presence? Well, in a game on Saturday afternoon the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets did just that. With 7:39 to go in the second quarter of action the Sonics finally shot their first free throw of the game, while the Hornets had already shot 21. I guess it's hard to get to the charity stripe when no one on the team consistently goes to the bucket. Look, all I'm saying is that when a team prefers to stand around the perimeter and shoot long balls, it will eventually catch up with them -- and that's what is happening in Seattle right now.

- I really enjoyed watching Jason Kidd play live Monday night against the Denver Nuggets, and I was again reminded just how talented a player Kidd still is. Consider this, Jason Kidd came into Monday night's game with 68 career triple doubles, good for fourth place on the all time list. 68 is an interesting number, because it just happens to be the same number of triple doubles that have been achieved in the history of the entire Denver Nuggets franchise.

- Speaking of Denver, they lost third year forward Carmelo Anthony just three minutes into the game on Monday to a high ankle sprain. The rest of the team looked confused offensively with Anthony out of the game. They had trouble creating quality shots for one another, which they had been doing routinely of late with Melo on the floor. Anthony often seems to get criticized by many in Denver much more than he is praised these days. Depending on how long he's out with the injury, fans in Denver may get a real feel for just how important Melo really is.

- This game also featured one of the strangest stat lines I've ever seen. Andre Miller finished with 10 points, 10 rebounds, 9 assists, and 6 steals. Okay, you're saying wow that's a great line, but what's so weird about it. Well, Miller shot 0-10 from the field. That's right, the guy darn near secured a quadruple-double without making a basket.

- Final thought about the Nuggets . . . Don't believe the rumors you have heard which feature Edjuardo Najera being traded to the Blazers for Ruben Patterson. George Karl loves the effort Najera brings off the bench on both ends of the floor, similar to what he got from Vincent Askew during his coaching days in Seattle. I'm not saying that the Nuggets have no interest in Patterson, I'm just saying that they would almost certainly not be willing to part with Najera to get him.

- Maybe it's just me, but Ron Artest seems to be morphing into Dennis Rodman more and more with each passing day. The words "Tru Warier" were shaved into the back of Artest's head prior to Indiana's match up with Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday. Now, if Artest starts wearing women's clothing and has a quick fling with either Carmen Electra or Madonna, I'll really start getting suspicious.

- These days, everyone in NBA circles seems to be raving about the start of the Dallas Mavericks, and some have started dropping hints that this may finally be the year where the team gets to the NBA Finals. Now I'm not trying to rain on the parade down in big D, but I think the Mavs may be pulling the wool over our eyes just a bit. Remember, this team was beaten handily on their home floor by the Memphis Grizzlies last week, and they also trailed the so far mediocre Denver Nuggets by 19 points in the third quarter on their home floor before pulling off an improbable comeback. And heck, they just squeaked by the Raptors north of the border on Monday night. I think the Mavericks are a good team, but they are not yet anywhere close to being a great team.

- I'll admit, I thought that Aaron McKie would be a great pickup for the Lakers and Phil Jackson's triangle offense. However, that's been far from how things have played out thus far. McKie is averaging just 0.3 points and 0.6 assists, and he has contributed little of substance on the defensive end. At this point I'm starting to wonder if McKie will last the rest of the year in L.A.

- Onto the land of Mickey Mouse . . . I know, you're wondering why I'm even bothering to mention what's happening down in Orlando, right? Well folks, Dwight Howard is playing sensational basketball. Howard currently ranks #2 in the league in rebounds, pulling down nearly 13 a night. Howard's offensive game is also improving almost on a game to game basis. And let's not forget that Howard won't turn 20 years of age until December 8. I see great things ahead in the future for this kid.

- Finally, does it bug anyone else that Yao Ming will be starting in every All Star game for at least the next decade, because of how the fan voting is currently set up? I know that All Star weekend is a celebration of basketball largely for the fans, and I know that I sure as heck enjoyed attending the last two as a fan. As such, I believe that the fans should have some input on who takes the court for the All Star game itself. That said, I don't think they should be able to vote in the five starters. Instead, let them vote in the five guys they want to see on each team, and let the coaches and those more closely associated with the NBA allocate the staring positions and playing time. There . . . I feel better after that rant!

- Onto some e-mail in response to what I wrote about the Hawks/Suns trade last week:

Dear Travis,

As a Boris Diaw fan, I will pass on the fact that it's good to see Diaw performing on a level few would thought he was capable of reaching (except me of course! It feels so good to be right!!) to go directly to your point.

If one can indeed argue that no players (or combination of players for that matter) have been close to replace JJ's last year contribution to the team on either side of the floor, you have to also take into account that none of his so-called replacements have had the luxury to play with Amare Stoudemire either.

My point here is that is was really easier for Johnson to score last year as he was freed by the constant attention that foe's defences had to pay to Stoudemire, thus giving him plenty of space and open looks to drive or shoot. Should the double teams split to defend Johnson, he only had to feed Stoudemire (whose mounstrous dunk would immediatly follow) to get an assist.

On defence he also benefited of the presence of the big fella, the same way some say Bruce Bowen is only a good defender thanks to Duncan. Stoudemire quick steps and timing allow him to play help defense and still recover his man if needed. As a result, Johnson's defense consisted to tunnel his foe directly into the hand of his big guy.

Raja Bell has to defend straight, as no big guy is going to help him. Diaw had to play out of position (center) most of the time, and James Jones does not get the open looks on the wings that Johnson use to get. So it's no surprise they cannot achieve what Johnson did last year as even Johnson would not have achieved it without Stoudemire (which is what he is slowly discovering playing with the Hawks).

My conclusion will be the same as last time, Stoudemire conditions the Suns game the same way O'neal and Duncan are critical to their teams. Put those big guys out of the line-ups and no team or players will perform the same way. Put a bunch a role players around them on the floor with and they'll all look better than they really are.

Wait until Stoudemire's comeback to assess the trade, on the Suns side at least.

Regards, Mathieu (Bruxelles)

Hello Mathieu. Good to hear from you again all the way from Bruxelles! Let me first say to all of you readers out there that Mathieu did indeed e-mail me with his prediction that Diaw's play would be much improved in Phoenix, and this was long before anyone else even dared to venture a guess at how he would fare. And no doubt, Diaw has performed very well thus far in all facets of the game. I also think that your point about Stoudemire not being on the court is a fair one. That said, I think that the Suns still miss the pure shooting that Joe Johnson brought to the table, and I think they will continue to miss it as the season progresses. It seemed as though every time I tuned into a Suns game last year Johnson was hitting a clutch jump shot.

Ultimately, I will acknowledge that perhaps I spoke a bit prematurely in saying that the trade was a lose-lose. Still, Stoudemire in the lineup or not, there is no one on that roster (save Steve Nash) who can shoot like Johnson could. Hopefully Stoudemire will come back late in the season, and perhaps we will both get a chance to evaluate this trade in more detail.

- Well that's it coach, I'm tired and I need a sub. Thanks for reading and remember -- NBA basketball is life, and the rest is just details.

Have a take about what you just read? Contact Travis at travismheath@msn.com... Travis Heath is a doctoral candidate in psychology, and a freelance writer. Travis currently resides outside of Denver, Colorado, but he has spent time in Washington, Nebraska, and Both Northern and Southern California. He is also a self-admitted sports addict, with his primary vice being the NBA.

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