Category: General NBA insight

Wednesday’s Washington-Boston matchup marks the fourth and final meeting the two teams this season. Having won two of the previous three meetings, the Wizards can win the season-series with Boston for the third consecutive season. The Wizards, Cavaliers and Magic are the only teams that have defeated the Celtics twice this season.

Toronto’s Jamario Moon is one start away from passing Damon Stoudamire’s Raptors record of 70 starts by a first-year player, which was set during the team’s inaugural season in 1995-96.

Charlotte’s Emeka Okafor is averaging 19.2 points on .686 shooting over the last six games. With season averages of 13.5 points and 10.6 rebounds, Okafor is one of 18 players averaging a double-double. Okafor has 38 double-doubles on the season, tied for the 10th in the league.

Sioux Falls’ Kasib Powell was named the NBA Development League’s Most Valuable Player for the 2007-08 season. Prior to his Call-Up to Miami, Powell was leading the Skyforce with 22.3 points per game, shooting 50 percent from the field and 43 percent from three-point territory, to go with 5.8 rebounds and 2.9 assists.

– NBA News

Hakeem Olajuwon, who led the University of Houston to three straight Final Fours and the Houston Rockets to back-to-back NBA titles; Patrick Ewing, who captured the 1984 NCAA title at Georgetown before capturing two Olympic gold medals and becoming an 11 time NBA All-Star; Adrian Dantley, an unstoppable offensive player at Notre Dame and in the NBA, Pat Riley, who has led two NBA teams to five NBA championships; women’s basketball pioneer and Immaculata University coach Cathy Rush; dynamic ESPN television broadcaster Dick Vitale; and Detroit Pistons and Shock owner Bill Davidson were announced today as the seven members of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2008.  The announcement was made today in San Antonio, TX site of the 2008 NCAA Men’s Final Four.

Ewing, Olajuwon and Riley were elected in their first year of consideration for election into the Hall of Fame, while Dantley, Davidson, Rush and Vitale have been named Finalists in prior years.

The AP reports: A woman who claims Michael Jordan fathered her child wants the former NBA star to submit to a third paternity test. Lisa Miceli also is asking a judge to lift a temporary restraining order imposed after Jordan filed a harassment suit against her. Miceli, 35, claims Jordan fathered her four-year-old son, but Jordan’s lawsuit says two 2005 paternity tests rule him out as the boy’s father.

I’d say the Spurs should still be considered the favorite to come out of the West in the playoffs.

The Hornets have the most wins in the conference, but they’re new to being this good, and when things get turned up in the playoffs their lack of experience, both individually and as a team, could limit them.

The Lakers are winning more than expected, and although they’re armed with Kobe Bryant and loads of fun to watch because they play brilliant team basketball, it’s tough to say they’d beat a healthy Spurs squad when it counts.

The Jazz showed flashes of greatness in the playoffs last year, but it’s tough to say they’re any better this season.

The Suns are a bit underrated. They could be a true force in the post-season, especially since they’ve gotten used to playing with Shaquille O’Neal these past few weeks.

I have a tough time believing in the Rockets as far as a championship goes. Their giant winning streak was awesome, but I’m just not convinced they’ll go more than a round in the postseason.

The Mavericks, like the Suns, also may be slightly underrated. They have just as good a chance to reach the Western conference finals as anyone else.

Assuming that Dallas makes the playoffs and either the Nuggets or Warriors do, both Denver and Golden State are offensive teams that don’t play defense, and that can shock an opponent or two, but you don’t win a championship that way, ever.

Sports Illustrated (Ian Thompson) reports: Here are the five most expensive payrolls this season and the anticipated win total for each of those teams — 5. Miami Heat, $75.5 million, 14 wins… 4. Cleveland Cavaliers, $81.5 million, 45 wins… 3. Denver Nuggets $82.7 million, 50 wins… 2. New York Knicks $95.3 million, 22 wins… 1. Dallas Mavericks $105.4 million, 51 wins… Averages: $88.1 million, 36.4 wins.

And, Thompson also reports: Here are the five most expensive payrolls this season and the anticipated win total for each of those teams — 30. Memphis Grizzlies, $53.4 million, 21 wins… 29. Charlotte Bobcats, $54.2 million, 31 wins… 28. Atlanta Hawks, $56.0 million, 38 wins… 27. Orlando Magic, $58.1 million, 51 wins… 26. Golden State Warriors, $59.3 million, 50 wins… Averages: $56.2 million, 38.2 wins.

The AP reports: Former NBA player Isaiah Rider was jailed Saturday for investigation of auto theft, police said. Rider, 37, was driving a car that failed to stop at an intersection about 2:30 a.m. in the city’s Skid Row district, police Officer Norma Eisenman said. “He failed to stop at the limit line for a posted stop sign,” she said. Officers checking the license plates discovered the car had been reported stolen from South Los Angeles and Rider was arrested, police said. The car was impounded.

Friday InsideHoops NBA rumor mill gossip: The Sonics aren’t sure about giving Chris Wilcox an extension. Raptors plan on keeping Jose Calderon but may deal him or T.J. Ford. Raef LaFrentz won’t request trade. Nuggets may sign D-League player soon. If Sonics leave, Seattle could eventually get expansion team. Ben Gordon or Larry Hughes gone from Bulls this summer? Suns may have told Shaq to stop insulting Heat. NBA defends legit bloggers from Mark Cuban. Greg Oden caught playing pickup ball. Nene plays. Much more. Read NBA rumors.

What about having each division winner make the NBA playoffs, but aside from that, the best teams by record, regardless of conference or division?

The idea is inspired by the fact that this year’s West/East difference is huge. If the playoffs were to start today, the #7 and #8 seeds in the West, Dallas and Golden State, have 44 and 43 wins, respectively. The #7 and #8 seeds in the East, Atlanta and New Jersey, have 30 wins each. It isn’t even close.

If the top 16 teams were to make the playoffs, this is who would get in:

Boston, Detroit, New Orleans, LA Lakers, Houston, Phoenix, San Antonio, Utah, Orlando, Dallas, Golden State, Denver, Cleveland, Washington and Portland.

That’s according to winning percentage.

What do you think? Post your opinion in this forum thread.

With the second win in as many days, the Minot Skyrockets advance to the CBA Finals with a 103-89 victory over the Pittsburgh Xplosion.  This will be the first time the Minot Skyrockets franchise has participated in the CBA Finals.  The last time the CBA Finals were contested in the state of North Dakota was on March 24, 2004, when the Dakota Wizards defeated the Idaho Stampede to with the CBA Championship.
 
The Skyrockets swept the Xplosion, two games to none to capture the American Conference Championship.  They defeated Pittsburgh 105-87 in Game 1 and finished the series with a 103-89 victory tonight in Minot.  This two game sweep ends the Xplosion season.  They finished with a 29-21 record. 
 
Minot will now travel to Oklahoma to take on the National Conference Champion Cavalry.  Games 1 and 2 will take place on Saturday, March 22 and Monday, March 24 in Lawton.  Game time is 7:30 central time. Game three will take place in Minot on Wednesday, March 26.  Games 4 and 5 will be played on Friday, March 28 and Saturday, March 29, if necessary, in Minot.  Game time is 7:05 central time.
 
The Skyrockets won the season series 3-1 over the Cavalry in the regular season.  Minot won the first three contests, 91-89 (4.5), 97-94 (5.5), and 92-88 (4.0) in overtime.  The Cavalry won the last contest 114-98 (6.5). 
 
“This will be a hotly contested series,” said CBA Deputy Commissioner Dennis Truax.  “Oklahoma knocked off the two time defending champion Yakama Sun Kings and is on an eight game winning streak.  They have Daryan Selvy and Marvin Phillips who are both tough match-up problems.  Minot has veterans Ronnie Fields and Kevin Rice who are no strangers to the Finals. The Miners currently have a ten game winning streak. Both teams are evenly matched. It should be a great Finals for our teams and fans.” 

Erie, Pennsylvania has been awarded an NBA Development League franchise. The team will join Reno, NV — which was awarded a D-League franchise on Feb. 29 — for their inaugural seasons in 2008-09. More on this here.

I’m actively rooting for the D-League to expand to my quaint, lovable town of New York City as soon as possible. It would be fitting. InsideHoops is run out of NYC. The select few basketball mags that matter are here. The league office is here. A zillion media people are here. Bring us a squad!

And, if not NYC, put a D-League team in Westchester, just north of NYC. But near a Metro North train line, please. We New Yorkers don’t have cars.

There was a rumor a while back, I think from the New York Times, that Harlem might get a team someday, but I asked a few people who know a thing or two about what D-League people are thinking, and no one could confirm anything concrete is in the plans.

– Jeff