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Part three takes our expedition into the West's feral petting zoo, where even the lambs brandish powerful kicks.
This year's Nuggets remind me of last year's Suns; young, brash, and consumed by the idea that they have something to prove. Carmelo Anthony's achievements are constantly overshadowed by Lebron, Marcus Camby was forgotten after years of injuries, and guards Andre Miller, Jon Barry, Voshon Lenard, and Earl Boykins were each allowed or even encouraged to move on last summer by their respective former teams. It's my feeling that those players with a point to prove have done so, at least in their own minds, with their roles in the team's surprising playoff push, leaving a motivational void and inflated expectations for next season and beyond Golden State Warriors The only franchise to consistently rival the Clippers in terms of sheer irrelevance, Golden State has spent the last decade fielding teams that range in quality from terrible to average. This year's version falls somewhere in the middle, and probably would have achieved a solid mediocre with a healthy Nick Van Exel, who aside from Clifford Robinson was the only significant acquisition in a summer of painful player attrition. The offseason looms forebodingly for Golden State fans, an annual dread intensified by the knowledge of what the Warriors did last summer. Houston Rockets This underachieving team has learned that it's hard to play effective basketball with a finger constantly extended at the referees. Three things to watch for in a Rockets game: 1) the remarkable agility and fluidity of the ever-improving Yao Ming, 2) the lockdown defense of oversized power forward Kelvin Cato, and 3) Cuttino Mobley's facial expression when a call goes against him, a look of smug indignation that evokes the Mystery Inc. gang exposing a villainous museum curator. Los Angeles Clippers After years trying to define themselves while sharing a city with the league's most storied franchise, the Clippers have finally established an identity: Kobe Bryant's second-most famous mistress. The idea of Kobe Bean making the unprecedented LA switch has been literally the only interesting story surrounding this pitiable franchise. But if next opening night finds Kobe, acquitted and signed long-term, lining up next to Elton Brand and Corey Maggette, the Lakers' reign will give way to an era of Clipper dommm..... Clipper dominahhh..... Forget it, they'll just be better. Phoenix Suns Phoenix has assembled a promising team of young athletes, led by Shawn Marion, Amare Stoudemire, and the emerging Joe Johnson. The Suns' mission is to develop these young talents properly, giving them the guidance and support needed to succeed, the opportunity to play through and learn from their inevitable mistakes, and the confidence to perform at the highest possible level. If they are able to do that, and the players work hard at improving their skills and knowledge of the game, this team has a real shot at one day trading them all for a ton of salary-cap space. Go To Page: 1 2 |
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