Bounce Passes 12/9/2008

So I think I'm going to name my daily comments section "Bounce Passes" unless someone has a better title.  Really, any title would be better but I thought "Between the Legs" or "Around the Back" with Anthony Robertson were a bit too gay for anyone's need.  So, it's "Bounce Passes" for now.  Onto the thoughts:

• Current Championship pick:  Cleveland over San Antonio.  

1. Cleveland - LeBron has had little pressure on him and they blow teams out like crazy.  This from a team that has already shown it can commit 100% to the defensive end, and has yet to full gel?!  They just have been the most impressive team I have watched this season and will only get better.  The individuals don't seem to add up to championship, but they sure have depth.
2. San Antonio:  The Spurs are the Steelers of the NBA.  No matter what befalls them, they just keep winning.  Roger Mason? Ime Udoka? Fabricio Oberto?  All have played a huge role this season.  Duncan is still a top 5 players (yes, better than D Howard or A Stoudemire) and Manu and Tony get a whole season to figure out their new teammates.
3. LA Lakers:  Nothing bad to say about them.  However, I'm not sure they have solved their two biggest weaknesses - playing defense and unlocking tough defenses.  The other top 3 contenders all can do both.  A lot comes down to Bynum getting 100%.
4. Celts are still the Celts.  Dangerous and mean.  I think they are behind these other 3.

• Just to be clear, I am a huge Dwyane Wade homer.  However, he is the most exciting player in the NBA right now, bar none.  
• Has everyone noticed that Jason Kidd is now the second best point guard in Dallas?  The stats are damning, but actually watching the Mavs show that Kidd is finished and Barea could make this team interesting.
• Charles Barkley is a moron.  Bill Simmons wrote a beautiful article lionizing the TNT basketball crew of Ernie, Kenny and Charles about 5 years ago.  And, truly they did use to be entertaining and informative.  Now, they are only sometimes entertaining.  Barkley this year has said Kidd is still a great point guard and that Shaq has been better than Amare.  I don't think he watches.
• I hate to admit this, but I know absolutely nothing about the Denver Nuggets or how good of a player Chauncey Billups is.  I am completely lost.  If anyone has any thoughts, please let me know.
• I have never seen anyone rebound like Dwight Howard on the Magic.  It's wild, since he is so regularly playing with two perimeter guys on the frontline - Lewis and Turkoglu - Howard constantly jumps up among two or three guys to rip a rebound down.  He is great.  Unfortunately, he still does not have a single offensive move.
• Can we all please stop comparing every All-Star forward from Josh Howard to Lamar Odom to Scottie Pippen?  If there is one guy who needs to have a history about him rewritten it is Scottie.  Pippen was one of the greatest players of all time.  Compare Magic Johnson or LeBron James or Kevin Garnett to him - not these mere all stars.  Pipp was the best defender of my lifetime guarding everyone from Shawn Kemp to John Stockton with aplomb, a terrific point guard, and an MVP candidate both years Jordan was gone.
• That's all I got for this week . . .