Halftime Hype

The NBA season kicked off yesterday with plenty of hype surrounding the opening day. The defending Eastern Conference champions, the Boston Celtics, won an 88-80 home victory over the Miami Heat, a team which some pundits expect to set records with a 73+ win season. On the West Coast, the Los Angeles Lakers began the evening with a ring ceremony and concluded with a 112-110 win against the Houston Rockets.

Although the games were entertaining, it's crucial to note that it was Day 1. The Heat's Big Three of Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, and Chris Bosh had barely played three minutes together prior to Monday. Adjustments will be made and players' conditioning will improve - and that goes for every team. However, with that said, there were some observations to be made:

• The New Technical Foul Policy - With more discipline regulations in place for this season, some personnel complained that the modifications would have a detrimental effect. TNT commentator and former player Reggie Miller asserted that sometimes, especially in a playoff atmosphere, players just need to vent and will then proceed down the court. One can certainly understand the arguments against the rules.
  
  Whether you agree with the new rules or not, the games did seem to go by faster. It was awfully nice the delay of players holding on to the ball and chatting with the officials. Plus, as Commissioner David Stern pointed out, a call is never changed by a player's subsequent argument. On the flip side, the conspiracy theorists may claim that it affects the referees' future calls but that's another debate.
  
  
• The Big Three, Nay Miami Heat, Are Not Invincible - Despite injuries which limited the Big Three's preseason minutes together, all the off-season hype caused many to have great expectations. Last night, the trio did not deliver. Sure, James was the high man with 29 points, but that's not the area of concern. Between James and Wade, there were 14 turnovers. Additionally, Bosh only had 8 points - as many as Udonis Haslem - on 3-11 shooting. Furthermore, Wade, easing his way back from injury, was even less less efficient with 13 points while only connecting on 4-16 field goals.
  
  Outside of the Big Three, Miami's roster is not deep at all. Joel Anthony, who started at center, and Arroyo, who started at point guard, are just not enough to support the establishment in place. It helps to have perimeter threats in Mike Miller and Eddie House, but until they mesh and play influential roles, Miami still has some work to do.
  
  Taking into account that a) it was the first game of the season b) it was a road game c) it was against the Celtics, it's easy to justify the squad's struggles. In fact, the Heat bounced back with a win against Philadelphia today, in which Wade scored 30 points on 10-20 shooting. The point is that talk of shattering the 72-win record or the 33-game winning streak is far-fetched.
  
  
• Rondo's Relevance - Once considered to be the area of concern in the Celtics' lineup, he's now arguably the best of the starting five. If you haven't noticed, when he's out there, every play goes through Rondo. On a fast break, he can outrun the opposition and take it to the cup or find Shaq for an alley-oop. In a half court set, he has an eagle's eye in finding Ray Allen on curls and delivers bulls' eye passes. Defensively, don't even think about throwing lob passes. Once it's out of your hand, it is a Rondo interception.
  
  
• Lakers 3.0 - While the media concentrated on South Beach, the Los Angeles Lakers added depth to an already stunning roster. Just when you thought general manager Mitch Kuptchak was out of tricks, he selected two of the best prospects possible in Derrick Caracter and Devin Ebanks. To replace an inconsistent Jordan Farmar and help share point guard duties with Derek Fisher, the Lakers found the perfect replacement in Steve Blake - who hit the key three-pointer to win last night's game. In the long run, Fisher won't need to overextend himself during the regular season and will be fully prepared, as he always is, to hit the big shots come playoff time.
  
  While DJ Mbenga was a fan favorite, he simply can't get the job done remotely as well as veteran Theo Ratliff. The former All-Star will be particularly crucial during Bynum's absence and can mentor the young fella once he gets back on the court. To counter Miami's array of perimeter threats, the Lakers combated by signing the gritty Matt Barnes. Between Barnes and Blake, L.A. has also spread the floor with long-range shooters.
  
  In spite of injuries to Bynum and Kobe Bryant, it's incredibly helpful to have the ultimate Swiss Army knife in Lamar Odom, who's in great shape after competing in the FIBA World Championships during the off-season. The new and improved Lakers also features Shannon Brown, who added an impressive perimeter touch. No longer exclusively a dunker, he is capable of knocking down mid and long-range jumpers.
  
  Overall, this new squad is much deeper and more improved. The juxtaposition of those in search of another title along with the new acquisitions hungry for their first ring should work well to L.A.'s advantage.
  
  
• Don't Rule Out the Bigs - Amidst age and injuries, many have been too quick to bet against the credibility of the Celtics' Shaquille O'Neal and the Houston Rockets' Yao Ming. Yet, as fans saw last night, O'Neal is still a Big Diesel as he finished plays around the rim. Ming, who will be limited to a maximum of 24 minutes a game, still had a presence in the paint, which is all the Rockets ask. Just having his 7'6" frame alone is intimidating. If he can make some plays too, like he did last night, well, the Rockets' circumstances are that much better.
  

And so it begins, the "most anticipated NBA season ever," according to Commissioner David Stern. With the numerous storylines surrounding the league and a lockout supposedly looming in the future, this season - playoffs included - looks to live up to the hype.

With all the hype surrounding South Beach, one would have thought the Miami Heat have already won a championship or two. However, truth be told, the regular season has yet to begin. Las Vegas was prompt to pick the Heat as title favorites almost immediately after "The Decision." Nevertheless, it's easy to forget that the Eastern Conference is home to several elite teams, notably the Boston Celtics, who present some daunting obstacles for LeBron James & Co.

Contrary to how it may seem, the Heat are not a complete package. Perhaps former ESPN analyst and current Fox Sports radio personality Stephen A. Smith put it best. During the Q&A session of a speaking engagement last week at Beverly Hills High School, he said:

"LeBron, D-Wade, Chris Bosh - sensational athleticism. Eddie House, Mike Miller - [who are good] shooters. Mario Chalmers, a decent point guard. They don't have a big man. They have Udonis Haslm, whose undersized. Juwan Howard, whose old and undersized. Zydrunas Ilgauskas, whose slow, big, scrubby."

"You need a couple of big men. They don't have that."

Smith would then provide a defense for the Celtics and an interesting point about their post match-up against the Lakers.

"What you have with Boston: You have Ray Allen. You have Paul Pierce. You have Rajon Rondo. Then look what they went out and did. They got Shaquille O'Neal [and] Jermaine O'Neal. They got Kendrick Perkins coming back midseason - he'll be healthy by then. You have Glen 'Big Baby' Davis, whose shorter but a big, wide body.

You've got KG, who'll be better this year because after you have micofracture surgery, they say that you actually get better as you age...So whatever we saw from KG last year, he'll be better healed this year.What you have are [several] 7-footers and a small, miniature, wide body to throw at Pau Gasol and a one-legged Andrew Bynum."

Essentially, the Boston Celtics did not mess with a recipe for success that got them to within four points of a Game 7 victory on the road. Rather, they kept their nucleus in tact and added a couple key big men. Plus, as Smith mentioned, his sources have disclosed that Rasheed Wallace may be salvaged, too. In that case, the Heat has a long way to go - at least a couple months of regular season action - before it can back up the mass of hype.

Despite the fact that December 25 is more than two months away, hype for the yule-tide Lakers-Heat showdown has already begun. For the Los Angeles Lakers, the team will want to avenge last year's epic letdown to LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. On the other hand, the Miami Heat would love to see Lakers fans boo their home team and throw foam fingers on the court in the midst of a blowout.

"Last year, we fell all over ourselves," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said of the Lakers' loss.

Of course, Jackson also views the game as a drag.

"This game is always a game we're not excited about," he said. "We know Christmas is a very tough day to play on. Our players, they're usually coming back from a road trip. They have families, little kids, and it's all part of the experience."

Indeed, the Lakers did not have a merry Christmas last season. However, things will likely turn out differently as the Christmas Day matchup is arguably the most anticipated regular season game in NBA history. Not only are the Lakers a better team, but they understand the significance of the game.

With that said, regular season games - even a Christmas Day battle of epic proportions - always mean less to a team coached by Jackson. Furthermore, those who see the game as a barometer between two title favorites should think again. The Lakers fall to the Cavaliers did not foreshadow anything whatsoever, as L.A. won their sixteenth franchise title, while Cleveland only managed to advance past the first round. In the end, the Lakers will surely give it their best effort, but don't take anything from the game other than a modification to the team's record.

On Wednesday, ESPN Los Angeles' Land O'Lakers blog published an article answering the question: "Which Eastern Conference team is the Lakers' strongest challenger?" Halftime Hype will now give its' spin:

Some will say that the situation in South Beach is sunnier that Los Angeles. Their Florida counterparts in Orlando, would likely favor the Magic. Others will claim that the Boston Celtics, who should really be in the midst of their "Last Hoorah" if they weren't last season, will prevail. However, everyone agrees that those teams are the beasts of the East, the only ones who can challenge the Lakers.

To pick the Celtics as the Lakers' strongest challenger in the East would be the most conservative choice - and, at this point in time, perhaps the most realistic. As ESPN Los Angeles' Dave McMenamin said, "The C's were about half a quarter away from beating L.A. to win the championship last June and added the O'Neals in Shaquille and Jermaine."

Last time around, pundits were quick to cast off the Celtics prior to the playoffs after their dismal regular season performance. To make the same case for this season could prove to be poor judgment and turn out to be incorrect later. However, I am confident injuries will arise with this Boston squad. It will come down to how the Celtics can work around that adversity.

Despite any individual opinions of the Lebron James free-agent debacle, one must acknowledge the Miami Heat's legitimacy as a contender. Having three of the NBA's top ten players, all of whom won an Olympic gold medal together just a couple years ago, certainly puts you in the championship discussion.

Nevertheless, if the Celtics are a realistic pick on the basis that they have proven their talent, the Heat are an unrealistic choice for the same reason. Playing on an Olympic gold medal team is extremely different from an 82-game season, followed by intense playoff series. Chemistry issues may emerge. With expectations already so high, there is no margin for error. Plus, as with the Celtics, injuries are always looming. Wade is certainly familiar with the trainer's office. Bosh and James were both affected by injuries last season.

You can't bet against such a dynamic team, especially since the Lakers have had difficulty with explosive, offensive teams in the past (see: Oklahoma City Thunder and losing a 3-1 series lead to the Phoenix Suns, etc.) The big question marks for the Heat will be how the Big Three mesh as well as how much the supporting cast can contribute.

The Orlando Magic pose a threat, but, in my opinion, to a much lesser degree than either the Celtics or the Heat. They must be left in the discussion, though, in spite of Dwight Howard (enough said), an aging but still effective Vince Carter, an All-Star point guard in Jameer Nelson, sharpshooters in Rashard Lewis and J.J. Redick, not to mention the offensive-defensive threats of Mickael Pietrus and Quentin Richardson.

For the most part, the roster remains the same as in the past couple seasons. That's exactly why they are still in the discussion. The team is capable of making a deep run, but equally capable of disappointing in the playoffs.

The Verdict: Having improved from an already daunting roster last season, it will be hard for any team to challenge the Lakers. On paper, they can match up with Miami. Although the Celtics upgraded a roster that got them to within four points of a Game 7 on the road, last I checked the concept a time machine still remains a sci-fi fantasy. Orlando is dangerous, but history says to bet against them. That said, the wisest pre-season pick, with the primary criteria being experience and proven play, would have to be the Celtics.

Having five NBA games on Christmas Day was definietly an interesting experiment for the league. At first, it makes some sense. The NBA was trying to reach a wider demographic, so by scheduling more games, 10 teams - not the typical 4 - were involved. Therefore, it's logical to assume more fans would watch the games or come to the arenas to support their team. However, critics had voiced their opinions. Commentator Jeff Van Gundy believed the games weren't as special, sacrificing quality for quantity.

I, for one, wasn't sure what to make of it. Often times, for some reason or another, nationally-televised games are close. That certainly wasn't the case yesterday. The average margin of defeat, seperating the winners from the losers, was 14.4 points. The majority of games were lost by double digits, excluding the Magic's 9-point loss to the Celtics. If they had been closer, there would be reason to believe that the 5-game lineup could be considered a success.



Ironically, the closest game was probably one of the lesser viewed nationally, between Miami and New York. Unless you were a dedicated fan on the West Coast, you probably didn't tune in to watch the Heat play against the Knicks at 9 AM. Understandably, though, this game didn't really concern anybody on the West Coast, and as long as people on the East Coast were watching at noon, all was well. Gallinari continues to prove he's more than a three-point threat, successful on all his seven free-throw attempts and collecting 8 rebounds. As commentator Marv Albert used to say, the "high man" for the Knicks had to be David Lee with 19 points (9-14 shooting) and 16 boards. The Knicks, much like the Magic, however, had a difficult time from the perimeter, successful on only 5 of 28 threes (17.9%). It also didn't help that Al Harrington, who played 32 minutes, went 5-for-20. For the Heat, the storyline was, as usual, dominated by D-Wade (30 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists) with a touch of Beasley (19 points on 7-for-16 shooting) and Jermaine O'Neal (11 points, 8rebounds).

The Celtics-Magic game was arguably the matchup of the day, considering that the Cavs blew out the Lakers in a sleeper. It was genuinely exciting to watch the two best teams in the Eastern Conference battle it out, as the Celtics pulled off a road win. Credit to Boston, for prevailing in the wake of Paul Pierce's surgery. Rajon Rondo had an amazing performance, finishing with 17 points, 13 rebounds, and 8 assists - the only lowlight was his 8 turnovers (giving him a 1:1 assist/turnover ratio for the game). Despite Vince Carter's 27 points on 10-20 shooting and 4 steals, I had expected the Magic to win handily and exploit Pierce's absence. On the plus side for the Magic, they did convert on 20 out of 24 free-throw attempts (83.3.%), which means they did capitalize in that sense. On the contrary, I'm surprised the phrase "Hack-a-Rondo" hasn't been coined yet, as he really needs to work on his foul shots. What really seemed to kill the Magic was a tendency to settle behind the arc, hitting only 5 of their 26 three-point attempts (19.2%).



The much-hyped matchup with the Cavaliers facing the Lakers in Los Angeles ended badly - especially for the Lakers. With 4:04 remaining, and the Lakers trailing by about 20 points, Odom was ejected after receiving his second technical, Phil Jackson picked up a T after he neglected to insert a sub, and fans hurled foam fingers followed by a water bottle or two. It was just that kind of day for L.A. Kobe had a rare off-night, shooting 11-for-32 (34.4%), despite hitting all 12 of his free throws with a broken finger. Well, he wasn't totally off with 9 rebounds and 8 assists, which compensated for the play of...Derek Fisher, who finished with 0 assists, acted out of line with a technical foul and foul out of frustration against Mo Williams, followed by some jawing with Lebron James. Bynum and Gasol scored a combined total of 15 points, and according to Kobe, were simply "outworked." Artest fouled out with several minutes to go.

On the other hand, if you were a Cavs fan, you probably relished every moment of it, with contribution from Shaq (11 points, 7 rebounds), Lebron (26 points, 9 rebounds, 4assists), and most surprising, Mo Williams (28 points, 7 assists, 6 rebounds). You have to be happy with your reserves, who outscored L.A.'s reserves 31-17. Overall, just a frustrating Christmas for the Lakers and their fans, with the complete opposite holding true for the Cavaliers and their fans.

The Clippers @ Phoenix game wasn't much better, especially for Angelenos, who had to endure yet another embarassing defeat on Christmas Day. Premier center, Marcus Camby, had to leave the game early with an injury and Eric Gordon could not hit a shot, going just 4-for-15. The Clippers' reserves, similar to those of the Lakers, didn't fare much better, only making 12-of-37 (32.4%). The highlights for L.A. were Kaman's 19 points and 10 boards, along with Rasual Butler's 22 points and 7 rebounds, both players increasingly becoming more relevant for the C's. For the Suns, seven players scored at least 12 or more points, showing that their bench deserves its due credit. Statistically for Phoenix, the notable players were Amare (26 points, 9 rebounds), J Rich (18 points, 8 rebounds), and of course, even at 35 years of age, Steve Nash (14 points, 8 assists). Off the bench, Admunson also managed to grab 10 boards. The story of the night, though, belonged to Grant Hill, who banked a three with three quarters of the court seperating him from the basket at the buzzer before halftime. The Clippers, who were almost at .500, now have an uphill battle ahead of them, with a record of (12-17).



Lastly, the Portland Trailblazers rode Brandon Roy's 41 points all the way to a 107-96 victory over the Nuggets. Despite 32 points and 9 rebounds by Carmelo and an impressive 12 points and 14 rebounds by K-Mart, Andre Miller's 14 rebounds and 8 assists, along with other contributions, allowed him to prevail over his former team. It was fair game until the fourth quarter, where Steve Blake drained five 3's in the last four minutes. Though the Nuggets could have used more contributions from their bench, reserve J.R. Smith mustered 20 points, although he it took 23 field-goal attempts to get there. Not to be forgotten are Birdman's 5 blocks, proving yet again that swatting the ball may, indeed, be the only thing he's good for.

At the end of the day, I, as I'm sure many of you all, was tired. Five games was simply too much, even though I didn't watch them all. Three games is acceptable, but anything more is pushing things a little too far. I couldn't watch SportsCenter, as ESPN once again decided it had nothing else to do than glorify Lebron James and nothing else and I didn't find much consolation in the rather odd Saturday Night Live Christmas Bash that I had been looking forward to. Anyway, lesson learned - hopefully.

As a Jew growing up in America, the holiday season is very different from everybody else. Besides the stark contrasts in the holidays of Hanukkah and Christmas, Americans glorify a mascot commonly referred to as Santa Claus, while the closest resemblance in Judaism consists of Judah Maccabi (excuse me if I mispelled his name). Being Jewish has enabled myself, along with many others, to profit from such things as Christmas sales, Christmas music (many songs of which were composed by Jews), and quite possibly the grandest treat of all, Christmas day NBA matchups.

They seem to have an unprecedented aura to them. For the last several years, every Christmas, I've closely watched my beloved Lakers and their respective opponent battle it out, at a time when the players and coaches would much rather relax with their families. I truly noticed the intensity of these games when the Lakers played against the Miami Heat in '04. The sheer animosity between Shaq and Kobe was just so entertaining. During the previous week, Shaq had compared himself to a brick wall and Kobe declared that he would be a Lamborghini - speeding past the proverbial brick wall. It was just great - until Shaq and Kobe became friends again on an MLK Day match-up.

Anyway, just last December the Lakers took on the Boston Celtics in another epic clash. Still relishing their championship victory, the C's were riding on a strong winning streak as they rolled with their heads hung high into Staples Center. Having given up a 24-point lead in the NBA Finals mere months prior, as well as the series, the Lakers were ready for revenge. It was the ultimate storyline. As well all remember, the Lakers won. But, at the end of the day, the atmosphere in the arena made it seem like a trophy was at stake.

Typically, in the past there have been a couple of Christmas day games. Tomorrow, however, there are a seemingly unparalleled total of five games, each with their own unique plotline. At noon ET, the games kick off with the Miami Heats at Madison Square Garden against the gradually improving New York Knicks. These teams don't have any agressive history other than a nasty Knicks loss during the season opener. The highlights of this game should mainly consist of D-Wade's presence and the Knicks wearing green jerseys.



Next, Boston faces off against the Magic in Orlando, featuring two Eastern contenders. If the Lakers vs. Cavs game headlines the Christmas festivities, this game comes in a close second. I'm looking forward to seeing the battle of the bigs with KG vs. Superman. Interestingly enough, Boston has a 12-1 road record, while the Magic are 12-2 at home. The main catalyst will be Paul Pierce's absence, which should allow Vince Carter to have a game-changing presence. A side-show to observe in this game would be Rondo vs. Jameer Nelson, one rising player against an All-Star guard.

Then, the game we've all been waiting for, the Cleveland Cavaliers playing against the Los Angeles Lakers - in L.A. Shaq eyeing Phil Jackson. Shaq vs. Kobe. Pau Gasol/Andrew Bynum vs. Shaq, and most noteworthy of all, Lebron James vs. Kobe Bryant. Some fans may recall the confrontation Shaq and Andrew Bynum had. Well, now I'd like to see how the big men clash, whether it be Gasol or Bynum against the Big Diesel. This game is even more exciting than the Miami-Lakers games of the past, as before it was limited to Shaq vs. Kobe, now it's Shaq against Kobe and Kobe vs. LBJ. Granted, this game won't be an indicator of who's better between LBJ and KB, but it will intensify the debate.

Following the game of the decade, the Clippers are hoping Angelenos still have enough left in them to root for the Clippers as they journey to Phoenix to take on the Suns. Coincidentally, the Brazillian Blur, Leandro Barbosa, is expected to play his first minutes since November. This may be the most under-publicized match-up of the day. Baron Davis vs. Steve Nash and Chris Kaman/Marcus Camby vs. Amare Stoudemire. Baron is no longer the spectacle he was in Golden State and Steve Nash may not be as exciting as he used to be, but these are still two of the league's best point guards going at it. For those who haven't followed him, Chris Kaman is proving himself to be a legit post threat and Marcus Camby is still the dauting rebounder and shotblocker of years' past. Nevertheless, Amare Stoudemire has only improved his game since the run-and-gun days, and with well-seasoned post moves, it would be reasonable to assume that whoever has the most points in the paint will ultimately win this game.

The day concludes with the Denver Nuggets looking for a win in Portland against the Trailblazers. This game really doesn't make much sense to me, in terms of fan appeal, except for Andre Miller playing against his old team(mates). Other than that, I would analyze Brandon Roy vs. Billups and Aldridge vs. Nene. Chauncey has done an amazing job in his tenure for Denver so far, but so has Roy. Both can score and get assists. Tomorrow, they will probably be forced into some one-on-one situations and that their decisions will surely affect the outcome of the game. Also, the young Aldridge will have to manage against a big, well-experienced, and probably stronger Nene in a fight for rebounds. I take back what I said; this may turn out to be a good matchup after all.

Generally, the NBA always delivers some form of Christmas entertainment or another. And as you're unwrapping presents or feasting or watching the Saturday Night Live Christmas Bash, like myself, don't forget to watch the NBA's gifts to you.

It was only three years ago when the Miami Heat became the third team in NBA history to steal the title after trailing 0-2 in the finals. And as with any championship team, there was a ton of joy and happiness to go around. D-Wade had proved himself a legitimate player in this league and was presented with the NBA Finals MVP trophy. Shaq one-upped Kobe, winning a championship in the same postseason that Kobe's Lakers gave up a 3-1 first round lead in the series versus Phoenix. Gary Payton backed up his impressive career with that championship. And, of course, as is the ritual, the team was recognized at the White House.

Ever since then, things have declined dramatically. You'd think a championship team would at least continue to contend the next season, but they didn't exactly come out with a bang against Chicago in a 108-66 loss. That 42 point defeat began a gloomy season for the Heat, who endured a multitude of injuries. This was the year when Shaq's aging and fatigue became more apparent as he missed 30 games because of a knee injury. D-Wade briefly injured his wrist then later suffered a season-but-not-playoff-ending dislocated shoulder. James Posey and Antoine Walker, though later reinstated, failed body mass exams. Two potentially Hall-of-Fame players in Antoine Walker and Gary Payton were being benched at the expense of mediocre talent in Jason Kapono and Dorrel Wright. Although, the Heat really got their act back together in the last stretch of the season. Without their star player in Dwyane Wade, they proved pundits wrong by making the playoffs as they won 11 out of 14 games at one point, and in total, went 16-7. The playoffs are what really turn this into a depressing story, as the Heat became the first championship team since 1957 to win the title one year and then to be swept in the first round the following season.

You know something is wrong when a team signs Smush Parker, who got into legal troubles for a dispute with a valet parking attendant. After watching Ben Gordon and Kirk Hinrich dance their way to 4-0, the Heat should've known what a good backcourt should look like. There are actually many details to this season, but in whole, it was simply a crapshoot. D-Wade was gone for rehabilitation for awhile. The Diesel was traded to Phoenix. Pat Riley missed games to scout NCAA prospects and ultimately gave his job to Erik Spoelstra. At 15-67, the Miami Heat, two seasons after being NBA Champions, now had the worst record in the league and tied a franchise low for wins in a season.

Some might call the current state of affairs in South Beach, a "new era." I beg to differ. So far, we have seen a promising prospect in Mario Chalmers and some level of greatness in Wade. Otherwise, there really is nothing formidable about this team. Recently, news has surfaced that Michael Beasley will be entering rehab for reported marijuana use. On the plus side, last year they did have a seven game series with the Atlanta Hawks - but that was in the first round. Nothing, however, makes this team elite.

The Miami Heat arguably had the worst decline of any team in NBA history. As my math teacher would say, they truly went from "the outhouse to the penthouse."