Western Conference Rankings Pre-Season.

1.Thunder
It's a close race for the #1 spot, but Durant/West/Harden is such an exciting young trio, they have to get it. Keeping the same core group with a slimmed down Perkins (lost 20 lbs!) has the Thunder starting off right.

2.Mavericks
The main song you heard being sung during the Mavs playoff run was "Tyson Chandler changed Mavs attitude". He's now a Knick, but Dirk/Kidd/Terry/Marion remain along with the additions of Vince Carter and Lamar Odom. The old legs may catch up to them, but the Mavs will remain a powerhouse throughout.

3.Grizzlies
Lest we forget, what a run this team had. Pushing the #1 ranked Thunder to the brink without Rudy Gay. A year of seasoning for this young team and I can easily see them passing one of the two top teams.

4. Clippers
It's not hype people! MVP worthy pg with a Finals MVP guard in the backcourt is not an everyday thing. Blake Griffin/Jordan are mean and hungry, Caron Butler joins them to open the floor with his shooting and his defense will add a nice touch. Gomes/Mo/Foye is a nice bench, just have to wonder about the back up bigs.

5.Lakers
Amazing how much the Celtics/Lakers have in common. From the old legs, to the loss of key players (Odom/Green) to an obvious tension that comes from trades that never happened.  Bryant is still an elite player and Gasol/Bynum are a good frontline. However, the way I feel about this old team in a shortened season is best defined by the moment where Kobe Bryant tried to take it to the hole on DeAndre Jordan during the pre-season and ended up injured. It's gonna be a LONG, shortened season for the Lakers.

6.Spurs
The Spurs have a very bad taste in their mouth from last year's very short playoff run, however they also have more rest. A slim-downed rejuvenated Tim Duncan and rested Paker/Manu will probably get the Spurs to a strong, fast start. However, they need to do something about that bench. Let's see if they pick up any players in the next few weeks.

7.Nuggets
This team was actually ranked 5th overall in a Sports Illustrated article on their site recently, but I don't see it. Sure they are young and have nice pieces in Nene/Affalo, but that run late last year reeked more of  frustration over the "MELO'DRAMA" than any indication of being a real contender. Youth may get them further then it should though.

8.Trailblazers
Let's be clear, the Blazers are used to the idea of "no Roy/Oden" so don't put too much into it. As long as LaMarcus is healthy, this is a team that should make their annual appearance in the playoff, but not much after that.

9.Rockets
The trade that never was keeps Kevin Martin and Luis Scola on the roster, add in Dalembert and it could be a solid season for them. I like Patterson and Budinger to make some noise this season.

10.Hornets
Replacing David West and Chris Paul is not possible so let's end that speculation and focus on reality. Kaman/Gordon/Ariza/Okafor/Jack is a nice line up. Throw in Landry/Aminu along with a team who has something to prove after being written off and they may surprise everyone with a playoff appearance ala last year's Nuggets.

11.Wolves
This pick here is one that will surprise many, but I will stick to it for now. You have Kevin Love who deserves more press than he gets. A winner in J.J. Barea, mixed with Beasley, Rubio, Randolph and rookie sensation Derrick Williams and I think they will over-achieve. A shortened season helps....a lot!

12.Kings
Losing Dalembert will hurt more than you realize when you look around and see no one that can hold down the middle. Evans and the JIMMER will add points and an up and down pace with lots of points and zero defense. I think John Salmons will have a much better season.

13.Warriors
Mark Jackson no longer wears an NBA uniform, but he will have the biggest role in how this team does this season. There is no reason this team shouldn't do better than they have, but defense is something they badly lack. If Coach Jackson can get them on the same page, the Warriors should jump a lot higher than this position. Big "IF".

14.Suns
Steve Nash is not only a legend, but such a a classy guy. He still has game left in him, but not much, yet he is loyal to Phoenix. Sadly, there isn't much to look at except the will of one of the best point guards in the last 20 years.

15. Jazz
Is Devin Harris healthy yet?

Eastern Conference Rankings Pre-season

1.Heat
Adding Battier and young legs in a tough season should get them to the top. Should is the key word with Lebron's mental game hopefully caught up with his physical game. Inside presence is a big question mark.

2.Bulls
Adding Richard Hamilton gives them a legit shooter and allows rose to be more of a passer and save his legs for a grueling playoff run. Health is always key with this team with Boozer/Noah injury prone.

3.Knicks
Lots of names added on to this team from Chandler to Davis and now Stat and Melo should have better chemistry. However, who's team is it, will Chandler/Davis stay healthy and will the addition of assistant coach Mike Woodson help the Knicks finally play some D in the "AntonI" era.

4.Magic
This team could drop big time before the season ends if Dwight Howard leaves as expected. For now, they have added a championship experienced player in Glen Davis and the same core group remains. Chemistry is a big attribute in a season with less practice time/pre-season.

5.Pacers
The underdog has bark and bite since they added David West. As long as no health issues occur with West, coming off surgery, this is a very dangerous front-line. Granger/Hibbert/West need to mesh quickly and Darren Collison needs to continue to improve his impressive game to the next level.

6.Celtics
Names don't help old legs. Garnett/Allen/Pierce are still an incredible nucleus to begin a season with, but with so many games in such little time and little rest, there's bound to be deep repercussions. Still have that championship spirit, but will Rondo get over the trade rumors? Keep an eye on Rondo.

7.Sixers

An exciting team with young legs, some playoff experience under their belt and still have the same core group. Will Andre Iguodala step up and take on a leadership role? Brackins and Turner now have a full season and if they added confidence to their game, the Sixers may take full advantage of a shortened season.

8.Hawks
The Hawks remain a mystery. A team with three marquee players like Joe Johnson , Josh Smith and Al Horford should have better results. The truth is they have no leader. If any of these three decide to carry the team, this team could certainly go up a few spots.

9.Bucks
I like some of the new players they added on, beginning with Stephen Jackson and Mike Dunleavy is a nice pick-up. A healthy Andrew Bogut combined with a more mature Jackson and Brandon Jennings could make this a nice season. Drew Gooden returning from the dead would really help too!

10.Wizards
Rookie of the year pg, John Wall, young exciting center in Mcgee and veterans Rashard Lewis and Josh Howard make the Wizards a sleeping dog. The main issue will be John Wall's shot selection as well as improving that shot (40%!!). The future is bright, but is it now?

11. Cavs
Sometimes teams have a better season than expected because they improved and other times it's because other teams got worse. While #1 pick Kyrie Irving looks to be the early favorite for ROY, the Cavs should take advantage of other bad teams in their conf. Jamison/Varejo are a nice frontcourt, Parker returns for his shooting/D. Playoffs seem far off though.

12.Nets
Deron Williams, DeShawn Stevenson and Mehmet Okur will take the Jazz....oh wait, actually they are on the Nets now. Unless Dwight Howard walks in through that door (Rick Pitino voice), Brooklyn may not be too excited yet for the Nets to arrive. I still like Damion James very much, look out for him.

13.Pistons
There are actually some nice pieces on this team from Stuckey to Maxiell , however, the other pieces need to show up. Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva are still getting their paychecks, but certainly not earning them. If Lawrence Frank can get them to mesh, they may move up a few spots.

14. Raptors
In the battle to avoid being dead last, the Raptors win second to last for a few reasons, but nothing to be excited about. They have a number of returning players who under-achieved badly last year, but still have a nice skill set. Barnani, Calderon and Barbosa is not a bad group of players. Add on some strong 2nd year players and who knows.....I think we all know how it will end though. Sorry Raptor fans.

15. Bobcats
They have Kemba Walker and get all the free Air Jordan sneakers they want. Merry Christmas.

"If they new I gotta get them first ....." Concords released, mayhem ensues

Anyone recall when this blog posted about the Air Jordan Retro 11 Concords coming out on Dec 23rd? This is what makes this blog different, there's more to being an NBA fan than just stats and opinions. Look to this blog to always get your info on sneakers, music and fashion that NBA fans are always on top of. 

Hopefully in the future , stores will learn a better way to keep control of the crowds as sneakerheads overall are not like the knuckleheads in this story. 

Relax, Buggin' Out

"Runners whom renown outran And the name died before the man"

We say goodbye to three players who gave us a lot of great memories.

Peja Stojakovic , Antonio Mcdyess and Brandon Roy. 

While we will miss all three of these great players, your heart has to ache for Brandon Roy who retires at the young age of 27 after doctors told him if he kept playing, it could keep from him walking one day. 

Thanks for the memories guys.

Whenever I see some well respected athletes hang it up , I always return to this poem. 

To An Athlete Dying Young

by A.E. Housman

The time you won your town the race
We chaired you through the market-place;
Man and boy stood cheering by,
And home we brought you shoulder-high.

To-day, the road all runners come,
Shoulder-high we bring you home,
And set you at your threshold down,
Townsman of a stiller town.

Smart lad, to slip betimes away
From fields were glory does not stay
And early though the laurel grows
It withers quicker than the rose.

Eyes the shady night has shut
Cannot see the record cut,
And silence sounds no worse than cheers
After earth has stopped the ears:

Now you will not swell the rout
Of lads that wore their honours out,
Runners whom renown outran
And the name died before the man.

So set, before its echoes fade,
The fleet foot on the sill of shade,
And hold to the low lintel up
The still-defended challenge-cup.

And round that early-laurelled head
Will flock to gaze the strengthless dead,
And find unwithered on its curls
The garland briefer than a girl's.

I'm leaving on a jet plane.

The Knicks did not get Chris Paul as they had hoped and the rumors ran wild with how Chris Paul would come to the Knicks including trading Amare for Chris Paul!! Well, the Knicks certainly did well as they picked up a 29 year old who has just won a title with the Mavericks and was the anchor to their defense in Tyson Chandler. Hopefully, the idea of defense will rub off on Knicks Coach "Antoni" (no D in his name till he coaches D). How this will affect the Knicks this season will be written in a upcoming blog. 

On Dec, 1st a person I personally admire among the nba writers/reporters/bloggers, J.A. Adande, tweetd me that my idea of Billups on the Alanta Hawks in a 3 team trade for Paul to the Knicks wouldn't work because Billups wouldn't work on a  young team. I understand why he suggested this, however, it's looking like a veteran with a championship and nba finals MVP is going to work out nicely on a very young LA Clippers team. Nonetheless, I highly suggest you follow J.A. Adande on twitter as he is one of the best informed NBA insiders and his suit game is pretty serious (Wait, till I get there Adande!). 

LA belonged to the Clippers as soon as the Clippers got Chris Paul from the Hornets for Eric Gordon, Chris Kaman, Al-Farouq Aminu and the Timberwolves 2012 1st round pick. A few days before that trade, the Clippers picked up Chauncey Billups off waivers after the Knicks let him go to get Tyson Chandler. 

Now the Clippers have a backcourt that can both play defense, push the ball, and throw alley-oops to Blake Griffin and Deandre Jordan, who signed for 4 years for $43 million matching the offer sheet given to Jordan via Golden State. Los Angeles or Lob Angeles? It's gonna be fun.

While there was a lot of excitement in the trades, rumors and signings during a crazy two weeks of transactions, let us take a moment to wish Jeff Green best of luck as he will miss the season in order to have heart surgery on Jan. 9. Green is a very young 25 years old with a bright future and a grim reminder of how quickly life can change on us. Wishing him the best on his surgery ,recovery and  a return to the court. 

Obviously we have so many transactions to comment on, but these 3 for me stuck out the most. 

The other notable transactions:

Baron Davis is now a Knick. Vince Carter and Larmar Odom give the Mavs some names after losing some names (Chandler, Butler), Jamal Crawford signed with the Trailblazers, Mehmet Okur got traded to the Nets, David West is now a Pacer making an underdog earn a bigger bite, Bulls have a shooter in Richard Hamilton, J.J. Barrea joined the Timberwolves because three starting point guards is the new thing for 2012, Boston traded their under-achieving PF Glen Davis for Orlando's under-achieving PF Brandon Bass, Shane Battier goes to the Heat, thus the "Heatles" are complete. Who's Ringo?

Microphone check 1, 2.

So here we are a few hours from the NBA season and yes, the blog is back. With so many changes and, changes abruptly halted, I found posting about players who weren't getting traded or playing a waste of time for the reader and myself.

However, the rosters are set, the moves have been made and now reality sets in.

66 games in less than 5 months.