The Good
The resurgence of the Boston Celtics
Just when you thought that Danny Ainge was in the running to be the NBA's worst GM, he turned things around for the long-suffering Boston Celtics by acquiring Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen for over two thirds of the Celtics' 2006-2007 roster. The gamble has paid off, with the Celtics holding the NBA's best record and Boston now a favorite to reach the NBA Finals for the first time in over 20 years.
Jailblazers no more
When they shipped Zach Randolph to the New York Knicks before the beginning of the season, the Portland Trailblazers marked the end of the Jailblazer Era. With a group of young, athletic, team-oriented players led by 2007 Rookie of the Year Brandon Roy, Portland coach Nate McMillan has remade the Blazers in his own image. They play tough D, share the ball, and work their ass off every night... and no one gets in the papers for breaking the law.
The return of Grant Hill
People thought he wouldn't be able to play again, but in a Phoenix Suns uniform Grant Hill has shown that he can still play, and play well.
The Bad
The Houston Rockets: the more things change, the more they stay the same
At the beginning of each season, the Houston Rockets show a lot of promise, and this season was no exception, with new coach Rick Adelman and acquisitions like Luis Scola having people talking about the Rockets becoming the newest member of the Western Conference's elite. After a hot 6-1 start, Houston lost seven straight games and today are barely keeping their heads above water. With Tracy McGrady showing signs that he wants out, the Rockets don't look like a team that will make the playoffs, much less get out of the first round.
The Diesel slows down
A lot of premier players lose their game slowly, getting a step slower with each passing year. Few have huge drop-offs like the League's Most Dominating Ever, who is painful to watch on a mediocre Miami Heat team that is a far cry from the squad that won the 2006 NBA Finals. Shaquille O'Neal is as big as a dinosaur. Now he's as old as one, and plays like one.
Milwaukee can't buck the trend
Another team which had a promising season, with a star player poised for superstardom (Michael Redd) and a rookie with star-like qualities (Yi Jianlian) leading a balanced team that won five straight games in November, including one over the Dallas Mavericks, before losing eight of their next nine games. With a 12-20 record, they now sit at the cellar of the Central Division, and it doesn't look like things are going to change anytime soon.
The Ugly
The New York Knicks
What else need be said about the Knicks, who seem to personify everything that's wrong with NBA basketball.
Minnesota after KG
Admit it, Kevin McHale, you still love the Boston Celtics. Why else would you give your franchise's best player for a potential star (Al Jefferson) and some change? At the least, you could've gotten a proven star player and maybe a first round draft pick or two. But no, you and pal Danny Ainge got together and made a deal that made a lot of sense––for Boston, that is. Now the Timberwolves own the League's worst record, with only four wins in 32 games.
The Chicago Bulls' offense
Things may change with the firing of Scott Skiles, but if you watched the Bulls' games at the beginning of the season, you probably were tempted to change the channel. With Kirk Hinrich, Ben Gordon, and Luol Deng bothered by trade talks and obviously uninspired by their temperamental head coach, the Bulls's young trio couldn't get into the groove and shot so poorly that Chicago defied expectations in the worst way, becoming one of the League's worst teams despite being touted as one of the favorites to reach the NBA Finals. Things may still turn around with new coach Jim Boylan at the helm, but with Eastern Conference teams like the Detroit Pistons and Boston Celtics already brimming with confidence, and the Bulls now having to claw their way into the playoffs, it may already be too late.
The resurgence of the Boston Celtics
Just when you thought that Danny Ainge was in the running to be the NBA's worst GM, he turned things around for the long-suffering Boston Celtics by acquiring Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen for over two thirds of the Celtics' 2006-2007 roster. The gamble has paid off, with the Celtics holding the NBA's best record and Boston now a favorite to reach the NBA Finals for the first time in over 20 years.
Jailblazers no more
When they shipped Zach Randolph to the New York Knicks before the beginning of the season, the Portland Trailblazers marked the end of the Jailblazer Era. With a group of young, athletic, team-oriented players led by 2007 Rookie of the Year Brandon Roy, Portland coach Nate McMillan has remade the Blazers in his own image. They play tough D, share the ball, and work their ass off every night... and no one gets in the papers for breaking the law.
The return of Grant Hill
People thought he wouldn't be able to play again, but in a Phoenix Suns uniform Grant Hill has shown that he can still play, and play well.
The Bad
The Houston Rockets: the more things change, the more they stay the same
At the beginning of each season, the Houston Rockets show a lot of promise, and this season was no exception, with new coach Rick Adelman and acquisitions like Luis Scola having people talking about the Rockets becoming the newest member of the Western Conference's elite. After a hot 6-1 start, Houston lost seven straight games and today are barely keeping their heads above water. With Tracy McGrady showing signs that he wants out, the Rockets don't look like a team that will make the playoffs, much less get out of the first round.
The Diesel slows down
A lot of premier players lose their game slowly, getting a step slower with each passing year. Few have huge drop-offs like the League's Most Dominating Ever, who is painful to watch on a mediocre Miami Heat team that is a far cry from the squad that won the 2006 NBA Finals. Shaquille O'Neal is as big as a dinosaur. Now he's as old as one, and plays like one.
Milwaukee can't buck the trend
Another team which had a promising season, with a star player poised for superstardom (Michael Redd) and a rookie with star-like qualities (Yi Jianlian) leading a balanced team that won five straight games in November, including one over the Dallas Mavericks, before losing eight of their next nine games. With a 12-20 record, they now sit at the cellar of the Central Division, and it doesn't look like things are going to change anytime soon.
The Ugly
The New York Knicks
What else need be said about the Knicks, who seem to personify everything that's wrong with NBA basketball.
Minnesota after KG
Admit it, Kevin McHale, you still love the Boston Celtics. Why else would you give your franchise's best player for a potential star (Al Jefferson) and some change? At the least, you could've gotten a proven star player and maybe a first round draft pick or two. But no, you and pal Danny Ainge got together and made a deal that made a lot of sense––for Boston, that is. Now the Timberwolves own the League's worst record, with only four wins in 32 games.
The Chicago Bulls' offense
Things may change with the firing of Scott Skiles, but if you watched the Bulls' games at the beginning of the season, you probably were tempted to change the channel. With Kirk Hinrich, Ben Gordon, and Luol Deng bothered by trade talks and obviously uninspired by their temperamental head coach, the Bulls's young trio couldn't get into the groove and shot so poorly that Chicago defied expectations in the worst way, becoming one of the League's worst teams despite being touted as one of the favorites to reach the NBA Finals. Things may still turn around with new coach Jim Boylan at the helm, but with Eastern Conference teams like the Detroit Pistons and Boston Celtics already brimming with confidence, and the Bulls now having to claw their way into the playoffs, it may already be too late.
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