The Orlando Magic continue to rise in stock. In the past week the Magic have beaten three division leaders and pulled ahead of the Cleveland Cavaliers by two in the win column. Speaking of Cleveland, the Cavs have won their first 20 games of the season at home. If they can continue that dominance, I’ll know who to take going to the Finals in the East. Even with their tremendous performances this past week, the Magic and Cavs are nowhere to be seen on this week’s report card:
OKC forward Kevin Durant is finally giving Thunder fans something to clap about this year.
A - The Thunder’s Surge - In a season where records for most wins has been a hot topic, the Oklahoma City Thunder were a hot topic surrounding fewest wins in NBA history. They were as close to earning an “A” on our report card as Charles Barkley is to becoming sober. Through their first 33 games, the Thunder won three, not the best recipe to sell tickets in an expansion market. In the gutter, where it could have been so easy to just die as everyone expected them, the Thunder have won five of their last nine games. In this streak the Thunder have had wins against the New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls, Utah Jazz, and Detroit Pistons. The Thunder aren’t out of the clear yet, if they lose every game the rest of the year then they will still break the record.
B – The Nuggets Resilience - It was just a few years ago that the Denver Nuggets made the a blockbuster move to get Allen Iverson. There were many that thought with the combination of A.I. and Carmelo Anthony, the Nuggets had a imminent Championship in their future. Fast forward to present day, the Nuggets traded A.I. to the Detroit Pistons for Chauncey Billups, apparently A.I. wasn’t “The Answer.” ‘Melo and A.I. lacked chemistry, all they did was contend with each other for who could score the most points. After ‘Melo broke his right hand earlier this month, the outlook was bleak at best for the Nuggets, but the Nuggets have won three of their last five, all of them against playoff teams. For the first time in a while, the Nuggets will be a force to be reckoned with once ‘Melo returns.
C – The 76ers Rebounding - With Elton Brand in street clothes, the player that was supposed to help them get over the hump, the Philadelphia 76ers won their seventh straight game on Saturday. For the first time in two months, the 76ers are at .500 with a 20-20 record almost halfway through the season. Veteran point guard Andre Miller and superstar Andre Iguodala are the main reason for the improvement as of late, but maybe it has to do with them firing former head coach Maurice Cheeks. Whatever the reason, the 76ers are slowly molding into the team that is fighting for their lives every game that nobody wants to play. Once Brand returns from his separated shoulder, we’ll see if he helps the team or has an “A.I.” effect on them.
D – Trailblazer Temper Tantrums - Back in 2004, the Portland Trailblazers signed Darius Miles to a six-year contract only to waive him in 2008 after not completely healing from microfracture surgery. Under the NBA collective bargaining agreement, if Miles was to play more than 10 games with another team this year, the Blazers would have to pay the remaining $18 million on Miles’ contract. Miles played in eight games earlier this year with the Boston Celtics before being waived. With the Memphis Grizzlies showing interest in Miles and offering him another 10-game contract, the Blazers sent out an email to the other 29 teams in the NBA threatening legal action if someone signed Miles. The Grizzlies signed Miles, he has played in two games thus far completing the 10-game minimum, and now the Blazers are stuck with paying $18 million, maybe that’s the legal action the Blazers were talking about. It wasn’t a threat after all, it was a promise.
F – Mark Cuban’s Behavior - Mark Cuban is a passionate owner, he loves his team and really cares. However; in all of this passion and caring he comes off as one of those bad parents at their child’s soccer game shouting obscenities at the referees and trash talking little kids on the opposing team. And much like the children of such parents, you have to believe the Dallas Mavericks are embarrassed of their owner. This past week Cuban got into a spat with J.R. Smith of the Nuggets because Smith was apparently throwing elbows. Cuban was fined $25,000, and is planning on donating the money. I’ve heard he’s donating it to his own charity: Mark Cuban’s Future Athletes Foundation – “Equipping Tomorrow’s Athletes With an Attitude and a Mouth to Match!”
Tags: NBA