Eddie Jordan: Last week in my NBA Weekly post, I talked about how the Wizards were off to a horrible start:
This just in: The Washington Wizards stink. In fact, with a record of 1-9, they have been so horrible that Gilbert Arenas is already talking about the potential to pick up a great player in the NBA draft lottery. Unfortunately for Arenas, I think the main reason the Wizards stink right now is that they are paying him max player money to someone who has a recent history of injury problems. I still think this was a huge mistake and the Wizards are paying for it now, because they didn't have enough depth to add any meaningful players once they signed Arenas and they could have used someone like Roger Mason, Jr who they let get away to the Spurs this offseason. Mason, Jr has been solid for the Spurs since starting for the injured Tony Parker and is averaging 15.2 points a game, while 46.4% shooting from the floor and 50.8% shooting from three. The Wizards certainly could use that kind of production in place of an injured Arenas.
Notice how I made no mention that Eddie Jordan should be fired, because the thought didn't even cross my mind. However, the Wizards did fire Eddie Jordan and I don't believe the firing was justified. This Washington Wizards team is flawed and is overpaying a player who shouldn't be maxed out. If it wasn't for Eddie Jordan and a weak Eastern Conference, it's possible that the Wizards wouldn't even been in the playoffs the last few years. We all know the Wizards are a poor defensive team, but a look at their roster shows that they aren't built to be a good defensive team. The fact that Jordan even had this team playing respectable defense is amazing in it's own right. With an undersized Antawn Jamison at PF and Andray Blatche, Etan Thomas, and rookie Javale McGee roaming the paint, it's no wonder this team ranks next to last in defensive efficiency. I hate to keep beating a dead horse, but the decision to sign the injury prone Arenas to a max contract is going to cripple this team for years to come.
Devin Harris: Not only did Devin Harris drop 47 points on Steve Nash and the Phoenix Suns last night, but did you know he's also ranked 6th in Player Efficiency Rating right now? Harris is behind only Lebron James, Tony Parker, Dwayne Wade, Chris Paul, and Dwight Howard. Definitely something that surprised me, but Harris has been red hot of late dropping 47 and 34 points on the Suns and Jazz, while shooting 64.2% from the floor in the process. On the season, Harris is averaging a career high 25.3 points a game, along with 6.4 assists, 3.7 rebounds, while shooting an impressive 48.7% from the floor. Harris is making that Jason Kidd trade look worse and worse for Dallas every time he steps out on the court and along with a resurgent Vince Carter is forming a pretty nice backcourt for a surprising Nets team that is 9-7 on the season and 7-3 in their last 10 games.
Stephon Marbury: TrueHoop looks into possible landing spots for Stephon Marbury and comes up with a list that includes: Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Golden State, Miami, New Orleans, Orlando, Toronto, Philadelphia, Phoenix, and San Antonio. I honestly don't think a team like Orlando, Toronto, or New Orleans should mess with their young teams by bringing in someone like Marbury. It wouldn't be the worst thing in the world if Boston or San Antonio took a chance on him, but I don't really see him as a good fit for either team, especially with the way Rondo is playing for the Celtics and the Spurs having George Hill and Roger Mason, Jr. playing well for them this season. Dallas, Golden State, Miami, and Atlanta might have a need for a PG like Marbury and my guess would be he lands with one of these teams for better or worse.
Denver Nuggets: Is it time to start taking the Denver Nuggets seriously? The Nuggets improved to 12-6 after Chauncey Billups poured in 28 points to help Denver defeat the Rockets last night. The Nuggets are somewhat surprisingly ranked 6th in defensive efficiency despite the fact it looked like what was a horrible defensive team would only get worse once losing Marcus Camby. Nene, Chris Anderson, and Kenyon Martin have filled in admirably though. Nene has been especially good this season and is averaging career highs in points(14.9), rebounds(7.2), blocks(1.6), and FG%(62.8%). On the negative side of things for the Nuggets, Carmelo Anthony has had a nagging elbow injury all season long and J.R. Smith has not emerged with the breakout season that many predicted once Allen Iverson was traded. However, with the Nuggets improved defensively and the addition of a proven leader like Chauncey Billups, the Nuggets might not be the first round playoff pushovers they have been in the past.
Shawn Marion: Word on the street is that the Miami Heat are starting to shop around Shawn Marion and his expiring contract. The problem for Miami is that I don't think Marion is going to get them that much in return because he seems to be on the decline. He hasn't meshed as well with Dwyane Wade as Miami has hoped and is averaging only 11.7 points a game this season. The Heat might be better off just hanging on to him and using the cap space for next year to help improve the team. I'm not even sure what teams would be interested in him at this point either.
This just in: The Washington Wizards stink. In fact, with a record of 1-9, they have been so horrible that Gilbert Arenas is already talking about the potential to pick up a great player in the NBA draft lottery. Unfortunately for Arenas, I think the main reason the Wizards stink right now is that they are paying him max player money to someone who has a recent history of injury problems. I still think this was a huge mistake and the Wizards are paying for it now, because they didn't have enough depth to add any meaningful players once they signed Arenas and they could have used someone like Roger Mason, Jr who they let get away to the Spurs this offseason. Mason, Jr has been solid for the Spurs since starting for the injured Tony Parker and is averaging 15.2 points a game, while 46.4% shooting from the floor and 50.8% shooting from three. The Wizards certainly could use that kind of production in place of an injured Arenas.
Notice how I made no mention that Eddie Jordan should be fired, because the thought didn't even cross my mind. However, the Wizards did fire Eddie Jordan and I don't believe the firing was justified. This Washington Wizards team is flawed and is overpaying a player who shouldn't be maxed out. If it wasn't for Eddie Jordan and a weak Eastern Conference, it's possible that the Wizards wouldn't even been in the playoffs the last few years. We all know the Wizards are a poor defensive team, but a look at their roster shows that they aren't built to be a good defensive team. The fact that Jordan even had this team playing respectable defense is amazing in it's own right. With an undersized Antawn Jamison at PF and Andray Blatche, Etan Thomas, and rookie Javale McGee roaming the paint, it's no wonder this team ranks next to last in defensive efficiency. I hate to keep beating a dead horse, but the decision to sign the injury prone Arenas to a max contract is going to cripple this team for years to come.
Devin Harris: Not only did Devin Harris drop 47 points on Steve Nash and the Phoenix Suns last night, but did you know he's also ranked 6th in Player Efficiency Rating right now? Harris is behind only Lebron James, Tony Parker, Dwayne Wade, Chris Paul, and Dwight Howard. Definitely something that surprised me, but Harris has been red hot of late dropping 47 and 34 points on the Suns and Jazz, while shooting 64.2% from the floor in the process. On the season, Harris is averaging a career high 25.3 points a game, along with 6.4 assists, 3.7 rebounds, while shooting an impressive 48.7% from the floor. Harris is making that Jason Kidd trade look worse and worse for Dallas every time he steps out on the court and along with a resurgent Vince Carter is forming a pretty nice backcourt for a surprising Nets team that is 9-7 on the season and 7-3 in their last 10 games.
Stephon Marbury: TrueHoop looks into possible landing spots for Stephon Marbury and comes up with a list that includes: Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Golden State, Miami, New Orleans, Orlando, Toronto, Philadelphia, Phoenix, and San Antonio. I honestly don't think a team like Orlando, Toronto, or New Orleans should mess with their young teams by bringing in someone like Marbury. It wouldn't be the worst thing in the world if Boston or San Antonio took a chance on him, but I don't really see him as a good fit for either team, especially with the way Rondo is playing for the Celtics and the Spurs having George Hill and Roger Mason, Jr. playing well for them this season. Dallas, Golden State, Miami, and Atlanta might have a need for a PG like Marbury and my guess would be he lands with one of these teams for better or worse.
Denver Nuggets: Is it time to start taking the Denver Nuggets seriously? The Nuggets improved to 12-6 after Chauncey Billups poured in 28 points to help Denver defeat the Rockets last night. The Nuggets are somewhat surprisingly ranked 6th in defensive efficiency despite the fact it looked like what was a horrible defensive team would only get worse once losing Marcus Camby. Nene, Chris Anderson, and Kenyon Martin have filled in admirably though. Nene has been especially good this season and is averaging career highs in points(14.9), rebounds(7.2), blocks(1.6), and FG%(62.8%). On the negative side of things for the Nuggets, Carmelo Anthony has had a nagging elbow injury all season long and J.R. Smith has not emerged with the breakout season that many predicted once Allen Iverson was traded. However, with the Nuggets improved defensively and the addition of a proven leader like Chauncey Billups, the Nuggets might not be the first round playoff pushovers they have been in the past.
Shawn Marion: Word on the street is that the Miami Heat are starting to shop around Shawn Marion and his expiring contract. The problem for Miami is that I don't think Marion is going to get them that much in return because he seems to be on the decline. He hasn't meshed as well with Dwyane Wade as Miami has hoped and is averaging only 11.7 points a game this season. The Heat might be better off just hanging on to him and using the cap space for next year to help improve the team. I'm not even sure what teams would be interested in him at this point either.
More: NBA Weekly
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