Can Danny: Just Bad
As a diehard basketball fan, I often bemoan the fact that nobody likes to watch hoops. After subjecting myself to the Grizzlies/Kings and Clippers/Timberwolves games, I can't say that I blame people for skipping out on the NBA. Honestly, even the Celtics/Hornets game seemed more about miscues and mastery. The NBA right now is in the middle of a changing of the guard and the new class of player isn't coming along as quickly as one would hope (or expect since most of them were forced into a year of college).
The NFL, on the other hand, seems to be proceeding nicely with their new class. Guys like Maurice Jones-Drew and Chris Johnson are taking off and a number of youngsters like Brian Cushing or Jerod Mayo are quickly making a name for themselves. Hell, even a supposed no-name like Brandon McGowan is winning fans with his hard hitting style of play.
Thankfully, the Celtics don't seem to be having the same problem as the rest of the NBA. I've been a pretty harsh critic of Rajon Rondo but I have to say that I'm glad that the Celtics locked him up. I am a bit nervous about how the team is going to afford to keep Ray Allen around next year. Still, it's nice to have a guy that looks to be a future top point guard at a reasonable enough rate.
Oh, and about the Hornets. A lot of people will blame Byron Scott for what's going on there but he's not the only one to blame. Look at that roster; they really aren't that good. Julian Wright didn't really get all that much better yet he somehow went from bench fodder to starter. Emeka Okafor is a rich man's Kendrick Perkins, only if said rich man is Daniel Snyder. People can whine all they want about an age limit but Okafor hasn't improved much in the league while the prep star Dwight Howard continues to get better, despite pretending to go to a college class.
Elsewhere, people should definitely try to take in a Knicks game (if they are ever on) to catch Danilo Gallinari. I'm not going to say that the Knicks were right to take him so high but he's quite the shooter. I'm just not sure what else he does. Still, he went from being an outright bust (ala Joe Alexander) to a guy who could prove the critics wrong. Also, don't miss Clyde Frazier calling a game. Now that Walton is gone, Frazier may be alone atop the list of best announcers to listen to for a laugh. Where else are you going to hear a point guard described as having "feline quickness".
If you want to hear some homers, check out the Grizzlies (or better yet, don't). Those guys find the bright side of any black hole. Rudy Gay missed a key free throw late in the game and their response was to complement the Grizz on how well they have shot free throws as a team that game.
I wanted to check out some Clippers games this year but it's tough to watch such a waste of talent. For all the talk of problems with young players, it seems like the coaching might be what's fallen the most in the league. I can't remember seeing so many boneheaded plays and just completely mismanaged rosters like this year (and we're only a few games in).
Maybe I'm getting a little ahead of myself but any overstated ideas in this little rant are dedicated to Bill Walton. He was always entertaining to listen to, even if he contradicted himself and didn't seem to take things seriously.
