November 27, 2005 ...Four weeks into the 2005-06 NBA season. Here is who is ‘balling’ for the East and West. Your Guards from the West: Steve Nash, Kobe Bryant, Chris Paul, and Tony Parker. Your Forwards out West are Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, Elton Brand, Shawn Marion, and Dirk Nowitzki. The Centers getting it done are Marcus Camby, Yao Ming, and Pau Gasol. ...For the East All-Stars one month into the season, we go with Guards; Dwyane Wade, Allen Iverson, Chauncey Billups, and Vince Carter. The Eastern Forwards playing All-Star caliber ball are: Paul Pierce, Lebron James, Gerald Wallace, Drew Gooden, Antawn Jamison and Chris Bosh. The Centers are Jermaine O’Neal, and Dwight Howard. ...The above is all based on efficiency for the 200-5-06 season to date.

 

November 25, 2005 ...The Milwaukee Bucks waived Josh Davis. The Kings should sign him immediately. He is a three-four with toughness, and tremendous rebounding ability. He can shoot the three and finish plays on the run. I have long though Davis should be getting at minimum bench minutes in the NBA. Davis is a former CBA MVP.

 

November 19, 2005 …Caught Dallas whopping up on Detroit in Dallas tonight. It was a back-to-back for the Pistons, and Dallas ran it down their throats. Devin Harris was good using his quickness to get easy baskets for the Mavs. ...The Kings handled the Bucks at ARCO last night. The Milwaukees may not realize it but how about this? Dan Gadzuric should get more run than Jamal Magloire. I said it. Magloire’s efficiency is not as high as Gadzuric’s. Maurice Williams is off to a good start but he and T.J. Ford did not use their speed well against the Kings. ...Kevin Martin played well. ...Before that we saw Utah come to Sac with a JV Team. The Jazz were so beat up it wasn’t fair except that it was an NBA regular season game and it counted. Utah played without Carlos Boozer, Matt Harpring, Keith McLeod, Andre Kirilenko, and Gordan Giricek. However, they also have some guys as back ups that I don’t think should be in the NBA. Robert Whaley, Andre Owens, and Jarron Collins all played significant minutes in the thumping the Kings laid on the Jazz. ...Slow out of the gate: Mike Dunleavey Jr., David Wesley, Jim Jackson, and Johan Petro.

 

November 14, 2005 …So who is out of the NBA starting gate strong? We track those deserving of All-Star status roughly every two weeks here at ‘the Spin’. We base this on efficiency with a minimum 130 minutes played. In the East your guards would be Dwyane Wade, Gilbert Arenas, Chauncey Billups, and Vince Carter. The Eastern forwards would include Lebron james, Paul Pierce, Gerald Wallace (Wow), Drew Gooden, Antawn Jamison, and Richard Jefferson. The two Eastern Centers at this early juncture would be Jermaine O’Neal, and Alonzo Mourning. Out West - The Guards off to a hot start are Speedy Claxton, Leandro Barbosa, Kobe Bryant, and Tony Parker. The Forwards are Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, Elton Brand, Shawn Marion, and Dirk Nowitzki. The Centers worthy of early praise are Marcus Camby, Yao Ming, and Mehmet Okur.

 

November 8, 2005 …I’m not very smart. I had the Kings +2 points at home vs. the Pistons. Detroit blew out Sac and I left early. The reason I am dumb is that I should have known that the Pistons are playing at a very high level. Their starting five instinctively knows where to move, cut, and pass. They play great defense. And in 2005-06 they use a version of early offense that blistered the Kings all night. I should know that despite the Kings efficiency among individuals, as a team, they need time to gel. ...That being said, I again reiterate how much I think Kevin Martin is not ready for NBA minutes. And the Kings roster is out of balance with at least one too many power forwards. ...I also believe you have to think BIG picture and the Kings have a stockpile of power forwards because they had to get rid of Chris Webber’s contract. Corliss Williamson and Kenny Thomas came over and then Shareef Abdur-Rahim became available at a relative bargain price. I doubt the Kings will have Thomas, Williamson, and Abdur-Rahim on their roster come April. Francisco Garcia, I believe, in time will be good as will Jason Hart. The Kings need Garcia healthy and productive, and they need a guy that can play two or three that doesn’t float passes. They need a guy that can score from the perimeter. ...The ESPN SportCenter ‘simulated press conferences ‘ are the worst idea to hit a ‘news’ show ever. I totally don’t get it. It is beyond comprehension how idiotic this idea is. They are faking press conferences for each Major League Baseball team in order to give the viewer the storylines for each team. An actor plays the role of the team’s General Manager and then the ESPN reporters, (in heavy makeup), ask questions while a strobe light pretends to be cameras flashing. And you what my alternative is for sports news on TV at 10:45 PM? Fox Sports. That is sad.

 

November 7, 2005 ...Peja Stojakovic had one of the best quarters of offense I’ve ever seen last night in the Kings win over the Suns in Phoenix. 21 third quarter points showed me the ‘old’ Peja. ...Mike Sweetney was unbelievably effective in Chicago’s narrow overtime loss to the World Champion Spurs. Sweetney had ten points and 13 boards in 19 minutes. ...Luol Deng is very impressive. I like the Bulls squad. There is a rumor the Bulls may be interested in Latrell Sprewell. That would be the worst decision possible. ...Mike Fratello in Memphis needs to give Bobby Jackson more love. ...Dwyane Wade called Vince Carter’s dunk on Alonzo Mourning, “One of the ten greatest dunks in NBA history.”  ...Tony Parker was beyond impressive in the Spurs-Bulls contest. ...I have no idea what set off Antoine Walker but the way he bitched out teammate Jason Williams in public was uncalled for. Jason is a classic rebel. He needs hugs not anger. ...How about Gary Payton saying if he were coach he would “do it differently.” ? Thanks for the support GP. ...I was proud of Baron Davis for playing on a gimpy hamstring on a Sunday morning in New York. The Warriors won with him at about 60% speed. ...I agreed with Larry Brown when he benched Maurice Taylor in favor of energetic rookie David Lee. ...Not to pile on Stan Van Gundy but you all know I am no fan of a seven man rotation. Wayne Simien can play, and he should play with Shaq out. It won’t hurt to give Simien eight minutes.  ...Utah is 3-1. Tonight, Mehmet Okur busted 31 on 11-17 FG shooting in a win at Charlotte. ...Why does Bernie Bickerstaff play Kareem Rush?