I haven’t written anything in a few weeks because my new year’s resolution was to quit smoking so I have been concentrating on that. Quitting smoking is not an easy task by any stretch of the imagination but I am making a lot of progress enough so that I was finally able to sit down and get my thoughts on the season on paper. So let get right into it.

FIGHTING FATHER TIME
The Celtics don’t look good at all. They look old, slow and the lack real depth on their roster. One bright spot for the Celtics is Ray Allen. The guy is just not aging. It’s ridiculous what he is doing this season, I think maybe the extra-long summer benefited him because he is averaging career highs in field goal percentage (57.5) and three point percentage (63.4) in his 16th NBA season. I was happy at the beginning of the season because Kevin Garnett and Ray were coming off the books but if Allen keeps it up we are going to have to pony up and give him the 2yr $20million contract he is looking for.

Another player who is playing much better than expected is Kobe Bryant. Last year during the playoff series against the Mavs Kobe could not go by Jason Kidd and I thought to myself this is it the Kobe era is over but it is not, Kobe is determined to compete at all costs. He had the FDA unapproved procedure done in Germany and we learned last we he is taking injections in his wrist just to play. The guy is crazy and Kobe has been playing like he has a chip on his shoulder, like “hey don’t count me out.” He is taking the most shots per game (23) since the “05-06” season where he averaged 35.4ppg on 27 shot attempts.

I love Kobe but I do have my concerns Andrew Bynum’s time is now. And I know what you are thinking Andrew Bynum is never going to be the man it’s been seven years. To that I say hold on, Bynum came into the NBA at 17 years old he is 24 years old and he has finally gotten comfortable in his body. This could be the year that Bynum becomes a Dwight Howard-like force for the Lakers but will/can that happen with Kobe still dominating the ball and breaking up plays, I am not sure.

BRINGING THE HEAT
LeBron has looked amazing so far this season and is my early pick for MVP. LeBron stats are up across the board. He is not taking threes, he is in the post and he is taking shots in the fourth quarter but again everything that happens in the regular season for LeBron is meaningless we need to see this in the finals.

THE QUEENS (KINGS)
Surly, immature, narcissist these have been adjectives used to describe DeMarcus Cousins but now you have to add coach killer to that list. Paul Westphal was fired shortly after a crazy weekend where we heard DeMarcus had demanded a trade, was told to stay away from the team, reinstated, relegated to the bench for lack of production and then another “L” and Paul was gone. The Kings beat the Bucks and went down to the wire against the Magic so maybe the problem was Westphal.

TOMMY-POINT
Tommy Heinsohn has been getting a lot of heat for comparing Greg Steimsma to Bill Russell during the Celtics game last week. I love Tommy, if there is anyone in the world that truly bleeds green it has to be Tommy. Steimsma has been a bit of a surprise. The guy can block shots, runs the floor well and can hit an open 15-footer.

ARENAS
Remember is slogan a few years ago “from zero to hero” well it is back to zero as Arenas still remains unsigned. I find this development shocking Arenas still had something left in the tank and could help a team. Somebody will get desperate and pick him up later in the year but man Arenas fell and fell hard.

POPOVICH
Greg Popovich told the Star Tribune that the foreign born players are more cultured than the Americans and went on to say this:

They're more cultured than we are. Everyone acts like Americans are the ones ... Like we're the cultured ones? Are you serious? Have you watched TV lately? Have you seen what Americans do? How many languages do you speak? And you wonder how they're going to adjust to our culture? I hope they avoid it and keep their own!"

I bet I know exactly what happened Pop turned on the TV and caught the episode of “Jersey Shore” where Snooki was dancing with her dress over her head. I began questioning a lot of things in my life after that.

THE KNICKS
All I have to say to Knick fans is fire Mike D’Antoni the offense he runs only wins games at the Rucker. Amare is another guy who I just don’t know how he can look at himself in the mirror, he gave up 27 points to the overweight Boris Diaw, the last time Diaw had 27 or more points was December 5, 2009 when he scored 28 in a game against the Sixers. I know they won last two games against the Pistons and Wizards but those wins are fool’s gold.

D-WILL
In the beginning of the season Deron Williams said there was a 95% chance he would resign with the Nets I really really wonder what those odds are now. The Nets have no one to help D-Will. The only way these guys can keep games close is if Williams is scoring close to 25ppg, which is asking too much of him.

JOHN FALL
The NBA season is very early but John Wall’s stats are down across the board. The stat that just jumps out and punches you in the face is field goal percentage. Wall is at 35.6% shooting from the field. Flip Saunders I don’t think he will survive the week.

ROSE
As a Boston Celtics fan I have to be honest I can’t stand Rose he is the polar opposite of Rajon Rondo but man it is hard to root against this guy. The Bulls have played seven of their first nine games on the road and are 7-2 and it is all Rose. He is making the right plays, not taking to many shots and demonstrating some serious poise.

OTHER
The Bucks don’t look like they are much better than last year’s team. Jennings is having his best season statistically but that isn’t saying much when 40.7% from the field is the best in three seasons.

Here is a eric gordon quote in an interview

“All you do is take the man’s word and take that he said that no one is going to go anywhere,” Gordon told Yahoo! Sports. “… To completely lie like that is something unprofessional.”

Gordon calls it unprofessional University of Illinois fans call it karma. Illinois fans are still haven’t forgotten how Eric Gordon strung them and Florida along during the recruiting process.

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