Los Angeles Lakers 108, Chicago 93

Joakim Noah:

"To me, the most amazing thing about it is you're out there competing hard, and these guys are hardly breaking a sweat because they're so comfortable running their offense. They look like it's very easy."

Does the talent help? Of course. Have I seen bench units dominate starting units using the triangle offense, without breaking much of a sweat? You bet.

It's the system. And the system is what sets Los Angeles apart. You try stopping a play, mon frère, when there is no play.

The Lakers just dominated Chicago in this win. They moved the ball, attacked the offensive glass, used superior spacing, and saved the real effort for the defensive end. Which, as you've probably realized by now, isn't really needed for a team like the Bulls.

97 points per 100 possessions for Chicago, which is reallyreallyreally bad, but it felt like a proper extension. Meanwhile, the Lakers just moved the ball and finished around the rim when it could.

Which is why someone like Pau Gasol could come through with 24 points and 13 rebounds in his first game back. Was he foaming at the mouth? Was he slapping the backboard, trying to make a point?

Read More »

Milwaukee 99, New Jersey 85

Down seven at the half, the Bucks probably looked at the in-game box score that was handed out in the locker room. Noticing the names "Rafer Alston," "Trenton Hassell," "Josh Boone," and "Bobby Simmons" among the particulars, the Bucks then likely decided to act their talent-level and start the second half on a 15-0 run.

Then the Bucks, and this much is documented, actually went out and started the second half on a 15-0 run.

The Nets missed 29 of 38 attempts in the second half, and they're just terrible. The team does try, and executes as far as I can tell just up to the point where they have to make a shot. Then they miss the shot. That's not me being flip. This is New Jersey's offense.

The team features one good-to-great player in Brook Lopez, and he can't get the ball. Alston (1-10 shooting, one assist and one turnover in 33 minutes) should be a third point guard right now, at best. Guys like Boone and Hassell are only passable as rotation guys on very, very good offensive teams. Because they're zeroes, offensively.

Instead, they start. And some people still can't understand why the Nets haven't won in 12 attempts. They haven't won, people, because they're terrible. They're not owed a win or two just because they're an NBA team.

Read More »

Denver 130, Toronto 112

That got out of hand, quickly.

Toronto actually hung in there for a good two and a half quarters or so before the Nuggets absolutely blitzed the Raptors with something only known to very good teams. Something called "the extra pass."

Thirty-four assists for the Nuggets in the win, on 48 field goals, and it felt like a 34-assist game. The interior passing for Denver was spectacular, all sorts of good looks and better finishes, as this went from a rather entertaining back-and-forth contest to an out and out blowout win for Denver.

Just under 133 points per 100 possessions for the Nuggets. This wasn't a pace-inflated offensive explosion. This was legit. 61.5 percent shooting, 27 made free throws and only 12 turnovers for Denver. In retrospect, the Raptors didn't have a chance.

Read More »

Atlanta 99, Portland 95 (OT)

There were a fair chunk of screwups — this was no classic  — but two of the best teams in the NBA came through with a solid-enough showing in this Hawks win.

Portland could have had this. Atlanta's defense broke down quite a few times, allowing all manner of Trail Blazers open looks that they just couldn't connect on. Toss in 17 turnovers — not particularly egregious, but more than you'd like in a 95-possession game — and you get the difference.

Atlanta won this game on the boards. The offense sometimes came and went, which was just as often a function of sound Trail Blazer D as it was a letdown on Atlanta's end (the ball movement dried up), but it was quite obvious that the Hawks had their ears pricked up. Lots of talking, lots of pointing, lots of good team play.

There were plenty of hiccups. Joe Johnson broke plays a little too often early on his way toward missing 18 of 31 shots, but he also put up 35 points, dished nine assists, had plenty of big answerin' buckets, and turned it over only three times, despite dominating the ball for nearly 45 minutes. That's huge. Johnson may not be a game-decider on the level of a Kobe or a LeBron or Wade or Paul, but his ability to keep his team within a possession without making many mistakes keeps him at an All-Star level.

The late-game heroics — 18 points in fourth quarter and overtime — also help.

Read More »

Houston 101, Los Angeles Lakers 91

The Rockets are just a coach's dream. They had every chance to give up on this game early on, but kept at it and — cliché alert — honestly took the contest one possession at a time. A real "chop wood, carry water" night out for these Rox.

Quite a bit that we'll have to remember here.

* The Lakers are playing without Pau Gasol. They're playing without a player who — if healthy, and if he kept up the defensive touch we saw in last summer's Finals — could be this league's best power forward.

* Kobe Bryant is still learning how to work out of the post.

* Ron Artest is still learning this offense.

* Derek Fisher is pretty bad, right now.

No excuses, the Lakers didn't play a smart game, but this is all fixable for the defending champs. Mainly because Kobe can do better, Ron can slow down, and ... well, the point guard position is a HUGE problem right now.

Read More »

Cleveland 111, Miami 104

To me, the game wasn't lost for Miami when Mo Williams went off, and the difference wasn't created when the Cavs hit over 47 percent on attempted three-pointers, while the Heat managed under 32 percent.

Really, it was that third quarter swing that saw the Heat completely botch screen/roll play after screen/roll play.

With the stars (pictured, above) dis-aligned and out of action, the Cavs went to a spread form and absolutely torched the Heat. Worse, Cleveland involved Udonis Haslem some of the time, and this is a man who knows how to defend. No talking, no communication for Miami, who watched as the Cavaliers put up a 30-point quarter.

Read More »

Milwaukee 108, Denver 102

I don't know if I like Brandon Jennings' shots.

He takes some bad ones. Lofty threes off a step back, usually reserved for only choice moments and usually shot by a veteran All-Star. He'll take shots with a foot on the three-point line, and not care. He should. He takes risks, and he takes lots of shots. 17.5 per game, so far. That's a lot.

He's also winning games for the Bucks, who are playing without Michael Redd, and working through what could be termed a rebuilding process if the team's front office had anything close to what even resembled a cogent plan of attack.

Against Chauncey Billups, Anthony Carter, and fellow rookie Ty Lawson, Jennings managed 32 points on 11-19 shooting in the Milwaukee win. He turned it over four times, but also dished nine assists. He was the business.

Read More »

Miami 90, Washington 76

This is why you sit games out.

And this is why heroes aren't created in November on a Tuesday night.

Gilbert Arenas had 21 points, five rebounds, eight assists and three steals on Tuesday night. He also missed 13 of 20 shots and turned it over 12 times. Twelve TIMES. Shawn Kemp-styled, stuff.

(The Miami Heat also had 12 turnovers total, while we're at it.)

Kemp's turnover-driven triple-doubles weren't as passable as Arenas' near-T-D-T-D, because he didn't have the ball in his hands as much as GA, but Arenas hurt his team. From what I saw, his play was as bad as his line. The man was obviously suffering through a calf strain, and though I understand Gilbert not wanting to let his team down after missing just about two full seasons of play, he should have sat this one out.

The whole game was a chore to watch, as it was last week when these two hooked up. Dwyane Wade was fantastic with 41 points on 29 shots, but he took a ton of free throws (12-13, overall), and, yeah. Bit of a bore.

Read More »

San Antonio 131, Toronto 124

We had no idea what to expect heading into this game. San Antonio was without Tim Duncan and Tony Parker, and while it seems like a slap in the face to expect that Toronto might have a hard time downing a Spurs roster without its top two players, one also has to remember that the Raps are a team with a lot of holes and a lot of issues right now. Perhaps, someday, the Raptors will remember as much.

Somehow, we got the unexpected. A fantastic game, quite entertaining, and one that allowed us a peek at the reemergence of Manu Ginobili, superstar.

Sure, it might only be for a game, Ginobili's body and timing and touch and balance and rhythm still have a long way to go, but the bad boy was just a beast for 32 bench minutes. And San Antonio needed every ounce of Manu's production, and influence.

Not before we got a shootout. That shouldn't surprise, considering Toronto's problems on the defensive end and the presence of Tim Duncan in street clothes. But the sheer totals? This was some knockout stuff.

The Spurs managed 141 points per 100 possessions, the Raptors 133. For comparison's sake, 114 points per 100 possessions led the league last year. Led the league.

It makes sense, for the Raptors.

Read More »

Sacramento 120, Golden State 107

What else can you say about the Golden State Warriors just one week into the season?

They clearly have no set plan offensively or defensively. They're supposedly playing for a player's coach, but they don't really work that hard or put in a lot of effort (watch these Warriors trail while "defending" a fast break), and they don't really appear to care about their fellow teammates. Nobody on this team, save for Stephen Curry, is looking to play proper basketball and find the open man.

They gave up 120 points to a Kings team that is missing its top scorer. The Warriors allowed Tyreke Evans to score 20 first-half points in Kevin Martin's absence, but still managed to let the Kings waltz their way to 55 second-half points when Evans fell off after halftime. They just don't care.

And this is Nov. 9. What are we going to be writing about in March? The fistfight during the opening jump? The sit-down protest? Don Nelson, player/coach?

The Kings wanted to compete. They pushed the ball, moved the ball and looked for each other. Donte Greene had 17 points off the bench, Jason Thompson (pictured above) managed a double-double and Beno Udrih was constantly in the paint, finishing with 20 points and six assists.

Rookie Omri Casspi continues to shine, finishing with 12 points (on six shots), 10 rebounds, five assists, three turnovers and three steals off the Kings bench.

Read More »