NBA Grab Bag 2.0

The New Jersey Nets are 0-17. That ties the record for worst start in NBA history. They already fired head coach Lawrence Frank, next 5 games: vs. Dallas, vs. Char., @NY, @Chi., and vs. GS. They'll set the record at 18 and then have a couple of chances for a win, but don't count on it.

Celtics look old, but sit atop the division at 13-4, no other team in the Atlantic is .500. In fact the Eastern Conference (as of the last day in Nov.) have only 6 teams with winning records; Magic, Celtics, Cavs, Hawks, Heat, Bucks.

Speaking of the Bucks my boy Brandon Jennings has struggled a little bit lately as they have lost 4 in a row, where he has averaged just 14 points per game over than span. Season averages of 22.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 5.5 assists though for the overwhelming favorite for Rookie of the Year.

In what was supposed to be such a weak Rookie class, check out all the players averaging double figure points right now... Brandon Jennings, Tyreke Evans, Jonny Flynn, Marcus Thornton, Darren Collison, Stephen Curry, Omri Casspi, Terrence Williams... that's 8 with James Harden, Ty Lawson, and Chase Budinger not far behind. And don't forget the only sure thing in the draft, #1 pick Blake Griffin hasn't played a minute yet.

The Suns continue to surprise me, out to a 14-3 start and the only team that is unbeaten at home (6-0).

The Top 10 scorers in the NBA played a combined 9 seasons of college basketball... with 4 of those 9 belonging to Danny Granger. (Dwyane Wade went to Marquette for 3 years but was ineligible as a freshmen so I only credited him with 2 seasons.)

Closer look at the Top 10 scorers... Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant, and Chris Bosh were all one and done in college. LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Monta Ellis were drafted out of high school. Brandon Jennings went to Italy for a season. Dirk Nowitzki came over from Germany. Wade and Granger were the only 2 who played college basketball for at least 2 years.

Gerald Wallace is 3rd in the NBA in rebounding, 11.8 per game.

Allen Iverson retired? No he didn't. Did he?

Chris Paul is shooting 65.5% from 3... (19/29).

Chris Bosh has posted a double-double in 15 of his 18 games this year, making a push for a monster contract. With all the talk about LeBron and Wade, how about Bosh? 25.4-12.2 right now.

Alright that's all I got for now. Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving.

-Keefe

Brandon Jennings is Absurd

Last night Brandon Jennings dropped 55 points on the Warriors in a Bucks win. He shot 62% from the floor including 7/8 from 3. Jennings also added 5 rebounds and 5 assists. He's got a Bucks team, playing without Michael Redd, at 5-2 to start the year.

You think the Knicks (Jordan Hill), T-Wolves (Ricky Rubio debacle), and even Grizzlies (Hasheem Thabeet) would like to have their draft picks back. Minnesota drafted 2 point guards ahead of Jennings. Unbelievable.

Rather than dominating the PAC-10 and all of college basketball, Jennings went to Italy, where he struggled playing professional basketball against grown men. Well, he certainly got the most out of it, and was much more prepared than a year of college (See: Holiday, Jrue).

I am a huge Jennings fan, and the Knicks & T-Wolves will regret their picks for years to come.

-Keefe

Also UFC 105 is in the books. Randy Couture gets the win over Brandon Vera. Dan Hardy, shockingly earns a welterweight title shot following a decision victory over Mike Swick, and Michael Bisping beat Denis Kang.

Tito vs. Forrest II this Saturday!

NBA Grab Bag

We have made it through the first week of the 2009-2010 NBA season. Here are a few of my observations early on.

The Celtics (5-0), Nuggets (4-0), and Suns (4-0) are the only remaining unbeaten teams.
The Nets (0-4), Pacers (0-3), and Warriors (0-2) are the only teams still in search of their first win.

Allen Iverson is already making comments about he is not a 6th man, and how frustrated he was sitting on the bench in his first game back with the Grizzlies. Didn't he know he was coming off the bench? I knew he was coming off the bench. But for the next month or so I don't think it would be a bad idea to start AI and Mayo along with Gay, Randolph (21.5-9.5 thru 4), and Gasol. Just try it.

One of my favorite players in this year's draft, Brandon Jennings, looks like the real deal. Obviously only 3 games in but 22 points and 5.3 assists. I was watching the Bucks/Bulls last night and without Redd in the lineup they just wait for Jennings to do something, they have nothing else.

Carmelo looks like a man possessed. Leading the league in scoring, went for 40+ twice in four games.

Kings guard Kevin Martin dropped 48 in a win over the aforementioned Iverson and the Grizz.

Gerald Wallace and Luol Deng have both posted 20-20 games already. Each had 24 points and 20 rebounds to be exact.

Quentin Richardson (with the Heat after getting passed around in the off season) actually looks like he's in shape. Double-double 18-10 in his last game. Must be a contract year... yes it is!

#2 overall pick by Memphis, Hasheem Thabeet is averaging 8.3 minutes per game, and did not get on the court in the Grizzlies only win in four chances so far this year.

Rajon Rondo and Chris Paul do not like each other. Apparently Rondo told Paul, "I have a ring, and you will never get one." Well as true as that may be, come on. We don't need to go over this but Rondo plays with Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen... Paul's been working with David West (who he made an All-Star), Tyson Chandler up until this year, and Mo-Pete. Chris Paul is the best point guard in the NBA period. But if Rondo thinks he can get under his skin... well then maybe I see the point.

In 2 games (who the hell made the GS schedule) Andris Biedrins is 8-9 from the field good for 88.89%, can he keep that up?

And you, keep checking back in to the Brief for more "NBA Grab Bags" throughout the year.

-Keefe