5.) Andrei Kirilenko is playing like AK47.
- Kirilenko is off to a great start in his return to the NBA. Kirilenko, if you remember signed a contract with CSKA Moscow and was named the Euroleague MVP for the '11-'12 season. In his three games with the Timberwolves, AK47 is averaging 14.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 2.7 blocks a game all while guarding the opponents best wing player. Not only is he filling the stat sheet, he's doing those Kirilenko things that made you never want him in 2k but made the Jazz fans adore him for 10 seasons; getting past his initial defender and creating for others, playing in the passing lanes and deflecting balls, and being pretty steady from deep even with a shot that says he shouldn't (currently hitting 2/3 of his threes for the season). He and Nikola Pekovic are going to have to be catalysts for this T-Wolves team as they try to stay afloat with Love and Rubio out. That is especially true with the vast struggles of Derrick Williams and Brandon Roy early in the season.
- How do you begin talking about how stiff the Lakers have looked thus far? The offense has been solid, scoring 100 ppg (7th in the league), but if you just watch this team - they seem very rigid. The institution of the Eddie Jordon Princeton offense that they aren't calling the Princeton offense has been a nightmare to watch thus far. It is focused around cuts and screens while one person holds the ball for more time than necessary. This roster is made up of one-on-one ball stoppers who haven't made a living from scoring off cuts their entire career. The talent level is just so high on that side of the ball, even when they look bad they are still scoring at a high rate. What's been predictably putrid is their defense. Their help is inconsistent; their rotations are slow on the perimeter allowing for any team with good ball movement to get an open three in the corner and they over-help in the post which has allowed for many scores on drive and kicks and post to post passes. Not only are their starters struggling, their bench has been so punch-less that Mike Brown has decided to make Meta World-Peace the back-up two guard for his scoring abilities.
- Everyone looks at Carmelo Anthony for the Knicks' terrific start, but the credit should be spread throughout the entire roster. This team is currently the number two offensive rated team, a fact most people wouldn't be too surprised about. What is crazy is that the Knicks are also the number two defensive rated team. Just think back to last year when Mike D'Antoni was leading the team, they were less than good on the defensive side of the ball. With Mike Woodson inserted as the head coach, this team has bought in and played with a new defensive intensity. When Iman Shumpert comes back from injury, this team now has four above-average defensive players (Shumpert, Kidd, Brewer, and Chandler). Melo does deserve the biggest share of credit - he's playing like bulky George Gervin on the offensive end. If you get him isolated on the baseline - you can't guard him, you just have to hope he misses the shot himself. He can post you up 17 feet from the basket and can get by you by spinning either way and scoring at the rim or from pulling up. He can score facing up just by breaking you down or by jabbing or pump faking to get some space and bury a jumper in the defenders' face. If Amare comes back and fits in as he's supposed to, this team has the offensive punch and defensive grit to give Miami a fun little run in the playoffs.
- The NBA has never had this many high quality point guards at one time, and to my surprise the most impressive one thus far has been Kyle Lowry. The first thing you notice when watching Lowry is the confidence he carries himself with - the same kind that CP3 carries. He thinks he's the best player on the court at all times, and he's going to use that talent to get his teammates buckets while picking good spots to attack and score. He is currently averaging 23.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 7.0 assists and 3.7 steals in games he did not get injured in the first quarter of. He's a Rondoesque™ rebounder with the ability to use his bowling ball body to bounce around the paint and either score and the rim or dish to a teammate for an open score. He may only be a 6'0", but he can get to anywhere on the court he wants on both offense and defense. He plays in passing lanes and has very quick hands which has led to his high steals total. He may play for above the border on a bad team but that shouldn't stop NBA fans from learning to love the way this guy plays.
- Yes, they lost at New York in the Knicks season opener while playing for a city in tragedy. Ask the New Orleans Saints. What is terrifying for me is that finally, it seems Miami has figured it out. LeBron figured out he had to be the Alpha to Wade's beta and Spo's figured out that he needs to treat this team like the video game roster they have. They have the ability to play two shooting guards, two small forwards, and one power forward at one time and be almost unguardable on offense and menacing on defense (Wade, Allen, James, Lewis, Bosh). Did you see that game against Detroit? I know it was against Detroit, but did you see this team passing the ball around like the '87 Celtics. They were making five straight passes with the defense scrambling each time and ending up with uncontested dunks and three pointers. They have so many weapons that you have to keep their role-players in check which causes teams to play one-on-one defense with LeBron, Wade, and Bosh. There has never been a team in NBA history that had the pick your poison feeling this Heat team has. If LeBron continues to push his ceiling as he has from last years playoffs, through the summer, and to start this season - there might be something special here.
@JoshJackson_TID
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