Anyone there in South Beach??
One of the surprising turns for me this season is just how little attention the Miami Heat are getting. Or maybe I just block them out in my head.
But with all the big headlines: the Harden Trade, Lakers coaching kerfuffle, Clippers & Memphis laying down their intentions as contenders, Knicks not sucking, Wizards sucking terribly, Bobcats surprisingly not. Where is the chatter on the Miami Heat?
I know it’s early but here are some stats and why I find it amazing that people aren’t talking more about their back-to-back hopes:
- 10-3 overall, 6-0 at home and are currently on a 4 game winning streak. 1st is points per game, 1st in 3PT%, 1st in FG%, 4th in assists and 5th in points differential.
- Lebron is averaging about 25-8-6-1-1, 53% FG (!), 44% 3PT. The only fault in his season is his FT% at 67%.
- Ray Allen is at 12 points a game making 53% on 3’s. Rashard Lewis is averaging just over 7 points, 54% on 3’s.
- Oh and they also have two guys called Wade and Bosh who are putting up their usual All-Star numbers with Wade slowing down a slightly as expected.
So are the Heat really that impressive and equally impressive at flying under the radar at the moment? Or is it a case that the Knicks/Clippers/Memphis genuinely have a chance at unseating the defending champs? What are the other stories currently flying under the radar?
Courtside Notes 
jk41 9:20 am on January 18, 2013 Permalink |
Ok, first up the guys who I don’t think would have been voted as starters if it was a coaches decision:
with Rondo and Dwight juussst making it ok for me to have them in. This is not to say these guys don’t deserve to make the team, it’s just that if it weren’t for their popularity I’m not sure they get the START.
My reserves…
EAST:
F: Joakim Noah (total homer pick, but one of the best passing centers out there averaging 4.1 assists at center!)
F: Tyson Chandler (haven’t always been the biggest fan but he’s made an impact on the Knicks)
F: Paul Pierce (The Truth, still putting it up as we discussed in our last post)
F: Brook Lopez (when he plays, the Nets win. Averaging 18ppg, 7rpg, 2bpg. I don’t love it but didn’t really like anyone else in the East. I would’ve put Tony Parker in if there were no conferences.
G: Jrue Holiday (been playing great for a terrible team, lots of triple double near misses)
G: Kyrie Irving (I love this kid. Period.)
G: Paul George (carrying Indy and they’re on a nice stretch lately after a terrible start)
WEST:
F: Tim Duncan (should’ve gotten the start based on the season he’s having)
F: LaMarcus Aldridge (another guy I like, and putting in serious numbers for the one of the best starting 5’s in the league)
F: Zach Randolph (Z-Bo has been a beast in Memphis. They’ve been cooling off lately but he deserves a nod)
F: David Lee (my fantasy boy! only big man to average a 20-10 this season or something. He’s sitting at 19.7 and 10.9 as of writing, but damn close enough!)
G: Russell Westbrook (easy pick for me here, he ain’t the smartest cookie out there but it comes and goes. #GoodRussBadRuss)
G: James Harden (he makes the Rockets relevant)
G: Steph Curry (was thinking of Tony Parker as well, but Curry beat him in almost every hard and % stat and the Warriors record has been pretty good this year)
That’s it! And the West feels so loaded to me after that exercise…
naturalbornanalysts 2:52 am on January 21, 2013 Permalink |
Agreed that I don’t see those three guys making it if the starting positions weren’t a popularity contest. Having said that, I’m glad that KG made it because that’s my homer pick!
I’m also throwing Dwight out there. I think the Lakers having two starters with a 17-23 record doesn’t sound right.
As for the rest:
East:
Josh Smith – I think he is deserving, considering how well the Hawks have played this year after completely revamping.
Kyrie Irving – Just watch his outburst against the Knicks earlier in the season.
Joakim Noah – Agreed he deserves to be in… he is really playing well this year.
Paul George– After a rought start, Mr. Everything is doing everything… he could be a lock for the next 5 years.
Jrue Holiday – MIP in my opinion. Playing out of his skin.
Brook Lopez – He has really started to get back to some of his old form
Anderson Varejao – I dont care if he is injured, he deserves to be an all star this year.
West:
Russell Westbrook – Lock. Enough said.
Tony Parker– This guy has been unbelievable this season, and I think he is deserving of a spot with the Spurs playing so well.
Tim Duncan – Playing some of the best basketball of anyone in the league and doing it in his usual understated way.
David Lee – As you said he has been a double double beast this season.
Zach Randolph – Every All-Star team needs a dark alley guy and this is it!
James Harden – Shown that he can carry a team and almost lead the league in scoring.
Stephen Curry – I’m ignoring the fact that we have a ton of PG’s here… I’m running Adelman two PG fronts all game.
naturalbornanalysts 5:48 am on January 22, 2013 Permalink |
Who are the snubs?
My number 1 guy is Nicholas (nut-punch) Batum. This guy is having a freakish season after signing his new contract. Proving he is probably worth every cent.
Another one could be David West, who is having a very solid season for the Pacers, picking up all the slack Hibbert is dropping.
jk41 8:39 am on January 23, 2013 Permalink |
Batum has come on lately, but probably only the last month or so have I seen it in him. I think even Lillard could be more of a snub given what he’s been able to do for that team.
I snubbed Josh Smith for the opposite reason, being that he had a fast start but now that the Hawks are struggling is finding himself getting suspended and all that kind of stuff.
Boozer? Haha just kidding..
jk41 2:47 am on January 25, 2013 Permalink |
Alright we got the announcements:
East Reserves:
Jrue Holiday
Paul George
Chris Bosh
Tyson Chandler
Kyrie Irving
Luol Deng
Joakim Noah
West Reserves:
Tony Parker
Russell Westbrook
James Harden
LaMarcus Aldridge
Zach Randolph
David Lee
Tim Duncan
I’m surprised by Deng actually, but also happy he’s getting the respect from the coaches. I’m pretty happy with the East picks. Although, Bosh over Brook….ehhh I don’t really like either of them to be honest so I’m whatever really. Hahaha
The West was pretty much my picks except Parker for Curry which I should’ve got right in the first place.
All in all I’m pretty happy with them, what’s your take?
naturalbornanalysts 2:51 am on January 25, 2013 Permalink |
EAST– So neither of us put Luol in – shame on you (will be play or still be injured?)
Josh Smith got snubbed again, which is becoming a yearly ritual.
The other massive snub is Brook Lopez… like you said, I don’t rate either of them so it doesn’t bother me
WEST– Steph Curry got booted…. insert Parker/LA, which we knew was going to be a toss up between the three with all deserving.
Other than that it was steady as she goes.
Who wins?
Whats the score?
jk41 3:03 am on January 25, 2013 Permalink |
Massive shame on me, I guess I thought the legacy factor would come in with Pierce. He’ll play, he tweaked his hamstring about 5 days ago, and All-Star game is still a few weeks away. Otherwise Jimmy Butler is available!
I guess easiest way is to count the misses (i.e. guys we put in our team that aren’t in the actual team) between us.
East:
You missed on Josh Smith, Brook and Varejao = -3
I missed on Pierce and Brook = -2
West:
You missed on Curry = -1
I also missed on Curry = -1
Funnily enough, we had LaMarcus and Tony Parker in our respective teams to even that out.
So I took it out -3 to -4….or something, I dunno I just confused myself. Haha!