Sunday, November 4, 2012

League Pass Diaries: 11/3/12

Boston vs. Washington: I started with this game, and saw the end.  Boston got off to a blazing start, mostly due to Washington's defective starting lineup (Price/Beal/Ariza/Booker/Okafor).  The Wizards started the game with 3 isolation plays for Okafor.  I'm sure you can guess how that went.  Price is the only real pg currently on the roster.  Beal's development is being rushed.  Ariza and Okafor have the reputation and contracts.  Booker is just Booker.  The Wiz made this a game largely with Pargo/Crawford/Webster/Vessely/Seraphin.  While none of these names may be recognized by lay-NBA people, they are a far more effective group than the starters.  With the current roster, Kevin Seraphin is the Wizards best player.  Beal looks over his head right now.  Beal just make no impact on the game right now......you hardly notice he exists out there.  As for Boston, they gave Sullinger the starting nod, but it doesn't really matter, because he's a Bass doppelganger. 

Denver vs. Miami: I'm convinced the Heat are not trying to go through this season in 5th gear.  Bosh is a great player, but anytime he leads a Wade and Lebron team in scoring, it's safe to assume Wade and Lebron allowed that to happen.  Lebron is lacking aggression. He's in cruise control for now.  Yes, he got a triple double, but he also did that in the playoffs in Boston a few years ago, and we remember how passive that looked.  I'm not even mad about it.  Regular season, after the playoffs and Olympics must seem trivial.  Denver is not a good team.  They are a scrappy team, but they're not a good team.  Gallo leads the offensive charge with step backs and catch and shoots.  A little too much is expected out of Igoudala, he's carrying as much of the offensive load as he did in Philadelphia, when he should really just be a defender/finisher.  I like Faried, but he needs a more skilled compliment in the front court. 

Portland vs. Houston: Main man Harden, started off with another strong half, but faded late in the second quarter until the end of the game.  He was clearly tired.  I think this is 3rd game in 4 nights, so it's forgivable.  Especially since Jeremy Lin is the 2nd option, and I couldn't really tell you the third.  Harden missed 5-6 layups that he normally finishes.  I was wondering what happened to Patrick Patterson.  He finished strong last year.  Well he got the start and he looked good.  I think it made more since for Marcus Morris to come off the bench too.  He looked a lot more comfortable going against 2nd string guys.  Portland looked extremely potent on defense.  Lillard, Matthews, and Batum are lock down guys, and the rotations on drives were great today.  Aldridge was a well down the stretch and Portland kept going to it.  I like it when a post player (especially an efficient one), is the unquestioned go-to guy.  It takes unselfish and focused perimeter players for that to happen and Portland has that.  Lillard knocked down a lot of clutch shots today playing off of Aldridge and he didn't force anything.  Dude is definitely going to waltz to this ROY award. 

Cleveland vs. Milwaukee: I caught bits of this game and the end.  I need more Kyrie.  He took over down the 4th, but I want to see him with the ball more throughout the game.  Milwaukee's offense looks just like what you would expect an offense led by Jennings and Ellis to look like.  Luckily for Milwaukee they have a great intangibles guy in Mike Dunleavy, who did a little bit of everything including make me wonder how he's not a starter.   Waiters is a starter for now, but his destiny is irrational confidence 6th man off the bench.  He's the prototype.

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