Not many interesting posts today...

Top three teams are rolling. Spurs have improved in the middle and their All-Stars have returned to form, playing sublime ball. Every game I have seen them in, they look excellent.

Lakers look pedestrian, the game against the Heat is a good barometer of the team. They seem mentally fatigued. The #1 seed in the West will be an uphill battle which is disappointing. Good for the Spurs for making the deficit so large already.

Heat are pleasantly dangerous and are winning the right way, by playing lockdown defense that maximizes their athleticism.

Celtics are out of their minds.

Demarcus Cousins will probably be "benched" for about...two games.

does shaq not like him either?

I am going to assume that Spo and other coaches in the past know that their team is best when their best player is in his natural position on the court, making plays.

It's a good idea. They should head in that direction certainly, but I can see why it's a lot to ask of this team right now.

Because you've relocated your best passer, it means Wade has to bring the ball up the court in order to feed him in position (play the other guards until Miller returns at your own risk). To me, that's a lot to ask of a convalescing athlete.

Taking lbj off the perimeter slows the fast break as well.

I personally would rather see Chris Bosh figure out how to be the mismatch you described that would operate the inside-outside game properly.

But if/until he figures it out, you're correct if they remain decimated at forward they have to incorporate Lebron down low rebounding and setting up the offense.

Ouch I was excited about them at the beginning of the year.

I don't know why they never tried to upgrade down low. Even over all these years they have not tried to develop any bigs.

Lopez and Harris killed them last night.

In the East you better have a good defensive center and quick point guard or you are in trouble.

Props on that call as long as they stay healthy they look play-off bound...their play seems to have stabilized...

But I never underestimate their ability to go into a freefall.

They will be decimated by any sort of 1-5 pick and roll or variation thereof created off of a switch from screens as long as they have Arroyo/Chalmers and Z/Dampier.

That is a problem no coach could handle.

Heat have problems all over the place and the coach has never had a chance to prove himself.

They have a thin roster and injuries have been devastating.

Bosh is a good player but really needs a lesson in toughness. That is where Spoelstra will have to prove himself. If he takes his game down low and become accountable for going from good to great, they will dominate.

However, if they expect Lebron and Wade to do everything, they will be in trouble. Two men can't move faster than the ball.

The offense is pretty good considering they have no point guard at all. That at this point is of far greater concern than a new coach.

Next season the NBA will be quite different so it's not worth thinking about. It's going to suck on the FN boards.

They wouldn't post all this **** if they didn't hook someone once in a while...

Like a prostitute.

So c'mon...who's the **** buying the Puma Slipper Woman?

Or the Ed Hardy Bikini?

Owe up! You've ruined this site with your insatiable thirst for knock-offs.

The FN interns probably remote access posted the stories from home and logged off...

The spammers have free range today.

The Pacers already benched Dunleavy.

I disagree that the team is too selfish, and whatnot. They simply are lacking in talent at too many key positions.

The Heat are missing Mike Miller and Haslem and without them are paper thin.

This was the first thing that came to mind after Lebron was taking his talents to south beach, how will they afford the rest of the team?

Miller and Haslem have both signed long contracts and are 30 or so.

Their point guards are I think the worst in the NBA.

They took quite a gamble and right now there are no easy solutions. If Wade can get back to 100% and when Mike Miller returns they will begin winning again. But Lebron and Bosh might have to work harder than ever before, when teams were catered to their talents.

It will be a difficult, uphill battle. It is rare for a championship team not to enjoy regular season success. Especially for them to develop cohesiveness.

The decision to cut Beasley looks somewhat questionable at this point as well.

meant to quote this

Not quite, Celtics went to game 7 in the first two rounds again ATL and Cleveland - Lebron went off in that series, and then beat Detroit and LA in 6 each.

Knicks had the highest payroll for years and years.

It still takes a winning front office to know when to use resources and how.

The #2 payroll is the Magic at like 94 million to the Lakers 95 or so.

They have a good team, but they haven't "bought" the East, as your logic would suggest.

And he is signed to a long contract...

The free agent strategy is rife with pitfalls.

Well sweet.

I'm not crazy about stats like efficiency, but Gasol's #s **** away.

He is ranked at 31.7, 5 points above CP3 and Al Horford.

I've made the comparison before, but he looks like Garnett in his prime - 22.8 ppg, 12 rpg, 4.1 apg, 1.7 bpg. Shooting 82% from the line, 56% from the field.

He just had a perfect game, for Crissakes.

If he keeps this up, the Lakers have the top seed in the West, and Miami and Oklahoma City continue to have up-and-down seasons, I think he's making a run at MVP.

I like this trade for New Orleans second unit now added some experience. Jack's salary is not bad. I guess they didn't like what they saw from Bayless, so buyer beware in Toronto.

Hornets have a new long-term mindset now. Getting rid of Peja was symbolic of that. Utter feast or famine signing when it happened and hurt the team for years.

It wasn't the most brilliant of trades, but give the front office credit for at least using their expiring contract to their advantage, when so many in the past have simply let them expire.

This team has a semblance of contention - but what is more important is that CP3 is convinced that this team has direction.

Their record is deceiving when you look at their line-up. Basically this speaks to Chris Pauls insane skill as a PG.

The stats speak for themselves: #2 in the league in efficiency, 46% from three, 49% from the field, 86% from the line, 16.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, 10.5 assists.

Early in the year the MVP has to be between this guy and Gasol.

It's a happy story but there are still a million questions, starting with David West's contract next year.

Thanks I was gonna ask! I've been wondering what's going on with those Cannatas...haha....the internet is crazy....

Take care man.

T word!

Morning E stayin up...getting my morning FN run in...miss the old days when I could do it all day...oh well....

Hope all is well with yourself and your fam, and your writing of course.