best of times/worst of time

[jw]

Name the 5 best surprises of the 2003-2004 NBA season:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.


Name the 5 worst surprises of the 2003-2004 NBA season:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

[jw]

and my answers are

5 best surprises of the 2003-2004 NBA season:
1. that Lebron James was really as good as the hype
2. that the Timberwolves have become such a force in the West
3. that Brad Miller has been such a good fit and productive addition to the Kings
4. that the Utah Jazz were able to stay so competitive (until Harpring went out on injury) after losing their two cornerstones: Malone and Stockton
5. that the Lakers haven't proven to be as invincible as was predicted, mainly due to injuries, so I expect them to come roaring back once Malone and Kobe return


Name the 5 worst surprises of the 2003-2004 NBA season:
1. the meltdown in Philadelphia, called the Sixers
2. that Indiana would rise to the top so fast (never have liked that team, though I like a few of the players)
3. that Carmelo Anthony turned out to be the rookie who let fame go to his head. if you want to play a man's game, Anthony, then learn to act like a man. take a page from Lebron James on how to handle yourself in the NBA.
4. that Kobe turned out to be another out-of-control womanizing creep who uses the race card in his defense
5. that Jason (sp?) Williams, former Nets, still refuses to take responsibility for killing man and then attempting to cover up his crime by blaming it on the victim. Shameful!

[Reality]

1. The amount of fairly reffed games involving the Lakers. Already quadruple the amount we'vew seen compared to 1999-2003 combined. A trend started in last years playoffs vs Spurs and incredibly continued. I don't think it will continue but who knows, what a very pleasant surprise.

2. MN TWolves do not surprise me how well they are doing, but the late offseason snagging of players by salary dumping by Knicks mngmnt surprised me. Vaulted MN right into title contention.

3. That Yao Ming has been able to overcome Jeff Van Popavitches offense, if even for small stretches. The 4-5 game 20-20s in late Jan was sweet. The semi regular 22 foot jumpers superb. While this doesnt shock me I am surprised Van Grunty has not totally ruined his offensive game. Now the rumors that Steve Francis stayed behind in Houston to watch Janet Jackson? Please give Yao support.

4. While it was but one game, watcing Jimmy Jackson vs Kings last week was nice. 10-10 and 4-4 on threebies or something like that.

5. Kings watching Vlade and Miller set up and pass to each other as well as Kings teamates. Nice.

[JoMal]

Name the 5 best surprises of the 2003-2004 NBA season:

1. That after all the hoopla about it this past off-season, the Laker HOF'ers can't stay healthy and on the court long enough to realyze the "dream". It also clarifies something else. While the other three "HOF'ers get to take equal credit for any success, it only matters whether or not Shaq is healthy and playing, Malone, Payton, and Kobe would make a competitive team, but Shaq and any three non-HOF'ers in their stead would be a threat to win it all.

2.Sam Cassell's fit with the Timberwolves. Finally, Garnett has a serious point guard to aid him in his quest, not only for success in the playoffs, but his personal chance to be recognized as the MVP of the League.

3. That the Lebron hype did not affect the kid once the games started. I started hoping he would fail because I was sick of the buildup. Turns out the kid has the looks of the real deal anyway.

4. The Denver Nuggets early success. This was NOT a very good franchise from top to bottom, but suddenly they are a very competitive team night in and night out.

5. I have to throw in the season the Kings are having. To achieve the best record in basketball requires many things to go right. Pre-season forecasters all agreed that the Kings' off-season moves and the absence of Webber put Sacramento back in the middle of the pack out west. The collapse of the Lakers due to injuries (and other reasons), the stumbling of the Spurs, and Dallas' inexplicable up and down season helped. But in spite of the improved play of the Nuggest (another good team in an already saturated Western Conference), the improvement of Minnesota, and the excellent play of the Pacers, none of them have the record that the Kings have managed to put together so far. It is also clear that no one quite knows what to make of it yet, either.


Name the 5 worst surprises of the 2003-2004 NBA season:

1. Danny Ainge's mismanagement of the Celtics. At some point, someone in that organization has to put a stop to him. This is the classic case of the GM totally undermining the head coach. O'Brien's leaving was a total slap in the face of Ainge's personnel moves that all happened completely against the wishes of the coach.

2.The New Jersey Nets handling of Byron Scott. He was a lame duck since last season, but pride prevented Scott from resigning, which everyone clearly hoped he would do. So firing him after he lead the Nets to two Eastern Championships seems underhanded at best. Could his gameplan have been that bad that the players would rebel against it? No one there really expected that team to beat the best of the West, did they?

3. The fan voting of the All Star selections. This has clearly become a popularity contest and talent be damned. Yao Ming over Shaq? Euurrph! Francis getting the nod over (pick the name of any other top five Western point guard). Talk about latching on to the coattails of Yao right into the All Star starting lineup. Neither should even be ON the All Star roster. Vince Carter getting the most votes? For the love of God, why?

4. The coaching merry-go-round. Is it just me, or are the coaches now considered the ONLY reason that a given team is floundering. Or that the success the team is having is not related necessarily to the abilities of the coach. HUH?? Or that today's coaches can't relate to the hip hop generation, who really resent 'this old guy' trying to tell him that immature antics have no place in the NBA. Or THIS successful coach has to go because I can get THAT successful coach. Or coaches being forced to walk away because they have 'lost the team' because, well, the GM keeps hiding it from him. Face it, "Interim Coach" should apply to every coach, especially in the Atantic Division. Oh, right, it already does.

5. Eddie Griffin. Now trying to take down his second franchise, I wonder why 'Keen Eddie' never received the same type of hype that Lebron or Carmelo have received this year. My question is, besides being the 7th guy picked two years ago, is there any other reason to even give this bozo a cup of coffee in an NBA arena? At some point, you have to ignore any perceived or potential talent and think of the long term ramifications of having a bad influence hanging around your REAL basketball players. Otherwise, you just become the Portland Trailblazers.

[Randy]

Name the 5 best surprises of the 2003-2004 NBA season:
1. Utah Jazz -- who would have thought that Jerry Sloan could make this group of players win like they were (at least until Harpring went out). This makes Jerry look like a genius, in my book.
2. Denver Nuggets -- Who would have thought they would have made the playoffs, not me.
3. Isaiah Thomas -- who would have thought that he could actually help a team as a GM? Again, not me!
4. Firing of Byron Scott -- I guess getting to the Finals two years in a row isn't good enough? Hey, be serious, it's not like this team has the best talent in the NBA or even the EC (see Indy) but nobody in the EC is going to win against the best of the West. Also, while I don't think Scott is the best coach in the league, I think he is better than most and better than what's out there to replace him.
5. That Carlisle could get Artest to focus on his game instead of getting T'd every other minute. Gotta give Carlisle his props.

Name the 5 worst surprises of the 2003-2004 NBA season:
1. Spurs -- I didn't think they were a team as they were last year but who would have thought they would be this bad against top teams in the league?
2. Philly -- it's not like they played in West. I thought they would go down some after Brown left but they have flat disappeared.
3. Magic -- what happened to this team? It's not like they lost a lot of personell last year -- they just disappeared and TMac (after being Mr. Consistent last year) hasn't played like he did last year.
4. Boston -- First, who would have thought that Danny Ainge would try to kill Boston in order to try and resurrect the past? At this point, he has to have a call into Bird and McHale to see if they would mind putting on the green again because this team needs something. IMO, Pierce showed himself to be the better player (over Antoine Walker) but he has been lacking a lot this year.
5. Clippers and the Bulls -- These teams just don't get any better no matter HOW much talent they seem to acquire via draft, etc. Not a lot of surprise here but it definately makes you wish you never had to watch them on the tube (esp. the Bulls).

[Reality]

6. Memphis Griz. We all knew Jerry West was a good GM but who could foresee them being 27-21 in basketballs winningest Midwest Division.

[gaither]

Good ones, JoMal

I forgot about the Eddie Griffen thing. The coaching merry-go-round has really been big news...Rick Carlisle and Byron Scott being the biggest surprises to find themselves bumped after establishing winning records for their respective teams in the previous seasons.