I have decided to start posting boxscores on the thread and the occasional article from my Dynasty Website.
Check out the Page 3 with J.D! article (ala ESPN style) below.
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PAGE 3 with J.D!
12/10/04
AM I READING CORRECTLY?
by J.D!
You've checked the standings and league leaders, and yes, you have read correctly. That IS the Seattle Supersonics leading the Western Conference with a 6-2 record. The season might only be two weeks old, but here are some more quirky trends......road teams have a winning record (44/79 or 0.557)......Austin Croshere is carrying the depleted Pacers with his 23.0ppg average, which is good for 15th in the league......the Hawks dynamic duo, Antoine Walker and Al Harrington are combining for 47.3ppg, 24.0rpg, 8.8apg, 2.84bpg & 2.66spg, and the Hawks still suck......
Who's Hot?
- Detroit Pistons (5-0) is the NBA's only undefeated team and it's average margin of victory is 15.8ppg, which included a 22 point win in San Antonio. And this has been without the services of Big Ben Wallace.
- Gary Payton (Boston) has bounced back from his LA disaster to be averaging 19.8ppg, 5.3rpg, 6.5apg & 1.75spg for the Celtics (2-2).
- Houston Rockets (3-1) are on a 3 game tear, and have been winning on the backs of duo Yao and McGrady by an average of 24.3ppg during that stretch, which included wins over Denver and Seattle.
Who's Not?
- Philadelphia 76ers (1-5) is getting beat up by an average of 15.0ppg. This included a 50 point drubbing at the hands of Dallas (see below for Mavs' boxscore).
- Amare Stoudemire (Phoenix) is averaging only 12.4ppg & 9.8rpg on 37.3% FG for the ice-cold Suns (1-4). If the Phoenix is serious about a push for the playoffs, it all starts and ends with Amare. He's need to break out of his funk quickly or the season could be in the tank.
- Charlotte Bobcats (0-3) still looking for their first win. Have lost by an average of 17.7ppg. It could be a long season in NC.
Money, Money, Money!
Ray Allen. He might not have got his contract, but if he continues this sort of product for Seattle (6-2), they are going to have no choice but to pony up. Allen has really stepped up over the first fortnight of the season, and has averaged 30.3 points, 4.3 rebounds & 6.0 assists for the surprising Sonics. This included a 41 point outburst in a 104-103 win in Memphis on 29/10/04, and an NBA season-high 44pts in the Sonics 112-98 drubbing of Phoenix on 06/11/04 at Key Arena.
Allen (above left) shoots over Joe Johnson on his way to 44pts & Rashard Lewis (above right) holds it up in the Sonics' win over the Suns
Team on the Rise
Seattle Supersonics. The Sonics have a Conference-best record of 6-2 through the first couple of weeks of November. They have the NBA's leading scorer in Ray Allen (30.3ppg, 4.3rpg, 6.0apg & 1.75spg), and Rashard Lewis (22.5ppg, 11.1rpg, 3.8apg, 1.50spg & 1.50bpg) has been a revelation, and the rest of the crew have supported this dynamic duo well. Most people expected Sonics to be more like 2-6 at this point, so they have surprised many. Doubting Thomases don't expect Seattle to continue playing at this level. I say, stuff them, these Sonics put points on the board and are fun to watch. Let's hope this rock does not gather any moss on its journey.
E-Mail of the Week
Horaldo "Hairy" Knolls (Hokitika, New Zealand): I read that article you wrote discussing your pre-season picks. I think you were way off the base in a lot of your predictions. But how come my team, the Hawks got no love. Toine is gonna win MVP, Josh Childress Rookie of the Year, Jon Barry 6th Man of the Year, and we're gonna surprise many by making some noise in the playoffs.
J.D!: All I can say Hairy, is that you must have some good stuff down there in Hokitiga. Send some up, would ya?
Box This Up and Wrap It For Latter
Cause: Dirk Nowitzki, Michael Finley and Jason Terry return from injury, and Stackhouse is promoted to the starting lineup.
Effect: Mavericks win by 50 points, and the Big 4 combine to score 113 points in the Mavs' thumping of the 76ers.
A Line To Die For
November 6, 2004, New Jersey at Golden State
Line: 44mins, 42pts, 17-29 FG, 7-15 3Pt, 1-1 FT, 7rebs, 6asts, 1stl, 1blk, 3TO's
This was Mike Dunleavy Jr's line in the Warriors 100-98 home win over the Nets. Dunleavy has taken a lot of heat over the past two seasons after being selected 3rd overall in the 2002 NBA Draft after leaving Duke after his junior season. This game was a breakout for Dunleavy, who leads the Warriors (4-2) in scoring (22.3ppg - 20th in NBA).
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Cheers
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