Mizzo’s NBA Top Five: It’s the Lakes Baby…the Lakes
1. Los Angeles Lakers 42-9, 5-0 week
(AP Photo/Gus Ruelas)
This is a crazy year. It’s hard to guage who is gonna step up and take control of the L. Kev Dog gets his wish because right now the Lakers are number 1 and it’s almost convincingly.
Lamar Odom, Pau Gasol and Trevor Ariza are stepping up and letting the lig know it ain’t just about Kobe–who just became the youngest ever to 23,000 points surpassing Wilt by a couple of days. Seems like I just asked the reigning Western Conference Player of the Week about 20,000…damn, time is a beast!
With no true timetable set for Andrew Bynum’s return, LO, Pau and No Hops (damn Grant) have to remain consistent in the flow of the triangle for this team to make it big. The Lakes have won 7 straight and 11 of 12 with the break beckoning. Watch out.
2. Boston Celtics 42-11, 3-2 week
(AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
The Celtics have been leveling off just a little, but that’s what usually happens to defending champeeens. I asked them around this same time last year about complacency and their answers were diplomatic at best. Paul Pierce seems to be picking up his fire and that is obviously a great thing. The C’s have New Orleans tonight to begin a west coast swing that will tell a lot about this team’s resolve.
3. Cleveland Cavaliers 39-11, 3-2 week
(AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Mo Williams was finally added to the Eastern Conference All Star team. I don’t think the league was ready for either him or LeBron after the break without that addition. LeBron, who is the Eastern Conference Player of the Week has been giving it to the league raw the last couple of weeks and looks to be unstoppable with a head of steam. Like Kev Dog so eloquently states, the kid needs to add more critical dimensions to his game, but Kev…he’s only 24. Stop being so hard on a brotha.
4. Orlando Magic 38-12, 3-2 week
(AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Now that cuzo Jameer Nelson is out for a minute with a shoulder, the Orlando Magic will have to put up or shut up. There’s no excuses. This team has been steady while not being spectacular the entire season. Again, defense will be the preeminent issue, but if Stan can rally the not so Lilliputians around the tremendous Gulliver that is Dwight Howard, this team could shock the world.
5. San Antonio Spurs 35-15, 4-1 week
(AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
I can’t stand this team…ya’ll know that…but they win so my opinion is immaterial. I said they would supplant the Hornets when they beat CP3 and Co., so here they are. Roger Mason Jr. and Matt Bonner are shooting ice like Gerv but will it continue? Manu Ginobli’s health is always a concern and combined with Timmay’s injuries, we’ll see if this championship tested team has anything left.
Not to change the subject, but I was looking at the NBA totals for career points. Kareem is at the top of the list with 38,387. To put that in perspective, Kobe’s been playing since he was 18. He’s the fastest to reach 23,000 points and he’s still trailing by 15,000+ points.
Rasheed Wallace still hasn’t scored 15,000 points in his career. Neither did Jamaal Wilkes or Bill Russell or Alonzo Mourning or Allan Houston or Marques Johnson or Derrick Coleman.
Doc’s points were relatively low as well, but when you add his ABA numbers, he’s looking like Warren Moon.
I don’t put to much into Kobe’s point total because he was in the league a lot sooner than most.
I’ll say this early — an injured Bynum punctured my playoff prediction last year. I don’t think the Lakers win it all without him. He doesn’t have to be 100%, but he needs to be a presence on the defensive end and a space-eater on the offensive end.
I think the Celtics should be sure to get their rest in March and April. May and June are gonna be bumpy.
I think DJ AM is gonna put the Lakeshow over the top. Teams will be mesmerized by the ‘stache. It’s so pornoriffic. So greasy. So…LA.
Mizzo:
The gap between Kareem and Dr. J (including all of his ABA points) is about as wide as the gap between Dr. J and Gary Payton.
38k is like Everest.
If Kobe plays 4 years at this level, he’s going past Doc and will be right on Wilt’s heels. He’ll from 26th to 4th and Jordan will be within his sights. He’ll be worth watching every night as he starts to pass some of these guys.
My point wasn’t to take anything away from Kobe (as if there’s something that can be taken away), it was to see there’s still a long way to the top — but the Land of the Supreme Legends is actually very close.