Each week, we’ll ask our stable of scribes to weigh in on the five most important NBA topics of the day — and then give you a chance to step on the scale, too, in the comments below.
OK, then. Who’s the worst team with a decent record?
Steve Aschburner: Tempting to say Cleveland, but I don’t want to rain on what little parade -– about a half block long down Euclid Ave. -– the LeBron-less Cavaliers might have this season. So I’ll go with Golden State, whose 5-2 start has been built mostly at home (1-2 on the road), whose defense still is suspect and whose backcourt persists as an awkward fit.
Fran Blinebury: Geez, didn’t everybody think they boarded up “The Q” and sold off all the basketball equipment when Whatshisname left town? But despite Antawn Jamison‘s discontent, coach Byron Scott has the Cavs scrapping, competing and showing pride.
Art Garcia: A decent record after two weeks could be just about anything. I didn’t expect much out of New York and Cleveland, and they each opened up splitting their first six games. I’m going to go with the Pacers, who are hanging tough with basically a three-man team of Danny Granger, Roy Hibbert and Darren Collison.
Scott Howard-Cooper: The Cavaliers are bad on offense, bad on defense and bad on the boards … and also 4-3. They had the quality win against the Celtics on opening night, but the victories since are over the 76ers, Wizards and Nets.
Shaun Powell: The Warriors have beaten only one playoff team from last season, and actually lost to the Pistons. Me like Stephen Curry and Monta Ellis together, but still not sold on the Warriors’ D-and-D (defense and depth). No playoffs this year, although they’ll be more fun to watch than teams that do make the playoffs.
John Schuhmann: Cleveland or Golden State, but I’m keeping an open mind regarding both of them. The Cavs have more talent than people realize and the Warriors seem to care about defense for the first time in several years. Both are a seventh or eighth seed at best, but neither is really a bad team.
Sekou Smith: The Cavaliers need to take Polaroids of the standings right now while they’re sitting among the Eastern Conference’s top four teams, because they’ll need binoculars to see that real estate in a couple of months. Give Byron Scott credit for having that team focused to start the season. And we don’t wish them any ill will. But the reality is they’re just holding a place in line for the Heat, Bulls or Bucks.
Hey, don’t rain on our Warriors early-season parade! We’ve got to take the good times when they come.
Just heard an interview with Barkly who says he can’t watch the Warriors because they don’t play any D. He said, “At least when I was a player I pretended to play D!”
Look at all this cynicism aimed at the Cavs.
At least give us credit for winning games on the road like noone else in the East.
Look at Miami, they’re 5 and 3. And they’ve beat garbage teams as well. The nets (twice), the 76ers, and Minnesota.
I will say this. The Central Division isn’t exactly drowning in talent.
The Cavs have as good as a chance at taking the Central and clenching the 4th seed that the Heat have at winning the East.
I agree not sure why that is on the bloggers point about the cavs…but I called it right way watching J.J Hickson even bf LBJ left that J.J was going to be an above average player 20plus points 10 plus borads.
He gets up on every play D or O and we have more then enough players that can average 12 points a game
and with Mo Williams and Daniel Gibson and sometimes Sessions going to the hoop thinking pass first that is always a plus for a team.
I agree with the Central Divison the hardest team to pass might be the Bulls and they always find a way to screw themselves out. Plus we don’t have players that are too much injury pron (mb Wild Thing) our oldest player is A.Parker
That is good for the reg. season but not so great in playoffs but hey its better then watching LBJ go 1vs 5 while the rest of the team watches and then him just give up or shot 5-18 like he just did against the Jazz LOL.
He couldnt help it. wasnt that when his mom supposively had an affair with that west guy? I dont think a person who grew up with just his mom could “let that go” Lebron will go down as one of the best players ever because he is and thats that. I hope he gets his rings in miami hes a great player just like dwade and bosh. And burning the jerseys? come on, grow up. But if KD left OKC everyone would be sad but happy for him. Just like if kobe left LA. And remember he almost did.
There is still a team in cleveland? lol
This league is funny. They try to act like there is a depth of good teams, when they know that it always boils down to about five real contenders every year. I love how they count the cavs out. The cavs could legit win the central division because all their players have chips on their shoulders and they actually have more talent than ppl give them credit for. Plus bulls and bucks are not great teams by any stretch of the imagination. Bulls are really gonna miss Vinny Del Negro. Central gonna be decided at about 45-50 wins. Cavs are capable in the league where half the teams don’t try on a night to night basis.