Two Things!

In all my years of watching the NBA and playing NBA 2K-whatever, I have never been so pumped after the first few weeks of the regular season. To me, it has been a bit of a strange first chapter and as the season plays out, I hope that things become a bit more clear; unlike the NFL, where, apparently, no one is good and everyone is Super Bowl bound.

Here are a few of my astute observations:

1) Yup, I was right, the Lakers are good: At 8-0 they are the NBA's best team and have been fairly convincing while doing it. I realize that the Hornets are currently undefeated as well, but come on, they aren't a team, that's just Chris Paul destroying everyone! The LA offense is already in midseason form. They are currently first in points per game (a staggering 112.1), fourth in rebounds per game (46.1), and eleventh in points allowed (99.6). Keep in mind that the "points allowed" stat contains a lot of garbage time, second-unit minutes.

The big factor I see in this offensive resurgence is Lamar Odom. LO, already in shape and primed due to his World tourney tour, has been extremely efficient. Through eight games, Odom is shooting almost 63% from the field while averaging 15 ppg and 10 rpg. This gives him a strong Player Efficiency Rating of 19.1 as the third option on his team. Lamar moves the ball wall, defends well and rebounds; when you pair him with Pau Gasol, you are looking at, statistically, the top post duo in the NBA.

Oh and Pau Gasol is averaging 24, 11 and 5. Yup.

2) The Heat are...something: I find it interesting that the media is not freaking out now that the Heat have three losses. Well, it's probably good because they get too much coverage anyways, plus there is nothing to freak out about yet. I've heard that "Bosh is a bust," but you really can't buy all that. Personally, I feel that he's getting his ass kicked out there, especially defensively, I mean, Paul Millsap tore him up. Even though I'm not for the Heat winning it all this year and have enjoyed watching teams rise up against them, I'm not even close to saying they have glaring weaknesses.

On the other hand, they have glaring weaknesses. See my last blog.

The big three seem so uncomfortable out there, Wade and James are gelling a little bit, but  Bosh just looks left out and confused. I expect this to be fixed by All-Star Break.

Beat the Heat

We're through the first couple weeks of basketball this season and somehow, this is still the most intriguing season ever. It's like "The Decision" has single handedly changed the NBA and the levels of hate between teams. Think of these story lines: The Heat vs Everybody, Boston vs LAL, LAL vs. SEA-OKC, ORL vs. Boston and that's not even counting the resurgent Bulls.

The Heat, though they can no longer go undefeated, are widely expected to be the best team in basketball by the end of the year. Right now I believe the Lakers look like the best team in the NBA, and, as a surprise to me, Boston showed how teams CAN beat the Heat.

I know it was the first game of the season and it looked like Chris Bosh was about to shit his pants out of nervousness, but still, as a team, Boston played the same great defense that allowed them to not only take out Wade in the playoffs, but LeBron and Dwight Howard too. The thing that Boston does well is, they don't let your shooters get involved.

Look at the Magic last year. Dwight Howard's post game was virtually non-existent. Against Boston in the playoffs, the Celtics took away every aspect of the Orlando arsenal by following one simple philosophy: "Don't leave the shooters!"

If you watch closely, Orlando breaks down defenses by penetrating and kicking on bad rotations. This leaves all those shooters on the perimeter wide open. So instead of doubling on Dwight Howard and rotating to the open shooter, the Celts stuck with their man on the perimeter, effectively shutting down the Magic offense. 

With the Heat, I'm thinking that same strategy is going to work. The Celtics rotate so well that, if they do get caught out of position, they make up for it quicker than most teams.  With the Heat, the key has to be keeping the paint locked down. Wade and LeBron are going to drive and dish all day. Check that, LeBron is going to drive and dish, Wade is going to drive and get fouled, they have almost established this early on. Right now, it's too easy for LeBron and Wade to just dribble in and hit Bosh for a jumper or James Jones for a three.

Here are the five things defenses need to do to stop the Heat:

1) Sag off LeBron and Wade. Let them shoot jumpers all day! They're still going to be better than you, but these guys really start to get things going when they get in the lane. Neither of these guys are lights out from the perimeter so make them one dimensional by taking away the drive.

2) Be physical and stick on Bosh. Is LeBron driving to the hole? Yes? OK, are you guarding Chris Bosh? Yes? Alright, stay there. The worst thing you can do is try to help your teammate with a streaking LeBron on the way to the hole. One thing is almost guaranteed when this happens: the Heat will score. Either LeBron gets fouled and makes the bucket or Bosh hits an open jumper. The other thing that can happen? You stand in the way to take a charge. Good luck with that shit.

3) Deny D-Wade the ball. LeBron wants to spread the ball around. As long as you stay on Bosh and immediately deny Wade the ball, you've taken out the two other best options on that team.

4) Whoever is guarding Joel Anthony, DON'T GUARD JOEL ANTHONY! He may be the most awkward player in the NBA. I don't know why he even plays. I mean, they could get Mike Miller, Eddie House and Jerry Stackhouse, but they couldn't do any better than a terrible, undersized center to stand around and do nothing? There weren't any veteran players sitting around waiting to play? What can he do?! Either way, when you see LeBron with the ball, start coasting to the paint and be ready. First, cut off Wade, then cut off Bosh, finally stick to James Jones/Mike Miller. EVEN AFTER THAT do not guard Joel Anthony. At this point, you have LeBron with the ball and Joel Anthony open. That's the best possible situation.

5) Go big or go home. I like Chris Bosh, but he is being exposed early on. The Heat are going to need a lot of weak side help for big time post players. Every one should point to the Magic game in this situation because the Heat absolutely destroyed. Well, Dwight Howard is not that good of a passing big man and Rashard Lewis may not be a man at all, so they aren't a good example. Boston, the Lakers and even the Hawks have tough big men that can pass, so I expect them to do well versus the Heat. The key on offense is having a highly skilled point guard and two good big men.