State of the NBA

With the NBA nearing the All-Star break next week (why so late btw?), I thought I'd write about some of the most exciting players, storylines, etc. of the 2004-2005 season so far.

Top Players

• Steve Nash - Leads the league in assists and pilots the top-scoring team. Has made Amare Stoudamire an MVP-type player in only 1 yr.
• Shaq - Just being Shaq - 20 pts., 12 rbs, 2 blk, 4 ast. Heat have the best record in Eastern Conference, but Wade has as much to do w/ record as Shaq does.
• Lebron James - Can he do it all? Yes... Single-handedly leading his team to a top seed in the Eastern Conference.
• Kevin Garnett - Mr. Hustle, Garnett fills up a stat line every night and busts his ass for the team. He could average 30 pts. and 15 rbds. if he wanted to, but he's more interested in the team's success.
• Tracy McGrady - Starting to pour it on w/ scoring average in February over 30 pts. per game. Most importantly, Rockets are winning.
• Dwayne Wade - Incredible athlete and gifted scorer. Could carry the Heat without Shaq AND win, if needed.
• Amare Stoudamire - Baby Karl should be Amare's nickname... He's a monster on offense within 10 ft. and he's developed a reliable 15 ft. jump shot to compliment his post moves. The quickest big-man in the league.
• Shawn Marion - Mr. Versatility... Can block a shot or steal the ball, take it down the court, shoot, and rebound his own shot before the defense leaves their feet. And he can shoot the 3 ball, even though he has the worst looking shot in the league.
• Tim Duncan - San Antonio is playing great and Duncan is a big part of that, but he's overhyped as well. There are 5 other players in the NBA averaging better numbers than Duncan, but he's a unanimous pick to start in the All-Star game? I think not.

Best Team(s)

• (Tie) Suns and Spurs.

Biggest Disappointments

• Minnesota Timberwolves - Wasn't this suppose to be the next great Western Conference powerhouse? They're currently sitting under .500 for the season and wouldn't make the playoffs if they started today. Garnett is producing, but no one else is.
• Denver - So much promise last year, they haven't continued their development. With George Karl running the team now, they should rebound and make the playoffs and compete with anybody.

All-Star voting is for the fans, so we have to live with the selections. It's too bad there are a billion people in China voting for Yao Ming, and only the states of Arizona and Texas voting for Amare and Duncan, respectively. One of the latter should be starting in the center spot, not Yao. Vince Carter a starter in the Eastern Conference - what a joke. The guy openly talks about not giving 100% when he played in Toronto and the fans reward him w/ an All-Star bid. Grant Hill deserves to be a reserve; Jermaine O'Neal should be starting in the 4-spot.

My 2 cents.