You’re Only As Good As Your Last Game ……. Unfortunately If Your Last Game Was Good As The Ones That’ve Been Played By The Cavaliers and Wizards Then Than That’s Not Saying A Great Deal ………….. !

You’re Only As Good As Your Last Game ……. Unfortunately If Your Last Game Was Good As The Ones That’ve Been Played By The Cavaliers and Wizards Then Than That’s Not Saying A Great Deal ………….. !

I’m sorry but being an avid NBA fan I’ve always loved the spirit of competition and that goes through a whole litany of sports that I’ve either grown up participating in or watching from afar. At present but there’s no other way to explain it but there really are some god-damn awful teams in the league at present . And it’s clearly down to the lack of real quality coaches in the NBA and the very fact that in large part many of the players simply aren’t that good.

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Slide show for your perusal .

At present the two worst teams in the league record wise are Minnesota Timberwolves (11-30) and the preposterously bad Cleveland Cavaliers (8-39). I’m sorry but not even Byron Scott can now coach this team out of the mess that they’re in. Cavaliers’ owner Dan Gilbert may well have made the fans in Cleveland a promise that a NBA title banner would be raised inside the Quicken Loans Arena before LeBron James and the Miami Heat would be a led to title by the former Cavaliers’ player. And I know that as of late the Heat have had their problems in the league with a number of setbacks and the fact that their triumvirate of James , Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade have suddenly become injury prone and the very fact that the team’s —- productivity has been a little inconsistent . Well it won’t hide the fact that they’re still one of the teams to beat in the Eastern Conference .

Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra I’ve no doubt is a capable coach and will right the ship and I can see them contending . The same however cannot be said of the Cavaliers as they descend into an abyss of mediocrity. There’s not been enough that can be said about this team as they have lost 20 consecutive games . And if you thought that statistic was bad then you’ve only got to simply look at the team’s statistics to see how bad things have really become for the organization as a whole. Even with a veteran such as Antawn Jamison on board the Cavaliers simply hasn’t had an answer for any of their opponents that they’ve met this season.

It goes without saying that the only hope that the Cleveland Cavaliers may now have is to go for broke and simply just “tank the season” in the hope that they can earn one of the top picks in the 2011 NBA Draft. And with there being such an abundance of talent in the college ranks namely Kemba Walker , Jared Sullinger , Darius Morris , Marcus Morris , Jimmer Fredette , and Kyle Singler amongst a litany young college players who’ll be looking to make their mark at the professional level. It may well on appearance not be such a bad thing were the Cavaliers to go down that particular path. At this juncture I’m wondering also how Dan Gilbert’s demeanor has to be doing . In an offseason where he berates LeBron James for abandoning the team , I find it mildly amusing that much of this could have been avoided had both parties involved acted with common courtesy rather than letting this idiotic play out in public for their own personal consumption !

Now while no one can deny that John Wall had a stellar collegiate career with the Kentucky Wildcats but his career thus far with the Washington Wizards (13-35) has been anything but average at best. And while praise has been heaped upon the player I can’t help but feel that they’re simply not good enough to be even competitive within the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference. A number one overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft Wall was seen as the corner piece of this team with him perhaps working in part alongside Gilbert Arenas . But alas, that wasn’t to be as the seasoned veteran was shipped off to the Orlando Magic as part of a multi-player multi-team deal .

Say what you will but the Wizards’ fans in attendance at the Verizon Center in Washington , DC can’t have envisaged this all unfolding as a spectacle in front of their very eyes. Their season has been bad enough as it is with the inconsistency playing to all facets of the Wizards’ game . And with what has taken place with the Washington Redskins and their rather mundane season under the tenure of Mike Shanahan , Kyle Shanahan and that rather mediocre coaching staff , in truth one could have a great deal of sympathy for the fans in the nation’s capitol. It’s not as if the Washington Nationals were about to provide them with any solace whatsoever. Although the fans are holding out for a change in fortunes for the team this upcoming season at the Nationals Ballpark . I’d say at this moment in time they’d be better off praying for hell to freeze over first before they can see any of the three teams in question actually turn themselves into championship contenders.

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Picture gallery for your perusal .

I’m not so sure as to what needs to be done in order for the Washington Wizards to be competitive. From a coaching standpoint this young roster needs to learn as much as they can as fast as they can if they’re to show any semblance of progress . And that’s the real task that Flip Saunders is now facing even with the assistance of his coaching staff led by Randy Wittman and former NBA player Sam Cassell . If this staff cannot get this Wizards’ team heading in the right direction then to my mind then the turnaround in fortunes that they seek won’t be happening anytime soon ! And that will be to the embarrassment of the Wizards’ front office , GM Ernie Grunfeld and that of principal managing partner Ted Leonsis .

Now when these two teams meet at the Verizon Center I’d certainly like to think that the NBA hierarchy won’t have the temerity to make this part of the national broadcast or through their cable broadcast on their own in-house provider NBA Tv . As poor as the two teams have been playing I certainly don’t think that the nation ought to have to endure such garbage ! Simply put , this will do absolutely nothing to enhance the brand of the NBA , certainly not the brand and product that has given us Jordan , Kareem , Malone , Ewing , Magic Johnson , the 95-96 Bulls’ team and a slew of other NBA greats !

As an avid fan of the game just like any other NBA fan I’d prefer to see competitive games with levels of dexterity and athleticism . Unfortunately when the Cavaliers and Wizards meet on Sunday 13 th February that’s unlikely to happen ! Somehow I think at this juncture I’m sure that David Stern is looking for options if not a chance perhaps to ask that both teams simply settle the result of the game by playing checkers rather than subjecting the nation to this particular form of mediocrity on an NBA basketball court .

What thoughts if any do you have on the NBA season and the woefully inept form of the teams lumbering at the bottom of their respective divisions ? Simply chime in with your thoughts on this topic and any other as it relates to the NBA .

Alan aka tophatal

Picture and slide show details immediately below .

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(1)Memphis Grizzlies’ Zach Randolph, right, knocks the ball away from Minnesota Timberwolves’ Kevin Love in the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011, in Minneapolis. Randolph was charged with a foul on the play. AP Photo/Jim Mone ……….

(2) Minnesota Timberwolves’ Darko Milicic, center, of Serbia, crouches between Memphis Grizzlies’ Marc Gasol, left, of Spain, and Sam Young in the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011, in Minneapolis. AP Photo/Jim Mone ….

(3) Danny Granger (33) of the Indiana Pacers shoots against Christian Eyenga (8) of the Cleveland Cavaliers at The Quicken Loans Arena on February 2, 2011 in Cleveland, Ohio. Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images ……

(4)Fans hope for the end of the Cleveland Cavaliers losing streak, in the first quarter of an NBA basketball game against the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011, in Cleveland. The Cavaliers continued a disappointing season, losing 117-112 to the Pacers, as the streak reached 22 straight. I’d like to think that the Cavaliers’ fans have now become very much more appreciative of the team’s losing streak and their continued mediocre effort being shown on the court ? AP Photo/Mark Duncan …….

(5)Cleveland Cavaliers’ Manny Harris shoots against Indiana Pacers’ Mike Dunleavy, right, in the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011, in Cleveland. The Pacers won 117-112 to hand the Cavaliers their 22nd straight loss. AP Photo/Mark Duncan …..

(6) Cleveland Cavaliers coach Byron Scott, center, is flanked by his coaching staff, from left, Paul Pressey, Chris Jent, Jamahl Mosley and Joe Prunty , Monday September 27th 2010 at the team’s training facility in Independence ,Ohio ,. Picture courtesy of Associated Press .

(7) Alonzo Gee (33) of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives against the Indiana Pacers at The Quicken Loans Arena on February 2, 2011 in Cleveland, Ohio. Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images ……

(8) Washington Wizards point guard John Wall walks onto the court at the end of a timeout in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Hornets in New Orleans, Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2011. Wall shot two for 11 with four points in Washington’s 97-89 loss to New Orleans. AP Photo/Patrick Semansky ………..

(9) Washington Wizards head coach Flip Saunders reacts to an official’s call in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Hornets in New Orleans, Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2011. New Orleans defeated Washington 97-89. AP Photo/Patrick Semansky ……

(10) Washington Wizards guard Nick Young, right, shoots over New Orleans Hornets forward Jason Smith during the second half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2011. New Orleans defeated Washington 97-89, despite a game-high 30 points from Young. AP Photo/Patrick Semansky ……..

(11) LeBron James smiles as he’s introduced to the crowd at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School with owner Dan Gilbert, left, general manager Danny Ferry, second from the left, and coach Mike Brown, second from the right. In happier times the quartet saw untold success from a competitive and financial standpoint but the past offseason led to a tumultuous upheaval with Danny Ferry re-signing as general manager , Mike Brown being fired and as we all know James left the Cavaliers to ply his trade elsewhere with the Miami Heat. Gus Chan / The Plain Dealer ….

(12) Billionaire internet and media mogul Ted Leonsis the principal owner of the Washington Wizards as well as the NHL’s —- Washington Capitals . Leonsis and his partners bought the Wizards from the late Abe Pollin and his family . Courtesy of The Washington Post/ Getty Images/ Christian Hascher …………

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NB: Click on the links shown below to read the latest news and views around the NBA .

NBA News ……………

NBA Standings ………. Conference

Division

Daily Statistics

NBA Team Statistics

NBA scores & results

Tuesday results

Thursday’s scheduled games

Friday’s scheduled games

Saturday’s scheduled games

Sunday’s scheduled games

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Cavaliers’ news

Wizards’ news

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Eye candy ………………. Meet ‘Biscuits’ whose assets seem to be very well rounded wouldn’t you say ?

Here We Go Again …….. Did He Really Do That ? No It’s Not Steve Urkel

Here We Go Again …….. Did He Really Do That ? No It’s Not Steve Urkel

Should I be troubled by the following or I should I simply put it off as nothing more than another athlete simply showing how stupid and unintelligent they are ? Once again it would appear that Washington Wizards’ guard Gilbert Arenas simply has learned nothing from his suspension by the NBA having brought two unlicensed weapons to his place of employment , the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. __ home of the Wizards. You may remember Arenas was involved in altercation with his then teammate Javaris Crittenton , where both players brandished their weapons at each other simply over a gambling debt that one owed the other. Now pardon me for saying this but when you have to resort to using a gun merely to show your masculinity to me that simply shows that you’re nothing more than a coward !

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Slide show.

Arenas having served his suspension is now back with the team looking to recuperate his image and compensate for what he says was a bad error in judgment on his part. You don’t say ? I was under the impression that Arenas brandished his weapon of his own volition and was prepared to use it no matter what the cost. It seems idiotic to think that the player still shows a lack of intelligence but should choose to use his demeanor and standing to try and alleviate his self worth as an individual. In his latest faux pas the player chose to lie to his coach Flip Saunders , feined an injury during a preseason game against the Atlanta Hawks in order that teammate, rookie Nick Young could gain some playing time. Now while some might think that the act might not amount to much in terms of Arenas and his intent. But I look at this as a rather stupid thing to do on his part , as it merely shows that the growth in the maturity of Arenas just doesn’t seem to be there. If he’s now prepared to lie to his coach over something such as this which one might view as innocuous even if it was meant to be an altruistic act. Arenas is either complete ass or he’s trying to insinuate that he’s becoming the elder statesman and leader of his team ____ the Washington Wizards.

Courtesy of AP & Yahoo Sports

Arenas fined for faking injury before Wizards game

Washington (AP)—For someone looking to get back into the good graces of his team, its fans and the NBA, Gilbert Arenas has a funny way of showing it.

The Washington Wizards guard’s latest escapade took place Tuesday, when coach Flip Saunders announced before a preseason game against the Atlanta Hawks that Arenas would miss the contest with a sore left knee.

But Arenas revealed after the Wizards’ 107-92 victory that he pretended to have a bum knee to give teammate Nick Young a chance to start. He told reporters Wednesday that he was trying to do Young a favor.

“I lied to coach and told him my knee was sore so he’d start Nick,” Arenas said.

Arenas was fined an undisclosed amount by the Wizards for his deception. It was another blow to the image of a player who is still trying to recover from his 50-game suspension and felony conviction for bringing guns into the locker room last season.

After Wednesday’s practice, Arenas first said he wasn’t talking, then appeared before reporters offering a halfhearted apology for his actions.

“I screwed up again, so I just want to say sorry,” he said. “I wasn’t really thinking that this was going to be another media outburst. It’s like everything I do now, someone, tit for tat, tries to blow it out of proportion.”

Arenas’ altruistic gesture might have gone over a little better if Arenas didn’t lie to his coach, or if he hadn’t already ruffled feathers this preseason with his moody press conference at the team’s media day or his statements that he would “move on” after helping No. 1 pick John Wall learn the ropes.

Saunders, who has gone out of his way to defend Arenas this preseason, said he was shocked and disappointed with Arenas. He spoke to Arenas and the team about the situation.

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The Wizards embark on a season where they’re not thought to offer much by way of competitiveness within the Eastern Conference . And after the escapades of last season you can only be assured that they’ll turn up to play their games and hopefully show something to their success starved fans . It seems somewhat sad given the legacy of their former owner Abe Pollin and the things he stood for as a well respected owner within the NBA hierarchy and around the league as a whole. Now with Ted Leonsis taking over the helm of the organization it remains to be seen as to the type of franchise this club will become. This much we do know for the sake of the progression of the team’s first round draft pick John Wall the number one pick overall from this past offseason the team and in particular Arenas had better show the fans that their intent is to play a brand of basketball that will be entertaining. If not Wall and in particular the fans there at the Verizon Center may well become completely disinterested altogether.

A great deal is expected of Wall as a player and he’s seen as the face of the franchise for the future even with Arenas installed and thought of as the team’s best player. But much of what may well happen on the court will come down to the coaching prowess of Saunders and his coaching staff. And as good as Saunders is thought of as a coach I don’t know that he’ll be able to bring about the measure of success that the fans and front office will be hoping for. The team’s progression if anything may well be measured over the course of the season and if anything that success might well be deemed as having an above .500 record for the year. A playoff berth though not out of the realms of possibility given the fact that the Wizards are in the Eastern Conference and where mediocrity amongst the lower tiered teams within the conference seemingly is the norm. This much we can be certain of the margin between the top three teams within the conference and that of the others there is as vast as one could imagine. Simply put even with the addition of LeBron James within the Eastern Conference I don’t really expect to see the level of basketball being played there being raised to where the fans will become in awe of what they’re actually witnessing.

The Miami Heat , Boston Celtics and Orlando Magic will be looking to cement their identity to be viewed as the prohibitive favorites within the Eastern Conference. And while it appears that the majority of analysts and journalists covering the NBA appear to be ready to anoint the Heat as this season’s uncrowned champions. I do believe that there will be a great deal of jockeying between the triumvirate of teams mentioned . Granted James along with Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade make the Heat a formidable team and without a doubt we all expect to see them in the NBA playoffs at season’s end. With the expectations being that the Heat will essentially cast aside whomever they’re matched up against in the earlier rounds before marching their to the conference finals and then ultimately meeting up with whomever comes out of the Western Conference in the NBA Finals itself. As to what’s envisaged by the other teams within the league and the actuality of it all remains to be seen.

Whatever part is played in the season by the Washington Wizards I can only hope that for the sake of the franchise Gilbert Arenas doesn’t continue to embarrass himself and the team anymore than he already has done. It’s bad enough that the image of the NBA as a whole hasn’t been awash, with anything that one could really count as being positive . The success of the national team in the FIBA world championships while commendable was simply orchestrated under the hard work of the players who participated but most of all by the contributions of Mike Krzyzewski and Jerry Colangelo . Anyone thinks differently ought to simply assess their undertakings over the past four years alone and the direction that USA Basketball has taken. LeBron James and his self absorbed ego and the offseason antics simply made most fans of the game watch in amazement and ask what the hell is wrong within the NBA and in particular with David Stern’s tenureship as commissioner ?

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Washington Wizards’ JaVale McGee, left, watches from the bench with teammate Gilbert Arenas, right, during the fourth quarter of an NBA preseason basketball game against the Atlanta Hawks in Washington, on Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2010. Wizards coach Flip Saunders said before Tuesday night’s game that Arenas’ knee was bothering him. The Wizards defeated the Hawks 107-92. AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin ……….

Washington Wizards shooting guard Nick Young (1) smiles after scoring against the Atlanta Hawks during the fourth quarter of an NBA preseason basketball game in Washington, on Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2010. Young, starting for the injured Gilbert Arenas, scored 24 points in a 107-92 win over the Hawks. AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin ….

Washington Wizards point guard John Wall (2) goes to the basket past Atlanta Hawks forward Evan Brock (3) during the fourth quarter of an NBA preseason basketball game in Washington, on Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2010. Wall scored 19 points in his home debut and the Wizards cruised to a 107-92 victory over the winless Hawks. AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin …..

Abe Pollin sells Caps AOL executive Ted Leonsis, second from right, Jon Ledecky, right, and Dick Patrick, left, hold up Washington Capitals jerseys at a news conference Wednesday, May 12, 1999, at the MCI Center in Washington. Wednesday, May 12, 1999, at the MCI Center in Washington Leonsis heads an investment group, including Patrick and Ledecky, which purchased the Washington Capitals NHL team from Abe Pollin, second from left. TWP/ Dayna Smith …………..

Jaleel White who made a name for himself playing to the role of the bumbling but yet tolerable ‘Steve Urkel’ on the family sitcom ”Family Matters”. Though the role of the bumbling Steve Urkel was meant to be a minor role for which the character had unrequited love for the character of Laura Winslow. The series ran for nine years (1989-98) on ABC and then CBS television before ending its run in 1998. White a graduate of UCLA (Film & television) is now a well respected sports analyst providing commentary primarily on the NBA while still continuing his professional acting career on a somewhat limited basis. courtesy of imdb.com @ copyrighted material ……….

Flip Saunders seen here putting players through a training drill at the Wizards’ home arena the Verizon Center , Washington , D.C,. courtesy of The Washington Times / Curt Plessey …

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Picture gallery.

Given the latest incident concerning Gilbert Arenas do you feel his actions were idiotic or do you feel that it was merely much ado about nothing ? Chime on in with a comment on this and any other topic as it relates to the NBA this upcoming season .

Alan aka tophatal ………………….. 🙂

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Plies ………. “Becky”

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Sultry model and provocateur Ainette Stephans

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