NBA Top 10

My NBA Top Ten is updated every Sunday night, so check back then for the latest rankings. I will supply my analysis of each team or just a sly comment or jab. But now on to the premiere of my power rankings.

1. Dallas Mavericks
Just a notch above Phoenix right now, but only because they are deeper. (And no Barkley, Phoenix is not deep. If D'Antoni thought Banks or Pat Burke could play, then he would give them minutes. But I think Banks is good, they should play him more.)

2. Phoenix Suns
Interesting stuff from Chad Ford in his chat yesterday about the Suns having 3 first round picks and wanting to give 2 of them away. I thought next year's draft was supposed to have '03 or '96 potential. Mike D'Antoni must hate playing rookies. He does realize that Nash is going to retire at some point (right???).

3. San Antonio Spurs
Why does Ginobili do great against Joe Johnson. He scored a career high 48 against Phoenix in 2005, and now 40 against ATL. DO NOT count them out in the 2nd round.

4. Utah Jazz
Bigger disappointment this season: AK47 or Mike James????? Toss up.

5. Houston Rockets
Without Yao. Incredible. Let's just hope Van Gundy doesn't pull something like this again.

6. Detroit Pistons
Now take the East with ease with Flash out for Miami.

7. Washington Wizards
Wow, that will do it for the quality NBA teams. But be very afraid of Hibachi & Co., Detroit. I would.

8. Chicago Bulls
Should have given up Gordon and Thomas for Gasol or Deng, Thomas, and a #1 for KG. But they will continue to play grind-it-out ball and pay for it.

9. New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets
Yeah, if the playoffs started today, they would be out. I don't care. They're better than the Lakers or Golden St. right now. Plus Peja is due back soon. Just in time to choke in the playoffs again.

10. Cleveland Cavaliers
I'm excited to see how well the Bibby-LeBron pairing works out Eric Snow Era plays out in Cleveland.

‎

Read more!

Book Review: Now I Can Die in Peace

Book Review: Now I Can Die in Peace

I am going to start a book review series. This is the first installment. "Now I Can Die in Peace" is written by my favorite sportswriter, Bill "The Sports Guy" Simmons. It is a collection of columns he wrote about the Red Sox from his early days at Bostonsportsguy.com, his old website, to the more recent ones over at Page 2.
The book is just a collection of his columns, but with some insight added in. The only major thing he did was add side notes. About 600 of them. They are hilarious if you ask me. Easily the best part of the book. Most of them elaborate on a topic or he makes in fun of something he said (like the one about calling the Nixon-Matsui match up a toss up, then Matsui proceeded to hit about .800 in the ALCS).
The main reason this book is great is it contains the articles when Simmons was on the top of his game. (Note: I only became a Simmons reader about 10 months ago, but I have tried to read every article on his Subject Archive. That is invaluable.) Some say he has become self-centered the last year. His writing has slipped if you ask me. But if you are interested in becoming a Simmons fan but can't muster up the spirit, I suggest you read the book.

Final Grade: A-

‎

Read more!