2014-2015 NBA Mid-Season Report

The first half of the NBA season has came and went in a John Wall fast break – like blur. The obvious observations: The Atlanta Hawks, yes the team most perpetually in NBA purgatory over the past decade, are unquestionably the best team in the Eastern Conference. The decision to fire Mark Jackson in favor of Steve Kerr is fully vindicated as Kerr has coached Golden State to the NBA’s best record. And the New York Knicks are, once again, atrocious. Aside from the obvious, lets take a deeper look at some of the NBA narratives we’ve seen in the first 41…

JUST WHEN YOU THINK IT CAN’T GET WORSE THAN THE MALOOFS…

I still cannot fathom the Sacramento Kings firing of Mike Malone. The Kings got off to a scorching 9-6 start by Western conference standards, and more importantly Demarcus Cousins finally seemed to find some solidarity and stability under Malone, in an organization tainted by unrest. Since Cousins was drafted in 2010, the Kings have undergone a change in ownership, swirling rumors of a move out of Sac-town, and four head coaches in five years.

During those first 15 games, Cousins was playing the best basketball of his career and was garnering serious MVP attention. In the subsequent nine games “Boogie” missed with viral meningitis, the short-handed Kings went 2-7. It’s almost as if the Kings Owner, Vivek Ranadivé, used the Cousins injury as justification to fire Malone so he could hire Tyrone Corbin and subsequently use Corbin as a puppet to employ his 4-5 cherry picking defensive scheme.

Thankfully after one failed attempt, cooler heads prevailed and Sacramento seems to have abandoned this foolish philosophy. The kings are 5-12 since Malone’s dismissal and have shows zero signs of restoring the form they showcased in their first 15 games.

KYLE KORVER ON PACE FOR GREATEST SHOOTING SEASON IN NBA HISTORY

Korver has always had a propensity for inducing serious precipitation from range, but the guy is on another level this year. He is shooting the 3-ball at 53.6% clip. Brad Cooper is great and all but if Warner Bro’s needed a stand in as The American Sniper, Korver could have filled in and not miss a beat.

WINNERS THUS FAR IN THE TRADE MARKET: 

Dallas

I loved the Rondo trade for Dallas, but they are a Tyson Chandler injury away from having their championship hopes depleted. It seems logical for the Mavs to sign Jermaine O’neal and add some depth to their already thin front line, but Charlie Villanueva – who we all thought had fallen off the face of the earth, has provided some good minutes for Dallas off the bench.

Cleveland

The moves Cleveland made trading for Timofey Mozgov, JR Smith, and Iman Shumpert have already paid dividends for the Cavs. Mozgov and Mr. “Tryna Get the Pipe?” have already proven their worth, providing much-needed size and scoring off the bench respectively.

Detroit

Addition by subtraction is real. Just ask the Toronto Raptors, Memphis Grizzlies, and Kendrick Perkins. Perkins recently called Rudy Gay “a cancer” and he may have a point. Last year, Toronto started the season 7-12 before trading their most bonafide star, only to finish the season as the 3 seed in the Eastern Conference. The Grizzlies experienced similar levels of metamorphic success after parting ways with Gay in 2013.

The 2015 version of Rudy Gay is none other than “J (not so) Smoove” Josh Smith. The reeling Detroit Pistons waived Smith and proceeded to win 8 straight games. In the landscape of the NBA, athleticism is all too often the alluring temptress that seduces efficiency.

MIDSEASON AWARDS:

MIDSEASON MIP:

Draymond Green. Can’t really foresee that changing, unless Hassan Whiteside averages 20 and 15 for the second half…yeah, don’t hold your breath. Green fills the stat sheet and does a little of everything for the Dubs, not excluding leading a raucous chorus of OT Geneis’ “CoCo” on the team plane. Give Dray the trophy now.

MIDSEASON MVP:

I get the campaign for Harden, or as my Dad un-ubiquitously calls him “The Professor,” (he thinks he looks like a college professor?) and Marc Gasol has been great…but come on, the leader in the clubhouse is Steph Curry. Harden’s stat line is impressive but Curry is averaging 23 points, 8 assists, 2 steals and an unsung 5 rebounds per game. He also is the most exciting player in the league and his team has the best record in the league. That’s value.

MIDSEASON COACH OF THE YEAR:

Mike Budenholzer. Not really much of a debate right? I guess you could argue Kerr, but Budenholzer is doing it without a top 10 player; unlike Kerr who has the services of Stephen Curry at his disposal. Atlanta’s output is much more a product of the system and team efficiency, rather than the caliber of the players on the roster.

UNDER THE RADAR TEAM TO WATCH FOR SECOND HALF:

Washington Wizards – John Wall is playing the best basketball of his young career. I admittedly was never a big Wall guy, but the NBA’s assist leader is playing exceptional basketball, and doing so consistently. They have had some injuries, but if they can stay healthy and Nene can return to the caliber player he was last year, Randy Wittman’s bunch will be a tough out in the playoffs – especially with the addition and playoff experience Paul Pierce brings.