NFL
By: Greg Rector
Resurgence
The Los Angeles Lakers are winning games and Anthony (Please Stay Healthy) Davis is on a phenomenal roll. Darvin Ham has the Lakers playing at a high level and if this keeps going the Lakers will be back in the playoff hunt. Davis is definitely about to see his name in the MVP ladder conversations. The week In the NBA.
Road Woes
Two teams that are inexplicably really struggling on the road this year are the Golden State Warriors (2-11) and the Toronto Raptors (3-9), both teams have to figure that out. Both have been near the top of the association for years on the road and their struggles are the result of both teams not doing what they are so well known and that’s playing team defense. Steve Kerr and Nick Nurse, will figure it out. The Raptors after getting smoked in two road games in New Orleans and Brooklyn had a players-only meeting. They did take it out at home on the Orlando Magic, but it’s the road games where they have to get back to being who we all thought they were.
At The Quarter Pole
The Boston Celtics are the most complete team as teams have now played a quarter of their games. They have had their way with opponents and as long as they keep this level up they will keep the Milwaukee Bucks at bay for the top spot in the Eastern Conference. They do come to Toronto tonight so it will be interesting to see if OG Anunoby, Pascal Siakim, and the rest of the Raptors can manage to slow them down. Tatum and Brown have been frustrated by Toronto in the past so we’ll see what happens. The Cleveland Cavaliers are also on the rise except for their (0-2) mark against the Raptors. Everyone else in the east is hot or cold and because of the quality of teams is much better, I expect that to continue. Out west the Phoenix Suns and the New Orleans Pelicans are playing great basketball. Both clubs are getting contributions from everyone and when that happens it’s a long night for opposing teams. The Sacramento Kings are also playing some very good basketball and I really think they can keep it up. The hot start for the Utah Jazz has ended and they are falling to being the team many thought they would be.
Trade Deadline
While the final deadline is on February 10th the first deadline marker gets opened on December 15th as the free agents who signed in the off-season can now be traded. I really think there will be players finding themselves in new homes before the Christmas holiday. There’s a lot of pressure on several teams to make changes because they are not performing at the level that was expected of them. The Chicago Bulls have really seen trade rumors heat up as an example and we’re hearing the Miami Heat are looking to move Kyle Lowry. We’ll see what happens on these fronts.
Chris Paul
I have no clue if it did or did not happen. It’s an area I really don’t like getting into. If the accusation of a certain rapper is not true, I really do hope that Paul takes that guy to the cleaners. No one should be treated to that type of defamatory attack. To see the way the accusation was jumped on in the sick side of social media was utterly disgusting. Chris Paul has a family and they sure don’t need this nonsense. I really wish folks online would stop and think for a moment before jumping on the bandwagon and making things worse. We are far too quick as a society to jump on the latest salacious gossip.
That’s my “Quick Hits,” for the association this week.
