its time for me to write about my hometown team, the h-town rockets. honestly this was a really pathetic year they had this season, i really believe they need to rebuild their role players from scrath. positives for the year were yao finally playing up to his potential and dominating games and entire teams after the all-star break, and the very nice play of rookie luther head. the rockets always are a fantastic defensive team, mostly thanks to coach van gundy, who preaches defense 1st. they are especially good in the paint thanks to yao ming and dikembe mutombo. their offense was lethargic and one of the worst in the league this year, but like the rest of the season's woes, that can be attributed to the horrifyng amount of injuries that struck the rockets entire roster this year. i truly believe that houston could have strode into the playoffs with ease if tmac and yao would have been healthy the whole season, give or take for a few of the role players like david wesley and jon barry. injuries and offseason acquisitions that didnt pan out are to blame for the rockets 34-48 failure this year i believe. at the time the deals went down i was excited about the players houston was getting on the roster through free agency, like flashy athlete and super high leaper stromile swift. i thought he would have a great year with a chance to start for the 1st time in his nba career, i knew houston needed more of a banger opposite yao to do the dirty work and that stro is a finesse player but i thought he could be an intregal part of the new fast breaking rockets (van gundy has always had a slow paced, grind it out offense but was showing signs of that changing with the new players he was getting) and a great finisher around the basket. he could also team with yao to make a fearsome shot blocking duo in the paint, but to say he underacheived would be an understatement. he never had that fire or energy in him the whole season, he averaged lower stats in all categories than he did last year, he didnt start, and just never seemed to play hard or that great when he came in. he struggled with injuries mid-season but when he was healthy van gundy showed a reluctance to play him for extended minutes. there was no denying his talent and ability, i mean he would throw down highlight dunks every game, but there must be something about his work ethic or energy level that van gundy doesnt like because he didnt play him that much at all. like ive said, hes a high leaper and a one of a kind athlete, hes got long arms, hes a great finisher, but for having such long arms hes not a great rebounder or shot blocker and i think that says something about his effort. he does have a soft touch from the top of the key but not much of an all around game and it will be interesting to see how he fits in next year. in the summer of '05 they also picked up derek anderson, a three point shooting ace and defensive minded veteran who is injured literally all the time, and it was no difference when he came to houston. a few games into the season he got hurt and never recovered, so he ended up getting traded to miami where he did an aight job in his role there. the big move that got me pissed during the offseason was the trading of big time scorer point guard mike james to toronto for playground legened point guard rafer alston, a.k.a. skip to my lou. at the time this deal made me giddy, cause i had never seen rafer play in the nba but knew him from his fabled and1 mixtapes. james had been a key contributor and scorer off the bench for houston last year but supposedly they were looking for a more traditional pass 1st point, like rafer. now like ive said, james is a score 1st point guard and not a traditional guy at the position, but i could never have predicted the year he had with the raptors this year, averaging about 20 points a game, took over games with his scoring and became the 2nd best player on that team to chris bosh, all the while raising his free agent stock to amazing levels. while rafer had a decent year and solidified his status as a solid long term option, we could have had james, who would have been a huge boost in scoring with all the injuries so that juwan howard wouldnt have had to carry the team when yao and tmac were hurt. the supposed attitude issues that some ppl thought might have been a problem with rafer becuase of squabbles with his old coach were never even a factor, but he was never a big spark or a game changer, and he really ended the season on a fitting note that really personified the whole mess this year when he missed both of his two free throws at the end of a season finale loss to the spurs when he could have made at least one to tie it. he did do his job this year though, getting the ball to yao ming and the few shooters on the roster while making open threes when the ball got back to him and taking the ball to the rack and making fancy plays happen around the rim occasionally. he never really played with the carefree and loose style that defined him back in the and1 days, i think that hindered him a little, or maybe van gundy put the reins on his flashy play. he was held back by injuries to start the year but played pretty well midseason and down the stretch when he got more comfortable in the team's system. plenty of minor trades, waives, and acquisitions occured throughout the season as well. they traded out of shape but solid banger lonny baxter to the bobcats for 2 guard keith bogans. i know they needed a guard but i think they could have found a better one than this, i mean hes not a bad player but he makes a lot of mistakes and never makes a big impact or does a whole lot, and he isnt a very good or consistent shooter. he can play defense and pass, just an all around solid player, but he likes to drive to the basket even though that never gets him anywhere and he almost always loses the ball because he has no moves down there in the paint, and like ive said hes not a consistent downtown shooter and doesnt seem to play with much confidence. they picked up rick brunson midseason to add some depth to that position, but he has struggled with injuries for a while now and wasnt in great shape, plus he doesnt do one thing particulary well and isnt the most talented guy. like most of the rockets roster, he is just solid. probably the best thing he can do is knock down the open shot, but he had trouble doing that as the season wore on. richie frahm was a late season pick up, a young guy out of gonzaga who doesnt have enough of an all around game to play in the pros, but he is a great shooter and deceptively quick and athletic. but they picked him up for three point shooting and stability and he always does his job when he plays, im not complainin about this pickup but im not praising it either. chuck hayes was an undrafted rookie out of kentucky that they picked up, doesnt have much of a shot or offensive game and is height-challenged, but is one of the best young effort and toughness players in the league, always plays hard and does the dirty work, very strong and tough on the boards, he makes important plays doing the little things that nobody notices and has been an important player for the rockets even though hes also probably a reason that their offense sucks so bad. ive actually had mixed feelings about him this year because hes no good on offense unless hes 2 feet from the basket and hes one of the worst free throw shooters ive ever seen. macjej lampe is a big polish forward/center recieved in trade with the hornets for moochie norris, he only got in one game the whole time so i dont know what to say about him, hes still young so i guess he could pan out as a good player, because hes big and hes got a soft touch, but hes obviously raw and needs to understand the game better and keep learning if he doesnt wanna be a benchwarmer or playing in europe his whole career. he also needs to get more durable because hes been afflicted with numerous injuries in his breif career.

ryan bowen is a vet and a valuable member of this rockets squad, he didnt play nearly as much this year or as key a role(he started in the playoffs last year), probably because he doesnt give you anything on offense. he always shoots horribly in games and has no confidence in making plays happen for himself offensively, but i think hes not that bad of a shooter he just doesnt have much confidence. but he is probably the best hustle player in the league, when hes on the court he always gives 100 percent effort and energy and can always fire up the team's play, especially on the defensive end, where bowen did a great job containing dirk nowitzki in the playoffs last year. i think hes probably gonna be released this offseason because the rockets need offense and plus they didnt play bowen much this year but i know that there will be a team out there that wants his hustle. luther head was the rockets 1st round draft choice this year out of illinois, he was an intregal part of that team when they reached the championship last year. he turned out to be a fantastic choice, better than even the experts thought, because he stepped up big time with the injuries to key players and was a rare bright spot this season. when he was drafted he was just supposed to bring some youth, energy, and athleticism to houston's aging backcourt, provide some depth and play briefly to get a feel for the pro game. he has great all around skills on offense, can shoot the three really well, hes a big time shooter, can also handle the ball well and is a smart passer. he always fires up the team with his play and is more athletic than anyone thought he was in college. well he ended up stepping into a key role like i said, he was hot to start the year and helped juwan carry the scoring load with tmac and yao hurt, then he hit the rookie wall midseason and none of his shots seemed to fall. he played great in the rookie-sophmore game and seemed to get his confidence back, he shot lights out and was an important playmaker for the rockets the 2nd half of the season and led the team in scoring multiple teams, he tried his hardest to get the wins and i expect even better things from him down the road. juwan howard quietly had a great year this year, hes been a solid, consistent contributor his whole career and really stepped up and had one of his better years in the pros this season. with injuries to the superstars he stepped up bigger than anyone could have imagined and led the team in scoring plenty of times. he played consistently good basketball every game and never really had a bad night, one of the few players who could consistently knock down the shots that were expected of him. the only problem is that juwan is not the type of player who should be playing a key role, hes not a star who can carry a team on his back and is much better in a complimentary role. he can knock down the midrange set shot every time, he almost never misses it, and is very solid inside and on the boards, as well as being a stout defender. a key veteran who deserves the rockets trust that they will keep him, they should resign him because he is an important contributor and leader. dikemebe mutombo is getting very old, he is definitly a vet, but he is finishing up his career in houston and is still a game changing defensive force, still a great shot blocker. he didnt play nearly as much this year as he did before but does well coming off the bench for yao, hes just too slow and too old to play at a high level for long anymore, and he doesnt have much offensive touch at all anymore. surprisingly hes a very good free throw shooter even though the only times he scores are on putbacks and such. if he hadnt already decided to play one more year and then retire in houston i would say release him, but mutombo is a legend and i respect him enough to agree with his wishes. bob sura is a veteran guard who always has good years with bad teams, and when thats not happening hes hurt, like he is now and was for a key part of last year. he played one of the better seasons of his career last season and was a key veteran force and a vital part of the team chemistry, hes not a great shooter but he is a good floor leader, a good leader period, and a capable playmaker. he was an important contributor but i say hes out of houston, too old and has been injured too much and the rockets dont need anymore of that, plus they need more offense and i dont think sura can provide that. david wesley is another veteran guard, hes pushin 36 i believe, but hes still been a very solid contributor and also very important as a locker room presence. it may be his time to retire though, hes been undersized for his position his whole career and now hes struggling with injuries and with an inconsistent shot so i dont know if the rockets should keep him, if they do it should only be a one year deal. hes still very good with the set three point shot, not like he used to be with the hornets but still dangerous when he is open, and he always gives a ton of effort on the defensive end and just playing hard and motivating his teammates. now i dont think i really need to profile the superstars because im sure you know all about them, but heres a breif synopsis on what i think. yao ming has been criticized ever since he came into the league about not being aggressive or assertive enough, for not attacking the basket and dominating like a 7 foot 6 player should. he has bulked up significantly throughout his career and strength isnt a big issue for him anymore, and we all know hes one of the most skilled big men in a while, he has a wide array of post moves, a soft touch, and is definitly underrated in the post scoring department. hes also an intimidating defensive force and his long arms make him a good rebounder and a dangerous shot blocker. now ive agreed with the critics who have said he needs to be more assertive, but he 2nd half of this year he finally came out and played up to his potential, and i couldnt be happier. he struggled with toe injuries the 1st half and played average, but he solidified his status as maybe the best center in basketball right now when he finally started attacking the basket with authority, and became an unstoppable scorer. he did break his foot in one of the last games of the year so i hope he makes a full recovery and comes back playing like he did before getting hurt. now tmac is a whole different story. he seemed to finally be content and to have a good chance at winning in the playoffs now in houston, but things are not working as planned and tracy is having his issues. he played fantastic and demonstrated the talent i fell in love with last year whenever he played this season, but he was hurt all the time and only got to play with yao about 30 games, which accounts for most of the 34 wins the rockets got this year. we all know his ability, how he can rise up and just shoot over defenses, how hes a nearly unstoppable scorer on offense, his athleticism, and how hes just a full blown superstar. he even got his swagger back after the all star break when he put his off the court issues aside and started wearing a headband. but then he got hurt again and it went all downhill from there. all i can hope for is that he will come back playing like a beast, with something to prove, again next year and these supposedly chronic back problems he is having wont affect him too much and force him into an early retirement.

For my next little team overview, here are the lakers. we all know their stories, and really everything about them, because they generate so much hype and media coverage, but ill go over some little things. they have kobe bryant, in my opinion the best player in the nba right now, if not the mvp. he is the best offensive player for sure, he is impossible to stop from scoring and has so many moves and ways to put points on the board. phil jackson was back coaching this year and i think his mentorship really helped the team reach the playoffs again, he really proved that he is a genius coach this season seeing that he led this young and talent-challenged squad to the playoffs when he has been criticized multiple times for winning all of his championships with superstar-rich teams. this is definitly a new age lakers team, its not that they dont have a lot of talent, its that it is either someone young, someone underdeveloped, or not playing up to their potential thats on this squad. i dont think kobe lied either when he said he had to score 82 points this year just for his team to win, he really does have to score 40 a night for his team to have a chance, he isnt being selfish. i have to admit though im not a kobe fan, ive just never liked his personality and the way he interacts or "nurtures" his teammates, thats one area thats a big difference with micheal jordan, as kobe may be able to compete with mj on an ability level(and notice i said compete), but in those areas that count kobe doesnt even come close. thats not to say hes not one of the best players to ever play the game, hes a certain hall of famer and even though he wouldnt have won his titles without shaq i dont think shaq would have won them without kobe. he just amazes me to watch, he has the total package, every skill on offense and every move ever invented, you cant stop him from scoring and if you try to make him shoot he will shoot right over you, just watch any one of his games and see how he just rises above you and fires a 30 foot laser right into the net. the only other guy playing right now that can do something like that is tracy mcgrady. kobe also is the rare superstar who plays defense, he is an excellent defender who always moves his feet and gives maximum effort on the defensive side, plus hes quick too. i havent even mentioned yet either how he is a fantastic athlete as well. just a one of a kind player, but you can all put the mj comparisons to rest by now because noone will ever be like him and have that total package. the scary thing is that kobe is still only like 28 or somethin so hes got more than a few years left. kwame brown is an important player for the team and one of the most talented, a former number one pick who infamously struggled in washington and was being called out by everyone, including his boss mj, on his work ethic and attitude and he just never panned out into the star player who he was capable of becoming. he got a fresh start here and while noone expected him to have a huge reawakening and become a star i at least expected him to be a solid contributor and have a fresh attitude with his new start. hes had his ups and downs but has mostly fulfilled my hopes, he played really well down the stretch and at the end of the year, and has become a very solid contributor. hes also very young and could still someday become a very good player and more than what he is now, but probably never a star. he has great physical tools going for him, very athletic and a strong finisher, but he has never and probably will never show that hunger or willingness to improve and the right attitude to drastically improve in the other aspects of his game that need work, like shooting. andrew bynum is a big old rookie center outta high school, very raw in all aspects of the game but he has the right body, size, and skills to become the lakers center of the future someday. hes shown flashes of what he could be whenever he played this year and he has the great kareem abdul-jabar tutoring him so i expect great things from him down the road. brian cook is a young forward out of illinois, the lakers have a lot of forwards like him and its hard to tell them apart because they are all kind of average and have similar skills, but he is versatile and has plenty of skills he can use to contribute, he is just not a game changer, isnt talenetd enough in one area, except maybe his shooting and three point range, doesnt produce enough of an impact to be a long term option. devean george is a vet forward who played with the lakers coming off the bench occasionally when they won their championships but will never be a game changing starter, always solid and a pretty good mid to long-range shooter, plus hes been an important contributor this year and a veteran presence, but he kind of just sits in the back and never does a whole lot. devin green is a rookie guard who i can honestly say ive never seen play. moving on to jim jackson, a veteran journeyman whos probably been with every nba team once and is one of the more talented journeymen ive ever seen. he was a huge contributor with the suns in the playoffs last year but like every team hes been on, he just faded and the team got tired of him and released him, but hes too good to pass up on and some team always picks him up, in this case the lakers, because who doesnt want a versatile 6-6 guard/forward with a range of offensive skills, three point range, and who is a tough defender? i dont know when hes gonna call it quits but hes too talented not to get picked up by a team whenever his current employer decides they are tired of him and hes a perfect acquisition for any team wanting a solid vet presence coming off the bench and scoring points in the playoffs. aaron mckie is a veteran point guard who was great with phila but gave it all physically in his younger years and is now just here for a veteran presence, leadership, defense, and stability in running the offense. chris mihm is a seven foot tall center but he couldnt be more different from shaq. hes one of the softest seven footers playing in the pros and doesnt usually have that fire in him when hes playin, everyone needs that emotion and there are a lot of nights when you dont see that in him. he does have long arms and is a good shot blocker who has a soft touch around the rim, but he isnt a long term option for anyone at the 5 and he missed his opportunity to make a big impact for this team. lamar odon has amazing talent and was supposed to have an all star worthy season in his 2nd year playing with kobe, which is hard to do, but he didnt. he lacks assertiveness sometimes and he should be a lot better than he is with all of his skills, but he can fade away from games sometimes and just let all the work fall into kobes hands while he hangs on the sidelines. hes 6 foot 11 and can handle the ball better than most guards, i dont think theres been another player his height who can handle the ball and run an offense the way odom can. phil jackson even set up his triangle offense this year in a way so that odom could run it. hes also a fantastic shooter who is dangerous from three point range and is athletic, really runs the floor and is an aggresive finisher on the break. he had some great years in miami and hasnt really been able to show that same spark in LA, plus he seems to have bad chemistry with kobe and trouble getting along with him. smush parker was a big surprise and has played really well at the point this year, pretty unheralded coming into the season and had spent a lot of time in the NBDL, but he has good size and length for the position. he had a really hot start when he 1st came and kind of faded after a while, he still played well and did what they asked of him though. he knocks down the open shots when they need him too, is pretty athletic, and with his length he is an excellent defender. ronny turiaf is a great feel-good story for the year, came back to play after having serious heart surgery. he has actually been a solid guy coming off the bench, he is still out of shape but has been a huge energy boost whenever he comes into the game, really hard working on both ends and pumps his teammates up whether hes on the court or on the bench, still needs to improve his shooting though, his offensive ability is raw. sasha vujacic is a young and pretty-looking euro point guard, still has things to learn , especially in the triangle offense, and needs to bulk up, but hes a good shooter with plenty of talent. von wafer is a sharp shooting rookie who doesnt play much, and luke walton is another one of those solid but average forwards in the league, hes versatile, hes got skills, good passer and can score in the post and rebound in a complementary role, not a great shooter, but just not good enough to be a big time player.

The Suns are easily the most exciting team to watch in the nba, they are so wide open on offense and so carefree in the style they play, all the players are so comfortable in the system and they have so much freedom to jack up shots on offense and in transition, thats why all these unheralded guys are having career years(steve nash is a big factor too). to the untrained eye they look like an undisciplined YMCA team that doesnt play defense, but if u follow the suns you will see that there is organization to their chaos, and that organized chaos is a result of all-world, one-of-a kind point guard steve nash. he was mvp last year and is even more deserving of that title this year seeing as he is without superstar forward amare stoudemire, and he has had an even better season, as have the suns. he has picked up his scoring, as he is a great shooter, real sweet stroke and he knows how to get open for his signature fadeway shots. hes more important with his directing of the offense, playmaking, and dribble penetration. hes made a bunch of nobodies superstars this year, because he runs phoenix's offense to perfection, i mean nash just personifies the carefree style of play for the sun's and knows how to get the ball to open teammates and make plays happen for them. hes a great passer, known for his flashy one handed dishes, and his penetration to the basket is second to maybe only tony parker in the nba and really opens things up for his boys. nash was a key player for the mavs in dallas but he has become a superstar here because there is no other offense that suits steve as perfectly as the sun's. mike d'antoni is an excellent coach and knew what he was doing when he picked up nash, he has accomadated him with a dream offense to run to perfection and steve fits in perfectly, it really is his offense. leandro barbosa had an average at best season last year as steve's 6 foot 7 back up point guard, but now he has switched to the 2 where he has been exceptional, a surprise star in his role slashin to the basket as a swingman. he thrives off of nash's penetration to the basket and his length and athleticism makes him a key player in transition and in scoring while moving to the basket, hes also one of the quickest players in the nba and that makes him nearly unstoppable getting to the basket and makes up for his lack of bulk. his midrange and three point shot have also improved drastically. hes also an unselfish passer like diaw and is one of the teams better defenders. boris diaw has been the biggest surprise and his improvement is one of the key reasons that the suns have basically matched last year's record. he was an unheard of back up point guard in atlanta last year and was considered just a no-name giveway in the joe johnson trade over the summer. well he has been a different player now that hes shifted to the forward position and has definitly become a star. hes always been unselfish and an excellent passer and playmaker, and he has had three triple doubles this year as well, but playin at the forward position he has been able to lock down some of the leagues best players on defense(holding yao ming to only six points once) and has shown off his improved jump shot and scoring skills. hes also pretty athletic, could be considered a finesse guy and has been a reliable option in transition for nash. u can tell he feels at home in the sun's offense and is a lot more confident and comfortable than he was last year. hes so versatile and has skills in so many categories now that i could see him as an all star in the near future, i would give him a nod for most improved player just because of how unknown he was before this year. so thats two players who have broken out as stars after switching positions in phoenix. for the rest of the roster; we have james jones, a long armed three point assassin who has easily filled the three point attempts, misses, and makes void left by quentin richardson, he can shoot the three and thats about it but he can do it well and is a vital offensive cog to the sun's machine. eddie house is also important in this department, he was one of the most prolific scorers in college history but was considered too short and too offensive minded to be an nba player. well hes found his perfect niche in phoenix jackin up three pointers all day long. he has the quickest release in the nba right now, and he cant do anything but shoot, but as soon as he gets the ball in his hands its going back up in the air in less than a second. he shoots a lot but he makes a lot and his energy and instant offense off the bench is very valuable, there have been a few games this year when eddie has carried the team on his back. raja bell is a very important player who has stepped his game up in the absence of amare, he is one of nash's top options in transition on the perimeter and has become one of the league's better three point shooters, maybe the teams best three point shooter and an underrated offensive player, he was originally picked up to be a lockdown perimeter defender and his defense is probably more valuable than his offense for the suns. kurt thomas came over from the knicks to add a physical, solid post player with amare injured, they could also slow the game down and run some half court sets with kurt in the game cause he excels in a slower paced system. he has been very important this year and the recent injury he suffered will definitly hurt the suns if he is not ready come playoff time. he is a great 10 and 10 guy and has been his whole career, a very solid rebounder, strong, and has a very reliable midrange shot. brian grant was picked up for his veteran experience and tough post defense. pat burke is a solid young post player picked up for depth and as insurance when amare got hurt, whenever hes in he plays hard and contributes all he can. shawn marion is a player the suns could never afford to lose and he is my most underrated player in the league. he does so many things and he is so talented, he has had a career year this year as well and nash has brought out the best player he can be in him. marion got his nickname the matrix because hes so athletic and such a high-flying finisher, youll always see him finishing off nash alley-oops. hes a double-double machine, his long arms and speed make him a great rebounder, hes a great scorer in transition(key part of offense), an excellent defender and a mismatch waiting to happen on both ends of the floor. his quick release shot is pretty awkward and kind of inconsistent, but effective and he has range from anywhere, really a specimen on the offensive end and an exciting player to watch. tim thomas amazed me when he came to phoenix after being cut by the bulls, i thought he was old, injured, and out of shape, but he has played like a star, like he is in his prime in the suns offense. he is kind of out of shape but his versatility on offense has been demonstrated to the fullest here. he can shoot the three and get hot on any given night, plus he has permission to launch here, plus he is pretty athletic and can finish and score around the basket, a valuable contriutor for the team as of late. dijon thompson is a rookie out of ucla who has hovered between the pros and the d-league, he is athletic and quick with raw ability, he still needs to develop and learn the pro game cause he can really fit in the sun's offense when he is ready. nikoloz tskitisvilli is a euro draft bust, thought to be the next great european player, lots of skills, fundamentals, and athletic ability, but he hasnt shown much of these and has had trouble adjusting to the pro game and has passed his chance to show that he can be a star in the nba. finally there is the injured superstar everyone is talking about, amare stoudemire. he has all the skills you could ask for out of a player but sometimes i think his value to the team is overrated, they have a lot of other good players. amare's only faults are that he isnt a great defender, but he makes up for it with game changing shot blocking. he is a freak athlete and a powerful finisher around the basket and nash's dream option on the fast break and in transition, many people credited all of nash's assists last year to amare alley oops but he has shown this year that that isnt true. what makes amare great is that he can do so much, he has become a fantastic shooter and quick enough with the dribble to handle the ball and make plays happen by himself. and of course hes a great rebounder. he was raw coming out of high school but has come into his own now.

I havent got a chance to watch portland much this year, only a few games when they played the rockets on tv, but ive watched enough to tell one thing: they are a team with a lot of talent but its all unrefined or undisciplined. they just need to develop more and grow as players, lots of guys could be qualified as headcases too and need to readjust their attitudes and work ethics. so like all teams of his type they show flahes of greatness but are too young to do that consistently and on some nights just dont show up to play. they could sneak up and surprise the experts one year soon by making the playoffs because you never know with young teams, and they have a great coach to instill discipline and teach them how to win in nate mckmillan. 90 percent of their roster is guys outta high school or who have only been out of HS or college for a few years. they do have a great but unproven point guard of the future in sebastian telfair, a new york high school legend who broke down all the scoring records and became pretty well known with the documentary that chronicled the year that he jumped from high school to the pros(he was drafted 12th last year). to me he looked like an allen iverson type of player, a little guy with amazing quickness, ball-handling ability, and a fearlessness in going to the basket and scoring (he scored 60 points plus multiple times in high school). hes shown in the pros and in the all star high school games playing against the top competition that hes more of a playmaker, makin his teammates better. hes really know for his flashy passes and how he does it so effortlessly, hes got too many highlight worthy passes to show and hes broken lots of assist records in the high school all star games. so basically hes a little guy with a ton of talent, but his shot still isnt that great for the pro level and he hasnt proved he can be a leader and win his team games, making his boys better. he put up very nice stats when he got the starting job at the end of last season but he lost more games then he won, and he has been up and down this year as hes struggled with injuries and the impressive play of his unheralded back up guard steve blake. even though "bassy" has been dubbed the point of the future both of his back-ups are in their early 20s and could easily come up and claim that title. steve blake was a young journeyman who was a star in college when maryland won the tourney, but has been warming the bench in the pros and just was thought to be too untalented and not good enough of a shooter to be a good pro. he ended up coming to portland and stepping up big time for the injured telfair, he has amazing chemistry on the court with his former terrapin backcourt mate juan dixon, the offense runs to perfection when those two are on the court together and steve blake really played great and the team played better as a whole when those two played together. thats what steve blake does best, run the offense, make plays happen, and push the tempo, he has shot better and shown much better scorng skills too when he is in his starting role. jarrett jack could also claim the title of point of the future, he has no shot and not good enough of an offensive game at this point though, but hes still very young (rookie out of georgia tech) and could easily improve in that area, seeing as hes very strong for a point guard, very physical and aggressive on the defensive end and a very good, scrappy defender. juan dixon is a young and important wing, not a long term option here but a good enough shooter and skilled enough to fit in with the offfense. like ive said, he has great chemistry on the court with steve blake and they should be played together all the time, the offense just runs smoother. probably will be replaced in the near future with martell webster, a rookie out of high school with a sweet stroke, a great shooter, but he cant do much else yet and cant create his own shot in the pros, needs to develop but has a lot more potential ability than dixon. hes started a few times but hasnt came through this year. ha-jeung jin is a super tall south korean, young too, but one of those very long term projects, who knows if his skills will ever pan out, he will probably just rot on the bench to be honest. viktor khyrpa is a russian rookie swingman who has good potential, he plays the game right and he seems to be coming along right and could be a very solid euro player in the near future. they picked up voshon lenard at the trade deadline, hes a three point shooting ace but has been injured often in the past few years and has been in and out of shape. darius miles had super high expectations coming out of high school, but he hasnt lived up to his potential yet and he doesnt look like he ever will. his shot hasnt come along, neither has his attitude or work ethic, but hes got the perfect nba body and athleticism and is a high energy and game changing dunker. so hes supposed to be a big star by now but hes only an average player with above average talent. travis outlaw is a young player from high school whose development will be very importanr for the team, right now hes fresh legs and athleticism coming off the bench, but has a lot of talent and undeveloped ability, with his athleticism and potential he could be very good someday. joel pryzibilla came out of nowhere, a very unheralded player, but has been a very solid double double kind of center and a stout defender and great shot blocker. zach randolph is an excellent post scorer, very hard to stop since hes left handed, has a soft touch too, just doesnt contribute on the defensive end and has had trouble stayin in shape after struggling with injuries last year. theo ratliff is way overpaid for being a veteran and for what he does, but hes an excellent post defender and a menacing shot blocking presence, very good with the dirty work and the little things inside, plus he brings experience and leadership to the young team. brian skinner is an undersized banger who brings another tough post presence and experience to this team but he doesnt help with shooting.

Seattle is an interesting team to watch. they surprisingly made the playoffs last year and made it to the 2nd round, giving the spurs everything they had, but they are actually pretty horrible this year. nate mcmillan gave them discipline last year and actually got them to play a little defense, and now that hes gone i see how valuable he was, he was the reason they had a good season last year. they have all the offensive firepower in the world or that any team could ask for, but they might be up there in the top three worst defensive teams of all time in the nba. they just look like they stand around and watch the other team score, i mean they consistently give up 100 plus points and even let my offensively challenged rockets drop 120 on them. they are really a finesse team with some serious holes to fill on the defensive end, they also need a long term option at the center or power forward. ray allen is the best pure shooter in the nba and has stepped up as a leader, but he doesnt help them at all on d, rashard lewis is also a great scorer and pure shooter, plus he can create mismatches with his size and athleticism, big time length. so along with those scoring specimens they have luke ridnour, a great playmaker and ball handler and one of the leagues better floor leaders but he cant really shoot and hes a little guy too. so that seems like all the offense you need, but they dont have any other role players that can play defense. chris wilcox was a trade deadline acquisition, a scrappy athlete who gets by with his hops and athletic ability, good rebounder as well but he cant shoot and he doesnt play defense. robert swift is a long term project outta high school one or two years ago, skinny as hell but pretty skilled and athletic, white boy outta high school. nick collison is scrappy, an undersized banger and great with the dirty work, defense and boards, but he needs to get himself an offensive game to be a complete power forward. earl watson came over here too, not afraid to jack up shots and probably the team's best perimter defensive stopper. danny fortson hasnt played much this year thanks to a volatile temper and injuries, but hes the enforcer when hes in the game, one of the leagues most physical and dirty players, but a valuable and aggressive force on the glass and on defense for the sonics, kind of undersized for what he does though (F/C). damien wilkins has impressed me with his versatility and scoring whenever i watch but i guess hes kind of a tweener and doesnt do one thing well enough to get a bunch of playing time, good genes though (dominic's nephew). mike wilks is a backup guard who never plays, johan petro is an athletic finesse center and a decent scorer but he needs to get stronger and more developed. mikki moore is a vet center out of nebraska who has been getting a lot more playing time down the stretch, i guess anyone could since the sonics have almost no frontline, they really need a center. he has been playing solid on both ends though and i guess hes givin them what they want.