Noni Brokers

It’s been a terrible run of basketball for fans of the Knicks in New York. The team has failed to make the playoffs for several years now, finishing with losing records without fail.

This has clearly been a trying time for anyone who follows the team, and the loyalty of millions of fans has been tested. The good news is the fact that things might finally be on the way back up for this weathered franchise. Halfway into the season, their winning percentage is better than it’s been in quite some time, despite the fact that they’re just 17-24.

First of all, a record like this should actually be considered good for this team, which went 32-50 last season and 23-59 the year before. At their current pace, they’d win 35 games.

While a pace of three more wins than last season doesn’t seem like too much of an improvement, there are a few other things that must be considered here.

First of all, this is a team that went 3-11 to start out the season. Some simple math would indicate that this means the Knicks have been 13-13 ever since their sluggish November start.

This means that the Knicks have been hovering above the .500 mark since November, and the team is actually playing some solid basketball to back up its performance. There are some promising young players on this team.

How has this all happened, and who is to get credit for the turnaround? Clearly, coach Mike D’Antoni has done his part to turn around this team’s mentality, but there are some stars in the making in New York as well. David Lee may very well make the All-Star team, and Wilson Chandler is one of the more efficient all around players in the game.

While the team was largely criticized for its decision to draft Danilo Galinari two years ago, it looks like this decision might have been the right one. The 21 year old has shown loads of potential offensively and defensively, becoming one of the team’s best scorers in the process.

While this all sounds encouraging, it’s clearly not enough to tip the scales. There is, however, one more factor. New York will have millions of dollars in freed up salary cap space after the current season ends. As a result, you can expect a star to join this cast of young and talented players in New York. What happens from there is anyone’s guess, but the upside is obvious.

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One of the most important elements to any basketball team’s success is the point guard position. This the only player who touches the ball on just about every offensive possession.

The ball handling and passing ability of a point guard will directly impact a team’s offensive abilities, and their defensive skills are equally valuable.

Let’s take a look at the best 5 point guards of the last 25 years. This is a tough list to narrow it down and while the ordering may be subject to opinion, I believe that just about anyone would agree that all of these competitors are some of the best to ever play the game.

At number five, I put Steve Nash. This wouldn’t have even crossed my mind five years ago, which is interesting when you consider his age of 35. Despite this, he’s still playing some of the best basketball of his career and his MVP awards speak for themselves.

Next on my list is Chris Paul. While he’s younger than Nash, he’s made the most of his time, becoming one of only two point guards in the history of the league to lead all players in assists and steals per game.

He’s one of the best defenders at the position to ever play the game, and a shoe in to be near the top of the league in assists each year.

Another one of a kind player very worthy of a spot on this list is Jason Kidd. The modern day triple double king is an anomaly when you consider his ability to rebound despite his height. Kidd is another aging player who hasn’t slowed down yet.

After Kidd comes a pure point guard in John Stockton. He was the king of assists year in and year out while he played, and he found great success in Utah with Karl Malone and the Jazz. Year in and year out, they were a competitive team thanks to his proficiency at the position.

Magic Johnson. Ervin Magic Johnson led the Lakers to multiple championships and most people credit this all to him. His ability to pass like few others did, rebound, and score the ball with ease made him one of the most versatile to ever play the position and one of the greatest to ever play.

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The NBA season has just about arrived, and the Los Angeles Lakers are the definite favorite entering the season. Why, you might ask?

Well, for one, they’re the defending champions. They defeated the Orlando Magic with relative ease in the NBA finals, and looked very solid throughout the duration of the 2009 NBA playoffs.

He also proved that he would win the next championship before LeBron James would, quieting critics who point out LeBron’s superiority with respect to that rivalry. And what a great rivalry this is!

More importantly, the Lakers have made a big acquisition during the off season and this has led many to believe that the team will dominate the league flat out during the 2009-2010 NBA basketball season.

Ron Artest, having come to LA by way of Houston, is one of the great defenders in the game of basketball, and a strong force on offense too. He’s said to be responsible for much of Houston’s success during the past two seasons, and his presence in LA bolsters an already strong roster. His veteran experience should feed well into the culture in Los Angeles, and many believe that the Lakers should run away from the competition this season.

The only issues with Ron Artest is problems he may face off the court, but I believe those days are pretty much behind him as he’s learned his lesson.

Pau Gasol will turn 30, also young enough to play at his peak. Lamar Odom will be 31, and Andrew Bynum will be 23, maturing another year. It seems like everyone’s at the perfect age.

Having said that, I’d peg the Lakers as the favorite but wouldn’t expect them to dominate. It’s definitely up for grabs, but Artest makes this powerhouse even stronger. I’m looking forward to seeing what he can do with Kobe.

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The Detroit Pistons had a very disappointing season in 08′-09′. They definitely didn’t look like the Pistons of just a few seasons back.

Chauncey Billups is now in Denver (and playing great basketball). Allen Iverson, who was acquired in this trade, has also left town to sign with the Bobcats (so much for winning that championship anytime soon). Then there’s Rasheed Wallace, who opted to join the Celtics after the end of this season.

The Allen Iverson trade was a disaster and the Pistons played disinterested at times. The Pistons would go on long scoring droughts which essentially ended their season at the all-star break. They were wishing they had Billups back!

With a new season comes new hope for Pistons fans. The Pistons acquired potential all stars in Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva who both are coming off their best season of their young careers.

The Pistons should have new life to them this season and should at least contend, if not more. Ben Gordon made his money in his playoff performance against the Boston Celtics – whether not resigning with the Chicago Bulls was a mistake or not, this should play out over this season.

This is the year nobody really knows what they will see from the Detroit Pistons. When teams get new faces people automatically assume the team will improve, that doesn’t always happen. Yes, the Detroit Pistons are a playoff team but can they compete with Boston? Cleveland? Orlando? The Pistons hope Rodney Stuckey is their franchise point guard for years to come. The Pistons still have Richard Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince who have many playoff game experience.

There’s some talented youth in Rodney Stuckey, and he’ll finally have the opportunity to shine at the point guard position. Additionally, Jason Maxiell will continue to develop, and Chris Wilcox will provide the team with some solid minutes at the forward and center positions.

Meet the new Detroit Pistons. There’s certainly some talent to go around here. Perhaps they’ll surprise us all.

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The 2008-2009 basketball season brought us the breakout of a little known player to those not adamant about the NBA.

With Reggie Miller now gone the state of Indiana looks to Danny Granger to help create a perennial playoff team, once again like in the’90′s.

The Pacers defense was one of the worst in the NBA giving up more then 106 points per game for 26th in the NBA.

The Pacers have a young team with a good upside. The defense was their death blow last season giving up more points then they could score. More emphasis needs to be put on defense; we know the team can score.

The Central division should be an improvement overall – the Chicago Bulls are potentially a high 40 win team, the Cleveland Cavs acquired Shaquille O’Neal and will be the front runners.

Granger’s 87.8 free throw percentage was also among the best in the NBA. Had the Pacers been a winning team last season, Granger would have received far more credit. Still, his game should continue to improve, and it’s only a matter of time before Danny Granger becomes a household name.

Unfortunately for Pacer fans, he can’t do it all on his own. He’s a great player to build the team around, but they need some serious help defensively. This team can score points, but there’s no way to go deep with a weak defense.

Head Coach Jim O’Brien has a good group of young talent that he would like to mold into a playoff team that can at least compete against the top teams in the East. If O’Brien manages another 36 win season his job could possibly be in danger. The President of Basketball Operations, Larry Bird, is a patient man – but he can’t tolerate another losing season.

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