The "Comments that I couldn't be bothered to make threads about" Thread

You know. If you're like me, have a lot of little things you want to say about the NBA season but can't be bothered to start entire new threads about. So I chime in occasionally on some threads when they pop up but never feel satisfied.

Here we go...
(and I recognize a lot of these have been mentioned)

- The games this season are really enjoyable. There are only a few teams I really struggle to enjoy watching. The Bulls were one of them but then Rose happened. Memphis was playing some of the least team oriented and most boneheaded ball but Mayo became reason enough. OKC is bad but Durant plays and all is forgiven. The T'Wolves have the worst guards in the league but that's ok as long as Jefferson and Love keep developing. The Rockets are so damn ugly, but who can resist watching a 7'6 footer, a star defender, and a broken superstar who keeps fighting past injury? I hate the Lakers and Celtics, but can't deny the drama they bring. I disliked the Spurs, but watching them dismantle young teams is one of the last homages to veteran ball. I hated the Jazz but Korver was injured a while and Boozer has been sitting out... they are actually fun to watch. Yes I said it; the Jazz are fun to watch. But that's not the end of it. I can't get enough of watching Baron the Beard and that fatty Randolph run an offense. It's somehow just reeks of Run DMC, Fat Albert, Chunk from Goonies awesomeness to see the pudge of Baron, Eric Gordon, Zach Randolph and Kaman all while running around toothpick Camby. That's the LA Clippers we're talking about folks.

- Atlanta, Philly and the Raptors disappoint me the most. Atlanta because inexperience, Boston and reality hit what looked like the emergence of a young talented 6-0 squad. Philly and the Raptors really looked like Eastern contenders at the start of the season. Yes, they are trying to work in Brand and yes he has been chronically injured... yet pretty much every single player on the 76ers has heavily regressed and Dalembert looks ready for the D-Leauge. What is going on there? The Raptors brilliance on paper revealed a paper squad. Four out of five of their guys on the floor at any given moment forget to play defense or grab a rebound.

- I already mentioned that the Jazz are fun to watch. Still can't stand Okur but he's admittedly effective. CJ Miles, Brewer and Millsap are like the junkyard dogs you can't help but root for. Deron is maybe my favorite point guard with his leadership, defense, strength, playmaking skill and one-of-a-kind, deceptively effective crossover. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-a4KbACGaGw. (And hate him or not, Sloan runs that system like clockwork). Another surprise is the Pacers. (Ok, I am a sucker for underdogs.) But Jim O'Brien has this weird high-sigma volatility going on (ala Don Nelson) and they have lights-out potential any night, as they have proven to both the Lakers and the Celtics. But my real enjoyment this season completely really took me off guard - the New Jersey Nets.

- I guess I can't get enough of Harris zipping to the rim or seeing Brooks and Anderson fulfill their potentials. I also can't help but cheer for Yi no matter how bad he plays. His potential is at a level of a star waiting to be unlocked. Whether he unlocks that potential - I doubt he will... but I hope he gets there anyways. The guy it really is about though is Vince Carter. It's weird, I've never really been a Carter fan until this year. But when I look around the league at all the new stars, all the fading stars, there is only one I can think of that in all his years, even through injury, that has rarely whined or complained or needed to give excuses, on the court or off. Carter to me is a real warrior. At his age and after an injury, he is still silently coming on the court every night and getting it done and barely anyone notices. Joe Johnson also deserves this title. They aren't making commercials and they aren't focused on during the highlight segments. Two silent warrior SG's that just keep getting the job done.

- Devin Harris is fast. But neither he nor Paul nor Wade were the fastest in the NBA last year. The fastest was actually... Monta Ellis. The player I consider the biggest walking highlight reel. Which makes me wonder. Are we reaching another golden age of Point/Combo Guards? I already can't contain how amazing it is to watch one of Rose, Wade, Paul, Deron, Harris, Roy, Fernandez, Alston! (joking), Rondo, Calderon, Parker, Mayo, Billups etc. on a nightly basis. And then I realized, Monta Ellis and Arenas aren't even playing. How insane is that?

- A lot of those guards are new guards. Actually, there seems to be lots of Rookies or second year guys in surprisingly significant roles. Jason Thompson, Hawes, Mayo, Rose, Darrel Arthur, Marc Gasol, Westbrook, Chalmers, Beasley, Love, Gordon, to name a few. Which made me wonder... was the last draft really that good and that deep compared to others? And last years as well? When I look at those names, it's actually not that easy to say yes. In fact, I would have to stipulate that it's more because the NBA is still rapidly changing. It's becoming more and more important to develop that young, athletic talent to keep up with the pace, verticality and entertainment value of the NBA.

Ok, I'm tired of writing and you're probably tired of reading (if you've decided to go this far). Plus by now, I can't remember the other things I was going to post. I'll end it with a few short other comments and add to this thread some other time.

- How the heck does D'Antoni do it?
- The Rockets are something of an enigma. Every single component of what the Rockets are has obvious, deep faults. Yet at the same time, they have extremely high potential advantages and somehow pull off more wins than losses. This weird dynamic oscillating dance of extreme faults and extreme potential is what makes them so aggravating to watch.
- Rudy Gay has a world of talent but a village of brains. I feel his ceiling is one of the highest in the NBA but don't know if he can stop being the scarecrow.
- Is it just me or does Kobe look... *gasp* like one of the old guys? He looks a step slower this year and has his shot changed or is it just me?