One (Bald) Old Head's 3 cents' a little more than a quarter into the 82-game season that leads to the all-important 2-month post-season:
The much-maligned East is stronger overall than the West. Stan Van Gundy, like his bro, pretty, pretty, pretty good. Life and hoops are always that much better when the Knickerbockers are legit -- and, for little ol' me, the greatest show on earth is even greater when my first love as a yute in the '60s, the Sixers, are rockin' it.
OKC not OK. Looking forward tonight to C'ing what they look like at home against the Spurs. And, speaking of the Spurs, Pop is the GOAT, on and off the court.
I'm feeling good about my small wager, two hunge, on the Cavs to win it all. I'd derive much more pleasure seeing them beat the golden boys, but they may "have to settle" for Houston. Of course, there's also the "small matter" of the Celtics, looking forward to Cavs at Boston Jan. 3, Isaiah should be playing by then (I'd bet a few shekels he will be). I'm getting chills thinking of the love the Celtics fans are gonna show Isaiah that night.
I thought the gig was up when Kyrie blew town. Twenty-three games into the season, I think the Cavs are a better team without Kyrie, or at least will be when the playoffs start in four months (no maloiks, please, pooh pooh, no major injuries). LeBron's taken his game to another level, has had to do more to compensate for no Kyrie, no Isaiah yet, not even Derrick Rose (probably best for the Cavs, but what a sad story). LBJ's numbers are sick, he's drilling threes, baseline turnaround faceaways and is going to the post more and destroying people. And the passing, the assists-- a thing of beauty. The old man looks to be in better shape and fresher than ever 23 games into in his 15th season. He's already played more minutes than Methuselah in his career and is tied for most minutes per game this season with Paul George and the Greek Freak.
As a card-carrying Medicare Advantage customer and fitness freak, I get a special kick seeing old farts like LeBron and others playing the greatest game known to man- and womankind at such high levels. Vince Carter, who'll be 41 next month, is in his 19th season, and although he's only playing 11 minutes a game for Sacramento and his numbers are not so good, he's still capable of showing the youngbloods that he can still hang.
Some really good young talent in the league, lotta good older talent, globally, the NBA is on fire. I'm a junkie and I don't care, I've kicked some bad, bad, deleterious behavior, this is one addiction I embrace and can't get enough of it.
My name is (not really) Fireball Junior and I approve this message.
