What's Wrong With the Spurs?

NOTHING!!! Everyone calm the fuck down. The Spurs are fine, they always start slow, and they are working in several new players that are playing huge minutes for them. Plus guys like Duncan and Parker have missed games. All that matters is that everyone is healthy and on the same page come April and they will be. If that is the case, the Spurs and the Lakers will be on a collision course for the Western Conference Finals. The Spurs are currently 4-6 and these are the six teams they lost to: Bulls, Jazz (twice), Blazers, Thunder, and Mavs. You know what, there isn't an easy game in that bunch and taking it a step further, four of those six losses were on the road! So I'm pretty sure the Spurs will be just fine and will be competing for the best record in the West when it is all said and done. So please, everyone, stop writing them off and just give them 20 games to get their feet wet.

League Notes:

-It looks like Allen Iverson may not have a place to play and he may have shot his last NBA Jumper. Sad but true, one of the top players of the last 15 years, and one of the most arrogant, inflexible, and uncoachable players in the league is unwanted by everyone. Even the Lowly Knicks. And if the Knicks won't sign you for the league's veteran salary, your pretty much done. I have mixed feelings about this. I've never really been a big AI fan, but I did respect what he was capable of doing. On the other hand, he never made any of his teammates better, and I always felt like with all the double and triple teams he warranted he should have averaged 10 assists per game instead of four or five. One thing I will definitely miss though, is the circus that surrounds him. There is nothing else like it in the NBA.

-I love it that G.S. trades for Vlad Radmonovic and than gives him 31 minutes in his first two games with the team. Don Nelson is basically saying "I hate everyone on my team and I wish I would get fired." If I'm a Warriors fan, I'm putting the hit out on Nelson. He is trying to destroy a very young and very talented roster so he can collect a large paycheck without having to go to work. I mean jesus, he isn't working right now anyway, a monkey could do what he is doing. Is anyone on that team not available? I think there is at least a 50-50 chance that either Anthony Randolph and/or Monta Ellis are traded by the deadline. Trading either would be a huge mistake.

-I hate to say this, but Greg Oden is looking like he may develop into...a serviceable center. Hell maybe even a decent starting center. He still looks awkward on the court, his footwork is nowhere near where it should be, and he gets into foul trouble literally every game. BUT, he is a ferocious shot blocker averaging almost 2.5 per game, an excellent rebounder averaging 8.5 per game, and he is doing this in just over 24 minutes per night. I think Nate McMillan would like for him to average more minutes than that, but as I said earlier, he gets in foul trouble EVERY SINGLE NIGHT! Most of these fouls seem to be on guards when he is jumping out on the pick and roll defensively or when he is too late in his rotation. This of course all comes down to footwork. If he can develop that Dikembe Mutombo type footwork he could be a future defensive player of the year, more likely he'll get better and be a good starting center who averages 12ppg, 10rebs, and close to 3 blocks. Those are good numbers, quality starting center type numbers, they're not Kevin Durant type numbers, but at least he won't be labeled a bust.

-Biggest surprises after the first 10-12 games? New Jersey being winless is pretty big. I know they've had injuries, but jesus I thought they might surprise people and compete for that last playoff spot in the East...I WAS WAY OFF! Brandon Jennings being this good. I had no doubt he would be able to penetrate and dish (all the scouts raved about his speed and handle) but I had no idea he would be able to shoot this well and I'm shocked that a conservative coach like Scott Skiles has so willingly turned the team over to a rookie (even though they have nothing else). Do I think Jennings will be better than Rose in five years? No. Do I think Jennings is by far outplaying Rose this season? Yes. I'm also surprised with how bad the Wizards are. I haven't seen them play so I can't really comment on them, but with all that talent I was surely expecting good things from them...Hell I picked them to win the four seed in the East.

-Least surprising turn of events to start the season? The LA Clippers being terrible and their two bright young stars (Eric Gordon and Blake Griffin) both being injured. Was there ever any doubt that this team would have another long season? It's just who the Clippers are. I agree with Bill Simmons on this one, Blake Griffin should have forced a trade before the draft, or signed overseas in order to save his career. I look forward to three years from now when Gordon and Griffin are both playing elsewhere and finally healthy.