The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of the 2013-14 NBA Season
The Bad
The Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers have been absolutely atrocious since January 3rd, going 8-27. Kobe Bryant has played in only six games and it seems very likely that’ll sit out the rest of the year. Steve Nash has played only 10 games, as nerve damage and other ailments have put his career in jeopardy. Pau Gasol has put up decent numbers, averaging 17.5 points and 10 boards a night, but that doesn’t change the fact that the Lakers have hardly any talent on the floor most nights. This season is definitely lost for the Lakers, and next year will almost certainly be rough too (the thought of old Kobe and old Nash gunning for 35 wins is kind of pathetic, but also beautiful if you hate the Lakers as much as I do). As I wrote the other day, it’s unlikely we’ll see Kobe’s Lakers compete for another title before he calls it quits.
Since returning to the Boston Celtics, Rondo has averaged just 11.8 points to go with his 8.2 assists per game, while shooting just 40% from the field. The Celtics are just 3-13 when Rondo plays, and it’s time to start wondering how good Rondo really is. In a league full of talented point guards, where do you rank Rondo? In the top ten? I don’t think so. In all likelihood, the beginning of Rondo’s career will have most of his shining moments. Maybe the C’s success early in his career has gotten to his head or maybe he’s just shaking off the rust after missing significant time. Is Rondo the kind of NBA diva you don’t want around young players? It’s starting to seem like he isn’t, so don’t be surprised if Danny Ainge takes a little less than Chandler Parsons and two first-round picks for him over the summer. Only time will tell.
13 Teams in the Eastern Conference
When it comes to the Eastern Conference playoffs, you can just tune in for the showdown between the Heat and Indiana Pacers. The Chicago Bulls have held their own, but they have nowhere near enough talent to compete with Miami or Indiana. The Toronto Raptors have been a nice story, but they wouldn’t be in the playoff race in the West. The same goes for the Charlotte Bobcats, although their success should be characterized as modest. The Brooklyn Nets and New York Knicks have been extremely disappointing, although the Knicks make Brooklyn look successful. What about the Detroit Pistons and the Cleveland Cavaliers you say? They’re worse than bad…