This space will contain the latest musings from Big Daddy, as well as the webmaster of this here fine site. Feel free to e-mail comments to the appropriate author (Hoof or Andy). We look forward to your comments.

Past Articles:

• "Why Do I Love This?" - December '01

NBA 2002 - HALFWAY HOME
by Big Daddy Hoofer
February 10, 2002

Being the foremost authority I know on the hardwood game, I feel it to
be my duty to pass along some of this knowledge to the masses and let
everyone know what to expect the rest of the way.

I'll begin, albeit briefly with the Eastern conference.  The reson for
the brevity is that no Eastern team could make the playoffs if they were
in the West, and likewise, there are two or three Western teams that
could make a run at seventy win seasons if they played an Eastern
conference schedule.  I'll start at the bottom and work up.

BULLS: This franchise continues to be the disgrace that they deserve to
be, thanks largely in part to Crumbs Krause, who followed up an
inexplicable taking apart of a dynasty before it's time by trading the
game's best young big man for an 18 year old.

HEAT & KNICKS: Two franchises that bored us all in the playoffs for
years now thankfully step out of the limelight.  Apparently, straight
thuggery doesn't get it done anymore (read: Utah).  Here's to wishing
Eddie Jones and Latrell Sprewell get a change of address and an
opportunity to shine.

CAVS: Contraction, anyone? (unless they play the Wolves)

HAWKS: The lottery should serve them well - enough young talent here to
be a solid squad soon.  Not now though.

SIXERS: Last year's conference champs are looking weak this year.
Overrated Mutombo can't get it done often enough anymore to complement
Iverson's hellacious efforts to win.  Adios, Senor Brown.

PISTONS: Played over their heads the first half.  Just not enough talent
to keep up their pace.

PACERS: With players like Jalen Rose, Jamal Tinsley, and Jermaine
O'Neal, this team almost becomes likable.  Thank God Isiah Thomas
coaches there and Reggie Miller has stuck around so they can stay hated.

MAGIC, CELTICS, HORNETS, & RAPTORS:  Since these teams feature one or
two stars, they will be able to post decent records with the soft East
schedule.  One or two stars does not lead to playoff wins, and all of
these squads should evaporate quickly come postseason.

BUCKS: All of the talent to make it to the finals.  All of the chemistry
to precipitate a major midseason trade.  One would think Coach Karl
could get these fellows to put their egos aside, but apparently not.
Guaranteed bow-out in the second round.

NETS: These perennial doormats have really come of age, thanks to the
infusion of Jason Kidd, probably the #1 guy I'd pick to build a team
around.  Kenyon Martin is quickly becoming one of my favorites with the
most vicious dunks seen since the days of a young Sprewell.  They's
coast to the NBA finals if not for the...

WIZARDS: Yep, I said it.  Not even I could have predicted this before
the season, but I'll be one of the first to claim it now.  Jordan's
return has been simply amazing.  Richard Hamilton (whom I pegged as the
next Pippen while in college) gets to play the role of Pippen, and is
really starting to get the job done.  I see rookie Brendan Haywood
shining more and more brightly as the season progresses.  In the
playoffs, you will no doubt endlessly hear idiots like Peter Vecsey tell
you that MJ is too old and won't have the gas in the tank to survive the
long haul.  Well, no athlete in history has ever known what it takes to
get the job done and how to get his body ready for that than MJ.  The
storybook's final chapter is set in the NBA finals.  On a side note, my
inside sources report Kwame Brown for Rasheed Wallace may happen in the
coming weeks, which would make Washington a true lock for the finals.

O.K., I guess that wasn't very brief.  But know, the main event, the
west.  Again, I will venture from worst to first.

GRIZZLIES & WARRIORS: I like some of the young talent here like Jason
Richardson, Shane Battier (another Pippen prototype), and Pau Gasol.
Unfortunately for these teams, they'll be treated like baseball's Expos,
feeder teams for talent for the rest of the league.  By the way, a
contender should look to trade for Danny Fortson to build up some
interior grit.

ROCKETS: The guard tandem of Mobley and Francis is a favorite of mine,
and young Eddie Griffin will be a player for sure.  Too bad the rest of
this ship is made with rotten wood, especially the coach.

NUGGETS: Van Exel is playing great, but can only get along with those
from his home planet.  McDyess idolizes Grant Hill and Penny Hardaway,
apparently.  All three have tons of skill, make huge cash, and play two
or three games a year.

JAZZ: Old, decrepate, boring.  Still winning some.  Hopefully, the
feeling Karl and Stockton and Sloan get from looking at the playoffs
from the outside wil sicken them into retirement.  Let the Mailman kick
people and Little Johnny hack away at the YMCA.

SONICS: Nothing much to say about them, other than Gary Payton continues
to amaze.  Hopefully some of there young talent can step up and keep
Utah out of the postseason.

CLIPPERS:  You have to love these kids.  They had a hell of a first
half, and if Elton Brand learns how to cheat to score, he'll be the next
Karl Malone.  Unfortunately, a tough road schedule in the second half
will keep these guys out of the playoffs.  Also, there is too much young
talent for them to re-sign over the next couple of years, so the rest of
the league will be looking to harvest.

BLAZERS: Sickening stat of the year: 'Chocolate Pudding' Shawn Kemp
makes $23 million this year, and is too fat and slovenly to do a damned
thing.  Hopefully, coach Cheeks will be able to sculpt this team in his
vision in the future.  He seems to have a clue by having the great
Scottie Pippen run the offense and Stoudamire do less handle-more shoot.
I'd like to see 'Mighty Mouse' gone period.  You don't win rings with
midgets.  You would think a lineup of Pip, Bonzi, Rasheed, Dale Davis,
and Derek Anderson/Ruben Patterson could go far, but they are clearly a
second-tier Western team, and will bow out in the first round.

SUNS: Similar to the Blazers and Bucks with too much talent and too
little cohesion.  They are probably a slot behind Portland in that
Phoenix's prima donnas won't play defense.

SPURS: I don't think Coach Popovich planned on David Robinson's play
declining this much.  It goes to show how vauable Duncan is to keep this
team n the upper echelon, because his help is either too old or too
young.  Not much of a playoff splash here.

WOLVES: The Wolves should be able to secure home court for the first
round for the first time in their history.  That doesn't mean they'll
win though.  Outside of Joe Smith and Gary Trent, what this team lacks
is hair on their scrotums.  Wally can be at his best driving to the
hoop, and defenders would have to give him more room around the
perimeter if he threatened that, but he won't.  KG could have a polished
post game, and if he went to the free throw line 12-15 times a game
rather than 6-8, he'd be among the league leaders in scoring.  But he
doesn't.  Brandon or Rasho?  Either could play the lion in the Wizard of
Oz.  I'm not saying they should win dirty like Utah, but toughness needs
to be instilled if these guys ever want to amount to anything.

MAVS:  A very likable team and solid top to bottom.  Well, maybe not so
solid at the top.  By that, I mean that this team would be best served
playing Nowitzki at the 4 rather than the 5.  They don't have a solid
option at center (Bradley?? Wang?? no) and should look to trade if they
want to worm their way into the conference finals. 
KINGS:  This is the team that the NBA should get behind as their poster
boys.  All the big guys can pass very well.  Everyone can shoot.  In
fact, I'd have to pick Stojakovic if I needed one shot made out of the
whole league.  A likable bench that busts ass and is responsible for the
team's great chemistry.  A home-court advantage that is unparalleled
(25-1 at this point!).  The league's best record, depsite missing their
best player for nearly two months.  It should all add up to a
championship, and I truly wish it would, but...

THE FREAKIN' LAKERS:  Kobe is probably the league's top talent and
should rightfully go down as one of the best ever.  However, if Karl
Malone is the Pope of dirty scoring in the NBA, then Shaq is God.  I
don't know many people who like to watch Shaq shove people out of his
way to turn and dunk.  But the NBA sees fit to continue to allow this
and present it as the best hoops that can be played.  The team is well
coached and has tons of quality role players who do exactly what it
takes to win.  I mean, Mitch Richmond plays seven minutes a game to save
him for the playoffs?  That's pretty much unfair.  The Lakers have
looked vulnerable this year, but if Shaq is not hld to the same standard
of rules as the rest of the league, there is no stopping him from a
three-peat.

Don't think I'm not right because I am.  You think NBC would want Lakers
vs MJ in the finals?  It's a work.