Tuesday's with Chuck

Have not written in a few days due to a nasty head cold and sore throat, so to get back into things I am gonna break down my Tuesday observations while also attempting to broach some broader trends in the NBA.

I had a conversation with Big D again today about all the teams that are losing their stars (whether it be for a season or a few games) and how their respective teams have all rallied surprisingly well. Teams on this list include the Rockets sans Yao and T-Mac, Blazers without Oden, Pryzbilla and recently Roy, and now the Hornets without CP3 and the Lakers without Kobe.

We both agreed it would be foolish to assume that the teams are better without their stars (with a few exceptions) and that improved can be attributed to more playing time and more touches. I suggested that a good deal also had to to with players becoming more aggressive and a increased sense of urgency/responsibility. Big D of course pointed out the obvious that I failed to see, that teams stepping up when their stars go down is a sign that many players in this league take it easy, take nights off and put it on cruise control.

Flash forward to tonight's TNT halftime show of the Lakers/Spurs game and Charles Barkley basically said the same thing. Barkley, accurately, noted that the Lakers will be a better team for having Kobe sit out a couple of games because it forces a struggling supporting cast to play aggressively and perform. Chuck made certain to call out Lamar Odom, whom he dubbed Mr. Kardashian, for putting it on "cruise control" for most of the season.

Side note: Chuck has been ON FIRE lately. He, maybe unknowingly, keyed in on one of the biggest problems of the NBA as well as the answer for why teams have been able to compete shorthanded. He was also dead on about the impact that back to backs have on old teams, a fact that eludes many a fan. But more importantly, have you seen how many commercials Barkley has on the air right now, he must be raking in the paper. (I honestly wonder how many takes it took Barkley to do the Taco Bell commercial from the Superbowl.)

Unfortunately the best line of the night did not come from Barkley but rather Brent Barry. On Tony Parker's play in the first half, "Parker does more work in the paint than Picaso."

So who has had it on cruise control that has finally awoken? Well most of the Lakers win that award. The whole Rockets team has stepped it up for the whole year. They hands down win for hardest playing team. They also win for biggest overachievers, best team ball and worst mustache (thanks Shane Battier). Peja has seemed to awoken from his slumber, and had a great line tonight, 29-9-5.

There is a second group of players on these teams that are not loafers finally getting their act together, but rather players taking advantage of more minutes and touches. Heading this list for the Hornets is Darren Collison, who also put up great numbers for New Orleans. (27 points, 9 dimes and 4 steals.) For Portland it has been Andre Miller finally getting the touches he needs, and Bayless getting consistent minutes after being buried on the bench. Other players who have benefited from people leaving include Monta Ellis, Corey Maggette, Caron Butler and Antwan Jamison. After Stack Jack and Arenas left their respective clubs, there were simply more touches and bigger roles for the other players that allowed them to flourish.

Two side notes: Other than Caron Butler, all those players just mentioned are part of the NBA's largest fraternity of "I at one point played for the Warriors." The other note is that I think the Warriors Bobcat's trade was one of the few trades in which both teams truly benefitted. The Bobcats got a the most talented player in the trade who has been sensational in a Charlotte uniform making them one of the surprise teams right before the Allstar break. The Warriors got rid of their locker room problems and freed up space for Ellis, Curry and Magette. They were headed to the lottery with or without Jack so even though the trade wasn't balanced in terms of talent, they are not hurt in the short term and most likely benefit in the long run.)

As I mentioned above their are cases when a teams "star" leaving is for the good of the team. I already mentioned Arenas and Stephon Jackson and I would add to that list T-Mac and AI. While AI was not the star of Memphis, his attitude and need for the ball in his hands was substantial. One needs to only look at Memphis' resurgence since the Iverson trade to know that AI leaving was the right thing.

Moving on. Vince Carter drops 48 with 6 threes, single handedly bringing Orlando back to beat the Hornets after the worst month of his entire career. They need to make a new NBA promo with Vinsanity highlights from this game. "The NBA, where actually trying happens."

Also Jason Williams is playing amazing for Orlando, what a stellar pickup. It's like he finally realized that with absurd vision and great ball handling he can be a solid point guard for a winning team rather than being the stripper equivlant of a stripper. You pay him, he looks good, but they don't really do much but tease you. White Chocolate is the Good Will Hunting of the NBA. All he needed was a chance to throw off his janitor scrubs and realize his potential. I would pay good money for White Chocolate to drop a sweet dime and yell, "how bout them apples" wouldn't you? But seriously, great passing ability and vision.

Everyone has been saying it but now it is more vocal than ever, D Fish is old and he can't guard anyone anymore. I love Fish and he is still clutch as anything, but other PG's are lighting him up. Is Earmar or Chris Brown (Farmar and Shanon Brown for those of you not familiar with Farmar's elf like ears or Shannon Browns uncanny resemblance to Mr. Lovey Dovey Kiss Kiss They Hatin' on Me Chris Brown) gonna step up, or do the Lakers have to break the bank some more and ship in Kirk Heinrich. The best part of that trade is that the Lakers will probably ship Adam Morrison or Sasha Vujacic to Chicago. If Morrison goes to Chicago he and Noah can run the ugliest pick and roll ever. EVER. Also their patchy prepubescent mustaches can combine to make one real thick manly mustache (See Shane Battier). Finally, is it me or does Noah look like Skeletor?

Alright folks, that's all.