HoopsCorner.com Archive: December 06, 2004

H o o p s C o r n e r . c o m

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December 06, 2004

- The Knicks

The New York Knickerbockers are amazingly on top of the Atlantic division. No one would have predicted them to be carrying on such a charge. However when you add in their .500 record with 8 strikes on each side of the won/loss column the title of division leader doesn't retain its luster.

Yet to their credit they have at least 2 situations working in their favor:

The Knicks still haven't anteed up in a game with their full arsenal. Their pricey long range bomber, Allan Houston is still docked to the sidelines covered in Armani, rather than the desired battle colors. With his possible deployment date set for the end of this week, we don't have to wait long to see if they gain more momentum.

Another thing New York has working for it (to a lesser degree) is the fact that even the defending NBA champions have the same record. So if the Pistons can improve the Knicks might have equal chances - at least considering that their next 4 games are against the likes of Memphis, New Orleans, Denver and New Jersey.

- LeBron James

He's amazing. The November 10th game they had earlier in the season, was probably the game that shook the Cleveland fans' belief. The game seemed already in the books with Cleveland trailing by 19 points in the 4th quarter. You wouldn't have thought differently yourself. The fans were making their way to the exits and Phoenix Suns players had that confident winners' look on their face.

Alas Phoenix came in expecting the old Cleveland, last year's edition. King James dominated the quarter and overtime like one of his high school games, with the help of Big Z, Zydrunas Ilgauskas.

Apparently that game wasn't a fluke, they are now riding high atop the Central division with an 11-6 record in front of the likes of Indiana and Detroit. It's a new era in Cleveland hoops.

- Orlando Magic

It's too bad Tracy McGrady isn't around to finally realize the full potential of the leap of faith he took in the summer of 2000. The other beast of the Orlando Magic that was to unite with him and together rule the East, wasn't afoot strong to start the conquest.

He's now a Houston Rocket. Instead of bringing last year's #8 playoff seed in the West to greater heights, it seems chemistry problems have set them back, while Orlando fans are catching a 4-year postponed show. How ironic.

The other beast in question was supposed to be Grant Hill. He's feeling better (basketball wise) than he has ever felt in the last four years put together. However the Magic organization isn't lamenting T-Mac's departure to Houston. They now have Wink, Cat, and of course Mr Hill trying to live up to the terms of his contract. So far at 11-5 they have the best record in the East. But Hill's longevity is still reasonably doubtful.

No matter what happens though Steve Francis is happy to be here, and wants to put on a show for the fans the best way he knows how. In Houston the direction of the team - a center oriented half-court offense - found him struggling to keep pace.

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