During Week 1 of this shortened NBA season we covered “Who be ballin’ and who ain’t” and now that some of the dust has settled a few of the teams who started slow are resurfacing to the top.
The Boston Celtics behind NBA assist leader Rajon Rondo (10.7 APG) have won four straight after sputtering out the gate with a 0-3 start. That rebound is the effect of having All-Star Paul Pierce back in the line-up who is averaging 16.5 PPG.
Meanwhile across the country in Dallas, the Mavs have finally shaken their NBA Championship hangover and turned things around after a 0-3 start and sit at 5-2.
A few teams that started hot remain hot including the Miami Heat who have a 7-1 record going into the second weekend of the season, this with two-thirds of their Big Three sitting on the bench for some of those games.
With LeBron James, who leads the NBA in scoring with 29.9 PPG, and Dwyane Wade out with injuries, the Heat limped into Atlanta and stole a game from the Hawks. It took three OT periods and 33 points and 14 rebounds from the remaining third of that trio, Chris Bosh, but they did get it done and left the Highlight Factory with a 116-109 victory.
Heat coach Eric Spoelstra spelled it out during postgame comments, literally.
“It was a gutty team win with a capital t, a capital e, a capital a and a capital m.”
The Chicago Bulls are on Miami’s tail with the second best record in the NBA (6-1). Getting contributions from all over the floor; including from new acquisition Rip Hamilton who brings loads of playoff experience. The Bulls are expected to make a decent run in this year’s playoffs.
On the opposite end of the spectrum the Washington Wizards (0-6) and the New Jersey Nets (1-6) remain in spots they are expected to remain; dead last in the cellar…in the dark…sitting all alone.
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