Derrick Rose belongs in the Hall of Fame

 

                                             (Credit: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) 

The Chicago Bulls have made the decision to retire Derrick Rose's No. 1, making him the fifth player in franchise history to have his number retired: Jerry Sloan, Bob Love, Michael Jordan, and Scottie Pippen are the other four. 

While he did last 16 seasons in the NBA, Rose's career is really divided into two parts: Before he tore his ACL (first four seasons) and after (final 12 seasons). 

Before he tore his ACL, Rose was the number one overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft out of Memphis and picked up Rookie of the Year honors, averaging 16.8 points and 6.3 assists per game. In his third season (2010-11) at just 22 years of age, Rose averaged 25.0 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 7.7 assists per game, guiding the Bulls to a league best 62-20 record. Rose became the youngest NBA MVP in league history and only the third player since the 1972-73 season to record 2,000+ points and 600+ assists in a single season. The other two were LeBron James and Michael Jordan. 

During those first four years and especially during that MVP season, Rose was one of the most electric and explosive players the NBA had ever seen. He could jump out of the gym with lightning quickness while having an amazing ability to finish and attack the rim. He had great court vision and was a true point guard all while having these amazing physical gifts. 

(Rose with the NBA MVP trophy. Credit: Nuccio DiNuzzo/Chicago Tribune)

During the 2012 NBA playoffs in the first round against the Philadelphia 76ers, Rose tore his ACL, forcing him to miss the entire 2012-13 season. From then on, Rose was never the same. He still had some productive seasons where he comfortably scored in double figures on average, but his days of being the most electric point guard in the game were done. After the 2023-24 season with the Memphis Grizzlies, Rose announced his retirement. Rose finished his career as a three-time All-Star (2010-12), an NBA Rookie of the Year (2009), and an NBA MVP (2011). 

Rose also finished his career with a ton of what ifs. He's arguably the biggest what if in NBA history, though I think Len Bias takes the cake for that distinction. At least with Rose we got to see what he was in peak form. Bias we never got to see due to his tragic passing just days after he was drafted. But still, there's a lot of questions about what Rose would have accomplished had he not torn his ACL. Would he have won an NBA championship in Chicago? Would he have won a second MVP? How many All-Star appearances would he have had? What other honors would he have garnered? We'll just never know. 

While there's a lot we don't know, if you just go off his first three seasons in the NBA, I think Derrick Rose has a strong enough resume to have a spot in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame: 

For starters, every NBA MVP has made the Hall of Fame after retirement. That alone makes a strong case for Rose. Secondly, he has the Rookie of the Year honor, which puts him in pretty elite company. And then third, he did end up playing 16 seasons in the NBA (15 if you don't include the 2012-13 season), averaging 17.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game for his career. 

It's not like Rose just hung up his sneakers after four seasons in the NBA. He kept playing and ended up scoring a career-high 50 points with the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first game of the 2018-19 season, his 11th season in the NBA. He still had a solid NBA career even with the ACL tear. It's just that he could have had a special career and he was special for those first four seasons in the NBA. 

Switching gears from what should be a sure fire Hall of Fame case for Rose to the Bulls retiring his jersey, I think it's really cool that the Bulls are doing this. He brought an energy back to the Windy City that they hadn't had since the days of Michael Jordan and in the process energized the entire NBA. It's a no-brainer decision. Nobody else should ever wear No. 1 in Chicago Bulls history. That number belongs to Derrick Rose and now it forever will. 

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Tomahawk Tuesday: It's fun to see Derrick Rose playing good basketball again

                                         (Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports) \

After looking like his career was probably over due to serious knee problems, Derrick Rose is having a renaissance in Minnesota, averaging 19.3 points and 4.8 assists per game on 48.3% shooting from the field, 43.1% shooting from 3-point range, and 85.4% shooting from the foul line. He's playing like he has a new lease on life, enjoying every moment he's on an NBA floor.



Back in his 2011 MVP season, Rose was one of the most exciting players in league history. He attacked the rim with reckless abandon and was incredibly fearless, always putting his body on the line. Unfortunately, that style of play caught up with him, resulting in an ACL tear, a torn meniscus, and other issues that would derail his career.

While it's easy to root for any player to make a comeback, it's been especially fun to watch Rose hit game winners and energize NBA fans once more. Even though we'll never know how good he would have become had the injuries not happened, there's something even more satisfying about watching him have this type of season knowing what he's been through. He could have hung up his sneakers and given up on his dream of playing high level basketball again. Instead, he kept honing his craft and developed a jump shot, something he would need after losing so much of his explosion.

Given all that he's been through and how well he's playing, Rose absolutely deserves to be an All-Star this year. He's playing like one and I think the fans would get a real kick out of watching him play. For all the years that Kobe Bryant and other legends have played in All-Star games past their prime, it would only be fair if Rose got that same type of treatment. The only difference is he's legitimately playing like an All-Star!

Once again, it's been an absolute blast to watch Derrick Rose have the type of season he's been having. He's always struck me as a really humble, down to earth person. It's great to see guys like him find success.

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Tomahawk Tuesday: Is Tom Thibodeau the right man to coach the Minnesota Timberwolves

On Tuesday, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Tom Thibodeau met with Jimmy Butler in Los Angeles to talk about his future with the Minnesota Timberwolves organization. Despite reaching the playoffs in his first year with the team, Butler is reportedly unhappy about the direction of the franchise, specifically as it pertains to the job that Thibodeau is doing as head coach and president of basketball operations.

While he has a track record of success in Boston, Chicago, and now Minnesota, Thibodeau has been known to be a hard guy to play for. He demands a lot from his players and doesn't seem to be too sympathetic to the pounding NBA players go through during a full 82 game season. Rather than resting his players and playing his bench, Thibodeau tends to go with shorter rotations, resulting in his star players having to exert more energy on a nightly basis.

Thibodeau's coaching philosophy may be a contributing factor to all the injuries that Derrick Rose had during his time in Chicago as well as injuries to Joakim Noah, Zach LaVine, and Jimmy Butler. While it's conceivable that Butler has other issues with Thibodeau as well, the way he treats his players appears to be his main gripe. If you are an NBA player, you want to make as much money as you can and play basketball for as long as you can. Playing for a coach that runs his players into the ground is something a player should want to avoid at all costs. Even it means playing for a less competitive team.

In regards to how the Timberwolves should handle this, it's a tricky call. The name of the game as far as they are concerned is to win basketball games and Thibodeau has done a good job of that during his brief time in Minnesota, guiding the Timberwolves to their first playoff appearance since the 2003-04 season. On the flip side, when you have such a talented young core consisting of Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins, do you really want to risk long-term damage to them?

What could ultimately decide this is how the other players on the team feel about him. If it's only Jimmy Butler that has a beef, maybe the Timberwolves trade him for some assets before he gets the chance to walk away from them next summer in free agency. If on the other hand, Andrew Wiggins, Karl-Anthony Towns, and others also complain to ownership and take things public, it would probably be the wise thing to fire Thibodeau and find a guy who is a little less stringent in his thinking. I guess we'll have to wait and see what final direction this takes, but if I'm making a prediction, I don't see how Thibodeau stays with this team for the long haul. The short-term benefits don't seem to outweigh the potential long-term damage.

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Wednesday Windmill: The Derrick Rose situation is just another sign of New York Knicks dysfunction

Dysfunction seems to follow the New York Knicks wherever they go. On Monday night, Derrick Rose went A.W.A.L., not showing up for the Knicks' home game against the Pelicans and nobody in the Knicks organization had an immediate answer for his whereabouts after the game. Knicks president Phil Jackson didn't talk to the media after the game or provide any sort of explanation for what had happened to Derrick Rose, leaving Knicks players and head coach Jeff Hornacek to answer difficult questions that they really didn't have answers to. This whole situation is just another sign of incompetency and ineptitude in New York. Sadly, having a player seemingly vanish is just the kind of thing that would happen to the New York Knicks.

What's an especially bad look in all of this is that it was Joakim Noah that broke the news that Derrick Rose was ok, not Phil Jackson or team owner James Dolan. While it is true that Derrick Rose should have alerted somebody in the Knicks organization that he wasn't going to be present for Monday's game, Phil Jackson or James Dolan should have been the ones to address the Derrick Rose matter head on, not putting their players and head coach in an awkward situation.

                                          (Credit: Image via NBATV on YouTube. Click here for video) 

It appears as though the Knicks' dysfunction in the front office is leading to dysfunction on the court. The Knicks have lost 9 of their last 10 games and are now 17-22 overall, which makes them 11th in the Eastern Conference. Despite having some quality players in Carmelo Anthony (21.9 points and 6.1 rebounds per game), Derrick Rose (17.3 points and 4.5 assists), and Kristaps Porzingis (19.8 points and 7.6 rebounds), this Knicks team is not able to gel and one has to wonder how much of that has to do with having a front office that isn't in very good communication with its players or coaching staff. In addition, there have been reports that Derrick Rose may not be getting along well with head coach Jeff Hornacek, so it appears as though the dysfunction truly is extending onto the court.

The sad thing with the New York Knicks is that they have their priorities all out of whack. They should be focusing on building around Kristaps Porzingis and making him the center of attention, but instead, they are dealing with all of this Derrick Rose drama and trying to do all they can to keep Carmelo Anthony happy. Honestly, I don't expect that to change so long as they have the same yahoos in charge. The Knicks really need a change of ownership and a brand new front office to take the franchise in a different direction. Phil Jackson isn't the answer and James Dolan sure as hell isn't the answer, either. New ownership needs to take over in order for this team to become contenders again. It's that simple.

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Wednesday Windmill: How much better will the New York Knicks be?

      The New York Knicks will have a different look in the 2016-17 season with the additions of Courtney Lee, Brandon Jennings, Joakim Noah, and most notably Derrick Rose. They already appeared to be turning the corner with the selection of Kristaps Porzingis in the 2015 NBA Draft, but with these additional moves over the summer, the future in New York suddenly appears to be getting brighter.

     For the first time in his New York Knicks career, Carmelo Anthony actually has a supporting cast to be excited about, which in and of itself is a big deal. But considering that the Knicks went 32-50 last season, are these moves enough to actually make them a serious force in the Eastern Conference? How good will these Knicks be?

     The short and simple answer is that how good the Knicks will be directly correlates to how healthy they will be. Joakim Noah (29 games) and Derrick Rose (66 games) both struggled to stay healthy last season, which is reason for Knicks fans to treat the addition of both players with a fair amount of skepticism. If those guys don't stay healthy and on the floor, the Knicks will still be hard pressed to crack 41 wins, let alone make a serious dent in the Eastern Conference playoffs. Plus, it isn't like it's only Noah and Rose who've been injured. Brandon Jennings played only 48 games last season and 41 games the season before due to rupturing his left Achilles.

     The amount of injuries that these new additions to the Knicks have suffered is certainly a serious concern and it also makes you wonder why the Knicks were willing to roll the dice on Noah, Rose, and Jennings as opposed to one of them. Maybe the idea is that one of them will have to stay healthy, but even so, it's very risky to have your season riding on the health of fragile players who aren't what they used to be.

     Joakim Noah's injury was a shoulder injury, which shouldn't be taken lightly, but I'm much more optimistic that he'll be able to return to form as one of the league's best rebounders and shot blockers. But Brandon Jennings (Achilles) and Derrick Rose (multiple ACLs) have had much more worrisome injuries that are very hard to bounce back from. Derrick Rose is a former league MVP who at his peak was perhaps the best player in the world. But now, he's at best a B-grade player who is only capable of showing flashes of the brilliance he once had. As for Brandon Jennings, he hasn't been able to have a scoring average in double figures since the Achilles injury, so in his case I'm even more skeptical of his ability to become a productive player again.

     The only other noteworthy addition that I haven't mentioned is Courtney Lee, who has been more of a role player over the course of his career, playing good defense and knocking down some threes. Lee can't be expected to be anything better than what he's already been, which is to score around 10 points and shoot close to 40% from 3-point range. That's solid, but nothing to get super jazzed about.

     At the end of the day, the additions to this New York Knicks team look a lot better on paper than they actually are. Carmelo Anthony will still need to carry the load and Kristaps Porzingis will have to continue to be the Great White Hope of the franchise and build upon his stellar rookie season. If Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, and Brandon Jennings all stay healthy and play better than they did last season, the Knicks will actually be pretty good and threaten to win a playoff series. The problem is that the odds of that happening are about as high as the odds of Cookie Monster switching to brownies. It could theoretically happen, but we all know it's not. In terms of a win total projection for this Knicks team, I'll say they improve by 10 wins, finishing with a 42-40 record, which might be good enough to make the playoffs.
   

Daily Dunks: 10/26-11/1/15

                                                  (Credit: Andy Melton. Click here for source) 

     Here is my Daily Dunks page for Monday, October 26 through Sunday, November 1, 2015. Throughout the week, this page will be updated with news from across the NBA until a new Daily Dunks page is created for the following week. (Note: This is the final Daily Dunks page. At least for a while. This page was getting tiring to create every week! Haha. This blog will be solely focused on generating good opinion pieces)

Monday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. A former Bucks team dancer is suing the team for wage violations (Click here for details).

#2. After being cut by the Kings, Marshall Henderson will join the Reno Bighorns of the D-League (Click here for details).

#3. Andrea Mazzon is joining the Delaware 87ers as an assistant coach (Click here for details).

#4. Meyers Leonard hopes to stay with the Trail Blazers (Click here for details).

#5. Wizards center Marcin Gortat will donate $200 to charity for every shot he blocks this season (Click here for details).

#6. Kings rookie Willie Cauley-Stein will start at power forward (Click here for details).

#7. NBA coaches will wear a lapel pin to honor the late Flip Saunders (Click here for details).

#8. Glen Rice, Jr. was shot in the leg out of an Atlanta restaurant (Click here for details).

#9. Rick Carlisle and the Mavericks are reportedly close to an extension (Click here for details).

#10. The Heat have unveiled new uniforms (Click here for details).

Tuesday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. Click here to get caught up on all the cuts from the NBA in the past couple of days. A key one was the Pistons waiving Danny Granger.

#2. Harrison Barnes and the Warriors have closed talks regarding an extension (Click here for details).

#3. The Lakers plan to transition Metta World Peace into an assistant coach (Click here for details).

#4. Hawks small forward Thabo Sefolosha has officially decided to sue the NYPD for $50M (Click here for details).

#5. Sam Mitchell will take over as the Timberwolves' head coach. Milt Newton as GM (Click here for details).

#6. John Stockton is joining Montana State as an assistant coach on their women's basketball team. His daughter Lindsay is a senior on the team (Click here for details).

#7. Bucks forward Jabari Parker is targeting a November return (Click here for details).

#8. Pelicans point guard Jrue Holiday didn't play on opening night. He is day-to-day (Click here for details).

#9. The Utah Jazz will now be playing in the "Vivint Smart Home Arena". Same building with a new name (Click here for details).

#10. The Spurs exercised their 2016-17 option for Kyle Anderson (Click here for details).

#11. The Pelicans signed guard Ish Smith (Click here for details).

#12. The Suns exercised their options for T.J. Warren, Alex Len, and Archie Goodwin (Click here for details).

#13. 76ers guard Nik Stauskas is hoping to play on Wednesday (Click here for details).

#14. The Grizzlies exercised their 2016-17 option for guard Jordan Adams (Click here for details).

#15. The Hawks exercised their fourth year, 2016-17 options on guard Tim Hardaway, Jr. and guard Dennis Schröder (Click here for details).

#16. The Clippers exercised their 2016-17 option on guard C.J. Wilcox (Click here for details).

Tuesday's NBA Final Scores: 

Pistons 106 Hawks 94. Bulls 97 Cavaliers 95. Warriors 111 Pelicans 95.

Wednesday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. Mavericks owner Mark Cuban doesn't give a **** about the Clippers (Click here for details).

#2. Stephen Curry is getting a wax figure at Madame Tussauds in San Francisco (Click here for details).

#3. The Warriors hope Steve Kerr is hoping to return by January 1, 2016 (Click here for details).

#4. Thanasis Antetokoumpo will play in the D-League for the Westchester Knicks (Click here for details).

#5. Michal Frissdahl is named President and CEO of MLSE (Click here for details).

#6. The idea for Joakim Noah to start coming off the bench actually came from Joakim Noah (Click here for details).

#7. Carmelo Anthony on the Knicks: "I believe in this team" (Click here for details).

#8. Craig Sager has returned to TNT sidelines (Click here for details).

#9. The Cavaliers called a players-only meeting in the preseason (Click here for details).

#10. Chris Paul wants to retire with the Clippers (Click here for details).

Wednesday's NBA Final Scores: 

Pistons 92 Jazz 87. Cavaliers 106 Grizzlies 76. Timberwolves 112 Lakers 111. Wizards 88 Magic 87. Celtics 112 76ers 95. Heat 104 Hornets 94. Bulls 115 Nets 100. Raptors 106 Pacers 99. Nuggets 105 Rockets 85. Knicks 122 Bucks 97. Thunder 112 Spurs 106. Mavericks 111 Suns 95. Trail Blazers 112 Pelicans 94. Clippers 111 Kings 104.

Thursday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. Lance Stephenson is starting at the 3 for the Clippers (Click here for details).

#2. The Nuggets have some new"Whitegold" uniforms (Click here to see them).

#3. The Utah Jazz are starting rookie Raul Neto at point guard over Trey Burke (Click here for details).

#4. Derrick Rose says he is still battling blurred vision (Click here for details).

#5. The Rockets won't extend the contracts of Terrence Jones or Donatas Motiejunas (Click here for details).

#6. Nuggets forward Wilson Chandler is likely out two weeks (Click here for details).

#7. Linda Luchetti is now the Vice President of Basketball Operations for the Utah Jazz (Click here for details).

#8. Wizards forward Martell Webster may need season-ending hip surgery (Click here for details).

#9. Pistons shooting guard Jodie Meeks is out indefinitely due to a Jones fracture in his right foot (Click here for details).

#10. Clippers point guard Austin Rivers has been fined $25K for throwing a seat cushion that hit a fan (Click here for details).

#11. Pacers forward Paul George has been fined $10K for criticizing officials (Click here for details).

#12. Mavericks forward Chandler Parsons is targeting a Sunday return (Click here for details).

#13. Warriors center Andrew Bogut is out indefinitely with a concussion (Click here for details).

#14. The Pelicans waived point guard Nate Robinson (Click here for details).

Thursday's NBA Final Scores: 

Grizzlies 112 Pacers 103. Hawks 112 Knicks 101. Clippers 104 Mavericks 88.

Friday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. Mavericks point guard Deron Williams is out indefinitely (Click here for details).

#2. NBA Global Games London 2016 has already sold out (Click here for details).

#3. The NBA plans to put a sponsored Kia logo patch on NBA All-star Game jerseys (Click here for details).

#4. ESPN has suspended Grantland (Click here for details).

#5. Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov is buying control of Nassau Coliseum (Click here for details).

#6. The Cavaliers may or may not use their $10.5M trade exception this season (Click here for details).

#7. Jeff Ayres, Jimmer Fredette, and Perry Jones were picked in the Top 3 of the D-League draft (Click here for details).

#8. Pistons' head coach and president of basketball operations Stan Van Gundy isn't happy with his team's early schedule (Click here for details).

#9. Click here to view the NBA's Christmas jerseys.

#10. LeBron James says he plans to play in all 82 games this season (Click here for details).

#11. Lakers head coach Byron Scott calls his team "soft" (Click here for details).

#12. Terrence Ross is hopeful that the Raptors will give him an extension (Click here for details).

#13. Erica McKinley is the NBAPA's new Chief Operating Officer (Click here for details).


Friday's NBA Final Scores: 

Jazz 99 76ers 71. Timberwolves 95 Nuggets 78. Warriors 112 Rockets 92. Cavaliers 102 Heat 92. Thunder 139 Magic 136 (2OT). Raptors 113 Celtics 103. Pistons 98 Bulls 94 (OT). Hawks 97 Hornets 94. Wizards 118 Bucks 113. Spurs 102 Nets 75. Kings 132 Lakers 114. Suns 110 Trail Blazers 92.

Saturday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. The Bulls exercised their contract options for Ton Snell and Doug McDermott (Click here for details).

#2. The Celtics exercised their contract options for Marcus Smart, Kelly Olynyk, and James Young (Click here for details).

#3. Pistons guard Jodie Meeks is expected to miss 12-16 weeks after surgery on his right foot (Click here for details).

#4. The Pelicans signed guard Toney Douglas (Click here for details).

#5. The 76ers exercised their contract options for Joel Embiid, Nerlens Noel, and Nik Stauskas (Click here for details).

#6. Grizzlies guard Tony Allen has been warned for flopping (Click here for details).

#7. Pacers legend Mel Daniels has died (Click here for details).

Saturday's NBA Final Scores: 

Jazz 97 Pacers 76. Warriors 134 Pelicans 120. Grizzlies 101 Nets 91. Knicks 117 Wizards 110. Suns 101 Trail Blazers 90. Clippers 114 Kings 109.

Sunday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. Steve Nash was inducted into the Suns' ring of honor earlier in the week (Click here for details).

#2. 76ers center Joel Embiid grew two inches during the off season (Click here for details).

#3. Terrence Ross and the Raptors are still discussing an extension (Click here for details).

#4. Click here for an update on Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving.

#5. Bulls guard Kirk Hinrich is dealing with a sore toe (Click here for details).

#6. Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and Tony Parker are the winningest trio in NBA history with 541 wins and counting (Click here for details).

#7. Jeremy Lamb and the Hornets are closing in on a three-year, $21M extension (Click here for details).

#8. Kobe Bryant isn't happy with how he is playing (Click here for details).

#9. 76ers center Joel Embiid is reportedly recovering ahead of schedule (Click here for details).

#10. Rick Carlisle (Mavericks) and Dwane Casey (Raptors) have set franchise records for all-time wins (Click here for details).

#11. Chandler Parsons returned for the Mavericks (Click here for details).

#12. Pelicans center Kendrick Perkins is out indefinitely with a right pectoral injury (Click here for details).

#13. Kings center DeMarcus Cousins is day-to-day with a right Achilles strain (Click here for details).

#14. The Nets are declining Sergey Karasev's option (Click here for details).

#15. The Wizards won't be giving Bradley Beal an extension (Click here for details).

#16. The 76ers dealt J.P. Tokoto to the Thunder (Click here for details).

#17. The Rockets signed forward Chuck Hayes to a non-guaranteed contract (Click here for details).

#18. The Thunder and Dion Waiters won't agree on an extension (Click here for details).

#19. The Rockets picked up Clint Capela's option (Click here for details).

Sunday's NBA Final Scores: 

Hawks 94 Hornets 92. Spurs 95 Celtics 87. Heat 109 Rockets 89. Raptors 106 Bucks 87. Bulls 92 Magic 87. Thunder 117 Nuggets 93. Mavericks 103 Lakers 93.

Eastern Conference Playoffs Preview: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Chicago Bulls

#2. Cleveland Cavaliers (53-29) vs. #3. Chicago Bulls (50-32): 

     The Cleveland Cavaliers come into this series having swept the Boston Celtics in the first round of the playoffs. As for the Chicago Bulls, they got stretched to a Game 6 against the Milwaukee Bucks, but absolutely blew the doors off the Bucks to close the series. Despite having won the season series 3-1 against the Bulls, the Cavaliers come into this series as underdogs due to the loss of Kevin Love for the season and J.R. Smith for the first two games because of a suspension.

     Many already felt that even at full strength, the Cavaliers had their work cut out for them against the Bulls. But without Love and Smith, the general consensus is that the Cavaliers have too steep of a mountain to climb and the Bulls are going to win this series fairly easily. I am not of the opinion that the loss of Kevin Love and the suspension for J.R. Smith dooms the Cavaliers. I just think it makes things a lot tougher.

     If the Cavaliers are going to win this series, what they will need is for LeBron James and Kyrie Irving to play like the superstars that they are. Especially LeBron James, who has won two NBA championships. If those guys play up to the level that they are capable of playing and get some help from their supporting cast, the Cavaliers can still win this series.

     As for the Chicago Bulls, they have to take advantage of the depth that they have. The Cavaliers will need to heavily rely on the production of two players, but fortunately for the Bulls, they do not have this same kind of pressure. They can share the ball more and get more guys involved.

     While it is true that Derrick Rose, Jimmy Butler, Taj Gibson, Pau Gasol, and Joakim Noah are the leaders of this Bulls team, they don't have to do as much as LeBron James and Kyrie Irving because they have each other and quality guys coming off the bench like Mike Dunleavy, Nikola Mirotic, and Aaron Brooks. The Bulls' depth definitely gives them a huge advantage and they must take advantage of it throughout the series.

     In essence, this series comes down to the Bulls' depth going up against the Cavaliers' one-two punch of Kyrie Irving and LeBron James. Usually, you pick in favor of depth, but when the one-two punch consists of the best player in the world, it suddenly doesn't become such an easy call. Still, the absence of Kevin Love for the season and J.R. Smith for the first two games is huge. I think that the Bulls should win this series, which is why I will pick them to win the series in 6 games. If the Cavaliers win this series, it will be because LeBron James and Kyrie Irving played phenomenal and also because the Bulls underperformed. While that is certainly possible it isn't likely. On the flip side, if the Bulls play as well as they are expected to play, there is no reason to pick against them.

---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord for NBA news 

Eastern Conference Playoffs Preview: Chicago Bulls vs. Milwaukee Bucks

     #3 Chicago Bulls (50-32) vs. #6 Milwaukee Bucks (41-41): 

    The Chicago Bulls and the Milwaukee Bucks meet as division foes, which means that both of these teams know each other as well as possible. The Bulls won the season series 3-1, giving them great confidence that they can make quick work of the Bucks. In addition, the Bulls come into this series healthy, with only Kirk Hinrich unable to go in Game 1. The only thing that has been holding this Bulls team back over the years has been injuries and with all their key guys now healthy, they appear prime to make a serious run for a championship.

     The bottom line when it comes to analyzing these two teams is that when looking at the rosters, the Bulls are the superior team by a wide margin. Derrick Rose is still one of the best point guards in the NBA, Pau Gasol is one of the best big men, Jimmy Butler might be the best shooting guard in the Eastern Conference, and Taj Gibson and Joakim Noah both crash the glass as well as anybody.

      The Bulls also have some nice role players in Nikola Mirotic, Aaron Brooks, Mike Dunleavy, and Tony Snell. The Bulls have the talent in the starting lineup and the depth on the bench to give plenty of teams trouble. As a matter of fact, it has been their depth that has kept them afloat during the course of all their injuries.

     As for the Bucks, the talent is certainly there, but they are still very young and inexperienced. Michael Carter-Williams and Giannis Antetokounmpo, who are the leaders of this team, have never played in the playoffs before and will have a lot of trouble competing against a battle-tested team like the Bulls. In addition, their key franchise centerpiece Jabari Parker is done for the season with a torn ACL.

     Even though they are "role players" O.J. Mayo, Zaza Pachulia, and Ersan Illyasova have to lead out on this team given their playoff experience. They will have to step up and play better than they usually do if they want their team to have any chance of winning the series. What's going to make that tough on them is the fact that the Bulls are a very good defensive team. It will be hard for any of those guys to really have a big night.

     Probably the x-factor as far as the Bucks are concerned is Khris Middleton. He's one of the few guys on their team who can really light it up from beyond the arc and go bananas. In addition to their veterans hitting shots, the Bucks will really need to try their very best to get Khris Middleton into a rhythm. If he can get going and start knocking down some shots, the Bucks could make things interesting.

     All the same, the Bulls are still a vastly superior team. They rebound, defend, and have guys who can score in the clutch. The Bulls have a team that is built to win a championship while the Bucks are still a long ways off from being a serious championship threat. It would be a huge upset if the Bucks won this series given the gaps in talent and experience between the two teams. I see the Bulls winning this series in 5 games.

---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord  for NBA news

Daily Dunks: 2/23-3/1

                                                   (Credit: Andy Melton. Click here for source and full image)

Here are my Daily Dunks for February 23-March 1, 2015. Throughout the week this page will be updated with NBA news and scores until a new Daily Dunks page is created for the following week.

Monday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. The Utah Jazz signed point guard Bryce Cotton and forward Jack Cooley to 10-day contracts (Click here for details).

#2. The Nets plan to sign power forward Thomas Robinson to a 10-day contract (Click here for details).

#3. The Kings hired Vance Walberg as an assistant coach (Click here for details).

#4. Carlos Boozer won't pursue a buyout from the Lakers (Click here for details).

#5. Bulls power forward Taj Gibson is dealing with a hand injury (Click here for details).

#6. Knicks small forward Carmelo Anthony played most of the season with a partial tear in his knee (Click here for details).

#7. Erik Spoelstra says Chris Bosh should be released from the hospital soon (Click here for details).

#8. Phil Jackson criticized the Knicks on  twitter (Click here for details).

#9. Rajon Rondo is working with the same shooting coach that works with Dirk Nowitzki (Click here for details).

#10. JaVale McGee hopes to remain with the 76ers (Click here for details).

Monday's NBA Final Scores: 

Rockets 113 Timberwolves 102. Jazz 90 Spurs 81. Grizzlies 90 Clippers 87. Heat 119 76ers 108. Pelicans 100 Raptors 97. Bulls 87 Bucks 71. Nuggets 110 Nets 82. Celtics 115 Spurs 110.

Tuesday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. Bulls point guard Derrick Rose will undergo surgery on his right knee for another meniscus tear. He is out indefinitely (Click here for details).

#2. Thomas Robinson won't go to the Nets. The 76ers scooped him up on waivers (Click here for details).

#3. Thunder small forward Steve Novak is out indefinitely due to an appendectomy (Click here for details).

#4. Report: The 76ers were willing to trade anybody at the deadline including Joel Embiid (Click here for details).

#5. A mansion in Los Angeles was robbed by four masked bandits. The owner was Earl Watson (Click here for details).

#6. Anthony Mason's condition is improving (Click here for details).

#7. Cavaliers small forward Shawn Marion is out two weeks due to a left hip strain (Click here for details).

#8. Kendrick Perkins has officially signed with the Cavaliers (Click here for details).

#9. The Pistons claimed small forward Shawne Williams off waivers from the Pelicans (Click here for details).

#10. Lakers point guard Ronnie Price will undergo an elbow operation on Wednesday. His season is over (Click here for details).

Tuesday's NBA Final Scores: 
Warriors 114 Wizards 107. Cavaliers 102 Pistons 93. Thunder 105 Pacers 92. Mavericks 99 Raptors 92.

Wednesday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. Larry Sanders has no plans to return to basketball in the near future (Click here for details).

#2. The Bulls have been talking to Nate Robinson (Click here for details).

#3. Derrick Rose's injury isn't initially believed to be as serious as his injury last season (Click here for details).

#4. Steve Blake plans to exercise his $2.1M player option next summer to stay with the Trail Blazers (Click here for details).

#5. The Pistons signed point guard John Lucas III for the rest of the season (Click here for details).

#6. Wizards small forward Paul Pierce (bruised knee) was a DNP. He is day-to-day (Click here for details).

#7. Mavericks point guard Rajon Rondo was suspended one game for conduct detrimental to the team (Click here for details).

#8. In his first game back with the Timberwolves, Kevin Garnett had 5 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 blocks in 19 minutes.

#9. Craig Sager will return to the sidelines on March 5 (Click here for details).

#10. In his debut with the Bucks, Michael Carter-Williams had 7 points, 8 assists, and 2 steals.

Wednesday's NBA Final Scores: 

Timberwolves 97 Wizards 77. Lakers 100 Jazz 97. Kings 102 Grizzlies 90. Heat 93 Magic 90. Hawks 104 Mavericks 87. Celtics 115 Knicks 94. Pelicans 102 Nets 96. Hornets 98 Bulls 86. Rockets 110 Clippers 105. Bucks 104 76ers 88. Suns 110 Nuggets 96. Trail Blazers 111 Spurs 95.

Thursday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. The Heat signed Michael Beasley to a 10-day contract (Click here for details).

#2. Andre Miller is interested in re-signing with the Kings (Click here for details).

#3. Phil Jackson is going to be fined for tampering (Click here for details).

#4. Pacers small forward Paul George has returned to practice. He could be back in a couple of weeks (Click here for details).

#5. Richard "Rip" Hamilton officially retired (Click here for details).

#6. Bulls point guard Derrick Rose has undergone surgery on his knee. Part of the meniscus was removed. He should be back in 4-6 weeks (Click here for details).

#7. Kings guard Darren Collison needs surgery to repair a core muscle injury. He'll be reevaluated in 4-6 weeks (Click here for details).

#8. Report: George Karl has full control over the Kings' personnel. He wants Ty Lawson and is willing to trade DeMarcus Cousins (Click here for details).

#9. Cavaliers small forward LeBron James had 42 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists against the Warriors.

#10. Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook had a triple-double: 39 points, 14 rebounds, and 11 assists.

Thursday's NBA Final Scores: 

Cavaliers 110 Warriors 99. Suns 117 Thunder 113.

Friday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. Report: If Ray Allen returns to the NBA this season, it won't be to the Cavaliers (Click here for details).

#2. The highest bid for the Hawks is around $800M (Click here for details).

#3. The NBA will release reports of officials for the last two minutes of each game (Click here for details).

#4. Cavaliers small forward LeBron James (rest) didn't play.

#5. Baron Davis is plotting an NBA comeback (Click here for details).

#6. Kings center Demarcus Cousins (ankle/hip) didn't play (Click here for details).

#7. Mavericks small forward Chandler Parsons is still dealing with an ankle injury and won't play on Saturday (Click here for details).

#8. Thunder guard Russell Westbrook had a triple-double: 40 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists.

#9. Rockets forward Terrence Jones had 26 points and 12 rebounds.

#10. Celtics point guard Isaiah Thomas had 28 points and 7 assists.

Friday's NBA Final Scores: 

Warriors 113 Raptors 89. Bulls 96 Timberwolves 89. Clippers 97 Grizzlies 79. Jazz 104 Nuggets 82. Pacers 93 Cavaliers 86. 76ers 89 Wizards 81. Hawks 95 Magic 88. Celtics 106 Hornest 98. Knicks 121 Pistons 115 (2OT). Pelicans 104 Heat 102. Rockets 102 Nets 98. Spurs 107 Kings 96. Lakers 101 Bucks 93. Trail Blazers 115 Thunder 112.

Saturday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. Anthony Mason passed away at the age of 48. May he rest in peace (Click here for details).

#2. Early Lloyd, the NBA's first black player, passed away at the age of 86 (Click here for details).

#3. Warriors center Festus Ezeli was suspended 1 game for grabbing the throat of Raptors power forward Tyler Hansbrough (Click here for details).

#4. Chris Bosh has been released from the hospital and is progressing towards a recovery (Click here for details).

#5. Wesley Johnson says he hopes to re-sign with the Lakers (Click here for details).

#6. Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (ankle/hip) is unlikely to play on Sunday (Click here for details).

#7. Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving (shoulder) won't play on Sunday (Click here for details).

#8. Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook underwent a procedure to repair a fractured cheekbone. He won't play Sunday and is out indefinitely (Click here for details).

#9. Trey Burke had 23 points off the bench for the Utah Jazz.

#10. Marc Gasol led the Grizzlies with 27 points and 11 rebounds.

Saturday's NBA Final Scores: 

Grizzlies 101 Timberwolves 97. Jazz 82 Bucks 75. Wizards 99 Pistons 95. Hawks 93 Heat 91. Knicks 103 Raptors 98. Nets 104 Mavericks 94. Spurs 101 Suns 74.

Sunday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. The 76ers waived center JaVale McGee (Click here for details).

#2. Kevin  Garnett bought 1,000 tickets for fans to an upcoming Timberwolves home game (Click here for details).

#3. Rockets GM Daryl Morey has made some proposals to change the trade rules of the NBA (Click here for details).

#4. Warriors point guard Stephen Curry had 37 points against the Celtics.

#5. Cavaliers small forward LeBron James had 37 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists against the Rockets.

#6. Rockets shooting guard James Harden had 33 points 8 rebounds, and 5 assists against the Cavaliers.

#7. Clippers center DeAndre Jordan scored 9 points and grabbed 26 rebounds against the Bulls.

#8. Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard had 31 points against the Kings.

#9.  Hornets point guard Mo Williams had 23 points and 11 assists against the Magic.

#10. Thunder center Enes Kanter had 16 points and 15 rebounds against the Lakers.

Sunday's NBA Final Scores: 

Warriors 106 Celtics 101. Clippers 96 Bulls 86. Rockets 105 Cavaliers 103 (OT). Pacers 94 76ers 74. Hornets 98 Magic 93. Trail Blazers 110 Kings 99. Thunder 108 Lakers 101. Pelicans 99 Nuggets 92.

---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord for NBA news 

2014-15 Central Division Preview

   
     I conclude my previews of the Eastern Conference with my preview of the Central Division, home to the Chicago Bulls, Milwaukee Bucks, Indiana Pacers, Detroit Pistons, and Cleveland Cavaliers. Like my other previews I will list the teams in order of where I think they'll finish with their projected win total in parentheses.

                                           

                                                        

                                                           Cleveland Cavaliers (57) 

     The Cleveland Cavaliers have gone from being cellar dwellers in the Eastern Conference to being favorites to win the Central Division. That kind of transformation can happen when LeBron James and Kevin Love get added to your team. There is no doubt that the Cavaliers will be good, but we still don't know how good. 

     Will they win the Eastern Conference title? Will they win the NBA championship? These are the questions that are on the minds of NBA fans everywhere and ultimately only time will answer these questions for us. However, it is my responsibility on here to give you my honest opinion and answers to both questions. 

     In response to the first question, I think the odds are around 75% that they win the Eastern Conference title. I give 20% to the Bulls and 5% to the rest of the conference. With the way that this Cavaliers team is built, one has to put them as the odds on favorite to win the Eastern Conference even though this group as a unit remains unproven. As for winning the NBA championship, I give them 35% odds. The Spurs are still my pick to win the NBA championship, and after them you have the Thunder and the Clippers who I also think could threaten to win the title as well. 

     But with that all being said, this Cavaliers team looks ready to compete with those kind of teams right away. LeBron James is the best player in the NBA, Kevin Love is the best power forward in the NBA, and Kyrie Irving is a top-five point guard.Those three alone make them the favorite to win the East, but when you look at the rest of the team, it becomes really hard to figure that they won't win the Eastern Conference crown. In addition to the three superstars I mentioned, they also have Shawn Marion, Mike Miller, Dion Waiters, Anderson Varejao, and Tristan Thompson. Those five players form a really nice supporting cast for the Cavaliers' "Big Three" and should provide the additional help needed to get the team over the top. 

     Marion provides veteran leadership and scoring, Miller provides a three-point threat, Waiters provides an additional scoring punch that should produce around 13-14 points per game, and both Varejao and Thompson will grab rebounds and do all the dirty work. This team is very nicely constructed to win right away, and so I expect them to do just that. I'm just not sure it will all come together so nicely that they win the entire NBA championship in just one season together. 

                                                         

                                                 Chicago Bulls (52)

     

     The Chicago Bulls are a really tough nut to crack. On paper the team looks fantastic. They have Derrick Rose healthy, they added Pau Gasol, and they got some nice rookies in Doug McDermott and Nikola Mirotic. There really isn't a weakness on this team. They can score, they can defend, and they can rebound. The only question mark surrounding this team is health (primarily the health of Derrick Rose). If this team stays healthy, they will prove to be the biggest obstacle for the Cleveland Cavaliers to hurdle in the Eastern Conference. If they don't stay healthy (i.e. if Derrick Rose gets hurt again), they will have a hard time getting out of the first round of the playoffs. 

     With so much hinging on the health of Derrick Rose, this team will have to find ways to keep Rose healthy and limit the number of minutes he plays throughout the regular season. In my opinion, Rose shouldn't play more than 36 minutes on any given night. I.e. He should get at least one full quarter of rest each night. Doing this would cost them wins in the regular season, but it would also likely ensure them a championship caliber team in the playoffs. Rose seems healthy enough to play 36 minutes per game, but beyond that I wouldn't push him. 

     In addition to the health of Derrick Rose, I think a lot of this team's success hinges on the coaching mind of Tom Thibodeau, a defensive guru who is allergic to offense. At some point, the Bulls' front office has to wonder whether or not Thibodeau is too defensive minded. I said above that they have no weaknesses, but I was only referring to their player personnel. The players they have can score just fine, rebound just fine, and defend just fine. 

     But Thibodeau for whatever reason has the tendency to try to win off defense and rebounding alone, which might come back to haunt the Bulls. So far Thibodeau has gotten a hall pass for his shortcomings due to Rose being injured, but if Rose is healthy and the Bulls don't come close to winning the Eastern Conference, odds are good Thibodeau gets fired after the season. 

     Overall, I really like this Chicago Bulls team. They have the pieces to contend and win the NBA championship this season. It will be especially interesting to see what Pau Gasol brings to the table and what kind of role he plays in the development of their rookie European big man Nikola Mirotic. If Gasol produces at a high level and if Mirotic starts to show signs of being a key piece for the future, the Bulls will likely have higher than 20% odds of winning the Eastern Conference. 

                                                 

                                                 

                                                  Indiana Pacers (43) 

     With Paul George likely missing the entire season, this team will have a hard time making the playoffs. The only way this team can make the playoffs is if Roy Hibbert comes out of hiding and actually plays like a big man who isn't allergic to rebounds. Hibbert has to step up and prove his worth this season. If he struggles and can't lead out, this team should try to trade him at all costs and possibly cut him. You can't have your team relying on the mentally weak and that's what Roy Hibbert was last season. If he proves to still be a mental midget, the Pacers will have no choice but to part ways with him. 

     As for the rest of the team, only David West seems to be a guy who this team can rely on for any sort of stable and consistent production. You know that he'll put up solid numbers around 13-14 points per game with around 7 or 8 rebounds, but that kind of production won't be enough for this team to make a dent in the Eastern Conference playoff picture.

      You might be thinking "What about George Hill?". George Hill is a disappointment in my book. He averaged 10.3 points and 3.5 assists per game last season. That is nothing close to the kind of production that the team needs from him and I don't see any reason to think he'll be any better than last season. Of course, if he could step up and average around 15 points per game in George's absence, that would be huge. 

     With Paul George going down, the loss of Lance Stephenson will loom large this season. He is a guy who could have given David West real help. He'll be a great fit in Charlotte and will be sorely missed this season. Had he been on the team, I would say that the Pacers make the playoffs for sure. But without him, it's gonna be dicey. 

     Overall, this team is going to struggle without Paul George. Frank Vogel is going to get a hall pass this year if the team misses the playoffs as he should. He's a fantastic coach who held the team together as if they were a wooden house made out of Popsicle sticks. He did the best he could, but his guys let him down. This year, he just doesn't have the horses. This will be a lost season for the Pacers, but perhaps Vogel can learn more about the rest of the guys he has on the team and find out who he wants for the future. Especially Hibbert and Hill. 

               

                                               Milwaukee Bucks (32) 

     The Bucks are entering a new era with new ownership, a new coach, and a new face for the franchise. There is reason to be hopeful for the future, but as for this season, this Bucks team is going to struggle. I have full faith in Jabari Parker and Giannis Antetokounmpo being a dynamic duo in five years, but right now they'll have to go through some growing pains. A successful season for the Bucks will be if Jabari Parker is in the running for rookie of the year and if Giannis Antetokounmpo continues to show why he should have been the #1 overall pick in the 2013 NBA draft. 

     Their head coach Jason Kidd will be heavily scrutinized this season. He left Brooklyn in a rather bizarre and unusual way amid whispers of him wanting more power in the organization. If he doesn't do a good job coaching these guys, he'll look like a real clown. Of course, if the team plays well under him, then due to his age, Milwaukee may feel confident that they have a coach for the future. 

    The last real important thing to look for in this team is how Larry Sanders plays. The team is paying him a ton of money and he better prove that he is worth it. He has the potential to be a fantastic big man in the NBA, but he regressed last season. Some felt it was due to Larry Drew's poor coaching, but no matter how you slice it, Sanders needs to bounce back. 

     In conclusion, don't expect the Bucks to do anything big this year. They'll be exciting to watch, but they won't produce a lot of wins. Check back on this team in five years and see where they are at. 

                                            

           

                                               Detroit Pistons (30)

     The Pistons are a weird combination of talent and confusion. They have some talented pieces with Andre Drummond, Greg Monroe, Brandon Jennings, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and Josh Smith, and yet the team doesn't know how it all fits together. Their formula for success seems to be "lets throw talent on the court and see what happens". It's like a weird science experiment involving baking powder, sulfuric acid, salt, water, and a wire. It could produce something cool, but more likely it will produce a disaster of some kind but you just don't know what. 

     Greg Monroe got retained in restricted free agency for this season, but next season he'll be an unrestricted free agent. This has to worry the Pistons since he is likely the best piece they have and he isn't likely to stay on a team that is so dysfunctional. Andre Drummond is also promising, but like Monroe he isn't likely to stay once he can leave, either. He hits free agency in 2016, so the Pistons have a little more time to convince him to stay but not much more. 

    The real problem with this team is Brandon Jennings and Josh Smith. Both guys are what Seinfeld calls "chuckers". They just chuck the ball at the rim and see what happens. They play basketball like they are playing a game of craps which usually doesn't work out so good. 

    Ultimately, the Pistons need to get rid of Brandon Jennings and Josh Smith in order to be successful. Sadly, both guys have massive contracts that nobody will want to take on which means that the Pistons will stink again this year and will be lucky to get more than 30 wins. 

---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord 

11 Games To Watch In The 2013-14 NBA Season

                                                               (image from: twitter.com) 

The 2013-14 NBA regular season schedule has now been released. With so many exciting games to choose from, it can be hard to figure out which ones to make a priority. While everybody's opinions will vary, I have come up with a list of eleven games that I think everybody should make sure that they see.
(note: to see the complete schedule, click here)

1. Opening Night: October 29, 2013--- Bulls@Heat (8:00 PM ET on TNT)
Bulls PG Derrick Rose will be playing in his first game in over a year, and in the process it will be against the two-time defending champs! Many feel that the Bulls can take out the Heat with a healthy Derrick Rose, and this game might give us a bit of a clue about whether or the Bulls actually have what it takes. More importantly, we shall see former NBA MVP Derrick Rose back on the court!!!

2. Christmas Day: December 25, 2013---Clippers@Warriors (10:30 PM ET on ESPN)
Over the years, the Warriors and Clippers have played some very entertaining games. With both teams now in the mix to win the Western Conference, this game will have a whole new meaning to it. Also, this gives us a chance to see how much better the Clippers are as a result of hiring Doc Rivers as well as how much better the Warriors are with Andre Iguodala.

3. Martin Luther King Day: January 20, 2014--- Nets@Knicks (2:30 PM ET on ESPN)
The Knicks/Nets rivalry is really heating up with the arrival of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Jason Terry in Brooklyn as well as the arrival of Metta World Peace in New York. These intercity games are always fun to watch, and this game ought to be the treat of Martin Luther King Day.

4. February 13, 2014--- Nets @ Bulls (8:00 PM ET on TNT)
The Nets and Bulls are both going to be better this season and both are looking like real threats to the Heat. Seeing them face off ought to be fun since it might give us an idea of as to which team is more of a threat.

5. December 4, 2013--- Spurs vs. Timberwolves (9:30 PM ET on NBA TV in Mexico City)
The only reason to watch this game is because it's in Mexico City. As for the game itself, there are hundreds of games that are equally interesting as this. It'll be interesting to see how the players get received in Mexico City, which is why this one makes the list.

6. January 26--- Spurs@Heat (1:00 PM ET on ABC)
Who doesn't want to see an NBA Finals rematch on a Sunday afternoon? This one will be fun.

7.  November 27---Heat@Cavaliers (7:30 PM ET on ESPN)
Any time LeBron James returns to Cleveland, it is must see TV!!! We also might get to see the Kyrie Irving/Andrew Bynum duo in action for the Cavaliers.

8. December 18---Pacers@Heat (7:00 PM ET on ESPN)
The Pacers pushed the Heat to a Game 7 in the Eastern Conference Finals last season, and due to the acquisition of Luis Scola and the return of Danny Granger, the Pacers might have what it takes to win the East. While I don't think this game has much bearing on what will happen in the playoffs, this one is sure to be an exciting and thrilling game.

9. February 7---Timberwolves@Pelicans (9:30 PM ET on ESPN)
On paper, this game isn't all that exciting, but it gives you the chance to see the new look New Orleans Pelicans on national television!! Don't miss this one purely because it'll be interesting to see if the announcers can avoid laughing every time they say the name "Pelicans".

10.  February 19---Rockets@Lakers (10:30 PM ET on ESPN) 
This one will be fun as it is Dwight Howard's return to Los Angeles to face the Lakers. The Lakers have made it no secret that they are angry at Dwight Howard, and this will give them a chance to get some revenge!

11. (That's right, my list goes to 11!!!)  January 26---Nets@Celtics (6:00 PM ET on ESPN)
Paul Pierce has played 15 seasons in the NBA, and all 15 have been in a Celtics uniform. This season will be his first season not as a Celtic. I'm sure he will get a warm reception from the Boston crowd along with teammates Kevin Garnett and Jason Terry.  

---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord