The
heated debate between Kobe Bryant and LeBron James fans has cooled
off with the start of the 2009–10
NBA season. Dueling puppets featured on TV ads throughout the ’09
playoffs hyped the rivalry between the NBA’s two best players. The Lakers and Cavaliers are second place in their divisions with an 8-3 and 8-4, record, respectively.
In
a rematch of the Western Conference Finals, the Lakers lost to the
Denver Nuggets 105–79.
Two days later the Houston Rockets also took it to the Lakers,
101–91. “Two in a row means something,” said coach Phil
Jackson. “One game is really a bump in the road for this team and
they feel it. Two is an embarrassment. Three we don’t even want to
think about.”
The
Lakers eliminated both Denver and Houston before winning their 15th
NBA championship. Kobe still leads the league in scoring, averaging
31.4 points per game despite nursing an aggravated hamstring. LeBron
is fifth in the league in scoring with 27.5 points per game.
The
Cavaliers added Shaquille O’Neal to the lineup to compliment
LeBron, but still lost their first two games of the season to Boston
and Toronto. Shaq has missed the last two games due to a strained
shoulder but the Cav’s are now on a five-game winning streak.
The
big surprise in the Eastern Conference so far is that the Atlanta
Hawks are leading the East with a 10–2 record. Joe Johnson and early candidate for Sixth Man of the Year,
Jamal Crawford, lead the Hawks.
In
the Western Conference, the Phoenix Suns are in front with the best
record in the NBA at 10–2.
Bringing
up the rear, the New Jersey Nets stand at 0–11,
their worst ever start. The team was down to the league minimum eight
players on the roster due to injuries and illness.
One
player looking for work is future Hall of Fame guard Allen Iverson.
The Memphis Grizzles and Iverson mutually decided to part ways.
Iverson was unhappy with his playing time and decided to take a leave
of absence rather than ride the bench. Iverson won’t stay
unemployed long. –lenn durant
