Basketball Authorities

Posted by The Mueller’s on February 22, 2008

‘Only a C+?!’ (D. Clarke Evans - NBAE/Getty Images)

Many of you may know that, for the month of February, I have been writing the Jazz Game Previews. This has been a fun and exciting month and I have been forced to keep a closer eye on the NBA than I ever have before. One thing I have learned is that I don’t have to be an authority, because there are PLENTY of them out there!

I have read everything from statistical analysis of teams, players, and coaches to blogs by players around the league, to experts, ex-coaches, ex-players, and yes, even an ‘ex-wife’. I would have thought that by and large, most agree on the general functionality of each team. I mean we all watch the same games, see the same scores, etc. Boy, was I wrong!

Some articles and opinions seemed to be based on straight-forward facts, stats and formulas that I can’t even begin to understand. As if there are no unforseen circumstances involved in basketball (we wish!). Honestly, they could give me some stat and I would take it at face value. Does someone ever bother to actually CHECK the stats for accuracy? If someone does, they should be paid BIG BUCKS!

But some articles and opinions seemed to be so biased and one sided that you wonder how the author thinks the rest of the world won’t see right through him. I admit we all have our own biases for and against certain teams. I lean very hard toward the Jazz, but that doesn’t mean I am stupid enough to believe they can be NBA Champions without hard work, fabulous coaching, some good luck and a couple of miracles.

So I offer to you, (which I can’t believe I am doing) an article that was recently on the MSN website. All I can say is “what is he thinking?”. See what you think.

3 Comments

J R Stewart on February 22, 2008 said:

The two hottest teams in the nba are the Jazz and Houston.
C+ and C-???

Golden State A? The Jazz beat them in the playoffs, 4-1, and swept the season series and they’re currently outside looking in.

The Laker’s steal of PG makes them the front runner, in the most intense Western Conference ever! However, go on just a 3 game skid and you’re out of the west, with 9 teams playing over .600 ball and only a 5 loss separation.

Jazzaholic

Annie Whittaker on February 22, 2008 said:

Charley Rosen in consistently inconsistent in his “summing up” of the league. One day you’re his darling the next you’re his dud. I’m not an authority, but having done some summaries of NBA teams for assignments, I was surprised at the lack of consistency in Rosen’s game.

Megan on February 22, 2008 said:

Glad to see I have some that agree with me. When I read the article, it seriously made me physically sick! And not just because of the Jazz grade . . . MANY seemed way off base to me as well!! :-)Megan