On Monday, I expressed my doubt in Tennessee as a #1 ranked team. I mentioned various teams I felt could beat the Vols in the NCAA tournament. Well . . . we can add Vanderbilt to the list. The Commodores played with energy and emotion all night. Tennessee looked a bit flat from the opening tip, and never was able to regain their trademark "swagger".
The Vols have found themselves in the #1 poll position for the first time in school history. The great thing about NCAA hoops is that the polls really don't matter. What matters, is who can beat who, come March 17th. This leads to the question, is Tennessee truly the best team in the nation? The answer is simply, NO! I would favor UCLA, Texas, North Carolina, and Kansas over the Vols on a neutral floor. And that only covers teams in the top 10. I could see Tennessee also losing to Xavier, Butler, and Purdue.
The key to defeating the Vols is solid defense, ball security, and tempo. All seven teams previously mentioned can control the tempo, play D, and equal (if not surpass) Tennessee on the glass. Bruce Pearl's squad is highly entertaining, but I don't see them getting it done in March.
So, it seems just about every team in the NBA has made a move over the past few weeks. The question is: who got the best of all the player swapping?
Most Surprising Team: Boston (39-9, 1st in the East)
Everyone thought Boston would be good . . . but this good? Even without KG, the Celtics have been playing well. They play hard every night, and their role players (Powe, "Big Baby", Eddie House, etc . .) are improving every night. The three headed monster of KG, Allen, and Pierce has been dominant. It's rare that one of the three doesn't step up and have a big game, and that's exactly what makes this team so good. Opposing coaches can't game plan to stop one, or even two superstars, they have to deal with three.
Most Disappointing Team: Miami (9-40, Last Place in East)
There is no explanation necessary. The only thing that could make this season worse for the Heat is if Shawn Marion somehow sparks some wins and knocks Miami out of the top draft spot.
Best Defensive Player: Josh Smith (1.98 Steals, 3.28 Blocks, 6.0 Def Reb)
Josh Smith is forced to guard the opposing team's best perimeter player night in and night out. The 3.28 blocks per game is extremely impressive, and Smith rebounds well for a perimeter player. His athleticism and length (combined with youthful energy) makes Josh Smith the most formidable defender in the East this season.
Best Coach: Eddie Jordan
The Wizards have managed to stay afloat without "Agent Zero". I give Eddie Jordan a lot of credit for keeping Washington in the playoff hunt (currently in the 6th spot). The Wiz have slumped, losing their last 8 games. Can Jordan keep his team together, following the All Star break?
MVP: LeBron James
He's the leagues leading scorer (averaging 30.1 ppg), and no other player is more important to their team. The "King" is the complete package, adding 7.2 assists and 7.9 rebounds per game. KG was also considered strongly for this honor, but the Celtics success in his absence solidified James as truly the Most Valuable Player.
Most Likely to Win the East: Boston Celtics
The Celtics have talent, motivation, and team chemistry. The only team that can challenge them is the Detroit Pistons. If they happen to matchup in the playoffs, I expect the Celtics to out hustle Detroit, and get huge production from their bench.
It appears that the proposed deal, sending Shaquille O'Neal to Phoenix for Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks is all but done (pending O'Neal's physical today). The first thought that comes to my mind as a Miami fan is . . . "thank God"! With Shaq having two additional years on his contract (at about $20 million per), the deal makes financial sense for the Heat. Marion's current salary is about 3 million less, and he will only be in Miami for one additional season (if he chooses to exercise his player option for the 2008-2009 season).
Now on to the real question, can Shaq help the Suns win a championship? To answer simply, yes. O'Neal needs this type of situation to motivate him. He needs the hype, the hoopla, and all the media attention. I feel like this change of scenery will revitalize Shaq. Will he be dominant? I doubt it. But, he will bring a new dimension to an already formidable team, and will help the Suns match up with Dallas and San Antonio come playoff time.
