Chip Patterson, recent graduate of University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill, writes for TheHoopDoctors.com and BusterSports.com. A lifelong student of the game, he has passionately followed the NBA and College Basketball since C-Webb was calling “Timeout!”.
We are only three weeks and about 10 games into the season, but if what we have seen holds true – it’s going to be an awesome ride here in 2009-2010. From double nickels to new posters, everyone that is not in the New York/New Jersey area has something to be excited about.
So here is the first edition of “Pump Up The Volume” where we crank it up for those who are playing above their expectation and/or reputation. Those not meeting expectations, I’m going to have to ask you turn down that noise, because it’s getting in the way of sweet basketball harmonies.
For Jamal Crawford, Atlanta Hawks. While many veterans accustomed to starting may be miffed at the request to be a sixth man, Crawford has instead turned himself into the front runner for Sixth Man of the Year. Aside from being the second leading scorer on the team (17.7 ppg), the biggest thing that Crawford has done to help the Hawks move into the Eastern elite is provide an offensive threat to help finish big games. Most notably, has been his performances in Atlanta’s victories over Portland (27 pts, 9-9 ft) and Denver (25 pts, 8-8 ft). Should I remind you that this guy was traded Acie Law and Speedy Claxton?
For David West, New Orleans. The “breakout year hangover” season has come and gone, now is the time where West should be settling in as a reliable go-to for the Hornets. Instead New Orleans, now coach-less and CP3-less, are left to count on a David West who’s current production (points and FG%) numbers are as low as they have been since the 2004-2005 season.
For Andrew Bogut, Milwaukee. The shadow cast by Brandon Jennings is just long enough for the 7’0″ Andrew Bogut to have quietly averaged 18.3 points and 9.6 rebounds so far in the month of November. When healthy, Bogut’s length and skill set make him a valuable entity for any offense, especially when there are other big-time scorers for him to feed the rock. Hopefully Milwaukee is a team that will maintain this early momentum so the Melbourne Maniac can start getting some love.
For Derrick Rose, Chicago. You can blame it on the a-a-a-ankle, or the off-court distractions, but Derrick Rose just seems to be missing that “wow” factor from last year. His numbers aren’t that different, but I just haven’t seen that killer instinct that last season’s Rookie of the Year showed in the Celtics series. The Bulls aren’t going to surprise anyone anymore, so if they want to be able to compete in the East they need Rose to be playing at or above last season’s level.
For Chris Douglas-Roberts, New Jersey. So here I go again, being entirely premature and claiming a team/player as worthy of hype based on a very limited body of work. Well it seems to have worked out alright for the Nuggets, so I’ll give it another shot. CDR, when not battling the H1N1 battle droid, looks like a completely different player than the wide-eyed rookie from a year ago. Now I’m not saying that he will turn the Nets around at all, in fact this might give him the opportunity to craft his game while the expectations aren’t too high. After all, you can always blame Brook. I know I would, every time.
CRANK IT WAY UP FOR THE ENCORE
– Why is no one talking about this marketing campaign?
– Pump it up for representing the NBA in the Miss USA Pageant.
– ….and boom goes the Bynumite
