BIRDS ON TOP
Wilbon: After playing 24 games each, the Hawks are once again on top of the league, but this time they’re not alone. The Raptors share the same 21-3 record as the Hawks, and even own the tiebreaker right now because they won their only matchup so far. So how about it Tony? Are you ready to accept these birds of prey as your new PBSL overlords?Kornheiser: I’ll stick to the feathered kind, thanks. Look, the Raptors are a nice team. I love Finley, love Brand, and Billups is looking very good after his injury. But I’m not going to give up on the two-time champs. As long as Penny is there, and as long as big Ben Wallace is patrolling the paint, give me the Hawks to obliterate the competition.
Wilbon: I’d normally agree but the Raptors are better than they ever have been. With frontcourt rotation of Gugs, Brand, Ratliff and the surprising Gary Trent – putting up career numbers, Tone – the Raptors have the tanks to fight with anyone.
Kornheiser: Career numbers of 7.5 and 3.5, color me impressed. Hawks are going to threepeat and do it handily. Handily! Next headline.
EIGHT IS NOT ENOUGH
Kornheiser: Next we’re gonna talk about your team, Wilbon. Your boys! The Chicago Bulls have rolled into this season with only 8 men on their active roster. Somehow they’re over the cap because two of those players are max guys in Kobe Bryant and Tim Thomas. They’re sitting at 13-10, which is good but not quite where we’d expect a team of their talent to be. So what do you say, Wilbon, what’s going on with your boys?Wilbon: They’re tired, Tony. They’re tired and they have every reason to be. For some reason the GM PrepP hasn’t given these guys the rest they deserve. They’re playing their hearts out, especially Kobe and Timmy, who are posting career efficiency numbers. But they need help. Bryant Reeves shouldn’t be playing 20 minutes a game at this point in his career. Brad Miller is playing almost FORTY MINUTES A GAME, TONY! These guys need air mattresses in their locker room. They’re tired!
Kornheiser: It wouldn’t take much. There are a couple of guys without teams who could come in and play 5-10 minutes. Shawnelle Scott, Matt Geiger, Jerome Allen. They’re not world beaters, but they’re bodies. The Bulls would be a lot better if they weren’t relying on the same 8 guys every night. What happens when Kobe or Stephen Jackson goes down?
Wilbon: The Bulls wave the white flag, that’s what. No chance if someone gets injured. No chance. Last one.
TANK GOD IT’S 2003
Wilbon: There’s a big problem in the PBSL right now, and it has to do with tanking. We know thanks to draft experts like Chad Ford that this may be one of the best drafts in history when it comes to franchise-changing talent. And the teams are going crazy trying to make themselves worse this year. The Nuggets, Wolves, and Hornets are the most egregious offenders, but there’s a handful of other teams that are definitely not trying to win games. What do you think, Tony, is this tactic smart or shady?Kornheiser: I’d like both, please. Can’t it be both? If you think that a player like LeBron James or Carmelo Anthony is going to turn your team around, then you have to do it. There are some teams that are just better at doing it than others. Teams like the Wolves and Hornets at least have young guys who they’re giving minutes to for experience. When you look at the Nuggets, what do you see?
Wilbon: A big bowl of NOTHIN’.
Kornheiser: Exactly. I look at Tayshaun Prince or Zach Randolph and see them as possible all stars one day. What about Denver? Who’s going to be a star there? Smush Parker?
Wilbon: No way. And that’s why I think tanking is a problem. The Nets GM RPF is on record against tanking, and I’m with him entirely. It’s disgusting and should be punished!
Kornheiser: The Nets are just mad that they’re bad at tanking. What else are you going to do, overpay a bunch of old stars and try to get a 6th seed? It makes sense.
Wilbon: It’s dumb and so are you. All right, after the break we’re going to spend Five Good Minutes with Bucks GM Ian Quailmen to ask him about his young talent, and if he thinks Amare could be better than Shaq.
Kornheiser: I’ll answer that one for you, NO.
