Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, loyal SpursDynasty reader.
I feel terrible. Not because I’m sick, although I’m pretty sure I picked up something from my nephews last week, but because I’ve been silent for the past 12 days. And since we’re averaging just under 500 unique visitors a day to the site, more than 5,000 visitors have come here to find nothing new. Nada. Zilch.
Michael can usually be counted on to recap the even games here and the odd games at PtR, but as you may know he’s had some technical difficulties. What’s kept me busy? Christmas shopping, celebrating my wife’s birthday, spending Christmas with my father’s side of the family just outside of Atlanta, eating and drinking way too much, following the news in Iowa, New Hampshire, San Francisco and Pakistan, catching Cracker and Camper van Beethoven in concert … did I mention that I ran into a former Spur in Atlanta?
My wife and I were shopping at Lenox Square in Buckhead, Atlanta’s old money neighborhood, when I spotted a very tall black man wearing a black leather jacket. My eyes were drawn to the Spurs logo on his sleeve, and I looked up to see that it was none other than Kevin Willis.
I approached him and, even though I could see that he was talking to someone else, loudly said, “Hey, Kevin Willis!” He turned to look at me and then I said, “Go Spurs!” He reached out to shake my hand and said, “Spurs forever.” Isn’t it funny: he spent 11 seasons playing for the Hawks and lives in Atlanta, but wears a Spurs jacket while out shopping, even though he played just two seasons in San Antonio at the tail end of his career. Must be that the ring we gave him.
With one day left in 2007, our site has had over 150,000 unique visitors and nearly a quarter million pages viewed. Not bad for a bunch of amateurs. In a few days I’ll be recapping some of the highlights of 2007 here at SpursDynasty.com.
In the meantime here are, with a little more than one third of the 2007-2008 regular season completed, my candidates for biggest surprises so far in the Western Conference.
#5. The Spurs are playing better than expected — especially given the DNPs from injuries to Tim (5), Tony (5) and Manu (3) — leading the West with a 21-8 record. Eight weeks ago we were arguing about whether the Spurs would win more or less than 58 games this season. So far they’re on course to win 59.
#4. The Mavericks are struggling, currently in fifth place, and have yet to find the right rotations. Our win over them without Tim was telling.
#3. The New Orleans Hornets are in fourth, just 1.5 games behind the Spurs, thanks to the All-Star play of Chris Paul (22-4-10) and David West (18-9-2).
#2. The Jazz and Rockets are lingering out of the hunt in the ninth and tenth spots, with both teams hobbled by injuries to key players. Mehmet Okur missed eight games with a strained left trapezius muscle and will take some time to get back into shape. Tracy McGrady has had knee problems, while the rest of the team seems to have problems with Rick Adelman, except for Bonzi Wells. Chances are pretty good that one of these teams doesn’t make the playoffs, and I’m betting it’s Houston.
#1. The Portland Trailblazers are now in third place and have the best active streak in the league with 13 wins and counting. Their win tonight came with a 21-0 run in the fourth quarter. We knew this team was talented, especially after signing first round draft pick Greg Oden, but it is the youngest in the league. They weren’t supposed to be this good this fast. The rapid development of second year players Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge, with Oden looming, should strike fear in the hearts of the Western stalwarts, including the Spurs.
