1. Passions - As Miami Turns: The new smash NBA daily soap roles on. This month has been a complete disaster for the Heat. If anyone was actually fanned up in Miami, they might be hearing some boos or calls to "Fi-re Spoe-lstra!" (clap-clap-clapclapclap). The schedule-makers have given them a decent shot at getting right, though with home games to Washington and Detroit before the Lebron Tar and Feathering Party and the Q on Thursday.
2. Ship Be Sinking Alerts: Tough schedule for the wobbling Bucks, at Utah and Denver, home to Orlando. On the other hand, aside from Wednesday's trip to Boston, Portland has a chance to get right against the likes of Washington (sensing a theme here) and Philadelphia. Phoenix doesn't have the toughest schedule in the world, (home to the 'Zards and Indy, away to GSW), but neither the Woyas nor the surprisingly frisky and possibly for real Pacers will be pushovers.
3. Hornets/Spurs the Rematch: After yesterday's VERY impressive win in New Orlenas, the two teams do it all over again this Sunday in San Antonio. Big big game for the Hornets, who have started to wobble a little after their blistering start. Jarrett Jack just loses games, obviously.
4. The Hot Seat: We're starting to get into the part of the season where teams might decide that coaches need to spend more time with their families. Favorite candidates are the aforementioned Spoelstra, the egregiously bad Paul Westphal, the almost as bad John Kuester in Detroit, Lionel Hollins of the underperforming Grizzlies, and my dark horse candidate, Doug Collins. His health problems provide the perfect cover for him to step away from a situation that's to be a much bigger mess than it originally seemed. My guess is he would trade places with Steve Kerr in a heartbeat right now.
5. Trade Time!: With the moratorium on trading players signed to contracts this summer being lifted soon, I expect the rumors to start flying fast and furious. My personal favorite: Francisco Elson, CJ Miles, Jeremy Evans and whatever sweeteners (cash/2d round picks) might be needed to Phoenix for Josh Childress. Phoenix gets to take on 2 expiring contracts to get out of paying their 4th string small forward $6.5 Mil for the next 5 years, plus they get another somewhat serviceable big in Elson and a jumping jack prospect in Evans. Not to mention they save $1 mil + this year in addition to whatever cash is received, which is not nothing to their penny pinching ownership. On the other side, Utah addresses their glaring need on the wing as Childress's defense and energy are a definite upgrade on Raja Bell and the departing Miles. Additionally, if they wanted to explore trading Kirilenko's expiring contract, Childress is capable of filling a very similar role. Win-Win!
I'm also desperately trying to figure out a way for Denver to ship Melo to New Orleans, but it probably can't happen until January when New Orleans can use Marcus Banks' Expiring Contract as part of a deal probably including Trevor Ariza, Marcus Thornton and picks/cash/other prospects.
What's everyone else looking forward to?
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