A Game of Streaks
All sports have streaks of one kind or another - winning streaks, losing streaks - and the NBA is no exception. There are microstreaks, like the runs teams make during the game, and macrostreaks, like the streak the Spurs are exhibiting right now, and the slump the Lakers are going through at the same time. The Lakers have been playing like a disinterested, second-rate team as of late. After their 10 game winning streak early on in the season they are 2-3 in their last five games. And the two games at the end of their 10-game streak earlier in the season ended with two close victories against mediocre teams (the Knicks and the Jazz).
With the Mailman's loss to injury last night, the Lakers played the Golden State Warriors, a sub-.500 team prior to their victory tonight. The Warriors offered the Lakers an easy win before their Christmas day game against the Rockets, but the Lakers played ho-hum and lost 107-98. They lost to the Blazers last week. Their two previous wins - against the Nuggets and Suns - were squeakers.
While the Lakers are cooling off dramatically, their rivals are getting hot. The Spurs have matched the Lakers earlier streak, having picked up Ws their last ten outtings. The Kings, sans Webber, are playing lights out, and the Timberwolves are getting hot as well. Denver and Dallas, while not exceptionally streaky, can always win on any given night.
While talking about the Spurs, Wolves, Nuggets, and Mavs, how about taking a moment to give props to the Western Conference Midwest Division. The worst team in this division - a tie at 15-13 with Memphis and Utah - would be first in the Atlantic Division, and fourth in the Central Division. Records aside, Utah/Memphis would both have better records if they were in the Leastern Conference, and only a handful of Eastern teams, I think, are better than the worst teams in the West.
Anywho, Lakers have a good game this Thursday against the Rockets. Should be a nice addition to the inlaws Christmas party.