So is two weeks into a season too early for snap judgments?
Not in the NBA. The sample size already is tangible.
Some of the early season boosts have been surprising, as have some of the busts.
In a league of momentum, don’t discount the start as having a way of setting up the finish.";
spt_NBA_Boom_Bust_091110[i++] = new Array("","Boost or Bust","","","","", "sub", "", "", "", "left", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
spt_NBA_Boom_Bust_091110[i++] = new Array("","Pistons' Wallace, Grizzlies' Iverson","Pistons center Ben Wallace.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/s-spt-091110-ben-wallace-204p.hsmall.jpg","","", "sub", "", "", "", "right", "Duane Burleson", "AP", "273", "273", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_NBA_Boom_Bust_091110[i-1].body = "Boost: Ben Wallace
Typically, these types of reunions tend to sour quickly, with age taking the edge off what once was there. The difference with the Pistons is that expectations were minimal. Wallace never was expected to re-emerge as the starting center. Yet there he is, a stabilizing presence in the starting lineup, providing his typical rebounding and even blocking shots. No, he's not the Ben Wallace of the start of the decade, but he is more than Kwame Brown and Chris Wilcox in the middle.
Bust: Allen Iverson
And then there is the reach of trying to recreate the magic of the past, at least the marketing magic. While Wallace has been smart enough to stay out of the way of progress in Detroit, Iverson only could say the right things upon his arrival in Memphis. Then the games began and Iverson couldn't fall in line behind Mike Conley and O.J. Mayo, accept the reserve role that Wallace was willing to accept. The Iverson signing never made sense for Iverson or the Grizzlies.";
spt_NBA_Boom_Bust_091110[i++] = new Array("","Bucks' Jennings, Bucks' Alexander","Bucks guard Brandon Jennings.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/s-spt-091110-brandon-jennings-205p.hsmall.jpg","","", "sub", "", "", "", "right", "Charles Rex Arbogast", "AP", "273", "274", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_NBA_Boom_Bust_091110[i-1].body = "Boost: Brandon Jennings
No, no one quite saw this one coming. The preps-to-pros pipeline long had been fueled with question marks, let alone a prep prodigy who skirted NBA rules by spending a mostly unproductive season overseas. But with his quickness and guile, Jennings has proven to be the real deal in Milwaukee, a T.J. Ford type without the injury history. In the end, it was a brilliant draft gambit by John Hammond at No. 10.
Bust: Joe Alexander
Of course, not all Hammond has touched has turned to gold. Last year, the Bucks went for uber-athletic West Virginia forward Alexander with the No. 8 overall selection. What they got was a 59-game injury-riddled season that offered little insight into the future. With Alexander now injured again, Milwaukee bypassed Alexander's 2010-11 option. That will make Alexander an unrestricted free agent next summer and likely another team's project.";
spt_NBA_Boom_Bust_091110[i++] = new Array("","Heat's Richardson, Wizards' Oberto","Heat swingman Quentin Richardson.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/s-spt-091110-quentin-richardson-206p.hsmall.jpg","","", "sub", "", "", "", "right", "Issac Baldizon", "Getty Images Contributor", "273", "273", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_NBA_Boom_Bust_091110[i-1].body = "Boost: Quentin Richardson
For most of the offseason, the journeyman swingman must have felt as if he was caught in a never-ending loop of the infamous Seinfeld \"Re-gifting\" episode, going from the Knicks to the Grizzlies to the Clippers to the Timberwolves and finally to the Heat. Yet Richardson has emerged not only as the surprise starter at small forward in Miami, but a solid defender and rebounder, providing the type of value never offered by the faulty label-maker in that Seinfeld episode.
Bust: Fabricio Oberto
Speaking of re-gifting, then there is the curious case of Fabricio Oberto, who ended last season with the Spurs and then was passed through the Bucks and Pistons before settling in with the Wizards. Asked merely to keep the power forward spot warm until Antawn Jamison's return, Fabricio has been mostly uneven and inconsequential in his starting role, as Washington has stumbled out of the gates.";
spt_NBA_Boom_Bust_091110[i++] = new Array("","Hawks' Crawford, Blazers' Miller","Hawks guard Jamal Crawford.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/s-spt-091110-jamal-crawford-207p.hsmall.jpg","","", "sub", "", "", "", "right", "Scott Cunningham", "Getty Images Contributor", "273", "273", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_NBA_Boom_Bust_091110[i-1].body = "Boost: Jamal Crawford
Rather than leave themselves at the mercy of Flip Murray's free-agent decision, the Hawks got busy in June, peddling Speedy Claxton and Acie Law to the Warriors for the certainty of Jamal Crawford's scoring. While there were concerns about Crawford adapting to a bench role, the boost has been tangible as a No. 2 scorer to Joe Johnson.
Bust: Andre Miller
And then you have the headstrong offseason acquisition. Miller made such a fuss of suddenly being cast as a reserve, that coach Nate McMillan's hand became forced into trying Miller in a hybrid lineup alongside Steve Blake. Yes, it's working now, but is small forward where you truly want to cast Brandon Roy? From the get-go this signing was confounding, as if the Blazers were looking to sign anyone after Hedo Turkoglu turning his back on what appeared to be a verbal agreement.";
spt_NBA_Boom_Bust_091110[i++] = new Array("","Nuggets' Lawson, Grizzlies' Thabeet","Nuggets point guard Ty Lawson.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/s-spt-091110-ty-lawson-209p.hsmall.jpg","","", "sub", "", "", "", "right", "Garrett Ellwood", "Getty Images Contributor", "273", "273", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_NBA_Boom_Bust_091110[i-1].body = "Boost: Ty Lawson
Sometimes good things do come in small packages. While many wrote off the North Carolina point guard because of his stature, the Nuggets got a considerable boost from the No. 18 overall selection amid J.R. Smith's suspension. Suddenly, there is more behind Chauncey Billups than the mere steadiness of Anthony Carter.
Bust: Hasheem Thabeet
And sometimes good things don't come in big packages. Yes, Marc Gasol has gotten off to a solid start. And yes, Zach Randolph can also handle minutes in the middle. But the way the Grizzlies have been utilizing Thabeet, it's as if they're trying to hide the No. 2 pick in last June's draft. Well, what do you know, Memphis drafted a one-dimensional prospect and he is turning out to be a one-dimensional player. Shocking.";
spt_NBA_Boom_Bust_091110[i++] = new Array("","Rockets' Brooks, Knicks' Robinson","Rockets point guard Aaron Brooks.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/s-spt-091110-aaron-brooks-210p.hsmall.jpg","","", "sub", "", "", "", "right", "Thomas Oliver", "Getty Images Contributor", "273", "273", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_NBA_Boom_Bust_091110[i-1].body = "Boost: Aaron Brooks
The team that features the smallest starting point guard and the smallest starting center in the league is remaining afloat because Brooks is more than a flash in the pan. After all the point guards the Rockets have gone through in recent years, they have unearthed a true game-changer in Brooks.
Bust: Nate Robinson
Well, there's always the dunking contest. Not only did Robinson fail to cash in as a restricted free agent this summer, but the novelty act appears to be wearing thin. The shots aren't dropping, the turnovers are up, injuries are a concern and the novelty, frankly, has worn off.";
spt_NBA_Boom_Bust_091110[i++] = new Array("","Celtics' Rondo, Grizzlies' Gay","Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/s-spt-091110-rajon-rondo-130p.hsmall.jpg","","", "sub", "", "", "", "right", "Michael Dwyer", "AP", "273", "273", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_NBA_Boom_Bust_091110[i-1].body = "Boost: Rajon Rondo
When the deadline for a contract extension off the rookie scale arrived, the Celtics and Rondo smartly reached an agreement to continue the partnership. For all the veteran talent assembled by the Celtics, Rondo might be the most irreplaceable member of the roster. While there were tensions at last June's draft amid trade rumors, this is a union that needs to endure.
Bust: Rudy Gay
Gay also had an opportunity to lock in an extension at the rookie-scale deadline. Instead, there was a wide-eyed vision of a $12 million annual salary, a viewpoint hardly shared by Memphis management. Instead, Gay well could be peddled by the trading deadline or left to loiter in next summer's free-agency pool. Not only did Gay lose out on guaranteed cash, but the Grizzlies lost any opportunity to gain a much-needed foothold to some sort of stability.";
spt_NBA_Boom_Bust_091110[i++] = new Array("","Mavericks' Dampier, 76ers' Dalembert","Mavericks center Erick Dampier.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/s-spt-091110-erick-dampier-211p.hsmall.jpg","","", "sub", "", "", "", "right", "Kevork Djansezian", "Getty Images", "273", "273", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_NBA_Boom_Bust_091110[i-1].body = "Boost: Erick Dampier
Take my Dampier, please. That used to be the joke in Dallas, as recently, in fact, as the end of the preseason. Yet there stands Dampier, making a significant difference off the bench for the Mavericks. He's rebounding. He's scoring. He's blocking shots. He's actually looking like a bona-fide NBA center. Who knew?
Bust: Samuel Dalembert
Take my Dalembert, please. That's the punch line these days in Philadelphia. Oh, he's still starting, but there is a significant disconnect with the team's approach. If anyone is willing to take on the contract, he's gone. With the emergence of Marreese Speights and the need to make things work with Elton Brand (they aren't right now), Dalembert is getting in the way of teammates more than he's impeding opposing shots.";
spt_NBA_Boom_Bust_091110[i++] = new Array("","Suns' Gentry, Warriors' Nelson","Phoenix Suns coach Alvin Gentry.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/s-spt-091110-alvin-gentry-212p.hsmall.jpg","","", "sub", "", "", "", "right", "Adam Hunger", "Reuters", "273", "273", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_NBA_Boom_Bust_091110[i-1].body = "Boost: Alvin Gentry
A return to offensive chaos has led to new-found stability in the Valley of the Sun. By getting Steve Nash back to his breakneck roots, Gentry has revitalized what Terry Porter and Shaquille O'Neal had slowed to a crawl. In response to the freedom, Gentry's players are actually rebounding and defending, as well. It has been a wonderful coach/player symbiosis.
Bust: Don Nelson
And then there is the utter chaos that eventually engulfs a Nelson-run production. The younger players don't know where they stand, veteran Stephen Jackson has found himself in a virtual standoff with his coach, and one of the most loyal fan bases in the NBA is left to stand in stunned silence. If you think two weeks is too early to make judgments, then you haven't witnessed the Warriors yet, even with their scoring free-for-all Monday against the Timberwolves.";
spt_NBA_Boom_Bust_091110[i++] = new Array("","Current OKC tenant, Former OKC tenant","Thunder guard Kevin Durant.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/spt-nba-mvps-0910-kevin-durant.hsmall.jpg","","", "sub", "", "", "", "right", "Sue Ogrocki", "AP", "273", "273", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_NBA_Boom_Bust_091110[i-1].body = "Boost: Current Oklahoma City tenant
The kids are all right. No, the Thunder isn't likely to make the playoffs this season. But that's not what matters. What matters are prospects such as Kevin Durant, Jeff Green and Russell Westbrook being groomed into a team of the future. Sam Presti is incubating something special. First an at-the-buzzer loss to the Lakers, then a victory over the Magic. It's coming. It's coming.
Bust: Former Oklahoma City tenant
There is a tangible misery with the Hornets. Coach Byron Scott, who was fired Thursday, tried shaking up the lineup. Chris Paul has looked miserable at times. And David West isn't looking anything like David West. The rise for the Hornets was swift; the tumble just might be as rapid. Something just isn't right.";
spt_NBA_Boom_Bust_091110[i++] = new Array("","Regular referees, Decorum police","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/s-spt-091110-nba-referee-214p.hsmall.jpg","","", "sub", "", "", "", "right", "Chris McGrath", "Getty Images", "273", "273", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_NBA_Boom_Bust_091110[i-1].body = "Boost: Regular referees
Perhaps it was the humility created by the lockout, or perhaps it merely was time needed to clear their heads, but the league's referees not only returned to quickly get the games in order, but there has been practically no confrontation with players or coaches. There is, in the end, a genuine respect in place.
Bust: Decorum police
The new rule this season is players must remain seated on the bench, so as not to block the view of those seated behind the bench. Heaven forbid we actually have players exhibiting enthusiasm on the sideline. So the egotistical coaches, who we don't pay to see, can stroll as they please, but the players whose passion we applaud, have to twiddle their thumbs?";
// END editorial data