December Edicts: Surprising Blazers finish '07 on the rise
All-December third team: F-Carmelo Anthony, F-Caron Butler, C-Tyson Chandler, G-Baron Davis, G-Dwyane Wade.
December All-Rookie Team: F-Sean Williams, F-Yi Jianlian, C-Al Horford, G/F-Corey Brewer, G/F Kevin Durant.
Biggest surprise: Despite the fact its schedule featured just five road games, Portland's superb play was undoubtedly the month's biggest surprise. The Blazers managed to win five of the 13 games in their streak without top forward LaMarcus Aldridge, benefited from tremendous growth from the likes of Travis Outlaw and Martell Webster and saw Brandon Roy skyrocket into superstardom.
Biggest disappointment: The fact Alonzo Mourning's career is likely over and that it ended how it did, with him hobbling off the court with a torn patellar tendon in Atlanta on Dec. 19, was the worst thing to happen in December. Mourning, who could've retired after winning a championship in 2006, came back for one final year of battle with his teammates following last season's disappointing finish. His freakish injury was another damaging blow in a season filled with them for Miami, which must now deal with no insurance policy for Shaquille O'Neal as it vies to fight back from an awful start in time to reach the postseason.
Player of the month: Roy won back-to-back Western Conference Player of the Week honors in leading the Blazers' rise, so he's an easy choice. His poise guiding the NBA's youngest team was his greatest asset despite eye-popping averages of 21.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 6.4 assists. Iverson, who scored 51 points against the Lakers on Dec. 5 and finished December with averages of 29.7 points and 7.1 assists, is my runner-up.
Rookie of the month: Kevin Durant ended the month unable to play in Seattle's final game due to a finger injury, but showed further proof of his promised brilliance, including tying career highs with 35 points and eight rebounds in a Dec. 7 win over Milwaukee. Yi closed the gap in the Rookie of the Year race, though, recording his first double-double in a 29-point, 10-rebound game against Charlotte on Dec. 22 in which he shot 14-for-17. For the month, the 7-footer averaged 12.1 points and 6.6 rebounds.
Coach of the month: Nate McMillan has gotten players whose average age is less than 25 and made them believe in themselves, each other and in his principles. There's a firm belief around the NBA that you can't win with young talent, but for a month McMillan proved otherwise.
Best game: The morning of Dec. 19 had a different feel around Boston, where they hadn't been able to get excited about their basketball team for far too long. The Pistons came into town for a contest that had a playoff feel to it, making for a high-quality game that you don't normally see this early in an NBA season. Detroit let a six-point lead slip through its fingers in the final minute, but won 87-85 when Chauncey Billups drew a foul on Tony Allen with one-tenth of a second remaining and calmly drained both free throws, sending Celtics fans into the cold night disappointed. If that was an Eastern Conference Finals preview, we're going to see one heck of a series.
Worst game: As good as their road win in Boston was, Detroit's 114-69 win over Milwaukee on Dec. 31 delivered the polar opposite. The game was played in the afternoon, so it wasn't like the Bucks were looking forward to their New Year's Eve festivities. The Pistons just never gave them a chance, shooting 58 percent. Said Andrew Bogut: "We didn't come in here with the confidence to win. It seems like they are the king of the mountain, and we're scared to play against them." The game was so lopsided that it also featured a rare Chauncey Billups dunk.
Five most important developments: 1. Scott Skiles was fired on Christmas Eve, relieved of his duties following a pair of lopsided losses that dropped Chicago's record to 9-16. Assistant Pete Myers coached the team for a single game before giving way to Jim Boylan, who will be tasked with guiding the team the rest of the season. The Bulls won two of their first three under his watch, playing at a faster tempo.
2. Jason Kidd missed a game with a migraine, fueling speculation that he was staging a planned protest to share his displeasure with the lack of passion his Nets teammates were displaying and ultimately force a trade. He denied it, got past the backlash and entered the new year playing his best basketball of the season in leading a team that now looks rejuvenated.
3. Ed Stefanski resigned his post as general manager of New Jersey to take over as president and GM in Philadelphia. Running the Sixers is a dream job, considering he grew up rooting for the team and he's wasted no time starting the rebuilding process, trading Kyle Korver to Utah for Gordan Giricek and a first-rounder that gives Philly two solid assets, increased cap room and a pick.
4. Andrew Bynum scored 28 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in a Christmas win over Phoenix, giving Lakers fans hope that he's further along in his development than Kobe Bryant gave him credit for. With the Kobe trade rumors having died down, Bynum making the type of strides he displayed in a nationally televised win over the Suns seems like the only way L.A. will be able to compete for a championship and keep Bryant happy -- and in town. Bynum averaged 13.9 points, 9.1 rebounds and 2.7 blocks in December, piling up six double-doubles.
5. The Celtics ended December with a 26-3 mark and still feel like they have something to prove since they lost to the Pistons. Saturday's game in Auburn Hills is one you can't miss.
Most likely to hit a January slump: The Sixers are committed to their youth movement, which is a step in the right direction. There's no point in them getting mired in mediocrity by competing for a playoff spot when they have no business anywhere near the postseason. Although they've won two of their first three on a grueling Western swing, don't expect much success in the back leg of the trip, which features stops in Utah, L.A. and Denver. Road games in Toronto, San Antonio, Houston and Boston are also on tap among their first 10 outings of the new year, which should help knock Philadelphia back down to earth.
Most likely to hit a January surge: Utah closed December with excellent performances against two of the NBA's hottest teams, nearly beating the Celtics and putting an end to Portland's fun. With Mehmet Okur healthy again and Korver strengthening the bench, look for the Jazz to make a strong run. It helps that they'll play six of their first eight games of the month at home, so expect them to get 2008 started right.
