SDH's 2014/2015 NBA End of Season Worst to First Countdown: 27. Los Angeles Lakers

2014/2015 Projection: 44-38, third place Pacific Division, ninth place Western Conference Actual Finish: 21-61, fifth place Pacific Division, fourteenth place Western Conference	Projected 2014/2015 Finish 17	Actual 2014/2015 Finish 27
Team Statistics and League Rank Points Scored: 98.5 (19th) Points Allowed: 105.3 (29th) Team FG%: .435 (25th) Opponent’s FG%: .466 (29th) Team FT%: .741 (23rd) Team Three Point FG%: .344 (17th) Rebounds per game: 43.9 (12th) Opponents rebounds per game: 44.2(22nd) Turnovers per game: 12.6 (6th) Opponents turnovers per game: 12.4 (25th)	Individual Statistical Leaders Scoring (ppg): Kobe Bryant (22.3) Rebounds per game:  Jordan Hill (7.9) Minutes per game: Kobe Bryant (34.5) Assists per game:  Kobe Bryant (5.6) Field Goal Percentage: Ed Davis (.601) Free Throw Percentage: Nick Young (.890) Three Point FG Percentage: Wayne Ellington (.370) Steals per game: Ronnie Price (1.6) Blocked Shots per game:  Ed Davis (1.2)
SDH’s Hero to Honor: +Jeremy Lin  If there was ever someone who deserved to receive a medal for courage under fire it has to be this guy, because throughout the Lakers' abysmal season, Jeremy Lin had been unfairly put under the microscope by not only the media, but fans as well.  After such a meteoric rise three years ago which made him a international phenomenon, Lin crashed back to Earth hard as he failed time and time again to bring back the "Linsanity;" nevertheless, he continued to push on despite being discarded by the +Houston Rockets and being the constant whipping boy of not just the media and fans, but also his teammate, +Kobe Bryant.  Through it all he remained poised, kept his composure and did not let the negativity rattle him as he did his best to do what he can to contribute in order to keep that sinking ship of a team afloat.  What is even more ominous for him is the fact that with  his contract has expired, all the unfair critiques and negative press will adversely affect his future chances to not only return with the Lakers, but also every other NBA team for that matter.  There is no doubt that "Linsanity" was over before it even started, but strip away all the hype and press fall out, there is still a viable NBA player who can contribute to any team if given the chance to prove himself--hopefully, he will still have one.	SDH’s Face to Forget: +Kobe Bryant  Yeah sure, he finished this season as third all time NBA leader in scoring knocking down his revered idol +Michael Jordan off his pedestal, but that was the only bright spot for a player that looked way over the hill and did more to hurt his team than actually help it.  Kobe Bryant was a complete mess on both ends of the floor--despite him leading the team in scoring, he did so while shooting an abysmal .373 from the field and let us not forget about his presence and effort on the defensive end; however, it was not his poor performance on the court, but his poisonous presence off the court which has placed him in infamy.  Instead of being the teacher and mentor many hoped he would be encouraging his teammates and providing a comforting presence in the team's most desperate hour, he was actually the source of all the negativity and simply made an already bad situation worse.  In the locker room and on the practice floor, he would constantly berate and belittle his teammates while providing little or nothing else and head coach Byron Scott simply allowed him to continue with his declining play and his poisonous attitude until Bryant finally decided to shut it down after playing just 35 games.  Perhaps it is time for both the Lakers and Kobe to finally part ways, finally buy him out using that league mandated four year stretch provision as a going away present, because it has become strikingly apparent that staying another season will simply cause more harm than good.
The 2014 NBA Season must have been the most traumatic in recent memory not only to +Los Angeles Lakers fans, but also to the sporting world in general as they all say this once great titan not only fall from grace but crash and burst into flames leaving many feeling violated and emotionally damaged.  First the team lost +Dwight Howard as a free agent after virtually selling its soul in the off season, then had to endure +Kobe Bryant missing that entire season, and finally had to trudge through the season beaten and worn down to finish with a franchise low 27 wins; however like true champions, the team would not take this sitting down.  That's why team General Manager Mitch Kupchak went about overhauling the team replacing the tired and worn down +Pau Gasol, who left for the +Chicago Bulls, and picked up +Carlos Boozer, a player who the Bulls waived in order to get Gasol and also acquired some much needed fresh blood picking up +Jeremy Lin in a trade with the +Houston Rockets that also netted them another first round pick and an underrated yet effective Ed Davis for a rather minimal cost.  Add the re-signing of fan favorite Nick Young, as well as the return of the Black Mamba himself, the Lakers looked to bounce back from that abysmal season and although they may not make the post season, at least they could not do any worse that they did last year.  The probability of such a storied sports brand with such a rich history, let alone any other team. finishing worse than 27 wins that the team scrounged up last year would be slim at best as there was nowhere else to go but up . . . or so everyone thought. Fast forward to this season and what was once seen as a statistical improbability became a sick and tragic reality as the predictable Lakers comeback to the NBA spotlight had not only once again fallen short, but actually managed to dip even lower with one of the most recognizable sport brands in the world winning six games less than they did the previous season.  What many considered as the team's rock bottom point actually became the precursor of an even more devastating collapse as fans of the Purple and Gold watched in horror as their team went from being extremely bad to even worse than they have even seen their once proud team before.  The supposed moves that were supposed to uplift the team simply fell apart as Boozer proved his former team right for casting him aside as the three time All Star would have quite possibly the worst season in his career while ironically, the guy who they replaced him for ended up having his career revived in the Windy City.  Jeremy Lin proved once again that "Linsanity" was finally dead and was never going to be resuscitated while Nick Young, after having such a heroic performance in 2014 that made him not only a fan favorite, but a leader on the team, completely vanished over the course of the season.  The final blow came with Kobe Bryant, who after signing a two year extension paying him up to 50$ million, arrived onto the court a shell of his former greatness, became more a hindrance than  a help both on and off the court, and exited early unceremoniously due to injury leaving every one who had idolized him at one one time or another with a bad taste in their mouths. In a season where no one thought it could get any lower that it already was, the LA Lakers managed to surpass even the worst projections and expectation turning a once proud franchise that can be considered as a model for all professional sports teams to following into an absolute disgrace and laughing stock.  As that was not shameful enough, the Lakers were forced to watch their onetime doormat of a rival, the +Los Angeles Clippers, take away their title as Kings of Los Angeles with their horrid looking red, white and blue uniforms, and used the team that had oppressed and had stood in their shadow for so long them for so long not only to wipe their feet, but also their backsides at the same time.  Even the lowly +Sacramento Kings, a team that has spent so much time wallowing at the bottom of the Pacific Division standings for the past few years, managed to use the Lakers as a stepping stone from out of the bottom leaving a team who no one thought could ever suffer such indignity to wallow in the same pit of despair that they had so long avoided.  Just a couple years before, fans and the media would have considered finishing with a low playoff seeding in the west and an early first round exit as the lowest that the Lakers could ever fall, but sadly this fall from grace is only the beginning for this once proud franchise that was so impervious to damage that it could have been considered as infallible.  Not even the prospect of having a the potential of acquiring the number one overall pick in this summer's upcoming draft or having the most cap space and money to woo free agents in the off season can offset the earth shattering impact from the Lakers' fall from grace nor will they be able to regain their once prominent role among the NBA's elite anytime soon, either.        The whole landscape of the Western Conference has completely flipped over placing teams that were once on the top of the mountain crushed under mounds of dirt and rock while teams who barely received any daylight and such as the Clippers and the +Golden State Warriors have emerged in the fore front with the spotlight now shining on them.  The Lakers will have to dig their way out form under miles of rubble and debris and in a conference where it took 45 wins to get the eighth and final playoff berth in the West, do not expect them to break through and see daylight anytime soon because already, there are five or six teams that have placed themselves firmly in the Western Conference playoff landscape and they do not look to be moving away from their spots anytime soon.   The Western Conference resembles a relatively inert caste system where power rest in very few hands--in this case, the six or seven team that have at least 50 wins to make the playoffs--and the rest who are simply fighting for the scraps that have been left over; ironically, however, it was the Lakers themselves whom created and profited greatly from this system over the past few decades, and now the time has come for some poetic justice after having so many opponents crushed under their feet for so long.  Sadly, for now, all that they have left to stay somewhat relevant in the league and in the minds of sports fans is their illustrious history and lasting legacy they have imprinted on the sports world; however, if they rely on that, they run the chance of falling into the same trap as their former longtime rival +Boston Celtics have sadly slipped into--with both the organization and fans being stuck so far in the past that they never move forward. It took centuries for the World's Greatest Empires such as Rome, Greece, the Great Chinese Dynasties, and the Ottomans to come crashing down and just like them, the Lakers lie in the rubble now wiped away by the annals of history probably never to be seen again; however, unlike those past empire that grew too big and ending up crashing upon their own weight, the Lakers have a chance to rebuild themselves and hopefully return to the greatness and acclaim that they once relished.  Unfortunately, looking at the league now, especially almost impregnable Western Conference, it will take a very long time, perhaps even a decade for the Lakers to return to its once opulent position it once enjoyed, and it will take a lot of patience on the part of their fans, as well as plenty of trial and error on the part of the team's front office and coaching staff for that team to even have a chance to do so.   Once thing for certain, it will not happen under the tenure of current coach Byron Scott, who proved to be absolutely awful, but may stay longer than he should because of the organization's unwillingness to let go of the past and accept the fact that the time for their team has long passed.  Another dead weight that also keeps the Lakers tethered to the past and unable to remake themselves is that 25$ million dollar dinosaur that refuses to let go of the reins and the reality that he is no longer among the league's elite players anymore.  Until they can shed all that baggage, it will just be one bad season after the other with fans clutching to the past because they no longer have anything to hope for in the future.

SDH Presents the NBA's Worst to First for November: 27. Milwaukee Bucks

+Milwaukee Bucks  Overall Win/Loss Record (as of November 30th): 2-13, fifth place Central Division	Projected 2013/2014 Finish 27	This Month: 27
Team Statistics and League Rank Points Scored: 89.8 (28th) Points Allowed: 100.2 (20th) Team FG%: .416 (29th) Opponent’s FG%: .473 (26th) Team FT%: .789 (5th) Team Three Point FG%: .380 (10th) Rebounds per game: 39.0 (29th) Opponents rebounds per game: 45.8 (28th) Turnovers per game: 17.0 (23rd) Opponents turnovers per game: 16.0 (11th)	Individual Statistical Leaders Scoring (ppg): OJ Mayo (14.8) Rebounds per game:  Zaza Pachuila (7.8) Minutes per game: OJ Mayo (31.0) Assists per game:  Nate Wolters (4.8) Field Goal Percentage: John Henson (.548) Free Throw Percentage:  Zaza Pachuila (.940) Three Point FG Percentage: Gary Neal (.471) Steals per game: Ersan Ilyasova (1.8) Blocked Shots per game: John Henson (1.9)
SDH’s Worst of the Month: Larry Sanders Here is a story that is often too typical in the NBA: a young player has a career year after being all but invisible for most of it, gets a fat extension by his team as a reward for his performance--and how does he repay that confidence?  He comes into the season completely out of shape, playing extremely crappy and injures his hand after just three games in all situations, a bar fight.  That's the story of Larry Sanders--a player whom after having a moderately respectable 10 point, 10 rebound and three blocked shot per game last season saw his numbers take a nose dive the following year.  As if it were not bad enough that this came after the Bucks signing him to a four year 44$ million contract extension, he ends up causing the team even more humiliation by getting himself caught up in a fight which later results him in missing all of November due to a broken hand.  Hopefully this is just a small hiccup of what could potentially be a long and fruitful career, but knowing the Bucks' luck, Sanders may just end up on their long list of regretful moves thuis past offseason.	SDH’s First of the Month: John Henson After having what some may say a rather nondescript rookie campaign, John Henson has exploded in his sophomore season coming off the bench to post nearly 11 points, 7 rebounds, and a little over 2 blocked shots per game in just over 25 minutes.  Henson also lead the Bucks in field goal percentage as he has connected on nearly .550 of his shot attempts and it comes in very handy since Milwaukee ranks currently in the bottom in the league in both scoring and field goal accuracy.  What is most shocking is that despite his blossoming into a fine offensive player in his second season, Henson is still upstaged by less than adequete veterans who play ahead of him.  Hopefully, coach Larry Drew will wake up and give this young up and coming pivot the minutes he deserves as Henson should be considered as the sole bright spot on what has been a rather awful looking Milwaukee bucks team.
When writing about this team, a great wave of sadness and pity course through my fingers when I touch the keys of my keyboard because here is a team that no matter how much it tries, will never be anything more than mediocre with nothing more to look forward to other than at best being able to slip into the last playoff spot only to be quickly booted out.  Last season, the Milwaukee Bucks reached their peak as a franchise winning just 37 wins, just enough to grab the final slot in the Eastern Conference playoffs only to be quickly cast aside in the first round by the +Miami HEAT as they got swept in four games.  Once the season came to a close, it was time once again for Milwaukee to start back from scratch all over again as three of the teams key players quickly bid farewell and left without even looking back: both +Monta Ellis and +JJ Reddick chose to take their chances with free agency rather sign choose to re-sign with the team and +Brandon Jennings bolted via sign and trade with the +Detroit Pistons where the Bucks received pennies to the dollar in return.   All that was left from last season's Bucks team were a haphazard roster that could not even win in the +NBA Dleague whose best player was an overpaid power forward with no real post skills and whose only offensive weapon was a moderately accurate three point shot. It did not help that despite having oodles of salary cap space, the Buck could not even throw their money away to get even a moderately decent free agents since Milwaukee can be considered as possibly the least desirable destination in professional sports to play in.  The Bucks as always, were forced to settle for left over scraps and grossly overpay players who would otherwise not even be worth the league's veteran's minimum salary such as over the hill players in Zaza Pachulia (5.2$ million), and Carlos Delfino  ($3.1 million).  The best the Bucks were capable of acquring from the free agent market was OJ Mayo, who had come of his best season playing for the +Dallas Mavericks after having three less than stellar years with the +Memphis Grizzlies and Gary Neal, who despite playing a key role in the +San Antonio Spurs' run to the NBA Finals, had garnered little if any interest in the off season. In fact the Bucks front office felt so desperate that they were really, willing and able to offer Larry Sanders--a player that would be considered sub par at best--to a max contract extension even though on the open market, he probably would not be even worth half that amount.  One look at the entire team and one can see a roster consisting of the "who's who of who cares" as it is constructed with nothing more than useless spare parts of over the hill players and rejected castaways so it is understandable to see how this team can be so terrible at so many things. Statistically, the Bucks can be categorized as the worst team in the NBA period, as they not only boast one of the worst records in the league, but they rank at the bottom of almost every statistical category.  Offensively they are the third worst scoring team, second worst in field goal percentage and are one of the bottom ten in the league at turning the ball over to their opponents with the team's only saving graces being that the rank among the top ten in the league in free throw and three point field goal percentage. Unfortunately, the Bucks cannot take advantage of their strengths as they are barely capable of hanging onto the ball when they have possession as they rank 23rd in the league in field goal attempts as well as in three point field goal attempts, and are third worst in the league at getting to the free throw line.  On the defensive end, Milwaukee has been routinely manhandled thus far as they have lost by an average margin of 12 points, while at the same time allow their opponents to abuse them on the boards for a 46 to 39 rebounding differential and scorch them on the floor shooting nearly .500 percent accuracy.  It would be so easy to blast such a team for its rather pathetic play, but to do so would be rather cruel and callous to say the lease like beating up on the handicap and elderly--there is simply no good that can come from that. At least there is some good news coming from Milwaukee in that their first round pick +Giannis Antetokounmpo has shown flashes of star potential despite seeing rather limited playing time averaging about six points and four rebounds in just 16 minutes over 16 minutes per game.  What is even more impressive with thus 19 year Greek swing man is not just his skills and athleticism, but also his feel and knowledge of the game as can be seen in his extremely high efficient numbers shooting .500 from the field and .462 from beyond the arc.  Although at this moment, his production does not yell out "Rookie of the Year," Giannis does give folks in Milwaukee some slight glimmer of what's to come in the future as Antetokoumpo, whose name is just as fun to pronounce as his game is just as fun to watch, may become the big star that Bucks fans have been searching for such a long time. Unfortunately with his talent and skill, there is the sad reality that even Antetokoumpo, with his ridiculously long name, will be headed to greener pastures once his rookie contract ends leaving the Bucks with nothing once again.  Even if the team tanks the season and manage to win the first overall pick in next year's draft, all the excitement and fanfare will be short lived as that player will most probably be gone by the it is time to negotiate for a long term extension as Milwaukee holds the dishonorable distinction as being the sweaty and stinking armpit of the league.   Now thankfully, this piece has mercifully come to an end and I can now go and simply bawl in ties after having to write about such a sad and downtrodden team such as the Milwaukee Bucks. Give the team credit however, that despite its rather depressing outlook, it still has a loyal and passionate fan base that supports it win or lose, but as everything that has to do with the Bucks, all the love and cheers in the world are all in vain when there is no hope to be had. Watching the Bucks play is like watching a sick or lame animal and the only way to end its suffering is a shotgun bullet to the head to put it out of its misery.  Much of the Bucks problems have to do with a hard headed owner who plans to keep the team in Milwaukee until the team slips out of his cold dead fingers thus making it impossible to attract new investors, or even talent to help the team win.  So until that glorious day when the Bucks will be finally free to escape that beer soaked frozen wasteland, the team will continue to endure the voyage on the long road to nowhere with the odd playoff appearance or two as its sole reward.  Now with this piece finally over, I can calmly walk into my bathroom and have a long awaited cry after having to write this rather depressing review.

SDH's 2013/2014 NBA Worst to First Previews and Predictions: 27. Milwaukee Bucks

+Milwaukee Bucks Overall Win/Loss Record :  38-44,  third place Central Division	Last Season’s Rank 16	Projected 2013/2014 Finish 27
Last season’s Team Statistics and League Rank Points Scored: 98.9 (12th) Points Allowed: 100.4 (20th) Team FG%: .435 (28th) Opponent’s FG%: .454 (15th) Team FT%: .736 (22nd) Team Three Point FG%: .360 (14th) Rebounds per game: 44.0 (5th) Opponents rebounds per game: 46.0 (30th) Turnovers per game: 13.6 (19th) Opponents turnovers per game: 15.3 (3rd)	Returning Individual Statistical Leaders Scoring (ppg): Ersan Ilyasova (13.2) Rebounds per game:  Larry Sanders (9.5) Minutes per game: Ersan Ilyasova (27.6) Assists per game: Ersan Ilyasova (1.6) Field Goal Percentage: Larry Sanders (.576) Free Throw Percentage: Ersan Ilyasova (.800) Three Point FG Percentage: Ersan Ilyasova (.444) Steals per game: Ersan Ilyasova (0.9) Blocked Shots per game:  Larry Sanders (2.8)
Projected Starters Based on Talent, Tenure, and Potential Impact: C. Larry Sanders PF. Ersan Ilyasova SF. Caron Butler SG. OJ Mayo PG. Brandon Knight	Second Unit Roster Order Ranked on Talent, Tenure, and Potential Impact: G. Gary Neal G. Luke Ridnour G/F. Carlos Delfino C. Zaza Pachulia F/C. Ekpe Udoh
Analysis: Some teams are just simply doomed for mediocrity and that simply is the case for the Milwaukee Bucks, who after a less than stellar finish of grabbing the last playoff spot in the East only to get quickly swept in the first round, have to start all over from scratch one again.  Gone are the team's two best players from last season, +Monta Ellis and Brandon Jennings, who led the team in not only scoring, but assists, minutes and shot attempts per game as they have both left for greener pastures.  Ellis was so desperate to leave Milwaukee chose to leave 10$ million on the table and not pick up his player option for a final year deciding instead to test the market as an unrestricted free agent.  He was then quickly picked up by an equally struggling team that possibly will not make the playoffs anytime soon in the +Dallas Mavericks, but even he thought that being on a sinking ship such as the Mavericks was better than being in Milwaukee.  At the same time the Bucks parted ways with their starting point guard of the past five years in Jennings, who had basically worn out his welcome, sending him to the +Detroit Pistons in a sign and trade deal.  Now the best returning player from last season's playoff team is a 6'10" perimeter shooting power forward who has no post game to speak of while the rest of the returning players wouldn't not even make a D-League roster, let alone an +NBA club.  New head coach Larry Drew will certainly have his work cut out for him as he will be working with a team that has far less talent than the previous team he coached, the +Atlanta Hawks and that was a roster which was nothing to write home about, either.  The Bucks have virtually no real reliable players that can create their own offense or be counted on to score the basketball on a consistent basis as most of the players are either inept in doing son or sadly way past their prime to really be a true factor.  The roster is virtually made up of the who's who of who cares showing the sheer inability for the Bucks' front office to attract any real players of consequence in the free agent market. The best the Bucks were able to do in the off season was acquire shooting guard +OJ Mayo --a player who many had high expectations for being picked third overall in the 2008 NBA Draft, but never lived up to them.  After posting impressive numbers in his first two years in the +Memphis Grizzlies, Mayo soon fell out of favor with the team spending the rest of his tenure in Memphis coming off the bench.  Finally after a lackluster 2012 season where he posted just 12.6 points per off of .408, Memphis decided to finally move on and give up on their investment letting him go as an unrestricted free agent; however that may have been the best thing to happen to him.  Last season, Mayo opened some eyes and alleviated much doubt concerning his game after having a strong comeback season with the Dallas Mavericks as he posted his best number since his second year averaging 15.3 points, 4.4 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 1.1 steal.  Nonetheless, Mayo at best can be considered a third or fourth tier caliber player and probably would have been had for much less than the money that Milwaukee had to throw to even entice him to come over. As for the rest of the roster's new addition, they consist of a sad group of has-beens and never-weres whose time has already passed or never had a really opportunity to shine. At 33 years old Caron Butler, a former two time All Star who was acquired in a trade with the +Los Angeles Clippers, has all but reached his peak as a player and after posting rather pedestrian numbers last season, will probably not contribute much to the Milwaukee effort. #1 year old Carlos Delfino is not a player to write home about either as he has been at best a marginal player in his entire career averaging a shade over 10 per game while shooting a mediocre .405 from the field.  Lets not forget table scrap bargain basement free agents such as Gary Neal and Luke Ridnour who round out the roster along with a ridiculously highly paid Zaza Pachulia who's getting 5.2$ million for the season.  Add them altogether with the current sad sack of holdovers, one can certainly see that this will be a very long season for these Milwaukee Bucks, and the worst thing is that it will probably never get any better. It's not as if the city Milwaukee is a dream destination for any traveler, let alone professional athletes whom are free agents so they can't really utilize their salary cap space because no one will take their money.  The only way they can acquire any REAL talent is through a trade, and as it has been shown, those players will most likely fly the coop the first chance that they get.  Tanking to get the top pick in the draft is also a waste because by the end of that person's rookie contract is over, he will probably be a good as gone as well forcing the Bucks to yet again do another sign and trade deal the same way they did with Jennings.  All the Bucks front office can do is the best with what little they have and hope that they get lucky enough that the team will have a strong finish or manage to scrape by enough to make the playoffs.  Other than that, the team will just continue spinning its tires going nowhere fast and continue to remain as the virtual armpit of the NBA.

SDH Present the 2013 End of Season NBA's Worst to First: 27. New Orleans "Pelicans"?

New Orleans “Pelicans?” Overall Win/Loss Record (At Season’s End):  27-55,  fifth place Southwest Division	Preseason Prediction: 26	At Season’s End: 27
Team Statistics and League Rank (At Season’s End) Points Scored: 94.1 (25th) Points Allowed: 97.9 (14th) Team FG%: .448 (15th) Opponent’s FG%: .471 (26th) Team FT%: .776 (8th) Team Three Point FG%: .363 (11th) Rebounds per game: 41.6 (17th) Opponents rebounds per game: 39.3 (39.3) Turnovers per game: 13.7 (11th) Opponents turnovers per game: 12.7 (27th)	Individual Statistical Leaders (At Season’s End) Scoring (ppg): Eric Gordon (17.0) Rebounds per game:  Anthony Davis (8.2) Minutes per game: Greivis Vasquez (34.0) Assists per game:  Greivis Vasquez (9.0) Field Goal Percentage: Robin Lopez (.543) Free Throw Percentage:   Brian Roberts (.910) Three Point FG Percentage: Roger Mason Jr (.415) Steals per game: Al-Farouq Aminu (1.2) Blocked Shots per game:  Anthony Davis (1.8)
Taking a Look back at the Season that Once Was . . . SDH Worst to First Recap Time Period Wins/Losses Rank Change (+/-) By November 30th 4-10 26 none By December 31st 3-13 27 -1 By February 28th 13-16 25 +2 At Season’s End 7-16 27 -2	SDH Player of the Year Greivis Vasquez In what can be considered as a rather flat and disappointing and flat season, Greivis Vasquez was the sole bright spot on a team that failed miserably to reignite interest despite winning the number one overall pick in the NBA draft.  Vasquez was often over shadowed by his higher profile teammates, but his contributions dwarfed all of them.  He finished the regular season third in the league in assists per game behind such notable players as the Clippers' Chris Paul who was at second place and the the Celtics' Rajon Rondo who reigned supreme in that category.  And despite the team's poor showing, Vasquez kept the ball on his team's side off the court most of the time thanks to his three to one assists to turnover ratio which was ninth in the league behind such notables as San Antonio's Tony Parker (7th), New York's Jason Kidd (3rd) and LA's Chris Paul (1st).  Add that along with his capabilities he also stands taller than most point guards at 6'6",  Greivis Vasquez is a hidden gem and a coach's dream come true and if he were on any other team, he would have be given All Star recognition.
Analysis: It was supposed to a be a season of revitalization and renewed hope for the Hornets who have struggled to gain a foothold in the league since moving to New Orleans.  After a 2012 season that saw them win just 17 games, the Hornets set out to reinvent themselves which began when they won the number one overall pick of the 2012 NBA Draft.  They picked a player that was destined for greatness--a big man who at 6'11", could handle and pass like a point guard, shoot anywhere from the perimeter, while at the same time could post up, score in the paint, crash the boards and swat shots as good as any big man.  Heading into his senior season in high school, Anthony Davis was 6'4" point guard headed to little known Cleveland State once he graduated; however, out of the blue, he grew seven inches turning him not only into a freak of nature, but also into the most touted high school prospect.  He then ditched the idea of going to Cleveland State as he was swiftly recruited by University of Kentucky's John Calapari and not only win the NCAA Championship in his freshman season, but also became the projected top overall pick in the NBA Draft. Anthony Davis was a virtual godsend for the New Orleans Hornets--a team that had hit rock bottom after being forced to trade away their star player of six years, Chris Paul.  He would be the chosen savior to pull the Hornets out of the wreckage of the past and lead the team a bright and prosperous future.  To compliment their new found hero, the Hornets went on to gather together an exceptional supporting cast that included last season's Most Improved Player of the year Ryan Anderson along with       last year big free agent pickup in Eric Gordon, who returned healthy after spending most of the previous season in street clothes because of injury.  They also added another young big man who showed signs of potential, but never really able to find a niche on his old team in Robin Lopez, otherwise known as the less successful twin of Brook Lopez.  Altogether with their second year coach Monty Williams, who gained plenty of respect in the league for making the Hornets one of the toughest defensive teams in the league despite winning just 17 games, New Orleans looked to really make some noise in the upcoming regular season as it began its journey of resurrection and ascension into the NBA spotlight. Unfortunately that did not happen as the much hyped and eagerly anticipated regular season turned out to fall flat as the Hornets failed to capture that magic in a bottle that had them and their fans beaming with joy and pride during the off season.  Their season started without their two cornerstones, Eric Gordon and Anthony Davis, as they would be sidelined with injuries from the opening tip off.  Davis would miss twenty games while Gordon, who had missed all but eleven games due to injury the previous season, would miss almost half the season.  To make matters worse, once they made their debuts neither Gordon or Davis lived up to their billing to say the least. Gordon would struggle with his shooting stroke while Anthony Davis failed to live up to his billing as the best player in the NBA Draft--that title was given to Portland's Damian Lillard who would have the most dominant season among this rookie class and earn the Rookie of the Year award as well. With both of their star players not living up to the lofty expectations put upon them by fans and the media, New Orleans failed miserably in what was supposed to be a season of renewal and revitalization.  Despite winning the number one overall pick in the NBA Draft, they still remained hidden in the background as both their touted number one pick and their revamped team failed to deliver the team out of the shadows and into the spotlight.  In fact, one can go as far to say that New Orleans' performance this season, despite having a far more improved roster, did not perform nearly as well as the team that basically over achieved the prior season.  Although they increased their win total by ten games, the Hornets did not play with the same defensive intensity which made them quite the intimidating team to face in spite of their poor record.  What was once the biggest selling point for this struggling, much maligned and often ignored team all but disintegrated as the Hornets went from being one of the best defensive teams in the season in 2012, to becoming one of the league's worst in 2013. As it was not bad enough that New Orleans failed to capitalize on the most media attention and scrutiny the team has ever had since relocating to the Bayou, the team finished their season by re-introducing itself with a fresh new logo and name.  Unfortunately neither were very fresh as the team changed the name from the Hornets, a name that in all fairness never really identified the with the people or city of New Orleans, to possibly the worst name for a professional sports franchise ever--the Pelicans.  Of all the most ill-conceived brand name changes, this probably has to be the worst in recent memory as they have essentially identified not only the franchise and its home city to one of the most uninspiring, unimaginative and dare I say unflattering figure ever.  Pelicans are essentially "pigeons of the sea" with no real redeeming qualities other than being a small step ahead of seagulls in terms of being the most disliked creatures in the animal kingdom.  By choosing such an inconceivably terrible name to reform the franchise that was already considered a laughing stock makes a terrible situation even worse as it stripped the team of any real legitimacy whatsoever thus removing any chance for it to ever ascend to any spec near to respectability.

SDH Presents the NBA's Worst to First for January and and February: 27. Phoenix Suns

Phoenix Suns Overall Win/Loss Record (as of February 28th) :  18-38 (third place, Southeast Division)	Last Month: 25	This Month: 27
Team Statistics and League Rank (as of February 28th) Points Scored: 94.6 (22nd) Points Allowed: 99.9 (22nd) Team FG%: .442 (18th) Opponent’s FG%: .466 (26th) Team FT%: .745 (19th) Team Three Point FG%: .325 (29th) Rebounds per game: 41.6 (18th) Opponents rebounds per game: 43.4 (23rd) Turnovers per game: 14.9 (19th) Opponents turnovers per game: 14.9 (15th)	Individual Statistical Leaders (as of February 28th) Scoring (ppg): Goran Dragic (14.1) Rebounds per game:  Marcin Gortat (8.6) Minutes per game: Goran Dragic (33.0) Assists per game: Goran Dragic (6.9) Field Goal Percentage: Marcin Gortat (.523) Free Throw Percentage: Goran Dragic (.740) Three Point FG Percentage: Jared Dudley (.385) Steals per game: Goran Dragic (1.5) Blocked Shots per game: Marcin Gortat (1.7)
Worst Player of the Month: Marcin Gortat In a matter of a couple of months, Marcin Gortat went from being the future face of the Suns franchise and one of the up and coming big men in the NBA to becoming a almost non factor.  His scoring numbers have dropped significantly from a career 15.5 points per game to a mere 11.1 while his shot attempts have also seen a dip from 11.7 last season to 9.3.  Much of this has to do with the absence of Steve Nash, who regularly targeted Gortat for assists on the break whereas now there is little or no ball movement and greater focus on one on one play.  His diminished role has certainly irked him as Gortat has occasionally voiced his frustrations of his team's inability to get him the ball which has made many question whether he should or should not stay in Phoenix.  The blame does not rest solely on Gortat's back, however as his struggles are a byproduct of the Suns inability to gel as a unit along with poor coaching as well.	First Player of the Month:  Jermaine O' Neal For the third straight month, Jermaine O' Neal has been named as the First Player of the Month for the primary reason being that there is no one else on that roster that is worth mentioning.  Unlike his teammates who have basically thrown in the towel, JO, despite his history of injuries and diminished production, has stepped up his game and continues to consistently contribute off the bench.  January was a rather rough month for O'Neal as he struggled offensively scroring just 3.6 per game while shooting under .300 from the field; however, that all change the following month as he would post his best numbers for the season thus far.  In February, JO simply exploded as he come off the bench scoring 11.4 per game while shooting an astonishing .571 from the field.  With all of Phoenix's troubles, O' Neal 's story has to be the best story for the team thus far as it  is one of redemption and resurrection.
Analysis: With the regular season coming at an end soon, the players, coaching staff, front office and fans of the Phoenix Suns will be glad to finish this sad chapter in the franchise's history. The season started off so bright with plenty of promise as the Suns said goodbye to the old and welcomed new faces that was supposed to usher in a new era in Phoenix basketball.  Unfortunately, this season has been anything but promising as this Suns team, the shining star it was supposed to be, simply collapsed on itself turning into a black hole sucking in everything to it's dark void.  A team that once had the reputation of being of the most exciting and pleasant offenses to watch degenerated into a bunch of blind and clueless athletes searching to find their way.  Like an invalid patient that is on his death bed , the Suns along with their fans simply want this season to be over with so they can all finally rest in peace. The blame can be spread all around for this sham of a season from the poor coaching to the selfishness and serious lack of effort from their players; however, what really doomed the Suns was not so much the coaching and players, but the sad lack of vision and consistency of the message the team wanted to convey both internally and externally.  In the offseason, the Suns made significant moves to their roster by adding two young talented players in Michael Beasley and Wesley Johnson who had problems assimilating to the previous teams, but still had the potential to improve given the right circumstance.  They were expected to take major roles in the new order and be key players for the Suns for years to come; however, that unfortunately did not happen.  Upon arrival, both Beasley and Johnson were effectually set up to fail as Beasley was placed out of his natural power forward position while Johnson was simply shelved, not given a single opportunity to play from the start.  Instead of pushing the new youth movement they were promoted, the Suns put themselves in neutral with resulted in plenty of confusion and frustration for both the players and fans. There was literally no sign of any leadership or direction as this Suns team played throughout course of the season deaf, blind and dumb (as in stupid!) and just simply spun out of control headed down a spiral to oblivion.  Players were either unsure or insecure in their roles which led many to hog the ball, force bad shots which led to turnovers, poorly executed plays and with often embarrassing results.  Their clueless futility on the offensive end also seeped into the defensive end as the Suns were routinely schooled and scorched by their opponents.  Head coach Alvin Gentry, who has been highly regarded as one of the NBA's best young coaches, looked like a complete imbecile incapable of managing the talent on his roster which led many to question whether he deserved such high esteem in the first place. Gentry has since resigned and the Suns are now under the watchful eye of Lindsey Hunter, who will probably not remain as head coach once the season comes to a merciful close. 2013 did not start very well for the Suns as the they would start the month of January losing seven of ten and finished the month with a woeful 5-9 record.  The futility continued into February as the Suns  won two of ten games, but managed to finish this dismal period on a lighter note winning their two last games against the Minnesota Timberwolves (2/26/2013) and a shocking upset win over the San Antonio Spurs (2/27/2013)--both in overtime.  Now with just 23 games left in the regular season, all the Suns need to do is just endure the last thirty or so day until they are finally free of this accursed season once and for all.  Shortly they will be able to regroup as they will have the NBA lottery, the following draft and a busy free agent signing period to look forward to as they will have a chance to grab the number one overall pick along with plenty of cap space to entice prospective free agents.  With all that is coming up, it is little or no wonder why both the Suns and their fans would want this debacle of a season to finally end so they can move on to the future. With such an extensive history of being a first class organization, expect this season to be a relatively small bump in the road as this season is nothing more than an anomaly on an otherwise pristine and reputable organization.  Phoenix fans need not worry about having long dragged out rebuilding period as the Suns front office have the reputation of quickly picking the team up immediately after  a sudden fall from grace.  Although this team has never won an NBA championship, the Suns have always maintained the status of being a first class organization committed to winning each and every season continuing to strive to grab the championship trophy that has eluded them for so many years.  They will most certainly be changes, especially in the roster as the team is chalk full of expiring and tradeable contracts, along with the coaching staff as Phoenix does not have the most patient of fan bases.  One thing is for certain--a season like this one will certainly not happen again for the second straight year for the Phoenix Suns as they remain as one of the proudest franchises in NBA History.