What We Learned From an NBA Christmas

(who says the big fundamental doesn't show emotion)

• You don't need to watch full NBA games.  Now, folks like Jordan will automatically reply that the only part of a basketball game, particularly a pro game, that you need to watch is the last three or four minutes.  I do agree with that, however, I think, in some cases, only the first few minutes are necessary.
• Dwight Howard isn't a great player yet.  Watch the man play, you'll see what I mean.  He can rack up all the great numbers he wants (and, in some areas, like rebounding on both halves, he is great), but he needs to develop a move down low.  Something, anything he can go to on a consistent basis.  With Tyson Chandler in trouble, there's no reason he should go 4-15 from the floor.
• The Hornets second most important player on their team is Tyson Chandler.  David West is a very good player, he's got that mid-range jumper down pat.  But, he doesn't affect things as much as Chandler does.  On D, he's the only rebounder and down low defender the Hornets have.  On offense, he might not be scoring a ton, but he can set a screen, roll, and catch a lob.  Without him in there, defenders can collapse on Chris Paul when he gets into the lane.  
• The Suns still can't close out games.  Up nearly the whole contest, they even made a late charge (and took the lead on a beautifully designed play).  Still, turnovers and bad defense doomed the Suns once again.  The Spurs, on the other hand, aren't the title contenders they were a few years ago, but, would scare me in a series.
• The Celtics aren't robots.
• The Lakers, if they continue to play hard on both sides of the ball, can (and will) give the Celtics a good run if they get there again in the Finals.  Playing in L.A. instead of Boston doesn't hurt either.  Celtics go to the line eight times, the Lakers 15.  Celtics commit 25 fouls, the Lakers only 18.  You've gotta love home cookin' on Christmas Day.
• There's a clear reason why Washington is 4-23.  Up 6 with about three minutes and change left, they Wizarded themselves.  Turnovers (ahem, Caron Butler), poor shots (ahem, Mike James) and an inability to control tempers (ahem, Antawn Jamison).  Oh, and one of the worst play calls to end a game that you'll see.  Why teams think that, even down a few points, it's a good idea to sit on the ball, wasting time, and then run a play that involves more waiting and one-on-one basketball, I'll never get.  Then again, those teams often don't win.  So, I guess it makes sense. 
• The NBA can be enjoyable.  It almost makes you feel like its 1998 all over again...