Fans of the Northwest

The Northwest Division has been one of the most exciting in the NBA for the past half-decade. It has produced four strong teams (Blazers, Jazz, Nuggets, and Thunder) that have featured prominently on the national stage and in the playoffs. It also has some of the most fervent fans in the Association. As such, we have decided to rank the fan experience of each in order from worst to first. Unfortunately, due to insufficient funding, TGRTNS has only been able to attend games in three of them, but that will not stop our pontification.



5. Minnesota Timberwovles

Although they are a pretty exciting young team and should receive a lot of views from league pass this season, their crowd appears modest in comparison to the rest of the division. This is understandable, given the fact that David Kahn has consistently killed any hopes for a good team and that the modern NBA is not conducive to starting five point guards. The fans are just not rowdy enough to knock the Wolves from the bottom position.



4. Denver Nuggets

Having witnessed the spanking of division rival Utah at the Pepsi Center earlier this week, I can say definitively that this is a pleasant place to play basketball, although not much else. The fans cheered loudly as the Birdman entered the game and were happy to see the Nuggets work the weave drill against one Utah defender all night, but this stadium lacked the intimidation that some others exhibit. Teams need not be afraid of playing in Denver come April and May.


3. Oklahoma City Thunder*

Placing the Chesapeake Energy Arena third in the division will almost certainly infuriate our Thunder readers, but please hear me out. This stadium has undoubtedly become one of the most exciting places to play in the NBA and brings the Ruckus daily. It loses points on three accounts, though. First, Thunder fans have never had to suffer through an extended rebuilding process, and have instead only witnessed its success. It is a lot easier to go nuts for Kevin Durrant than it is for Steven Jackson. Second, this team is stolen property, and will always be asterisked as such. Third.



2. Portland Trail Blazers

Blazers fans are extremely loud and incredibly engaged, and often for good reason. The PTB have started this season by winning three straight games and they are consistently a playoff team (unfortunately one that consistently loses in the first round). They earn extra points due to the amount of frustration they have had to endure with the Brandon Roy's early retirement and Greg Oden's imminently following.


1. Utah Jazz

In addition to being a homer, there are some legitimate reasons that the experience in Salt Lake City tops the division, and potentially the NBA. As opposed to the Thunder, this veteran fan base has experienced losing seasons before and will again for the short term future. As opposed to the Blazers, fans continued to flock to the stadium to watch the Jazz even when they were horrible. If you need more convincing, just listen to this.


*Stolen property

Best Point Guard of All Time of the Week

In a league dominated by point guards, it's possible that one of the men lacing up today is the greatest ever to play the position. But who that might be can change in the blink of an eye. Thus, we bring you our newest feature: Best Point Guard of All Time of the Week.

Before the season began, it was pretty clear that the best point guard of all time would surely be Chris Paul who, having recently been acquired by the Clippers was about to lob nightly Dunk Contest Winning Dunks to Blake Griffin and remake the ramshackle Clipper offense in his image. And while Paul has thus far played respectably, getting 9 assists in both his games and only turning the ball over twice, the Clippers remain a work in progress that has not yet figured out to use its three decent, though not all greatest of all time point guards (or are they? stay tuned).

If Paul has disappointed a little, Deron Williams, Russell Westbrook, and Stephen Curry have been The Biggest Letdowns in History by playing on teams that are absolutely horrible, fighting with the talent, and sustaining ankle injuries, respectively. Who then is the greatest point guard of all time of the week? LeBron James? Despite being a top 10 point guard, this wasn't his week. Derrick Rose? Despite putting the weight of a championship run on his back, his horrendous shooting and turnovers as well as the increased attacks you get as the reigning MVP mean that he isn't there, this week. No, the greatest point guard of all time is clearly Rajon Rondo, today.

Although he's fallen off a bit, putting in a dismal performance against the Hornets (possibly the worst ever), his opening night play single handedly kept Boston in the mix, as he scored 31 points on 19 shots, grabbed 5 boards, dished 13 assists, and got 5 steals. Rondo was everywhere and everyone realized just how dominating he was as he put in the best performance I've ever seen. Rondo was floated as a trade rumor recently, but is fast becoming the Celtics' best player as the rest of their roster looses the valiant fight against time. Expect Rondo to take his game to even higher levels in the coming weeks as he continues to play with a chip on his shoulder. He should continue to dominate in assists, steal the ball like a ninja thief, play the best, smothering point guard defense of anyone who's ever lived, and maybe even hit a three occasionally or get to the line and make his foul shots. Mark my words. Rondo's ascent is just beginning, or I have no idea what I'm talking about. Your choice.

If the space jam scenario happens (always a dangerous possibility), and aliens challenge us to a game of 5 on 5 for the fate of the universe, it's pretty clear who will be playing the point. Rajon "Compsognathus" Rondo. That's who. This week.

Thursday's Top Ten

1. A story that I, and I assume every thinking person, thought was just a way to make every one of Bill Simmons' columns 50,000 words long, seems to have materialized into something real. Durant and Westbrook fought and, one can only assume, will take each other out via an elaborate game involving multiple assassins and the Baltimore City special drug investigations police unit.

2. The Utah Jazz had 22 turnovers yesterday, not quite enough to average the record 24.5 of the 1976-77 Nuggets, but the season is still young, and no one can handle the ball, whatsoever, so I'm not giving up hope. These Jazz are in good historical standing, though. Malone is the all time turnovers leader.

3. Sure, he's only played a couple of minutes against the scummiest of garbage time opponents, but Alec Burks' PER of 40.13, along with his passing, jumping, and scoring abilities, tell us that he should be starting, or at least grabbing way more minutes than CJ Miles.

4. Proud losers: A good post on being a Knicks fan and way Jared Jeffries is way more of a Knick than is Carmelo.

5. David Aldridge, as usual, writes a warm and compelling article about the return of the NBA and all of the different things we have to look forward to this season.

6. After never believing in the Mavericks in the past, John Hollinger never believes in them even harder this time around as he draws this conclusion after two blowout losses.

7. Americans and basketball fans everywhere let out a collective sigh of relief after the news broke that Micheal Jordan is engaged (finally).

8. Lost in the shuffle of last year's playoff excitement, Darko was finally freed. Freedom is never really free, however, and with the departure of this blog we have lost our best opportunities to hear podcasts devoted to ghosts, to read posts about the racial structure of the NBA and of America, and to learn about basketball from some fun writers.

9. Here is this video that has been linked to by every other website on the internet. We only ask that you use our link to view it.

10. Another nice piece, this time by J.A. Adande, about why we are so happy this holiday season.