Example?  I thought BD played poorly last year.  I explained what bothered me: his constant pounding of the ball (i.e. lack of movement; team stagnation); his concentration on picks and rolls (the two man game that never worked at the end of the game), his terrible shot selection and abysmal shooting average (had to be about the league's worst last year).  In any close game, you just knew the W's would lose at the end -- and they almost always did.  And I liked a lot of what Dunleavy brought to the table -- especially in terms of understanding the game and trying to play it that way.  (I still think he gives the hard foul better than any W -- and what he did last year with Kobe and KMart was priceless.)  I never, though, thought Dun was great, or even that he should be a starter.  I saw him and still do as a very good sixth man who could be great if he (1) had better shooting skills and (2) was faster physically.

Yet you start posting that such thoughts are nonsensical, so they must reflect racism -- since BD is black and Dun white.  (This, though I've consistently been critical of Murph and his -- in my opinion -- worthless double-doubles.)  It's offensive hogwash, the worst kind of name-calling, spun by one who seems to think the LOUDER he rants, the more persuasive his argument.  (BTW, if you disagree with my thoughts above, try and criticize them directly -- that's what Atma's always done: cull facts to support his position.)

This year, though, from the get-go, I've been BD's biggest fan.  I think he's turned his game around completely and the fit with Nellie has been better than I would have ever thought.  While he didn't have it at the end of the Jazz game (who did?), the difference in his game from last year -- especially when it's on the line in the fourth quarter -- has been night and day.  Though it took awhile, he's not pounding much anymore; his shot selection is vastly improved; his threes are almost always good, open shots now (instead of off-balance, last second heaves) and, most important, he's made himself a real leader by playing well in the open court, passing out of doubles, and driving when the team really needs a bucket -- even tho he's likely to get clobbered.  I love the way he's playing this year.

And while I still like Dun (and dislike Murph), and bear a residual concern that Jackson could well backslide, given his past incidents (including this Summer's trial -- for which I remain confident he'll cut a deal), it was obvious early on (regardless of what Jon Barry said) that the W's came out well in the trade.  And though AH has disappointed since he's NOT a "four" (though his shooting is nice), Jackson has shown terrific hands (on both offense and defense), great passing vision, and an ability to play at a very high level -- as long as he can control his emotions.  (Indeed, we haven't seen much lately of that horrid tendency to argue with refs on a non-call while his man breezes by him for an easy two.)

I give a great deal of the credit to the way the W's are playing to what I see is BD's growth and development as a TEAM player -- something I thought he lacked last year (and it bugged me, since it was obvious he was so talented).  But the real credit, I think, goes to Nellie, who has guided the process, made his key players feel at home, and generated a TEAM concept -- especially on the defensive end.  The team still has a fatal weakness in that we don't have a true "four" -- but this is now a fun team to watch, and watch develop.

So, can we just dispense with the rants?