STIFF #1: DAN HAWKINS
After predicting 10 wins for his club before the season the Buffs find themselves just 2-6 with four games to play. To add injury to insult ... former 5-star prized recruit Darrell Scott announced he'll be transferring to UCLA after just 1 1/2 seasons at CU. Another black eye for the program and hopefully the final nail in Hawk's coaching coffin.
STIFF #2: CHRIS PAUL/RAJON RONDO FEUD
Each player was assessed a technical foul after refs had to separate the two in Boston's 97-87 win Nov. 1st. After the game the arguing and posturing continued. As Celtics' coach Doc Rivers pointed out, the 180 lb. fight rule should be invoked allowing the two to scrap because, "It's impossible for them to hurt each other." Maybe Paul should focus more on his teams' 1-3 start and not on the opposing teams' point guard's ability to, "respect me as a man."
STIFF #3: ESPN NBA HEADLINES
The Nuggets headline today reads, "Nuggets sink Pacers to avoid taking first loss." Compare that to the Suns' line reading, "Suns remain unbeaten, hand Heat first loss." Thanks for the backhanded compliment Worldwide Leader. At least Yahoo! Sports got it right, "Nuggets off to best start in 24 years." Maybe I'm being too picky.
STIFF #4: STEVE NASH'S MINUTES
When has it EVER been considered a good idea to play a 35 year-old (36 yrs on February 7th) point guard 36.8 minutes per game? Nash is on pace to average a career-high in the minutes department. And while Nash has averaged 77 games played in five full seasons with the Suns, his chronic back issues could rear its ugly head out early at this rate.
STIFF #5: PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS
Sure starting the season off 2-3 is no big deal, but when head coach Nate McMillan begins openly questioning the teams' effort to the media ... look out.