Bandwagon Assessment: 1st Quarter Every team has played at least 25% of their schedule so it’s time to evaluate which bandwagons are worth jumping on. (Records thru 1/28/12) Chicago Bulls 17-4 Jersey to buy: Derrick Rose Bench player to rally around: Taj Gibson Player you’ll love but everyone else hates: Joakim Noah Bandwagon Assessment: Jump On Long-term outlook: Reigning league MVP Derrick Rose makes at least one play a game that blows your mind. Their offense still needs another guy who can create his own shot. Miami Heat 14-5 Jersey to buy: LeBron James Bench player to rally around: Norris Cole Player you’ll love but everyone else hates: Chris Bosh Bandwagon Assessment: Jump On Long-term outlook: Most Heat fans are bandwagon fans- which we endorse obviously. They need more fans like Lil Wayne if they are to rise to true greatness. Philadelphia 76ers 14-6 Jersey to buy: Jrue Holiday Bench player to rally around: Thaddeus Young Player you’ll love but everyone else hates: Spencer Hawes Bandwagon Assessment: Jump On Long-term outlook: This is a solid League Pass team. They’ve got young ballers being coached by a veteran coach. They’re winning but their injury-prone bigs will have a say in how far they go. Atlanta Hawks 14-6 Jersey to buy: Josh Smith Bench player to rally around: Ivan Johnson Player you’ll love but everyone else hates: Zaza Pachulia Bandwagon Assessment: Jump Off Long-term outlook: For a team called the Highlight Factory doesn’t it seem like no ones cares about this team. Indiana Pacers 12-6 Jersey to buy: Danny Granger Bench player to rally around: Tyler Hansbrough Player you’ll love but everyone else hates: Dahntay Jones Bandwagon Assessment: Jump On Long-term outlook: Indiana has a team. They get under opponents’ skin and have just enough offense to beat you. And they aren’t afraid of Chicago. Orlando Magic 12-7 Jersey to buy: None Bench player to rally around: J.J. Redick Player you’ll love but everyone else hates: Quentin Richardson Bandwagon Assessment: Jump Off Long-term outlook: It’s only a matter of time before Dwight Howard is traded. This team has turned in two heartless performances recently. Not a good situation. Boston Celtics 9-9 Jersey to buy: Rajon Rondo Bench player to rally around: Brandon Bass Player you’ll love but everyone else hates: Kevin Garnett Bandwagon Assessment: Jump Off Long-term outlook: Hard to count out the Celtics but the Perkins/Green trade was a gamble that they lost. Milwaukee Bucks 8-11 Jersey to buy: Brandon Jennings Bench player to rally around: Jon Leuer Player you’ll love but everyone else hates: Stephen Jackson Bandwagon Assessment: Jump On Long-term outlook: I like this team… and their old logo. The Bogut injury might be too much to overcome but they’ll battle. Cleveland Cavaliers 7-11 Jersey to buy: Kyrie Irving Bench player to rally around: Alonzo Gee Player you’ll love but everyone else hates: Anderson Varejao Bandwagon Assessment: Jump Off Long-term outlook: The Cavs are showing signs of improvement and that’s admirable. Slightly disappointed I couldn’t write this note in Comic Sans. New Jersey Nets 7-13 Jersey to buy: Drazen Petrovic Bench player to rally around: None Player you’ll love but everyone else hates: Kris Humphries Bandwagon Assessment: Jump Off Long-term outlook: The impending move to Brooklyn and the uncertainty around their roster means you should wait for their new jerseys. New York Knicks 7-13 Jersey to buy: Carmelo Anthony Bench player to rally around: Bill Walker Player you’ll love but everyone else hates: Jared Jeffries Bandwagon Assessment: Jump Off Long-term outlook: Help Wanted: Point Guard to run high-powered offense with two of the leagues best scorers in the world’s most famous arena. Toronto Raptors 6-14 Jersey to buy: Andrea Bargnani Bench player to rally around: Leandro Barbosa Player you’ll love but everyone else hates: Aaron Gray Bandwagon Assessment: Jump On Long-term outlook: Just say Bargnani a few times. Then watch this. Washington Wizards 4-16 Jersey to buy: John Wall Bench player to rally around: Shelvin Mack Player you’ll love but everyone else hates: Andray Blatche Bandwagon Assessment: Jump Off Long-term outlook: Team building is hard and the Wizards have a culture of losing. They’ve had too many ‘Get Mine’ guys. The Bullet Wizards are casting blanks. Detroit Pistons 4-17 Jersey to buy: Tayshaun Prince Bench player to rally around: Will Bynum Player you’ll love but everyone else hates: Ben Gordon Bandwagon Assessment: Jump Off Long-term outlook: Joe Dumars made some mistakes with this roster. They stink. Charlotte Bobcats 3-18 Jersey to buy: Michael Jordan Bench player to rally around: Byron Mullens Player you’ll love but everyone else hates: Boris Diaw Bandwagon Assessment: Jump Off Long-term outlook: You get the feeling Jordan might be a distant owner given his team is still named after the previous owner. They stink. Western Conference

Bandwagon Assessment: 1st Quarter

Every team has played at least 25% of their schedule so it’s time to evaluate which bandwagons are worth jumping on. (Records thru 1/28/12)

Chicago Bulls 17-4

  • Jersey to buy: Derrick Rose
  • Bench player to rally around: Taj Gibson
  • Player you’ll love but everyone else hates: Joakim Noah
  • Bandwagon Assessment: Jump On
  • Long-term outlook: Reigning league MVP Derrick Rose makes at least one play a game that blows your mind. Their offense still needs another guy who can create his own shot.

Miami Heat 14-5

  • Jersey to buy: LeBron James
  • Bench player to rally around: Norris Cole
  • Player you’ll love but everyone else hates: Chris Bosh
  • Bandwagon Assessment: Jump On
  • Long-term outlook: Most Heat fans are bandwagon fans- which we endorse obviously. They need more fans like Lil Wayne if they are to rise to true greatness.

Philadelphia 76ers 14-6

  • Jersey to buy: Jrue Holiday
  • Bench player to rally around: Thaddeus Young
  • Player you’ll love but everyone else hates: Spencer Hawes
  • Bandwagon Assessment: Jump On
  • Long-term outlook: This is a solid League Pass team. They’ve got young ballers being coached by a veteran coach. They’re winning but their injury-prone bigs will have a say in how far they go.

Atlanta Hawks 14-6

  • Jersey to buy: Josh Smith
  • Bench player to rally around: Ivan Johnson
  • Player you’ll love but everyone else hates: Zaza Pachulia
  • Bandwagon Assessment: Jump Off
  • Long-term outlook: For a team called the Highlight Factory doesn’t it seem like no ones cares about this team.

Indiana Pacers 12-6

  • Jersey to buy: Danny Granger
  • Bench player to rally around: Tyler Hansbrough
  • Player you’ll love but everyone else hates: Dahntay Jones
  • Bandwagon Assessment: Jump On
  • Long-term outlook: Indiana has a team. They get under opponents’ skin and have just enough offense to beat you. And they aren’t afraid of Chicago.

Orlando Magic 12-7

  • Jersey to buy: None
  • Bench player to rally around: J.J. Redick
  • Player you’ll love but everyone else hates: Quentin Richardson
  • Bandwagon Assessment: Jump Off
  • Long-term outlook: It’s only a matter of time before Dwight Howard is traded. This team has turned in two heartless performances recently. Not a good situation.

Boston Celtics 9-9

  • Jersey to buy: Rajon Rondo
  • Bench player to rally around: Brandon Bass
  • Player you’ll love but everyone else hates: Kevin Garnett
  • Bandwagon Assessment: Jump Off
  • Long-term outlook: Hard to count out the Celtics but the Perkins/Green trade was a gamble that they lost.

Milwaukee Bucks 8-11

  • Jersey to buy: Brandon Jennings
  • Bench player to rally around: Jon Leuer
  • Player you’ll love but everyone else hates: Stephen Jackson
  • Bandwagon Assessment: Jump On
  • Long-term outlook: I like this team… and their old logo. The Bogut injury might be too much to overcome but they’ll battle.

Cleveland Cavaliers 7-11

  • Jersey to buy: Kyrie Irving
  • Bench player to rally around: Alonzo Gee
  • Player you’ll love but everyone else hates: Anderson Varejao
  • Bandwagon Assessment: Jump Off
  • Long-term outlook: The Cavs are showing signs of improvement and that’s admirable. Slightly disappointed I couldn’t write this note in Comic Sans.

New Jersey Nets 7-13

  • Jersey to buy: Drazen Petrovic
  • Bench player to rally around: None
  • Player you’ll love but everyone else hates: Kris Humphries
  • Bandwagon Assessment: Jump Off
  • Long-term outlook: The impending move to Brooklyn and the uncertainty around their roster means you should wait for their new jerseys.

New York Knicks 7-13

  • Jersey to buy: Carmelo Anthony
  • Bench player to rally around: Bill Walker
  • Player you’ll love but everyone else hates: Jared Jeffries
  • Bandwagon Assessment: Jump Off
  • Long-term outlook: Help Wanted: Point Guard to run high-powered offense with two of the leagues best scorers in the world’s most famous arena.

Toronto Raptors 6-14

  • Jersey to buy: Andrea Bargnani
  • Bench player to rally around: Leandro Barbosa
  • Player you’ll love but everyone else hates: Aaron Gray
  • Bandwagon Assessment: Jump On
  • Long-term outlook: Just say Bargnani a few times. Then watch this.

Washington Wizards 4-16

  • Jersey to buy: John Wall
  • Bench player to rally around: Shelvin Mack
  • Player you’ll love but everyone else hates: Andray Blatche
  • Bandwagon Assessment: Jump Off
  • Long-term outlook: Team building is hard and the Wizards have a culture of losing. They’ve had too many ‘Get Mine’ guys. The Bullet Wizards are casting blanks.

Detroit Pistons 4-17

  • Jersey to buy: Tayshaun Prince
  • Bench player to rally around: Will Bynum
  • Player you’ll love but everyone else hates: Ben Gordon
  • Bandwagon Assessment: Jump Off
  • Long-term outlook: Joe Dumars made some mistakes with this roster. They stink.

Charlotte Bobcats 3-18

  • Jersey to buy: Michael Jordan
  • Bench player to rally around: Byron Mullens
  • Player you’ll love but everyone else hates: Boris Diaw
  • Bandwagon Assessment: Jump Off
  • Long-term outlook: You get the feeling Jordan might be a distant owner given his team is still named after the previous owner. They stink.

Western Conference

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    Posted on Sunday, 29 January
    Tagged as: NBA Bandwagon Assessment Eastern Conference
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