We only have to look to Adrian Wojnarowski, Yahoo! Sports to tell us about the Top 5 most disappointing teams of the season and, to be sure, you have your favorites as well.

Your intrepid author’s illustrious comments are in italics.

We are the most disappointing. Oh no!

1. Houston – They discovered the truth about this team’s limitations. From Tracy McGrady’s mental and physical fragility to an absence of athleticism, they were a flawed power. They’re devoid of an identity, stuck between what they were with Van Gundy and what they’ll never be with Adelman. source

What the heck? This team is slow and has put everything into two guys that have never won anything.

2. Bulls – Yes, the Bulls struggled to compartmentalize the Kobe Bryant trade talks and some of their own failed bids for contract extensions. Nevertheless, this is still largely a winning, young core. Sure, general manager John Paxson wishes he could have do-overs on choosing Ben Wallace over Tyson Chandler, and Tyrus Thomas over LaMarcus Aldridge, but he’s still had far more makes than misses.

Surprise, no Kobe, no winning. The Skiles message could last so long with a team that just lacks an inside presence.

3. Milwaukee – Among league executives, there’s a belief that the Bucks are close to declaring everyone available, except for Yi Jianlian and Andrew Bogut. Larry Harris is fighting for his job as general manager. Owner Herb Kohl mandated playoff contention in the offseason, and the Bucks are spiraling. In the horrific 45-point loss to the Pistons, one league executive monitoring the game said of the Bucks, “After five minutes, that team just quit.”

Stop picking on this team. They are what they are, and that is very young. Yi and Bogut can be for real given time and teammates.

4. Miami – The Heat are bad now and Shaquille O’Neal’s cap-clogging contract doesn’t expire until 2010, when Wade can opt-out into free agency. He is the biggest sports star in South Florida, but he has to wonder how long and how hard Riley will go as the Heat’s emperor. After all, he has rebuilt Miami twice now, won his elusive post-Lakers title, and it’s difficult to believe he’ll summon that winner within to stay with the grind.

Riley eventually burns all his teams out. Shaq is old and Wade has zero teammates. The Shaq trade was for an instant title and it worked. Now it is over.

5. New York – Thomas promises that he isn’t leaving until he’s delivered that championship. Of course, the fear in New York is that Dolan will hold him to his word. Everyone keeps saying that it can’t go on like this, but it does and it probably will. As much as Thomas has feigned befuddlement over his players’ effort, those inside and outside the locker room at MSG have privately doubted his work habits as coach this season. To think that he’s even preparing for opponents, even putting in the hours, is debatable.

You have heard from me on the Isiah Thomas situation before. Bad management, poor coaching, and selfish players. Lots of talent, but no way to channel it.

Houston and the Bulls can still improve in this season. The other 3 have an uphill battle.

NBA Basketball Fan Question Do you have any disappointing additions?

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The return of James, your basketball author. Now the good and the bad. The good is that my most excellent boss and coworkers filled in quite nicely and that is most appreciated.

The bad is that James is diagnosed with Cancer and undergoing chemotherapy. Fear not, they say the cancer is one that is curable, so let us move forward with our dreams of basketball!

Yi is tall.

They list him at 7 foot and 238 pounds.

Got a chance to watch Yi play my Pistons. Yi was about all they had.

Yi is tall. He seemed to tower over Rasheed Wallace. How can he only be one inch taller?

Now the Pistons had there way with the Bucks and destroyed them, but Yi was one bright spot on their team tonight.

Yi can post as he did on Rasheed. Yi can shoot from mid range. Yi can rebound. Yi can even run the floor. Dare it be mentioned, he plays like a player that is only 6′ 9″. That is meant as a complement to how well he moves.

Pistons coach Flip Saunders likes Yi a lot.

“He’s skilled offensively. He doesn’t seem to be intimidated by anything. He’s got a chance to be pretty good.”

Yi, a 7-foot forward, was the Bucks’ No. 1 pick and sixth overall in the 2007 draft. He’s put up decent numbers, averaging 9.8 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.1 blocks. source

Just watching Yi, you can see that he has a bright future in the NBA.

Now you have to wonder how he likes that Milwaukee winter weather? Could he become the world’s tallest ice fisherman?

NBA Basketball Fan Question Do you like Milwaukee winter weather?

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Greg Oden says – Hey, what about me?

Last year Roy won the ROY, that is Brandon Roy won the Rookie of the Year award.

But Jorge Garbajose, the 6′ 9″ forward for the Raptors almost won the award. It took a broken leg in March to stop him.

This year there is a new crop of potential ROY winners. Here are the Top Ten impact rookies according to Marty Burns of SI.com.

1. Luis Scola, Rockets

He is a 6′ 9″ forward that at 27 years of age will find himself along side TMac and Yao. Luis won’t get the ball enough to win rookie of the year, but should make a big splash just the same.

2. Kevin Durant, Sonics

Your intrepid author has talked a lot about Kevin and he has to be the front runner for Rookie of the Year. His team is too weak to really do anything, but Kevin will have a heavy impact.

3. Al Horford, Hawks

Horford went to High School just down the road from me in the shadow of Michigan State University. Tom Izzo took Goran Suton instead of Al, although that may have been Al’s decision, who knows. Al’s father played in the pros. His name is Tito Horford. Al proved his worth with the Champion Florida Gators. Unfortunately the Hawks are not very good and they will need Al immediately.

4. Al Thornton, Clippers

With Elton Brand sidelined by an Achilles heel injury, this 6-8 power forward from Florida State should get an opportunity to play. So far he looks more than up to the task. As of Wednesday he was averaging 18.7 points (on 48.9 percent shooting) and 5.7 rebounds in 29.2 minutes per game. source

5. Juan Carlos Navarro, Grizzlies

La Bomba played for 5 years in Europe, was actually drafted in 2002, but this is his first year in the NFL. He is a 6′ 3″ guard from Spain.

6. Mike Conley, Grizzlies

Supposed to provide the zip to the Grizzlies offense, Mike was often the one Buckeye breaking down the defense to feed the hungry Oden. He could end up playing alongside La Bomba.

7. Marco Belinelli, Warriors

This guy had 37 points in a summer league game and now plays in the Warriors bizarre wide open offensive system. Marco is a 6′ 5″ guard from Italy

8. Joakim Noah, Bulls

Another Gator contributor found just the right team for his banging style where he should be able to complement Big Ben. Joakim’s 6′ 11″ frame will be needed on the Bulls.

9. Yi Jianlian, Bucks

The 6-11 Chinese phenom has the potential to make a big impact, especially since he’s probably really 22 or 23, as opposed to his listed age of 18. But he’s been up and down in preseason, and the Bucks already have Charlie Villanueva at the power forward position. With the Bucks seeking to return to the playoffs, the guess here is that Yi finds himself in the same limited role as Law. source

10. Acie Law, Hawks

Acie Law is being compared to Chris Paul and that is a complement to anyone, but the 6′ 3″ guard is caught up in a logjam at guard for the Hawks with a coach that has to win or be fired.

There they are the Top Ten Rookies according to Marty Burns at SI.com

A little closer to home for your intrepid author there may be dark horse in Rodney Stuckey of the Pistons, although he just broke his non-shooting hand and is out for 6 weeks. Rodney has shown the ability to score and finish plays.

Keep an eye on these guys as they are the future of the NBA.

NBA Basketball Fan Question Which rookie is your favorite?

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