Mount Skiles has been pretty quiet.

Expect it to explode around December 1.

Let's face facts....the defense will get better month by month, but it's a work in progress.  And while Michael Redd did a lot of positive things in his 30 points, he also missed passing to Andrew Bogut when he was guarded by 6'3" Kirk Hinrich in the first half....then after hitting 3 straight 3's in the second half, notice how quickly he got benched when he jacked up an ill-advised 3 just a short time later?

With 20 of the first 33 on the road, and plenty of back-to-backs (including Oklahoma City after this one against Chicago), you can only hope for 30-35 wins this season.  I'm thinking 34.

A couple of other NBA notes:

In honor of John Mercure, here's a deadbeat Dad that needs to be brought to justice.  A judge ruled former Buck Jason Caffey's bankruptcy case should be dismissed, clearing the way for the mothers of his children can sue for child support.  Caffey has 10 CHILDREN with 8 WOMEN.  Talk about baby mama drama...but what a joke.  This guy won 2 rings with the Bulls, yet he's too broke to support kids that he fathered?  I have no time for people who treat innocent children, especially their own this way. 

Which leads me to Isiah Thomas.  First of all, let me say I never liked the guy.  Starting fights, then hiding behind Bill Laimbeer and Rick Mahorn.  Well, now it appears that Thomas overdosed on sleeping pills.  Yet he denies being the victim, and claimed his 17-year-old daughter needed the treatment. 

What kind of a 47-year-old man would throw his own teenager under the bus?   Maybe Isiah is giving ol' Jason a run for his money in the "NBA Father Of the Year" award.

Emails encouraged at lallan@todaystmj4.com