I can't believe no one made this thread yet!! Anyway, this season has been pretty crazy so far already. Chicago goes and blows out Miami at home by 42, then turns around and loses to Orlando by 14?? I don't know about that. I think Chicago can contend, they just need a little more low post scoring. Ben Wallace will anchor the defense just like he did in Detroit, and with Tyrus Thomas (who actually is really active), Ben Gordon, Kurt Heinrich, Luol Deng, and Nocioni the Bulls could go far into the playoffs.
I don't know what to think of Miami. It didn't even look liked they cared. Shaq got his ring that he promised everyone in Miami, Payton got his ring, Walker got his ring, and I don't think anyone is motivated to play. You can't get blown out by 42 on your homecourt after you get your championship ring. That's just not right.
As for other teams in the east, Detroit won't be nearly as strong, I don't care what anybody says. You don't lose your defensive energy anchor, the 3 or 4 time defensive player of the year, the fro, and expect to be championship quality. Especially with Flip Saunders as the coach. He can't win in the postseason.
Expect the Cavs to come back and maybe even make a trip to the finals. Hughes has looked good of late, so hopefully that can take some pressure off of Lebron.
My sleeper team is Orlando. With Grant Hill healthy, a year of experience under Darko's belt, and the addition of JJ Reddick, I think Orlando will make the playoffs. They have a pretty strong team with Jameer Nelson, Darko, Dwight Howard, Grant Hill, Hedo Turkoglu, Carlos Arroyo, and JJ Reddick.
As for the west, more of the same. I think Dallas will go back to the finals, they kept their team pretty intact. They just dropped Van Horn who isn't that great, and Daniels who they just couldn't fit into the crowded rotation.
If Stoudamire can stay healthy, it could be a great season for the Suns. I can't believe they lost to the Lakers though... Steve Nash still looks great, I think it will take some time for the team to get into condition, but once they do they will be great.
So the Lakers are 2-0 without Kobe, and I don't know how they are doing it. Maybe they will trade him...:p I'm not sure they can keep it up, but they did beat a really respectable Suns team so who knows.
Because I can't remember who is in what division, I will just toss out some power rankings.
West:
Dallas
Phoenix
San Antonio
Clippers
Hornets
Memphis
Denver
Houston?
East:
Miami
Chicago
Cleveland
Detroit
Milwaukee
New Jersey
Indiana
Orlando
What do you guys think? How does the season look to you? Any trade speculations? Rookie watch? BTW, Brandon Roy had 20 points in his debut with the Blazers, as the Blazers rallied from 9 down with 6 minutes to go to beat the Sonics 110 to 106 in Seattle. I was there. It was incredible.
You forgot Philly! The Sixers are looking better this year, but I don't see the potential for a ring. I do think they will make the playoffs though if the coach keeps stressing D, and the players listen. They can definitely score, so that's the one thing they need to focus on. I may even be so bold as to predict second round of the playoffs if they get a 4-6 spot in the first round, and if everyone stays healthy.
Phoenix is going to be nasty this year. I jsut want to set that out before it really happens.
They have Nash, Marion, Barbosa, and now Stoudemire back which not only makes that that much better(stoudemire is crazy) but he will make nash and marion do even better
When mentioning the Bulls, don't forget to mention the veteran PJ Brown on the boards, or Duhon (who had 20 against the heat in like 15 minutes).
Orlando was going to beat them because Howard is like Stoudamire last time healthy, and i don't think Ben can handle such a young athlete. Shaq is old, which is what makes Ben a good guard against him.
West:
Dallas- yes
Phoenix - 2nd Best Team in West
San Antonio- 3rd best, dont be surprised to see em in Finals. Beno Udrich is all i can say.
Clippers- Shaun Livingston is better, and they're healthy. Watch out for them as well. 4th best in West.
Hornets- Not too impressive overall, i don't believe in Peja.
Memphis- Don't make me laugh
Denver- Ready to make a real push in the playoffs.
Houston- Definately, Swift makes them MUCH better.
East:
Miami- Too old, only meant for a 1 year run. They won't make it out of the Semi-Finals this year.
Chicago- My pick at the end of last year to make East Con Finals, and THEN they got Big Ben. Easily top 2 team in East.
Cleveland- Still not enough chemistry in that core, and Ilgauskas dissappears in the playoffs. Top 4 team though.
Detroit- They didn't lose McDyess, so they're fine on big men. Ben isn't going to be severly missed. Best team in East since you can't put Bulls or Magic there this early.
Milwaukee- Underrated. Watch out.
New Jersey- Overrated? A little.
Indiana- Not impressed what-so-ever.
Orlando- The third best team, period. Don't tell me otherwise.\
Eastern Conference Finals- Bulls vs. Pistons, Bulls in 7. Western Conference Finals- Suns vs. Spurs, Suns in 6
You forgot Philly! The Sixers are looking better this year, but I don't see the potential for a ring. I do think they will make the playoffs though if the coach keeps stressing D, and the players listen. They can definitely score, so that's the one thing they need to focus on. I may even be so bold as to predict second round of the playoffs if they get a 4-6 spot in the first round, and if everyone stays healthy.
I personally don't think so. Cheeks isn't that good of a coach, take it from a Portland guy. He is a great player's coach, but that's really all he does. I'm really not impressed with him. Plus, last year Webber and AI had huge seasons, and were healthy for the most part. I just don't see them making that big of an improvement. They need to move AI before his value goes too low.
Hornets- Not too impressive overall, i don't believe in Peja.
I don't believe in Peja either. I believe in Chris Paul. He is incredible. They almost made the playoffs without Peja last year, and with his addition they get outside shooting. I think they can make it.
Memphis- Don't make me laugh
I don't like Memphis either, but they surprised the hell out of me last year. Pau carried the team, and I expect more of the same.
Denver- Ready to make a real push in the playoffs.
Don't make me laugh. Carmello isn't good enough to carry his team. Kenyon Martin has just been terrible since coming to Denver. He has been hurt and even when he has been on the court, he has been terrible. Andre Miller is a terrible point guard, Earl Boykins is mediocore, Camby is always a gamble if he's going to be hurt, and who knows about Nene. They will probably win the division, but that's not saying much.
Houston- Definately, Swift makes them MUCH better.
I don't see how. Swift isn't that good. At all. I guess he will help Yao crash the boards, but I really don't see this pushing them over the top at all. Mcgrady has a bad back, and Yao is still soft. The same problems Houston has had for the past 3 seasons.
Miami- Too old, only meant for a 1 year run. They won't make it out of the Semi-Finals this year.
Please. Shaq and D Wade will make sure they will make it. Shaq lives for the playoffs.
Detroit- They didn't lose McDyess, so they're fine on big men. Ben isn't going to be severly missed. Best team in East since you can't put Bulls or Magic there this early
You can't just lose your defensive anchor, a 3 time NBA defensive player of the year, and expect to be fine. That team revolved around Ben Wallace. Nazr Mohammed can't come close to filling in those shoes. Neither can Mcdyess.
I personally don't think so. Cheeks isn't that good of a coach, take it from a Portland guy. He is a great player's coach, but that's really all he does. I'm really not impressed with him. Plus, last year Webber and AI had huge seasons, and were healthy for the most part. I just don't see them making that big of an improvement. They need to move AI before his value goes too low.
I don't believe in Peja either. I believe in Chris Paul. He is incredible. They almost made the playoffs without Peja last year, and with his addition they get outside shooting. I think they can make it.
I don't like Memphis either, but they surprised the hell out of me last year. Pau carried the team, and I expect more of the same.
Don't make me laugh. Carmello isn't good enough to carry his team. Kenyon Martin has just been terrible since coming to Denver. He has been hurt and even when he has been on the court, he has been terrible. Andre Miller is a terrible point guard, Earl Boykins is mediocore, Camby is always a gamble if he's going to be hurt, and who knows about Nene. They will probably win the division, but that's not saying much.
I don't see how. Swift isn't that good. At all. I guess he will help Yao crash the boards, but I really don't see this pushing them over the top at all. Mcgrady has a bad back, and Yao is still soft. The same problems Houston has had for the past 3 seasons.
Miami- Too old, only meant for a 1 year run. They won't make it out of the Semi-Finals this year.
Please. Shaq and D Wade will make sure they will make it. Shaq lives for the playoffs.
You can't just lose your defensive anchor, a 3 time NBA defensive player of the year, and expect to be fine. That team revolved around Ben Wallace. Nazr Mohammed can't come close to filling in those shoes. Neither can Mcdyess.
Heat- Ok, tell me how bad Payton and 'Zo (major player last year) are going to want that ring this year? The passion isn't going to be there. Having gotten a ring, it gives Shaq leeway to continue to be overweight and even gain more. How did overweight Shaq work in LA, even IN the playoffs? Wade may be good, but Walker is getting over the hill, they didn't add any pieces, JWill is injured, and so on. They WONT make the Eastern Conference Finals this year. I guarantee it.
Detroit- Nazr Muhammad was so completely underrated in San Antonio it's not even funny. He doesn't rebound like Ben, but he also scores a LOT more and blocks well. They actually have some hunger now, with Ben leaving a chip on their shoulder.
Memphis- Pau is injured, and they don't have the point guard they need. Chucky Atkins (while my 13th fantasy man) is NO starting point.
Houston- The problem there has been the point play and the injuries to McGrady. I think the "soft" Ming thing is overdone now. He puts up numbers, which is all he needs to do. If TMAC gets healthy, Sura is turning out great, and Swift gives them another boarder, and scorer.
Denver- Andre Miller is bum? Are you serious? :xd: Ok, we'll see at seasons end. They make the playoffs, and i see them in the Semis in a 7 game series.
New Orleans- Do they still have Magloire? Do they still have ANY worthy big man? With that said, people will guard the perimeter. They're a 9th-10th place team. Not bad, but not playoff makers nor contenders.
On Philly- You got everything pretty much dead on, except this was the last year AI had value, and they passed. Now, he's stuck there, waiting for the new AI to gather some pieces so he can win in his 19th season. It'll be till then at this rate.
Here are my playoff teams.
Detroit
Chicago
Indiana
Orlando
Miami
Washington
Cleveland
Milwaukee
Los Angeles (Clippers)
Los Angeles (Lakers)
Pheonix
Dallas
San Antonio
Houston
Denver
Utah
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I can't believe Utah, New Orleans, and Philly started out so well. I personally feel AI is terribly overrated, and they seem to be off to a good start. Now that everyone is healthy, Utah is also kind of on a roll. Boozer and Kirilenko are there, Okur is solid, and Deron Williams is doing a good job at the point. I'm betting Kirilenko will go down soon enough, he's too fragile.
I had a feeling New Orleans would do good, but I didn't think they would start 4-0. Chris Paul is an animal, and I wouldn't be surprised if he were on the all star team. Tyson Chandler and Peja are stepping up, and they could make it rough for some team in the playoffs if they can keep it rolling.
I didn't see the Phoenix v. Mavs game, but I can't believe they were a combined 1-7. These teams were picked to go back to the Western Conference Finals, and probably the winner of that series would win the championship. I'm not sure what the problem is, so who knows.
Speaking of that, the usual powerhouses aren't doing so hot, except the Spurs. The Mavs and Suns aren't doing good, Detroit (like I said) aren't too great, Miami has a championship hangover, and Chicago isn't doing great either after they were predicted to maybe go to the Eastern Conference Finals. Then the Lakers, Jazz, Hornets, and Sixers are really doing good.
I think this has been a great season so far, and there isn't a clear cut team yet which is really cool if you ask me.
Does anyone have any bold predictions? Thoughts on the season so far?
I think that Phoenix and Dallas problems can honestly be attributedly largely to the new basketball. Both of those teams are teams that are known for moving the ball around alot, and they're both turning the ball over significantly more this year, which I think is because the new ball is significantly more difficult to grip. Other teams that are more focused on single player dominance(Cleveland is a great example of this) don't feel the effects of this as much, I think, because they don't move the ball around as much. Once everyone gets used to the ball, or (preferable but more likely), they get rid of that piece of crap ball that they switched to, thinks will work themselves out. It's certainly disappointing to see teams that are such high caliber as Phoenix and Dallas performing so poorly.
I agree with Cyan-- for the finesse, shooting teams, the new ball is the pits. Currently, with Amare only getting 16-18 mins max a game, you're still focusing mostly on Nash/Barbosa penetration and the 3 point shooting of Marion, Bell, Nash and Barbosa. It also seems as if Nash is noticably fatigued already this year at points, so he hasn't been as much help scoring as he has been when needed.
I expect the Suns to be able to re-route themselves when they learn to shoot the 3 with the new ball, or when Amare returns as a starter (as he and Nash are a 2 man domination combo the likes of Lebron, Kobel, etc).
On Dallas- Same problem really. They aren't a points in the paint team except for Dirk, and he often chooses shot to drive. Once Terry, Dirk, and Stackhouse figure out the new ball, 3's will start dropping and their scoring will be up.
I do expect that one of them will learn sooner then the other, leaving the other to a lower playoff seed then usual. It is feasible that the Clippers win the division this year while the Suns get in lower.
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So how about Orlando having the best record in the Eastern Conference? I read an article on espn.com and there was something like at one point like last week 11 of the 15 eastern teams had a below 500 record. The east is just depressing, Miami isn't doing good and Shaq is out, Detroit is still missing Ben, Chicago still can't score in the paint and Wallace isn't doing so hot. He even had a game where he didn't grab a rebound, which is just inexcusible if you ask me. Larry Hughes is still underperforming in Cleveland, New Jersey is a division leader with a 6-9 record I believe, C-Webb wants out of Philly, etc. The east just has tons of problems.
Who would have thought Utah would have the best record in the league? They lost tonight, but Kobe couldn't miss, so it was expected. He had 30 points in the thrid quarter, went 10 for 10, and ended with 52. I still don't like the Lakers going any farther than the first round, and I'm glad Kobe is sharing the ball more.
The Mavs started 0-4 and have won 11 in a row, something has clicked, and the Mavs are looking like the same old Mavs team. Sacramento is also doing good. Kevin Martin kinda came out of nowhere and is doing great.
What are your guys thoughts/observations? I don't want to see this thread die you guys. Please.
The paper states that only Indiana, Detroit, Cleveland and Orlando have above .500 records in the East.
And the closest one? Atlanta. Yes, Atlanta.
I'll say this right now, half of the teams who'll qualify for the East will have crappy records, that are at least 4 games below .500. And Charlotte will make it.
As for the West, it's actually more exciting. I mean, look at the Pacific Division! The Lakers, Kings and Warriors are all above .500 and are doing quite well. Same is Phoenix, but I expected that because they're still the same team that can light opponents up, given their roster. The Clips are 7-7, unless they had a game today, which is kinda sad since they did so well last year. I'm sure they'll get back in no time, though. It's going to be an interesting race for the Pacific Division title. I'll put my money on the Lakers.
The Southwest Division continues its tale of Spuriness and Mavsness. The Rockets, now unplagued by annoying injuries like last year, are also doing well. Just means that they only need to stay healthy to win games. The Hornets, after having an awesome start, have dropped down which is quite sad, but if Chris Paul goes out and do what he does best, then I'm sure they'll get their footing back in no time.
The Northwest is just the Utah Story. Denver is second, and everyone else is below .500 in here.
The East is just pathetic, honestly. Hopefully they don't get another miracle championship win somehow this year(I'm still irked that Dallas beat San Antonio AND Phoenix, was up 2-0, and somehow managed to lose to Miami). It is seriously ridiculous how bad the East is(I called this before the season and people yelled at me, btw).
But at least the West is still exciting. I think that Utah is seriously overrated and is starting to fall back down to normal reality. The Mavericks have obviously gotten their act together, and I think that the Suns have as well. Honestly, while the playoff structure will look somewhat different, I really don't see any team in the league other than Phoenix, SA, or Dallas winning the championship. They're simply better teams than everyone else, and it shows.
Charles Barkley mentioned the Clips last night, and he said everyone is having a contract hangover. Their only 'major' loss was Radmonovich right? And they got Tim Thomas to fill his shoes. If Mike Dunleavy can get these guys to play, I say they are still the best team in LA. As much as I love Kobe, I don't like the rest of his team. However, there are a lot of hustlers on the Lakers, and Kwame Brown is still terrible.
Amare is getting back into the swing of things, which really is the only thing people are talking about in Phoenix. I'm not too sure about their record at this point, or how Nash is doing, but as long as everyone stays healthy, I think they will only get better as the season progresses.
I think the Mavs could beat the Spurs again in a playoff series if they had to. Their roster is still loaded, and everyone is listening to Avery again. I like how the Spurs are using Omberto Brenes and Beno Udrih, but I just don't see them beating the Mavs, unless Bruce Bowen sticks his leg under Dirk when he is shooting a three or something.
I think that Utah is seriously overrated and is starting to fall back down to normal reality
You know, I think the same thing, but their record speaks for itself. They do have some pretty quality wins, and Jerry Sloan is a great coach. AK47 is getting healthy, Boozer is playing big, Okur is playing big, Deron Williams is growing up, and they have tons of role players who contribute. I don't know if they can keep it up, but I think they are good enough to win the division over Denver. I don't think Melo can carry the Nuggets, but Utah seems balanced enough.
What do you guys think about the headband fiasco in Chicago? Personally, I think its dumb that the guy can't wear a damn headband. They should probably try to keep Ben happy because they are paying him 60 million.
According to ESPN, Wallace knew what he was getting himself into with regards to headbands. If that's true, then he shouldn't complain. Tough times in Chicago.
It's also worth noting that Dwayne Wade is going to be this year's Sportsman of the Year, breaking the stranglehold that ***gy New England athletes have had on the title these past two years.
Thats what I heard as well, but its really a dumb rule. It doesn't make you a worse player, it isn't tacky, there is nothing wrong with it. And it probably isn't a good idea to piss off the guy you just paid 60 million to. If he wants to wear a headband so what? Let everyone wear a god damn head band.
It's also worth noting that Dwayne Wade is going to be this year's Sportsman of the Year, breaking the stranglehold that ***gy New England athletes have had on the title these past two years.
Thats good. Dwayne Wade deserves it. Oh, and Tom Brady wanted me to tell you that he loves you and he blew a kiss at you.
So another week has passed, and the East is still terrible. Yeah, the Magic somehow actually look good. And they're apparently 6-2 vs. the West, which is impressive(ironically, that makes them 2-3 vs. their own significantly more terrible division..I'm having a really hard time figuring that one out..maybe they just played against the couple of West teams that are actually bad(but are still better than most teams in the East).
The Mavs and the Suns just keep winning. I said earlier in the season(I think I posted it on here) that I felt that the main problem for alot of struggling teams, and especially these two, is that they have a balanced offense. I feel like most of the teams that are succeeding have an offense that is focused on just a couple of(or one in some cases) guys. Teams that pass the ball around alot lost a bunch of games early because they couldn't adjust to the stupid new ball...but now they've done so, and they're recovering nicely. The playoff contenders in the West mostly seems the same this year as last year, and Dallas/San Antonio/Phoenix still seem to just simply be better than the rest of the pack. It just seems like their game is more refined or something.
On top of the usuals in the west, the Lakers are a surprising 12-5, the Jazz are like 13-4 or something like that, the Rockets are off to a good start as McGrady is healthy, and is letting Yao do the bulk of the scoring, and Sacramento is sort of coming out of nowhere.
I had a feeling about Orlando, but I didn't think they would be leading the East. Dwight Howard is just a machine.
Zach Randolph had 31 and 13 last night, and is averaging in the neighborhood of 20 and 10 for the season. This is probably the best season of his career so far, and I really think he should have a legitimate shot of being an all star. I know teams like Portland get no love because they have a losing record, but the guy is really good, and really should get a chance.
*raises hand* Knew about Orlando, just like I called Pheonix the year they went from no playoffs to near best record. Wasn't a hard guess though...simple formula.
A) True point (ex. Stockton, Nash, Kidd)
B) Dominant Power Forward/Center (Stoudamire, Howard, Martin)
C) Shooter (Marion, Hill, Kittles)
As soon as Pheonix signed Nash, they had it. By drafting Nelson, they just had to wait on Howard to form himself, and you have a top team. The question is how soon can they turn it to a trophy, as Pheonix is going on 3 years. And unlike Pheonix (before Amare's knee), Orlando has a real liability in their equation (Grant Hill is shaky limbed).
If you'd look at my West playoff picture, I have it pretty much mapped out there also-- Utah and Lakers still among the west best. And I said the Rockets would improve well with a third option.
NOK still impresses me, but I have to believe they'll eventually bottom out. Peja comes up weak in clutch, as the Kings. And Paul needs just another year to be a perennial all-star.
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I will seriously be insanely upset if Z. Randolph does not make the All-Star team. Being a hardcore Portland fan even in these troublesome times he is one of the best players in the NBA bar none. He rebounds the ball well and can make plays off 2 defenders.
He also gets all his points the hard way the Blazers are not a running team so theres no "easy" buckets really. Yet through all this he still manages to get between 25ish-30 points a game?
Anyways with some great rookie pickups this year im looking forward to future brighter seasons back in the Rose Garden.
I will seriously be insanely upset if Z. Randolph does not make the All-Star team. Being a hardcore Portland fan even in these troublesome times he is one of the best players in the NBA bar none. He rebounds the ball well and can make plays off 2 defenders.
He also gets all his points the hard way the Blazers are not a running team so theres no "easy" buckets really. Yet through all this he still manages to get between 25ish-30 points a game?
Anyways with some great rookie pickups this year im looking forward to future brighter seasons back in the Rose Garden.
That was absolutely beautiful!!! Zach is indeed hustling his ass off right now, and we really don't have another consistent scorer to back him up. We realllllllllyyyyy need Brandon Roy back because he does a little bit of everything. We were a touch above 500 before he got hurt, and was clearly standing out amongst the rest of the rookies, and I expect more of the same once he gets back. Roy can score, defend, dish, grab boards, take people off the dribble, and just flat out hustle. We need him soon, and I hope that ankle gets better!
Man, that Suns-Nets game tonight was one for the record books...hopefully they'll show it on ESPN Classic sometime, it sounds like it was amazing. I'm just glad the Suns won...they should at least win their next 2, and then Orlando and Miami will probably be challenges.
That was absolutely beautiful!!! Zach is indeed hustling his ass off right now, and we really don't have another consistent scorer to back him up. We realllllllllyyyyy need Brandon Roy back because he does a little bit of everything. We were a touch above 500 before he got hurt, and was clearly standing out amongst the rest of the rookies, and I expect more of the same once he gets back. Roy can score, defend, dish, grab boards, take people off the dribble, and just flat out hustle. We need him soon, and I hope that ankle gets better!
Well I also like Aldridge alot hes very good and is a valuable member of our team. Im happy with how bright the future is looking if we can keep this talent and they progress with there level of skill. We also lost all our jail-blazers woo we don't have the most time in jail team in the NBA lol.
But yes I agree Brandon Roy is amazing I can't wait to see him and Aldridge play together which we haven't seen yet this season due to injuries for both players at different times.
I will seriously be insanely upset if Z. Randolph does not make the All-Star team. Being a hardcore Portland fan even in these troublesome times he is one of the best players in the NBA bar none. He rebounds the ball well and can make plays off 2 defenders.
He also gets all his points the hard way the Blazers are not a running team so theres no "easy" buckets really. Yet through all this he still manages to get between 25ish-30 points a game?
Anyways with some great rookie pickups this year im looking forward to future brighter seasons back in the Rose Garden.
It will be really tough for Randolph to make it on the All Star team. His team is terrible and there are a ton of great forwards in the West. The starting five will probably be Nash, Kobe, Yao, Nowitzki, and Duncan. There will be at least two guards as reserves (Chris Paul and Deron Williams), which only leaves five more spots for reserve forwards/centers. So out of Melo, Boozer, Stoudemire, Marion, and Garentt, who do you leave off for Randolph? It's unfortunate for him that he doesn't play in the East, because I could see him starting on that team.
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I don't know what to think of Miami. It didn't even look liked they cared. Shaq got his ring that he promised everyone in Miami, Payton got his ring, Walker got his ring, and I don't think anyone is motivated to play. You can't get blown out by 42 on your homecourt after you get your championship ring. That's just not right.
As for other teams in the east, Detroit won't be nearly as strong, I don't care what anybody says. You don't lose your defensive energy anchor, the 3 or 4 time defensive player of the year, the fro, and expect to be championship quality. Especially with Flip Saunders as the coach. He can't win in the postseason.
Expect the Cavs to come back and maybe even make a trip to the finals. Hughes has looked good of late, so hopefully that can take some pressure off of Lebron.
My sleeper team is Orlando. With Grant Hill healthy, a year of experience under Darko's belt, and the addition of JJ Reddick, I think Orlando will make the playoffs. They have a pretty strong team with Jameer Nelson, Darko, Dwight Howard, Grant Hill, Hedo Turkoglu, Carlos Arroyo, and JJ Reddick.
As for the west, more of the same. I think Dallas will go back to the finals, they kept their team pretty intact. They just dropped Van Horn who isn't that great, and Daniels who they just couldn't fit into the crowded rotation.
If Stoudamire can stay healthy, it could be a great season for the Suns. I can't believe they lost to the Lakers though... Steve Nash still looks great, I think it will take some time for the team to get into condition, but once they do they will be great.
So the Lakers are 2-0 without Kobe, and I don't know how they are doing it. Maybe they will trade him...:p I'm not sure they can keep it up, but they did beat a really respectable Suns team so who knows.
Because I can't remember who is in what division, I will just toss out some power rankings.
West:
Dallas
Phoenix
San Antonio
Clippers
Hornets
Memphis
Denver
Houston?
East:
Miami
Chicago
Cleveland
Detroit
Milwaukee
New Jersey
Indiana
Orlando
What do you guys think? How does the season look to you? Any trade speculations? Rookie watch? BTW, Brandon Roy had 20 points in his debut with the Blazers, as the Blazers rallied from 9 down with 6 minutes to go to beat the Sonics 110 to 106 in Seattle. I was there. It was incredible.
They have Nash, Marion, Barbosa, and now Stoudemire back which not only makes that that much better(stoudemire is crazy) but he will make nash and marion do even better
Orlando was going to beat them because Howard is like Stoudamire last time healthy, and i don't think Ben can handle such a young athlete. Shaq is old, which is what makes Ben a good guard against him.
West:
Dallas- yes
Phoenix - 2nd Best Team in West
San Antonio- 3rd best, dont be surprised to see em in Finals. Beno Udrich is all i can say.
Clippers- Shaun Livingston is better, and they're healthy. Watch out for them as well. 4th best in West.
Hornets- Not too impressive overall, i don't believe in Peja.
Memphis- Don't make me laugh
Denver- Ready to make a real push in the playoffs.
Houston- Definately, Swift makes them MUCH better.
East:
Miami- Too old, only meant for a 1 year run. They won't make it out of the Semi-Finals this year.
Chicago- My pick at the end of last year to make East Con Finals, and THEN they got Big Ben. Easily top 2 team in East.
Cleveland- Still not enough chemistry in that core, and Ilgauskas dissappears in the playoffs. Top 4 team though.
Detroit- They didn't lose McDyess, so they're fine on big men. Ben isn't going to be severly missed. Best team in East since you can't put Bulls or Magic there this early.
Milwaukee- Underrated. Watch out.
New Jersey- Overrated? A little.
Indiana- Not impressed what-so-ever.
Orlando- The third best team, period. Don't tell me otherwise.\
Eastern Conference Finals- Bulls vs. Pistons, Bulls in 7.
Western Conference Finals- Suns vs. Spurs, Suns in 6
I personally don't think so. Cheeks isn't that good of a coach, take it from a Portland guy. He is a great player's coach, but that's really all he does. I'm really not impressed with him. Plus, last year Webber and AI had huge seasons, and were healthy for the most part. I just don't see them making that big of an improvement. They need to move AI before his value goes too low.
I don't believe in Peja either. I believe in Chris Paul. He is incredible. They almost made the playoffs without Peja last year, and with his addition they get outside shooting. I think they can make it.
I don't like Memphis either, but they surprised the hell out of me last year. Pau carried the team, and I expect more of the same.
Don't make me laugh. Carmello isn't good enough to carry his team. Kenyon Martin has just been terrible since coming to Denver. He has been hurt and even when he has been on the court, he has been terrible. Andre Miller is a terrible point guard, Earl Boykins is mediocore, Camby is always a gamble if he's going to be hurt, and who knows about Nene. They will probably win the division, but that's not saying much.
I don't see how. Swift isn't that good. At all. I guess he will help Yao crash the boards, but I really don't see this pushing them over the top at all. Mcgrady has a bad back, and Yao is still soft. The same problems Houston has had for the past 3 seasons.
Miami- Too old, only meant for a 1 year run. They won't make it out of the Semi-Finals this year.
Please. Shaq and D Wade will make sure they will make it. Shaq lives for the playoffs.
You can't just lose your defensive anchor, a 3 time NBA defensive player of the year, and expect to be fine. That team revolved around Ben Wallace. Nazr Mohammed can't come close to filling in those shoes. Neither can Mcdyess.
Heat- Ok, tell me how bad Payton and 'Zo (major player last year) are going to want that ring this year? The passion isn't going to be there. Having gotten a ring, it gives Shaq leeway to continue to be overweight and even gain more. How did overweight Shaq work in LA, even IN the playoffs? Wade may be good, but Walker is getting over the hill, they didn't add any pieces, JWill is injured, and so on. They WONT make the Eastern Conference Finals this year. I guarantee it.
Detroit- Nazr Muhammad was so completely underrated in San Antonio it's not even funny. He doesn't rebound like Ben, but he also scores a LOT more and blocks well. They actually have some hunger now, with Ben leaving a chip on their shoulder.
Memphis- Pau is injured, and they don't have the point guard they need. Chucky Atkins (while my 13th fantasy man) is NO starting point.
Houston- The problem there has been the point play and the injuries to McGrady. I think the "soft" Ming thing is overdone now. He puts up numbers, which is all he needs to do. If TMAC gets healthy, Sura is turning out great, and Swift gives them another boarder, and scorer.
Denver- Andre Miller is bum? Are you serious? :xd: Ok, we'll see at seasons end. They make the playoffs, and i see them in the Semis in a 7 game series.
New Orleans- Do they still have Magloire? Do they still have ANY worthy big man? With that said, people will guard the perimeter. They're a 9th-10th place team. Not bad, but not playoff makers nor contenders.
On Philly- You got everything pretty much dead on, except this was the last year AI had value, and they passed. Now, he's stuck there, waiting for the new AI to gather some pieces so he can win in his 19th season. It'll be till then at this rate.
Here are my playoff teams.
Detroit
Chicago
Indiana
Orlando
Miami
Washington
Cleveland
Milwaukee
Los Angeles (Clippers)
Los Angeles (Lakers)
Pheonix
Dallas
San Antonio
Houston
Denver
Utah
I had a feeling New Orleans would do good, but I didn't think they would start 4-0. Chris Paul is an animal, and I wouldn't be surprised if he were on the all star team. Tyson Chandler and Peja are stepping up, and they could make it rough for some team in the playoffs if they can keep it rolling.
I didn't see the Phoenix v. Mavs game, but I can't believe they were a combined 1-7. These teams were picked to go back to the Western Conference Finals, and probably the winner of that series would win the championship. I'm not sure what the problem is, so who knows.
Speaking of that, the usual powerhouses aren't doing so hot, except the Spurs. The Mavs and Suns aren't doing good, Detroit (like I said) aren't too great, Miami has a championship hangover, and Chicago isn't doing great either after they were predicted to maybe go to the Eastern Conference Finals. Then the Lakers, Jazz, Hornets, and Sixers are really doing good.
I think this has been a great season so far, and there isn't a clear cut team yet which is really cool if you ask me.
Does anyone have any bold predictions? Thoughts on the season so far?
If he keeps this up, he's getting that Most Improved.
I expect the Suns to be able to re-route themselves when they learn to shoot the 3 with the new ball, or when Amare returns as a starter (as he and Nash are a 2 man domination combo the likes of Lebron, Kobel, etc).
On Dallas- Same problem really. They aren't a points in the paint team except for Dirk, and he often chooses shot to drive. Once Terry, Dirk, and Stackhouse figure out the new ball, 3's will start dropping and their scoring will be up.
I do expect that one of them will learn sooner then the other, leaving the other to a lower playoff seed then usual. It is feasible that the Clippers win the division this year while the Suns get in lower.
Who would have thought Utah would have the best record in the league? They lost tonight, but Kobe couldn't miss, so it was expected. He had 30 points in the thrid quarter, went 10 for 10, and ended with 52. I still don't like the Lakers going any farther than the first round, and I'm glad Kobe is sharing the ball more.
The Mavs started 0-4 and have won 11 in a row, something has clicked, and the Mavs are looking like the same old Mavs team. Sacramento is also doing good. Kevin Martin kinda came out of nowhere and is doing great.
What are your guys thoughts/observations? I don't want to see this thread die you guys. Please.
And the closest one? Atlanta. Yes, Atlanta.
I'll say this right now, half of the teams who'll qualify for the East will have crappy records, that are at least 4 games below .500. And Charlotte will make it.
As for the West, it's actually more exciting. I mean, look at the Pacific Division! The Lakers, Kings and Warriors are all above .500 and are doing quite well. Same is Phoenix, but I expected that because they're still the same team that can light opponents up, given their roster. The Clips are 7-7, unless they had a game today, which is kinda sad since they did so well last year. I'm sure they'll get back in no time, though. It's going to be an interesting race for the Pacific Division title. I'll put my money on the Lakers.
The Southwest Division continues its tale of Spuriness and Mavsness. The Rockets, now unplagued by annoying injuries like last year, are also doing well. Just means that they only need to stay healthy to win games. The Hornets, after having an awesome start, have dropped down which is quite sad, but if Chris Paul goes out and do what he does best, then I'm sure they'll get their footing back in no time.
The Northwest is just the Utah Story. Denver is second, and everyone else is below .500 in here.
But at least the West is still exciting. I think that Utah is seriously overrated and is starting to fall back down to normal reality. The Mavericks have obviously gotten their act together, and I think that the Suns have as well. Honestly, while the playoff structure will look somewhat different, I really don't see any team in the league other than Phoenix, SA, or Dallas winning the championship. They're simply better teams than everyone else, and it shows.
Amare is getting back into the swing of things, which really is the only thing people are talking about in Phoenix. I'm not too sure about their record at this point, or how Nash is doing, but as long as everyone stays healthy, I think they will only get better as the season progresses.
I think the Mavs could beat the Spurs again in a playoff series if they had to. Their roster is still loaded, and everyone is listening to Avery again. I like how the Spurs are using Omberto Brenes and Beno Udrih, but I just don't see them beating the Mavs, unless Bruce Bowen sticks his leg under Dirk when he is shooting a three or something.
You know, I think the same thing, but their record speaks for itself. They do have some pretty quality wins, and Jerry Sloan is a great coach. AK47 is getting healthy, Boozer is playing big, Okur is playing big, Deron Williams is growing up, and they have tons of role players who contribute. I don't know if they can keep it up, but I think they are good enough to win the division over Denver. I don't think Melo can carry the Nuggets, but Utah seems balanced enough.
What do you guys think about the headband fiasco in Chicago? Personally, I think its dumb that the guy can't wear a damn headband. They should probably try to keep Ben happy because they are paying him 60 million.
It's also worth noting that Dwayne Wade is going to be this year's Sportsman of the Year, breaking the stranglehold that ***gy New England athletes have had on the title these past two years.
Thats good. Dwayne Wade deserves it. Oh, and Tom Brady wanted me to tell you that he loves you and he blew a kiss at you.
The Mavs and the Suns just keep winning. I said earlier in the season(I think I posted it on here) that I felt that the main problem for alot of struggling teams, and especially these two, is that they have a balanced offense. I feel like most of the teams that are succeeding have an offense that is focused on just a couple of(or one in some cases) guys. Teams that pass the ball around alot lost a bunch of games early because they couldn't adjust to the stupid new ball...but now they've done so, and they're recovering nicely. The playoff contenders in the West mostly seems the same this year as last year, and Dallas/San Antonio/Phoenix still seem to just simply be better than the rest of the pack. It just seems like their game is more refined or something.
I had a feeling about Orlando, but I didn't think they would be leading the East. Dwight Howard is just a machine.
Zach Randolph had 31 and 13 last night, and is averaging in the neighborhood of 20 and 10 for the season. This is probably the best season of his career so far, and I really think he should have a legitimate shot of being an all star. I know teams like Portland get no love because they have a losing record, but the guy is really good, and really should get a chance.
A) True point (ex. Stockton, Nash, Kidd)
B) Dominant Power Forward/Center (Stoudamire, Howard, Martin)
C) Shooter (Marion, Hill, Kittles)
As soon as Pheonix signed Nash, they had it. By drafting Nelson, they just had to wait on Howard to form himself, and you have a top team. The question is how soon can they turn it to a trophy, as Pheonix is going on 3 years. And unlike Pheonix (before Amare's knee), Orlando has a real liability in their equation (Grant Hill is shaky limbed).
If you'd look at my West playoff picture, I have it pretty much mapped out there also-- Utah and Lakers still among the west best. And I said the Rockets would improve well with a third option.
NOK still impresses me, but I have to believe they'll eventually bottom out. Peja comes up weak in clutch, as the Kings. And Paul needs just another year to be a perennial all-star.
He also gets all his points the hard way the Blazers are not a running team so theres no "easy" buckets really. Yet through all this he still manages to get between 25ish-30 points a game?
Anyways with some great rookie pickups this year im looking forward to future brighter seasons back in the Rose Garden.
Feel free to bid on my cards here!
That was absolutely beautiful!!! Zach is indeed hustling his ass off right now, and we really don't have another consistent scorer to back him up. We realllllllllyyyyy need Brandon Roy back because he does a little bit of everything. We were a touch above 500 before he got hurt, and was clearly standing out amongst the rest of the rookies, and I expect more of the same once he gets back. Roy can score, defend, dish, grab boards, take people off the dribble, and just flat out hustle. We need him soon, and I hope that ankle gets better!
Well I also like Aldridge alot hes very good and is a valuable member of our team. Im happy with how bright the future is looking if we can keep this talent and they progress with there level of skill. We also lost all our jail-blazers woo we don't have the most time in jail team in the NBA lol.
But yes I agree Brandon Roy is amazing I can't wait to see him and Aldridge play together which we haven't seen yet this season due to injuries for both players at different times.
Feel free to bid on my cards here!
It will be really tough for Randolph to make it on the All Star team. His team is terrible and there are a ton of great forwards in the West. The starting five will probably be Nash, Kobe, Yao, Nowitzki, and Duncan. There will be at least two guards as reserves (Chris Paul and Deron Williams), which only leaves five more spots for reserve forwards/centers. So out of Melo, Boozer, Stoudemire, Marion, and Garentt, who do you leave off for Randolph? It's unfortunate for him that he doesn't play in the East, because I could see him starting on that team.