NBA Previews

[Colin]

This is my very same preview post from .org, so to maximize the purpose of this big ass post it's now at two sites. Now yours doesn't have to as long winded as this. Try to at least give your playoff teams.

Rank. Team (Conf. Rank)

Eastern Conference
Atlantic Division
1. Philadelphia 76ers (3) - This must be the most average division in pro sports. Even though this team has lost Eric Snow they should be just fine. Glenn and McKie/Green/Korver are good options on the perimeter and Kenny Thomas and Dalembert will crash the boards and get their points. This team also has surprisingly good depth with two of McKie/Green?Korver coming off the bench with Iguodala, Brian Skinner, Corliss Williamson.
2. New York Knicks (5) - The backcourt is solid with Steph, Allan, Penny and Jamal. Even if some of them make too much $$$. The front line is questionable with Mohammed and Tim "What's Contact?" Thomas. Kurt Thomas is a good bench player but would not do well in the starting line-up.
3. Boston Celtics (7) - Paul Pierce is a great player, Jiri is coming along, Ricky is a great spark plug and GP should be able to teach a thing or two to their draft class. Up front more questions with Mark Blount, Raef LaFrentz, Googs, and McCarty. The young guns (Jefferson and Perkins) are not ready to contribute allthough they may be forced too.
4. Toronto Raptors (10) - Another backcourt in good shape with VC, Jalen, Alvin Williams, Skip, and Herpes Peterson. The front line has potential to do well with Bosh apparently looking great in preseason after packing on a few more pounds and Rafael with an NBA ready body. Marshall could be a sixth man candidate. Then again they could easily tank.
5. New Jersey Nets (11) - Point 1 - JKidd is old and has a bum knee. Point 2 - Jefferson only looked good because of JKidd and a healthy knee. Point 3 - K-Mart is in Denver, and starting Scalabrine is a real option. Yikes.

Then again the teams in that division could finish in the oppostie order and it wouldn't be very surprising.

Central Division
1. Detroit Pistons (1) - Who needs Memo? Not these champs as they have added McDyess (apparently looking good) and Derrick Coleman to replace him with a growing Drunk Milicic. Bar any injuries this team will be first again.
2. Indiana Pacers (4) - If it wasn't for that pesky division-winner-gets-top-playoff-spot thing this team would be second. Ron Artest playing overrated defence and muscling his way to the hoop and mini-KG playing well will carry this team of course. Jamaal Tinsley could be a problem though, and Reggie would be a defensive liability if it wasn't for Ron-Ron taking the good sg's. Stephen Jackson and Fred Jones off the bench is good in my books though. Hopefully David Harrison can contribute right away because Scot Pollard and Jeff Foster both shouldn't be starting.
3. Cleveland Cavaliers (6) - LeBron - Boozer = Playoffs??? Another year to improve and gel. The additions of Eric Snow, Drew Gooden, and Luke Jackson should help at those positions. Jackson provides some three-point range, but only some. Hopefully Big Z's feet hold up.
4. Milwaukee Bucks (9) - Very good wing players with Mike Redd, Desmond Mason, and KVH. Too bad they suck everywhere else. TJ Ford will come along, just not yet. And no matter how Dutch Dan Gadzuric is he really isn't that good.
5. Chicago Bulls (12) - Kirk could continue improving, the rookies could do well, this may be the year for the '01 big men, and the veterans could provide great leadership for the young guys. But there is no way all of that is happening in one year. Eddie Robinson is still a bum, and while one of the two C's might improve they are not both going to be good.

Southeast Division
1. Miami Heat (2) - Shaq, Dwyane Wade, Eddie Jones, and...no one else. That will definitly carry them to a great record, and is more than enough to win this divison. They won't be able to go deep into the playoffs with this line-up though. Shaq will not play the whole season, Dwyane is still learning (but learning very quickly), and EJ is on the down slope of his career.
2. Orlando Magic (8) - Yes they will make the playoffs. I just like Dwight Howard for some reason. Really like him (don't make any immature jokes about that comment.) Grant is looking good, and if he plays 70+ games this team has a chance. If he is playing he will play point forward if the Magic know what's good for them. Francis would be very effective without the 'pressure' of bringing the ball up and deciding between missing a shot and passing. And they got Jameer off the bench. I want to use this team in NBA Live.
3. Washington Wizards (13) - The '01-'02 Warriors finished 21-61. This team has the same big players. Except when Kwame Brown is on your team you get worse. They really don't have much hope for anything. Jarvis Hayes and Steve Blake better do something since they're the only decent non-Warriors.
4. Atlanta Hawks (14) - I'm torn with this team. Antoine should guarantee them a loss, but they also have Kevin Wliis (an OG Hawk) and that athletic frenchman. Antoine and his airballs win. One more thing, Al Harrington is dumb.
5. Charlotte Bobcats (15) - Well...I'm taking Gerald Wallce in my fantasy team. And Emeka might win ROY since he's being forced to score in this lineup giving him good all-around numbers. Everyone knows they're going to suck, and suck harsh too.

Western Conference
Southwest Division
1. San Antonio Spurs (1) - Brent Barry guarantees them this division. Tim Duncan will be super good again, Paker will be good, Ginobili is so in control when he's out of control, Barry gives leadership, and if Nesterovic every grew a backbone I would put this team in the finals.
2. Houston Rockets (5) - Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady. They need a point guard badly. I really don't have anything to say about this team.
3. Memphis Grizzlies (6) - This is the same team as last year. A good team, but not a great team. A first round team, but not a second round team. I like their line-up, and Pau Gasol seems to have come from a different cut of Euros with *gasp* a mean streak and post game. Not much more than last year from this team.
4. Dallas Mavericks (8) - I strongly dislike Dirk Nowitzki and it's against my religion to praise him or whatever team he happens to be on. I also started to dislike the Mavs as since they have Steve Nash everyone here in Canada loves them and always had to say why they weren't that great. Eventually I just disliked them. Anyways, I just think these other teams are better than them.
5. New Orleans Hornets (10) - This move to the west has really removed the advantage they had in the East: a good frontcourt. Combine Mash's injury with the move and they are not making the playoffs. Allthough this is another tight division, it couldn't be flipped up-side down without notice, but teams 2-5 could.

Northwest Division
1. Minnesota Timberwolves (2) - KG is too damn good. The only thing holding them back is the apparent unrest happening with Spree and Cassell. But the return of Troy Hudson is huge, as is the signing of Eddie Griffin. He could give KG a chance to rest if he keeps his gun in the bedside table and his fist away from women's faces.
2. Utah Jazz (7) - ANDREI!!! He is a do-all amazing player. Arroyo is only getting better, and the signing of Boozer and Okur is great. By predicting them in seventh place Jerry Sloan will get them homecourt advantage. Ok, maybe not, but Sloan is a great coach. They will do well.
3. Denver Nuggets (9) - K-Mart is a good addition and all, but the Western Conference is too damn good for them. This team would be at least a five seed in the East which is a shame. Another reason they won't do great is Carmelo Anthony is a little bitch.
4. Portland Trail Blazers (12) - The Trailblazers are in for a real dog fight this season (hahaha.) Randolph is good, but has no concept of defence, Miles is shaky, Abdur-Rahim is a sixth man candidate, and there is no clearcut winner at the pg spot (at least one of these guys will request a trade by next offseason.) Theo Ratliff might block a lot of shots, and Zach Randolph might score a lot of points, but they are two players so there are holes in this team.
5. Seattle SuperSonics (13) - They just don't have a very good team. Ray Allen is still a good player, but he's the only one on this team. Rashard Lewis isn't a smart, experienced player (but hey, he can score 50 points in foreign countries) and Flip Murray is far too cocky. They might have hope if Collison can step it up.

Pacific Division
1. Los Angeles Lakers (3) - As much as the Lakers lost they are still a good team. And Kove will give them a few wins. This team is mostly here because I hate the Kings with a fiery passion from deep within my soul. If Karl Malone stays, they can get this seed. However, if he leaves Brian Grant is in the starting line-up and there is no good back-up at center or power forward. Horace doesn't have another season in him, and Cook is still a youngster. This Laker team needs to get out and run, or they will die a painful half-court death.
2. Sacremento Kings (4) - They won't win anything big as their window has been shut. The team will do well in the regular season, but I see them loosing in the first round. Chris Webber, Doug Christie, and Mike Bibby are all bitches, Brad Miller is a chump, and Peja can't bring them out of that.
3. Phoenix Suns (11) - My team baby. While their 1-4 positions are very well filled with Amare, Marion, Richardson, Johnson, Nash, Barbosa, and a shooter in Casey Jacobsen. But their center postition wouldn't cut it in the Atlantic division. The choice between Voskuhl and Hunter is a real doozy, I haven't seen Hunter play so I don't know which one should start. And I currently don't know who they plan on starting.
4. Los Angeles Clippers (14) - They're the Clippers! People who post on this board can easily bench more than Livingston, and Maggette is a pretty boy who is streaky. Brand can't lead them out of that, not even with a 30-15 season. Their saving grace could be Kaman playing well at center.
5. Golden State Warriors (15) - They were so close a few years ago, now...nothing. This team can't keep games close enough for Derek Fisher to shoot them out of. Jason Richardson needs to work on his jumper, and what happened to Troy Murphy?

East Finals
Detroit Pistons over Philadelphia 76ers ( )
West Finals
Minnesota Timberwolves over San Antonio Spurs

NBA Finals
Minnesota Timberwolves over Detroit Pistons

Your turn.

[NNpF]

I don't know how you got 76ers in the Eastern Conference Finals...?

Other than that is is looking good, however, like you said I wouldn't be surprised if the Eastern Conference turns out to be totally different in terms of ranking.

[Wormy10]

I don't know how you got 76ers in the Eastern Conference Finals...?

Same question here

[Colin]

According to my seeds, Sixers (3) beat Cavs (6) then beat the winner of Indy (4) vs. NY (5). Which IMO would be Indy. And seeing as Indy likes to screw up in the playoffs and they don't have a good matchup against Iverson...it's not that far out.

[XianeX]

PG: Derek Fisher / Speedy Claxton
SG: Jason Richardson / Mickael Pietrus
SF: Mike Dunleavy Jr. / Eduardo Najera / Calbert Cheaney
PF: Troy Murphy / Cliff Robinson / Andris Biedrins
C: Dale Davis / Adonal Foyle

I'd like anybody hear to name one team as deep (besides the Grizzlies) as this current Warriors team. Speedy Claxton, Mickael Pietrus and Clifford Robinson could be starters on any other team. Calbert Cheaney could be a sixth man on a lot of teams.

Point Guard
Derek Fisher provides a good veteran presence who knows how to win and who knows how to make clutch shots. Though, last season, nearly all (I believe) his numbers were down, what would you expect from a roleplayer on a team with 4 Future Hall-of-Famers? Perhaps Fisher was paid too much but I don't think so because his mind is set on winning and he knows how to be a winner.

Preseason Stats
12.5 PPG (44% FG, 50% 3P)
2.3 RPG (0.7 ORPG, 1.7 DRPG)
3.5 APG
1.2 SPG

Speedy Claxton looked incredibly sharp last year and I don't expect him to do any worst this year. He's amazingly quick and can drive by just about any point guard (or player) you can match him up with. Claxton is reliable when it comes to driving to the lane and finishing at the hoop, his mid-range game isn't amazing but it is reliable and Claxton has added something to his repertoire which he had ignored his first few years as a player, a 3 Point Shot.

Preseason Stats
11.8 PPG (43% FG, 50% 3P)
0.8 RPG (0.8 DRPG)
3.5 APG
1.0 SPG

Shooting Guard
I'm going to make this clear: I do not like Jason Richardson. I can honestly say that Richardson is one of the weakest players on the team. for being a shooting guard, he has one of the worst jumpshots in the game. Until he develops a respectable jumpshot, defenders can give him room to eliminate his main strength, driving. His assist numbers are incredibly and his turnover numbers are pretty high. Richardson supposedly made a huge stride defensively last season but I saw no indications of that. His rebounding numbers are one of the few positives in his game, he eats up a good amount of rebounds for being a 6"6' guard. He is probably the worst starting SG in the league.

Preseason Stats
14.4 PPG (40% FG, 46% 3P)
4.6 RPG (1.0 ORPG, 3.6 DRPG)
3.2 APG
1.6 TOPG

Mickael Pietrus is the Warriors' SG of the future. I can guarantee that he will be starting come next season. Pietrus' defense is absoloutely phenomenal, he can shut down (or keep in check) a top-notch performer like Tracy McGrady or Kobe Bryant, he can guard quick PGs when the Warriors go big, his stats don't show how dominant he is but all you have to do is watch him play. To be a truly dominant SG, he must develop a reliable shot as he was shooting 41% from the field, 33% from the 3-point range and 69% from the charity stripe (nearly identical to Richardson's). Whereas, he is not as good as a rebounder as J.R., he gets the job done and can contribute nicely.

Preseason Stats
INJURED WITH SHOULDER SURGERY

Small Forward
Mike Dunleavy Jr. has all it takes to be a top-tier small forward or a top-notched point forward. Dunleavy has a good shot (but when it's off, nothing's uglier), amazing court vision (better than Livingston who average 1.5 APG in the preseason), good passing skills and decent-mediocre defense. The only real concern with Dunleavy is that he looks scared to drive, sometimes, but in the closing games of last year, he became more agressive and better. Another thing Dunleavy could improve on is his assist-turnover ratio, it's not that he makes bad plays or judgements but he often miscommunicates with the receiver.

Preseason Stats
9.5 PPG (38% FG, 7% 3P)
5.7 RPG (1.0 ORPG, 4.7 DRPG)
2.0 APG
2.6 TOPG

Eduardo Najera is a poor-man's Brian Cardinal. He hustles every play, he eats up the offensive boards, he dives for loose balls, he does all the little things that the Warriors need to be done for them to be effective. Though Najera doesn't have the long-range shot like Cardinal does, he gives the Warriors something they need, an inside presence. I can't say much more considering I've only see him play a few games but I'm happy with the acquisition.

Preseason Stats
7.4 PPG (41% FG)
4.4 RPG (1.0 ORPG, 3.4 DRPG)
2.0 APG
1.2 SPG

More coming later...

[Fresh8]

My Lakers Preview

Center

Chris Mihm/Vlade Divac

I expect Divac and Mihm to share PT at the 5 this year. The problem with the Lakers is that they have Divac: a talented passer but is old and Mihm: a player trying to actually play well after years of... doing nothing.

Vlade has been 'dead' for the presaeason which means Laker fans won't see him until the season begins and so the team better hope Vlade can still keep up with his old old body. If Divac can play well, the Lakers will be good and playing well means fitting Vlade into the Laker's offence. Vlade's passing talent should enable him and Kobe to form a good inside-out duo but I believe the main focus is on Lamar and Kobe to be the duo...

Mihm has had a decent preseason with 11 ppg, 6 rpg (including 2.5 offensive rpg) and 2 bpg. He has shot .536 from the field starting all six games for the Lakers. However, don't be surprised if Mihm is relegated to the bench once Vlade is back. The teams success relies on Vlade to stay healthy and if not- Mihm will need to play well because he is the only backup 5 on the roster!

Power Forward

Brian Grant/Brian Cook/Slava Medvedenko

Brian Grant will definately start at the 4 this season. He had 22 and 11 last game (I believe) and is averaging 5.8 and 4.6 shooting 61% from the field in only 16 minutes a game. From his past ventures in the East Grant was able to play the center position but now in LA, he will need to play the 4 and stop players like KG, TD and Webber most nights. The thing Grant needs to do is step up if he is ever to play at the 5 and try and rebound the ball very well.

Brian Cook looks like a very nice future prospect! He has averaged 12 ppg in 6 games off the bench in 24 mpg. He also has 4.5 rpg and around a steal a game plus shooting 7-16 form three point territory. This year he's most likely to come off the bench to play but his time will come in the near future!

Slava is interesting for me. He stepped up his performance while Shaq and Malone were gone last year. He has a great shooting touch but his defence has lacked intensity. After scoring 12 points in the preseason opener, he has been injured since. I am not sure if this guy will play any 5 this year, it depends on the health of the team. Slava needs to set his mind to defence and if he does, he will get lots of minutes!

Small Forwards and Shooting Guards

Probable rotations:

SF: Odom/George/Jones/Walton
SG: Kobe/Butler/Rush

The 3 and 2 postions really screws up the team because Rudy T needs to decide on how he's going to rotate all of his players.

I know that everyone knows that Lamar and Kobe will start. Kobe is playing 33 mpg in preseason action and seems to have made the point that this is his team with stats of 23, 4, 4 and 1. If Kobe wants the team to win, he will need to involve the team more this season and we'll see what happens.

Odom is having difficulty adjusting to the new system. He has avergaed 9, 7 and 4 and is shooting a horrendous 28% from the field. The fact that Odom needs the ball like Kobe does is really having an affect on his game. The lakers will need to find a way to involve him as much as Kobe.

Not much can be said about all of the other players because alot have been injured. Caron Butler has had some time to adjust after injury, he told Rudy T he wasn't ready yet. But today he scored 18 and looks like he will contribute as a sixth man behind either Kobe and Odom. However, I believe the Lakers may employ a tactic of letting Kobe bring the ball up with Odom and Butler on the wings in a lot of games. (Butler has averaged 8 and 5 and 1.2 spg... he has been playing bad though...)

Devean Geroge and Kareem Rush will be back to provide their offensive games to Rudy's running team and they should fit into his system staright away. Rush was said to be the laker's best shooter and he will need to live up to expectations after scoring those threes against Minny (Not to mention he has promised a playoff appearance for LA). George who plays a similar style to Kobe has always been inconsistent. The Lakers need him to step up off the bench and score and contribute in many ways.

Jumaine Jones, arriving from Boston has had some flashes of brilliance (I guess) but his impact on the team hasn't been really seen. The lakers hope this kid can ressurect his career in LA. And Luke Walton... what can I say- maybe he can play at the point or he won't be used at all!

Point Guards

Chutky Atkins/Sasha Vujavic/Brown or Bobbit

After shipping off Gary Payton- this is the second most important spot because talent in this department isn't all that great. Atkins will start but I don't expect big things from him. Rookie Vujavic has recieved great reviews for his gameplay and attitude which is good news to me. Vujavic's averages of 5,3,3 are pretty modest and he was deffinately a steal for the Lakers.

Tierrie Brown and Tony Bobbit will probably fight for a roster spot. Both have similar averages and I have no idea about their playing styles. Brown has shot way better from the field- so I have no idea! I believe that Bobbit may get the nod though because I have read some quotes praisng his work. In the end though, both may be cut if Karl Malone does decide to return!

X-Factor

Karl Malone

If Karl Malone returns to the team mid-season, two things may happen:

1) The team may be even better with Malone's hustle
2) The team may become worse and struggle like how Webber affected the Kings last season!

So- let's see what happens!

Season Outlook

It looks like an okay season for the lakers this season.

On an unbias view, the lakers have a chance at the pacific Div title, getting into thje playoffs and second round tops. The team needs to do many things before they make the playoffs- the team will need to sort out it's SG/SF problem, hope the big men don't get hurt and think of a way to involve Kobe and Lamar.

Kobe Bryant will be out to try and win the MVP trophy but if he does try that- the team will be doomed. If Bryant plays smart and doesn't abuse the leway Odom has given him- the team can gof far...

Prediction:

Lakers will go 46-36

Kobe will average 31ppg, 7rpg, 5apg, 2spg and win co-NBA MVP with KG

Lakers will be knocked out by the Spurs in the second round!

[.]

Actually, Rudy T wants Odom to start at the Power Forward and put Caron Butler at the Small Forward while Brian Grant can come off the bench.

Tierre Brown will most likely get the roster spot, and the Lakers will cut Tony Bobbitt, to bad we cant keep them both. I actually wouldnt be to surprised if some games in the regular season, Rudy T will let Tierre Brown start. During the offseason he has showed how easy he can go to the rim and shake off his defenders or pass it out, he has played much better then Chucky Atkins Imo.

[Arcane]

I got to meet a friend of rudy t today hes the brisbane bullets (NBL) biomechanics/physio guy and has been given an offer to tryout as part of the coaching squad for the lakers this year, it's between him and a college coach.

[alexboom]

nice recap colin, but you're talking of the wizards as the "warriors", and it's pretty misleading, even if they have 2 ex-Warriors with Arenas and Jamison

[Bill Russell]

I posted this on another thread... But I'm such a lazy bum I'll copy and past it again... Voila...

My predictions...

- Dallas: Dirk will be top 5 in scoring, get at least 10 boards, Terry be top 10 in assists, Daniels average at least 14, 5 and 4, though Mavs will be 5th on the West. Finley will be on decline, Devin Harris will barely play, Stack will complain a lot but manage to get some votes on 6th man of the year trophy. Dampier will regress, but not as badly as people think. A trade will happen on the deadline. Mark Cuban will be even richer and will answer lots of e-mails, including one from some poster from here.

- Houston: T-Mac will have his same wicked stats, Yao might approach 20-10 territory, both will be all-stars, but everyone else apart from Juwan Howard will suck. Team turmoil. A couple of trades might go down, not envolving the two big guys though. Houston will be 7th on the West, early exit on playoffs. Van Gundy's job (and hair) in danger.

- Memphis: team won't qualify for the playoffs. Hubie will retire after season's end. Swift's contract status will create turmoil on the team, as he seeks more opportunities. Lorenzen Wright will clash with someone, maybe Bo Outlaw, so they can create Lorenbo Outright and enter a name competition. Seriously now, 3 players will request trades, and all of them will be averaging at least 22 mpg. Jason Williams will be top 3 in assits and assist/turnover ratio. Hubie Brown will unite his players speak for 38 straight minutes, until someone turns the lights of the arena off, and Hubie recalls his team is in the middle of the 4th quarter of a game. Shane Battier will win 2 community awards, and will start learning a fifth language. Also, he will create a business with AC Green and they will write a best seller book, "How to keep yourself pure till your 40's".

- New Orleans: team will be surprise of the season and sneak in playoffs with the 8th seed. Baron Davis will improve his shot selection and earn high praises from coaches. Too bad Byron Scott won't past the 50th of the season. Magloire will improve his stats, though not so much because of the conference. Mashburn won't return. Ever. The Hornets will play together (despite Byron), with a nice mix of role players and guys settling in their roles. JR Smith will be All-Rookie team, and compete on the dunk contest. Last year of PJ Brown as we know him.

- San Antonio Spurs: team will qualify for the 3rd seed, but early playoff exit. Duncan will be injured before the 60th game, but will play hurt till season's end, only to have his hopes (and his body) broken at the start of the playoffs. Ginobili will be amongst MIP nominees. Parker won't improve as much. Brent Barry will show a bit of age, not really be a good fit. Malik Rose will either get traded on waived. Knicks pick him, if possible. Isiah loves undersized PF's.

- Denver: team will be 4th seed come playoffs time. Carmelo won't improve as confidence will be shattered. He won't be on the All-Star team due to injury on his neck. K-Mart will fight with him too. Denver will have one of the most dangerous frontlines in the history of mankind, as Martin, Nenê and Camby manage to injury lots of players. Camby will be injured after a Miami game, when the basket falls over him after a Damon Jones to Shaq alley-oop. Martin will be solid though, and will be an All-Star. Miller and Boykins will be offered a sitcom, "Richard Pryor & the Squirrel", but will refuse. Boykins will take Miller's job before the all-star break, and Miller will move to the 2-guard position. Nenê won't be happy and will leave team after the playoffs.

- Minnesota: team will get NBA's best record and # 1 seed, will steamroll and win NBA championship. KG will be MVP, Spree and Cassell together for one last hurrah before retirement. Cassell will miss 17 games though. Wally will get votes for 6th man of the year. Hassell will be the new Bruce Bowen and earn All-defense team honors. Kandi will be a bust, but KG will be so dominating they won't even need him around.

- Portland: team will miss playoffs as clash of egos happen often. Patterson will complain about Miles, who will complain about Van Exel, who will complain about Telfair, who will complain about Cheeks, who will complain about management, who will complain about Randolph, who will complain about Abdur-Rahim, who will complain about Stoudamire, who will complain about Ratliff, who will complain about the Russian guys, who won't understand a thing at all. A player will be arrested or go to jury. A player's parent/relative/family member will have some legal problems. Paul Allen will get richer and buy another team so he can leave this mess to God.

- Seattle: team will compete night in night out, too bad they won't have games on the in nights. Biggest disappointment of the season, top 3 in baddest teams. Nick Collison will come back but be forced on some surgery which will take the entire season to rehabilitate. Rashard Lewis will be traded before January, same with Ray Allen, who will get hurt and lose his superstar SG status. Radmanovic won't improve. Flip Murray will improve a lot but will be traded. Team will dismantle.

- Utah: team will be 5th on the West before All-Star break, but Boozer and/or Okur will be injured so they will be out of playoff picture come march. Kirilenko will be an all-star, and even more pictures of his delicious wife will surface on the media. Arroyo will disappoint people in Puerto Rico. Kirk Snyder will be a steal and make All-Rookie 2nd team, the new Pietrus. Jerry Sloan will get this team playing together and miss Greg Ostertag.

- Golden State Warriors: team will be amongst playoffs' candidates till late February, but injuries to Adonal Foyle and Derek Fisher will leave team depleted for leadership. Fisher will hit 15 buzzer-beaters, one of them in the face of a former wife-beater. Both beater will engage in a fight. Foyle will win countless community awards and donate the majority of his so-criticized deal to Kerry's 2008 campaign. Foyle will average 12 points, 13 rebounds and 3,5 blocks. On a 48-minute basis though. Jason Richardson will be top 3 in rebounding guards, and Mike Dunleavy will get many votes on MIP award, finishing the year with 17, 8 and 4. Speedy Claxton will get votes for 6th man of the year, and will show some promise. Chris Mullin will be fired after season's end.

- Los Angeles Clippers: team will be 5th on their division. Too bad there are only 5 teams now. Brand and Maggette will be top 5 in duo's scoring, Maggette will get MIP consideration and earn an All-Star berth. He will date Tyra Banks. He will average 23 ppg, 7 rpg, 4 apg and 6 opn (orgasms per night). Shaun Livingston will start 29 games, but get injured. Donald Sterling will fuck some bitches. Too bad he will die from a heart attack when some girl riding on him tells him she was the same girl who accused Kobe of raping her. Donald will lose his willy power, prompting him to sell the team to get some money and get some mojo-regaining surgery.

- Los Angeles Lakers: team will surprise a lot of people, getting 6th seed on West. Kobe will be 4th in MVP voting, behind KG, Shaq and Iverson. Kobe will average 28, 7 and 6. Kobe will ballhog a lot. Rules will be discussed regarging ideas to let games involving Lakers & others teams to have two balls: one in Kobe, for him to ballhog, and other to let the real game happen. Odom will smoke some joints in Phil Jackson's Montana Zen House, but will hide it from everyone and manage to get All-Star team status. Atkins will suck. Mihm will suck. Divac will play less than 45 games. Caron Butler will complain about lack of playing time, and get traded to a contender for a big man. Brian Grant will be a huge success in Hollywood, making cameos on sports movies and rap videos.

- Phoenix: team will not qualify for the playoffs. Someone will get hurt, badly, maybe a torn ACL. Could be Nash, could be Quentin. Nash will get hurt. Amare will get big numbers but disrupt team chemistry. Either Marion/JJ will receive lots of blame and trade talk will be there, but won't happen. Barbosa will display much-improved game and get few votes on MIP award. Coach Mike D'Antoni won't last past February.

- Sacramento: team will get 2nd seed come playoffs time, somehow. Brad Miller will miss 15 to 20 games, but manage to be back healthy near the All-Star game and finish strong, making All-NBA 3rd team behind Yao and Shaq. Webber will adapt his game to his new physical condition. He will be regarded by NBA experts as one of the best basketball IQs of all-time. Peja will regress, and maybe get traded before trade deadline. B-Jax will make case for 6th man of the year. Bibby will make All-Star team and All-NBA 3rd team, it will be his prime. Ostertag will help bringing the chemistry along, and will miss Jerry Sloan. Rick Adelman's beard will be even whiter, but not his teeth. Team will make conference finals but lose again, and the Maloofs will think about rebuilding.

I'll do the Eastern conference some other time... Enjoy...

[Jackal]

Pff, LA's going to win it all with their run & gun. If not LA, Shaq will dominate.

(What? Shutup.)

[Colin]

nice recap colin, but you're talking of the wizards as the "warriors", and it's pretty misleading, even if they have 2 ex-Warriors with Arenas and Jamison

And Larry Hughes. So, depending on how well Jarvis Hayes plays, that means 3 of 5 starters from that Warriors team are on the Wiz. And those three were the best on GS, and are also the best on Washington.

I'd like anybody hear to name one team as deep (besides the Grizzlies) as this current Warriors team. Speedy Claxton, Mickael Pietrus and Clifford Robinson could be starters on any other team. Calbert Cheaney could be a sixth man on a lot of teams.

No those players would not be starters on any team. They would be among the worst starters at their position in the league.

Teams deeper than the Warriors: Grizzlies (you mentioned them), Pistons, Pacers, Sixers, Spurs, Mavericks, Wolves, Nuggets, Lakers.

Teams with just as much depth: Knicks, Hornets, Suns, Kings, Jazz

You're a little fanboy.

Funny Tales.

[Bill Russell]

Ok I'll do the East predictions now...

Boston: Paul Pierce will have a huge year (something in the 25/5/5 mood), too bad any other teammate won't average more than 12... Pierce will lead the league in turnovers per game and will request a trade by February. The Celts will be entertaining but won't win as much as expected. Someone will blow his knee before January. Raef LaFrentz will have problems with his knee. Ricky Davis will fight (in both senses) for a spot on the starting lineup, and will be the team's 3rd best player, behind PP and GP, who will ressurect his career averaging 17 and 7 for the year. Too bad he will get traded in mid-February after playing 5 games for the team and refusing to show up on team meetings. Al Jefferson will be a keeper and will dunk on either Kwame Brown's or Darius Songaila's face. Delonte West will earn high praises around the league and be voted All-Rookie 2nd team. Team won't qualify for the playoffs and there will be some management personnel change in the off-season (ie, Ainge out).

New Jersey: team won't qualify for the playoffs, but will be as bad as lot of people think. Richard Jefferson will have a huge year and will be considered a top-5 SF, averaging 22 ppg, 7 rpg and 4 apg and playing 40-plus mins per night. Team chemistry will be a plus, and lots of players will be in the same situation (fighting to stay in the league and get a better contract). Jason Kidd will pout and moan and cry and everything, but will only be traded in the off-season, and he only returns in mid-february and no team wants to gamble on his risky knee and bad contract. Jason Collins will be confused with his twin brother in 173 situations, 31 of them being in either Chicago or Minneapolis, plus 59 of them being in Salt Lake City, one of them being in the middle of a game against the Utah Jazz when a certain referee who shall remain unnamed will make a case that Collins is violating league rules by playing for both teams in the same game. A week later, the same referee will be suspended by the league as there will be proofs that he was drunk during the game. Coach Lawrence Frank will be second on the MSNIY Award (Most Sleepless Nights in the Year), who is only conceded to coaches. Winner will be Jeff Van Gundy (for the 2nd year in a row, and 5th time total).

New York: team will qualify for the playoffs, 7th seed and early exit, generating media buzz and playoffs revenues at an all-time high in the world's capital, like always. A coach will get fired, a GM will be the new coach. Isiah Thomas will alienate 2 more players with his antics and dictatorship ways. The NY media will create and buzz around the Knicks lockerroom for a new sitcom, "The Thomas", featuring Isiah, Kurt and Tim. Meanwhile, star player Stephon Marbury will keep his career averages of 20 ppg, 8 apg and 32 wps (wins per season). Jamal Crawford will shot an all-time low 33% from the field and average 18 ppg and 4 apg. Michael Sweetney will be sweet from down low, averaging 12 ppg and 6.4 rpg and getting votes for MIP, too bad will be found a father of 3 children from different women. A bench player will be overpaid in the offseason. Kurt Thomas will be suspensed, and Tim Thomas will draw boos in Milwaukee in a much-antecipated, not-televisioned game, and will have 8 points and 3 boards in 32 minutes of action. There will be trade rumours floating in the Big Apple like flies on a dead man's dick. Too bad none of them will come out alive, like the dead dick.

Philadelphia - full of unsung heroes, team will be surprise of the season alongside Utah. Allen Iverson will get Jim O'Brien to like him so much that Obie will grow a goatee and get himself some tattoos, and be the first coach to wear headbands in actual games. A certain player will miss 12 practices during the season and also cause controversy with a statement regarding race, money, guns and rap. Allen Iverson, though, will be third in the league in scoring, lead the team in assists and steals, be an All-Star starter, and miss 18 games due to many injuries. This will not be the last year of Allen Iverson as we know him. Also, Samuel Dalembert will prove to be a legit center, and cash a lot of green in the off-season. Kenny Thomas will have his numbers reduced, due to the depth of the team, but not his effectiveness. Andre Iguodala will be regarded as the new Mikael Pietrus, and will be invited to the Slam Dunk contest on my NBA Live 2005 dynasty. Team will be 3rd in the East, as someone has to be the first in the Atlantic Division.

Toronto - team will make the playoffs but be due to an early, despite showing a bit of promise as the 6th seed. Vince Carter will not be traded, but will not play more than 65 games. Vince will be the leading-vote player for the ASG, and will not have his career season in 2004-2005. The heart of the team will be composed by Chris Bosh (who will make a quantum leap and average 18 ppg and 9 rpg, a borderline all-star), Donyell Marshall (16 ppg, 8 rpg, 1 bpg, strong 6th man candidate), Rafer Alston (12 ppg, 6.5 apg, 1.5 spg) and Jalen Rose (16 ppg, 4 rpg, 5 apg, 27% FG), alongside rookie Rafael Araújo (7 ppg, 6 rpg on a reserve role). Jalen Rose will report to a pre-game meeting wearing some outrageous pink suit with green tie and light brown aligator shoes, instantly prompting Sam Mitchell to suspend him without pay for two games. Donyell Marshall will bolt the team in the offseason. Vince Carter will request a trade again, to no effects.

Chicago - surprise team of the season, too bad of the 2032-2003 season. Regarding this season, da Bulls will show promise but once again will not qualify for the playoffs. During a 3-game-stretch in mid-March, 11 players will faint in the court. Further investigations will show that Eddy Curry did eat all the pre-game meals available, leaving other player's stomaches empty. Argentinean rookie Andres "Chapu" Nocioni will dunk on 4 famous players, one of them being Tim Duncan and the other being Shawn Bradley (who is not that famous, but just to make the streak alive). He will also fight in 18 occasions, two of them being in NY (making T. Thomas cry on the court), and one in Phoenix, where star Amare Stoudamire will leave the game due to a cut on his eyebrow. Ben Gordon will be a bust till mid-December, when he will realize he does need to play like the hype people created for him, and will get out of his bubble. Luol Deng will be a runner-up for ROY and draw comparisons to Grant Hill. 25 articles will be published on the media telling us about how Duke players keep getting overlooked in the NBA. 3 members of this forum will drop from the Bulls bandwagon, and 29 members of this forum will post something to the effect of "if Michael Jordan were running the team, they would be better", "I miss the MJ days", "MJ was the king". Tyson Chandler will miss 3 games due to injury on his balls. Eddy Curry will hurt someone. Eddy Curry will be an All-Star, too bad it will only happen on his PS2 NBA Live 2005 game.

Cleveland - team will confirm expectations as playoffs are a sure sight, being the 5th seed in the East but facing Indiana in the first round. LeBron "King" James will have a good reasonable season, posting 29 ppg, 12 rpg and 13 apg. His son, Carmelo Dwyane James Bond, will get a contract from Nike and have a much-publicized ad all around the world, promoting his shoes, "Prince James for babies". The rest of the team will live in a wonderful state of chemistry, and many of them will be named for "comeback player of the year" award for many journalists around the world. Eric Snow, Jeff McInnis and Drew Gooden will have career years. Drew Gooden will be 2nd on the MIP award voting, averaging 18 ppg and 11 rpg and playing in 75 games. Zydrunas Ilgauskas will show a bit of age but will demand a maximum contract, which will be half paid by one of Prince James' contracts. It will be a happy year in LeBron-land.

Detoit - it will no surprise to 29,061,782.8 people who follow the NBA that the Pisstons will repeat as 1st seed and eventual champions. Larry Brown will not play Darko Milicic as "he's still raw, very raw... in fact, so raw that if he were some kind of meat, we would not use him for a bbq". Ben Wallace will gather lots of fans, and Rasheed Wallace won't. Rip Hamilton will have some problems with his nose, and Tayshaun Prince will be confused with Kate Moss. In the meanwhile, Antonio McDyess will feel some leg and knee pain and not be as effective as some people think. Too bad Carlos Delfino will come to the rescue, getting enough praise as to be considered for the All-Rookie 2nd team.

Indiana - team will underachieve due to injuries. Two starters will suffer long absences, and one of them will be a dominating player. Ron Artest will not get injured, and will have his best season so far, posting averages of 20 pts, 6 boards and 4 assists. Team will qualify with the 4th seed, and for the first time Rick Carlisle won't have a 50-win season. Reggie Miller will call it a career after the playoffs. Stephen Jackson will get few votes for 6th man of the year, averaging 17 ppg, 5 rpg and 2 triples a night. Jamaal Tinsley will improve his play but not reduce the numbers of critics.

Milwaukee - team will surprise lots of people this year, but will be the first team not to qualify for the playoffs (9th seed). Desmond Mason, Michael Redd and Keith Van Horn will average at least 17 ppg and 5 rpg and 2 apg each, and will form the core of the team. TJ Ford will make people cry. Joe Smith will get his niche once again, gaining more and more good rep for being one of the best role players of the 2000's. Keith Van Horn will disappear during a game. This will happen 43 times. Desmond Mason will posterize 17 defenders, one of them will be dunked on so hard that he will cry for his mom. Another one will be on a 10-day contract. Erick Strickland will help the team in some way. Michael Redd will get a big contract in the off-season, not exactly from Milwaukee.

Atlanta - this will be perhaps the worst team in the NBA, with a few bright spots. Too bad Antoine Walker will cover them with huge body. Good ol' Antoine will average 21 ppg (on 34%FG and 29% on 3s), along with 8 rpg, 5 apg, and 834 3pt FGA, setting a new NBA record. A coach will be fired in the way. Al Harrington will be the team leader, but will miss 25 games due to injury on his thigh (Antoine though it was a rib and tried to eat it). Peja Drobnjak will draw criticism from his teammates as he tries to go thru the season without taking a bath or/and using deodorant. He will get a huge-ass offer from Rexona in the off-season though, prompting him to retire and be the model boy for a worldwide campaign featuring "half-bearded sexy-rude men who wear innovative deodorants" ad. Nobody will miss him. The Joshes and The Smiths will not play that much, but someone will recognize them on the streets. This person will be their mothers.

Charlotte - they will not be as bad as Atlanta, you heard it here first. Emeka Okafor will be runner-up to ROY, averaging 14 ppg, 7 rpg and 1,3 bpg, drawing comparisons to David Robinson, Alonzo Morning and Jim McIlvaine. Gerald Wallace will be the team's best player, averaging 16 ppg (on 41% FG), 7 rpg, 4 apg and 1,7 spg. Primoz Brezec will receive lots of "do you want to marry with me" letters, and average 12 ppg, 6 rpg and 1 bpg along the way, marrying Vanessa Williams after deciding between her and Britney Spears (who will have a new album out, called "Primoz Time", featuring a duet with Primoz on the track "I'm the sexiest person alive"). Primoz will have a street named after him on Charlotte, and will demand that Emeka and Gerald have to be on their way out for him to resign after the season. Jason Kapono will arrive on practice in some Wednesday very beaten up, because he will be mistaken for some members of the N*Sync or the Backstreet Boys. Charlotte will win 19 games because their opponents will be so much tired from laughing at them that they will forget that a game is composed by 4 quarters of 12 minutes each.

Miami - team will qualify as the 2th seed in the conference behind Detroit. Shaquille O'Neal will avenge being traded from the Lakers, and will average 29 ppg, 13 rpg, 4 apg, 2 bpg and 57% from the field. It will be the last year of Shaq as we know him. Dwyane Wade will make a quantum leap, getting 19 ppg, 5 rpg, 6 apg and 6 buzzer-beaters, including one in the second round of the playoffs, against Indiana. Team will make it to the conference finals, only to be defeated by Detroit once again. Damon Jones will provide solid leadership and countless jokes in the locker room. Jesus Christian Laettner will revert back to his 1992 pre-Olympics ways. Eddie Jones will work wonders as the 3rd weapon, averaging 16 ppg and leading the league in 3 pointers made.

Orlando - team will surprise lots of members, qualifying for the 8th spot but facing an early exit by facing Detroit. Steve Francis will average 21 ppg, 6 rpg and 8 apg, and make a case for MIP award, which he will not win. Cuttino Mobley will average 17 ppg, 4 rpg and 3 apg, and will hug and slap his buddy Francis 129,842 times during the season. The two will admit there is a homossexual relationship between them, and that they plan to live, play and retire together. Dwight Howard will shock the world and be ROY up from the start of the season, averaging 15 ppg, 8 rpg, 2 apg and 1,8 bpg, and draw comparisons to Kevin Garnett and Amare Stoudamire. Hedo Turkoglu will be mistaken for a Disney tourist.

Washington - despite winning as many as 38 games (a franchise-record setting achievement), team won't qualify for the playoffs. Antawn Jamison will be 3rd team All-NBA, averaging 22 ppg and 9 rpg. Gilbert Arenas will miss 34 games with injuries, and Larry Hughes will average 17 ppg (on 42% FG) and leave the team and the SG spot to super-sub and 6th man of the year Jarvis Hayes. Kwame Brown will get dunked on a few times, most notably two by Vince Carter and Desmond Mason, and will cry for his mom at times. Kwame Brown will average 11 ppg and 8 rpg, puzzling people with his development and commitment to the team and his career.

Enjoy...

[J@3]

Enjoy...

Are you advertising Coca-Cola or something these days?

[j.23]

Chicago - surprise team of the season, too bad of the 2032-2003 season. Regarding this season, da Bulls will show promise but once again will not qualify for the playoffs. During a 3-game-stretch in mid-March, 11 players will faint in the court. Further investigations will show that Eddy Curry did eat all the pre-game meals available, leaving other player's stomaches empty. Argentinean rookie Andres "Chapu" Nocioni will dunk on 4 famous players, one of them being Tim Duncan and the other being Shawn Bradley (who is not that famous, but just to make the streak alive). He will also fight in 18 occasions, two of them being in NY (making T. Thomas cry on the court), and one in Phoenix, where star Amare Stoudamire will leave the game due to a cut on his eyebrow. Ben Gordon will be a bust till mid-December, when he will realize he does need to play like the hype people created for him, and will get out of his bubble. Luol Deng will be a runner-up for ROY and draw comparisons to Grant Hill. 25 articles will be published on the media telling us about how Duke players keep getting overlooked in the NBA. 3 members of this forum will drop from the Bulls bandwagon, and 29 members of this forum will post something to the effect of "if Michael Jordan were running the team, they would be better", "I miss the MJ days", "MJ was the king". Tyson Chandler will miss 3 games due to injury on his balls. Eddy Curry will hurt someone. Eddy Curry will be an All-Star, too bad it will only happen on his PS2 NBA Live 2005 game.

im still laughing, that was classic tales

[Bill Russell]

I'm advertising a good read to everyone...

[Matt]

My Detroit Preview:

Ok, so the Pistons won the championship and stunned the world, and even me of course because this time last year i was thinking Conference Finals. This of course changed when Rasheed arrived, i was thinking CHAMPIONSHIP. (sorry, can't win with Okur on defence). So it happened, and in great fashion too. Hamilton kick ass, Billups was MVP, Prince officially owns Reggie Miller.

So, it's been an interesting offseason and the Pistons got even BETTER. Delfino will deffinately play and has shown a knack of getting steals on defence, although this hasn't pleased Brown because he gambles on Defence. Delfino fills in at backup SG, a position filled by nobody last season, Hunter and James would be the replacement backcourt, this time it's Hunter and Delfino.

Then theres McDyess who is healthy now, and if remains so will give fits to other backup big guys. Can you picture a trio of Ben Wallace, Dice and Sheed in a zone, how kick ass would that be, and could have Prince @SG.....DEFENCE!!!!

anyways, i predict a Finals appearance against the Spurs

[Fresh8]

Very true... I read that somewhere kobe4mvp... Rudy T believes Lamar has a good enough outside game and athletiscim to succeed as the 4... we'll wait and see!