Best Team in the league?

[Dro]

Dallas- Ring please. Dangerous team, good from inside outside, on the break, and on D. Will be looking for revenge for last years "loss" to Miami.
Saving grace- Cuban learns to keep mouth shut.

I like your analysis, nice read.

From what I understood, you expect the Mavs to win the title this season, correct? But here's my logic; the Suns took the Mavs to 6 games last season with an injured Raja Bell. The main problem was lack of an interior presence for the Suns. Now, this year they add Kurt Thomas and Amare Stoudemire. Suppose neither of them are 100%...they will still average AT LEAST a combined 30ppg and 15rpg. Then there's also the addition of Marcus Banks, taking a lot of pressure off Steve Nash. Not to mention the additions of Jumaine Jones and Eric Piatowski. However, if Amare and Kurt have injuries that keep them out of the playoffs...then the Suns are in trouble.

[nets4life]

dont worry man, they got sean marks

[Zoom]

Saving grace- King James, enough said.( oh yeah someone earlier said he wasn't so good in the clutch. He led the league in shooting % in one possesion game situations. MOST CLUTCH.)

- I'm not sure where you got that from but... I thought Carmelo had the best FG% in the clutch...

[sdot_thadon]

- I'm not sure where you got that from but... I thought Carmelo had the best FG% in the clutch...

Melo has more buzzer beaters, I think this is a different stat though, not sure who comes up with this stuff.

"James continued to blaze a historic trail, averaging 31.4 ppg, 7.0 rpg and 6.6 apg, and becoming the youngest player to score 6,000 career points. He became just the fourth player in NBA history to average better than 31 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists – joining Oscar Robertson, Michael Jordan and Jerry West – he was the MVP of the All-Star Game, he was a league-best 19-of-29 from the field in one-possession games and, gulp!, he’s still only 21."

http://www.nba.com/preview2006/cle.html


About Phoenix, yeah those two will combine for 30+ points perhaps, but they will be taking touches from Diaw, Marion, etc. If they manage to play defense well and score high then I would say best in the league.

[maes]

Just to post some meaningless #s... (all from www.82games.com)

Team's Stats (opponent's stats)
eFG: FG% with 3 pointers adjusted upwards
ppt: points per 100 possessions
FTA: free throw attempts

Detroit
eFG: .498 (.478)
PPT: 111 (103)
FTA: 23.8 (20.5)
Jumpers: 71%
Close Shots: 21%
Dunk/Tip: 8%

Excellent ppt advantage (tied with SAS for best), great FT advantage. They have two glaring weaknesses: they mostly settle for jumpers, almost as much as Phoenix; and they lost a key player in Ben Wallace. Firing up a lot of jump shots along with losing your best defender are never desirables come post-season.


Miami
eFG: .478 (.440)
ppt: 109 (105)
FTA: 28.2 (27.1)
Jumpers: 60%
Close Shots: 30%
Dunk/Tip: 9%

This is pretty simple...relentless attacking of the basket. Tons of FTA. Only a bit more than half their shot attempts are jump shots...the highest dunk/tip % out of the bunch. It's just a question for stamina and injuries for these guys...but both are real issues.


Dallas
eFG: .496 (.475)
ppt: 112 (105)
FTA: 28.3 (26.4)
Jumpers: 69%
Close Shots: 26%
Dunk/Tip: 6%

Kinda good in most categories, nothing exceptional but no glaring weaknesses. No major off-season changes. Should be Conference Champs and maybe a Finals appearance again.


Phoenix
eFG: .537 (.491)
ppt: 112 (106)
FTA: 18.0 (23.9)
Jumpers: 73%
Close Shots: 22%
Dunk/Tip: 5%

They have the most high-octane offense, but their ppt is not the highest. They also shoot from the outside the most, and have a distinct disadvantage in FTs. But by far they have the most potential to drastically improve with Amare coming back & improved performance from their youngsters.


San Antonio
eFG: .513 (.457)
ppt: 108 (100)
FTA: 23.1 (23.3)
Jumpers: 65%
Close Shots: 31%
Dunk/Tip: 5%

They were pretty good to begin with but IMO had the worst off-season. Lost their starting & backup Center, Duncan & Finley are a year older. I never thought i'd see the day when Seattle has better Centers than San Antonio.


Just from a trends & age point of view, by next year I have to believe the Suns will dominate. All that relies on Amare's legs, but there's a good chance he'll come back 90% or better. And there's a 100% chance that every other team has suffered through 82 more games of wear & tear.

[BigKaboom2]

I've got to give it to the Spurs. Their record was absurd last year despite being in the Western Conference and having several injuries. They always end up dictating the tempo every time I see them play, and it's hard to beat a team like that. They would have won the championship if not for Dirk (my favorite non-Celtic) being completely lights out in Game 7 (37 points, 15 rebounds and that absurd 3-point play after Ginobili's dagger).

[Kbryant8]

Suns and Bulls will own alllll..

[Klayface]

All that relies on Amare's legs, but there's a good chance he'll come back 90% or better.

Good chance at 90%? He had microfracture surgery, only player that came back from that was J. Kidd, other than him all the other guys were mere shadows of what they once were (Allan Houston, Penny Hardaway are the the only two I can remember right now). But anyway, I don't really what the hype is about when it comes to the Suns and Bulls, Amare isn't gonna 100% for a while, if ever. They can score 110 points every night but what good is that when you can give up 111? Sure they can win in the regular season but what about when it really matters? Can they stop, lets say the Spurs, in a game 7? One off game for Nash means an off game for the Suns. With the Bulls getting Big Ben they improved, but improved enough to win it all? Come on now, not with PJ Brown at PF. Last year Ben put up the worst numbers hes put up in a while, which was why Detroit didn't bring him back. He spent how many numbers of years with the same group of guys in Detroit, you play better when you are familiar with the guys you play with. Bens a great player, don't get me wrong hes one of my favorites, but is he really that big of a difference maker for the Bulls team? Sure he brings the swagger and mentality but will he be able to perform at the same level he did for so many years in Detroit? And even if he does perform at that level remember hes Ben Wallace, not KG.

[In_Ya_Face]

i would say, that in the east the best teams are cavs, heat, pistons and bulls.
the bulls have to show if thesy work together with wallace. if they can, this a dangerous team, but they are lacking a superstar. the pistons are the only team in recent years that had no superstar but won a champoinship. i don't know if the bulls can achieve that, or in that particular way.

the heat are simply the champions. they will have a tough time this year, and i don't think they will win the repeat.

the pistons lost thei defensive motor, and mohammed isn't near him. but i also think that ben is overrated. he fitted the team in detroit very well, and that is why he got that much attention i think. having said that, i think the pistons are still on top if the east, but will also have to fight very hard for the crown.

the cavs are a togh team, don't understimate them. last year, when hughes missed the half of the season, and damon and donyell looked like they never played basketball, the cavs still managed to clinch the fourth position. they even almost bumped out the pistons outta the playoffs. this is lebrons achievement for sure. he carried the team trough the playoffs and th entire season.
With him, a healthly hughes and donyell and jones in good shape, the cavs shouldn't have no reason not to end the season with a 55+ win record. plus, if shannon brown plays well, this will be a huge lift.
Lebron nut clutch? look at his two buzzer beaters in the playoffs, or the one against the bobcats at the end of the season. He also deliever a few assists to jones and murray which ended in a win. this guys plays with his head. bryant shoot jumpers on hisself, and win, or not. james passes the ball to the open man with a 100% chance to knock down the shot. but he also can deliver on his own.
give him a break, this kid is still 21, he has enough time to develop.

[Shi]

In the East my HEAT are gonna be the best,right after the cavaliers and the bulls.
In the West the Suns will be number 1,the mavs will be ontop of the sw division,and the spurs will be 4th seeded but 3rd ranked.

[Bang]

Miami Heat. Shaq is getting older, but Dwyane Wade is getting much better. (I would say at a faster rate than Shaq is declining.) Plus it took a lot of time for the team to mesh together, and now they have had time. Also you can't teach clutch. Dwyane Wade has the rare ability to play better when it counts.

The Suns might be the best team in regular season, but I still don't think the run and gun style of basketball will ever give them a championship.

[Wayansfan]

lol ill go with arenas and the wizards!

[sdot_thadon]

Miami Heat. Shaq is getting older, but Dwyane Wade is getting much better. (I would say at a faster rate than Shaq is declining.) Plus it took a lot of time for the team to mesh together, and now they have had time. Also you can't teach clutch. Dwyane Wade has the rare ability to play better when it counts.

I agree, but can D-wade be the same player without Shaq calling for attention dow low? Shaq was mediocre last year, having break out games once every week or so, occasionally having two or three straight good games. He's a step slower than he was, gets called for charges more now cause people beat him to the spot, freethrows always lacked, misses dunks that used to be automatic, Big Ben blocked a dunk attempt? He's a big guy, he has to work hard to slow the rapid decay of his game and we all know Shaq doesn't work out hard in the offseason. But we'll see in a few weeks.

[Matt]

Theres a lot of things that contributed to Miami's championship last season.....and they'll need them all again this year.

1. D Wade going insane
2. Shaq drawing dbl teams, and defending pick rolls
3. relatively smart play from A Walker
4. Role players defended

anything less won't do.

[theflash02]

To take a different spin on things. What about the Houston Rockets?

They have arguably the best C in Yao Ming. And Tracy MacGrady is an All-Star and one of the best swingmen in the NBA. The addition of Shane Battier is good for Houston because Battier is unselfish, plays hard defence and will make shots when needed.

Then you have Bonzi Wells coming off the bench and he showed what he could do during the playoffs for the Kings.

If this team is healthy, I think they have what it takes to beat Dallas, Miami and the Spurs. The Suns are talented but i think Houston can match up with them. Perhaps Houston can be the best team?

Yup they do have bonzi wells now but he just got his TESTICLES removed!!

hahaha... LOL..

just kidding.. mean he is still undergoing a groin surgery.. thats really really a hard time hes gonna be goin through..

[---]

Yup they do have bonzi wells now but he just got his TESTICLES removed!!

Never, ever, ever go 1 on 1 with Reggie Evans.

[scrub]

I go with the Mavs with the Heat and Suns tied at second. Last year it was Miami as the strongest team but they are a year older this year and that is one big year for Shaq, Zo and Payton who are on their last legs. The Suns are so strong but it will take a while for Amare to get back to his best and I think the Mavs bench is stronger than the bench of the Suns. The Mavs roster is packed with talent with one MVP candidate and two great supporting players in Jason Terry and Josh Howard. Jerry Stackhouse, Devin Harris, Devean George and Anthony Johnson add to what is this great squad. The defense of Buckner, Dampier and Diop is pretty good and they have a real good mix in their team. One of the deepest teams in the league and what I think is the best but I don't think they will win the championship. Their form will definitely not be as good as last years similar to how the Heat slipped a little after a great season and only finished with a 52 win record. I think the Mavs will be similar but turn it on in the playoffs.

[diddy]

my pick is my favourite Miami Heat, coz
1. Shaq, even though he's getting older, he doesn't show everything he can last season!
2. Wade, became the greatest nba player in the playoffs, and he's getting better and better! so he won't stop! and which player doesn't want to have another one champ ring?
3. Walker, he became an ultimate scorer for mia! and i think he'll stay at that spot
4. Zo, the second most improoved player of Miami Heat last season! he improoves he's defending skills, and it's a big factor in the miami's defence!
5. j-will, find his touch with Miami players!
6. glove, posey good bench warmers, payton could get an important shot, when it needs!

the main problem for miami this season is phoenix, if all stars of suns will stay uninjured! if so, it's hard to say who's gonna win! the third place i would give to the spurs.

[scrub]

Walker was hardly the ultimate scorer. He had a career-low in points averaged. I speaking of Wade becoming the 'Greatest NBA Player in the playoffs' I hope your speaking of just last sesons playoffs.

[Matt]

stopped reading after this....

2. Wade, became the greatest nba player in the playoffs

[Indy]

my pick is my favourite Miami Heat, coz
1. Shaq, even though he's getting older, he doesn't show everything he can last season!
2. Wade, became the greatest nba player in the playoffs, and he's getting better and better! so he won't stop! and which player doesn't want to have another one champ ring?
3. Walker, he became an ultimate scorer for mia! and i think he'll stay at that spot
4. Zo, the second most improoved player of Miami Heat last season! he improoves he's defending skills, and it's a big factor in the miami's defence!
5. j-will, find his touch with Miami players!
6. glove, posey good bench warmers, payton could get an important shot, when it needs!

the main problem for miami this season is phoenix, if all stars of suns will stay uninjured! if so, it's hard to say who's gonna win! the third place i would give to the spurs.

Hell yeah dood.

[bigh0rt]

Give me New Jersey to come out of the East, and Phoenix to come out of the West. From there it's a toss up for me.

[ThaLiveKing]

ONEAL
HARRINGTON
GRANGER
JACKSON
TINSLEY
GREENE
DANIELS
HARRISON
FOSTER
MARSHALL
POWELL
S. WILLIAMS
BASTON
ARMSTRONG


OH YEAH, ITS TRUE

Don't Get it Twisted, San Antonio will be in the Finals this year!! If Miami played them Last year, they wouldn't have won shit!!