Holy shit. I spent a good 2+ hours thinking up and writing out this post, then when I clicked submit, it said to log in. I freaked out and pressed back, and for soemreason it refreshed the thread and the quick reply text block was empty. I felt like smashing something. Then I went out and got something to eat, came home, logged in using another window, and tried pressin back again - and everything came back.
Quick summery -

.......
Eastern Conference
1. Detroit Pistons (53-29)
2. Chicago Bulls (51-31)
3. Boston Celtics (47-35)
4. Miami Heat (43-39)
5. Cleveland Cavaliers (49-33)
6. Toronto Raptors (46-36)
7. Washington Wizards (42-40)
8. New Jersey Nets (40-42)
9. Orlando Magic (40-42)
10. Milwaukee Bucks (39-43)
11. Charlotte Bobcats (33-49)
12. Philadelphia 76ers (33-49)
13. New York Knicks (31-51)
14. Atlanta Hawks (31-51)
15. Indiana Pacers (25-57)
Western Conference
1. Phoenix Suns (64-18)
2. Dallas Mavericks (62-20)
3. San Antonio Spurs (56-27)
4. Utah Jazz (51-31)
5. Houston Rockets (55-28)
6. Denver Nuggets (46-36)
7. Memphis Grizzlies (42-40)
8. New Orleans Hornets (41-41)
9. LA Lakers (39-43)
10. Golden State Warriors (36-46)
11. LA Clippers (35-47)
12. Portland Trail Blazers (33-49)
13. Sacramento Kings (25-57)
14. Seattle Supersonics (24-58)
15. Minnesota Timberwolves (18-64)
Eastern Conference Finals: Boston defeats Detroit 4-3
Western Conference Finals: Phoenix defeats Dallas 4-3
NBA Finals: Phoenix defeats Boston 4-3
My thoughts on each team:
Atlanta - They're gonna regret passing on Conley. Horford is nice and Law is solid, but the Hawks will continue to lose. The current roster just isn't working and the East got stronger. Possible breakout season for Marvin Williams.
Boston - The trio of Garnett, Allen and Pierce are to be reckoned with. If The supporting players play good defence, feed the stars and hit the open looks they'll get, they're a top seed. Health is very important here.
Charlotte - Made a good trade for Jason Richardson who will put up some big scoring numbers. Could sniff the 8th seed if teams like Washington and New Jersey break down. With more wins Emeka Okafor should finally get the recognition he deserves.
Chicago - Joe Smith helps down low, but he's just a band aid over a pretty big wound. Maybe the deepest team in the league, and the addition of Joakim Noah gives Ben Wallace a little more rest. If Tyrus breaks out somewhat and Noah impresses, they are as good as anyone in the Eastern Conference.
Cleveland - Done essentially nothing to make this team better. LeBron should be a little more motivated after his first Finals appearance and have an MVP season. Solid role players like Pavlovic, Hughes and Gibson need to step up a notch to keep this team winning. Personally I think they overachieved last year and will come back down to earth a bit.
Dallas - As good as anyone in the league, but haven't taken the necessary steps during the offseason to go one better than the competition. Stackhouse should keep bringing it off the bench and Josh Howard will continue to improve and (continue) to make Dallas so tough to gaurd. Dirk seemed a little shaken, it'll be interesting how confident he is this season.
Denver - I love Melo, but I think this team is a bit like the Hawks. They lack a point guard and the team just doesn't seem to fit together, to me atleast. The lack of a good passing point guard will continue to hurt them, but if they can stay healthy all season they are still a good team.
Detroit - I hear alot about Detroit being old, but I don't buy it. They now have 4 real nice young players - Jason Maxiell (22), Rodney Stuckey (21), Arron Afflalo (21) and Amir Johnson (20), who has already played 2 seasons in the NBA and last season averaged 15/12 with over 4 blocks, per 40 minutes. Also, it's not like Rip, Chauncey and Tayshaun are on their last legs, at 29, 30 and 27 respectively. Still an elite team.
Golden State - I think Jason Richardson's loss hurts alot more that people think. Brandan Wright is a great fit for this team and Belinelli looks promising but it means nothing until they prove themselves. I think a healthy New Orleans and a non-tanking Grizzlies team will push them out of the playoff race.
Houston - Had a nice offseason and I believe they are almost ready to join the big three (Phoenix, San Antonio and Dallas). Being healthy is very important for McGrady and Yao, obviously, but I think the biggest "if" with this team is the point gaurd position and how the teams PG's play. The Rockets, with they're defensive abilities, solid roleplayers and offensive stars will remain near the top of the league.
Indiana - Rebuilding mode. I wouldn't be suprised to see JO go down again and this team tank it for the year, especially with players like OJ Mayo and Derrick Rose waiting for them come June 2008. Should be back in the lottery again, despite a nice showing from Danny Granger.
LA Clippers - Apparently Livingston's rehab is going well, but he still has a long way to go. Sam Cassell is now 37, and while he can still play, he doesn't have too much left. Al Thornton should help, but what does he offer that Corey Maggette doesn't? Brand will most likely opt out after another lottery appearance - as will Maggette, leaving the Clips with nothing after another losing season.
LA Lakers - LA always seems to make the playoffs, but for the first time I remember, Kobe Bryant doesn't seem to be motivated as a Laker. Their desperate need for a point guard was eased a bit by the addition of Javaris Crittenton, but overall the roster is very weak. With Memphis and New Orleans on they're way back up, they need a big season to make the playoffs. I don't see it happening.
Memphis - Underrated. Conley will be one of the top 2 or 3 rookies this season and will finally give Memphis a point guard who can run the team. They have a star in the making in Rudy Gay, who wasn't utilized properly last season, maybe due to the heavy tanking. Pau is healthy, Lowry is healthy and will be one of the best backup PG's in the league and this team should make the playoffs.
Miami - If Dwyane Wade misses time this season, Miami is in trouble. Shaq is breaking down due to age and injuries, Smush Parker actually has shot at being the starting PG and Jason Kapono jitted for Toronto. Wade must carry this team, which he can, but as with most of the team, health is a huge factor. If Wade misses time, Daequan Cook should show why he was regarded so highly before his season at OSU.
Milwaukee - Two things Milwaukee depends on: health and defence. If Yi joins the team, that's great, but he doesn't do alot right now. He will score, but he doesn't play much defence at all and thats what the Bucks need to make the playoffs. The team is talented enough, and the addition of Desmond Mason (in my opinion, very underrated) helps, but with teams like Boston and Orlando looking like sure fire playoff teams, their isn't much room.
Minnesota - Worst team in the league next year. They have a bright future, but won't and can't do much this season. I belive Randy Foye will have a monster season and Al Jefferson will give them 20/10, easing the pain of losing KG. Despite the fact I like Ricky Davis, they should move him to make room for Brewer and allow Foye to play the 2 more, then grab Mayo or Rose in the draft.
New Jersey - They are on the downswing of this winning Nets era, and this is the year to make something happen before they start their descent to the lottery. Jefferson really needs to shake off the the awful year he had while Nenad Kristic has to continue in the direction he was already going. Marcus Williams should see his minutes rise as the team tries to preserve Kidd, and he wont be a let down. It's only a matter of time before he is mentioned with the Deron Williams and Chris Pauls of the league.
New Orleans - Like so many other teams, health is the biggest factor here. They have the talent and are still very young. If Julian Wright pans out, this team will be very good in the coming years. Led by Chris Paul, they are on their way up and should mak the playoffs for the first time in the CP3 era. They could do some damage in the first round, but not enough to move on.
New York - I don't think the Zach/Eddy expirement will work. Both are great individual players, but opposing frontlines are gonna have a field day offensively and a very tough time defensively, so it sort of cancels out. The backcourt is still pretty shaky and I'm still not sold on Renaldo Balkman. David Lee will continue to be David Lee, but the addition of Randolph sets his playing time back. I truly believe the Knicks will continue to lose.
Orlando - Having a guy like Rashard Lewis on the perimeter is always good and we all know what Dwight Howard is capable of, but I don't see much else with this team. If Jameer Nelson can prove he is the point guard to lead this team, that will help them alot. Outside of Lewis, Howard and Jameer Nelson (if he impresses) are role players like Turkoglu, Ariza and Battie, who are not impressive to me at all. The team is better, but won't go anywhere in the playoffs just yet.
Philadelphia - They had a great draft night, netting Jason Smith, Herbert Hill, Thaddeus Young and Derrick Byars, who are all very good players. Hill and Byars both could turn out to be huge steals. Young to me looks like an early Paul Pierce and should be a great player. Smith helps them out alot with low post scoring. If Rodney Carney and Louis Williams step it up, they could be looking a a playoff spot.
Phoenix - One of the best teams in the league. Alando Tucker is a great player and I think will be a huge help off the bench for this team. Too bad the owner is so cheap, with a few roleplayers here and there to fill their needs this team could be looking at finishing off a threepeat this year. I don't like the loss of Kurt Thomas at all. It really seems to me that this short explosion of Phoenix Suns dominance is coming to an end over the next few years, so nows the time to get it done. That time could be extended greatly if the Atlanta pick nets them a top 3 pick in '08.
Portland - Very promising, but still a few years off. Al Jefferson suddenly became a future franchise player putting up 16/10 on a tanking team with no help up front, so look for LaMarcus Aldridge to be the next big thing. Seriously, LA coul be dropping 20/10 very soon. If Martell Webster can improve on his disappointing career thus far and give them a scorer at that hole at SF, the team is looking good. No playoffs yet, however.
Sacramento - The Kings are looking pretty depressing right now and I think they will continue to lose and go into rebuilding mode this season. Brad Miller couldn't do anything last year and Mike Bibby was disappointing. Hawes is good offensively right now but overall, he's a project. Don't expect much this season.
San Antonio - Similar situation to Detroit. They are still one of the top 4 teams in the league despite their age. Sure, the age will cause the team to decline, but not for another couple of years. Reigning champs and are very capable to go and do the same thing again. Not much to say here, just the same old San Antonio Spurs.
Seattle - Despite the act the team will be losing alot, Supersonics fans should be happy right now. Kevin Durant is ready to lead this team for a long time and if the Jeff Green pick pans out, they got his sidekick. Robert Swift should return from his injury and start getting recognized, helping this team out down low. Delonte West was a nice addition and a shooter like Wally Szczerbiak should open things up down low for Swift.
Toronto - I didn't like the Jason Kapono pick up at that price, but as a basketball player only, Kapono will help. Chris Bosh will continue to do his thing, dropping 20/10+ every night and Bargnani will improve on his pretty impressive rookie season, get the minutes he deserves and produce. The Raptors have a good looking future, and the present looks pretty damn bright too.
Utah - The roster fits together perfectly and this team just works. Three things I love about the Jazz's situation are: 1) Morris Almond - the perfect fit for this team, period. 2) Ronnie Brewers improvement - this guy should be a major player off the bench, an 3) Andrei Kirilenko's re-emergance. If these three things work out well, they have a shot at going deep in the playoffs once again.
Washington - Nick Young was a great pick up for them in the draft. They need a shooting gaurd and they got one, one who can also defend - a big problem with the Washington Wizards. However, they still need a big man very badly. Unless Oleksiy Pecherov comes out of no where to deliver big for this team, they're in trouble down low. The Arenas/Jamison/Butler combo should be good enough for a playoff spot though.
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--- on Thu Aug 02, 2007 4:46 am, edited 3 times in total.