Tuesday, November 02, 2004
NBA tips off tonight
Sort of lost in the election craziness, the NBA returns. Lakers begin their unpredictable season against a Denver team that heavily improved over the off-season. The Nuggets are sure to contend for a top 4 spot in the west. While it's only the first game of the season, this is exactly the kind of game the Lakers need to find their bearings. Amidst all the word that this is now "Kobe's team," the Lakers are still in search of an identity that defines how Kobe's supporting cast will perform. I'm very concerned about their weakness in the middle at the power positions. Vlade Divac is already flirting with the injury bug (not to mention, ancient), Brian Grant is getting up in years (not to mention being undersized in the powerful west), and Chris Mihm is just plain inconsistent (not to mention a shadow of the player he was thought to be when he was drafted).
Its a three team race out east and a cluster fuck out west. Shaq going to Miami just splits the balance of power into about a half dozen teams.
The new Charlotte Bobcats will be incredibly bad. A record low 8-74 season is within reach. Not to mention my scorn. It wasn't but a couple years ago that Charlotte let the Hornets fly off and relocate in New Orleans. That they have another team after such a brief absence is a joke.
I see no reason to not put Detroit back in the finals. Miami is one injury away (be it Shaquille O'Neal or Dwayne Wade) from flopping. Heat will be a serious threat in a year or two. Until then, just another contender. If Minnesota is healthy, they'll meet the Pistons in the finals. Big "if," though what with Wally Szerbiack and Sam Cassell ailing last season. If Cassell was healthy in the playoffs, Minny could very easily have gone to the finals. Their main cause for concern, now, is the proverbial powder keg that is Latrell Sprewell who, stunningly, remained in check last season. If the T-Wolves have issues, San Antonio will vault them in a second.
Final standings prediction:
Eastern Conference
Atlantic (just a bunch of crap teams):
New York *
Boston *
Philly
New Jersey
Toronto
Central (best in the East... great...):
Detroit *
Indiana *
Milwaukee *
Cleveland *
Chicago
Southeast (one horse division):
Miami *
Orlando *
Atlanta
Washington
Charlotte
Western Conference
Northwest (poor Seattle):
Minnesota *
Denver *
Utah *
Portland
Seattle
Southwest (yikes! toughest division may only get 2 in playoffs):
San Antonio *
Houston *
Memphis
Dallas
New Orleans
Pacific (interesting race up top):
Sacramento *
Lakers *
Phoenix *
Golden State
Clippers
* = playoff team
Honestly, picking those last two playoff teams out West is impossible. I went with the Lakers and Suns, but how can you leave out Memphis and Dallas? Portland's going to be tough, too! I'm probably blinded by Lakers fan-dom, so they'll probably slip out, but I like Rudy T coaching that team a lot. Again, this team is a mystery now that Shaq is gone.
Sacramento is another team with an identity crisis and it'll be interesting to see if one of the best collections of talent in the league doesn't devour itself from within. There's already division between Chris Webber (the superstar who vanishes in the playoffs) and Peja Stojakovic (the league's best shooter and, perhaps, most important player on the team). If Peja isn't their leader, then Mike Bibby certainly is. Chris Webber: good for a triple-double on any given night, yet he's the 2nd most overrated "superstar" in the league (Vince Carter of lowly Toronto is 1st).
Dallas will no doubt have trouble at the point and continue to be soft in the middle. They already announced that rookie Devin Harris will be starting ahead of Jason Terry. Very surprising. Again, count me in the camp that is actively rooting against Dallas and their "get as many scorers as possible" philosophy; one that can only assure a flame-out in the playoffs -- if they even get there. I hate teams that are built for the regular season and not the post.
Memphis isn't surprising anyone anymore and it'll be interesting to see if there's a let down there.
Phoenix looked dynamite in the pre-season, but their defense will be tested heavily and they lack a strong center. Although Amare Stoudamire looks primed for a monster year.
Okay, game on. Go Lakers!
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Its a three team race out east and a cluster fuck out west. Shaq going to Miami just splits the balance of power into about a half dozen teams.
The new Charlotte Bobcats will be incredibly bad. A record low 8-74 season is within reach. Not to mention my scorn. It wasn't but a couple years ago that Charlotte let the Hornets fly off and relocate in New Orleans. That they have another team after such a brief absence is a joke.
I see no reason to not put Detroit back in the finals. Miami is one injury away (be it Shaquille O'Neal or Dwayne Wade) from flopping. Heat will be a serious threat in a year or two. Until then, just another contender. If Minnesota is healthy, they'll meet the Pistons in the finals. Big "if," though what with Wally Szerbiack and Sam Cassell ailing last season. If Cassell was healthy in the playoffs, Minny could very easily have gone to the finals. Their main cause for concern, now, is the proverbial powder keg that is Latrell Sprewell who, stunningly, remained in check last season. If the T-Wolves have issues, San Antonio will vault them in a second.
Final standings prediction:
Eastern Conference
Atlantic (just a bunch of crap teams):
New York *
Boston *
Philly
New Jersey
Toronto
Central (best in the East... great...):
Detroit *
Indiana *
Milwaukee *
Cleveland *
Chicago
Southeast (one horse division):
Miami *
Orlando *
Atlanta
Washington
Charlotte
Western Conference
Northwest (poor Seattle):
Minnesota *
Denver *
Utah *
Portland
Seattle
Southwest (yikes! toughest division may only get 2 in playoffs):
San Antonio *
Houston *
Memphis
Dallas
New Orleans
Pacific (interesting race up top):
Sacramento *
Lakers *
Phoenix *
Golden State
Clippers
* = playoff team
Honestly, picking those last two playoff teams out West is impossible. I went with the Lakers and Suns, but how can you leave out Memphis and Dallas? Portland's going to be tough, too! I'm probably blinded by Lakers fan-dom, so they'll probably slip out, but I like Rudy T coaching that team a lot. Again, this team is a mystery now that Shaq is gone.
Sacramento is another team with an identity crisis and it'll be interesting to see if one of the best collections of talent in the league doesn't devour itself from within. There's already division between Chris Webber (the superstar who vanishes in the playoffs) and Peja Stojakovic (the league's best shooter and, perhaps, most important player on the team). If Peja isn't their leader, then Mike Bibby certainly is. Chris Webber: good for a triple-double on any given night, yet he's the 2nd most overrated "superstar" in the league (Vince Carter of lowly Toronto is 1st).
Dallas will no doubt have trouble at the point and continue to be soft in the middle. They already announced that rookie Devin Harris will be starting ahead of Jason Terry. Very surprising. Again, count me in the camp that is actively rooting against Dallas and their "get as many scorers as possible" philosophy; one that can only assure a flame-out in the playoffs -- if they even get there. I hate teams that are built for the regular season and not the post.
Memphis isn't surprising anyone anymore and it'll be interesting to see if there's a let down there.
Phoenix looked dynamite in the pre-season, but their defense will be tested heavily and they lack a strong center. Although Amare Stoudamire looks primed for a monster year.
Okay, game on. Go Lakers!
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