And on opening night I'll decide what I think will happen this NBA season unbiasedly of course (yea right)
1. Dallas Mavericks - I dont expect another 67 win season because I think Avery Johnson realizes he doesn't have to press and grind on his players all season but more as the playoffs come around. I'm curious if the Mavs have found a good backup for Dirk in Brandon Bass or if we'll be subjected to newly acquired Juwan Howard, who's ok but he's not an inside presence and is rather soft. But at the start of the season the Mavs just need to stay healthy and we need Eric Dampier back soon (despite how often he's criticized) It must suck to be one of the top established teams in the league (San Anton, Dallas, Phoenix) to have to coast through the season when you know it doesn't mean shit until March comes around)
2. Phoenix Suns - The team gets rid of there only decent big man defender (Marion's better suited defending the perimeter) with Kurt Thomas and I'm supposed to think they'll be better off?
Grant Hill aint gonna be able to make that big a difference either. I'm curious if rookie and son of cokehead Darryl Strawberry, D.J. Strawberry will contribute as the year goes on. I wanted the Mavs to draft him and I think he can be a solid role player. But as much as I hate the Suns I feel bad for them because of there ownerships unwilligness to pay the luxury tax. When you have a team that's so close to the title you shouldn't be doing everything in your power to remain cheap.3. San Antonio Spurs - Same story every year, they coast through the season and turn it on as the playoffs get closer. They need to prove some people wrong this year by finally doing about the only thing Tim Duncan has been unable to do in his career, thats repeat a championship. Other than that nothing new here other than who the backup PG will be and when the playoffs come and if San Antonio faces Dallas can Francisco Elson stay with Dirk like some think?
4. Utah Jazz - One of the best young teams in the league with rising stars at the cornerstone positions, big man and point guard. Deron Williams proved he was for real last year and he and Carlos Boozer will continue to thrive under Jerry Sloan. The real weakness this team lacks is a sharp shooting, shooting guard. Matt Harpring and Gordon Giricek are ok but it's an area that can be improved. Maybe rookie from Rice Morris Almond can help, he was 3rd in the nation in scoring or 2nd year Ronnie Brewer. The problem is Sloan hates playing young players. Also will Jason Hart or Milt Palacio serve as good enough backups to replace Derek Fisher.
5. Houston Rockets - Plenty of people think this team could overtake the Mavs and maybe even the Spurs this season. I myself don't because I don't think they have enough depth. Luis Scola will provide tough defense and rebounding while taking the occasional charge. Rick Adelman was a great hire now that this team can play defense. Jeff Van Gundy is a great defensive coach, but that's partly because he plays the slowest pace in the league but he couldn't coach offense for the life of him. Hopefully Mike James can fill the role of Bobby Jackson as the 6th man since he rejoined the Rockets this offseason. And will Bonzi Wells or Steve Francis stepup this year, I expect Bonzi to but Francis already seems to be in the doghouse and could be out before the end of the year.
6. Denver Nuggets - It's possible they could take the division over the Jazz but I see the Jazz stepping up this season and am not sure how good a defensive team this Nuggets squad is. Sure they have the reigning defensive player of the year but Tim Duncan ate him up in the playoffs, Nene did a better job than him on Duncan. But people look at the blocks and his longevity as a good defensive player and feel it's his time. But Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony are both subpar defensively. I'm curious if Kenyon Martin can come back successfully and stay relatively healthy. Also just to mention Carmelo Anthony probably has the best all-around offensive game in the NBA.
7. Los Angeles Lakers - Why do I have them in the playoffs? I think Kobe's sticking around the whole year and if they can stay away from Lamar Odom and Kobe Bryant being injured for a long period of time they're capable of being seeded higher. Andrew Bynum is improving by the day and people are expecting big things out of him, and Luke Walton is a perfect player for the triangle offense (I love his game) and Ronny Turiaf is a joy to watch. The Colonel (Phil Jackson, he will be adressed by this the whole season too) will have this team giving someone a scare in the playoffs this year.
8. New Orleans Hornets - Surprisingly not that hard a decision for the 8th seed, I don't see the Warriors playing with the same fire they had last year and this team finished 2 games out of the playoffs last year with everyone of there starters missing at least 20 games. Peja appears healthy and David West and Chris Paul need to stay healthy too. I like the draft pick of Julian Wright too because I think he's an athletic freak who can at the very least be a solid defensive player.
9. Golden State Warriors - The fire won't be there this year and this might piss off Don Nelson and cause him to resign or be run out of time again by Golden State. I think Nelson can turn Brandon Wright into an exciting young big man, provided he can develop a decent perimeter game. It probably won't happen this year. I'm somewhat excited to see what happens when the Mavs matchup with them in the regular season this year. I've never seen a team go so unconscious against a team and then seemingly fall flat the next round, half the shots the Warriors missed vs. the Jazz were swishes against Dallas.
10. Portland Trailblzers - I hate seeing Greg Oden go down, I really liked the kid. I was going to put them on a 3 year plan for them to be contenders and that will be delayed a year with Greg's microfracture surgery. Next year they'll focus on making the playoffs, then get a higher seed the next year and in Greg's 3rd year playing they'll be contenders provided he's healthy. And even if he's not Lamarcus Aldridge tore up the Summer League and the Spurs tonight and if Martell Webster has taken the leap in his 3rd year they've got an even better core than they originally thought to go along with Brandon Roy.
11. Memphis Grizzlies - I don't see Mike Conley being as good as some people think he can be, sure his game rose as the game was on the line but so did Acie Law's but no one was thinking he could be the 3rd pick. I like the signing of Darko Milicic to go along with Pau Gasol and am curious if the athletic Hakim Warrick has improved in his 3rd year.
12. Los Angeles Clippers - I should probably put this team lower because there season ended when they found out Elton Brand will be out until at least January
13. Minnesota Timberwolves - This is the year Al Jefferson becomes the man, unfortunately his team's either to young or to crappy to help him out.
14. Sacramento Kings - I'm a big fan of Kevin Martin and have loved Ron Artest since his Indiana days (even with the brawl) and this team is certainly capable of making the playoffs I don't think they have enough front court help to go far especially with Spencer Hawes possibly being out the season. We'll see if newly acquired Mikki Moore can help or if he was just a contract year player. Oh and I hate Brad Miller forever for being such a bitch to Devin Harris, it's bullshit that he starts a confrontation and Josh Howard is protecting a teammate and yet Howard's the one getting in trouble and Miller gets nothing, FUCK HIM AND HIS CORNROWS!
15. Seattle Supersonics - Another situation where I just have to put someone here and I don't see Kevin Durant being the savior this season that some are predicting (see Simmons, Bill) I don't think they have a prayer at the playoffs but they can potentially finish around the 9 or 10 seed if things go well. I hope Jeff Green and Durant can become a solid duo. Am also wondering how much longer the Sonics will remain in Seattle. Oklahoma City will gladly host them.
Also thought I'd mention I like the new ad campaign the NBA is wheeling out, I hate the slogan, where amazing happens, but the commercials are pretty damn cool.
Playoff Predictions
Conference Finals:
Dallas vs. San Antonio = Dallas (I'm going to operate under the assumption that the Spurs can't repeat)
Bulls vs. Pistons = Bulls (They'll go to the finals without Kobe)
Finals
Chicago vs. Dallas = Dallas in 6 (Big time Homer but I dont care)
MVP: Lebron James
Defensive Player: Tim Duncan (it's a crime that he hasn't received it before)
Most improved: Al Jefferson (he'll probably win this though he made the big leap last year)
Coach of the Year: Scott Skiles
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