| 2007-08 NBA Preview Clark Sheffield |
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With the World Series having just finished up in a most anti-climactic sweep and the NFL in full force, you may have forgotten all about the start of the NBA
season. Actually, judging by the TV ratings (chart, right), you have forgotten. Well, try as I might, I could not forget. I’ve been following NBA action (It’s FAN-
tastic!) since the days when the shorts landed above a player’s knees and the white guys in the league were from the States. We at SrcubSports don’t have
the time, effort, resources, or initiative of our colleagues in the sports pseudo-journalism world, so don’t be expecting any Sports Illustrated-style breakdown.
You can, however, expect me to tell it like it is, and maybe even how it should be. I hope you’ve got a few adult beverages handy too, ‘cause you might need
‘em to get through this article.
season. Actually, judging by the TV ratings (chart, right), you have forgotten. Well, try as I might, I could not forget. I’ve been following NBA action (It’s FAN-
tastic!) since the days when the shorts landed above a player’s knees and the white guys in the league were from the States. We at SrcubSports don’t have
the time, effort, resources, or initiative of our colleagues in the sports pseudo-journalism world, so don’t be expecting any Sports Illustrated-style breakdown.
You can, however, expect me to tell it like it is, and maybe even how it should be. I hope you’ve got a few adult beverages handy too, ‘cause you might need
‘em to get through this article.
|
The Stories:
The Kobe Bryant saga
Will the Lakers trade their disgruntled superstar, leaving a hobbled Phil Jackson without a go-to guy and exposing him as just an above-average manager of
egos who has only been so uber-successful because of the talent around him? Ever since Bryant’s little sexually-deviant escapade in Eagle, CO, it seems
that his on-court and off-court performances have been moving in opposite directions. Despite the widespread belief that he is the best player in the game
today, he hasn’t made any new friends in the public or even the Laker organization. Of course, it doesn’t help matters that Kobe is perceived as having run
Shaq out of town. Since the departure of The Big Aristotle, LA has been an also-ran and Miami has a title. Lakers owner Jerry Buss has been in constant talks
with Chicago about a Ben Gordon, Luol Deng, and others-for-Bryant deal, but it’s unlikely that the Bulls would part with so much young talent for highly-paid
superstar with questionable commitment. After all, they’re not the Yankees. Kobe demanded a trade and in response, the Lakers vowed to improve the team
around him. They did so by adding. . . Derek Fisher? This is a classic Catch-22: Bryant doesn’t really want to stay in LA, but the Lakers can’t find a way to
move him and receive equal value in return. Look for Kobe to start the season in Tinseltown, but if the team is struggling and Kobe’s attitude doesn’t improve,
look for Buss to unload him before the trade deadline for much less than current market value.
Scripted Results
There have long been rumors about the scripting of events and results in pro basketball. Who can forget the stories of the frozen envelope that allowed the
Knicks to earn the rights to draft Patrick Ewing. Pacers fans know all too well about the phantom foul called on Antonio Davis that set up a Larry Johnson 4-
point play and pushed the Knicks past the Pacers in the playoffs. Supporters of the Utah Jazz might even claim that the refs turned a blind eye to MJ’s well-
placed hand on Bryon Russell’s hip (it should be noted, however, that many Jazz fans are also Mormon, which may call their judgement into question). There
have always been conspiracy theories and myths, but no one in the league really gave them much credence, until now. In an interview with the Detroit News,
Pistons F Rasheed Wallace tossed out his thoughts on how the NBA is being run.
"I still don't think they (Cavaliers) beat us, we beat ourselves," Wallace said. "And I think we also fell victim to that personal NBA thing where they are trying to
make it a world game and get (television) ratings. They wanted to put their darling in there (the NBA Finals) and they did, and look what ended up happening.
This game ain't basketball anymore, it's entertainment," Wallace said. "It's starting to get like the WWF. There ain't no real wrestling anymore either. It's all fake."
I can’t even begin to imagine the spin doctoring going on in the commish's office
The Kobe Bryant saga
Will the Lakers trade their disgruntled superstar, leaving a hobbled Phil Jackson without a go-to guy and exposing him as just an above-average manager of
egos who has only been so uber-successful because of the talent around him? Ever since Bryant’s little sexually-deviant escapade in Eagle, CO, it seems
that his on-court and off-court performances have been moving in opposite directions. Despite the widespread belief that he is the best player in the game
today, he hasn’t made any new friends in the public or even the Laker organization. Of course, it doesn’t help matters that Kobe is perceived as having run
Shaq out of town. Since the departure of The Big Aristotle, LA has been an also-ran and Miami has a title. Lakers owner Jerry Buss has been in constant talks
with Chicago about a Ben Gordon, Luol Deng, and others-for-Bryant deal, but it’s unlikely that the Bulls would part with so much young talent for highly-paid
superstar with questionable commitment. After all, they’re not the Yankees. Kobe demanded a trade and in response, the Lakers vowed to improve the team
around him. They did so by adding. . . Derek Fisher? This is a classic Catch-22: Bryant doesn’t really want to stay in LA, but the Lakers can’t find a way to
move him and receive equal value in return. Look for Kobe to start the season in Tinseltown, but if the team is struggling and Kobe’s attitude doesn’t improve,
look for Buss to unload him before the trade deadline for much less than current market value.
Scripted Results
There have long been rumors about the scripting of events and results in pro basketball. Who can forget the stories of the frozen envelope that allowed the
Knicks to earn the rights to draft Patrick Ewing. Pacers fans know all too well about the phantom foul called on Antonio Davis that set up a Larry Johnson 4-
point play and pushed the Knicks past the Pacers in the playoffs. Supporters of the Utah Jazz might even claim that the refs turned a blind eye to MJ’s well-
placed hand on Bryon Russell’s hip (it should be noted, however, that many Jazz fans are also Mormon, which may call their judgement into question). There
have always been conspiracy theories and myths, but no one in the league really gave them much credence, until now. In an interview with the Detroit News,
Pistons F Rasheed Wallace tossed out his thoughts on how the NBA is being run.
"I still don't think they (Cavaliers) beat us, we beat ourselves," Wallace said. "And I think we also fell victim to that personal NBA thing where they are trying to
make it a world game and get (television) ratings. They wanted to put their darling in there (the NBA Finals) and they did, and look what ended up happening.
This game ain't basketball anymore, it's entertainment," Wallace said. "It's starting to get like the WWF. There ain't no real wrestling anymore either. It's all fake."
I can’t even begin to imagine the spin doctoring going on in the commish's office
Crooked Refs
ol’ clusterfudge of issues. Now I couldn’t care less what these refs do in their free time, so long as it doesn’t affect me; they should be free to roll ol’
clusterfudge of issues. Now I couldn’t care less what these refs do in their free time, so long as it doesn’t affect me; they should be free to roll the
dice in Atlantic City or pull the levers on the slot machines at their friendly neighborhood Indian reservation. What I can’t stand and won’t tolerate is
allowing the refs to be as much a part of the game as the players, ala Crawford. With all the hype surrounding this issue, expect the officials to be is
allowing the refs to be as much a part of the game as the players, ala Crawford. With all the hype surrounding this issue, expect the officials to be
on a short leash. This might actually lead to the players getting a little more slack on the court, as some refs may be unwilling to stir the pot any
further.
further.
All proceeds from this site in the month of Nobvember (if there are any, which is unlikely) will be donated to the Free Tim Donaghy Fund. Sure, the
guy pled guilty to federal charges, but doesn’t everyone deserve a second chance? I mean, it’s his right to be able to get his job as an NBA official
back after he has paid his debt to society, and his bookies. The justice system simply used him as an example because he’s a high-profile
individual. And I’d be willing to bet that gambling was a part of Donaghy’s culture; it’s incredibly unfair to persecute, and to prosecute, someone
who’s simply practicing the beliefs of his culture, regardless of the fact that those practices are in direct violation of federal law.
ol’ clusterfudge of issues. Now I couldn’t care less what these refs do in their free time, so long as it doesn’t affect me; they should be free to roll ol’
clusterfudge of issues. Now I couldn’t care less what these refs do in their free time, so long as it doesn’t affect me; they should be free to roll the
dice in Atlantic City or pull the levers on the slot machines at their friendly neighborhood Indian reservation. What I can’t stand and won’t tolerate is
allowing the refs to be as much a part of the game as the players, ala Crawford. With all the hype surrounding this issue, expect the officials to be is
allowing the refs to be as much a part of the game as the players, ala Crawford. With all the hype surrounding this issue, expect the officials to be
on a short leash. This might actually lead to the players getting a little more slack on the court, as some refs may be unwilling to stir the pot any
further.
further.
All proceeds from this site in the month of Nobvember (if there are any, which is unlikely) will be donated to the Free Tim Donaghy Fund. Sure, the
guy pled guilty to federal charges, but doesn’t everyone deserve a second chance? I mean, it’s his right to be able to get his job as an NBA official
back after he has paid his debt to society, and his bookies. The justice system simply used him as an example because he’s a high-profile
individual. And I’d be willing to bet that gambling was a part of Donaghy’s culture; it’s incredibly unfair to persecute, and to prosecute, someone
who’s simply practicing the beliefs of his culture, regardless of the fact that those practices are in direct violation of federal law.
The Search for a “Standard Bearer”
Ever since Jordan retired for a second time, we’ve been hearing talk of the search for a worth successor to the throne. Kobe Bryant’s got
the moves, LBJ has the name and the commercial appeal, Carmelo Anthony lead his college team to a title as a young star and has
helped a once-terrible team achieve respectability. But let’s not forget that players like Allen Iverson and Stephon Marbury were once in
this conversation as well. In a league that has become more about style than substance (holding the All Star Game in Vegas in particular,
and the All Star Game festivities in general are examples of this), it’s not as much about what you as it is how you do it. Because of this,
Tim Duncan’s fundamental brilliance goes almost unnoticed by the general public while Vince Carter’s aerial displays earn top billing on
SportsCenter. I would rather have NBA Championship trophies than Gatorade Slam Dunk Championship trophies, but the fans cast
more All Star votes last year for Carter (726,040) than they did for Duncan (715,916). We live in an era in which the And 1 Streetball Tour is
a lucrative venture and where players put as much time into making a hip hop record (AI, Artest, Kobe, C-Webb, Shaq) as they put into
improving their team’s record. So for my sake, for all of our sake, let’s call off the search. Jordan, along with all the other great players
who built the NBA into what we knew, is gone and I’m pretty sure he’s not coming back, again.
Ever since Jordan retired for a second time, we’ve been hearing talk of the search for a worth successor to the throne. Kobe Bryant’s got
the moves, LBJ has the name and the commercial appeal, Carmelo Anthony lead his college team to a title as a young star and has
helped a once-terrible team achieve respectability. But let’s not forget that players like Allen Iverson and Stephon Marbury were once in
this conversation as well. In a league that has become more about style than substance (holding the All Star Game in Vegas in particular,
and the All Star Game festivities in general are examples of this), it’s not as much about what you as it is how you do it. Because of this,
Tim Duncan’s fundamental brilliance goes almost unnoticed by the general public while Vince Carter’s aerial displays earn top billing on
SportsCenter. I would rather have NBA Championship trophies than Gatorade Slam Dunk Championship trophies, but the fans cast
more All Star votes last year for Carter (726,040) than they did for Duncan (715,916). We live in an era in which the And 1 Streetball Tour is
a lucrative venture and where players put as much time into making a hip hop record (AI, Artest, Kobe, C-Webb, Shaq) as they put into
improving their team’s record. So for my sake, for all of our sake, let’s call off the search. Jordan, along with all the other great players
who built the NBA into what we knew, is gone and I’m pretty sure he’s not coming back, again.
| NBA Leading Scorers 1986-87 Jordan, M Wilkins, D English, A Bird, L Vandeweghe, K |
| NBA Leading Scorers 2006-07 Bryant, K Anthony, C Arenas, G Wade, D James, L |
The Teams and Results
Much had been made this offseason of the imbalance of power in the NBA, about how the West was vastly superior to the East. And then the Draft Lottery saw two Western Conference teams garner the top
2 picks. But while many other Eastern Conference GMs were bemoaning their bad fortune, Danny Ainge was playing Let’s Make a Deal. It remains to be seen whether the resurrection of Celtic Pride will
restore some of the East’s lost luster, but it will certainly make things more interesting. The vaporous remnants of some possible blockbuster trades are still lingering over the season, but we should be
looking at a more competitive league than in years past. I’ll cover some of the more notable teams below and give you my picks, along with the rest of our staff’s picks, for divisional champs and major
award winners.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Celtics
As if the success of the Red Sox, Patriots and, even though the city is not yet aware of it, Boston College was not enough to make everyone West of Worcester want to vomit, the once-mighty Celts are now in
the mix again. In a move questioned by many, Ainge pried sharpshooter Ray Allen (along with a 2nd-round pick later used on Glen “Big Baby” Davis) from the Sonics in exchange for Delonte West, Wally
Szczerbiak, and the #5 pick. And then, after weeks of speculation, Ainge landed the big one (or Big Ticket, to be precise) when he reeled in Kevin Garnett in what became the largest trade for a single player
in league history. The price may have seemed steep, but we all saw what can happen in the East even if you’ve only got one quality player. Matching Celtic mainstay Paul Pierce with two more All Stars can
only mean that Boston is an instant favorite to win the East, if not the NBA.
Knicks
If Ainge has now made some of the best moves in the league, Zeke has made some of the worst. Thomas has the anti-Midas touch: instead of gold, everything he touches turns to poop. On the short list of
his debacles: the Raptors, the CBA, the Pacers, and the Knicks. I haven’t done the math, but I’m reasonably sure he’s cost the Knicks more money in bad contracts, luxury tax, and legal bills than the
damage done by the California wildfires. Isaiah is like the Kevin Costner of the NBA; he keeps getting work in spite of his previous efforts and yet he somehow still manages to take himself seriously. The
Knicks are a guard-laden team full of me-first gunners and big me with questionable heart (Eddy Curry pun sort of intended). I would love to see them flounder this season, not only because I have a strong
distaste for all New York sports teams, but also because I want to see the fallout from Zeke’s firing.
Pistons
The starting lineup has changed very little, but these guys aren’t getting any younger. Detroit is a team that has used its defensive prowess as both a weapon and a crutch, but several issues are conspiring
to take that away. Last year, the Piston defense allowed only 91.8 PPG (2nd in league) and was able to compensate for an anemic offense that averaged only 96.0 PPG (21st). Antonio McDyess may be
listed at Center, but he’s far from a true pivot man and another year with Flip Saunders means another year away from Larry Brown’s defensive focus. They don’t have a real franchise player and an injury to
either Chauncey Billups or Rip Hamilton would cripple what little O they do have. I can see Detroit shifting into rebuilding gear when the season ends.
Bulls
This young Chicago team may be the most balanced in the East, with any of four starters capable of leading the team in scoring on a given night. They’ve got great perimeter players in Kirk Heinrich and Ben
Gordon, a rising star in Luol Deng at swingman, and acrobatic PF Tyrus Thomas, all orbiting around Big Ben Wallace. In order to ascend to heights not reached since His Airness played for them, the Bulls
need to play a more mature style of basketball than they have recently. Their offense (98.8 PPG, 13th) will be improved and if their defense (93.8, 6th) just stays steady, Chicago will be a scary team.
Much had been made this offseason of the imbalance of power in the NBA, about how the West was vastly superior to the East. And then the Draft Lottery saw two Western Conference teams garner the top
2 picks. But while many other Eastern Conference GMs were bemoaning their bad fortune, Danny Ainge was playing Let’s Make a Deal. It remains to be seen whether the resurrection of Celtic Pride will
restore some of the East’s lost luster, but it will certainly make things more interesting. The vaporous remnants of some possible blockbuster trades are still lingering over the season, but we should be
looking at a more competitive league than in years past. I’ll cover some of the more notable teams below and give you my picks, along with the rest of our staff’s picks, for divisional champs and major
award winners.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Celtics
As if the success of the Red Sox, Patriots and, even though the city is not yet aware of it, Boston College was not enough to make everyone West of Worcester want to vomit, the once-mighty Celts are now in
the mix again. In a move questioned by many, Ainge pried sharpshooter Ray Allen (along with a 2nd-round pick later used on Glen “Big Baby” Davis) from the Sonics in exchange for Delonte West, Wally
Szczerbiak, and the #5 pick. And then, after weeks of speculation, Ainge landed the big one (or Big Ticket, to be precise) when he reeled in Kevin Garnett in what became the largest trade for a single player
in league history. The price may have seemed steep, but we all saw what can happen in the East even if you’ve only got one quality player. Matching Celtic mainstay Paul Pierce with two more All Stars can
only mean that Boston is an instant favorite to win the East, if not the NBA.
Knicks
If Ainge has now made some of the best moves in the league, Zeke has made some of the worst. Thomas has the anti-Midas touch: instead of gold, everything he touches turns to poop. On the short list of
his debacles: the Raptors, the CBA, the Pacers, and the Knicks. I haven’t done the math, but I’m reasonably sure he’s cost the Knicks more money in bad contracts, luxury tax, and legal bills than the
damage done by the California wildfires. Isaiah is like the Kevin Costner of the NBA; he keeps getting work in spite of his previous efforts and yet he somehow still manages to take himself seriously. The
Knicks are a guard-laden team full of me-first gunners and big me with questionable heart (Eddy Curry pun sort of intended). I would love to see them flounder this season, not only because I have a strong
distaste for all New York sports teams, but also because I want to see the fallout from Zeke’s firing.
Pistons
The starting lineup has changed very little, but these guys aren’t getting any younger. Detroit is a team that has used its defensive prowess as both a weapon and a crutch, but several issues are conspiring
to take that away. Last year, the Piston defense allowed only 91.8 PPG (2nd in league) and was able to compensate for an anemic offense that averaged only 96.0 PPG (21st). Antonio McDyess may be
listed at Center, but he’s far from a true pivot man and another year with Flip Saunders means another year away from Larry Brown’s defensive focus. They don’t have a real franchise player and an injury to
either Chauncey Billups or Rip Hamilton would cripple what little O they do have. I can see Detroit shifting into rebuilding gear when the season ends.
Bulls
This young Chicago team may be the most balanced in the East, with any of four starters capable of leading the team in scoring on a given night. They’ve got great perimeter players in Kirk Heinrich and Ben
Gordon, a rising star in Luol Deng at swingman, and acrobatic PF Tyrus Thomas, all orbiting around Big Ben Wallace. In order to ascend to heights not reached since His Airness played for them, the Bulls
need to play a more mature style of basketball than they have recently. Their offense (98.8 PPG, 13th) will be improved and if their defense (93.8, 6th) just stays steady, Chicago will be a scary team.
| A Night Out With The Pacers Murphy The Goat So, Loblaw and myself are sitting in a bar, must have been a couple of years ago. Anyway, we used to head there every Thursday (and on the occasional weekend) to see Great Scott! (link to GreatScottMusic.com), a band fronted by a friend of ours. The glory part of the Thursday nights was that the bar, Pepper’s in Broadripple (Indianapolis), had 75¢ Miller Lite drafts up until the band started. As you can imagine, we always tried to get there as early as time would allow. On this particular Thursday evening, we got there nearly an hour and a half before the band went on. The waitress knew us well and had 2 beers apiece sitting on our table by the time we had our jackets off. And as if the cheap beer wasn’t good enough, she always put our first round on her comp tab: $3 saved. By the time Great Scott! took the stage, we had several Solo cups stacked in front of us and were feeling no pain. From our vantage point near the back of the bar, we noticed a couple of very large gentlemen ordering drinks. One was wearing a button-down shirt with a very unique pattern and he looked very familiar. After a couple of seconds, I realized that it was Scot Pollard, former Jayhawk and current NBA backup center. The other cat’s identity didn’t immediately register, but when I got a good look at him, I saw that it was David Harrison; at the time, Harrison was in his first year out of Colorado. He appeared to be reliving his college years, double-fisting Bud Light bottles in the corner. Loblaw was quickly consumed by the idea of approaching Pollard and asking him what it was like to play against Shaq. You see, the Pacers had just finished with the Heat the night before and a Shaq elbow to Pollard’s head prompted the smaller man to drop an f-bomb right into the local TV camera. So Loblaw approached Pollard and questioned him about the f-bomb and the intricacies of guarding O’ Neal. At that point, Scot asked us if we wanted beers and told us to order them up since they were on David’s tab. With our second free round of the night in hand, we mosied over to thank the rookie, who was now up at the front of the bar. As we neared, we saw that he was asking for Jager- bomb orders from everyone within earshot. Our affirmative responses pushed the tally to 12 or 13 and he was soon handing out drinks by the handful. After we had toasted with free round number 3, I yelled this question: “Hey, did you know Katie Hnida?” Harrison’s response will be forever etched into the steel trap that is my mind: “I never touched her. But my brother f#*ked her!” Later in the season, Harrison was sidelined with a concussion, which one would assume came as a result of some fantastic NBA action. Word on the street, though, was that the former Buffalo had drained an entire bottle of Jack and banged his head on a countertop. But I guess I can’t really blame the guy: I’d rather drink a bottle of Kentucky bourbon than watch an NBA game. |
Pacers
has been magnified by the success of their NFL counterpart. Larry Bird and Donnie Walsh did the team and the city favors
has been magnified by the success of their NFL counterpart. Larry Bird and Donnie Walsh did the team and the city favors
by getting rid of Ron Artest and Stephen Jackson, but everyone quickly found that a team of better citizens didn’t mean a
better team. The Pacers had no draft picks, no salary cap space, and no marketable trade commodities outside of
Jermaine O’Neal. JO wanted out, the Pacers tried to send him to LA, but couldn’t manage to convince the Lake Show to
part with both Odom and Will Bynum. And thus, the Pacers are left with an oft-injured malcontent surrounded by an erratic
PG (Tinsley) who looks like Mushmouth from the Cosby Kids couple of slow white guys from prestigious schools
(Dunleavy from Duke and Murphy from ND), and Danny Granger (who, if he asserts himself, could be a great talent).
(Dunleavy from Duke and Murphy from ND), and Danny Granger (who, if he asserts himself, could be a great talent).
has been magnified by the success of their NFL counterpart. Larry Bird and Donnie Walsh did the team and the city favors
has been magnified by the success of their NFL counterpart. Larry Bird and Donnie Walsh did the team and the city favors
by getting rid of Ron Artest and Stephen Jackson, but everyone quickly found that a team of better citizens didn’t mean a
better team. The Pacers had no draft picks, no salary cap space, and no marketable trade commodities outside of
Jermaine O’Neal. JO wanted out, the Pacers tried to send him to LA, but couldn’t manage to convince the Lake Show to
part with both Odom and Will Bynum. And thus, the Pacers are left with an oft-injured malcontent surrounded by an erratic
PG (Tinsley) who looks like Mushmouth from the Cosby Kids couple of slow white guys from prestigious schools
(Dunleavy from Duke and Murphy from ND), and Danny Granger (who, if he asserts himself, could be a great talent).
(Dunleavy from Duke and Murphy from ND), and Danny Granger (who, if he asserts himself, could be a great talent).
The Southeast Division
I really don’t know much about any of these teams so I don’t want to break any of them down individually. I can see this
division being won in a battle of attrition, kind of a last-floater-left-in-the-toilet kind of thing. I’m sure you all can relate: you
flush the toilet after making a #2 and when you turn around to make sure all’s well, there’s still a little something left behind,
maybe it’s even got a piece of corn in it. Whatever the content, that’s how I see this thing breaking down. Atlanta and
Charlotte are sinking straight to the bottom and they won’t even factor into this, but Miami, Washington, and Orlando all have
a shot at floating to the top. In the end, though, I’ve got a sneaking suspicion that you might be able to take pride in wearing
that Wes Unseld Bullets throwback.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
I really don’t know much about any of these teams so I don’t want to break any of them down individually. I can see this
division being won in a battle of attrition, kind of a last-floater-left-in-the-toilet kind of thing. I’m sure you all can relate: you
flush the toilet after making a #2 and when you turn around to make sure all’s well, there’s still a little something left behind,
maybe it’s even got a piece of corn in it. Whatever the content, that’s how I see this thing breaking down. Atlanta and
Charlotte are sinking straight to the bottom and they won’t even factor into this, but Miami, Washington, and Orlando all have
a shot at floating to the top. In the end, though, I’ve got a sneaking suspicion that you might be able to take pride in wearing
that Wes Unseld Bullets throwback.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Nuggets
season. The keys for this team will be AI’s continued development as a distributer of the ball and the overall health, both mental and physical, of the squad.
Kenyon Martin has had his share of issues on and off the court (but what can you expect from a Bob Huggins disciple?) and several other Nuggets missed
Camby has been plagued by injury since he voided UMass’s Final Four appearance and jumped ship for the NBA in ’96 and he’s a bit of a whiner. Likewise,
various amounts of time after a brawl with the Knicks. If they can keep it together, this Denver team could follow in the Rockies’ footsteps.
Kenyon Martin has had his share of issues on and off the court (but what can you expect from a Bob Huggins disciple?) and several other Nuggets missed
various amounts of time after a brawl with the Knicks. If they can keep it together, this Denver team could follow in the Rockies’ footsteps.
Jazz
glasnost and perestroika and has put Andrei Kirilenko, Mehmet Okur, and Gordan Giricek to good use. Of course, AK-47 made some very public trade
glasnost and perestroika and has put Andrei Kirilenko, Mehmet Okur, and Gordan Giricek to good use. Of course, AK-47 made some very public trade
demands a while back but it seems that things have calmed down of late. This is something to keep an eye on though, as exclusion from this fast-paced
offense could get the Russki’s red panties in a bunch again quicker than you can say “Warsaw Pact.”
offense could get the Russki’s red panties in a bunch again quicker than you can say “Warsaw Pact.”
Suns
Stoudemire, who must improve his defensive effort. The continued maturation of Boris Diaw and Leandro Barbosa, combined with the addition of Grant Hill,
Stoudemire, who must improve his defensive effort. The continued maturation of Boris Diaw and Leandro Barbosa, combined with the addition of Grant Hill,
could finally spell victory for the Suns. Their biggest problem: they’ll have to go through San Antonio and/or Dallas to win the West.
could finally spell victory for the Suns. Their biggest problem: they’ll have to go through San Antonio and/or Dallas to win the West.
Warriors
Ah, the GSWs, affectionately known, by me, as the Gunshot Wounds. PG Baron Davis has enormous jowels and an expansive growth of beard that engulfs
his entire neck, but he’s also got big game. Davis is the heart and soul of this team, but his health can be an issue. A mid-season trade with Indiana brought
Stephen Jackson and his affection for strip clubs and sidearms to the Bay, along with Al Harrington. While the deal left the Pacers with no draft picks, it
punched the Warriors’ playoff ticket. They can put up points (106.5, 2nd in NBA) but they can give them up just as quickly (106.9, 30th); unless there’s a
significant shift in this stat, Golden State will burn out late in the season.
season. The keys for this team will be AI’s continued development as a distributer of the ball and the overall health, both mental and physical, of the squad.
Kenyon Martin has had his share of issues on and off the court (but what can you expect from a Bob Huggins disciple?) and several other Nuggets missed
Camby has been plagued by injury since he voided UMass’s Final Four appearance and jumped ship for the NBA in ’96 and he’s a bit of a whiner. Likewise,
various amounts of time after a brawl with the Knicks. If they can keep it together, this Denver team could follow in the Rockies’ footsteps.
Kenyon Martin has had his share of issues on and off the court (but what can you expect from a Bob Huggins disciple?) and several other Nuggets missed
various amounts of time after a brawl with the Knicks. If they can keep it together, this Denver team could follow in the Rockies’ footsteps.
Jazz
glasnost and perestroika and has put Andrei Kirilenko, Mehmet Okur, and Gordan Giricek to good use. Of course, AK-47 made some very public trade
glasnost and perestroika and has put Andrei Kirilenko, Mehmet Okur, and Gordan Giricek to good use. Of course, AK-47 made some very public trade
demands a while back but it seems that things have calmed down of late. This is something to keep an eye on though, as exclusion from this fast-paced
offense could get the Russki’s red panties in a bunch again quicker than you can say “Warsaw Pact.”
offense could get the Russki’s red panties in a bunch again quicker than you can say “Warsaw Pact.”
Suns
Stoudemire, who must improve his defensive effort. The continued maturation of Boris Diaw and Leandro Barbosa, combined with the addition of Grant Hill,
Stoudemire, who must improve his defensive effort. The continued maturation of Boris Diaw and Leandro Barbosa, combined with the addition of Grant Hill,
could finally spell victory for the Suns. Their biggest problem: they’ll have to go through San Antonio and/or Dallas to win the West.
could finally spell victory for the Suns. Their biggest problem: they’ll have to go through San Antonio and/or Dallas to win the West.
Warriors
Ah, the GSWs, affectionately known, by me, as the Gunshot Wounds. PG Baron Davis has enormous jowels and an expansive growth of beard that engulfs
his entire neck, but he’s also got big game. Davis is the heart and soul of this team, but his health can be an issue. A mid-season trade with Indiana brought
Stephen Jackson and his affection for strip clubs and sidearms to the Bay, along with Al Harrington. While the deal left the Pacers with no draft picks, it
punched the Warriors’ playoff ticket. They can put up points (106.5, 2nd in NBA) but they can give them up just as quickly (106.9, 30th); unless there’s a
significant shift in this stat, Golden State will burn out late in the season.
Mavs
There’s really very little left to say about this team: they haven’t made any big changes and they’re not causing a stir anywhere. Once maligned for their defensive deficiencies, the Mavs gave up only 92.8
PPG last season, which was good for 4th in the league. Now all they’ve got to do is overcome the notion that they’re “soft” and that they can’t get past the Spurs.
Spurs
Same team, same story. One of the very few things going against the Spurs is that they’re another year older; I mean, Big Shot Bob Horry is in his 54th season and he’s still gunning. I think I’ve discovered
their Achilles Heel though, and this could be a big issue down the stretch: this team’s frontcourt cannot shoot free throws. C Fabricio Oberto tossed them up there at a 64.7% clip, best among the 3 starters;
Tim Duncan shot 63.7%, which was actually a nice improvement for him; worst of the group, defensive stopper Bruce Bowen was pathetic 58.9% shooter. For a team without a great deal of offensive
firepower, this shortcoming could be exploited by competitors.
Lakers
I want this team to fail almost as much as I want the Knicks to fail.
There’s really very little left to say about this team: they haven’t made any big changes and they’re not causing a stir anywhere. Once maligned for their defensive deficiencies, the Mavs gave up only 92.8
PPG last season, which was good for 4th in the league. Now all they’ve got to do is overcome the notion that they’re “soft” and that they can’t get past the Spurs.
Spurs
Same team, same story. One of the very few things going against the Spurs is that they’re another year older; I mean, Big Shot Bob Horry is in his 54th season and he’s still gunning. I think I’ve discovered
their Achilles Heel though, and this could be a big issue down the stretch: this team’s frontcourt cannot shoot free throws. C Fabricio Oberto tossed them up there at a 64.7% clip, best among the 3 starters;
Tim Duncan shot 63.7%, which was actually a nice improvement for him; worst of the group, defensive stopper Bruce Bowen was pathetic 58.9% shooter. For a team without a great deal of offensive
firepower, this shortcoming could be exploited by competitors.
Lakers
I want this team to fail almost as much as I want the Knicks to fail.
Awards:
MVP: LeBron James; like Denzel, he’ll win the award based on his body of work and what he did last year.
ROY: Kevin Durant; he’s already got an NBA-style game and can play at least 3 positions. No Ray Allen and no Rashard Lewis means more shots to go around.
Coach of the Year: Avery Johnson; the Mavs continued growth on the defensive end will lead to a Western Conference title and some hardware for the man with the high-pitched voice and flip-top head. I
only hope this doesn’t get handed to Doc Rivers, who is not a good coach but has suddenly been blessed with a talented team.
Defensive Player of the Year: Marcus Camby; he’s always been a prolific shot-block and great defender, but it’s the Nuggets’ improved offense that will finally shine the spotlight on Camby.
Most Improved Player: Rajon Rondo; on a team full of superstars, he’s the PG called upon to run the show. If he can just improve his jumper, everything else will fall into place.
xecutive of the Year: Danny Ainge; they should go ahead and award this to him now. Just making the Celts relevant again is enough to earn him the award. Unless the Big Dig collapses and destroys the
city of Boston, this trophy is Ainge’s to lose.
Players to watch:
Andre Iguodala (SF, 76ers): now the only AI in town, he may be the most exciting player in the NBA.
Andrea Bargnani (PF, Raptors): this Italian import is ready to show the world what he can do.
Tyrus Thomas (PF, Bulls): The youngest Bulls starter has HUGE upside.
Luis Scola (PF, Houston): At 27, this Argentine is far more seasoned than his fellow rookies.
Darko Milicic (F-C, Grizzlies): his biggest problem in the past was not getting any PT; that will not be an issue in Memphis, where the young foreigner should flourish.
Kevin Martin (SG, Kings): Sacramento’s leading scorer last year, this kid will only get better. Bibby is ailing, Artest’s insane, and Brad Miller has forgotten how to play, so Martin will be the man. Also, his
new coach, Reggie Theus, took Dearborn High to an Indiana State title in Hangtime, so he knows how to coach young players.
MVP: LeBron James; like Denzel, he’ll win the award based on his body of work and what he did last year.
ROY: Kevin Durant; he’s already got an NBA-style game and can play at least 3 positions. No Ray Allen and no Rashard Lewis means more shots to go around.
Coach of the Year: Avery Johnson; the Mavs continued growth on the defensive end will lead to a Western Conference title and some hardware for the man with the high-pitched voice and flip-top head. I
only hope this doesn’t get handed to Doc Rivers, who is not a good coach but has suddenly been blessed with a talented team.
Defensive Player of the Year: Marcus Camby; he’s always been a prolific shot-block and great defender, but it’s the Nuggets’ improved offense that will finally shine the spotlight on Camby.
Most Improved Player: Rajon Rondo; on a team full of superstars, he’s the PG called upon to run the show. If he can just improve his jumper, everything else will fall into place.
xecutive of the Year: Danny Ainge; they should go ahead and award this to him now. Just making the Celts relevant again is enough to earn him the award. Unless the Big Dig collapses and destroys the
city of Boston, this trophy is Ainge’s to lose.
Players to watch:
Andre Iguodala (SF, 76ers): now the only AI in town, he may be the most exciting player in the NBA.
Andrea Bargnani (PF, Raptors): this Italian import is ready to show the world what he can do.
Tyrus Thomas (PF, Bulls): The youngest Bulls starter has HUGE upside.
Luis Scola (PF, Houston): At 27, this Argentine is far more seasoned than his fellow rookies.
Darko Milicic (F-C, Grizzlies): his biggest problem in the past was not getting any PT; that will not be an issue in Memphis, where the young foreigner should flourish.
Kevin Martin (SG, Kings): Sacramento’s leading scorer last year, this kid will only get better. Bibby is ailing, Artest’s insane, and Brad Miller has forgotten how to play, so Martin will be the man. Also, his
new coach, Reggie Theus, took Dearborn High to an Indiana State title in Hangtime, so he knows how to coach young players.
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| Eastern Conference Finals: Celtics over Bulls (6 games) Western Conference Finals: Mavs over Spurs (7 games) NBA Finals: Celtics over Mavs (6 games) |
| Here's how the boys at ScrubSports think the season will break down: |