This season marks an epic change for the NBA. After 7 years of harping, David Stern finally listened to me. He decided to allow each team to designate 2 players to the NBDL!!! For years, this is all I’ve asked for. Why should some of our favorite blue-chip prospects, like Darko Milicic, have to sit around on a bench and play 2 minutes per game? For years, all I’ve wanted is a system similar to baseball. Let the players develop down there! For example, Desagna Diop, a 7 footer on the Cavaliers, may have learned how to dribble the basketball if he had gotten some playing time. I’ll never forget the time he tried to pass the ball to one of the other guards, and THREW THE BALL INTO THE 3RD ROW OF THE STANDS. Don’t embarrass the guy. Let him go the minors to figure out the nuances of passing and gravity! Things really hit rock-bottom last year anyway. Teams were housing players with “injuries” on the injured list that magically would heal right when other players would get injured. Teams essentially were carrying 14-men rosters. I wish I wrote down the source, but one NBA spokesman even ADMITTED last year that the injury lists “did not require an injury.” So adding NBDL designations just made sense all around, and could even provide some interest for the NBDL, if your team’s draft pick is sitting down in Asheville.
Anyway, let’s get to the preview! The number next to the team represents their playoff seeding. NOTE: For those who don’t remember, the NBA realigned, each division winner gets a top 3 seed automatically. This means that Detroit could easily be a #4 seed.
Eastern Conference -
Atlantic Division- On any given Sunday…
3 - New Jersey – So all of a sudden, everyone has renewed faith in Vince Carter. Me- I think he has 1 more year in him, until he starts sulking on the bench over the fact that he wants more pre-game massages as well as a raise of $4 million. I think Vince is like Latrell Spreewell. Each time Spreewell changes teams, Spreewell and the team were amazing in the 1st year. (Finals w/ the Knicks, Conf. Finals w/ the Timberwolves). Then, Spreewell finds things to complain about, just like Vince will.
8- Boston- Depending on how fast these young players get their act together, Boston could be a dangerous team with Al Jefferson, Paul Pierce, and Ricky Davis.
New York- I still don’t quite understand how they are comfortable with Eddy Curry, who has a heart condition, on their team. This takes major balls. Another “risky” decision by everyone’s favorite GM, ISIAH THOMAS. But, as said throughout the year, Isiah did some smart things – he got Quentin Richardson from the Suns and drafted a super-quick Nate Robinson. They also made some questionable decisions in getting Jerome James from Seattle. And Channing Frye from Arizona (he’s real skinny, you can’t miss him). The playoffs are always possible when nomadic Larry Brown is your coach.
Philadelphia – I know Maurice Cheeks is a Philly-Phave, but I still don’t get what they saw in him from his coaching job in Portland. This team is bound for disaster – an immobile Chris Webber still thinks he can conquer the world. It’s sad and makes me long for the old point-shaving, timeout-taking, quick to the hole Webber.
Toronto- Did you know? They lost to an Israeli club team. Only the 2nd NBA team to lose to a Euro-squad. At least the Israeli team were Euro-champions. Still, not a good indicator going into the season. At least they have 2 PFs – Chris Bosh, Charlie Villaneuva (Uconn), and a SF in Joey Graham (Ok. State). Granted, I don’t know what the rest of the roster is.
Central Division- Division of Death!
1- Indiana – Lost Reggie Miller, picked up Jasikevicius (Euro guard, played at Maryland 9 years ago) and Danny Granger (New Mex) in the draft. Ron Artest is an amazing player, offensively and defensively. With a full year of Jermaine O’Neal, Artest, and Stephen Jackson, the only thing that can stop this team is… a paper cup. Yes, if a paper cup hits Artest in the right spot (his head) the whole season goes down the shitter faster than Stephen Jackson can throw haymakers at 3 NBA fans.
4- Detroit- Assuming Indiana has a full team, I just don’t see the Pistons winning the division. This is basically a coin flip, in that Detroit will still finish within 3 games of Indiana, and will probably have one of the 4 best records in the league. I still think Carlos Arroyo is the best backup PG in the league.
5- Cleveland- What an amazing off-season which I assume translates to a playoff appearance (picked up Larry Hughes, Donyell Marshall, and PG Damon Jones). The 7-man rotation is light years from last year. No one knows what Coach Brown will do, but at least he was apprenticing under Carlisle and Popovich. The best news is that Eric Snow went from 6th man to 10th man. My expectations are grounded only because I went to a game last week, and was mortified at how awful Larry Hughes was playing. After missing 3 consecutive putbacks inside 3 feet, he just laughed hysterically as the coach pulled him from the game. Larry Hughes’ job is to play great defense, and run fast breaks. He’s not a shooter, and I hope he is reading this.
6-Chicago-National publications all think that the Bulls are in trouble without Curry. Rebounding may be of some concern, but I still think they can make the playoffs, considering the backcourt of Hinrich & Ben Gordon is amazing, and even the Argentinian Nocioni can definitely score points.
Milwaukee- Bobby Simmons (from the Clippers) and Andrew Bogut should get the fans excited. They still are waiting to see if TJ Ford will be healthy (and effective). Any other division, and they’d have a chance to make some noise.
Southeast Division- Shaq Fu-Schnickens
2-Miami- Gary Payton, Jason Williams, Antoine Walker, James Posey all were added in the offseason. Personally, I don’t see how this strange mix will work with Shaq and Wade. I just don’t trust Jason Williams or old-man Gary Payton to run the offense. Shaq and Wade are great, but as I expressed over the summer, I’m not a fan of the additions.
7-Washington- They lost Larry Hughes, but they still have Gilbert Arenas and Jamison. Also lost most of their backcourt. Arenas and Jamison can get the job done to get to the playoffs.
Orlando- besides Dwight Howard, this team just doesn’t have much going for it. When I went online I realized they have Stacey “Plastic-man” Augmon, who is the last remaining member of that Super UNLV team (Larry “Grand-ma-ma” Johnson, Greg Anthony, Anderson Hunt).
Atlanta- Marvin Williams (UNC), Salim Stoudamire (Atlanta) in the draft, plus dunk champion Josh Smith, and off-season acquisition Joe Johnson makes this team full of speed and offensive firepower. Not sure if anyone will bother to play defense, which could be a problem, since 50% of the time, a team is on defense.
Charlotte- Sean May & Raymond Felton (UNC) join Okafor. They also will be throwing a late-night party after each home game. As they say on the radio, “18 to party, 21 to drink.”
Western Conference
Northwest Divison- Denver continues their success from late last season.
2-Denver- The Nuggets were amazing last season once George Karl was hired, 32-8. The strange thing is they got PG Earl Watson, but they already have Andre Miller and Earl ba-ba-ba-Boykins. I’m guessing Miller is on his way out? Either way, this is a team to watch, as they inch closer to the Denver-Cleveland NBA Finals in 2007.
7-Minnesota- I love Rashad McCants, a rookie super-scorer from UNC and they also added Marko Jaric from the Clippers. I think KG will be hungry, and I’m banking on an “addition by substraction” now that Spreewell and Cassell are gone.
Seattle- They definitely won’t do as well this year, but the question is how far they fall after losing their coach and a number of players. I expect Ray Allen to not even lift a finger, now that he has his contract.
Utah- Deron Williams, PG (Illinois) is proclaimed as the savior for the Jazz. This team has talent, and a great coach in Sloan, but I’m not a big fan of Deron, so I will leave them down here.
Portland- When PF Zach Randolph was asked about whether off-season knee surgery would effect his play, Randolph said “I never was much of a leaper anyway.” Yes, that’s the spirit! Why not just say, “I always sucked, I never had any explosion whatsoever!”
Pacific Division- The worst division???
3-Phoenix- This division looks real bad, especially when you think about how Amare is out 4 months, and they lost Q and Joe Johnson. I just have to believe they find a way to get a division title. The other choices are pretty flawed.
6-Sacramento- Now they added Bonzi Wells and Shareef Abdur-Rahim. But they lost Bobby Jackson. I’m not really sure what this means.
8-Golden State- Baron Davis led them on an 18-8 run to this season, and that is why they are my sleeper playoff team for this year! Nothing says sleeper team like a good late-season push. Baron Davis is looking to prove that he can stay healthy for the year and be a superstar. In addition, they still have Jason Richardson, Mike Dunleavy and… Derek Fisher. Even Calbert Cheaney’s looking to make the playoff party! They also got rookie Ike Diogu, a man-child if I do say so. Everbody likes Ike!
Lakers- Kwame Brown is not going to be able to get the Lakers to the playoffs, no matter how many Phil Jackson books he reads.
Clippers- They lost Bobby Simmons and got the extremely mediocre Cuttino Mobley for mucho diniero. They also have Sam Cassell. Man, Bill Simmons is going to have a long year following these guys.
Southwest Division- Texas is king
1- San Antonio- No one stops Tim Duncan & Manu & Tony Parker & Robert Horry. As if they needed help, they got Michael Finley. And Nick Van Exel. Can you say dynasty?
4-Houston- PF Stromile Swift and PG Rafer Alston additions should help. It’s a question of whether Alston can be kept under control, who is talented but argued w/ his coach in Toronto over everything from playing time to window seats on the airplane. If Alston is under control, this team could go very far.
5-Dallas- For the 1st time in a while, Dallas didn’t make a big off-season move. I still like their lineup – Josh Howard should fill in nicely for Finley.
Memphis- They lost Stromile Swift, and drafted Hakim Warrick, to have another high-energy skinny PF. Apparently, Mike Fratello is coaching this team.
New Orleans/Oklahoma City HORNETS- I thought I was being funny by calling them New Orleans/Oklahoma City, but apparently, that’s their official team name! http://www.nba.com/hornets/PG
Playoffs
So here's how the 1st round playoffs shake out:
1-Ind over 8-Boston
4-Detroit over 5-Cleveland
6-Chicago over 3-New Jersey (go Ben Gordon! Whoever gets the 6-seed is in a good spot).
2-Miami over 7-Washington
1-SA over 8-Golden State
4-Houston over 5-Dallas (this will be an amazing series)
3-Phoenix over 6-Sacramento
2-Denver over 7-Minnesota (these guys hate each other almost as much as Pacers-Pistons)
2nd round:
1-Ind over 4-Detroit (Steel cage! Steel cage!)
2-Miami over 6-Chicago (Miami got a great draw. I hope Cleveland gets Miami in the 1st round)
1-SA over 4-Houston
2-Denver over 3-Phoenix
The rest:
1-Ind over 2- Miami (Indiana’s depth allows them to dominate.)
1-SA over 2-Denver (No one can stop the Spurs. Not even Earl Boykins).
1-SA over 1-Ind (As said before, Tim Duncan and the Spurs look even stronger this year).
All-Gutsy Team
PF- T. Duncan, San Antonio
SF-James, Cleveland
C- J. O’Neal, Indiana
SG- Artest, Indiana
PG- B. Davis, Golden State
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