Here we go, The NBA Season is about to start and most of the big news is coming out of the Eastern Conference so let's get to talking about it. You know what it is. The playoff picture. Who cares that there are 6 months before the playoffs start? I don't.
1. Pistons
They are the definition of the word team. Sure, last year they were taken out of the playoffs by one player. But that one player had a trip to the Eastern Finals that was as difficult as beating a one legged man in an ass kicking contest. With Chauncey and Rip at the guards, they have two of the most sound guards in the league. Then there's Slinky. Tayshaun Prince is one of the most underrated players in the league. He knows his role, plays it, and plays it well. He's not affraid of being the 4th option and is also not worried when he has to be the guy. Then there's the entertainer of the bunch, 'Sheed. He's the ra ra guy on the team that doesn't ever need it. They know that they're expected to win every single night.
2. Celtics
I don't know what the record for biggest difference in win percentage from one season to the next, but expect the C's to come close, if not break it. There has been a lot of talk about whether the new Big 3 will mesh well, and how long it will take them to learn to play together. Here's the thing: They won't need long. Judging from their preseason games, they are close. Real close. The reason for it: their styles of play naturally go together. Paul Pierce is the play maker. He's the guy who can shoot the J from anywhere on the court, and can drive to the bucket every single time he has the ball. He wants the ball and wants to make a play. Ray Allen is mature enough a player to realize his role. He knows he's the shooter, and his ticket to the finals heavily weighs on his ability to drain open shots, and shots with a hand in his face. He has a problem with neither. K.G. is a 20-10 guy year in and year out, and I expect those numbers to continue. He's an unselfish superstar who is hungry for a ring.
3. Bulls
This team is insanely good. The scary part is, they are probably 2 years away from being at their peak. They are on the verge of being a perennial threat to the west. Their talent is so young, but so good. Kirk Heinrich gets slept on. So does Ben Gordon. Luol Deng is raw. They added Andres Nocioni, and have Big Ben Wallace in the middle. Not to mention Tyrus Thomas who seems ready to take that PF spot and not look back. I'm almost more scared for when B Wall retires and Thomas and rookie Joakim Noah are playing the post. No one would dare to bring anything in the paint, as they shouldn't now.
4. Raptors
Yes, I said the Raptors. You better recognize something about Chris Bosh. He's a monster. A straight up nasty, beastly, monster. T.J. Ford should continue his progression as a point guard, and Andrea Bargnani will prove why he was the number one pick in '06. Don't sleep on the kids in Canada. They are looking to prove last year was no fluke.
5. Magic
We all know who the star of the show is. And who it will continue to be for years. Mr. Dwight Howard. The kid is a beast. He's in the same physical class as Ben Wallace, except taller, and much more an offensive threat. He just started to learn how to REALLY play effectively in the NBA last year and won't go anywhere but up for years. Their addition of Rashard Lewis cements their commitment to improvement, as he is a baller. Is he worth $118.5 million? I'm not so sure, but he's good none the less. Jameer Nelson is a solid point guard and with shooters Hedo Turkoglu and JJ Redick, and longtime Magic man Pat Garritty there to knock down the open looks, they should be hanging 100+ near every night. Oh, and don't bring anything inside if your intentions aren't to dish because Dwight Howard likes to swallow basketballs whole down there.
6. Nets
The Nets are chugging right along. Jason Kidd is still top 3 PGs in the league. He proves just how far a true point can take you. He doesn't need to score, but he can. He'll more than likely average a double double this year by continuing to feed Vinsanity and Richard Jefferson. They are breeding their future PG in Marcus Williams, who is hurt now, but is a backup, so that's not a significant injury. Josh Boone, Bostjan Nachbar, and Jamaal Magloire are all solid off the bench, as Nachbar is among the league leaders in preseason scoring, though it is the preseason.
7. Cavaliers
LeBron James. Need anything else? He might. The Cavs front office refuses to make any moves for King James. That could come back to haunt them this year. Last year it didn't. Lebron was THAT good. But can he be that good, again? Well, yeah of course he can, he's LeBron James. The real question is can the team around him not screw it up? With Anderson Varejao and Sasha Pavlovic holding out for long term contracts they are forced to go with Boobie Gibson at shooting guard, which isn't a bad option. I'm more inclined to see 2nd year man Shannon Brown. I was real excited when the Cavs drafted him out of Michigan State, but he has yet to impress in the pros. But at the end of the day, the Cleveland LeBron James's should make the playoffs as long as LJ doesn't get hurt. If he's out for any kind of prolonged amount of time, look for the Cavs to pull the same move they did the year before they drafted LeBron: Tank. Tank hard. Lose worse than the Knicks. LeBron should be nervous.
8. Here comes the tough decision for me. Heat or Wizards?
I really like the Wizards starting 5. Agent 0 plays pissed off, and he's one of the deadliest shooters in the league. He's not affraid to shoot, and shoot often. Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison are really good. They play in the southeast, which includes the Hawks, and Bobcats, as do the Heat, and the East is the worse of the 2 confrences anyways, so their confrence records should be good. The problem may lie within their bench. As in there isn't one.
The Heat have Shaq, and Zoe, and Udonis Haslem, D Wade who, may or may not, come back as strong as before. They have White Chocolate, and Smush Parker backing him up. I don't know how long Jason Williams can hold on to that starting spot if Smush wants it. Newly aquired Ricky Davis has to prove he can fill in for D Wade, as the scorer until at least the end of November. Penny Hardaway has to prove he isn't going to play as old as he is. He's not going to be asked to play a whole lot of minutes, and that's for the best.
8. Heat
but if The Cavs start to drown, which is entirely possible, both the Heat and Wizard should make it.
2 comments:
Now you know you are the Homie, But you have lost your damn mind. I'll keep it short, you got the Raptors way too high, and the Nets over teams they are no where near as good as. And as for the White Chocolate/ Smush Parker thing, there is a reason his ass (Smush) got shipped outta L.A. I'll leave it at that. Lol. But on the real, I'm lovin the blog. I think this is just the begenning for you man. You are very talented. I'll be on this bitch givin you hell, EVERYDAY. LMAO!!!
I think the Raptors will get slept on. Hibernated even lol. I changed the background and all that. I like smush..he's fairly young (26) he's big 6'4, but he's got the NY baller syndrome. He's a scorer before a passer and not necesarily somethin you want in your pointguard, especially on a team like the lakers, where kobe's the star. It's like being Larry Hughes. your job is to bring the ball up court, and pass it to lebron. If he passes it back to you, it's only yours for a second, then you give it right back to him. Smush wanted to prove that he's a star too, instead of playing his role. I think Shaq will make it clear what his role is, and he'll grow in to it. Will he ever be as good as Nash or Kidd? probably not, but he's got the size and speed to grow in to a solid player, and him and d wade can be a duo for years to come. BRING IT SUCKA
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