NBA season starting this week.

[tonyboy]

Hot Damn guys..... I'm so ready for the NBA season to start this year.

I live in Utah so of course I'm a fan of the Jazz.... well we've got lot's of Laker fans living here too.

And yeah, I know the Lakers are a better team than Utah is right now.... They beat us in the second round of the playoffs last year, and they should have done so.... they were the better team.

But Dallas is on a downslide, Denver is not too hot, and Portland will be a contender for the Western Conference this year.... Still the Lakers are the team to beat in the West..... And as far as the entire NBA? welll I suspect it will go to Boston again this season. And they are damned good. Actually I loved the fact that Boston beat the 'almighty' Kobe last year. haha.

But it's going to be fun.... and I expect the Jazz to win their division this season. Anyone disagree?

It's going to be very strange not having a team from Seattle play in the Western Conference this season. Hell that team was tough for the Jazz since the 80's.
Now they are going to play from Oklahoma.

It will all be fun though. I'm pretty sure my team won't make it past the second round of the playoffs....well one can always dream though, right?

 

[Moss]

Portland being in contention for the Western Conference? They have a good nucleus but they are way too young. Maybe next year if the Jazz lose Boozer but I would expect them to win that division 2-3 years from now.

top 8 teams in the west (in my opinion, not my playoff ranking prediction or anything)

1) Lakers
2) New Orleans
3) Houston
4) Utah
5) San Antonio (in decline though)
6) Portland
7) Phoenix
8) Minnesota: Im going to be a homer here and say my favorite team, adding Kevin Love and Mike Miller really opens up the inside for Al Jefferson. They have as much young talent as Portland does and should really make strides this year if everyone can stay healthy and Randy Foye can develop into our point guard

East got a lot stronger this year IMO

1) Boston
2) Cleveland
3) Orlando
4) Philadelphia
5) Detroit
6) Toronto
7) Chicago
8) Washington

other random thoughts:
-I think this is will be a major transition year for Detroit, I was tempted to put Toronto ahead of them. The young talent isint fully developed yet, Sheed is in the last year of his contract and Billups is getting older. I can see them trading Sheed at the deadline and losing in the 1st round of the playoffs.
-LeBron finally has a sidekick in Williams, we'll see if he can provide enough scoring to give Bron a break
-Dallas will have a terrible year, I hated that trade for Kidd. Why give up Devin Harris for a PG whos skills are detierrating?

 

[David DeVour]

Last night I went to the first pro-basketball game in my life. Detroit Pistons vs Indiana Pacers. I had a blast.

The guy I went with would agree with student. He said that the older Pistons were looking tired and the newer ones brought the excitement. The Pistons still won, but he wants tickets when they play Boston on Nov 9 to see how they handle more of a challenge.

 

[Wonderwall]

Utah will win the Northwest div no problems, all the others are rebuilding with plenty of potential other than Denver who are trying to ease salary cap issues. Having said that I don't think Utah will get out of the first round of the playoffs sorry! I think the top 8 in the West will end up looking something like:

LA Lakers
New Orleans
Phoenix
Houston
Spurs
Dallas
Utah
Portland

and in the East:
Boston
Detroit
Toronto
Philly
Cavs
Atlanta
Miami
Chicago (if they mix the roster up a bit)

I watched the Celtics/Bulls game and damn Rose was impressive.. incredible speed and body control. Get to a game if your lucky enough, I sure would if i was in the US. Go the Celtics!

 

[papirl]

Its going to be a good season this year. Hopefully the Lakers can take it in 09. They just signed BYnum and have started the season 3-0. Of course only time will tell if he stays healthy. Kind of sucks for ODEN and Portland. I know that must be frustrating for Trailblazer fans.

 

[Moss]

Never liked a trade more than the Iverson deal to Detroit. Gives Detroit so much flexibility next year if things dont work out. Iverson and Rasheed Wallace are about 34 million in expiring contracts. Stuckey is a young Billups anyway. They have players like Kwame and Maxiell to play defense the minutes that McDyess used too.

I think they are a top 3 team in the NBA now

 

[papirl]

It will be interesting to see how the Iverson trade plays out . They went up against the Celtics tonight and Iverson did not impress me with 10 points scoring . Celtics took this game , it seemed like a flashback from the EST Conference Finals. Iverson did say he will do whatever it takes to get a Championship ring. I guess only time will tell how well they do.

 

[Moss]

They havn't played well in both of their games since Iverson has been in the lineup, but there is defintely a huge adjustment period Detroit has to go through.

 

[papirl]

Got to give it up to my boyz the Los Angeles Lakers and Kobe Bryant, who are now the only undefeated team in the NBA at 7-0. I know it is early in a long season but give credit where credit is due.

 

[Moss]

Ehhh Kobe is fatigued after playing through the pinky thing and not having this summer off along with the extended run in the NBA finals last season I could see a slip. There not going to challenge any of the Bulls team records (whats the best record 72-10? i forget)

 

[papirl]

Oh that right the Chicago Bulls , what are they now 3-5. WOW very impressive. Listen Kobe and the Lakers are the top seed in the west ( once again ) . They are a lot stronger and are not the same team they were last season. As for Kobe he is not fatigued , the man is hands down the best NBA player out there . His pinky nor his knee has stopped him so far. He went last season , plus through the olympics with a messed up pinky. He has said himself it is beyond broken and does not bother him , after all he is the BLACK MAMBA . Lakers ROK !

 

[Moss]

*sigh*

Oh that right the Chicago Bulls , what are they now 3-5. WOW very impressive.

I was referring to the fact that I think the Lakers can be a great team...but I don't think they will approach the 72-10 record that the 1995-1996 Chicago Bulls posted.

Listen Kobe and the Lakers are the top seed in the west ( once again ) . They are a lot stronger and are not the same team they were last season.

They have an identical roster. They actually lost Turiaf to Golden State, so you could argue they have gotton weaker in the frontcourt. Honestly though, Bynum returning from his knee injury is big for them. But it's not like they got some key free-agent acquisition.

As for Kobe he is not fatigued , the man is hands down the best NBA player out there . His pinky nor his knee has stopped him so far. He went last season , plus through the olympics with a messed up pinky. He has said himself it is beyond broken and does not bother him , after all he is the BLACK MAMBA .

To think Kobe isin't fatigued is laughable. He's the best player in the NBA...there is no doubting that...but he played until late June last year in the NBA Playoffs, had a couple of weeks off, then had to go through training camp, exhibitions and the Beijing Olympics. He had maybe one month off after that and then had to go back to work. If he were 24-25 I would expect his body to recover faster, but he just turned 30 and has a lot of wear and tear (12th year in the NBA?). Gasol played in Beijing as well dont forget that.

Now the great thing about the Lakers is they run nine players deep (Kobe/Gasol/Bynum/Fisher/Vlad/Farmar/Ariza/Odom/Sasha), they are all capable of playing extended minutes. I can just see Kobe wanting to jack shots in the final minutes, though. Or, you can do what Boston did...double team Kobe and make Gasol/Odom make shots...I think you know how well they played in the 08 Finals.

With all of this being said they should get to the Finals, but your acting like the West is a cakewalk...

Lakers ROK !

...but with this kind of ending I doubt my logical reasoning will change your mind.

 

[papirl]

*sigh*
?


I was referring to the fact that I think the Lakers can be a great team...but I don't think they will approach the 72-10 record that the 1995-1996 Chicago Bulls posted.
Only time will tell.....



They have an identical roster. They actually lost Turiaf to Golden State, so you could argue they have gotton weaker in the frontcourt. Honestly though, Bynum returning from his knee injury is big for them. But it's not like they got some key free-agent acquisition.



To think Kobe isin't fatigued is laughable. He's the best player in the NBA...there is no doubting that...but he played until late June last year in the NBA Playoffs, had a couple of weeks off, then had to go through training camp, exhibitions and the Beijing Olympics. He had maybe one month off after that and then had to go back to work. If he were 24-25 I would expect his body to recover faster, but he just turned 30 and has a lot of wear and tear (12th year in the NBA?). Gasol played in Beijing as well dont forget that.

Now the great thing about the Lakers is they run nine players deep (Kobe/Gasol/Bynum/Fisher/Vlad/Farmar/Ariza/Odom/Sasha), they are all capable of playing extended minutes. I can just see Kobe wanting to jack shots in the final minutes, though. Or, you can do what Boston did...double team Kobe and make Gasol/Odom make shots...I think you know how well they played in the 08 Finals.

With all of this being said they should get to the Finals, but your acting like the West is a cakewalk...
No the west is not going to be a cakewalk, its a long season and teams are improving.But they have already showed they are a dominant presence in the West.



...but with this kind of ending I doubt my logical reasoning will change your mind.

Cute.....
Ouch did that loss to the Pistons hurt.... At home in LA after the Pistons coming off a win at Golden State. The Pistons were hot . Iverson , Wallace , Prince, and Brown. The Lakers did not play very good defense. Point blank. The Pistons came out firing and from the start took the lead.

 

[papirl]

Give it up to my boys THE LAKERS for beating the Celtics and ending their winning streak. 93-82 . The lakers played physical defense and did not pose that much fouls. STATEMENT GAME BABY !!!

 

[spartaneric]

Are there any other Pistons fans out there who are upset about the Iverson-Billups trade?

 

[papirl]

Celtic fans whats going on ??? I know its mid season , but 7 losses in the last 9 games. I know the Celtics started out real strong . However loosing games to Warriors and Charlotte. Four losses in a row and a 25 point whooping by the Cavs .

 

[AIM2PLEASE]

Portland being in contention for the Western Conference? They have a good nucleus but they are way too young. Maybe next year if the Jazz lose Boozer but I would expect them to win that division 2-3 years from now.

top 8 teams in the west (in my opinion, not my playoff ranking prediction or anything)

1) Lakers
2) New Orleans
3) Houston
4) Utah
5) San Antonio (in decline though)
6) Portland
7) Phoenix
8) Minnesota: Im going to be a homer here and say my favorite team, adding Kevin Love and Mike Miller really opens up the inside for Al Jefferson. They have as much young talent as Portland does and should really make strides this year if everyone can stay healthy and Randy Foye can develop into our point guard

East got a lot stronger this year IMO

1) Boston
2) Cleveland
3) Orlando
4) Philadelphia
5) Detroit
6) Toronto
7) Chicago
8) Washington

other random thoughts:
-I think this is will be a major transition year for Detroit, I was tempted to put Toronto ahead of them. The young talent isint fully developed yet, Sheed is in the last year of his contract and Billups is getting older. I can see them trading Sheed at the deadline and losing in the 1st round of the playoffs.
-LeBron finally has a sidekick in Williams, we'll see if he can provide enough scoring to give Bron a break
-Dallas will have a terrible year, I hated that trade for Kidd. Why give up Devin Harris for a PG whos skills are detierrating?

Your predictions was somewhat close..but I'm a Piston Fan and watch how they suprise everybody in the playoffs..

They are going to upset somebody...who? TBA stay tune!

 

[markoprimate]

Wow...you got the washington thing incredibly off lol.

 

[Moss]

well when Gilbert decides to miss the whole season that kind of throws off the predictions a little bit.

 

[placez]

that funny waiting on the nba for that