Mavs<Spurs
11-01-2009, 08:31 PM
I will give you my take, then I hope that you will share your take.
East:
1. Boston
2. Orlando
3. Cleveland
4. Chicago
5. Atlanta
6. Miami
7. Philadelphia
8. Toronto
West:
1. LA
2. SA
3. Denver
4. Dallas
5. Portland
6. OKC Thunder
7. NO Hornets
8. Utah
The best team in the NBA is the Boston Celtics.
The top 3 in the East and the top 5 in the West have some plausible path to a championship, the latter two in the West being quite unlikely (but possible).
Boston's defense is easily the best in the league. They are hungry after last year. With the return of KG and the addition of Sheed, Boston is the team to beat come this post-season.
Cleveland's acquisition of Shaq doesn't help, but hurts their pick and roll defense. The consequences of getting an amazing record and finishing in such a disappointing way forebode an unhappy end for Cleveland this year, as it did for the Mavericks the year that they had such a great record.
Orlando, when healthy, is the second best team in the East. Without Vince Carter and Rashard Lewis they beat a good Toronto team.
LA looks to some to be invincible. However, Bill Simmons' mistake should not be repeated. Simply because a championship team acquired a new piece doesn't mean that they will repeat. Our predicted bringing over of Scola was not a good basis for being 100% positive that we would repeat (Simmons' mistake). LA doesn't have great defense, Artest can often shoot a poor percentage, have bad shot selection, Farmar and others on the bench are not playing that great. I think that even with the competitive desire of Kobe Bryant, complacency is setting in as witnessed by the loss to the undermanned Dallas Mavericks at home in a laugher. On paper, they still appear to be the best team in the West. But intangibles may point in a different direction, perhaps to the currently rated number two team in the West, the Spurs.
SA has significantly upgraded. However, has their defense, especially their interior defense upgraded ? So many questions. The health of Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili will be decisive. Will they be as productive as they have been in past years, particularly in the playoffs ? Will the team gel and be on the same page ? Tim's numbers and Manu's numbers are likely to be significantly lower this year. However, that isn't an indication that they will be slowed down in the playoffs. This team is extremely deep. George Hill, De Juan Blair, Antonio McDyess, Theo Ratliff, Roger Mason Jr., and Michael Finley provide the big 3 a much stronger supporting cast than they have had at any time in the Spurs history which they will need. If anything, it will be a positive sign. Look at field goal percentage, movement on offense and defense to determine San Antonio's chances. If they are healthy and the team defense returns, look for San Antonio to return to the Finals.
Denver: Carmelo Anthony is playing the best basketball of his life. He appears to be on track for an MVP caliber season. His defense, commitment, and talent put Denver as one of the 6 elite teams in the league. J.R. Smith provides them with great athleticism at the wing position and a great shooter. They are solid up front with Nene and Kmart. This is not a team to be taken lightly. Their biggest obstacle will be playing high iq basketball. Chauncey Billups significantly helps this in this regard as does the growth of Carmelo. While they are darkhorses compared to LA and San Antonio, they have a realistic chance to get to the Finals and represent the West.
Dallas has been very impressive, bouncing back from their first defeat. Their defense was solid, Dirk was outstanding in his defensive rebounding. Dallas goes as Josh Howard goes (in a series, over the long term). When they go small, they have a dangerous five: JET, Kidd, Howard, Marion, Dirk. Nevertheless, their depth is a problem. It is possible for them to make a deep run in the playoffs, but a title doesn't seem in the cards.
Portland: This is a team with a great young up and coming superstar in Brandon Roy and a number one pick whose future as either Sam Bowie or a Patrick Ewing is unknown. Pryzbilla gives them a reliable interior defender who won't foul out. Nate McMillan is one of the very best coaches in the entire league. They will not be an easy out.
The best team in the league will probably be Boston at the of the season, but some of the above teams have a chance to take that title away from them.
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East:
1. Boston
2. Orlando
3. Cleveland
4. Chicago
5. Atlanta
6. Miami
7. Philadelphia
8. Toronto
West:
1. LA
2. SA
3. Denver
4. Dallas
5. Portland
6. OKC Thunder
7. NO Hornets
8. Utah
The best team in the NBA is the Boston Celtics.
The top 3 in the East and the top 5 in the West have some plausible path to a championship, the latter two in the West being quite unlikely (but possible).
Boston's defense is easily the best in the league. They are hungry after last year. With the return of KG and the addition of Sheed, Boston is the team to beat come this post-season.
Cleveland's acquisition of Shaq doesn't help, but hurts their pick and roll defense. The consequences of getting an amazing record and finishing in such a disappointing way forebode an unhappy end for Cleveland this year, as it did for the Mavericks the year that they had such a great record.
Orlando, when healthy, is the second best team in the East. Without Vince Carter and Rashard Lewis they beat a good Toronto team.
LA looks to some to be invincible. However, Bill Simmons' mistake should not be repeated. Simply because a championship team acquired a new piece doesn't mean that they will repeat. Our predicted bringing over of Scola was not a good basis for being 100% positive that we would repeat (Simmons' mistake). LA doesn't have great defense, Artest can often shoot a poor percentage, have bad shot selection, Farmar and others on the bench are not playing that great. I think that even with the competitive desire of Kobe Bryant, complacency is setting in as witnessed by the loss to the undermanned Dallas Mavericks at home in a laugher. On paper, they still appear to be the best team in the West. But intangibles may point in a different direction, perhaps to the currently rated number two team in the West, the Spurs.
SA has significantly upgraded. However, has their defense, especially their interior defense upgraded ? So many questions. The health of Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili will be decisive. Will they be as productive as they have been in past years, particularly in the playoffs ? Will the team gel and be on the same page ? Tim's numbers and Manu's numbers are likely to be significantly lower this year. However, that isn't an indication that they will be slowed down in the playoffs. This team is extremely deep. George Hill, De Juan Blair, Antonio McDyess, Theo Ratliff, Roger Mason Jr., and Michael Finley provide the big 3 a much stronger supporting cast than they have had at any time in the Spurs history which they will need. If anything, it will be a positive sign. Look at field goal percentage, movement on offense and defense to determine San Antonio's chances. If they are healthy and the team defense returns, look for San Antonio to return to the Finals.
Denver: Carmelo Anthony is playing the best basketball of his life. He appears to be on track for an MVP caliber season. His defense, commitment, and talent put Denver as one of the 6 elite teams in the league. J.R. Smith provides them with great athleticism at the wing position and a great shooter. They are solid up front with Nene and Kmart. This is not a team to be taken lightly. Their biggest obstacle will be playing high iq basketball. Chauncey Billups significantly helps this in this regard as does the growth of Carmelo. While they are darkhorses compared to LA and San Antonio, they have a realistic chance to get to the Finals and represent the West.
Dallas has been very impressive, bouncing back from their first defeat. Their defense was solid, Dirk was outstanding in his defensive rebounding. Dallas goes as Josh Howard goes (in a series, over the long term). When they go small, they have a dangerous five: JET, Kidd, Howard, Marion, Dirk. Nevertheless, their depth is a problem. It is possible for them to make a deep run in the playoffs, but a title doesn't seem in the cards.
Portland: This is a team with a great young up and coming superstar in Brandon Roy and a number one pick whose future as either Sam Bowie or a Patrick Ewing is unknown. Pryzbilla gives them a reliable interior defender who won't foul out. Nate McMillan is one of the very best coaches in the entire league. They will not be an easy out.
The best team in the league will probably be Boston at the of the season, but some of the above teams have a chance to take that title away from them.
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