Rummpd
12-30-2004, 06:21 AM
Teams based against expectations and talent.
A+
Spurs - right where they want to be, except for a few lapses. Destroying head to head good teams except Sonics (and they will do that on next occassion). Most amazing thing is relisient nature of team 17 and 0 before Laker Disaster then 23 and 6 since. Put that together and this team is 40 and 10 over last two seasons during regular season and playoffs - an 80% pace will continue to carry them far. Plus they are doing this without major minutes from Barry who has shown signs of coming back to life. Rose out of dog house and a fired up Horry and the developing swing man stud Brown, Beno the freshman wonder, all have been huge behind the enigmatic Rasho. Hard to see anyone beating them four games in any series in near future if Parker and Manu on games and anything at all offensively out of Rasho.
Suns = only 4 losses and a stout starting five. How good is this kid Amare going to be? Dominating rest of league. 58 wins assured.
Sonics - perhaps threatening to slip back but still 2 wins over Spurs
Heat - out in weak East are rolling. Perhaps, over-hyped but with an impressive win streak (albeit a number by close margins. Start the debate over better duo - Duncan and and the rising Parker vs. a revived Shaq and his second year stud, Flash. Along with Spurs face lowest ranked schedule left and could also win 60+.
A
Bobcats - Special category for effort and class out of an expansion team. Way to go!
Cleveland - despite loss last night playing well led by a amazing 20 year old phenom.
Magic - perhaps falling back to earth some but recall this was the laughing stock of the league last year. The magic of Grant Hill and the at times brilliant play of the Franchise make this an improved team.
A-
Dallas - don't laugh. Hanging in there and perhaps a slightly more rounded team. Dirk has been brilliant on offense at least.
Kings - flamed out early and a few bad losses recent weeks but still a dangerous team. Loss of Jackson will hurt bigtime for awhile unless C Webb can truly step up. Could slip to B range real fast.
B+
Pacers - for hanging around and ready to make a run now that O'Neil may or may not only lose at most 10 games. When Jackson back will be a solid team and will threaten Pistons and Heat.
Washington - "Bullets" making some serious noise against weaker teams but yet to prove can beat elite. Still a major recovery s/p the Jordan disaster.
B
Portland- quietly above 500. Zach still a head case but perhaps team improving.
B-
Bulls - break up the dynasty!! Who would of thought of a 5 game win streak after such a miserable start? Will continue to improve and may make playoffs in weak East.
Lakers - lost Shaq and are still a team 3 games above 500. Which way will they go? Schedule is back ended with toughness but at times Kobe blots out all distractions and continues to amaze. May well miss playoffs though.
C
76ers -may be reviving under the brillliance of AI who is playing an effective point and scoring in droves. However, still undersized.
Knicks - up and down. Perhaps, deserve a C+ but this team is an enigma = which way will they go. Need a big in a serious way to really threaten anyone.
Celtics - quietly staying in playoff contention in the weak East.
C-
Pistons - after a bad start may be starting to show some pride. Still major threat down the road to Spurs/other West powers, and will be there vs. either Heat or Pacers in East finals.
Clippers - above 500 then fell back, would not be surprised to see them make a run again.
Memphis - they had to come back to earth and did, seem to be stabalizing now under new coach and will make a run in 2nd half.
Wolves - on paper should still be among class of league but a number of bad bad losses. Chemistry just doesn't seem to be there. Still don't write them off - Spurs will have to go through them most likely to win West.
Nets - survived injuries big time and major trades and got the half amazin Carter. Lost Mourning and got small. Could still be a force in playoffs but hard to see them beating Pacers, Pistons, or Heat.
D
Jazz - what the heck is going on there besides a few injuries?
Denver - very-hyped team but they should not be this bad, still with Cooper should improve somewhat.
Bucks - reality of last year's mirage hits home. Redd and nothing else. Mason a singular dissapointment.
D-
Atlanta - not going to waste time on these losers.
Golden State - regressing before our eyes.
Toronto - ditto. No more amazing and who wants to play up there?
F
New Orleans - Welcome to the real league = lost cause, this River Barge has sunk.
MVP Candidates
A Group
James - the marketers choice and doing some amazing things at times. If he continues will win award.
Duncan - not playing enough minutes to ensure stats but most effective big in league night in and night out.
Garnett - holding the Wolves from total ruin
Nash - step back vs. Spurs - is it sign to come?
B
Kobe - 4 40+ games and LA wins one. However he is averaging > 7 assists per game plus 7 boards etc. If Lakers somehow get on a run would have to merit consideration.
Shaq - say what you will about Wade but when needed Shaq has been huge. Still with Flash will split votes.
Dirk - carrying team right now but does not play enough defense to truly be a MVP.
Amare - game still incomplete but WOW.
B-
AI - doing at times some amazing things but like Kobe shooting % down overall.
C-
Webber - haunted by injury. Simply not as effective.
D
Kidd - injured he gets a pass,but get over the Martin trade please
F
McGrady - one miracle game
does not a career make. Getting deserved rep as loser.
Yao - since when did China sign a non-aggression pact? Soft at times, may be having some improvement lately but against weak teams.
Carmello - lost in the Rockies.
Season Predictions
Spurs over Wolves in Western Conf finals 4 and 2
Pacers over Heat in East Finals 4 and 3 Heat get there through best series of year 4 and 3 over Pistons on clutch shot by Wade.
Spurs over Pacers 4 and 1 Wnning first one,losing 2nd then 3 straight dominant wins after close 2nd loss.
MVP Regular - James over Duncan and Garnett by a wide margin despite
charging Wolves and Spurs with best record.
MVP Finals - Duncan despite a great series as well by Parker.
MadDoc
A+
Spurs - right where they want to be, except for a few lapses. Destroying head to head good teams except Sonics (and they will do that on next occassion). Most amazing thing is relisient nature of team 17 and 0 before Laker Disaster then 23 and 6 since. Put that together and this team is 40 and 10 over last two seasons during regular season and playoffs - an 80% pace will continue to carry them far. Plus they are doing this without major minutes from Barry who has shown signs of coming back to life. Rose out of dog house and a fired up Horry and the developing swing man stud Brown, Beno the freshman wonder, all have been huge behind the enigmatic Rasho. Hard to see anyone beating them four games in any series in near future if Parker and Manu on games and anything at all offensively out of Rasho.
Suns = only 4 losses and a stout starting five. How good is this kid Amare going to be? Dominating rest of league. 58 wins assured.
Sonics - perhaps threatening to slip back but still 2 wins over Spurs
Heat - out in weak East are rolling. Perhaps, over-hyped but with an impressive win streak (albeit a number by close margins. Start the debate over better duo - Duncan and and the rising Parker vs. a revived Shaq and his second year stud, Flash. Along with Spurs face lowest ranked schedule left and could also win 60+.
A
Bobcats - Special category for effort and class out of an expansion team. Way to go!
Cleveland - despite loss last night playing well led by a amazing 20 year old phenom.
Magic - perhaps falling back to earth some but recall this was the laughing stock of the league last year. The magic of Grant Hill and the at times brilliant play of the Franchise make this an improved team.
A-
Dallas - don't laugh. Hanging in there and perhaps a slightly more rounded team. Dirk has been brilliant on offense at least.
Kings - flamed out early and a few bad losses recent weeks but still a dangerous team. Loss of Jackson will hurt bigtime for awhile unless C Webb can truly step up. Could slip to B range real fast.
B+
Pacers - for hanging around and ready to make a run now that O'Neil may or may not only lose at most 10 games. When Jackson back will be a solid team and will threaten Pistons and Heat.
Washington - "Bullets" making some serious noise against weaker teams but yet to prove can beat elite. Still a major recovery s/p the Jordan disaster.
B
Portland- quietly above 500. Zach still a head case but perhaps team improving.
B-
Bulls - break up the dynasty!! Who would of thought of a 5 game win streak after such a miserable start? Will continue to improve and may make playoffs in weak East.
Lakers - lost Shaq and are still a team 3 games above 500. Which way will they go? Schedule is back ended with toughness but at times Kobe blots out all distractions and continues to amaze. May well miss playoffs though.
C
76ers -may be reviving under the brillliance of AI who is playing an effective point and scoring in droves. However, still undersized.
Knicks - up and down. Perhaps, deserve a C+ but this team is an enigma = which way will they go. Need a big in a serious way to really threaten anyone.
Celtics - quietly staying in playoff contention in the weak East.
C-
Pistons - after a bad start may be starting to show some pride. Still major threat down the road to Spurs/other West powers, and will be there vs. either Heat or Pacers in East finals.
Clippers - above 500 then fell back, would not be surprised to see them make a run again.
Memphis - they had to come back to earth and did, seem to be stabalizing now under new coach and will make a run in 2nd half.
Wolves - on paper should still be among class of league but a number of bad bad losses. Chemistry just doesn't seem to be there. Still don't write them off - Spurs will have to go through them most likely to win West.
Nets - survived injuries big time and major trades and got the half amazin Carter. Lost Mourning and got small. Could still be a force in playoffs but hard to see them beating Pacers, Pistons, or Heat.
D
Jazz - what the heck is going on there besides a few injuries?
Denver - very-hyped team but they should not be this bad, still with Cooper should improve somewhat.
Bucks - reality of last year's mirage hits home. Redd and nothing else. Mason a singular dissapointment.
D-
Atlanta - not going to waste time on these losers.
Golden State - regressing before our eyes.
Toronto - ditto. No more amazing and who wants to play up there?
F
New Orleans - Welcome to the real league = lost cause, this River Barge has sunk.
MVP Candidates
A Group
James - the marketers choice and doing some amazing things at times. If he continues will win award.
Duncan - not playing enough minutes to ensure stats but most effective big in league night in and night out.
Garnett - holding the Wolves from total ruin
Nash - step back vs. Spurs - is it sign to come?
B
Kobe - 4 40+ games and LA wins one. However he is averaging > 7 assists per game plus 7 boards etc. If Lakers somehow get on a run would have to merit consideration.
Shaq - say what you will about Wade but when needed Shaq has been huge. Still with Flash will split votes.
Dirk - carrying team right now but does not play enough defense to truly be a MVP.
Amare - game still incomplete but WOW.
B-
AI - doing at times some amazing things but like Kobe shooting % down overall.
C-
Webber - haunted by injury. Simply not as effective.
D
Kidd - injured he gets a pass,but get over the Martin trade please
F
McGrady - one miracle game
does not a career make. Getting deserved rep as loser.
Yao - since when did China sign a non-aggression pact? Soft at times, may be having some improvement lately but against weak teams.
Carmello - lost in the Rockies.
Season Predictions
Spurs over Wolves in Western Conf finals 4 and 2
Pacers over Heat in East Finals 4 and 3 Heat get there through best series of year 4 and 3 over Pistons on clutch shot by Wade.
Spurs over Pacers 4 and 1 Wnning first one,losing 2nd then 3 straight dominant wins after close 2nd loss.
MVP Regular - James over Duncan and Garnett by a wide margin despite
charging Wolves and Spurs with best record.
MVP Finals - Duncan despite a great series as well by Parker.
MadDoc