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memphis, maybe hornets
In 2005 it was the Chicago Bulls parading their rookies Luol Deng and Ben Gordon. The Wizards were just lucky Curry was out in the playoffs.
In 2006, It was the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Los Angeles Clippers
In 2007, It was the Utah Jazz and the Golden State Warriors.
Which team is most likely to become the next "surprising team" in the upcomming season.
memphis, maybe hornets
Who knows, Rockets may even surprise us all. Orlando gets my vote though.
Definately Memphis.
hate to sound like a parrot on this one, but my pick is also memphis. when gasol was healthy, they were a 50 win team. add in darko, navarro, conley along with the now healthy gasol, and you'd have to think they could get back to that.
Nuggets.
Golden State. Once again Nellie screws an exciting team up by trading his shooting guard for some rookie power forward.
West: Nuggets followed by Rockets and Memphis. All will be better.
East: Boston may find enough left in Garnett's tank to surprise everyone.
Atlanta.
lmao @ atlanta. boy i needed that
I have the fealing Bobcats are going to do well.
I would bet they get to the playoffs.... i know... sounds unrealistic, but i really think they will.
The suns will surprise everyone this year
by not making the playoffs.
I agree, I think Atlanta finally puts it together and grabs the 8th seed.
rockets by not making the playoffs
why
noone can stay heathy
Grizzlies and Bucks
Blazers make playoffs without Oden, book it!
a fit memphis aka gasol and miller
i can see them winning 50 games like always and get back to the playoffs and get sweep by the spurs again...
NOH will probably peak early and thumble towards the end...did they resign brown? he was keeping them compe ive last season when paul was injured....they could make a push for 8# spot...thats as close they will get....
Charlotte is a good bet. I like how their core looks with J-Rich, Gerald Wallace, Sean May, and Okafor, with gunners off the bench in Adam Morrison and Matt Carroll. I think Jermareo Davidson was a great second round pick. Last year, they already played well against some of the better teams in the league. I know they beat Cleveland, San Antonio, Detroit, New Jersey, Utah, Chicago, Washington, and Miami last season. They could really surprise this year.
I say the Hornets in the West will also make some noise.
I'm not sure about that. The last time Nellie took a rookie for an established player Nowitzki showed up. I think there will be some noise in a year or two from his rookie. Or maybe this year, who knows.
In the NBA, the big surprises no longer have anything to do with the teams. I'd be surprised if the league simply had a playoff unblemished by crooked officiating.
I think it would actually be a dissapointment for Charlotte if the Cats don't make the playoffs.
I think their win total has been 18/26/33 over the past three years, with their additions and maturing young players they should be able to continue to improve at the same rate, which would be about 40 wins, and based on last years Eastern Conference that would put them right in the mix for the 6-8 seed.
Expectations in Portland went from unrealistically high to zero with Oden's surgery. I think they have a chance at the eighth seed. I don't think they will actually make the playoffs, but they will be much improved, assuming no tanking. I think dumping Randolph may be addition by subtraction. The organizational shake-up can only help this team.
i agree with this and you are forgetting last year best rookie on that team that was argie Walter Hermann.... they'll make the playoffs this year... book it...
I've lived in the area for a few years and seen the mess up close, so I can't really say I'm that optimistic....
BUT, fans of the team do have a few reasons to be excited...
1) Josh Smith continues to refine his game and grow as a player. I remember Jay Bilas on draft night saying this kid had the biggest BUST potential of anyone, and look at what he's done. Extended his range out to three-point line, concentrated on his defense, and accomplished everything through hard work. Too bad Joe Johnson is THE MAN in Atlanta, because Josh Smith could be a superstar. Still, Atlanta will settle for Smith being REALLY GOOD.
2) Ownership dispute dying down. The guy who got bought out lost a bunch of momentum in his bid to regain the team and probably blow it up. While I still say Billy Knight is a terrible GM, they've actually started to build a team that can win and I'd hate to see it get torn apart.
3) Shelden Williams is healthy. He'll never be an All-Star or average 20/10....but he can be a productive player for the Hawks. Even though he's not the tallest guy (6'10 at best), I see him playing the majority of his minutes at Center because of his size (260+lbs), rebounding ability, and low-post game. And that's a HUGE need position for the Hawks, with only Zaza filling that role currently.
4) The rooks are ready. Acie Law is a gritty kid with a good deal of experience in big-game situations. He'll be solid, if unspectacular, which will be an upgrade to that position. And what Horford lacks in experience, he makes up with his motor. This kid will be a spectacle. I'm convinced he'll wind up in the ROY discussion if he stays healthy.
Bottom Line: There are still concerns about whether Marvin Williams will ever pan out, whether Josh Childress will repeat his poor season last year, and whether the team can win consistently with no traditional PG and C.
Still, there is plenty to be excited about if you're a Hawk fan or follower.
Even as bad as the East is, I don't think it should be expected that the Bobcats make the playoffs.
There are already 7 teams that should be in better position than Charlotte to make the playoffs: Cleveland, Chicago, Detroit, Miami, Washington, New Jersey, and Boston.
That leaves one playoff spot for teams like Toronto (who I think won't be as good this year), Orlando (who probably lost more than it gained this summer), and teams like Charlotte, New York, and Milwaukee.
If Charlotte makes the playoffs, I still think it would be a surprise, even in the East.
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