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How bad is it that this is the first I have heard of Chad Ford?
Chat with Chad Ford
http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/chatESPN?event_id=13271
Chad Ford: Thanks for coming to the chat today. I'm excited for the season to start. I think there will be a lot of parity this year which should make for an exciting season. Let's get rolling.
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Doug (Chicago):: The Central Division is loaded once again. How do you rank the likely regular-season finish of each team? And which are best suited to go deep in the playoffs?
Chad Ford: They are the best division in basketball and I think all five teams will make it into the playoffs this year. Here's how I'd rank them:
1. Pistons
2. Cavs
3. Bulls
4. Pacers
5. Bucks
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Wood, Detroit,mi: How about those pistons, I think that we are a better team without big Ben, Whats your take on that view?
Chad Ford: I don't think they're better without Ben Wallace, just different. They'll be better offensively and I think they'll push the pace more ... but they'll suffer defensively. Ben was a huge part of what they did on that end of the floor. I don't think the Pistons will come anywhere close to the 64 wins they got last year, but I think something in the range of 55 to 58 wins could still win them the East.
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Andrew (Washington DC) : Who is more overrated coming into the season, Chicago or Phoenix?
Chad Ford: Chicago ... no question. If Amare's healthy, I think the Suns will win it all this year. If he's not, they'll still be one of the top three or four teams in the West. My problem with the Bulls is that they were already a fantastic defensive team. Ben will make them even better, but their biggest weakness, low post scoring, wasn't really addressed. It may be down the road with Tyrus Thomas ... but not in the short term. I think they'll be better, don't get me wrong, but I can't agree with those who have them ready to take home the East crown.
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Jon: Dallas, TX: With the additions of Shane Battier and Bonzi Wells, how many wins to you see the Rockets finishing with and what, if at all, do you see them accomplishing in the playoffs?
Chad Ford: It's simple. If T-Mac and Yao are healthy, I think the Rockets will be right behind San Antonio, Dallas and Phoenix in the West. If either goes down for an extended period of time, they could be a lottery team. I like the depth they added this year, but the truth is that the West is so talented, they can't afford to lose either guy this season.
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Trevor (St. Paul, MN): Chad - What are your thoughts on Rajon Rondo? He's played well in the pre-season, any chance he takes over as the starting PG this year?
Chad Ford: I was very high on him all year, but I'm a little surprised at how quickly he's asserted himself. I think Rondo starting should be a no-brainer for Doc Rivers. While both he and Telfair are super quick and can get to the basket, Rondo makes fewer mistakes with the basketball and is a MUCH better defender. Those two issues, defense and turnovers, are usually what keep rookies from starting. In this case, Rondo's superior. Add in his rebounding and I don't see how you can't start him. Yes, Telfair has two more years of experience in the league ... but I think the proof is in what you're seeing on the court. Telfair isn't bad, but Rondo's been really, really good.
Chad Ford: By the way ... I'm really starting to warm up to this Celtics squad. I think they're still very young, but if Al Jefferson, Kendrick Perkins and Rondo all improve, they could make a real run at an eighth seed this season and their long term potential looks very bright.
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Jordan (San Jose, Ca): Hey Chad, love your work. How do you see the Pacific Division shaping up??? Will the Warriors make the playoffs???
Chad Ford: This is a tough one. I think Nellie should help the Warriors achieve their potential, but they're in a tough division and conference. I think they'll come close, but I think it may take another year. The problem with the Warriors is that no one on their team is what I would call a "winner" That takes a while to teach. We may have to give Nellie another year before we seriously talk about playoffs. Here's how I break it down:
1. Suns
2. Clippers
3. Lakers
4. Kings
5. Warriors
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Bonzie (Harrisburg, PA): Mike Dunleavy...Power Forward...Brilliant, out-of-the-box thinking? Or last ditch move for a franchise trying to justify a 40M+ investment?
Chad Ford: See this is what I'm talking about with the Warriors. Love Nellie's out of the box thinking, but cringe at Dunleavy being a major part of any teams plans to make the playoffs ... especially at the four.
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DJ (DC): What are your thoughts on the Magic? Not only on their playoff prospects, but what kind of trouble they might cause in the first round (or beyond)? I can't think of many teams who want to deal with Milicic and Howard if they're playing well.
Chad Ford: I love them. I think you're looking at the best young team in basketball. I think Dwight Howard is ready to take the next step toward supers om. Jameer Nelson has surprised me with how effective he is in the backcourt and Darko looked good enough in the late season/World Championships to give hope that he'll be a big contributer. If Grant Hill is healthy and can provide some veteran leadership, I think they'll be the proverbial "team no one wants to play in the first round" However, I'm still scratching my head on that J.J. Re pick. I think Ronnie Brewer would've been a better fit for them.
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Mike(California): How do you see the Lakers doing this year with Kobe saying he isn't going score as much and is more focused on the team concept? Do you think this will work well for the Lakers, or will they revert back to Kobe firing up 20+ shots a game?
Chad Ford: The problem for Kobe and the Lakers is ... is the rest of the team any good. I like Lamar Odom a lot but after that I'm not in love with anyone on this team. Kwame showed a pulse late in the season but I still think they have big issues at point guard and Vladimir Radmanovic is so streaky, I wonder how long Kobe will put up with it. I actually am not convinced the Lakers will make the playoffs. They'll compete for one of the last two spots, but right now I have them ranked 9th in the West.
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Paul (New York): My Knicks have looked good so far in the preseason, What will you have to say about Isiah after we make the playoffs.
Chad Ford: C'mon Paul. It's the preaseason. I do think they Knicks will be better ... maybe 10 games better than they were last season. There's talent there and Isiah's coaching for his life. But playoffs? The truth is that the Knicks, under Larry Brown hit rock bottom. A rebound is order, but they don't have the chemistry or the winners to be a playoff team.
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Rory (NYC): What do you think of Isiah Thomas going nuts on Greg Anthony yesterday? Boy, Isiah is really self-conscious! Do you see Balkman and the Knicks proving people wrong?
Chad Ford: Isiah's a little sensitive. Greg works for ESPN, not the Knicks. I think he has the right to say whatever he wants, even if it hurts Isiah's feelings. Besides, I think Greg was right. No one in the league that I've spoken with thought Balkman was a first round pick. They all loved his hustle, but that was about it. When you look and see he passed on guys like Rajon Rondo and Marcus Williams to get him ... I think it will call into serious question Isiah's one proven strength -- his ability to judge talent in the draft.
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Charlie (los angeles): Do Shaun Livingston's high point totals in the preseason mean he has finally found a jumper? And if so, how good can the Clips be?
Chad Ford: I think he still needs work in that area, but I do see Livingston as the key to the Clippers future. If he can reach his enormous potential, I think the Clippers will repeat the success they had last year and make another run in the playoffs.
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Mike(GA): Do you think the 76ers can go to the playoffs and can Iguodala ever become an all star?
Chad Ford: I don't think the Sixers are a playoff team. In fact, I think they could finish last in their division this year. I do like Iguodala, but he's going to have to have an All-Star caliber year, along with Samuel Dalembert, to put them into contention. Iguodala may be capable of that down the road, but I don't see it yet this season ... not until Allen Iverson's gone.
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Manteiv Dallas, TX: If the Mavs and Spurs meet again, who would have a better chance based on their roster matchups? And the media needs to stop writing the Phoenix will go to the Final with Amare back, they'd need to go through Dallas and SA first. And even that would be coin flips, agree?
Chad Ford: Tough question. I'm a Spurs fan and think, had they been totally healthy, they would've won the le last year. If Tim Duncan is healthy and Manu Ginobili has his legs in the playoffs, I think they'll fight with the Suns for the Western Conference crown. I'm not dissing the Mavs however. I thought they were great last year. To me, they'll need improvements from Josh Howard and Devin Harris. If they get it, they'll be every bit as good as the Spurs and Suns. I think it's fun to have three super talented teams in the West with a very legit shot to win it all.
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Sam (Toronto): Hey Chad. I know it's only preseason but can I take Toronto's 4-0 reccord as a sign of a decent season?
Chad Ford: I think the Raptors will be slightly improved. They added depth and a quality rookie in Andrea Bargnani. But I think they're still a year or two away from the playoffs. I'm still scratching my head a little bit on the T.J. Ford trade. I'm still not sold that he's the answer to their point guard issues.
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Brian (Memphis): Am I in for a long season as a Grizzlies' fan? Pau is out for several months and Jerry West is apparently hanging it up at season's end. I feel like scoring points with this team will be like pulling teeth. Where's the O going to come from?
Chad Ford: It's going to be a rough year without Pau and Battier. However, I loved the Grizzlies draft and I think this will give an opportunity for Rudy Gay to get lots of playing time. Next year they could have max type cap room so ... this could just be a one year hiatus from the playoffs.
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Quincy (LA): I've read that Phoenix gets Atlanta's draft pick this year if it's not in the top three. Do you think Atlanta could tank at the end of the year to try to keep the pick in a great draft?
Chad Ford: I don't think they'll need to tank it. They lost Al Harrington and the only real signficant signing this summer (Speedy Claxton) is injured. I'm not a fan at all of their draft pick, Shelden Williams. If Marvin Williams and Josh Smith take big steps this year, they might fall out of the "bottom three" range. But right now I have them ranked as the second worst team in the NBA. The only team I think will be worse is the Blazers.
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Doug (Minnesota): Will Garnett or AI finally get traded before this year's deadline?
Chad Ford: I think they both should've been traded this summer. The Wolves, especially, had the chance to get real value for KG from the Bulls and they passed. As it stands, I think both teams will stink and both players are going to be very unhappy. Unfortunately, the older they get, the more difficult it is to get any value in return. That's what has held up a trade for AI and what could keep the Wolves from ever moving KG.
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Jimmy (Malad, ID): What are your thoughts on the jazz heading into this season? Williams looks like he could make everyone stop saying they shoulda taken Paul.
Chad Ford: I think the Jazz will be a playoff team if everyone is healthy. Deron Williams looked very good at the end of last season and has been great so far in the preseason. Carlos Boozer and Andrei Kirilenko are healthy. If Ronnie Brewer can play like he did in the summer league, he'll give the Jazz a big boost. I've got them ranked 7th in the West.
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Joe (NYC): Chad give us your 1-8 in each conference
Chad Ford: East
1. Pistons
2. Heat
3 Cavs
4. Nets
5. Bulls
6. Pacers
7. Magic
8. Bucks
9. Wizards
10. Celtics
11. Raptors
12. Knicks
13. Sixers
14. Bobcats
15. Hawks
Chad Ford: West
1. Suns
2. Mavs
3. Spurs
4. Nuggets
5. Clippers
6. Rockets
7. Jazz
8. Hornets
9. Lakers
10. Kings
11. Warriors
12. Timberwolves
13. Sonics
14. Grizzlies
15. Blazers
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Justin (Miami): Chad, who do you see in the Finals and who you think wins it?
Chad Ford: I've got the Suns and Heat penciled into the Finals with the Suns winning it all.
Chad Ford: For those of you who got bad news in my pre-season predictions ... here's a little draft info:
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Brian (Orange, CA): Outside of Greg Oden, who do you see as the top 3 players in the 2007 draft? Do you agree with the claim that the '07 draft may be the best draft ever?
Chad Ford: This should be the best draft we've seen in quite a while. Here's a look at my pre-season top 10:
1. Greg Oden, C, Ohio State
2. Kevin Durant, SF, Texas
3. Joakim Noah, PF/C, Florida
4. Josh McRoberts, F, Duke
5. Tiago Splitter, PF/C, Brazil
6. Al Horford, PF, Florida
7. Brandan Wright, F, North Carolina
8. Julian Wright, F, Kansas
9. Chase Budinger, SG, Arizona
10. Hasheem Thabeet, C, UConn
Chad Ford: I've got to run everyone. Thanks for coming to the chat and we'll do it again next week.
How bad is it that this is the first I have heard of Chad Ford?
Pretty bad.
Pretty bad.
To my credit, I did google him.
Pretty legit viewpoint. I still am eager to see whether Amare Stoudamire has learned to play defense, though. Otherwise its the same old playoff formula to roll up Phoenix - let Amare score relentlessly on offense and zero in on Nash and his aging back. Same playoff result- Spurs 4 Phoenix 0 or 1.
Sadly, I don't even think Amare will be healthy this season.
Maybe its just me but Phoenix does not worry me against the Spurs. Call me a non-believer. Honestly, nobody really overly concerns me next season as the Spurs claim the franchise's fourth championship.
If we play "OUR GAME" we win.
Grande I agree about the Suns.
Dallas does not worry me. From what I read here, Pop didn't play Rasho and Nazr not because of their size but because they couldn't give him production offensively to make up for the mismatch on defense. If Jackie Butler or Oberto or Elson (or Bonner if we do go small) (in that order) can give enough production, Pop probably would keep them in the game. I definitely agree that had Tim and Manu been fully healthy we would have won it all last year.
To me, the real worry is LeBron James. I am now convinced that he is the best player in basketball hands down. His basketball iq is enormous. His ability to make his teammates better is the best since Magic.
He's going to win about seven or eight championships in a row.
Chad Ford normally does good work, a true professional, but I'm gonna be pissed if he gives the credit for the Spurs winning the 2007 le to Amare's health. I can't really understand his viewpoint all that much. Phoenix hasn't proven much, they certainly haven't earned the le of NBA Championship frontrunner.
The Clippers worry me more than the Suns...WEthe Suns. I don't give a if Amare avgs. 50 ppg!
Kori, so do you think he will be permanently worse or do you think in the season after next, he'll be better?
C-Webb, Lil' Penny, and now Amare..... Kidd is the only one I know of that came back in good shape, but how often do you see Kidd barreling down the lane for a '96 Kempish dunk. I had the surgery (though my rehab is not nearly as complex as theirs), and can tell you it is NEVER THE SAME!
Suns = Colts
It's a 2-team conference. Mavs or Spurs. The Spurs have competely owned the Suns ever since they were good, and if the Mavs and Suns meet up, I think they will get owned by them too.
Good points, bro. Yes, Lebron is great, but to me he is not yet capable of wrecking the Spurs. He sure couldn't handle Greece. I know, that's a cheap shot and Duncan couldn't handle Argentina.
Nonetheless, and this might seem blasphemous to Cavs fans and Lebron-wagoners, but I don't see him improving that much more than he already is. A great, future hall of fame, triple double threat, destined to be one of the all time greats, but I don't think that the Cavs pose a major threat to the Spurs over the duration of the Spurs' legit championship window, say the next two or three seasons or so.
Really? I haven't really been following the Suns preseason, but is Amare still struggling? I would think that he can recover....and even if he's not at 100%, I think if he's still at around 80% they'll still have a legit shot as any team coming out of the West.
Magic or Bird never won more than two in a row. His Airness, the perfect storm of talent AND desire, never won more than 3 in a row.
Lebron is going to find out what MJ did: you're only as good as your teammates in the post season, and in Cleveland, that ain't very good. I think they've tried to assemble a talent squad and not a team. Larry Hughes is a ing knucklehead, and Gooden is worse. Z is way overpaid for his contributions. They need to jettison players like that and get some defenders, some Windex, some dead-eye shooters who are content and thrive on a set number of shots.
An 80% Amare is just another big NBA guy, and one who rebounds poorly (even when healthy), to boot. With the money they are paying him, Nash's aging, and the horrible contract for a one dimensional older SF, this franchise could be in trouble and soon.
I was reading a blurb about the Suns. Seems D'Antoni had to bring the heat. Amare had been dogging practice and rehab. D"Antoni basically said "No practice, no play".
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