Shut the up you Utah leg-humper.
Utah? Well they got past the Warriors and then promptly got thumped by the Spurs. I gotta hand it to the Jazz. Sloan has that team playing really dirty physical basketball. But they still suck and they will not be able to get through the new retooled Rockets squad.
Spurs
Mavs
Suns
cavs/celtics/wizards/pistons all could come out of the east
but it doesnt matter b/c either the spurs, mavs or suns will win the le and since the spurs are the champs ima go with them. that and the suns havent gotten any better infact with out thomas maybe worse and mavs just choke
Spurs
Mavs
Suns
cavs/celtics/wizards/pistons all could come out of the east
but it doesnt matter b/c either the spurs, mavs or suns will win the le and since the spurs are the champs ima go with them. that and the suns havent gotten any better infact with out thomas maybe worse and mavs just choke
kurt thomas was a bench warmer that got paid 8 million dollars. brian skinner will be a good replacement seeing the suns main focus is going to be small ball. duncan is going to get his regardless. spurs fans put to much emphasis in a guy who did a "decent" job guarding tim duncan. imo the suns are going to run laps around everyone this year.
the suns are still contenders but i wouldnt go so far yet as to say they're gonna "run laps around everyone"
IMO the west is even stronger now than ever, and it was extremely tough before.
Now not only do you have the big 3 of Dallas, Phoenix, and San Antonio, you also have promising teams like Golden State and Utah. , if Marion somehow goes to LA for odom then the lakers could even make a run.
damn ing str8
What "retooled" Rockets squad? They didn't add any All-Stars.
no... they didn't need any either. what they did do was add major depth. last year's 6th man may not even crack the rotation this season or will be a 9th/10th man.
rockets lost to the jazz because the bench was absolute crap. addition of James/Bonzi/Scola/Francis looks nice.
I'll include a bonus and give you my top 5.
1. Spurs- Champs deserve their due. Though I'm sure Finley will find a way choke it away this year.
2. Mavs- Payback, and vengeance, is a .
3. Heat- Never underestimate a healthy Dwyane Wade.
4. Suns- Had it not been a few too many steps on the court by Amare, phx could be your defending champs.
5. Celtics- KG-Ray-Pierce. blah blah, should be good. Should be great.
But way over-rated, put the anointing oil away.
Sleepers: Rox, Nuggs, Cavs, & Magic. Maybe Toronto.
I thought the Mavs wanted to get payback after losing the 2006 Finals? PHOENIX WOULD NOT HAVE BEATEN THE SPURS, SUSPENSIONS OR NOT, PERIOD!
Phoenix is old.
Yea, and now the Mavs want payback twice as much.
Not bashing on your lovely Spurs...
There's a reason I ranked Mavs #2 and Suns #4, damn.
Seriously, watch out for Finley though.
He might just become the MVP for the opposing team.
Cleveland made the conference finals last year and was 2-0 vs. the defending champs. They should be over the Jazz by that logic.
The only laps the Suns will be running is around the court as punishment after they lose in the playoffs again.
So far I have yet to see Finley be negative in the postseason for the Spurs. He has been anything but that. Playing with Tim Duncan can really help a players confidence. The guy has been HUGE for the Spurs especially late in games. I just wished he was this automatic for us like he is now!
Personal thoughts:
1. Spurs - Still the best team. No one short of the Rockets have made any moves to even threaten the Spurs more than they did last year. Duncan's numbers will probably be very similar to last year, and Parker is just getting better. Scary.
2. Houston - Made the moves, could be the ones to stop this year, or a huge bust. Francis is a massive risk at guard, and if tems can find a way to frustrate him it might be a short playoff run again for the Rockets. Still, I have to put them here because of the teams in contention, they have the 2nd best defense in the league, and now scoring to go with it.
3. Dallas - Wow, the top 3 teams are from Texas. I'm not, so don't consider this a homer opinion. The Mavs looked horrible, and the Golden State series might have exposed their flaws to the world. Their mental at udes coming into the regular season will probably be fine, but once the playoffs start, so will the doubts.
4a. Chicago - Yes, the Bulls (also a sleeper pick since EVERYONE seems to have forgotten about them completely). They are solid 1-5 (which is something that no one else in the East can really claim outside of lackluster Detroit), they are young, and they are just getting better. Deng's emergence as a primary threat should elevate this team to a Finals match with the Spurs this year. It might have been a bad thing for this team to dominate the Heat so thoroughly last year, because they went into the Detroit series with a poor mindset, befitting of a younger club. Don't forget about this young, talented team.
4b and c. Cavs and Celtics, for obvious reasons. But of the three, the Celtics are the only ones with enough horsepower to beat a WC team 4 out of 7. Not that it's going to happen anytime soon, barring catastrophic injuries.
* Utah losing AK will be a blow to this team, but expect them to make another deep playoff run.
** The Suns will not win the le for the simple fact that they are unable to make the Finals, and will founder again this year with absolutely no D to speak of and Shawn Marion now wanting out.
I disagree, I think It's very possible Boston could beat a west team in the finals. It may not happen but I could certainly see It. KG, Pierce and Allen is alot to handle.
This thread loses all creditbility with New York not in the top 4
STFU, Knick .
right back at you, goon.
No PG and no bench = no le. I said they had enough firepower. Unfortunately, only Garnett knows how to play tough Playoff defense. They will get absolutely exploited by any decent defensive team. They're essentially going 3 on 5 on the offensive side of the ball. Double Garnett, double Pierce if he goes inside, and stick a guy on Allen, who is mostly a spot-up. Pierce won't shoot good enough from deep to beat you by himself. And there ARE some decent defensive teams in the East.
Rondo is more than good enough as a guy who can get steals, get to the rim and pass. They don't need much more. Their bench is actually ok now with Posey, House, Jones, Allen as the main guys who can score. Don't forget posey started and was a key guy in Miami's le run.
exploited by any decent defensive team? hardly, teams are going to find it very hard to guard Boston. what you just mentioned is very hard to do..."double pierce and stick a guy on allen? if only it was that easy. If you double any of the big 3 you will pay for it with the other two and one of the shooters boston will have on the floor.
no east team has a chance to beat them if they gel, NO ONE....
Agreed. But that's a huge "if".
I think they're be great in the reg season if healthy. I'm just doubtful of Rondo's abilities at a playoff level. Do I think they'll make a run at the ECF? Absolutely. Are they going to be hard to guard? Yep.
However, look at the matchups. Let's take the Bulls. Stick Hinrich on Allen, bring an extra over from whoever is on Rondo or whoever they stick at the 5 to guard Pierce when he tries to penetrate, and just keep KG from getting easy points.
I never said it was a wrap to guard them. I just said there are some good 5 man teams in the east to get it done. Detroit and Chicago primarily. Though a Cleveland Boston ECF would be entertaining in the extreme*.
* For a sloppy Eastern Conference playoff series.
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