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[singing ala Sesame Street]One of these teams is not like the others. One of these teams can you tell me which one?[/singing]
What about Denver? Memphis?
Which team will be the harder team next year to the Spurs and why..
some options
Suns
Dallas
Houston
Lakers
Pistons
Cavs
Pacers
Miami
[singing ala Sesame Street]One of these teams is not like the others. One of these teams can you tell me which one?[/singing]
What about Denver? Memphis?
houston because of their trade and t-mac officially being the man
dallas cuz avery will get a full year and they actually did improve a bit defensively, but terry is still suspect as is dampier
pacers - artest is back, this javescisous guy (however you spell his name) is supposed to be pretty good, oneal won't be injured and sjax is pretty good.
miami - wade is still a force and shaq still has at least a year before crumbling
I think it comes down to Spurs/Rockets, Heat/Pacers/Pistons. I'll pick Spurs over Heat in Finals. If Shaq the Fat is not healthy next year, Spurs over Pacers in Finals.
I see the Rockets being the best matchup against the Spurs and giving them a good series. However, I don't see the Rockets getting past Phoenix if they have to face them (still too quick and Houston has no PG still). I also see the Nuggets making some noise especially if they can pick up a reliable shooter or two.
I see the hardest team for the Spurs to face next year will be the Spurs. They are the only team that can beat themselves, we saw it too much this year, when we defeated ourselves, and tell me im wrong for it?
I'm hesitant to give the Rockets their props. They have under acheived for 2 seasons that I thought they'd be bad ass.
McGrady ain't no winner...book it.
I am a Rockets fan, so take this for what its worth, but I don't think they underachieved the last 2 seasons. 2 years ago they had talent in Francis and Mobley but they don't fit into a team that is looking to go far and if you have another all-star type of player on the team in Yao. This year, it was an entirely new team, with little else besides the TMac and Yao. They got it going in the second half of the season and did finish 5th in the West. (that is not bad in a good conference) You look at how the playoffs are seeded also, its all out of whack. Seattle should not have been the 3 seed, the Mavs had a much better record, but because the Sonics played in a weak division they got the #3 seed. Now I will be the first person to tell you Houston choked off the first round, but with the addition of an actual PF besides Ryan Bowen, I think they look better and its always a good matchup with the Spurs.
Pass.
Once free agency signings are completed and we are closer to the 2005-06 season (pre-season), then I'd be able to make an educated guess.
Rockets fan = dumb ass loud mouth
at least that's been my experience with them since the 87 season
if Houston lets Howard go then I wont worry about them at all. no way TMac hits that many shots against the Spurs again
If the Suns decide to retain JJ, which even without QRich, they would basically have their core group intact - I'll pick them.
Otherwise, it'll be either Houston or Dallas.
Rockets-Mcgrady will find a way to get his team in the
playoffs again.
Suns-Nash and Amare will be at it again and they will
play better together now that they have one season under
their belts.
Denver-I think Carmelo and company have alot of potential and we will see if they learned anything from last seasons early exit.
The Suns because the spurs have no answer for Amare. Kurt Thomas will even out the rebounding advantage the spurs did have. Suns are the toughest. Miami will be the second toughest team.
The thing with the Suns is I don't trust Nash. He will have a huge impact once again, but I still remember when they lost 5 straight when he went out. He is getting older and more fragile. I just don't know if he will last, esp. without a viable backup. Barbosa does not seem to be the answer.
2005-2006
Suns > Sonics > Dallas > Houston
Miami > Pacers > Pistons > Bulls
the suns just seem to be built around scoring, and while i haven't looked into it, kurt thomas hasn't struck me as a big scoring type. plus, isn't he undersized in the west to play duncan? of course amare will be a monster, but then, so what? he was a monster all through the playoffs, look where it got him because the rest of his team could be shut down. i was thinking of starting a thread asking if amare/duncan would be the next chamberlain/russell saga of an individual talent being trumped in the big game by a better team. and of course nash is bound to breakdown, continues to suffer defensively (our non-all star pg stuck with the league mvp points-wise, i believe) and is getting up in age. for some reason, i think phoenix took a step back this year and will continue to mirror the mavericks' current evolution.
I can't agree with your West standings. I do think the Suns will be better than the other three, but I don't see Seattle having it this year. Ray Allen isn't in a contract year anymore. No more AD. No Jerome James. Maybe no Danny Fortson. (All that means no bench) And Dallas has done nothing to improve this off-season, and no matter how you feel about Stromile Swift, he is still an improvement at PF no matter what. I would put mine.
Suns > Houston > Denver > Dallas
Mavs-- would probably be the Spurs biggest compe ion in the West, simply because I expect them to get better under Avery and with some defense.
Suns--As we've shown, Nash and Amare can score all they want, but we can still beat them
Nuggets--I think they will steal one of the higher seedings from Houston or a 4th seed
Rockets--They still don't have a good PG, they basically have Yao, Mcgrady and a mish-mash of players that are not quite yet reliable role players--at least not enough to become a serious contender. Swift is a good addition, but they also lack a lot in experience department as well.
Golden State--I expect them to be the surprise team next season, much like the Sonics were last, and take the 7th seed away from the Grizz.
Lakers--I expect them to be the 6th seed in the West. Kobe will probably have an MVP like season, Odom may find his niche. PJ will work with what he has.
Sacramento--They'll make the first round....not a serious contender by any means
Oh yea, and if you think the Sonics will have the same "sucess" they had last season, you're nuts!
Suns???
They lost QRich, and now it looks like JJohnson will be gone. Even if they do keep him, they have no bench!
Im not afraid of the Suns. At this point in the offseason, Houston looks like they will be better than the Suns.
And maybe no more Radmanovic, no more Reggie Evans, no more Potapenko, no more Flip Murray. They haven't come to terms with any of their FA's except Ray. I think they might suck.I do think the Suns will be better than the other three, but I don't see Seattle having it this year. Ray Allen isn't in a contract year anymore. No more AD. No Jerome James. Maybe no Danny Fortson.
In order:
1.Pacers (This team will win over 60 gmes)
2. Houston (Swift will make them better)
3.Detroit (But they will not get to Finals, because of Pacers)
4. Miami (Same as above)
5. Suns (if Joe Johnson returns)
Nice. Goin' old skool with it.
A lot of teams look to be a lot better. . .at least on paper.
If the Suns lose JJ I think they'll slip.
A healthy (and non-suspended) Pacers team could make a lot of noise in the East.
I think the Nets will be back as well. The East should be a lot of fun to watch.
My East right now looks like:
1. Miami
2. Indy
3. Detroit
4. New Jersey
5. Cleveland
But, as Solid said, ask me at the end of free-agency.
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