lol, seriously guys, who do you worry about now?

**bull62400** · 02-19-2008

Honestly, the only true contender I see are the Pistons and the Spurs. I don't see Shaq contributing as much as marion and i dont see Jason Kidd contributing as much as Diop and Harris. I give the Lakers as a close #3 contender, only because Gasol hasn't shown much success in the playoffs. we will see, but i see the silver and black on top again this year, what do ya'll think?

Oh yea, im not buying the boston bandwagon. pistons will take them in 6, eastern conference finals.

**ludda** · 02-19-2008

the deadline isn't here yet. Ill have an opinion when the teams are pretty much settled for sure. Who knows Suns and Mavs are probably looking to fill the holes they've created. And I think Boston is legit.

**bull62400** · 02-19-2008

Originally Posted by ludda

the deadline isn't here yet. Ill have an opinion when the teams are pretty much settled for sure. Who knows Suns and Mavs are probably looking to fill the holes they've created. And I think Boston is legit.

true, i may be a little pre-mature, but i think making trades to stop duncan shouldn't be top priority. i think shaq and kidd will ruin chemistry, esp. pheonix. As far as Boston, i think they would contend very well in the west, but the fact that they are in the east is the reason why they are 41-9. just my opinion.

**SAGambler** · 02-19-2008

Well, I suppose we'll just have to see how it all plays out. But, like you, I don't see Shaq helping the Suns against the Spurs. , he could be back having more surgery by then.

Lakers...Hard to say... Who knows when Bynum comes back and how effective he will be. Regardless, with Kobe having to either have surgery or play with tremendous pain in that hand, may be the biggest denominator in whether the Lakers are solid, or whether they may have slid completely out of contention.

I like the matchup with the Mavs much better if they ship Diop and Harris out. It may make them better as a whole, but I think it hurts them against the Spurs.

I think the east is going to be controlled by the Pistons also. I believe it is theirs to lose, much like they did last year.

Of course we need to get Tony back to prime, and everyone else stay healthy. But if we can do that, I certainly like our chances. In fact, looking at the schedules, we could be atop the heap after the next 5 games. I would certainly like the Spurs to start off the rest of the season with a 13 or so winning streak. If they could do that, you will start to hear Barkley get back on the Spurs wagon to repeat.

**bull62400** · 02-19-2008

Originally Posted by SAGambler

Well, I suppose we'll just have to see how it all plays out. But, like you, I don't see Shaq helping the Suns against the Spurs. , he could be back having more surgery by then.

Lakers...Hard to say... Who knows when Bynum comes back and how effective he will be. Regardless, with Kobe having to either have surgery or play with tremendous pain in that hand, may be the biggest denominator in whether the Lakers are solid, or whether they may have slid completely out of contention.

I like the matchup with the Mavs much better if they ship Diop and Harris out. It may make them better as a whole, but I think it hurts them against the Spurs.

I think the east is going to be controlled by the Pistons also. I believe it is theirs to lose, much like they did last year.

Of course we need to get Tony back to prime, and everyone else stay healthy. But if we can do that, I certainly like our chances. In fact, looking at the schedules, we could be atop the heap after the next 5 games. I would certainly like the Spurs to start off the rest of the season with a 13 or so winning streak. If they could do that, you will start to hear Barkley get back on the Spurs wagon to repeat.

I think if the spurs do a little better on defense, we will be on top for sure.

**ancestron** · 02-19-2008

Spurs - Pistons rematch

**Xylus** · 02-19-2008

Spurs
Pistons
Lakers
Suns
Celtics
Mavs

All of these teams are legitimate contenders right now, and the differences in quality will be minimal come playoff time.

**Obstructed_View** · 02-19-2008

Dallas just ed themselves. The only team I'm worried about now is the Spurs. This is their repeat to choke away.

**Medvedenko** · 02-19-2008

OV....serioulsy, choke away....there a lot of contenders in each conference.

**Shank** · 02-19-2008

I would suggest that the other 29 teams just pack it up for the season and look forward to next year. I mean - the ing Spurs are just so dominant that no one even has a fighting chance to hang with them. It's sad, really. The NBA season was once so promising but now it's been taken away from all the guys that come out there each day, hoping to compete. Guess it's only baseball now until NFL training camps kick up.

**Solid D** · 02-19-2008

Lakers
Celts
Pistons...

would be teams I think the Spurs would have to play at their best level to win 4 games.

**Obstructed_View** · 02-19-2008

Originally Posted by Medvedenko

OV....serioulsy, choke away....there a lot of contenders in each conference.

Just keep telling yourself that between your chants of "Pau is a winner. Pau is a winner".

**mardigan** · 02-19-2008

Utah
Suns
Mavs
Lakers
Pistons
Celtics
And maybe the Hornets

**Obstructed_View** · 02-19-2008

Originally Posted by Shank

I would suggest that the other 29 teams just pack it up for the season and look forward to next year. I mean - the ing Spurs are just so dominant that no one even has a fighting chance to hang with them. It's sad, really. The NBA season was once so promising but now it's been taken away from all the guys that come out there each day, hoping to compete. Guess it's only baseball now until NFL training camps kick up.

Your team should certainly pack it up or start praying for injuries to the four, maybe five teams that are now better than they are. They just slammed their own window shut.

**Allanon** · 02-19-2008

Lakers/Spurs West vs Celtics/Pistons East

Lakers? Bynum, Gasol, Odom, Bryant Fisher...Best NBA 5 player lineup
Spurs? Champs and it's always good to have Duncan on your team
Boston? KG in the paint, Pierce slashing, Ray Allen spreading the floor
Pistons? Rip, Prince, Chauncy, Sheed. Best 4 Player lineup in the NBA

No Mavs? They don't have a post presence..live and die by the jumpshot
No Suns? They gave up their blue-collar guy who cleaned up all the missed shots
No Jazz? They lack a proven go-to guy in crunch time.

Dark Horses
Hornets, Warriors, Rockets - Any of these teams are lethal if they get on a roll.

**Shank** · 02-19-2008

Originally Posted by Obstructed_View

Your team should certainly pack it up or start praying for injuries to the four, maybe five teams that are now better than they are. They just slammed their own window shut.

Yeah, I'll forward your message to the Mavs front office to see if they would want to follow the advice of "Obstructed View from Spurstalk". I'm sure they'll take it to heart. Odd are good, though, they'll tell you to go choke on a .

**DazedAndConfused** · 02-19-2008

Originally Posted by Shank

Yeah, I'll forward your message to the Mavs front office to see if they would want to follow the advice of "Obstructed View from Spurstalk". I'm sure they'll take it to heart. Odd are good, though, they'll tell you to go choke on a .

Odds are he already is.

**Pistons < Spurs** · 02-19-2008

Originally Posted by ancestron

Spurs - Pistons rematch

please God please!!!

**DazedAndConfused** · 02-19-2008

Originally Posted by Pistons < Spurs

please God please!!!

Why so you can set another NBA record for lowest TV ratings?

**FromWayDowntown** · 02-19-2008

Originally Posted by DazedAndConfused

Why so you can set another NBA record for lowest TV ratings?

Ratings!!! Legitimacy is bound up in ratings!!

**Pistons < Spurs** · 02-19-2008

Lakers---questionable pinky, and of course Bynums ability to return to form post injury. Best individual player. Best starting 5. Best bench.

Suns---still waiting to see how Shaq fits in ... but assuming he does, big trouble. Who does Tim guard in a frontcourt of Shaq and Amare..either way he faces foul trouble. And who guards the other? Oberto?????

Celtics---I would place my Pistons ahead of them as I' beleive they're the better team. But the Celts have one big advantage. Hunger. Passion and heart, lead by their emotional leader in KG. These guys really want it.

Pistons---More depth. More experience. But are we there mentally? The last 2 years have shown mental breakdowns. Too nonchalant at times, not respecting their opponents.

Jazz---my favorite big man/ little man combo w/ Boozer and Williams. Kirelenko, Okur, Millsap, Korver, Brewer, Miles Harpring and maybe a call up of Almond. Solid squad who was one series away from the Finals last year.