Gents, my sincere apologies for the delay. Been doing my due diligence and am ready to provide my thoughts on the teams vying for the Larry O'Brien trophy this year from the Eastern Conference.
Not only does it help me to write my thoughts down, I truly hope it helps the real, serious and knowledgeable cappers who look at the NBA season as an investment opportunity. I know there is a lot to read and I don't expect anyone to read through it all, but maybe when capping games for certain teams, you can come back to this page and take a look at my thoughts, I truly hope it helps you as much as it helps me. Sorry in advance as I did not proofread any of these writeups, I just sat for an hour and a half with a quarter bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue Label and went to work ;)
PLEASE READ THIS: Do me a favor guys, those who know your boy Mak know how OCD I get when it comes to organizing my thread, for the next 10 mins please do not post anything on the thread. I want all Eastern teams to be on the page before any posts. It will take me some time to copy and paste it all. So once you see the Orlando Magic preview, feel free to post your thoughts, I am looking forward to it, thanks in advance. (I just know some twit will not read this part, appreciate your anxiousness but my OCD will be fully-fledged if you f up this thread :))
0
To remove first post, remove entire topic.
Gents, my sincere apologies for the delay. Been doing my due diligence and am ready to provide my thoughts on the teams vying for the Larry O'Brien trophy this year from the Eastern Conference.
Not only does it help me to write my thoughts down, I truly hope it helps the real, serious and knowledgeable cappers who look at the NBA season as an investment opportunity. I know there is a lot to read and I don't expect anyone to read through it all, but maybe when capping games for certain teams, you can come back to this page and take a look at my thoughts, I truly hope it helps you as much as it helps me. Sorry in advance as I did not proofread any of these writeups, I just sat for an hour and a half with a quarter bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue Label and went to work ;)
PLEASE READ THIS: Do me a favor guys, those who know your boy Mak know how OCD I get when it comes to organizing my thread, for the next 10 mins please do not post anything on the thread. I want all Eastern teams to be on the page before any posts. It will take me some time to copy and paste it all. So once you see the Orlando Magic preview, feel free to post your thoughts, I am looking forward to it, thanks in advance. (I just know some twit will not read this part, appreciate your anxiousness but my OCD will be fully-fledged if you f up this thread :))
Below is my preview of the Atlantic
Division for the 2014-2015 NBA season. Those who know me know why I
start of with the Atlantic Division of course. This year the
Atlantic is underrated in strength, nevertheless, baring any injuries
there is a clear cut favorite. If I believed in locking up money in
futures, I would place money on the Raps winning the division with
ease, think of it as placing money in the bank and getting a ROI.
However, there is one team in this division that is going to surprise
everyone, I think the most talented, youth infused team in the entire
league. Here is my analysis of the Atlantic Division.
TORONTO RAPTORS - - - For those who do
not know me, I spent 23 years of my life in the great city of
Toronto. Ever since Isiah Thomas broke through that purple dino
paper, I was in love with this team. I suffered through countless
losing-seasons, watched Vince put Toronto on the map, watched Vince
get traded for a bag of peanuts and some skittles, continued watching
countless losing seasons, watched Kobe score all of his 81 points
live on TV, continued watching countless losses never missing a
single game of each 82 game season. Finally, I am able to watch a
playoff team and say I was an original fan. Since Alvin Robertson,
Zan Tabak, Carlos Rodgers, Ed Pinkney and Mighty Mouse played their
first game, I was there through it all. I am finally proud of my
Raps. Under the tutelage of Dwayne Casey, this team strives on
defensive intensity, hardcore practices and intelligent training
sessions. I was very happy they decided to extend Dwayne Casey for 3
years and even happier they decided to pay the man by the name of
Kyle Lowry. When Lowry was posting near triple-doubles in Houston, I
was the one who said this kid was going to be a top notch PG in this
league, he was constantly overlooked. He has the biggest rump in the
NBA at the 1 position, his strength, skill and mental fortitude not
to mention a big pair of balls will set this team apart this season
and beyond. 12 million is a lot of money per season, but he will
live up to his contract barring any injuries. At the two-guard you
have all-star Demar DeRozan. The one thing I love about this kid is
his willingness to get better each year. He could easily become
complacent, but he puts in the work in the weight-room and practice
court. This year, watch out for his intensity on defense. He will
double his steal numbers and d-up 2 and 3 men on the court. Despite
Lowry's unmatched intensity, Demar is still the best Rap on the
court. At the 3 position Terence Ross is in my opinion the one weak
link on this starting 5, but he is an excellent defender. Not many
people realize he is 6'7, he can guard the best man on the floor and
he will be doing that for most of the season and during the playoffs.
My only issue with him is that I do not think he is a starting 3 man
in this league. I really wanted to see the raps look for a starting
2 or 3 man this off-season or in the draft but unfortunately it did
not come to fruition. Amir Johnson is the starting 4 for this team,
an important aspect that cappers must know is that Amir is in the
ever-so-vital contract year. He got paid by Colangelo and will want
to get paid again, look out for a big season from Amir. He is an
awesome weak-side offensive rebounder and a very capable defender.
Big Val at the 5 is the future of this team. I really have VERY high
hopes for Jonas, he has the ability, skill and size to be a rare
legitimate 5 man in this league. His defense is improving and a big
point of emphasis this season by coach Casey. But what I like most
about JV is is offensive skill set. He worked with Hakeem Olajuwan
during the summer to fine tune his offensive game, he is already a
very skilled big man in the post, but after getting tips from The
Dream, he will be even better around the basket. Also watch out for
his improving mid-range game as he will take opposing 5 men away from
the paint. The bench for the raps contains what I believe is
arguable the best combination of guards in the NBA (in terms of
coming off the bench), the most under-rated signing of the year for
the Raps was Vasquez. He is a 6'6 point guard with just as big balls
as Lowry, a point man who can run the team with ease and could easily
start for at least 15 teams in the NBA, his unselfishness, ability to
drive and score and shooting range make him one of the best “big”
point guards in the NBA. The only major trade the Raps made was
sending John Salmons off for Lou Williams, a hugely successful trade
in my opinion. Sweet Lou is what the Raps needed, a guy who can
score off the bench, he is a professional scorer and will help the
Raps immensely. Patterson gives them that rangy 4 man who can step
and and lure big men to the 3 point line getting them away from
rebounding position. James Johnson is what they were missing in the
playoffs. They had no one who was capable of guarding Joe Johnson
and it cost them the series. A small subtle addition like Johnson
can make the difference between a 1st round elimination or a 2nd
round birth. Rounding out the rotation will be Tyler Handsborough
and Greg Steimsma, both very capable big men who can bring a gritty
assertiveness to the front court 2nd unit. The two brazillians round
out this roster along with Landry Fields. It was a risky pick on
draft night but it could pan out. I would have preferred a legit
all-american small forward but if the Raps wanted to just stash a
player, this was the perfect pick, it was stated on draft night that
he was two years away from being two years away. That is not true,
he is exactly two years away from either being a role player or bust.
His calm demeanor is a big worrisome, but his Brizzilian counter
part Lucas Nogiera will help with that. This flamboyant 7 foot big
man has potential to be a big time role player in this league, he is
also about a year or two away, but I like his skill and confidence.
All-in-all I am happy with this team, I still this they are one legit
small forward away from being a real contender in the East. Raps win
the division and with it the 3rd spot in the East, thus, homecourt
advantage and one more chance to advance to the Eastern Conference
2nd round for the first time since the Vinsanity era. We The North.
0
Below is my preview of the Atlantic
Division for the 2014-2015 NBA season. Those who know me know why I
start of with the Atlantic Division of course. This year the
Atlantic is underrated in strength, nevertheless, baring any injuries
there is a clear cut favorite. If I believed in locking up money in
futures, I would place money on the Raps winning the division with
ease, think of it as placing money in the bank and getting a ROI.
However, there is one team in this division that is going to surprise
everyone, I think the most talented, youth infused team in the entire
league. Here is my analysis of the Atlantic Division.
TORONTO RAPTORS - - - For those who do
not know me, I spent 23 years of my life in the great city of
Toronto. Ever since Isiah Thomas broke through that purple dino
paper, I was in love with this team. I suffered through countless
losing-seasons, watched Vince put Toronto on the map, watched Vince
get traded for a bag of peanuts and some skittles, continued watching
countless losing seasons, watched Kobe score all of his 81 points
live on TV, continued watching countless losses never missing a
single game of each 82 game season. Finally, I am able to watch a
playoff team and say I was an original fan. Since Alvin Robertson,
Zan Tabak, Carlos Rodgers, Ed Pinkney and Mighty Mouse played their
first game, I was there through it all. I am finally proud of my
Raps. Under the tutelage of Dwayne Casey, this team strives on
defensive intensity, hardcore practices and intelligent training
sessions. I was very happy they decided to extend Dwayne Casey for 3
years and even happier they decided to pay the man by the name of
Kyle Lowry. When Lowry was posting near triple-doubles in Houston, I
was the one who said this kid was going to be a top notch PG in this
league, he was constantly overlooked. He has the biggest rump in the
NBA at the 1 position, his strength, skill and mental fortitude not
to mention a big pair of balls will set this team apart this season
and beyond. 12 million is a lot of money per season, but he will
live up to his contract barring any injuries. At the two-guard you
have all-star Demar DeRozan. The one thing I love about this kid is
his willingness to get better each year. He could easily become
complacent, but he puts in the work in the weight-room and practice
court. This year, watch out for his intensity on defense. He will
double his steal numbers and d-up 2 and 3 men on the court. Despite
Lowry's unmatched intensity, Demar is still the best Rap on the
court. At the 3 position Terence Ross is in my opinion the one weak
link on this starting 5, but he is an excellent defender. Not many
people realize he is 6'7, he can guard the best man on the floor and
he will be doing that for most of the season and during the playoffs.
My only issue with him is that I do not think he is a starting 3 man
in this league. I really wanted to see the raps look for a starting
2 or 3 man this off-season or in the draft but unfortunately it did
not come to fruition. Amir Johnson is the starting 4 for this team,
an important aspect that cappers must know is that Amir is in the
ever-so-vital contract year. He got paid by Colangelo and will want
to get paid again, look out for a big season from Amir. He is an
awesome weak-side offensive rebounder and a very capable defender.
Big Val at the 5 is the future of this team. I really have VERY high
hopes for Jonas, he has the ability, skill and size to be a rare
legitimate 5 man in this league. His defense is improving and a big
point of emphasis this season by coach Casey. But what I like most
about JV is is offensive skill set. He worked with Hakeem Olajuwan
during the summer to fine tune his offensive game, he is already a
very skilled big man in the post, but after getting tips from The
Dream, he will be even better around the basket. Also watch out for
his improving mid-range game as he will take opposing 5 men away from
the paint. The bench for the raps contains what I believe is
arguable the best combination of guards in the NBA (in terms of
coming off the bench), the most under-rated signing of the year for
the Raps was Vasquez. He is a 6'6 point guard with just as big balls
as Lowry, a point man who can run the team with ease and could easily
start for at least 15 teams in the NBA, his unselfishness, ability to
drive and score and shooting range make him one of the best “big”
point guards in the NBA. The only major trade the Raps made was
sending John Salmons off for Lou Williams, a hugely successful trade
in my opinion. Sweet Lou is what the Raps needed, a guy who can
score off the bench, he is a professional scorer and will help the
Raps immensely. Patterson gives them that rangy 4 man who can step
and and lure big men to the 3 point line getting them away from
rebounding position. James Johnson is what they were missing in the
playoffs. They had no one who was capable of guarding Joe Johnson
and it cost them the series. A small subtle addition like Johnson
can make the difference between a 1st round elimination or a 2nd
round birth. Rounding out the rotation will be Tyler Handsborough
and Greg Steimsma, both very capable big men who can bring a gritty
assertiveness to the front court 2nd unit. The two brazillians round
out this roster along with Landry Fields. It was a risky pick on
draft night but it could pan out. I would have preferred a legit
all-american small forward but if the Raps wanted to just stash a
player, this was the perfect pick, it was stated on draft night that
he was two years away from being two years away. That is not true,
he is exactly two years away from either being a role player or bust.
His calm demeanor is a big worrisome, but his Brizzilian counter
part Lucas Nogiera will help with that. This flamboyant 7 foot big
man has potential to be a big time role player in this league, he is
also about a year or two away, but I like his skill and confidence.
All-in-all I am happy with this team, I still this they are one legit
small forward away from being a real contender in the East. Raps win
the division and with it the 3rd spot in the East, thus, homecourt
advantage and one more chance to advance to the Eastern Conference
2nd round for the first time since the Vinsanity era. We The North.
BOSTON CELTICS - - - My sleeper
team
for the 2014-2015 NBA season and beyond. This is the most talented
youth-infused team in the NBA. Not only do they have a legitimate
spot at sneaking into the 8th spot in the east playoffs this year,
but they have a real shot at being very very good in the years to
come. My only issue is with their defense, they do not have the size
to go up against teams in the West and will get demolished against
most western conference teams, but against the East, watch out for
these Celts. Danny Ainge is a mastermind, he knew it was time to
re-build, I just have never seen a GM re-build so well and so damn
fast. A mastermind, Ainge has solidified one of the youngest rosters
in the NBA, yet maintained a spectacular talent-base. At guard, the
ever so stoic Rajon Rondo. Probably the most intelligent point guard
in the NBA, his intelligence and book smarts translate to a high
basketball IQ. I really think he leads the league in assists per
game this NBA season. He is the perfect general for this young team.
At the starting two you have Avery Bradley. Now I really do not
agree with his paycheck, I think this was a very over-prices
acquisition by the Celts, but he is one of the best perimeter
defending guards in the NBA today, I just don't think he is capable
of guarding big two guards, his post up defense is not very good and
teams that scout well will take advantage of this so watch out for it
when capping games. At the 3 you have the improving Jeff Green.
Imagine if Green stayed with OKC? That Thunder team would have been
outstanding. Green is healthy, he feels 100% for the first time
since his days with OKC and he will have an outstanding year at the 3
position, able to guard and score, Green is the perfect fit for this
team and young enough to still get better. The 4 and 5 position for
the Celts is where I think they are most underrated. Sullinger and
Olynyk are solid big men who can stretch the floor and more than
capable of hitting big time three balls. They had an outstanding
preseason and will continue to impress this season. Sullinger is a
big body who knows how to use his body, Kelly is a underrated passer
who will be a very good 5 man in this league for many years. The
bench for the Celts is very impressive, again the youth and
exuberance shine through. Marcus Smart is a tenacious yound point
guard with size and skill. darn his temper issues, it is easier to
teach a player to control his passion then to teach a player to play
with passion. Evan Turner was an absolute steal at 3 million per
year. Why couldn't the Raps pick him up at this price? The Celts
coaching staff are as smart as it gets and know that Evan was misused
in Philly and Indy. His natural position is at the point guard, that
is where he is most comfortable, with the ball in his hands. Despite
having Rondo, Smart and even Avery. Evan Turner will play mostly
point guard for the Celtics this year. Marcus Thornton is another
one of those professional scorers, a naturally gifted shooter who can
penetrate and take it to the hole. A great pickup by Ainge. Brandon
Bass and Zeller round up this rotation. Bass has improved
extensively. He is a big time power forward who will play a big role
off the bench, very underrated in my opinion. Smart, savvy and
powerful. Zeller is also underrated, he will get some time off the
bench and is technically the backup 5 man to Kelly. In my opinion,
this Celts team is very underrated and very good this year. It will
take Vegas a little while to realize this so play the Celts early and
often. Celts make a legit push for the playoffs this year and for
the next 3-4 years, this team is setup to be good now, and even
better in years to come. Go Green Or Go Home.
0
BOSTON CELTICS - - - My sleeper
team
for the 2014-2015 NBA season and beyond. This is the most talented
youth-infused team in the NBA. Not only do they have a legitimate
spot at sneaking into the 8th spot in the east playoffs this year,
but they have a real shot at being very very good in the years to
come. My only issue is with their defense, they do not have the size
to go up against teams in the West and will get demolished against
most western conference teams, but against the East, watch out for
these Celts. Danny Ainge is a mastermind, he knew it was time to
re-build, I just have never seen a GM re-build so well and so damn
fast. A mastermind, Ainge has solidified one of the youngest rosters
in the NBA, yet maintained a spectacular talent-base. At guard, the
ever so stoic Rajon Rondo. Probably the most intelligent point guard
in the NBA, his intelligence and book smarts translate to a high
basketball IQ. I really think he leads the league in assists per
game this NBA season. He is the perfect general for this young team.
At the starting two you have Avery Bradley. Now I really do not
agree with his paycheck, I think this was a very over-prices
acquisition by the Celts, but he is one of the best perimeter
defending guards in the NBA today, I just don't think he is capable
of guarding big two guards, his post up defense is not very good and
teams that scout well will take advantage of this so watch out for it
when capping games. At the 3 you have the improving Jeff Green.
Imagine if Green stayed with OKC? That Thunder team would have been
outstanding. Green is healthy, he feels 100% for the first time
since his days with OKC and he will have an outstanding year at the 3
position, able to guard and score, Green is the perfect fit for this
team and young enough to still get better. The 4 and 5 position for
the Celts is where I think they are most underrated. Sullinger and
Olynyk are solid big men who can stretch the floor and more than
capable of hitting big time three balls. They had an outstanding
preseason and will continue to impress this season. Sullinger is a
big body who knows how to use his body, Kelly is a underrated passer
who will be a very good 5 man in this league for many years. The
bench for the Celts is very impressive, again the youth and
exuberance shine through. Marcus Smart is a tenacious yound point
guard with size and skill. darn his temper issues, it is easier to
teach a player to control his passion then to teach a player to play
with passion. Evan Turner was an absolute steal at 3 million per
year. Why couldn't the Raps pick him up at this price? The Celts
coaching staff are as smart as it gets and know that Evan was misused
in Philly and Indy. His natural position is at the point guard, that
is where he is most comfortable, with the ball in his hands. Despite
having Rondo, Smart and even Avery. Evan Turner will play mostly
point guard for the Celtics this year. Marcus Thornton is another
one of those professional scorers, a naturally gifted shooter who can
penetrate and take it to the hole. A great pickup by Ainge. Brandon
Bass and Zeller round up this rotation. Bass has improved
extensively. He is a big time power forward who will play a big role
off the bench, very underrated in my opinion. Smart, savvy and
powerful. Zeller is also underrated, he will get some time off the
bench and is technically the backup 5 man to Kelly. In my opinion,
this Celts team is very underrated and very good this year. It will
take Vegas a little while to realize this so play the Celts early and
often. Celts make a legit push for the playoffs this year and for
the next 3-4 years, this team is setup to be good now, and even
better in years to come. Go Green Or Go Home.
BROOKLYN NETS - - - The Truth is,
Brooklyn is really going to miss The Truth. Poor KG, I really am a
big fan of his but the Nets have no chance to go deep this year.
Their bench is pretty good, but Bojan is no replacement for Paul
Pierce. Deron Williams has been a big disappointment. I thought the
kid had all the tools to be not one of the best point guards in the
league, but the best 1 man in the league. He has the frame, strength
and skill, but he doesn't have the intelligence or desire that say a
Chris Paul or Westbrook have. Don't get me wrong, he is still a
top-tier PG in this league, but not one that can lead KG to one more
title. Joe “The Silent Killer” Johnson is one of my favorite
players in the league, but without a supporting cast he is not
capable of doing it himself. Look for Iso Joe to make a return this
season, they will need to run isolation plays for him if they plan to
do anything offensively this season. Mason Plumlee is a very
talented young big man with a major vertical and length to boot. But
without a 100% healthy Brook Lopez, this team just does not have what
it takes to make a dent in the East Playoffs. The bench is solid for
Brooklyn and will lead them to victories this season, Jack has always
been one of my favorite point guards since his days with Toronto, he
has an offensive mindset and ability to drive and kick or finish in
the post and absorb contact. Alan Anderson is an excellent
all-around defender who is capable of spreading the floor and hitting
outside shots. Mirza Teletovic is just a pure shooter, one of the
best strokes in the league, and I mean overall, the fact that he is a
PF is outstanding. He is key to Brooklyn's success this year.
Kirilenko is under-utilized and should be starting at SF with Joe
moving to SG. Both of them could cause havoc with their size at the
2 and 3 positions. But maybe coaches see something I don't because
AK47 does not seem to get any playing time. It's a shame because I
still think he has what it takes to be an all-nba type defender.
All-in-all, the Nets have a ridiculous payroll and no future players
to bring success to the franchise for years to come. A disappointing
end to a hall-of-fame career for KG, not even the exceptional
coaching abilities of Lional Hollins will bring any playoff success
to the Nets this year. BKN makes the playoffs, no home court
advantage and an early exit in the first round this year. Hopefully
they finish 6th and the raps exact their revenge.
NEW YORK KNICKS - - - Now, I am going
to preface this analysis by saying I am expecting Calderon and
Bargnani to heal up and round out this roster, but if they continue
to be injury prone this season, the Knicks are going to be terrible
once again. Triangle offense...seriously? I love Fisher, I think he
is going to be a great coach for many years. I love Phil Jackson, I
don't think Mike would have been Mike without him. But if they
actually think that Mello and the Knicks can implement the triangle
even with a miniscule amount of consistency and success, then they
are out of their minds. Too much peyote for my man Phil Jackson.
Mello is one of the most, if not the most selfish player in the
league. That being said, he deserves to be considering he is the
most prominent all-around scorer this league has today. He cannot
and will not run the triangle. For those that do not know, the
triangle offense is one of the most complicated and difficult
offensive strategies to not only implement, but learn. In order to
run it with any sort of success, you need to have outstanding
players, more importantly, unselfish players, crisp passers and
formidable shooters. Now with Calderon and Bargnani, I think it
could work, without them it has no chance. It takes years to master,
and for guys like J.R Smith and Mello, it could take years to
understand. Habits are hard to break, Mello has run his iso-motion
plays for mush of his career and I doubt he is able or even willing
to change those habits. All that being said, Jose, Iman, Mello,
Bargnani and Sammy is a pretty nice starting 5. Good shooters and a
legit 5 man who is a rim protector. Off the bench J.R Smith and
Amare are solid role players, of Amare can even muster 30% of the
beast he used to be, they could do some danmage. Larkin is not a
household name, but an intelligent and fast PG backup. Prigioni is
also a solid role player. Healthy, this team could surprise some
teams. If they play with the same passion and gusto they did against
Cleveland, they could do well. But to stay as unselfish as they did
against Cleveland is not something I suspect they do for 82 games.
Triangle, Square, Circle or Rectangle, it does not matter, the
biggest market in the league stays irrelevant for another year.
0
BROOKLYN NETS - - - The Truth is,
Brooklyn is really going to miss The Truth. Poor KG, I really am a
big fan of his but the Nets have no chance to go deep this year.
Their bench is pretty good, but Bojan is no replacement for Paul
Pierce. Deron Williams has been a big disappointment. I thought the
kid had all the tools to be not one of the best point guards in the
league, but the best 1 man in the league. He has the frame, strength
and skill, but he doesn't have the intelligence or desire that say a
Chris Paul or Westbrook have. Don't get me wrong, he is still a
top-tier PG in this league, but not one that can lead KG to one more
title. Joe “The Silent Killer” Johnson is one of my favorite
players in the league, but without a supporting cast he is not
capable of doing it himself. Look for Iso Joe to make a return this
season, they will need to run isolation plays for him if they plan to
do anything offensively this season. Mason Plumlee is a very
talented young big man with a major vertical and length to boot. But
without a 100% healthy Brook Lopez, this team just does not have what
it takes to make a dent in the East Playoffs. The bench is solid for
Brooklyn and will lead them to victories this season, Jack has always
been one of my favorite point guards since his days with Toronto, he
has an offensive mindset and ability to drive and kick or finish in
the post and absorb contact. Alan Anderson is an excellent
all-around defender who is capable of spreading the floor and hitting
outside shots. Mirza Teletovic is just a pure shooter, one of the
best strokes in the league, and I mean overall, the fact that he is a
PF is outstanding. He is key to Brooklyn's success this year.
Kirilenko is under-utilized and should be starting at SF with Joe
moving to SG. Both of them could cause havoc with their size at the
2 and 3 positions. But maybe coaches see something I don't because
AK47 does not seem to get any playing time. It's a shame because I
still think he has what it takes to be an all-nba type defender.
All-in-all, the Nets have a ridiculous payroll and no future players
to bring success to the franchise for years to come. A disappointing
end to a hall-of-fame career for KG, not even the exceptional
coaching abilities of Lional Hollins will bring any playoff success
to the Nets this year. BKN makes the playoffs, no home court
advantage and an early exit in the first round this year. Hopefully
they finish 6th and the raps exact their revenge.
NEW YORK KNICKS - - - Now, I am going
to preface this analysis by saying I am expecting Calderon and
Bargnani to heal up and round out this roster, but if they continue
to be injury prone this season, the Knicks are going to be terrible
once again. Triangle offense...seriously? I love Fisher, I think he
is going to be a great coach for many years. I love Phil Jackson, I
don't think Mike would have been Mike without him. But if they
actually think that Mello and the Knicks can implement the triangle
even with a miniscule amount of consistency and success, then they
are out of their minds. Too much peyote for my man Phil Jackson.
Mello is one of the most, if not the most selfish player in the
league. That being said, he deserves to be considering he is the
most prominent all-around scorer this league has today. He cannot
and will not run the triangle. For those that do not know, the
triangle offense is one of the most complicated and difficult
offensive strategies to not only implement, but learn. In order to
run it with any sort of success, you need to have outstanding
players, more importantly, unselfish players, crisp passers and
formidable shooters. Now with Calderon and Bargnani, I think it
could work, without them it has no chance. It takes years to master,
and for guys like J.R Smith and Mello, it could take years to
understand. Habits are hard to break, Mello has run his iso-motion
plays for mush of his career and I doubt he is able or even willing
to change those habits. All that being said, Jose, Iman, Mello,
Bargnani and Sammy is a pretty nice starting 5. Good shooters and a
legit 5 man who is a rim protector. Off the bench J.R Smith and
Amare are solid role players, of Amare can even muster 30% of the
beast he used to be, they could do some danmage. Larkin is not a
household name, but an intelligent and fast PG backup. Prigioni is
also a solid role player. Healthy, this team could surprise some
teams. If they play with the same passion and gusto they did against
Cleveland, they could do well. But to stay as unselfish as they did
against Cleveland is not something I suspect they do for 82 games.
Triangle, Square, Circle or Rectangle, it does not matter, the
biggest market in the league stays irrelevant for another year.
PHILADELPHIA 76ERS - - - What everyone
needs to realize, is we cap games. We cap spreads. So be very weary
of going against the 76ers all the time. You have to have balls of
steel to back this team in any way, but sometimes you may just have
to swallow rather then spit...that is also what I said to a girl
yesterday :) The 76ers are young, that is without a doubt. They are
building for the future. With their draft pick, they took a risk and
went with Joel Embid. However, if this kid can stay healthy, he
could be the best player coming out of this draft. Embid along with
Nerlens Noel could be Philly's imitation of the new twin towers. Let
me start with Noel, this kid is very long, but also very thin. He
really needs to bulk up a bit if he has any chance at playing against
big 4 men. How hard is it to down a few cheeseburgers? Drive-thru
to McDonalds and then hit the weight-room. Simple as that. Jokes
aside, his 6'11 frame combines with his ability to time and block
shots is instrumental in him becoming a formidable rim protector in
this league. MCW surprised the entire NBA by posting Magic Johnson
type numbers in his rookie campaign. He is a 6'6 point guard with
some serious all-around skill, he is the future of this team, or big
time trade bait once Philly stacks up another top 3 pick. The reason
he might be trade bait is because of Tony Wroten. Another 6'6 PG
with crazy quickness, an outstanding crab-dribble and even better
euro-step layup. He is one of the most underrated point guards in
the NBA. His skill is still raw and can be molded to fit this team's
needs. He needs to improve his control if he has any chance of being
a starting point guard in the NBA, but he is immensely talented and I
love this kid's game. Another kid I really love on this roster is
K.J McDaniels. I was really hoping he would slip in the draft and
the Raps would take him, but Philly was smart and scooped him up
early. He has tremendous all-around skill. A good shot-blocker for
his size and at his position, he is a very good shooter and a hell of
an athlete who tested very well at the combine. Mbah a Moute is
still one of the best defensive weapons in the NBA, but time will be
limited as the 76er's main focus this year is the develop young
talent. Shved is one acquisition that the 76ers made that will pay
off, he has a very nice stroke and a passion for the game. Hollis
Thompson is a kid I am not very high on, he needs to build more of a
consistent skill-set to have any success in this league. The rest of
this roster is made up of young raw talent, but the 76ers will play
hard this season and may cover more spreads then people think.
Nevertheless, they will end up with the worst record in the NBA, have
a 25% chance at the #1 draft pick, and once again they will not get
the #1 draft pick and fall to #2 or #3. That being said MCW, Embid,
Noel and a #2 pick sounds pretty good for the 2015-2016 76ers and
beyond.
0
PHILADELPHIA 76ERS - - - What everyone
needs to realize, is we cap games. We cap spreads. So be very weary
of going against the 76ers all the time. You have to have balls of
steel to back this team in any way, but sometimes you may just have
to swallow rather then spit...that is also what I said to a girl
yesterday :) The 76ers are young, that is without a doubt. They are
building for the future. With their draft pick, they took a risk and
went with Joel Embid. However, if this kid can stay healthy, he
could be the best player coming out of this draft. Embid along with
Nerlens Noel could be Philly's imitation of the new twin towers. Let
me start with Noel, this kid is very long, but also very thin. He
really needs to bulk up a bit if he has any chance at playing against
big 4 men. How hard is it to down a few cheeseburgers? Drive-thru
to McDonalds and then hit the weight-room. Simple as that. Jokes
aside, his 6'11 frame combines with his ability to time and block
shots is instrumental in him becoming a formidable rim protector in
this league. MCW surprised the entire NBA by posting Magic Johnson
type numbers in his rookie campaign. He is a 6'6 point guard with
some serious all-around skill, he is the future of this team, or big
time trade bait once Philly stacks up another top 3 pick. The reason
he might be trade bait is because of Tony Wroten. Another 6'6 PG
with crazy quickness, an outstanding crab-dribble and even better
euro-step layup. He is one of the most underrated point guards in
the NBA. His skill is still raw and can be molded to fit this team's
needs. He needs to improve his control if he has any chance of being
a starting point guard in the NBA, but he is immensely talented and I
love this kid's game. Another kid I really love on this roster is
K.J McDaniels. I was really hoping he would slip in the draft and
the Raps would take him, but Philly was smart and scooped him up
early. He has tremendous all-around skill. A good shot-blocker for
his size and at his position, he is a very good shooter and a hell of
an athlete who tested very well at the combine. Mbah a Moute is
still one of the best defensive weapons in the NBA, but time will be
limited as the 76er's main focus this year is the develop young
talent. Shved is one acquisition that the 76ers made that will pay
off, he has a very nice stroke and a passion for the game. Hollis
Thompson is a kid I am not very high on, he needs to build more of a
consistent skill-set to have any success in this league. The rest of
this roster is made up of young raw talent, but the 76ers will play
hard this season and may cover more spreads then people think.
Nevertheless, they will end up with the worst record in the NBA, have
a 25% chance at the #1 draft pick, and once again they will not get
the #1 draft pick and fall to #2 or #3. That being said MCW, Embid,
Noel and a #2 pick sounds pretty good for the 2015-2016 76ers and
beyond.
The Central Division consists of the 2
best teams in the east and the eventual Eastern Conference Finalists.
This is going to be a rivalry for the ages. For at least the next
two years these two teams will meet up in the conference finals
unless Indy get's healthy and picks up a Lance Stephenson type player
or Toronto obtains a legitimate all-star small forward, if not, it's
going to be Chicago vs Cleveland all day long. I do think that one
team is deeper than the other, however, both teams consist of a star
player that if lost, lose all of their edge. The only difference is,
one star player has a history of injuries, the other has a body
blessed by the gods.
CLEVELAND CAVALIERS - - - The Cavs are
not as deep as the Bulls by any stretch of the imagination. But
something tells me they will make a trade at the deadline that not
only brings in a backup point guard other than Dellavedova, but also
another role player. It's easy to find talented vets looking to play
with Lebron and win an NBA championship. Don't be surprised if Ray
Allen and a top point guard join this roster at mid-season. As their
roster stand right now, they are the 2nd best team in the east, but
the fact that I do believe they will add some mid-season players and
that Derrick Rose will unfortunately suffer some kind of setback, the
Cavs are the best in the East. Irving is a stud, he led his U.S.A
team to a Championship and was the MVP of his team, his
court-awareness, peripheral vision and offensive savvy is as good as
any PG in the league. The fact that he is still young and improving
is scary. He is a 3 point specialist, a guy who can drive and kick
and/or absorb contact and finish. He has all the ability and
willingness to be a great PG in the NBA. Waiters has a chip on his
shoulder, something tells me he really did not want Lebron to come to
Cleveland, he is a businessman I guess. He wants a big contract
rather than a championship and that either shows his intelligence or
immaturity depending on who you are. Either way, he is a shot taker
and maker, he could and should improve on defense, but offensively he
is a solid 2 guard in this league. Lebron James...I could say a lot
about Lebron, but I will save that for another day. I have some
serious opinions on Lebron and would like to dedicate a separate
thread on him one day when I have some liquid courage in me and can
say what I feel and feel what I say. Kevin Love is one of the best,
if not arguably the best young power forward in the game today
(honorable mention to LA in Portland and BG in LA). His rebounding
ability is uncanny, his 3 point stroke is impeccable and his grit and
determination warrants mention. Love has always been a favorite
player of mine and playing alongside a star will only improve his
game and worth. Varajao is a very underrated 5 man in this league.
People only think about his rebounding and defensive ability, but his
offensive game and passing ability is as good as any 5 man in this
league (except for Marc Gasol). He is a big reason why the Cavs have
a chance to make it to the NBA Finals this year. Tristan Thompson is
the best weak-side offensive rebounding big man in the NBA today. He
is simply spectacular when it comes to positioning himself, his
verticle is decent enough to get to any ball in the air before his
check. No play calls, but plenty of points this season, simply from
effort and hustle. Apart from his request to get a 12 mil per year
extension, I love this kid. Reppin Canada all the way, but too
greedy for his own good. Mike Miller needs to get more time, as does
Shawn Marion. Two championship vets that can really provide
leadership and game experience. I actually like Dellavedova, his
stroke is smooth from the outside and passing ability is very good.
Cleveland is back in business, thanks to The Deserter...I mean The
King. Cavs finish # 1 and make it to the East Finals and maybe
beyond depending on what color the Rose is.
0
The Central Division consists of the 2
best teams in the east and the eventual Eastern Conference Finalists.
This is going to be a rivalry for the ages. For at least the next
two years these two teams will meet up in the conference finals
unless Indy get's healthy and picks up a Lance Stephenson type player
or Toronto obtains a legitimate all-star small forward, if not, it's
going to be Chicago vs Cleveland all day long. I do think that one
team is deeper than the other, however, both teams consist of a star
player that if lost, lose all of their edge. The only difference is,
one star player has a history of injuries, the other has a body
blessed by the gods.
CLEVELAND CAVALIERS - - - The Cavs are
not as deep as the Bulls by any stretch of the imagination. But
something tells me they will make a trade at the deadline that not
only brings in a backup point guard other than Dellavedova, but also
another role player. It's easy to find talented vets looking to play
with Lebron and win an NBA championship. Don't be surprised if Ray
Allen and a top point guard join this roster at mid-season. As their
roster stand right now, they are the 2nd best team in the east, but
the fact that I do believe they will add some mid-season players and
that Derrick Rose will unfortunately suffer some kind of setback, the
Cavs are the best in the East. Irving is a stud, he led his U.S.A
team to a Championship and was the MVP of his team, his
court-awareness, peripheral vision and offensive savvy is as good as
any PG in the league. The fact that he is still young and improving
is scary. He is a 3 point specialist, a guy who can drive and kick
and/or absorb contact and finish. He has all the ability and
willingness to be a great PG in the NBA. Waiters has a chip on his
shoulder, something tells me he really did not want Lebron to come to
Cleveland, he is a businessman I guess. He wants a big contract
rather than a championship and that either shows his intelligence or
immaturity depending on who you are. Either way, he is a shot taker
and maker, he could and should improve on defense, but offensively he
is a solid 2 guard in this league. Lebron James...I could say a lot
about Lebron, but I will save that for another day. I have some
serious opinions on Lebron and would like to dedicate a separate
thread on him one day when I have some liquid courage in me and can
say what I feel and feel what I say. Kevin Love is one of the best,
if not arguably the best young power forward in the game today
(honorable mention to LA in Portland and BG in LA). His rebounding
ability is uncanny, his 3 point stroke is impeccable and his grit and
determination warrants mention. Love has always been a favorite
player of mine and playing alongside a star will only improve his
game and worth. Varajao is a very underrated 5 man in this league.
People only think about his rebounding and defensive ability, but his
offensive game and passing ability is as good as any 5 man in this
league (except for Marc Gasol). He is a big reason why the Cavs have
a chance to make it to the NBA Finals this year. Tristan Thompson is
the best weak-side offensive rebounding big man in the NBA today. He
is simply spectacular when it comes to positioning himself, his
verticle is decent enough to get to any ball in the air before his
check. No play calls, but plenty of points this season, simply from
effort and hustle. Apart from his request to get a 12 mil per year
extension, I love this kid. Reppin Canada all the way, but too
greedy for his own good. Mike Miller needs to get more time, as does
Shawn Marion. Two championship vets that can really provide
leadership and game experience. I actually like Dellavedova, his
stroke is smooth from the outside and passing ability is very good.
Cleveland is back in business, thanks to The Deserter...I mean The
King. Cavs finish # 1 and make it to the East Finals and maybe
beyond depending on what color the Rose is.
CHICAGO BULLS - - - The most talented
roster in the Eastern Conference, the Chicago Bulls have the best 10
deep they have had since Rose entered this league 6 years ago. Now
it all depends on his health, strength and luck. Karma has not been
good to Derrick, I hope it is not another Brandon Roy. Rose has to
stay healthy for this team to have a chance at their first
Championship since the MJ era. The Heat never really had a roster
like this before, this team is deep and has a defensive intensity
that they never did. Coach Tibs is in my opinion the best coach in
the East, has been for the last 3 years. His defense first attitude
is what has allowed for the Bulls to even be competitive without
Rose. With Rose, the sky is the limit. Rose was always mentioned as
the best PG in the league along with Westbrook, I still think if
healthy, he is arguably the best at the 1 position along with
Westbrook. In the words of Jeff Van Gundy, give me Kirk Hinrich any
day of the week. He is such a pro, in every sense of the word. He
ran the team last year, and can easily handle the 2 guard position
this year, however, once Butler returns the two will belong to Jimmy,
and Hinny will become one of the best 1 men off the bench the league
has. Look for Jimmy Butler to play angry all season, the Bulls may
not be able to afford him, but once he shines this season they will
soon realize they can't afford to lose him. At the small forward
position you have Dunleavy who has really worked himself into the
best shape of his life, 3% body fat, lean and trim, same shooting
stroke with a better engine, the white wonder will emerge as a solid
3 man for the Bulls. He is underrated defensively and a solid
offensive threat from not only outside, but inside (drive-layups).
At the PF position you have a massive upgrade (in my opinion) to
Boozer in Pau Gasol. A guy with championship pedigree and a guy who
was under-appreciated his last years in Los Angeles. This guy helped
them win multiple championships and given the chance he may just do
the same in Chicago. At the 5 position you have arguable (Honarable
mentions Marc Gasol, Andrew Bogut, Boris Diaw) the best big man
passer in the NBA today. His all around skill, grit and
determination is impossible to match. The bench for the Bulls has
gotten considerable better. Taj Gibson could start for 22 NBA teams
today, his unselfishness and humble approach to the game is
refreshing. Aaron Brooks is on my top 5 list for most underrated
free agent signings this season, the kid is a baller and could really
help the Bulls win 55 + this year (depending on Rose's health)
McDermott is not only one of the best, if not the best scorers to
come out of the draft this year but is very underrated defensively.
He is tall and long enough to really make an impact on the defensive
end, this is clearly evident considering the fact that Coach Thibs
traded for him, defense first for Tom. Mirotic is a big man who can
rebound and spread the floor with his shooting, I like him a lot.
Snell rounds off the rotation and is another year more mature and
more in-tune to the defense first mentality of the Bulls. Bulls have
the best 9-10 man rotation in the East, but something tells me after
the trade deadline, they will have the 2nd best. Rose needs to stay
healthy, and if he does, the Bulls have a great chance to make it
back to the NBA Finals since the Air left the windy city, if the Rose
blooms, as will the Bulls, if the Rose wilts, as too will the Bulls.
0
CHICAGO BULLS - - - The most talented
roster in the Eastern Conference, the Chicago Bulls have the best 10
deep they have had since Rose entered this league 6 years ago. Now
it all depends on his health, strength and luck. Karma has not been
good to Derrick, I hope it is not another Brandon Roy. Rose has to
stay healthy for this team to have a chance at their first
Championship since the MJ era. The Heat never really had a roster
like this before, this team is deep and has a defensive intensity
that they never did. Coach Tibs is in my opinion the best coach in
the East, has been for the last 3 years. His defense first attitude
is what has allowed for the Bulls to even be competitive without
Rose. With Rose, the sky is the limit. Rose was always mentioned as
the best PG in the league along with Westbrook, I still think if
healthy, he is arguably the best at the 1 position along with
Westbrook. In the words of Jeff Van Gundy, give me Kirk Hinrich any
day of the week. He is such a pro, in every sense of the word. He
ran the team last year, and can easily handle the 2 guard position
this year, however, once Butler returns the two will belong to Jimmy,
and Hinny will become one of the best 1 men off the bench the league
has. Look for Jimmy Butler to play angry all season, the Bulls may
not be able to afford him, but once he shines this season they will
soon realize they can't afford to lose him. At the small forward
position you have Dunleavy who has really worked himself into the
best shape of his life, 3% body fat, lean and trim, same shooting
stroke with a better engine, the white wonder will emerge as a solid
3 man for the Bulls. He is underrated defensively and a solid
offensive threat from not only outside, but inside (drive-layups).
At the PF position you have a massive upgrade (in my opinion) to
Boozer in Pau Gasol. A guy with championship pedigree and a guy who
was under-appreciated his last years in Los Angeles. This guy helped
them win multiple championships and given the chance he may just do
the same in Chicago. At the 5 position you have arguable (Honarable
mentions Marc Gasol, Andrew Bogut, Boris Diaw) the best big man
passer in the NBA today. His all around skill, grit and
determination is impossible to match. The bench for the Bulls has
gotten considerable better. Taj Gibson could start for 22 NBA teams
today, his unselfishness and humble approach to the game is
refreshing. Aaron Brooks is on my top 5 list for most underrated
free agent signings this season, the kid is a baller and could really
help the Bulls win 55 + this year (depending on Rose's health)
McDermott is not only one of the best, if not the best scorers to
come out of the draft this year but is very underrated defensively.
He is tall and long enough to really make an impact on the defensive
end, this is clearly evident considering the fact that Coach Thibs
traded for him, defense first for Tom. Mirotic is a big man who can
rebound and spread the floor with his shooting, I like him a lot.
Snell rounds off the rotation and is another year more mature and
more in-tune to the defense first mentality of the Bulls. Bulls have
the best 9-10 man rotation in the East, but something tells me after
the trade deadline, they will have the 2nd best. Rose needs to stay
healthy, and if he does, the Bulls have a great chance to make it
back to the NBA Finals since the Air left the windy city, if the Rose
blooms, as will the Bulls, if the Rose wilts, as too will the Bulls.
DETROIT PISTONS - - - Finally the
Pistons let Joe Dumars go, it was about god damn time. They were
still rewarding the guy for the Cinderella story that was Rip
Hamilton, Billups, Prince and Big Ben. Ever since then, Dumars
ruined this franchise with ridiculous contracts to Ben Gordon and
Charlie V that basically strapped up the Pistons like a guy getting
spanked by a dominatrix. Now is the new era for D Town highlighted
by their twin towers Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond, two of the most
talented new big men the league has seen together since The Admiral
and Big Fundamental. Obviosuly they have a ways to go, however,
these two stud could quite possible lead the Motor City back to the
playoffs. I love Andre Drummond, I think he could lead the league in
rebounds (honorable mentions Nikola Vucevic and Kevin Love), he is
defensively savvy and a load on the offensive block. Greg Monroe is
as good as any PF on strong side offense, he can post you up and has
the footwork of a 250 ballerina (bad mental image). Coach SVG does
not like Jennings too much and that is what might be this team's
downfall. He needs to keep Brandon happy because he and D.J make up
one of the best PG duo's in the NBA. Play both 24 minutes, play BJ
at the two, I don't care, just keep em both happy. SVG is a very
stubborn coach and if he does not like an attitude of a player or
media comments of a player, he will sit them. I understand why he
like D.J a lot, D.J plays in control. But Jennings is really
improving as a passer and needs to be on this team for them to
succeed. Josh Smith is an enigma, so much talent, so much promise,
but his mind contains two monkeys picking each other's hair. Still a
defensive powerhouse, just needs to get his mindset right for him to
finally make an all-star team (which will never happen). SVG really
loves Caldwell-Pope, I things KCP has a lot of raw talent but needs
to fine-tine his game immensely before he can truly deserve a
starting SG spot. I really think Singler should be the starting SG
on this team but I am sure SVG knows more than me so I will trust his
judgment. Caron Butler, Jerebko and Joel Anthony round off this
rotation. Butler is a vocal vet who will help keep this team on an
even keel especially since he will contribute offensively and
youngsters have a tendency to listen to vets who score and
contribute. Jerebko is an under utilized forward who runs the break
well and has defensive philosophies in tact. Stan Van Gundy is not
only the head coach of this team but president of basketball
operations, he has a lot of pull in this organization and it's great
to see a Van Gundy back in a power position in the NBA, well deserved
and I suspect he leads the Pistons back to the playoffs. My only
issue with this team is that they could have been much much better
this season, they spent 14 million dollars on Jodie Meeks and 2 other
non-functioning players and I really think they could have spend
their money much better. SVG wants to duplicate what he did in
Orlando (which was shoot the 3 ball) but he will soon realize that
the Pistons are not the Orlando Magic that made it to the final.
Pistons still do well in a weak east, they barely make the playoffs
if at all, but get ousted in the first round.
INDIANA PACERS - - - It is going to
be clearly evident how good a coach Frank Vogul is. With no George
and the no Lance “Born Ready” Stephenson, the Pacers will
struggle all year long. But they will compete...all year long. Once
George Hill get's healthy, he will take over point guard duties from
a surprisingly competitive Donald Sloan. At the two-guard you have
the consistently inconsistent C.J Miles. The kid has never had back
to back stellar games but is capable of being a perennial scorer for
the Pacers. Soloman Hill should not be starting for any NBA
team...period. At the 4 once he get's healthy, the vocal leader and
captain of this team will take on a lot more of the offensive duties,
look for David West to have a big year. His fitness consists of
boxing and take it from someone who boxed for 3 years, it is a very
good way to stay fit and lean. Roy Hibbert will have a monster year,
all the pressure is off, he is just too immature to handle
high-intensity pressure. He does not have a high basketball I.Q, but
his sheer size and skill will lead him to a big year stats wise.
Look for him to really step it up defensively and offensively.
Indiana will run a high-low defense all year long and get him in the
position to score consistently. Off the beck you will have Luis
Scola who is a consummate professional in this league. His ability
to step out and make the mid-range jumper will help this team. My
sleeper off their bench (once he get's fully healthy) is Rodney
S.S.S.Stucky. He would have been a perfect filler for Lance. If
George did not go down, this team would have easily been in the 4th
spot in the East with the addition of Stucky. Chris Copeland will
shine this season and prove that he has one of the best 3-point shots
in the NBA. He will participate in all-star weekend and has a great
chance to be crowned as 3-point champion. Lavoy Allen is an
underrated mid range specialist and I loved his rebounding ability in
Philly. He has game, watch out for him. Ian Mahinmi is
under-utilized and I would love to see him get some more time in
Indy. All-in-all this is a sad situation for Larry Bird and Frank
Vogul. Paul George was the key to this team. I just do not think
they have what it takes to sneak into the playoffs this year, that
being said, Frank Vogul is an excellent coach and I would not be
surprised...well actually...I would. Pacers miss the post season for
the first time in years.
0
DETROIT PISTONS - - - Finally the
Pistons let Joe Dumars go, it was about god damn time. They were
still rewarding the guy for the Cinderella story that was Rip
Hamilton, Billups, Prince and Big Ben. Ever since then, Dumars
ruined this franchise with ridiculous contracts to Ben Gordon and
Charlie V that basically strapped up the Pistons like a guy getting
spanked by a dominatrix. Now is the new era for D Town highlighted
by their twin towers Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond, two of the most
talented new big men the league has seen together since The Admiral
and Big Fundamental. Obviosuly they have a ways to go, however,
these two stud could quite possible lead the Motor City back to the
playoffs. I love Andre Drummond, I think he could lead the league in
rebounds (honorable mentions Nikola Vucevic and Kevin Love), he is
defensively savvy and a load on the offensive block. Greg Monroe is
as good as any PF on strong side offense, he can post you up and has
the footwork of a 250 ballerina (bad mental image). Coach SVG does
not like Jennings too much and that is what might be this team's
downfall. He needs to keep Brandon happy because he and D.J make up
one of the best PG duo's in the NBA. Play both 24 minutes, play BJ
at the two, I don't care, just keep em both happy. SVG is a very
stubborn coach and if he does not like an attitude of a player or
media comments of a player, he will sit them. I understand why he
like D.J a lot, D.J plays in control. But Jennings is really
improving as a passer and needs to be on this team for them to
succeed. Josh Smith is an enigma, so much talent, so much promise,
but his mind contains two monkeys picking each other's hair. Still a
defensive powerhouse, just needs to get his mindset right for him to
finally make an all-star team (which will never happen). SVG really
loves Caldwell-Pope, I things KCP has a lot of raw talent but needs
to fine-tine his game immensely before he can truly deserve a
starting SG spot. I really think Singler should be the starting SG
on this team but I am sure SVG knows more than me so I will trust his
judgment. Caron Butler, Jerebko and Joel Anthony round off this
rotation. Butler is a vocal vet who will help keep this team on an
even keel especially since he will contribute offensively and
youngsters have a tendency to listen to vets who score and
contribute. Jerebko is an under utilized forward who runs the break
well and has defensive philosophies in tact. Stan Van Gundy is not
only the head coach of this team but president of basketball
operations, he has a lot of pull in this organization and it's great
to see a Van Gundy back in a power position in the NBA, well deserved
and I suspect he leads the Pistons back to the playoffs. My only
issue with this team is that they could have been much much better
this season, they spent 14 million dollars on Jodie Meeks and 2 other
non-functioning players and I really think they could have spend
their money much better. SVG wants to duplicate what he did in
Orlando (which was shoot the 3 ball) but he will soon realize that
the Pistons are not the Orlando Magic that made it to the final.
Pistons still do well in a weak east, they barely make the playoffs
if at all, but get ousted in the first round.
INDIANA PACERS - - - It is going to
be clearly evident how good a coach Frank Vogul is. With no George
and the no Lance “Born Ready” Stephenson, the Pacers will
struggle all year long. But they will compete...all year long. Once
George Hill get's healthy, he will take over point guard duties from
a surprisingly competitive Donald Sloan. At the two-guard you have
the consistently inconsistent C.J Miles. The kid has never had back
to back stellar games but is capable of being a perennial scorer for
the Pacers. Soloman Hill should not be starting for any NBA
team...period. At the 4 once he get's healthy, the vocal leader and
captain of this team will take on a lot more of the offensive duties,
look for David West to have a big year. His fitness consists of
boxing and take it from someone who boxed for 3 years, it is a very
good way to stay fit and lean. Roy Hibbert will have a monster year,
all the pressure is off, he is just too immature to handle
high-intensity pressure. He does not have a high basketball I.Q, but
his sheer size and skill will lead him to a big year stats wise.
Look for him to really step it up defensively and offensively.
Indiana will run a high-low defense all year long and get him in the
position to score consistently. Off the beck you will have Luis
Scola who is a consummate professional in this league. His ability
to step out and make the mid-range jumper will help this team. My
sleeper off their bench (once he get's fully healthy) is Rodney
S.S.S.Stucky. He would have been a perfect filler for Lance. If
George did not go down, this team would have easily been in the 4th
spot in the East with the addition of Stucky. Chris Copeland will
shine this season and prove that he has one of the best 3-point shots
in the NBA. He will participate in all-star weekend and has a great
chance to be crowned as 3-point champion. Lavoy Allen is an
underrated mid range specialist and I loved his rebounding ability in
Philly. He has game, watch out for him. Ian Mahinmi is
under-utilized and I would love to see him get some more time in
Indy. All-in-all this is a sad situation for Larry Bird and Frank
Vogul. Paul George was the key to this team. I just do not think
they have what it takes to sneak into the playoffs this year, that
being said, Frank Vogul is an excellent coach and I would not be
surprised...well actually...I would. Pacers miss the post season for
the first time in years.
MILWAUKEE BUCKS - - - This has always
been the most frustrating team for me in the Eastern Conference. I
thought once Scott Skiles left they would finally play their best 5
guys...I was wrong. It pains me when I see their rotation. They
could be so very good if they just learned to play their best 5 guys.
It is very frustrating for a basketball fan like myself to see guys
who should be starting, get 5-10 mins per game. Brandon Knight is a
stud, he has a stellar year last year and continues to grow as a pro.
At the starting two for some odd reason is Dudley. Don;t get me
wrong, I like his game a lot, but he is better suited coming off the
bench here. At the wing position we have perennial ROY candidate
Jabari Parker, this kid has immense talent. Not as raw as many would
think, his game will really translate well in the NBA, the #2 pick
for a reason, this guy is a stud and will have a long career in the
NBA. At the 4 position for some ridiculous reason is Middleton, what
the darn is Milwaukee thinking? Again and again they dig themselves
in a hole, they have two massively talented 4 men on the becnh
playing 5-10 mins a game, one of them is even getting close to 10
million a year for playing 5 minutes per game. At the 5 you have the
volatile, talented young big man, Larry Sanders. If he can get his
maturity in check, his skill, wingspan and length could cause
problems for even the best 5 men in the league. A ridiculously
skilled defensive players with a sick vertical for his size and
weight. Off the bench, O.J Mayo has really improved his game. His
shot looks excellent, his passing ability has improved as well, all
he needs is to find a consistent rhythm to his game. The Greek Freak
is one of my favorite young players in this league, he has such a
unique skill set, he reminds me of a AK47 mixed in with a Mbah a
Moute, but with a lot more offensive skill. He has a very bright
future in this league. John Henson is another one of my favorite
young players, he has so much raw skill that translates so well into
the new NBA, a young, fast, athletic 4 man with shot-blocking
ability, he should be starting along with the player to follow.
Ersan Ilyasova was signed to a massive contract, instead of starting
this talented rangy shooter, they decide to start Middleton. Why?
Why must the Bucks suck such a large you know what. It really
aggravates me that a guy that should be averaging 30+ minutes has to
fight and claw his way to a 10 mins per game. Ridiculous. Zaza and
Kendal Marshall round out this rotation and all I can say is what a
talented bunch of young players they have, too bad their organization
just does not know how to win. Bucks have yet another high lottery
pick when they have all the ammunition and tools to fire for an 8th
spot. I truly think they just want to continuously gain lottery
picks until they strike gold.
0
MILWAUKEE BUCKS - - - This has always
been the most frustrating team for me in the Eastern Conference. I
thought once Scott Skiles left they would finally play their best 5
guys...I was wrong. It pains me when I see their rotation. They
could be so very good if they just learned to play their best 5 guys.
It is very frustrating for a basketball fan like myself to see guys
who should be starting, get 5-10 mins per game. Brandon Knight is a
stud, he has a stellar year last year and continues to grow as a pro.
At the starting two for some odd reason is Dudley. Don;t get me
wrong, I like his game a lot, but he is better suited coming off the
bench here. At the wing position we have perennial ROY candidate
Jabari Parker, this kid has immense talent. Not as raw as many would
think, his game will really translate well in the NBA, the #2 pick
for a reason, this guy is a stud and will have a long career in the
NBA. At the 4 position for some ridiculous reason is Middleton, what
the darn is Milwaukee thinking? Again and again they dig themselves
in a hole, they have two massively talented 4 men on the becnh
playing 5-10 mins a game, one of them is even getting close to 10
million a year for playing 5 minutes per game. At the 5 you have the
volatile, talented young big man, Larry Sanders. If he can get his
maturity in check, his skill, wingspan and length could cause
problems for even the best 5 men in the league. A ridiculously
skilled defensive players with a sick vertical for his size and
weight. Off the bench, O.J Mayo has really improved his game. His
shot looks excellent, his passing ability has improved as well, all
he needs is to find a consistent rhythm to his game. The Greek Freak
is one of my favorite young players in this league, he has such a
unique skill set, he reminds me of a AK47 mixed in with a Mbah a
Moute, but with a lot more offensive skill. He has a very bright
future in this league. John Henson is another one of my favorite
young players, he has so much raw skill that translates so well into
the new NBA, a young, fast, athletic 4 man with shot-blocking
ability, he should be starting along with the player to follow.
Ersan Ilyasova was signed to a massive contract, instead of starting
this talented rangy shooter, they decide to start Middleton. Why?
Why must the Bucks suck such a large you know what. It really
aggravates me that a guy that should be averaging 30+ minutes has to
fight and claw his way to a 10 mins per game. Ridiculous. Zaza and
Kendal Marshall round out this rotation and all I can say is what a
talented bunch of young players they have, too bad their organization
just does not know how to win. Bucks have yet another high lottery
pick when they have all the ammunition and tools to fire for an 8th
spot. I truly think they just want to continuously gain lottery
picks until they strike gold.
The southeast division is probably the
best division in the Eastern Conference, scratch that, it is clearly
the best division in the East. It consists of 4 playoff teams in my
opinion, all 4 are basically a lock to make the playoffs barring any
severe injuries to certain players.
MIAMI HEAT - - - Despite being deserted
by the King (what did they expect?), Pat Riley did an outstanding job
at replacing LeBron with two solid wing men and filling out the
roster quite well. I do think they will miss Ray Ray a lot and don't
get me wrong, without James this team just does not have any hope at
winning an NBA championship. That being said, they are still a
contender to the two best teams in the East. With the loss of James,
it is time for everyone to realize and recognize how good a coach
Eric Spoelstra really is, the man is a great coach, especially for
his age. He has such an awareness of the game, a calm positive
demeanor that will lead his team to another stellar season. Norris
Cole has rightfully taken his place in the starting linup. The kid
has a lot more skill than Mario and a lot more passion and drive.
Wade, once again, takes over the reight of the Miami Heat. 4 tries,
one lucky championship and one deer in the headlights championship.
When push came to shove against two good Texas teams, they did not
get it done, and will not again this season, that being said, if
healthy Dwayne is one of the best two-guards in the NBA...STILL, and
will lead this team. Luol Deng was a perfect replacement to LeBron,
he has offensive greatness written all over him and his length and
defensive aptitude under coach Thibs will lead him to great success
in South Beach. Shawne Williams is clearly the weak link to this
roster, he should not be starting at the 4 on any team in the NBA,
let alone a team that has made it to 4 straight NBA championships.
Pat Riley knows what many Toronto fans know and the rest of the world
does not...Chris Bosh IS a star. He paid him max money to stay in
Miami and in doing so, allows Chris to finally do what Chris knows
best, be a star player. Look for Bosh to kill it this year. He has
been shunned for 4 seasons and that stops this season. Miami's bench
is a little thin, Mario Chalmers will do well in the 2nd unit, he can
play off the point in the 2 slot and allow for one of my favorite
college players Shabazz Napier to get some valuable time at the 1
spot. Chris Andersen got a favorable and well deserved contract and
is their only rim protector. Josh McRoberts, when healthy, is an
excellent and very-underrated big man passer. His court-vision is
excellent and passion for the game is top tier. He will do very well
under coach Spo. Shannon Brown made the team with his athleticism
and can run the break very well. Rounding out the rotation is a
youngster I am very high on, James Ennis is a raw, long, athletic
forward with some major upside. He has the wingspan of a 5 man, the
quickness of a small forward and the combined with his natural skill,
he is going to be very good. The Heat may have lost the best player
on the planet, but the fire still burns and as long as Wade stays
healthy and coach Spo stays cool, South Beach still has enough talent
to make it back to the East Finals, but in order to do that they will
have to go through the Cavs or Bulls. Heat win their division, take
the 4th spot in the playoffs, but are technically the 3rd best team
in the East.
WASHINGTON WIZARDS - - - The loss of
Beal until December will hurt the Wiz slightly, but once back, I
think he is the future of this league at the two-guard (along with
Klay Thompson) I haven't seen a sweeter stroke since Reggie Miller,
and he has a lot more all-around skill than Reggie every did, I
absolutely love Beal. This year is the year John Wall breaks through
and begins his ascension as one of the top-tier point guards in the
NBA, it has been a steady progression for this youngster but now is
his time, the future is now for young John Wall. An improved jump
shot, maturity and experience level all equals an all-star year for
the one man fast break. What an amazing job the Wiz did replacing
Paul Pierce. The ageless wonder might be pudgy, but his intelligence
and ability to put the ball in the hoop is priceless. He not only
makes this team better, he legitimizes this team in the playoffs as
another threat to the Cavs and Bulls. Nene “The Brazillian Beast”
is a legit PF in this league, he can step out an hit that 15 foot
jump shot and can bang in the post with the best of them. The 60
million dollar man Gortat got what he deserved, always underrated as
a 5 man, the Wiz realize how important this agile young big man is to
the team and paid the man what he deserved. The bench for the Wiz is
a bit suspect because it has way too much size and not enough
scoring. Once Beal returns, Temple; a long 2 guard who defends great
will return to the bench which will help. Alongside the young two
guard is a very talented Otto Porter, a wing man who can defend and
score, but is still very raw. Dre is almost 60 years old now, still
as savvy as ever, but will not provide the scoring punch they
desperately need in the 2nd unit. Glen Rice Jr. is a very good
player and the son of one of my favorite players of all time, but he
is 2 years away from being a good scorer in this league. Then you
have an array of big men that most NBA teams would die for, Kris
Humpries, DeJuan Blair, Drew Gooden and Kevin Seraphin...what the
darn are they going to do with this much size? They need to make a
trade come mid-season and add some much needed scoring depth to their
bench unit. Nevertheless, with Wall's maturation process, Beal's
slick stroke, Pierce's championship pedigree and an array of quality
big men, this Wiz team is a nightmare for anyone they meet in the
playoffs.
0
The southeast division is probably the
best division in the Eastern Conference, scratch that, it is clearly
the best division in the East. It consists of 4 playoff teams in my
opinion, all 4 are basically a lock to make the playoffs barring any
severe injuries to certain players.
MIAMI HEAT - - - Despite being deserted
by the King (what did they expect?), Pat Riley did an outstanding job
at replacing LeBron with two solid wing men and filling out the
roster quite well. I do think they will miss Ray Ray a lot and don't
get me wrong, without James this team just does not have any hope at
winning an NBA championship. That being said, they are still a
contender to the two best teams in the East. With the loss of James,
it is time for everyone to realize and recognize how good a coach
Eric Spoelstra really is, the man is a great coach, especially for
his age. He has such an awareness of the game, a calm positive
demeanor that will lead his team to another stellar season. Norris
Cole has rightfully taken his place in the starting linup. The kid
has a lot more skill than Mario and a lot more passion and drive.
Wade, once again, takes over the reight of the Miami Heat. 4 tries,
one lucky championship and one deer in the headlights championship.
When push came to shove against two good Texas teams, they did not
get it done, and will not again this season, that being said, if
healthy Dwayne is one of the best two-guards in the NBA...STILL, and
will lead this team. Luol Deng was a perfect replacement to LeBron,
he has offensive greatness written all over him and his length and
defensive aptitude under coach Thibs will lead him to great success
in South Beach. Shawne Williams is clearly the weak link to this
roster, he should not be starting at the 4 on any team in the NBA,
let alone a team that has made it to 4 straight NBA championships.
Pat Riley knows what many Toronto fans know and the rest of the world
does not...Chris Bosh IS a star. He paid him max money to stay in
Miami and in doing so, allows Chris to finally do what Chris knows
best, be a star player. Look for Bosh to kill it this year. He has
been shunned for 4 seasons and that stops this season. Miami's bench
is a little thin, Mario Chalmers will do well in the 2nd unit, he can
play off the point in the 2 slot and allow for one of my favorite
college players Shabazz Napier to get some valuable time at the 1
spot. Chris Andersen got a favorable and well deserved contract and
is their only rim protector. Josh McRoberts, when healthy, is an
excellent and very-underrated big man passer. His court-vision is
excellent and passion for the game is top tier. He will do very well
under coach Spo. Shannon Brown made the team with his athleticism
and can run the break very well. Rounding out the rotation is a
youngster I am very high on, James Ennis is a raw, long, athletic
forward with some major upside. He has the wingspan of a 5 man, the
quickness of a small forward and the combined with his natural skill,
he is going to be very good. The Heat may have lost the best player
on the planet, but the fire still burns and as long as Wade stays
healthy and coach Spo stays cool, South Beach still has enough talent
to make it back to the East Finals, but in order to do that they will
have to go through the Cavs or Bulls. Heat win their division, take
the 4th spot in the playoffs, but are technically the 3rd best team
in the East.
WASHINGTON WIZARDS - - - The loss of
Beal until December will hurt the Wiz slightly, but once back, I
think he is the future of this league at the two-guard (along with
Klay Thompson) I haven't seen a sweeter stroke since Reggie Miller,
and he has a lot more all-around skill than Reggie every did, I
absolutely love Beal. This year is the year John Wall breaks through
and begins his ascension as one of the top-tier point guards in the
NBA, it has been a steady progression for this youngster but now is
his time, the future is now for young John Wall. An improved jump
shot, maturity and experience level all equals an all-star year for
the one man fast break. What an amazing job the Wiz did replacing
Paul Pierce. The ageless wonder might be pudgy, but his intelligence
and ability to put the ball in the hoop is priceless. He not only
makes this team better, he legitimizes this team in the playoffs as
another threat to the Cavs and Bulls. Nene “The Brazillian Beast”
is a legit PF in this league, he can step out an hit that 15 foot
jump shot and can bang in the post with the best of them. The 60
million dollar man Gortat got what he deserved, always underrated as
a 5 man, the Wiz realize how important this agile young big man is to
the team and paid the man what he deserved. The bench for the Wiz is
a bit suspect because it has way too much size and not enough
scoring. Once Beal returns, Temple; a long 2 guard who defends great
will return to the bench which will help. Alongside the young two
guard is a very talented Otto Porter, a wing man who can defend and
score, but is still very raw. Dre is almost 60 years old now, still
as savvy as ever, but will not provide the scoring punch they
desperately need in the 2nd unit. Glen Rice Jr. is a very good
player and the son of one of my favorite players of all time, but he
is 2 years away from being a good scorer in this league. Then you
have an array of big men that most NBA teams would die for, Kris
Humpries, DeJuan Blair, Drew Gooden and Kevin Seraphin...what the
darn are they going to do with this much size? They need to make a
trade come mid-season and add some much needed scoring depth to their
bench unit. Nevertheless, with Wall's maturation process, Beal's
slick stroke, Pierce's championship pedigree and an array of quality
big men, this Wiz team is a nightmare for anyone they meet in the
playoffs.
CHARLOTTE HORNETS - - - The Cats and
Hawks will battle all year long for the better record, I predict the
Cats win this battle. Kemba Walker is aan all-around stud, he is
going to battle with inconsistently all year, but this time he will
have asssistance as this roster has not only gotten better via free
agency, but internally as well. Lance “Born Ready” Stephenson
may like to blow in men's ears, but he doesn't blow. He is
spectacular in every facet of the game, leading all players with 5
triple-doubles last year, this 6'5 combo guard can run the point and
two position and may even work as a 3 man if running a small 3 guard
lineup. He will take a lot of time to get acclimated in the Cat's
system, but after Gordon Hayward's offer sheet was matched, this was
the next best thing for the Cats who had a ton of cap space. At the
wing position you have one of the most improved players in the league
this year, MKG. MKG has internally improved in so many ways, he was
a very high draft pick and I really believe he will pan out and
become one of the better two way players in the NBA. At the 4 spot
you have a bit of an issue, Marvin Williams is a very good shooter,
he can stretch the floor and lure big men out to the 3 point line.
But on defense he is a big liability on this team and a large reason
why the Cats will not succeed beyond a certain point this year. The
man in the middle is Big Al. Easily an all-star this year, if
healthy Big Al will once again lead his team into the playoffs. This
bench has a little bite, but not much. Gary Neal is a big pickup, a
professional in every sense of the word, he will help the Cats who
struggled from beyond the arc last year, his defense is solid and his
ability to play the combo guard position will help this team. I was
high on Gerald Henderson coming into the season but an awful
preseason and start to the season makes me suspect my prediction, I
still think he will get into form come mid-season and help this team.
Roberts is a youngster who can make shots but his size will prove to
be a problem positionally. Cody Zellar, Jason Maxiel and Biyombo are
bigs that can take up enough space in the Eastern Conference, but
will get swallowed hole by Western Conference teams. The Cats are
better than they were last year, but so are a lot of Eastern teams,
the cats are a big power forward away from being a dominant team in
the East, nevertheless, the Buzz is back in Carolina.
ATLANTA HAWKS - - - Analysts continue
to underestimate the Hawks. I really like this team about 7 deep.
At the one you have one of the most exiting PG's in the conference in
Jeff Teague. His dominance against Indiana in the first round of the
playoffs was no joke, not a lot of guards in the East have the
laterally quickness to stay in front of him. Look out for an
all-star year from the young guard. Kyle Korver was statistically
the best shooter in the NBA last year, and this year with Al Horford
healthy, look for that 46% arc mark to actually increase. DeMarre
Caroll has really improved his shot over the last two years, he used
to be known as strictly a defensive specialist, but now he is able to
be a two-way player and a legit starting wing-man in the NBA. He may
not make the all-star team since he has to share the paint with big
Al, but don't be surprised if he gets the nod from coaches as he has
setup a great follow up year, Milsap is a beast down low and now with
a mid-range game and even a little bit of game beyond the arc, this
guy is the real deal. Slimmed down, faster and an improved jumpshot
could mean trouble for the East. Big Al is back and healthy, looks a
bit out of shape compared to his superman like build a few years ago,
once he gets into mid-season form, this legit 5 will be the same
beast he was a few years back. The bench for the Hawks is a little
thin, but their two rangy big men are going to carry the 2nd unit.
Mike Scott is a gunner who gained a lot of confidence in that series
vs Indy, he has improved on that shot even more so. Pero Antic
carried the starting 5 spot with brilliance last year and coming off
the bench he will prove to be just as difficult a cover for many big
5's in the league. Shelvin Mack joins the bigs as yet another guy
who can rain 3's and is a decent floor general as well. Thabo
Sefalosha and Kent Bazemore round out this rotation. I love Thabo,
always have. He will guard the best player on the floor in the
playoffs and cause fits. Bazemore needs to gain confidence and
consistency before he can play a vital part to this rotation. I
really like this team, in some cases they have a better chance at
upsetting a team in the playoffs than the Cats do. They are built to
upset a higher seed in the East. I am very high on the Hawks this
year and their coaching staff, Hawks soar all year long ATS wise and
may just cause an upset in the first round of the playoffs, they are
built for success.
0
CHARLOTTE HORNETS - - - The Cats and
Hawks will battle all year long for the better record, I predict the
Cats win this battle. Kemba Walker is aan all-around stud, he is
going to battle with inconsistently all year, but this time he will
have asssistance as this roster has not only gotten better via free
agency, but internally as well. Lance “Born Ready” Stephenson
may like to blow in men's ears, but he doesn't blow. He is
spectacular in every facet of the game, leading all players with 5
triple-doubles last year, this 6'5 combo guard can run the point and
two position and may even work as a 3 man if running a small 3 guard
lineup. He will take a lot of time to get acclimated in the Cat's
system, but after Gordon Hayward's offer sheet was matched, this was
the next best thing for the Cats who had a ton of cap space. At the
wing position you have one of the most improved players in the league
this year, MKG. MKG has internally improved in so many ways, he was
a very high draft pick and I really believe he will pan out and
become one of the better two way players in the NBA. At the 4 spot
you have a bit of an issue, Marvin Williams is a very good shooter,
he can stretch the floor and lure big men out to the 3 point line.
But on defense he is a big liability on this team and a large reason
why the Cats will not succeed beyond a certain point this year. The
man in the middle is Big Al. Easily an all-star this year, if
healthy Big Al will once again lead his team into the playoffs. This
bench has a little bite, but not much. Gary Neal is a big pickup, a
professional in every sense of the word, he will help the Cats who
struggled from beyond the arc last year, his defense is solid and his
ability to play the combo guard position will help this team. I was
high on Gerald Henderson coming into the season but an awful
preseason and start to the season makes me suspect my prediction, I
still think he will get into form come mid-season and help this team.
Roberts is a youngster who can make shots but his size will prove to
be a problem positionally. Cody Zellar, Jason Maxiel and Biyombo are
bigs that can take up enough space in the Eastern Conference, but
will get swallowed hole by Western Conference teams. The Cats are
better than they were last year, but so are a lot of Eastern teams,
the cats are a big power forward away from being a dominant team in
the East, nevertheless, the Buzz is back in Carolina.
ATLANTA HAWKS - - - Analysts continue
to underestimate the Hawks. I really like this team about 7 deep.
At the one you have one of the most exiting PG's in the conference in
Jeff Teague. His dominance against Indiana in the first round of the
playoffs was no joke, not a lot of guards in the East have the
laterally quickness to stay in front of him. Look out for an
all-star year from the young guard. Kyle Korver was statistically
the best shooter in the NBA last year, and this year with Al Horford
healthy, look for that 46% arc mark to actually increase. DeMarre
Caroll has really improved his shot over the last two years, he used
to be known as strictly a defensive specialist, but now he is able to
be a two-way player and a legit starting wing-man in the NBA. He may
not make the all-star team since he has to share the paint with big
Al, but don't be surprised if he gets the nod from coaches as he has
setup a great follow up year, Milsap is a beast down low and now with
a mid-range game and even a little bit of game beyond the arc, this
guy is the real deal. Slimmed down, faster and an improved jumpshot
could mean trouble for the East. Big Al is back and healthy, looks a
bit out of shape compared to his superman like build a few years ago,
once he gets into mid-season form, this legit 5 will be the same
beast he was a few years back. The bench for the Hawks is a little
thin, but their two rangy big men are going to carry the 2nd unit.
Mike Scott is a gunner who gained a lot of confidence in that series
vs Indy, he has improved on that shot even more so. Pero Antic
carried the starting 5 spot with brilliance last year and coming off
the bench he will prove to be just as difficult a cover for many big
5's in the league. Shelvin Mack joins the bigs as yet another guy
who can rain 3's and is a decent floor general as well. Thabo
Sefalosha and Kent Bazemore round out this rotation. I love Thabo,
always have. He will guard the best player on the floor in the
playoffs and cause fits. Bazemore needs to gain confidence and
consistency before he can play a vital part to this rotation. I
really like this team, in some cases they have a better chance at
upsetting a team in the playoffs than the Cats do. They are built to
upset a higher seed in the East. I am very high on the Hawks this
year and their coaching staff, Hawks soar all year long ATS wise and
may just cause an upset in the first round of the playoffs, they are
built for success.
ORLANDO MAGIC - - - The Magic are
clearly building for a brighter future. They do have a group of
young men who if molded correctly could do great things in the NBA
once day. I really like Payton, he reminds me a lot of his namesake
Gary. His defensive capabilities are very rare for a young man. He
attacks passing lanes better than some guys who are top-tier
defenders at his position. He has a chance to not only be a good
defensive player, but a great defensive specialist. His jump shot
needs a bit of work, but is not as bad as most people think. With a
little experience and a lot of patience, the Magic have themselves a
gem at the point. Evan “The Paris Posterizer” Fournier is a very
underrated young shooting guard. I like the trade for Afflalo a lot,
they get a very similar player who is young and can grow into the
position and the franchise. He has a sweet stroke and is a very
intelligent player. I like his game a lot. Tobias Harris is a
bruising small forward with a lot of upside as well. Channing Frye
is one acquisition I just did not like for the Magic, not a lot of
potential for Frye, he is what he is, an outside shooter who had only
2 consistent years in his entire NBA career. At the 5 spot is my
favorite young big man in the NBA today, Vucevic is a spectacular
rebounder with an above par inside offensive game. His rebounding is
so clever, his is not strong, so he uses positions and fundamental
box-out principles to out-smart his check and grab the board. I
think he has a chance to be something special in this league. The
bench for Orlando is not as bad as most think. Ben Gordon is out to
prove a point, if he can just find a little consistency to his game,
he could really rejuvenate his career, I predict he will as Orlando
is the perfect fit for him. Kevin O'Quinn is another young big I
really like, I would like to see him start over Frye. He is bigger,
stronger and more skilled around the rim. He has a bruising presence
to him and has a gritty mentality I just love. Luke Ridnour is the
consummate professional and can run this young team with ease, a
great addition to the 2nd unit. Aaron Gordon is only 19 years old
and the sky is the limit for him (pun intended), this guy can fuckin
leap! He has an athletisism that is beyond belief, easily my early
pick for slam dunk champ this year. He not only has a sick vertical
but his agility is crazy. My only issue with him is his position, is
this kid a 3 or a 4? They need to figure it out quick because
despite this new era of NBA big men, he needs to mold his game per
the position he plans to play. Improve the jump shot, hit the weight
room and grab as much playing time as you can young fella, Gordon is
special. One last honorable mention is a big man named Dedmon, I
really liked what I saw from him in summer league play and preseason
play. Too bad he won't go down to the D-League because he needs some
playing time to get better. They need his size so look for him to
get at least 10 mins a game. Be very careful going against Orlando
ATS wise, they are not as bad as the majority of cappers think.
Despite that, they are going to hold one of the worst records in the
East and guarantee themselves a top 5 lottery pick...which by the way
their roster is shaping up...isn't such a bad thing for the future of
this franchise. The future is as bright as Micky's nose. Magic fail
this year but build for better things to come.
0
ORLANDO MAGIC - - - The Magic are
clearly building for a brighter future. They do have a group of
young men who if molded correctly could do great things in the NBA
once day. I really like Payton, he reminds me a lot of his namesake
Gary. His defensive capabilities are very rare for a young man. He
attacks passing lanes better than some guys who are top-tier
defenders at his position. He has a chance to not only be a good
defensive player, but a great defensive specialist. His jump shot
needs a bit of work, but is not as bad as most people think. With a
little experience and a lot of patience, the Magic have themselves a
gem at the point. Evan “The Paris Posterizer” Fournier is a very
underrated young shooting guard. I like the trade for Afflalo a lot,
they get a very similar player who is young and can grow into the
position and the franchise. He has a sweet stroke and is a very
intelligent player. I like his game a lot. Tobias Harris is a
bruising small forward with a lot of upside as well. Channing Frye
is one acquisition I just did not like for the Magic, not a lot of
potential for Frye, he is what he is, an outside shooter who had only
2 consistent years in his entire NBA career. At the 5 spot is my
favorite young big man in the NBA today, Vucevic is a spectacular
rebounder with an above par inside offensive game. His rebounding is
so clever, his is not strong, so he uses positions and fundamental
box-out principles to out-smart his check and grab the board. I
think he has a chance to be something special in this league. The
bench for Orlando is not as bad as most think. Ben Gordon is out to
prove a point, if he can just find a little consistency to his game,
he could really rejuvenate his career, I predict he will as Orlando
is the perfect fit for him. Kevin O'Quinn is another young big I
really like, I would like to see him start over Frye. He is bigger,
stronger and more skilled around the rim. He has a bruising presence
to him and has a gritty mentality I just love. Luke Ridnour is the
consummate professional and can run this young team with ease, a
great addition to the 2nd unit. Aaron Gordon is only 19 years old
and the sky is the limit for him (pun intended), this guy can fuckin
leap! He has an athletisism that is beyond belief, easily my early
pick for slam dunk champ this year. He not only has a sick vertical
but his agility is crazy. My only issue with him is his position, is
this kid a 3 or a 4? They need to figure it out quick because
despite this new era of NBA big men, he needs to mold his game per
the position he plans to play. Improve the jump shot, hit the weight
room and grab as much playing time as you can young fella, Gordon is
special. One last honorable mention is a big man named Dedmon, I
really liked what I saw from him in summer league play and preseason
play. Too bad he won't go down to the D-League because he needs some
playing time to get better. They need his size so look for him to
get at least 10 mins a game. Be very careful going against Orlando
ATS wise, they are not as bad as the majority of cappers think.
Despite that, they are going to hold one of the worst records in the
East and guarantee themselves a top 5 lottery pick...which by the way
their roster is shaping up...isn't such a bad thing for the future of
this franchise. The future is as bright as Micky's nose. Magic fail
this year but build for better things to come.
I appreciate the insights,when wagering knowledge is king and the more insight the better, i am off to a great start and looking to get better so thanks for sharing and best of luck to you
I hear you about the Raps growing pains, when they arrived here i was away playing but i have followed them every season and they are second only to my beloved Lakers,,yes insert laughter but i have been a Laker fan for 34 years and i know them inside out
Anyways i look forward to your future posts and plays
0
I appreciate the insights,when wagering knowledge is king and the more insight the better, i am off to a great start and looking to get better so thanks for sharing and best of luck to you
I hear you about the Raps growing pains, when they arrived here i was away playing but i have followed them every season and they are second only to my beloved Lakers,,yes insert laughter but i have been a Laker fan for 34 years and i know them inside out
Anyways i look forward to your future posts and plays
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