I would say Suns, Nets, Hawks, Heat. Suns: Nash with 2 running big men won't find problems in transition. Nets: As long as Jason Kidd has his stamina, the Nets will have some good transition basketball. Hawks: Youth + Energy = lots of running ball + finishing dunkers. Whenever Shaq went to the bench, the Heat would spring into fast break mode with D-Wade with the addition of J-Will it will only improve their fast breaks.
I think people have to take a good look at the Hawks...yes they have the potential to be a very exciting ball club. But I think they are missing two every important fast break ingrediants, while they do have great athletes, that will be exciting finishers...you have to question if the Hawks will have the defensive aware-ness to use D as a break starter. You cant run if the opponent forces you to take the ball out after opponents made baskets....can the Hawks get consistent stops to be a consistent running team? also the Hawks are mising the natural pg to lead the break for them...you can have all the finsihers in the world but if you dont have that floor vision that only comes from being a point guard all your life, then the fast break potential is all for not...playing Joe Johnson or Salim Stoudamire at point doesnt give the Hawks that natural pg instincts imo...so all of opporunities to run/and create easy baskets will be missed.
^ Yeah. Nets fastbreak usually starts with their terrific perimeter D anchored by Kidd. It also helps them that Kidd is also active with defensive boards and he usually runs after getting one. That's what the Hawks lacks
hm my faviourate would be: Rockets--- Mcgrady/Swift/Yao/Head Heat--JWill/Wade/Toine Golden State: Baron Davis/Jason Richardson
Gsw Two words: Golden State - they're undersized and athletic - that means they will run. I think Jason Williams will be told to FEED TO SHAQ. Phoenix learned that fast break means you might beat Dallas but that's about it. Seattle will run as long as they have Radmanovic, Rashard Ray and Ridnour. Can you picture those guys playing in the half-court? Also with Sasha Vujacic starting for the lakers at point, even though he's big, can he run a triangle? with lamar and luke walton there will be fastbreak LA points next year.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Henacy:</div><div class="quote_post">I think people have to take a good look at the Hawks...yes they have the potential to be a very exciting ball club. But I think they are missing two very important fast break ingrediants, while they do have great athletes, that will be exciting finishers...you have to question if the Hawks will have the defensive aware-ness to use D as a break starter. You cant run if the opponent forces you to take the ball out after opponents made baskets....can the Hawks get consistent stops to be a consistent running team? also the Hawks are mising the natural pg to lead the break for them...you can have all the finsihers in the world but if you dont have that floor vision that only comes from being a point guard all your life, then the fast break potential is all for not...playing Joe Johnson or Salim Stoudamire at point doesnt give the Hawks that natural pg instincts imo...so all of opporunities to run/and create easy baskets will be missed.</div>You should substitute "crucial" for "very important" above, Henacy. The things the Hawks lack are actually *more* important to running a fast break than the things the do have. Which is why Steve Belkin was right not to want to give up 2 picks for JJ. And why Phoenix will, if anything, be an even better fast break team than they were last year.
I think the nets will be the best fastbreak team next year. When you have Jason Kidd, Vince Carter, and Richard Jefferson on the same floor there are going to be some nice fastbreaks this year. Also, I'd look at Phoenix and Philly with Iverson and Iggy intrigues me.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting phunDamentalz:</div><div class="quote_post">Two words: Golden State </div> I was wondering how long it would take for someone to say that. The Warriors led the league in PPG during the last 10 games of the season and went 14-5 with Baron Davis as a starter. Over a whole season that comes out to 60-22, our team has improved slightly as well with Baron now being 100%, Ike bringing some low post presence, and the rest of the team can get in shape and work on their games. I'm predicting about 54-57 wins and one of the bottom 3 seeds of the playoffs.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Run BJM:</div><div class="quote_post">I was wondering how long it would take for someone to say that. The Warriors led the league in PPG during the last 10 games of the season and went 14-5 with Baron Davis as a starter. Over a whole season that comes out to 60-22, our team has improved slightly as well with Baron now being 100%, Ike bringing some low post presence, and the rest of the team can get in shape and work on their games. I'm predicting about 54-57 wins and one of the bottom 3 seeds of the playoffs.</div> If Golden State gets 54-57 wins, they would likely challenge for the Pacific, not a 5-8 seed.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Henacy:</div><div class="quote_post">I think people have to take a good look at the Hawks...yes they have the potential to be a very exciting ball club. But I think they are missing two every important fast break ingrediants, while they do have great athletes, that will be exciting finishers...you have to question if the Hawks will have the defensive aware-ness to use D as a break starter. You cant run if the opponent forces you to take the ball out after opponents made baskets....can the Hawks get consistent stops to be a consistent running team? also the Hawks are mising the natural pg to lead the break for them...you can have all the finsihers in the world but if you dont have that floor vision that only comes from being a point guard all your life, then the fast break potential is all for not...playing Joe Johnson or Salim Stoudamire at point doesnt give the Hawks that natural pg instincts imo...so all of opporunities to run/and create easy baskets will be missed.</div> Great points. The Nets back in 02-03 were great, because they had many stops that led to the break. I don't think the Nets'll be that great of a fastbreak team this year. They were horrible last year, but they still have Kidd and Jefferson. Maybe top 10-15 for them. Denver gets my nod as long as Andre Miller and Earl Boykins are there to push the ball. They have quick, athletic bigs and forwards who can run the floor.
The Hawks, Nuggets and Suns will be the top Fast Break Teams in the league. The Hawks have enough finishers and a decent ball distributor in JJ and they're still young. The Nuggets were just amazing the last half of the season after Karl took over so I'ma stick with them, and The Suns have Marion, and Amare. Do I need to explain further?
gotta say nets and warriors, who wouldn't want to watch kidd, carter, jefferson on a fast break? and then for the warriors, having robinson is good enough, but then adding davis, dam this team is most likely to be a phonex type team
Watch out for the Warriors all you ballers out there. Bdiddy_Jrich_AirFrance are you kiddin me! Murphy is a great defensive rebounder -outlet goes to Bdiddy- -Jrich and Pietrus fill the lanes- It'll be a freak show. Bring on the season!
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting phunDamentalz:</div><div class="quote_post"> Seattle will run as long as they have Radmanovic, Rashard Ray and Ridnour. Can you picture those guys playing in the half-court?</div> They won a Northwest title with a halfcourt play. So yes, I can picture them playing a slow tempo game. But Bob Weiss is stated that they will try to run more this year fo sure. We'll see how it works out.
