<div class="quote_poster">Quoting J_Ray:</div><div class="quote_post">1. <font color=""Blue"">Orlando Magic</font>: They have a potential superstar with Dwight Howard. When his career is all said and done, he could be one of the top big men of all time when it's all said and done. Jameer Nelson can run this team really good, Milicic will improve this year, and Hedo is the man, just ask Gators </div> Hmm, I like the way you think. You should check out the Magic forum sometime.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Swish15:</div><div class="quote_post">Hmm, I like the way you think. You should check out the Magic forum sometime. </div> Gators and me are still negotiating, he won't give me that the free Dental in the deal I could occasionally post if he stops bagging on my Wildcats
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting J_Ray:</div><div class="quote_post">Sure they got Big Ben, but he's not that great, only when he was in that system with a guy to back him up like Sheed. </div> Errr.....I'm sorry didn't Ben win 2 or 3 DPOY before Rasheed came?
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Im surprised no one has said houston. If Mcgrady has anything more than another lost season and Yao Ming is as good as he was in the second half last year than thats easily a good ten wins more than they had last year.</div>Co-Sign. If you want to see the biggest win+ difference from last year, Houston has to be atleast in your top 3. All things went wrong when it came to injuries, and if TMac and Yao are both healthy, this team could go from 34 wins to 50-53 wins this season.
I think the bucks will be better defensivly but not the most improved overall i guess the bulls then the magic, then comes hornets. I cant belive jj redict was picked 11 still.
I don't think the Bulls will be much better to be honest with you. Sure they took the Heat to six, but lets be honest here everyone knows the Heat were playing half assed and waiting for Detroit. I think Orlando will be better and I think what everyone said this past offseason about Houston being contenders for the title will come true this year. New Orleans will be better because Peja and Paul will go well. Also, Charlotte will only get better.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting playmaker15:</div><div class="quote_post">I don't think the Bulls will be much better to be honest with you. Sure they took the Heat to six, but lets be honest here everyone knows the Heat were playing half assed and waiting for Detroit. I think Orlando will be better and I think what everyone said this past offseason about Houston being contenders for the title will come true this year. New Orleans will be better because Peja and Paul will go well. Also, Charlotte will only get better.</div> They looked like they where playing real half assed when they where picking up all those technical, and getting frustrated as hell after losing control of that series . I personally think the Heat will be a long shot to repeat next year, or be as good as they where this year. Shaq is not going to be a 20 points per game guy. I think his number will be considerable lower. Although, I love Wade?s game right now he can?t carry them. Then there is the possibility Riley won?t be back, at least he said he wouldn?t during the season, it?s Riley though so who knows. Zo is a free agent, and might retire. I don?t know I don?t think the Heat will be as good. You still got to put them up top because they are the defending champs, but I think the Bulls have a serious chance at knocking them off.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting playmaker15:</div><div class="quote_post">I don't think the Bulls will be much better to be honest with you. Sure they took the Heat to six, but lets be honest here everyone knows the Heat were playing half assed and waiting for Detroit.</div> Maybe I'm a little biased but when a team addresses their only needs shouldn't that mean they get better? And not just a little bit better either. They needed size and a presence in the paint and now they have that. Last year they did fine scoring with their commitee of Hinrich, Gordon, Nocioni, Deng, and the occasional Duhon or Chandler burst. Now that they have Wallace and Thomas added to the mix along with Thabo they should be plenty fine. My picks for most improved are, of course, the Bulls, Hornets, Bobcats, Magic, and the Blazers will be better (but still no playoff team).
I think it's the Bulls next season. They added a 4 time DPOY in Ben Wallace and got Tyrus Thomas thanks to another Isiah Thomas blunder. And I really think people are going to underrate the impact Ben will have on our team. With him there, our defensive frontcourt becomes 10 times better. While Tyson may be a good shot blocker, his comes from his pure athletic ability. Ben Wallace, on the other hand, is all instinct. The man just knows how to defend the basket and knows how to do it well. He alone will make people think twice about coming to the paint against us. Throw in the fact that he's mentoring Tyrus Thomas, and that's going to be an even scarier frontcourt combo here soon enough. And the great thing about this offseason is that the Bulls have just begun. If they manage to get PJ Brown, they become even better. They get another big body to defend the paint and give us a legit low post scorer. And while PJ might have seen his best years pass him a while ago, he can still give us a good 10/10 or 12/10 on most nights, which is just what we need. Just someone to keep the interior defense honest, giving our perimeter guys a little more space to shoot. Than we throw in someone like JR Smith and that just gives us an even deeper bench than what we'll already have. All in all, the Bulls, just by adding Thomas and Wallace become improved. If the NO trade falls through like it should, we become even better.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Best Kept Secret:</div><div class="quote_post">They looked like they where playing real half assed when they where picking up all those technical, and getting frustrated as hell after losing control of that series . I personally think the Heat will be a long shot to repeat next year, or be as good as they where this year. Shaq is not going to be a 20 points per game guy. I think his number will be considerable lower. Although, I love Wade?s game right now he can?t carry them. Then there is the possibility Riley won?t be back, at least he said he wouldn?t during the season, it?s Riley though so who knows. Zo is a free agent, and might retire. I don?t know I don?t think the Heat will be as good. You still got to put them up top because they are the defending champs, but I think the Bulls have a serious chance at knocking them off.</div> I can understand why Chicago is excited but yall need to relax about the knocking off the Heat...I dunno if you guys remember but Shaq has owned Ben Wallace every time hes matched up against him. Yes he helps your squad but Versus the Heat Ben Wallace is nothing because, Shaq is just to much for him, and Ben is nothing on the offensive end, so adding him on your team does not mean he will make you guys take down the Heat. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Shaq is not going to be a 20 points per game guy</div> How do you know..? That Shaq being one year older excuse is lame, people said that before this season and look what happened, Shaq was doing coast to coast layups lol. Shaq has proved he can stay dominant and keep himself in shape, next season I don't expect anything different from the Champion Shaquille Oneal.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TheTruth5:</div><div class="quote_post">I can understand why Chicago is excited but yall need to relax about the knocking off the Heat...I dunno if you guys remember but Shaq has owned Ben Wallace every time hes matched up against him. Yes he helps your squad but Versus the Heat Ben Wallace is nothing because, Shaq is just to much for him, and Ben is nothing on the offensive end, so adding him on your team does not mean he will make you guys take down the Heat.</div>Key word in your statement is that he OWNED him. As in past tense. As in he can't anymore. He's not the same player he once was. While he may have averaged 21.7 ppg in the CF vs the Pistons, that's a far cry from dominance. His playoff average of 18.4 is far from his 26.3 career ppg average and about as far from his 25.6 playoff ppg average for his career. This is not the same Shaq that won 3 Finals MVPs and and an NBA MVP during his Laker years. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> How do you know..? That Shaq being one year older excuse is lame, people said that before this season and look what happened, Shaq was doing coast to coast layups lol. Shaq has proved he can stay dominant and keep himself in shape, next season I don't expect anything different from the Champion Shaquille Oneal.</div>Shaq showed his age in the Finals and throughout the playoffs. He was not the reason they won. He wasn't dominant...unless you consider 13/10 dominant. He was shutdown to 5 points in one game in case you don't remember. Statistically, Shaq wasn't the same either. He had his lowest ppg of his career this year, barely breaking 20 ppg. He's no longer the Shaq that can dominate a series and take a team on his back. This Shaq is now the one that must rely more on teammates than ever before because of the new rules that have been put in place. Shaq has finally shown his age. He's become more injury prone and isn't as effective offensively as he once was (02-03 was the last time he averaged more than 22.9ppg
1. Bulls, but not because of the Ben signing or the draft. They were the hottest team going into the playoffs and played great against the Heat. Just them gelling another year will make them Top 3-4 in the East. 2. Magic, I'm biased, but we were the 2nd hottest team at the end of the regular season. Dwight Howard is going to be an all-star and with the improvement of Jameer Nelson and Darko Milicic. Hedo is one of the most underrated players in the NBA. He can score from anywhere on the court. Plus we have JJ's shot off the bench. 3. Raptors. Bosh is a superstar already and with TJ Ford distributing the ball they will win a lot more games than Mike James chucking it. I love Mo Pete and I think Bargiani is going to be a very good player.
I can't give the Rockets most improved, yet. Until McGrady stays healthy, they'll struggle to win. Yao, also has to stay healthy. Now my pick goes to the <font color="orange">Charlotte Bobcats.</font> They have the defense (<font color="orange">Okafor, Gerald Wallace</font>). They have the skilled PG who can create (<font color="orange">Brevin Knight, Raymond Felton</font>). They also have the big man who can put the ball in the basket (<font color="orange">Brezec</font>) and the big who can bang down low (<font color="orange">Sean May</font>). All the young 'Cats needed was a scorer, someone who could put the ball in the basket from anywhere in the court, someone who they could go to when the game was tight at the end, someone who could secure more than 20 points any given game, and they got that player (<font color="orange">Morrison.</font> Out of all the draft picks and free agent signings so far, Morrison is number one on my list. He has completed the Bobcats team, now all they have to do is grow and mature together. I fully expect the Bobcats to contend for a playoff birth this year, maybe even as high as the 6th seed. I can see them surpassing my Wizards, the Sixers, Indiana, and Milwaukee, pending injuries. My pick for rookie of the year is no other than Adam Morrison. This kid is going to bring to the Bobcats, everything they've needed. He can score, he can create, and he'll improve on defense. Other than the Bobcats, I'd go with the <font color="red">Chicago Bulls.</font> Drafting Tyrus Thomas won't show much of an effect this year, I do think he's too raw to produce much of anything right now, but the acquisition of Big Ben helps this team out tremendously on defense. Also, with the possibilities of acquiring PJ Brown and J.R Smith, possibly even Garnett, I think this team is poised for a deep playoff run. I could also see their moves becoming a let down. They've needed some post scoring for awhile, if anything, the acquisition of Ben Wallace has hurt that area for them. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Bulls now acquire a center who they can bring off the bench to give them anywhere from 8-12 PPG, possibly Chris Mihm. He was their 3rd option this off-season, behind Big Ben and Nazr. They've got Ben and Nazr is now a Piston, Mihm will bring them 12 PPG off the bench.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TheBlackMamba:</div><div class="quote_post">Other than the Bobcats, I'd go with the <font color="red">Chicago Bulls.</font> Drafting Tyrus Thomas won't show much of an effect this year, I do think he's too raw to produce much of anything right now, but the acquisition of Big Ben helps this team out tremendously on defense. Also, with the possibilities of acquiring PJ Brown and J.R Smith, possibly even Garnett, I think this team is poised for a deep playoff run. I could also see their moves becoming a let down. They've needed some post scoring for awhile, if anything, the acquisition of Ben Wallace has hurt that area for them. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Bulls now acquire a center who they can bring off the bench to give them anywhere from 8-12 PPG, possibly Chris Mihm. He was their 3rd option this off-season, behind Big Ben and Nazr. They've got Ben and Nazr is now a Piston, Mihm will bring them 12 PPG off the bench.</div>I will say, I can't disagree with you that the Bulls need a post scorer. But, that's the exact reason why they're going after PJ Brown. If he stays healthy, he's got the potential to go for about 10/10 or so, and that'd help the Bulls tremendously. However, even if the Bulls don't land a post scorer, they can get offense elsewhere. Andres Nocioni has really expanded his game and can score from anywhere on the floor. Kirk Hinrich has the potential to go for 20/7 this year, something he proved he can do during the Heat series. Ben Gordon, by all means, has the potential to be a top scorer in the league here soon. He's got a lightning quick release from the outside. He's a deadly shooter from anywhere on the court. He can get to the hoop and score in the paint with that nice floater of his. All in all, he's a scorer in the purest sense of the word. If he can be consistent, he has the potential to go for 20ppg and than some. In Deng, they have a guy who will give em between 13 and 15 every night consistently. And, if they land JR Smith, they have a guy who can come off the bench and give em 11 to 13ppg as long as he stays out of Skiles' doghouse. All in all, even the Bulls don't get that post scorer, I think they have plenty of offense on the perimeter to be successful. Plus, you toss in that defense, as long as this team is scoring 95 ppg, they'll be winning 50+ next year.
Besides the somewhat obvious picks of Bulls, Magic, Hornets, Rockets (If tmac and yao are healthy), I think Utah, Memphis (depending on Rudy Gay's progression). Milwaukee and Portland will both also improve, however not as much as the other teams.
Couple of things worth addressing: And by that, I really mean, just addressing the Bulls. Low Post Scoring: First... the whole "they need a low post scorer" mantra that sounds like a broken record. Why? Why do they need one? Curry wasn't anything great for us. Unless you only played the 1st quarter of every game, Curry was often a non factor. Yet, the year before last, we were a 4th seed. What gives? Curry would look great in the first quarter....and then pull off a vanishing act that would rival Houdini. What's even more impressive is that he had the energy to make him (and his 300lbs) dissapear. He was consistant about that. But hey- he was consistant at something, right? Enter Sweetney. Sweetney is a shorter, maybe fatter version of Curry. Sweetney though, actually has some low post moves around the basket. He is not a great player by any means, nor am I expecting him to start. But if need low post scoring, dump the ball into Sweetney. He essentially does the same thing for us last year as Curry did. ------------------- If that is too "Pro-Bulls" for you, don't worry. I will deflate some air of some overzealous posters. Paxson is what he is; a above average GM. He drafted well bec. he took accomplished collegiate players, such as Hinrich, Gordon, Deng, Duhon, etc. This year, he threw a monkey wrench into his conservative approach by adding Tyrus Thomas. He gambled. Big time. Ditton on Thabo. While I appluad these draft picks, he has raely stood out. It does not take a mastermind to grab Wallace in free agency. It just took "upping the ante." Wallace is a known commodity- a good one- but Paxson is hardly the "Executive of the Year." It came down to us and the Pistons. We offered more money. Its that simple. A simple pat on the back of Paxson is sufficient. No need to give him the keys to city hall. The one free agent move that he did that was, rather brilliant, was signing Nocioni, an unknown commodity. However, where Paxson lacks, is trading. He has shown an ability to dump cap. Rose, Crawford, Curry, and now seemingly Chandler. It doesn't take much to dump cap....(just make the offer sweet enough). What Paxson has yet to show is that he can take the assets we have (Duhon, Hinrich, Gordon, Deng, Nocioni, Chandler, Thomas) and consolidate some into a larger asset. This is where the Chandler trade comes into play. Essentially, Chandler is being traded for garbage. Now, at some point within the next few minutes, I will be told that Brown is a stand up guy, with size, and an ability to score, etc. What I won't be told is that Brown is going to be 37 this year. That he has a 1 year contract (essentially, a one year rental). That we wont be contending for a championship this year, so essentially, moving Chandler for nothing. That Chandler's weakside help, rebounding, and athleticism fit well with this team. That in the next two or three years when we are ready to compete, Wallace will be getting up there as our youth hits its prime, and Chandler would be hitting his prime right about then as well.... Lastly, no one will be able to tell me how PJ Brown fits into the Bulls lineup. I mean, he is big, scores 10ppg, he must fit, right? Nevermind the Bulls are a perimeter based team (and thus, a true low post scoring option isn't of full time need). Or that the Bulls prefer an uptempo offense. How exactly does Brown fit into that? When Brown is on the court, our offense will stagnate and slow. When you have thoroughbreds, do you walk them? You race them. Brown doesn't fit into that. At all. If he was a franchise player, I'd be fine adjusting our offense to fit him. He isn't. If the Brown don't fit, you must acquit. Unfortunately, Brown must have the coveted "jib" that Paxson is always looking for.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> 1. Bulls, but not because of the Ben signing or the draft. They were the hottest team going into the playoffs and played great against the Heat. Just them gelling another year will make them Top 3-4 in the East. 2. Magic, I'm biased, but we were the 2nd hottest team at the end of the regular season. Dwight Howard is going to be an all-star and with the improvement of Jameer Nelson and Darko Milicic. Hedo is one of the most underrated players in the NBA. He can score from anywhere on the court. Plus we have JJ's shot off the bench. 3. Raptors. Bosh is a superstar already and with TJ Ford distributing the ball they will win a lot more games than Mike James chucking it. I love Mo Pete and I think Bargiani is going to be a very good player. </div> Agreed. If the Raptors had not started off the 1-15 they would have been a .500 team or even slightly better. I don't remember what their record was after the 1-15 start but there was a stretch of games were their record (disregarding the 1-15) was at or above .500. Thus, with the addition of Rasho, Andrea and TJ Ford I really believe that they will get better this year. I'm not completely sold on the playoffs but they will beat last year's record. I know BC isn't done trading and signing so let's see who else he adds to this team. I'm kind of scared about the Bulls to be matter of fact. They were already impressive this year with Tyson manning the middle, now they have Ben Wallace along with Tyrus Thomas and Tyson as well. Am I the only one who thinks Tyson shouldn't be traded? If Thomas develops into the player everyone expects him to be, I'd hate to play Chiago because there would be a 3-headed shot blocking tandem awaiting you whenever you drive into the lane. Granted, thier offense wouldn't be as powerful but they still have players such as Deng, Gordon and Nicocioni (sp) and most importantly, Hinrich (he seems like a new age John Stockton to me...not saying he'll reach that level but play-wise). The Bulls will be an amazing team next year. I think they should make a run at the chip by attempting to trade for KG though, because the deal makes sense for both teams and it would work under the cap as well (I believe), but that's just my opinion. The Magic, I actually thought they'd be a great team last year (at the beggning) as well but I'm not sure what happened to them, until the end of the year of course. Grant Hill was somewhat back and it was great to see him playing again but I guess he faded as well towards the end. However, towards the end of the season the Magic came alive and even beat some of the top teams. I would definetly watch out for them. Dwight Howard is going to be a monster this season. He is always consistent but I expect him to step it up a notch again this year. He is the heart and soul of that team and him and Jameer Nelson should make a great Center-PG combo for years to come. And I haven't even mentioned Darko yet. M.I.P anyone?
Champs Next Year: Phoenix...I called it last offseason with Miami, well Rock4Life boldly stated it and made a thread, and I agreed. Most Improved: Portland and/or Toronto. They were at the bottom of the NBA last season, this season they could very well hope for at least that 8th spot. Acctually I think they will get 40 wins and barely miss the playoffs in a more competitive NBA. 08 season they will have that chem. 2nd MIP goes to Orlando, finally back in the playoffs. Houston will hopefully (finally) get to the second round. I can't say they are the most improved because they were always good, just injured. Chicago will make the playoffs and be eliminated during the first round, (3-7 seed). I would say 3/4 are about right.
