Bobcats in a LANDSLIDE. felton gaining some steam. morrison stepping right in for 12-15ppg. okafor back from injury. G. wallace running everywhere. I've never wanted to live in Charlotte til now - that will be a fun team to watch for sure. On the other hand, I'm doubting the Magic. Dwight's been the man there for a while, the jury is still out on Darko, Jameer is not a top class point guard yet, and unlike AdMo in Charlotte, nobody knows what JJ will provide, not sure about their coach, etc., etc..... They have expectations now and there will be more pressure on them.... I see them being a disappointment.
The Magic really turned it on at the end of last season and I think that momentum gave them some confidence. The Magic might have the best inside-out ability in the league, with Howard and Darko capable of scoring in the post, while you Jameer, JJ, and Turkoglu scoring on the perimeter. I think this is going to be a very good team and a team that will create a tough matchup for any opponent this year.
You guys talking about Shaq getting worse because he is turning 35 and that he can get stopped by Ben Wallace.. How bout Ben Wallace, hes turning 33, hes getting older also, hes not gonna be as great with the Bulls. He was a big CANCER to the Pistons in the playoffs. Anyways... Most Improved Teams 1. Bulls {JR Smith, PJ Brown, Tyrus Thomas, Ben Wallace, great players.} 2. Magic {Great young players such as Dwight and J.J} 3. Bobcats {Okafor, Felton will be great} 4. Pacers {They got a nice trade with Marquis Daniels, Granger might have a break out year. If they sign Al Harrigton or Bonzi Wells or both, they can have a great lineup. Such as: PG: Marquis Daniels {Can play PG} or Sarunas J. or Jammal Tinsley SG: Bonzi Wells {If they get him} or Stephen Jackson SF: Danny Granger PF: Al Harrington C: Jermaine Oneal Key Bench Players: Fred Jones Shawne Williams James White {Very Versatle}
I think the Bulls, Bobcats and the Raptors will be the most improved teams. I'm rooting for T-dot to make the playoffs. The offseason has brought alot of new talent to the team, and I see a good change for the Raps upcoming. PG: TJ Ford SG: Mo' Pete SF: Joey Graham PF: Chris Bosh C: Rasho Nesterovic Plus with Bargnani, Calderon, Kris Humphries and PJ Tucker coming off the bench, these guys should be able to make a run at the playoffs at minimum.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting CrazyArtest:</div><div class="quote_post">You guys talking about Shaq getting worse because he is turning 35 and that he can get stopped by Ben Wallace.. How bout Ben Wallace, hes turning 33, hes getting older also, hes not gonna be as great with the Bulls. He was a big CANCER to the Pistons in the playoffs. Anyways...</div>I will say, Ben Wallace didn't have a great playoffs, but he wasn't the problem. Their problem was that teams had figured out how to beat them. Chauncey Billups was awful after the first round, shooting 39% from the floor and a paltry 20/64 from the arc. Or how about Rip's near-disappearing act in the ECF. His 20.7 ppg is misleading, cause he only hit 38% from the floor and was turning it over nearly three times per game. Than, how about Rasheed Wallace's wondrous 10.5 ppg. I realize he was hurt, but if you're not going to help your team and you know it, why not just hand it over to McDyess. The Pistons also killed themselves with their lack of depth. Their bench was essentially Lindsey Hunter and Antonio McDyess. Joe Dumars was the fault of that when he traded away Darko and Arroyo for next to nothing. So, while Wallace didn't played well throughout the playoffs, no one on that team played well in the ECF. Couple that with an overall pitiful offensive showing, not just by individuals, but as a team. In the ECF, the Heat's highest total might have only been 98, but when you're playing a team that only breaks 90 twice (both wins), and every other game doesn't break past 86, that's a recipe for losing. Give the Heat defense more credit before you call any one player a cancer.
i still go with twolves. james may be our cassell of three years ago, and ricky is a better spree than we had. our bench is better in foye and mccants. i dont see why the wolves cant win their division now.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TheFreshPrince:</div><div class="quote_post">i still go with twolves. james may be our cassell of three years ago, and ricky is a better spree than we had. our bench is better in foye and mccants. i dont see why the wolves cant win their division now.</div> You think Foye will come off the bench? Not disagreeing with you, but I could see a James and Foye backcourt combination. Foye a versatile combo guard so I think he would fit well at either of the guard spots, and even though he is undersized, he is extremely strong which will allow him to guard bigger player without being backed down into the post.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Best Kept Secret:</div><div class="quote_post">You think Foye will come off the bench? Not disagreeing with you, but I could see a James and Foye backcourt combination. Foye a versatile combo guard so I think he would fit well at either of the guard spots, and even though he is undersized, he is extremely strong which will allow him to guard bigger player without being backed down into the post.</div> i want foye to start, but its him or ricky because hassell and james will start. i would prefer ricky coming off the bench, but i think we can win now, so ricky will start imo. plus we have jaric coming off the bench.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TheFreshPrince:</div><div class="quote_post">i want foye to start, but its him or ricky because hassell and james will start. i would prefer ricky coming off the bench, but i think we can win now, so ricky will start imo. plus we have jaric coming off the bench.</div> Although, Hassell is one of the leagues most underrated defenders I think a lineup of Foye, James, and Davis is just as likely a possibility as having Hassell in the starting lineup. As good, as Hassell is on defense he really hurts the team on the offensive side of the ball. He does not give them enough points from the small forward position. That?s just me I think it can go either way though.
he almost averaged 10 ppg without a pg to dish him the ball. all his jumpers came off of kg. he will easily average 12 ppg this year imo. plus, he wont be a very effective bench player. BKS, do you think that minny has a legitamit (spelling) shot at winning their division?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TheFreshPrince:</div><div class="quote_post">he almost averaged 10 ppg without a pg to dish him the ball. all his jumpers came off of kg. he will easily average 12 ppg this year imo. plus, he wont be a very effective bench player. BKS, do you think that minny has a legitamit (spelling) shot at winning their division?</div> I think so last season I picked them to win in the pre-season though and was dead wrong so my opinion does not mean much lol. It is going to be a toss up between them, Utah, and the Nuggets. If Foye can come in, and play like I think he will, and James remains the same player he was last season they will make the playoffs. All KG needs is help.
i am really starting to get pumped for our team. KG recently said that this is the happiest he has ever been in minny, i cant wait for the new wolves to tear it up next season. we still need a starting center, though we have never had one before, so that wont be stopping us this year.
To TFP...Mike James is not going to create scoring opportunities for Hassell. He's a shoot first, shoot second, shoot third, and than maybe pass fourth, type of point guard. He's not a true point guard by any means. He's going to be looking for his shot before anyone elses. Next, I think their best lineup would be starting Foye, sliding Ricky to the three, and bringing in Hassell off the bench. That or bring in Ricky off the bench as the 6th man, much like the Celtics did.
I agree the Bobcats will be the most improved team next year followed closely by the Chicago Bulls and the Clippers and Lakers with the addition of Radman should make some noise in the Western Conference.
If you are comparing last seasons sucess, to how they will do next season, then I say the Houston Rockets will have the biggest improvement. Last year they were a lottery team, but providing Tracy and Yao stay healthy, they are easily one of the best teams in the West. They were able to add Shane Battier who gives them a wing defender, outside shooter, and a consistent third scoring option.
