<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I think Dwight Howard has the potential to be the best center in the game by the end of this season</div> word...that's what I meant by breakout.....thank God he's in the east.
Ehhh I'm not sure about the best center but he'll be up there as one of the best. Shaq will always be the best center in the NBA until he retires.
Like many, I see Josh Smith and Dwight Howard putting up huge years, similar to their second half play last year. I can see Dwight Gettin 18-13 this year. Kevin Martin is going to have a huge year with Bonzi gone. I also see Jake Tsakalidis and Kendrick Perkins (if he's given the starting spot) having big years. Although I'm also trying to stay away from sophmores, I see Deron Williams having a huge year.
I definitely think that Darko is due a break-out year; with playing time he can certainly show that he is a very good and capable player. Depending on what you consider to be a break out year, I feel that Anderson Varejao could have a great year. He played well during the playoffs, especially, last season, but I feel that he will make a step up from last year.
I think that the break-out players will be Dwight Howard and Chris Paul. Dwight will improve his offensive game and will grab even more rebounds. Paul has now a very solid team around him, he will be the leader of that team - let's see how far can the young guard take 'em. But I really hope that CB4 will make a great season. I enjoy this guy's game much.
<div class="quote_poster">Umair15 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">It may have been, but I feel that this season he will tear everyone apart.</div> He'll have to stay healthy in order to accomplish that.
<div class="quote_poster">Laker_fan Wrote</div><div class="quote_post"> Shaq will always be the best center in the NBA until he retires.</div> Shaq is the best, Yao is too weak and should get aggresive. Blah! Blah! Blah! Blah! Old stuff. Till when are you guys gonna keep on saying this? forever? Yao has gotten much better. If you have watched the Rockets games after the ASG, you can see that he has improved his game a lot. Even though he got injured last year, he still put up great numbers, and I think that he was the best center last year. Shaq will stay the best center till he retires? Dont overrate Shaq's performance now. His numbers are dropping, and there is no way I would consider him better than centers like Yao, Howard, or Chris Bosh.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">His numbers are dropping, and there is no way I would consider him better than centers like Yao, Howard, or Chris Bosh</div> Chris Bosh isn't a center. And yeah, I wouldn't consider Shaq the best center either. Even Yao would have contributed more in the Finals then Shaq did. At this point and time, Shaq is just more of a leader for the team off the court and in a mental aspect then anything.
<div class="quote_poster">durvasa Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I forgot about Josh Smith. I think you're spot on with that. I'm more skeptical about Shaun Livingston. Does he have a jumper yet?</div>I'll say the jumpers is much improved from before, he can hit shots fairly well now, and his confidence has improved a lot, but I'm not sure how much he can "breakout" in his minutes. <div class="quote_poster">shapecity Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">In no paticular order ... Dwight Howard Chris Wilcox Carmelo Anthony (Darkhorse MVP) Iggy</div> Can Carmelo really breakout anymore? I mean he already put up like 27-5-3, he'd have to have a beastly season to breakout from that. I like the Wilcox one, I forgot about him, but you never know with Chris, he's not the hardest working guy. Iggy is one I'm skeptical about not from a skills standpoint, but from a "he play with Iverson and Webber" standpoint. I think as long as he's in that situation, he'll just tease us with the possibility of breaking out.
A couple of players no one's mentioned... I got a couple of players who I don't think anyone has mentioned yet Nick Collison Mickael Pietrus Speedy Claxton Collison has got all the talent to be a 15+ 8+ player, I just think he needs the pt. He's got a nice J for a 6'11" guy too. Also, with Swift out, hopefully he'll get a chance to shine. Pietrus is capable of having a year like his fellow Frenchman, Boris Diaw, had last year. He can do it all and I wouldn't put it past him to average 10+ pts, 4+ assists, and 5+ rebounds, which are pretty nice numbers. The only question is can he keep his fg% up. He'll have a chance to blow up because he's going to start and word is Don Nelson really likes him. Claxton is finally going to have a chance to start and I think at this point in his career he's really going to take advantage of it. I'm guessing for a 15+ pts 7+ assists season. He's got a lot of weapons to get the ball to. With Joe Johnson back at sg I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't blow up as well and average in the mid 20s this year.
You might be right Clos, It's not a guarantee that they will have breakout seasons, but I wanted to put some players on the list who weren't mentioned, but have a chance to breakout. I think Collison and Pietrus will be given the chance.
Well not a breakout season, but Vladimir Radmanovic will have lot of open looks with Kobe. Tyson Chandler will thrive with Chris Paul. Already been said, and I agree with: Kevin Martin JR Smith Josh Smith I liked what shapecity said about Carmelo Anthony being a dark horse MVP. I felt he didn't get enough recognition for last years commendable performance. Sorry I am talking like a robot, but I am in the middle of writing an English essay.
<div class="quote_poster">JoeJohnson02 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">You might be right Clos, It's not a guarantee that they will have breakout seasons, but I wanted to put some players on the list who weren't mentioned, but have a chance to breakout. I think Collison and Pietrus will be given the chance.</div> Nothing wrong with those selections but Seattle has too many young big men as it is so they might not give enough action to Collison. Also, Pietrus is good but will he be starting?
Swift was supposed to start for Seattle, but he tore his ACL and is done for the season, so that opens up a spot for Collison, that's one of the reasons I picked him and yes Pietrus is starting.
What happened to Petro? Anyways, yeah Pietrus should do good because J-Rich is becoming a star so he will help develop Mickael's game more.
To throw my list out there: Kevin Martin - No Bonzi around, I think Kevin Martin will have a great season and is my pick for MIP if he gets the starting job Dwight Howard Darko Milicic Marvin Williams - When he gets healthy, I think he'll be great with no Harrington there Josh Smith - The jumper has looked a lot better and I think that helps him a lot, no longer relying on dunking for all of his offense Chris Wilcox Tyson Chandler - I'm putting this one as a big maybe though JR Smith - If given minutes, I think he could excel in a running offense
I like Kevin Martin, Darko, and Josh Smith especially on your list. Josh Smith has improved his 3pt shot. Darko will have more minutes. Kevin Martin will blossom now that Bonzi isn't there. Good list Moo2K4.
