So how about those recent news around the NBA? Pau Gasol is a Laker. Shaq O'Neal is now a Sun. Marion is with the Heat. And Jason Kidd is looking out. Anyone else think at least three more teams will be making a championship run with the Celtics? How about that Gasol deal?
The Celtics are still the team to beat since they have the best record in the NBA. I'm not sure Marion will all of a sudden bolt the Heat to a new dimension, and I honestly think the Suns got worse with the Shaq trade. As for the Lakers, well, I'm very optimistic about our team, and once we get healthy, I really think we'll be able to do something special. But as of now, it's all talk. None of these teams you've mentioned have really proven anything yet, so we'll still have to wait and see.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (o.iatlhawksfan @ Feb 6 2008, 09:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Detriot?</div> I said "more," Detroit was a given, along with the EC Champs of the Cavs and the Magic. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Brian @ Feb 6 2008, 09:44 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>The Celtics are still the team to beat since they have the best record in the NBA. I'm not sure Marion will all of a sudden bolt the Heat to a new dimension, and I honestly think the Suns got worse with the Shaq trade. As for the Lakers, well, I'm very optimistic about our team, and once we get healthy, I really think we'll be able to do something special. But as of now, it's all talk. None of these teams you've mentioned have really proven anything yet, so we'll still have to wait and see.</div> I don't think any team has actually "proven" anything, except maybe the Detroit team that's been together for a long time. Don't forget, the Celtics still have an idiot at helm in Doc Rivers, a (still) sub-.500 coach who has not been able to get out of the first round of a playoff series in four tries. That is despite having Tracy McGrady in his prime, a servicable Mike Miller, Pat Garrity, Darrell Armstrong and Drew Gooden as well as Paul Pierce, Antoine Walker, Ricky Davis and Gary Payton and losing to a inferior Pacer team. The Lakers may be all hype, but a team of Kobe, Bynum and Gasol is scary. No ifs or buts about it. The Suns have serviceable big man down the middle now in Shaq, if healthy (and that's a big if). If he can actually play, the Suns may actually be able to compete with the other two big teams in the Western conference with big men (Lakers, Spurs). Of course, if Kidd can get down to Dallas, we'd see another contender coming out of the West. It'll be one hell of a ride until and in the playoffs!
