Which teams have open championship windows?

Which teams do you think have an open championship window going into the 2007-2008 season?</p>

 

My list in no order</p><ul>[*]San Antonio[*]Phoenix[*]Boston[*]Miami[*]Cleveland[*]Houston[/list]

 

This is pretty simple, I do not think that Miami has a chance, they're too old and always play a very unhealthy season. Their reign at the top of the Eastern Conference has come to an end. The Cleveland Cavaliers won't make the same playoff run they did last year, I do believe it was a fluke, that team struggles scoring the ball and can't defend the post. Here's my list of teams in no order:</p><ul>[*]Dallas Mavericks[*]Detroit Pistons[*]Chicago Bulls[*]Phoenix Suns[*]San Antonio Spurs[*]Houston Rockets[*]Boston Celtics[/list]

</p>

Those are the contendors in my book, the Jazz duo of Williams and Boozer still needs a couple years together to become a really dynamic duo.</p>

 

Cleveland has LeBron and Miami has Wade. Their windows are open</p>

The Bulls windows hasn't open yet. Signing a win now player like Ben Wallace was such a waste for them, but at least it got Chandler traded to a situation where he could be comfortable.</p>

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cpawfan)</div><div class='quotemain'>

Cleveland has LeBron and Miami has Wade. Their windows are open</p>

The Bulls windows hasn't open yet. Signing a win now player like Ben Wallace was such a waste for them, but at least it got Chandler traded to a situation where he could be comfortable. </p></div>

</p>

If you really think one player is enough than you're saldy mistaken. Without LeBron creating shots for his teammates they just can't score and even with LeBron's amazing passing ability they still shoot the lowest FG% in the NBA so they rely a great deal on the offensive rebounding of some of their bigs. If any team were to out-rebound the Cavs, they would have no chance of winning. Great offensive big-men will always dominate the Cavs because they can't guard the post.</p>

</p>

As for Miami, Wade is already missing the first month of the season because of his shoulder, by that time Shaq will likely be out. We saw last year how little only Wade or Shaq can do for the Heat. It's looking like Miami is headed for another un-healthy season.</p>

</p>

As for Chicago, their defense is one of the best in the NBA. Offensively they need a post prescence but they do have a scrappy team who can score the ball most of the time. They had an awful start to 06-07, I expect a much better season this year and them making a run at the first seed. </p>

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (GArenas)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cpawfan)</div><div class='quotemain'>

Cleveland has LeBron and Miami has Wade. Their windows are open</p>

The Bulls windows hasn't open yet. Signing a win now player like Ben Wallace was such a waste for them, but at least it got Chandler traded to a situation where he could be comfortable. </p></div>

</p>

If you really think one player is enough than you're saldy mistaken. Without LeBron creating shots for his teammates they just can't score and even with LeBron's amazing passing ability they still shoot the lowest FG% in the NBA so they rely a great deal on the offensive rebounding of some of their bigs. If any team were to out-rebound the Cavs, they would have no chance of winning. Great offensive big-men will always dominate the Cavs because they can't guard the post.</p>

</p>

As for Miami, Wade is already missing the first month of the season because of his shoulder, by that time Shaq will likely be out. We saw last year how little only Wade or Shaq can do for the Heat. It's looking like Miami is headed for another un-healthy season.</p>

</p>

As for Chicago, their defense is one of the best in the NBA. Offensively they need a post prescence but they do have a scrappy team who can score the ball most of the time. They had an awful start to 06-07, I expect a much better season this year and them making a run at the first seed. </p>

</div>One top player is enough if 1) management isn't incompetent and puts together a supporting cast, 2) they make their teammates better and 3) the team plays defense. Cleveland can beat any team in the East in a 7 game series and there are only a couple that could beat them. LeBron is that good and does that much. Sure the team has flaws, but they compensate well for most of their flaws.</p>

Wade will be fine and sure Shaq will miss some games, but he will be fine in the playoffs. Miami's problem last season was the role players failing in the playoffs. The same thing happened to Miami in 2005. Riley will adjust and they will be fine.</p>

Scrappy is a great way to describe Chicago and that is exactly why their window isn't open yet.</p>

</p>

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cpawfan)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (GArenas)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cpawfan)</div><div class='quotemain'>

Cleveland has LeBron and Miami has Wade. Their windows are open</p>

The Bulls windows hasn't open yet. Signing a win now player like Ben Wallace was such a waste for them, but at least it got Chandler traded to a situation where he could be comfortable. </p></div>

</p>

If you really think one player is enough than you're saldy mistaken. Without LeBron creating shots for his teammates they just can't score and even with LeBron's amazing passing ability they still shoot the lowest FG% in the NBA so they rely a great deal on the offensive rebounding of some of their bigs. If any team were to out-rebound the Cavs, they would have no chance of winning. Great offensive big-men will always dominate the Cavs because they can't guard the post.</p>

</p>

As for Miami, Wade is already missing the first month of the season because of his shoulder, by that time Shaq will likely be out. We saw last year how little only Wade or Shaq can do for the Heat. It's looking like Miami is headed for another un-healthy season.</p>

</p>

As for Chicago, their defense is one of the best in the NBA. Offensively they need a post prescence but they do have a scrappy team who can score the ball most of the time. They had an awful start to 06-07, I expect a much better season this year and them making a run at the first seed. </p>

</div>One top player is enough if 1) management isn't incompetent and puts together a supporting cast</p>

</div></p>

</p>

Then that wouldn't just be one player, would it?</p>

</p>

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Kid Chocolate)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cpawfan)</div><div class='quotemain'>

One top player is enough if 1) management isn't incompetent and puts together a supporting cast</p>

</div></p>

</p>

Then that wouldn't just be one player, would it? </p>

</p> </div>

No team is ever just one player, but there is a difference between the situation Kobe is in and the situation LeBron is in. </p>

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cpawfan)</div><div class='quotemain'></p>

One top player is enough if 1) management isn't incompetent and puts together a supporting cast, 2) they make their teammates better and 3) the team plays defense. Cleveland can beat any team in the East in a 7 game series and there are only a couple that could beat them. LeBron is that good and does that much. Sure the team has flaws, but they compensate well for most of their flaws.</p>

Wade will be fine and sure Shaq will miss some games, but he will be fine in the playoffs. Miami's problem last season was the role players failing in the playoffs. The same thing happened to Miami in 2005. Riley will adjust and they will be fine.</p>

Scrappy is a great way to describe Chicago and that is exactly why their window isn't open yet. </p>

</div></p>

</p>

You're right, franchises can win with a core of one player, but they need a great supporting cast. You can't call the Cavaliers supporitng cast even close to great, their second best offensive option is Larry 'I can't hit wide open jumpers' Hughes. As for the Cavs being able to beat any team in the East in a 7 game series, they would get destroyed by the Celtics, they can't defend the post and will struggle offensively rebounding with Garnett on the floor. Detroit could also beat them, despite them losing the series this year, they're the better team it's just that they had a harder path to the ECF than the Cavs did. The Bulls and Wizards (healthy) can also both potentially beat the Cavs although it's a toss up. </p>

</p>

We saw the Heat get completely dismantled by the Bulls last year because of an injury filled season, now the season will start off with Wade missing a month and Shaq will likely miss more. As for Miami's role-players being the reason, the team has hardly gotten better, it got an un-proven rookie in Daquean Cook and probabely on of the worst starters in the NBA last season by signing Smush Parker. They also lost one of the best role-players in the NBA when they didn't re-sign Posey and their role-players continue to age.</p>

</p>

How is being tough and scrappy a bad thing...</p>

</p>

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (GArenas)</div><div class='quotemain'>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cpawfan)</div><div class='quotemain'></p>

One top player is enough if 1) management isn't incompetent and puts together a supporting cast, 2) they make their teammates better and 3) the team plays defense. Cleveland can beat any team in the East in a 7 game series and there are only a couple that could beat them. LeBron is that good and does that much. Sure the team has flaws, but they compensate well for most of their flaws.</p>

Wade will be fine and sure Shaq will miss some games, but he will be fine in the playoffs. Miami's problem last season was the role players failing in the playoffs. The same thing happened to Miami in 2005. Riley will adjust and they will be fine.</p>

Scrappy is a great way to describe Chicago and that is exactly why their window isn't open yet. </p>

</div></p>

</p>

You're right, franchises can win with a core of one player, but they need a great supporting cast. You can't call the Cavaliers supporitng cast even close to great, their second best offensive option is Larry 'I can't hit wide open jumpers' Hughes. As for the Cavs being able to beat any team in the East in a 7 game series, they would get destroyed by the Celtics, they can't defend the post and will struggle offensively rebounding with Garnett on the floor. Detroit could also beat them, despite them losing the series this year, they're the better team it's just that they had a harder path to the ECF than the Cavs did. The Bulls and Wizards (healthy) can also both potentially beat the Cavs although it's a toss up. </p>

</p>

We saw the Heat get completely dismantled by the Bulls last year because of an injury filled season, now the season will start off with Wade missing a month and Shaq will likely miss more. As for Miami's role-players being the reason, the team has hardly gotten better, it got an un-proven rookie in Daquean Cook and probabely on of the worst starters in the NBA last season by signing Smush Parker. They also lost one of the best role-players in the NBA when they didn't re-sign Posey and their role-players continue to age.</p>

</p>

How is being tough and scrappy a bad thing... </p>

</p>

</div></p>

The Celtics best post scorer is Paul Pierce. KG doesn't operate out of the low post like Duncan does. The Pistons excuses are just hilarious and the Wizards can beat teams in the playoffs, but the Cavs aren't one of them.</p>

The injury fileed season wasn't why the Heat got beat by the Bulls. Until Riley fixes his team, the Bulls will continue to be a bad matchup for the Heat. They gave the Heat fits in the 2006 playoffs, so it isn't surprising that a Heat team that got nothing out of Eddie Jones and inconsistent effort out of Haslem, Shimmy, Posey and Williams lost. The Heat had a player that can contribute a lot more sitting on the bench during the playoffs and it looks like Riley is finally going to give Dorell some real playing time.</p>

Nothing is wrong with being tough and scrappy, but that doesn't open a championship window either. </p>

</p>

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cpawfan)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (GArenas)</div><div class='quotemain'>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cpawfan)</div><div class='quotemain'></p>

One top player is enough if 1) management isn't incompetent and puts together a supporting cast, 2) they make their teammates better and 3) the team plays defense. Cleveland can beat any team in the East in a 7 game series and there are only a couple that could beat them. LeBron is that good and does that much. Sure the team has flaws, but they compensate well for most of their flaws.</p>

Wade will be fine and sure Shaq will miss some games, but he will be fine in the playoffs. Miami's problem last season was the role players failing in the playoffs. The same thing happened to Miami in 2005. Riley will adjust and they will be fine.</p>

Scrappy is a great way to describe Chicago and that is exactly why their window isn't open yet. </p>

</div></p>

</p>

You're right, franchises can win with a core of one player, but they need a great supporting cast. You can't call the Cavaliers supporitng cast even close to great, their second best offensive option is Larry 'I can't hit wide open jumpers' Hughes. As for the Cavs being able to beat any team in the East in a 7 game series, they would get destroyed by the Celtics, they can't defend the post and will struggle offensively rebounding with Garnett on the floor. Detroit could also beat them, despite them losing the series this year, they're the better team it's just that they had a harder path to the ECF than the Cavs did. The Bulls and Wizards (healthy) can also both potentially beat the Cavs although it's a toss up. </p>

</p>

We saw the Heat get completely dismantled by the Bulls last year because of an injury filled season, now the season will start off with Wade missing a month and Shaq will likely miss more. As for Miami's role-players being the reason, the team has hardly gotten better, it got an un-proven rookie in Daquean Cook and probabely on of the worst starters in the NBA last season by signing Smush Parker. They also lost one of the best role-players in the NBA when they didn't re-sign Posey and their role-players continue to age.</p>

</p>

How is being tough and scrappy a bad thing... </p>

</p>

</div></p>

The Celtics best post scorer is Paul Pierce. KG doesn't operate out of the low post like Duncan does. The Pistons excuses are just hilarious and the Wizards can beat teams in the playoffs, but the Cavs aren't one of them.</p>

The injury fileed season wasn't why the Heat got beat by the Bulls. Until Riley fixes his team, the Bulls will continue to be a bad matchup for the Heat. They gave the Heat fits in the 2006 playoffs, so it isn't surprising that a Heat team that got nothing out of Eddie Jones and inconsistent effort out of Haslem, Shimmy, Posey and Williams lost. The Heat had a player that can contribute a lot more sitting on the bench during the playoffs and it looks like Riley is finally going to give Dorell some real playing time.</p>

Nothing is wrong with being tough and scrappy, but that doesn't open a championship window either. </p>

</p> </div>

</p>

Garnett loves that baseline mid-range jumper but it's not like he can't bang. Illguaskus can't defend offensive centers if his life depended on it, he'll get dominated by Garnett's versatility. The Pistons fell apart emotionally, you can't actually believe that Detroit is a worse team than Cleveland. As for the Wizards, they could give the Cavs a run for their money as they do with pretty much any team they play. (Not counting the Heat) </p>

</p>

So what makes you think that the Heat can beat the Bulls this season, if they couldn't do it with a better supporting cast last year?</p>

</p>

You're right but that's not all that the Bulls bring to the table. First of all they're one of the best defensive teams in the NBA, Luol Deng and Ben Gordon can both score the ball no problem, and Kirk Hinrich is one of the most over-looked PG's when it comes to talent, in the NBA. Now, all Tyrus Thomas was last year was a hustle player who mostly scored off of put-backs, I'm hearing he's added a mid-range jumper to his game which will make him even more helpful to this Chicago squad. They're also a deep team. This squad will win a championship in up-coming seasons, maybe not win it all this year but they definitely have a realistic chance of getting out of the East this year. </p>

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (GArenas)</div><div class='quotemain'>

Garnett loves that baseline mid-range jumper but it's not like he can't bang. Illguaskus can't defend offensive centers if his life depended on it, he'll get dominated by Garnett's versatility. The Pistons fell apart emotionally, you can't actually believe that Detroit is a worse team than Cleveland. As for the Wizards, they could give the Cavs a run for their money as they do with pretty much any team they play. (Not counting the Heat) </p>

</p>

So what makes you think that the Heat can beat the Bulls this season, if they couldn't do it with a better supporting cast last year?</p>

</p>

You're right but that's not all that the Bulls bring to the table. First of all they're one of the best defensive teams in the NBA, Luol Deng and Ben Gordon can both score the ball no problem, and Kirk Hinrich is one of the most over-looked PG's when it comes to talent, in the NBA. Now, all Tyrus Thomas was last year was a hustle player who mostly scored off of put-backs, I'm hearing he's added a mid-range jumper to his game which will make him even more helpful to this Chicago squad. They're also a deep team. This squad will win a championship in up-coming seasons, maybe not win it all this year but they definitely have a realistic chance of getting out of the East this year. </p>

</div></p>

If Doc makes the bad decision to park KG in the post against Cleveland, it won't be Z that will be guarding him. </p>

The Pistons fell apart emotionally? Beyond being a hilarious statement, yes, that makes them worse than the Cavs.</p>

Every team has a bad matchup in the playoffs, so according to your logic, no team will win the championship. This isn't about what teams give problems to other teams, this is about which teams could win a championship. Also, if Dorell is given playing time, the Heat's supporting cast won't be worse than last season.</p>

The Bulls window isn't open yet. But yes, they will receive tons of hype this season because people get facinate with youth.</p>

</p>

 

Garnett doesn't neccesarily need to be placed in the post to light up the Cavs, it's not like Illgauskus will be able to guard Garnett's mid range jumper. Also, if he were to bang, which he does do at times, if it's not Illguaskus guarding him then who is it? Big bad Drew Gooden?</p>

</p>

If the Pistons were to meet the Cavaliers in a playoff series again next season, I can promise you they would win. </p>

</p>

..The Heat couldn't touch the Bulls last year, if the two teams were to re-meet the same exact thing would happen. Everyone has bad matchups, you're correct, but it's pretty clear that the Heat won't beat the Bulls in a playoff series. You're overrating Dorrel Wright, he's a young athletic forward who is still pretty much considered a project. </p>

</p>

You have yet to say why the Bulls can't contend this year. The team is young but still very dangerous.</p>

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cpawfan)</div><div class='quotemain'>

Cleveland has LeBron and Miami has Wade. Their windows are open</div></p>

And Lakers have Kobe. But their window is not open. </p>

</p>

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (GArenas)</div><div class='quotemain'>

Garnett doesn't neccesarily need to be placed in the post to light up the Cavs, it's not like Illgauskus will be able to guard Garnett's mid range jumper. Also, if he were to bang, which he does do at times, if it's not Illguaskus guarding him then who is it? Big bad Drew Gooden?</p>

</p>

If the Pistons were to meet the Cavaliers in a playoff series again next season, I can promise you they would win. </p>

</p>

..The Heat couldn't touch the Bulls last year, if the two teams were to re-meet the same exact thing would happen. Everyone has bad matchups, you're correct, but it's pretty clear that the Heat won't beat the Bulls in a playoff series. You're overrating Dorrel Wright, he's a young athletic forward who is still pretty much considered a project. </p>

</p>

You have yet to say why the Bulls can't contend this year. The team is young but still very dangerous. </p>

</div></p>

Gooden or AV will guard KG. By the way, KG scored 18 PPG against Cleveland last season.</p>

It is hilarious for you to say that I'm overrating Dorell after your overrating of the Bulls young players. </p>

The Bulls window isn't open because of their coaching, their lack of interior offense, the over-reliance on a 6-3 SG and Hinrich's inability to give the ball to his teammates in the best position to score. </p>

</p>

</p>

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticKing)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cpawfan)</div><div class='quotemain'>

Cleveland has LeBron and Miami has Wade. Their windows are open</div></p>

And Lakers have Kobe. But their window is not open. </p>

</p> </div>

Mitch Kupchak is an idiot, but at least the Lakers have Bynum </p>

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cpawfan)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (GArenas)</div><div class='quotemain'>

Garnett doesn't neccesarily need to be placed in the post to light up the Cavs, it's not like Illgauskus will be able to guard Garnett's mid range jumper. Also, if he were to bang, which he does do at times, if it's not Illguaskus guarding him then who is it? Big bad Drew Gooden?</p>

</p>

If the Pistons were to meet the Cavaliers in a playoff series again next season, I can promise you they would win. </p>

</p>

..The Heat couldn't touch the Bulls last year, if the two teams were to re-meet the same exact thing would happen. Everyone has bad matchups, you're correct, but it's pretty clear that the Heat won't beat the Bulls in a playoff series. You're overrating Dorrel Wright, he's a young athletic forward who is still pretty much considered a project. </p>

</p>

You have yet to say why the Bulls can't contend this year. The team is young but still very dangerous. </p>

</div></p>

Gooden or AV will guard KG. By the way, KG scored 18 PPG against Cleveland last season.</p>

It is hilarious for you to say that I'm overrating Dorell after your overrating of the Bulls young players. </p>

The Bulls window isn't open because of their coaching, their lack of interior offense, the over-reliance on a 6-3 SG and Hinrich's inability to give the ball to his teammates in the best position to score. </p>

</p>

</p> </div>

We both know neither Varejao nor Gooden will hurt KG, you'd need to double team him which would create alot of shots for Pierce, Allen, Posey, House, etc.</p>

</p>

How am I overrating the Bulls young guns, Gordon has quickly become one of the best shooters in the NBA, Hinrich is a gifted player who can create for his teammates he might not be one of the best passing PG's in the NBA but he's also a great perimiter defender who can also score the ball, you didn't even mention Luol Deng who was unbelievable last season slashing.</p>

</p>

Their lack of interior offense will hurt them but let's be realistic, Skiles is not a worse coach than Mike Brown. Brown let's LeBron walk all over him, LeBron and Larry pestered Brown through a good portion of the regular season to run an up-tempo offense. You can't allow your players walk over you. BTW, we saw last year with Cleveland, that a team may be lacking in certain areas but still make the finals. </p>

 

Scrappy isn't a good way to describe the Bulls. 04-05, 05-06, yes, they were scrappy. With their come from behind victories and all. But last year, they played like a more veteran team. They'd be even-ahead in most games, and then pull away at the end like a lot of teams do. </p>

The only valid argument I see from cpawfan is that Hinrich can't find his teammates in the most favorable positions. But over reliance on a 6'3" guard? The hate on Gordon because he is short just makes people have blurred judgement. He is clearly are fringe star level player last year, but some people (mostly Bulls fans though) see Gordon as a player who is a bench player. On the bright side, most fans of other teams can at least see what Gordon does and see he's not a bench player. They keep bringing up Vinnie Johnson, when Gordon is already on a completely different level than Johnson. Just because he's short and a good scorer...but in reality, Gordon was already as good as Johnson at his peak during his ROOKIE season. People just want to keep tearing down Gordon, because they can't appreciate a player that there isn't many like throughout the league, he will be a multiple allstar, and one of the best small two guards in the history of the game (probably #1 or #2 behind Iverson). Height doesn't matter, he's an absolute stud and gets the job done. </p>

Skiles coaching is fine, and a inside presence isn't too big of a deal. Nocioni, Thomas, and Smith should be able to score pretty well from the powerforward spot. And hopefully Gordon is playing more of the point guard than Hinrich, so we don't have to worry about Hinrich not finding teammates in good positions.</p>

 

In order of how open the windows are, not chances this year:</p>

PhoenixDallasHoustonBostonSan AntonioMiami</p>

</p>