Street & Smith's Pro Basketball Yearbook Just bought this publication, and I thought I would post it's predictions on the upcoming season. <u>EASTERN CONFERENCE </u> ATLANTIC 1. NY Knicks 2. Boston Celtics 3. Toronto Raptors 4. NJ Nets 5. Philadelphia 76ers CENTRAL 1. Detroit Pistons 2. Indiana Pacers 3. Milwaukee Bucks 4. Cleveland Cavaliers 5. Chicago Bulls SOUTHEAST 1. Miami Heat 2. Orlando Magic 3. Washington Wizards 4. Atlanta Hawks 5. Charlotte Bobcats <u>WESTERN CONFERENCE</u> SOUTHWEST 1. SA Spurs 2. Memphis Grizzlies 3. Houston Rockets 4. Dallas Mavericks 5. NO Hornets NORTHWEST 1. Minnesota T-Wolves 2. Denver Nuggets 3. Utah Jazz 4. Portland Trail Blazers 5. Seattle Sonics PACIFIC 1. Sacramento Kings 2. Phoenix Suns 3. LA Lakers 4. Golden State Warriors 5. LA Clippers EAST FINALS Pistons over Heat WEST FINALS Spurs over Kings NBA FINALS Spurs over Pistons So.... What do you guys think? Tell us what you agree with, what you disagree with, and bring up anything else you'd like to discuss regarding the above predictions.
I think Indiana will be better than Detroit next year. Indiana was a fairly young team last year, I think they'll only improve. In my opinion, given the Piston's talent (not so much), their peaked last year. I expect them to make a strong showing in the playoffs, like any defending champion, but lose to Miami in the second round. Between the Pacers and Miami -- I'll take the Pacers. But Shaq and the Heat will give them a tough series. In the West, I expect Lakers to play well, second in the division. The Clippers will finish better than the Warriors, but neither will be make the playoffs. The South West division will be very tight, with Rockets, Grizzlies, and Mavs all winning around 50 games. But the Spurs will definitely be on top, probably 56-60 wins. The Kings will have a significant drop off, but still win their division and take the third seed (I don't think they'll win 50 games, though). I say San Antonio over Minnesota in the WCF. Finals: San Antonio over Pacers in 7
1. NY Knicks 2. Boston Celtics 3. Toronto Raptors 4. NJ Nets 5. Philadelphia 76ers This whole division prediction should be flipped upside down. W/O a Doubt And no this opinion isn't fan-biased.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">1. NY Knicks 2. Boston Celtics 3. Toronto Raptors 4. NJ Nets 5. Philadelphia 76ers This whole division prediction should be flipped upside down. W/O a Doubt And no this opinion isn't fan-biased.</div> Ehhhh......Yeah. lf it's not, you've put a decimated Nets team finishing second in the conference? You'll excuse me if I think that prediction will fall short. I also don't see any reason why Philly is going to win the division, although I'm sure you're going to tell us.
Most of those division predictions look fairly accurate, but I also have a problem with the rankings for the Atlantic Division. There is no chance the 76ers are going to finish last, even if AI gets injured. I think the 76ers can finish as high as second in the division, but are more likely to be behind the Knicks and Celtics. The Nets are finishing dead last in that division, especially with J-Kidd being out until the end of November.
The Raptors will be second place in the Atlantic Division behind the New York Knicks. No way are the crappy Celtics going to be placed ahead of them. The Raptor's seed in the East in general will be #5, book it.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">No way are the crappy Celtics going to be placed ahead of them</div>Are you serious? You are giving the Celtics a 0% chance of finishing ahead of the Raptors?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Chungster:</div><div class="quote_post">The Raptors will be second place in the Atlantic Division behind the New York Knicks. No way are the crappy Celtics going to be placed ahead of them. The Raptor's seed in the East in general will be #5, book it.</div> I'd like to read your reasoning behind those statements. Toronto has a decent squad, but they have team chemistry issues. They have dangled their so called franchise player in trade talks and now Jalen Rose is the latest unhappy Raptor. I was shocked the Raptors would consider dealing VC, and I think it's going to be damaging to his confidence and his teammates confidence in him. They did a decent job in getting Rafer Alston, but I think he's better coming off the bench. And if they start Alvin Williams, they will just encounter the same problem they had last year at the PG spot. The Celtics on the other hand have reloaded and are finally healthy. They will try to build on their strengths from last year. Also their rookies showed a lot in the pre-season games. The difference is the Celtics have better role players to support Pierce, than the Raptors have for VC.
I like the rankings, but I don't see Kings finishing first(I'ma kings fan).They will go to the western finals(but not finish first in their division). The Atlantic Division predicitions are no way accurate. But then again, its the atlantic. I think the order will be: 1. New York Knicks 2. Toronto Raptors 3. Boston Celtics 4. Philadelphia 76ers 5. New Jersey Nets Although, the Atlantic division is gonna be a tough one and it sgonna be fun to see the outcome. I wno't be surprised to see the first four positions(in my predictions) to be different thatn what i predicted. Toronto/Boston will probably be interchanging 2nd and 3rd spots throughout the year. And Shape, when was J. Rose unhappy with the MLSE?
Why do you say that? The Kings division is fairly weak this year. I don't even think it will be close. Who do you think will finish ahead of them, LA or PHX?
1. New York Knicks 2. Toronto Raptors 3. Boston Celtics 4. Philadelphia 76ers 5. New Jersey Nets The Celtics will have ego issues in their front court. Pierce is the man on this team, and if Gary Payton joins, the Payton/Davis/Pierce combo will have a huge ego. Payton wants to score, and Davis is ball hog, and a loose cannon. Celtics big men beware, you may not be touching the ball very often this season! Pierce will have to get everyone in line before the season ends, or they may do poorly.
there is no way in hell that the mavericks are going to finish fourth in their division. since they have dampier and dirk i think they will be at least third or higher.
Well the Mavs are in a tough division. 4 of those 5 teams in the division will make the playoffs. I think they will be 4th, but I think it will be more like... 1. SA 2. Houston 3. Memphis 4. Dallas
they are pretty acurate but i think that the raptors will finish b4 boston it matters about payton anyway i dont c the spurs beeting detriot and i dont c detriot beating miami
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Davis is ball hog, and a loose cannon</div> Living in the past, are we? Davis ate his ego last year and came off the bench and if you're going to call him a ball hog, then you should also know that one of his biggest shortcomings last season (along with not playing consistent defense) was the he didn't try to score enough. You can say one season doesn't remove the ills of the past, so think what you will, but I think you're dead wrong. I also don't buy your ego comments. This team is Paul Pierces, PERIOD. GP knows it, Davis knows it and has already taken his seat behind him. GP will also thrive in the Celtics system, because he'll be allowed to freelance score, rather than being trapped in the Lakers system, which expected him to mostly hand the ball off. I'm loving how so many people are discounting the Celtics already. It's only going to make is sweeter when they are proven wrong.
I'll have to pick up this mag. I think the 1-3 in the Atlantic will go back and forth between Boston, Philly, and NY. I am worried about the knicks' chemistry, and I think they could do well, or they could bomb. I don't think Lenny Wilkens is the coach that they need. They need someone who will command more respect and instill discipline, what with the likes of Starbury, Tim Thomas, and J Crawford on the same squad. Philly's year depends largely on AI's health, though they have promising young players in Green, Dalembert, AI (Iguodala) Jr. and Korver. Boston depends on how their many rookies pan out. I think NJ, if JKidd is healthy, will end up 4th and the Raptors last. The Raps roster isn't all that much different then last year's, and their franchise player is unhappy. Everyone's been saying this for so long, but I think that this is the year that the Bulls finally produce. They had a great draft, and Hinirch will be more confident this year. Their two big men (or boys still) are in their contract year, though I hear Curry is way out of shape. I think the bottom three seeds in the Central division will go back and forth between the Bucks, Cavs, and Bulls. I also can't see a TMac-Yao duo, with Howard and J Jackson finishing below Memphis. I would switch those two, maybe even put Dallas ahead of Memphis with the addition of Dampier. It'll be interesting to see if Dampier will be able to keep up with their fast offense, especially now that he got his payday. Pretty much agree with the rest, though I wouldn't be surprised to see a Wolves-Spurs W. finals.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">PACIFIC 1. Sacramento Kings 2. Phoenix Suns 3. LA Lakers 4. Golden State Warriors 5. LA Clippers</div> I dont agree with this part of the prediction. A good team like the Lakers wont finish 3th. In my opinion this will happen: 1 Phoenix Suns 2 LA Lakers 3 Sacramento Kings 4 Golden State Warriors 5.LA Clippers With players like Kobe Bryant,Caron Butler,Lamar Odom the Lakers wont finish 3th. Trust me on this one. Does anybody have the predictions from last year so we can see how they predicted last year and if those predictions were any good.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting theclown1:</div><div class="quote_post">I dont agree with this part of the prediction. A good team like the Lakers wont finish 3th. In my opinion this will happen: 1 Phoenix Suns 2 LA Lakers 3 Sacramento Kings 4 Golden State Warriors 5.LA Clippers With players like Kobe Bryant,Caron Butler,Lamar Odom the Lakers wont finish 3th. Trust me on this one. Does anybody have the predictions from last year so we can see how they predicted last year and if those predictions were any good.</div> Kobe's a great player, Lamar could become an All-Star, and Caron has yet to impress me all that much. Vlade's old, and who else do they have worth talking about? George? Chucky Atkins? Luke Walton? This team won't be as bad as Orlando was last year, but no way they finish above phoenix or Sac. Phoenix have a line-up of Nash and Barbosa at PG (and I hope they sign Tabuse), Q and JJ at 2, Matrix at 3, and Amare at 4. That's more talent then the Lakers. Sac will miss Divac, but no way they finish behind LA. They still have C-Webb and Peja, not to mention Bibby, B Jackson, B Miller, and Christie. PLus they have a whole season to work things out, unlike last year when they had to try and work out chemistry issues in the last couple weeks of the season, which clearly didn't work out.
Phoenix out of the West? This team won't be as bad as Orlando was last year, but no way they finish above phoenix or Sac. Sac will miss Divac, but no way they finish behind LA. They still have C-Webb and Peja,[/QUOTE] They must really want to sell magazines in AZ, this is a ridiculous prediction. Phoenix didn't even make the playoffs last year. Nash couldn't lead a much more talented Dallas team to the finals the last two years and none of the rest of the team has proven they can win anything. San Antonio I could see, but unless Sacto trades Webber or Peja, they are a much worse team than the one that choked away the Pacific to the Lakers last year. As long as Kobe stays healthy the Lakers are the only challenge to Minn. or San Antonio in the West. Look at last years Playoffs to see who the class of the West was and is.
