Re: '07-08 Bold Predictions Thread <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (iFR3SHi @ Jul 13 2007, 12:07 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Knicks-Record 37-45 8th Seed</div>The East is gonna be better this year, I have a feeling that the 8th seed will be above .500Playoff teams:West:1)Spurs2)Suns3)Mavs4)Jazz5)Golden State6)Hornets7)Rockets8)NuggetsClose: Grizzlies, Lakers, TrailblazersEast:1)Cleveland2)Detroit3)Toronto4)Chicago5)Miami (assuming Wade is back and healthy)6)Orlando7)Washington8)BostonClose: Knicks, Nets, 76ers
Re: '07-08 Bold Predictions Thread <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Pacers fan forever @ Jul 13 2007, 01:51 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>The East is gonna be better this year, I have a feeling that the 8th seed will be above .500Playoff teams:West:1)Spurs2)Suns3)Mavs4)Jazz5)Golden State6)Hornets7)Rockets8)NuggetsClose: Grizzlies, Lakers, TrailblazersEast:1)Cleveland2)Detroit3)Chicago4)Miami (assuming Wade is back and healthy)5)Orlando6)Washington7)Boston8)76ersClose: Knicks, Nets</div>Wow Raptors not even making the playoffs? I dont understand when people make the argument that the Raptors didnt do enough in the off-season to merit them as a top team in the East! What do expect them to do they increased by 20+ wins over their previous season and they have a great trio in Bargnani, Bosh and Ford to build around its not like they need to re-tool their entire roster to make the playoffs they just need a great supporting cast. What did Cleveland do in the off-season, Detriot, Chicago and even Miami to be considered top 4 or 5 in the East. At this moment here is how the Raptors roster is.Andrea BargnaniChris BoshJose CalderonCarlos DelfinoJuan DixonT.J FordJorge GarbajosaJoey GrahamKris HumphriesLuke JacksonJason KaponoRasho NesterovicAnthony ParkerJamario MoonThat is all the players under contract for next season.Here is my prediction for the East next year:ChicagoTorontoDetriotWashingtonClevelandOrlandoNew JerseyMilwaukeeI dont think Miami has a shot at making the playoffs this year, they were a horrible team with Wade last season and him getting injured was a blessing in disguise because everyone had to step up.
Re: '07-08 Bold Predictions Thread <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (MosDefinitely @ Jul 13 2007, 02:17 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Wow Raptors not even making the playoffs? I dont understand when people make the argument that the Raptors didnt do enough in the off-season to merit them as a top team in the East! What do expect them to do they increased by 20+ wins over their previous season and they have a great trio in Bargnani, Bosh and Ford to build around its not like they need to re-tool their entire roster to make the playoffs they just need a great supporting cast. What did Cleveland do in the off-season, Detriot, Chicago and even Miami to be considered top 4 or 5 in the East. At this moment here is how the Raptors roster is.Andrea BargnaniChris BoshJose CalderonCarlos DelfinoJuan DixonT.J FordJorge GarbajosaJoey GrahamKris HumphriesLuke JacksonJason KaponoRasho NesterovicAnthony ParkerJamario MoonThat is all the players under contract for next season.Here is my prediction for the East next year:ChicagoTorontoDetriotWashingtonClevelandOrlandoNew JerseyMilwaukeeI dont think Miami has a shot at making the playoffs this year, they were a horrible team with Wade last season and him getting injured was a blessing in disguise because everyone had to step up.</div>Sh*t, I knew I forgot a team, My bad!!
Re: '07-08 Bold Predictions Thread I think with getting Grant Hill the Suns have even a better chance this year. I predict they will go to the Finals and win it.
Re: '07-08 Bold Predictions Thread <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Sunsgirl13 @ Jul 13 2007, 02:27 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I think with getting Grant Hill the Suns have even a better chance this year. I predict they will go to the Finals and win it.</div>Eh, I don't think Hill will make that big of a difference
Re: '07-08 Bold Predictions Thread <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Sunsgirl13 @ Jul 13 2007, 02:27 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I think with getting Grant Hill the Suns have even a better chance this year. I predict they will go to the Finals and win it.</div>Hill is now a very good role player, but the Suns needed some interior D besides Amare and didn't get it. (yet)Hill does not put this team over the top.
Re: '07-08 Bold Predictions Thread <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BluffCityBlue @ Jul 12 2007, 03:30 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Memphis made it 3 times in a row before last season....and we are arguebly more talented now...I think we have a very good chance.</div>You guys might be more talented right now from a pure basketball skills, but the chemistry was with those teams that made it three season's in a row. With Bobby Jackson, Eddie Jones, and Shane Battier gone it has hurt the cohesiveness that those teams had. Mike Miller is now the only three point shooter that you guys have, to pull defenses off of Pau Gasol. Sure he does a good job at helping, but when you had three players that could hit those shots in Jones, Battier, and Miller, it opened up alot for him as well as made his kick outs that much more dangerous. Also, the team defense in those days was much better than what they are now. Gasol can help a little, but without someone to help him out with perimeter defense, they aren't the same defensive team as what they was. So even though I think they will improve, I think they miss out on the playoffs this year.
Re: '07-08 Bold Predictions Thread <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (valo35 @ Jul 13 2007, 04:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>You guys might be more talented right now from a pure basketball skills, but the chemistry was with those teams that made it three season's in a row. With Bobby Jackson, Eddie Jones, and Shane Battier gone it has hurt the cohesiveness that those teams had. Mike Miller is now the only three point shooter that you guys have, to pull defenses off of Pau Gasol. Sure he does a good job at helping, but when you had three players that could hit those shots in Jones, Battier, and Miller, it opened up alot for him as well as made his kick outs that much more dangerous. Also, the team defense in those days was much better than what they are now. Gasol can help a little, but without someone to help him out with perimeter defense, they aren't the same defensive team as what they was. So even though I think they will improve, I think they miss out on the playoffs this year.</div>I agree, really, I think Memphis is going to contend for the playoffs...that doesn't mean im saying they will make them, but will be close. Really, our success lies with our young players. As you said, we dont have as many 3 point shooters we've used to have, but Rudy Gay has proven to be a deadly 3 point shooter...he just needs to become more consistant. Also, there are rumors saying Kinsey will start over Miller for the simple fact that Kinsey is an excellent perimeter defender...which you mentioned we need. Putting Kinsey in the starting role can give us a great 1-2 punch off the bench with Miller and Warrick, which would let us run all 48 minutes a game. I agree with you about the chemistry part, but watching the summer league games players like AJ, Conley, Lowry, Gay and Kinsey all have excellent chemistry with each other, its just a matter of putting Gasol, Miller and Warrick into the mix. 3 point shooting is a problem though even with Gay and Miller being good shooters. I personaly dont see Stro coming back next season, I think somehow we are going to get a shooter for him. I dont expect Memphis to make the playoffs next season, but I do expect for them to contend. Also, with Milicic coming to Memphis, he can really spread the floor which should help Gasol out in the post and can open lanes up for the athletes.I also one to point something out, the uptempo style doesn't work great unless you have excellent passers. Memphis has several good passers(Lowry, Conley, Miller, Kinsey, Gasol, Milicic). I personaly cant wait to see our defense...cause we could score last season with the best of them, our biggest downfall was our defense.
Re: '07-08 Bold Predictions Thread <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BluffCityBlue @ Jul 13 2007, 04:18 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I dont expect Memphis to make the playoffs next season, but I do expect for them to contend. Also, with Milicic coming to Memphis, he can really spread the floor which should help Gasol out in the post and can open lanes up for the athletes.</div>I think some people are a little wrong about his shot. He has nice shooting motion, and it comes off of his hands well, but he is not as consistent of a mid-range shooter as people make him out to be. He likes to lean back when he shoots, and arc his back, which often times put him shooting a little higher than he was supposed to be shooting . The Magic worked with him on that, and he has gotten better, but there is still alot of times where he will continue to do and it's why his shot is inconsistent. That is why when he was on the court at the same time as Dwight Howard, other teams were able to still pack it in, because his shot was inconsistent. It wasn't guranteed he was going to take the shot first off, and when he did, he wasn't dangerous enough to make it consistently.
Re: '07-08 Bold Predictions Thread I hope he can improve that, I honestly fell short watching the Magic last season(I used to be a big fan) and picked up more 76ers. The thing im excited about Milicic is hes got all the tools in Memphis to become a excellent player. You have Gasol right next to you, which Milicic is bound to learn a thing or two, and you got Iavaroni who people say hes excellent at developing big men. Not to mention it sounds like hes got alot to prove and it pretty pissed and Otis Smith...haha. I still think we are going to be in the 40-45 win range.
Re: '07-08 Bold Predictions Thread <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Pacers fan forever @ Jul 13 2007, 12:51 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>The East is gonna be better this year, I have a feeling that the 8th seed will be above .500Playoff teams:West:1)Spurs2)Suns3)Mavs4)Jazz5)Golden State6)Hornets7)Rockets8)NuggetsClose: Grizzlies, Lakers, TrailblazersEast:1)Cleveland2)Detroit3)Toronto4)Chicago5)Miami (assuming Wade is back and healthy)6)Orlando7)Washington8)BostonClose: Knicks, Nets, 76ers</div> :no3:
Re: '07-08 Bold Predictions Thread <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (dsounG @ Jul 13 2007, 07:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>:no3:</div>tell me what they've done to improve? And then tell me how they're gonna beat much improved and healthy teams?
Re: '07-08 Bold Predictions Thread <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Pacers fan forever @ Jul 13 2007, 06:09 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>tell me what they've done to improve? And then tell me how they're gonna beat much improved and healthy teams?</div>I'm not going to bother arguing. I just disagree thats all. Maybe because I'm just a Rockets fan.
Re: '07-08 Bold Predictions Thread My bold prediction is that the Grizzlies make the playoffs. Most likely Gasol will be healthy at the start of the season so we won't start downhill and have the gain momentum as we did last season. We have a new coach and a new GM, but more imporantly, we have security with them both signing multi-year deals. It's not easy to win while switching coaches every season. We added Milicic, who is a good front-court defender. We also drafted Conley, who brings a winning attidude, playmaking skills, and leadership to a young team. Lowry and he will be in competiton with each other, which will be good for the team IMO. We are running a new offense, which is a fastbreak offense, but it's created off defense. It'll be interesting to see how it runs with Conley running point and high flyers such as Gay and Warrick on the wings. I'm really looking forward to this season.
