<div class="quote_poster">Quoting whatthef?:</div><div class="quote_post"> Phoenix didn't even make the playoffs last year....</div> What does that matter? They are a much improved team with Nash and Q, plus a more mature JJ and Amare. Many other teams in the West are worse than they were last season, so it opens things up for Phoenix. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting whatthef?:</div><div class="quote_post"> Nash couldn't lead a much more talented Dallas team to the finals the last two years...</div> The fact that Dallas didn't make it to the finals shouldn't be a knock on Nash. It had much more to do with the fact that the team as a whole couldn't play D, especially down low, not to mention that Dirk was hurt in the West finals 2 years ago. Nash is a very capable PG, one of the best in the league. Name 5, or even 3 players who can run a team better. There are VERY FEW pure points in the league today, and Nash is one of them. Clearly, you are not saying that unless a team makes the finals, no one on the team is a great player? <div class="quote_poster">Quoting whatthef?:</div><div class="quote_post"> ...and none of the rest of the team has proven they can win anything. </div> Neither has this new Lakers squad. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting whatthef?:</div><div class="quote_post"> 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. </div> No doubt that Sac has choked a few times, and they are not as deep as they once were (remember them when they had Keon Clarke and Jim Jackson too?) but they are still one of the most talented in the L. I think their window for winning a Championship is closed, but they are still a powerhouse in the regular season. Webber is untradable with his injuries and huge contract, and Peja is too good of a player at a great bargain, so neither will be traded. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting whatthef?:</div><div class="quote_post"> 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. </div> You can't be serious. I do think that Kobe is an amazing player, but no one man is going to lead a team to the championship. Lakers have one great player, one more all-star calibur player (Odom) and a bunch of role players. I don't care if Kobe averages a quadrouple double for the season, they are not going to be contenders. They may sneak into the playoffs in one of the last playoff seeds.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting 44caliberThrila:</div><div class="quote_post">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</div> It would be interesting to see the date on this publication. If these ranking were determined before the Eric Dampier addition, I would agree. Now, it will be: 1. SA 2. Dallas 3. Houston 4. Memphis
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting celtfan:</div><div class="quote_post">The fact that Dallas didn't make it to the finals shouldn't be a knock on Nash. It had much more to do with the fact that the team as a whole couldn't play D, especially down low, not to mention that Dirk was hurt in the West finals 2 years ago. Nash is a very capable PG, one of the best in the league. Name 5, or even 3 players who can run a team better. There are VERY FEW pure points in the league today, and Nash is one of them. </div> You are right on some points, and not on others. It was not Nash's fault that the Mavericks have now won the championship the last couple years, and he is truly one of the few great point guards in the league. You are also correct that the Dallas team as a whole did not play D, but the problem began with Nash. Before adding Dampier, you could say Dallas was weak in the middle, but the real problem was on the perimeter, and Nash is the worst defender in the league. Just ask Mike Bibby or Tony Parker. Don't take this is as a knock on Nash, he is great, but you have to take the good with the bad. Nash led the Mavs to have the best offense in the league, and was consistently beaten by other point guards in the playoffs. Want stats to back this up? Playoff Statistics from Last year's playoffs Dallas is going in a different direction now, and I expect Phoenix to go in a very Dallas-like direction. Phoenix will finish behind Sacramento and ahead of the Lakers.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">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>Yes, actually. LAST YEAR'S PREDICTIONS FROM THE SAME PUBLICATION (*)=Actual result ATLANTIC 1. Nets (1) 2. Magic (7) 3. Celtics (4) 4. Sixers (5) 5. Heat (2) 6. Knicks (3) 7. Wizards (6) CENTRAL 1. Pistons (2) 2. Pacers (1) 3. Hornets (3) 4. Bulls (8) 5. Bucks (4) 6. Cavs (5) 7. Hawks (7) 8. Raps (6) MIDWEST 1. Spurs (2) 2. Mavs (3) 3. T-Wolves (1) 4. Rockets (5) 5. Memphis (4) 6. Nuggets (6) 7. Jazz (7) PACIFIC 1. Lakers (1) 2. Kings (2) 3. Suns (6) 4. Blazers (3) 5. Sonics (5) 6. Clippers (7) 7. Warriors (4)
Marc Stein is indicating that Payton is going to report to the Celtics. Payton will play for C's? <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> <font color="DarkGreen">And that Gary Payton will be in training camp with the Celtics, even though he hasn't officially notified them yet. Which means Boston, if nothing else, will have one of the most interesting teams in the East, with Payton and Ricky Davis flanking Pierce for new coach Doc Rivers. Throw in Mark Blount and a rehabilitated Raef LaFrentz and, again, Boston looks interesting at the very least after several months of Danny Ainge-bashing ..." </font> </div> Assuming this is true, now all the Celtic bashers can shift course and instead of saying that Payton will never play for the Celtics, I'm sure they'll come up with something interesting like Payton being some kind of poison pill to the team.... blah, blah, blah..... Regardless, if Steins got this right (and he usually doesn't speak out of turn), then the C's just jumped to the front of the pack as Atlantic favorites. Anyone saying Payton can't run the point in a run style offense will have a long, uphill battle arguing the point. Even if his defense has fallen off a bit, he's still better than most in the game. Regardless, if he does report, I'm looking forward to the first game against the Lakers. Revenge scenario and all....
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting celtfan:</div><div class="quote_post">I'll have to pick up this mag. .</div> Dont, it's bad. It's just really boring, with sacttered articles and adds, then predictions, i flipped thru it at Borders.
