NBA Regular Season 2012-2013

[Ridders]

With the pre-season well under way, and the regular season starting at the end of the month, might as well get this baby started.

Season kicks off on the 31st October (for us) with 3 games.

10am (EST) is Wizards vs Cavs
11 am (EST) is Celtics vs Heat
1:30 pm (EST) is Mavericks vs Lakers.

Am very excited for the start of the season, for multiple reasons. Am obviously pumped to see how Howard fits in with the Lakers, but I'm actually more excited to see how Bynum does in Philly. Have always wondered how he'd do as a first option, and now we get the chance to see it play out.

In regards to predictions, not exactly breaking the mould here but I don't see how Miami don't make the Finals again (barring injuries). Especially as D-Rose is going to miss a significant chunk of the season. At this point in time their only real hurdle seems to be the Celtics, who've done a pretty good job of re-tooling after losing Ray Ray. Jeff Green is also back for them, although not sure where he'll play. Probably slide between 3 and 4?

From the West, can't really judge until we see how the new look Lakers fit together. Bench still looks as though it sucks, apart from Jordan Hill. Atm I'd probably just go with OKC. Spurs also intrigue me. Almost forgot how dominant they were in the last post-season, before OKC eliminated them.

Not long to go now!

 

[Ridders]

Couple of disappointing injury news.

Dirk to miss 6 weeks after having knee surgery - Link

Kevin Love to miss 6-8 weeks after breaking his hand - Link

Especially sucks for the T-Wolves. Will be missing both Rubio and Love to start the season.

 

[simostorm]

Can't wait to see D Rose come back.. his first game back in Chicago will be huge.. he'll struggle probably but it will be great to see him back..

I'm eager to see some spurs games too.. coach has said that Mills will play a bigger role this season so I'm looking forward to seeing what role he plays..

Heat vs Lakers will be huge..

 

[simostorm]

Just watching the highlights of the lakers first game with Howard.. he looks good, first bucket a pau ally to howard who slammed it in.. nice.. once the lakers click they going to be vicious.

 

[andrew057]

Lets do this. The world vs. Heat/Lakers.

 

[simostorm]

Wade
Kobe
Lebron
Pau
Howard

Not a bad starting 5 that would be..

Next best 5 perhaps..

D rose
C Paul
Durant
B griffin
Bynum?

You could pull a awesome 5-10 from non Americans too..

USA vs rest of the world is what they should do.. a seven game series.

 

[Ridders]

Wade
Kobe
Lebron
Pau
Howard

Not a bad starting 5 that would be..

Next best 5 perhaps..

D rose
C Paul
Durant
B griffin
Bynum?

You could pull a awesome 5-10 from non Americans too..

USA vs rest of the world is what they should do.. a seven game series.

So something like;

Paul
Wade
Lebron
Durant
Howard

vs

Parker
Manu
Deng
Dirk
Pau Gasol (or you could put Marc)

Looks a bit uneven on paper, but then again so do the Olympics and Team USA were made to work in the previous 2 Finals vs Spain.

 

[ByRd]

How do you leave Kobe out, Kobe >> Wade

 

[Ridders]

Eh Kobe's at a different stage in his career imo. The fact that he's still in the conversation is pretty amazing given how long he's been around. It's crazy to think how long ago his contemporaries have fallen off; i.e. Iverson, T-Mac, Vince.

But at this point in time, I would say that healthy Wade > healthy Kobe. Wade is still on the tail-end of his prime while Kobe is approaching the end of his career.

 

[Ridders]

Amare to miss at least 6 weeks.

Link

 

[simostorm]

Any games on ESPN today?

 

[simostorm]

Tomorrow hornets vs spurs on ESPN.

 

[ByRd]

What about Varejao for the Cavs, 9pts 9 assists and 23 rebounds!!!

 

[Ridders]

Yeah beastly rebounding. Good game from Irving as well.

So disappointing that Wall is going to first part of the season.

 

[Ridders]

Heat with a pretty comfortable lead vs the Celtics at the end of the 3rd quarter. Nice game from Ray off the bench.

Boston's defense has been terrible without KG.

 

[Ridders]

Lol where did Barbosa come from. Didn't even know he was on the Celtics. Ripping it up atm.

 

[BunniesMan]

Lebron is hungry. The only question mark after the first ring is if finally winning would reduce his desire. It hasn't. He wants #2 just as badly. He is on his own level and noone touches him.

The Celtics look good. I expect them to be #2 in the East and make the conference finals. I don't see any of the 2nd tier teams in NY/Brooklyn/Chicago troubling them.

 

[edabomb]

Indiana could trouble Boston IMO.

 

[BunniesMan]

Lakers with another loss. 11 in a row including preseason and the end of last season. That stat makes me happy.

 

[ceagle]

Nash already looks so slow and old already and the season has just started. Dallas's bench killed the Lakers.