NBA Teams on the Up and Down

[SilverSteeler]

One of the teams I think that are going to move up the ladder this year are the Charlotte Bobcats.

- They have just signed Jason Richardson, he now in his prime (6th year). He has the opportunity to lead this young team. An awesome scorer with the ability to shoot 3s and be able to drive to basket. Also a good defender, makes alot of steals.

- The retention of Gerald Wallace, one of the most improved players in the NBA. He can play PF, SF and SG. Great defence and a natural athlete, he has a good allround game.

- The young guns of Emeka Okafor (4th year), Felton & May(3rd Year) and the pure shooter Adam Morrison(2nd Year).

They have the potential to move from near last up to 5/6th in the East.

Another team that will move up will be the Magic. Howard will get better and adding Rashard Lewis to the line up will take some pressure off him.


On the way down will be the Heat, even with Wade and Shaq. Wade will have to carry this team through the season. Williams, Haslem and Posey will have to pick up big time because their veterans are just getting too old.
Shaq, Payton, Mourning and Eddie Jones will struggle I think.


What does evryone else think?

 

[Tiger Hawk]

Houston are the only team I see making a serious impact this year. I think Bobcats will improve, but not enough to seriously challenge in the East. They may not even get out of their division, given I think the Hawks will improve and the Heat will still be thereabouts, as well as the Magic.

Houston have one of the deepest rosters in the league, with James, Francis, T-Mac, Battier, Yao, Wells, Scola & Head. Whether they can all play together is another thing, but they've definitely got a team that should be a threat.

 

[SilverSteeler]

Yeah it will be interesting to see how they play T-Mac and Francis together. Funny that he is going back there.
Scola is a good signing, he kicked ass in the Euro League, a good hustler, probably what the rockets need.
Starting lineup?
C- Yao
PF- Scola
SF- Battier
SG- T-Mac
PG- James/Francis

 

[Panthers_God]

In my opinion. Houston may have bought too many players. Its not always good to just pack you team with quality, you also need a few role players. All I see at Houston is Battier and a bunch of ball hogs... McGrady, Francis, Skip, Yao et al.

On the other hand I think Bobcats have made many very good moves over the off season and fingers crossed Emaka, Wallace, Richardson stay injury free, they are every chance of manking the finals in what is a rather pitiful eastern conference.

Also I think it goes without saying that the Sonics team has the potential to be great, but I dont think it will be the 07/08 season. Losing Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis loses them probably the highest scoring duo in the league. Together they wouldve averaged close to 60 points a game. Fortuantely they do have the young talent to fill this gap in Durant, Green, Ridnour, Collison, Delonte and not to mention Robert Swift who was one of the best prospects out of High school a few years back.

I think this year might be the year the Bulls topple the Piston at the top of the Eastern Conference, in my opinion the Bulls staff have built an awsome team with a varying combination of skillfull players.

And I have to wish my Utah Jazz good luck for another season. Hopefully We can start as well as we did last season and not slump in the middle. I think Utah still lack a true SG and a solid defensive Centre. But I am looking forward to improvements from the young squad namely Williams, Brown, Brewer, Millsap, Arujao and Almond.

 

[El Coconuto]

Steve Francis isn't a point guard, and it would be silly for Rick Adelman to start him at the one-spot knowing that Yao and McGrady are his top two options. McGrady thrives when he is playing with a true point guard (i.e. his coming out party with Darrell Armstrong) and Yao thrives being fed of point guard penetration. Francis is neither of those. With all due respect to the Jazz, if you can't roll past Utah in the first round with home court advantage and your biggest roster advance is a well worn Francis that couldn't even start over Stephon Marbury, than you're not going very far in the stacked West.

The Bobcats will improve nicely, but that's not too hard as they are perennial trash each year.

As for my biggest movers on the up, in the Eastern Conference I believe Orlando will jump into the top four, but I think that the biggest improvement will come from the Atlanta Hawks. I was thoroughly impressed that they took Al Horford ahead of Mike Connely Jr. Great pick for the Hawks. I believe they will compete for the late playoff positions.

And moving up the Western Conference will naturally be the Portland Trailblazers. I give them five years and they're in the playoffs.

I don't think Miami are in as much trouble as people think. Smush Parker is a nice addition.

But teams I think that are on the down: Washington, Minnesota, Lakers, Pistons, Indiana and Cleveland! Yes, Cleveland! If any of these teams do as well as they did last year I will be completely and utterly surprised.

 

[CanadianSteve]

The Toronto Raptors are poised to continue the big gains they made last season. Not that they've added so much in the way of new talent, but Bosh and Bargnani are at a point in their careers where they should make big improvements.

 

[Stonecutter]

As much as I'd hate to say, I really think the Spurs somewhat dynasty could be over in the next few years. Age is the major problem which Popovich hasn't addressed so far. The reason is mainly because of the success but he really needs to draft some players capable of playing now and not have to wait untill their overseas contracts are up. Centre is and has been since Robinson retired a major weakness. It's just lucky TD is still going strong to cover both positions with his dominance.

TD: 31 His style will enable him to produce for a few more years
Ginobili: 30 He'll start to slow now
Finley: 34 nothing but a 3 pt threat these days
Barry: 35 same as Finley
Bowen: 36 great defensively but offers nothing these in attack
Horry: 36 Knows how to find a winning team
Oberto: 32 Wish he wasn't there

 

[SilverSteeler]

The Pistons will still be there, guaranteed.
All of their major players will still be there and the Webber/Wallace/McDyess combination will be better.
They are getting old like the Spurs but they will be there.

 

[SilverSteeler]

Now that the Celtics have KG will this make them a power in the East?
They have lost alot of young talent with the two trades for Ray and KG, there is now very little depth in the roster.

 

[El Coconuto]

Great trade in the short term! I'd lock them in for a top-two finish in the East. Long term, this trade makes no sense at all...

Enjoy the luxury tax Celts fans!

 

[edabomb]

I don't think the Celts will be anything except maybe the 5-6th seed. None of Garnett, Pierce or Allen are real big time leaders, I think they'll be a similar trio to that of Robinson, Cassell and Allen at Milwaukee. Good, but not good enough.

 

[El Coconuto]

I don't think they're great, I just think the East is such a degenerate Conference these days (that will change in a couple of years though) that by proxy they'll fall into the top spot. As far as I see it right now...

1. Chicago Bulls: Joakim Noah = Perfect pick!
2. Boston Celtics: Look at whose in their division!
3. Toronto Raptors: Did they luck out last year? Maybe. But with Kapono adding another dimension, they're rising.
4. Orlando Magic: Rashard Lewis + Stan Van Gundy = about 10-15 more wins per season.
5. Detroit Pistons: Pretty much the anti-raptors. Slowly dying.
6. Cleveland Caveliers: Did nothing all off season. Seriously, why hasn't Lebron said anything? (Oh...that's right...he's not Kobe)
7. Miami Heat: Whenever you get swept out of the first round in your title defending year, then lose your best perimiter shooter, and your best off-season acquisition to follow that is Smush Parker...you're in for a long season.
8. New Jersey Nets: Now that Vince Carter has his new contract, I doubt he'll even break a sweat playing defence anymore.

 

[El Coconuto]

By the way, one team I forgot to mention that are definitely on the up: New York Knicks!

Zac Randolph is a perfect in NY and they pulled it off without having to give up Marbury, Curry or Lee. They'll fight for playoffs as well. I wouldn't be surprised if they made it, either.

 

[Panthers_God]

I don't think they're great, I just think the East is such a degenerate Conference these days (that will change in a couple of years though) that by proxy they'll fall into the top spot. As far as I see it right now...

1. Chicago Bulls: Joakim Noah = Perfect pick!
2. Boston Celtics: Look at whose in their division!
3. Toronto Raptors: Did they luck out last year? Maybe. But with Kapono adding another dimension, they're rising.
4. Orlando Magic: Rashard Lewis + Stan Van Gundy = about 10-15 more wins per season.
5. Detroit Pistons: Pretty much the anti-raptors. Slowly dying.
6. Cleveland Caveliers: Did nothing all off season. Seriously, why hasn't Lebron said anything? (Oh...that's right...he's not Kobe)
7. Miami Heat: Whenever you get swept out of the first round in your title defending year, then lose your best perimiter shooter, and your best off-season acquisition to follow that is Smush Parker...you're in for a long season.
8. New Jersey Nets: Now that Vince Carter has his new contract, I doubt he'll even break a sweat playing defence anymore.

I've got to agree with Bulls at number one. But not bcuz they picked Noah, he'd be lucky to see more than 10 minutes a game in my opinion.

Heres my quick list, mind you it still may change before the season begins.

1. Chicago Bulls: Withstanding injuries, by far the best in the east.

-Daylight-

2. Detroit Pistons: On the way down but the winning culture at detriot will still have them at about .600
3. Miami Heat: This is be D-Wade comeback season, look for him to improve even further
4. Boston Celtics: KG, Allen, Pierce. These three could post 70+ pts a night together. Lets hope it works better than other superstar mash-ups like in the west [Denver, Houston]

5. Cleveland Cavaliers: Lebron will get them over the .550 mark
6. Charlotte Bobcats: Again injuries a big key but I love the look of there starting roster Okafor, May, Wallace, Richardson, Felton. Perfect matches, let just hope they get it right first time.
7. Toronto Raptors: Alot rests on Bosh's shoulder but I have massive respect for this guy and I expect the Raptor to have a winning season.
8. New Jersey Nets: Only just hanging on there at 8. They have a quality roster full of all-stars. Carter, Kidd, Jefferson, Magloire. Again injures and chemistry will be the key.

On the boil: New York Knicks, Orlando Magic: These two teams can easily make the 8 or even crack into the top 4 but it's a much more tightly contested east this season.

 

[Choppies]

I am surprised no one has mentioned Portland to be honest.
With Oden and to an extent Frye (Whom I have big wraps on) completing what is already a good developing neucleus of young talent.
As a Blazer fan im very excited about the future.

 

[El Coconuto]

I mentioned Portland earlier, and there is good reason to be excited if you're a Trailblazer fan...

In the meantime I think they'll be likeable underdogs. The Charlotte Bobcats of the Western Conference if you will.

 

[LESStar58]

I'm excited that we got KG but the Celtics need a decent centre.

Checked out the press conference vid over at nba.com and they are still in the middle of talking to free agents. hopefully theres a decent 7footer available somewhere!

 

[El Coconuto]

You should have snapped up Milicic while he was on the market. Mind you, you're screwed salary cap wise as is. The only viable option would be a trade, but you're running out of players to trade...

 

[Tiger Hawk]

but the Celtics need a decent centre.

You and just about every other team!!

 

[joel caine number 1 fan]

I'm excited that we got KG but the Celtics need a decent centre.

Checked out the press conference vid over at nba.com and they are still in the middle of talking to free agents. hopefully theres a decent 7footer available somewhere!

not really not many teams have decent centres i mean look who spurs have oberto and elson hardley great centres hell perkins and pollard are better

and kg > duncan

sucks we lost him but with the young talent minnesota have now im hopeing we can be a force in a few years