Previously Bulls, Bobcats, OKc, and Knicks
The T-Wolves went from big time trading of Kevin Garnet to a rebuilding block. Al Jefferson has been solid and the trade for Kevin Love was at first some what puzzling. OJ Mayo would have been a quality player and would have turned some heads in Minnesota. He was the Most NBA ready next to Beasley and would be a leader on the floor; yet they end up with Love, rumored to be good but over weight and undersized for center. However, let's look at the positive side. He worked with RUssel Westbrook who was a gym rat and became slimmer and stronger entering the draft. He possesed a good inside and outside game which would compliment Jefferson. He was also used in UCLA as an average rebounder. In the worst case, Love would become a Eddy Curry but at the best he can turn into a Chris Kaman-type guy and possibily something of Jefferson's caliber. Wolves also strengthen their backcourt with Mike Miller from the trade while getting rid of Marko Jaric's and Antoine Walker's contracts, also Jaric's Brazilian Supermodel girlfriend and Walker's shimmy. While Gerald Green is gone, the team remains intact with the resigning of Ryan Gomes and Bassy Telfair. Telfair was effective as a point guard and could do better next year. He's very different from his cousin Stephon Marbury. He's not overpaid, just underachieving and sligthy too much expectations yet Kevin McHale knows that without a proven point in Randy Foye he'll need Telfair to run things. The back courts finishes with Miller and Rashard McCants who's been like Telfair but he's showing his true form soon. Corey Brewer needs to be more than the wing man that can be an above average guard. He needs to gain some muscles and some shooting if he wants to get consistent minutes. Rodney Carney "traded for Money " adds more scoring off the bench with returning Craig Smith. SMith reminds me of a Charles Oakley type of guy who can just bang around but get buckets. The starting five should be Foye, Miller/ Brewer, Gomes/ Carney, Love, and Jefferson. Wolves won't make the play offs much they should surprise some teams along the way. don't expect them to be the same bottom feeder team again.
The Heat is on Riley to make some moves. He's signed some strong and experieced Swing men but haven't gotten the point guard and center they need. Riley has strict work to come with a NBA contract. He has Dwayne Wade, Shawn Marion and Michael Beasley to build around. Not part of the plan but their only useful center is Mark Blount. Blount hits the occasional jumpshot and lay up but he needs to rebound and do more. Udonis Haslem could do better and Blount's contract could move some players around . CHris Quinn and Mario Chambers looks like the point guard for this season though I expect RIley to get a thrid string or veteran guard to come around. James Jones will be a good addition to the team. His shooting alone should make him the fourth scoring option behind Marion. The expected line up should be Quinn, Wade, Jones, Beasley and Marion. Or Blount, Marion, Beasley, Jones, wade. I don't know, let's wait longer
The Grizzlies should build around Mayo and COnley and Rudy Gay. The log jam in the backcourt could present as an opportunity for Ivarioni's fast tempo game. Conley, Lowry, mayo the Gay at the 4 spot? Criterron is perfect for trade material. A big guard who can score and defend, if he stays he'll play at 2 more and mayo will be three. The frontline has never looked thinner without Pau Gasol until they added Darrell Arthur. Arthur should fit well with Darko Milicic and Hakeem Warrick. Warrick was solid in the rotation and milicic was rebounding but troubled. Lucky they have the rights to Marc Gasol who was MVP of his Euro League. Gay should continue to fill the stats sheet fast and help turn things around. He's a proven NBA player and should spend time between the 3 and 4 regardless of who plays center. If M. Gasol becomes the player that his brother was, then they have a chance of completing in the west. Milicic time is limited but if he controls his temper, he should turn from that former draft bust label he's had since the Pistons traded him to a more legitimate center. Starting five; Conley, Mayo, Gay, Gasol/Arthur and Milicic. Strongest five, Conley, Critterion, Mayo, Gay and Gasol/ Arthur. Run baby Run all over Memphis. They should be fun to watch with Jaric's girlfriend on the sidelines and Walker shimming everytime he makes a shot like once the whole night when their down 20 but still running up the score.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Bottom Feeders of the NBA
There are a lot of teams in the bottom. C-Bulls, OKC, Charlotte Bobcats, Minnesota T-wolves, NY knicks, just thinking about how ready they are.
The Bulls looked strong. I have to blame the fans for chanting "Kobe, Kobe" all night when Deng and Gordon where doing their best to just make the team win. The Ben Wallace experiment is officially over. What i didn't like in the trade was giving away Joe Smith but he basically helped make the trade work. It did get rid of that weak log jam in the front line. I think Del Negro is a good risk. He's fresh and so is 1st pick Derrick Rose. The only problem now for the Bulls a log jam in the guard position. They obviously have too may guards that can score. Rose, Hinrich, ben gordon, Hughes, Selfosa. These are guys who basically need at least 20 -30 minutes a game. I can see it working for Gordon coming off the bench with Rose and Hughes starting. I think Hinrich can be the back up for Rose. They may elect for a three guard instead meaning Deng can slide to PF with Joakim Noah or Tyrus Thomas at center. Nocioni and Gooden are still around and can contribute as the veterans on this team. My advice is that if all hell breaks lose the team, give Hughes, Gooden, Nocioni, Hinrich and Luol Deng the starting spot. They should get to a 50-50 team there and the young ones can just come of the bench time to time and gain experience and hopefully turn into a playoff team next year. I say 70% chance they'll be a .500 team with a good record but doesn't make the playoffs. 20% chance of becoming worst than the Knicks. 10% chance of becoming a playoff contender.
The Knicks. Worst. Bad. Betrayed. yet, Popular in all things. They have a young but strong core. Danillo Gallinari is the best player on the team right now. They need to turn misused players into stronger players to get better. They have good point guards in Chris Duhon and Nate Robinson and Anthong ROberson. They have Wing players like Q-Richardson, Jared Jeffries, Wilson Chandler and Mardy Collins. The backcourt is not good enough to win but they'll be fun to watch. Chandler and Robinson in particular are the future of this team. D'Antoni needs to get this two guys running to get this team on the block. He'll probably start with Duhon, Richardson, and Chandler as 1,2,3 with Balkman gone. For the frontline, David Lee will finally get his chance. After a Zach Randolph and Eddy Curry experiment and let's not leave out the Jerome James signing which is worst than the Marbury extension, all gone wrong; Lee should get the chance to prove himself a double-double guy. Gallinari in the mean while will have to be hidden somewhere in defense before he gets plowed again. 300 pounds and bam! Bad back and out of the summer league. He can definitely shoot. Critics can't take away his experiece and i think with his jumpshot alone, He'll be a 14ppg guy just coming off the bench. Curry on the other hand will have to remain the team's center of he wants to prove himself worth the while. Randolph will just need to keep doing his scoring thing and 20 -10 stuff and stop throwing towels at teammates. Curry is fine but just don't expect him to play with Randolph will. I think Curry can come off the becnh more. Predicted 4 and 5. Randolph and Lee. Other possibilities? Curry and Randolph? not gonna happen.....I think they sink and Gallinari will be in Europe again if he doesn't work out but he has too much exprience to fall off. Where do you get a player who's 18 but has the composure of a veteran?
Where are we? Bobcats. Larry Brown will make them better. The pg is clear with RaymonD felton and DJ Augustin. Augustin is the real deal, i can and the other spot has Jason Richardson and Gerald Wallace and behind them is the long line of Matt Caroll , Adam Morrison, and Jared Dudley. Caroll and Morrison are interchangeable with Richardson and Wallace but I think Dudley will be the more used player in Larry Brown's system. Coach value defense and toughness and Dudley will get his share. The front court has just been bad luck but Dudley has been a good helper there. Emeka Okafor will be back and staying put which is good and his defense and rebounding is a perfect fit for the Bobcats needs. Nazr Mohammed is the next best center and i think he could be down for a starter. Ryan Hollins and Jamario Davidson will be back-ups with French project Alexis Ajinca. Sean May is the key man. If he can be healthy and become that old-fashioned low-post presence he used to be, the Bobcats will have a perfect compliment to Okafor. This is the most solid the team has ever been since it's beginning. Now it's time to put in the effort. They have the best chance of the group to advance and match up with other teams. They're the most well-equipped to pull this off. Now it's just effort from here on. Predicted starters? Felton, J-Rich, G-Wallace, Okafor and Mohammed. Augustin could be the starter by the end of the year with or without the playoff-making thing.
OKC- Kevin Durant, Jeff Green, Russell Westbrook are the top-three players right now. CHris WIlcox is the best of those entering their prime. Collision and the other projects in Petro and Sene will have to pay off soon. The team has been looking for another Shawn Kemp since 2003. Wilcox could be it and the team looks close to improving each year. Ridnour will be quality starter/ backup. I don't predict them to make moves but they'll bring some excitement to this new city. Best back-ups will be De-von Hardin, Damien Wilkins and Earl Watson. Keep this core intact and they can turn things around a lot. They need time but I don't see them matching up well to other teams in the West soon. They'll have long way to go. Starting five for season? Ridnour, Wilcox, Durant, Green and Collison. By the end of the year? Durant, Westbrook, Green, Wilcox and Sene/ Hardin.
Too be continued.......I have two tests tomorrow!
The Bulls looked strong. I have to blame the fans for chanting "Kobe, Kobe" all night when Deng and Gordon where doing their best to just make the team win. The Ben Wallace experiment is officially over. What i didn't like in the trade was giving away Joe Smith but he basically helped make the trade work. It did get rid of that weak log jam in the front line. I think Del Negro is a good risk. He's fresh and so is 1st pick Derrick Rose. The only problem now for the Bulls a log jam in the guard position. They obviously have too may guards that can score. Rose, Hinrich, ben gordon, Hughes, Selfosa. These are guys who basically need at least 20 -30 minutes a game. I can see it working for Gordon coming off the bench with Rose and Hughes starting. I think Hinrich can be the back up for Rose. They may elect for a three guard instead meaning Deng can slide to PF with Joakim Noah or Tyrus Thomas at center. Nocioni and Gooden are still around and can contribute as the veterans on this team. My advice is that if all hell breaks lose the team, give Hughes, Gooden, Nocioni, Hinrich and Luol Deng the starting spot. They should get to a 50-50 team there and the young ones can just come of the bench time to time and gain experience and hopefully turn into a playoff team next year. I say 70% chance they'll be a .500 team with a good record but doesn't make the playoffs. 20% chance of becoming worst than the Knicks. 10% chance of becoming a playoff contender.
The Knicks. Worst. Bad. Betrayed. yet, Popular in all things. They have a young but strong core. Danillo Gallinari is the best player on the team right now. They need to turn misused players into stronger players to get better. They have good point guards in Chris Duhon and Nate Robinson and Anthong ROberson. They have Wing players like Q-Richardson, Jared Jeffries, Wilson Chandler and Mardy Collins. The backcourt is not good enough to win but they'll be fun to watch. Chandler and Robinson in particular are the future of this team. D'Antoni needs to get this two guys running to get this team on the block. He'll probably start with Duhon, Richardson, and Chandler as 1,2,3 with Balkman gone. For the frontline, David Lee will finally get his chance. After a Zach Randolph and Eddy Curry experiment and let's not leave out the Jerome James signing which is worst than the Marbury extension, all gone wrong; Lee should get the chance to prove himself a double-double guy. Gallinari in the mean while will have to be hidden somewhere in defense before he gets plowed again. 300 pounds and bam! Bad back and out of the summer league. He can definitely shoot. Critics can't take away his experiece and i think with his jumpshot alone, He'll be a 14ppg guy just coming off the bench. Curry on the other hand will have to remain the team's center of he wants to prove himself worth the while. Randolph will just need to keep doing his scoring thing and 20 -10 stuff and stop throwing towels at teammates. Curry is fine but just don't expect him to play with Randolph will. I think Curry can come off the becnh more. Predicted 4 and 5. Randolph and Lee. Other possibilities? Curry and Randolph? not gonna happen.....I think they sink and Gallinari will be in Europe again if he doesn't work out but he has too much exprience to fall off. Where do you get a player who's 18 but has the composure of a veteran?
Where are we? Bobcats. Larry Brown will make them better. The pg is clear with RaymonD felton and DJ Augustin. Augustin is the real deal, i can and the other spot has Jason Richardson and Gerald Wallace and behind them is the long line of Matt Caroll , Adam Morrison, and Jared Dudley. Caroll and Morrison are interchangeable with Richardson and Wallace but I think Dudley will be the more used player in Larry Brown's system. Coach value defense and toughness and Dudley will get his share. The front court has just been bad luck but Dudley has been a good helper there. Emeka Okafor will be back and staying put which is good and his defense and rebounding is a perfect fit for the Bobcats needs. Nazr Mohammed is the next best center and i think he could be down for a starter. Ryan Hollins and Jamario Davidson will be back-ups with French project Alexis Ajinca. Sean May is the key man. If he can be healthy and become that old-fashioned low-post presence he used to be, the Bobcats will have a perfect compliment to Okafor. This is the most solid the team has ever been since it's beginning. Now it's time to put in the effort. They have the best chance of the group to advance and match up with other teams. They're the most well-equipped to pull this off. Now it's just effort from here on. Predicted starters? Felton, J-Rich, G-Wallace, Okafor and Mohammed. Augustin could be the starter by the end of the year with or without the playoff-making thing.
OKC- Kevin Durant, Jeff Green, Russell Westbrook are the top-three players right now. CHris WIlcox is the best of those entering their prime. Collision and the other projects in Petro and Sene will have to pay off soon. The team has been looking for another Shawn Kemp since 2003. Wilcox could be it and the team looks close to improving each year. Ridnour will be quality starter/ backup. I don't predict them to make moves but they'll bring some excitement to this new city. Best back-ups will be De-von Hardin, Damien Wilkins and Earl Watson. Keep this core intact and they can turn things around a lot. They need time but I don't see them matching up well to other teams in the West soon. They'll have long way to go. Starting five for season? Ridnour, Wilcox, Durant, Green and Collison. By the end of the year? Durant, Westbrook, Green, Wilcox and Sene/ Hardin.
Too be continued.......I have two tests tomorrow!
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Been too long, NBA season
I've been looking a the NBA for quite a while and it tells me a lot of obvious stuff.
For one, Gilbert Arenas is a smart guy. Taking $16 M off the big contract? That's basically giving the franchise a chance to sign better players. The Wizards lost so far Roger Mason to the Spurs and I haven't seen them make some moves which could impact the team aside from drafting Javale McGee, but they seem like one of those teams that doesn't really need changing. They have their starters coming back next season. Arenas, DeShawn Stevenson, Caron Butler, Antwan Jamison, and Brendan Haywood; and like the Lakers they have a young but strong bench, Andray Baltche, Nick Young, Antonio Daniels, Dominic McGuire, Darius Songalia, McGee, Perchovic , Etan Thomas.....can't remember all but the bench gets better every year. They could use some help at center or a back up guard or forward. Currently signing someone like David Harrison or Devean George would look good but the Wizards look formidable already with out them.
Detroit is too young and raw without it's veterans. If all but two or three starters are left, who would be the starters? Rip , Affalo , Stuckey, Prince, Brown? Not good. Rip and Prince are the most valuable players right now. Stuckey and Affalo will become guys who earn around the $5M to $10 M in the long run to replace Billups and Wallace. BillUps will continue to be the leader of this team for years to come but eventually, the Pistons will need to rebuild with better guys other than Prince and Stuckey and Amir Johnson. I like the signing of Brown because even though he's already labeled first pick-bust. He's still a solid player. He can bang around and get boards. Honestly, I think I rather see him start and get McDyess to come off the bench better. Brown can be a 20-35 Minutes guy with around 9-10 rebounds a game with a 8 ppg average. Adding another offensive minded veteran to the mix could be a good idea. They could risk signing and trading for players like andre Iguodala and Josh Smith or JR Smith. Wallace or Hamilton could fall into the deal for Smith or Iguodala for a better deal. Sixers would get the ability of Hamilton to find the open spots he'll have with Elton Brand attracting a lot of attention. Wallace can fill out the hole by Josh Childress and Smith by being bothe scorer and rebounder although it is unlikely the Hawks will take him. Like hot-tempered and veteran presence and scoring and shooting and 14ppg average for guy looking for $12M , fan-favorite, high flying, possible all-star in their twenties? not gonna happen unless the Hawks get more like adding one of the Young Pistons to the mix. Pistons getting Brown and trying to pry other players from the free agent pool means Dumars could be making a last stand in the Eastern Conference for the next 2 years and show that they can still be a championship team despite their breakdown for the past two years one against lebron James and another against the Big Three Boston Celtics team. Now this year, they have added threats in the form of a Full-powered Wizards team, and a rejuvinated Elton Brand Sixers team which pushed them to the brink without a proper post presence and the ever resilient Raptors could be chomping below.
Speaking of the East, it's new beasts are already getting attention. Micheal Beasley and Elton Brand just made it harder to guard the paint. Miami Heat are in-danger of losing Dwayne Wade in 2010 if they don't make any moves. They have a young core in Mario Chambers and Michael Beasley but they need a center and the Free agent market is getting thiner. Unless Shawn Marion or Udonis Haslem can play that post, the Heat are probably rebuilding. Some teams could use Haslem as a power Forward. Even if Alonzo Mourning returns or Mark Blount becomes a better post presence or rebounder for his $10M a year contract , that could save the team some money or chemistry. For now all eyes are on their young new duo of Beasley and Wade and on former All-star Shawn Marion to keep the Heat afloat. On the bright side, signing James Jones, a talented shooter and long wing guy will be a good addition but unless Wade plays the point then Jones could play the big guard. The 3 and 4 will be either Marion or Beasley and center would be sigh.....Blount or sligtly shorter sigh.....Haslem...whew! Jason Williams could come back but he would take a huge cut. Chris Quinn and Chambers looks like the only options they have right now. Heat are in the pits right now but with hard work they could go back to elite status in two years time if Wade stays put with Beasley.
Not much for now...more to come
For one, Gilbert Arenas is a smart guy. Taking $16 M off the big contract? That's basically giving the franchise a chance to sign better players. The Wizards lost so far Roger Mason to the Spurs and I haven't seen them make some moves which could impact the team aside from drafting Javale McGee, but they seem like one of those teams that doesn't really need changing. They have their starters coming back next season. Arenas, DeShawn Stevenson, Caron Butler, Antwan Jamison, and Brendan Haywood; and like the Lakers they have a young but strong bench, Andray Baltche, Nick Young, Antonio Daniels, Dominic McGuire, Darius Songalia, McGee, Perchovic , Etan Thomas.....can't remember all but the bench gets better every year. They could use some help at center or a back up guard or forward. Currently signing someone like David Harrison or Devean George would look good but the Wizards look formidable already with out them.
Detroit is too young and raw without it's veterans. If all but two or three starters are left, who would be the starters? Rip , Affalo , Stuckey, Prince, Brown? Not good. Rip and Prince are the most valuable players right now. Stuckey and Affalo will become guys who earn around the $5M to $10 M in the long run to replace Billups and Wallace. BillUps will continue to be the leader of this team for years to come but eventually, the Pistons will need to rebuild with better guys other than Prince and Stuckey and Amir Johnson. I like the signing of Brown because even though he's already labeled first pick-bust. He's still a solid player. He can bang around and get boards. Honestly, I think I rather see him start and get McDyess to come off the bench better. Brown can be a 20-35 Minutes guy with around 9-10 rebounds a game with a 8 ppg average. Adding another offensive minded veteran to the mix could be a good idea. They could risk signing and trading for players like andre Iguodala and Josh Smith or JR Smith. Wallace or Hamilton could fall into the deal for Smith or Iguodala for a better deal. Sixers would get the ability of Hamilton to find the open spots he'll have with Elton Brand attracting a lot of attention. Wallace can fill out the hole by Josh Childress and Smith by being bothe scorer and rebounder although it is unlikely the Hawks will take him. Like hot-tempered and veteran presence and scoring and shooting and 14ppg average for guy looking for $12M , fan-favorite, high flying, possible all-star in their twenties? not gonna happen unless the Hawks get more like adding one of the Young Pistons to the mix. Pistons getting Brown and trying to pry other players from the free agent pool means Dumars could be making a last stand in the Eastern Conference for the next 2 years and show that they can still be a championship team despite their breakdown for the past two years one against lebron James and another against the Big Three Boston Celtics team. Now this year, they have added threats in the form of a Full-powered Wizards team, and a rejuvinated Elton Brand Sixers team which pushed them to the brink without a proper post presence and the ever resilient Raptors could be chomping below.
Speaking of the East, it's new beasts are already getting attention. Micheal Beasley and Elton Brand just made it harder to guard the paint. Miami Heat are in-danger of losing Dwayne Wade in 2010 if they don't make any moves. They have a young core in Mario Chambers and Michael Beasley but they need a center and the Free agent market is getting thiner. Unless Shawn Marion or Udonis Haslem can play that post, the Heat are probably rebuilding. Some teams could use Haslem as a power Forward. Even if Alonzo Mourning returns or Mark Blount becomes a better post presence or rebounder for his $10M a year contract , that could save the team some money or chemistry. For now all eyes are on their young new duo of Beasley and Wade and on former All-star Shawn Marion to keep the Heat afloat. On the bright side, signing James Jones, a talented shooter and long wing guy will be a good addition but unless Wade plays the point then Jones could play the big guard. The 3 and 4 will be either Marion or Beasley and center would be sigh.....Blount or sligtly shorter sigh.....Haslem...whew! Jason Williams could come back but he would take a huge cut. Chris Quinn and Chambers looks like the only options they have right now. Heat are in the pits right now but with hard work they could go back to elite status in two years time if Wade stays put with Beasley.
Not much for now...more to come
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