who are the playoff teams of 09-10
In the West I think Dallas is in danger of missing the playoffs. Kidd is getting older & he might not even be there (I think he will stay in Dallas though). Also the Rockets are in trouble...Yao was a monster. Plus can McGrady stay healthy..he is already going to miss the beginning of the season. Ron Artest may be leaving too. I think one of those two teams will miss the playoffs, maybe both. I think Golden State makes the playoffs this year, the young guys are going to be much improved plus adding a shooter & smart player like Curry helps.
Your East predictions look good except I somehow think Miami will miss the playoffs. Wade doesn't have enough help and he may wear down. I expect the Bobcats to make the playoffs. They came close last year and should be better this year. They added two solid rookies and I expect them to sign somebody good in free agency.
Agree with the most part but either Dallas, New Orleans, or Houston is not making it. Behind them It's gonna be OKC or GS for the 8th or maybe 7th seed too. In the east detroit won't make it unless they get Chandler, Kaman or another big'time center for Hamilton in a trade. Washington will move in but chicago will move up. remember they weren't playing with Deng for the playoffs so he'll help. Boston won't go #1. They may slide to 5. Did you see Pierce at the end of every game in the playoffs? Dude is getting really worn down and may not keeep it up. The only one of the 3 not being affected by age is allen and their lookin to trade him.
1. Boston - Just too many vets, great players
2. Cav's - They dont lose at home
3. Magic - Carter will add another great scorer
4.Atlanta - Great, unique team
5. 76ers - Healthy Brand, Iggy and Thad just got alot better
6. Bulls - D Rose, slipp cuz no Gordon
7. Heat - Just dont have that down low presence
8. Detroit - I would put the Bobcats but FA's put them
over the cats
dallas is that team that just sticks around.. simply cause of dirk. if he plays his game and kidd stays..they have a good chance to make it again.
i think if houston can keep artest, sign gortat and maybe another big...depending on cap space right..someone like antonio mcdysse, and mcgrady plays somewhat decent when he gets back, just don't expect them to go away.
beasely will get better and chalmers is gonna continue to improve. haslem is there for wade's support. i wouldn't say this team could miss it unless wade gets injured, which is possible.
with amar'e healthy and picking up a washed up wallace, it might be enough to steal 8th seed. phoenix has alot of work to do. picking up clark was a great move.
i'm still liking the idea of okc making the playoffs. westbrook, harden(or sefolosha), durant, green, krystic. that's not a bad lineup. if they're consisten and healthy...they have just as good as chance as golden state. also, expect a huge year from durant..again.
west
1 lakers-no ariza
2 spurs-rj/blair
3 nuggets-chip on shoulder
4 blazers-hunger
5 utah - healthy boozer
6 hornets-cp3 gonna carry them
7 rockets- poss. no yoa
8 mavs- old
hunt-clippers/thunder
east
1 cavs-shaq "win ring for the king"
2 celts- hungry kg back
3 magic- vc get over top?
4 hawks- another year older crawford
5 wizards-hibatchi returns
6 76ers- brand healthy?
7 heat-dwade 35 ppg
8 bulls-derrik rose 20-8
hunt-nets, bobcats, pistons
East (no particular order)
- Cavs
-Magic
-C's
- Detroit
-Raptors (u watch)
- Wizards
- Heat
- Hawks
dont think the Bulls can do it again
West (again no order)
-Lakers
-Utah
-Spurs
-Blazers
-Rockets
-Nola
- Denver
-houston
dallas is getting to old and i just dont like em so they dont make this list
im interested to see how good the wiz will be..they are a darkhorse to come out of the west because with the trades they have a very good team..they were good the year they took the cavs to the brink....boston will be better now that rondo is better as well as big baby..this is gonna be a very interesting nba season...lakers should run through the west unless the spurs get wallace..in which case that will be a very interesting match up that i think the lakers will when.....just imagin for a second that bynum stays healthy for awhole season and sasha gets his shot back and even( not sure how likely) adam morrison plays liek he did his rookie year
West (4 really awesome teams, 4 not so awesome teams, including my Mavs)
1. Lakers
2. Spurs
3. Blazers
4. Nuggets
5. Jazz
6. Mavericks
7. Hornets
8. Thunder
Next four: Warriors, Suns, Rockets, Clippers
East
1. Celtics
2. Cavs
3. Magic
4. Wizards
5. 76ers
6. Pistons
7. Hawks
8. Bobcats
Next four: Bulls, Raptors, Heat, Pacers
Houston if they win 40 games I would be more than surprised. Ariza is right now their #1 option, and in reality he is at best a 3rd option.
My standings go like this
1-Lakers
2- Spurs
3-Blazers
4-Nuggets
5-Mavericks
6-Jazz
7-Hornets
8- Waiting on Free agency and trades to end
If the Suns trade Amare they won't make it
If the Warriors get Bosh or Amare they're a lock
Clippers have a solid core
Thunder very outside shot
Kings, Rockets, T'Wolves all no
Grizzlies only possible if they get AI.
i think those two teams can make the playoffs.
raptors - still has bosh (garnett's successor except the D), the guy who doesn't turn the ball over(calderon), sweet shooting bargs(might crack an all star slot) and according to reports point-forward turkoglu, then add athletic derozan. that's a good starting five to say the least.
thunder - scoring machine KD,rookie 1st team westbrook, draft pick james harden, jack of all trades jeff green and a solid big krstic. that's a decent first five. bench has sefolosha(can start too) shaun collison mullens(project) etc. not Bad..
how did i know clippers would put the clippers in there..lol..the funny thing is if every one stays healthy and IF they play together instead of going for there selfs (looking at you thortan,davis,gordan) this team could get in...i coul;d see them getting in higher then the hornets...clippers you better hope they dont get the 8th seed though because then they run into my juggernaut team ..on top of that we both know it would be a all lakers home playoff series
thats what u would think now, however, i guess since ur not from LA or maybe just live in LA, u don't know about all the bandwagon fans around here. if the clippers have a young exiting team GS style with baron rejuvenated running the show u never know, it could be half most games. the thing is tho, all tho the away games would be easier if they had more fans there then a normal away game, the home games would be tougher due to the unusual amount of away fans in attendance. we'll see what happens.
im not but my boy goes to most of the clipper games and some of the laker games...he says when the lakers play a road game against the clippers there are alot more people cheering for the lakers....if they make the playoffs and play them im sure it will change a lil but it still wont be an away atmosphere for the lakers....but we are thinking fantasy land at this point..the clippers will have to make it first...the injury thing is a huge IF
naw i have no doubt in my mind he will fit...tphil tends to be able to control people like that ala rodman who was much worst...ontop of that artest didnt mess up sacs indiana nor houstons chemistry...though thoses who dont liek the lakers are HOPING he will..but thats wishful thinking..ron is old enough and smart enough to know whats at stake..a nice shiney trophy and ring:)..but people can keep wishing for the downfall
and as you notice when players come to the lakers the fit right into the systems...liek players that came to the bulls when jordan was there...they know who the king/leader/messiah..is on that team ..they buy into the message and it actually helps there game (ariza,s.brown, hell even kwame brown played better, smush parker)...
Are people seriously thinking Artest will mess up the chemistry in LA, no he won't. He was a delight to have in Houston, I think he only got charged with 4 technicals the whole regular season. Kobe and Dwight Howard had more techs in the playoffs than ron-ron in the regular season!! The Lakers I see repeating, but I see San Antonio giving them a great run. I am so excited for those teams to face off.
i actually say san antonio and even cleveland and bosotn and orlando give the lake show a challenge untill ron got signed even though we lost ariza ron is alot like lamar..you count him as 2 players because of how versitile they both are artest can check 1-4 and a couple of centers (lets be honest alot of the centers arent that good offensively) .which takes off the pressure of kobe having to check the best player on the other team..then he helps take the load off of kobe and gasol on offense..then theres the bonus of bynum hopefully being healthy a whole year which would further his already great development...thennnnn is sasha can get his jumper back...thennnnnnnnn brown and farmer should at least be a lil better..as well as walton..thennnnnnn if morrison can play like he did as a rookie or even half that or just come in and hit 1-2 threes a game..whewww...its just not fair
here's a look at the top 8 seeds in the west and east of the 2009-2010 regular season.
WEST TOP 8 SEEDS.
la. lakers (64-18 wins. they'll get odom back for sure. don't count on ariza running away.)
portland (55-60 wins. this team will be very hungry. let's hope rudy isn't too pissed off to run away)
san antonio (50-56 wins. health issues. blair and jefferson are gonna help...ALOT.)
denver (50-55 wins. they'll look tough all season long. but can they make another serious run?)
new orleans (50-55 wins. depends on the chandler deal. does he go? does he stay? chemistry?)
Utah (45-50 wins. does anyone know why boozer and okur decided to stay?)
Dallas (40-45 wins. they're just gonna stick around aren't they..........sigh..............)
OKC-updated-(40-45 wins. i think they'll barely sneak in over another team.)
phoenix, golden state...and maybe houston will be in the hunt.
phoenix with a healthy amare...is it enough still?
there's still too much competition for g.s. to come close.
EAST TOP 8 SEEDS - the east is becoming very competitive
boston 60-64 wins. garnett... again gets to act like he has rabies and taunt people. Free Agents needed)
cleveland (60-64 wins. if they can keep varejao...hm. shaq will help, reguardless of what people say)
orlando (55-60 wins. they gotta convince hedo......with the addition of VC.... TEAM TO BEAT.)
miami (50 wins. sir d'wade showed his unhuman side again last season...expect it again!!)
washington (45-50 wins. HEALTH. they kept their core and the 2 bench bigs...and added miller and foye)
Detroit (40-45 wins. they didn't lose prince, hamilton or stuckey. they got gordon and cv. more FA's!)
chicago (40-45 wins. they lost bg...ouch. not a bad draft though. FREE AGENTS NEEDED!)
Philadelphia (40-45 wins. can they keep miller? if not, they could fall off the map.)
toronto, new jersey, new york, charlotte will still be in the hunt.
if toronto can snatch a respectable free agent like Lee or rasheed and maybe a couple free agents for bench, they could surprise people.
new jersey lost Vc but picked up alston and lee. they got t-will in the draft. young. but good.
new york has to keep lee to make the playoffs. say no more.
charlotte just has too much competition even with the talent they have.