Surprises and disappointments
The season has started and the hope for every city is the playoffs and a possible championship. Well if your city is not San Antonio, Phoenix, Dallas, Houston, Detroit, Chicago or Boston stop dreaming about a it. But it does not mean your team can’t have a very good year. The problem we rarely see predictions when it comes to selecting who will become the surprise teams in a particular year. They always seem to go with the obvious. Well, I will go out on the limb and pick some teams projected high that will struggle and I will select a few teams that will surprise.
WILL STRUGGLE
Miami Heat
The Heat are in trouble and some prognosticators who are picking them to do well should think twice. They tried to get young, but the youngsters they have will not play a major role and they are depending on two stars that struggle to avoid injuries. Shaq has a lot left, but he needs help and Dwayne Wade is not providing any by being on the sideline constantly. Once you get past those two, the Heat now have to count on Ricky Davis to carry the load. The Heat offensively might be one of worst teams in the league and when it’s all said and done, I predict that they will come up short come playoff time.
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cavaliers must have forgotten that they had to exhaust every ounce of energy last year to go along with some good fortune in the first round against a depleted Washington Wizard team that if healthy would have quite possibly beaten them in the first round. The Cavaliers had the worst offseason of any team in the league and they will pay a serious price for it. The Cavs not only could not get Anderson Varejao signed, but they also failed again to make a trade for Mike Bibby or pick up a free agent like Grant Hill to take some pressure off LeBron James. They will struggle big-time to get a high level seed this season, especially if Zydrunas Ilgauskas or Larry Hughes are inconsistent.
Los Angeles Lakers
The Kobe saga will destroy whatever thought they had of making the playoffs and be competitive. The Lakers depend on Kobe in every facet of the game and the fact that he wants to move on will weigh heavily more on his teammates than anything else. The addition of Derek Fisher’s leadership will help, but this young and inexperienced team already had a tough road before this saga began. Lamar Odom and his continued struggles with injuries and the lack of a creative point guard will force Kobe to jack up 30 shots a night, which means a record close to .500. That might not be enough to make the playoffs in the difficult Western Conference.
Denver Nuggets
The Nuggets have two of my favorite players in the league in Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony and I am on board as saying that Carmelo will accumulate better stats than LeBron and Dwyane Wade when it’s all over. The problem I have with the Nuggets is they don’t mesh well and they are susceptible to low-scoring nights when those two are off. They have some very good talent in Marcus Camby, Kenyon Martin and Nenê, but for a reason they seem clumsy and in the way of Iverson and Anthony instead of flowing well. I can imagine them losing rhythm at times this year and getting into 4 to 6 game losing streaks thus putting a good playoff seed and a division title in jeopardy.
WILL SURPRISE
Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks have some of the best young talent in the league and head coach Mike Woodson has enough to finally make a run for one the bottom seeds in the Eastern Conference. Josh Smith, Marvin Williams, Al Hortford, Josh Childress and Acie Law should become one of the best young lineups in the league for years to come. Now throw in do-it -all Joe Johnson and this Hawks team should in my opinion flirt with .500 this year and move to the next level beginning next season.
Josh Smith should become an All-Star this year if he continues to stay focused.
New York Knicks
The Knicks and Isiah Thomas are at a crossroad, but they have the bodies and talent to finally get over the hump and make the playoffs. The Knicks have the best collection of talent 1 through 12 in the league. Regardless of the Knicks perception as an organization, they should be fighting for a playoff spot in March if they understand that the strength of their team will go through Eddy Curry and Zach Randolph. Perimeter players like Stephon Marbury, Jamal Crawford and Quentin Richardson should find more clear cut opportunities if they exert patience and defend well. This could be Isiah Thomas’ last opportunity to coach the Knicks unless they win close to 50 games and make a serious run for a postseason spot.
New Orleans Hornets
The Hornets have some quality offensive players and will make every contest interesting because of it. Peja Stojakovic will be the ring leader assisted by Chris Paul. But David West and Tyson Chandler will be the difference with their inside presence. The Hornets have had tough luck staying healthy and head coach Byron Scott is crossing his fingers. The Hornets are the gypsies of professional sports and it also remains to be seen if they get the fan support this year in New Orleans like they did in Oklahoma City last year. I consider them a definite threat to make a bottom seed in the West if they can make the transition.
Portland Trail Blazers
Yes, Greg Oden is out for the year, but the Blazers will win their share of games because they present problems with their length and athleticism. LaMarcus Aldridge and Rookie of the Year Brandon Roy will have a very good season. The key for the Blazers will be team defense and head coach Nate McMillan will make sure it works. The problem for the rest of the league is that they will fall short of the playoffs and have a chance to draft OJ Mayo of USC and pair him with Oden next year. Wow!
Rafael, Puerto Rico Said,
November 2, 2007 @ 11:19 am
I disagree with your views on Denver. I don’t know If you watched any of their preseason games. They seem to have way better team chemistry. AI is older, smarter and willing to play how karl wants him to. Melo is playing great without the ball and so is Linas Kleiza. If the Nuggets don’t have health issues (Martin, Nene, Camby) and I understand how big the “f” is, Denver will have the 3rd or 4th best record in the west and will be in the Conference Finals.
Taylor Said,
November 2, 2007 @ 11:37 am
Eddie,
You have some interesting observations.
Did you happen to miss the Nuggets meshing at the end of last season?? Melo and AI (together) had limited time with the rest of the team. This offseason was an opportunity for them to build their chemistry with Nene and Camby (Martin not so much).
I am confident they will compete for the division title and get out of the first round.
Should be fun to watch,
Taylor
Jacob Said,
November 2, 2007 @ 12:03 pm
good post eddie, i dont agree with New Orleans being a surprize, chris paul has taken baby steps backwards since his rookie of the year campain.
i like portlands athelticism but you and i both know that the nba is a veterans league. The teams who do well have veterans who know the nba game, i dont think anyone on portland knows it.
I think your a little off with denver, i think they have been playing together for quite some time now and george karl is a very good coach for a team that needs direction. im sure he will make it work with his line ups.
Black Mamba Said,
November 2, 2007 @ 12:07 pm
Good article, but i disagree with you on the nuggets front due to the fact that A.I is slowing down and Carmelo is on the opposite side of the spectrum which would eventually balance out if those guys (Camby, K-Mart, Kleiza……and so on) can step up!!
jamaal brown Said,
November 2, 2007 @ 12:14 pm
I agree with most of your predictions, but saying new york has “the best collection of talent 1 through 12 in the league” is a stretch. Last I checked a handful of teams including the Suns, Mavs and Raps were much deeper than the Knicks had much better players 1-12.
anthony Said,
November 2, 2007 @ 12:36 pm
I’m in agreement with all of the teams except New York. I’ll watch more Knick games this year, but I don’t see the talent level as high as the media does. I read plenty about them, but I just don’t see it on the court.
Jron Said,
November 2, 2007 @ 12:56 pm
O.J. Mayo and Greg Oden.. Beastly..
David Said,
November 2, 2007 @ 1:21 pm
Eddie
I agree with what you said about Denver. I have heard people in the media say that they are title contenders. Please… Karl is coaching this team and his teams for the most part never meshed and for the most part are disappointing come playoffs. We can see what happened to him with the Bucks, going from first in the conference to out of the playoffs in matter of months. I also happen to remember him losing with a prime GP and Kemp in the first round in the playoffs.
Josh W Said,
November 2, 2007 @ 2:27 pm
My words exactly Jacob. Portland won’t surprise, but will bust because obvious reasons (absent 1st round pick). New Orleans I think will make a few upset victories throughout the season against teams like Dallas and Detroit, but they won’t make the playoffs, or past the 1st round. Denver will be a suprise team. It’s not really a suprise, but more like this is the year when AI and Melo will finally mesh, and their team will flourish if Kmart / Camby stay healthy. Nene better shed some pounds too to keep up. The Hawks will be just as the Hornets. As for the Lakers…they need to just get rid of Kobe and take what they can get. Sure, he scored 45 the other night, but so. That’s because noone else in LA can do that, or even put up 20. So if you give Kobe the ball, he’s going to score half your points. He’s disgruntled and he’ll end up sitting more games this year than ever with pety injuries (sore finger, upset stomache) b/c he will get tired to putting wear and tear on his body just for his team to finish for the 8th spot, then get swept in the 1st round. Here goes the real surprise. The Bucks. They will do great this year. If their young front line stays healthy, they will win the central division and finish 3rd or 4th in the east. Celtics and Bucks are two teams that are one or two pieces away from taking the East. In the end, it will be Boston/NewYork in the East, and Phoenix/ Spurs in the west. This year will be more fun to watch in the West, with the playoffs having no more than 2 sweeps. Go Celtics!
Johnny33 Said,
November 2, 2007 @ 2:38 pm
I think I’d have to include Memphis as a darkhorse team in the West, right up there with New Orleans. With San Antonio, Dallas, Phoenix, Houston, Utah and Denver pretty much a lock to make the playoffs in the West, it’s going to be a competitive battle to see who will lose in the first round to the 1st/2nd seed.
I don’t believe the Nuggets will struggle that badly, but they need to figure out if AI is going to play off the ball or if they want him to play PG. Whichever way they go, I don’t think JR Smith or Chucky Atkins is the answer.
Davey Said,
November 2, 2007 @ 3:01 pm
I agree with most of what you suggest, Eddie. Though, I think Denver is going to make a VERY strong run for the Western title. I know they’ve only played Seattle, who at this point is equivalent to an expansion team, but they looked extremely impressive. With Carmelo and A.I. feeling that much more comfortable playing along side one another, Camby and Kenyon providing the dirty work, and role players like Kleiza stepping up big, this squad will be quite scary. I wouldn’t be too quick to place the ‘Blazers or Hawks in the playoffs just yet, too (though I’m quick to put Denver in the finals!).
Peter Said,
November 2, 2007 @ 3:23 pm
Now we have a 3rd credible source Barkley, John Hollinger and you have all said the same thing about the Hawks. The Hawks, if healthy, will do some damage this season. However, they may need to make some mid -season tweaks to the roster by moving one of those expiring contracts for a playoff push.
hizzle Said,
November 2, 2007 @ 3:46 pm
Overall, I think you wrote a solid article. Although, I’m not sure about the “going out on a limb” line. It does bother me that you have typos/grammar issues. I am by no means a good writer, but you are writing a column. I expect better. By the way, most of your errors could be caught with a click of the spellcheck button.
Jacob Said,
November 2, 2007 @ 4:37 pm
CELTICS SOOONN!!!! TWO HOURS AND I WILL BE IN THERE CHEERING EVERY TIME GILBERT MISSES A SHOT!!!
john Said,
November 2, 2007 @ 4:50 pm
Toronto Raptors 2007-08=Sacramento Kings ealry part of this decade.
Great PF-Webber, Bosh
Great PG Combo-Bibby, Jackson…..Ford, Calderon
Sharpshooters-Turkoglu, Stojakovic…….Kapono, Parker
Centre who always has their mouth open-Divac….Bargnani
It is kind of freaky the similarities…
Toronto too soft to win it all, Colangelo made the Sacramento queens.
eddie Said,
November 2, 2007 @ 6:40 pm
Hizzle
we don’t worry about spell check in here. we are athletes who love to talk. By the way i wrote this at 3 in the morning i was tired.
if it bothers you —don’t let the door hit you on the way out pal. —this is not english class, this is a sports web site. Hizzy—did i spell that right LOL
Bradleiu Said,
November 2, 2007 @ 7:37 pm
I dont know why u seem to think that melo will have a better statistical career then Bron. His older(not by much i give you) and he has a far superior team. Melos supporting cast:Iverson,Kmart,Camby,Nene,Smith
‘Brons:Ilgauskas,Gooden,Hughes
You tell me who has the better supporting cast, The better the teammates are the more they share the workload and this is shown in the difference in Brons and Melos stats. Lebron is leading him already and will continue to and I dont see how Melo could have better longelivity then Lebron by much.
I apoligise if you have already justified why you believe this in another article.
Join the forums!
Krynn Said,
November 2, 2007 @ 8:17 pm
Denver is my favorite team in the league now but I do agree with Eddie that they will have a bit of a struggle…. Melo and AI no question will dominate the SF and SG positions but their frontline, even with the talent of Nene, Camby and K Mart still ain’t enough as of the moment. I think they gotta improve on some things before they could really make a rub for the title:
1. Nene and K Mart still need to defend really well without getting to foul trouble… like defending well against Duncan, Brand, Amare, Boozer, etc (worry about the east frontline later lol)
2. K Mart needs to be the inside presence that he was in NJ, like Melo and AI slashing and dropping to K Mart… that I would love to see!!!
3. Their front line of Nene, Camby and K Mart should average near 15 ppg per game
4. Shy away from injuries
I think their success would depend on these four things…
If they have:
All four = NBA Champs
Only three = Western conference finals
Only two = Second round
Only one = playoffs but may find it diffcult to go to the second round
Ron Said,
November 2, 2007 @ 8:26 pm
Eddie i agree with you except for one. I think if the Lakers land Jermaine O’Neal, they will get far in the playoffs. Remember that Kobe Bryant and O’Neal are good friends so possibly the arrive of J.O. can change kobe’s mind. Also, the team had a good record last year before injuries kick in. Lets see what happens…
Melvin Said,
November 2, 2007 @ 9:05 pm
The knicks lost their first game..=)
Melvin Said,
November 2, 2007 @ 9:09 pm
New Orleans is a great team… I can say that they can enter playoffs….
Lupe Said,
November 2, 2007 @ 11:18 pm
What do you guys think about Dallas? I think they made a lot of subtle moves that make them a lot better than last year. I’m a Spurs fan first (then a Phoenix one), but I noticed they upgraded Greg Buckner with Eddie Jones & Trenton Hassel. These guys are better in my opinion since they are both able to contribute more offensively, and though Buckner can play defense, he struggles a bit guarding big, strong guards like Jason Richardson, Stephen Jackson,& Baron Davis due to being 6′4-210.
I also like the pickup of Juwan Howard; who I think is an upgrade over Austin Croshere. Once he adjusts to Dallas’s offense, I see him being a great pickup for this club.
I can’t wait to see this club at full strength when Dampier, and Josh Howard come back. With the trio of Nowitzki, Howard(During these past playoffs, it was like watching Diet Pippen), and Terry hitting their prime, & Golden State taking a step back with loss of J-Rich(Bellinelli still a little raw, and doesn’t attack the paint like Richardson), I can honestly see them taking it all this year.
They will overcome their mental demons, and breakthrough this year to the dismay of my Spurs who will bounce back with a prized free agent in the ‘08 class(they have cap space) to take the title once more in ‘09 with Ron Artest or Maggette. Ok, maybe the second half of the previous statement was a little too speculative(but very possible), but I think Dallas will finally take it this year.
p.s. Hey Eddie, can you talk TNT into getting Gilbert Arenas as Chuck’s replacement when Agent Zero finally retires from the NBA? He is probably the most entertaining loudmouth(mean that in a goodway) in the game today. The dream scenario would be Chuck’s still there when Gilbert arrives.
adam Said,
November 3, 2007 @ 1:24 am
are you on crack??…” The Knicks have the best collection of talent 1 through 12 in the league”…HA HA HA!!!
George Said,
November 3, 2007 @ 4:09 am
I found nothing on this post shocking or being out on a limb, but only convenient picks for teams that will have troubles and perhaps surprise the league. Disagreements, I do have. I can’t imagine how New York justifies the thought that they have a playoff team to itself. I can’t imagine how you think the Nuggets will disappoint.
KG is the trendy pick for a player with something to prove, but I think Iverson is just as hungry, if not more. After a Team USA snub, and having gotten closer to the ring, but not obtaining it, he wants it bad since he sees his window closing. Wade had his turn in the limelight, then LeBron, well, now it is Carmelo’s turn.
I know it is only one game, but if you saw the Lakers dismantle the Suns Friday night, as a team, then you saw a glimpse of what LA is capable of. They can play with anyone. Players like Vladimir, Vujacic, Bynum, Turiaf, and Farmar, are all much more familiar with the system in LA, and poised to make big leaps. Everyone is quick to knock Kobe for taking so many shots, but easily forgets the Lakers were without their #2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 options for at least 25 games last year, leaving Kobe literally no choice but to lock, load, and fire away. If anything, I put them on my list to surprise, since everyone is expecting them to faulter. When healthy, they possess competitive talent from top to bottom.
Also, I’d rather see the Sixers tank, and get Mayo with the #1. Him and Iggy would be ridiculous!
Tim Said,
November 3, 2007 @ 5:04 am
ha ha ha Eddie … spot on with Mr. Grammer Man.
I like the nuggets, but I don’t think George Karl is the man for the job. If they want to make some noise in the playoffs, sack George Karl. As someone sad before, his previous playoff experiences have been dubious.
As for the Hornets, I might just say I have been a hornet fan since 1989. I love them to death… but I am under no illusion as to what to expect this year. They could very well struggle to make the playoffs. However it’s been a blessing for them that Brand is out for the year, the lakers will probably be dysfunctional half way through the season (especially if they keep kobe) and the Warriors traded J - Rich (didn’t like that move at all). I think the key to the season will be David West. If he can find a bit more consistency they will probably get the 8th seed.
steven Said,
November 3, 2007 @ 6:55 am
Eddie,
Watch some basketball from up north or you that xenophobic that you cannot accept a Canadian team of international players playing the game as the game was taught instead of the two man game the U.S. teams are so accustomed to be playing where the superstar must be prevalent where rocking the rim by dunks are glorified, wake up and remember how the game use to be played.
Steven
Nuff Said,
November 3, 2007 @ 7:15 am
Hizzle, ur a more on. Eddie roolz. Nuff said.
Leonardo Said,
November 3, 2007 @ 7:53 am
The Jazz has as much chance as Pistons, Bulls and Rockets… how blind can people get?
Dre Said,
November 3, 2007 @ 8:32 am
The Nuggets and Utah are legit contenders. Both have good rotations Utah is solid defensively ad Denver has a good defensive frontline, when Nene and Martin get their games on track the Nuggets will surprise people.
Ryan Willicombe Said,
November 3, 2007 @ 11:14 am
You guys in the states are soooo ignorant for not even looking at the Toronto Raptors as a team with a ligitimate shot at the entire East not just the Atlantic.This team is amazing they have a bit of everything you need inside presence the best shooters in the league parker and Kapono and Bargnani and our guards are great.Just turn your ignorant heads to the north for a bit and watch this team and no-one I repeat no-one will ever predict the knicks to be ahead of this team ever again.Boston is definatly not a lock.Watch out T.O was top 4 in the east last year and this year they are better and hungry…Eddie the knicks suck man you’re an idiot just like Isiah.
Jaime Said,
November 3, 2007 @ 12:01 pm
I dont think Denver will upset at all,Al and Melo are beggining to get on well on the court, and besides K-mart has returned to the game after his injury,this will be a good year for him, also for portland, but not for NY in my opinion.
Kingsblade Said,
November 3, 2007 @ 12:19 pm
Steven,
You don’t think that Bosh is a fairly prevalent superstar for the Raptors?
This article was about teams that will either surprise or disappoint, and I don’t really think anyone will be that surprised if Toronto has a pretty good year. Why would he bother discussing them in this article then?
Stefan Said,
November 3, 2007 @ 12:35 pm
Eddie,
First of all, I am an English teacher and I think you write pretty damn well, so Hizzy should check himself before he criticizes.
As for your predictions, I can’t say I disagree with anything you’ve said. I am however very interested in your comments about Carmelo. WHen you say his stats will be better, do you mean overall and by the end of his carreer? Are you talking just points and rebounds? Do you think looking back ten years doen the road he will be more valuable to whatever team he’s on than Dwade and Lebron will be to their respective teams?
I am interested in this mostly because I don’t really like what the hype machine has done with Lebron’s image. Frankly I feel it takes away from the game and from really understanding the strengths and weaknesses of young players. There’s no doubt that all three of those guys are tremendously gifted, but which one’s a future hall-of-famer? Which a future multiple-ring holder?
Last question, of that draft class, in what order would you pick these guys, assuming your not trying to fill one position over another? Just based on talent/heart/skill/potential for greatness?
Lebron, ‘Melo, then Wade? DIfferent order?
Oh, and do you think we can talk about Chris Bosh in the same breath?
Thanks for reading,
Stefan
Peace
dj hott Said,
November 3, 2007 @ 1:29 pm
eddie,
nene is overated and kenyon is energy but not quite there
but this is the year iverson realizes he is the best pg in the league
and does more than score to win, carmelo improves to be the best
and camby leads in blocks &rebounds, it may be enough.
and phoenix needs some defense,
liked the crittenton between the legs of the whiner marion for the kobe dunk, and portland will not draft the shoot first oj mayo, because they dont if they wanted a scorer they could have drafted durant, and got roy hibbert next year, or never traded randolph, oj isnt a pure pointguard or the class citizen portland is trying to form of their team, yet he is the best player available, they probably would wantm derrick rose of memphis. but the east will be hard to make the playoffs, but celtics will be on top. la beat the suns
without odom, i guess bell is tired of guarding durant, then kobe,
cheeksdeniro Said,
November 3, 2007 @ 1:42 pm
don’t sleep on the KNICKS! go new york go new york GO!
Michael Bennett Said,
November 3, 2007 @ 3:13 pm
We’re in total agreeance about the Cavs — they have a pathetic supporting cast (something I’ve said forever), and they acquired NO ONE in the off-season. Teams that play them should feel like they’re playing THE team to beat in the East, but it’s not like that. If you shut down LeBron by triple teams, no one besides Boobie will hit the open jumper. Z, Drew Gooden and Larry Hughes are not only a few of the worst underacheivers in the league, they’re overrated as far as talent. They’re paper players, not good supporting players. Cavs will be lucky to win 44 games this year…
I also agree with you about the Atlanta Hawks — Charles Barkley has been talking about the Hawks since before the 2005-06 season. Because they have a young nucleus, they’ll surprise a lot of teams this year, like they did with Dallas last night. Josh Smith is unbelievable…
I disagree with you whole-heartedly about the New York Knicks. I’ve heard this for the past two seasons about this team. I think that you (Eddie) think that they’re individual talent translates to wins. They aren’t talented as a team. They are athletic, yes. Yes, randolph and Curry have great post moves. Marbury, Crawford, Q — they can all have stellar nights. But, they’ll never play team defense. They’ll never play unselfish offense. And, they’ll never beat really good teams when it counts.
And, I disagree with you about the Nuggets. Although I ovbiously think you’re wrong about Carmelo havng better stats or being better or however you so safely put it to say that you were right in ten years, I think the Nuggets will be tough for any team, including the Spurs, Dallas and underachieving Suns. A.I. is looking like a better all-around player than he ever has. He’s scoring, but he’s setting up players better than ever. And, he’s excited. When he’s excited about basketball, his teams perform unbelievably. Like LeBron, he took his dismal team to the Finals. I think Melo is really good, and he’s consistent. And, they have a deep bench — players like Kleiza and Nene are so effecient with their minutes, that they’ll handle other teams’ second unit.
“Carmelo will accumulate better stats than LeBron and Dwyane Wade when it’s all over” is the funniet thing you’ve EVER wrote on this message board. If that true, he’s got A LOT of catching up to do. LeBron is already in the top 10 PPG in history. And, he’s the top forward in assists in the last four seasons — Larry Bird was the last player to do so (I’m sure you’ve seen that stat flashed).
So, what it comes down to, Eddie — Like usual, you’re WAAAAAAY off. LOL
Buck Said,
November 3, 2007 @ 5:24 pm
While I don’t fully agree with Hizzle, your response was pathetic. No, this isn’t English class… but that’s something 13 year olds say when they just start using the internet. English class isn’t there to speak/write properly only in English class… it’s there to teach you to speak/write properly everywhere else.
Stevo Said,
November 3, 2007 @ 5:33 pm
Toronto Raptors are playing a Euro-style of bball that will kill any N American team depending on their spectacular starters and weak benches. Just watch what happens this Sunday when the Celtics visit Toronto.
The Raptor’s two-squad strategy will force the Celtics to play their big 3 for 45 minutes each to stay in the game. Pierce, Allen and KG will be panting with their tongues hanging out by the 3rd quarter. Just watch ……
steven Said,
November 3, 2007 @ 5:38 pm
Kingsblade,
You exemplify what i express American view of a basketball team the one man superstar, Bosh, who may play 60 games or 70 games and 28 minutes a game. I am talking about the whole team (10 players -depth) and if you read what other people are saying about the Raptors may not even make the playoffs this year. That is quite surprising, and since I have Miami Heat tickets, that team is a one man show with some very old veterans who live from the past.
Talk about Garbojossa as a player , he has toughness and he is the 10th or 11 th man on this team. Depth that is what carries you to the playoffs and hopefully beyond. Look at the talent of Phoenix whose depth is never enough
Thrillah Said,
November 3, 2007 @ 5:41 pm
First of all, your picking New York just because of a few additions. Marburry isn’t what he used to be, and he wasn’t much before.
The Raptors on the other hand, weren’t even mentioned. Raptors made key additions, only to make them better than last year.
I also see Milwaukee on the decline. I don’t like how the team is made up.
Nuggets can’t get bad when they have two megastars along with Marcus Camby. He is too underrated. Dude is defense.
dj hott Said,
November 3, 2007 @ 7:31 pm
what if kobe, says he will take a year off to lead the league in scoring, a heeled greg oden, and draft oj mayo
for a kobe to portland trade for, brandon roy,c.frye,steve blake, 2010 st rd pick, and somebody
so after that portland goes
g-j.jack 12 6 g-s.rodgriguez
g-oj mayo 16.8 g-m.webster
f-k.bryant 28ppg t.outlaw
f-l.aldridge 18.4 8.8 f-j.mcrroberts
c-greg oden c11.8 9.3-j.prizbilla
portland is back,!!
Michael Bennett Said,
November 3, 2007 @ 9:01 pm
CAREER STATS, SO FAR:
Carmelo Anthony
24.2 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 3.0 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.4 BPG, .455 FG%, .282 3PT%, .798 FT%
LeBron James
26.7 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 6.4 APG, 1.8 SPG, 0.7 BPG, .462 FG%, .328 3PT%, .733 FT%
Dwyane Wade
23.8 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 6.4 APG, 1.7 SPG, 0.8 BPG, .484 FG%, .249 3PT%, .777 FT%
So, based off their stats for their first 4 years, what makes you think that Carmelo will ever even come close to LeBron in anything besides FT%?!?
What “stats” are you talking about?
PS - You should tell the Suns players to come on here and post… I’d like to see some of their opinions.
Stefan Said,
November 3, 2007 @ 10:35 pm
Hey Michael Bennett,
Um, what makes me “think Carmelo will come close to Lebron” is that he IS close to Lebron. You don’t even have to do the math dude. But if you really want to talk stats:
the 24.2 ppgs that Carmelo’s averaging is more than 90% of Lebron’s 26.7–I’d call that close.
They both have above a steal per game (although Lebron’s avg’ing close to two), they’re similar from the line (except “Melo is a bit better), neither of them are great from beyond the arc, and their difference in FG% is negligeable. The only highly significant statiscal difference between the two is in assists.
I think the numbers speak for themselves.
It’s obvious we’re not talking about all the unseen variables, those that the stats don’t reflect–but Eddy’s point was about numbers, and when you look at them closely you see that they’re close enough to support the claim.
Isn’t it obvious?
I’ve gotta end by saying I don’t think Carmelo is a better all-round player than James, but I’d say that they’re close in value and that there is a chance –albeit a slim–that Carmelo will be better for longer thereby ensuring better career stats.
Dave Hemsath Said,
November 3, 2007 @ 11:11 pm
Has there ever been a guy in professional sports history that has come back from the grave to destroy the very same franchise like Danny Ferry has? He’s like a real-life horror movie. I can’t think of any previous example like it.
dj hott Said,
November 4, 2007 @ 8:35 am
carmelo is the better 4th quarter player.
lebron is probably the 2nd best player after kobe, but in the fourth quarter
carmelo is better.
lebron has won without another allstar, why is sidekicks are getting older, but the salaries come off soon. lebron &the cavs are just waiting to see what the celtics and bulls look like this year, because next year they can afford to make the adjoicements.
east west
1.boston 1.sa
2.detroit 2.denver
3.chicago 3.phoenix
4.nj 4.utah
5.washington 5.dallas
6cleveland 6.houston
7miami 7.lakers
8.ny 8.gs
drew gooden,pavlovic, and d.gibson, for shawn marion
suns
g-nash g-d.gibson
g-bell g-barbosa
f-g.hill f-pavlovic
f-d.gooden f-b.diaw
c-amare c-b.skinner
cleveland
g-sign-e.boykins
g-larry hughes
f-l.james
f-s.marion
c-z.ilgauskus
perfect team for marion,
move would be just to move marion in phoenix, but nice young gibson
Ron Said,
November 4, 2007 @ 8:47 am
I think this year will be better for the Lakers, Hornets and Nuggets. The Lakers were without key players last year, especially during the play offs. This year they are healthy so far and the rest of team has a better grasp of the triangle. Also the addition of Derek Fisher gives them more of a vetern leadership.
The Hornets were in the same boat as the Lakers, injuries took a toll on the team. If they stay healthy there outlook will be different. Peja is going to have a good year and Chandler is going to get better with more confidence in his abilities. C. Paul will start to take the next step in his develop with a healthy team.
The Nuggets will start to gel and get the team work needed to go deeper in the play offs. AI is showing the trust in Melo to pass the ball to him. With more confidence in his teammates AI will not have to feel the need to shoulder the burden of scorin gas much.
eddie Said,
November 4, 2007 @ 9:54 am
Stefan
yes i meant overall by the end of their careers, but Lebron might prove me wrong if he continues these 45 point nights. (-:
eddie Said,
November 4, 2007 @ 9:57 am
Michael
I just think Carmelo is a more potent scorer, now trust me it’s apples and oranges i love both of them.
Kingsblade Said,
November 4, 2007 @ 10:34 am
Stefan
Bosh never was mentioned in the same breath as those guys. In fact, he was never even compared to them.
Kingsblade Said,
November 4, 2007 @ 10:44 am
steven
Every team begins to lack depth once they’ve been good a few years. Players start getting bigger contracts and you can’t afford as much of a bench. The deepest teams are always going to be the young up and coming ones, right up until they start to get really good and have to pay the players more.
Phoenix also plays intentionally with a 8 or 9 man rotation in important games. I actually find it amusing however that you use them as your example of a superstar heavy team with no depth. When Nash got there they were just a young team full of athletes running around with their heads cut off. Now they have developed into a contender and you somehow want to claim it is bad that their young guys have turned into stars?
Out of curiosity….besides the Pistons during a fluke against an imploding Lakers team, when was the last time a team won an NBA title without a prevalent superstar?
moudy Said,
November 4, 2007 @ 10:52 am
Toronto sucks and Bosh is a puss. Please make no similarities to the Kings of the 90s. Raptors will not win for as long as Bosh is playing for them. He is not a winner. He is like Yao ming, they are good on the stats sheet but they never get the blocks or crucial rebounds that is needed for the win. Bosh is Bush.
Carnell Said,
November 4, 2007 @ 11:38 am
Eddie,
I have to disagree on your Denver prediction. I think they will do very well, and I also predict this is one of the teams along with the Spurs, Dallas, & Utah that your beloved Suns don’t want to see in the playoffs. I also think you should have put your beloved Suns in the Stuggles section. If they don’t get any size before the year is over, the Suns won’t do as well as you think. Amare playing center all year will not work, and thier lack of size and depth at that position will eventually be their demise. I told you last year, small ball may be fun to watch, but it is wack. The Suns gimmick is up. Everyone knows what they want to do, and I have to agree with Phil Jackson who said, the Suns window of opportunity is rapidly closing. In my opinion, the move that concerned me this summer that I’m glad the Suns didn’t make, was trading Amare for Garnett. If the Suns had Garnett right now I’d be very very concerned about thier chances of winning it all, but thank God the Suns think more of Amare than I do.
My prediction is a Spurs Pistons finals…….Spurs repeat.
Innuit Said,
November 4, 2007 @ 3:08 pm
Todays’ Raptors-Celtics game will be our first look at what could be a great rivalry for years to come. I think Toronto, not New York, is the deepest team 1-12 in the league. Their players don’t have the big name recognition like Boston or Denver’s, but are very good– Calderon, Garbajosa, Bargnani, etc. The thing i like about them is they already play as a team and seem happy to do it. If Bosh has recovered from his foot injuries and stays healthy, I can see them surprising everyone and winning the East.
I can’t think of the Knicks as a “surprise.” They’ve outspent every team in the league for the past 5 years, and the result is now that they might (!) make the playoffs? In the East ?! The Yankees outspend everybody but at least make the playoffs every year. No one seriously thinks the Knicks have a shot at a title. They have way too many Me First type of guys and defensive liabilities to scare anyone.
My prediction is a Spurs Raptors final…… Spurs repeat.
Arthur Said,
November 4, 2007 @ 10:14 pm
If the Blazers were to win the lottery they would not be drafting OJ Mayo. He is a team killer, Derrick Rose is the real freshman star this year. OJ Mayo is an overrated prima donna that will never be anything more than Stephon Marbury..a team killer.
Michael Bennett Said,
November 4, 2007 @ 10:47 pm
Eddie — You CAN’T tell me, after seeing tonight’s game from fifteen feet away, that Larry Hughes, Drew Gooden, and Zydrunas Ilgauskus are good team players.
They are bad for LeBron. Those players might fill the stats (every once in a while), but they kill LeBron. And, Mike Brown is the worst coach in the league. His offense is the most stale, worthless offense in the league. How many times can you open the game with an inside feed to Z?!?!?!
You can’t deny LeBron’s shot has improved… It’s not perfect yet, but it’s on it’s way. Please admit that.
And, I’d like to read a mini-article about tonight’s game… if you have the time and inclination.
eddie Said,
November 5, 2007 @ 12:03 am
oh Buck calm down my response was a joke. Just like i told Hizzle, if you don’t like it in here don’t come in. I write so much i am bound to make a few mistakes, but i don’t need you or Hizzle to comment about it. Ok Buck-a roo!
dj hott Said,
November 5, 2007 @ 8:36 am
arthur, and youve seen oj mayo, how many times?
dont just a book by the cover, he has a whole year at usc to change,
dont hate the player hate the game.
oj killed nba players this summer at ucla, he is a legit 6′5 that can play 2 or 1, derrick rose, isnt even gauranteed to start at memphis.
dj hott Said,
November 5, 2007 @ 8:38 am
raptors beat the celtics in overtime, the world is coming to a end
and new orleands beat denver
but lakers beat utah, kobe for mvp
Treemeister Said,
November 5, 2007 @ 10:48 am
The lack of respect towards the Cavs continues …on and on it goes. No question they had an “easy” path to the finals last year, but they were still one of the top two or three teams in the East, they proved it throughout the year. As a Cavs fan (I’ll admit by bias up front), I was not content with their off season moves either. But, you overlook the fact that this same lineup has gained a valuable year of experience and remains virtually intact from last year, with the exception of Mr. “take-a charge-flop-the-pay-me-10 mil” Varajao, who they can win without. Shannon Brown is like a rookie, but is much improved. Daniel Gibson is very under-rated and will run the point, LaBron is developing a mid-range J, Dwayne Jones is much better as a defender and rebounder …don’t judge them until February. I think they will surprise everyone …AGAIN. We accept the dis-respect that goes with this community, and have grown immune to it, so you can back off now. Thank-you.
anthony Said,
November 5, 2007 @ 11:31 am
I don’t think the Suns will suprise anyone this year. I think if Nash is healthy they are gonna win 60 games.
But, I think they will fail in the playoffs, AGAIN. They will STRUGGLE with smart defensive-minded teams like the spurs, jazz, or rockets. Especially when teams get into their do-or-die playoff mode.
The suns frontcourt is lacking. Amare is not a center and marion is in no way a power forward. Marion gets eaten alive by the power forwards out west. Amare doesn’t do that much better against them either. Skinner helps, but I don’t think he is any better than Kurt Thomas.
This years suns team is no better than last years. Unfortunately nash peaked last year. Only if they were able to land garnett.
anthony Said,
November 5, 2007 @ 11:37 am
I never liked the guy before. But Tim Duncan is a class act.
Imagine the team the Lakers would have today if Fat Shaq pulled a Tim Duncan and accepted a fair offer, rather than try to rape the Lakers by Demanding the max for six years. Shaqs contract would have been around $30 mil this year if the Lakers gave him what he cried for.
That is why he will be third as the Lakers all time greatest center.
Innuit Said,
November 5, 2007 @ 12:22 pm
Anthony makes a good point. In his prime Shaq was unstoppable, but looking back it seems like he might’ve taken it for granted. He wasn’t in shape a lot of the time, and his public need to be seen as “the man” along with his salary demands are almost as much to blame as Kobe’s immaturity for the demise of a great team. In retrospect, I think Wilt’s dominance and Kareem’s longevity will overshadow Shaq’s accomplishments.
Innuit Said,
November 5, 2007 @ 12:26 pm
On a similar note:
Question Danny Ferry must be asking Varejao’s agent: If Gooden and Z are so mediocre, why can’t your guy take their starting jobs away from them? A bench guy who doesn’t start on a team known as one superstar + a weak supporting cast deserves an all-star contract?
Big Dee Said,
November 5, 2007 @ 1:21 pm
The Heat will surprise! That’s all I have to say. The Heat have never had a third scorer as good as Ricky Davis. He’s replacing Antoine Walker’s inefficient game so there’s no way we are worse than 05-06! The Heat will surprise.
dj hott Said,
November 5, 2007 @ 1:57 pm
oj mayo is like a gilbert arenas,
best fresh
g-
1.oj mayo
2.e.gordon
3.jared bayless
4.k.koufos
5.m.beasley
6.d.jordan
7.derrick rose
8.kevin love
AD Said,
November 5, 2007 @ 3:21 pm
The Knicks are more talented 1-12 than the Raptors? Give me a break. It amazes me how many sportswritters have not even mentioned the Raptors, let alone given them a sports column of respect. Until they are knocked off, the Toronto Raptors are the defending Atlantic Division CHAMPIONS. However you wouldn’t guess that with the lack of media respect being shown among Basketball “know-it-alls” like yourself. The fact that you would say that the Knicks have one of the best squads 1-12 and not even mention the Raptors depth is a slap in the face to all Raptor fans.
Steven Said,
November 5, 2007 @ 4:54 pm
You are absolutey correct since, Moses Malone days, there were not the superstars- Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Kareem, and Magic, but even those players needed an upper echelon player as well as complementary players to fit the void that exists, In less than two years Bryan C. ( that is where the Phoenix Suns comparison comes in) has been more successful and I believe not withstanding executive of the year last year than many other GMs.
Jim M Said,
November 5, 2007 @ 7:24 pm
Denver will win 60 games in spite of George Karl.No one alive can consistantly defend Anthony in the post. With him and A.I. they have a great inside outside game. In LA the “D” will set them free. Kobe will dish more, there’ll be better play from the point and great improvement from the five position. 50 wins with only a few injuries.
space Said,
November 6, 2007 @ 11:39 am
nuggets
i agree 110% on the nuggets. i love lots of players on that team. they have a terrific ‘paper’ lineup that doesn’t seem to flow well. the nuggets play together on the floor, but don’t operate as a team. they best intangibles that thy have are kleiza. they lack size, and team continuity. for as good as iverson is, i don’t think he’ll contend for another title until he is a bit player or comes off a bench. he is talented but ALWAYs disrupts the team flow. this team has SO much versatility but it doesn’t show at all.
portland
disagree.
after watching them play one thing stands out: lots of talented players who have yet to define their own game in addition to understanding the nuances of basketball. no obvious team direction and no consistent gameplan. oden will help alot, but i really don’t see them winning alot of games. mayo here they come.
knicks
they should be in the playoffs. too much talent NOT to. chemistry or not.
lakers
i still pick them as a playoff team. bynum and kwame are playing much better and that is all the difference. fisher definitely puts his stamp on a game and the lakers needed another defining player other than kobe. they needed a i’m-going-to-do-this-and-this-is-my-game type guy. odom isn’t that guy like fisher, but when odom returns they add another weapon that can actually bump off someone in the 1st round. maybe with a win like that kobe decides to stay.
cavaliers
they stink. they will all year and struggle just to make the playoffs.
heat
i am not too concerned with them making the playoffs. in a few weeks a starting lineup of shaq/haslem/rickydavis/wade/williams and a bench of
zo/penny/blount/parker/wright/quinn should be dangerous enough. just avoid the injury bug. they will miss some of those easy wins over the now improved teams but should still get in there around 6-7-8.
dj hott Said,
November 6, 2007 @ 2:38 pm
space u say the stupidest shit.
how do the nuggets like size a 6′11 270 pf in nene a 6′11 all defense in camby, a 6′9 leaper in k.martin and a7ft steve hunter off the bench
its all the tween guys they have, kleinza, a tweener that cant play n, and najera a undersized tweener, jr smith is could play before iverson came.
then he got in trouble,
iverson is leading the league in assist right now, and scoring the most for pgs also , he plays defense, gives carmelo the ball everytime he wants it, still thrives at his best ability which is scoring.
as a team defense they could improve, and need a 3pt shooter
having decent bigman that dont command the ball, kinda helps carmelo get as many shots, and iverson also, now they just need a rex chapman type of player, and no injuries, injuries plays a key, for the nuggets, celtics,and knicks, and i dont like orlando much, i like dwight howard ,bu thats about it, gs will regret making a horrible trade, of richardson,
but isee baron davis having career numbers, but they may fight new orleans, for that last spot
how bout a denver nene,jr smith,&a pick of c.atkins,kleinza or najera, for marion trade
no way marion would play with iverson, and be 3rd fiddle, but could win a ring, phoenix, would get a pf in nene, and 2 more bench players in atkins,jr.smith
memphis
g-d.stoudamire for ilgauskus
h.warrick shannon brown
s.swift i.newble
dj hott Said,
November 6, 2007 @ 2:42 pm
phoenix
g-s.nash g-c.atkins g-m.banks
g-r.bell g-l.barbosa g-d.strawberry
f-g.hill f-jr.smith
f-nene f-b.diaw
c-amare c-b.skinner
denver goes with best 5 lineup
g-iverson
g-c.anthony
f-marion
f-k.martin
c-m.camby
space Said,
November 6, 2007 @ 3:49 pm
hott you need a clue on this one buddy.
when is the last time you EVER saw the nuggets drop the ball down low about 20 times a game and pound an opposing defense. the massive Nene and aggressive kenyon won’t get that opportunity. ask jalen rose from last year’s suns squad. if you don’t get used… then YOU DON’T EXIST. noice Hott: a starting center and power forward and 1 sub does not make your team deep with bigs.
there’s a bit more to it than that.
meanwhile the team that smashed them in the playoffs, the spurs. make the habit of using their big men an actual staple of the offense. nene should be getting FAR more interior touhes than he does. he is rendered almost a nonfactor by being the 4th, 5th option.
hunter, a guy i pulled for after he found the right fit in phoenix [dumb move suns gm] won’t get consistent time. do your own homework and look at the stat lin the next month. he’s an afterthought to coach karl.
will they ever learn?
Luka Said,
November 7, 2007 @ 4:45 am
Denver is just an inconsistent team period. Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony are good players, but ultimately they aren’t players that can make anyone else better. Denver’s bigs are relatively useless and injury prone, and they have no one else who can really shoot the ball consistently on the team. Couple that with the fact that they are equally inconsistent defensively and they will be nothing more than an 8th seed who gets bounced in the first round by the likes of the Suns or Spurs.
space Said,
November 7, 2007 @ 1:51 pm
marion would never be an allstar again if he were on a team with both iverson AND carmelo.
dj hott Said,
November 8, 2007 @ 12:56 pm
marion wont be a allstar this year in phoenix
and
the suprise teams
are chicago, washington and toronto. for starting off slow
Tom Said,
November 8, 2007 @ 1:44 pm
hey eddie why’d you delete my previous comment? couldnt take the truth huh old man..getting a little too old and brittle there, I guess you couldnt type a worthy response without either misspelling a bunch of words or getting childish huh? once again, thank god your only blogging on hoopshype…
dj hott Said,
November 9, 2007 @ 5:34 pm
and now the nuggets over rated nene is hurt again, for 6 weeks
also martin isnt full strength yet, denver traded evans, so carmelo my play 4 some now, but denver’s game vs washington tonite should answer alot of questions for both teams. and congratulations to the bulls getting their first win. and toronto isnt looking to hot, like a predicted,
and boston and ny are rolling.
dj hott Said,
November 10, 2007 @ 10:11 am
washington sux
orlando is hot
seattle will get derrick rose or roy hibbert next year
chicago trade will attempt a b.gordon,k.hinrich,l.nocioni,j.noah, for kobe and j.farmar trade
bulls go
g-farmar g-c.duhon
g-k.bryant g.t.sabolosha
f-l.deng f-v.khrypa
f-t.thomas f-j.smith
c-b.wallace c-a.gray
lakers go
g-k.hinrich g-d.fisher g-j.crittenton
g-b.gordon g-mo evans f-ronny turiaf
f-a.nocioni f-l.walton
f-l.odom f-v.radmonovic
c-bynum cj.noah
trade k.brown,l.odom&crittenton for j.oneal
so finally the lakers go
g-k.hinrich g-d.fisher g-s.vucacic
g-b.gordon g-mo evans g-coby karl, sun yue, marc gasol
f-l.walton f-v.radmonovic
f-j.oneal f-b.cook
c-bynum c-c.mihm
dj hott Said,
November 11, 2007 @ 9:32 am
NEXT POST, WHY DOES CHICAGO SUCK
NEXT POST, WHERE DID THIS BEFORE THE SEASON, KEVIN DURANT WONT BE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR, GUYS HE WAS THE BEST COLLEGE PLAYER IN 30 YEARS, SO I DOUBT AL HORTFORD-NENE, OR ACIE LAW WOULD BE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR, AND DAMIEN WILKENS SUX
HOW KEVIN MARTIN HAS EMERGED AS A SCORER
HOW HOUSTON WILL MAKE IT OUT THE 1ST RD
WHY DIRK SUX VS THE WARRIORS
WHY DID THE WARRIORS TRADE JRICH, FOR A TOOTHPICK WITH BRACES THAT ISNT EVEN BETTER THAN THIS YEARS PLAYER OF THE YEAR TYLER HANSBROUGH
HOW COME RAY FELTON SEEMS SO TALENTED WITH THE BALL, BUT DOESNT TAKE OVER OR CANT SHOOT, OR PLAY D
BOSTON IS THE BEST, GARNETT MVP,
POWER RANKING
1.BOSTON
2.SAN ANTONIO
3.PHOENIX
4.ORLANDO
5.HOUSTON
6.DALLAS
7.UTAH
8.NY
WHY SHAQ SUX
WHO WILL MINNESOTA TAKE IN THE LOTTO
D.HOWARD CLOWNED PHOENIX
BARBOSA CAREER HIGH
dj hott Said,
November 11, 2007 @ 11:04 am
im glad washington is struggling
arenas shoots too much,
east
1.boston
2.detroit
3.orlando
4.nj
5.new york
6.cleveland
7.chicago
8.miami
Dave Hemsath Said,
November 11, 2007 @ 11:36 pm
Oh, get real, Innuit. All the posturing notwithstanding, all Varejao’s agent really wants is Andres Nocioni’s contract. Which Dan Gilbert doesn’t want to give him, this despite the fact he lied through his ass about willing to pay the luxury tax this summer.
And please, to folks who think Daniel Gibson is a point guard, that’s like saying Drew Gooden is a center. Which, by the way, with the Cavs ridiculously mediocre talent outside of James, that’s the position Gooden sometimes finds himself playing.
Ferry ruined the franchise. Bottom line. In the summer of 2005, he spent like a drunken sailor chasing two-bit hookers. $28 million in cap space down the toilet. Now the franchise is really paying for it, and will be paying for it until James’ contract expires. Then the franchise might as well move to Bolivia, because there will be crickets chirping in Cleveland’s arena.
Dave Hemsath Said,
November 11, 2007 @ 11:49 pm
And Treemeister, for all your biased knowledge of the Cavs, perhaps you’re not aware that Ferry has already admitted that his first-round pick Shannon Brown sucks, and has declined to pick up his contract for next season. Now THAT’s “improvement,” eh?
There’s a damn good reason that Cleveland’s team doesn’t get respect. Because only James deserves it. They’ll be competitive so long as he doesn’t get hurt. He’s that freakin’ great, he carries them game in and game out. The remainder of the squad, for all the $$$ that Ferry had to play with, is a royal joke.
eddie Said,
November 12, 2007 @ 1:46 pm
Get ready Bulls fans for my next blog! Remember my article on Ben Wallace
david Said,
November 12, 2007 @ 2:09 pm
we need a new one…pronto
Innuit Said,
November 12, 2007 @ 4:00 pm
Dave– The problem is, this situation comes up every year– one guy gets overpaid (Nocioni in this case) and then every other guy with similar unimpressive stats demands the same money. The fact that one team made a bad financial decision doesn’t mean it’s wise for all other teams to follow in their footsteps. The Knicks are willing to pay Marbury 20 mil a year, but i doubt many other teams would’ve done that. The result: The Knicks are terrible for many years. Also, when you overpay one guy, it lowers the chance that you can get other guys to make the team better. I just think a fair-minded GM is correct in thing Varejao doesn’t deserve a 10 mil per year contract. Why tie up money now that could go to a guy next year who actually starts?
Innuit Said,
November 12, 2007 @ 4:09 pm
Also, Chicago is another case where bad money management is raising it’s head. Ben Wallace signed a huge contract even though he is on the downward end slope of his career. Tyson Chandler is out-rebounding and out-scoring him in New Orleans for much less money. The Bulls seemed poised to be a top young team last year, but now seeem to be in a little bit of trouble. Don’t get me wrong– Wallace was great and underpaid in his prime, but I just don’t think the Bulls made the best choice there. Does anyone think that he will be an imposing presence in 2008 and 2009? He’s set to make 14.5 mil both of those years… Chandler, by contrast, will make 10.9 and 11.8 in those years.
Michael Bennett Said,
November 13, 2007 @ 10:58 pm
Innuit — The NBA… and professional sports is a lot like the Oscars. You don’t win for the year you’re best in, you win later when you play the bad guy.
Ben Wallace got paid by the Bulls for what he did on the Pistons… which is lead them to a championship — nothing short of that. L-E-A-D… he SHOULD have won Finals MVP, not Chauncey.
Leonardo from Brazil Said,
November 14, 2007 @ 8:56 am
Eddie,
get a clue, how can the Jazz not be a contender? Are you crazy?
Innuit Said,
November 14, 2007 @ 2:19 pm
However you rationalize it, it still comes down to the Bulls making a bad financial decision. The Oscars are an awards ceremony dominated by self-interest and influenced primarily by big money. How often does a giant mediocre studio blockbuster beat out a well made independent film for picture of the year? Almost every year. It has nothing to do with quality. It would be like basing the MVP award on who sells the most jerseys. Obviously, kids who buy jerseys are impressed more by certain things, like slam dunks, than they are by all around winning basketball. Iverson and Vince Carter will always sell more jerseys than Duncan.
Innuit Said,
November 14, 2007 @ 2:25 pm
Look at Marbury– he got paid for his numbers, which were flashy in the past, not for his quality. He creates trouble everywhere he goes– so Isiah can’t act surprised now that he’s up to his old tricks. That’s the difference between winners and losers. Ginobili L-E-A-D-S the bench perfectly, without complaints. Marbury L-E-A-V-E-S the team when asked to do the same.
RJB Said,
November 14, 2007 @ 7:11 pm
If I’m picking 1st with a need for a PG next year, I am leaning Rose and not Mayo. I’m convinced Mayo could be a great player, but Rose to me seems to have the most potential. I guess we shall have to see, the class next year looks pretty good if they come out.
jethro Said,
November 15, 2007 @ 7:24 am
I noticed you said the only cities in the east that should be thinking about a championship are detroit, chicago, and boston, but in your new blog you pretty much say that chicago is bad and that was expected going into the season, and then disect why they are so bad.. i was just curious about your two seemingly different views about this team
Tom Said,
November 18, 2007 @ 7:41 pm
You know why Eddie contradicted himself? I bet he read one article on SI.com that said the Bulls were gonna be great and then penned that first article, then after seeing how bad the Bulls have been doing lately he read an ESPN.com article and promptly changed his tune. This guy is a complete hack…