Top 5 Fantasy Shooting Guards

The fantasy basketball season is right around the corner and there are a few hazards to be weary of. For instance, make sure you're aware of any roster changes a team has made in the offseason. Sometimes a big trade or signing can drastically affect a player's statistical production. I will give you my top 5 shooting guards to take in this year's fantasy games. When reading this post keep in mind that the fantasy game that I'm guiding you through is the Sportingnews Ultimate Salary Cap Challenge. In this particular fantasy game you are given a 35 million dollar salary cap. You need 2 guards, 2 forwards, a center, and a sixth man.

1. Dwyane Wade (MIA)

Estimated cost: 12.2 million $

D-Wade is a living legend, the plays he makes and the shots he hits are reminiscent of a young Michael Jordan. Last season Wade lead the NBA in scoring with 30.2 PPG. Add in his 7.5 APG and Wade will be easily worth the large portion of your payroll his services will require. Wade's one potential problem is his durability, Wade has had major injuries to both his left knee and his right shoulder. The all out hustle style in which Wade plays makes him more prone to injury, and thus is more likely to miss games. Still, if you have cheap PFs in mind, take the chance on Wade.

2. Kobe Bryant (LAL)

Estimated cost: 11.7 million $

Yes, Kobe is a better player than Wade. However, not only does Wade have better numbers, but the addition of Ron Artest to the Lakers will hinder Kobe's PPG. Kobe's 26.8 PPG average will drop one or two points, this is strictly because Kobe will have to be less selfish this year. If he isn't, don't be surprised to see turmoil in the Lakers locker room. Artest is just as egotistical as Bryant, we saw how well it worked out the last time Kobe had a big ego alongside him. Kobe is very consistent, if you find yourself in the lead of your league make the necessary moves to obtain him. He'll put up 25-27 every night, unlike Wade who will have 17 one night, 43 the next night, and 23 the night after that. Wade might put you in the lead but Kobe will definitely keep you there.

3. Brandon Roy (POR)

Estimated cost: 9.9 million $

There is a significant drop off in SGs after Kobe and Wade. Roy is one of those guys who plays better than his numbers show, unfortunately the world of fantasy basketball doesn't care. With numbers like 22.6 PPG and 5.1 APG Roy would be a good choice on a balanced team. What I mean is, if you're not going to pick a high priced superstar; and balance your team will all players in the 6-9 million dollar range, Roy is not a bad choice. With the addition of veteran PG Andre Miller, Roy's numbers will slightly rise. However, not enough to raise any eyebrows. Don't get me wrong, Roy is a sensational young SG, it's just that fantasy basketball does not suite him well.

4. Andre Iguodala (PHI)

Estimated cost: 7.8 million $

There are better SGs in the league than Iguodala, but you will most likely get a good deal on him. A good enough deal that you can get him, along with a marquis PG, SF, or PF. Iggy's numbers (18.8 PPG, 5.3 APG) did not stand out last season but I have a strong hunch that he's due for an offensive explosion. Iguodala is somewhat frustrating because he shows flashes of being a great scorer but has an enormous demon with consistency. This is the year that he'll finally get it right. Also, having lost PG Andre Miller to free agency, Iggy will be taking more shots. This is great news for a fantasy basketball player. You want guys that are going to have the potential to put up 40+ on any given night and Iggy is definitely one of them.

5. Ben Gordon (DET)

Estimated cost: 6.5 million $

It is with great reluctancy that I put Gordon on this list, I am all to familiar with his inconsistency. Gordon is a player who you're going to have to monitor on a nightly basis. Don't keep him on your team for more than 2 games at a time. While Gordon is more than capable of going off for 50, he could just as easily shoot 3 for 24 and have 8 points. People got a false glimpse of Gordon during the nationally televised Bulls vs. Celtics' first round mêlée. I can confidently say with great emphasis that Ben Gordon has never had a stretch of seven games where he played anywhere close to how he did against the Celtics. His numbers of 20.7 PPG, 3.4 APG will for the most part stay where they are. In a time of desperation take Gordon and pray that he has a big night. Other than that, leave him in the free agent pool.

Bill Laimbeer and Reggie Theus Join Rambis on Minnesota Coaching Staff

Kurt Rambis is surrounding himself with experience, just not a ton of coaching experience. Rambis is loading his bench like it's 1982, former players Reggie Theus, and the bruising Bill Laimbeer will accompany him in Minnesota. Last season Kurt Rambis served as an assistant coach on the world champion Los Angeles Lakers. After a 14 year playing career, Rambis is now looking to put his stamp on the NBA as a head coach.

Bill Laimbeer coached the WNBA's Detroit Shock to three championships. Laimbeer is known best for being part of the, "Bad Boys," Pistons teams who beat up every good player in the league. From Bird, to Magic, to Jordan; nobody was leaving Detroit unscathed.

In his first coaching job, Reggie Theus struggled immensely. Their 2008-09 record of 17-65 is a great indication of how the year transpired. Theus didn't last half the season as he was fired on December 16th. As a player, Theus was stellar for the Bulls, and the Kings (Both Kansas City, and Sacramento). Over his 13 year career Theus averaged 18. PPG, and 6.3 APG.

Stephen Jackson Requests Trade

Warriors' SF Stephen Jackson told Dime Magazine that he has requested a trade from the Golden State Warriors. Jackson wants to be traded the Cavs, or any of the three Texas teams (Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs).

"At this point, I'm 31 years old. I have four or five years left. I want to be in a situation where I can continually be in the playoffs and get another ring. So that's where my mind is at now."

Jackson's 20.7 PPG would be very attractive if not for his past disciplinary issues. I'm sure one of those teams would be more than happy to take Jackson, despite his problem image.

J.R. Smith and Jason Richardson Suspended.

Nuggets' SG J.R. Smith has been suspended 7 games by the NBA after pleading guilty to reckless driving charges in New Jersey. In a statement by the NBA, Smith's poor driving record contributed to his suspension. In 2007 a passenger in Smith's car was killed in a collision.

Suns' SF Jason Richardson was suspended for 2 games after drunk driving charges.

Both suspensions are without pay and both players are important to their team's success. Fortunately their suspensions are short enough that the season will not be greatly affected.

Top 5 Fantasy Point Guards

The fantasy basketball season is right around the corner and there are a few hazards to be weary of. For instance, make sure you're picking players who will bring in big numbers, not necessarily win games. I will give you my top 5 point guards to take in this year's fantasy games. When reading this post keep in mind that the fantasy game that I'm guiding you through is the Sportingnews Ultimate Salary Cap Challenge. In this particular fantasy game you are given a 35 million dollar salary cap. You need 2 guards, 2 forwards, a center, and a sixth man.

1. Chris Paul (NO)

Estimated cost: 11.6 Million $

CP3 will likely cost you a decent chunk of your salary so be prepared to bargain hunt for the rest of your draft. That being said, Paul is the most productive point guard in the league. Last season Paul led all point guards in both points (22.8 PPG) and in assists (11 APG). More likely than not Paul's numbers will increase this season as they have for the past 3 years. With the addition of center Emeka Okafor (in exchange for Tyson Chandler), Paul will most likely tally at least 1 or 2 more assists per game.

2. Derrick Rose (CHI)

Estimated cost: 9.8 million $

It will be very interesting to see what Rose is priced at this season, it will either be very high based on his potential, or very low based on his numbers last season. It will probably be somewhere in the middle. If it is below 10 million get him. Expect Rose to far surpass his rookie numbers of 16.8 PPG and 6.3 APG. My prediction is that Rose and Paul will be the top two in PPG and APG for point guards. Be very careful with Rose, with him turnovers seem to come in bunches. If you see that he had a 5 turnover game, sell him, and buy him back 2-3 games later.

3. Deron Williams (UTA)

Estimated cost: 10.4 Million $

Deron Williams is on par with Rose and Paul. It pretty much just comes down to which player you like better, although Williams and Paul will almost definitely be more expensive than Rose. Williams' numbers were just behind Paul's last season (20.2 PPG, 10.8 APG) , those numbers will for the most part stay where they are. Keep in mind that Williams led all point guards in turnovers last season (4.2 per game). Much like Rose, monitor his assist/turnover ratio as often as possible.

4. Rajon Rondo (BOS)

Estimated cost: 9.0 Million $

Rondo's numbers have been consistently jumping throughout the first 3 years of his young and promising career, that pattern won't end anytime soon. With scoring options all around him, expect Rondo to make the jump into double digit assists this season. Last season Rondo's numbers were 11.9 PPG, and 8.2 APG, nothing special. However after the 2009 playoffs I expect Rondo to soar into the point guard spotlight. Rondo has a tendency to play to the level of his opponent. Sometimes that can be a great thing, but most of the time it holds him back. For instance in the first round of the 09' playoffs (against Derrick Rose), Rondo nearly averaged a triple double. But in the next round, when he was put up against an inferior point guard, his numbers dipped. Rondo is an excellent player to take if you're planning on breaking the bank over someone like LeBron James.

5. Tony Parker (SAS)

Estimated cost: 8.7 Million $

The Spurs had an unusual year last year as Parker, Ginobli, and Duncan all missed games due to injury. Now that all three are healthy at the same time Parker will have many weapons in his arsenal. With his veteran bench and an imported Richard Jefferson expect Parker's APG to skyrocket, somewhere in the 11-13 range. The reason why he's at number 5 is because as his APG goes up, his PPG will go down drastically. I predict his numbers this season to be: 14 PPG, 10.5 APG (ballpark numbers).

Get Well Soon

Miami Heat PF Michael Beasley has reportedly checked into a Houston rehab facility. On his Twitter account, Beasley posted, "Feelin like it's not worth livin!!!!!!! I'm done". His account has since been closed. 

Beasley had been working out in Houston anyway because he wanted a change of scenery, my guess is that he was facing too many temptations from friends at home in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. 

Beasley is being treated for a number of conditions including depression, his personal manager had this to say, "Based on what I'm getting right now, there's a bit of concern, I don't really know what's going on. I just know his mom is on her way to go see him in Houston. That's it. I'm still collecting a lot of information."

In his rookie season, Beasley posted respectable numbers (13.9 PPG, 5.4 RPG) and has a very bright future in the NBA. 

Iverson to the Bobcats?

AI's career has turned 180 degrees since 2006. While playing in Philadelphia, Iverson was arguably the best scorer in the league and was always in the MVP conversation. Today Iverson is as close to being overseas as anyone could have ever predicted. 

The Charlotte Bobcats have expressed interest in adding the aging veteran, and reports from the AP suggest that a deal is imminent. Adding Iverson to the lowly Bobcats is a very interesting idea by Michael Jordan (Bobcats GM) . With Iverson comes: ticket sales, national TV time, merchandise sales, and a possible representation in the All-Star Game. Unfortunately Iverson also carries with him the bad boy hype which he has lived up to for his entire 15 year career. This is the same guy that once infamously said, " We're sitting here, and I'm supposed to be the franchise player, and we're talking about practice. I mean listen, we're sitting here talking about practice, not a game, not a game, not a game, but we're talking about practice...How in the hell can I make my teammates better by practicing?" I've heard that press conference over and over again and to this day I still wonder what was going through Iverson's head as he said that. Maybe it was just his poor choice of words, but Iverson buried himself with that statement. In going to Charlotte, AI would be reunited with his 76ers coach, Larry Brown. Brown is the same coach that Iverson clashed with when making his mind numbing, "Practice," speech.

After all is said and done, Iverson will end up in Charlotte and will probably have a decent season. However the Bobcats still won't be making an appearance in the 2010 playoffs because they still aren't good enough to match up with the Hawks, Bulls, Pistons, Heat, or Raptors. 

Jason Williams Signs with Orlando

Jason Williams, who did not play last season, signed today with the Orlando Magic. In Jason Williams the Magic add championship experience as well as depth at the guard position.

The New York Knicks had the opportunity to sign the veteran point guard after claiming him off wavers. The Knicks and Williams entered into contract talks but no deal materialized when the two sides could not reach an agreement. 

Magic general manager Otis Smith had this to say about the acquisition, "Jason provides depth and leadership to our backcourt, he is a veteran point guard that knows what it takes to help us reach our ultimate goal. We are excited to add him to our team."

Other Brother Signs with Suns

Taylor Griffin, the older brother of first overall pick Blake Griffin, signed his first NBA contract this week with the Phoenix Suns. As a senior at Oklahoma, Taylor averaged 9.6 PPG and 5.8 RPG. Taylor will most likely not see many minutes as a rookie due to the fact that (unless a trade is made) he will be playing behind Amare Stoudemire, Robin Lopez, and Channing Frye. 

Bucks, Raptors Complete Four-Player Trade

The Toronto Raptors sent sharpshooter Carlos Delfino and Roko Ukic to the Bucks, and in return will receive Amir Johnson and Sonny Weems. This was a sideways move for both teams and will have absolutely no impact on either team for the immediate future.

Is Rose Ready to Step Up into the NBA Elite?

Chicago Bulls' guard Derrick Rose did not disappoint in his rookie season but now, after losing Ben Gordon to the Pistons, the Bulls will be expecting Rose to be their go to guy on offense.

In his rookie season Derrick Rose scored 16.8 PPG, while dishing out 6.3 APG. This year I predict that Rose will score anywhere from 20-25 PPG and 7.5-10 APG. The main reason for this spike in numbers, along with the fact that he has a year of experience, is the loss of Ben Gordon. With Gordon out of the picture Rose will definitely be taking more shots and as a result will get to the line more often. It has been well documented this offseason that Rose is working on his jumpshot and extending his range to the three point line, which makes him that much more dangerous to other teams.

Many (including me) envision that Rose will step up into the NBA's Mt. Olympus of point guards sometime in the next 1-2 seasons, this is the elite group which includes Chris Paul, Deron Willaims, Tony Parker, and Chauncey Billups. But the question that everyone wants to know is when, when will Rose step up and make the Bulls a dangerous team again. What Rose has to work on the most if he wants that to happen is his assist to turnover ratio. In the playoffs every possession is important, he can't be turning the ball over 5 times a game like he did in last season's first round bout with the Celtics. 

Ask yourself this question, if you were the Bulls and you could trade Rose for any other point guard in the league who would it be, Chis Paul immediately comes to mind but consider this: Rose is a Chicago native and he would be more likely (than Paul) to express loyalty to the Bulls when his contract is up. I wouldn't trade him for anybody, the Chicago Bulls have a real gem in Rose, I strongly believe that Rose is going to be a top 1-2 point guard in the league by the time this season ends, whenever it ends. Rose's ability to score makes him so much more dangerous because teams are going to be forced to double team him which will give the green light to Hinrich, Deng, and Salmons to knock down some shots. 

Derrick Rose is a young player with the sky as his limit, don't be surprised to see Rose in the MVP voting at the end of the season. He is ready to take the NBA by storm.

NBA All-Time Starting 5

When talking about the best players ever the argument will undoubtedly come up, "If you had to make one team of all time players who would you pick?". There is no correct answer to this question, so many guys have such a strong case to be made that no matter what, many great players will be snubbed. Here is my all-time team, just a reminder, this is 5 guys that would be the best team, not necessarily the best players ever at their respective positions. 

Point Guard- John Stockton

In his best years Stockton was a high double double point guard who played good defense and could knock down the big shot. Many would probably expect to see Magic or Isiah here but this team needs a point guard who will run the offense for the star player and not look for his own shot and his own spotlight as Magic or Isiah would.

Shooting Guard- Michael Jordan (C)

Jordan is the best ever, plain and simple. Jordan and his Bulls flat out embarrassed the NBA after Jordan returned from his baseball sabbatical. Including the 1995-96 season where the Bulls went 72-10 and started their second three peat with a championship over Shawn Kemp, and Gary Payton's Seattle Supersonics (Now Oklahoma City Thunder) . Jordan is the catalyst on this team as most of the offense will come from him, many isolation plays would be run for him and he would pretty much have free roam to do whatever he wants.

Small Forward- Larry Bird

Bird is probably the smartest basketball player ever and his unselfishness led his Celtics to three championship titles. The reason why Bird is on this team is because he is a great three point shooter who would be perfectly content with not being the number one option on offense.

Power Forward- Kevin Garnett (C)

KG's defensive prowess is unparalleled, every single night KG leaves it all out on the floor like a championship game, who wouldn't put a player like that on their team? Along with the fact that he can put up 20 and 10 every night, nobody could pass that up. The one and only reason why he doesn't average very high numbers on the Celtics is because they blow out teams so badly that he only ends up playing about 30 minutes which is not enough time to get big numbers. What Garnett brings to this team is his intensity, on this team he will be the emotional anchor defensively, and nobody  will play lazy with KG around to tell them about it.

Center- Hakeem Olajuwon

Olajuwon won two NBA titles in the mid 90's (Jordan was retired at the time) and he is a dominant low post scorer and rebounder. Hakeem is what ties this team all together, his ability to draw double teams in the post opens everything up for Stockton, Jordan, and Bird. 

Notable Snubs: 

Wilt Chamberlain: Wilt's numbers are off the chart, but I'm a firm believer that if he were to be put in the NBA today he would not be anywhere near the force that he was in his day. All of the players on this team would be great players in any era.

Bill Russell: Russell's 11 championships are hard to ignore but he falls under the same category as Chamberlain, he would not be a great player in the 80's, early 90's, or today. He (and Chamberlain) would still be very good players and all-stars but they wouldn't be able to carry a team by any means.

Magic Johnson: Magic was snubbed because I don't believe that he could play alongside Jordan. Magic creates for his teammates but this team revolves around MJ and I'm not convinced that Magic would be able to deal with not being the guy who handles the ball for the majority of the game.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Kareem was snubbed not because of anything he did, it's just that I'm a big fan on determination and Garnett's is too strong to pass up.

Oscar Robertson: The Big "O" is nothing short of phenominal, averaging a triple double for a full season is magical but he, like Magic, would not fit well around Jordan.

Happy 50th Magic

On August 14th Magic Johnson celebrated his 5oth birthday.

Magic was a key figure in the ,"golden age," of basketball, an era where titans clashed like never before. An era which (just to name a few) featured Magic, Larry Bird, Dominique Wilkens, Julius Erving, Clyde Drexler, the Bad Boys Pistons with Isiah Thomas, and a young Michael Jordan. 

In his career, Magic captured five rings, three MVP awards, a gold medal, and in 1996  Magic was named one of the best 50 players ever. In 2002 Magic was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield Massachusetts where his name will live on forever. 

Hawks sign Veteran Joe Smith to one year deal

The 14 year vet, Joe Smith will offer the upstart Atlanta Hawks consistent mid-range shooting and playoff experience. Last season Smith played very limited minutes on the Eastern Conference runner-up Cleveland Cavaliers.

"I want to be one of those players that stays with one franchise for his entire career."

Dwyane Wade is one of the many big names that will be whirling around the NBA come summer 2010, there have been many rumors as to what Wade will do. In a report by the New York Post Dwyane Wade has apparently ruled out a couple of teams saying, "I'm not thinking about the Knicks or the Nets. Only when we play them." 

 Wade went on to say, "I want to be in Miami, and I hope everything works out that way, I want to be one of those players that stays with one franchise for his entire career." 

 The bold is the key, Wade could be just saying that for his fans but I seriously doubt that. The place where Wade has been rumored to the most is Chicago, where Wade spent his childhood. Growing up in Chicago and now having a chance to play for the emerging Bulls is a very attractive offer but I can't help but think that Wade will pass. The reason why is because in Miami he's nothing short of a superhero, the Flash has left his mark on the city and leaving would be detrimental to his image for people like me. I'm one of those people who values loyalty as one of the most important components a person can have. And to me, Wade leaving Miami would be about as disloyal as anything. Wade, if he stays in Miami, is looking at a retired number, a legacy, and arguably most importantly a city of fans that will stick by him forever.

 It will most likely not affect his economic standing wherever he goes because both teams will be offering him the farm. Miami may even have to throw in something else if Wade seems like he's leaning another way. In the event that Pat Riley doesn't re-sign the best player in Heat history strictly because he wouldn't pony up the money, he will be run out of town at the hands of an angry mob with pitchforks and torches.

 If Wade leaves for Chicago he will be welcomed back with open arms, but is it worth disappointing all of those fans on Miami Beach? No, and because of all of these reasons I just can't see Wade playing anywhere but Miami for the rest of his career.   

Cavs Sign Powe

The Cleveland Cavaliers have inked former Celtics PF Leon Powe to a two-year, 1.7 million dollar deal. Powe, in my mind, is one of the most underrated players in the NBA. The reason why the Cavs were able to obtain Powe for so cheap was because of his nagging knee injury. He is scheduled to miss at least the first half of the season and apparently the Celtics didn't want to wait it out and see what happened. 

Davis Re-Signs with Celtics

Emerging PF Glen "Big Baby" Davis is going to be staying in Boston for the time being. Davis signed a two- year, 6 million dollar contract to stay with the Celtics. Davis was stellar in the absence of the injured Kevin Garnett during the 2009 playoffs and many believe that his star is still rising. 

We Lost Another One

Former Nuggets SF Linas Kleiza has signed a European Contract with the Greek team, the Olympiakos. Kleiza is yet another prominent NBA player to make the trip overseas. 

Rashard Lewis Suspended 10 games

Rashard Lewis has tested positive for an elevated testosterone rating during the 2009 NBA playoffs. As a punishment the NBA league offices have issued Lewis a 10 game suspension.

Lewis was a key component in the Magic's playoff run which took them all the way to the NBA finals. It appears that performance enhancers are becoming a problem all over sports, not just in baseball.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!

Are you seeing this picture above? Do you see the billboards\players? That could be the NBA by the 2011-2012 season.

 

It has been rumored that the NBA will allow companies to advertise on jerseys. Personally I am appalled by this and am against it with a fiery passion. If I see an Aflac advertisement on a Chicago Bulls jersey I will go absolutely berserk. This is unacceptable and downright foolish. 

 

The NBA feels that advertising on jerseys will increase the league revenue, and as a lifelong fan I will speak for all of us when I emphatically say, "Find another way". Leave the advertisements for NASCAR, if we do this then we are setting a dangerous precedent. What's next, clowns to attract more viewers? To me this is just as absurd as that would be, and in no way will it be tolerated by fans. The NBA league offices could be about to make one of its biggest mistakes ever. 

2009-2010 Western Conference Season Preview

Here's how I believe the Western Conference will play out this season.

Pacific Division

 

1. LA Lakers

The defending champions will end this season on top of their division as well as the entire West. However I don't believe the addition of Ron Artest is enough to push them over the Celtics and for that reason they will once again perish to the Celts in June. 

2. Phoenix Suns

It appears now that Amare Stoudemire will be staying put in the land of the sun, he and Steve Nash are not enough to put them in contention in the West although they will make the playoffs. The Suns are second in their division only because they have a somewhat weak field to get through. Last year they had 46 wins and didn't make the playoffs, which just shows how good the Western Conference is.

3. LA Clippers

The Clippers will be a fun team to watch with Baron Davis back from the DL and the first pick Blake Griffin but they pose no threat to any good team. The Clippers will end up around 10th- 13th in their conference but well outside of the playoffs.

4. Golden State Warriors

The warriors have a good lineup on paper but I don't think they will play well as a team with Monta Ellis healthy all season. Although Ellis is a great player; he's one of those guys that you wind up and just let him go, I don't think Don Nelson will do that. He will try to include Corey Maggette in the offense far too much, I the Warriors as a dysfunctional team which will have major chemistry problems.

5. Sacramento Kings

I am curious to see how Tyreke Evans plays alongside Kevin Martin (In my opinion one of the most underrated players in the NBA). Even if they go as well together as Jordan and Pippen (Chemistry speaking) they will still find themselves as one of the worst teams in the conference if not the worst.

 

SouthWest Division

 

1. New Orleans Hornets

The New Orleans Hornets are a very entertaining team to say the least. I love to watch good point guard play and Chris Paul far exceeds that. The Hornets have a very deep team, their starting lineup can go toe to toe with almost anyone and they have two-time NBA champion James Posey to come off the bench. I seriously considered picking the Hornets to go to the Finals but I have a very difficult time seeing them beat any very experienced team. I think they are better than the Spurs, but in a seven game series I'd have to go with San Antonio. Their guys are battle tested and the Hornets did not have an impressive showing in the playoffs last year which was headlined by their 58 point loss at home just before being bounced in the first round. The Hornets will have to prove to me that they can play with the season on the line before I can justify considering them for the title.

2. Dallas Mavericks

The Mavs are a very good team but they do not have the necessary components to get by the Lakers, Hornets, or Nuggets. Adding wingman Shawn Marion was a brilliant off-season move and the re-signing of Jason Kidd was mandatory if they want to remain relevant. For the Mavs to seriously contend; Dirk Nowitzki is going to have to have an MVP caliber year much like he did in the 2006-2007 season. Ultimately I expect the Mavs to be eliminated in the first round by the Hornets.

3. San Antonio Spurs

The Spurs are without question the most boring team in basketball; at times watching them is reminiscent of watching the grass grow on an early spring morning. That being said, nobody can deny that they are a force. Having won 4 titles in the last 10 years they must be considered a formidable foe for anybody in a seven game series. That's what some people don't understand, in a seven game series the more experienced team has a MASSIVE advantage (Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobli, all have multiple championship experience), and in a seven game series there are only a few teams in the entire NBA that can conquer them. Unfortunately for the Spurs one of those teams is in the Western Conference and for that reason they will once again be hitting the links before June.

4. Memphis Grizzlies

The Grizzlies have two players in O.J. Mayo and Rudy Gay who are always a treat to watch and with rumors of Allen Iverson landing in Memphis the Grizzlies have the potential to be a top news story all season. But that is all that they have potential for, the Grizzlies have a VERY outside chance of making the playoffs and about as good of a chance at winning the championship as Wile E coyote has of catching the Road Runner.

5. Houston Rockets

Losing Yao Ming for likely all next season and Ron Artest to the defending champion Lakers is just too big of a blow for the Rockets to handle. T-Mac has not shown that he can carry a team past the first round and unless Luis Scola starts playing like Kevin McHale I don't see the Rockers winning over 35 games which will land them far outside of the playoffs.

 

NorthWest Division

 

1. Denver Nuggets

The Nuggets came a few out of bounds plays short of giving the Lakers a run for their money, unlike last year the Nuggets will not find themselves in the conference finals. I believe that with Chauncey Billups for a full year the Nuggets will win over 50 games but I can't envision them defeating the San Antonio Spurs in the playoffs. They are a very good team but they do not have a championship pedigree.

2. Portland Trailblazers

The Blazers have had a somewhat disappointing off-season. Hedo Turkoglu pulled out of a deal after verbally agreeing and after signing Paul Millsap to an offer sheet; the Utah Jazz matched the offer. It wasn't all bad though with the signing of veteran guard Andre Miller, this gives all league guard Brandon Roy a real point guard to play alongside. I believe that the Blazers will be a championship contender...but not this year. I think it will take Portland one or maybe even two more years until they are ready to take control of the West, which in my opinion is inevitable. 

3. Utah Jazz

With rumors concerning Carlos Boozer still circulating the league the Jazz will have a disappointing year. If they keep Boozer all year they will be a playoff team but not a challenger for the O'Brien trophy. If they move Boozer and don't receive a considerable factor in return, they will not make the playoffs and they will struggle immensely. Deron Williams is a great point guard but he cannot carry that load by himself. For now though, I'm assuming that Boozer will be staying in Salt Lake City.

4. Oklahoma City Thunder

The Thunder have a very promising future beyond the horizon, but for now they will be one of the worst teams in the West. Give Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant two more years playing together before expecting them to do some damage in the West. The argument can be made that Durant is already a top ten player in the NBA, but as Kevin Garnett knows, that means absolutely nothing when guys who can’t get it done surround you. Also factor in that Durant is nowhere near the level the KG was at when he was in Minnesota. 

5. Minnesota Timberwolves

For now it appears that heralded European point guard Ricky Rubio will be staying in Spain and even if he does make the leap to the NBA he will not be a major factor, not this season anyway. The T'wolves have a great young big man in Al Jefferson and a potential filled guard in Jonny Flynn; the front office in Minnesota needs to focus on building around these two players, with Jefferson as the cornerstone. If I was the GM of the T'wolves I would sign Jefferson to a very long-term contract because once he's a free agent teams will offer the kitchen sink to get him. This season Minnesota will not be relevant in the Western Conference.

Seeding:

1. LA Lakers

2. Denver Nuggets

3. Portland Trailblazers

4. New Orleans Hornets

5. Dallas Mavericks

6. San Antonio Spurs

7. Phoenix Suns

8. Utah Jazz

Conference Semi-Finals

Lakers over Hornets in 5 games

Spurs over Nuggets in 7 games

Conference Finals

Lakers over Spurs in 7 games

NBA Finals

Celtics over Lakers in 5 games

2009-2010 Eastern Conference Season Preview

Here is how I predict the 2009-2010 season will unfold in the Eastern Conference

 

Atlantic Division

 

1. Boston Celtics

With a healthy and hungry Kevin Garnett the Celtics will end the season atop the Atlantic Division as well as the Eastern Conference. After adding Rasheed Wallace and Marquis Daniels this off-season I see the Celtics ready to rip back their NBA crown.

2. Toronto Raptors

Chris Bosh should be on a mission to prove that he is one of the premier forwards in the league and in doing so would bring the Raptors back to the playoffs after a very disappointing 33-49 record last year. Adding sharpshooter Hedo Turkoglu will provide more firepower in an offense that already features Chris Bosh, Jose Calderon, Antoine Wright, and the rookie DeMar Derozan. 

3. Philadelphia 76ers

The Sixers are one of the East’s rising powers and with their high-flyer Andre Iguodala I expect them to come in third in the Atlantic Division. I do not foresee the Sixers making the playoffs this year unless Elton Brand stays healthy and has a 14.8 million dollar worth year. If not, the Sixers will land just outside of the eighth seed.

4. New Jersey Nets

After trading star veteran Vince Carter I have a hard time seeing the Nets having a successful season this year. They have some fantastic role players in Sean Williams, Rafer Alston, Courtney Lee, and Devin Harris. But they don't have a go to guy, many speculate that they are clearing that slot for the MVP LeBron James. But until then, the Nets will find themselves well outside of the playoffs.

5. New York Knicks

The New York Knicks will once again be a bottom feeder in the Eastern Conference. The Knicks have middle of the pack role players and nobody that even resembles a leader. When Darko Milicic is your starting center then you know you have some big problems. After leaving the Phoenix Suns, a potent offense with star players; I expect that Mike D'Antoni is seeking some sort of professional help dealing with his current roster, as would anyone.

 

Central Division

 

1. Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cavs are arguably the most interesting team in the NBA going into this season; many are interested to see how King James and Shaquille O'Neal (The big witness?) are going to fair together. Personally I think that the Cavs are going to go about as far as they did last year ultimately losing in the conference finals to the Boston Celtics. The Cavs have an extremely deep cast including Mo Williams, Anthony Parker, Shaq, Jamario Moon, Delonte West, and Anderson Varejao to go along with LeBron James.

2. Chicago Bulls

The Bulls are a team that will be in the playoffs and go to probably the second round, but they have no real shot at the championship. Rising point guard Derrick Rose is expected to make the leap from rookie to superstar and I don't doubt that for one second. The Bulls lost 20 PPG when they lost Ben Gordon to the conference rival Detroit Pistons. However I don't think that his departure will hurt as bad as people are expecting it to, his 20 PPG will be easily distributed among Kirk Hinrich, Luol Deng, and John Salmons. In addition, with Gordon gone I expect that Rose will be taking a lot more shots than he did last year. In the end I give the Bulls one or two more years before they are ready to legitimately contend for the title.

3. Detroit Pistons

The Detroit Pistons are a good team, they will be relevant and most likely will make some noise in the playoffs, unfortunately for them (much like the Bulls) they don't have what it takes to match up with the Celtics, the Cavs, or the Magic. Adding the streaky scoring Ben Gordon helped their cause but they have yet to see the destruction that he can cause with a basketball. He can shoot you in and out of games, he's capable of bringing you back from the dead and burying you at the exact same time. It just depends which Ben Gordon shows up.

4. Milwaukee Bucks

The Bucks are a mediocre team, they have an all star in Michael Redd and an exciting rookie point guard in Brandon Jennings but they don't have what it takes to make the playoffs this season. Flat out they just aren't talented enough to battle with the Bulls, or Pistons let alone the big 3. 

5. Indiana Pacers

The Pacers stink; they have absolutely nobody other than Danny Granger and T.J. Ford. They will be a high lottery team next year and I will be shocked if they win over 30 games.

 

Southeast Division

 

1. Orlando Magic

After being eliminated from the NBA finals at the hands of the Lakers, Dwight Howard and Jameer Nelson waited around to watch the Lakers celebrate on the Magic logo. I think that being so close will only make Howard want it more and after acquiring Vince Carter, the Magic now have their own big 3 in Howard, Carter, and (Rashard) Lewis. However this big three is not as good as the real big three which resides in Boston and for this reason the Magic will not be making a trip back to the Finals this year and not even the Eastern Conference Finals. To get back they are going to have to get maximum performance out of Howard and Carter for seven games and I just can't see that happening against the Celts or the Cavs.

2. Miami Heat

Dwyane Wade is the best guard in the Eastern Conference, when he gets going not many players can stop him. After having a season under their belts I expect Michael Beasley and Mario Chalmers to BOTH have big seasons. Many people seem to unfairly look over Chalmers who is a very talented young point guard who also fits extremely well in the Heat's system. I expect the Heat to be right in the mix of things for the 4-8 slots with the Bulls, Hawks, Raptors, and Pistons.

3. Atlanta Hawks

In a seven game series the Atlanta Hawks are as dangerous as anyone out there, those booming dunks by Josh Smith electrify the crowd in the ATL and they make it an extremely hard place to win for other teams. The Hawks are a bubble team and they will most likely make the playoffs, however they are yet another team that has no legitimate shot at the title. Also I expect big things out of Center Al Horford, if he plays up to my expectations the Hawks will be a formidable playoff adversary to any Eastern Conference team.

4. Washington Wizards

The Wizards are a very interesting team to me heading into this season. On paper they are very good but I'm not sure that this team will be able to play together. Back from injury, Gilbert Arenas will be looking to re-establish himself as a force in this league. However in the process he will be hurting his own team. If they play as a team and share the ball they will be in contention for the eighth seed. They have many weapons in Arenas, Mike Miller, Caron Butler, Antawn Jamison, and Brandon Haywood. In the end I don't foresee this team clicking and for that reason they are the fourth seed in their division and will not be a playoff team this year.

5. Charlotte Bobcats

The Bobcats have a very talented wingman in Gerald Wallace and a solid surrounding cast but much like the Nets they have no go to guy. They are the worst team in their division and they will be one of the worst teams in the Conference. If LeBron James is considering moving then the Bobcats should be on his radar because if you put LeBron with Wallace and had the Bobcats bench you would have yourself a championship contender. However in my opinion LeBron should stay put and stop whining.

 

Seeding:

1.   Boston Celtics

2. Cleveland Cavaliers
3. Orlando Magic
4. Miami Heat
5. Chicago Bulls
6. Detroit Pistons
7. Toronto Raptors
8. Atlanta Hawks

 

 

 

Eastern Conference Semifinals

Cavs over Bulls in 5 games

 Celtics over Magic in 6 games

 Eastern Conference Finals

 Celtics over Cavs in 7 games

 NBA Finals

 Celtics over Lakers in 5 games