NBA season soon to start

[dabears1996]

With preseason about 2 weeks away, and the regular season starting in about 5 weeks, who do you say has the clear edge right now to take down the Championship? At this point I really dont know.

-Dallas
-San Antonio
-Miami
-Phoenix
-Detroit (?)
-Chicago(?)
-Cleveland (?)

I think these teams all have a chance to win it this year. Detroit and Chicago I think are a little behind the others, but we will see. I think if Lebron can kick it up a little bit more than last year, they will keep advancing in the playoffs, and with him on the court, you never know.

San Antonio, if healthy, is the best team in the league IMO. They just need a healthy Duncan, which I think he will be. Also, Tony Parker is coming off an injury, so we will see if there are any lingering after affects.

Dallas still has its team, and with another year and more experience under there belts, I think we can all see them winning it. Dirk is in the prime of his career, and I think Dallas has about another 3-4 years to make that push for the title with this core of players.

Miami cant be slept on either. Trying to repeat will be no easy feat, but they do have the roster to do it. D-Wade should continue to get better, as he is only 25. If they can keep Shaq in- shape and healthy, they are tough to contend with.

Phoenix is the underdog of this group IMO, because of their style of play. You always hear coaches praising "Defense wins Championships", but I think if they have a healthy Amare, there run and gun ball could take them to the promised land.


:yeah: :prtytme: :thumbs: :cool:

[Kentaro]

I agree on all of them even Cavs! Also I think Suns coudl've won it all this year. They would've out ran/scored Miami Heat. Lets face it young players on the court vs. Miami's older players running up and down the court? of course Suns will run them out of town.

[Troubleduke]

Of that group Cleveland and Chicago are the biggest longshots at around 20-1 (although you could probably shop for something better). I think Deetroit is on the decline, although I'm a cavs fan so I'm probably a little biased. Should be an interesting and hopefully profitable year.:gulp:

[Stifler's Mom]

CLIPPERS :yeah: :yeah:

[Horatio]

are the ones that surprised me the most last year, getting as far as they did without Amare. Provided he is truly healthy this year, I like their chances. They managed to pick up an underrated player in Diaz during the draft,;he is a perfect fit for their style of play.Dallas and San Antonio remain formidable, but I would have liked to see SA add some players. Dallas' centers remain a cause for concern, but everyone else is talented as hell.
In the east, I think Miami realizes this is about the last hurrah for Shaq. Horry is flat out old. But with Mourning spelling the big fella, and no one able to stop D Wade, they are still the ones to beat.
Detroit is definitely entering a decline...they will miss Ben Wallace a ton.
Chicago of course gained a hell of a lot in Wallace, more han any stat sheet would reveal. That it came at the expense of Detroit is even sweeter if you are a Bulls fan.
The Cavs may have a decent shot if Hughes actually plays as well as he is capable of playing, something he did not do at all last year. LeBron needs a better supporting cast than he currently posseses. Z is OK but slower than Christmas.

I just heard my first commentary this year by Bill Walton..."throw it dowwwwnnnnnn big fella throw it dowwwwnnn!!"

[EdwardHaney]

Originally posted by Stifler's Mom
CLIPPERS :yeah: :yeah:




agreed 100%


I can honestly picture this happening

[Huego]

Lakers because:

1.Kobe WILL be the MVP of the league
2.Odom will finally be the dependable #2 option he is expected to be (20pts 10rbs 6asts)
3.Kwame has a breakout season
4. Smush parker makes his 3s (He's been practicing on his shot with kobe all summer :cool: )
5. Young players gained valuable playoff experience and now have 1 year of the triangle under their belt


Call me a homer but I feel like the Lakers can make it to the finals if they play the right teams in the playoffs. As long as they don't play the spurs they can make it. IMO they can beat the suns and mavs in a 7 game series!!!

CANT WAIT UNTIL THE SEASON STARTS...I will be at the season opener lakers vs suns, should be a good one :thumbs:

[bookiekilla]

Originally posted by Huego
Lakers because:

1.Kobe WILL be the MVP of the league
2.Odom will finally be the dependable #2 option he is expected to be (20pts 10rbs 6asts)
3.Kwame has a breakout season
4. Smush parker makes his 3s (He's been practicing on his shot with kobe all summer :cool: )
5. Young players gained valuable playoff experience and now have 1 year of the triangle under their belt


Call me a homer but I feel like the Lakers can make it to the finals if they play the right teams in the playoffs. As long as they don't play the spurs they can make it. IMO they can beat the suns and mavs in a 7 game series!!!

CANT WAIT UNTIL THE SEASON STARTS...I will be at the season opener lakers vs suns, should be a good one :thumbs:

:yeah: :gulp: :beer2: :thumbs: :prtytme: :gulp: :yeah: :prtytme:

[NittanyLions94]

There are some decent odds to be had out there on a few teams. The ones I will look at will be:


Phoenix Suns 5-1

Steve Nash, Shawn Marion, and a healthy Amare will make them tough to beat and 5-1 isn't a bad price.

Lakers 20-1

You can never count out a team with the best scorer in the game.

Pistons 9-1

Cavs 10-1

Clippers 25-1


Any thoughts?