East-Coast Focus

In honor of the first win of the season by the Washington Wizards (highlighted by a fantastic 29 points, 13 assists, 9 steals - albeit 8 turnovers - performance by rookie sensation John Wall), allow me to present a preview of their season to come by my cousin Josh, a die-hard fan from Maryland.

Enjoy:

The date was January 30th, 2007 - that is the day still lingering in Wizards fan’s psyche:

Highest scoring trio in the league - Check

All-star coach - Check

MVP caliber performer - Check

First place in the Eastern Conference - Check.

But something happened that day. Antawn Jamison may have walked under a ladder to avoid contact. Maybe Eddie Grunsfeld misplaced his rabbit’s foot after he disposed of his toothpick from lunch (consequently, it was the 5th pick he’d thrown away that day). Or maybe Gilbert Arenas owed a black cat from gambling debts. . . I don’t know. But I do know several knee surgeries, floundering talents, under-developing youngsters, and a gunfight or two later, here we are (and that's not even mentioning terrible rappers attending playoff games!).

But no more are the days of Michael Ruffin, Etan Thomas, and Oleksiy Pecherov. No, now there is a new hope…

The lottery ball dropped and the Wizards were granted the first pick in a draft when the best prospect was not an emotionally fragile power forward but instead it was a charismatic, ultra-talented point guard. There is no question that John Wall will be a good player in the NBA, but how good, how soon, and how will Washington avoid mistakes of the recent past? All of these things will play out over his early career. Let’s talk 2010-2011:

MOVES:

Between last year’s trade deadline and this past summer, the Wizards were like Eddie’s washcloth, they cleaned house. And with good reason! These were the attempts to patch the cracks - it was time for fresh bodies.

Out with Caron Butler, Brendan Todd Haywood, Deshawn Stevenson, Mike James, Dominic McGuire, Antawn Jamison, Shaun Livingston, Mike Miller, Randy Foye, and Earl Boykins.

In with the aforementioned Wall, Trevor Booker, Kevin Seraphin, Kirk Hinrich, Josh Howard, Al Thornton and Yi Jianlin. (Hilton Armstrong is on the team but he’s not an addition, he’s just there.

The roster is younger, hungrier, faster, and stronger. There is not as much individual talent on paper but a lot more upside and the potential for defense has returned to the Verizon Center.

HOLDOVERS:

Andray Blatche, Nick Young, Javale McGee and Gilbert Arenas.

A quick note about each…

* Blatche came on strong at the end of last year but Wiz fans are terrified of him. He’s been an inconsistent tease his entire career and we aren’t ready to excuse that for 20 & 8 on a team playing out the string. That said, he’s 6’11, athletic, skilled and 24. IF, note I said IF, he finally gets it and is ready to contribute on a nightly basis, he could be a very effective high post/low post scorer and a weapon in the East…IF.

* Young is only getting a note because I want to talk about the other 3. This guy is a horse who only knows how to saw a woman in half…he’s a one-trick pony. He can shoot if he’s feeling it and can go for 20 any given night but he offers no other positive outcomes on a basketball court and that’s why his minutes are so sporadic. Get better at other things!

* Javale McGee is a huge bright spot for this team. Although he came in the league raw, he has been developing his game around the basket and appears to be an ideal sidekick for John Wall. If he continues to fly towards the basket, finish strong, and work hard for blocks and rebounds as he did all summer, he has the potential to be one of the most improved players in the league (oh, and he’s 22).

* Gilbert Arenas, where do I begin? I won’t go on a diatribe about how hackneyed his quirkiness has become to fans in this area. But I will say he’s now #9 (changing from his former jersey number of #0), he now has a beard, and a darker personality... and no one cares. Can he help us on the court this season? Probably so, but only if he plays his role of spot up shooter, which he appears willing to do. Look for his scoring to decrease, his shooting percentage to go up, and his detriment defensively to ease as a shooting guard. Wizards fans who remember his rise will still want to see him do well and will warm up to him if he does, but make no mistake, the first sign of a realistic trade to move his contract will be greeted with open arms, no pun intended.

NEW GUYS:

Wall – John Wall!!!

Booker – Undersized power forward who bangs inside…meh

Seraphin – French. No idea what he can do yet.

Yi – Had a great summer for the Chinese team but needs to make strides this year in the NBA (playing near another Great Wall may help).

Hinrich – helped Rose develop in Chicago - now help Wall!

Thornton – Good scorer, would look solid as the backup small forward.

J. Howard – once his ACL heals (late November?), he should be able to help on both ends of the floor until a suitable replacement is found (ahem, Carmelo – wishful thinking I know).

There are other players on the roster but you don’t care about any of them, nor should you.

OUTLOOK:

It’s been said by many before me, but despite the acquisition of Wall, it will be hard to improve drastically so soon. However, this was an extremely promising off-season for the Wizards and combining it with one or two more, could land them in contention as Wall turns 22 or 23. Arenas needs to be dealt and the team needs to find out what Blatche, McGee, & Yi (I smell sitcom!) are really all about moving forward. Flip Saunders gets a mulligan for last year because a lot of things went awry that were beyond his control. But you’ve got young talent now, Flip; mold something!

This team will get out and run and be one of the funnest to watch in the NBA. They won’t stop anyone’s big men but they will get steals and score in transition. Outside shooting and development of the bigs are the main factors in how improved they will be this season. A 9th or 10th place Eastern finish is forward traction but an 8 seed is possible.

RECORD: 37-45

PLAYOFFS? Depends on how bad Jordan manages to make the Bobcats as the season progresses.

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Nicely done! Anybody else care to send me there team's preview? Just send a comment our way and we'll get it up on the site!

Until next time,

JUSTIN

2010-2011 Season Preview: Southeast Division

At last.

How fitting is it that on the first day of the NBA season, the day that many like myself get giddy at the thought of competitive basketball returning, that George and I finish this preview up with the two conferences that house the most likely Finals participants? I say it's not a coincidence at all, but I guess you'll just have to take my word for it.

There are some other interesting stories in this division beyond the Cheat, though. The regular-season has been kind to the Orlando Magic in the past, but can they finally get that ring? Gilbert Arenas holsters his guns long enough to return to help rookie John Wall out in the nation's capital, but to what effect? Joe Johnson received the biggest contract this off-season (read that statement again and try not to put your head through a wall) but what does that mean for the Atlanta Hawks? And how far can the greatest basketball player of all-time run the Bobcats into the ground? The answers to these questions and more. . . now! (ESPN SportsCenter Theme Song)


1. MIAMI CHEAT (LY: 47-35, 3rd in division, 5th in conference, first round exit)

What hasn't been said about the team from South Beach? Let's look at this from a basketball-only perspective for a second. The truly scary thing about these guys joining forces is a combination of their age (LBJ: 25, Bosh: 26, Wade: 28) and their contracts (all six years, with an opt out option after 4, but I mean, c'mon. . .). This means that they'll be playing their prime of their careers together, taking out anyone in their way, and only getting better as time goes on (especially once the Heat can start signing mid-level veterans in the next couple years - I mean, what types of players can they attract who might just want to win a title?). They are going to win a lot of games, even with as little as they've played together (although they did have the summer of 2008 and every All-Star over the last 5 years, so they're at least familiar) and they get used to the tendencies that each other has. And a crunch-time lineup of James-Wade-Miller-Bosh-Haslem is a quick, frightening unit. . . not to be confused with the skills of Rick Pitino's penis (zing!).

But here's where I look at the half-empty portion of their glass. They have no size, save for Big Z, who doesn't spend any amount of time in the paint anyway. Neither does Bosh. And their next two tallest guys are Joel Anthony and Juwan Howard (yes, still that Juwan Howard) both listed at 6'9''. Um, this is a problem. Just ask my beloved Phoenix Suns. Also, injuries are already plaguing this team, as both Wade and James sat out some of the preseason for little nicks and bruises and now Mike Miller (the sleeper pick for 6th man of the year) is out for potentially a third of the year. These are real issues and their depth is not something to be praised (although it is understandable - they put a little bit of money into those three main guys).

But let's be real. This is two of the top 5 players in the league and Chris Bosh (you're not a superstar, CB. . . I'm sorry but it's the truth) and it's the most lethal "big 3" in the league. They won't challenge the 1996 Bulls record this year, or maybe even next, but it's definitely in play over the course of their contracts. They'll cruise pretty convincingly to the best record in the East and then we'll see how they perform in the nitty gritty of the Playoffs against tested rivals. It's tough to see them not making the Finals though. I'd love to say Boston or Orlando can take them down, but I just don't see it happening. The Lakers on the other hand. . .

Prediction: 62-20, 1st in division and conference, Finals loss


2. ORLANDO MAGIC (LY: 59-23, 1st in division, 2nd in conference, ECF loss)

After sweeping through Charlotte and Atlanta to reach the Eastern Conference Finals, the Magic looked ready to rematch with the Lakers (who were heavily favored against the Suns) for league supremacy. But the Celtics had other things in mind and eliminated the Magic in 6 games (although it really should have been 4 or 5), sending them back to Orlando to think about things. And what did they do with that time?

Very little.

They re-signed J.J. Redick (smart) and added Chris Duhon and Quentin Richardson to their already wussified back-court (just with the presence of Vince Carter alone). Dwight Howard turned down an opportunity to play in the WBC and a chance to be "the guy" on a competitive team and get some awesome practice/experience playing in big games (always helpful). Instead, it was Kevin Durant who blew up and carried the American team to first place and now has all sorts of MVP buzz. That could've been you, Dwight!

This is a talented team at times. Jameer Nelson is a nice point guard (but boy would they much rather find a way to get CP3 from the Hornets) and Vince will win you some games when he decides to play. Rashard Lewis has one of the worst contracts in the league, though, as he doesn't nearly deserve the almost-$100 million he is getting from the organization. And to top it off, two summers ago, they gave money that they should've just given Hedo (can you imagine a Jameer-Vince-Hedo-Rashard-Dwight lineup?) to Brandon Bass and Marcin Gortat. Again I say: Um?

I think it's a carbon copy of last year for the Magic with just a few less wins. They'll get to the ECF and will immediately be trounced out, left to think about what to do differently next year. And maybe they'll learn their lesson and go do something! But probably not. . .

Prediction: 55-27, 2nd in division and conference, ECF exit


3. ATLANTA HAWKS (LY: 53-29, 2nd in division, 3rd in conference, second round embarrassment by the Magic)

Ugh.

I'm not even close to impressed, but the East is really top-heavy (I mean, I like the Bucks, but c'mon, if that's a potential division winner?) and teams still have to win games!

The Hawks gave Joe Johnson 120 million reasons to stay in Georgia which made everyone immediately think "really?". Ok, think about this Hawks executives. . . You give about $20 million a year to a second fiddle (don't deny it Joe!) and you will never ever get past the second round. Ever. Ever ever!

His supporting cast isn't terrible, though. Athletic big-man Josh Smith is a defensive vulture, blocking shots and stealing passes left and right. But what is his offensive prowess like? Al Horford is a hard-worker and a great rebounder, but can he hit a jump shot? Jamal Crawford is a shoot first, shoot second, shoot third, and I-guess-I-can-pass fourth type of player, which ends well only once in a million (like his assist total!). And despite being nearly ten years apart, Marvin Williams and Mike Bibby will continue their contest of who can be more of a corpse on the basketball court. Edge: Bibby.

I don't like the Hawks. I think they're more over-rated than the Bulls and last season's complete giving up against the Magic proved that when your best player is a jump shooter who works best as a second or third option, you can only get so far in this league.

Prediction: 44-38, 3rd in division, 6th in conference, first round exit


4. WASHINGTON WIZARDS (LY: 26-56, last in division, 14th in conference thanks to the Nets)

We'll actually be hosting a guest in the next couple days to DIE-HARDS in the form of my cousin Josh, a Wizards fanatic. He put together an awesome preview of his beloved Wizards and I'll be putting that up either tomorrow or Thursday. But for now, you get my outside opinion. . .

I actually think they can squeak into the playoffs. I saw them in Las Vegas this summer and was really impressed with two things: the John Wall hype and the improvement of Javale McGee. Wall is going to be great. He's super quick, unfazed by any pressure, and unafraid to take the ball to the hole. The only thing in his way of having an 18-point, 10-assist season is the return of Gilbert Arenas, The Artist Formerly Known as "Agent Zero" (which has to go away now, in a sad turn of events for a fantastic nickname - Gil is now #9, apparently for how many lives in the NBA he has). And McGee, through his attempts at making the WBC team, looked like a much improved big, a guy capable of contributing in major ways. The Wall-McGee combo is going to attribute for a lot of fun in the form of alley-oops and the like, and they'll definitely be a fun team to watch.

Supporting them will be an odd mish-mash of talent. Veterans like Kirk Hinrich and Josh Howard will do what they can when healthy, Yi Jianlian will try to prove he can do more than score on a chair, and younglings Andray Blatche, Al Thornton, and Nick Young will do their best to get minutes and be productive in that time. And I think they'll be successful. Sometimes young teams who don't know any better can accomplish some things and I think this is the sleeper team to sneak into the playoffs (you know, except for Indiana).

You know, unless Gilbert shoots everyone. Then all bets are off.

Prediction: 41-41, 4th in division, 7th in conference, first round exit


5. CHARLOTTE BOBCATS (LY: 44-38, 4th in division, 7th in conference, swept by Magic in round one)

Well, MJ, I don't know what to tell you. . . you know, other than that last season's playoff appearance won't be repeated.

The Bobcats are "led" by Gerald Wallace and Stephen Jackson, two hot-and-cold players, one (Wallace) who scores mostly because he rebounds and plays great defense, and the other (Jackson) who will absolutely keep shooting regardless of how many times he misses. Now I understand how Wallace gets so many rebounds! They make a great team!

Other than that, they run the floor with Boris Diaw (did I say run? I meant to say waddle), Tyrus Thomas (the poor man's version of. . . Gerald Wallace), D.J. Augustin (a slightly capable replacement of Raymond Felton - yes, that's a put-down), and. . . well, that's about it. Oh, shoot! I forgot about Kwame Brown. I doubt I'm alone in that sentiment. . .

Not even the great Larry Brown can save this team from the lottery. Good night, and good luck.

Prediction: 39-43, 5th in division, 9th in conference, miss the playoffs

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So there you have it!!!

Six divisions previewed just in time for the season to start tonight (games this evening include my beloved SUNS in Portland to play the Blazers - 1-0 baby! - the defending champs getting their rings and then battling the Rockets, and the much-discussed battle between Miami and Boston in Massachusetts. . . oh, it's on!). . . .

Hope you enjoyed. Hope you agreed. Hope you disagreed! Either way, pass a link along, won't you? We aren't biased about our readers. Just as long as you love the NBA!

Until later,

JUSTIN

2010-2011 NBA Preview Western Conference: Pacific Division

This ends up being, arguably, the most top-heavy division in the Western Conference. Other than the Lakers, there is no guaranteed playoff team within the division, and although the NBA season can have an element of parody, from the looks of these teams, a lot of things have to go right for there to be true competition because at this point, it's the Lakers division, healthy Kobe or not.

1) Los Angeles Lakers (LY: 57-25, 1st in division, 1st in conference, NBA champions...oh delight!)
Kobe is recovery from his third knee surgery. Bynum is out til late November/Early December. Pau took the summer off from basketball to pursue NBA Cares initiatives and act as an international ambassador for the game. Lakers have had the least amount of practice time with all the international, preseason travel. The Lakers lost Farmar, Mbenga. They have new additions in Steve Blake, Matt Barnes, and Theo Ratliff to integrate into the system.

Worried yet? If the answer is no, that's because years of postseason experience and veteran leadership pose little worry in Lakerland when it comes to regular season success.

Phil will be going for his 4th! Threepeat. Kobe will be chasing Jordan for number 6! And Fisher has seen what it takes to win a title over the last decade. They have the wherewithal to make it through the regular season, and the only thing that is important is relative health going into the playoffs.

Now we all know what the Black Mamba is capable of on the court. However, expect to see a shift in offensive features with Pau Gasol as we see Kobe slowly get back to full strength. Essentially, this should be Pau's Team from now until January as Phil as iterated, "We are going to monitor Kobe's minutes at the beginning of the season." And with Bynum being out for the first month or so of the season, it is even more of a necessity that Pau (and even Odom) carry the offensive load for the Lakers.

That being said, expect a solid regular season from these Lakers. They aren't chasing the Bulls regular season mark (72-10) and they aren't going to go for record breaking winning streaks like the 71-72' Lakers. But do expect the Lakers to get the top seed in the West.

Prediction: 62-20, 1st in division, 1st in conference, NBA Champs...could you expect me saying otherwise?

2) Phoenix Suns (LY: 54-28, 2nd in division, 3rd in conference, WCF exit)

As much as I despise the Suns...it's truly hard to loathe the likes of Steve Nash. He seems like a relatively good guy who keeps himself in tip-top shape despite his age, and you can truly tell he wants to win. He hasn't made the NBA Finals, let alone win a title, but the general public would like to see Nash get some success. However, not even Nash himself believes he can win a title with this Amare'-less Suns team and he may very well be this era's Championshipless John Stockton:

Steve Nash: "I spent four months this summer and a month this training camp feeling like I'm trying to get to the top,"he says. "It's hard as a competitor to convince yourself every day all summer and then through the preseason that you're going to get back to where you were and hopefully take the next step, and then you realize that camp is starting all over again and it's not quite as linear as you made it out to yourself all summer."

Oooo, not exactly a strong endorsement from the team's captain. Aside from Nash, you do have a lot of likeable, hardworking individuals in Dragic, Frye, Hill, and bench favorite Jared Dudley. Unfortunately, it takes at least two superstars to win a title, aside from arguably The Detroit Pistons team from earlier this past decade. And with Amare' gone and Phoenix not filling his void, anything more than a first round exit would be gravy.

Unless we see Robin Lopez cut his hair and switch cities with his brother...don't expect too much success. Nash's back can't handle it.

Prediction: 47-35, 2nd in division, 7th in conference, first round exit...sorry Justin

3) Los Angeles Clippers (LY: 29-53, 3rd in division, 12th in conference, no playoffs)

Every year we have a team that has a chance to make the playoffs, has all the talent in the world, and all the potential to make some noise throughout the league. However, that never seems to come to fruition because they are the CLIPPERS!

They have a front-runner point guard in Baron Davis who, depending on how is team does early on, can be the best pg on the floor, or merely an apathetic movie producer. Word is he came to camp out of shape and disinterested which doesn't bode well for Clippers fans.

However, there does seem to be a diamond in the rough in LA LA land as Blake Griffin begins to remind everyone that, "Hey, remember how I was far and away the most touted draft pick, ahead of Jennings, Collison, Curry and even Tyreke?!" He seems to be a double-double machine who plays with an energy and unbounded wrecklessness that can help him and quite possibly hurt him as he seems to have an almost Gerald Wallace lack of concern for his body. We'll see how this plays out.

Overall, with the core of Davis, USA impact player, Eric Gordon, Chris Kaman, and Blake Griffin, this team should do good things this year. But they NEED to have success early in order to have the confidence to carry through an 82 game season. Staples Center is the Lakers House, but maybe the Clips can sneak up and surprise everyone.

Prediction: 42-40, 3rd in division, 10th in conference, no playoffs

4) Golden State Warriors (LY: 26-56, 4th in division, 13th in conference, no playoffs)

Although they won't be very good, they will be better than last year, and will still be fun to watch. Don Nelson is out, but Nellie-ball should remain. Their defense will be awful, but they will still score a ton of points and do their darndest to win by outscoring you.

They did get better. They acquired David Lee, a double-double machine, who is generally very team oriented, however he fits the bill of good offensive player and bad defender. It's not for lack of trying for David Lee on the defensive end, but he is undersized, and against players like Bynum, Pau, Ming, Dwight, etc. he is undermatched because he is undersized.

What makes them most fun is their sophmore point guard, Stephen Curry. He had a tremendous rookie season. The lanky point guard can shoot, steal, score and pass. He has a leader-type demeanor about him and his play has determined that he deserves a certain level of respect from his teammates. We'll see what steps he takes in getting this team on a winning track.

Keith Smart has mentioned how he wants to focus on the defensive end this year. Sounds great in theory, but he doesn't have the assets to employ a defensive scheme. Or he is just trying to say the right things because, honestly, who is going to say they don't care about defense.

Expect some fun, but expect a handful of exciting losses!

Prediction: 40-42, 4th in division, 12th in conference, no playoffs

5) Sacramento Kings (LY:25-57, 5th in division, 14th in conference, no playoffs)

Speaking of exciting point guard, middle-California shares another exciting PG in ROY, Tyreke Evans. We've heard the numbers, 20pts-5asts-5rbs...first rookie since Jordan to do that...etc. But does his attitude inspire others to jump on a the winning bandwagon? Demarcus Cousins isn't that person.

Paul Westphal is a great coach, but the Kings are one piece away from making that run to the playoffs. Not so much a superstar as a floor general, a leader...someone who commands respect ala Chauncey Billups.

They're a young team that has potential to win any game. Just look at the beginning of last year and the early success they were experiencing from October to December.

Can they be mentally tough enough to sustain an entire season of consistency and winning? I'll bet not. Perhaps it would be more convenient to make this wager if the Kings were in Vegas...perhaps sooner rather than later...

Prediction: 31-51, 5th in division, 14th in conference, no playoffs

2010-2011 NBA Preview Western Conference: Northwest Division

Of all the divisions going into the 2010-2011 season. There may not be more questions marks than in the Northwest Division. With the Nuggets in flux with the Melo situation, the Blazers health concerns, Jefferson's ability to fill Boozer's former role, and the rise of NBA Christ Kevin Durant and whether or not he can lead the Oklahoma City to the Promised Land, this division can go in as many directions as Delonte West's sexual appetite.

All that being said, I still have a few hunches, and what better place to voice such hunches than on an NBA preview?! Exactly...so LET'S GO!

1) Utah Jazz (LY: 53-29, 2nd in the division, 5th in Conference, 2nd round exit)

When the world stability is thrown around, there is arguably no better coach than Jerry Sloan when it comes to consistency in coaching and getting the most out of given talent. He still runs the same offensive schemes, defensive hard-nosed mentality, and will defend his players when need be. It's no wonder he professional sports' longest tenured coach, and in his own words, "I don't know what else I would do if I weren't coaching." Needless to say, he's not going anywhere.

One of the major splashed this offseason was Boozer's departure to Chicago. That left a void in the Jazz's frontcourt, however it didn't take long to fill that void. With essentially giving up nothing (C Kosas Koufos and two future first round picks!), the Jazz were able to acquire Minnesota big man, Al Jefferson. (sidenote: If this was the Lakers, people would be up and arms about how unfair such a trade was...granted he's no Pau Gasol, but at the time no one knew he'd be this good!)

Jefferson brings to the table reliability on the offensive end. He is a strong big man that has a variety of post moves, and he should bring 20 plus points a night from that position. Although he doesn't provide terrific defense (sure, he'll block a couple shots and get boards), let's be honest and say that Boozer wasn't exactly that intimidating force on that end of the floor.

Of course, they still have one of the leagues best point guards in Deron Williams running the helm. He has plenty of options with Boozer's stat-clone, Paul Milsap, a defensive versatile big man in Andrei Kirilenko, and a spot up shooter in C.J. Miles on the wing. Not only that, but they just recently drafted Butler's Gordon Hayward, who seems to have plenty of upside and should more than fill than the void that Kyle Korver left but offers much more versatility on the offensive end.

Overall, I like this team. And like I mentioned above, with so many question marks in this division, I like the Jazz's stability even more going into the year, which is why I see them winning the division and ultimately having homecourt unless they face the Lakers in the WCF, but....

Prediction: 61-21, 1st in division, 2nd in conference, 2nd round exit

2) Oklahoma City Supersonics (LY: 50-32, 4th in division, 8th in conference, first round exit)

The NBA darlings of the new year go into a season with little change made to their roster. They should be more confident and their chemistry should only get stronger. Kevin Durant made the World know who may arguably very well be the NBA's best player this summer in the FIBA World Championships, and, according to GM's most likely to win the NBA MVP for this coming season.

Some questions going into the year more surround who's going to start for the Thunder. If last year's model serves up to be true Kristic, Sefolosha, Westbrook, Durant, and Green should run out to be this teams starting five. Scott Brooks has been tinkering with the idea of starting James Harden over Nenad Kristic which basically substitutes defense for even more offensive power. Serge Ibaka is another player is going to get the bulk of the minutes in the middle over Kristic as he gives a solid base defensively in what was ranked the number team according to blocks last year.

A lot of the hype surrounding this team this year is due to the struggle this team posed for the World Champion Lakers in the first round. They have the most athletic team in the league, and they caught the Lakers by surprise with their speed and quickness. And let's not forget, this team holds the Guiness Book of World Record for loudest NBA arena. They should win a ton of games at home, and with newfound confidence and Durant leading the way, they should win a good chunk of their road games this year. But are they good enough to beat the newly improved NBA Champs?

Prediction: 56-26, 2nd in division, 3rd in conference, WCF exit

3) Portland Trailblazers (LY: 50-32, 3rd in division, 6th in conference, first round exit)

This team never seems to catch a break on the injury front. With their big men going down in Pryzbilla and Greg Oden as well as superstar Brandon Roy, they still managed to win 50 games last year! Give credit to Nate McMillan! With such bad luck hitting this team, anyone would of understood them falling out of the playoff picture. It was mentally and physically tough with such an injury plagued season.

But overall you got to love the hear that this team plays with. They give it all they got on the court and are mentally tough. If by the end of the year, this team is realtively healthy, that mental toughness should carry them into the playoffs with some relative success. Do I think they will be healthy come April? No

This team is good enough to make the playoffs. Brandon Roy is presumably healthy, Andre Miller is an iron man, LeMarcus Aldridge is a steady contributor, Nicolas Batum proved in the World's that he should deserve more run, and Marcus Camby plays the traditional Center role of blocking shots and getting rebounds.

IF this team can get back a healthy Greg Oden and IF Brandon Roy can return to his 2008-2009 form. This team can be a darkhorse heading into the playoffs.

However...

Prediction: 49-33, 3rd in division, 5th in conference, 1st round exit

4) Denver Nuggets (LY: 53-29, 1st in division, 4th in conference, 1st round exit)

A team that was supposed to contend for a title and possibly dethrone the Lakers in the West just a year ago, has now added the ultimate distraction...their star player looking for greener pastures. Oh how the mighty have fallen!

Lucky for them, they do have Melo for a limited number of time. So if they can rack up some wins early until December, I feel they still have a fighting chance to make it into the playoffs. Plus they still have Chauncey Billups who is, ultimately, a distraction immobilizer with his leadership and steady play.

However, do the Nuggets want to be the next Raptors and lose out altogether by NOT trading their superstar? I don't think so, and ultimately it's going to come down to the December deadline where newly acquired free agent can officially be traded. That will be the time teams like New York and such can put together better packages for Melo. The Nuggets have to get something, because Melo has been quite clear that he'll be riding out his contract. If he truly wanted to stay in Denver, he would of already signed that $65 million dollar extension, especially with CBA looming. Perhaps his Superfriends in South Beach got him thinking and perhaps him and Chris Paul have been colluding as well to form their own Super Trio in the Big Apple.

It all comes down to how George Karl and Chauncey Billups manage a squad with headcases like JR Smith and Kenyon Martin once Melo leaves. Who will be Billups number 2 guy? Afflalo? Smith? Martin? Nene? It doesn't look good in the Mile High City.

Perhaps Denver can be creative and package Billups with say an Afflalo and JR Smith and get another disgruntled superstar...cough cough...Chris Paul. Unless Denver can get creative, I see a Mile High of Crap on the floor come April.

Prediction: 45-37, 4th in division, 9th in conference, no playoffs

5) Minnesota Timberwolves (LY: 15-67, 5th in division, last in conference, pfft playoffs? hahaha)

Ugh, this team sucks. PERIOD. Oh and they have one less player...their best player in Al Jefferson for Kosta Koufos. hahaha. wow. bad...really bad.

Hey at least they got Michael Beasley right?! oh, okay. Nevermind than...

It's too bad I like Kurt Rambis. Too bad he didn't stick around because he was likely to be Phil's replacement once he retired and he'd be coaching the likes of Pau and Kobe and opposed to Love and Beasley.

Don't get me wrong, I love LOVE, but he's a David Lee type talent who needs a superstar he can compliment.

As Bill Simmons would put it, David KAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHN!!!!!!!!! doesn't know what the hell he is doing.

Prediction: 20-62, 5th in division, last in conference, absolutely NO CHANCE of playoffs

2010-2011 Season Preview: Central Division

Welcome to Shake-Up Central (pun absolutely intended). . .

Last year saw another dominant performance by the Cleveland Lebrons as they won this division by a whopping 15 games! But as you might have heard, "The Man Who Could Be King (but will probably choose to be co-King instead)" took his talents or whatever to South Beach and now this division is wide open. Well, except for the Cavs. They're done. Let's get it started with. . .

1. MILWAUKEE BUCKS (LY: 46-36, 2nd in division, 6th in conference, first round exit)

Ok, George. I see your Memphis Grizzlies and raise you a Milwaukee Bucks. . . Fear the DEER!!

This was an average team last year that over-achieved. This year, they take that formula, mix in some herbs and spices, and hopefully avoid blowing up the laboratory.

The Bucks made a couple sneaky additions this off-season. They added NBA whore (no, not you Meg Whitman) Drew Gooden, veteran scoring-only forward Corey Maggette, and utility swing-man Chris Douglas-Roberts. They also re-signed John Salmons who provided the team with a huge punch last year and carried a lot of that offense after Michael Redd's body failed him yet again.

They also get big-man Andrew Bogut back after last season's freak injury and have another year of Brandon Jennings, the point guard sensation from last year. Wait, what? You're saying he only had a couple spectacular games and only an average season? Hmm. I thought everyone was saying he was the second coming of Isaiah Thomas. Guess I was wrong. But even with a bit of improvement, he will continue to be an interesting piece to this bizarre, star-less puzzle.

This pick is more of a lack of confidence in the Bulls (more on this in a second) then a huge amount of confidence in the Bucks, but I do think that Scott Skiles has a productive way of getting what he wants out of his teams and they are a fantastic antithesis (that's two straight posts where that word has been used - you just can't get that type of vocab anywhere else!) to the Miami Cheat in that there isn't a big name to be found on this squad, but they have the potential to get it done!

Prediction: 48-34, 1st in division, 3rd in conference (because of the division champion-top 3 rule), second round exit


2. CHICAGO BULLS (LY: 41-41, 3rd in division, 8th in conference, out in first round)

I think what we have here is a case of Overrateditis (sound it out).

Let's start with their "big" off-season pickup of forward Carlos Boozer. The former Jazz under-achiever signed an $80 million contract with the Bulls after they missed out on the Lebron-Wade-Bosh trio (just like everyone else). . . and then proceeded to trip over some luggage or something and now he's out for two months. Even if he was healthy, Boozer is still a small power forward who has famously disappeared from important games (mostly against the Lakers).

The Bulls continued their efforts of signing every Jazz player from Utah when they also brought in shooting guard Ronnie Brewer and sharp-shooter Kyle Korver. This is of course an addition to the already-present Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah, who everyone feels is the greatest thing since sliced bread. This is what I mean by overrated. Rose is another of those point guards of the next generation who forgets from time-to-time that a point guard is supposed to create opportunities for other players and run an offense. Yes, it's fine to be able to create your own shot, and of course you should be a threat to score. But when your priorities as the PG are "drive-shoot-pass" then I'm not as confident in your team-leading abilities.

They have nice pieces in addition to these five. Taj Gibson showed flashes last year (but didn't they have the same thing in Tyrus Thomas?) and Luol Deng is still Luol Deng. Which means very little actually. Deng might be the least intimidating player in the NBA next to Brian Scalabrine (who the Bulls also signed!). I'm just not ready to claim them as the second best team in the East yet just because they signed Boozer and they have Rose and Noah. They'll be a contender, but they're not in the upper echelon just yet.

Prediction: 45-37, 2nd in division, 5th in conference, first round exit


3. INDIANA PACERS (LY: 32-50, 4th in division, 10th in conference, no playoffs)

This is the year.

Each of the last two seasons I have picked the Pacers to finish in the 8th and final playoff spot and both years so far they've come just short (9th in 2008-09, 10th last year). Not this time. They're getting the 8th spot.

The Pacers have a nice young nucleus with UCLA alum Darren Collison (acquired from the Hornets. . . fantasy sleeper alert!), Mike Dunleavy (you know, except for the fact that his dad's genes are inside of him), Roy Hibbert (due for a breakout big-man year), and of course all-star Danny Granger. I like the awkward white guy volume on this team for comedic purposes only (in addition to Dunleavy, they also feature Jeff Foster, Josh McRoberts and Tyler Hansbrough). And in addition to getting their PG of the future in Collison in a trade that sent veteran big-man Troy Murphy out to the Nets, they also got James Posey, who can help show these young guns a thing or two about winning.

C'mon Pacers! Let's stop proving me wrong! I don't ask for much from you. . .

Prediction: 40-42, 3rd in division, 8th in conference, swept by the Cheat in the first round


4. DETROIT PISTONS (LY: 27-55, 5th in division, 12th in conference, no playoffs)

Oh, how the mighty have fallen.

Gone are the days of four all stars. Gone are the days of playoff basketball in Detroit and everyone being able to actually enjoy the "De-troit bas-ket-ball" chant after a turnover. Gone is hope at all for anything good in the Motor City.

This is just an oddly constructed team. There are scorers all over the place in Ben Gordon, Richard Hamilton, and Charlie Villanueva. Their PG, Rodney Stuckey, suffers from the same delusions that Derrick Rose does in that he thinks passing is a bad thing. And then there's the leftovers from their mid 2000s, Tayshaun Prince and Ben Wallace, both of whom are shells of their former selves (Wallace more than Prince, though). You know what, I feel bad. Here Pistons fans. This should make you feel better:



Best. Block. Ever.

But like I said, those days are gone. They have talent, but it's a weird mix that doesn't work and I didn't even mention the fact that they have Tracy McGrady. Yes, THAT Tracy McGrady. Oh, man. . .

Prediction: 32-50, 4th in division, 11th in conference, still no playoffs


5. CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (LY: 61-21, 1st in division and conference, epic collapse against Boston in round 2)

I really just feel bad. The sports gods clearly hate Cleveland. And I'm not going to pour salt into that gaping wound.

The Cavs are bad. Very bad. I know this. You know this. Cleveland knows this.

End of story.

Prediction: 19-63, last in division, 14th in conference, only important when they play Miami.

- - - -

2010-2011 NBA Preview Western Conference: Southwest Division

The NBA season in underway! One week from now, true diehards will be changing the channel on Yankee-less World Series coverage to a more exciting Celtics/Cheats and Lakers/Rockets opener. Drama and intrigue is at an all-time high, and if the hype lives up to it, could be one of the greatest NBA seasons over the last 20 years.

Although the drama seems to be skewed towards the Right Side of the country, the Left Coast (and yes New Orleans, oddly, is considered to be a Western Conference squad, and in Southwest Division nonetheless...whatever) has a budding superstar, the antithesis to Lebron James, Kevin Durant. And whether or not the youthful exuberance of the OKC Thunder can challenge the Lakers for Western Conference dominance, there is a season to be played and a script to be told.

But before we hit OKC, we first must tackle the Southwest Division. Ready for some BOLD predictions? okay here we go...Predictions. Haha! Joking aside, I'm actually serious:

1) Memphis Grizzlies (LY: 40-42, 4th in the division, 10th in the conference, no playoffs)


"Holy Crap! George are you an idiot??? How can you think that the Grizzlies are going to have the best record in the division?" Now before you start accusing me of smoking some of Beasley's Ganja stash, let me explain myself. They have a secret weapon...Hasheem Thabeet! Obviously I'm kidding.

The youth of this squad makes the Grizzlies a strong force in the west...think Thunder with less Durant, but a much better frontcourt. This team, in most people's eyes, overachieved last year being just two games under .500. Mind you, for a portion of the season they were legitimately competing for a playoff spot until Marc Gasol went down with an injury (and I am very aware of that injury as it affected me on my fantasy team, but no one cares so I'll move on...)

The core genuinely enjoys playing with each other, and with a year under their belts, their chemistry gets just that much stronger. Remember, the Oklahoma City Thunder won just 35 games prior to their breakout year. And I know it's just the preseason, but Mike Conley is looking confident and decisive in the preseason thus far (less Allen Iverson breathing down his neck).

What's amazing to me is that Zach Randolph is looked at as a good "locker room" guy, and Lionel Hollins has seemed to connect with the double-double machine and get him to buy-into the system.

And don't underestimate the Rudy Gay signing. They were able to lock him up with an $80 million dollar contract and solidify a go to scorer for the next few years. He is matured, and from reports seemed to be a sponge in the locker room with Team USA and Mike Krzyzewski. The summer was a time for him to be reminded of what winning is all about, something that he hasn't experienced since his days at Connecticut.

Finally, O.J. Mayo is their crunch-time scorer that isn't phased to take the last shot.

Bottomline, they have all the ingredients to be a competitive team in the west...call me crazy, but that's my BOLD PREDICTION of the season.

Prediction: 52-30, 1st in their division, 4th in conference, 2nd round exit

2) Dallas Mavericks (LY: 55-27, 1st in division, 2nd in conference, first round loss)

I hope Mark Cuban isn't reading this...actually no, I take that back, I HOPE he is reading this!

It's hard to place a typically professional regular season team behind Memphis, but this year, I think they take a step back.

Dirk Nowitzki is just that good to will any team into the playoffs, so I still feel they will accomplish just that. In a close race with Memphis, they will ultimately lose the division by a couple of games.

With a projected starting lineup, when healthy, of Kidd, Beaubois, Butler, Nowitzki, and Chandler, this team, under Carlisle, will make a push once again to finally make real noise in the playoffs. However, their recent postseason play begs to differ.

It's easy to forget that this team was up 2-0 in the Finals just a few years ago, but since then they have been an underachieving postseason team with failures that include choking to the Cheats, first round exits from Golden State and, just last postseason, a first round exit at the hands of the San Antonio Spurs (who were eventually swept out of the playoffs by the Suns in the following round).

Call me a cynic, but I just don't think they are cutthroat enough to be considered one of the ELITE teams.

Prediction: 50-32, 2nd in their division, 6th in conference, first round exit

3) San Antonio Spurs (LY: 50-32, 2nd in division, 7th in conference, 2nd round exit)

The San Antonio Zombies! They just never die. Every year we dismiss them as being too old, too slow. But they seem to always be in the thick of things come playoff time.

The big three of Parker, Ginobili, and Duncan are still there, giving them a chance to compete in the playoffs once again IF they can stay healthy. They do have some youth on their side this year with George Hill, Dejuan Blair, and newcomer, internationally hyped big man, Tiago Splitter; Spurs management feels that this combination of age and youth can help preserve their big three come playoff time.

We all know that Popovich can care less about regular season success (aside from just making the playoffs) thus I don't see them going full throttle during the season. Therefore expect to see a lot of the main guys get rest, particularly at the end of the season in order to get the veterans' playoff legs in order.

They'll be there in the playoffs, but all in all, that's about it. They don't need a screen cuz their window of opportunity is shut.

Prediction: 46-36, 3rd in division, 8th in conference, first round exit

4) Houston Rockets (LY: 42-40, 3rd in division, 9th in conference, no playoffs)

The Houston's GM Darel Morey is a stats geek that thinks he has figured out the perfect formula for team success. Besides the trade to get rid of T-Mac, I don't see it translating into postseason success (or even appearance for that matter).

Yao Ming is back and should prove to be valuable in limited capacity (training staff will be holding Ming to a firm 24 minute count). But does this really matter in the grand scheme of things?

The problem with this Rockets team is health. Their two difference makers, Kevin Martin and Yao Ming, and extremely injuring prone and likely to miss a good chunk of games due to their fragility. So do the likes of Aaron Brooks and Luis Scola enough to carry this team into the playoffs in an extremely tough conference? I don't think so.

I like Rick Adelman. I feel like he is a difference maker on the sideline, but he needs reliability in personnel in order to push for the playoffs.

IF Yao Ming can make the most of his limited time AND Kevin Martin can play more than 65% of his games. They might be able to squeeze into the playoffs.

Prediction: 41-41, 4th in division, 11 in conference, no playoffs

5) New Orleans Hornets (LY: 37-45, 5th in division, 11th in conference, no playoffs)

Chris Paul is BACK! Trevor Ariza is IN! Marco Belinelli replaces Stojakovic! Okafor is ready to block some shots!....Intimidated yet? No? Thought so.

Other than Chris Paul's talent, the only other thing I can praise about is Paul's Public Relations person. Unlike Carmelo, he is saying the right things and giving hope to a city that has suffered over the last few years. Let's hope they don't start burning his jersey when he bolts to join Melo in New York after the lockout year...

This team is just BAD. I actually feel bad that Paul has to go through this purgatory. Okafor is one of the least motivated big men who has been cursed with I-just-got-paid-and-now-I'm-gonna-collect-my-spoils-itis. David West is decent, but shouldn't be relied on as a number two guy. Trevor Ariza should feel a little better not having to be counted on as a go-to-scorer, and should see an uptick in efficiency. Marco Beli-who?

The biggest weakness on this team is their bench, and with a less than mediocre starting lineup, that doesn't bode well for an 82 game season.

See ya in the lottery! And good luck Paul! Maybe you and Melo can bunk in a penthouse on 33rd Street.

Prediction: 32-50, 5th in division, 13th in conference, doing Charles Barkley impressions watching TNT's coverage

2010-2011 Season Preview: Atlantic Division

Have you ever heard the phrase, "If it bleeds, it leads" when related to journalism? It's a pretty self-explanatory saying that helps editors decide what stories head to the front page. In the (begin Mark Schlereth impression) National Basketball Association, there is one division above all others that would be considered wounded and bleeding, and that is the Atlantic Division.

Led by the seventeen-time champion Boston Celtics, the Atlantic contains no more than two playoff teams (and in my opinion, just like last season, that would be stretching it). It's kind of like the NFC West of the NBA, except there actually is a good team in this division. So let's start with them. . .

1. BOSTON CELTICS (LY: 50-32, 1st in the division, 4th in the Conference, lost in NBA Finals)

The old just keep getting older, as it were.

Future Hall-of-Famers Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce welcome in "The Big Veteran's Minimum" Shaquille O'Neal to their starting five, alongside officially overrated Rajon Rondo. Now, don't get me wrong. Rondo is a talented point guard who does a lot of little things and has really come into his own the last couple seasons. But when you can dare him into shooting a 17-foot jump shot and/or foul him and put him on the free throw line, his impact diminishes greatly. He's not going to take over a game, so to speak, because he'd have to get to the hole every time down the floor, and eventually some big man is going to put him on his ass and make him hit two freebies. And he'll miss them.

Other notable additions to the Celtics include always-injured Jermaine O'Neal and Lebron's potential step-father Delonte West (and if you don't get that joke, then you need to go to this link). They still have the fire-crackers Glen Davis and Nate Robinson off the bench and once Kendrick Perkins gets back from his knee surgery rehabilitation (he is out for the first several months of the season), they'll have a very large lineup that can come in and dominate the paint. I'm still not sure that's going to make the difference for them, but they will provide a fantastic match-up problem for the Miami Cheat, though, since they have next-to-no size except for Big Z (and don't you dare say Chris Bosh - he is just as soft as Pau Gasol. . . yeah, I said it!).

The Celtics will still be there in the late rounds of the playoffs simply because of the heart of their Big Three, the continued emergence of a scrappy point guard with (cue Mike Breen) enormous hands, and a veteran savvy that always equals a few playoff wins. They will be title contenders, but their regular season will probably match last season's laziness step-for-step. Doc Rivers better thank his lucky stars that his division is as crappy as it is.

Prediction: 52-30, 1st in Division, 4th in Conference, second round exit)


2. NEW YORK KNICKS (LY: 29-53, 3rd in Division, 11th in Conference, no playoffs)

I feel like the Knicks fans should be wearing one of those shirts you always see little kids wearing after their grandparents went on a trip to Hawaii or something: "My grandparents went to Hawaii and all I got was this t-shirt". The difference would be theirs would say something like "I went through years of sub-par seasons, torturous tanking, and catastrophic contracts and all I got was Amare Stoudemire". You know, something like that.

As a SUNS fan, I can vouch for Amare's abilities. He is an incredible athlete who is dynamic in ways only a few players in the NBA are. However, he is injury-plagued (although not as bad as your Andrew Bynum's and Greg Oden's of the world) and a six-year contract on those knees may not have been the best idea. I hope for the best with him, I really do. He grew up over the last few years, undoubtedly because of the influence of veterans like Steve Nash and Grant Hill showing him the ropes.

But. . . now he is the veteran influence on his team, which features streaky shooter Danilo Gallinari, "point guard" Raymond Felton (I put that in quotes because I think he's terrible - in fact, I might even put the word "player" in quotes as well to describe him. . .), and athletic freak Anthony Randolph, who the Knicks got in their trading of star David Lee.

This roster is not a good one as currently constructed. Amare will regret leaving the comfort of the Nash pick-and-roll after Felton throws a couple passes into the fourth row of Madison Square Garden. Young guys like Wilson Chandler and Kelenna Azubuike (who they also got in that Warriors trade) are also a bit streaky and can single-handedly win the Knicks a few games. . . but that's about all they'll get.

The only IF with this team is the Carmelo IF. If they can convince Denver to take Galo, stiff-as-a-board Eddy Curry, and something else in return for one of the most automatic scorers in the league, then they are officially playoff-bound. But they're still not dangerous. They'd literally only have two guys at that point and one of them is a beast of an athlete power forward who manages to get about 7 rebounds a game. Trust me. This team is not going anywhere anytime soon.

Prediction: 38-44, 2nd in Division, 10th in Conference, no playoffs. . . again


3. NEW JERSEY NETS (LY: 12-70, 5th in Division, Last in Conference, one of the worst records in NBA history)

Anything will be better than last year.

The Nets were an absolute embarrassment last season. I'd say the two highlights of their season was that Devin Harris shot from half-court to beat the 76ers and the emergence of Brook Lopez. A fantasy basketball stud, Lopez proved himself last year to be on the short-list of centers in the NBA actually worth having on your team. He's young and seems willing to work hard and this could prove to be a big deal for years to come for the Brooklyn. . . I mean, New Jersey Nets.

So the Nets had the third pick and took Georgia Tech "big-man" Derrick Favors who is listed at 6'10'' but doesn't seem to always play that way. I think he will be a decent NBA player but I think not drafting slightly-crazy DeMarcus Cousins is going to come back and haunt them.

Devin Harris is still there (for now) and beyond that, the Nets don't have a lot going for them. They traded for Troy Murphy (nice!) only to have him get hurt in the off-season and be listed as being out "indefinitely" which is the nice way of saying "Don't count on it". Swingman Travis Outlaw will get some good minutes and produce a little bit and point guard Jordan Farmar might be able to show his stuff, especially if Harris gets traded before the deadline. But these things are not huge deals and the Nets are still definitely a few years away from making any run at the playoffs. They're bad. And losing out on all the free agents this past summer was just a kick to the groin to an already bloodied-nose and black-eyed weakling.

Prediction: 26-56, 3th in Division, 12th in Conference, no playoffs


4. PHILADELPHIA 76ERS (LY: 27-55, 4th in Division, 13th in Conference)

Doug Collins will immediately regret his decision to come coach this team.

When you look at this roster, you just really have to scratch your head. They are giving over $40 million this season to these four players: Elton Brand, Andre Iguodala, Andres Nocioni, and Jason Kapono. Oh, man.

What's interesting is that they have some nice young talent. Point guard Jrue Holiday is playing really well so far this preseason, center Marreese Speights could potentially be a double-double machine (you know, once Brand gets hurt for the 100th time) and Spencer Hawes just works hard in the post.

They also drafted Evan Turner. Turner was an absolutely amazing college player at Ohio State. However, so far at least, his skill set is not translating to success in the NBA. He has had a rocky start and is already getting "bust" buzz. Never a good thing. Throw in the fact that he basically plays the same position as their "star" in Iguodala and it's a real shame. It just seems to me that the 76ers are on a long, winding road downhill that takes them nowhere but further down the standings in the East.

Prediction: 23-59, 4th in Division, 13th in Conference, no sight of the playoffs


5. TORONTO RAPTORS (LY: 40-42, 2nd in Division, 9th in Conference, one game out of the playoffs)

No wonder Chris Bosh wanted out so badly.

In my post a few weeks back that gave some early standings predictions, I had this to say about the Raptors: "Name me 3 Raptors. Do it! I dare you! (Ok, you can: Bargnani, Calderon, Jack. . . but when Jarrett Jack is your third "named" player, you're bad)". . .

And I stand by it. This is a bad bad team. Their oldest player is 30. Leandro Barbosa (who I love - the Brazilian Blur will always be a fan-favorite in PHX) will get quality minutes and while that used to be an ok thing, well, it's just not the same anymore. Players like Sonny Weems, Julian Wright, Reggie Evans, Amir Johnson, and Linas Kleiza are going to be contributing to the efforts in Toronto. Are you afraid at all by these names if you're preparing to face them? Let me help you: no.

In any other division, Philadelphia and New Jersey would be the easy choice for the last spot. However, in the Atlantic, the Raptors are by far the worst and may even challenge last year's Nets' record of 12-70. I'm sure that's not quite the challenging that they had in mind up in Toronto, but it's all they really have at this point. Go Leafs!

Oh. . . and THIS. No team can come back from that.

Prediction: 16-66, last in Division and Conference, best chance at the 1st pick in the next draft

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

So there you have it. . . the Atlantic Division. George will be taking the Western Conference duties and I will be back over the next couple days with the other two divisions in the East. This will all lead into the first day of the season, next Tuesday, or as I like to call it, the "Greatest Day of the Year".

Until later,

JUSTIN