Tuesday, October 30, 2007

NBA 07-08 Preview: Eastern Conference Atlantic Division

Well, I’ve fired up the old blog. The season starts in 5 hours so let’s get into the preview of each division, in order of success.

Boston Celtics: What a difference six months makes. At the end of last season, you couldn’t help but not hear Paul Pierce pleading to get help via veterans instead of hoping to draft someone who could contribute. GM Danny Ainge was paying attention; he blew up the team in trades and wound up with Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen. The team also added Tony Allen, Eddie House, James Posey and Scott Pollard. With three future hall of famers, they are a lock to win the division. With such high expectations also come some serious questions.

How strong is their bench? Their big three can win the team games, but what about their 7th and 8th man? What happens if Garnett goes down? The health of their starters is can seriously jeopardize their season.

Will Paul, Ray and Kev play nice? I’m sure Ray will. Garnett and Pierce will call a teammate out in the media if they have to; other than that Garnett is willing to get into a fistfight with a teammate and Pierce likes wearing pretend bandages in postgame interviews.

How strong is their point guard? Rajon Rando really is the key to this team. The big three will get their points and fill their stat sheets. However, everyone is going to guard them down the stretch. He’s going to have to step up and probably take a few big shots this season.

Toronto Raptors: Aside from the Celtics, the rest of the division really didn’t change too drastically. The Raps won the division last year, and still look very good. Chris Bosh and his ragtag group of sharpshooting Euros should be a good team. Second year Italian Andrea Bargnani has been looking really good, and I wouldn’t question him being the first pick in 2006 any more. They may have lost Morris Peterson, but they have picked up Jason Kapono, who is money from the three point line.

Sam Mitchell is following up on a Coach of the Year season. If he can encourage Bosh and some others be more effective down low, they’ll free up their shooters and have one heck of an inside/outside game.

New York Knicks: Where do we start?

Stephon Marbuy is giving some of the greatest player interviews, like when he explains his dream of playing ball in Italy.

Quentin Richardson, Nate Robinson and Jamal Crawford are going to be shooting like they have the Contra code.

Zach Randolph and Eddy Curry may be chunky, but they’ll cause some trouble down low.

Jerome James is still overpaid

Renaldo Balkman and David Lee are still team first players.

With Isaiah Thomas’ sexual harassment trial over, the Knicks will give their fans something to look forward to. While still not one of the elite teams in the East, I think they are going to surprise a lot of people. A seventh seed at best, I think these guys will spoil some playoff aspirations in their conference.

New Jersey Nets: RIP New Jersey. The playoff excitement of the early 00s is over. Kidd, Jefferson and Carter will still get theirs. But their back-up backcourt duo of Darrell Armstrong and David Wesley has seen better days. Their interchangeable frontline is now lead by Jamaal Magloire. That never ends well.

Philadelphia 76ers
: The post-Iverson era is underway and the Sixers look to be a lottery team. Andre Igoudala has the potential to be a top shooting guard. Kyle Korver’s distance shooting makes him a great complimentary player, especially if they can acquire some players who draw double teams. Andre Miller has done well as a pass first point guard. Sometimes Samuel Dalembert plays really well.

Sometimes he doesn’t. The Sixers will rebuild sooner than later, as they have a bunch of lottery picks coming their way and their salary cap situation is clearing up. They are definitely not contenders for anything, but this is a young team that will be more competitive than they look thanks to coach Maurice Cheeks.

Monday, June 27, 2005

Big Aristotle gets big degree

Shaquille O'Neal just received his Masters of Business Administration this past weekend from the University of Phoenix. I bet he was never picked last for group projects.