Post by Benwallacedetroit3 on Oct 6, 2005 16:56:03 GMT -5
Aaron Reilly
Atlantic Division Predictions – NBA
With the NBA season upon us I decided to write some articles on the NBA itself and get some credit for articles. Most people have written some great articles about BBS but I figure this will get everyone talking about the real NBA on top of BBS. Each year I like to predict each division and see how I do. Last year I picked Detroit to beat San Antonio in the finals which was almost right but I also had the Jazz playing San Antonio in the Conference Finals (If AK didn’t go down I would’ve been right, I swear!). I am going to post articles on each of the divisions and give my picks and reasons why then give my picks for stats leaders, all NBA teams, and other types of things…so here we go.
Atlantic Division
Teams – Philadelphia 76ers, New York Knicks, New Jersey Nets, Boston Celtics, Toronto Raptors.
1. New Jersey Nets (51-31 predicted record)
The trio of Jefferson, Carter, and Kidd will look to lead this team from Jersey to an Atlantic Division title in their first full year together. The trio is a very dangerous backcourt and Jefferson and Carter give Kidd two killer targets to rack up those assists. As long as Kidd’s knee holds up this team should cruise through the Atlantic and get home court in the first round with that 3 seed. Young Serbian center Nenad Kristic had a very promising year last year and played well in the European Championships as Serbia’s starting center. Despite not signing SAR, a number of power forwards will fill the role; Jason Collins, Scott Padgett, and Cliff Robinson can all go in and take space up as the other four score the majority of their points.
2. Philadelphia 76ers (46-36)
While reading a lot of preseason reports numerous analysts are down on this years 76ers. I am the opposite, last year despite losing 4-1 to the Pistons in the first round they played well and showed signs of a team that may be ready to battle IF healthy. The big question mark is the age of their star players. Although AI has played through all sorts of pain the question remains how long can he go through the pounding. Webber is said to come into camp in amazing shape but his knees are just going and can go at any time. If this happens Steven Hunter is their only backup and that is a scary thought. The Sixers do have two young studs in Andre Igoudala and Samuel Dalembert. Both are athletic freaks and defensive monsters. I expect Iggy to make a run for Defensive Player of the Year this season. Mo Cheeks steps in to take over Jim O’Brien, I like Cheeks coaching ability and feel he did not have enough to work with in Portland. A veteran team led by AI and Webber will give Cheeks a nice team to work with and hopefully a push into the playoffs.
3. Boston Celtics (45-37)
The Boston Celtics are a very interesting team. A team led by Paul Pierce and young guns like Al Jefferson and Tony Allen may have enough fire power to take the Atlantic but I have never been and continue not to be high on the Celtics. I feel Paul Pierce is a star who will never lead his team over the hump and with a sidekick of Ricky Davis more needs to be done with this team. Losing Antoine Walker and Gary Payton leaves them with Pierce as the sole leader of this team. Doc Rivers is a fine young coach but if this team wants to make noise in the east they are going to have to make some moves.
4. New York Knicks (43-39)
The Larry Brown road trip has finally hit his hometown of New York and this is exactly what the Knicks really need. Being a Piston fan I learned first hand how much of a teacher Larry Brown can be, and that’s a good thing for a team like this. This young team is going to learn how to “play the right way.” The Knicks had two nice pickups this year in Q. Richardson and Eddy Curry. Richardson gives the Knicks another outside threat but he will have to assert himself much more since he won’t have Steve Nash penetrating and dishing. Richardson is a strong 3 and can post smaller 3’s up downlow, Larry Brown will find his strengths and utilize them. Curry gives them that inside post threat, but that’s all Curry gives. His defense and rebounding is atrocious. The Knicks might possibly be the worst rebounding team in the NBA. Marbury will have his up and downs with Brown but he is one of two guys in NBA history to average 20 points and 8 assists for his career and I believe he will continue to put up these stats. A move to shooting guard may give Brown his AI and Rip to be the catalyst of this offense. The Knicks also received Nate Robinson from the Suns on a draft night trade. Robinson will bring excitement in his first year but some are praising this guy as the Knick savior which is far off. As a person who roots for the Knicks I hope LB comes in and turns this team around, if Curry stays healthy and Marbury and Brown mesh this team can be a force in the East and this record will be bumped up a bit more.
5. Toronto Raptors (30-52)
The Raptors are just a team with no direction. GM Rob Babbock seems to have absolutely no clue on how to run a basketball team. With their lottery pick they chose a 4 in Charlie Villanueva. The pick could be justified but when you have an upcoming star in Chris Bosh playing the same position it is certainly a head scratcher. With young guards like Gerald Green, Danny Granger, and Antoine Wright still available the pick was pure stupidity. This pick ranks right there with the idiotic pick of Rafel Arujo. I do give credit where it’s deserved, the recent trade of Mike James for Rafer Alston is a nice deal for Toronto though, James is a hard nosed defender and doesn’t moan and groan like Rafer. Jalen Rose will help this team put points on the board but other then that another lottery is in site for this team next year. The team better surround Bosh with talent or he’ll be heading back to the states in no time.
The Southwest Division will be coming up in the near future....
Atlantic Division Predictions – NBA
With the NBA season upon us I decided to write some articles on the NBA itself and get some credit for articles. Most people have written some great articles about BBS but I figure this will get everyone talking about the real NBA on top of BBS. Each year I like to predict each division and see how I do. Last year I picked Detroit to beat San Antonio in the finals which was almost right but I also had the Jazz playing San Antonio in the Conference Finals (If AK didn’t go down I would’ve been right, I swear!). I am going to post articles on each of the divisions and give my picks and reasons why then give my picks for stats leaders, all NBA teams, and other types of things…so here we go.
Atlantic Division
Teams – Philadelphia 76ers, New York Knicks, New Jersey Nets, Boston Celtics, Toronto Raptors.
1. New Jersey Nets (51-31 predicted record)
The trio of Jefferson, Carter, and Kidd will look to lead this team from Jersey to an Atlantic Division title in their first full year together. The trio is a very dangerous backcourt and Jefferson and Carter give Kidd two killer targets to rack up those assists. As long as Kidd’s knee holds up this team should cruise through the Atlantic and get home court in the first round with that 3 seed. Young Serbian center Nenad Kristic had a very promising year last year and played well in the European Championships as Serbia’s starting center. Despite not signing SAR, a number of power forwards will fill the role; Jason Collins, Scott Padgett, and Cliff Robinson can all go in and take space up as the other four score the majority of their points.
2. Philadelphia 76ers (46-36)
While reading a lot of preseason reports numerous analysts are down on this years 76ers. I am the opposite, last year despite losing 4-1 to the Pistons in the first round they played well and showed signs of a team that may be ready to battle IF healthy. The big question mark is the age of their star players. Although AI has played through all sorts of pain the question remains how long can he go through the pounding. Webber is said to come into camp in amazing shape but his knees are just going and can go at any time. If this happens Steven Hunter is their only backup and that is a scary thought. The Sixers do have two young studs in Andre Igoudala and Samuel Dalembert. Both are athletic freaks and defensive monsters. I expect Iggy to make a run for Defensive Player of the Year this season. Mo Cheeks steps in to take over Jim O’Brien, I like Cheeks coaching ability and feel he did not have enough to work with in Portland. A veteran team led by AI and Webber will give Cheeks a nice team to work with and hopefully a push into the playoffs.
3. Boston Celtics (45-37)
The Boston Celtics are a very interesting team. A team led by Paul Pierce and young guns like Al Jefferson and Tony Allen may have enough fire power to take the Atlantic but I have never been and continue not to be high on the Celtics. I feel Paul Pierce is a star who will never lead his team over the hump and with a sidekick of Ricky Davis more needs to be done with this team. Losing Antoine Walker and Gary Payton leaves them with Pierce as the sole leader of this team. Doc Rivers is a fine young coach but if this team wants to make noise in the east they are going to have to make some moves.
4. New York Knicks (43-39)
The Larry Brown road trip has finally hit his hometown of New York and this is exactly what the Knicks really need. Being a Piston fan I learned first hand how much of a teacher Larry Brown can be, and that’s a good thing for a team like this. This young team is going to learn how to “play the right way.” The Knicks had two nice pickups this year in Q. Richardson and Eddy Curry. Richardson gives the Knicks another outside threat but he will have to assert himself much more since he won’t have Steve Nash penetrating and dishing. Richardson is a strong 3 and can post smaller 3’s up downlow, Larry Brown will find his strengths and utilize them. Curry gives them that inside post threat, but that’s all Curry gives. His defense and rebounding is atrocious. The Knicks might possibly be the worst rebounding team in the NBA. Marbury will have his up and downs with Brown but he is one of two guys in NBA history to average 20 points and 8 assists for his career and I believe he will continue to put up these stats. A move to shooting guard may give Brown his AI and Rip to be the catalyst of this offense. The Knicks also received Nate Robinson from the Suns on a draft night trade. Robinson will bring excitement in his first year but some are praising this guy as the Knick savior which is far off. As a person who roots for the Knicks I hope LB comes in and turns this team around, if Curry stays healthy and Marbury and Brown mesh this team can be a force in the East and this record will be bumped up a bit more.
5. Toronto Raptors (30-52)
The Raptors are just a team with no direction. GM Rob Babbock seems to have absolutely no clue on how to run a basketball team. With their lottery pick they chose a 4 in Charlie Villanueva. The pick could be justified but when you have an upcoming star in Chris Bosh playing the same position it is certainly a head scratcher. With young guards like Gerald Green, Danny Granger, and Antoine Wright still available the pick was pure stupidity. This pick ranks right there with the idiotic pick of Rafel Arujo. I do give credit where it’s deserved, the recent trade of Mike James for Rafer Alston is a nice deal for Toronto though, James is a hard nosed defender and doesn’t moan and groan like Rafer. Jalen Rose will help this team put points on the board but other then that another lottery is in site for this team next year. The team better surround Bosh with talent or he’ll be heading back to the states in no time.
The Southwest Division will be coming up in the near future....
