2010-2011 NBA Power Rankings (Pre-Season)

1.)  Who else deserves the #1 Ranking?  Phil Jackson looks to go for a record 3rd 3 peat, and Kobe should primed to match MJ's ring count at 6.  New additions of Steve Blake and Matt Barnes wont hurt but Bynum must be healthy.

2.) The C's are loaded!  How many teams have a second unit that can possibly beat your 1st team?  Shaq is in Gang Green and should be a force in a limited role.  They figured it out late last year, I wouldn't be surprised if they make a deep playoff run again.

3.) The new big 3 have only logged in 3 minutes of action this pre-season.  With Wade sidelined until the opener, they are not deserving of a #1 or #2 spot.  However, once we get to see 3 future Hall of Farmer's on the court at the same time, all in their prime..well then we will
                    reevaluate. 

4.) Compared to other teams Disneyland had a pretty quiet offseason.  Duhon is the new backup point guard and JJ Reddick will push Vince Carter for minutes but everything else is the same. 

5.) I don't know why but I like the Mavs.  They made some positive pickups in the offseason in Chandler, and Beaubois should provide a spark each night. Dirk has to be Dirk almost every night though, but they have the pieces.

6.) Kevin Durant is the trendy pick this year to win the MVP.  Is he ready?  He looked ready in the summer helping the USA to a gold in the Worlds.  His teammates outside of Westbrook and Harden look shaky.  The Lakers wont take them lightly again -- see Denver 2 seasons ago.

7.) Chicago missed out on the Big free agents but they settled for Carlos Boozer.  He is a double double waiting to happen and should pair up good with Noah on the boards.  Just cant help but think about Boozer, Melo and Rose on the same team.  Hmm...

8.) The Jazz acquired Al Jefferson who was a beast in Minnesota to replace Carlos Boozer.  Can he do that on a winning team?  I think he can, and the Jazz should hover around the 5th seed in the West.  They will be no easy pushover come playoff time.

9.) The Spurs are missing something, and that something may be the talented center Splitter who they selected to pair up with Duncan.  Coach Pop vows to insert the running game this year, makes since to get some easy buckets. 

10.) Jennings and company put a 1st round scare in the Hawks without center Andrew Bogut.  That was a favorable match up for them, and I don't expect them to win a series this year or their division.  Teams will be ready for the Deer. 

11.) Is this the year that Greg Oden stays healthy the entire season?  If Oden can stay on the court then they will be trouble.  Rudy Fernandez wants out, but you cant tell when hes on the floor, as he looks like a 6th man of the year shoe-in so far this preseason.  Oh yeah and Brandon Roy is still there. 

12.)  They played so hard down the stretch last year without Yao, imagine how dangerous they will be with him.  They lack perimeter defense with Kevin Martin at the 2, but Courtney Lee and rookie Patrick Patterson should make immediate impacts. 

13.) The Suns will take a step back this year in my opinion.  Sure they have Nash and a happy go lucky offense but Hakim Warrick is no Amare.  Good to see Hedo back on a team with a shot, but they will fall short of the playoffs in the competitive Western Conference.

14.) If Mel were actually going to be in Denver the whole season then they would be ranked higher.  C'mon he is in a NY state of mind and they need to pull the trigger on this trade sooner than later if they want to have a chance at the post season.

15.) Amare looks like the man for the Knicks and rightfully so..but I want Melo in NY!  Nuff said..

16.) The Hawks have made no significant upgrades this offseason so they should be satisfied with making the playoffs and bowing out in the second round...again.  (Yes I'm upset and I live in ATL)

17.) I really like their young nucleus of talent in Mayo, Gay and Thabeet.  Z-Bo is a monster and if Thabeet can figure it out on the fly this year then they will be a threat out West.  I like them to make an OKC type run this year.

18.) The Elton Brand signing 2 summers ago never made any sense, and it still doesn't today.  Too many athletes built around and old classic .  This team lack identity but they do have some talent in AI2, Holiday and Turner.

 

19.) The Bobcats signed Shaun Livingston and Kwame Brown and lost their starting point guard in Raymond Felton.  They will not make the playoffs and Brown will likely ride into the sunset either mid-season or at the end. 

20.) Can you blame CP3 for wanting to leave N.O?  They brought in Ariza but I'm not sure that will be enough.  After Melo jumps to NY then New Orleans will have a troubled star on their hands. 

21.) They have loads of young talent in Wall, Blatche and McGee.  Once you factor in the unknowns of Josh Howard, and of course Gilbert Arenas you have either a sleeper team or a combustible one. 

22.) The Clippers should be ready to make a run at the playoffs with Blake Griffin looking every bit like the ROY.  I expect them to lose a lot of close games, but they will play hard each night.

23.) Golden State has a solid nucleus of talent in Curry, Lee, and Ellis.  However, gone are the other good talents such as Randolph, and Morrow.  They wont make the playoffs but will be fun to watch.

24.)  I really like this team, and I will be personally pulling for them all season.  Tyreke Evans is a stud (Charles Barkley voice) and Cousins will be a force down low..add in their other reserves and you have a decent bunch that will compete every night.

25.) The Pacers are still in my opinion 1 year away from breaking through.  There are only 8 playoff spots (Technically only 4-Mia/Bos/Orl/Chi) and I don't see the Pacers grabbing any of those.

26.) Who is more dissapointed the players or the fans?  Byron Scott will make them competitive but thats about it. 

27.) Michael Beasley gets a fresh start in Minnesota and he looked sharp in the pre-season.  Sadly, the Wolves lost 20/10 Al Jefferson and that is a tough void to fill. 

28.)  Canada, Oh Canada!  No Bosh = No playoffs! 

 

 

 

29.)  They have no true identity..think about it?  A handful of players with no legitimate go to guy in the clutch.  Trade assets galore though, Joey D has got to make a splash in the Big D.

30.) The Nets have got to prove to the world that they are better.  If you think about it they have only added a 19 yr old unproven rookie -- Derrick Favors.  Lottery bound.

NBA Playoffs..So Far Part 1.

Guess Who's Back?

As Kanye West said "Hi Haters I'm back off Hiatus." Kanye

Oook, so since I last left you the NBA Playoffs have started and we learned a lot about some teams during that time. Such as the Dallas Mavericks; who spent a lot of money only to lose in the 1st round, no excuses for the Nuggets the Thunder Kids are growing up quicker than expected, and hopefully time will heal all wounds for the Blazers..literally. In the East a young Buck shined bright, while the Bulls took a step back, the Bobcats are still kittens and D-Wade needs help bad.

Here are my Round 2 Predictions:

Suns-Spurs

This series looks like the changing of the guard so far, with Duncan looking like a shell of his former self (before the 29 point game 2) Amare and Nash have a connection that looks to be unstoppable! Jason Richardson is more than a dunker and his hot shooting has helped propel Phoenix to a 3-0 series lead. Now I believe people are starting to understand why Amare and the Suns stayed put at the deadline. This team is dangerous and should handle the aging Spurs in 6 games.









Lakers-Jazz

Laker fans got more than they expected from the youthful Thunder, but it seems to have lit a fire in the Champs. Utah thus far are without supporting stars Okur and Kirelinko (Kobe Stopper?) and are down 0-3 against the Lakers with only 1 more game in Utah. Expect the Jazz to at least get 1 but I don't think they will win any in LA. Bynum and Gasol have dominated the inside, while Kobe and a rejuvenated Artest have been shooting lights out. The Champs are right where they are supposed to be 1 games away from the Western Finals.










Cavs-Celtics

I want to pick the Celtics to beat the Cavs in 6 and this was before the smashing in Game 2. With that being said I almost find it sacrilegious to go against King James. The C's are finally allowing Rondo to shine (the aging big 3 helps) and are reaping the rewards as he has been scorching the Cavs. Ultimately I do believe the Cavs will win the series but it will definitely go 7 games. The NBA wants the Lakers/Cavs in the finals but they forgot to tell Boston. This series will be a close one.








MAGIC-HAWKS

The Magic look like they are on a mission, and getting back to the Eastern Finals will be the easy part. With a 3-0 lead on the Hawks only 1 win separates them from going back to the East Finals. As for the Hawks there is nothing that needs to be said..they are not ready for Prime Time yet. Crawford was a huge pick up but their need for a big man of any kind is holding them back from taking the next step in their team maturation. Hopefully, they will go after a big man this off season to battle Dwight but it may be too little too late.

Top 10 NBA Storylines This Season

1. The Emergence of Kevin Durant.

The athletic small forward has pushed his game to the next level each year since he has been in the league, and this year should be no different. Coming off a stellar 08-09 season, Durant seems focused on translating his 25 points per game average into more wins for the city of Oklahoma. Most media/agents would rank Durant as the future of the game, but he is still no household name with the likes of LeBron, Wade, Melo, and even Dwight Howard. The dunk contest catupolted Superman II into the limelight and a trip to this years All-Star team could do wonders for Durant. It will be interesting to see how he and his teamates improve this season


2. Will A.I Fit In?

The Answer is back to prove all the Haters wrong, the only problem is he will be wearing a Grizzlies uniform. Personally I like the Grizz, on paper they have a nice collection of talent and youth but i'm not sure how many games they can win in the Wild West. First things first A.I has to start..right? That's why he's not in Motown anymore due to the fact he had to come off the bench. How does he fit into the Memphis organizations long term plans? I can see this ending ugly if the A.I of old comes out and tries to drop 50 every game while stunting the growth of Mayo and Gay. Or he could be the ultimate team player for half a season, and before Febuary get traded to the Lakers and win a ring with Kobe and the Lake Show. Now thats a stretch, but if it comes true just remember I said it first.

3. A Steph Curry and Monta Ellis Backcourt?

Monta Ellis publicly stated on media day that a backcourt of himself and rookie Steph Curry would not work. (See visual aid) His concerns are warranted, especially in the Western Conference where the likely matchups each night are Kobe Bryant, Manu Ginobli, Tracy McGrady ect. Those players, and many more would have a considerable height advantage over the 6'3 backcourt of Ellis and Curry, but the Warriors still have Don Nelson. The Originator of small ball with dating back to the Dallas days, Nelson will get the most out of the two headed monster of #8 and #30. Ellis may be right in the long run, but on media day when ticket sales are lagging thats not the best way to convince fans to show up.

4. 1 More For Duncan.

Tim Duncan can see the end of his career staring right back at him. I would say the window for the Spurs to win a title is 3 years, and you can tell that they are trying to do it NOW. The offseason aquisitions of Richard Jefferson and Antonio McDyess stress the urgency that the team has placed on winning this season. Duncan's numbers dipped slightly at the beginning of the season but he proved to be a force down the stretch leading the team into the postseason. Can the Spurs win one more for Duncan while the window is slightly cracked?

5. The Chase For 18.

The Boston Trio returns with a few new additions on their quest for the franchises 18th Titile. Will KG be healthy? Will Sheed fit in? Is Rhondo and Doc Rivers relationship ok? All of those questions will need to be answered correctly if the C's hope to raise another banner in 2010.

6. Hollywood Lights

The New Look Lakers will try to defend their title this season with Ron Artest and newlywed Lamar Odom. Both of theses stars have had an interseting last few months to say the least. Ron Ron has been courting the Lakers ever since his former team Houston was beaten by LA back in June. He was interviewed and photographed frequently during the Western Conference Finals on the sidelines living up the Hollywood Dream. Now he is in Purple and Yellow as a teamate to his greatest foe Kobe Bryant. Will it Work? Also, Lamar Odom wed month old girlfriend Khloe Kardashin at the same time his new clothing line "Rich Soil " was scheduled to be released. With all of these "distractions" in play how will the Lakers find time to Repeat?

7. The Big Witness Protection

Shaq's slogan this year is "Win 1 for the King!" The "King" LeBron James is in dire need of help after being booted out of the weak Eastern Conference by the Orlando Magic. The Magic wera a better team..in the paint, and adding Shaq proves to bolster the frontline this season. How much does the Big Diesel have left? Only time will tell, but Cleveland is hanging their hopes on a title being brought in to ensure that LeBron stays put in the summer of 2010.

8. D-Wade Needs Help

The man known as Flash put on quite a show last season boasting a career best in points (30.2) which lead the league in scoring. The Heat scrapped their way into the playoffs only to be dismantled by a hungry Atlanta Hawks team. Simply put, Wade needs help. 2nd year players Mario Chalmbers and Michael Beasely played well last year, but they are not consistent #2 options alongside Wade, or at least not yet. Beasely underwent rehab in the offseason and should be ready to contribute again this year. I expect Boozer to be traded to the Heat sometime this offseason, or the Jazz risk letting him walk in the Summer of 2010. This would be an attractive piece to the puzzle to keep Wade in South Beach in the hopes of adding 1 more superstar like LeBron, or Amare.

9. The Return of Tracy McGrady

T-Mac is Back and sporting a new number (#3) to mark the change in his game and life. This year McGrady did a tour of Darfur in an attempt to raise awareness of the war stricken country. The Houston Rockets have made a few changes since he last took the court; Yao is lost for the season, and Artest was virtually swaped for swingman Trevor Ariza. The Rockets are full of hustle players that will claw their way into the playoffs, but the monkey is squarely on T-Mac to get out of the 1st round, something that the team accomplished with him on the sideline nursing an injury last season. So it is his cross to bear, and one that he knows all to well dating back to his days in Orlando. I don't think the Rockets can escape another 1st round exit this year, but I will settle for a healthy T-Mac all year long. Good Luck #3.

10. Rookies

The Rookie class is always a topic of discussion during the regular season. This season the headliner is #1 overall pick Blake Griffin. Can he lead the Clipps back into the playoffs? Steph Curry is already a household name and should see significant playing time in Golden State. Hasheem Thabeet will be a nice addition in Memphis and Ricky Rubio decided to stay in Spain but his rights still remain with Minnesotta. Could this years class hold some future Hall of Famers? It wil be years before that question is answered but I'll take my chances on Blake Griffin being the Rookie of the Year.

Peace,

Agent34

40 Games..40 Nights Round 2

The first round of the NBA Playoffs are in the books and there was not too many surprises, other than the young Chicago Bulls giving the world champs all they could handle. I went perfect in the 1st round (check earlier post predictions) and I think I have the 2nd round figured out as well. Check out my pics and let me know if you see things differently.

Cleveland -VS- Atlanta

This will either be a competitive homestand for each team or a blowout sweep by the Cavs. The new MVP of the NBA LeBron James, will have his team geared up at home and I don't see the Hawks winning a game in Cleveland. However, the Hawks are in rhythm after beating the Heat and could possibly, possibly catch Cleveland napping in Game 1. But, that's not going to happen. Its hard to ignore how well the Hawks play at home, and I do believe they can win 1 if not 2 in Atlanta. Josh Smith has been huge at home (20ppg) and awful on the road (11.0) so we will see how he adapts to this series. Joe Johnson will be the key to getting the Hawks going out of the gate, and if he gets hot from the 3 point line this could be an interesting series.

Prediction: 4-2 Cavaliers

Boston -VS- Orlando

The NBA's Defensive POY Dwight Howard looks to lead his Magic Men past the champs. Can they do it? Umm, I'm going to say NO! The Magic have a good team, and they have pushed themselves into contention in the East with their record alone. However, the Boston Celtics are on a roll (Ray Allen) and the role players such as Scalabrine and Big Baby are growing up fast. The playoffs are all about match ups and there are two key ones to watch. With Courtney Lee out for the season, JJ Reddick will be the starting 2 guard that will have the task of cooling down Ray Allen. Nuff said. The second match up is Glen "Big Baby" Davis on Rashard Lewis. This could go either way, because Davis has size wight on Lewis, but Rashard likes to step out on the perimeter so Davis will have to adjust his game. Rondo and Skip will be an interesting match up and also Hedo Turkoglu and Paul Pierce is another one to watch. I don't see the Magic beating the Celtics at home, and look for a KG sighting somewhere near the middle of this series..mark my words he will return.

Prediction: 4-3 Celtics

Los Angeles -VS- Houston

Why Ron Why? Why did you say "Brandon Roy is the toughest player I've ever guarded" Hmm Really! Well there is this guy named Kobe Bryant who takes everything to heart, and I'm sure he heard those comments. Not only was that directed at him Ron gave him a challenge by saying "He's the only player to ever score 40 on me." Well guess what, you want it you got it. The Lakers are no longer a 1 man band and should beat the Rockets in 5 games. One big key for the Lakers will be the health of Andrew Bynum whom they will need to help stifle Yao Ming in the paint. Kobe will get his, but how well will reserves Shannon Brown, Lamar Odom, Luke Walton, and Trevor Ariza play? The games will be competitive and sometimes chippy, but it will live up to the hype.

Prediction: 4-1 Lakers

Dallas -VS- Denver

Its time for people to start taking the Nuggets as serious contenders for the title. They play excellent defense and their offense is one of the best in the league. Carmelo Anthony is emerging as a star in the media while leading his team into the semi's of the Western Conference Playoffs. I like the Nuggets (as if you can;t tell) to not only beat the Mavs, but also rival the Lakers in the Conference Finals. J.R Smith is a lights out shooter, meaning he can shoot lights out, or shoot you out. Lol. That will be something Coach George Carl will have to monitor closely, but its a great commodity coming off the bench. Chauncey Billups will be the floor general in this series as everyone seems to relish their role on this team. Denver swept the season series 4-0 and I only have them losing 1 game. Sorry Dallas.

Prediction: 4-1 Nuggets


Peace,
Agent34

A New Star is Born!

WELCOME BACK!















Last week the news of the Knicks and Stephon Marbury reaching a buyout swept through the league and we all knew what was coming next. Less than 48 hours later Starbury made his debut with the Boston Celtics donning Antwoine Walkers old number 8 jersey.

Marbury made his debut against the Celtics scoring 8pts in 13mins and helped key the C's to a win over Indiana. The next game did not go as planned as he failed to score against the Pistons and was ripped at half court twice in 4 mins by Will Bynum of the Detroit Pistons. Clearly, Marbury is not in tip top shape after not playing in 6 months for an NBA team but he is showing flashes of his former self. In the 2nd quarter he took 1 dribble in the lane and fired a no look pass to Leon Powe for an-and-1. The pass was so crisp and fast that the camera guy (on ABC) missed it, and it wasn't clear how Powe got the ball until the replay was shown .

The reunion of KG and Steph has yet to be realized with the Big Ticket sidelined with an injury. Once he comes back, will the magic automatically return to Starbury? If he can somehow turn into the efficient scoring machine and still keep the other Big 3 players happy then the Celtics might cut down another banner this year. Some say that Steph will eventually explode and ruin the team chemistry, but I disagree. I believe this is the 1st (maybe 2nd) time in his career where he has a legit chance of getting out of the first round. Not only winning a series but also a true shot at a championship, and who better to do it with than the person whom he began his career with.