Today could be one of the best days ever
Why? Two reasons: 1. Tonight is the beginning of CMJ Music Marathon, for which i have attained a badge, free of charge.
2. The start of the NBA season, for which i will (most likely) deviate from music to write about throughout the season. Since no games have started yet, i'm still game to make some (not so) expert predictions for the upcoming season. Expect some CMJ updates this week.
These predictions are dedicated to Bryan Gattis.
Eastern Conference
Atlantic Division: New Jersey Nets. Kind of by default - i don't expect them to win more than 44 games, but this division is so weak that you have to pick them. i think the Celts and the Raptors should probably be better teams with their depth and talent, but they each have an achilles heel: for the C's, it's Doc Rivers, one of the most confounding coaches in the league. Seemingly with no confidence in a single player on his team other than Paul Pierce, he lacks the leadership or consistency to coax this team into a division title. For the Raps, it's inexperience. Give it two years and some of these Euro dudes (Bargnani, Parker, Garbajosa, Calderon) are going to be studs. And don't forget a guy named Bosh. TJ Ford is pretty slick too. But it needs time.
Central Division: Detroit Pistons. The toughest division in the league got tougher with every team being all around solid. But why bet against the Stones? Losing an aging Ben Wallace frees up the offense to move and they still have some lock down defenders in Chauncey Billups and Tayshaun Prince. Look for Jason Maxiell to make an impact.
Southeast Division: Miami Heat. Defending champs. Shaq. Wade. They won't win the conference because they tend to cruise a little bit in the regular season, but that's just to gear up for the regular season. And with a division that includes Atlanta and Charlotte, that's going to be okay.
And so the playoff 8 will go:
1. Detroit Pistons
2. Miami Heat
3. New Jersey Nets
4. Cleveland Cavaliers
5. Chicago Bulls
6. Toronto Raptors
7. Orlando Magic
8. Washington Wizards
Western Conference
Northwest Division: Denver Nuggets. The weakest division out west has a lot of possibilities. With health, Utah becomes a contender, if Randy Foye plays like a ROY then the Timberwolves have a shot, and if the Sonics can somehow learn how to play defense, then i'd take them. But the Nuggets have the best point in the division in Andre Miller, the best wing in the division in 'Melo, and a deep (albeit injury prone) frontcourt: Camby, Nene, Kenyon Martin.
Pacific Division: Phoenix Suns. Can't bet against 'em. Even if Amare is ineffective, they still have the reigning 2-time MVP in Nash, and one of the deepest frontcourts in all of ball with Marion (most underrated player in the league?), Diaw, and Kurt Thomas. The kids are just gonna get better too: Marcus Banks and Leandro Barbosa stabilize the point when Nash rests and Raja Bell is tough as nails. Plus the league keeps getting smaller and faster, just like the Suns like it.
Southwest: San Antonio Spurs. Toughest division out west even if Memphis falls off like i expect. NO/OK got serious about winning, Dallas got deeper, and (supposedly) T-Mac and Yao are healthy. Plus Houston added playoff stud Bonzi Wells and consumate teammate do-it-all guy in Shane Battier. But consistency wins, and even though the Spurs are getting older, i expect that veteran savvy combined with the poise of Tony Parker to get them the division crown. Even though they won't be bringing home any hardware this year.
The playoff 8 out west:
1. Phoenix Suns
2. San Antonio Spurs
3. Denver Nuggets
4. Dallas Mavericks
5. Los Angeles Clippers
6. Houston Rockets
7. Los Angeles Lakers
8. NO/OK Hornets
Conference Finals? In the east, it's Pistons over Heat and out west it's Phoenix over Dallas. Small ball is back and it suits the Suns just fine: the absence of Ben Wallace means the defense is good, but not Big Ben good and there's no one on the Pistons to counter Amare and Marion. Phoenix brings home it's first title over the Pistons in 7.
MVP: LeBron James. It's going to be tough for Steve to repeat again, especially with the return of Amare and Kurt Thomas from injuries. And as long as Wade has Shaq, he probably won't win it. Tim Duncan is still the best player in the game, but he's declining, and the team is Tony's this year. And KG misses the playoffs, again. Outside shot: Chauncey Billups.
That's all kids, enjoy the season. Check back in June to rub it in my face when all of this goes wrong.
2. The start of the NBA season, for which i will (most likely) deviate from music to write about throughout the season. Since no games have started yet, i'm still game to make some (not so) expert predictions for the upcoming season. Expect some CMJ updates this week.
These predictions are dedicated to Bryan Gattis.
Eastern Conference
Atlantic Division: New Jersey Nets. Kind of by default - i don't expect them to win more than 44 games, but this division is so weak that you have to pick them. i think the Celts and the Raptors should probably be better teams with their depth and talent, but they each have an achilles heel: for the C's, it's Doc Rivers, one of the most confounding coaches in the league. Seemingly with no confidence in a single player on his team other than Paul Pierce, he lacks the leadership or consistency to coax this team into a division title. For the Raps, it's inexperience. Give it two years and some of these Euro dudes (Bargnani, Parker, Garbajosa, Calderon) are going to be studs. And don't forget a guy named Bosh. TJ Ford is pretty slick too. But it needs time.
Central Division: Detroit Pistons. The toughest division in the league got tougher with every team being all around solid. But why bet against the Stones? Losing an aging Ben Wallace frees up the offense to move and they still have some lock down defenders in Chauncey Billups and Tayshaun Prince. Look for Jason Maxiell to make an impact.
Southeast Division: Miami Heat. Defending champs. Shaq. Wade. They won't win the conference because they tend to cruise a little bit in the regular season, but that's just to gear up for the regular season. And with a division that includes Atlanta and Charlotte, that's going to be okay.
And so the playoff 8 will go:
1. Detroit Pistons
2. Miami Heat
3. New Jersey Nets
4. Cleveland Cavaliers
5. Chicago Bulls
6. Toronto Raptors
7. Orlando Magic
8. Washington Wizards
Western Conference
Northwest Division: Denver Nuggets. The weakest division out west has a lot of possibilities. With health, Utah becomes a contender, if Randy Foye plays like a ROY then the Timberwolves have a shot, and if the Sonics can somehow learn how to play defense, then i'd take them. But the Nuggets have the best point in the division in Andre Miller, the best wing in the division in 'Melo, and a deep (albeit injury prone) frontcourt: Camby, Nene, Kenyon Martin.
Pacific Division: Phoenix Suns. Can't bet against 'em. Even if Amare is ineffective, they still have the reigning 2-time MVP in Nash, and one of the deepest frontcourts in all of ball with Marion (most underrated player in the league?), Diaw, and Kurt Thomas. The kids are just gonna get better too: Marcus Banks and Leandro Barbosa stabilize the point when Nash rests and Raja Bell is tough as nails. Plus the league keeps getting smaller and faster, just like the Suns like it.
Southwest: San Antonio Spurs. Toughest division out west even if Memphis falls off like i expect. NO/OK got serious about winning, Dallas got deeper, and (supposedly) T-Mac and Yao are healthy. Plus Houston added playoff stud Bonzi Wells and consumate teammate do-it-all guy in Shane Battier. But consistency wins, and even though the Spurs are getting older, i expect that veteran savvy combined with the poise of Tony Parker to get them the division crown. Even though they won't be bringing home any hardware this year.
The playoff 8 out west:
1. Phoenix Suns
2. San Antonio Spurs
3. Denver Nuggets
4. Dallas Mavericks
5. Los Angeles Clippers
6. Houston Rockets
7. Los Angeles Lakers
8. NO/OK Hornets
Conference Finals? In the east, it's Pistons over Heat and out west it's Phoenix over Dallas. Small ball is back and it suits the Suns just fine: the absence of Ben Wallace means the defense is good, but not Big Ben good and there's no one on the Pistons to counter Amare and Marion. Phoenix brings home it's first title over the Pistons in 7.
MVP: LeBron James. It's going to be tough for Steve to repeat again, especially with the return of Amare and Kurt Thomas from injuries. And as long as Wade has Shaq, he probably won't win it. Tim Duncan is still the best player in the game, but he's declining, and the team is Tony's this year. And KG misses the playoffs, again. Outside shot: Chauncey Billups.
That's all kids, enjoy the season. Check back in June to rub it in my face when all of this goes wrong.
posted by todd at 16:37
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