Indiana Pacers
The preseason word in Indiana is that Mike Dunleavy is thriving under new head coach Jim O'Brien and the system (particularly the offensive philosophy) that he has brought to the team. O'Brien's offense features a lot more motion and emphasizes liberal three point shooting. Dunleavy should see an increased role in this offense, especially as a facilitator. Really, the only thing that can derail him this season is another Ira Newble kick to the face.
Ideally, the Pacers will be able to significantly integrate Ike Diogu and Shawne Williams into the rotation. The continued development of the underrated Danny Granger will be critical to the team's postseason chances.
The Pacers are one of many teams in the East that are quietly stockpiling quality young players and setting themselves up for long-term contention.
Get excited about: A refreshingly up-tempo offense, ESPN talking heads potentially re-evaluating the Jackson/Harrington for Dunleavy/Murphy/Diogu swap.
Also, the inevitable early struggles of a team working out the kinks of a brand new offense.
Chicago Bulls
Scrapper Nation is probably unaware that the Scrapper is a passionate Bulls fan and that I am a very dedicated Miami Heat fan. Consequently, we have a vast difference of opinion when it comes to the current Chicago Bulls roster. I'll swallow my pride (and revulsion) and admit that this Bulls team is looking very good.
The franchise has built a squad which prides itself on work ethic and playing with passion. Nowhere do these admirable traits find better expression than in the persona of their fiendish imp of a head coach, Scott Skiles, who was once punched by Shaq. The addition of Joakim Noah should immediately pay dividends for the Bulls.
Of course, what the Bulls really need to do is grow a pair and do whatever is necessary to bring Kobe to Chicago.
Get excited about: Deng continuing his meteoric ascent, Tyrus Thomas frequenting the SportsCenter Top Ten, Joakim Noah's seersucker suits.
Milwaukee Bucks
Ah, Milwaukee. The city forever immortalized by Wayne Campbell, Garth Algar, and Alice Cooper in the epic film Wayne's World. It was once thought that at the moment of that film's release, Milwaukee as a city had reached its ultimate peak. For those of you wallowing in the glorious memories of the past, I bring good tidings: Milwaukee is on the rise again! Swig your beers and eat your cheeses!
This summer, Bucks GM Larry Harris somehow ($$$) convinced Mo Williams to stay in Milwaukee despite an aggressive courtship by Pat Riley and the Heat. As a consolation prize, the Heat offered disgruntled Bucks guard Charlie Bell an offer sheet. To the shock of all involved, Bell himself foremost, Harris matched the offer sheet, keeping Bell in Milwaukee for years to come.
On top of this, the Bucks drafted the biggest enigma in the draft, Yi Jianlian, despite his insistence that he did not want to play in Milwaukee. With Bogut and Villanueva both benefiting from a summer's worth of training, and complementary pieces falling in around Michael Redd, this is another serious playoff contender on the right track.
Get excited about: Mo Williams making more plays like the one shown in the YouTube clip below, Michael Redd lighting it up, Bogut's passing game, having your own 'Coach K' on the sidelines.
Detroit Pistons
As a Heat fan, this is another tough situation for me. As much as I don't want to admit it, this Pistons team has made terrific decisions (in the interest of brevity I'm giving them a temporary mulligan for Darko) in recent years, and Joe Dumars has done a terrific job of keeping this team competitive while being fiscally responsible.
Letting Ben Wallace walk turned out to be a great call, and I really like the draft the Pistons had this year, adding Rodney Stuckey (to some, a young Dwyane Wade) and Arron Afflalo to their backcourt. Pistons fans should look forward to yet another year of consistency. They'll be near the top of the pack in the East when all is said and done.
UPDATE: Just read on ESPN that Stuckey broke his hand in Wednesday night's preseason game against the Wizards. What a shame. Here's hoping it will only be a minor setback.
Get excited about: Stuckey infusing the backcourt rotation with some youth and athleticism, Rasheed hopefully performing an encore of the YouTube Jingle Bells remix featured below.
Cover your eyes so you don't have to see: Rasheed sitting on the bench in a suit during the playoffs after being suspended due to exceeding the league's soft cap for technical fouls.
Can Cleveland repeat as Eastern Conference champions? Most people don't think so. I agree with most people. I thought that everything went right for the Cavs in last year's playoffs, from the match-ups (Washington instead of Chicago in the first round) to Lebron's inability to miss during the fourth quarter and OT period of Game 5 against Detroit.The Cavs haven't made any noise in an offseason which has been highly eventful for most of their Eastern competition. With that being said, they will enter each game they play with a clear advantage: the fact that they have Lebron and the other team doesn't. Even if he doesn't improve they will always be a force to be reckoned with.
Odds are, however, that Lebron will continue to mature as a player and work on the few flaws in his game to become, sooner rather than later, the best player in the NBA.
Get excited about: getting to watch Lebron night in and night out, Varejao's hustle, Larry Hughes' tattoos.
Cover your eyes so you don't have to see: Drew Gooden's back of the head soulpatch, Damon Jones struggling to contribute in limited minutes.
Note: the caption for this image last year might've been: "We did it!!"
This year it will probably read: "Damnit!!! Why couldn't we trade you?!?! I should've bought you out myself!"
On Friday: The Southeast Division (Atlanta, Orlando, Washington, Charlotte, Miami)
10 comments:
How the hell did Lebron and Boobie get in that position?
I'm pretty sure thats Damon Jones. Looks like a savage attack to me.
Charlie, Charlie! Fine article my boy!
The Bucks suck. They might squeak in to the playoffs but they definetly won't be a factor.
Also, I think this is the year Detroit goes backwards a little bit. Chauncey looked old this summer in international play and I forsee a long-term suspension coming Rasheed's way.
Is Drew Gooden retarded?
Your analysis about the Pacers is ridiculous and insulting. Terrible.
well most "experts" wont pick the bucks in the playoffs cuz they are not a "sexy" pick. They will choose boston, with three great players but no pg and no bench and pierce, kg, and allen wont play 48 minutes, but they will make the playoffs as a top three seed because no one in that division will stop them. the experts will go with pistons even though they are much older and on the decline. they will pick the caves because of lebron and of no one else (the caves better hope lebron doesnt get hurt or else its a 20 win season). They will pick the wiz for agent 00 and thats it they dont have that great of a team. They will go with the nets who are a good team but have injury problems all over. Toronto is a good pick they are young and play the style there pg can best be utilized.
i think the bucks will be a 6th 7th or 8th seed. we dont have good depth and i think that will hurt us.
my full playoff seeds are
1 Boston
2.Pistons
3.Heat
4.Nets
5.Toronto
6.Bucks
7.Cavs
8.Chicago (they are a good team but very over-rated, or i just hate them lol)
BRING SHAWN BACK! your column is AWESOME!!! haha
-Sarah
isnt the world series going on now? does anybody even care about the nba regular season? or the nba playoffs?
Good defense by the Chicago Bulls drama boys, if only we could patch up the difference, this will be a Chicago good season. They are running, switching in defense, rebounding see those efforts. We don't have yet the Bulls team down.
I which I could see some Bulls games live. I was looking for tickets all the good seats on ticketmaster were taken I had to check broker. And man you don’t want to do that especially for the Chicago Bulls. Thanks god there sites like Ticketwood which work as comparators here is the site
Bulls Tickets
http://www.ticketwood.com/nba/Chicago-Bulls-Tickets.php.
I like slam dunks that take me to the hoop my favorite play is the ally-hoop,
I like the pic n roll,i like the given goal its basketball yo, yo lets go!
Go Bulls Go!!!
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