The USA stayed healthy, and a few more questions that had nothing to do with USA's Olympic performance were answered. There were a few injuries worthy of note, and I am sure a couple of GM's are pissed/worried right now: Jose Calderon and Manu Ginobli being the most notable. I would imagine neither is serious enough to seep into the NBA regular season, but you never know...especially since Manu seemed to aggravate a pre-existing injury.
Anyway, I wanted to keep it short and simple....make a few statements, predictions, and whatever else you would like to call them...
1-Not only is D-Wade back, but he's better than ever. Wade looked great...he didn't lose a step, he didn't turn the ball over like he was last year, and lo' and behold....he developed his shot! Kid went 3 for 4 from beyond the arc in the Gold Medal game, and hit a fair share of mid-range jumpers throughout the tournament. To top it off, he can still jump out of the gym! He had this one explosion to the basket where he got a rebound, took one step and tried to dunk with two hands...he got fouled and did not make it, but I swore it was LeBron that had done, until I looked again. All you nay-sayers from last year, and pre-Olympics....Bud Light...SUCK ONE!
2-The Blazers will be this year's Hornets. Portland will win their division over Utah and Denver--Did you see Rudy Fernandez? Dwight Howard, you better go to every poster shop and buy out the stock because every kid in Portland is gonna want that on their wall. It was damn near 5 in the AM here when that happened, and I about woke the neighborhood up...NASTY! Aside from Fernandez, with Roy, a healthy Oden whom I have been hearing great things about...LaMarcus Aldridge, and a group of complementary young players whom seemed poised to embrace their roles, the Blazers will be a force to be reckoned with...all season.
3-The Timberwolves will be this year's Portland. This does not derive from anything Olympic-related, but just an observation. Al Jefferson showed great promise last year, putting up above average numbers for a big man. They added Mike Miller who will be happy to have a big man to play the inside-out game with, and Kevin Love (sorry I had Mayo on the mind, but Love in the heart, lol) CAN be a good player...that is TBD.
4-The Mavs will miss the playoffs. There is just no room in the west; Jason Kidd looked HORRIBLE at the Olympics. It seemed like every time he was on the court, bad things happened. He made very few effective passes...he picked up his dribble too early, and he was vastly outshined by the other two young point guards, D-Will and CP3. Dirk showed that he can't make a significant difference, with his Germany team serving as a doormat during pool play in Beijing. I already expected a drop off when AJ left the bench, but now I have even more reason to be skeptical.
5-The Olympics run couldn't have come at a better time for the NBA. David Stern should kiss Colangelo's feet right now. At a time when there are grumblings of a mass exodus of young NBA talent overseas, the re-establishment of American Basketball as the best in the world can only help. Nothing tugs at loyalty strings like a high dose of patriotism...but is that pull stronger than that of the Euro? Stay tuned.
6-The Lakers will win it all. I am no Lakers fan, nor would I even like this prediction to come true, but Pau Gasol looked good, they didn't lose any significant pieces, and Kobe just got a lesson in what can happen if he quits acting like a #### all the time, bonds with his teammates, and plays within the flow of the game. The Celtics lost Posey, and I think Boston fans are underestimating the impact that will have as far as a 7-game series with the Lakers or Cavs is concerned. Even if Bynum is just alright, I like their chances.
7-The Spurs will be one of the bottom 3 seeds. Say what you will, if you take offense to this you're probably a Spurs fan and have the delusion that your roster is laden with immortals.
8-The Heat will make the playoffs. See 1. Also, Mario Chalmers, Michael Beasley, and Shawn Marion/whoever we may trade Marion for. Expect the Heat to be a new version of the Run-and-Gun-Suns.
9-Dwight Howard is soff like feather pillow. Yes he can slam the hell out of the ball, but he is over 7 feet. The kid is either poorly coached, or lacks consistent intensity. Sometimes he shows flashes of a young-Shaq, and others he looks like Kwame Brown...ok that is a bit extreme, but you catch my drift. If he learned how to assert himself in the post and on the boards like he SHOULD be able to with his physical gifts....he can be a 30 and 15 guy....EASY.
10-The Pistons will not win the division, and Conference Finals streak will end. Poor choice for coach; personnel changes needed, none made so far. McDyess was nice, but can he do it twice? Sheed was not the same either, and Billups is no longer a top-5 PG in the league. Rip cannot carry an offense...enough said.
Great blog. I tend to agree with you about Portland now after seeing Fernandez. Whew. If Oden is just solid they're going to smoke that division possibly.
I think you had a typo there since Mayo went to Memphis.
I was very disapointed in Howard. I thought he was stronger than that.
And Dwayne Wade was the highlight film of the Olympic squad wasn't he? I had the Heat in 8th but after seeing how well he is and with Marion? Move em on up.
Thanks Nique, I don't know what I was thinking. I almost see the Wolves and Grizzlies as one big smorgasbord of bad, interchangeable almost. Though I definitely think Min is looking up, while the Grizz will be the doormat for a decade into the future.
SRMgenius
This was a great win for the US and bodes well for the next Olympics in my hometown.
The players who impressed me the most were Wade , Bryant and Deron Williams on the US team.
I concur with the fact that Howard had a torrid time in Beijing. I think that boils down to inexperience at the inaternational level.
As to Spain Fernandez has shown that he'll be a dependable player for the Blazers once the starts . And with that complement of players on that roster of their's. They are going to be a force to be reckoned with in the West.
I don't agree with you concerning the Heat. As I do feel that they'll initially struggle. And at the same time with Spoelstra at the helm. I do believe that there'll be problems for the team. I'm not enamored with the fact that they'll entrust the point to Jason Williams.
The guy is a moment away from being put down like a horse.
See my two most recent posts within this forum and let me know what you think as to their merits ? I'll look forward to reading your comments as and when you're ready. Just click on the link(site) to view.
Tophatal, I think J-Will is with the Clippers now. It's gonna be Chalmers and whatever veteran we bring in, I imagine Wade may handle the ball a bit initially. I actually think the coaching change will have the opposite effect, likewhen Stan Van Gundy took over for Riley. Spoelstra will have them playing well and happy, and then Riley will pull a Favre, and I can only hope Mickey Arrison pulls a Thompson
SRMgenius
Did that happen recently ?
As it had to have been as I'd not heard about prior to me leaving for the UK.
I still think however that the team'll struggle not only because of inexperience but also with a first time coach as Spoelstra who'll struggle a great deal acclimatizing with the team. And at the same time he's got to be worried with Riley who'll be looking over his shoulder.
well tophat, I have only this to present as my argument....Dwyane Wade at full strength is one of the 3 best players in the NBA along with LeBron and Kobe, Kobe and LeBron, name me a top-5 player in the NBA who did not get his team to the playoffs despite being healthy.
Last edited by SRMgenius on August 25th at 1:21 PM.
Great rundown SRM. I completely concur. The Heat will do a 360 and make the playoffs.
If everything clicks for Portland, I see them being as high as #2 in the West. That team looks scary. And my Lakers have had trouble with them the last couple years.
The thing about Dirk and the Mavs is that the entire team is soft. Can you believe they resigned sorry-aass Devean George. Goes to show you how mediocre that franchise is.
I don't know about the Spurs being a bottom 3 seed. I still have Phoenix, the Clippers, and Denver as a bottom three. I have this strange feeling San Antonio will make a very important acquisition by the trade deadline.
You hit the nail on the head with Dwight Howard. Everyone thinks he's the best center in the game but he's never really developed his footwork or postgame. They have Patrick Ewing mentoring him yet he can't even develop a 15-footer, which was Ewing's specialty. Bynum overtakes Howard this year as best center in the game.
SRM,
Nice post! I agree with you as well about D. Howard. With as many soft players that come from european teams he looked even softer.
Also I have to say the USA team better feel lucky both D-Wade and Kobe were on that team. Sure LeBrick looked good at times but D-Wade was consistant the whole time. As for Kobe if not for his assault towrds the stretch of the gold medal game Spain might have won.
Love your Lakers prediction, from your pen to God's ears!
I'm hoping Kobe preaches the defensive gospel, that's what set the medal-winners apart from the competition, even when there were periods of over-dribbling, etc.
Absolutely Wade is top 3, I pray he remains uninjured, no doubt they make the playoffs if so.
This will be another supremely competitive year in the west, it will probably come down to the last game again for the top seed!
I was surprised you didn't mention the 76ers, they will be the East's most improved team, and if the injury bug bites Boston they could win the division.
Last edited by nba is the worst on August 25th at 4:53 PM.
You are totally right about the Olympics boosting the NBA's image around the world. Nice observation.
Like you, I think Posey's loss is underrated. Plus, I love Garnett, but I can't see him or Allen playing as hungry this year.
I've written this before: the Lakers' kryptonite is the Portland Trailblazers. The Lakers won't make it out of the west if they have to play Portland.
Some teams are just match up problems for other teams. For instance, even though the Mavs had never beaten the Warriors a couple of years ago, everyone assumed the Mavs would get by them no problem. Well, if there were no problems, they'd have beat them in the regular season at least once.
The Lakers have had a hard time with the Blazers 2 years in a row now, and even though Bynum should be healthy now, I just don't see Bynum compensating for the new talent Portland is getting.
You can sure tell you are a baller... only a baller would write that a team would do a "360" and make the playoffs, seeing as we love to see players do 360s before they dunk.
However, since a 360 puts you facing the same direction you were when you started, I think you mean the Heat will do a "180."
I don't know who will be what, but the top 3 positions in the west could be some combination of Los Angeles, New Orleans and Portland.
Remember, the Hornets have Posey now. Posey is 6'8" but plays taller. West is 6'9". Peja is 6'10". Add Tyson Chandler (7'1") and Chris Paul, and you've got a team that is good, very big, run by a premium point guard, and has the coach of the year on the sidelines.
And Houston could be a sleeper depending on how Artest behaves.
The 76ers really impressed me in the playoffs. I thought those guys were so dead in the water when they unloaded Iverson. We might have an executive of the year in the City of Brotherly Love.
Great scribble SRM, the Olympics did nothing for me, there was no suspense, drama, or entertainment beyond the carefully scripted USA blows out everyone like a candle, or cue the occasional close game, and finally take the podium. Foregone conclusions do not make sports interesting or fun. I think the 76ers are finally fielding a decent team, (the Wiz included), and is it fair to treat the East like the least when the Celtics are the champs?
Dizzle, I'm glad you like it, I respect your opinion on The League...
Mark Cuban is like a guy playing the ULTRA Fantasy sport, and SUCKS at it. I guarantee there are guys in the D-League who will play better and harder than George; I don't understand what his appeal is.
Do the Spurs have any pieces that will attract other teams? Expiring contracts or something? I honestly don't know, if so, you're probably right. They always seem to.
At first I thought Howard had a great work-ethic, and that he could maybe be better than Shaq...well he definitely stays in shape, but as far as improving his game, it would appear that he and Shaq are two peas in a pod...only difference is, Shaq was better starting off, and he played college ball. We'll see about Bynum...I did like when he dunked on Shaq, even though it was against my Heat.
Bleed, lol, it is beyond my comprehension how someone can be lauded, and picked #1 overall, and display zero skill, and zero improvement since he was drafted. This happens so often, and it makes me wonder wtf these guys do all year.
Absolutely Howard showed softness this Olympics...considering we were playing mostly Europeans, which is world reknown as a softer brand of basketball, he should have been man-handling dudes in the paint, and he didn't. The only dunks he got were off great passes, clear rebounds, and ones detonated in his grill (man that was nasty) Rudy Fernandez instantly became one of my top-15 favorite players.
worst, if the Lakers play D, there is no stopping them, I think even the Celtics know that. The thing is, EVERYONE needs to be on board, ALL THE TIME. That has been the most difficult thing, especially when Kobe is struggling offensively...it seems like he loses focus. I saw him pout after missed 3's a few time while his guy ran down the court and created a scoring opp in transition. He needs to learn not to be so critical of himself and play a consistent game throughout, on both sides of the ball. He showed that he is a very capable defender, so it's time for him to lead by example. I really think this team helped each other, Wade inspired guys with his frantic defense (is he the Flash for real or what?!) it was a trickle effect...when guys see other guys play hard, it is infectious.
As for the 76ers...I think they have more to fear in the way of injuries...Achilles injuries are no joke. Can Brand last a whole 82 game season?
Tom7, I see what you are saying about Portland, but I think initially they will be more like the Kings were, or ironically, the Blazers who had the Lakers down by 15 after 3 quarters before blowing it. They will have some fantastic series, but there is too much experience and hunger on the Lakers' side.
Also, I think the Mavs-Warriors is a poor example here, simply because the Warriors were a much more intensely competitive team than the Mavs...I don't believe there is a similar disparity in passion between the Lakers and Blazers.
ed, thanks for stopping by and leaving kind words, you're nobody until hardiman gives you at least one "great scribble!"
As far as the Olympics, I watched mostly to see the players interact, and to see if my boy D-Wade was better, and for those reasons it did something for me as far as entertainment. Now I understand what you mean though...I had very few moments of intense, passionate cheering as the games were typically very one-sided.
I don't treat the East like the least, but you have to concede that there is a blatant disparity in talent between the two conferences....answer me this; of all the players in the Olympics for basketball, for all countries...how many players were Western Conference players, and how many East?
