We're about four months removed from Dwyane Wade hoisting the Larry O'Brien trophy -- and Mark Cuban cussing out David Stern.
So what's the new season goin to bring? It'll bring the return of some marquee players who battled injuries last season (Tracy McGrady, Amare Stoudemire) and some who have battled injury since the start of the new millenium (Grant Hill).
It'll bring out some big names in new places, most notably Ben Wallace, who will now boost the Chicago wig market.
A couple of things are for sure: Portland will miss the playoffs for the third straight year after a streak that saw the Blazers make the playoffs for 22 consecutive years. And it'll be a battle out west for the league's best record between Phoenix and Dallas.
From now until the start of the season, I'm going to rank the teams in order of worst to best chance to win the NBA title. On Halloween, I'll have my picks for MVP, Finals MVP, playoff pairings, all-leagues, etc.
I wonder if Nate McMillan cries every time he passes a Starbucks
30. Portland Trailblazers: Like all teams, Portland has the potential to be a solid squad. Forward Zach Randolph is entering his six year in the League. Big man Joel Przybilla showed he was a starter in the NBA last season. Beyond that, though, is a number of questions. Can Randolph stay out of the police blotter? How long before Darius Miles goes Sprewell on McMillan? With all the off-the-court problems, is Isiah Rider working for owner Paul Allen as an adviser to the players?
29. New York knicks: Isiah Thomas ruined the CBA. He couldn't get a loaded Pacers team to the finals. He hired Larry Brown. He's starting Stephon Marbury and Steve Francis IN THE SAME BACKCOURT. He'll be on suicide watch by Christmas.
28. Atlanta Hawks: Joe Johnson is one of the most versatile players in the League and playing in the World Championships this summer helped him a lot, I'm sure. Josh Smith is a freak of an athlete and Marvin Williams has played well so far this preseason. But it's the Hawks, though, so that'll only translate into MAYBE 22 wins.
27. Seattle Supersonics: On second thought, maybe McMillan gives the finger to every Starbucks he sees.
26. Boston Celtics: Paul Pierce is one of the best players in the league. Boston has a team of youngsters with loads of potential, too, in Gerald Green, Al Jefferson and rookie Rajon Rondo. But they also have one of the worst game coaches in Doc Rivers. He'll be wondering if he can get his job as a color commentator back by the All-Star break.
Good stuff. I see the Celtics far out-performing your expectations. They are young, but they have a lot of talented kids, and it will only take one or two of them blossoming into real players this year for Paul Pierce and co. to take off. Seattle will also be better, if only b/c Ray Allen won't let them lose too many games. Rashard Lewis and Chris Wilcox give them quality around Allen. I'd say 35-40 wins should be expected, if not more. Finally, how can Charlotte not be in the bottom 5? I like the squad they are building in Carolina, but they will not win more than 25-30 games this year.
If you watch a Celtics game when they're playing a decent team, you'll see why I have them so low. Seriously, how does Doc River still have this job? Bad plays out of time-outs, bad inbounds plays, everything. Seattle is the fourth best team i a really, really weak division. The winner of the Northwest will have no more than 45 wins. Rashard Lewis and Allen are good, but Ridnour is inconsistent and Seattle's bench is just plain bad. I like what's going on in Charlotte. They have a young, good point guard in Ray Felton, and probably the best back-up PG in the league. They have tons of size with Okafor, May and Brezec. And Gerald Wallace and Adam Morrisson will be a good one-two scoring punch. I don't have them much higher than these five, though.
Good stuff here, jay. Chicago wig market-great line. There are some bad teams in the west, but overall it's hard to believe how much better that conference is than the east, as least on paper.
Personally, I don't see anyway that the Sonics aren't the worst team in the league. They may actually struggle to a historical level. I don't believe they even have a shot at 25 wins.
The Knicks and Celtics will be better than you think, but still not good. I guess the presence of Iverson keeps the Sixers off of this list? I see the Celtics and the Sixers as basically the same team. However, the Sixers have Iguodala, advantage Sixers. They also have Chris Webber, advantage Celtics!
My name is Jason Carmel Davis, and I am a graduate of the Michigan State University School of Journalism. Yes, we do go to class in East Lansing, not just to bars and the liquor store.
I'm almost positive I had an SI with me in the womb, checking out Ralph Wiley. He's the main reason I ever decided to pursue a career in sportswriting .
I even remember the first highlight I ever saw on SportsCenter. I don't remember who was reading it, but it was Michael Jordan's 63-point game against the Celtics in the Garden in the 86 Playoffs. I've been hooked ever since.
