Stats can be very misleading sometimes, so I'm just gonna hit you with some quicks thoughts from what I saw, not what I read in a box score, from the first big night of the 2006-07 NBA season
-Chris Paul wil be the best point guard in the League by season's end
-Dwight Howard is a younger, meaner David Robinson
-I hope Kobe's paying attention to what "the others" are doing
-It was good to see Grant Hill actually look healthy against the Bulls
-Sam Cassell looks comfortable coming off the bench for the first time in almost a decade
Before I get to the final ten teams in my preview and my award, division and playoff winners, here's some quick hits, things I'm looking forward to and questions about the upcoming NBA season.
-The Bulls will be perimeter oriented, similar to how Jersey was when they got to the finals, minus K-Mart. I wanna see how far they can get with no post presence. -The slide of the Pacers. Best record in 03-04, 46 wins in 04-05, .500 last season, Yes, I know key guys were injured last year, but this team needs to be blown up because their door closed the night of the brawl. Don't forget, they beat the Pistons by 15 that night, were 7-2 and Artest was averaging something like 24, 8, 6, and 2 steals -How tough and exciting the Pacific division will be this season -Can T-Mac and Yao stay healthy and can Bonzi be content coming off the bench -When will the Isiah suicide watch start? -When will Doc Rivers be fired? -How will Miami's seed in the playoffs be affected with Shaq playing 50-55 games during the regular season? -Will Rasheed stop shooting eight threes a game? -How much zone will the Pistons play since they don't have a help defender anymore? -Can Dallas rebound after losing a 2-0 lead in the finals?-Will D-Wade be satisfied with one ring
-Will we see Kobe from games 1-5 of the Phoenix series, or Kobe from games six and seven?
-If Miami goes back to back, does Shaq call it a career?
-How the shift from Shaq/Kobe will switch to Wade/Kobe
-How quickly Chris Paul will ascend to best point guard in the L status
On Tuesday and Wednesday, I gave you the NBA also-rans. Today, we'll get into some teams that can make some noise, but won't see playoff action for one reason or another.
20. Milwaukee Bucks: I absolutely love the Charlie Villanueva deal for them. It gives Milwaukee added athleticism and depth up front to go along with Andrew Bogut and the underrated Dan Gadzuric. Ruben Patterson will give some defensive intensity to a squad that was in the middle of the pack last season at 98.8 points allowed. You know what to expect from Michael Redd-a boatload of points and not much else. I'm not a fan of their point guard situation at all. T.J. Ford, the piece used to make the Villanueva deal, was nice fit for a young tean that could get out and run. Fourht-year guard Maurice Williams-12.1 ppg and 4 apg in 58 games last season-has been inserted into the Bucks's starting lineup. He and Ford put up almost identical numbers. We'll see how he performs when he's playing 37-plus minutes a night.
19. Golden State Warriors: The bevy of talent on Golden State's roster has made the Warriors the "it" team to break out of their 10-plus year playoff drought. But the more high draft picks they get, it seems like Golden State goes backward. Based on the make-up of the Dallas roster, Don Nelson was brought back by former Warrior turned front office man Chris Mullin for another stint. Unless they swing a deal for Dirk Nowitzki, Steve Nash or Josh Howard, it ain't happenin' in Oakland. Baron Davis, while exciting, is overweight and injury prone. Mike Dunleavy could be the most disappointing number three pick ever. Starting center Adonal Foyal gave the Warriors 4.4 points and 5.5 boards a night last year. Did I mention that Dunleavy is listed as the starting power forward on Golden State's depth chart? 'Nuff said.
18. Orlando Magic: This year's "if" team, in my opinion. IF Dwight Howard gets some help. IF Darko shows why he was the number two pick in '03. IF Grant Hill can play 65 games. IF Jameer Nelson can blossom into a top-tier point guard. IF J.J. Redick will call a cab after he sulks after a bad shooting night.
17. New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets: NO/OK was a playoff team for much of last season, but it faded downt he stretch. With a number of teams out west getting healthier this off-season (Houston, Utah), I see the Hornets on the outside looking in again next April. Chris Paul will get some MVP votes and be referred to by some as the best point man in the League this season. The unheralded David West-17.1 ppg and 7.4 rpg in 05-06-will continue to improve. But I'm not sold on the parts added to George Shinn's team. Peja Stojakovic is only 29, but his best years are behind him. Two years after putting up almost 25 points a night over 81 games, Stojakovic's averaged dipped to 19.5 points over 40 games (42 missed due to injury). I know there is a premium on dead-eye shooters, but he still couldn't guard Milton Berle. The Hornets will start a career underachiever at center in Chicago castoff Tyson Chandler. The number two pick in the '01 draft, Chandler has career averages of 7.1 points and 7.7 boards. Get off Kwame Brown's back.
16. Sacramento Kings: New coach Eric Musselman was arrested for DUI recently. Not a good way to start your tenure. Add to that an already aging team hasn't made any moves to become younger or more athletic, and that spells the end to the Kings eight-year playoff run. Yes, the Kings average age is 26, but those young guys aren't young guns. Ron Artest, Brad Miller and Mike Bibby will all have solid seasons. The rest of the roster leaves a lot to be desired. Kevin Martin-10.8 points a game-is decent, but not a starter, which he will be this year. The Maloofs are paying the ageless Corliss Williamson and Maurice Taylor.
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.
