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
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.
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.
