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
Ok, we got the lottery teams out of the way, along with a few teams who have shots to make the playoffs, but won't for whatever reason.
Next, we delve into a group of teams that should play past mid-April unless their star suffers a career-ending injury or shoots up a strip club or gets a knee broken from owing his online poker lone shark.
15. Denver Nuggets: The Mile High crew won the Northwest division last season with 44 wins. I see a similar amount being enough to take that divison this year, too. But I don't see the Nuggets taking home back-to-back division titles. Carmelo Anthony will continue to blossom, and finally earn his first All-Star appearance come February. His performances in the World Championships showed me that he's ready to take The Leap and be mentioned in the same breath as Kobe, LeBron and D-Wade. Yes, i see a playoff berth for Denver, but what have they done to get past the first round? Kiki Vandewedge traded for high-schooler J.R. Smith, who couldn't get burn on a young New Orleans team. Now he's being asked to put out effort on a playoff squad. Kenyon Martin-12.9 ppg, 6.3 rpg in 56 games-is a malcontent and is injury prone. So is Marcus Camby-one of the better shot-blockers in the game. Camby has averaged 50 games over the last five seasons. They have toughness up front with Reggie Evans and Eduardo Najera, but not much else. I still don't know what the big deal is about Nene.
14. Indiana Pacers: Three seasons ago, the Pacers had the best record in the league-61-21-and were the only team that won 60-plus games. Two seasons ago, they started out 7-2 and Ron Artest and Jermaine O'Neal looked like the best combo in the League. Then "The Palace Brawl" happened. Indy went 35-36 the rest of the way and finished at .500 last season, putting them sixth in the East both times. Yes, I know Jermaine O'Neal missed 31 games due to injury last year. Yes, I know they brought in Al Harrington to presumably "revitalize" the franchise. But I also know Donnie Walsh and Larry Bird brought in 10 new players, none of whom piqued my interest. The door's closed for the Pacers title chances. It's sad that the ugliest event in basketball history locked it.
13. Utah Jazz: Jerry Sloan will retire before his squad misses the postseason for a fourth straight year. Utah is my pick to take the Northwest division and lock up the three seed out west. Not because they have eye-popping talent, but because I think they're the best of a bad bunch. The Jazz do have talent, though, and have gotten younger since Stockton to Malone left. Andrei Kirilenko is becoming a quadruple-double threat every night. Mehmet Okur is relishing his starting role after his days in Detroit-15.4 ppg, 8.3 rpg in two seasons with the Jazz. Newly acquired Derek Fisher won't start-second-year guard Deron Williams has the point spot on lock in Salt Lake City-but he'll provide stability and a championship pedigree to a relatively youthful group. Veteran Matt Harpring--13 ppg, 5.9 rpg over his eight-year career-provides scoring puch and toughness off the bench. Look for rookie Ronnie Brewer (Arkansas) to crack the starting lineup by the New Year.
12. Los Angeles Lakers: Hate their point guard situation. There, that's out of the way. But I know how Phil Jackson drools over big guards, so I guess I've have to live with a guy named Smush starting in the League. Jackson is putting his stamp on this group in the second year of his second stint in La La land. They have a number of guys who can play multiple positions (Luke Walton, Lamar Odom, Maurice Evans, Vladimir Radmanovic and Brian Cook). The 6'10" Radmanovic gives L.A. the ability to stretch the floor with his range-41 percent from three in 05-06. Kwame Brown was serviceable in the playoffs last year (12.9 ppg, 6.6 boards in seven games against Phoenix). If this young group limits mistakes and keeps its head in games, L.A. could make some noise next spring. I know they lost in the first round, but I honestly think they can build on having a 3-1 lead on one of the best team's in the league. Oh, and they have that Kobe guy, too. Hopefully he's not rusty after the long layoff due to knee surgery. From what happened for most of the Phoenix series last May, I see Kobe becoming more of a team player and leader. No he won't average 35.4 again, but that will mean he doesn't have to. That could translate into increased confidence in teammates, an increased number of wins, an increase in playoff TV appearances and an MVP award.
11. Washington Wizards: Losing Jared Jeffries won't hurt as much if Washington has a healthy Jarvis Hayes (21 games in 05-06). Hayes can provide scoring off the bench from both wing positions, which could take some pressure off Caron Butler and Gilbert Arenas. I've been perplexed by Brendan Haywood since his days on Chapel Hill. The guy's huge. A "space eater" if you will. But he averages 7 points and 5 boards a night for his career. I think he's missing a set, if you know what I mean. If healthy, Darius Songalia could be a nice pick up, since I have no faith in Antawn Jamison starting at power forward. Gilbert Arenas is a beast. I shouldn't have to say anything else about him. The biggest question is can Eddie Jordan get this bunch to play on both ends of the floor. Washington gave up nearly 100 points a game last season. Not good. They're not Phoenix. I don't think the Wizards can outscore teams like that. Play some zone. Have Calvin Booth be your "goon." Do somethin.'
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.
