Well I told all of you some weeks ago that I'd more than likely be leaving this community and going on to somewhere else. Well a few of you asked that I inform you of where I might be, so that's what I am here for. I'll be doing my own thing from here on out and hope you'll pay me a visit from time to time.

My leaving has nothing to do with anyone here but more of the things you can't get corrected by the morons who run this site  I'll  probably post something here every now and then as I did today but not as often as I have in the past.

So please come and check out what I have at this site: http://theblogs.net/user/whodatchat/

It all begins again, the  2008-2009 NBA season starts tonight for the reigning MVP Kobe Bryant and the defending Western conference champions L.A. Lakers. Tonight against the up and coming Portland Trail Blazers the Lakers begin their quest for another shot at the title. Let the games and excitement begin!

The Lakers are by and large the favorite to win it all if they can stay relatively healthy throughout the season. Bynum was a huge missing piece of the team during the finals series against Boston. Whether they'd have won or not with him will never be known but one can speculate that it wouldn't have been so lop sided.

So here we are a new season and a chance at possible redemption starting tonight. Portland as I said is a young team that will win lots of games, however they aren't in the same league as the Lakers. The Lakers are to deep and to experienced for a young Portland team. In no way does it mean Portland can't win, indeed any team can be beating any night, it simply means that I highly doubt they will.

Kobe will be on a mission all season to get that elusive 4th NBA Title, as well as Phil Jackson getting that elusive 10th NBA championship of his coaching career. I posted a few days ago that the New Orleans Hornets could possibly be this years Western Conference champion, I still stand by that. They have the team and coach to do so, though I am more inclined to believe the Lakers are a better team in all facets of the game. Chris Paul is good, ok he's very good but Kobe is pure greatness! Mix in some very good players like Bynum and Gasol and you have the making of a championship team.

Say whatever you like but Kobe Bryant is Michael Jordan version 2.0! He was the best player in the league within his first few years and is still the greatest player in the NBA today. Sorry Paul Pierce it's not even close, LeBron James for all his greatness has some years to go and CP3 is another that will have plenty of time to prove he belongs in the same conversation as M.J. and Kobe.

So tonight it all begins anew and in the end there can only be one!

Ok well since my Saints suck and LSU is just to young for me to expect much out of them this season, I guess it's time for me to focus my attention on something more realistic...the Hornets just might be the best in the West!

Now before chewing my head off you might need to know that I am first and foremost a Laker fan who just so happens to be born and raised in New Orleans. However I am a realist and do like the Hornets as well, therefor I think they have a very realistic shot this season. Here's why I think they may win the Western Conference.

CP3- Hands down the best PG in the NBA today! Sure Deron Williams has been better in head to head matchups, he still isn't better in my opinion until he gets the Jazz deeper in the playoffs. Paul made an All-Star out of David West last season, which goes a long way with me. 20 points,over 2 steals and more than 10 assist a game last season is another reason he is the better point guard at this time. If Paul can repeat those same stats this season, he'll also be in the running again for MVP of the league. Paul plays very good defense for being such a small guy going against bigger PG than himself most of the time. He led the league in steals with 2.7 a game.

David West- West is a better player than most people would give him credit for. His mid-range shot is consistant and he has a post presence to go along with it. He compliments Paul really well and led the Hornets in blocked shots also. West averaged 20 points a game last season to go along with 8.9 rebounds. Don't forget West is still young only being in the league 5 years now. He has plenty to learn and will get better as long as he's playing with CP3. Who knows how far they'd have gone in the playoffs last year had he not been hit in the back by Robert Horry during their series with the Spurs. West gave the Spurs and Tim Duncan fits in the playoffs.

Tyson Chandler- Chandler wasn't living up to his potential in Chicago but has steadily increased his performance each year since joining the Hornets. His 11.8 rebounds led the team but his ability to pull down offensive rebounds is how he mainly helped the Hornets win games. Add to the fact that Paul could break down defenses and they also had to worry about West and Peja outside, it left Chandler many chances to receive alley-oops from Paul uncontested. Chandler has a great attitude also, which is big with coach Byron Scott. If Chandler can add a little more offense again this season it would greatly improve the Hornets chances of winning the West.

The Bench- The loss of Jannero Pargo isn't as big a deal as the so called experts would have you believe. I think he was a selfish player at times, paticularly during the playoffs when he threw up so many quick shots even though he was missing 90% of them. Mike James if anything can be that same player, he's a shoot first PG also but has worked hard on his assist skills this off-season knowing that it's the only way to lobby for more minutes from Scott.

The Hornets also added Devin Brown to the lineup again. He played here in New Orleans 2 seasons ago and has the ability to shoot 3 pointers consistantly. Julian Wright who showed plenty of potential last season should be better this season. he's a pretty good perimeter defender and much like Posey plays physical. James Posey is what makes this bench much stronger than in recent seasons. His abillity to knock down threes in bunches and frustrate opposing players is something the Hornets lacked during last years playoff run.

Byron Scott- Scott is a great coach and deserves lots of credit for what he's been able to put together here in New Orleans. He understands the game perfectly and what it takes to win in this league. He's a hard nosed coach and during off-season training camp runs his team to death. It helps having a player like Chris Paul but it also helps having played on championship teams at the same position. Him and Paul have a great player/coach relationship something that is very rare in todays sports world. If the Hornets can improve on last year, Scott may win the coach of the year honors again.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 The Hornets are currently unbeaten for the pre-season and CP3 and West have picked up where they left off last season. With the exception of the Jazz,Blazers and Lakers other Western conference teams are getting old. The Lakers are the biggest threat to the Hornets but the Jazz aren't any chumps either. I just feel this may be the Hornets year and they'll be the first team to bring a championship to New Orleans. Of course I'm still a Laker fan but wouldn't be hurt if the Hornets did the unthinkable.

The New Orleans Saints have been hit real hard by injuries so far this season, finally they've received good news on that front. Both Marques Colston and Jeremy Shockey will play this Sunday when the Saints travel to Carolina. This is a pivotal game for the Saints because a win would make them 2-0 within the division. They beat the Buc's in the first game of the season and Tampa beat Carolina last Sunday.

Colston is arguably one of the top receivers in the league, he has terrific hands and great size. His big body allows him to stay in front of defenders or out jump them in the end zone. He's also a very good down field blocker which should help Reggie Bush when he catches balls in the flat and/or on swing passes out of the backfield.

Drew Brees was is already putting up MVP like stats without two of his main threats, if both players stay healthy he'll be that much more dangerous. It seems no matter who Brees has with him in the game, he's been able to find them open and is averaging over 300 yds passing a game. Brees is not only on pace to beat Marinos single season passing yards record but can shatter it if he averages 335 yds a game. Having Colston and Shockey back should make that much easier to accomplish.

Going into this game however the Saints will have to rely on Deuce to carry a heavy load. Tampa kept the Panthers D honest by running the ball right up the gut and Deuce is the type of runner to do that for them. I'm expecting to see the offense everyone thought they would be in the pre-season. Carolina will have their work cut out for them trying to contain Brees and the potent passing game of the Saints.

This will be the healthiest the Saints have been since the first game of the season. The only player listed as out is rookie DT Sedrick Ellis, who should be back after the bye week. The Saints have a long stretch away from home and getting a win here would go a long way to helping them string along a few wins in a row.

Carolina is no slouch and has played beyond expectations. QB Jake Delhomme has played very well up until last week. However some of those interceptions weren't his fault. They also have a 1-2 punch of their own in the backfield. RB's DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart work well together. Steve Smith has always given the Saints fits, he not only can burn you long but is extremely good at catching and then running with the ball.

However as a Saints fan and a homer I still think the Saints offense will be more than the Panthers D can handle. To many weapons, especially with Colston and Shockey returning. Theirs just to many guys for any one defense to cover and Brees will once again throw for over 300 yds.

Prediction : 28-24 Saints win.

I was never sold on the Cowboys being the best team in the NFL it takes more than talent to win games. The Bills a surprise team so far this season hasn't played anyone yet. Arizona who is another surprise team off to a 4-2 start is still, well Arizona. Denver has come back down to earth as of late but one team looks pretty strong and that the Titans.

Jeff Fisher has to be the best coach never to win a Super Bowl in my honest opinion. The defense is playing lights out and the offense is doing enough to win games. I think it's safe to say they'll go into a key game against Indy in two weeks with a 6-0 record after they face the lowly K.C. Chiefs this weekend.

Rookie RB Chris Johnson to me has been something this team lacked on the offensive side of the ball. He doesn't have but 2 TD's (due to LenDale White being the short yardage RB) the thing that stands out though is his 4.5 yds per rush average. He also has yet to turn the ball over in the Titans first 5 games.

Also what is very encouraging is the team hasn't lost a beat even though it's season starting QB Vince Young has had problems and was benched for whatever the reason was. They keep plugging ahead beating everything in it's path.

The D however is the heart of the Titans as they are ranked 5th against the pass and 13th against the run which equates to 4th in total defense. They play tough and keep QB's and O-lines confused and running. Albert Haynesworth is playing like a man possesed!

The teams they are scheduled to play after going to K.C. isn't easy and they still have to play Indy twice, however I just don't see them losing more than 3 games this season. After a week off barring any significant injuries this week against K.C. they should be relatively healthy when Indy visits them for a monday night game.

This team will win the AFC South and are my favorite to be AFC champions also. Right now all the talking heads on every network say the NFC is the stronger conference, I just don't see a team over there that can beat the Titans of the AFC.

So where do I sign up now?