With the final pre-season games being played last night and the season opener looming close with Tuesday nights triple header, I felt compelled to divulge some intriguing story lines I foresee for this upcoming season.
1. Who can stay healthy among the elite 5?
The elite five being the Lakers, Celtics, Magic, Spurs and Cavs. No disrespect to the remaining 24 teams, but come on this is a 5 way race and we all know it. Can Manu and Duncan remain healthy for the full 82? Will Garnett's knee help or hinder his explosiveness? Can Kobe and Gasol continue their undaunted reign as ironmen? Will Shaq fall flat up in the cold snowy land of Cleveland? Can Vince and Nelson both stay healthy enough for Howard to exploit their dribble drives? For me whoever stays the healthiest has by far the best chance at going to the finals. This question is somewhat of a no brainer, but I find it even more fun to think of due to the fact that all 5 have major question marks going into the season. In a way it's any body's game.
2. The Ascension of Durant as a bona fide stud?
If it were the 07' draft today, do we still think that Portland would be flip flopping on who to choose, Durant or Oden? I don't think so, Oden will become a poor man's Ben Wallace while KD might lead the league in scoring this year. One team picked first, the other second but oh boy did they receive completely different players. I've already decided Durant's going to be my second fave player after the Kobester, the boy can ball, but who knew he could shoot like Nash. I'm excited to see him develop and eat some sandwiches.
3. The state of D. Wade's anger towards management for throwing this season?
If you were Wade, a top 3 talent coming off your best season with only one year left on your contract, you would think management would do whatever they could to show you love while they try to convince you that staying in Miami is in yours and their best interests? You would think? I mean GM Danny Ferry has gone all out to appease LBJ, why no love for Wade? Pat Riley you certainly have some explaining to do, because from what I see, Wade has ample reason to bolt come next summer to his hometown of Chicago. With a starting lineup of the player formerly known as Jermaine O'Neal, Booze boy Beasley, Q dough boy Richardson and Chris Quinn Wade has a tonne of dead weight to carry. If I were Riley I'd be sweating bullets until next summers free agency period.
4. Can the Lakers win 70?
Okay so I might be only one thinking this but come on it has to be somewhat of a possibility with this group. They won 65 games last season BEFORE they won the title. Now they're the champs which can only add confidence and swagger. Add to that but they also brought in Ron Ron to help bolster their toughness. The question really shouldn't be can they win 70?, but why won't they? With this years Lakers I see them having a great opportunity to win big baring any major injuries. They have size, athleticism, versatility, excellent coaching, a clutch superstar and now a swagger. To be amongst the best ever you need a swagger, a top dog mentality. I see nothing but great things ahead for them.
5. Can Carmelo take the next step?
Somewhat of an over looked story was how Carmelo Anthony stepped up his play when it mattered. Yeah he was out played by a seasoned and better Kobe Bryant, but up until the Conference Finals, Melo' was awesome. His game offensively is unbelievable as it always has been, but his defense improved some as well as his maturity. Gone are the kiddie cornrows and the childish game to match. Carmelo has grown as a player. Chalk much of it to the landing of Chauncey as you will, regardless of where his new found head came from, I like it. The kid has the gifts, can he realize them is up to him. Will he join Kobe, LBJ and Wade as the the studs of the league? Probably not, but he could surprise me, he certainly has the talent to be with them. In a way I see a lot of Barkely in Carmelo's game, a top talent with incredible abilities who may make the leap once as Barkely did in 93', but can he do it consistently is up to him. Only time will tell I guess.
6. Houston will be better than expected
Adelman is a wicked coach who always seems to thrive under pressure. This team is cohesive and strong willed, they wont back down for second. And judging from their 7 game series with LA, they certainly have the heart to compete with the best. Aaron Brooks is their engine, with Battier, Ariza, and Scola helping hold down the fort. The constant battling of injuries between their studs, Yao and McGrady has helped this unit come together. They may miss the playoffs, but I see them competing hard and possibly scaring some teams. An 8th seed doesn't seem unthinkable, but possibly a reality.
7. Post Season signings
Money was spent, dinners were had, smiles were presented and boy oh boy were folks happy back in July. The stud free agents got paid, some stayed, some left. Now the question is, who's going to perform? Here's how I see it going down.
Turkoglu = bust. I see him being injured for a good part of the season. When he does play he'll be average at best. He may have signed for 5, but he retired when Orlando dealt for Carter. He came for the money and nothing else.
Jefferson = He'll be good, but not the savior the spurs need to help lift them past the Lakers. He's not tough enough for Pop and he'll wilt under the pressure of playing for Duncan.
Villanueva/Gordon = BUSTSSSSSSSS!!!!! 93 million for role players!!!!!
Ariza = Bust*. There's a reason LA undercut him, they wanted Artest. Ariza's good, a great complimentary player on a great team, but he's no savior and the money he got was not worthy of his value. However, he's young enough to warrant the risk, he gets an asterisk due to his potential.
Iverson = He'll have a good season, but not great. His team will suck and it wont matter, just like he doesn't anymore. Sad as it is but it's all his fault. He came into the league one way and he'll leave it the same, there was no growth and that's where he failed.
Shaq = He's still got some game, but can he help when it matters? His ego is what caused him to leaving LA, Miami and Phoenix on bad terms, can he coexist as a true "2nd" banana to LBJ? I doubt it.
Wallace = If he stays healthy then I foresee him as being the second best pickup next to Artest. He's big, long and battle tested. A great compliment to Garnett.
Artest = The best pickup by far. The perfect compliment to Kobe, similar to Jordan and Pippen. Artest brings toughness and a defensive mindset to a stellar crew. His competitiveness will mesh well with Kobe. Baring any injuries, I see him fitting in very well.
more later...
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