2009-10 NBA season thread

[Den1983]

Didn't see this anywhere, and with the preseason already under way (Utah smacked Denver), I figured now is as good of a time as any.

What are the expectations? Lakers-Cavs Finals? Cavs-Spurs? Lakers-Celtics?

I'm thinking Lakers-Celtics, assuming the C's are healthy.

I do hope I'm wrong, though. I'd like to see some fresh blood.

 

[cwilson3]

Thank you for starting this. I think the Celtics and Cavs are in for a hell of an Eastern Conference battle. Although, despite the fact that the Magic got worse, I think they'll still be in the mix.

 

[Bubbler]

Bucks-NBA runner-up

 

[JC]

Bucks-NBA runner-up

for the number 1 pick?

 

[floridanewbie31]

I think the magic are better. Carter's an alpha scorer, and in a playoff setting that just can't be ignored. Bass will be a great addition to this team as well.

 

[cwilson3]

I think the magic are better. Carter's an alpha scorer, and in a playoff setting that just can't be ignored. Bass will be a great addition to this team as well.

He's more of an alpha shooter than an alpha scorer. Bass is a solid addition, though. I just think Carter's always been a cancer and a volume shooter. Never been a difference maker in the playoffs, either.

 

[Some Guy]

Smart money is on Lakers-Celts.

There really is a growing gap between the haves and have-nots in the league, though. There are really only four or five teams you could envision winning a title. The rest are also-rans before the season even begins.

 

[Cosmo]

I agree. Lakers, Celtics, Cavs, maybe the Spurs have one last gasp in them ... not sold on the Magic's staying power ... could the Heat make a move this year? Maybe the Mavs sneak up on people.

 

[Gene Parmesan]

I agree. Lakers, Celtics, Cavs, maybe the Spurs have one last gasp in them ... not sold on the Magic's staying power ... could the Heat make a move this year? Maybe the Mavs sneak up on people.

Nuggets have a better shot at sneaking up than the Mavs.

 

[Small Town Guy]

Smart money is on Lakers-Celts.

There really is a growing gap between the haves and have-nots in the league, though. There are really only four or five teams you could envision winning a title. The rest are also-rans before the season even begins.

I don't know if that's much different than every other year in the NBA since 1980. Eight franchises have won titles in the last 30 years. Only three different teams from the West. Compare that to the parity in the NFL, MLB, etc. It's of course much easier to create a dominating team in the NBA and much easier to keep them together.

But the have-not have been pretty helpless for awhile, they just alternate each season.

You're right about there probably only being four or five this year. I think the Nuggets are again the top threat to the Lakers in the West. The Spurs made some nice moves but I can't see Manu lasting a whole season and Duncan's not what he was.

 

[Den1983]

I agree. Lakers, Celtics, Cavs, maybe the Spurs have one last gasp in them ... not sold on the Magic's staying power ... could the Heat make a move this year? Maybe the Mavs sneak up on people.

Agreed. I'm not excited about the Mavs at all, not as long as Dirk Nowitzki is expected to be the one to lead them to glory.

I saw the Rockets-Celtics game last night, and man, the Rockets look horrible. Really poor rotations on D, terrible in halfcourt sets and too many role players asked to assume lead roles.
Nuggets have a better shot at sneaking up than the Mavs.

 

[Some Guy]

I like the Mavs better than the Nuggets. I don't see either team winning it all, but I think Dallas is the clear cut No. 3 in the West. They've certainly improved over last season.

 

[Gene Parmesan]

I like the Mavs better than the Nuggets. I don't see either team winning it all, but I think Dallas is the clear cut No. 3 in the West. They've certainly improved over last season.

Clear-cut No. 3? Who did they add to improve the team? Drew Gooden and Shawn Marion? If this was 2005, those would be excellent moves.

The Nuggets lost one game to the Mavs last season and that was a closely-fought playoff game. The Nuggets will finish several games in front of the Mavs and I'm glad. Mark Cuban and his racist rant at Kenyon Martin and his mom was ridiculous.

 

[Some Guy]

I like the Mavs better than the Nuggets. I don't see either team winning it all, but I think Dallas is the clear cut No. 3 in the West. They've certainly improved over last season.

Clear-cut No. 3? Who did they add to improve the team? Drew Gooden and Shawn Marion? If this was 2005, those would be excellent moves.

The Nuggets lost one game to the Mavs last season and that was a closely-fought playoff game. The Nuggets will finish several games in front of the Mavs and I'm glad. Mark Cuban and his racist rant at Kenyon Martin and his mom was ridiculous.

The Nuggets topped out last season. They are too crazy and dysfunctional to take the next step.

Marion is going to have a monster year running with Jason Kidd. He's going to be really good. And he makes them better defensively. Drew Gooden as a starter is an upgrade over Erick Dampier, easy.

I've heard some folks argue they could challenge the Spurs for No. 2. I'm not ready to go there.

 

[Den1983]

Marc Stein has released his rankings. His are: Lakers, Celtics, Magic, Cavs, Spurs, Mavs, TrailBlazers, Nuggets, Hawks, Jazz.

Mine are: Lakers, Celtics, Spurs, Magic, Cavs, TrailBlazers, Jazz, Hawks, Mavs, Nuggets. Though I like the Wiz if they can stay healthy, and I think the Hornets and Clippers are heavy sleepers.

 

[Some Guy]

Smart money is on Lakers-Celts.

There really is a growing gap between the haves and have-nots in the league, though. There are really only four or five teams you could envision winning a title. The rest are also-rans before the season even begins.

I don't know if that's much different than every other year in the NBA since 1980. Eight franchises have won titles in the last 30 years. Only three different teams from the West. Compare that to the parity in the NFL, MLB, etc. It's of course much easier to create a dominating team in the NBA and much easier to keep them together.

But the have-not have been pretty helpless for awhile, they just alternate each season.

You're right about there probably only being four or five this year. I think the Nuggets are again the top threat to the Lakers in the West. The Spurs made some nice moves but I can't see Manu lasting a whole season and Duncan's not what he was.

The Nuggets are my pick for "team that overachieved last year but will fall back to earth this year, and probably hard" a la Utah in 2007-08 and New Orleans last year.

There's way too much crazy on that team for it to work.

 

[JackReacher]

I'll be interested to see how Artest affects the Lakers and the same with Rasheed and the Celtics. As a Lakers fan, I fear the Spurs more than anyone else this year. Best offseason moves and Duncan desperate to win one more before he calls it quits. And with a healthy Manu, man, that team can be dangerous.

Locally, I hear a lot of optimism about the Wizards. Losing Jamison for 10 games hurts a lot, plus their first 15 games are brutal. If they can get through November with a .500 record, they could be OK.

East: Cavs
West: Lakers
Champ: Lakers
MVP: LeBron
Rook: Griffin
Def MVP: Howard

Not a lot of surprises in those picks, obviously.

 

[93Devil]

Two cool things on ESPN right now...

They have a uniform column that shows all the retro unis teams will wear this season, and some of them are cooler than the Patriot Pete unis.

I really enjoyed Simmons' two-parter with a steaming cup of of coffee. The NBA is his wheelhouse.

 

[Den1983]

Two cool things on ESPN right now...

They have a uniform column that shows all the retro unis teams will wear this season, and some of them are cooler than the Patriot Pete unis.

I really enjoyed Simmons' two-parter with a steaming cup of of coffee. The NBA is his wheelhouse.

Yup. I'm looking forward to his book.

 

[Small Town Guy]

The Clipper curse is alive and well. Griffin out six weeks with stress fracture in his knee. At least he hasn't suffered a Manning/Livingston injury. Yet.