2009-2010 NBA Preview
Submitted by podizz on Tue, 10/27/2009 - 06:38
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- Celtics-Pierce, Garnett, Allen, Rhondo, and Perk with future 6th man of the year Rasheed Wallace waiting on the bench. If Garnett's knees hold up, this could be the best Celtics team in over a decade.
- Cavs- LeBron, Shaq, Mo, Varejao, and Parker. Shaq probably won't have as big an impact as everyone is expecting, but Parker is a huge addition, and it's really only a matter of time before King James gets his title.
- Lakers-No reason to believe the Lakers won't be there come April. As long as headcase Ron Artest doesn't rock the boat too much, the combo of Kobe, Gasol, Bynum, and Fisher and Odom is just too good to fail.
- Magic-Another case of the rich getting richer. The Turkoglu-Vince Carter swap is sure to give Orlando a bump in the right direction, and Jameer, Rashard, and Bass are good enough that another trip to the finals is certainly not out of the question.
- Spurs-Jefferson and McDyess joins a squad featuring Duncan, Tony Parker, Mason Jr. and a healthy Manu Ginobli. Don't be surprised if the Spurs end up overtaking the Lakers in the west.
- Hawks-Joe Johnson, Mike Bibby, Al Horford, Josh Smith and Jamal Crawford off the bench. The maturing Hawks are a team on the rise.
- Wizards-Gilbert, Antawn, Caron, Haywood, and Miller plus possible 6th man of the year and newly acquired Randy Foye means Washington will be a legitimate force in the east.
- Mavs-If this were 2005, this team would be unstoppable. Still, with Dirk, Howard, Marion, Kidd, Gooden, and 6th man of the year Jason Terry filling out the roster, big things are still possible in Dallas.
- Bulls-We all saw what the Bulls can do in last year's epic Celtics series and they should only get better. Everyone is expecting big things from sophomore Derrick Rose, and now that Salmons has had time to gel with the team, the Bulls have a high ceiling and a great future ahead of them.
- Nuggets-How well did that Billups-Iverson trade work out for Denver. With Melo, Kenyon, Nene, and JR Smith rounding it out, the Nuggets could finish as high as 3 in the west.
- Jazz-Boozer and Deron Williams head up a team with a solid supporting cast of Kirilenko, Okur and Brewer.
- Raptors-Bosh is a beast, Calderon is now a legit star after last year's breakout, Jack is a force off the bench, and Turkoglu, DeRozan and Bargnani are solid enough for the Raptors to be taken seriously despite the loss of Carter.
- Blazers-Andre Miller is a nice addition. Have we all given up on Oden? Will Roy and Miller be able to share? A great bench should keep Portland near the top of the western conference.
- Hornets-Chris Paul is a future hall-of-famer and with David West, Okafor, and Stojakovic as his supporting cast, New Orleans could make some waves.
- Suns-Looks like Nash may never get that elusive championship ring after signing a two-year extension with the underwhelming Suns. Stoudemire is one of the league's best, but the Suns will still struggle to get into the playoffs.
- Clippers-The Clippers finally lucked out with the lottery and secured Blake Griffin, who will start on the bench to begin the season. If Baron Davis can bounce back from last year's horrid effort, a winning season isn't out of the question.
- Heat-Dwayne Wade is certainly capable of putting the slightly improved team on his back. Can youngens Mario Chalmers and Michael Beasley be NBA star material? Will Richardson have the impact Pat Riley is hoping for? Another high ceiling team, but I'm not as confident as I am with the Bulls.
- Pistons-It looks like Detroit has officially missed its window, and now they'll be lucky to just earn a playoff spot. Gordon, Wilcox, and Villanueva are all satisfactory new additions, but the absence of Billups and Sheed will hurt.
- Grizzlies- Iverson will be coming off the bench in Memphis trying to prove he's still got something left in the tank. Richardson, Mayo, and Gay are a decent threesome, but look for team cohesiveness to be a major roadblock this season.
- Warriors-All eyes are on Stephen Curry as the boy wonder enters his rookie season. Stephen Jackson and Monta Ellis are solid enough, but unless Curry ends up being a stud, Golden State will likely fall short of the playoffs.
- Pacers-TJ Ford, Rush, Granger, Murphy, and Hibbert. The real story here is Tyler Hansborough. Does he have to chops to carry his skills to the NBA?
- 76ers-Brand, Williams, Igualdala, Thaddeus, Lou Williams. I've got nothing.
- Thunder-Durant is a certified stud, but OC is just too young to make any noise this year.
- Rockets-When Battier is your best player, you know you've got problems.
- Bobcats- Felton, Bell, Wallace, Diaw, and Chandler. Might Larry Brown get this team together in his second season?
- Knicks-Duhon, Chandler, Gallinari, Harrington, and Lee. The train wreck continues in New York.
- Nets-Devin Harris, Courtney Lee, Bobby Simmons, Jianlian, and Lopez. With Russian Mark Cuban in charge, we're all waiting for the New Jersey Nyets to catch on nationally. (Credit where credit is due Bill Simmons)
- Bucks-Ridnour, Redd, Mbah a Moute, Warrick and Bogut. I have nothing to say about this team. Moving on...
- Timberwolves-Al Jefferson, Kevin Love, and a bunch of scrubs.
- Kings-Just plain awful.
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