Nelayan,
![]() NBA
Coverage Kicks off
Yesterday's newsletter didn't make it out to everyone
which is too bad as the pick (Memphis) won easily as an
underdog as they caught San Antonio in a tough situation.
I'm including the first part of my NBA season preview again
here for those that missed it yesterday.
I've
got another complimentary pick today.
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![]() NBA
Season Preview - Part One
The fight. We will be able to refer to it this way from
here on out for years. Everything in Indiana pointed
to the Pacers
challenging Detroit for supremacy in the Central.
Then, that little fight happened, and three
professional athletes were exposed for being downright
stupid. The NBA has rightfully handed down servere
punishment to Artest, Jackson and O'Neal, maybe ending
the Pacers chances for a playoof run. Congrats and
thank you to David Stern. Jackson will be lucky if he
does not end up in prison and the same thing can be
said for Jermaine O'Neal, who prior to Friday night,
was one of the up and coming young players in the
league. So much for the Pacers this season.
It
looks again as is the Spurs have
what it takes to win the NBA Championship this season. The
combination
of Parker and Ginobli in the backcourt with Duncan in
the middle makes this team a tough one for anyone in
the league. If their defense is able to hold up in
the postseason, they should win the NBA championship
next summer. Detroit will be hard pressed to repeat
this season. Everything, and I mean everything, fell
in place for their championship team of one year ago.
They'll be there again in the East, but no one in the
East should be able to beat the top three out West in
a best of seven series.
Best in the West
1)
San Antonio - Until someone beats them, this is
the team in the West. They can score from anywhere on the
court, and can defend as well. They're my early season choice
to get the trophy this summer.
2)
Phoenix - Keep an eye on this basketball team. They
have all kinds of talent in Nash, Stoudamire,
Marion, and Richardson. They'll go very deep in the
playoffs and could be really on to something. They are
deep and can flat out play offense and defense. If
there is a darkhorse in the West, it resides in
Phoenix. This team could easily end up winning the
West this season.
3)
Minnesota - Say what you will, but the Wolves still
have great talent in KG, Cassell and Spree. They have
too many egos to be taken seriously as a contender,
but they'll be hanging around throughout the season.
They'll bow out in the semis of the Western Playoffs.
I hope that they face the Nuggets again this
postseason. That would be a series I wouldn't miss.
4)
Dallas - Again, lots of talent, but they'll disappear late
in the season. Missing out on Shaq in
the offseason really hurt the Mavs, but their core is
very good on the offensive side of the court. The
team just does not play enough defense to be taken
seriously come the playoffs. The offense of Nowitski,
Harris, and Stackhouse will keep them in the playoff
mix throughout the season, but they could fall if they
experience injuries and do not imporve their team
defense.
Best in the East
1)
Detroit - The Pistons are the defending champs here
so they get the nod here, albeit a slightl oneover the rest
of the weak Eastern Conference. Billups and Hamilton
form a tough backcourt here and Prince is a great
clutch scorer for this team. The key will be the
health of Ben Wallace. He has missed some games
already this young season and will now miss six more
due to his role in the fracus on Friday. The Pistons
will need him to be a key player down the stretch in
the East.
2)
Miami - Shaq's era in South Beach has commenced, and the
reviews are a mixed bag thus far. The Heat
have been good at home and have gotten off to a nice
start, but they are just 3-2 away from Miami. As the
season wears on, Shaq is sure to get hurt as he always
seems to, and the question we have is how will the
Heat handle the games that he'll miss. They play in
the East so they'll be fine and they should get very
far in the playoffs. The fact is, however, that this
is a very average basketball team, and would be lucky
to be the fifth or sixth place playoff team in the
West.
3)
Cleveland - Lebron will get his first taste of playoff basketball
this year. The Super Soph is off
to a great start in his second season and the Cavs
have been a tough bunch thus far. James and Gooden
form a tough duo, and Coach Paul Silas is one of the
better at handling young players in this league.
Cleveland will continue to get better and better
throughout the regular season, and this team could be
a real darkhorse in the East come playoff time.
4)
Orlando - Grant Hill is healthy for now, and he
is reminding everyone in the basketball world why he was
one of the top players in the league when he is
healthy. Dwight Howard has been a pleasant surprise
thus far and is showing that he is ready to start right
now. Throw in a healthy Steve Francis and this team
has many ingredients in its favor. This team will go
as far as Grant Hill. If Hill stays healthy, they are
as good as anyone in the East and should be a force
throughout the regular season. If Hill gets hurt, and
there is no reason to think he won't, this team will
suffer.
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Good
luck this tonight, Nelayan!
![The Wunderdog]()
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