They will make the playoffs but I have a tough time seeing them making any noise. I know Pierce is out but even with him back I don't think they will do anything worth noting.
The East is ALL Miami and Chicago. Boston is simply a playoff contender now. The West is pretty wide open, with the advantage to the Thunder. But Westbrook and KD haven't appear to make a big jump in their individual games for me to say definitively they will win it for sure. But the Thunder are the most well-balanced and talented.
Kaman on the bench made their frontcourt deep. If the Hornets want youth give them the 2009 busts for him.
Indeed, but it's early and he will figure it out. Last season, KD started slow and WB literally carried the Thunder the first 20 games.
The NBA is really in a transitional period I feel. The old powers like the Spurs/Lakers/Celtics/Mavs/ are dying out while new ones start to take a foothold. Miami is clear and Chicago as well...then perhaps the Thunder but there is still a power to emerge. It just depends on how well CP3/Dwight/Melo can carry their new teams.
Agreed on both points. I think OKC vs. Miami will be the finals. I was high on the Lakers before the Odom trade but they don't have enough firepower. I expect Dallas to turn it around soon.
Indeed. It's an exciting time for the NBA as new teams are taking over. I'm not high on Dallas. They played way above their heads, esp. with their 3pt shooting in the playoffs. The Lakers should still be strong considering how improved they are defensively. They should be 2-1 right now, as they should have beaten a Bulls team that is pretty darn good (w/o Bynum too).
True maybe I'm overreacting on the Lakers a lil. Still wouldn't count out Dallas though. I think Lamar Odom will make a big impact. Losing Chandler and Barea was huge though.
Man WB needs to understand you don't have it tonight. Unless you are a top 3-5 player, you gotta pass the damn ball when you don't have it. EDIT: And this is why KD needs to learn how to become a point-forward. Learn to have the ball above the 3pt line and create instead of having WB doing it, esp. on nights when he has brain farts. KD is ON FIRE tonight after a poor start. Damn.
Brooks has him in the game simply for the sake of his confidence. It's a long-term decision. But WB is playing like a mental case. He's got to realize KD and Harden have to take all the remaining shots.
