With the new season approaching it is time to start to evaluate the teams and their hopes for the new season. I will do them in reverse order of last seasons record: 15. Atlanta Hawks 10-72 Hawks looks to be one of the most improved teams in the conference. Someone is even talking the playoffs. But having 31 games to catch up that task could be a bit though. They completly revamped their team through trades and their draft. And all this without losing any improtant pieces (not that they had any). Roster: C: Olowokandi/Battie/Haywood/Bowdler PF: Martin/Battie/Traylor/Mottola SF: Szczerbiak/Lynch/J. Wallace/McLeod/Newman SG: Jackson/Turkoglu/Griffin/Brown PG: Stockton/Sasser/Douglas Losses: Carlos Rogers Jacque Vaughn Todd MacCulloch Walter McCarthy Dana Barros Matt Maloney Acqusitions: Jim Jackson John Stockton Michael Olowokandi Hidayet turkoglu Robert Traylor Damone Brown Brendan Haywood Jeryll Sasser Tony Battie George Lynch Kenyon Martin Johnny Newman ------------------ The CC.net NBA Sim Board/Homepage
14. Charlotte Hornets 16-66 Hornets have pretty much the same team they fielded last season, with a few noteworthy exceptions. They traded for Jamal Crawford to be their new pointguard giving up a lot (inlcluded their own common pick who could have landed them Baron Davis) in the hope that the young prospect will pay of. They also was successful in moving up in the rookie draft to grab Kwame Brown with the 2nd pick overall. Although making a good move when moving up for Brown, their season will depend very much on the gamble in which they gave up much depth and their common pick to get Crawford. They are also improved, but as a lot of the bottom teams are improved it remains to see how this pays in the win/loss column. Roster: (not listed) Losses: Jermaine Jackson Chucky Brown Otis Thorphe Popeye Jones Tim James Acqusitions: Jamal Crawford Kenny Thomas Kwame Brown ------------------ The CC.net NBA Sim Board/Homepage [This message has been edited by Heath2000 (edited July 16, 2001).]
13. Orlando Magic 17-65 Boville have trusted the drafts to improve his team - although he also have made a trade where he gave up some of his picks for Cliff Robinson. Robinson was sent on to aquire Steve Nash and Dion Glover. Magic has improved considerably, and they only lost 2 non factors so it will be exiting to see what they can do. Roster: Bryant Reeves/Michaeal Doleac/ Jeff Foster/Don Reid/ Pau Gasol/Pat Garrity/Reggie Slater Voshon Lenard/Trenton Hassell/Dion Glover Steve Nash/Raul Lopez IR: Monty Williams (SF), Jud Buechler (G/F), Laron Profit (SG), Tyrone Lue (PG), Cory Alexander (PG) Losses: Andrew DeClerqc Dee Brown Acqusitions: Pau Gasol Trenton Hassell Raul Lopez Jeff Foster Steve Nash Dion Glover ------------------ The CC.net NBA Sim Board/Homepage [This message has been edited by Heath2000 (edited July 16, 2001).]
12. Miami Heat 17-65 DrewP have made a lot of wheeling and dealing to get the team better. And Heat should be a lot better this year - didn't lose any of big importance and got a great deal through their trades and draft - Antonio McDyess among other Roster: C Shawn Bradley C Duane Causwell C Samuel Dalembert PF Antonio McDyess PF Kevin Willis PF A.C. Green SF Darius Miles SF Bruce Bowen SF Pervis Ellison SG Reggie Miller SG Jumaine Jones PG Brevin Knight PG Anthony Carter PG Brian Shaw Losses: Todd Fuller Dan Majerle Ricky Davis Eddie House Doug Overton Acqusitions: Samuel Dalembert Darius Miles Jumaine Jones Reggie Miller Shawn Bradley Antonio McDyess Kevin Willis ------------------ The CC.net NBA Sim Board/Homepage [This message has been edited by Heath2000 (edited July 16, 2001).]
11. Chicago Bulls 27-55 Gettinbranded started with his rebuilding job the second he took over, and he got much done in the first season. He didnt want to wait for his draft picks to get better, in fact he traded them in an effort to get better from the get go. He still got some good pickings done this season, and it remains to be seen what strategy that was most sucessful. Me for one think branded made the right decision to stay away from the tankers. Roster: PG: Davis, Barros,Drew SG: Anderson, Hughes, Guyton, Trepagnier C: Miller, Polynice, Tarlac PF: Fizer, Jones, Ruffin SF: Mashburn, Elliot, Owens Losses: Vonteego Cummings Dalibor Bagaric Jamal Crawford Acqusitions: Baron Davis Derek Anderson Brad Miller Jeff Trepagnier Dana Barros Popeye Jones ------------------ The CC.net NBA Sim Board/Homepage
10. Cleveland Cavaliers 30-52 Last season I had them fighting for a spot in the playoffs but falling a few games short in the end. They did just that, only that they fell more than expected as they traded for Mutombo. Not that Mutombo is bad, but PSJ gave up way to much to get him. Now they have an aging star to build around, with a young star project to groom. This season will not be a good one for Cavs, but having a bad season might also be good for the future. Next season could be the answer with yet another high draft pick and prospect Chandler one yearolder and wiser. Roster: C-Mutombo/A.Jones/Traylor PF-Illgauskas/C.Brown SF-Chandler/MHarpring/Murray/Langdon SG-Magette/W.Person/N.Anderson PG-Coles Losses: Robert Traylor Shammond Williams Acqusitions: Zydrunas Ilgauskas Tyson Chandler Alvin Jones ------------------ The CC.net NBA Sim Board/Homepage
9. Toronto Raptors 32-50 DieHard Rocket got the questionable joy of taking over the falling Raptors. To think only a season ago they were a promising team, sure to make the playoffs. What a few trades can do! I see the Raptors falling even more this season, before they can start to turn things around. (Not that DieHard hasn't made moves to make the team better, but the record Raptors ended up with was way better than the team they ended up with, as most of the wins were from earlier in the season when the team was much better) Roster: C- K.Clark/Radojevic PF-Grant/Foyle/Skinner SF-E.Robinson/Ham SG-A.Williams/Forte PG-Terry/Cummings/Cleaves Losses: Ben Wallace Darius Miles Nazr Mohammed Acqusitions: Brian Grant Adonal Foyle Vonteego Cummings Brian Skinner Joe Forte Eddie Robinson Darvin Ham ------------------ The CC.net NBA Sim Board/Homepage
8. Boston Celtics 41-41 Celtics under puedlfor is a team on the rise. Some say he lack someone to play the point, but if his experiment with using DerMarr Johnson as his ball distributor pays of this will create some mismatch problems for the opposition. He also picked up one of the more promising rookies as he traded up to get Rodney White who have shown promise so far in the preseason. Roster: Projected Line-up: PG : DerMarr Johnson SG : Stephen Jackson SF : Rodney White PF : Jerome Moiso C : Alonzo Mourning Bench: PG : Will Avery PF : Danny Manning SF : Bobby Simmons PF/C : Ken Johnson PG/SG : Jamison Brewer PF : Walter McCarty Franchise Player : Matt Maloney. Losses: John Stockton Eric Williams Theo Ratliff Jamie Feick Antonio Harvey Johnny Newman Kevin Ollie Greg Anthony Chris Herren Acqusitions: Rodney White Ken Johnson Jamison Brewer Bobby Simmons Stephen Jackson Danny Manning Walter McCarthy Matt Maloney William Avery ------------------ The CC.net NBA Sim Board/Homepage
7. Detroit Pistons 44-38 Pistons was one of the teams suffering from last years scheduling and could be the ones helped most with standard schedules. I also think Iverson have found a team he can thrive on again with the move to Castors Pistons. Roster: PG- Sam Cassell SG- Allen Iverson SF- Cedric Ceballos PF- Jerome Williams C-- Nazr Mohammed SF/PF- Troy Murphy-r SG/SF- Chris Carr G/SF - Bobby Sura C-- Joel Przbylla C-- Dan Santiago PG- Will Solomon-r PF- Grant Long Losses: Brad Miller Charles Oakley Jerry Stackhouse Keith Van Horn Corey Benjamin Kendall Gill Michael Curry Darvin Ham Acqusitions: Cedric Ceballos Will Solomon Troy Murphy Allen Iverson Jerome Williams Grant Long Dan Santiago Nazr Mohammed ------------------ The CC.net NBA Sim Board/Homepage
6. Indiana Pacers 44-38 Sammy is the GM of our enigma team, the team that never stops to surprise. The team stay the same for the most with only changes from the draft, so now it is time for another surorising run, or? Roster: Starters C: Campbell PF: Ty Hill SF: Bender SG: Delk PG: Childs Bench C/PF Potapenko SF Posey SG/SF Jefferson PG Whitney C Tabak PG Edney C Perkins Losses: Jeff Foster Emanuel Davis Acqusitions: Elden Campbell Chris Whitney Richard Jefferson ------------------ The CC.net NBA Sim Board/Homepage
5. Washington Wizards 46-36 Dean is running this team for the playoffs - they always perform the best when the season is on the line. This offseason brought back ex-Wizard center Jahidi White to secure all stay the same for the playoffs again. Roster: pg-Armstrong/Jackson/Stith sg-Richmond/Hamilton/Davis/Curry sf-Morris/Nesby/Williams/Smith pf-Walker/Brown/Laettner c-White/Thomas/Geiger Losses: Jermaine O'Neal Austin Croshere Chris Whitney Courtney Alexander Hubert Davis Acqusitions: Terrence Morris Jahidi White Eric Williams Matt Geiger Bryant Stith Dell Curry ------------------ The CC.net NBA Sim Board/Homepage
4. New York Knicks 50-32 After haven came in as a new GM for the Knicks the team is full with new faces. Gone is 5 of last season top 6 men. Only Othella Harrington remains. Knicks lost out quite some in losing their rookie pick. Still Knicks got themself a top notch rookie, as they swung a couple of trades to land themself with Jason Richardson. Having a rookie like Richardson could be great for the future, but I think Knicks will fall some this season. Roster: Projected lineup: C Harrington/Ostertag PF Rashard Lewis/Harrington SF Richardson SG Dickerson PG Christie/Doug West Losses: Kurt Thomas Larry Johnson Patrick Ewing Grant Hill David Wesøey Acqusitions: Michael Dickerson Doug Christie Alton Ford Jason Richardson Rashard Lewis ------------------ The CC.net NBA Sim Board/Homepage
3. New Jersey Nets 52-30 CriscoKidd goes into the 3rd season with almost the same team that saw him secure 3rd seed last season in the east. Nets will still be a force to be reckoned with as they aim for even higher goals this time around Roster: Raef/Magloire/DeClerq Jamison/Mason/DeClerq Pippen/Crawford McGrady/Billups/Barry Marbury/Pack Losses: Tom Gugliotta Jahidi White Acqusitions: Andrew DeClerqc ------------------ The CC.net NBA Sim Board/Homepage
2. Milwaukee Bucks 58-24 While Nets bring almost the same team back for the 3rd season, the complete opposite is the fact for the ZRBucks. ZRB wanted Duncan bad to build around, and he got him while dumping a lot of talent. But he also got some nice roleplayers, and with Duncan in the middle the Bucks should be a force to be reckoned with for the 3rd season. Roster: Damon Stoudamire-Terry Porter-*Chris Herren Steve Smith-Mario Ellie-Jaren Jackson Austin Croshere-Isaiah Rider-Detlef Shremph Vin Baker-Scott Williams Tim Duncan-Ervin Johnson Losses: Zydrunas Ilgauskas Mo Taylor Glenn Robinson Ray Allen Andre Miller Alan Henderson C. Weatherspoon Caffey Mike Miller Lindsey Hunter Acqusitions: Austin Croshere Tim Duncan Terry Porter Jaren Jackson J.R. Rider Chris Herren Damon Stoudamire Steve Smith Detlef Schremp Mario Elie Vin Baker ------------------ The CC.net NBA Sim Board/Homepage
Nice work and effort. But that Cav's are going to shock the world! Tyson chandler is going to dominate. ------------------ humble, but hungry.
1. Philadelphia 76ers 60-22 Champions of the 2nd season, GM Heath had made a couple of changes even before the finals was over. Also with drafting for best available in the drafts this team has a strange buildup as the 3rd season is about to start. But make no mistake the talent is there, in bundles, and with one of the stronger benches 76ers should be expected to still win their share of matches. With an expected trade to go down in the near future the balance of the team should be fixed to be in the mix for another Atlantic/Eastern title. Roster: C-- Loren Woods PF- Mo Taylor SF- Shawn Marion SG- Gary Payton PG- Mike Bibby C -- Todd MacCulloch PF/C- Lorenzen Wright PF - Stromile Swift, Kirk Haston SF - Cliff Robinson, Ruben Patterson F/G - Kedrick Brown SG - Antonio Daniels, Raja Bell PG - Aaron McKie, Kevin Ollie Losses: Marcus Camby Hakeem Olajuwon Tony Battie George Lynch Jumaine Jones Steve Nash Dion Glover Acqusitions: Maurice Taylor Lorenzen Wright Loren Woods Kedrick Brown Kirk Haston Todd MacCulloch Kevin Ollie Cliff Robinson ------------------ The CC.net NBA Sim Board/Homepage
*Bump* Time to do my predictions, and then I will use these nice evaluations. Prediction thread coming right up. ------------------ The CC.net NBA Sim Board/Homepage
