Most surprising/dissapointing teams this season...

you could slip sacramento in the suprising category
and golden st. under disappointing

 

Add KG's Timberwolves to the disappointment list

 

To me the Rockets were the most disappointing. I understand the injuries and everything else but I thought they'd do some good things at the beginning of the year.

The Lakers are the most surprising.

 

I say New Jersey is the most surprising....

 

We would be by far the most disappointing team if Yao and Tmac had been healthy, played the whole season and we are still heading for the lottery just like now. But the fact is that we only had both of them playing together for about 30 games. And our records in those 30 games, if projected to 82 games, would land us at the 3rd seed in the West.

I call this an unfortunate season, not disappointing.

I agree with you about the Lakers though. I thought they would be one of the worse teams before this season. Yes they surprised me. Hat off to Phil Jackson.

 

Most Suprising:

PHO Suns: I thought this team was doomed when they lost both Q and JJ, replacing them with Raga Bell and Boris Diaw. When Amare went out, I thought it was all over. Steve Nash is the man.

Runner-Up: NOK Hornets

Most Disappointing:

Houston Rockets: This team had championship contender written all over it IMO. We had Yao/TMac in year 2 together, a very exciting PF in Swift, perimeter help in DA, and a true PG in Alston. Then injuries took away the entire season. We didn't get a chance.

Runner-Up: Golden St.

 

uhm maybe i am wrong but didnt tracy go down after the first game? i knew the season would be rocky from that day. then rafer like 2 weeks later is gone. so i mean the injuries started literally after the sacramento game which was really bad cuz like i remember watching that game with so much joy and hope because the rockets seemed to win that game effortlessly despite playing really bad.

 

I watched Rockets preseason games and knew that something was not there, so my expectations were not very high, but than all the injuries..

Stil..
most disappointing: Rockets (you take TMac away and they are not able to win)

most suprising: Suns

 

Pretty good list. Some comments:

Most Disappointing:

You left off the Denver Nuggets! I expected them to make a serious run at the Finals this year and for various reasons they are no threat at all. They won their division by default because they have no competition when many expected them to possibly compete for best record. The disastrous K-Mart signing continues to haunt them.

I disagree on the Bucks and Sixers. Mainly because of Mo Cheeks and AI's lack of team play, the Sixers were doomed from the beginning IMO. After their poor start, I started a thread titled "Philly is Burning" and was roundly criticized even though I never said they would go 0-82. AI needs a strong-willed coach to succeed and Cheeks is definitely NOT the guy. Yesterday, he admitted he let some things "slide" this season. Even if they will make wholesale roster changes, the Sixers will never reach their potential with Cheeks as coach. The lack of development of AI2, Korver and Dalembert killed that team. As much as I love watching AI play, he stunts the growth of younger teammates. Cheeks is a great guy, but he's probably geared more towards being a top assistant than a head coach.
The Bucks did better than most expected. Unless your vantage point was AFTER their fast start (instead of the beginning of the season), they are definitely not disappointing.

Most Surprising:

I said before the season the Clips had no more excuses and were pretty much a playoff lock if injuries didn't bite them too hard. They did exactly what I expected and should beat the Nugs in Round 1. Elton Brand showed what he can do when paired with a strong leader at PG.

The Lakers competing for the last couple of playoff spots is where most people had them. No surprise here. One thing in their favor is LO is finally playing well on a consistent basis with Kobe on the floor. If Kobe gets enough fire in his eyes, they could win a couple of games from the Suns in Round 1.

 

I agree. Lakers’ making the playoffs is not surprising. Not saying they should be there( they have one of the worst supporting casts in the league ), but they have a coach who is among the all-time greats, who knows exactly how to win games by elevating his players to a new level and adjust his game plan to his players' advantages, some of qualities that Rox's coach seriously lacks.

 

I disagree with the Rockets being on anybody's disappointing list, T-Mac was oft injured and our record showed we can't win without the guy.

 

My friend actually has the Lakers upsetting the Suns in the first round.

 

Sorry, but I'll have to put the Rockets in the most disappointing list. Both Yao and McGrady played in more games than they missed, and the Rockets had at least one of them for almost every game until Yao went out with his foot injury. This was one of the most poorly put together supporting casts in team history. Every aspect of the team from upper management to coaching to the players was disappointing.

Due to their late surge, I'm putting the Magic at the top of my most suprising list. It's amazing what getting rid of John Weisbrod will do for a team's success...

 

The Rockets definitely belong on the most disappointing list. I agree it was bad because of injuries, but it still makes it a disappointing year. Whenever you are a championship contender at the beginning of the year and don't make the playoffs, then it is a disappointment.

 

I couldn't agree more. I'll be at the Pepsi Center all 3 games we have in the first round (provided it goes at least six games, which I think it will), but nothing would surprise me. I could see us getting swept, I could see us making the conference finals.