Great post, my green friend... You might think I'm an incredible optomist from what I'm about to say, but I've just got one of those "hunches" about this year. Actually, I believe we are 3 to 5 years away from winning the championship. But I believe we actually have a chance to make it all the way to the Western Conference Finals this year, even if we start at 7th or 8th seed. As ridiculous as that may sound, here's why: <OL>[*]Dream: He's a warrior. Warriors don't do well in peacetime. They need a war, and not with their own teamates, where they can't turn their backs. That's what happened with Pippen and Chuck, so they weren't ready to go to war together. When Pippen left, we didn't have a team to go to war together that could win. Last year, we had rookies and injuries. This year has the potential to be different. If Dream has the breathing problems, then maybe we'll limp into the playoffs, but once we get there, the warrior will kick into gear. He's not a young pup anymore, so he may have to conserve his energy, but he'll want to go out in style, which is the way he'll want to be remembered. He has another superstar ready to go there, and some other studs, such as Mo and Mobely, and maybe even Cato, with Anderson and Williams who'll be solid come playoff time. This team is not afraid of the Lakers, and would love nothing better than to kick Pippen's ass, nor will they back down from San Antonio. I'm not sure they'll be able to go all the way. That is even possible. I believe if Dream thinks its possible to go all the way, or even to the Conference Finals, the warrior will kick in, the spirit will return, the adrenalin will make him fast, and we'll see that big smile again, even if just for a few series of games. [*]Rudy: He understands chemistry and leading his team to peak at just the right time. Rudy may experiment, so this team gets used to each other, even if they lose some games that causes us to limp into the playoffs. He just came back from the Olympics. It will just be too tempting not to make a run for it this year, even though he might downplay with his words and actually coach in ways that encourages us to be viewed as the underdogs, so we can sneak up on everyone. He would love for Dream to go out on top, and for Francis, Anderson, Mo and Mobely to get a taste of championship fever. It would be the best way to ensure getting Mo and Anderson back. If Dream kicks into gear, and Francis continues on his tear and neither get injured at playoff time, everyone could start believing, and Rudy knows exactly how to make that happen. If he has to provide a phantom injury for Dream, to be sure he's fresh for the playoffs, he'll do it, just as before. [*]Francis: When Francis and Mobely were watching the Comets playoff games, and commiserating on how they wanted to be in on the championship atmosphere as soon as possible, I believe Francis actually thinks we could go all the way. He is really serious about being the best, and has rallied the troops towards that objective. Even though he knows we need more building blocks to continue playoff runs, he'd love to show he belongs this year, especially while he still has Dream for a few series in the playoffs. [*]MO: This guy got looking at the pictures in CD's office, and became an instant believer. If there would be any way to do this with Dream this year, he'll do what it takes. His problems in the past primarily stemmed around attitude. If he actually has a chance to go all the way with Dream, that attitude will be hot. Besides, his contract will be up, and there will never be a better time to shine. Falk will be cheering him on. [*]Cato: Why do I think he'll be a bust again this year? I sure hope not. But I'm not sure he'll really come into his own until Dream is gone, and he's the actual starter. But during the playoffs, for at least 3 series, he may be the four-armed slobbering monster again. [*]The Wiz: Will he show up, hot in the last part of the season, like he did last year? If he does, we'll be able to beat Portland and San Antonio. Payback time to Portland ... [*]Anderson: Its his time to arrive. His defense will be invaluable in the playoffs. [*] Bench: Mobely will be instant offense off the bench, and we'll all be really glad we found a way to keep him as he high fives Francis and jumps up in his arms every time we win. Norris will provide some consistency, Langhi will go on a streak in a couple spots, causing us to get excited about his future, KT could have attitude problems, but get it together in the playoffs, Collier will develop but not quick enough to help much, except to hack Shaq, Rogers will probably get injured, Bull could nail a three pointer at the end of a game that wins one for us, tempting him to retire to his favorite fishing hole at the same time Dream does. [/list=a] If this happens, I think we'll want to sign Dream to another contract with the hope we went all the way next year, but I think if we make it to the Western Finals, Dream will consider that enough to retire, and that will be the end of that stretch. Remember when we went a long way into the playoffs when Dream first came here, but then it was a few years before we got back to win it all? I think it will be like that with Francis. We'll go a long way this year, but then Dream will be gone, we'll draft a great center in this next year's draft, and maybe get lucky and get Morris too, redevelop the chemistry and then get back to the finals in 3 or 4 years. I expect us to stay awhile after that. Maybe 4 or 5 years. Its going to be fun. ------------------ the more I know, the more I know I don't know...
Cato signed his fat contract on September 23rd of last year, long before the pre-season started. ------------------ Save our children from the TAAS test: TAAS test report card TAAS test fact sheet
Behad, really? I guess I could have looked that up. In my mind the contract signing provided a simple explanation for the night and day performance by the Catonic bomb. So if he was already under contract, and then had the big preseason, why do you think he went into a shell when the games counted? I don't understand it. ------------------
If I could answer that one Sam, I could make a lot of money as a sports psychologist. ------------------ Save our children from the TAAS test: TAAS test report card TAAS test fact sheet
