If you had to pick one up-and-coming team to win the championship before 2011, who would it be? I personally like Chicago. They are stacked with talent. I know Portland is too, but they've got a lot of competition in the West while Chicago has Detroit, Toronto, and maybe New Jersey.
I root for Chicago as my Eastern team. They are pretty fun to watch. I think they need to make a few key moves and get some more experience, then they are locked in the top 2 or 3 Eastern teams for the next several years to come.
Bulls... Clearly. But... What about... Phoenix. Barbosa and Stoudemire are young. They have the Hawks pick. Marion could be dealt for youth. Just saying... If Kerr is worth a damn the Suns will break Portland's playoff streak record.
2011? In the next four seasons? All of those rings will be distributed in the Lone Star State. After that? Los Angeles. They can only be allowed to stay down for so long.
I like Chicago. They have a bevy (yes, a bevy) of young talent and great defense to complement it. Oh, and being in the East helps a lot.
Don't forget Charlotte! Okafor - If he can stay healthy, he's a beast Wallace - Shawn Marion clone JRich - as long as he doesn't chuck too much, he'll be fine Felton - quick PG who can pass Fabio - deadly accurate from 3pt stripe Sean May - should come back strong next year and be the next Boozer Brezec - good backup 5 who can score Adam Morrison - Who knows? He could be a bench contributor next year.
You have to take into account that Portland will be getting another lottery pick next year to put next to Roy, Aldridge & Oden. Kevin Pritchard has done an amazing job as GM, while also taking advantage of some serious luck that has come their way. Of course, Seattle will be getting another lottery pick as well, but despite KD's greatness, I still think Portland is in better overall shape. -Turbo
I wouldn't go as far as to call Gerald Wallace a Marion clone, as he is faster and less of an offensive threat and on ball defender. Charlotte does have the look of a growing contender, IF Felton continues to develop and Morrison contributes offensively at some point. I would like to pick Chicago because of their talent pool, but gut feeling says they will end up as Lakers. That makes Chicago as close to elite as you can get, depending on who they would get to keep. After watching LaMarcus get dirty down on the block with Timmy D, I really like what the Blazers have going. If they could get a legitimate point guard, Roy, Outlaw, Aldridge, Oden sounds as tough as anybody else. I was skeptical about LaMarcus after last year, but he appears to be emerging and I am happy to admit I was wrong. My pick: Portland.
What about Orlando? Truth be told, they still need to fill out that roster, but I like Rashard, Dwight and Jameer Nelson, so I liek rooting for them.
i think the sonics. with there two picks this year they will still be Horrible. so it all depends on if they get another great player to go along with durant then i dont care how good oden or deng on there respective teams is. when you have someone that should end up as good as durant and then add another great player then its all but over. seriously
If Portland gets in the lottery again next year (likely) and Oden comes back healthy, watch out the rest of the west for the next 5-7 years. Portland, Toronto, Chicago, and Oklahoma City all have young talent and will be teams to reckon with. Chicago and Toronto now, but Portland and Oklahoma in 2-3 years.
They screwed up by signing Rashard to a max contract. They could have offered him less IMHO. Now they will be cash strapped to sign quality free agents as support players. I am not convinced that Jameer Nelson can get the job done as a PG, and the Magic signed him to a big contract as well. Toronto and Chicago will be ahead of them for a good while.
Based on the playing rosters that they have NOW (ie - without speculating endlessly about what may or may not happen in the future) then I'd say it has to be between Chicago and Portland. Chicago seems to have a strong all around team, but I'm not certain they have a 'standout' player who ranks amongst the elite in the league (although Detroit won a championship without that player) But Deng or Gordon may well become that player! Portland certainly has a few candidates that could take the big step to stardom, and a pretty strong supporting cast. Oden and Aldridge could be a pretty strong frontcourt, and Roy is well supported by Webster and Jack from outside
Don't count out Minni. Foye (if he stays healthy) and Jefferson will be an all-star duo in a few years. Foye has no holes in his game -- he is Chauncey Billups with more leadership skills/IQ out of the box. Jefferson is analogous to Zach Randolph only he has much more quickness, and does not have to rely on his bulk as much because he is more naturally-talented. They have other talented young players/enough draft picks to build around these guys, however dysfunctional the Wolves' organization.
