ESPN 2007-08 Hollinger Team Forecasts [Rockets #1]

vincentt · Oct 7, 2007

sorry if this is already posted

How will things shake out in the Association this season? ESPN Insider John Hollinger analyzes the strengths and weaknesses of all 30 teams, and predicts each team's finish.

Hollinger's Projected Eastern Conference Standings (INSIDER)
TEAM PROJECTED RECORD PROJECTED DIV. FINISH
1. Chicago Bulls 55-27 1st in Central
Despite the glaring lack of frontcourt scoring, the Bulls are a threat to be taken very seriously ... MORE
2. Cleveland Cavaliers 54-28 2nd in Central
People are dismissing the Cavs after watching their unimpressive performance in the Finals ... MORE
3. Boston Celtics 51-31 1st in Atlantic
The addition of Garnett and Allen means the team is likely to more than double its win total ... MORE
4. Orlando Magic 49-33 1st in Southeast
With the youth and the addition of Lewis, a five-game improvement doesn't seem outrageous ... MORE
5. Detroit Pistons 48-34 3rd in Central
Despite the incredibly good fit between Detroit's different pieces, one wonders if this nucleus ... MORE
6. Miami Heat 43-39 2nd in Southeast
The Heat are an incredibly difficult team to predict this year because they're basically ... MORE
7. Atlanta Hawks 42-40 3rd in Southeast
Atlanta should win as much as it loses this season, and in this conference that makes ... MORE
8. Toronto Raptors 40-42 2nd in Atlantic
Every key Raptor except Bosh and Bargnani projects to have a lower PER than a season ago ... MORE
9. New Jersey Nets 39-43 3rd in Atlantic
The Nets still envision themselves as contenders in the East, but it's time for a reality check. ... MORE
10. New York Knicks 38-44 4th in Atlantic
The Knicks won't be terrible, simply because Randolph gives them such an offensive force ... MORE
11. Milwaukee Bucks 35-47 4th in Central
The Bucks should be quite a bit better because they'll effectively add three players to the ... MORE
12. Charlotte Bobcats 34-48 4th in Southeast
Nobody is talking about the Bobcats, but the way they finished last season people really ... MORE
13. Washington Wizards 33-49 5th in Southeast
I see Washington in decline for at least a year or two until the youngsters are ready to step up ... MORE
14. Indiana Pacers 28-54 5th in Central
The Pacers seem headed in the wrong direction, and their reluctance to nuke the roster ... MORE
15. Philadelphia 76ers 21-61 5th in Atlantic
Despite the good karma from last season's finish, it seems to me the Sixers will need to ... MORE

Hollinger's Projected Western Conference Standings (INSIDER)
TEAM PROJECTED RECORD PROJECTED DIV. FINISH
1. Houston Rockets 61-21 1st in Southwest
Betting on Adelman and McGrady to achieve postseason success hasn't been a really wise ... MORE
2. San Antonio Spurs 59-23 2nd in Southwest
Once again, we'll conveniently ignore the Spurs until March 1, then look up and notice ... MORE
3. Dallas Mavericks 58-24 3rd in Southwest (5th seed)
While I still get this uneasy feeling that 2006 was this team's best shot at a ring ... MORE
4. Phoenix Suns 54-28 1st in Pacific (3rd seed)
They'll still be a great show, of course, and they'll still be a factor come May. But ... MORE
5. Denver Nuggets 53-29 1st in Northwest (4th seed)
So while the upside for this group is high, they look more like bridesmaids in this conference. ... MORE
6. Utah Jazz 50-32 2nd in Northwest
The Jazz have a couple factors pulling them in each direction. On the one hand ... MORE
7. Los Angeles Lakers 43-39 2nd in Pacific
Nobody's really sure what their goal is or what the timeframe is for achieving it, but they ... MORE
8. New Orleans Hornets 39-43 4th in Southwest
With improved health and the decline of several potential contenders, I think they'll ... MORE
9. Golden State Warriors 36-46 3rd in Pacific
The fact the Warriors put it all together for two months last season doesn't necessarily ... MORE
10. Seattle SuperSonics 35-47 3rd in Northwest
Clearly, we shouldn't expect much of a home-court advantage. But the Sonics will be better ... MORE
11. Memphis Grizzlies 34-48 5th in Southwest
Yes, they'll be better, but that's hardly saying much. This is a transition season ... MORE
12. Sacramento Kings 27-55 4th in Pacific
As a result, I'm looking for the worst Kings season yet -- and that's before they break out the ... MORE
13. Portland Trail Blazers 26-56 4th in Northwest
Blazer fans might be crying into their organic fair-trade soy lattes after the loss of Oden, but ... MORE
14. Minnesota Timberwolves 22-60 5th in Northwest
The Wolves lost 50 games with Garnett, and clearly they won't be better without him. ... MORE
15. Los Angeles Clippers 20-62 5th in Pacific

vincentt · Oct 7, 2007

heres the link http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?page=HollingerForecastIndex0708

SWTsig · Oct 7, 2007

please post the article for those of us w/o insider.

tomato · Oct 7, 2007

I think this was the same article that was posted twice before?

francis 4 prez · Oct 7, 2007

man, hollinger just absolutely loves us these days. i just don't see us winning 60. in our first championship year, we started 15-0 and won the whole damn thing and still only got to 58. 61 is pretty damn good completely healthy, and yao and tmac aren't exactly known for never missing a game. more in the 57 range seems about right, assuming everyone gels. and then we'll see how the playoffs shake out.

Deckard · Oct 7, 2007

tomato said:

I think this was the same article that was posted twice before?
Click to expand...

I think a barrage of tomatoes is in order!

francis 4 prez · Oct 7, 2007

SWTsig said:

please post the article for those of us w/o insider.
Click to expand...

or you could just pay for it.

besides, that was the article. each of the "MORE" things links to analysis, which looks to be fairly extensive, of the individual teams.

hollinger's writing a lot for the upcoming season it seems. that breakdown of each rockets' player was pretty in depth and almost completely accurate. maybe he just watched a lot of the rockets b/c he likes us, otherwise he must watch an ton of basketball to do that for every player and team.

Ashes · Oct 8, 2007

Outlook
This might take some of you by surprise, so let me start by saying I realize the waters in which I tread have claimed many good souls before. Betting on Adelman and McGrady to achieve postseason success hasn't been a really wise play over the past decade. Betting on both to win together seems downright masochistic.

That said … I'm betting on these guys. Big time. Like division champs big. Like best record in the West big. And yes, like winning the championship big.

Of course, it's never easy to come out of the West. Houston could easily finish third in its own division, as it's populated by what I consider to be the three best teams in basketball. The two-month playoff grind is a concern, too, given the health problems for McGrady and Yao in recent years -- especially the back trouble that has plagued T-Mac.

While I'm going over potential weaknesses, let's put a few others out there. The team is unlikely to defend as well as it did last season, as Adelman can't match Van Gundy's brilliant track record at that end. It's not clear if Francis can reform his over-dribbling ways and become a secondary player, nor if Scola can make the immediate adjustment to NBA ball that will be needed to close the open wound at power forward. And it appears Yao's defense can be taken advantage of in a seven-game series -- just ask Carlos Boozer for confirmation.

I like them anyway.

What makes me think these guys are so qualified to climb to the top of the mountain? Mainly, the help. Last season Houston had two superstars but little else offensively, and McGrady's numbers cracked under the strain. This season the Rockets have the same two superstars, but now have several quality role players around them to pick up the slack.

In particular, the addition of more players who can create their own shot is going to be a huge benefit to the offense, which was excruciating to watch last season. I'm still haunted by the memories of four guys standing around watching T-Mac during that seventh game against Utah while missing a ton of open kickout shots.

And it's not as if Houston was chopped liver a season ago. The Rockets won 52 games, and actually were much better than their record. One would expect a team with their scoring differential to win 57.4, and as those of you who've read me for a while know, differences between real and "expected" wins are almost pure luck.

That came with McGrady and Yao combining to miss 45 games, Wells going in the tank, Snyder missing half the season and the head coach working on his exit strategy.

So what happens if you take that team and add Wells (essentially), Francis, James, Brooks, Scola, and Butler, and give it a coach who wants to be there? It's scary to think, but a gang that had a 57-win talent a season ago may also be the league's most improved team.

And for that reason, even considering T-Mac's and Adelman's postseason histories, one can make a fairly convincing case that the Rockets are the team most likely to be holding the Larry O'Brien Trophy in June.

Prediction: 61-21, 1st in Southwest, 1st in Western Conference
Click to expand...

Here's link, but you need insider.

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/trainingcamp07/insider/columns/story?columnist=hollinger_john&page=RocketsPreview0708#

Barkley · Oct 8, 2007

Thanks guys. Good read

Uprising · Oct 8, 2007

been posted a few times before.

He has a man crush on our team.

rezdawg · Oct 8, 2007

I seriously want to sell girl scout cookies when I read that. It makes me feel fuzzy on the inside.

TurboRowdyPAUL · Oct 8, 2007

yea ive read this before...

i like the predictions he is making

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ESPN 2007-08 Hollinger Team Forecasts [Rockets #1]

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ESPN 2007-08 Hollinger Team Forecasts [Rockets #1]

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