locked if already posted. Hopefully these are better than the last ones I posted, though maybe not.(Hollinger did all of the West teams, but did a team by team breakdown so you will have to look at each team to see the projections,etc.) http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/train...mnist=hollinger_john&page=RocketsForecast0809 1st in our division, 3rd in the conference as noted above behind 1. Utah 2. LAL I dont think Utah is better than the LAL or even the best team in the WC, so I'll have to disagree there. Your take?
Jazz won't be in the top 4. Id go like this: Hornets-1 Lakers-2 Rockets-3 Spurs-4 Jazz-5 Suns-6 Blazers-7 Mavericks-8
If the Rockets can keep 2 of their big 3 on the court all season, they will finish first. ...but that is a big if.
No I agree that Utah has some of the best talents in the league but there is no way that they are going to finish ahead of the Rockets. Their management is looking to save money. They said it in the beginning of the year. With Boozer looking more likely not to sign for next year, they are going to look to trade him this season. Okur and Korver are also in their contract year. They are going to need to make moves this season. I would almost count on it. No way they can work together this season with all the talk going around in their management.
I don't think it is totally incomprehensible to see New Orleans or Utah at first place. The West, last year, was so bundled that a streak here and there could easily propel, even #6 or #7 to first. The Lakers and ROckets have the most talent, but I don't think you automatically give both teams 1 and 2. It's too much that could happened and too many games to be played.
That was a good pick if you've assumed that Yao and TMAC were healthy; and Bonzi and Francis could play, stat wise. Hollinger is a stat guy. Utah is only the best on stats. I don't think they could win with Boozer not playing any defense (in order to pad his stats).
You can't have three teams in the same division in the top 4. Jazz will probably take their usual 4th spot and lose home court to the 5th. We could be third behind Lakers and Hornets.
By record you could, but this would be similar to the last couple seasons with Rockets having the 5 seed but the Home Court Advantage.
I don't always agree with his conclusions, but I never get the sense that Hollinger doesn't know what he's talking about, as I do with other writers. He's so knowledgeable and I believe very fair. What he said is exactly right. We could win it all, but there are huge risk factors (primarily injuries...I think the Artest/chemistry issue will prove overblown).
I have a lot of respect for this guy because he is fair. He uses stats rather than his own opinion. He's able to use the both and make sense all at the same time. Now that dumba@@ Marc, well he loves Dallas! lol
