KG got 13 boards last year per game, and he was tops in the NBA in that department. Next was Tim Duncan, then Ben Wallace. Boards are not bad to have, but the decisive factor in determining a team's fate over the entire season is probably the field goal percentage. Having an efficient field goal percentage reduces the number of defensive rebounds for the opposing team which directly impacts the number of times the opposing team can fastbreak off the misses. the team with the highest field goal percentage in the NBA was Minnesota the team with the highest rebounding average in the NBA was the Cavaliers I find a striking difference between the records of those two teams.
Not too throw too much cold water you all the heightened expectations, but this is a team that's missing two of it's top three scorers from last season replaced by somebody with a history of trying to do too much. If you think this team will be able to score with the elites of the WC then I think your all smoking something... I have BIG TIME reservations about this teams ability to coalesce as an offensive unit and our backcourt, (Sura or not) may turn out to be the laughing stock of the WC on "D". Even with Cat and S.F. we were frequently burned by top tier guards last year. You know that PG's are licking their chops at the thought of being guarded by Ward or Sura!! My prediction: We finish somewhere between 6th and 8th, behind S.A. Minn Sac Dal L.A. Memphis ROX Utah And guys, I want to believe in Van Gundy, but I don't have confidence in his ablility to coach offense. I objected to him coming hear, and if feels very much like he's trying to build an E.C. team in the West.... We have to outscore people as well as have a sound frontcourt. So, too many holes = questionable playoff seeding.
That's just the paranoia from all the rock you've been puffing on. We lost our two of our leading scorers, and replaced them with a two time scoring champ and a career 17/7 power forward. We're a much more balanced offense than last year, and one of the most balanced in the league. Even with VG's slow-down style, we'll probably average 5 more points per game on offense, without a significant dropoff on defense.
The Rockets are going to come in third in the midwest, fifth seed in the west...and win the whole enchillada *this* year. Book it. It will take them time to gel, but once they do- watch out. No other team in the league has two unguardable go-to players anymore, and certainly no team that can play championship-level defense. The defense, match-ups and depth will be improved this year. Yao is coming into his own. McGrady has a chip on his shoulder. Boki Nachbar is...well, ok, let's not get carried away. : )
Division Winners Northwest: TWolves Pacific: Kings Southwest: Spurs Playoff seeding: 1. Spurs 2. Kings 3. TWolves 4. Memphis 5. Mavericks 6. Rockets 7. Lakers 8. Jazz Teams just missing the playoffs (in order of wins): Blazers, Nuggets, Sonics, Suns. Btw, I predict that Mavericks beat Memphis in the playoffs despite being the lower seed. Also, we'll beat Twolves too...
A variable this season will be how Weatherspoon comes into the season conditioning-wise. He was nicknamed the "Donut Man" by a few Knick fans. My guess is Weatherspoon is going to understand that he will get time on the floor as long as he can hit the mid-range jumper and go to the board. He might not be gorging himself on food in the offseason which he means he will probably be able to get the lift required to dunk and rebound more aggressively. Even though he is only 6'7'', he rebounded better than Mo. The severe weakness he had was his inability to dunk when he got a pass under the basket. He would get blocked constantly. I think the ideal power forward opposite Yao needs to be able to can the mid-range jumper and rebound aggressively. Hopefully, Juwan can do all that. If not, Weatherspoon may be playing more as long as he is in good shape.
2005 PLAYOFF FORMAT 1. SA- (great coach, best player) 2. Denver- (solid team) 3. Rockets- (T-MAC & DYNASTY!) 4. Minn- (Garnett factor) 5. LA- (Rudy and Kobe surprise) 6. Jazz-(Solid Additions) 7. Memphis- (New uniforms instead of roster tweaking??) 8. Sac- (Divac will be missed)
...anyOnE placing LA above 6th has been puffing something bad lately. One thing I Noticed however, is that alot people seem to be very sure on the Wolves older guys not being able to put up a good regular season run anymore. I think they might suprise us.
