On paper what teams will we have the most problems with?

The Grizzles, Mavs and Spurs have owned us for quite a while. This time around who knows. It's a completely reworked team. We seriously lucked out getting T-Mac, and I would bet money on us improving wins and getting easily to the west finals. We are a beast of a team and even though the press isn't jocking us like the Lakers, we are a gold mine if we were more marketable.

I think we'll be fine against the T-Wolves, but the Mavs will still give us problems. Spurs Lakers Kings Nuggets Suns I could care less about. I think we'll split w San Antonio.

 

Mavs, I think. T-Mac will have some problems against their zones, and Yao always has problems with Dampier. Dirk will run Howard ragged. We won't be able to take advantage of their inexperienced PG. Then again, Dallas' offense will not run as smoothly with Terry running the show. We'll see.

Memphis shouldn't kill us as much this time around, with a less turnover-prone team.

 

T-Mac's stats last year were terrible against the Mavs, Spurs and Grizzlies.

 

Not surprising considering he was a one man show. I don't expect it to be that way with us.

 

Miami Heat.

 

It was a one man show against everyone. But his stats dipped against those teams, all in our division.

 

Two years ago.

vs Mavs
19 pts 2 rebs 6.5 ast 38.2% FG 35.7% 3Pter

vs Spurs
32.5 pts 8.5 rbs 3 ast 43.5% FG 30% 3pter

vs Memphis
34.5 pts 7.5 rbs 4.5 ast 46% FG 39% 3pter

 

His stats actually didn't dip against Memphis

2 games - 35 ppg, 6.5 assists, 5.5 Rebounds, 53% FG, 50% 3 Point FG, 74% from the free throw line

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/splits?statsId=3179

 

That's the 02-03 stat.

 

No its not. Click on the link at look at the first 19 games. All loses

 

Nevermind. Sorry, i figured it out

 

East : Indiana and Detroit.

West : San Antonio and Dallas

 

I think we'll struggle against the teams that are quick and strong inside. Teams like Utah and Denver immediately spring to mind. I think the Grizzlies and Mavs are always tough, but I just don't fear the Mavs as much this year as I have in years past. San Antonio and Minnesota are the class of the western conference and will definitely pose a challenge.

 

Spurs, Pistons, KIngs, Denver and Utah should give us the most
trouble.

Spurs is always tough. Parker will have a field day and Duncan
is Duncan. Yao used to be well contained by Rasho and Duncan.
Bowen will be put on Tmac.

Pistons beated Shaq/Kobe. 'Nuff said.

Kings' passing and shooting will beat our defense.

Utah always plays well at home, so does Denver.



We match up pretty well aginst the Wolves. I don't think it
will change much this year.

Dallas used to kill us with their 3-pters and forcing TOs from
Francis. Now Nash and Najera have left and they don't scare
me one bit.

Amare is aweful to pass out of doule-team. They are not like
Dallas and Yao always has great game against them.

We should be able to split the series with Indiana.

Tmac is key to our wins aginst Miami. Shaq and Yao should
cancel out each other next year.

 

I think the Mavs are deep ****. They might be good for a year or two but after that they have a lot of old players with big contracts. I am not even sold on damp this year.

 

Obviously the Spurs are the class of the league, and have pretty much had our number for the past couple of years. I'm not afraid of Minny though. We played them pretty well last year and you really got to wonder how long until Sam and Spree start falling off, because when they do it'll be same old wolves time.

I think we'll be okay against the Mavs. They got the talent, but I see them as being just like those portland teams that never got it together because they didn't know how to play with each other. Their revolving door roster is even worse than those Portland squads, so that doesn't help things either.

The Kings are the biggest question mark. They lost Vlade who was their cagiest veteran and there's rumblings about Peja. Who knows what kind of team or mindset they'll have going into the season.

Personally, (besides the Spurs which I've already mentioned) I think the Rox will have the hardest time against the:

Jazz - They're always tough, and Sloan actually has a pretty talented roster this year.

Grizz - Due to their uptempo style and the fact that they'll go to zone if things aren't working out.

Nugs - Another running team, with a number of decent bigs. T-Mac should be able to tear them apart, because they don't have anything special at the 2 and Melo isn't known for being a great defender. But this will still be a matchup worth watching.

 

Orlando...some guys will be on a mission...

 

Spurs have had our number for the last couple years, but things could change. As Jeff said, the Nuggets are a pesky team that could give us some trouble, the same goes for Memphis.

Dallas is a much different team and personally, not a better team. Dampier gives them an inside presence, but we'll see how much Nash held that team together.

1. Spurs
2. TWolves
3. Kings (if Peja stays)
4. Rockets
5. Mavs
6. Nuggets
7. Grizzlies
8. Lakers or Utah

 

Given the completely new back-court, don't think you can count on previous records to judge.

Minny and SA are the toughest, but I go with Minny as the toughest. KG with his length and quickness is the worst PF match-up in the league for us. Of course they will be seriously taken in both match-ups, but JH/MoT IMO can individually play Duncan better than they can KG. Also, IMO Sam Cassell is a much more consistent threat than Parker and will be tougher for our new team. Lue might even prove to be real good to have on Parker, but with Cassell's good size and midrange game he would have no chance. I also don't see Barry as a big factor in the 2 spot--because though he would do offensive damage he would have to guard Tmac , or JJ--still a much too powerful player for him. Both teams have decent guys to throw at Tmac--Bowen, Manu, Spree and Hassell, thus I think for the Rockets to win Yao will have to destroy his opponents.

I think we should win matchups with Utah (I see no guy they can feed to consistently exploit us), and Memphis (keep it half court). Dallas, Sac, Denver and the Lakers are hard to figure but I like our mismtaches over them more than visa versa.