It's easy to say that when you have job security like Popp. It's a toss up between the Spurs, Lakers, Cavs, or Magic at this point. I like the Nuggs too but they are a notch below these teams, even after drafting Lawson.
ariza will be playing like the second coming of Scottie Quitten when he was with the Bulls during their championship run added
I would easily put Boston in there instead of Cleveland. They're still probably the best team in the NBA.
The biggest threat to the Spurs is the same as it has been for us... Injuries. At full strength I believe they are better now than the Lakers. Lets face it even if Ron Artest doesn't kill the chemistry and ball movement in LA the fact remains that Ariza AND Odom is better than Artest.
ugh, health, that word drives chills down my spine,..... Yao & Tracy were both 24 & 25 yrs old when they both first played together. What happened? how could it have been so many injuries?.....depressing...ugh, well first pick next year, book it!!!, a new era will begin (John Wall Era will begin summer 2010)
I wouldn't be surprised if Roger Mason Jr. starts again and Manu comes off the bench as usual. Maybe you can get RJ going early in the game and then have Manu come in and control the game. Anyways, that will be the lineup for 25-30 minutes a night and I agree it is pretty sick. McDyess will do wonders for that team. He is a perfect fit IMO. I thought Kurt Thomas was done before but year after year he comes back and still contributes. I hate the Spurs and their aging vets that seem to be stuck at 35 and won't age anymore.
exactly.. losing odom will definitely hurt the laker's chances of repeating.. sa has definitely gotten a squad to be reckoned with with their offseason moves.. don't forget about tparker... they're definitely going to be up there fighting for the championship next season..
I'm not so sure Artest makes the lakers better. he thinks his offensive game is better than it really is, and when you have Pau Gasol and Kobe Bryant and possibly Odom on the court...thats definetily not a good thing. If he will accept shooting the spot up 3, getting the occasionaly post up, and focusing more on defense, then I think he can make them better. But his low bball IQ and bad shot selection will clash with Kobe, unless he willingly accepts his role from day 1. I like the Spurs chances as long as they are healthy. I don't tihnk the Mavs are contenders though...they got a little better, but Marion isn't what they really needed, IMO. Portland didn't improve their roster, but BRoy and Aldridge will be better. If Utah loses Boozer, they take a small step back this year IMO. New Orleans didn't get better and their financial woes are killing them in flexibility. Denver got some young talent, but I htink the Spurs surpassed them. They are still behind LA to me, and they may lose Kleiza. Billups is another year older as well. The suns have nothing around 36 yr old Nash and Stoudamire. They may make into the playoffs over the ROckets, but I'm not even sold on that yet. Golden State will be better, but not a serious threat to even make the playoffs yet...not til we see how good curry is. Clippers could make it into the playoffs, but talent doesn't = great success. Plus, Camby, Kaman, and Davis are always injury prone...plus Griffin still has to prove himself. Then obviously, the Rockets injuries have killed us...could make the playoffs as a #8, but not contenders for sure. I think its the Spurs who will win the west this year...but they may have trouble vs. Boston, Cleveland, and maybe Orlando.
oh oh. And Tracy don't forget about him. Hes gonna come back and will average 25/6/6. 2010 championship here we come!!
Even if LA resigns Odom the Spurs are still better. Last years LA team wasn't all that great to begin with. Tony Parker is more of a nightmare for LA than Kobe is for San Antonio. A healthy Manu offsets Kobe's statistical output and barring a groundbreaking increase in talent from Bynum an 80% Tim Duncan would keep LA's posts at bay. They also have McDyess to help combat them on defense and Bonner to force Bynum or Gasol out of the paint on the other end. Then you have Blair who can come in and give 6 hard fouls. They probably re-up Bowen and have him pester Artest into bad decisions. And unless Shannon Brown steps it up Tony Parker probably turns Derek Fisher into dust. The Spurs 3rd best swingman is Roger Mason! Their fourth is Michael Finley! There is no reason to hold the Lakers in such high regard. They never looked that great.
As of right now, in my opinion, the Spurs are the best team in the West. They have the perfect blend of battle-tested veterans and youth. Guys like Mason and George Hill did tons of growing last year, and they are only going to get better this season. Richard Jefferson was a hell of an addition, and the main thing is that Duncan and Gino have gotten an opportunity to get healthy.
Tony Parker will give Fisher hell, I totally agree. But there is no way Manu would be able to keep up with Kobe. The way Manu play, it was a matter of time before he got inj. Even if Bowen was re-up by the spurs, remember the series with sacs where Bonzi Wells and Ron Artest competely destory the Spurs because of lack of size. Your best chance of guarding Ron Artest is to put RJ on him. McDyess is not that much of an upgrade over Kirk Thomas and Michael Finley can only shoot against the Rockets for some reason. With Lamar coming off the bench again, there is no one on the Spurs that can match up with him. Plus the size advantage the Lakers has is underrated. Lakers is by far the best team this year. But the addition the spurs have made might give them a small chance this year to beat the Lakers
And Tony Parker is approximately one million times better than all of the Laker PG combined. And there is Ginobli who is a second tier SG and the best 6th man in the league when he isn't starting. I think I would take Duncan/McDyess over Gasol/Bynum every day of the week. I will take RJ over Odom (if he ever returns) also. San Antonio is just as talented if not more so than LA is now. They will have better chemistry too.
I like the honesty because I am sure everyone else was thinking it as well, but those are dangerous words. Once you open that door it can never be shut. Ask Tracy McGrady or Mo Williams.
Spurs > Lakers. Especially when they got ron. I still think Ron and kobe will clash, bspn might play it out like theyre buds the first few months, but I think eventually, the 2 will clash. And if odom doesnt return Spurs >>>> Lakers. I think the Nugs could beat the lakers if odom doesnt return.
I hope he gets fired, and the Spurs hire Reggie Theus and go into a tailspin of mediocrity. Good enough to make the playoffs, but not bad enough to get lottery picks.
