no... the astros acquisitions were about winning RIGHT NOW. winning a championship RIGHT NOW. the rockets get to pair mcgrady and yao for a while. the expectations are entirely different. i don't expect the rockets to be called a real championship contender this season. the astros were absolutely labelled that by many.
Everyone seems to be forgetting the Mavs have like 17 players with guaranteed contracts now on their roster. I'm betting they will make a move (or 2) to get another key piece on their team. Anyone noticed Kidd wants out of New Jersey and the Mavs have a lot to offer? I also think the Rox will look better than they currently do when the season begins, but if we're making predictions based on current rosters, the Rox would be very fortunate to be a top 5 seed in the west.
This is going to be an incredible season to be a Basketball fan and Rox fan.. It seems like everyone around the league is excited about the upcoming season.. My rankings (while trying to be objective) 1. Sacramento people might wonder why I selected Sac first? I think of the Western conference playoff teams they play in the easiest division. They have also managed to keep their roster intact.. (BMiller starting at C is an upgrade over Vlade IMO) and everyone is pretty much the same. If CWebb can stay healthy and Peja continues his excellent regular season play they are the team to beat. 2. San Antonio Tim Duncan - what can I say about the guy.. he makes everyone around him better. It would be scary if SA ever gets the 1 - 2 punch of Duncan/Robinson again. However, I think Duncan and comp. will still be a top team w/ Parker, Ginobili. 3. Minnesota Same team if healthy quite dangerous.. however, they lack a real low post threat but make up for it with the play of KG. Who at times is unstoppable.. the health/age of Sam / Spree will start to become a factor and unless they shore up some spots with good young guys this team wont be playoff material for much longer. 4. Houston This will depend on the PG we sign and how well everyone gels together. However, we now have the best 1 - 2 - 3 punch in the league ... Tmac/Jhoward were second to Kobe/Shaq in dynamic duo scoring last year. Now think about adding Tmac/Yao/Jhoward to the mix... Its undeniable how much talent we have on our team... Tmac - scoring champion, excellent perimter defender when he wants to. Yao - next dominate C in the league. Always a low post threat and a presence in the paint. Jhoward - in the right situation could have been an All Star, peoples main gripe about the guy has been his salary not his production. add to the mix the right amount to vet leadership (JJ,Jhoward) and Talent (Yao, Tmac) and sprinkle in a decent PG we have a top team. *every team afterwards is up for debate. 5. Dallas I had to give them the nod.. dont know why people have written them off? SNash is great and maybe was the glue that kept them together but the team still has tons of talent, that can be packaged for players that fit their needs or they can just get by like they always have. Score way more than their opponents. 6. Denver I like the addition of Kmart even though I think hes overrated. He will get you 17pts/10rebs but he brings an attitude that I think will be great for that organization. That team has a surplus of PF's (big men) which they can package for more depth later. I worry about everyone wanting to be the man on this team.. Melo, Kmart, Nene, AMiller .. if they can mesh and everyone knows their roles this is one awesome team. 7. Memphis This team drops a few spots because of the other teams getting stronger. I feel like they were a Cinderella story last year but I dont see them keeping the same drive and attitude as last year. 8. Utah This was a tough pick.. Suns/Lakers/Portland may all deserve a spot but Utah gets the nod from me since they were able to shore up 2 of their biggest weaknesses in one season. Mehmet is vastly overrated but that doesnt mean hes not good. Boozer / Ak47 / Okur will be a very strong frontline that maybe only Denver can match in terms of talent at each position. I think Utah has a well rounded team no one really stands out as All Star Caliber yet (maybe AK) but they are young and that also makes them scary. Under Sloan they will play the right way and win games I just dont see them getting far with a true "star". Honorable Mention. Lakers - will be close this year but chemistry will be a problem (especially when Kobe doesnt pass you the ball) and the addition of Odom/Butler is nice but they dont seem like difference makers. GP still has some game but it seems like he wants to dominate the ball. I think this team still has too much ego with GP / Kobe / Odom wanting to be the man. GP was willing to defer to Shaq but I dont know if he will feel that way about Kobe.. Suns - have had an absolutely talent filled team for a few seasons now but cant seem to get their act together. Same with the Clippers.. Portland - if they make the right moves may steal a playoff spot from someone but I expect their chubby PF to continue gaining weight and not working. This team has the talent but it lacks the leadership.. maybe thats the problem with Suns/Clippers/Blazers they lack someone a leader that pushes and drvies them? J
This will be the most unpredictable season ever, in the West. No clear favorite. Almost every team can make the playoffs. Almost every team would be a top 4 seed in the East. Here's my guess: 1. San Antonio 2. Sacramento 3. Minnesota 4. Memphis (interchangeable with Houston) 5. Houston 6. Dallas 7. Lakers 8. Utah Denver's the last team out, but I could see them up to about #6 given the right bounces. I think 1-3 are probably a leap above the rest. Yao and T-Mac don't have enough help yet. Memphis has nobody to carry them. Dallas will miss Nash. The Lakers need SOME sort of inside force. Utah makes it because Jerry SLoan is the best coach in the NBA and his talent will improve slightly.
Here's our records vs the WC teams. It will be a good litmus test to see how we fair vs SA, Sac, Mavs and the Grizz w/our new team. I hated playing those guys. 1. San Antonio (0-4) 2. Minnesota (2-2) 3. Sacramento (0-4) 4. Houston (4-0 At leat we can "beat" ourselves! ) 5. Dallas (1-3) 6. Memphis (1-3) 7. Lakers (2-2) 8. Denver (2-2) Also, Utah (2-2)
1. SA 2. Minny 3. Houston 4. Sac 5. Dallas 6. L.A. 7. Utah 8. Denver Good God! Too hard... cant believe I had to leave out Memphis.
I have it as 1)Spurs (just keep getting better with addition of Barry) will win it all next year. 2)Wolves 3)Rockets - An admittedly optimistic forcast 4)Mavericks - pending Carter trade this team could go from 2 or three to lottery. I see Cuban pulling a rabbit out of his hat. 5) Kings - they could do much worse 678)Memphis, Nuggets, Jazz - All of them with the potential to rise much higher, though I do expect Memphis to come back to earth this season.
here is my shot at it 1.Spurs 2.Kings 3.T-Wolves 4.Dallas 5.Houston 6.Denver 7.Lakers 8.Memphis 9.Hornets!!!! <------jk....people tend to forget they are now in the West.
we're a totally different team now, I don't know what to expect of this upcoming season its kind of unpredictable, I just hope we don't end up like Astros
I didn't bother to read this whole thread, but (since I'm not a baseball fan) does anyone remember where the Astros where rated after the signings of Clemens and Pettite? Maybe we need to fill out the roster and see how McGrady, Yao, and JVG mesh before we buy our conference Finals tickets.
Not sure if this has been said or not, but Marc Stein on ESPN predicts the Rockets to be the 5th seed, behind Denver.
My picks fluctuate daily...West is to tough. 1. San Antonio 2. Sacremento 3. Minny 4. Dallas --- Devin Harris is real good and that Dirk guy ain't bad 5. Denver 6. Houston 7. Los Angeles Lakers 8. Memphis However, the West is now, The Big Three and an all out massacre for the final 5 spots. Whoever said injuries will decide it I think is correct. Utah might sneak in if some key players get hurt.
