They are seperate articles, but I'm putting them in one thread since there are too many threads anyway Marty Burns: With the NBA's 2006-07 season ready to tip off, it's time to get out the crystal ball and make my predictions. Last year during the playoff races I introduced my Schlichter ball (named after former Ohio State quarterback and degenerate gambler Art Schlichter). Unfortunately, it worked about as well as it did for Art. This year I've decided to switch to a new microfiber crystal ball. It gets a little slippery when wet, but David Stern assures me it will have a more consistent feel. Besides, its manufacturer Spalding already has invested bundles in marketing the new ball and well, Spalding is a league partner so ... Along with the rest of the SI.com crew, I've already taken care of more serious business with predictions for NBA champion, playoff teams and MVP. So now we'll get to the fun stuff: Rookie: Brandon Roy, Blazers It's tempting to go with Charlotte's Adam Morrison here, especially since the 'Stache is going to play for a superior team and get more media attention in the East. But Roy is more well-rounded and ready to play defense on the NBA level. Plus, the Blazers need some love. Coach: Gregg Popovich, Spurs Like his team, Popovich is not flashy or likely to get much preseason hype. But he is one of the best Xs-and-Os guys in the game, and he will adjust to the NBA's shift to a more wide-open game. It will add up to a battle with Dallas for NBA's best record, and since Avery Johnson won the award last year, it'll be Pop's turn again in '07. Sixth Man: Bonzi Wells, Rockets Love him or hate him, the 6-5 bull can play. He absolutely destroyed the Spurs -- and ace defender Bruce Bowen -- in last year's playoffs. With Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming, he should have room to operate. He'll help make the Rockets one of the West's top teams while edging out Jerry Stackhouse and Antonio McDyess for this honor. . . . . . . (And a few whacky predictions All-soon-to-be-injured team (players who will go down eventually): G: Jamaal Tinsley, Pacers; G: Baron Davis, Warriors; F: Grant Hill, Magic; F: Carlos Boozer, Jazz; C: Theo Ratliff, Celtics. ... In a move reminiscent of his pre-game smooch with Magic Johnson, Knicks GM/coach Isiah Thomas will kiss and make up with ESPN commentator Greg Anthony before a game at halfcourt. He will then hire Anthony as coach, but with the proviso that he not beat Thomas' former Pistons. ... Steve Nash will re-grow his hair. Jeff Van Gundy will not. ... In a desperate ploy to sell tickets, the Sonics will have "Squatch" the mascot suit up for a game. He immediately will become Seattle's best defender. ... Cigars will be popping up all over Boston's T.D. Banknorth Garden, partly in honor of Red Auerbach and partly in honor of the new Celtics dance team. Kelly Dwyer: Preseason trends Ten things we learned from all those exhibition games Astute NBA observers will agree that the league's preseason can hardly be looked upon as a benchmark for how the rest of the season will turn out. And yet, there are some telling signs emanating from October that are worth breaking down. Here are 10 things that stood out in the preseason. 1. Bryan Colangelo's internationally flavored Raptors win five of six preseason games. What it means: This obviously won't cement Sam Mitchell's status as Raptor coach for the duration of 2006-07, but the strong preseason should allow him to keep his job past the first month. GM Colangelo has taken a patient approach with Mitchell, who could be the right guy to mold this group of youngsters into shape before a more orthodox voice takes over. Besides, Suns assistant (and potential future Raptors coaching candidate) Marc Iavaroni might not be ready to leave Arizona's dry heat just yet. 2. The new-look Bulls win six of eight preseason games. What it means: Scott Skiles' bunch have a tough early schedule, playing 11 of their first 15 regular-season contests on the road, while burdened with the expectations that come with the acquisition of two lottery picks and the offseason's biggest free-agent pickup. Early in training camp, Skiles emphasized getting prepared for the initial challenge, while insisting that his starters be prepared to stay on the court beyond the typical preseason playing time allotment. The Bulls appear to be in the proper frame of mind. But one disturbing trend: Ben Wallace's free-throw shooting. He made just 7 of 32 attempts (a 22 percent clip) during the preseason; and the stroke (way too much arc, right wrist in the wrong place) looks as pitiful as ever. 3. Trail Blazers center Jamaal Magliore averages nearly 22 minutes per game, but contributes just five points, four rebounds, one block, and 3.6 turnovers per contest. What it means: The points you can explain away; Magliore shot 58 percent during preseason and was rarely the initial focus in any of Portland's half-court sets. The rest is bad news for a Portland team that wants to use Mags as bait to bring in something special before February's trade deadline. With Joel Przybilla having won the starting center gig, and rookie LaMarcus Aldridge due to return from the injured list soon, the Blazers can ill-afford Magliore's pitiful play -- whether it comes in short or long stretches. Another note from Portland's preseason: it appears as if coach Nate McMillan will be giving his 22-year old rookie, Brandon Roy, all the minutes he can handle. Roy averaged 35 minutes and 15 points per game during the preseason. 4. Don Nelson's up-tempo Golden State Warriors win five of six, Baron Davis leads team in scoring at 27 points per game. What it means: Davis looked fantastic, shooting 55 percent from the field, making half his three pointers (attempting just two a contest, down from 6.6 a year ago), while leading a Warrior team through a promising preseason. Better yet, young guards Monta Ellis (13.7 points in 28.5 minutes) and Dajuan Wagner (12.7 points in 24 minutes) have found a way to contribute even with Baron playing 37 minutes a night. Still, it's easy to remain skeptical about these Warriors. Opponents eventually will learn to be patient on offense and work the clock to exploit Golden State's weaknesses; that should bring the Warriors back to Earth. Until then, it'll be a fun watch. 5. The Heat's Gary Payton averages 5.3 points and 2.3 assists in nearly 24 minutes per game, shoots 31 percent from the floor. What it means: Payton was a liability on both ends for the Heat during the preseason, and coach Pat Riley can't afford a slow start with Jason Williams on the injured list. Even after J-Will returns, will Riley have it in him to scour the ranks of the NBDL (he lambasted the NBA's minor league two weeks ago) or available NBA point men to shore up his backcourt? The latter could alienate the touchy and already frustrated Payton beyond repair, but Miami's chance at a repeat will rely heavily on a competent point guard to sop up minutes alongside Dwyane Wade. 6. The league's best rookie in the preseason wasn't Andrea Bargnani, Tyrus Thomas, Rudy Gay or Randy Foye, but Rockets sharpshooter Steve Novak. What it means: Yao Ming can function in the post, and Tracy McGrady can work his magic off the dribble safe in the knowledge that Novak can make defenders pay for sagging off of him on the outside. The Marquette product averaged 12 points in 24 minutes per game, shooting 53 percent from the floor and 48 percent from behind the three-point line. Boston Rajon Rondo isn't far behind, averaging 11 points, five assists and two steals in 30 minutes per game for the Celtics. 7. The Mavericks average 82.6 points, lose five of eight games, shoot 38 percent from the floor. What it means: Dallas is as good a championship contender as any, and most of its offseason replacements (upgrading Adrian Griffin to Devean George, Darrell Armstrong to Anthony Johnson, Keith Van Horn to Austin Croshere) should fit in nicely. But it will take a while, especially with Dirk Nowitzki pacing himself after a brilliant stretch at the World Championships, and the rest of the team coming off a 105-game run in 2005-06. The early returns haven't been pretty, as Dirk (41 percent) and newly extended forward Josh Howard (48 percent) are the only Maverick perimeter performers to hit more than 40 percent from the field. The good news? The squad is dominating the boards, and the defense has looked sound in spite of having to recover quickly from all those long misses. 8. Youngsters J.R. Smith and Linas Kleiza average a combined 28 points for the Nuggets in 45 combined minutes. What it means: The Nuggets are developing some perimeter threats. Both Smith and Kleiza shot 40 percent from behind the three-point arc, and though they don't contribute much in other areas, they'll at least provide Denver's stable of power forwards with some breathing room down low. 9. Kevin Martin leads Kings in scoring with 17 points per game, shoots 52 percent from the floor, 48 percent from three-point range, and 83 percent from the free throw line. What it means: He averaged 1.63 points for every shot he took in the preseason; by comparison, Kobe Bryant averaged 1.30 points for every shot he took last season while throwing in 35 points a game. Martin's True Shooting Percentage, a number that takes into account a player's efficiency on all types of attempts and free throw performance, was 65.1. That's a mark that would have led the league last year, when Martin was fourth (behind Steve Nash, Chris Wilcox and Josh Childress) with a 60.4 True Shooting Percentage. In other words, Martin is a flat-out marksman. 10. The Knicks' Jalen Rose doesn't score a point in 28 preseason minutes, while Malik Rose plays all of one game and 14 total minutes. What it means: As poor a judge of talent and chemistry as Isiah Thomas is when it comes to trading for and signing players, he at least has an advantage over Larry Brown in knowing when to award minutes to washed-up, overpaid veterans. Jalen Rose was released on Monday. Where will he end up? See No. 5. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/marty_burns/10/31/offbeat.predictions/index.html http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/kelly_dwyer/10/31/inside.nba/1.html
Nice article, Kelly. I enjoy reading artcles that actually tell me something I don't know - granted, I'm currently living in Barcelona and haven't watched a single NBA game thus far, but I'm pretty sure Kevin Martin's performance would have slipped past me even if I had. Loved the bit on Novak. It's great to hear how well he's playing and I can't wait to get back to Houston so I can see it for myself.
It's always good to see Kelly gives props to the Rockets and their players. But the real test comes when we meet his Chicago Bulls in the finals....
Saying Van Gundy won't regrow his hair is funny, but not much of a prediction. It's nice to see Novak getting a little respect for the great preseason he has, and I really think it'd be key for us if he can carry that over the regular season (and playoffs, although that's probably looking too far ahead). Also I'm glad our biggest free agent aquisition is being recognized as a likely 6th man of the year, unlike last year when Swift was our biggest aquisition.
