From http://www.sportingnews.com/nba/support/ : Midwest: 1st- San Antonio 2nd- Minnesota 3rd- Utah 4th- Houston 5th- Dallas 6th- Denver 7th- Vancouver <HR WIDTH=75%> How in the world they have Minnesota ranked so high with the loss of Sealy and possibly Smith is beyond me. I do like the implication that Utah is dropping off and that Houston has had a better offseason than Dallas and Denver. We'll have to wait until October before they plan on doing any in-depth analysis of the division. By that time, we'll have REAL news. Oh well. ------------------ "There's 1,000 different things we're looking at, but there's not a lot of things there." -- Rudy T., apparently after taking a hit of acid.
Interesting at least. Kind of surprising that they put us over Dallas, but I guess they're finally jumping on the Houston Bandwagon. Minnesota 2nd is crazy though. Still, I guess if you consider Utah's decline it kind of makes sense by default. Although I'd like to think we can eclipse Utah soon. Guess we just have to be patient... ------------------ "There are three kinds of lies: Lies, Damned Lies, and STATISTICS..." - Mark Twain -
Houston at #4 over Dallas is a bold prediction . That prbably means the playoffs look like LAL Portland SA Minn Utah Phoenix Houston Seattle ------------------ This signature space for rent call 555 ...
It's just some guy or group of guys' opinion, no more valuable than yours or mine. ------------------
Personally, I do not see Minnesota being better than Utah after losing Sealy and Smith. I think Utah will actually be stronger this year. Their two big losser were Eisley and Hornacek. Starks makes up for Horny in scoring, is a better defender, is not as good of a shooter, has about equal playoff experience, has more "fire" - so they seem to cancel each other out pretty well. Eisley was overrated. Vaughan should do about the same job, except he will distribute more. Eisley was not very good at that. Then add Danny Manning, who still has something left - will be a decent backup 4. Most important, add Denyell Marshall. He gives Utah something they have not had - rebounding outside of Malone. I think: San Antonio Utah Minnesota Houston Dallas Denver Vancouver Dallas is all new faces. They mave have more talent than others, but it is useless at this point. They are not a better team than the Rockets. ------------------ Talking to a dead hare about art
I wouldn't be so quick to say that Starks can fill in for horny so easily. Thos ethree guys were like a well-oiled machine. Starks may not fit into the puzzle so easily. He has the talent, but not having played together should be a detractor. ------------------ Kenny Thomas had a foul called on him in the Western Conference Finals.
I think Utah will miss horny a great deal. Donyell does give them depth up front that they have never really had. A rebounder as well as a scorer. Golden State will suprise a lot of people this year. Dave Cowens is a very good coach. I am not saying they will make the playoffs, but they will do well. ------------------ In order to be a success in life, you need 2 things: 1. Don't tell everything you know. [This message has been edited by BobFinn* (edited September 19, 2000).]
Utah has MUCH better depth than they've had in years past with Marshall/ Manning heading up a pretty solid bench. The T-Wolves will probably struggle a bit this year. I expect them to finish around .500 - we should aim to finish 3rd in the division!! ------------------
Spurs- AJ, Anderson, Elliot, David and Timmy D is a great starting 5, if one of the bigs gets injured are they in trouble. Twolves- Can Garnett carry them, Billups covers for Sealy well, the question is what happens to Smith and how well Brandon plays? Could finish anywhere depending on Smith and Brandon. Utah- Lost Horny and Eisley and gained Stevenson, Donyell and Starks. Stockton as slowed a tad and so losing Eisley will hurt. For me i find it bizarre they are banking on a over-the-hill streaky shooter in starks to make up for Horny, look for Lewis and Stevenson to make major contribution, with Malone and Marshall on the boards, they should look for long outlet passes to the youngsters running the floor. Will push for second and might even push the spurs for a while. Rocks- If Taylor performs and Cato can catch and play D (not just go for swats) then the rockets are a chance. The backcourt as a group needs to look to completely dominate the league at both ends of the floor. Training camp should focus on Defense (especially shell drill)and if they can improve the Defense and use speed to their advantage they could finish forth in the midwest and get back to the playoffs Mavs- Nice talent, but new faces could slow chemistry and wins, centre position is still the gapping weakness, scoring potential from Alexander, Finley and Dirk is great, but like the rockets defense could be the key. Nugs- Could be reasonable, or may implode and be worse than GS, team needs to be built around Dice, Posey, Raef and Tariq, so may EXel will be traded mid season if he can't play as a team. GS- I agree with Bob, they might actually get off the bottom of the midwest, Hughes and Jamison are very talent and if Sura can play like he did last year they will score lots of points. Fortson is a sweet pick up and with Foyle and Dampier and Jamison at the 3 can control the paint, will surprise. Smeg ------------------ Discombobulation Imminent
Hornacek shot like a center @49% for his career. Over the past 3 years, Starks has shot closer to 39%. Sounds like a perfect spot to leave now to double the post. Vaughn will by no means make up for the skill that Eisley left with. Perhaps in a few years he'll be adequate, but he's too sporadic and a horrible shot to be compared to Eisley right now. Marshall was a great pickup, but it seems to be for a post Malone mindset. ------------------ "Everyone I know has a big but... come on Simone, let's talk about your but."
I was not saying Vaughan will make up for Eisley, just that he can distribute better - which is all he will be asked to do. Starks is a horrible shooter, Hornacek was a great one. I was just trying to say that Starks brings a few things Horny did not - defense, intensity, and (most importantly) better wheels. I think they balance each other out. 3 years ago, no way, Horny easily. Utah will win a bunch of games in the season, as usual, but they will do nothing in the playoffs, probably lose in the first round. ------------------ Talking to a dead hare about art
Utah is dead, Minnesota is crumbling. The Rockets will compete for the Midwest. You can count on it. ------------------ Sometimes I think I'd be better off dead. No, wait, not me...you.
