What teams do you think are worth watching this season? (Other than the Rockets)

Since this is my first post under this name I'll give a quick intro. I've been a frequent visitor of this site since 96, on an almost daily if not hourly basis.(especially when I think a trade is going to happen) I posted some in the past, but I haven't posted in about two years. I was content being in the shadows reading everyone else's posts. What's different now? I purchased NBA League Pass a few days ago, and now that I can watch all the games I feel like I can finally contribute something to the BBS. I plan to try and watch over 1000 games this season. (Not 1000 entire games, just parts, but every minute of the Rockets games if I can)

Anyway, enough about me, time to post my thoughts on what teams are worth watching this season. Please post your thoughts, cause I'd like to know who everyone else thinks will be worth watching.

Atlanta - Bleh... I'm not really looking forward to any Atlanta games. I think Lenny got shafted last season, not even Rudy or Phil could have done anything productive with this team in my opinion. Last year they were terrible, and they didn't change much at all in the offseason.

Boston - Will Pitino make it the entire season? Probably, but not much longer after that. A young team, but I just don't see much reason to watch this team either. They aren't as bad as the Hawks, but I don't see any reason to watch them. Hopefully Paul Pierce will be able to improve this season, and not be set back after being stabbed. Will Robert Pack play more than 40 games?

Charlotte - Why don't they want to pay their players? They seem to put together a playoff team every year in the weak east, but if they'd ever shell out the money they could probably with the East one of these days. They should be worth watching since it's a whole new team. I have no clue what to expect. If this team can gel, they should make it to the playoffs, wait what am I saying, they are in the east, they can fight themselves and still make it there. It doesn't look like there are going to resign Chucky Brown, but they got another former Rocket power forward with Otis Thorpe.

Chicago - Well, I live in Chicago now, so that should be reason enough to watch, but not for me. (Oh how I miss Houston!) They have an exciting young nucleus, but I can't believe they are using the triangle offense. Brand isn't exactly fun to watch, but he is definately a great power forward in the east. Main reason I'll watch them this season is to see how Bryce Drew does at the point. I hope he has close to the numbers he had here when he was starting in Houston, except lower when he plays the Rockets.

Cleveland
The last time Cleveland was fun to watch was a long time ago. I was watching the 89 Bulls-Cavs playoffs on NBA.com TV and the Cavs were a fun team to watch then. What happened? They have a ton of new players this year, but I don't really think any of them are exceptional. I could easily be wrong, so I'll watch some of their games just to see if the new Cavs are competitive.

Dallas
Does anyone need me to say why this team is worth watching? Cuban has revitalized interest in the team, and I for one wouldn't mind if they showed clips of the new locker rooms during the game. I don't think they will be a great team, but they could sneak into the playoffs at the 8th seed. We can thank Dallas for Langhi, and hopefully Najera won't prove us wrong in that trade.

Denver
Hmmm, I don't know what to say about Denver. They traded a former Rocket for another former Rocket (Popeye Jones for Tracy Murray), but other than that I don't see anything worth watching here. I could be wrong...

Detroit
No more Hill. This team is going to be interesting to watch since I have no idea what to expect from this new nucleus. They could be in the playoffs this year, but then again almost any team in the east can put together a good season and make it. (faceless Magic almost did it last year)

Golden State
Will Dave Cowens turn things around? I thought he did a good job in Charlotte, but who knows if he can break the curse in Golden State. This team has had a ton of talent in the past, but never had a great leader to put it all together. Trading Donyell Marshall for Adam Keefe is crazy in my mind. Larry Hughes is fun to watch, so I'll tune in a few games to see what to make of this team. One more quick note, Mullin, why did you come back? I thought you wanted to end with a championship.

Houston
The best team to watch in the NBA. (Hey, I am a little biased here) After watching the Rockets for 16 years, this year looks to be one of the best to watch. Sure, we have had much better teams, but how long can you watch slow paced, post up offense of old after getting a taste of the new offense last year? I actually enjoyed watching the games even when we lost! Francis is just so exciting on the court. Don't get me wrong, I'd trade excitement on the court for a championship anyday, but can't I dream of having both? Maybe we will in the next few years. Thank god we resigned Mobley!

Indiana
A finals team last year, but a whole new look this year. I don't think Isiah will be as good a coach as Larry Bird. I could be wrong, but Bird was humble enough to delegate most of his duties to his assistant coaches when he wasn't sure what to do. (defense) Will all the high schoolers step up? Will the loss of Mark Jackson cripple them, or will Rose (who I hate thanks to Clutch) be able to shift to point effectively?

LA Clippers
Well they are great to watch if you want to see someone on the opposing team have a blowout night. Is it just me, or do most people notice that a lot of individual records get set against the Clippers? I can't believed they waived Charles Jones, they are completely doomed this season. Serious, I think the Clips are good to watch young talent that will be eligible free agents in a few years. You pretty much know if they are a good player they won't be staying with the Clips.

LA Lakers
Well, they are the champs, but that doesn't mean I have to like them. I think losing Rice will actually hurt them some scoring wise, but help chemistry. Hopefully E-mail will get to play some, but I have a feeling that's a pipe dream. I won't need league pass to watch them, but I really don't want to hear NBC kiss their ass for 48 minutes.

Miami
Is this the year for Riley? I like the new look of the Heat and I think they will be more entertaining than last years Heat. Health problems may be an issue with them making it far in the playoffs. It's really sad to see Tim Hardaway limping on the court. Maybe we should have tried to trade Drew to the Heat. Watching Riley pull this group of players together should be worth watching.

Milwaukee
I like watching them just because of Sam I am. Hopefully Przybilla won't have a killer season and make us look bad for trading for Collier. I like this team, but I'm not sure quite what to expect. I doubt they can find a way to keep Sam happy, but who knows, miracles happen.

Minnesota
Man have they had some bad luck. I'm sure we have some wink wink deals like they did with Joe Smith, but I sure as hell hope that we aren't stupid enough to have them on paper. I think if they will drop off some this year. KG can only carry them so far, and I think the first round is about all I expect from him. Ellis could help some, and if they keep Smith, they should be an average team.

New Jersey
Tons of talent, but can they ever put it together? Too bad Jayson Williams retired, he never really got the spot light he could have had were it not for all the injuries. They are a fun team to watch at times, but they will lose more games than they win.

New York
Just to see what the heck Jeff Van Gundy does with this team will be worth watching. If they don't make any more trades I can see this team just blowing up. The Knicks mangement reminds me of a mad scientist in a German lab in the 40's trying to make a deadly weapon, hoping it doesn't backfire on them. New York could be a lesson this year on how important team chemistry really is. Well perhaps waiving Maxwell showed they care some about chemistry.

Orlando
They lost out on Duncan, but they got Hill and McGrady. They are worth watching just to see how far Doc Rivers can go with the Pistons, I mean Magic. I don't think they will make it past the first or second round of the playoffs, but could be an exciting team to watch.

Philly
Iverson and Brown fued give is enough reason to watch. Iverson is an explosive player worthy of watching a few minutes, but will the team be a winner? They are one of the few teams who made practically no changes, and I'd normally say that's a good thing but their chemistry didn't seem that impressive to me last year.

Phoenix
Longley for Dudley? What are they smoking? Not that Longley is any good, but I've never had much respect for Dudley other than he was an econ major, and knew how to milk all he could in his contract. Watching Elie in a Suns uniform is a scaring thought, but he isn't the Elie of old. I'd still like to see him do well, but if he was injured when the Suns play the Rockets, I won't cry over it. The Suns have put together an exciting team over the past few years, but they won't go far in the talent loaded west. Definately a team to tune in to though.

Portland
I'm watching just to see how the minutes get divided up. It looks like this team is built soley on the purpose to beat Shaq. They'll beat the Lakers, but I think a quick small team might be able to shock them. I'm not ready to hand the title to the Blazers just yet. I think this is a case of too much talent and may blow up in their faces. After seeing the dream team almost lose, it reaffirmed my thought of how important having good role players is. Talent is great to have, but if roles aren't defined and met, then it can be tough to win a championship. Just look at the 93-94 Rockets team compared to the 98-99 Rockets or the 97-98 Rockets. We didn't have much talent in 93-94, but everyone knew what their role was and played as a team.

Sacramento
This is an exciting team to watch, and I think they improved some in the off season. If Jason Williams can get his head together this could be a scary team. Hopefully he doesn't cause I love watching the crazy stuff he does.

San Antonio
I'll be watching just to see how good Derek Anderson is. I never really watched him before so I don't know what to expect. I'm sure he'll be better than what they had at his position before. Will Shawn Elliot be productive this season? They aren't the most exciting team, but they could be more entertaining than last year, and they are one of the few teams capable of dethroning the Lakers.

Seattle
Ewing a Sonic? This team is definately one to watch, cause I think they are way overrated. I could be dead wrong, but I don't see Ewing being that great. They could be a great team, or they could fight to be in the 5-8 seed, I really don't know. They will be a team to watch, that much is for sure.

Toronto
Well, if I didn't have league pass I'd still get to see plenty of the Raptors. Just watching Carter dunk can only entertain me for so long. If they weren't in the east they wouldn't have a chance for the playoffs this year. Mark Jackson will make things interesting.

Utah
Bleh! Are good as they are, they are terrible to watch. They changed some in the off season, but hopefully they didn't get much better. I don't know why I dislike them so much (probably thanks to Clutch), but they put me to sleep when I watch them. It's like watching a bad B movie with all the acting they try to do.

Vancouver
Well I think the Vancouver Rockets, I mean Grizzlies, are lottery bound again, but should be improved. They have more talent than a lot of teams, but can't seem to put it together. I guess it doesn't help that all some players think about when they are they is how to get out. (Harrington) I think they are fun to watch just to see all the old Rockets. Plus, they play in the first game of the preseason, Monday night! Just one more day and I can watch a game! (Some of you may understand how awful the off-season can be to an NBA fanatic)

Washington
Not even MJ can make this team worth watching.

I promise most of my posts won't be this long, but I had to do something for my first post.

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My goal for the season: watch at least a few minutes of 1000 games on league pass and 70 full Rockets games.