Eastern Conference/Western Conference 2011 Seed Predictions

None of them can even compare to Baron Davis. King of all beards.
Edit : Better yet I'll take that back Gooden and Salmons have him beat.

Osama Bin Laden will bomb both Gooden and Salmons' beards.

NBA players. Stay on topic, or at least the current semi-topic.

Boom's beard for the win!

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NBA players. Stay on topic, or at least the current semi-topic

Oh right! I'm sorry.

That's one hell of an ugly beard. Looks just like cuttlefish.

ARGH WHY ARE MOST PEOPLE PICKING THE MAVS AS THE #2 SEED. I DO NOT APPROVE. THEY'RE PRETTY GOOD AND SHOULD WIN 50 GAMES AND NOBODY REALLY GOT A LOT BETTER IN THE WEST AND OKC MIGHT STILL BE TOO INEXPERIENCED AND STUFF BUT I DON'T LIKE IT.

...maybe it's because I absolutely despise starting a series at home, it just seems so much easier to have limited pressure in going on the road to start off, with a decent chance to steal one, then come back after settling in and take care of business.

Plus I have an inferiority complex, since the Mavs BLOW IT EVERY FUCKING YEAR ANYWAY.

Abbreviated East predictions:

1. Heat: Go suck a dick, LeBron.
2. Magic: LOL @ VC. They don't have enough to trade for Paul, but they're pretty good at basketball, as a whole. Depth down a little too, but not very much.
3. Bulls: I'm sold on them as a team, even if I think Derrick Rose is overrated. But he and Boozer, providing they gel, will be a terrific pick-and-roll combo, maybe not one of those natural Stockton-to-Malone or Williams-to-Boozers types, but they'll score. Great interior D, three-point shooting...me likey. They probably could do with staying healthy.
4. Bucks: Health is once more the thing. I don't see Jennings with a soph slump, he shot pretty badly last season anyway.
5. Celtics: Cruise control to the playoffs again.
6. Hawks: Worst contract of the offseason. I'm still laughing, well, giggling. Like a girl.
7. Bobcats: Eh...they're so dull.
8. Knicks: Terrific haul for David Lee. Surely D'Antoni won't bury Randolph, and I think this team legitimately has enough talent to do D'Antoni ball properly and squeeze in the weak East. Okay, they're missing a Steve Nash. But outside shooting, athleticism, horrific defense? They could be that Paul Westphal Nuggets team which gave up, like, 130 points a game.
9. Pistons: Holy crap so much mediocrity.
10. Pacers: Wow, I just realized they're even more mediocre.
11. Cavs: But they have Mo Williams, one-time All-Star! And Antawn Jamison used to score 20 a game!
12. Nets: Ehh...they seemed abnormally unlucky to lose so many games last season.
13. Sixers: I like them...Holiday and Turner are a nice young backcourt, but they're still going to be bad.
14. Wizards: Well, they'll be fun to watch, at times.
15. Raptors: There is no floor. Favourite for Harrison Barnes?

They could be that Paul Westphal Nuggets team which gave up, like, 130 points a game.

Westhead.

There's no way the Pistons sniff the playoffs until Austin Daye decides he's tired of banging five chicks a night and wants to dominate the league to pass the time instead.

Sorry aussies- i'm calling it as i see it. his last 2 seasons have ended prematurely with season ending injuries.

correct me if i'm wrong here....aren't injuries considered a freak accident anyway? a guy makes a cut- his knee "pops". torn acl. or if you land on someone's ankle, it's gonna be sprained. players are susceptible to injuries especially when they are in the air/elevate to the basket but that's part of the game.

short of some guy going Kermit Washington on you.. your injury is a freak occurrence

Well if that's the case, then every player in the NBA is injury prone because the very nature of the sport makes you prone to injury.

There's a difference between having a chronic condition that basically sees the same problem continually benching a player and simple misfortune (or a rash of misfortune). Like I said, excluding the year where he was unfortunate enough to injure his back, Bogut has appeared in around 90% of the Bucks' regular season games since he was drafted. Including that year, he's still appeared in 80% of their games which doesn't scream injury prone to me. To put it in perspective, Patrick Ewing played 87% of the 410 possible games in his first five years, Shaq 84%. Both had two consecutive seasons where they missed 19 or more games within their first five years. It's not uncommon with big men.

As far as designating an injury as being a freak injury or not, I see your point. But the manner in which Bogut injured himself last season is not particularly common nor related to any pre-existing condition injury (so far as I'm aware). If he'd gone down for the second straight season due to the same bum knee or something like that then sure, that might be a sign he's injury prone. But the number of games he's played through his first five seasons is not unreasonable for a big man outside one blip (the back injury in the 2009 season) and he doesn't have any chronic conditions so far as we're aware. So I think the injury prone label is a bit unfair. And yes, Bogut is Australian but I'd make the same argument for anyone in his position.

If the Bucks should be concerned about Bogut, then the Bulls should be concerned about Boozer. He's only missed ten fewer games than Bogut over the last two seasons. But let's not dwell on that.

They could be that Paul Westphal Nuggets team which gave up, like, 130 points a game.

Westhead.

There's no way the Pistons sniff the playoffs until Austin Daye decides he's tired of banging five chicks a night and wants to dominate the league to pass the time instead.

Gaaaaah. I knew something was wrong. Seemed like both of them ran high-octane offensive systems though.

And I really don't know much about the East, to be honest, except for looking down on the teams after the first four. They just seem to coalesce together, where a late hot streak by a fringe team could be enough to push them in.

There's also Doug Moe: http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DEN/1982.html

Westphal never did something like this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Westh ... _Marymount

Speaking of Westphal, Kings wouldn't hurt from pushing the pace though.

Good points there.

Outside of chronic conditions/pre exisiting conditions, i agree that a player is not injury prone. However…

Someone that misses the latter part of the the last 2 seasons is at least an injury concern. Factor in he’s had a back injury, sprained foot, dislocated elbow, broken hand. These aren’t nagging injuries or even a broken finger that will never be the same for the rest of his life. His latest injuries are keeping him out of the FIBA tourney this August. As we discuss, he’s STILL injured

Is someone like Vince Carter considered injury prone? Injury risk? Injury concern? He’s much maligned for being injured. Yet in the last 5 seasons, he’s been amongst the league leaders in minutes played (not counting Orlando), finished out the season healthy or at least eligible to play, and played in 80% of the reg season games

East
1. Miami
2. Orlando
3. Chicago
4. Boston
5. Milwaukee
6. Charlotte
7. Atlanta
8. New York
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9. Philadelphia
10. Detroit
11. New Jersey
12. Washington
13. Cleveland
14. Indiana
15. Toronto


West
1. LA Lakers
2. Dallas
3. Phoenix
4. Denver
5. Houston
6. Oklahoma City
7. Utah
8. San Antonio
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9. Portland
10. New Orleans
11. Memphis
12. Sacramento
13. Golden State
14. LA Clippers
15. Minnesota

Is someone like Vince Carter considered injury prone? Injury risk? Injury concern? He’s much maligned for being injured. Yet in the last 5 seasons, he’s been amongst the league leaders in minutes played (not counting Orlando), finished out the season healthy or at least eligible to play, and played in 80% of the reg season games

You're ignoring that all players must be described by one phrase, and that Carter at the height of his popularity was famously injured and his team "did better" without him, therefore he is not just more "injury prone" than any player in history, but he is actively looking to find ways to be "injured" to avoid having to actually play. And you are required to ignore all the times he's been legitimately injured and played through it while stepping up for his team, while also casting a blind eye to all the other players who "feign" or exaggerate injuries as a temporary out that you support. (Like say being taken off the court in a wheelchair and then coming back complete healed.)

NBA players. Stay on topic, or at least the current semi-topic

Oh right! I'm sorry.

I've never seen such an ugly NBA Player... ah okay via The Worm Dennis Rodman also is UGLY

That's one hell of an ugly beard. Looks just like cuttlefish.

Haha right bro Modi

Someone that misses the latter part of the the last 2 seasons is at least an injury concern. Factor in he’s had a back injury, sprained foot, dislocated elbow, broken hand. These aren’t nagging injuries or even a broken finger that will never be the same for the rest of his life. His latest injuries are keeping him out of the FIBA tourney this August. As we discuss, he’s STILL injured

Is he still injured? He had to withdraw back in May which was probably a precautionary measure as much as anything else, but has it been confirmed that he's in doubt for the start of the NBA season?

Is someone like Vince Carter considered injury prone? Injury risk? Injury concern? He’s much maligned for being injured. Yet in the last 5 seasons, he’s been amongst the league leaders in minutes played (not counting Orlando), finished out the season healthy or at least eligible to play, and played in 80% of the reg season games

He is, but he shouldn't be. A couple of seasons has given him a reputation that for some reason he hasn't shaken despite the fact he's appeared in 94% of the games he could have possibly played since his last injury plagued season in 2003.

Last I heard he's expected to be fully recovered for the start of training camp. He withdrew back in may cuz that's when the injury happened lol. I think it's safe to say he's still hurt

sorry to hijack this thread btw

I'm giving a few surprises

WEST

1. Lakers: They're the best team in the West by far
2. Dallas: They're old, but the addition of Chandler and Haywood keeps them up. At least for this season
3. Utah: Al Jefferson will be a beast in Jerry Sloan system, for the first time he will play for a winner at that will rise up his numbers
4. Suns: if Nash led an Amare-less suns years ago, with just Diaw and Barbosa as sidekicks... Everything is posibble
5: Oklahoma City: They con be a 5th seed, but they will have another 50 win season
6: Portland: If they can keep they locker room in good spirits, they can reach the top 4
7: San Antonio: San Antonio is falling... and they're not getting any youger...
8: Clippers: Surprise! 1st round against the Lakers. Yeah, I saw them in April

9: Houston: IMO, well overrated. Yao's season will be pivotal, but just to see how can he play in 2011-12
10: Denver: This is MY SURPRISE: I bet they will be out of playoffs. Melo will struggle
11: New Orleans: CP3 is angry, he will be traded, Lottery time
12: Memphis: Another great season... but still short
13: Sacramento: Nice season, maybe in 2 years they will be playoffs bound
14: Golden State: Run run run... They will be early at the lottery
15: Minnesotta: Just... haha

EAST

1. Miami: No comment needed
2. Orlando: Great season, but they will flameout in playoffs
3. Bulls: SURPRISE! The Jazz minded bulls will be contenders, and they will play the East finals vs Miami
4. Atlanta: Same as Orlando
5. Boston: Old, Garnett poor play... whenever, they revive in playoffs
6. New York: SURPRISE!! The knicks are in!.. but Eddy Curry won't be with the team (REMEMBER THIS)
7. Milwaukee: They will surprise late in the season again
8. Charlotte: They're in more because the East stinks than by their own merit

9. Philadelphia: Next time fellas
10. Cleveland: Yeah! they will miss playoffs in the last week... in a game against the Heat
11. Indiana: Same season, same coach, same shit. Granger traded
12. Washington: Gilbert won't do much
13. Detroit: Dumars out?
14. Toronto: Lottery Time
15. New Jersey: Damn... they're so ugly... Harris traded

Another Shot: Miami won't be champs

That's my favorite one so far.

SURPRISE!! It's mine too.

9: Houston: IMO, well overrated. Yao's season will be pivotal, but just to see how can he play in 2011-12

Overrated compared to what? The Rockets have some of the most underrated players. Chuck Hayes? Luis Scola? Aaron Brooks was barely starting to get attention this season. And you have a good shooter in Kevin Martin who spends a hell of a lot of time at the line. Even without Yao this team had a winning season. If the Clippers go to the playoffs instead of this team, then I will coach the Houston Rockets someday.

9: Houston: IMO, well overrated. Yao's season will be pivotal, but just to see how can he play in 2011-12

Overrated compared to what? The Rockets have some of the most underrated players. Chuck Hayes? Luis Scola? Aaron Brooks was barely starting to get attention this season. And you have a good shooter in Kevin Martin who spends a hell of a lot of time at the line. Even without Yao this team had a winning season. If the Clippers go to the playoffs instead of this team, then I will coach the Houston Rockets someday.

This.

IMHO, The Rockets had a winning season with:

- Trevor Ariza shooting bricks for most of the season. If you actually watched the games, you'll know how much of a team killer he is when he jack up 20 pointless shots a game making only a quarter of them. OK, I might be too biased here because I dislike his game that much but still, it's pretty clear that this team is a lot better when Ariza doesn't shoot or try to create shots for himself. Ariza is the perfect example of a role player trying to do too much.
- The smallest starting center in the NBA in Chuck Hayes. He might have terrfic defense and intangibles but at the end of the day he's still 6'6. Way undersized.

Without:

- Yao Ming. The Rockets' defense was like cheese last season. Lots of holes in the middle without Yao clogging the lane. Not to even mention the 20 points and 10 rebounds a game that were missing along with the absence of Yao.
- Kevin Martin for 3/4 of the season. The flow was a lot better since Martin joined the Rockets. He got to the line about 10 times a game while making about 90% of them since joining the Rockets.

A healthy roster with Martin, Yao, Brooks, Scola and Ariza (that shoot less and play smarter) should be able to make the playoffs. They definitely should be able to finish better than 42-40 which was their record last seaon. To say that the Rockets will be a 4th-5th seed might be overrating them, but to say that the Rockets are well overrated is a little underrating. I think they're capable of being a 7th-8th seed.

You guys might drop a bomb on me for this post, but these are just my opinion as a Rockets fan that have watched the games. Go Rockets!

I'm not gonna drop a bomb on you Modifly, what you said is 100% true. Ariza is so frustrating to watch. Having watched over 50% of the Rockets' games last season, they had some very good moments. At times when turnovers got out of control, those were also frustrating moments. I was surprised the Rockets didn't lead the league in TO's. If Ariza develops into a smarter player, and Yao and the rest of the roster become healthy, this is a team that's a guaranteed 6th-8th seed in the playoffs.

Unfortunely, Yao himself said that he won't be fully healthy next season, nor expects to. Though, the Rockets are my second favorite team in the league, this team with bunch of role players, I doubt they'll make it to the playoffs. MIP Brooks or Kevin Mart, given one of these two are going to be a leading scorer for the Rockets, the offense I don't think will be fluent enough. Sure individually, all of them are OK players, some even better, but pretty much average looking team at best without true team color.

West
1. Lakers
2. Suns
3. Thunder
4. Blazers
5. Mavs
6. Spurs
7. Nuggets
8. Warriors

East
1. Heat
2. Celtics
3. Magic
4. Bulls
5. Hawks
6. Grizzles
7. Wizards
8. Bobcats

East better in my opinion