Bold predictions and why
Thu Oct 30, 2003 7:40 am
The bulls making the playoffs as a 5th seed
besides playing in the cliche jv conference, the bulls head into the season with their most talented roster since the glory days. and for once, the beginning of their schedule is in their favor. in the past they have gotten buried early as they would open 13 of the 19 on the road and get further buried when they head on the dreaded 'circus' trip.
they open the season playing 7 of the first 11 at home. also only 2 of the 7 teams they will face in this stretch were in the playoffs last year. a great start is key, especially for a team that's relying on youngsters. besides chicago, nj and NO are other teams that didn't make significant changes. all the more reason for the bulls to sneak past the other teams as they all will take time to become cohesive units
memphis makes the playoffs
despite Jerry West's 2003 draft blunder, he's put together a good team, 2 solid at every position. picking up jake and outlaw will pay great dividends, as a big pressure will be off gasol defensively in the post. finally he doesn't have to play center on defense. and now memph can better utilize gasol's skills in the post AND away from the basket. dallas, hou, SAs, min, lal, phx, sac look like playoff locks. 7 spots right there. portland and seattle will be the grizz main comp for the last spot. Portland is always on the verge of imploding, especially with no leadership presence now. seattle is the light beer version of dallas. if the players can continue to buy into hubie's system...
lebron james falls on his face his rookie year
with all his hype, i'm sure as hell expecting a lot from this guy. night in and night out, opposing teams will put their best defenders, and presumably their quickest, on him. the $100million man is a marked man. this will lead to him struggling as he discovers he can't get past or bully defenders as easy as it was back in his HS days. add in that poor jumper.. eek.. also factor in the additional pressure of playing in his home city, the losing, ricky davis's selfish streak, darius miles trying to prove last year wasn't a fluke, not to mention being under the media telescope....all signs pointing to a disappointing year
besides playing in the cliche jv conference, the bulls head into the season with their most talented roster since the glory days. and for once, the beginning of their schedule is in their favor. in the past they have gotten buried early as they would open 13 of the 19 on the road and get further buried when they head on the dreaded 'circus' trip.
they open the season playing 7 of the first 11 at home. also only 2 of the 7 teams they will face in this stretch were in the playoffs last year. a great start is key, especially for a team that's relying on youngsters. besides chicago, nj and NO are other teams that didn't make significant changes. all the more reason for the bulls to sneak past the other teams as they all will take time to become cohesive units
memphis makes the playoffs
despite Jerry West's 2003 draft blunder, he's put together a good team, 2 solid at every position. picking up jake and outlaw will pay great dividends, as a big pressure will be off gasol defensively in the post. finally he doesn't have to play center on defense. and now memph can better utilize gasol's skills in the post AND away from the basket. dallas, hou, SAs, min, lal, phx, sac look like playoff locks. 7 spots right there. portland and seattle will be the grizz main comp for the last spot. Portland is always on the verge of imploding, especially with no leadership presence now. seattle is the light beer version of dallas. if the players can continue to buy into hubie's system...
lebron james falls on his face his rookie year
with all his hype, i'm sure as hell expecting a lot from this guy. night in and night out, opposing teams will put their best defenders, and presumably their quickest, on him. the $100million man is a marked man. this will lead to him struggling as he discovers he can't get past or bully defenders as easy as it was back in his HS days. add in that poor jumper.. eek.. also factor in the additional pressure of playing in his home city, the losing, ricky davis's selfish streak, darius miles trying to prove last year wasn't a fluke, not to mention being under the media telescope....all signs pointing to a disappointing year
Thu Oct 30, 2003 8:19 am
The bulls making the playoffs as a 5th seed
Yep that will happen
memphis makes the playoffs
that could happen
lebron james falls on his face his rookie year
That won't happen. Remember dissapointing is a standard set by Korleone Young and Kwame Brown... KG TMAC did not have exceptional years. Amare had a good rookie season. 10pts, 4 assists, 5 boards is a good season. He's a gaurd nopt a seven footer. Tis a bit harder for him, he'll be o.k.
Thu Oct 30, 2003 3:34 pm
Tim Thomas gets traded to the Pacers..........i have no reason to explain this............but we'll see
Ben Wallace averages close to or above 10ppg.........i said last year he would average 10ppg, didn't happen......this time he's been given the chance to play Offence by Brown
Toronto becomes one of the best defending teams in the NBA..........given their starting lineup on opening night including M Curry and JYD i think this is a fair assesment to make. A Williams and A Davis are fairly good defenders as well but i smell another injury for VC, if the starting 5 remains then he'll have to keep scoring 30ppg (take J Stackhouse in 00-01, his teammates in the starting 5 were Atkins, Curry, B Wallace and J Smith......pathetic offensively)
Ben Wallace averages close to or above 10ppg.........i said last year he would average 10ppg, didn't happen......this time he's been given the chance to play Offence by Brown
Toronto becomes one of the best defending teams in the NBA..........given their starting lineup on opening night including M Curry and JYD i think this is a fair assesment to make. A Williams and A Davis are fairly good defenders as well but i smell another injury for VC, if the starting 5 remains then he'll have to keep scoring 30ppg (take J Stackhouse in 00-01, his teammates in the starting 5 were Atkins, Curry, B Wallace and J Smith......pathetic offensively)
Thu Oct 30, 2003 3:52 pm
Well, LeBron has 25 points, 9 assists and 5 boards with 3 minutes left in the game against Sac-Town...
Wanna take back your comment, limp?
Wanna take back your comment, limp?
Thu Oct 30, 2003 4:02 pm
yes...nasty stuff he's already proven he's worthy in his first game...and VC and his crew will take the fourth seed though...Look at VC 39 pts against the defending eastern confrence champs Nets...
he's already proven he's worthy in his first game...and VC and his crew will take the fourth seed though...Look at VC 39 pts against the defending eastern confrence champs Nets...
Thu Oct 30, 2003 8:00 pm
Well, LeBron has 25 points, 9 assists and 5 boards with 3 minutes left in the game against Sac-Town...
Wanna take back your comment, limp?
helllll no. doug's wife lets him play decent D, but other then that, SAc won't be mistaken as a defensive powerhouse. he did have a nice game. but that was one game. the spurs are lucky to have one win and i'm not counting them out. denver is undefeated but i'm not handing them the trophy just yet. as mr wolf said.. let's not start stroking each other just yet..
now that the 1st game is over with, can the 'derek jeter cam' be turned off lebron now?
is it me or does hype king look like sammy sosa?
Thu Oct 30, 2003 8:01 pm
Bulls as 5th seed: Would love it to happen, but I'm just not that optimistic.
Memphis in the Playoffs: I don't see it happening, but only because the West has too many good teams competing for 8 playoff spots.
LeBron James: I think he'll be better than the lower expectations of some, but won't live up to the high expectations of others.
Some predictions of my own:
Kobe will leave Los Angeles regardless of what happens this year. Winning the title might convince him to stick around, but I have a feeling there's going to be a Shaq vs Kobe "This town ain't big enough for the both of us" showdown not too far down the road. The Zen Master should step in early.
Still with the Lakers, only one person will average 20+ ppg. If two people average 20+ ppg, it will be Shaq and Kobe, and it won't be in the high 20s. I predict the scoring will be spread evenly for most of the year, with a few monster games here and there, and a few games where everyone is on fire.
Antawn Jamison grows tired of coming off the bench as either Delk or Fortson take turns starting while Finley swings between guard and forward, Walker swings between both forward spots and Nowitzki spends some time at centre.
The Magic won't have to fight for a playoff seed come April- they'll have secured 5th or 6th in the East.
Memphis in the Playoffs: I don't see it happening, but only because the West has too many good teams competing for 8 playoff spots.
LeBron James: I think he'll be better than the lower expectations of some, but won't live up to the high expectations of others.
Some predictions of my own:
Kobe will leave Los Angeles regardless of what happens this year. Winning the title might convince him to stick around, but I have a feeling there's going to be a Shaq vs Kobe "This town ain't big enough for the both of us" showdown not too far down the road. The Zen Master should step in early.
Still with the Lakers, only one person will average 20+ ppg. If two people average 20+ ppg, it will be Shaq and Kobe, and it won't be in the high 20s. I predict the scoring will be spread evenly for most of the year, with a few monster games here and there, and a few games where everyone is on fire.
Antawn Jamison grows tired of coming off the bench as either Delk or Fortson take turns starting while Finley swings between guard and forward, Walker swings between both forward spots and Nowitzki spends some time at centre.
The Magic won't have to fight for a playoff seed come April- they'll have secured 5th or 6th in the East.
Re: Bold predictions and why
Thu Oct 30, 2003 11:13 pm
besides chicago, nj and NO are other teams that didn't make significant changes
Pistons added E Campbell, Milicic, Sura, Hunter and of course Larry Brown
Re: Bold predictions and why
Fri Oct 31, 2003 7:12 am
stack42 wrote:besides chicago, nj and NO are other teams that didn't make significant changes
Pistons added E Campbell, Milicic, Sura, Hunter and of course Larry Brown
yes, thank you...again.. besides chicago, nj and NO are other teams that didn't make significant changes
Fri Oct 31, 2003 8:10 am
Since when is getting a new coach not a significant change, but bringing in Scottie Pippen is...? 
Fri Oct 31, 2003 9:20 am
i didnt say bringing in pip was a significant change
Fri Oct 31, 2003 9:37 am
well Bulls did only add Hinrich and Pipen in the offseason...
Fri Oct 31, 2003 11:34 pm
...and Kendal Gill, and that other rookie that took Hassell's place, can't remember his name...