Players you can't wait to see in action.

YouTube · by **shadowgrin** on Mon Oct 13, 2008 3:29 am

As the title says. Explain the reason for your selections. Let me start.

I'll be monitoring two players from the Charlotte Bobcats, Raymond Felton and Emeka Okafor. Under coach Larry Brown you know those two will be something, good or bad.

We all know Larry Brown's "to play the right way" especially the way he imposes it on his PGs. This season will either make or break Felton. Will he survive Larry Brown and develop like Billups and Iverson did, or will he wilt under pressure and become crazy like Marbury?

I'm expecting big things from Okafor under Larry Brown. Okafor is physical and plays defense, qualities that Brown loves with his big men as seen in the likes of Antonio and Dale Davis, Dikembe Mutombo, Theo Ratliff, Tyrone Hill, and Rasheed and Ben Wallace. I just hope Okafor stays healthy throughout the season.

by **Doobie** on Mon Oct 13, 2008 3:36 am

I will be paying attention to the whole Stephon Marbury situation, see how that plays out.

But players that I will be watching, hmm.. Mostly Greg Oden, from preseason he looks awesome. I want to see if his knee can keep stable through the whole regular season, and how it'll all work out for him and the Blazers.

by **bowdown** on Mon Oct 13, 2008 4:11 am

Greg Oden. I hope he stays healthy mainly w/o missing more than 5-8 games whole season. He is not even in great game shape but is still pretty atheletic.

by **Doobie** on Mon Oct 13, 2008 4:53 am

yeah I saw him he did look pretty husky.

by **[Q]** on Mon Oct 13, 2008 5:55 am

Rudy Fernandez, Jerryd BAyless, and the young Blazers. they should make a run for the playoffs this year.

by **Oskar** on Mon Oct 13, 2008 6:23 am

Derrick Rose, OJ Mayo, Russell Westbrook, Stephon Marbury, Amir Johnson, Greg Oden, Patrick Ewing Jr. , Rajon Rondo, Ramon Sessions, etc.

YouTube · by **shadowgrin** on Mon Oct 13, 2008 6:26 am

^ Why?

by **benji** on Mon Oct 13, 2008 6:38 am

It was going to be Amir Johnson who is on the verge of becoming the second best player in history. (After Darko who is so godly he stopped caring before he even got in the league.) Then he put up this lulzy preseason.

But Arron Afflalo. Holy crap. 19.3pts and 7.1rebs per 36 through four games, on fire from three. And still a super-stopper like last season.

Amir Johnson-Arron Afflalo = best wing in the league in three years confirmed amirite?

by **Tyler** on Mon Oct 13, 2008 6:48 am

Looking forward to see Derrick Rose play, also excited to see how Luol plays now that he has his big contract.

by **Dramacydal** on Mon Oct 13, 2008 6:53 am

Elton Brand.

My expectations aren't huge but it still feels so good to have a real superstar on the team again. Not nearly as good as having AI as the franchise player but nevertheless good. I'm definitely looking forward to Brand in a Sixers uni.

by **benji** on Mon Oct 13, 2008 7:56 am

Psch, having a healthy Brand is better than ever having Iverson.

And no Thaddeus Young? Louis Williams?

And you claim to love the Sixers.

by **JumpmanJordan** on Mon Oct 13, 2008 8:05 am

Chris Douglas-Roberts - I can't believe how deep this man went in the draft! Just looking at some of the names who went ahead of him is mind boggling. I've been telling people he's gonna be that one people are going to look back at as a huge steal. I hope he lives up to my expectations.

Jermaine O'Neal - I'm really interested to see if he's able to push the Raptors "over the hump" so to speak. I live in Canada so I get every Raptors game, he's looked pretty good when he's been on the court thus far with the Raptors. Him and Bosh running a high-low is deadly!

Goran Dragic - Ah yes, the man who is supposed to be able to finally give Steve Nash some much deserved time to rest after having no legitimate back-up PG each of his past 4 years in Phoenix. Honestly, I believe this guy is going to be a bust. Second round pick... and they gave him a 4-year guaranteed contract, with the 4th year being a player option? Wow, Kerr better hope this guy pans out. I honestly have not been impressed with this man, looks like a D-Leaguer trying to make the team at their training camp. 4 years guaranteed... I can't get over it.

Roko Ukic - Back up PG for the Raptors, drafted years ago but was left overseas. He's impressed me so far from what I've seen from him in the Raptors pre-season games, I hope to see him blossom into a solid back-up PG in the league. If he doesn't, Jose Calderon may be in for a long season.

Jamario Moon, Eddie House, Steve Nash, Ron Artest, Allen Iverson, Nate Robinson & Chris Paul - Who doesn't get excited to see their favourite players?

by **benji** on Mon Oct 13, 2008 8:12 am

JumpmanJordan wrote:Jermaine O'Neal - I'm really interested to see if he's able to push the Raptors "over the hump" so to speak. I live in Canada so I get every Raptors game, he's looked pretty good when he's been on the court thus far with the Raptors. Him and Bosh running a high-low is deadly!

I hope you get back to us when he starts taking 70-75% of his shots as low percentage jumpers outside the paint. (Although it looks like he's already started based on that FG%.)

At least he's a stud on defense.

by **JumpmanJordan** on Mon Oct 13, 2008 8:27 am

benji wrote:
JumpmanJordan wrote:Jermaine O'Neal - I'm really interested to see if he's able to push the Raptors "over the hump" so to speak. I live in Canada so I get every Raptors game, he's looked pretty good when he's been on the court thus far with the Raptors. Him and Bosh running a high-low is deadly!

I hope you get back to us when he starts taking 70-75% of his shots as low percentage jumpers outside the paint. (Although it looks like he's already started based on that FG%.)

At least he's a stud on defense.

LMAO @ predicting season stats after 2 pre-season games. I guess he'll only be averaging 18 MPG as well?

by **benji** on Mon Oct 13, 2008 8:31 am

More like six years of him doing the exact same thing?

by **Dramacydal** on Mon Oct 13, 2008 9:52 am

benji wrote:Psch, having a healthy Brand is better than ever having Iverson.

No way. Never. Really.

And no Thaddeus Young? Louis Williams?

And you claim to love the Sixers.

Who said that they weren't number 3 and 4 on my list? I only mentioned number one of players I can't wait to see.

by **benji** on Mon Oct 13, 2008 9:54 am

Who's number two? And why are they ahead of two superstars to be?

And a dominant offensive rebounder who shoots a high percentage is always better than a low-efficiency high-usage player. Right?

YouTube · by **shadowgrin** on Mon Oct 13, 2008 9:59 am

Stop baiting dramacydal on how Brand > Iverson, benji. Go play with Lamrock instead. Shame on you.

by **Dramacydal** on Mon Oct 13, 2008 9:59 am

No because I have a crush on AI, not on Brand.

Number two would be AI because he's my favorite player and that's why I'll always want to see him play.

But now that I think about it you could probably consider the whole Sixers team as my number one...

Bluesky · by **Andrew** on Mon Oct 13, 2008 1:28 pm

I guess Derrick Rose and Michael Beasley top the list, as I'm keen to see whether the selection of Rose with the first pick will redeem Paxson or perhaps hasten him on the road to "future endeavours". With all the Greg Oden hype and the young core that the Blazers have, I believe they'll be entertaining to watch this year as well.

by **Fresh8** on Mon Oct 13, 2008 5:58 pm

I want to see how Rudy Fernandez and Greg Oden play. Whether Fernandez will play off the bench or start. Oden looking fine in preseason and should be interesting to see how much of a force he will be in the Pros. It's one eyar overdue after all.

Apart from them, I am intrigued to see whether Bogut fares better in a Skiles' system. I want to see if Yao and Yi play well this season. Will Kobe Bryant be tired and how much will he play this season? Will he be able to stake a claim for MVP.

Portland, as many of you have pointed out, are definitely a team to keep an eye out for.

by **Fitzy** on Mon Oct 13, 2008 6:15 pm

i wanna see how the nets new look team plays together- particularly bobby simmons and yi

Bluesky · by **Andrew** on Mon Oct 13, 2008 9:26 pm

Sit wrote:Apart from them, I am intrigued to see whether Bogut fares better in a Skiles' system.

I'm a little worried by Malik Allen's presence in that regard. It wouldn't surprise me all that much if Skiles yanks Bogut from the lineup after he misses a couple of shots and then runs with Allen far too long.

by **Dan's Brain** on Mon Oct 13, 2008 9:28 pm

It's also Skiles' appearance that made me slightly less inclined to pick Ramon Sessions as MIP. I hope Skiles has improved his ideas since last year but i doubt it.

Bluesky · by **Andrew** on Mon Oct 13, 2008 9:36 pm

I doubt it too, his approach works for a couple of years but beyond that, a fresh voice is needed. Depending on how successful the Bucks turn out to be, I expect he'll last 2-3 years before they start looking for someone new.

Players you can't wait to see in action.

Players you can't wait to see in action.

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