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- Jul 9, 2003
Taking a cue from Dan Shanoff's blog, I would like to introduce the Niketalk NBA Predictions.
(1) MVP
(2) Coach of the Year
(3) Team on the Rise
(4) Team on the Decline
(5) Breakout Player (The "Diaw Award")
(6) Rookie to Watch (not necessarily "best")
(7) Storyline We'll Be Talking About in January
(8.) Western Playoff Seeding/Conf. Champs (Who over who?)
(9) Eastern Playoff Seeding/Conf. Champs (Who over who?)
(10) NBA Champs
Please use the number/category to help everyone else understand your comments. And a little reasoning/"why" never hurts. Looking forward to hearing what you have to say.
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My predictions:
(1) MVP: LeBron James (Cleveland) - The kid has gotten better each season of his career. Some may forget that the statistics (points, rebounds, assists) he puts up as averages are shared in company with only Bird, Jordan, West and Big O. He certainly has some aspects of his game that he needs to improve (free throw shooting, weak-side D, 3 pt. %) but he seems to be a workhorse that only strives to improve.
(2) Coach of the Year: Mike D'Antoni (Phoenix) - 54 wins last year with Stat not playing the whole season. Even if he isn't 100%, the team is going to see a great deal of improvement (perhaps shades of the 62 win season from the year before where D'Antoni won coach of the year that year?) They have the two-time defending MVP running the show and a solid supporting cast. Look for D'Antoni to reclaim the title.
(3) Team on the Rise: Orlando Magic - Realize this, the Magic won 36 games last year and came within 4 games of the playoffs. Fast forward to the current stage and there is a team with a young Dwight Howard and Darko along with key young role players such as Jameer Nelson, Arroyo, Redick, et. al. This will be an exciting team to watch and I see them definitely claiming a playoff spot.
(4) Team on the Decline: Detroit Pistonsers on the team and a bevy of decent bench players, but to take away the force from below the basket and call this team the same team, it just isn't true.
(5) Breakout Player (The "Diaw Award".): Darko Milicic (Orlando Magic)er getting the minutes he needs to boost his confidence and his game.
(6) Rookie to Watch (not necessarily "best".): Brandon Roy (Portland Trail Blazers)ing time from the get go. Will he turn the Blazers image problem around? Will he change the team from a league doormat into a true contender (probably not in year 1, but you have to believe there is no way but up for this franchise).
(7) Storyline We'll Be Talking About in January: Without trying to follow-along in a common theme, after the new year it will be time to determine where Isiah Thomas stands. Dolan said he would give Thomas till the end of the season; if there is not a dramatic improvement (and it's hard not to improve from the cellar) I see Thomas getting canned and replaced by Lenny Wilkens.
(8.) Western Playoff Seeding/Conf. Champs (Who over who?)
1. Phoenix Suns (60 wins)
2. Dallas Mavericks (58.)
3. Denver Nuggets (52)
4. San Antonio Spurs (55)
5. L.A. Clippers (50)
6. Houston Rockets (47)
7. L.A. Lakers (44)
8. N.O./Oklahoma City Hornets (43)
Western Conference Finals: Suns over Mavericks
(9) Eastern Playoff Seeding/Conf. Champs (Who over who?)
1. Cleveland Cavaliers (59 wins)
2. Miami Heat (54)
3. New Jersey Nets (51)
4. Washington Wizards (48.)
5. Detroit Pistons (46)
6. Chicago Bulls (44)
7. Milwaukee Bucks (43)
8. Orlando Magic (42)
Eastern Conference Finals: Cavaliers over Heat
(10) NBA Champs - Suns over Cavaliers in 6
(1) MVP
(2) Coach of the Year
(3) Team on the Rise
(4) Team on the Decline
(5) Breakout Player (The "Diaw Award")
(6) Rookie to Watch (not necessarily "best")
(7) Storyline We'll Be Talking About in January
(8.) Western Playoff Seeding/Conf. Champs (Who over who?)
(9) Eastern Playoff Seeding/Conf. Champs (Who over who?)
(10) NBA Champs
Please use the number/category to help everyone else understand your comments. And a little reasoning/"why" never hurts. Looking forward to hearing what you have to say.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
My predictions:
(1) MVP: LeBron James (Cleveland) - The kid has gotten better each season of his career. Some may forget that the statistics (points, rebounds, assists) he puts up as averages are shared in company with only Bird, Jordan, West and Big O. He certainly has some aspects of his game that he needs to improve (free throw shooting, weak-side D, 3 pt. %) but he seems to be a workhorse that only strives to improve.
(2) Coach of the Year: Mike D'Antoni (Phoenix) - 54 wins last year with Stat not playing the whole season. Even if he isn't 100%, the team is going to see a great deal of improvement (perhaps shades of the 62 win season from the year before where D'Antoni won coach of the year that year?) They have the two-time defending MVP running the show and a solid supporting cast. Look for D'Antoni to reclaim the title.
(3) Team on the Rise: Orlando Magic - Realize this, the Magic won 36 games last year and came within 4 games of the playoffs. Fast forward to the current stage and there is a team with a young Dwight Howard and Darko along with key young role players such as Jameer Nelson, Arroyo, Redick, et. al. This will be an exciting team to watch and I see them definitely claiming a playoff spot.
(4) Team on the Decline: Detroit Pistonsers on the team and a bevy of decent bench players, but to take away the force from below the basket and call this team the same team, it just isn't true.
(5) Breakout Player (The "Diaw Award".): Darko Milicic (Orlando Magic)er getting the minutes he needs to boost his confidence and his game.
(6) Rookie to Watch (not necessarily "best".): Brandon Roy (Portland Trail Blazers)ing time from the get go. Will he turn the Blazers image problem around? Will he change the team from a league doormat into a true contender (probably not in year 1, but you have to believe there is no way but up for this franchise).
(7) Storyline We'll Be Talking About in January: Without trying to follow-along in a common theme, after the new year it will be time to determine where Isiah Thomas stands. Dolan said he would give Thomas till the end of the season; if there is not a dramatic improvement (and it's hard not to improve from the cellar) I see Thomas getting canned and replaced by Lenny Wilkens.
(8.) Western Playoff Seeding/Conf. Champs (Who over who?)
1. Phoenix Suns (60 wins)
2. Dallas Mavericks (58.)
3. Denver Nuggets (52)
4. San Antonio Spurs (55)
5. L.A. Clippers (50)
6. Houston Rockets (47)
7. L.A. Lakers (44)
8. N.O./Oklahoma City Hornets (43)
Western Conference Finals: Suns over Mavericks
(9) Eastern Playoff Seeding/Conf. Champs (Who over who?)
1. Cleveland Cavaliers (59 wins)
2. Miami Heat (54)
3. New Jersey Nets (51)
4. Washington Wizards (48.)
5. Detroit Pistons (46)
6. Chicago Bulls (44)
7. Milwaukee Bucks (43)
8. Orlando Magic (42)
Eastern Conference Finals: Cavaliers over Heat
(10) NBA Champs - Suns over Cavaliers in 6
Team Cavaliers
LBJ 23