Post by J2 on May 14, 2014 14:20:51 GMT -6
How about that preseason, huh? Well, with the end of the semester came the return of two things that I previously didn't have much of: Time and Energy. So, I decided to make the most of it while I still have it, and whip up a quick teaser to get everyone ready for the season! Maybe this'll help keep our fingers off the F5 button......nah, probably not. But Darth can dream, right? By the way, I didn't get the Sportsguy on board, as I literally just thought of doing this preview this morning, but hopefully you'll see the two of us back in full force soon! Now, on to the preview...
Divisional Breakdowns
Is it just me, or have divisional rivalries heated up over the past few seasons? It's almost as if beating one's rivals is just as important as getting in the playoffs! Everybody wants to be division champ, but how real is the dream for some teams? Let's find out...
Atlantic Division, The "Who Wants To Be 2nd" Division
This division is exactly why I have no rivals, it's not worth it! Conroy and the Celticsss have positioned themselves as the dominant force in the division, and it doesn't look like that's changing anytime soon. Gang Green has managed to snatch up younger replacements for aging stars like Hot Rod, Porter, and Drexler, and the young guys are every bit as skilled as the guys they replaced. Tim Hardaway & Derrick Coleman signed their souls to Beantown, and Kukoc looks ready to shine as well. The most important thing to remember is that the Celts won the title with a hobbled team. Now that they're healthy, they should be an even bigger threat. But the Celticsss weren't the only ones with a solid offseason, as the other teams took different steps to improve their rosters. The Heat took care of business by re-signing Hakeem Olajuwon and Gary Payton. This fearsome duo nearly pushed the Heat to a playoff appearance last season, and with Payton entering his prime and Jim Jackson slowly emerging, it'd be foolish to overlook this squad, despite their lack of depth and relatively weak frontcourt other than Olajuwon. Now the Knicks may have problems, but a frontcourt ain't one. The Knicks still have the Robinson-Tarpley combo, and Marcus Liberty, though a strange choice for backup center, has progressed quite nicely anyway. They also picked up Terry Porter on a absolute steal of a deal. This veteran team is talented, experienced, and deep, but two questions linger - coaching and health. This team has to wonder if the computer's in control, and if Robinson can keep it together this season. Whereas the Knicks have opted for a veteran approach, three teams have gone for a youth movement, Washington, Orlando, and New Jersey. Both are in different stages of it, the Magic are using the Drake Method, starting from the bottom. Between top draft picks Eddie Jones and Jason Kidd, the Magic's future is bright - but their present, not so much. Everywhere else is a question mark, and it's pretty clear that the Magic are still a year away. The Nets, on the other hand, have already found a proven young star in Isaiah Rider, and have made steps to refocus the team around him. Rookie Juwan Howard is a bit of a question mark, and it remains to be seen if the Nets will stick with their veterans Reggie Lewis and Nate McMillan. One has to imagine that if things go south early, the Nets will look to ship the vets off for younger help. Elden Campbell is also a question mark, as the Nets shipped off Tyrone Hill to the Wizards, and he's just 26, same as Elden. So is Elden considered a part of the past, or a part of the future? Speaking of the Wizards, otherwise known as the "26 and under club," the Wiz have an entire team stocked full of twentysomethings. Problem is, this team's lacked an identity for so long, and "a bunch of young guys" isn't an identity as much as it is a choice of talent. If this team can't mesh, things could get ugly. Can you say "Fire Sale?" The 76ers wished they could've blamed it on a fire when Tim Hardaway inked a contract with the Celticsss, but it is what it is. This team's not totally a lost cause without him though, thanks to a training camp that saw Anthony Mason emerge as a legit Forward, and Chris Whitney gain traction as a solid player. And it's not like the Sixers are totally without ballhandlers, as Ron Harper can hold his own in that role. The 76ers will not be as easy an out as most expect.
Projected Standings:
1. Celticsss
2. Knicks
3. Heat
4. Wizards
5. Nets
6. 76ers
7. Magic
Central Division, the "War Zone" Division
Whereas we're all pretty chummy with each other down here in the Atlantic Division, I legitimately think these Central guys want to beat the snot out of each other on a regular basis - in the name of friendly competition, of course. Soundwave makes me wonder sometimes, though...speaking of Wave, let's start with the Raptors, because they're loaded. Barkley and Magic may be fading fast, but they still have Jon Barry, Pervis Ellison, Rick Fox, and Greg Anthony. Speaking of Greg Anthony, the Raptors almost beat the Celticsss last season, so they're no joke. I also like the way their bench players grew during TC, Chris Mills, Chris Childs, Lorenzo Williams, and Stanley Roberts could all give some valuable minutes once the season starts. But if you want to talk about growth during training camp, look no further than Tray and the Pistons, and may I direct your attention to one Steve Smith, aka Michael Jordan Jr. Like Mike, he was passed over for two big men (one of whom is his teammate, LJ), and also like Mike, he has curb-stomped both of them. But with great power comes great price, and it's clear that Tray has shuffled his team around to better accommodate the hefty price tag that Smith will soon command. Gone are Michael Adams, Christian Laettner, Chris Dudley, and David Wesley, in come Benoit Benjamin and Mark Jackson. The cap situations have been shuffled around a bit, and Benjamin/Jackson are good pickups, but depth is still an important factor in surviving a long season, and the Pistons no longer have that. Can SS lift his team to higher heights? Depth is not a problem for Milwaukee and Atlanta, but depth is not always good, either. In the Bucks' case, depth means that they don't know what they have quite yet. Like the Magic, the Bucks are on the rebuilding path, but they went for the "strength in numbers" approach. They're loaded with talent, but it's the kind that has potential rather than the kind that's ready to win. For the Hawks, depth means that they don't have frontcourt help. They'll be really happy once big men start crowding the scene in the future, but for now, good big men are hard to come by, and that's left the Hawks with a skeleton crew. Their success depends on what Wig can get out of that skeleton crew, whether by gameplanning or by trade. The Bulls don't have a skeleton crew, it's a full-on ghost town! The Bulls looked at Free Agency, went "Aging stars? Who needs 'em!" and marched on. Well, they're not marching anywhere but into the lotto, sorry. Following them will be the Cavs, whose GM has disappeared right along with Dominique Wilkins' game, which has flatlined. It's rare that a team can have a top PG and a solid young PF/C, yet still go nowhere, but that's exactly what's gonna happen. This team is in need of an extreme makeover, and maybe they can take some advice from Pauly, whose Pacers have started a makeover of their own. Patrick Ewing is out, Stacey Augmon is in as the leader of this team...but he's going to need help, and Dee Brown, Derek Strong, and Dell Curry may not be enough. Muresan has potential, but how quickly will he realize it? Pauly's hoping for a Gugliotta-esque transformation, because it's helped the Hornets tremendously. The hijacking of Chris Mullin helps too, but the real story is Tom, who's become a top center in only his 3rd season. There's not much to help him down low, which could be the Hornets' downfall. Still, they're a very real contender for the Central crown.
Projected Standings:
1. Raptors
2. Pistons
3. Hornets
4. Hawks
5. Pacers
6. Bucks
7. Cavs
8. Bulls
Midwest Division, the "Texas Three-Step" Division
The rivalry that never stops, the Houston/San Antonio/Dallas three-way feud is the lifeblood of this division. However, new challengers have appeared in Minnesota and VanMemphis (seriously, pick a city already!), and the Texas teams might want to keep their eyes on them. The Timberwolves should be used to that, as the league's eyes have been on them for the past two drafts! Back-to-back #1 picks have given them Chris Webber and Grant Hill, and they're hoping this one-two punch will pay dividends right away. But, they haven't put their trust in those two alone, as they brought back two old dogs in Drexler and Spud Webb (I dub the Webb-to-Webber alley-oop play, "The Webline"). Robert Pack has also seemed to respond to the faith JNR has shown in him, and has improved nicely over training camp. Keep your eyes on the T-Wolves...if you can tear your eyes away from the Grizzlies' "trade block." The Grizz brought back Center Brad Daugherty, as well as singer Chris Daughtry, but they also brought assist legend John Stockton along for the ride. If I'm not mistaken, they're the only team in the league with a Blue/Blue starting 5, which would be terrifying if they had any semblance of a bench. Still, 5 really good guys is nothing to sneeze at, and LoCo's constant jokes hide a brilliant strategic mind......maybe? One thing's for sure, though, and that's Darth's strategic mind. After a blink-and-you missed it rebuild, the Mavericks are right back near the top of the mountain, and this time, it's summit or bust. Their depth is mostly gone, but Ewing and Pippen are here, meaning that the "D" in "Big D" means "Defense." Bryon Russell has morphed into a very solid defender overnight, and he'll likely be coming off the bench. Their Top 6 players are tough and rather experienced, and that makes for a big challenge. Still, that's not the biggest challenge in the Midwest. No, the "biggest" thing in the Midwest is the Rockets' Shaquille O'Neal, who is an absolute monster. With a guy like him around, you don't need much else to win, but the Rockets went ahead and grabbed some guys anyway. They're last seasons' guys, but still. Radja, Schrempf, Shaw, Morris, and Hawkins are all very solid players who are all capable of making shots and filling in various needs while the big guy does his damage. Poor Michael Jordan wishes he could say the same about his team. The Jazz still want MJ to do it all, and at 31, the strain is becoming harder. Maybe that's why Larry Bird was brought in, to teach Michael how to deal with aging. It'll be a hard lesson though, as there's really not much help to be had. Sherman Douglas is good, but he's can't run the point all game, every game. Instead of trotting out the Tune Squad to assist Michael, maybe the Jazz should call the Nuggets about how to slowly refocus their team, because they've done a good job of it. They've brought in a gang of veterans to help youngster Allan Houston learn the ropes, but they've also become competitive in the process. Old guys helping young guys is a pretty good plan, which might be why the Spurs are doing it too. Kevin Willis and Mark Price are still here, but this time, there's a new sheriff in town, the Big Dog Glenn Robinson. He's a great choice to replace Danny Manning, but the Spurs better hope their poor work ethic doesn't impact Glenn down the road. Drazen, Todd, and Kevin all went horseback riding during TC, and newcomer Byron Scott just flat-out flatlined. Eazy hopes that lessened ratings doesn't equal lessened production, but that's not a good fear to have in the Wild Wild Midwest.
Projected Standings:
1. Mavericks
2. Rockets
3. Timberwolves
4. Grizzlies
5. Spurs
6. Nuggets
7. Jazz
Pacific Division, the "That Guy's OP!" Division
"OP! OP!" has long been a cry heard out in the Pacific, and it's about to get worse. But, not from who you'd normally suspect. That's bad news for the Kings, whose marquee superstar has taken a bit of a dive in TC, right after signing a pricey extension. Yes, the mighty Karl Malone has fallen a bit, but he can get up. Unfortunately for him, nearly everyone else followed his lead in TC. Yes, the old depth issue rears it's head in Sacramento, and it remains to be seen who will step up to help their leader Malone during his times of need. The Lakers know all about stepping up. Time after time, a guy comes in, pushes the Hollywood Knights to either a title or the brink of one, then gets shipped off. Last time it was Benoit Benjamin. This time around it's Scottie Pippen, who went bye-bye in return for big man Rony Seikaly. Seikaly brings the post defense and scoring down low that went missing from the Lake Show when Benoit was tossed, but it's looking pretty bare out there on the wings. The Lakers might have to get unconventional in order to keep their storied winning tradition going, but then they're stepping into the Clippers' world. The kings of unconventional offense, the other LA team has quietly assembled a potent team, adding veteran defense and rebounding to a run-and-gun squad. Dennis Rodman's TC proved he wasn't done just yet, and the Worm will be happy to gobble up all that Spree, Cliff, Exel, and Mills miss. But then again, they don't miss much...this blending of past and present talent makes for an interesting watch...unlike a similar situation over in Phoenix. The Suns gambled a Glen Rice/Hakeem Olajuwon combo and lost big, and the backlash from that saw both board PHX and head out to Oakland and Miami respectively. What's left is two young guys (Tharon Mayes and Dikembe Mutombo) trying to coexist with Hakeem's former crew of vets (Ken Norman, Chuck Person, and Scott Skiles). It's an intriguing situation to look at, but not a good one to experience, and I fear that this won't be a fun season for Inner at all. The Supersonics will certainly have fun though, as they look to throw things around and see what sticks. Brandon and Benjamin are gone, but a ton of new faces are in, and not a single one has immediately made his presence felt, save perhaps Wesley Person. Christian Laettner spent too much time going up and down the elevator at the Space Needle and missed camp entirely, leaving the responsibilities of replacing Benoit's production solely on the shoulders of Vin Baker. But it's still Doug Christie's team, and he's responded quite well over training camp. But will that be enough? The Blazers are probably asking the same question about Chris Dudley's impact on their frontcourt. Shawn Bradley's developing nicely, but help is always appreciated, and Kucoach (shouldn't he change his name to Bradleyscoach?) hopes that Dudley is that guy. They finally solved their excessive backcourt problems by trading for promising project David Wesley, trading Mark Jackson, cutting ties with Dell Curry, and moving Jamal Mashburn back to SF, but it all goes back to Dudley. Is he the guy that can give Bradley the help he needs? One big man that doesn't need any help is the Warriors' Shawn Kemp. Yes, a new OP PF has claimed Karl Malone's crown, and he's scarier than Malone ever was. This beast is only 24 years old, and not only is he a two-time MVP, but he's also a one-time Defensive Player of the Year. And he's got help. Offensive juggernaut Glen Rice joins 3-point phenom Dennis Scott and solid young PG Sam Cassell to form a Cerberus that will clear the path for Kemp's rampages. What else do they have on their team? Not a damn thing, but do they really need it?
Projected Standings
1. Warriors
2. Clippers
3. Lakers
4. Kings
5. Trail Blazers
6. Supersonics
7. Suns
The End
So that's it for my quick-and-somewhat-easy NBA Preview! I'd do more, but my fingers hurt and I'm hungry. Besides, this was just meant to be a short primer, a small order of stuffed jalapenos, a 8-oz can of Sprite...gosh, I'm hungry...anyway, this was just a spur-of-the-moment thing I threw together to keep us busy until tipoff. So, gimme some feedback. Whine, moan, compliment, give advice, verbally spar with your fellow GMs, do whatever! Until next time.........
Oh, and don't take too long Darth! We will be pressing the F5 button after we're through with this!
Divisional Breakdowns
Is it just me, or have divisional rivalries heated up over the past few seasons? It's almost as if beating one's rivals is just as important as getting in the playoffs! Everybody wants to be division champ, but how real is the dream for some teams? Let's find out...
Atlantic Division, The "Who Wants To Be 2nd" Division
This division is exactly why I have no rivals, it's not worth it! Conroy and the Celticsss have positioned themselves as the dominant force in the division, and it doesn't look like that's changing anytime soon. Gang Green has managed to snatch up younger replacements for aging stars like Hot Rod, Porter, and Drexler, and the young guys are every bit as skilled as the guys they replaced. Tim Hardaway & Derrick Coleman signed their souls to Beantown, and Kukoc looks ready to shine as well. The most important thing to remember is that the Celts won the title with a hobbled team. Now that they're healthy, they should be an even bigger threat. But the Celticsss weren't the only ones with a solid offseason, as the other teams took different steps to improve their rosters. The Heat took care of business by re-signing Hakeem Olajuwon and Gary Payton. This fearsome duo nearly pushed the Heat to a playoff appearance last season, and with Payton entering his prime and Jim Jackson slowly emerging, it'd be foolish to overlook this squad, despite their lack of depth and relatively weak frontcourt other than Olajuwon. Now the Knicks may have problems, but a frontcourt ain't one. The Knicks still have the Robinson-Tarpley combo, and Marcus Liberty, though a strange choice for backup center, has progressed quite nicely anyway. They also picked up Terry Porter on a absolute steal of a deal. This veteran team is talented, experienced, and deep, but two questions linger - coaching and health. This team has to wonder if the computer's in control, and if Robinson can keep it together this season. Whereas the Knicks have opted for a veteran approach, three teams have gone for a youth movement, Washington, Orlando, and New Jersey. Both are in different stages of it, the Magic are using the Drake Method, starting from the bottom. Between top draft picks Eddie Jones and Jason Kidd, the Magic's future is bright - but their present, not so much. Everywhere else is a question mark, and it's pretty clear that the Magic are still a year away. The Nets, on the other hand, have already found a proven young star in Isaiah Rider, and have made steps to refocus the team around him. Rookie Juwan Howard is a bit of a question mark, and it remains to be seen if the Nets will stick with their veterans Reggie Lewis and Nate McMillan. One has to imagine that if things go south early, the Nets will look to ship the vets off for younger help. Elden Campbell is also a question mark, as the Nets shipped off Tyrone Hill to the Wizards, and he's just 26, same as Elden. So is Elden considered a part of the past, or a part of the future? Speaking of the Wizards, otherwise known as the "26 and under club," the Wiz have an entire team stocked full of twentysomethings. Problem is, this team's lacked an identity for so long, and "a bunch of young guys" isn't an identity as much as it is a choice of talent. If this team can't mesh, things could get ugly. Can you say "Fire Sale?" The 76ers wished they could've blamed it on a fire when Tim Hardaway inked a contract with the Celticsss, but it is what it is. This team's not totally a lost cause without him though, thanks to a training camp that saw Anthony Mason emerge as a legit Forward, and Chris Whitney gain traction as a solid player. And it's not like the Sixers are totally without ballhandlers, as Ron Harper can hold his own in that role. The 76ers will not be as easy an out as most expect.
Projected Standings:
1. Celticsss
2. Knicks
3. Heat
4. Wizards
5. Nets
6. 76ers
7. Magic
Central Division, the "War Zone" Division
Whereas we're all pretty chummy with each other down here in the Atlantic Division, I legitimately think these Central guys want to beat the snot out of each other on a regular basis - in the name of friendly competition, of course. Soundwave makes me wonder sometimes, though...speaking of Wave, let's start with the Raptors, because they're loaded. Barkley and Magic may be fading fast, but they still have Jon Barry, Pervis Ellison, Rick Fox, and Greg Anthony. Speaking of Greg Anthony, the Raptors almost beat the Celticsss last season, so they're no joke. I also like the way their bench players grew during TC, Chris Mills, Chris Childs, Lorenzo Williams, and Stanley Roberts could all give some valuable minutes once the season starts. But if you want to talk about growth during training camp, look no further than Tray and the Pistons, and may I direct your attention to one Steve Smith, aka Michael Jordan Jr. Like Mike, he was passed over for two big men (one of whom is his teammate, LJ), and also like Mike, he has curb-stomped both of them. But with great power comes great price, and it's clear that Tray has shuffled his team around to better accommodate the hefty price tag that Smith will soon command. Gone are Michael Adams, Christian Laettner, Chris Dudley, and David Wesley, in come Benoit Benjamin and Mark Jackson. The cap situations have been shuffled around a bit, and Benjamin/Jackson are good pickups, but depth is still an important factor in surviving a long season, and the Pistons no longer have that. Can SS lift his team to higher heights? Depth is not a problem for Milwaukee and Atlanta, but depth is not always good, either. In the Bucks' case, depth means that they don't know what they have quite yet. Like the Magic, the Bucks are on the rebuilding path, but they went for the "strength in numbers" approach. They're loaded with talent, but it's the kind that has potential rather than the kind that's ready to win. For the Hawks, depth means that they don't have frontcourt help. They'll be really happy once big men start crowding the scene in the future, but for now, good big men are hard to come by, and that's left the Hawks with a skeleton crew. Their success depends on what Wig can get out of that skeleton crew, whether by gameplanning or by trade. The Bulls don't have a skeleton crew, it's a full-on ghost town! The Bulls looked at Free Agency, went "Aging stars? Who needs 'em!" and marched on. Well, they're not marching anywhere but into the lotto, sorry. Following them will be the Cavs, whose GM has disappeared right along with Dominique Wilkins' game, which has flatlined. It's rare that a team can have a top PG and a solid young PF/C, yet still go nowhere, but that's exactly what's gonna happen. This team is in need of an extreme makeover, and maybe they can take some advice from Pauly, whose Pacers have started a makeover of their own. Patrick Ewing is out, Stacey Augmon is in as the leader of this team...but he's going to need help, and Dee Brown, Derek Strong, and Dell Curry may not be enough. Muresan has potential, but how quickly will he realize it? Pauly's hoping for a Gugliotta-esque transformation, because it's helped the Hornets tremendously. The hijacking of Chris Mullin helps too, but the real story is Tom, who's become a top center in only his 3rd season. There's not much to help him down low, which could be the Hornets' downfall. Still, they're a very real contender for the Central crown.
Projected Standings:
1. Raptors
2. Pistons
3. Hornets
4. Hawks
5. Pacers
6. Bucks
7. Cavs
8. Bulls
Midwest Division, the "Texas Three-Step" Division
The rivalry that never stops, the Houston/San Antonio/Dallas three-way feud is the lifeblood of this division. However, new challengers have appeared in Minnesota and VanMemphis (seriously, pick a city already!), and the Texas teams might want to keep their eyes on them. The Timberwolves should be used to that, as the league's eyes have been on them for the past two drafts! Back-to-back #1 picks have given them Chris Webber and Grant Hill, and they're hoping this one-two punch will pay dividends right away. But, they haven't put their trust in those two alone, as they brought back two old dogs in Drexler and Spud Webb (I dub the Webb-to-Webber alley-oop play, "The Webline"). Robert Pack has also seemed to respond to the faith JNR has shown in him, and has improved nicely over training camp. Keep your eyes on the T-Wolves...if you can tear your eyes away from the Grizzlies' "trade block." The Grizz brought back Center Brad Daugherty, as well as singer Chris Daughtry, but they also brought assist legend John Stockton along for the ride. If I'm not mistaken, they're the only team in the league with a Blue/Blue starting 5, which would be terrifying if they had any semblance of a bench. Still, 5 really good guys is nothing to sneeze at, and LoCo's constant jokes hide a brilliant strategic mind......maybe? One thing's for sure, though, and that's Darth's strategic mind. After a blink-and-you missed it rebuild, the Mavericks are right back near the top of the mountain, and this time, it's summit or bust. Their depth is mostly gone, but Ewing and Pippen are here, meaning that the "D" in "Big D" means "Defense." Bryon Russell has morphed into a very solid defender overnight, and he'll likely be coming off the bench. Their Top 6 players are tough and rather experienced, and that makes for a big challenge. Still, that's not the biggest challenge in the Midwest. No, the "biggest" thing in the Midwest is the Rockets' Shaquille O'Neal, who is an absolute monster. With a guy like him around, you don't need much else to win, but the Rockets went ahead and grabbed some guys anyway. They're last seasons' guys, but still. Radja, Schrempf, Shaw, Morris, and Hawkins are all very solid players who are all capable of making shots and filling in various needs while the big guy does his damage. Poor Michael Jordan wishes he could say the same about his team. The Jazz still want MJ to do it all, and at 31, the strain is becoming harder. Maybe that's why Larry Bird was brought in, to teach Michael how to deal with aging. It'll be a hard lesson though, as there's really not much help to be had. Sherman Douglas is good, but he's can't run the point all game, every game. Instead of trotting out the Tune Squad to assist Michael, maybe the Jazz should call the Nuggets about how to slowly refocus their team, because they've done a good job of it. They've brought in a gang of veterans to help youngster Allan Houston learn the ropes, but they've also become competitive in the process. Old guys helping young guys is a pretty good plan, which might be why the Spurs are doing it too. Kevin Willis and Mark Price are still here, but this time, there's a new sheriff in town, the Big Dog Glenn Robinson. He's a great choice to replace Danny Manning, but the Spurs better hope their poor work ethic doesn't impact Glenn down the road. Drazen, Todd, and Kevin all went horseback riding during TC, and newcomer Byron Scott just flat-out flatlined. Eazy hopes that lessened ratings doesn't equal lessened production, but that's not a good fear to have in the Wild Wild Midwest.
Projected Standings:
1. Mavericks
2. Rockets
3. Timberwolves
4. Grizzlies
5. Spurs
6. Nuggets
7. Jazz
Pacific Division, the "That Guy's OP!" Division
"OP! OP!" has long been a cry heard out in the Pacific, and it's about to get worse. But, not from who you'd normally suspect. That's bad news for the Kings, whose marquee superstar has taken a bit of a dive in TC, right after signing a pricey extension. Yes, the mighty Karl Malone has fallen a bit, but he can get up. Unfortunately for him, nearly everyone else followed his lead in TC. Yes, the old depth issue rears it's head in Sacramento, and it remains to be seen who will step up to help their leader Malone during his times of need. The Lakers know all about stepping up. Time after time, a guy comes in, pushes the Hollywood Knights to either a title or the brink of one, then gets shipped off. Last time it was Benoit Benjamin. This time around it's Scottie Pippen, who went bye-bye in return for big man Rony Seikaly. Seikaly brings the post defense and scoring down low that went missing from the Lake Show when Benoit was tossed, but it's looking pretty bare out there on the wings. The Lakers might have to get unconventional in order to keep their storied winning tradition going, but then they're stepping into the Clippers' world. The kings of unconventional offense, the other LA team has quietly assembled a potent team, adding veteran defense and rebounding to a run-and-gun squad. Dennis Rodman's TC proved he wasn't done just yet, and the Worm will be happy to gobble up all that Spree, Cliff, Exel, and Mills miss. But then again, they don't miss much...this blending of past and present talent makes for an interesting watch...unlike a similar situation over in Phoenix. The Suns gambled a Glen Rice/Hakeem Olajuwon combo and lost big, and the backlash from that saw both board PHX and head out to Oakland and Miami respectively. What's left is two young guys (Tharon Mayes and Dikembe Mutombo) trying to coexist with Hakeem's former crew of vets (Ken Norman, Chuck Person, and Scott Skiles). It's an intriguing situation to look at, but not a good one to experience, and I fear that this won't be a fun season for Inner at all. The Supersonics will certainly have fun though, as they look to throw things around and see what sticks. Brandon and Benjamin are gone, but a ton of new faces are in, and not a single one has immediately made his presence felt, save perhaps Wesley Person. Christian Laettner spent too much time going up and down the elevator at the Space Needle and missed camp entirely, leaving the responsibilities of replacing Benoit's production solely on the shoulders of Vin Baker. But it's still Doug Christie's team, and he's responded quite well over training camp. But will that be enough? The Blazers are probably asking the same question about Chris Dudley's impact on their frontcourt. Shawn Bradley's developing nicely, but help is always appreciated, and Kucoach (shouldn't he change his name to Bradleyscoach?) hopes that Dudley is that guy. They finally solved their excessive backcourt problems by trading for promising project David Wesley, trading Mark Jackson, cutting ties with Dell Curry, and moving Jamal Mashburn back to SF, but it all goes back to Dudley. Is he the guy that can give Bradley the help he needs? One big man that doesn't need any help is the Warriors' Shawn Kemp. Yes, a new OP PF has claimed Karl Malone's crown, and he's scarier than Malone ever was. This beast is only 24 years old, and not only is he a two-time MVP, but he's also a one-time Defensive Player of the Year. And he's got help. Offensive juggernaut Glen Rice joins 3-point phenom Dennis Scott and solid young PG Sam Cassell to form a Cerberus that will clear the path for Kemp's rampages. What else do they have on their team? Not a damn thing, but do they really need it?
Projected Standings
1. Warriors
2. Clippers
3. Lakers
4. Kings
5. Trail Blazers
6. Supersonics
7. Suns
The End
So that's it for my quick-and-somewhat-easy NBA Preview! I'd do more, but my fingers hurt and I'm hungry. Besides, this was just meant to be a short primer, a small order of stuffed jalapenos, a 8-oz can of Sprite...gosh, I'm hungry...anyway, this was just a spur-of-the-moment thing I threw together to keep us busy until tipoff. So, gimme some feedback. Whine, moan, compliment, give advice, verbally spar with your fellow GMs, do whatever! Until next time.........
Oh, and don't take too long Darth! We will be pressing the F5 button after we're through with this!
