It took me over a month to write here again due to a disease called “stress and school”. It was really a hard time to write because I’m pre-occupied doing some school works. Still my love for the game hasn’t decline even a bit, and I’m aware that teams are now testing their new found strength and weakness with the changes in their roster during the off-season through the pre-season games. Although it’s not an accurate measurement of how the teams will fair this season, but it gives you hint and a glimpse of what to expect from them.
Here are my simple thoughts on how will the 30 teams do this season:
1. Atlanta Hawks: Coming from a good season, which they broke their ten year playoff drought, can be one of the things that the organization can look forward this season. Although Josh Childress started a trend of leaving the NBA for Europe in search of bigger pay-checks, the Hawks still has it’s core of youth and veteran players. The problem now is; can they consistently make the playoffs?
2. Boston Celtics: The Defending Champions! The big three is still unquestionably the greatest force in the league right now, but can they make it back to back? The role players must step up, especially after Posey left for a longer and more secured contract, and PJ Brown still unsure whether to retire or not. Good thing though is Cassel returning for his last year before retiring and Tony Allen back after being sidelined for much off the last season.
3. Charlotte Bobcats: Larry Brown has returned, and so is his stint in losing teams continue, or can he turn around the youngest franchise this season? He inherits a team with front court players prone to injuries, and back court players which are not producing well. The good thing though is, his players are unselfish (Felton), athletic (Richardson) and good defenders (Wallace), qualities which are highly valuable in his system. Don’t forget their prized rookie; D.J Agustin which will find hard to see the rim with his 5-11 frame but can blaze with his scoring mentality.
4. Chicago Bulls: After being voted last off-season as the contenders for the Eastern conference title, they blew everyone’s prediction by not reaching the playoffs at all. With Skiles being fired at the middle of the season, and the big trade coming at the eve of the trade deadline, this new look Bulls under Coach Del Negro will try to create the hype it has before their losing season. However, a crowded back court players without a real post player can provide problems for them to solve. The good thing that the Bulls are looking forward for the upcoming season is their first overall draft pick, Derrick Rose. The team which will now be led by Rose, and under a new system can be a fresh start for them to regain their bid for supremacy.
5. Cleveland Cavaliers: After last playoff’s emotional series against the Celtics which then became the eventual champions, the Cavaliers aggressively pushed for the upgrade of personnel surrounding King James, particularly their off-season acquisition of Mo Williams from the Bucks in which they hope to bring James additional help, and stall any attempts of James to leave the Cavs via free agency during the 2010 season, which a lot of teams area already vocal about cutting salary space for their contract offer for LBJ. The team now has a dynamic 1-2 scoring punch with James and Williams, and other role players who can defend and shoot as well. As long as the Cavs have King James leading them, then Cavs fans can always book early for postseason tickets. The problem is, can they book a ticket for the finals as well?
These are the first five teams in the NBA in the alphabetical order. I’ll be doing the next five in a couple of days.
Related posts:
When you get to teh Suns, make sure you include Nash’s new training program devised to put up with effing Shaq.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEB9a6boK3A
Beats being a Hawks fan, I uess.