Dynasty potential. A mega-star in the making. Revenge. Breaking through. One last shot.
It's nearing the end of October and that means one thing:
It's back.
The 2009-2010 NBA season officially tips off today with LeBron and Shaq vs. The Three Amigos in green. Then the NBA ends the night with the World Champion Los Angeles Lakers vs. their L.A. city counterpart, the Clippers.
So here, in Eric's Talk at the Urinal NBA preview, he'll be choosing his TOP 8 teams of each conference as well as his MVP candidate predictions. He's also chosen his Finals Match-up and the rookies to look out for.
This season has potential to be one of the best we'll ever see, a true classic.
Will LeBron and Shaq succeed in getting LeBron a ring before he's lured out of town?
Will the Celtics be as dominant as they were two years ago and run away with the East?
Do the Magic still have a good shot of making it back to the Finals? Or is D-Wade going to take back Florida?
Who's going to compete with the Lakers in the West? Is it going to be the Spurs, who have slightly revamped their team to make another run? Or will it finally be Portland, Memphis, or Oklahoma City that finally breakthrough the West with their young talent and potential.
The only way to find out is to stay tuned to the NBA all season long, but don't forget to check out Talk at the Urinal's outsider analysis on match-up's, MVP races, rising stars, and falling veterans.
Lastly, I'd just like to add, the Charlotte Bobcats will sweep the Lakers and the Lake Show still won't win in Portland.
Let's toss it up to Eric for his NBA season preview of the West and the East playoff match-up's and more!
Eric?
1. Lakers: Getting Artest is huge. A lot of people are upset about not having Ariza anymore, but if you think about it he was a no name his first 6 years in the league. Artest has been solid basically most of his career. Starting 5- Bynum, Gasol, Artest, Kobe, Fisher. Bench- Odom, Brown, Mbenga, Powell, Walton, Vujajic, Farmar. Looking at this starting 5 it looks like a damn all star team. Got the best Player, and the best defender in the league with Kobe and Artest. Bynum just needs to step up this year, and Lakes will cruise right into the playoffs.
2. Spurs: Starting 5 - Mcdyess, Duncan, Jefferson, Roger Mason, Parker. Bench- Ginobili, Dejuan Blair, Bonner. This starting 5 is pretty damn good. Questions I have though is that Duncan is getting up there in age, and can Ginobili stay healthy all year. They definitely have great veteran play, and great leadership to make a run for a championship. Roger Mason is also a great player on the rise, and as we know is pretty damn clutch. If Mcdyess can play well at his age, and Duncan and Ginobili stay healthy I guarantee a Laker vs Spurs Western Conference Championship.
3. Jazz: Starting 5 - Okur, Boozer, Kirilenko, Brewer, Wiliams. Bench- Milsap, Miles, Harping, Price, Korver. Okur and Boozer were out most of last year, and they still made it into the playoffs. Paul Millsap replaced Boozer and had himself a career year. He will go back to coming off the bench, but now with that experiance last year he will be great off the bench. He puts up doubles doubles almost every game. Darren Williams is a star in the making, and will lead this team in the top 3 of the western conference. Jazz play out of their minds at home so I think with this team will struggle on the road like they usually do, but only lose a couple at home.
4. Trail Blazers: Starting 5 - Oden, Aldridge, Batum, Roy, Miller. Bench- Outlaw, Fernandez, Blake, Bayless, Pryzbilla. This team looks realy scary on paper. Aldrige, and Roy are two of the best young studs in this league. They both will be All stars this year, and possibly Roy will be nominated for Mvp award. They are still young though so I don't think they will make a huge run in the playoffs. Oden is still over rated to me, and he will have to prove to me that hes a great center in this league. There bench is ridiculous Outlaw, Fernandez, and Blake are all great players that will find there roles for this team to win games. Getting Andre Miller was huge because they were lacking some leadership, and Miller will bring his experiance and leadership for this team.
5. Denver:
Starting 5 - Nene, Martin, Carmello, Affalo, Billups. Bench- Jr Smith, Birdman, Lawson, Balkman, and Allen. This team made a huge run in the playoffs getting to the Western Conference Finals. Billups provides huge leadership for this team, and he will continue to do just that this year. Martin is to old for me now and I think he is about done. Carmello is definitely in his prime right now, but I cant see him carrying his team to a championship. There bench is great with Jr Smith, and Birdman provding huge energy for this Nuggets team. Jr Smith is only 23 years old and he is on the rise. I dont like him at all, but man can he play some basketball. Lawson was a great draft pick for them, and I think he will help them out off the bench and give Billups some rest which he will need.
6. Mavericks: Starting 5 - Dampier, Nowitzki,Marion, Howard , Kidd. Bench- Gooden, Terry, Tim Thomas, Quinton Ross. Mavericks are a hard team to figure out this year. Nowitzki will definitely carry this team like he always does. The signing of Marion will help there defense, and offense tremendously. I have questions about Kidd, and Dampier they are both old and starting. They need to be able to stay healthy all year, and I dont know if they will. Love three guys on there bench Terry, Thomas, and Gooden. Terry will be up for the sixth man of the year award again. The signing of Gooden will help get Dampier some rest that he needs. Another guy that is great on this team his Josh Howard. If he stays out of trouble, and out of the drugs he is hard to stop. This team will definitely be on the rise this year.
7. Hornets: Starting 5 - Okafor, West, Wright, Peterson, Paul. Bench- Peja, Collison, Devin Brown, James Posey. This team on paper looks real good. Any time you got a superstar on your team you will always have a chance to make a run for the playoffs. Hornets have just that with CP3 he is the best point guard in the game hands down. He will for sure carry this team in the playoffs like he has been doing. Getting Okafor in the Chandler trade will help them tremendously. I never really liked Chandler, but Okafor is on the rise and he can be a premier player in this league. Bench play seems really good if Peja, and Posey could bounce back from there off years last year. Collison from Ucla will have little impact on this team with CP3 in front of him. Team could be pretty scary in playoffs so watch out.
8. Grizzlies: Starting 5 - Gasol, Randolph, Gay, Mayo, Conley. Bench- Iverson, Thabeet, Jaric, Sam young. YES THE GRIZZLIES MAKE THE PLAYOFFS MARK MY WORDS. They are young I know, Iverson ruins teams, yes i know, and they are the Memphis Grizzlies yes I know. Who cares though look how much talent this team has. Conley, and Mayo are young stars on the rise. Gay is awesome, and in his prime right now. Getting Randolph helps them out so much. He averaged 20 and 10 last year on the terrible Clippers. He will only get better. Gasol is also a young center on the rise. Iverson and Thabeet off the bench will help Memphis out in many ways. Iverson just needs to have the right attitude and bring leadership to this team. Thabeet, I think, is overrated, but his role on this team will be to just come in, play good defense, and I think he can do just that. Watch out for these Memphis Grizzlies.
1. Cavaliers: Starting 5 - O'neal, Varajeo, Lebron, Parker, Mo Williams. Bench- Ilgauskas, Powe, Moon, West, Gibson, Hickson. This team is really good. Any team with Lebron on it will be pretty damn good. Now they got some players for him finally, and there will be no more excuse for Lebron lovers, and Cavs fans that say Lebron doesnt have anyone on his team. He now has the Big diesel who has won championships with Wade, and Kobe. Now will he win it with Lebron mmmmm? I dont think so sorry Kobe and the Lake show are still in the league. They will make it to the finals though in my opinion. Bench play is solid with Powe, Parker, Gibson, Illgauskas, and Moon. This is a great team with the potential to have the best record in the NBA.
2. Magic: Starting 5 - Howard, Bass, Rashard Lewis, Vince Carter, Nelson. Bench- Barnes, Pietrus, Jason Williams, Gortat, Reddick. I like them this year to be top two this year in the Eastern Conference. With the addition of Vince Carter, Brandon Bass, and Jason Williams it will make them a lot better. Yes they lose Turkolugo which was there leader last year, but Vince Carter is a better player in my eyes. Howard will be even better then last year, and he has finals experiance already to. Bench with Barnes, Pietrus, Williams, Gortat, and Reddick has to be one of the best in the league. It's tough to say they will be better then Cavs, but I know they are a team to reckon with, as far as getting into the finals again.
3. Celtics: Starting 5- Perkins, Garnett, Pierce, Allen, Rondo. Bench- Wallace, Glen Baby, Tony Allen, Eddie House, Marquis Daniels. As you can see this team is completely stacked, and this will probaly be the last year of the Big 3. They are all getting up there in age, and they know this so they are all hungry for a ring this year trust me. Garnett to me will bounce back from the Knee Injury last year. Pierce will be Pierce, and Allen will be Allen. Rondo is a point guard on the rise as we all saw in the playoffs last year. If he continues that you can guarantee them a spot in the finals. Rasheed off the bench what? thats seems unfair, but he is getting old to may be washed up. Marquis Daniels will also play a huge role off the bench for them, and along with Baby davis, and Eddie House. Boston Celtics are back! Possibly better then 2 years ago when they won it all.
4. Hawks: Starting 5 - Al Horford, Smith, Marvin Williams, Johnson, Bibby. Bench- Crawford, Teague, Smith, Evans. This team is a young and very athletic team with potential in making a huge run for a title this year. I dont think they will because the three teams that I just mention are just over all better then them. Joe Johnson is ridiculous and will probaly be up for Mvp award this year. Horford is a young star on the rise, and Josh Smith is only getting better. The bench looks real good with my BOY Jamal Crawford, Veteran Joe Smith, and Rookie Jeff Teague from Wake Forest. Definite team on the rise, and to possibly knock one of those powerhouses out in the playoffs.
5. Raptors: Starting 5 - Bargnani, Bosh, Turkoglu, Derozan, Calderon. Bench- Jack, Belinelli, Nesterovich. This starting 5 looks really good. Especially if Derozan the rookie can play like he did at USC. Turkoglu will bring huge leadership to this team. My boy Bosh will continue to do what he always does, and hopefully carry this team into the playoffs. Bench is where they will struglle because all I see is Jarret Jack that will help them. Other then that no one really. guess Belinelli is a great shooter, but hasnt really proven himself yet. Those two guys will need to step up in a huge way. They are not even close with the 4 teams above them, but they will be a playoff contender.
6. Bulls: Starting 5 - Noah, Thomas, Deng, Salmons, Rose. Bench- Hinrich, Gibson, Hunter, Miller. They didnt make any signings to help out there team over the summer. They didnt need anything really though. They got a great Center in Noah, an All stat PG in Rose, and a young guy in the rise with Tyrus Thomas. This team almost beat Boston last year in the playoffs that would havebeen nuts! This year they will be playing one of those power houses again in the playoffs, and will give them a scare trust me. Bench to me sucks pretty bad. I guess Miller, and Hinrich will help them, but other then that not really.
7. Heat:
Starting 5 - Jermaine O'neal,Udonis Haslem, Beasley, Wade, Chalmers. Bench- Q. Richadson, James Jones, D. Cook, Magloire. Team made one off season move in gettin Quentin Richardson. He will play a significant role off the bench. I still don't know why they didnt get someone else. Do they not want to keep D Wade next year? We will just have to see. This team is definitely a team with potential. In order to be that elite team they need Beasley, and O'neal to step up and be stars like the should be. Wade will do his thing, and get this team into the playoffs. It matters how far they will get in the playoffs, because Wade can get them there, but in the playoffs others will need to step up if they want to make a run.
8. Pacers: Starting 5 - Foster, Murphy, Granger, Dahntay Jones, T.J Ford. Bench- Watson, Rush, Hibbert, Dunleavy, Luther Head, Hansborough. YES THE PACERS! Look at this team man they got an all start player in Granger. A player on the rise in Troy Murphy, and T.J Ford who is a great PG. Bench looks great as well with addition of Watson, and Luther Head. Then young studs with Hansbourough, Rush, and Hibbert. These guys will all be fresh off the bench, and bring great energy to this team. This team has a great chance to make the playoffs trust me.
TEAMS THAT HAVE A CHANCE:
WEST: CLIPPERS, WARRIORS, ROCKETS
PLAYERS ON THE RISE:
DERRICK ROSE (BULLS)
COURTNEY LEE (NETS)
MURPHY (PACERS)
JEFF GREEN (OKLAHOMA)
ROOKIES ON THE RISE:
HARDEN (THUNDER)
FLYNN (TWOLVES)
BLAIR (SPURS)
TERRANCE WILLIAMS (NETS)
JEFF TEAGUE (HAWKS)
JEFF TEAGUE (HAWKS)
MVP CANDIDATES:
LEBRON (CAVS)
WADE (HEAT)
JOE JOHNSON (HAWKS)
VINCE CARTER (MAGIC)
KEVIN DURANT (THUNDER)
KEVIN DURANT (THUNDER)
COACHES OF THE YEAR:
JIM OBREIN (PACERS)
FLIP SAUNDERS (WIZARDS)
LIONEL HOLLINS (GRIZZLIES)
GREG POPPAVICH (SPURS)
FINALS MVP: KOBE BRYANT
Like previously mentioned, this NBA season has what it takes to be a classic, a season we'll be talking about for years.
Stay tuned to Talk at the Urinal for NBA updates, picks, and stories all season long!
-Eric and Jon OUT
15 comments:
in the west the jazz r too high they did not improve they should be 5th and denver 4 also give durant some love he will make the allstar game and if he gets his team to the playoffs by some miracle he should get mvp or at least has a better shot of getting it than carter or johnson
Hey....when are you going to show some love for the Los Angeles KINGS?? out of 30 NHL teams we are #5! Anze Kopitar is on fire.. #1 in points and goals in the NHL!!
definitley not the case for Memphis to make the playoffs...there is no way they do better than Phoenix. As much as people count out the Suns they still have Nash, Amar'e and Barbosa..not to mention what Richardson, Hill and Frye offer is steady play. They have not as much future potential as the Grizz..but for this season they will do much better. In the east I think 1,2,3 for regular season is Orlando, Boston, Cleveland...for the playoffs its Boston, Cleveland, Orlando. Orlando has the perfect team to run off the most wins regular season and are going to be fun to watch. Howard and VC pre-game dunks..i'd pay just to go and watch that (and peitrus and barnes and bass get up too). Come playoff time though the Celts and Cavs will do all they can to meet in the eastern conference Finals. Of course...if my prediction is right, they'd meet in the semis which would be disappointing to the media.
Lakers should win just over 60 games - they are going to have it our cruise control most of the year...and why shouldn't they? The NBA is about winning in the postseason and they can throw in almost any lineup they want and have a chance to win. Big blow losing Griffin otherwise Id say Clippers could be in the 8th spot...I just think it is a year away for that to happen. Chris Pauls assists wont be as impressive this year and I sadly think they will struggle this year without Butler and Chandler. I will definitley chime in more later.
dRu
candice parker picture? i understand the non spell check that occurs...but there she is in plain sight...
I only see a CP3 picture up there. The Kings will get some love. Memphis does have the talent to make the playoffs.
West
I feel the Lakers have definately gotten better from winning a championship from a year ago. Getting Artest brings a toughness to the Lakers, that they didn't have last year. I am proud to say that the Lakers have the best chance going into this season of going back to back.The starting lineup with Kobe, Gasol, Artest, Fish, and Bynum will be just as good, if not better. The Lakers will take the number 1 spot in the West and also with a healthy Andrew Bynum, will make them that much better. The Spurs have gotten better adding a guy like Richard Jefferson to a Spurs team that has won championships in the past. I feel the Utah Jazz and the Portland Trail Blazers will have a toss up on the 3rd and 4th spot in the West dependings on how there role players do. I feel Dallas Mavericks will have a good chance to make that 5th spot in the West because of the additions of Drew Gooden and Shawn Marion and putting them with Jason Kidd, Howard, and Dirk. I believe Denver has a good chance to be that 6th team in the West. I feel they dropped a little this year because they didn't really getting any help with Billups and Carmelo. The 7th and 8th sports in the West will be a toss up between MemphiS, Clippers, and Hornets. Memphis and Clippers added some significant players to the team, for example the rookie Blake Griffin. The Grizzlies added Zach Randolph and Iverson to a young team, so they should be able to make the playoffs.
East
I believe the Celtics with key additions of Marquis Daniels and Rasheed Wallace will lead the East. The Magic have definately improved with adding Vince Carter to the team. I believe they will lead the 2nd spot in the East. The Cavs with adding Shaq to their team, I beleive they have dropped to the 3rd spot in the East because of the skill with the Magic and Celtics. I believe with adding Crawford to the team, the Hawks will definately be the in the same place they were a year ago at the number 4 spot. At the 5th spot in the East, I believe the Raptors from not making the playoffs a year ago, will defiantely be in there this year at the number 5 spot in the East and also adding Turkolu. At the number 6 spot in the East, I believe the Pistons will make an upgrade with adding Ben Gordon and Charlie. In the 7th spot in the East, I believe the Bulls with a future star with Derick Rose and the lack of players around there team. I believe the Heat with a star like Dwayne Wade will make them the 8th spot in the East because of there lack of help around Wade.
Gomberg I though you said you though Denver would not make playoffs? Durant I did leave him out and I will give him love for MVP chase. Clippers are not going anywhere trust me.
memphis should make the playoffs and i think the suns will be there too if there is a team to not make it that should its the hornets cp3 has to do too much work and not enough talent around him
I'M TELLING MEMPHIS AND PACERS WATCH OUT! IF NOT PACERS THEN PISTON FOR SURE, AND IF NOT MEMPHIS THE POSSIBLY WARRIORS OR ROCKETS
warriors maybe but jackson does not want to be there and rockets are going to struggle on offense and in the east the wizards will make the playoffs i will put money on it so u guys need to adjust your picks
The Wizards belong in the top 6 in the east...as well as miami. For the Wizards if they can hang on early on without Jamison in the lineup and remain healthy we forget that they were top 4/5 in the east two years in a row before Gilberts injury and they have a better all around team now with role players like Mike Miller and Foye playin key minutes. Miami had the #2pick last year and beasley is by no means a bust...a lot of people expected more out of him last year, and he honestly was pretty solid considering he was 19 at the time. He did have the off season trouble but hoops is exactly what he needs to keep himself going. Both of these teams could wind up in the Eastern Semis as I can forsee them giving an opponent trouble in the post season due to some decent depth.
In the west, again the Grizz will not make it...we are talkin about Iverson only...Zach doesnt play any D and eventually they are going to throw minutes to Thabeet and Gasol and their younger core if the season goes down the drain, and it will. The team in the west we forget, is OKC Thunder. They had not only Durant a few years ago in the draft fall to them at 2...but got Jeff Green 5th who may wind up being in that talk as most improved player this year. He already had some solid numbers last year so probably not, but he will be up there in the discussion. Westbrook is a break out star and allows them to bring James Harden along slowly...and they have a pretty decent Front court when you see Collison off the bench and Brezec at center is not horrible considering what option he even is on that team. They maybe very well be the suprise team this year...but with the west requiring nearly 50wins to make the postseason, maybe they still wind up with a lottery pick next year.
Overall the playoffs come down to those top 5-6 teams anyways. Orlando Cleveland and Boston in the east...Lakers, Spurs and Portland/Utah in the west...LA and SA will definitley finish 1.2 and be able to square off for Finals rights...but in the east the 2/3 series may be a spolier to seeing Cleveland/Boston like the media would love to see. Orlando to me takes the regular season crown...and that matchup everyone wants in the eastern finals instead comes in the semis..the winner is too worn down and Orlando again gets to the Finals...but the Celts look VERY strong after the first 2 games so it remains to be seen if they can last all 82.
Rookie of the year will be tough
Rookies I say to keep an eye on are:
Brandon Jennings in Milwaukee is my favorite to win it , Blake Griffin once healthy, Ty Lawson who dominated pre-season and will pass up Anthony Carter for minutes on the Nuggs.., Tyreke Evans will get all the opportunity to succeed and Jonny Flynn is the most fun to watch of them all, next to my favorite to win it Jennings.
MVP Race...LeBron or Wade
Slam Dunk Champion=Derosan
First coach fired...Dunleavy, please!
Stephen Jackson traded before Christmas
dRu
Lebron will be in the slam dunk competition though lol. Derozan will not beat him. I agree with Stephen Jackson being trades, and yes Dunleavy needs to go! lol. MVP RACE KOBE OR WADE
Guess i completely forgot that rather than the "Rising Stars" slam dunk competition that they have setup to be for all the new rising players in the league that LeBron wanted to be in it...my mistake. How would LeBron however not be in the MVP Race? It's okay to not like the guy, but lets be realistic about the mvp race here... Guess to keep the writers happy I will say LeBron, Wade, KOBE, also Durant...and Michael Vick are all in the running for the NBA MVP . We good now?
dRu
hahah LeBron's numbers will be ridiculous once again, and he'll have to will his team to victory more than most players in the league. I say he repeats as MVP. I guarantee that. Wade will be good. Kobe won't be in the race only because he won't have to put up crazy numbers anymore, unless they keep playing like they did tonight against Dallas in game 2.
DeRozan is a sick dunker... I want to see Shannon brown in the contest this year. LeBron will be a powerful dunker, but he probably won't come up with the most creative or most athletic dunks.
Wiz are healthy again. They're a playoff team. Celtics look ridiculous.
Go Yanks.
-Jon
Na I don't hate Lebron at all trust me lol. I meant hes still up there for MVP race- KOBE LEBRON WADE. Vick is a great choice haha. Dunk Contest I forgot to tell you guys that My boy Nate will win back to back years this year haha lets go!! Wiz arent healthy i dont think jamison is out for 6 weeks, and butler just got hurt.
Post a Comment