Hoops is my favorite sport...so let's get this shiet on, duns!
Detroit -6.5
Last year the Pistons shut down Shaq and Kobe. Yao Ming has a hurt elbow and won't be 100%. Ben Wallace can easily take him one on one. Tayshaun Prince who played great versus Kobe Bryant will lock up on Tracy McGrady. The Pistons are still the same team last year with solid players and they added a healthier Antonio McDyess, who provides good size off the bench for points and rebounding. They also have Derrick Coleman, who at 37, can still provide scoring off the bench.
The Rockets on the other hand, have two big guns and not alot left. The player I like best after Yao and McGrady is Bobby Sura, but he is injured. Ward, Jackson and Howard are solid players, but after that the Rockets get really thin. Don't see how they can keep up with a talented Detroit team that is well conditioned and deep.
The only thing that bothers me if that Detroit might not be as hungry this year. They are a scrappy team that always went hard after loose balls and fought to get over screens. Will they do that this year?
Pistons: 88 Rockets: 78
Dallas -4
This is NOT the same Kings team as the last two years. Their window of opportunity is closing and closing fast. They lost Vlade Divac to the Lakers and Chris Webber is 31 with a bum knee. Doug Christie is 34 with a bad foot.
Dallas on the other hand, finally has a true center in Erick Dampier. Dirk will be able to worry less about rebounding and be free to take more good shots. The Mavs go SIX deep at the PG, SG, SF spots with Devon Harris, Jason Terry, Jerry Stackhouse, Josh Howard, Michael Finley and Marquis Daniels. If any of those guys has an off night, their backup is able to step up.
I think the Mavs run the Kings out of the building. There is too much depth on the Mavs.
Dallas: 108 Kings: 92
Denver +3 (take moneyline)
Both the Nuggets and Lakers have made substantial changes to their teams during over the off season. However, Vlade and Devon George are hurt for the Lakers. This is Rudy T's coaching debut in LA. The expectations aren't as high this year, but there is still alot of pressure. This Laker team is going to be Kobe and Lamar Odom and Lamar Odom is way to inconsistent. Kobe is going to miss having Shaq as a safety valve especially on defense. Besides Kobe, is exactly is playing defense on this Laker team?
Denver has alot of offensive weapons. Carmelo will be hoisting shots and has Kenyon Martin, Nene and Marcus Camby to cleanup and provide put back points. Andre Miller is solid point guard and Voshon Leonard is always a threat to get hot and go crazy from three point land. I like Earl Boykins off the bench as a spark plug, despite him being 5'5". I like Greg Buckner off the bench too. He is an excellent role player and played really well for Dallas two years ago. Rodney White off the bench is another long player who can provide offense.
Bottom line, I don't see anybody on the Lakers scaring the Nuggets defensively. The Nuggets have Carmelo, but got alot better on defense with the addition of Kenyon Martin and his shot blocking ability. These Nuggets are a GOOD team and watch carefully to see how long it takes Vegas to realize this.
Denver: 92 Lakers: 90
Detroit -6.5
Last year the Pistons shut down Shaq and Kobe. Yao Ming has a hurt elbow and won't be 100%. Ben Wallace can easily take him one on one. Tayshaun Prince who played great versus Kobe Bryant will lock up on Tracy McGrady. The Pistons are still the same team last year with solid players and they added a healthier Antonio McDyess, who provides good size off the bench for points and rebounding. They also have Derrick Coleman, who at 37, can still provide scoring off the bench.
The Rockets on the other hand, have two big guns and not alot left. The player I like best after Yao and McGrady is Bobby Sura, but he is injured. Ward, Jackson and Howard are solid players, but after that the Rockets get really thin. Don't see how they can keep up with a talented Detroit team that is well conditioned and deep.
The only thing that bothers me if that Detroit might not be as hungry this year. They are a scrappy team that always went hard after loose balls and fought to get over screens. Will they do that this year?
Pistons: 88 Rockets: 78
Dallas -4
This is NOT the same Kings team as the last two years. Their window of opportunity is closing and closing fast. They lost Vlade Divac to the Lakers and Chris Webber is 31 with a bum knee. Doug Christie is 34 with a bad foot.
Dallas on the other hand, finally has a true center in Erick Dampier. Dirk will be able to worry less about rebounding and be free to take more good shots. The Mavs go SIX deep at the PG, SG, SF spots with Devon Harris, Jason Terry, Jerry Stackhouse, Josh Howard, Michael Finley and Marquis Daniels. If any of those guys has an off night, their backup is able to step up.
I think the Mavs run the Kings out of the building. There is too much depth on the Mavs.
Dallas: 108 Kings: 92
Denver +3 (take moneyline)
Both the Nuggets and Lakers have made substantial changes to their teams during over the off season. However, Vlade and Devon George are hurt for the Lakers. This is Rudy T's coaching debut in LA. The expectations aren't as high this year, but there is still alot of pressure. This Laker team is going to be Kobe and Lamar Odom and Lamar Odom is way to inconsistent. Kobe is going to miss having Shaq as a safety valve especially on defense. Besides Kobe, is exactly is playing defense on this Laker team?
Denver has alot of offensive weapons. Carmelo will be hoisting shots and has Kenyon Martin, Nene and Marcus Camby to cleanup and provide put back points. Andre Miller is solid point guard and Voshon Leonard is always a threat to get hot and go crazy from three point land. I like Earl Boykins off the bench as a spark plug, despite him being 5'5". I like Greg Buckner off the bench too. He is an excellent role player and played really well for Dallas two years ago. Rodney White off the bench is another long player who can provide offense.
Bottom line, I don't see anybody on the Lakers scaring the Nuggets defensively. The Nuggets have Carmelo, but got alot better on defense with the addition of Kenyon Martin and his shot blocking ability. These Nuggets are a GOOD team and watch carefully to see how long it takes Vegas to realize this.
Denver: 92 Lakers: 90
