NBA season tips for the 2001 - 2002 season!

[X_box_X]

OK, Who do we think will be Good!
And Who do we think wont be so Good!
In This thread you get to Tip what you think will happen!

Atlantic Divisions best Record!
Atlantic Divisions worst Record!

Central Divisions best Record!
Central Divisions worst Record!

Mid - West Divisions best Record!
Mid - West Divisions worst Record!

Pacific Divisions best Record!
Pacific Divisions worst Record!

TIP NOW!

 

[X_box_X]

Atlantic Divisions best Record - New York
Atlantic Divisions worst Record - New Jersey

Central Divisions best Record - Milwaukee
Central Divisions worst Record - Atlanta

Mid - West Divisions best Record - Utah
Mid - West Divisions worst Record - Memphis

Pacific Divisions best Record - Lakers
Pacific Divisions worst Record - Seattle

Big Call there for Seattle to be the worst!
But I think the Pacific will remian the toughest division!

 

[jod23]

Ok well ill be doing a wrap up of each conference and how i think they will go and where they will finish. I will start with the Atlantic.

The Atlantic Division.

Boston Celtics – they only have two real stars in Pierce and Walker but that will be just enough to keep them off the bottom. Potapenko, Brown, Battie and Anderson are nice support players but not really enough. Expect them to struggle.

Orlando Magic – my pick for the Atlantic title. Hill and McGrady are amongst the best players in the world and with Ho Grant and Bo Outlaw doing all the dirty work they should be very strong next year. Add some experience and class with Ewing and some polish with Armstrong and they should challenge for the whole thing next year. Profit, DeClercq, Alexander and Miller also offer options off the bench.

Miami Heat – the loss of Timmy Hardaway will hit them harder than they think. Without there general to run the show they will miss the Atlantic Title. But don’t let that sway you from the quality team they still have. Mourning will be back and is one of the best bigmen in the game, throw Mason and Brian Grant in the keyway and they have a strong frontcourt which not many teams will be able to counter. With Hardaway gone Anthony Carter will be given freedom at the point after sharing duties with Timmy for the last 2 years or so. Throw a ready made star in the mix in the form of Eddie Jones and some handy role players in Gill, Ceballos, Green and Ellis and you have a very good team.

New Jersey Nets – well the big news in New Jersey is the Marbury for Kidd trade. Kidd brings leadership and all around class to a team that was badly in need of that exact thing. But even with the arrival of Kidd, I cant see New Jersey making any waves this season. Kittles is back which can only help and Martin and Van Horn are quality players but after that there list goes downhill. Will fight it out with the Wizards for last place.

New York Knicks – well the Knicks should be strong again this year with the core playing group of Sprewell, Houston, Camby and LJ. They made some nice additions with Jackson, Harrington, Shanden Anderson and Clarence Weatherspoon which should keep them in the hunt this year. But can they play defence? Camby certainly can but Houston and Sprewell are suspect. I suppose they could just try to outscore teams all year?

Philadelphia 76ers – any team with Iverson is a good team. Once again the 76ers should be very strong this year and with no major changes in the offseason they should have a pretty similar season. Iverson will lead from the front and Mutombo in the middle will make players think twice before driving to the bucket. If those two play well, usually the leam does. Lych, McKie and Snow are able bodies and with Traylor, Harpring, Geiger and Henderson expect them to be thereabouts.

Washington Wizards – a lot hinges on the possible return of Michael Jordan, if he returns they could be decent, it he doesn’t they could be woeful. Kwame Brown is also an enigma, will he instantly be a force ala Duncan or will he take years of development. Other than that there list is thin, Laettner, Hamilton, Nesby, Jahidi White….there ok but not star power. With Jordan should be ok, without will finish last.

How they will finish. (without Mj)

1. Orlando Magic
2. Philadelphia 76ers
3. Miami Heat
4. New York Knicks
5. Boston Celtics
6. New Jersey Nets
7. Washington Wizards
   [/list=1]

 

[jod23]

The Central Division.

Atlanta Hawks – Shareef Abdur Rahim’s arrival to Atlanta will make heads turn this year. The Hawks have been searching for a star player for years now and they finally have one. Ratliff is back from injury and is a star bigman, Terry is a quality point guard who can score in bursts, throw Kukoc in there who is all class and you have a good nucleus. There only problem is depth. Mohammed, Henderson, Crawford and Maloney can only do so much. They wont be easybeats but they wont be world beaters either.

Charlotte Hornets – Not many changes at all in the offseason for the Hornets. Davis, Campbell, Brown, Wesley, Mashburn and Coleman still make up there prime movers. The team lacks a big star which will see them fall short of a championship but that doesn’t mean they will be hacks. Charlotte have a knack of playing really well together, they epitomise team ball and show it night in night out. Expect them to play well.

Chicago Bulls – The emergence of a reliable scorer in the form of Ron Mercer has certainly helped on offence and with Oakley coming back to Chicago they have someone to do the dirty work, which they have missed since Rodmans departure. Artest and Fizer are coming into ther 3rd and 2nd years respectively and with development Chicago hope they can turn into reliable contributors. Eddie Robinson was a great pickup for the club who were seeking someone in that mould to really add some excitement and hardwork. The enigma though is the two rookies they picked up in the draft. Curry at 6`11 and Chandler at 7`0 will provide the team with an inside presence, whether they can step in and be dominant right off the bat ala Duncan is yet to be seen. If they do, expect a better year, if they don’t expect a similar year to last. The trading of Brand will only be known as a success or a failure as the season drags on.

Cleveland Cavaliers – If Ilgauskas can stay healthy they can play some good ball but without him they lack an inside presence. They picked up Doleac and Mihm from other clubs and Diop in the draft to help in there bigman problems. Again they will rely on too few to do the scoring, Miller is quality and will be helped by a rejuvenated Lamond Murray and the ever reliable Wesley Person. Tyrone Hill was a good steal from Philly and Jimmy Jackson is reliable. But can a team of misfits play together and win games? Andre Miller is the key, he will be an All Star this year no question. Middle of the road at best.

Detroit Pistons – the Pistons are set to struggle again this year as there loss of Grant Hill a year ago for nothing in return is starting to hurt. Stackhouse will again be there star and the arrival of Clifford Robinson adds another dimension to there offence. But there problem lies with Wallace playing at centre, Wallce is a good ball player and there best option in the keyway but he is only 6`9. Detroit’s lack of a good bigman has always been there downfall. Sure they won a couple of titles without one but that was with Thomas and Dumars, the greatest backcourt ever. They both have been long retired and the Pistons will struggle.

Indiana Pacers – After the great one retired the Pacers had a small window of 2 or 3 years to snatch a title, they missed there opportunity. While still being a good team that will trouble the best they are now just making up the numbers come playoff time. Reggie Miller is fast getting old and Rose can only do so much, there bright spot is Jermaine O’Neal who is a star in the making and if he baulks up could be a dominant big man. Best is an average point guard and Croshere cant find the form he had in there last Finals appearance. Expect them to again win 50+ games but they wont be a factor when the time comes.

Milwaukee Bucks – its no secret that the Bucks problem is defence. They can outscore any team in the league with Cassell, Allen, Robinson and Thomas who can all score at will. If over the summer they have worked on there D then expect them to go deep into the playoffs, if not expect them to be bounced pretty easily just like last year. Pryzbilla could play a bigger role this year and Foster was an intersting pickup. Expect them to play well.

Toronto Raptors – the big news in Toronto is the arrival of Hakeem the Dream. Together with Keon Clark and Antonio Davis they will form a formidable frontcourt. Half man Half amazing Vince Carter is still there and is a superstar, add ready made players in Curry, Tracey Murray and exciting point guard Alvin Williams and you have yourselves the dark horse in the Central. Jerome Williams can also not be ignored and will be a big rebounder and 1% guy the team needs after the loss of Oakley.

How they will finish.

1. Milwaukee Bucks
2. Charlotte Hornets
3. Toronto Raptors
4. Atlanta Hawks
5. Indiana Pacers
6. Cleveland Cavs
7. Detroit Pistons
8. Chicago Bulls
   [/list=1]