What chance...

[The Hitman]

...is Orlando for the title in 01/02?

I have been in 'NBA exile' for a little while. I guess I kinda lost interest in the American game when Orlando lost all their guns and slipped to the playoff abyss, and in the Australian game when the Magic merged - as a Tigers fan I just lost the desire to see a pretend Magic rivalry.

So to 'those in the know', what chance have Orlando and Melbourne have in their prospective leagues?

I know Orlando is a big chance, with Hill leading the charge, but are LA too good? Will Jordan's comeback lift the woeful Wizards? Will the Bucks break through for their first?

Melbourne are always a chance. Will Timmons return spur us to victory? Can the experience of Gaze/Gaze guide us through the NBL year and lead us to a third NBL title?

Just lookin' for some feedback...

The Hitman

 

[coxon]

Originally posted by The Hitman
...is Orlando for the title in 01/02?

I know Orlando is a big chance, with Hill leading the charge, but are LA too good? Will Jordan's comeback lift the woeful Wizards? Will the Bucks break through for their first?

Melbourne are always a chance. Will Timmons return spur us to victory? Can the experience of Gaze/Gaze guide us through the NBL year and lead us to a third NBL title?

Just lookin' for some feedback...

The Hitman

orlando has a good chance to win the east... with Tracy McGrady leading the charge.. rookie of the yr mike miller is back, along with gHill, armstrong, grant, ewing, garrity, they still look good..

melb tigers willl always be a chance there.. with bradtke, gaze, copeland, timmons... they should be a lock-in, at least a 3rd-4th spot on the ladder... come playoffs time, i hope these oldies wouldl have run outta breath by then...

 

[Fall Out Boy]

If Orlando are to be a serious threat they need two things:

1) McGrady needs to consistenly put up big numbers, they need 25ppg 7 reb 6 ast.

2)Patrick Ewing needs to be a consistent threat on the boards.

Neither have proven so far that they can do this over a sustained period.

Cheers

 

[CURVE]

Orlando have a good chance of winning the East, but will have to get past Milwaukee and perhaps Miami. But they have no chance of winning the title.

The Lakers WILL threepeat

 

[dogboy23]

The Tigers are a big chance this year.However I believe there fortunes lie more with players like Jefferies,Egan and the like.Gaze,Bradtke,Copes and Timmonds will always perform but if Egan and Jefferies can give them some depth we will be unstoppable as the tigers depth has always been poor.

 

[ant]

Originally posted by dogboy23
The Tigers are a big chance this year.However I believe there fortunes lie more with players like Jefferies,Egan and the like.Gaze,Bradtke,Copes and Timmonds will always perform but if Egan and Jefferies can give them some depth we will be unstoppable as the tigers depth has always been poor.

Did I hear correctly last night on Inside Basketball, Egan topscored last week?? That's unbelievable. Looks like those players are starting to step up for the Tigers now, and filling some crucial roles.

 

[coxon]

Originally posted by phatandphreaky
If Orlando are to be a serious threat they need two things:

1) McGrady needs to consistenly put up big numbers, they need 25ppg 7 reb 6 ast.

2)Patrick Ewing needs to be a consistent threat on the boards.

Neither have proven so far that they can do this over a sustained period.

Cheers

agree about ewing... wont produce those rebounding figures anymore... cant even hold starting C position anymore...

what makes u think Mcgrady hasnt proved that he can do this over a sustained period? do u mean over his career or this season so far?

Mcgrady only had his breakout season last yr.. and so far this yr, his numbers are pretty much replicating those fantastic ones from last yr...

so far this yr, he's had to deal with a few injuries, shin (some reported that it was broken), and also lower back injuries during the preseason... even with that, during the 9 games thus far, he's managed to do 23, 7, 5 ~ what a star ~~~

 

[coxon]

Originally posted by DEVO
Orlando have a good chance of winning the East, but will have to get past Milwaukee and perhaps Miami. But they have no chance of winning the title.

The Lakers WILL threepeat

damn.. did anyone see the results today??
lakers beat houston in OT... 98-97
the lakers managed to squeak over the line, against a houston team with a below-average frontline...

stevie franchise... absolute freak... the best rebounding guard..
only 6'3 but managed one less rebound than shaq ~

 

[Bulldog1954]

I think the Tigers are a big threat this season. We do have better depth now with Smith, Jeffries, Whore, Giddey and Taylor being afr better then our bench of even 1997. i don't know what happened last year, but I think our list is one of the best in the league.

If the big 4 stay fit and our bench contributes we have a good chance. But I would favour Adelaide

 

[dogboy23]

Originally posted by Bulldog1954
I think the Tigers are a big threat this season. We do have better depth now with Smith, Jeffries, Whore, Giddey and Taylor being afr better then our bench of even 1997. i don't know what happened last year, but I think our list is one of the best in the league.

If the big 4 stay fit and our bench contributes we have a good chance. But I would favour Adelaide

Adelaide,Townsville,Wollongong,Sydney and the Titans will all be threats again.

 

[jod23]

Originally posted by The Hitman
...is Orlando for the title in 01/02?

I have been in 'NBA exile' for a little while. I guess I kinda lost interest in the American game when Orlando lost all their guns and slipped to the playoff abyss, and in the Australian game when the Magic merged - as a Tigers fan I just lost the desire to see a pretend Magic rivalry.

So to 'those in the know', what chance have Orlando and Melbourne have in their prospective leagues?

I know Orlando is a big chance, with Hill leading the charge, but are LA too good? Will Jordan's comeback lift the woeful Wizards? Will the Bucks break through for their first?

Melbourne are always a chance. Will Timmons return spur us to victory? Can the experience of Gaze/Gaze guide us through the NBL year and lead us to a third NBL title?

Just lookin' for some feedback...

The Hitman

Well the Tigers i think are certainly a front runner for the title this year but Sydney look pretty good with the Hammer and James Smith is it?? He is awesome. But you cant ignore a team with Gaze, Copeland, Timmons & Bradtke. Timmons is the key though, Melbourne like Perth 2 years ago is very talented but needed someone to push them over the line. Timmons was that man.

On Orlando. Right now they are 5 - 5 which is a bit of a shaky start but i certainly think they can beat the Lakers. I disagree with coxon though, i think the team leader is Grant Hill, more experience and a better thinker on court. Is averageing 18 and 9! But with T-mac and Hill working together and finding there groove they will be tough to stop, they have Ewing who although isnt starting?? he can still do some damage like he did a couple of nights ago scoring 20+ and grabbing 15 boards. Miller is having a good second year so far and Horace Grant does all the 1%ers. They are certainly a team that can knock off the Lakers.

Jordans comeback may lift the woeful Wizards to playoff contention but wont win any championships, watch them to make some moves before the trade deadline. May see Rip, Alexander, Nesby or Leattner move. The Bucks are a shot too, can score and score and now have a low post threat in Mason.

Hope that helps..

 

[The Hitman]

Thanks people...looks like I can look forward to some playoff action both at home and abroad!

The Hitman

 

[Fall Out Boy]

Originally posted by coxon
[B

what makes u think Mcgrady hasnt proved that he can do this over a sustained period? do u mean over his career or this season so far?

Mcgrady only had his breakout season last yr.. and so far this yr, his numbers are pretty much replicating those fantastic ones from last yr...

[/B]

He needs to consistently get 25 a night, something that as yet, he hasn't been able to do.

The top scorers, even on a bad night still get their 20, when Tracy has a bad night he gets shut down, something that the Magic can't afford.

To back up all his statements he needs to prove that he can lead his team night in night out and imho he hasn't done that as yet.

Cheers