1.) Portland Trailblazers- It's
almost unfair that they got Scottie Pippen for crappy players like Ed Gray and Carlos
Rogers. The losses of Kelvin Cato and Walt Williams won't do much to them either. And to
top that off, they unloaded cry-baby troublemaker Isaiah Rider and little used SG Jimmy
Jackson for Dream Teamer Steve Smith. So unfair. If there should be an anti-trust lawsuit
against Microsoft, it should be regarding this monopolizing of talent.
-> Steve Smith- This guy is an All-Star caliber scorer who has a decent outside shot and can finish. His only liability is his health, but he should get plenty of rest in Portland, since they're freakin loaded, as I keep saying. -> Detlef Schrempf- Too bad for Detlef. He'll be reduced to coming off the bench. He's also a big time clutch 3 point shooter, and can post up players w/ ease. What depth Portland has....... -> Rasheed Wallace- On any other team, he'd start and he'd be a superstar. But in Portland he's reduced to being the best 6th man in the league. -> Brian Grant- This dreadlocked workhorse is a guaranteed double double guy and low post scorer. He must be the hardest worker on the team. Projected starting lineup: Key bench players:
2.) Los Angeles Lakers- The
Lakers open a new season in a new arena, the Staples Center. The tickets are so fucking
expensive, you wouldn't believe it. Anyways, this season is one of transition, as new
coach Phil Jackson implements a new system, the Triangle Offense. Of course, I don't
understand it at all, and the Lakers have looked pretty sloppy this preseason. This year
must be the one where Shaq finally puts his big foot down and be the leader of the team.
Kobe has to mature and stop doing everything himself. And they absolutely must trade Rick
Fox, that no-hops Vanessa Williams-fucking loser.
-> Glen Rice- He was fat and injured last year. He's fat and uninjured this preseason, but he should regain his old form and score 20 pts. a game. Projected starting lineup: Key bench players:
3.) Sacramento Kings- This offseason, the Kings got what they needed last year, veteran leadership. They added Tyrone Corbin and Nick Anderson, two guys who've been through it all. But the core of this team is still extremely young, and their bench lack depth. Sacramento should be a couple years away from being elite. Players to watch:
-> Nick Anderson- What a steal the Kings got. Nick Anderson is a guaranteed 15 ppg scorer, and not only that, he can hit the clutch threes. Projected starting lineup: Key bench players:
4.) Phoenix Suns- The Phoenix Suns will be one of the most exciting teams to watch, but ultimately will struggle in the playoffs due to their lack of size. If they add more muscle to their front line, I see them as a dark horse title contender. The addition of Penny Hardaway instantly makes Phoenix's backcourt the best in the league. Players to watch:
-> Shawn Marion- Remember when Phoenix had Antonio McDyess? Well Marion is almost the same, dunking-wise, but doesn't have the scoring ability of McDyess. Still, he's a leaper and should be one of the better rookies from this year's draft. Projected starting lineup: Key bench players:
5.) Seattle Supersonics- The Sonics are aging and their team is starting to self-destruct. But their veteran core should be good enough to get the Sonics to the playoffs, although they're guaranteed a first-round exit. They have no bench at all, but defensively they good great. The addition of Horace Grant gives them a bonafide rebounder who works hard and doesn't complain, something the Sonics do way too much. Players to watch:
-> Vin Baker- He's always overweight, but this year he has something to prove. I rag on him a lot, I know. But he's always been an excellent scorer in the post. -> Brent Barry- Brent's a fearless slasher would should fit in great w/ Seattle's running fast break system. He can't shoot, but he'll dunk it on your face. -> Horace Grant- He cleans up the garbage, grabbing misses and putting them back in the hole. Plus his 15 footer's pretty consistent. Projected starting lineup: Key bench players:
6.) Los Angeles Clippers- The Clippers lost a lot of depth in making some dubious offseason transactions. They got Derek Anderson, a free agent next year, and traded away Lorenzen Wright, a double-double stud. Perhaps they're gearing up for next season's free agent class. Who knows. But still, the Clippers are nice and athletic, and should pull out some unexpected victories. Players to watch: -> Lamar Odom- I keep touting this guy. He does everything on the court, and he makes his teammates better. He can score, pass, rebound, defend........ -> Troy Hudson- Who??? He's a well-traveled journeyman who puts up numbers every time he's on the court. -> Derek Anderson- Derek is a potential 20 ppg scorer, but needs to avoid injury and being selfish. Hopefully he'll stay in LA, because he has a lot of potential to be a superstar. Projected starting lineup: Key bench players:
7.) Golden State Warriors- The Warriors will stink as they always do, but their team is surprisingly scrappy. They'll be in the top 3 in team rebounding, but shit, that's because their team heaves up so many bricks. However, Golden State is loaded w/ trade bait, since any team can use some their nice role players. I foresee a major trade involving the Warriors and some other team lacking size. Players to watch: -> Antawn Jamison- Already one of the best offensive rebounders, Antawn came onto the scene late in the year, and has proven that he can score and rebounder w/ the best of the NBA. Projected starting lineup: Key bench players: |
WESTERN CONFERENCE
