Everyday NBA with Tony Maxwell

Tracy McGrady on Going to Detroit: 'My Game Will Do the Talking'

2010-08-15T10:06:00.000-07:00

Tracy McGrady on Going to Detroit: 'My Game Will Do the Talking'

The Big Shamrock moves yet again

2010-08-04T18:18:00.000-07:00

So now he will offer his services to the Boston Celtics. 38 year old big man Shaquille O'Neal will try to keep his career alive as he signed with the Celtics today. O'Neal will join newly acquired Jermaine O'Neal (no relation, other than eroding skills) in the frontcourt with Kevin Garnett and Glen Davis. This should be the last stop for Shaq as he saw first hand this summer how little other teams were willing to offer him. He no longer will be the focal point of an offense but will bring fans to the arena and solid play for the first three quarters of the game. More colorful nicknames to come.....

Ricky Rubio passing on the seductions of the NBA for Spanish life?

2010-05-13T10:56:00.000-07:00

Ricky Rubio sees the writing on the wall. Speaking of wall, the Timberwolves stand a great chance at obtaining the draft position to obtain phenom John Wall from University of Kentucky. With the Timberwolves having Rubio, Jonny Flynn, and Ramon Sessions on the books and the possible addition of Wall, you have to wonder if Rubio sees the struggling team, too much depth at the point position, and lack of a substantial contract. Now had a major media market team like Miami, New York, or Chicago came calling or had drafted him last year, I think Rubio may have been playing for a possible rookie of the year award as opposed to playing for Spain.

Former point guard legend Kenny Anderson picking up new skills

2010-05-13T10:43:00.001-07:00

For anyone who doesn't know or remember Kenny Anderson, just watch a youtube clip of the NYC playground legend. After tearing up the ACC at Georgia Tech, Anderson went on to the New Jersey Nets. His career did not flourish like his previous reputation, but then again, it was the Nets. Anderson, teamed with what would have been one of the greatest power forwards in the history of the NBA in Derrick Coleman, could have been an amazing tandem if injuries and egos didn't get in the way. It's good to hear that Anderson is making an impact elsewhere, and more importantly, to young people learning the game.

High School "Phenom" cracks under pressure

2010-03-19T07:44:00.002-07:00

Jeremy Tyler thought his skills would provide him with the spoils of a professional basketball career. His parents for who knows what insane reasons, decided to let him go overseas to play professional ball for Isreal. Keep in mind, Tyler , bypassed not college but his senior year of high school to get a head start on his career. The Associated Press reports that Tyler, was disgruntled about lack of playing time and not starting. Everyone knows that a would be senior in high school has "earned" their right to these opprotunities when they average 2.1 ponts per game. As most expected, Tyler quit and returns to the U.S. without a backup plan. But now the Tylers are $140,000 richer than when he left. Nobody doubts this kids talent as a big man or more accurately, his potential. However, his maturity is lacking clearly, as would most kids but his family chose to complicate his life as such. Let the kid be just that, a kid. Let Tyler go through the ups and downs of colleges trying to pry him away rather than sending off your golden ticket overseas to make a mockery of his potential. Hopefully, Tyler matures and learns from the embarrasment and finds a way to right the ship.

NBA Draft Watch: John Wall (Kentucky)

2010-03-02T15:17:00.003-07:00

Here is a little highlight clip of the currently predicted number one pick in this summers NBA draft. John Wall is making a name for himself as a freshman this year for the University of Kentucky. Another lightning quick point guard that should flourish at the NBA level. If you haven't heard of him yet, you will soon! Click the title to see his highlight reel via Youtube.

Former All-Star Alvin Robertson accused of sex trafficking?!?

2010-02-28T07:54:00.002-07:00

If the allegations are legit, then Robertson goes down as one of the sickest people to ever be tied to the NBA. The allegation is that Robertson was part of a ring that help kidnap a 14 year old girl and forced her to have sex with "clients" as well as strip for patrons at a strip club. If the allegations are in fact true, look for Albertson to be gone a long time if Liam Neeson, ala "Taken" doesn't find him first. People tend to think that professional athletes are beyond dimented acts like this. But we have seen athletes charged with murder, rape, drugs, dog fighting, etc. it was only a matter of time before someone was sick enough to do this if the allegations come back with a guilty verdict.

Knicks finalizing deal to land T-Mac from Rockets - NBA - SI.com

2010-02-17T12:16:00.000-07:00

Knicks finalizing deal to land T-Mac from Rockets - NBA - SI.com

The Knicks look like they may shed the bad contracts of Jared Jeffries and Larry Hughes. Rookie Jordan Hill will probably see more time in Houston as well. With the acquisition of Tracy McGrady, the Knicks can either let him walk at the end of the season or sign him for significantly less if his health proves satisfactory. In my opinion, the Knicks win here as they continue to lop payroll and hope to acquire two top tier free agents in the off season. Chris Bosh and LeBron James anyone? The next 24 hours will say a lot about where guys like Dwayne Wade may go after the end of the year as well. The Knicks can now relax, play and lose most games, hope for a good selection in the draft and try to lure some big name free agents in the summer. Houston adds depth, although expensive, to a team trying to find an identity.

Marcus Camby heading to Portland and who picks up the bill for dinner?

2010-02-16T07:16:00.000-07:00

Latest news in Clipperland is that Marcus Camby is heading to Portland in a trade that would bring back Steve Blake, Travis Outlaw, and cash to L.A. The Clippers seem to be urging that the Blazers take back Sebastian Telfair as well. Camby was in the middle of a team dinner when he received the news that the deal was in the works, and he was not pleased to say the least. Upon hearing the news of the looming trade, Camby walked out of the dinner with his team, mid-meal and never said goodbye. Apparently, he was not responsible for purchasing the meal as well. Camby would fill a much needed hole at the center position as Portland looks to push for a playoff spot. The absence of Blake would allow the Blazers to give young guard Jerryd Bayless more playing time also. Blake heads to the Clippers as the backup to Baron Davis and should fit in well in their system. Outlaw adds depth to the Clippers, providing he can stay healthy as injuries always seem to plague him.

All Star Predictions

2010-02-13T17:48:00.003-07:00

So with the All Star festivities getting underway, I thought maybe I'd throw out my predictions for the weekend. The H.O.R.S.E. competition: Kevin Durant, Skills Competition: Deron Williams, Three Point Contest: Danilo Gallinari, Slam Dunk Contest: Shannon Brown, All-Star Game: Eastern Conference, MVP: LeBron James. Just my guess but tell me what you think!

Suns trying to move Stoudemire?

2010-01-25T06:40:00.000-07:00

After the past month and a half, it appears the Suns are convinced along with everyone else that they are not a championship caliber team and the roster is clearly not capable of maintaining a solid lead or holding their own with upper tier teams. The Suns have been hesitant of pushing the button and blowing up the roster to this point after a great start, but the team has come down to earth and it is clear it is not working. Amare Stoudemire is the most obvious choice to move since he will hit the payroll the hardest and his defensive liabilities inside stand out. The concern is who will replace the 20 points per night inside if he moves? I suspect if Stoudemire moves, look for one or two other moves as well as the Suns are about to "rebuild".

Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton will draw at high noon!!!

2010-01-01T10:11:00.002-07:00

I am pretty sure this has to be a new low for athletes and team chemistry. When you make millions, or in Arenas' case, stealing millions from a NBA team, why should this be an issue? Pay your debt and keep your guns away from other idiots or things like this will happen. The next step will be an athlete taking the life of another....stay tuned for that. Two pathetic examples of unprofessionalism and how some people just can't be a man. Arenas' said he needed to keep the guns away from the house, so he took them to the arena? Not sure what Crittenton's excuse was, but if you can't leave the guns at home, can't carry them at work, maybe guns are not for you. Thanks guys for making the Wizards relevant again.

Greg Oden out again.

2009-12-06T12:18:00.000-07:00

In the ongoing tally of injuries to center Greg Oden, the Trailblazers have got to be deeply concerned if Oden will ever play anywhere near his potential ever again. Having microfracture on his right knee and now a broken left knee cap, this does not look promising to the long term future of Oden. Hopefully he can buck the odds.

AI and Philly back again...Doin' a little East Coast swing

2009-12-05T16:03:00.000-07:00

Home is where you hang your hat, or in Allen Iverson's case his headband and jewelry. Iverson goes back to his original team to "help out" while Louis Williams is injured. Certainly it was coincidence and Philadelphia did not do this as a ploy to fill seats with their rough start. The plus is it will infuse an interest in the team by Iverson loyalists, but long term, it will curb the experience of rookie Jrue Holiday and not go over well with Williams when he returns to see his starting job handed to someone who just insists on starting. Stay tuned as the Sixers will at least be entertaining now.

Latavious Williams goes the D-League route to his NBA dream.

2009-12-05T15:54:00.000-07:00

Latavious Williams opts to go into the D-League as a result of the NBA entry rules and low test scores keeping him from jumping on with a college program. While I don't see him making a quantum leap ala Brandon Jennings going overseas, he may be a name to listen for next summer in the Draft.

Iverson retires! (to be continued)

2009-11-25T19:25:00.000-07:00

“I always thought that when I left the game, it would be because I couldn’t help my team the way that I was accustomed to. However, that is not the case." Iverson stated as his feelings towards retirement. Granted, his talent was unquestioned and his toughness was always clear, but the sad part is that he retires and never saw the big picture. Iverson will always be remembered for his scoring as well as his "me" attitude. He entertained fans and infuriated owners and coaches. He claims that he envisioned leaving the game because he couldn't help his team, and that is exactly what he did, and it IS the case. Iverson refused to put his ego aside and do what was best for the team his entire career. I would love to see someone with his talent go off into the sunset gracefully, but he just didn't ever get the point that he was not bigger than the team and will more than likely be remembered more for that than his accomplishments.

Marv Albert and 50 Cent skirmish?

2009-11-21T22:27:00.000-07:00

How in the world does Marv Albert and 50 Cent even get in the same sentence, let alone in a scuffle? Without 50's posse, I would probably give Albert the edge simply based on his tactical biting advantage. What is next, Suns announcer Al McCoy locks horns with Rage Against the Machine?

NY Knicks decide not to pursue Allen Iverson

2009-11-21T16:40:00.000-07:00

The New York Knicks have opted not to sign free agent malcontent Allen Iverson. In what appears to be his final days in the league, he has opted not to pursue a bench role to help a team. This is just one more nail in the coffin for AI. Thanksgiving at the Iverson compound will be difficult as usual as Iverson will refuse to pass any food to anyone.

Antonio Daniels next stop....Cleveland?

2009-11-09T08:37:00.000-07:00

While the addition of Antonio Daniels in Cleveland would not be earth shattering news, it would help add a solid veteran piece to their lineup. Daniels would primarily be looked upont o provide leadership and perimeter defense.

Allen Iverson mulls retirement?

2009-11-09T08:31:00.000-07:00

Memphis owner Michael Heisley expresses concern over A.I. contemplating retirement. Heisley states that he wants to see Iverson go out in better fashion but at this point, I don't think Iverson can bow out gracefully and with much fanfare. He has proven that the ego can overshadow the ability he possessed. He never seemed to get the team concept by either rubbing coaches and teammates the wrong way or complaining about shots and starting. Iverson will always be known for his ability and unfortunatly his attitude will be laced to that as well. I still don't believe we have heard the last of Iverson quite yet. If Heisley is smart, he would sever ties with iverson as a failed experiment and keep his young core free from the drama that Iverson brings to every team he joins.

Allen Iverson leaves Memphis Grizzlies to attend personal matter - NBA - SI.com

2009-11-08T07:14:00.000-07:00

Allen Iverson leaves Memphis Grizzlies to attend personal matter - NBA - SI.com And so the disgruntled former star begins his pilgrimage towards basketball obscurity. Why Iverson doesn't get that it is a team concept and not about hearing his name in the cool introductions is beyond me. He says he doesn't want to play for a rebuilding team but yet he took the money from one. He never did get it and never will get it. Iverson will leave this game via the "Marbury Departure" and disappear.

Bulls' Tyrus Thomas breaks arm in weight training session - NBA - SI.com

2009-11-06T22:39:00.000-07:00

Bulls' Tyrus Thomas breaks arm in weight training session - NBA - SI.com

Kings' top scorer Martin could miss 6-8 weeks

2009-11-06T11:33:00.001-07:00

Kings' top scorer Martin could miss 6-8 weeks

Posted using ShareThis This is one of those teams that will not be any worse with the loss of their best player. With Kevin Martin out it will accelerate the development time of the younger players.

Las Vegas to be the next NBA market?

2009-11-02T10:29:00.000-07:00

Las Vegas....home of lights, entertainment, shows, and gambling. The NBA brings lights, entertainment (unless you are in Milwaukee or New Jersey), shows at halftime, and if you are ex ref Tim Donaghy or a team trying to acquire Ron Artest you have your gambling. Seems like the perfect match to mix the two and create an NBA franchise out in the Nevada desert. They would get a good fan following even if it is packed full of people cheering for the over/under more than for the home team. One thing is for sure, getting players to make it on time after partying it up with Lindsay Lohan at the Palms should make for good headlines.

Rondo signs extension with Boston

2009-11-02T09:27:00.001-07:00

So the potential top point guard in next years free agent sweepstakes is off the list. Boston clearly is looking towards their future without the "Big 3" of Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce with this signing.

Antoine Walker goin' for broke!

2009-10-29T10:58:00.000-07:00

This is why, in the process of employing an entourage as the column states, you make your first hire, a smart and well qualified financial planner. Why more players don't do that is beyond me. Up next for Mr. Walker....some European league for about 2-3 years if he makes it just to pay off debt. Who needs ten bathrooms at their house anyways?!? All those cars don't mean squat if you are going to watch them get repo'd later. Lastly, where is the 70 entourage he took care of now?

Rondo chooses not to resign with Celtics

2009-10-27T08:53:00.000-07:00

Rajon Rondo is doing nothing more than seeing what he is worth in the open market. Agent: Rondo won't sign Celtics deal | Truth&Rumors | FanNation

Clippers Blake Griffin out with broken kneecap won't return for at least 6 weeks

2009-10-27T07:17:00.001-07:00

The Clipper curse continues! Clippers' Griffin has broken kneecap, out weeks

Posted using ShareThis

Washington Wizards

2009-10-26T22:36:00.000-07:00

What an up and down roller coaster the past few seasons have been for the Wizards. A few years ago they were up and coming and on the doorstep of being an elite team in the East. Then last year, injuries took their star player out all year and significant time to many of their rotation players. The Wizards shook things up a bit acquiring Randy Foye and Mike Miller from the Timberwolves. The Wizards hope last seasons failures were a fluke and only a case of bad luck. This season they are eyeing a top spot in the East.

Antawn Jamison is coming off another good season and was healthy all year. He looks to do more of the same this year. Jamison is still good for a double-double on some nights and plays gritty aggressive basketball. The log jam at center with Brandon Haywood, Andray Blatche, Fabricio Oberto and Paul Davis should clearly provide depth if anything while none are going to scare opponents, they will at least be aggressive down low. JaVale McGee will see time at center as well but is the backup to Jamison and the Wizards are hoping he is the replacement when Jamison hangs it up for good. Dominic McGuire is on the bench but will see little time at power forward. The small forward spot belongs to Caron Butler who was an All-Star last season. Butler will hope to be healthy this season and provide much needed scoring. Mike Miller was brought in to play primarily at shooting guard but will see time at small forward as well to cover defensive deficiencies. Front Court: B+

Gilbert Arenas returns after practically missing all of last season. Arenas can score with the best of them and would not be a shock to see him try to lead the league in scoring even as a point guard. The Wizards acquired Randy Foye to help at point and flip flop Arenas and Foye at times to allow both in the backcourt together at the same time. DeShawn Stevenson will try to recoup from an injury plagued season and help off the bench but he is not going to ever fill his potential at this stage of his career. Nick Young started to flourish with the loss of players to so many injuries. he should get more time but will lose some minutes with Foye and Miller on board and Arenas at full health. Mike James and Javaris Crittenton will provide good depth at the point guard position and will be adequate replacements should anyone get hurt. Back Court: A-

Summary: The Wizards should have the biggest iprovement in wins over last season in the league. They are not a top of the food chain type team now but they will be very tough to defend with so many weapons on offense. The Wizards just need to keep their fingers crossed that everyone stays in one piece and all egos are in check. They shouldn't have a problem making the playoffs but won't get past the second round if Boston, Orlando, and Cleveland have anything to say about it.

Utah Jazz

2009-10-26T22:12:00.001-07:00

Talk about being put in a bind! The normally cost concious Jazz went well into the luxury tax to maintain essentially the same team that has been declining the past two season. Granted, there has been a good share of injuries to key players but the Jazz were secretly hoping that Carlos Boozer and his hefty salary would be off the books since he declared he was leaving one way or the other this past summer. The jazz essentialy were hoping to invest in emerging Paul Millsap to replace Boozer and free up some payroll in the process. Instead they resigned Millsap to a bigger contract to avoid losing him AND have to swallow the contract of Boozer for another year. With no other improvements made this past summer, the Jazz are going to have to be real creative to compete this year.

With Boozer and Millsap essentially at a crossroads as to who starts at power forward, they have another bloated salary on record with small forward Andrei Kirilenko. The three combined make up for half of the teams salary. The plus is they are all very good players. With Mehmet Okuhr at center, the Jazz have a very strong frontcourt albeit a chaotic one. Okur is a good passer and a better outside shooter but is far below the standard in rebounding at his size. Boozer is good on a box score but has had chemistry issues and does not want to be in Utah anymore than the Jazz ownership wants him there. Millsap is clearly the Jazz choice going forward and he will fill in just fine as he showed during Boozer's absence with injury. Kyrylo Fesenko and Kosta Koufos are on the bench but will be limited on the court with the rotation of Okur, Boozer, Millsap, and Kirilenko. Matt Harpring and Kyle Korver will bring sharp shooting of the bench at both forward and shooting guard. Front Court: B+

Deron Williams continues to prove he is one of the top point guards in the game putting up double double's in points and assists. Williams has good size and hopes to play a full and healthy season. Williams should find himself in position to finally make the All-Star team. Ronnie Brewer had a breakout season and looks to start as the shooting guard, something the Jazz have needed consistently for some time. C.J. Miles and Ronnie Price will play both spots and add to a young and athletic backcourt. Rookie Eric Maynor will sub for Williams and was the lone addition this past summer. Back Court: B+

Summary: The Jazz should have a team ready to take Boozer by the All-Star break and hope to get some talent in return rather than lose him for nothing next summer. Don't be surprised to see Kirilenko moved as well if they take get a suitor to take his salary off their hands. The Jazz will compete every night but without any significant improvement this past summer, the Jazz should float around the 5 to 8th seed in the playoffs.

Toronto Raptors

2009-10-26T16:42:00.001-07:00

The Toronto Raptors are indeed in a pivotal season. They invested in Orlando Magic star Hedo Turkoglu in hopes that if they can compete with the elite in the East, that maybe, just maybe, Raptor star Chris Bosh just might resign for the long term and make the Raptors a place where big time talent will stay. The worst case is that they will lose Bosh at seasons end anyways but will still have an improved team that can compete for an Eastern Conference champion spot.

With Bosh, the Raptors have remained competitive in the East. But give credit to GM Bryan Colangelo for piecing essentialy a league of nations around him. With the All-Star caliber play of Bosh and the strong play of Turkoglu at the forward positions, the pressure will be on center Andrea Bargnani to help on the boards. Between the three however, it will be difficult for other teams to keep them from scoring. Reggie Evans will provide some toughness off the bench and play solid defense. Patrick O'Bryant is the reserve at center and aside from size has offered little else thus far in his career. Antoine Wright will see some time at small forward as well as shooting guard and is versatile but has yet to show his potential the New Jersey Nets originally drafted him for. The lottery pick of DeMar DeRozan will aslo allow the Raptors to utilize him at multiple positions with his excellent athleticism and versatility. Front Court: A-

The point guard spot has changes faces over and over the past few seasons until Spanish star Jose Calderon got the keys to run the Raptors. Calderon did not disappoint in his first full season as the starter and should only improve this year. Jarrett Jack will be the main backup to Calderon and is a good point guard in his own right. He only lacks the ball handling of Calderon. Marcus Banks fills out the bench at point guard but has been an underachiever his entire career. Marco Belinelli should get a majority of the time at starter at shooting guard. He started his career slowly but has imporved quickly the past season and summer. Quincy Douby and Roko Ukic bring depth and more internantional flavor to the backcourt. Back Court: B-

Summary: The Raptors are trying desperatly to buck the trend of seeing their stars jump ship for other contracts and leaving the only team in Canada. They somehow remain competitive almost every year and aren't far from being an upper echelon team in the east. With the inevitable departure of Bosh as everyone predicts, Toronto will start from scratch and find another face for the franchise.

San Antonio Spurs

2009-10-26T15:07:00.001-07:00

Who says the Spurs are not relevant anymore? Seems like just about everyone was getting ready to call them too old when they rid themselves of some rust (Bruce Bowen and Kurt Thomas) and brought in some help with Richard Jefferson. Many have said this was the best off season move in the entire league. With the usual big three in Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and Tony Parker, the addition of Jefferson will make it very difficult to double on anyone. Spurs just got a new lease on life in the eyes of many.

Duncan continues to do the same, year after year. He plays at an MVP level, scores and rebounds with the best of them and still gets labeled as on the downturn of his career. Not sure what else he can do to alter that even when he seems to win a championship every couple years. Duncan should do more of the same this season. The Spurs continued there tradition of strong and aggressive inside players with the acquisition of Antonio McDyess and the drafting of possible overlooked DeJuan Blair. McDyess brings a hard working rebounder and solid defense to the inside to complement Duncan. Blair will probably start the season slowly with Coach Gregg Popovich's knack for limiting rookies but should provide aggressive and rugged play when he's called on. Theo Ratliff was also brought on to help Duncan off the bench and should be in his final contract. Matt Bonner is another big man who should get plenty of time with his ability to spread the floor and bring out centers to the perimeter with his long range. Marcus Haislip resurfaced after playing overseas as well. Jefferson will bring a piece they were sorely lacking last year with Ginobili out, instant offense. Jefferson isn't quite the slasher he used to be but can mix in a little inside-outside game to keep defenses honest. Front Court: A

Parker has pretty much taken the team over as the go to guy. While Duncan and Ginobili are still effective, Parker has earned the confidence of Popovich and is looked to at crunch time. Parker is in his prime now and should keep this pace up for at least 3-4 more seasons. Ginobili fought injury last year and it hurt the Spurs as well. Ginobili's pedal to the medal style is dangerous for both opponents as well as his own body. Michael Finley is back for another run at a title and while he is not anywhere near his old form, he is still a threat from outside and has a strong basketball IQ. Roger Mason had a strong season last year and was a big help in covering for the loss of Ginobili. Mason is a strong shooter from outside and will be expected to help again this season if they are going to make a Finals push. George Hill, Keith Bogans, and Malik Hairston will add energy and depth to an already deep back court. Back Court: A-

Summary: The Spurs refuse to go into the sunset as a has been. They find a way every year to stay in the title hunt and should expect the same again this year. Although time is running out for Duncan, McDyess, and Finley, the Spurs seem committed to stay in the running as long as they can.

Sacramento Kings

2009-10-26T14:17:00.001-07:00

Young and inexperienced. Those are the two words that define the Kings this season. But you could also add the word potential on half of the team. With little expectations put on the Kings aside from improving and development, Sacramento should at least have some exciting players to watch in the meantime with guards Kevin Martin and rookie Tyreke Evans.

The Sacramento front court will again be raw but talented this season. Spencer Hawes should return as the starter at center. Hawes' game has been improving and he has good size up front but frustrated the Kings brass when he opted for skipping summer league where he could have continued growing into his game. Time will tell if he chose poorly. Jason Thompson is gradually becoming the an up and coming power forward who can play some center if Hawes struggles early. Thompson needs to improve his aggressiveness and should boots better rebounding number this year. Fransisco Garcia played well enough last year after fighting injuries to warrant a starting spot and also should improve this season. The Kings have plenty of small forwards with Desmond Mason, Andres Nocioni, and rookies Jon Brockman and Omri Casspi on board. Nocioni will split starting time and see a ton of minutes sharing the position with Thompson and Garcia. Mason is far from his highlight reel game and has settled into a more streaky jump shooter role. Brockman and Casspi are both heralded by ownership and coaches and should see plenty of time on this young lineup. Donte Green will see time at all three front court spots and is very thin and versatile. Old man of the roster Kenny Thomas is on the back end of a solid career and will provide rebounding and experience to the young group. Sean May will once again try to find a spot in the league after being labeled as a bust in Charlotte. Front Court: C+

With Martin and Evans as the starting guards, there will only be a handful in the league that can match the explosiveness these two will have. Evans can essentially play three positions but will be looked to distribute and score more as a big point guard. His height (6'6) will be a nightmare for opposing points to guard. Martin still remains under the radar to everyone outside of Sacramento and will continue to light it up nightly and quietly until the Kings become significant in the West again. The remainder of the back court is a little thin with Beno Udrich who started previously but will backup Evans, and Sergio Rodriquez will help out when Martin is off the court. With the bulk of small forwards on the bench, look for a mix at shooting guard as well. Back Court: B

Summary: The Kings will be one of the few teams with an obvious call for patience. There are several on the team that should at least make them competitive on many nights but beyond that it will be another long season for anyone crossing their fingers for a winning season. Hopefully the Kings can have better luck in next years draft since the were mathematically expected to get the top pick and had to settle for 4th. Tyreke Evans is not a bad consolation prize.

Portland Trailblazers

2009-10-26T13:47:00.000-07:00

Does the Western Conference powers have room for one more? That is what the Trailblazers are expecting to address this year as they appear to have finally assembled a team that should get them back to where they were in the 90's. With an excellent young group to grow and the summer addition of steady and productive point guard Andre Miller, the Trailblazers seemed poised for a breakout year and put themselves in the elite teams conversation.

With the emergence of LaMarcus Aldridge as a top power forward and the hopeful growth and potential of center Greg Oden, the Blazers boast one of the best front court combos in the league. Oden who has yet to prove his hype and worthiness as a former number one pick, is striving to become the big man the Blazers and league touted him as. His game was slowed as he came back from numerous ailments but looks to be in good form to start the season. Aldridge surpassed most people's expectations and became an All-Star last season. The small forward spot will be shared by Martell Webster and Nicolas Batum. Both are very young and talented but have to develop a more consistent and all round game to guard the top notch scorers in the league. Savvy Travis Outlaw can also play at the small forward spot but should see more time behind Aldridge at the power spot and will be a spark off the bench. Dante Cunningham and Jeff Pendergraph were drafted this past summer but while they are talented, they will see little time this season. Joel Przybilla returns as the backup to Oden unless he starts off slow or is fighting the injury bug in which Przybilla will start and has done a steady job in the past. Front Court: B+

Brandon Roy made himself a household name last season and has vaulted himself into the list of premier shooting guards, just behind Kobe Bryant and Dwayne Wade. Roy is very dangerous on offense and when he tightens up his defensive game, look out! With Miller the main addition to an already good team it should only make the offense that much smoother. Miller has great court vision, is unselfish with the ball and sets up his teammates well. While the summer was a little rough for Miller, he should level out and get back to business by opening tip off. Backing up Miller is dependable and often overlooked Steve Blake. Blake is deadly from 3 point land and can handle the ball very well. The shooting guard reserves are deep and talented with Rudy Fernandez and Jerryd Bayless. Fernandez does a little of everything and will drive the lane, even using his body recklessly to score (think Manu Ginobili). Fernandez is a fan favorite and only looks to improve. Bayless can play both guard positions and could flourish if this wasn't such a deep roster. Bayless should see adequate time anyways with his speed. Patrick Mills was a potential steal in the draft and will have time to develop before fitting into the rotation. Back Court: A

Summary: With the Lakers, Spurs, and Nuggets on the threshold of the Western Conference title, Portland will have to play good, real good, to squeeze into the conversation of title contenders. This isn't an impossibility but probably a stretch this season. If Oden warrants his pick status and everyone learns to gel in a team concept, these Blazers will be around for a long time.

Rider looks to return to the NBA

2009-10-26T07:13:00.000-07:00

For all of you young pups out there who don't know who this guy was, he was also known as J.R. Rider. Tenacious and had some nasty moves, and he was also a basketball player on the side. This guy could score a ton though. Too bad breaking the law was more important than All-Star games and an NBA paycheck.

Phoenix Suns

2009-10-25T17:13:00.001-07:00

The Suns are in a mid-life crisis of sorts. They are not exactly sure where they are going and what they need to do to get there. They are good enough to stay interesting but thin enough to be forgotten. With names like Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire, they will at worst, be competitive. The difficult part is that Suns brass gave up on the run and gun of the old Mike D'Antoni era, switched to a slower tempo with Shaquille O'Neal clogging the lane, and brought in defensive minded and half court tempo coach Terry Porter. They then back pedaled and handed the team over to Alvin Gentry and went back to the fast pace the team was known for. However, many of the integral pieces of that success are now gone. The Suns will try to find an identity and see if it is time to blow up the team and restart. Suns fans will not be patient.

With O'Neal gone, the center position will be done by committee with second year player Robin Lopez, good shooting but little else Channing Frye who was acquired in free agency, and Stoudemire who will have to play out of position on many nights being a natural power forward. Lopez was inconsistent in his rookie year but is rugged and not afraid of contact. Consider Frye his polar opposite, not very aggressive, but has a soft shooting touch and decent passing. Stoudemire will have to cover the position much like he did before O'Neal was brought in, and was not fond of all the contact, but statistically had his best seasons due to his mismatch with less athletic big men guarding him. In reserve will be the scrappy fan favorite Louis Amundson. Amundson is a very active player who will do anything to make a difference. With such a small team, look for the Suns to mix lineups almost every game depending on the opponent. With young players like Jared Dudley, rookies Earl Clark and Taylor Griffin, they will be asked to play multiple positions in the front court. Grant Hill returned after spurning more lucrative offers to help the Suns and will be asked to play nearly every position but center. Hill can do a little of everything including staying healthy thanks to the Suns infamous training staff. The Suns lack size and interior defense and it will show often against bigger teams. Front Court: B

Steve Nash resigned and ensures that the Suns will at least score in bunches again. Nash continues to be one of the hardest working players in the game and despite his age he is still one of the elite point guards in the game. Nash should be able to resume the run and gun offense the Suns were known for but unfortunately does not have the Shawn Marions and Joe Johnsons that made him a two time MVP. With the uncertainty of Stoudemire playing for the Suns the entire season or beyond this year, Nash is going to have to be creative to get underachieving players to step up. Jason Richardson returns and will benefit from the time he had last season as he came over mid-season. Richardson is not an elite shooting guard but can provide scoring and a good fit in their fast paced system. The 6th man is the streaky but dangerous Leandro Barbosa. Barbosa can kill you one night and disappear the next. Goran Dragic is the main reserve for Nash but has a ways to go. He seems committed to improve and hopes a solid season is in his cards. Back Court: B+

Summary: This season will determine if they are a has been and rebuilding is the next step or they will hang on and make a playoff appearance. Either way this team will not go deep in the post season and is going to need to retool before they are an impact team again. Question is will Amare stick around to see the results?

Philadelphia 76'ers

2009-10-25T16:46:00.001-07:00

Exactly how do you label the Sixers? Not too young, too old, really bad, or really good. They seem to be smack dab in the middle of the league. They have some good pieces to work with but can't seem to get them to click all at once. They are a lot of everything but none of anything, meaning they aren't a defensive juggernaut, an offensive power, a defensive liability, or offensively challenged. In one word: intriguing.

With the return of Elton brand as there main offensive post option. With the east thin on big time centers (minus Dwight Howard of the Magic), Brand should see a big part of his time at center in a small ball lineup. Brand, when healthy is a prototypical 20 points 10 rebounds type guy who can make his teammates job easier. Problem has been to see much of him on the court. Hopefully this season will be a good one to him and his shoulder and Achilles tendon. If so it changes the dynamic considerably as the Sixers lacked an inside game badly last year. With Brand at center mostly it will enable Thaddeus Young should continue to improve while playing the power forward position. Built as a ideal small forward, Young has enough athletic ability and reach to stay with the power forwards, and fast enough on offense to use it to his advantage. Young can be a very good player if he continues to work hard and bulk up. The small forward will again be Andre Iguodala and with him and Young at the forwards it will be tough to stop them defensively with their ability to shoot from outside and slash to the basket. Samuel Dalembert will start occasionally at center but will back up Brand on most nights. Dalembert is a very good rebounder and shot blocker but unpolished offensively but is not expected to bring scoring as the Sixers will have plenty of others to do that. Returning from Slovenia is Primoz Brezec who will also get decent time at the 5 position with his shooting touch and rebounding. Jason Smith and Mareese Speights are young and talented but will need to play well and be consistent to get increased time, but with Brand back it will cut down minutes significantly. Front Court: B+

With the departure of Andre Miller, the default point starter will be incumbent Louis Williams. Williams can handle the position but is more of a shooting guard in a point guards body (ala Leandro Barbosa of the Suns). Williams can score in bunches and fast when given the green light to do so. His challenge will be to look for others before his shot first. The rest of the backcourt is thin but adequate with Willie Green, Royal Ivey, and rookie Jrue Holiday vying for playing time at point and shooting guard. Jason Kapono will get time at the off guard position with his deadly outside shooting. Kapono will share time with Iguodala when the Sixers play big and Iguodala plays shooting guard at times. Back Court: C

Summary: The Sixers have some weapons but have yet to put them all together on a consistent basis to see how well this team clicks. They are short a true point guard and an athletic shooting guard but will work with what they have. The Sixers will play fast and should see many highlights with their athleticism. With the uncertainty of health and a steady backcourt, it may be a barely missed playoff spot or a bottom seed if all goes well in Philly. Beyond that is a stretch.

Orlando Magic

2009-10-24T20:07:00.000-07:00

Now that the Magic have everyones attention can they sustain the media and bullseye they will have on their backs by the rest of the league not named the Lakers? The Magic went on a great playoff ride and made a claim to be the top eastern conference team and intend to hold it with Boston and Cleveland breathing down their backs. If there wasn't someone out there who hadn't heard of Dwight Howard, they have now. Although they lost an integral piece to last years success in Hedo Turkoglu, they hope acquiring Vince Carter will compensate and then some. With Carter, he will command attention to free up Howard and sharp shooting Rashard Lewis. Jameer Nelson returns at full health to return to his All-Star form. This should be another good year but not as a suprise.

Howard laid claim as the dominant center in the east and possibly the league. His rebounding, shot blocking tenacity and improving offensive game is a nightmare for opposing centers. New power forward Brandon Bass should start and improve his game as he was limited in Dallas. Bass is rugged and has a solid offensive/defensive balance. Lewis brings versatility and a deadly outside shot to a potent inside-out attack. With Marcin Gortat resigning, he will be a good backup when Howard needs to come off the floor. Ryan Anderson will be the power forward backup and had an impressive rookie season. Matt Barnes was signed to add depth and shooting to help Lewis at the small forward position. Front Court: A

With Nelson back, the point spot is taken care of if he remains healthy. Nelson has emerged as a top point guard in the east and can create his own shot but is most effective when he penetrates. With Carter on the wing this should help Nelson even more. Carter is still good for 25 points a game when he feels like it. Carter has leaned more on a jump shot game than his former jump over everyone dunk highlights. Mickael Pietrus returns as a defensive stopper and should make up for Carter's defensive limitations. J.J. Redick is a shooting specialist but little else and should see ample time. Anthony Johnson reserves as the backup point and will get good time as well. Back Court: B+

Summary: The Magic will continue to run with the big dogs in the east and may contend for a title again. If everyone stays healthy, it should help solidify the Magic as an elite team that isn't going anywhere anytime soon. Howard will need to improve his free throws as that hurt the Magic last year in the Finals so he can be relied on in tight games. If he does, he is going to be unstoppable.

Oklahoma City Thunder

2009-10-24T19:45:00.001-07:00

While Oklahoma is not normally considered a hot bed for NBA talent, Kevin Durant and Company are changing that theory quickly. With the steady improvement, wise drafting, and careful spending, the Thunder are gradually making a solid and competitive team. With Durant, they have their superstar and have since been piecing together a good cast around him with some potential future All-Stars at each position. With the idea of Oklahoma City getting in on the free agent sweepstakes next year, the Thunder should have a bright future ahead.

While most people give Durant the attention, some overlook his fellow young and talented mates. Jeff Green is proving to be a very good all round player in the Scottie Pippen mold. Both Green and Durant make for a lethal combo at the starting forward spots. The center position is the only spot that doesn't stand out as a strong spot. There are talented and servicable big men with Nick Collison, Etan Thomas, and raw but big B.J. Mullens who was taken quielty in the draft after being a potential lottery pick two summers ago. The starter should be Nenad Kristic who is a very good player but has battled consistency issues and the injury bug the last few seasons. D.J. White surprised last year and had a strong summer and should back up Durant. Serge Ibaka was drafted from the Congo but is a few years away from contributing. Front Court: B+

The backcourt for the present and future should belong to Russell Westbrook the point guard and rookie James Harden, the shooting guard. Both Westbrook and Harden have the potential to be All-Stars and should grow into one of the best back courts in the league. Along with Durant and Green, Harden and Westbrook form one of the best young lineups in the west. Thabo Sefolosha will bey key in helping at the off guard spot until Harden is ready and should hold the position just fine. Still young but often moved Shaun Livingston should fight to be Westbrook's backup. He suffered a near career ending injury his rookie season and has struggled to find his spot in the league since. If healthy, he is a great ball handler and passer and at 6'7 possess an advantage over shorter guards. Kevin Ollie and Kyle Weaver will also fight for time at point. Back Court: B

Summary: The Thunder should be feeling good about there chances this season to maybe find a 8th seed in the west although not likely this year, and their future. With money to spend next summer to add to the young core they have built, Thunder fans should be happy to see their city becoming a hot bed for NBA basketball.

New York Knicks

2009-10-24T19:03:00.000-07:00

Consider this season, the calm before the storm. With the Knicks essentially having only four players under contract after this season, there would be a huge chunk of savings if they let everyone else walk (roughly $58 million dollars). No wonder the Knicks feel ready to acquire a few big name free agents next summer. The question is, who is going to sign long term to a team that struggles to stay out of the bottom in the east? The Knicks are either on the cusp of a major overhaul and getting back to respectability, or the are going to have a major overhaul and continue to flounder in the lower half of the eastern conference. Coach Mike D'Antoni is sure to have his hands full this year as the Knicks try to figure out who is going to stay on next year.

With so many pieces expected to move next season it will be difficult to determine who the starters will be a nearly every position. Eddy Curry returns, much to the Knicks dismay after trying to move him last season and during the summer. Curry is talented and shows flashes of ability but does not seem to have the urgency or desire to elevate his game. This obviously frustrates players and coaching staffs alike so Curry will have to prove he is worthy of time and a starting role. The Knicks front office seems optimistic with the acquisition of the formerly hyped and currently underachieving Darko Milicic. He has loads of talent but much like Curry, has yet to harness any consistency. The Knicks hope under D'Antoni's system, he will finally tap into Milicic's potential. The power forward spot belongs to David Lee, who has improved greatly on his offensive game and is one of the best rebounders in the game. With the Knicks hoping to cash in next summer on free agents, they have shown Lee that they are not entirely convinced he is their long term answer (Chris Bosh, Amare Stoudemire?). The Knicks drafted talented but very raw Jordan Hill in the lottery this past summer but D'Antoni made it very clear during preseason that Hill is going to need a lot of work before contributing. The Knicks have a giant stock of forwards that mix as small forwards and power forwards. Al Harrington is the returning leading scorer and should start at small forward. Wilson Chandler will see major time and has improved as well. The future at this point is to plug Italian prospect Danilo Gallinari at the small forward spot as he develops. He missed a majority of last year to injury so he has to make up for lost time. Jared Jeffries can be inconsistent but can play all three front court positions which is always valuable to a team. Front Court: C+

The back court is also an undetermined area the Knicks will try to sort out. They basically did to erratic and sometimes disrupting but equally entertaining Nate Robinson what they did to David Lee. They sign both to a one year deal to hold down the fort until next summer to see where everyone is going. This should be Robinson's last year as a Knick. Larry Hughes returns after another injury riddled season but should see lots of time at off guard. Toney Douglas should stick as a reserve for Robinson and get some time since the back court is so thin. The backup point will be Chris Duhon who is less offensive minded than Robinson but more consistent and a better passer. Back Court: C

Summary: This team should not be anywhere near the squad they assemble next year. The Knicks finally get to rid themselves of years of bad contracts and chemistry problem players. However, this club may not get all the top players like LeBron James and Dwayne Wade that everyone thinks will sign simply for the fact they are still a ways away from getting near the top of the east.

New Orleans Hornets

2009-10-23T19:19:00.000-07:00

What goes up, must come down. That was the reality last season for the New Orleans Hornets. Struggling to play with the same intensity and consistency as the previous season, the Hornets finally shook things up this past summer to try to keep up with the best in the west. They finally moved center Tyson Chandler whom they have tried previously without success and in return recieved another talented center in Emeka Okafor. The team will continue to belong to Chris Paul who is arguably the best point guard in the game right now. The Hornets will try to prove that last years drop off was a fluke and they are still one of the elite.

With Okafor at center the Hornets received an upgrade on defense in comparison to Chandler. Okafor also comes without the health concerns Chandler had. While Okafor's offense isn't flashy, he is a constant double-double threat which any team would love to have. Hilton Armstrong will support Okafor as the primary backup. David West continues to be underrated by most fans but the league knows he is a strong interior post scorer and solid rebounder. He was an All-Star before and could be again this season. Young and inconsistent Julian Wright will play big minutes in reserve and has shown flashes of his vast potential. Ike Diogu has been hampered by injuries and inconsistency but can provide instant rebounding and scoring when he wants to. Peja Stojakovic is the elder-statesman and still provides outside scoring but has shown moments of his game declining. Injuries may have played a big part on that so health will be key for him and the Hornets this season. James Posey rings strong leadership and experience but did not have the impact last season as the one prior when he won a title with the Boston Celtics. Front Court: A-

Paul seems to get better every year and entering only his 4th season, that is very scaring for opposing teams. He does virtually everything well and can penetrate of shoot from outside which gives opposing guards headaches. Look for another MVP like season again from Paul. Morris Peterson and Devin Brown should split the majority time at the off guard spot. The Hornets drafted a pair of talented guards in Darren Collison and Marcus Thornton. Collison should see decent time this season when Paul rests. Back Court: B+

Summary: The Hornets need to find out if they are the on-the-cusp to a title team, or the perennial just made the playoffs team. With the talent of Okafor, West, and Paul, look for the Hornets to be knocking on the door of a deep playoff run but not quite enough to get to the Finals.

New Jersey Nets

2009-10-23T18:07:00.000-07:00

The New Jersey Nets start this season as rebuilding project. With their future whereabouts still unknown and a dwindling fan base, the Nets will struggle to win games and build towards the future for awhile. With cost cutting rampant on the team, it will be difficult to lure in a prize free agent next summer when they aren't putting a playoff team on the court. It should be a long season in East Rutherford and a early summer next year. The bright spots will be the emergence of Devin Harris as an All-Star point guard and 2nd year center Brook Lopez.

With Lopez, the Nets have found the center to build around and hope to keep him happy as they work on moving to Brooklyn. Lopez impressed everyone with his rebounding, scoring, team play, and better than average defense. Playing behind him is backup Tony Battie who brings solid defense and young Josh Boone who has been inconsistent but has the skills to be effective if he can put in the effort. The power forward spot was handed to Yi Jianlian from China after all the hype he brought in, essentialy forcing a trade to a bigger media market. To this point he has underachieved considerably. He has a good game when he chooses to get in the game. His toughness and aggressiveness have been doubted by many and he has not proved them wrong yet. There is hope he will elevate his game but he needs to do it soon as Nets brass is losing patience as well as the fans still watching. Sean Williams can rebound and brings toughness but has been erratic and unpolished offensively. Eduardo Najera is a rugged veteran who plays hard and will find minutes on this young team. Jarvis Hayes will play at both forward spots as well. Chris Douglas-Roberts should start at small forward and share ample time with rookie Terrence Williams and Bobby Simmons. Front Court: C+

Harris had a breakout season for New Jersey and the Nets have found their point guard to replace Jason Kidd. The Nets were decimated by the departures of Kidd, Vince Carter, and Richard Jefferson so much of the scoring was put on Harris' shoulders. He did not disappoint. The Nets have a decent bench with point guards with the acquisition of Rafer Alston and Keyon Dooling. Both will share time at shooting guard when the team goes small and split with new comer Courtney Lee who brings promise after coming over in the Vince Carter trade. Trent Hassell will bring good perimeter defense to a defense handicapped team. Douglas-Roberts, Terrence Williams, and Hayes will see time at the off guard spot as well. Back Court: B-

Summary: The Nets will struggle to stay out of the cellar in the East. They have some good pieces to build on but it will be awhile before the Nets are knocking on playoffs doorstep. The Nets will need to move some pieces and spend some money to lure in a big name free agent or three that are willing to commit to a build from the ground up gameplan. In the meantime the number one pick next year should be their goal.

Minnesota Timberwolves

2009-10-23T17:27:00.000-07:00

Getting past the whole Ricky Rubio drama that dominated Minnesota news all summer, the Timberwolves are actually putting together an impressive young core for years to come provided everyone stays put. With a solid foundation of center Al Jefferson, power forward Kevin Love, small forward Corey Brewer and Ryan Gomes, shooting guard Wayne Ellington, and point guards Jonny Flynn and Ricky Rubio (if he ever comes to the U.S. and plays for the Timberwolves) and Ramon Sessions. Not a bad group to hinge your future on.

The worry obviously is the health of Jefferson's knee after surgery on the ACL, Kevin Love's injured hand, and the continued development of the young team. When healthy, Jefferson is a possible perennial All-Star with his post scoring and strong rebounding. If his knee is fine, look to a strong season from Big Al. Kevin Love came in and did not disappoint in his rookie season with solid play and good rebounding. Mark Blount, Oleksiy Pecherov, and Ryan Hollins will backup Jefferson but not expected for much other than relief. Gomes will start in place of Love while his hand heals and will reserve when he returns. Corey Brewer comes into his third season with high expectations to live up to his lottery pick status. This will be a big year for him to prove himself. Damien Wilkins will play big minutes as the backup. Henk Norel was drafted from the Netherlands and has some skill according to scouts but is a few years away from any time so he will hide overseas until then. Brian Cardinal will be looked to for experience and mentoring the young front court. Front Court: B+

The Timberwolves confused everyone this past summer by drafting back to back point guards in Rubio (5th) and Flynn (6th). Rubio made the decision of starter easier by staying overseas for a year or forever, and leaving Flynn as the franchise point guard. Then Minnesota went and acquired Ramon Sessions who played very impressive ball in his rookie season. Now the Timberwolves must choose between Sessions and Flynn. Jason Hart and Antonio Daniels will also be brought in to fight for a reserve role and experience. Look for Sessions to get time at the shooting guard spot to utilize Flynn at point. The other shooting guards will be rookie Wayne Ellington and Alexander Pavlovic who should both see solid minutes as well. Back Court: C+

Summary: Minnesota is slowly building a good group to build on with youth and have yet to turn to heavy spending to compete. The Timberwolves are not likely to come close to smelling the playoffs as ownership has stressed to fans to continue to be patient for a few more years. At worst, they have a team that should be entertaining to watch when everyone is healthy again. Now this team needs to keep all the main pieces intact and add a few solid free agents or through trades to build some experienced depth. Look for the team to add yet another good piece with next years lottery pick.

Milwaukee Bucks

2009-10-23T16:38:00.000-07:00

Talk about a team in neutral. The Milwaukee Bucks go into the 2009-2010 season with more questions than answers. With the team going through payroll cuts again it appears it will be another season of mediocre basketball. It is not to say the Bucks don't have talent or potential but it has not seemed to mesh at the same time. But again ownership goes into the season looking to a future that never seems to become the present.

Health has always been a concern for the Bucks as evidence of last year losing starting center Andrew Bogut for 42 games. Bogut was one of the few rebounders and provided some much needed post scoring. He will be expected to carry a huge part of the work load to a very thin front court. Backing up Bogut is little known Dan Gadzuric and Fransisco Elson. Neither is going to put fear in opposing teams but can provide help when accumulating fouls. The power forward spot will be held by Hakim Warrick, Ersan Ilyasova, Kurt Thomas, and Amir Johnson. Warrick looks to be the starter but it will be power forward will be open to whomever is hot at the time. The small forwards are young, talented, and unproven. Luc Mbah a Moute returns after having a surprising rookie season and should start on the young team. Joe Alexander was expected to do big things last season but was injured and played very tentative. Alexander suffered a hamstring injury during preseason so he will be out the first few months before proving he can live up to his potential. Front Court: C

The Bucks made a splash by acquiring very quick and talented Brandon Jennings to be the point guard of the near present and future for years to come (if they can keep him from bolting). Jennings made headlines 2 years ago when he chose to bypass college and go overseas to make a living (1.2 million dollars) and wait until he was eligible for the draft. No one doubts his skill but his character and attitude have been criticized. Playing for hard nosed Scott Skiles will test him early. Currently, Luke Ridnour is the starter at the point and will hold the spot for the time being until Jennings learns the ropes. The shooting guard spot is held primarily by Michael Redd. Redd was injured for more than half of last season and looks to rebound quickly to help a very thin Bucks team. He will be looked upon to be the number one scoring option again this year. Backing up Redd is Charlie Bell and rookie Jodie Meeks whom some scouts say was a steal in the 2nd round of the draft. Back Court: B

Summary: There is some good young talent to build on if everyone stays healthy and matures in Jennings, Mbah a Moute, Alexander, Bogut, and Meeks. The difficulty is the low payroll, small market, and lack of elite free agents who desire to play in Milwaukee. Coach Skiles will have his work cut out for him trying to piece together a solid competitive team. The Milwaukee Bucks can at least hope for a number one pick in the draft next season.

Isiah: I was 'totally blindsided' by Magic's book

2009-10-22T19:46:00.001-07:00

Isiah: I was 'totally blindsided' by Magic's book

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Rajon Rondo searching for "respect"

2009-10-22T18:51:00.000-07:00

You have to earn your spot before you can command respect. http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AhbABYIFng737njI94CPNxm8vLYF?slug=aw-rondoceltics102209&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

2009-10-22T07:18:00.000-07:00

Who's says money doesn't matter when love is in the heart? I haven't seen that bad of a contract since Isiah Thomas was with the Knicks. http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_dont_lie/post/Report-Lamar-and-Khloe-s-pre-nup-includes-Laker?urn=nba,197346

Memphis Grizzlies

2009-10-20T13:30:00.000-07:00

Memphis goes into the season as somewhat of an enigma. They are accumulating young talent and started to show signs of life towards the end of last season. If someone told you the Grizzlies were acquiring a former MVP and a power forward who averages 20+ pts. and 10+ rbs. a game most people would pencil them in for a deep playoff run. But when those two players are Allen Iverson and Zach Randolph, things get a little skeptical. For all the talent both bring to an already gifted core of Rudy Gay, O.J. Mayo, Mike Conley, and 1st round 2nd pick Hasheem Thabeet, one has to wonder if this has the makings of a bad ending. There is no doubt there will be plenty of points and offense, but with a very young core and two notorious "me" players, how does Coach Lionel Hollins plan to distribute it all evenly?

With Randolph, you would expect by his numbers, to be one of the best post players in the game. The problem is he is essentially to basketball what the DH rule is to baseball...offense only. Randolph has been accused many times on multiple teams to be a chemistry killer. Not a good sign. As always there is hope he may change and turn the Grizzlies fortunes around. Thabeet fell into the teams lap at #2 and was greeted with excitement since the Grizzlies have lacked a true shot blocking center. Some have said he is a more athletic Dikembe Mutombo, others say he is another Yinka Dare. Having worked out with Hakeen Olajuwon should help push him away from the latter. Small forward Rudy Gay is the highlight reel waiting to happen. His game has finally started to match his potential leading the team in scoring last season. Look for more improvement this season as well. The starting center for the present is Marc Gasol and it is not a bad center at that. Gasol has played a more rugged inside game and puts emphasis on defense. Hamed Haddadi of Iran will be playing third string to Thabeet and Gasol. Darrell Arthur is a decent back up to Randolph and should see a good chunk of playing time. Rookies DeMarre Carroll and Sam Young were good picks but will not see much time this year. Front Court: B-

O.J. Mayo and Mike Conley project to be the back court starting duo for the next several years. Mayo played above his rookie expectations and should improve again this year with his strong scoring and dedication to work on the defensive end. Conley played much better after the All Star break and at just the right time as Grizzlies brass were losing patience with Conley to produce. Iverson will be an interesting piece as he is not known for his desire to come off the bench (see Detroit last year) and will press Hollins hard to get his time in. The difficulty is whether or not this will stump the progress of their future in Mayo and Conley. Stay tuned...at best, Iverson will bring people to the games, had flashes of his prime and teach the young players how to light up a scoreboard. Worst case scenario is an utter and complete mess of players and egos. Marko Jaric and Marcus Williams will round out the back court and should see time as well. Back court: B+

Summary: The Grizzlies will entertain either by highlights and tons of scoring or drama and chemistry implosion. Difference is with one of those two outcomes, the Grizzlies appear to be relevant this season. Regardless of the good or bad, this team is still at least another year from making the step to a playoff team.

Miami Heat

2009-10-20T10:03:00.000-07:00

What does Miami need to do to ensure Dwayne Wade stays with the Heat? Wade made it very clear this summer that he will hold off signing an extension until he sees how the team takes shape this season and their plans for next season. Wade put together another MVP type season but has yet to get a cast around him to elevate the Heat to one of the elite teams in the east. With center Jermaine O'Neal's knee continuing to hamper his leaping and rebounding and talented second year forward Michael Beasley battling his inner demons off the court, where is Wade going to get help?

O'Neal swears he will regain his All-Star ability this year and help push Miami to the top, but injuries continue to lurk with him every year. He is still better at 60% than most center are at 100%. Beasley is the small forward they hope to build the Heat with alongside Wade. He has a world of offensive talent but has been facing many personal issues early in his career. This next season will determine a lot into whether Beasley is cut out for the attention and demands his talent gets. Udonis Haslem is the starting power forward and is consistent and quiet with his game. While his stats don't jump off the page at you, he is a coaches dream with his hard work and aggressive style of play. Small forward James Jones shot lights out last post season and needs to carry it into this season to garner big minutes. He brings above average perimeter defense as well. Dorrell Wright has a ton of talent but has teased the Heat organization with applying it going on his sixth and possible final season with Miami. The Heat have a load of serviceable and rugged centers but all lack polish offensively in Mark Blount, Joel Anthony, and Jamaal Magloire. Front Court: B

Wade is the main piece to the Heats game both on offense and defense. If Wade can continue to stay healthy, expect another great year and more MVP talk. Behind Wade is not much else other than some steady guards. Mario Chalmers gets the nod and the starting point guard, but the Heat are always shopping for an upgrade. Daequan Cook, Chris Quinn, and Yakhouba Diawara will see ample time as well. Patrick Beverly will resurface from a year overseas to crack a spot in the rotation. Back Court: B+

Summary: Miami will always be a challenging opponent simply due to Wade. If O'Neal's knees and back can endure the season, and Beasley can get control off off court problems and stay focused on the court, Miami may sneak into the playoffs again. if this year doesn't go well, Wade could pack up and move to less comfortable weather to be on a competitive team.

Los Angeles Lakers

2009-10-20T09:31:00.000-07:00

So what does Kobe Bryant do for an encore now? Going for back to back titles would be the main goal. For someone who is only 31 years old, Bryant has done just about everything he can to cement his name in with the greatest players of all time. He even started to shed the "selfish" label that has loomed over him since he came into the league. Granted, it has only been a short time with this renewed team player image he has started. The bottom line, Bryant is a killer to other teams and continues his dominance in fourth quarters and shows no sign of letting up. The scary thing for other teams this season is the Lakers actually got BETTER this off season by locking in key players to contracts and acquiring the immensely talented but always volatile Ron Artest. The pickup of Artest will be a high risk, high reward scenario this season. Will Artest be O.K. differing to the vocal and intense Bryant or will his antics and attitude get the better of Bryant and Coach Phil Jackson. If anyone can get into Artest's head on steer him into a focused mindset, it's Jackson.

The Lakers almost instantaneously improved to championship status a year and a half ago with the trade for Pau Gasol. Ever since, Gasol has been the consummate teammate to Bryant. He creates so much attention inside much that it forces teams to play Bryant more honestly and there isn't a player in the league who can man up Bryant for an entire game. Gasol will be the starting power forward and will have 7 footer Andrew Bynum next to him at center to make one of the most talented power forward/center combos in the league. Bynum has been fighting the injury bug nearly every season so he has yet to produce consistently. When he is healthy and has his focus set, he can be phenomenal. Given that he will turn 22 on opening night, he has plenty of room to grow. With Artest at small forward, the Lakers have the ability to have solid all round forward, Lamar Odom, come off the bench. Odom can play nearly all 5 positions and creates huge mismatch problems for opposing teams. Luke Walton will return coming off the bench with a good basketball IQ and great passing ability. Josh Powell and Adam Morrison could see some minutes but will be sparingly. The Lakers have D.J. Mbenga and Junior Elonu on the roster but will pickup scrap minutes when available. Front Court: A

The team is built around Bryant and the offense almost always flows through him. Bryant is clearly the best shooting guard in the game and arguably the best player in the game. Bryant has lock down perimeter defense, good passing, and a deadly jump shot. His main concern lies in his ability to trust his teammates in clutch situations. His back court mate at point guard Derek Fisher who enters his 14th season. Fisher is more of a coach on the court. He directs the traffic and can hit big shots when needed. Although he does not put up flashy numbers, he is a solid and dependable floor general. Backing up Fisher is Shannnon Brown and Jordan Farmar. Brown and Farmar are talented but need to show more consistency and aggressiveness if they expect to get solid time and eventually replace Fisher as the starter. Sasha Vujacic is primarily a backup to Bryant when he needs a rest or the Lakers are leading by a substantial amount. Back Court: A-

Summary: The Lakers manage to keep their team intact minus the departure of versatile wing Trevor Ariza who began to improve and make a name for himself last post season. However, Artest brings a more consistent and aggressive game. They key concern is making sure all egos are cared for and Artest doesn't lose his focus. Jackson has proved time and time again (Dennis Rodman?) that he can get the best of his players and will look to take them to another NBA Finals with Kobe adding to his trophy case.

NBA twitter directory

2009-10-17T15:41:00.000-07:00

If you are into the twitter thing and want to find that NBA player to follow or the executive to lay into about that draft pick, here is a directory I found on a website http://www.sportsin140.com/. Also lists nearly every sport you would want. Search the NBA directory by going to the bottom of the page and click the tab.

NBA launches video rulebook

2009-10-16T20:03:00.001-07:00

So it looks like you can log on and view the questionable plays and get the explanation as to why the call was made. With the replacements running the game, expect a lot of hits on that site quickly.You make the call: NBA launches video rulebook - NBA - SI.com

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Breaking News!!!! Marbury is not retiring, fans rejoice everywhere in his house!

2009-10-16T07:47:00.000-07:00

Didn't Stephon Marbury take last year off by not playing with the Knicks and getting about 8 minutes with the Celtics? Time to take his "Empire" and move on. Check out what he had to say about playing next year, his former Knicks, and LeBron's chances of coming to N.Y. next summer.

Los Angeles Clippers

2009-10-14T15:04:00.000-07:00

So did owner Donald Sterling have a revelation or what? Is he actually trying to put a winner together in L.A., not named the Lakers? Or is this one of his ploys to draw fans and break their hearts later when he dissects the team again? We shall see... In the present and hopefully into the future, the Clippers may have finally found their franchise player with the first pick in the 2009 Draft, Blake Griffin. He will be expected to lock up the power forward spot for the next decade (unless Sterling resorts to old ways) and begin putting the lowly Clippers on the path to respectability. The Clippers are in the unusual spot of having talent, and quite a bit of it, this season. With a good mix of veteran and youthful talent, L.A.'s "other team" should cause some problems for teams in the West.

With Griffin essentially handed the starting job the minute he put on the Clippers cap on draft day, it leaves two spots in the front court to fill. The center spot will be manned primarily by either Marcus Camby who is still a shot blocking and rebounding machine or Chris Kaman who isn't going to stress opponents with his defense but is a strong rebounder and more polished offensively than Camby. Health and matchups will play a big part in who will start nightly. Second year center DeAndre Jordan will continue his progress and will be needed for his size and athleticism but will need more time to develop. Another talented young forward Al Thornton, has continually impressed with his play and will be locked in at small forward. He can be streaky but is only entering his third year and should improve with Griffin taking some pressure off. In reserve the Clippers added Craig Smith who doesn't get much attention but is a steady small forward that can produce. Rasual Butler will also find some time here as well as shooting guard and had a solid season last year when given time. Steve Novak will probably not get much time but brings some excellent shooting to keep the defense honest. Mark Madsen will be on the bench for dancing purposes and high five donations. Front Court: A-

The back court is also much improved with the improved play of off guard Eric Gordon who got better as the season progressed and could lead this team in scoring. He enters only his second season and will look to be the future of the Clippers alongside Griffin and Thornton. Butler will get a majority of the backup minutes at shooting guard behind Gordon. Ricky Davis will play third string at the two spot but has watched his stats decline as well as his standing with coaches at times. He has the talent but does not fit in to the Clippers long term plans. The point guard spot is manned by the always productive Baron Davis. Davis can still fill the stat sheets and seems to be the voice of the team but has the lingering possibility of injuries always attached to him as health is always a concern. Backing up Davis is newly acquired Sebastian Telfair. Telfair has never been questioned on his skills, but his shot selection is iffy, however he is an excellent ball handler and passer.
Mardy Collins will also be on board as he is the best defender of all the point guards but his offensive set is limited and will keep him from getting substantial minutes. Back Court: B

Summary: The Clippers should be entertaining at worst. With the infusion of young talent and the group of solid veterans this team may just push for a playoff spot again. The main challenge for the coaching staff will be to balance the minutes to appease the veterans and allow the young core to develop for the future. Putting the Clippers down for a possible eight seed in the playoffs is not likely this season but not a stretch either.

Indiana Pacers

2009-10-13T21:01:00.000-07:00

The Indiana Pacers look to get back into the playoff picture this season after a three year hiatus. What used to be a set fixture in post season play, the Pacers have spent the last few years tinkering with the roster to remove problems and get through injuries. It appears they may be on the cusp of returning to their old ways.

The emergence of Danny Granger has been a pleasant boost to the Pacers team and made him an All Star for the first time. He is expected to be the answer at small forward going into the future. The return of Michael Dunleavy will probably mean his move to the shooting guard position and this will help with his height and shooting ability. However on defense look for Granger to guard most of the elite off guards like Dwayne Wade and Kobe Bryant as defense is not Dunleavy's most notable attribute. The power forward spot should be filled again by rugged talent Troy Murphy. He had a great 2008-2009 season and looks to help with the scoring burden with Granger and Dunleavy. The starter at center will most likely be giant Roy Hibbert. Entering his second season, Hibbert will be looked to step up and own the paint with his rebounding and shot blocking skills. If he doesn't produce early, look for efficient Jeff Foster to fill in. Foster is always underrated for his rebounding ability. The Pacers may have found a gem in rookie Tyler Hansbrough who dominated college basketball. Some critics question whether his game will translate well into the pros. His hard work should keep him in the league for a long time regardless. Young players Solomon Jones and Josh McRoberts are talented but will not see much time in this strong front court. Front court: B+

With Dunleavy as the probable shooting guard, speedy T.J. Ford will join him in the back court as the starting point guard. Ford has continued to jump through injury hurdles and keeps playing a lightning quick game and produces consistently. Backing up the shooting guard position is Brandon Rush. Rush's game continued to improve and brings strong perimeter defense so he can expect a bunch of time and some starts as well. Dahntay Jones brings added depth and versatility to the back court to help out Granger, Dunleavy, and Rush (sounds like a law firm). Earl Watson is Ford's backup and will bring defense as is primary asset. Travis Diener and rookie A.J. Price will add depth if they can get court time. Back court: B+

Summary: The Pacers have the talent to make their move into the playoff picture, provided the injuries don't derail them again. The insubordinates are gone and the Pacers seem to have instilled some character to mix with the talent. With the powerhouses in the East, it appears it might be a one and done playoff series this year for Indiana.

Houston Rockets

2009-10-13T16:09:00.000-07:00

OK, so now where do you put the Houston Rockets in the grand scheme of things? Center Yao Ming is out at least this year, off his rocker but extremely talented Ron Artest leaves to the Los Angeles Lakers, and the unknown return of their star player Tracy McGrady after an always scary micro fracture surgery. With the additions of four rookies and talented but unproven small forward Trevor Ariza, it could be a long season for the Rockets.

With Yao out for the year, the center position will be done by committee in the form of Luis Scola who is a solid but unspectacular player, bean pole Carl Landry who is emerging as a underrated player, and Australian David Anderson. Anderson is touted as one of the better center prospects out of Europe in some time (similar to Scola) so he may surprise many in the place of Yao. The power forward spot will primarily be done by the same cast but also has depth with little known but big time bruiser Joey Dorsey (think of a poor man's Ben Wallace) and long range but little else Brian Cook. The small forward position will be primarily assigned to Ariza who replaces Artest. Ariza has the same athleticism but has yet to show the tenacity and scoring that Artest took with him to L.A. Shane Battier continues his role as ultimate team player and defensive stud as he will backup Ariza or start when Ariza goes to power forward in small ball. Chuck Hayes and rookie Chase Budinger will fill the crowded small forward group if they get to suit up this season. If McGrady plays this season he will also mix in here but mostly at the shooting guard spot. Front court: C+

The point guard job was handed to speed demon Aaron Brooks last year after Rafer Alston was sent to Orlando. He made the best of the opportunity and is eager to handle the team for a full season. Backup Kyle Lowry will fill in for Brooks with some needed scoring with all the injuries the team has taken on. Old man Brent Barry will be asked to fill in more than he expected with McGrady out and Artest gone at off guard. He is still a three point threat and brings leadership to a young team in search of a direction. James White will also see time at the shooting guard spot as depth is thin there. Back court: C+

Summary: The Rockets will have a huge uphill battle to even make the playoffs with the loss of their two biggest scorers in Yao and McGrady, not to mention their best defender and third scoring option in Artest. Roles this season will have to be defined and they will have to hold together until their stars can return. If they can make the eighth and final playoff seed it will be a successful year.

Warriors Suspend Stephen Jackson

2009-10-12T07:51:00.001-07:00

Sounds like someone is trying to get traded. Malcontents are not a hot commodity in the league right now, just ask Allen Iverson or Stephon Marbury how that's going.Warriors Suspend Stephen Jackson

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Rumeal Robinson Blew His NBA Fortune on Strip Clubs

2009-10-12T07:49:00.001-07:00

Rumeal Robinson Blew His NBA Fortune on Strip Clubs

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2009-10-07T10:04:00.000-07:00

Just purchased the new NBA 2K10 yesterday and just wanted to let everyone know that if you are looking at purchasing the game, it is great! The graphics are amazing and the game play is very in depth. NBA 2K10 allows you to play a typical season with your favorite team, start a NBA franchise over the course of many seasons, start your own career and follow it through the ups and downs of an NBA life, and also play street ball by creating your own teams! The game has so many options that I haven't even seen them all. There are so many details like the NBDL (development league), contract negotiations, and draft options. If you just like to play a simple game of basketball, it is all there too! I have always owned the NBA Live series before and thought I'd try the 2K Sports for once and it did not disappoint!

Golden State Warriors

2009-10-06T19:40:00.000-07:00

Uncertainty. That is the word that best sums up the 2009-2010 Golden State Warriors. The roster has uncertainty with several trade rumors all summer, two of the Warriors star players Monta Ellis and Stephen Jackson are uncertain if they even want to play by asking for trades, Ellis and highly touted rookie Stephen Curry are uncertain if they can play together. Who the backup center to Andris Biedrins is also uncertain. All of this equals an uncertain direction. Expect Golden State to at least be entertaining on and off the court the season however. This team will score in bunches and has a very good core of young talent to build with if they can keep it intact.

Biedrins is not a very polished player on offense but what he lacks in scoring, he more than makes up with his hard work on the glass. With his slender frame, you would wonder how he can manage to keep up the rebounding night in and night out but he finds a way and that has been huge for an otherwise poor rebounding team. The power forward spot has another pair of young gifted talent in Brandan Wright and Anthony Randolf. Wright was showing promise late last season but has been injured a lot early in his career and had another setback with his injured shoulder. if he can get healthy he provides a young athletic piece to the Warriors future. Randolf too is a athletic player with immense upside. He really showed his potential last April in the final month of the season and had a phenomenal summer as well. Both will be expected to have strong seasons if the Warriors are going to be playoff worthy. Jackson had his best season last year and has been the main focus on the offensive end as well. He plays three positions and allows coach Don Nelson to tinker with the lineup depending on the opponent thanks to his versatility. Corey Maggette provides a scoring punch off the bench and can create mismatches with his ability to play multiple positions. Ronny Turiaf will back up both the center and power forwards positions. Free agent pick up Devean George will provide the team with a much needed defensive presence and experience which is both short on the Warriors roster. Front Court: B

The back court is somewhat of a question mark. The Warriors have two excellent young players in Ellis and Curry. The dilemma is they play virtually identical in style. The can score, pass, and drive to the lane which is why there are some that wonder how Nelson expects them to mesh. Ellis has already express concerns over the issue and Curry says he will do whatever is asked. Stay tuned on the chemistry in Warrior land. The Warriors are heavy on the point guards with Acie Law and Speedy Claxton also on the roster. If it is one thing the core of Ellis, Curry, Claxton, Law, and last years pleasant surprise Anthony Morrow it is speed and scoring. Look for one or even two of the pieces to be moved depending on how the Warriors start. Kelenna Azubuike also came out last year and put together a very impressive season. It will be hard for Nelson to get minutes to all the young talent and not hurt egos. Back Court: B+

Summary: Golden State will once again be at the top if not THE top of the league in scoring again this season. The downside to that is they don't keep the other team from scoring also. Nelson is aware of the predominantly offensive mentality and has no intention of messing with it either. The Warriors could make the playoffs just on talent and potential alone. Making it beyond the first round is where there lack of experience will factor in. Warriors fans will stay entertained with their run and gun style but should not expect more from this group of young talent.

Detroit Pistons

2009-10-05T21:59:00.000-07:00

The Detroit Pistons made a significant face lift in the off season. By ridding themselves of disgruntled former superstar Allen Iverson, the Pistons managed to acquire two talented potential starters and a quality big man off the bench. The traditional hard nose defensive specialist Piston mentality has leaned more to a perimeter shooting, finesse team. The have many different looks with the versatility. This season could be either a success or equally likely struggle. The Pistons have talent, but they don't have a clear "go to guy" ala former point guard Chauncy Billups. The hope is that free agent acquisition Ben Gordon from the Bulls will be that person.

The Pistons will go with a three headed monster approach to their center position. They have Kwame Brown who shows flashes of skill weekly, returning but declining rebound beast Ben Wallace, and Chris Wilcox. On paper the starters position would appear to be Wilcox but it will depend on how quick he fits into the system. The starting power forward spot will be filled by newly acquired Charlie Villanueva. While he has been known to disappear defensively and lacks toughness, he has a fine array of post moves and is a pretty good shooter to help spread the floor. Jason Maxiell returns to back up Villanueva and has talent as well but has not shown consistency up to this point. The Pistons drafted Austin Daye who is a great athlete but is rail thin and needed to stay in college for another couple seasons as his body is not ready for the beatings he will face nightly. Jonas Jerebko and DaJuan Summers were drafted and showed some impressive play this past summer but will not see much time this year. The only sure thing in the front court is Tayshaun Prince who is not dominant at any one thing but is good at many things. His defense on the wing and experience will be his biggest assets. Front Court: B-

Gordon was signed to do one thing...score..a lot. Detroit has been missing a go to scorer and someone to take over a game for sometime and while this team has talent, none have the killer mentality when the game is on the line. That is what Gordon does best. He will share point duties with Rodney Stuckey who is a rising player and has been compared to former point Chauncy Billups. At the shooting guard spot is familiar face, Richard Hamilton. His shooting ability makes the defense spread out and he can help direct the offense when needed. His health has been a concern so it will be something to watch for this year. The back court is thin with Will Bynum playing some minutes at point when asked. Bynum plays hard whenever he can get the time. Back Court: B

Summary: This Pistons team is good enough to create problems to opponents, but not deep enough to make a long playoff push. Gordon and Villanueva will help get the offense going but the traditionally defensive powerhouse has gone more towards an up tempo style that may take a year or two to establish.

Denver Nuggets

2009-10-05T21:15:00.000-07:00

The first question is..was last year a fluke making it to the Western Conference finals or is this team for real? This year will definitely determine the answer with virtually the same team coming back, but did not feel the need to really upgrade while the other elite teams in the West all reloaded again. Denver brass must feel confident in their teams abilities and must believe they beat themselves against the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals last season. With the solid core of high scoring Carmelo Anthony and floor general Chauncey Billups, the Nuggets will have to try to get hungry with the group they have and fight back to where they were and hope the injury bug does not bite them again.

You know what to expect from star Carmelo Anthony...points and lots of them. The one thing Denver is going to need more this season is a leader, someone who demands urgency and will hold everyone accountable by example. For Anthony's size and gifts, he will need to increase the rebounds and become more involved on the defensive side of the ball. This is the year he needs to be an elite player or his window with this team may start to close as his consummate play maker Billups is on the backside of his career, talented as he is. Center Nene Hilario will be expected to do more of the same this season with his aggressiveness but needs to also improve on the rebounding given his muscular and athletic 6'11 frame. Power forward Kenyon Martin plays with a lot of fire but his health is always a concern since he has never played an entire season. His numbers are nothing to scare you but he plays hard and is not afraid to bang inside. Backup center/forward Chris "Birdman" Anderson became a crowd favorite in Denver with his all out hustle and highlight dunks and blocks. He may replace Martin in the starting lineup if Martin struggles early. Renaldo Balkman who came over from the Knicks last season and proved to be effective when given the minutes. He will be insurance for Martin and backup for Anthony when called. Malik Allen, Joey Graham, and James White were acquired to fill the bench but not expected to play major minutes. Front court: B+

With Billups on the floor the Nuggets are clearly a better team. His leadership has elevated several players in the playoff push last season. His experience is almost worth more than his talent given the lack of deep playoff experience as the Nuggets showed last year. Playing alongside Billups in the starting back court will be J.R. Smith. Smith is a lightning in a bottle type player who can score with the best of them when his head is in the game. Smith has faced off the court issues but swears this time it is behind him. If so, he may elevate his game to an All-Star type season. The Nuggets acquired Arron Afflalo to backup Smith and brings more athleticism to the back court. The Nuggets drafted their point guard of the future in Ty Lawson and will be benefit ting greatly under mentor, Billups. Expect to see decent minutes in his rookie season. Anthony Carter will also be looked upon to relieve Billups and insurance until Lawson picks up on how George Karl wants his team run. Backcourt: A-

Summary: The Nuggets have a lot to prove this season. As a team, they need to prove they are for real and that they are truly one of the top teams. Individually, Anthony needs to prove he deserves to be in the same breath as the elite players and can elevate his team like a LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, or Kobe Bryant. Kenyon Martin has to prove he can stay in one piece. JR Smith needs to prove he is a mature and rising player who can focus on his team and developing his game. If these pieces fall in place, the Nuggets can return to where they were last year, but still not enough to make the NBA Finals.

Dallas Mavericks

2009-10-03T21:09:00.000-07:00

Just when you think you can write off the Dallas Mavericks...owner Mark Cuban finds a way to make them relevant again. Some started to declare the roster as stale and it had reached its peak. The Mavericks went and acquired versatile and athletic Shawn Marion, rugged power forward Drew Gooden, and talented journeyman Tim Thomas. The infusion of proven veterans adds to a deep bench and gives the Mavericks multiple looks against opposing teams. With the usual big names like Josh Howard, Jason Kidd, Jason Terry, and perennial MVP candidate Dirk Nowitzki this team will have plenty of options at every position. It is clear that Cuban is not interested in mediocrity and will shake things up to stay in the picture.

The obvious focal point to this Mavericks squad is still Nowitzki. He has the height, the moves, and the shooting ability to drive his opponent crazy when he has the ball. Although he is not going to scare anybody on defense, his game and his passion are something GM's beg for. With the acquisition of Marion, Gooden, and Thomas this will help reduce some of the load on Nowitzki's shoulders. Usual starting small forward Josh Howard will now be able to come off the bench or move to shooting guard when bigger lineups are needed. Playing the center postition for the most part is Erick Dampier. Many criticize Dampier for his lack of eye opening stats in the box score but he does what is required by playing the hard nose blue collar game to absord much of the abuse Nowitzki would otherwise endure. Gooden will also be expected to play big minutes here when Dallas needs more offensive punch at the five spot. Forward Kris Humphries also will be coming off the bench but with the influx of new forwards, time will be scarce for him. Front Court: A-

The Mavericks have one of the best point guards to ever play in the NBA in Jason Kidd. He has an unbelievable knack for finding the open man, can create his own shot, and is one of the best rebounding guards in the league. Now, the downside is that he is entering his 16th season and will turn 37 this year. Not to say that he is washed up but he has been expected to do so much for so long that eventually his body will catch up to his mileage. Dallas hopes that Kidd can hold together for the remaining three years on his contract. While there is no clearly defined shooting guard, Jason Terry fills it up preety well for only being 6'2. Dallas hopes to use multiple lineups and mismatches to cover for the lack of a true off guard. Backup point guard Jose Barea will continue to replace Kidd during stretches and does it well. The rest of the bench consists of hard working Greg Buckner, Matt Carroll, and Quinton Ross. Dallas hopes the unexpected pick of guard Rodrigue Beaubois from Guadeloupe will shock many and pay dividends after some seasoning overseas for a few years. Back Court: B+

Summary: With all the additions Dallas took on this past summer, it will be a season of transition. It is either going to work wonders or it will cause chaos with all the new pieces for so many important roles. If everyone can get on the same page and know this is Nowitzki's team and Kidd calls the shots on the court, the Mavericks may be a refreshing face in the thick of the western conference post season. If it doesn't fare well and Nowitzki does not like the direction Dallas is heading, he might opt out after this season and throw his name in the wild free agent pool next summer.

Chicago Bulls

2009-10-02T21:51:00.000-07:00

The Chicago Bulls come into the 2009-2010 season as somewhat of an enigma after leaving last season honorably in a playoff series for the ages against the Boston Celtics. The Bulls gave fans hope that "maybe next year" was on the horizon. However, after high scoring shooting guard bolted to the rival Detroit Pistons, the Bulls were left wondering who would take the reins as the go-to-guy? It became easily apparent after that Boston series that Rookie of the Year Derrick Rose would be that answer. The Bulls have proven to be playoff worthy and are young at virtually every area so being competitive and building for the future will be in their cards again this season.

Joakim Noah displayed the potential that made him the 9th overall pick two years ago in the classic playoff run against the Celtics. Bulls fans and the front office will be anxious to see if he can carry that into this season as well. Platooning the center position with Noah is 11 year veteran Brad Miller. Miller has brought tons of experience to a young front line and helps the perimeter game with his ability to draw in defenders and use his good passing skills to good use to feed the outside when necessary. Aaron Gray has some ability but can't seem to shake the injury bug, perhaps this season will be better but playing time will be short. Jerome James will be on the bench for mop up duty and injury insurance but not expected for much else. Young, gifted, and erratic Tyrus Thomas comes into his 4th season and has been driving Bulls brass crazy with his jaw dropping gifts on one play and non existent the next. This will be a make or break season for the power forward. There was talk of the Bulls trying to acquire Utah Jazz power forward Carlos Boozer all summer so if Thomas does not start well or the team for that matter, look for those talks to heat up again. The Bulls had a very solid draft by acquiring James Johnson of Wake Forest and Taj Gibson from USC. Both played well in the summer league and would not be surprised to see them get solid minutes their rookie season. They bring size and rebounding to a team that needs it desperately. At the small forward position Luol Deng should take the starters spot. Two seasons ago, Deng had a breakout year, received a nice six year deal and had a forgettable 2008-2009 season. Injuries lingered all season so the Bulls are hoping for a return to the performance Deng displayed two years back. John Salmons also figures to help at the small forward spot when the Bulls go to small ball. Front Court: B-

The starting point guard spot should be safe for the next several years under Derrick Rose. Rose proved to be a very potent scorer and a very effective passer. Rose will be the face of the franchise this season and only looks to get better. Playing the 6th man role, back up point guard, back up shooting guard is Kirk Hinrich. While good enough to start for several teams, Hinrich will be looked upon to do a lot of things for the Bulls. He brings veteran leadership and a mentor to Rose as he continues to grow. Salmons will need to absorb much of the scoring burden and help Rose as the absence of Gordon will be bigger than some think. He proved to be a good option but some wonder if last season was a true showing of his game or a one year wonder. Jannero Pargo returns after a season overseas and long time veteran Lindsay Hunter enters what is expected to be his 17th and final season. Back Court: B+

Summary: The Bulls will be a playoff team and expect to be somewhere between the 4th through 8th seed. This is still a relatively young squad and will still hit bumps along the way to being a perennial contender. The Bulls have payroll to spend next summer and plan on making a splash on the free agent market. The names Dwayne Wade, Amare Stoudamire, and Chris Bosh have been tossed around as interests to the Bulls. This season they will be competitive and be disruptive to teams with their athleticism but appear to be in the "maybe next year" mode again in 2009-2010.

Cleveland Cavaliers

2009-10-01T17:04:00.000-07:00

What do you get when you take arguably the best player in the NBA and add one of the most dominant centers in league history? Head aches and body aches. The end of last season was not the storybook ending the Cavs had in mind when they were dropped by the Orlando Magic. To counter the abuse they received from Magic center Dwight Howard, the Cavs went and made a lot of noise by acquiring Shaquille O'Neal from Phoenix and shipping off Ben Wallace and Sasha Pavlovic. Granted this is not the Shaq of old but he did prove last year that he is still a force and will be motivated to appease critics and James by helping push Cleveland to their first title. This "experiment" will no doubt keep fans tuned in as this can be one great season, or the end of the line if LeBron decides to pack up for "greener" (pun intended) pastures next summer. The Cavs are trying hard to prevent that from happening as they obtained O'Neal, steady Anthony Parker, and athletic Jamario Moon to complement James. This is, on paper, a very strong group. The concern is whether O'Neal can remain productive, healthy, and understand his role as the "second fiddle" to James. Time will tell...

With the established positions of James and O'Neal comes the question of where long time starting center Zydrunas Ilgauskas fits in. As his abilities decline from wear and tear, he is still a solid backup that will mix nice with O'Neal's inside game and his outside range. Brazilian Anderson Varejao will see most of his minutes at power forward and should help clear the inside for O'Neal with his aggressive play. James returns as the reigning MVP and will look to carry less of the scoring burden with his new teammates. He is the best at his position if not all of basketball. Jamario Moon will add depth to the small forward spot behind James and be a smaller backup at power forward when the Cavs want to speed up the tempo and go athletic. Expect more minutes from young forward J.J. Hickson in his second season as well. The back end of the bench will hold Darnell Jackson and Jawad Williams but will be lucky to see any significant time. Front court: A

The guard spots, while not loaded with stars, are still solid with point guard Mo Williams and Anthony Parker. Williams had a strong season last year providing help in terms of scoring and distributing which was always loaded on James' shoulders before. Parker will give the Cavs some dependable perimeter defense and a three point threat to spread the floor. Backup Delonte West is a reliable reserve at both guard positions but has faced some off court issues this summer. Daniel Gibson will backup Williams and West in the point position as well. The Cavs did not make waves in the draft but did pick up versatile Danny Green from North Carolina, who probably won't see a lot of time but will learn a lot from his veteran teammates. Back court: B

2009-10-01T10:12:00.000-07:00

Let's get some opinions on some of the top questions going into this season! There has been a lot of movement this past summer and it appears the contenders tried hard to upgrade their rosters (Lakers, Celtics, Magic, Cavaliers, Spurs, Toronto, Portland, Dallas) while there were some that shifted and moved payroll to prepare for next summer's free agent frenzy (Miami, New York, Chicago). The question today is....Which team has done the most this off season to improve?

Charlotte Bobcats

2009-09-30T21:37:00.000-07:00

There are a few teams that don't get much exposure or highlight time, and the Charlotte Bobcats are an example. With names like Michael Jordan and Larry Brown pulling the strings, one would think there would be more notoriety. Obviously, winning is an ingredient to being known and this team has not done much of it since it's inception to the NBA. Both Jordan and Brown are notorious for being very demanding and they don't take to losing well. There are some indicators that this team is moving up the eastern conference ladder. The difficulty is the top teams in the east improved more so than the Bobcats (see the Boston post) as well as Cleveland, Toronto, Orlando, etc. It will be awhile before they are knocking on the door of the top four or five teams in their conference. On the upside...slots six through eight are actually obtainable if things go PERFECT for this squad.

Charlotte has run through several post players in their short existence but one of the supposed mainstays, Emeka Okafor, was shipped to New Orleans for equally talented, but oft injured Tyson Chandler. Both are notorious shot blockers, aggressive rebounders, and not the most polished offensively. Chandler is a bit more athletic and can come out to the perimeter better than Okafor, but again his injuries are always a concern. The most athletic and exciting player is small forward Gerald Wallace who is the only remaining piece from the Bobcats first season. As always he will be looked to as the first option on the offensive end. he can hold his own well on defense and works hard to keep his balanced attack on both ends of the court. Last years trade acquisition of Boris Diaw apparently is paying off as he has proven to be the instigator of much of the offense. He is a point forward with good vision and decent rebounding. His major drawback is his tendency to be passive and aggressive at times. The Bobcats have adequate but unspectacular reserves in DeSagana Diop, Nazr Mohammed, Vladimir Radmanovic, french import Alexis Ajinca and rookie Derrick Brown all of which are expected to get some minutes on a thin front court bench. Front court: B-

The Charlotte point guard position is going to be split with two young promising point guards in D.J. Augustin and Raymond Felton. The question for Brown will be, who starts and is given the keys to run this team during crunch time? The shooting guard spot will be manned by Raja Bell for the time being. He is a proven three point threat and steady defender who often will get inside the heads of some of the more notable wing players around the league. However, the Bobcats drafted their shooting guard of the future in Gerald Henderson. The Duke Blue Devil was a surprise to some since his bosses are rival Tar Heels. But they spotted talent and decided it was best to pick one of the best talents in the draft. Brown doesn't typically give rookies much court time but look for Henderson to get introduced rather quickly. Dontell Jefferson comes into his second season but will not be expected to play much under this young back court and with Bell's experience and defensive prowess. Back court: C+

Summary: The Bobcats have some exciting pieces in place to keep most nights entertaining. They have much room for growth and with Brown and Jordan calling the shots, they won't accept losing for very long. The possibility of making their first playoff appearance is not out of the question. Expecting anything beyond that is a stretch this season. This team needs to bolster a deeper front court and get some experience in the post season before taking the next big step. Will Jordan and Brown have the patience to stick around for it to happen?

2009 NBA Offseason Tracker

2009-09-30T17:36:00.001-07:00

Here is a rundown of who went where this off season!
2009 NBA Offseason Tracker

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Boston Celtics

2009-09-29T13:37:00.000-07:00

When you talk about the rich get richer, look no further than the Boston Celtics. With the already potent triumvirate in Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen, Boston added the experience of forward/center Rasheed Wallace and guard Marquis Daniels. Boston was on pace to defend their title when an injury to Garnett threw the team off balance. With a healthy return by Garnett there is no reason to think the Celtics aren't still at their rightful place amongst the best in the east and perhaps the entire league.

The starting center slot should be manned primarily by Kendrick Perkins. While he is not very defined on the offensive end, he does bring rugged defense and solid rebounding to help alleviate Garnett from absorbing all the contact down low. The addition of Wallace allows Boston to move these pieces around with a potential Wallace/Garnett or Perkins/Garnett attack. Wallace brings intensity as well as spreads the floor greatly with his outside shooting. If Wallace can keep his emotions in check, this makes Garnett's job much easier. Garnett enters his 14th season and consistently goes to work night in and night out with his interior defense and great post play. The resigning of Glen "Big Baby" Davis provides needed depth to help at both center and power forward as well as the free agent pickup of Shelden Williams who has been disappointing thus far in his career given his lottery pick status just 3 years ago. Brian Scalabrine is on the roster but does not project to get much playing time. Front court: A

The Celtics back court is good but not as solid as its superior front court. While Boston does boast one of the purest shooters in the history of the league in Ray Aleen and the speed of Rajon Rondo, there is some question to how well or long this group can remain intact. Allen is deadly from long range and provides veteran leadership, but is not scaring perimeter players on the defensive end however. Health is always a concern as Allen inches closer to his final seasons. Rondo is somewhat of an enigma, he possesses immense quickness and ability to penetrate to the rim, but can be erratic and has been rumored to be abrasive in the locker room. While this may not be entirely accurate, he is a proven talent who only seems to be getting better. Boston's bench is solid but not great as the signing of Daniels was a plus to add depth to a sometimes shaky back court. The always vocal Eddie House provides a scoring spark and can handle some point duties but is better off the ball. The Celtics bench is rounded off by the likes of Bill Walker, Tony Allen, J.R. Giddens and Lester Hudson. Back court: B+

Summary: The Celtics have one of the older teams in the league but have a decent mix of youth in areas to help the veterans get though the 82 game season. The biggest concern for Boston will be keeping everyone healthy and assuring that everyone knows their role to reclaim their title from 2007-08. Boston has a deeper bench but time is always a factor when four of your best players are all in their mid 30's. However, if anyone can defy the "age" hurdle, it's Garnett, Allen, Pierce, and Wallace. Look for a strong run to an East title and perhaps an NBA title if everything falls in place.

Atlanta Hawks

2009-09-28T15:43:00.000-07:00

The 2008-2009 season was somewhat of a welcome party for the Atlanta Hawks. With a much more respectable 47 wins and 35 losses, the Hawks put themselves on the map as one of the young up and coming teams to be dealt with this season. The Hawks have improved every year under head coach Mike Woodson and now appear to be at the point of where will they go next? With the Eastern Conference clogged at the top with Orlando, Boston, and Cleveland, it appears that the 4th seed is open for Atlanta to occupy for the time being.

The Atlanta front court will be young and very promising with the return of a very athletic and versatile trio in center Al Horford, forwards Josh Smith and Marvin Williams. While Horford is slightly undersized at the 5, his tough physical play and tenacity on the boards complements the versatility of high flyer Smith who is always looming for that big highlight block or dunk depending on which side of the court he is on. Williams provides a balance and creates a mismatch with his size. The backup center position belongs to long tenured Zaza Pachulia who quietly does the dirty work and does it efficiently. Othella Hunter and Randolf Morris will be expected to play the mop up minutes. The depth of the frontcourt may pose a problem over the course of the season and puts a heavy load on Horford, Smith, Williams, and Pachulia to stay healthy all year. Front court: B

The Hawks back court problem will be ensuring that there will be enough playing time to keep everyone happy. With point guard Mike Bibby at the helm and silent superstar Joe Johnson manning the starting backcourt, you can expect great passing from both positions and scoring from everywhere on the court. Throw in talented Jamal Crawford to play 6th man and step in to the shooting guard spot when Atlanta goes small and you have yourself a great advantage. These shooters are going to keep defenses honest and allow their big men to be free of collapsing double teams. The difficulty will be where to get rookie guard Jeff Teague playing time as well as Maurice Evans providing a deep bench at the backcourt spots. Back court: A-

Summary: The Hawks are sure to be one of the most entertaining teams this season and the balance of veteran leadership and youthful promise will help Atlanta stay in the hunt for one of the top spots after the 3rd seed. Look for this team to continue to improve but until one of the big three leaves the top stage in the east, this is a second round playoff team for now.

Introduction to Everyday NBA

2009-09-26T18:35:00.000-07:00

This is my attempt at writing about the NBA and things related to the sport I love. I will start off by saying that I am not an expert, I don't think I am an expert and I don't think 99% of what I read about the NBA comes from experts. This is just my way of rambling about things since I have nobody to ramble to, in person. I follow the NBA like some would get drawn into a soap opera (since often, the NBA is a soap opera). I enjoy the pitfalls, the highlights, and the drama that unfolds almost daily in the NBA. I love the topics that come up about who you would rather have, this player or that player which I will post from time to time just to start a debate. I will put my worthless two cents in on the hottest topics going on in the league. I will throw names out there in both college and high school to keep an eye on (maybe even overseas if I can pronounce or spell them correctly). I may just throw some random jabber out there about whatever I feel like because this is my blog and I will probably be the only one who reads it. Since I never obtained a degree in journalism or in sports radio, or even sports broadcasting (all dreams I never pursued)this makes for a nice alternative to get my ideas and thoughts out. I hope if you or the other person who found this blog is ammused enought to read on, that it was entertaining or at least interesting. Thank you for taking the time and no you can't get the time back in your life you spent on here.