Fan Of Music

So every NBA post I have seen talk about three teams. The Lakers, the Cavs, and the Celtics. Why are we talking about the teams that are good now? I figured I would talk about their future competitors.

First team I would like to talk about are my boys, the Portland Trail Blazers. They finished 21-61 in 2005-2006. This was coming off a 27-55 season. Then in 2006-2007 they finished 32-50. Pretty bad huh? Kevin Pritchard thought so. He then began to weed out the problem, our players. We got some great players, and the next year finished at .500 with a 41-41 record. Then last year, Portland finished with 56 in the W column. This wasn't just enough for the playoffs, this was homecourt advantage. Unfortunately, the Rockets took the challenge and stomped on Portland's dream. They lost in the first round. That isn't the point though. The point is that they have gotten better each year, and now that they have a good coach and a general manager capable of pulling in great players like he has been, they are going to keep getting better. The Rockets are all but out of contention this year. In last years playoffs, they lost both Dikembe Mutumbo and Yao Ming, and in the off season Ron Artest left. They are going to need a year or two to rebuild. This is going to be great for Portland, because they had trouble with Ron Artests toughness and Yao Mings dominance on the inside. I think Portland just needs a big win in the Staples Center, and to beat the Cavs at least once to get the confidence that they need to make it somewhere. The Lakers have given us fits in LA, and the Cavs have given us fits anywhere and everywhere. Wins against those teams would really boost our spirts. I believe that within five years, a championship trophy will come to Portland.

Next I would like to talk about the Atlanta Hawks. This is a team with a great group of talent. Problem is they aren't that great on the road. At home, the Hawks went a respectable 34-13. On the road, they went 17-29. If they could work on that road win percentage, they could be a great team. Their record in general has increased over the years though. In 1997-1998 they won 51 games. That is a pretty solid record. The problem is they never got to 40 wins in the next 8 seasons, even dropping as low as 13 wins in 2004-2005. After that year is when they began to get better. The won 26 games the next season. Granted they were by no means good, they won twice as many games as the previous season. The nest year, 2006-2007, they won thirty games. Still not great, but an improvement. The next year, they made the 40 win mark, and became the worst team in the playoffs. That is when they surprised everybody. The 40-42 Atlanta Hawks forced the Celtics into game seven. The team that would go on to win the championship was taken to seven games by the worst team in the playoffs. Granted they lost, they proved they could hold their own against a good team in the playoffs, even without home court advantage. Then, last year, they improved by 11 wins to gain a 51 win record. I see the Hawks making it past the first round again next year, but not winning a championship. The great teams are going to stay that way for now, and I don't think the Hawks can take them, but they have shown by experience that they can give them a run for their money.

These are the only two teams that I want to talk about for now, mostly because I have not done a lot of research on any other team histories. If you would like, I will though. Just reply with your thoughts on up and coming teams. And please, lets keep it civil.

Son of JayJamJah

Portland Trailblazers: I really like the way they've gone about rebuilding. instead of over spending for free agents they've built through the draft, sort of. Truth be told, they could be sitting even prettier but they have the curse of Sam Bowie still haunting them. They never get their lottery picks right. After taking Bowie one spot behind Hakeem and right before Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley, the Blazers have lost in the conference or NBA finals to the eventual champion four times and are yet to get another title since the glory days of Bill Walton and the '77 champs. Since begining rebuilding following the Rasheed, Pippen, Steve Smith, Brian Grant, Sabonis teams the Blazers have had six lottery picks and selected Sebastain Telfair, Martell Webster, Randy Foye, Tyrus Thomas, Greg Oden and Brandon Rush, all of whom could be considered busts on some level to this point of their careers and only Oden is still with the team. Now to be fair they traded three of those guys on draft day fleecing Chicago of LaMarcus Aldridge for Thomas' draft rights and doing the same to the T-Wolves taking Brandon Roy for Foye's rights. They also added Jaryd Bayless last year in trade folr Rush which looks like they got the better o as well. Still what if they took Durant over Oden? They'd probably be in the discussion with the Spurs, Cavs, Lakers and Celtics.

The key for Portland is next offseason. The need to extend the contracts of Roy and Aldridge, but not until they use the money freed up from the expiring contracts of Steve Blake, Travis Outlaw and Darius Miles a total of 18 million dollars 13 of which should be available for them to go after an all-star level scoring small forward (Joe Johnson or Josh Howard?) and become a title contender.

In the meantime a core of Roy, Aldridge, a quickly improving Oden, Veteran G Andre Miller (Free Agent singing), Rudy Fernandez and Bayless along with atletic wing players like Outlaw and Nick Batum make them a real treat to watch.

Early 2009-10 Prediction: 55-27; Lose to Lakers in 2nd round


Atlanta Hawks: This is a make or break season for the Hawks. They've made a nice jump each of the past four seasons and now are a legit franchise for the first time since the late 90's. However now comes the real challenge, can they overtake Orlando, Boston and Cleveland, or at least 2 of the 3 and get to the conference finals or finals and convince Joe Johnson to stick around when free agency roles around next summer.

A nice core here too built in a little different way. They did nail it with draft picks Al Horford and Josh Smith but also flopped with Acie Law, Shelden Williams and lost Josh Childress to Italy. Their greatest blunder however was selecting Marvin Williams, a nice player, 2nd overall in 2005 directly ahead of Deron Williams and Chris Paul. They stole Joe Johnson from super cheap Phoenix for Boris Diaw essentially (In doing so Phoenix gave up an NBA title) and have put a band aid on the PG situation by aquiring Mike Bibby.

The concern here comes with player development though. Diaw did not thrive until going to Phoenix, Williams and Law never developed, and none of their last seven second round picks have cracked their (or anyone else's) rotation. In addition Horford seemed to hit a wall in his second season and Josh Smith took a step backwards seemingly as his average points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks all dropped last season.

As much as I like what they've done the last few years, I think they've peaked and will go back to being the Hawks within two or three years.

Early 2009-10 Prediction: 46-36 Lose to Orlando 1st round

Here's a few other teams I like going forward.

Seattle Supersonics: I Know, I know, I refuse to acknowldge that sham though. However this team has compiled an intriguing nucleus of young players. Kevin Durant looks like he's ready to become a top 10 NBA Player and Jeff Green and Russell Westbrook are good enough to be 2nd or 3rd options on a contending team. They added James Harden this year and though I'd have liked them to grab Rubio, Harden is likely to be another quality piece giving them flexability moving forward and buidling around their core. Still a few years away but on the right track.

Early 2009-10 Prediction: 37-45; 10th in the west

Minnesota Timberwolves: This one has me torn. I love the pick-up of Al Jefferson and the extra picks in the Garnett trade, Al Jefferson is the best offensive post player in the NBA and Kevin Love looks like a solid 10 year starter so the frontcourt is sound if they can stay healthy. On the Wing Corey Brewer is key, he needs to live up to his lottery status and stay healthy and Ryan Gomes is a solid role player. This years draft was big and despite how it may look, I think they did the right thing. Their was only one sure thing at #5 and #6 and they got it, Rubio will eventually be a star in this league for someone, however the selection of Flynn with the next pick makes me think it will be somewhere else. It's a shame too because Rubio, Love and Jefferson are a great core if you can add two mid-level talent high athleticism wings like Brewer could potentially be. The also bugged me when they fired McHale, who I always thought would make a great coach, the players, Love and Jefferson inparticular really like him, not sure what the thought was there. They'll likely be in the lottery again next year and I suspect they'll be targeting a 2 or 3, if Rubio comes over to play as well, and Brewer rounds into shape they could be an instant contender.

Early 2009-10 Prediction: 35-47; 11th in the west

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Inuzuka Skysword

The Trailblazers are my favorite team to. Brandon Roy is my favorite player in the NBA. He isn't too flashy, but he puts points on the board that some veterans can't even make. I just hope that Greg Oden steps the **** up because he is a total *******. First overall pick, he gets injured every year, and he sucks in big games. He needs to get better offensively because that is where the Blazers need him. Aldridge can't be the only scoring big man if the Blazers expect to win. With Andre Miller, they will be a huge threat next year. Brandon Roy can focus more on scoring while Miller gets all the assists. It will be great. They also have a pretty good bench with people like Blake, Fernandez, Bayless, and Outlaw. I think that experience is what the Blazers just need more of. Last year I thought that they put up a good fight against the Rockets, and I didn't expect them to do that good. This year I can see them going to the Western Conference Finals.

I think the Sixers will do well this year too if they can get a damn point guard. If Lou Will starts then they won't do that well. I would like to see Jrue holiday step up as a rookie, but I don't think that will happen.

ProggyMan

People, the Heat? D-Wade says he'll resign if the team looks like it'll be a title contender by 2010-11. Looks like that will be the case. Beasley looks like a future NBA scoring champion, he led all rookies in scoring rate despite spending too much time out on the perimeter, and I expect him to make the necessary adjustments to score at least 20 ppg this year. Mario Chalmers looks like a solid starter for the next 10 years. Then comes something most people overlook. Jermaine O'Neal has an expiring contract worth $21,372,000 for 2010. I'm thinking a run at Stoudamire/Bosh. Think about that lineup for a second...Chalmers/Wade/Beasley/Bosh/???. If they fill out that last spot I'm thinking 60 wins and at least a finals appearance.

Fan Of Music

The heat are going nowhere next season. You can think about whatever contracts you want, but they are not really all that realistic.

What if Micheal Jordan, Wilt Chamberlain, and Scottie Pippen all became great again at basketball, and decided to come back to the NBA. They get on the same team. LeBron James and Kobe Bryant both like this team. They get on it too. Then what if they had the best bench to ever play the game. That team would win the championship every year. Be realistic. You just said a lot of what ifs that you have no basis for.

Fan Of Music

Portland does not need Kevin Durant. Our Forward position is going to be OK since we got Andre Miller. Granted he is a guard, but he can play the forward well. The Blazers like to go with three guards sometimes anyway. I can see an Oden/Przybilla, Aldridge, Roy, Miller, and Rudy/Bayless lineup playing every now and then. It seems like you wanted instant gratification. Greg Oden got hurt, and didn't play his first year. Kevin Durant did great in his first year. So Kevin Durant is the better choice. I don't think so.

What Portland needs is a big man that can score. That is where Greg Oden comes in. Sure he has been hurt, but if you look at the stats when he gets his minutes he is an instant double double in points and rebounds. And you said something about if this and that the Blazers could be in the same league as the Celtics, Cavs, Spurs and whoever else you said I won't check. The Blazers beat all of those teams except for the Cavs at least once.

Also, in case you can't remember - The Lakers won the championship. Why does that matter here?

Last year these Portland Trail Blazers who you say can't even be in the top tier of teams gave this championship team their worst loss of the season. They beat the team that would win the championship by more than any other team could.

Also, the defending champs, the Boston Celtics, suffered a loss in the Rose Garden this last year. Guess that means Brandon Roy controlled the game and did his thing right? Nope. He didn't even play. The Blazers who you say are not in the top teams yet beat the defending champs without their star player. Why is that? Because these Blazers are one of the best teams in the NBA, they just don't have the experience.

Son of JayJamJah

They don't need Durant no, but there is no doubt he is by far the better player so far compared to Oden. Even when Oden has been healthy he's not nearly the impact player Durant is. It's not about instant gratification, it's about the end result and right now Durant looks like he'll be an elite player you can't say that about Oden. I liked the Oden pick and agree people need to be patient as he is still a 21 year old big man.

No he can't, he never has and never will. He's 6'3" and moderately athletic.


Me too, but you can't beat the Lakers in a seven game series if that's your best line-up. Who gaurds Odom? Artest? Bryant?

I totally disagree. Aldridge is their scoring bigman, Pryz and Oden is a nice defensive combo and was a big key to their success. Oden is not and has never been a scorer, even before the draft people were saying he'd be a 15-20 a game guy at best and he'd dominate more on defense and the boards. I think he'll be a 12-10 guy next year and a 17-12 guy in his prime.

Meaningless, they lost in the first round with home court advantage and it wasn't even close. The Bobcats beat the Lakers twice during the season and the Lakers never beat them. Anyone can beat anyone once in the NBA, it's about having a team that can adjust in a seven game series regardless of the opponent.

Again all meaningless, the regular season is 82 games, not every team is focused or ready every night, you can say a lot of the same things you said about Portland about Charlotte, Minnesota and a few other lottery teams.

I agree that they are a very good, very young team and will only get better with experience and age, but they have some major question marks to be sure and I don't think you win a title is Roy is your best player unless the other four starters are borderline all-stars and only Aldridge fits that criteria right now.

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If you're posting in the music forums make sure to be thoughtful and expressive, if you're posting in the lounge ask yourself "is this something that adds to the conversation?" It's important to remember that a lot of people use each thread. You're probably not as funny or clever as you think, I know I'm not.

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Son of JayJamJah

I was thinking about them, but without making the moves for Boozer or Odom like were being talked about, I'm not sure they're all that much better then last year. I agree 2010 is a huge off-season for them. I like Beasley and Chalmers, but I'm not sure they'll make the jumps you are assuming. Beasley is a natural scorer, but I'm not sure he's a real big time player. Reminds me a lot of a young Glenn Big Dog Robinson at this point. Chalmers could be a solid PG comparable to a Derek Fisher level or he could fade a bit like a lot of young guards when they loose a step. Their playoff performance left a lot to be desired rookies or not.

Haslem is a great piece for them too, but they need a real forntcourt presence to compliment the perimeter scoring of Wade and Mike Beas.

What?

Everything he suggested is very realistic. Bosh or Stoudamire could easily sign with Miami and then they would be a title contender.

__________________
Me, Myself and I United as One

If you're posting in the music forums make sure to be thoughtful and expressive, if you're posting in the lounge ask yourself "is this something that adds to the conversation?" It's important to remember that a lot of people use each thread. You're probably not as funny or clever as you think, I know I'm not.

My Van Morrison Discography Thread

Fan Of Music

Andre Miller is the only guard I have seen block dunks..

And Portland can beat LA in 7, they just have to steal one in LA.

ProggyMan

Dwayne is the best shot blocking guard in the NBA by far.