4--Teams not to write out of the equation (no order):
1) Nuggets. I like the Nuggets as a powerhouse team if they manage to trade 'Melo for Billups AND Prince like's being talked about crazy here/around the web. Melo's a dynamic scorer, but last I looked the Nuggets already have one of those in A.I. (an older scorer, but still freaking dynamic), add in the leadership of Bill Bill Billups and the overall versatility and fabulous D of Prince, and voila the Nuggets are reformed. The aging lineup of Billups-Iverson-Prince-Nene-Camby would be fabulous, they'd have all that D with Iverson and Billups helping them in the clutch. I'd think they'd out Piston those Pistons and really be a power in the West. If this trade happens, they are in the powers out West and ride it out for the year while deciding what to do. They'll have the defensive bigs (Camby, Nene, KMart, Prince) to handle the Lakers bigs, plus a top tier SG in the Kobe category and a solid top 5 PG in Billups. THe Nuggets try to resign AI for 2 more yrs after this and ride this out for a last gasp effort. I think they'll be a top 3 team after this trade. I like 'Melo, but Billups and Prince for Melo? Sounds like a steal to me.
2) Bulls. Folks are down on them, and for good reason given the way our core played last season. But remember we had a JV coach in Boylan running the ship the second half and all the trade distractions of trades and contracts (not to mention the lumbering Big Ben) bringing us down early this season. I expect the talent we have that we'll likely keep (Hinrich-Deng-Nocioni-Sefalosha-Noah and of course Tyrus Thomas to continue to improve). Add in the #1 (Beasley?) and voila, a fabulous group. Not to mention we may be able to package Gordon-Gooden and a few others for a superstar. The Bulls have too much talent to play the way they did last year. They became a young team before our eyes.....Vinny's fresh voice/mentality will get them into playing the game the way they can play. They are a playoff lock for next season, and will be a force come the playoffs.
3) Hornets. Obviously. We'll see if they can pull something off to get CP3-West another viable scoring option (not just a spot shooter like Peja). Pargo's a spark plug, but for the Hornets to get to that next level they really have to get a more talented player to log more major minutes. I like Pargo, but he is what he is, a chucker and a streaky chucker at that.
4) Lakers. I know they were blown out today, but man add in Bynum to that mix and an offseason of getting Pau more attuned to their offense, and this team is set. Hopefully Farmar can improve and become their starting PG (Farmar-Bryant-Odom-Gasol-Bynum has to be the best starting 5 in the league--presuming Farmar continues to improve--I don't see Farmar as a top PG in the league, but I think his speedy mix and scoring can really help them in stretches....Fisher's been a good player and still ain't half bad, but he's not quite what he was and was never all league anyway).
4 Teams that might miss the playoffs that made the playoffs this year:
1) Raptors---Bargnani needs to improve to offset this, but they just didn't look confident or as talented as I would have expected this year, and I think teams below them out East (Bulls, Philly, Hawks, Heat, and even Pacers and New Jersey might improve enough to force a sayonara to the Raptors).
2) Detroit (only if they make a trade and lose Billups and Prince as rumoured). I think Detroit's heart and soul leader has been Billups. He's the general that has made them tick, and him being hurt this year's playoffs cost them....even if Stuckey did a fine job, he's still no Chauncey, but they could/should squeak in without Billups especially if he was replaced by 'Melo. But the reason I think they'd be a bubble team is taht Tayshawn Prince is much more valuable than his popular rep would indicate. Prince is a top tier defender (definately in the Battier league, yet oddly doesn't seem to get that credit because he's played next to guys like Big Ben and Sheed for a while yet). Prince also can score when needed/asked, and that's really what sets him apart. Sure he doesn't always score, but he can when necessary. He's one of the better SF's in the league, but is so criminally underrated. He tends to always get the best of his matchups (well besides Lebron, but who does get the best of Lebron)? I think losing Prince AND Billups is too much. THey should work on dealing Rip and 'Sheed first. Rasheed is the Pistons most overall talented player, but he's past his prime and his emo outburts really have dragged them down. Rip I feel benefits most from the Pistons talent around him (Rip's wanders all over the court and is able to do so because he's in fabulous condition, but more so because of Mr. Big Shot, and Sheed's outside game.....I see the Heat making the playoffs next yr if Wade's back in form....
3) Houston. Can you count on Yao? WIll T-Mac's back hold up? Is Rafer really as good as he showed during that winning streak this year? THe answers I say are all no, and thus Houston will wallow at a 7th-9th seed, despite having top 3 out West talent when all 100% healthy.
4) Cleveland. I know Lebron's awesome, I'll give you that, top 5 in the league blah blah blah blah. But his supporting cast seems to continue to get worse. I know they challenged the Celtics in the playoffs this year, but I just don't see that happening again next year when Big Ben's even older, Big Z's older and continues his precipitous decline....they are in such desperate need for a #2 option (Gordon would be beyond FABULOUS for them, but they don't have anything anymore hte Bulls would need/want)....I know there's talk of Redd, but he's just too damn $$ for his cost, and I don't think the Cavs have much to trade sans of course LBJ.....expect their days as a 4th seed to come crashing to a halt.
And that's it for now. I know the Lakers and Hornets are obvious, but folks are already dismissing the Lakers as a viable option next year....this Lakers team isn't the 05-06 Mavs.....they have more than one mega superstar piece and some good but overpaid scrubs. They have 1 mega superstar, and 2 solid options in Gasol and Odom, and a potential 3rd fabulous option in Bynum. Gasol will be better as a PF given his finesse style that will be less hammered by the big C's like Perkins.....
We'll see, I can't wait and can't wait for the draft.
Go Bulls GO!
