NBA '03-'04 Ramblings.....HERE WE GO BABY!

[Neil]

I would simply like to kick off the discussion on the NBA's 03-04 season. I personally prefer to leave my deeper insight for later until I see something that intrigues me to really get into the conversation.

With that in mind......I'd love it if people would start to talk about what they think about the coming season. I'm not talkin just "Mavs all the way" or "Jazz worst record in history", I'm talking who's going to accel, who's going to suck horseballs, who's going to take on leadership roles, etc.

I'd like to start by talking a bit about my hometeam: MN Timberwolves. First of all for those of you who thought Kevin Garnett would leave Minnesota and go elsewhere (cough: Detroit?????) I'd like to say:




I told you.....K.G. would stay where he was because he knows he's the main reason that the Timberwolves have become a team to now consistently make the playoffs. Yes, they are out right away........but to make it is better than NOT making it.

This year I feel the Timberwolves will make at least the second round, if not more surprises and for my start: their starters. They now FINALLY have a solid 5 that can put up numbers vs. some other decent teams. The signing of Olowokandi is EXACTLY what the T-Wolves needed, a solid center that can now take on the role he's been wanting since he entered the league. Also, Timberwolves management did the RIGHT thing by getting K.G. the extention he wanted, so that they could go into the regular season knowing that the team is solidified, and that Garnett is committed to the team, rather than holding their breath until the issue was resolved.

While I will miss Peeler and his ability to enter the game late and do some amazing things, I warmly welcome Sam Cassell into the team. Sam was at one point, a Rocket fallout that I think many people lost hope in. Enter his time with the Bucks, and Sammy was back to putting up 17-21 PPG and 7-11 APG which is exactly what the team has needed. Especially with Garnett, a valuable give/receive player like Cassell will fit perfectly into the rotation.

I don't say Timberwolves all the way (I won't even begin to discuss that at the current time) but I would like to say that since the days of Gugliotta/Garnett, the T-Wolves finally look more solidified than ever before.

[doug]

Of course they made the right call resigning KG. duh!

Whose going to start at the guard positions for them now? looking at their roster it looks like they are two deep at the point and at shooting guard..

they don't have much depth in the middle though after losing Rasho.. but who needs him, he was a bum anyway... watching the Diesel run him down in the playoffs last year was a real treat

you bastards took Madsen though.. that hurt, i loved that guy, he really plays defense a lot better then people think.. i remember in a game last year he held his new teammate KG to just 10 points... he's the man.

i think that the big bust in the west this year will be suckramento.. webber is still hurt and they traded away a lot of depth on the bench to get miller in the middle, and i have news for you queens fans (assuming there are any here)... Brad Miller is not the answer to Shaq. Shaq will crush him.

The top team in the west.. well.. i have only this to say: July 16, 2003. The Lakers Reloaded. Once upon a time, people said that the lakers have no supporting cast. they said the lakers have no depth.

Well i have news for them. our starting line up now consists of four of the very best to ever play in the NBA. this team will challenge for the right to be called the best of all the time, better then the bulls baby. we have a serious shot not just at the title but at their 72 wins.

no depth? our starters from last year are our bench for this year. our small forward position has Rick Fox, Devean George and the basketball savy rookie Luke Walton. Both George and Fox saw time as a starting SF last year and Walton had a great college career and will be called on for his passing and vision of the court and not his offense... we have enough scorers!

we have respectable backups for Malone and O'Neal. Derek Fisher is a great veteren PG who will come in to relieve Payton.

the only place we don't have a lot of depth at is SG.. but who cares, we have Kobe, the best player in the NBA today. with the Glove feeding him the ball and the defenses having to worry about Malone and Payton getting looks he'll have more open shots and more chances to light up the score board. Also, we have a backcourt made up of NBA first team defenders and nobody will hang with us in the post.

we are unstopable.

thanks for reading this long ass post.

[starseed_10]

i could care less about basketball. but Detroit will win. no question. because i said so.
keep this in mind.... it will look good for me ontop of my correct superbowl pick.

[superrgirll]

With that in mind......I'd love it if people would start to talk about what they think about the coming season. I'm not talkin just "Mavs all the way" or "Jazz worst record in history", I'm talking who's going to accel, who's going to suck horseballs, who's going to take on leadership roles, etc.

why does that seem like it was directed at me?

[starseed_10]

because you want the Mavs to go all the way?

[superrgirll]

yes, and because i don't like the jazz.

[starseed_10]

i see...

[Jared]

spurs are the strongest team again in the leauge, like it or not, the lakers will have problems spreading the ball to everyone. the suns and rockets are both very good young teams. the west probably has 10-12 playoff caliber teams with only 8 spots. spurs/wolves or spurs/mavs again in the finals, then beating detroit in 6

[Bandalero]

San Anto-nino. nuf said!

[bort8]

the Hornets are finally gonna pull through this year, barring any injuries to mash or baron. they've been hurt the previous 2 years with either one or the other going down at some point in the season or the playoffs. this year, though, i think its all gonna come together, and theyre gonna stay healthy, strong, and make the eastern finals. sure, firing Paul Silas was prolly the dumbest move of all time, and hiring Tim Floyd is right up there in stupidity, but theyre going to overcome all that, and surprise everyone.

[doug]

Jared - how do you figure the spurs are stronger then the lake show?

Let's review:

PG - Lakers have The Glove. the spurs have Tony Parker.
advantage: Lakers

SG - The Lakers will start Kobe Bryant. The spurs will start Ginobli.
advantage: Lakers

SF - The Lakers will start Devean George. The spurs will start Bruce Bowen
advantage: push.

PF - The Lakers start The Mailman. The spurs start Tim Duncan.
advantage: spurs. but barely.

C - The Lakers start the Diesel. The Spurs start, snicker, Rasho Nesterovic.
advantage. Lakers. big time.

You say they'll have trouble pushing the ball? Payton averaged over 8 apg last year, and he was the #1 scoring option in Seattle. Now he'll have three go-to guys to pass to.

Nothing about the laker game plan has changed: Push the ball to Shaq down low. The new guys are going to accept the fact that they are the #2 option on this team. Kobe Bryant has accepted it and he doesn't have a career of experience being the man to hold him over. Malone and Payton will be happy to accept the reduced roles, and they'll be ready to contribute with big game shots when called on.

My prediction: 82-0.

[Neil]

With that in mind......I'd love it if people would start to talk about what they think about the coming season. I'm not talkin just "Mavs all the way" or "Jazz worst record in history", I'm talking who's going to accel, who's going to suck horseballs, who's going to take on leadership roles, etc.

why does that seem like it was directed at me?

as funny as it now seems that I recall talking about the playoffs last year, it wasn't pointed at you Ms. Air Force Ones

[Neil]

I definitely have to agree that the Lakers are the strongest assembled team since the Bulls of the early '90s or the Lakers of the mid '80s.

To have 4 of the greatest players of all time assembled onto one starting lineup is rather hard to compare to. Yes, Malone is aging but he's still been able to put up better numbers than most his age, respectively.

The Glove still has his game.....and his APG numbers will fit perfect into a team that loves to run up and down the floor.

My only fear is that egos will get in the way......as much as they all they that they will fit together perfectly, theres always a sense of clashing of egos. Shaq was on "the best damn sports show period" the other night and he said he doesn't care if he only averages 12 points a game this year, as long as the Lakers are winning.

But if they're not winning......then he said theres a problem

[starseed_10]

oh man.. i was on vacation during the kobe trial, and i completely forgot to find out what happened. does anyone want to fill me in?

[doug]

nothing. the preliminary hearing is scheduled for October 9... the defense will probably skip the hearing & go straight to trial.

Trial date is expected to be next spring. after the conclusion of the basketball season.

[starseed_10]

thanks. i figured i missed something cause everyone was talking about it before i left, then it just kinda died.

[Neil]

I have to say this right now also: if the Lakers lose more than 10 games ALL season, I'm going to be disappointed.


On the flipside...

If the Warriors WIN 10 games this season, I'll be stoked. Poor Nicky V-Exel, thats one shitty end of a trade I'd hate to be on.

[starseed_10]

I have to say this right now also: if the Lakers lose more than 10 games ALL season, I'm going to be disappointed.

you'll be disappointed.

[Neil]

probably

[joe_canadian]

i could care less about basketball. but Detroit will win. no question. because i said so.
keep this in mind.... it will look good for me ontop of my correct superbowl pick.

Do you support the Lions too?

If so, God help ye.