Early predictions for the 2009-2010 season (NBA, Celtics, Champion, Magic)

[Canes2006Champs]

Originally Posted by Buckeye in SC

What do you think about them pursuing Allen Iverson? Think it might be a good-will kind of signing towards the fans saying hey were making an effort to get better. Not sure how he'd mesh w/the rest of their team though.

That would be interesting but I don't think he would want to play here unless the 'Cats were a serious championship contender. Just my take on it.

Buckeye I notice you live in Columbia, do you go to any 'Cats games?

[Buckeye in SC]

Originally Posted by Canes2006Champs

That would be interesting but I don't think he would want to play here unless the 'Cats were a serious championship contender. Just my take on it.

Buckeye I notice you live in Columbia, do you go to any 'Cats games?

The latest is A.I. is in serious discussions w/the Clippers...so I don't think he's that concerned w/being on a championship contender if that's the case !

The only Charlotte game I've been to was when the Cavs came to town during 07-08, the Bobcats won in a competitive game, but Lebron sat out b/c he was hurt. It's not a bad arena really, just think they need to give the fans something to cheer for. I will probably try and go this season at least once when the Cavs come in.

[Orangeish]

Shaq makes the Cavs worse. I really don't think I could put them in the top 5 of the league as preseason favorites to win it all. Maybe a top 5 record in the league, but no chance they can get thru a post season.

[CTownNative]

Originally Posted by Orangeish

Shaq makes the Cavs worse. I really don't think I could put them in the top 5 of the league as preseason favorites to win it all. Maybe a top 5 record in the league, but no chance they can get thru a post season.

How does he make them worse? So you would rather have Sasha Pavlovich and Ben Wallace on your team than Shaq?

[Just One of the Guys]

Rumor has it that the Lakers have pulled their offer to Lamar Odom off the table. I hear Dr. Buss approved a 3 year 30 million dollar offer, or a 4 year 36 million dollar offer and it was rejected by Odom's agent. This upset Dr. Buss so the offer was pulled. We'll see what happens.

[CaliDude1]

My preseason Top 5 goes like this:

1) Los Angeles Lakers. Of course, this is provided they bring back Lamar Odom. Talks are not going well, but at the end of the day the Lakers have offered the most money. It kind of reminds me of the Dodgers negotiations with Manny last year.

I believe Artest is was a GREAT pick up. While he has lost a bit of a step he is still a top notch perimeter defender. Sure he could blow up. But that is the risk they had to take since Ariza'a agent was acting like an @ss.

2) Boston Celtics. Just as the Lakers position depends on Odom, the Celtics fortunes will depend on Garnett. Will he truly be healthy when the season starts? Can he last the entire 82 games? Heck, can the other collection of 30+ year olds stay healthy? If they can (and that is a big IF) the Celtics have to be the best team in the East. They have the experience, the hunger, and chemistry already in place.

3) Orlando Magic. I believe the Magic have another trade up their sleeves. That was the reason they held on to Gortat. Someone else has expressed interest and they want to get something for him. I like the addition of Bass and Carter. Losing Turk will hurt in some ways, but they were not going to win playing the way they did before. Carter can't run the offense like Turk, but he can score better and get to rim. The Magic were way too dependent on the three ball last season.

If Nelson comes back healthy I think the Magic will be down right nasty next year. Also, when you consider the minutes management that will be necessary in Boston with their aging roster and Cleveland with Z and Shaq don't be surprised to see the younger Magic team end up with the East's best regular season record.

4) San Antonio Spurs. You can never count out a team anchored by Tim Duncan. The addition of Jefferson and McDyess was huge. The Spurs will be really tough next season. They will give everyone fits. However, they do have health concerns. Ginobli has not been truly healthy for nearly two seasons. You have to begin to wonder if he will ever be the same again. And as good as Jefferson may be it is Manu that is the Spurs best clutch performer. Also, Tim has had a lot of health issues over the last few seasons. Tim is looking a lot slower. He'll be 34 this upcoming season. For the Spurs to win the title both him and Manu have to be healthy. Still I like their chances. Pop is top notch and those guys have championship pedigree.

5) Cleveland Cavaliers. Any team with LeBron James will be dangerous. Period. He is THAT good. The addition of Shaq should make them better. However, I am one of those people who are not sold on the Shaq trade. Sure they gave up nothing for him. But the move is far from a slam dunk. Z opens up the lane for LeBron to do what he does best: Get to the rim. Shaq actually clogs it up. Also, forgive me if I do not have a lot of faith in Mike Brown's abilty deal with Shaq's ego AND come up with an offensive scheme that maximizes the strengths of both LeBron and Shaq.

The other thing could be a problem is the soap opera surrounding LeBron's upcoming free agency. The sports media will beat that horse to death all next season. It can easily become a distraction. Still the Cavs will be a force next season. And none of the other top teams are a lock. So the Cavs are just as much in the mix as the other top teams.

[Orangeish]

Originally Posted by CTownNative

How does he make them worse? So you would rather have Sasha Pavlovich and Ben Wallace on your team than Shaq?

actually yes. He will take away touches from LBJ. It's not like LBJ needs a distraction for him to create, he can do that already.

[JL]

Originally Posted by JamesLang

I think it is really hard to tell until they play obviously. However, on paper, barring injuries, assuming all the teams are healthy(highly unlikely):

1.) Spurs--The acquisition of McDyess will help reduce Duncan's minutes in the reg. season and make him fresher for post season. RJ trade helps alot. He is a scorer and can play defense. They have to be the favorites.

2.) Lakers and Celtics-- Lakers helped themselves a bit with Artest since he can post down low and play defense. The Celts getting Sheed to help reduce KG's minutes will help during the post season. These two teams have improved with these acquisitions considering they were strong to begin with.

3.) Blazers--Getting Milsap will really add more depth to a team that was already deep. Still think they need a more established pt guard. They should've pursued Bibby.

3.) Orlando & Mavs--Getting Brandon Bass and VC should help alot, but VC is so streaky and not versatile as Hedo. Jury is still out with Bass. They lost Gortat or did they? They can still match. Mavs getting Marion will help quite a bit since he can also play D. Gortat is better than Dampier, imo.

4.) Cavs--They helped themselves quite a bit with Shaq, but i still think they're still short one good power forward from going to the Finals and possibly winning it. Why they didn't pursue Odom or McDyess is a mystery? They will fall short again.

Sleeper: Houston Rockets--They're not done yet despite getting Ariza. Expect some more moves before the summer ends. The Rockets were hoping that David Lee signed with the Blazers making it possible for the Rockets to get Oden in a trade, but that didn't happen. Oh well.

I have to revise this now. Milsap is not going to the Blazers and Matt Barnes signs with the Magic. Gortat stays with Magic. Daniels signs with the Celtics. Moon and Parker signs with Cavs. If Odom re-signs with Lakers, then Lakers will move up. If Miami gets Boozer and Odom, they will move up big time!!

1). Orlando
2). Spurs and Celtics
3). Cavs
4). Lakers
5). Mavs and Blazers

[CTownNative]

Originally Posted by Orangeish

actually yes. He will take away touches from LBJ. It's not like LBJ needs a distraction for him to create, he can do that already.

The problem is that besides Lebron the Cavs didn't have another guy who could really score in the paint, Shaq will provide that. Your also forgetting that they got Anthony Parker and may get Jamario Moon both who are good defenders and both shoot a decent percent from three range. This will give the Cavs the option of switching Delonte West to the point guard position giving MO Williams more rest during games. Will also allow LBJ to play the power forward position more which he can easily do. Z, AV, and Delonte West who were all starters last year could in turn become bench players thus making the Cavs bench much better than it was last year.

[JL]

Spurs sign Ratliff

Spurs strengthen bench with Ratliff - NBA - Yahoo! Sports

Heard they were going to pursue Raja Bell also.