Post by pistonfan33 on Mar 24, 2012 22:01:55 GMT -5
Jefferson smiling after hearing he's headed to south beach, I don't know what Vince is smiling about
it's been a crazy 2 weeks, Dwight Howard to Memphis, Cleveland adding Ray Allen and Chauncey Billups to their roster and Damon Stoudemire headed to Boston. One trade as resulted in a huge improvement however, and that was Jefferson headed to Miami. Though many expected Miami to improve after a subpar start to the season, no one expected a 9-2 turn around that has them looking like the Cleveland alternative. Still that's not to say that Cleveland themselves haven't improved, but atleast they aren't coasting to the finals this year.
Still dominant:Cleveland Cavaliers (20-5) The Cavs may have slowed down a bit, but they still look like the favorites to win it all. Adding Ray Allen and Chauncey Billups helps their case even more since it looks like their surrounding shooters around LeBron. They can still use an improvement at the big man spots, but no team is perfect and why worry about perfection when you have LeBron James on your team.
New to the party:Miami Heat (15-10) and Chicago Bulls (13-8) As mentioned, the Heat have really took it up a notch, they now have another guy to run on the fast break with Nash in Richard Jefferson making it one of the best fastbreaks you can find in basketball with Nash running and having Wade on one side and Jefferson on the other. Let's not forget about Chicago though, who also made an improvement and making them 2nd in the central division after an average start they don't have a LeBron or Wade, but they have Kirk Hinrich who's playing great averaging 22 and 7 a game. Like Cleveland both need to improve their bigs, but there's not many of them out there.
Oh hey, I almost forgot, the western conference:Dallas Mavericks (11-3)Los Angles Lakers (15-9) San Antonio Spurs (16-8) These three teams look like your contenders for the Western Conference as many expected. Mavericks are still keeping pace as their now the best in the west. Dirk and Kidd are forming a great duo and Howard is a great compliment to them with his 20 points and 8 boards. Spurs are still lurking and waiting for Dallas to slip up as they are still tied with them for the midwest division. Alot have this team labeled old still, but the Spurs must have some youth to keep on lasting. Lakers are having a disappointing season when you consider they have Kobe Bryant, Rasheed Wallace and Paul Pierce on the same team. But they shouldn't really be worried till playoff time.
Boston not facing the hype? Boston Celtics (14-10) Boston is still suffering from the benching of KG, it's a wonder that their 14-10 without on of the best bigs in the league. But they keep and moving along, alot experts had this team pegged as the champions before the season. They aren't going to live up to that without KG though and it's obvious they know that.But what can the team do to get out of the hard cap? We'll have to wait and see.
Improving in the West:Houston Rockets (12-7) Utah Jazz (13-9) both teams have improved somewhat, but not well enough to contend for the West, still any improvement helps their stocks. Rockets went from average to above average. Yao Ming may or may not be the best big in the West anymore, but who cares when he's averaging 26-11 for the Rockets. Mcgrady has helped the Rockets with his 23 points a game. The Jazz didn't improve as much, but their now behind Houston and might overtake the Lakers if the Lakers don't get their act together. Kirlenko has been out as well so they might not be done and looks like they might be able to put up a fight with the Rockets for that 4 spot.
If only we could do the week over again: Los Angles Clippers (11-8) Denver Nuggets (11-9)if anyone had a bad couple weeks it was the Clippers, can't say we're not surprise based on their track record, but their still fighting for a playoff spot, something their not use to around this time of the year. They need to hope for a turn around though or they will find themselves in another loto draft. Same could be said for the Nuggets since they went from contending for 1st in the midwest, to trying to stay above 50%. Adding some players around Melo and AI would be a start to get back on top though.
Still above average, just not making noise: Toronto Raptors (10-9) Detroit Pistons (11-10) New Orleans Hornets (9-8) Milwaukee Bucks (10-9) Golden State Warriors (12-10): these 5 teams are above average, but their all at the bottom half of the playoff standings. Toronto as stayed the same pretty much, nothing to exciting about their season thus far. Same could be said for the Hornets as they haven't really changed to much from their start, Pistons have remained average strangely enough even though Billups has left and their now left with Rip Hamilton. Once trade partners, both Golden State and Milwaukee have seen any real improvement since the deal, but maybe just saying that is being a little to impatient
Knicks going down...... fast:New York Knicks (8-13) New York started out pretty nice then Marbury gets injuried and the next thing you know, their at the bottom looking up. Knick fans were booing the whole time at the Pacers game and they are not pleased....... Then again, when are they pleased?
Thunder/Grizzlies still fighting: Oklahoma City Thunder (11-12) Grizzlies (9-12) they looked like they might have been fighting for a good lottery pick, now they might be fighting for a playoff spot as both have seen a huge improvement in play recently. No personal movement had been made in OKC, but they seem to be clicking now recent rookie of the month Kevin Durant has been having a very nice rookie season averaging 23 a game, and despite recently getting injured Chris Wilcox has been doing very well averaging 17-10 a game. Dwight Howard has really changed the grizzlies season helping them from 2-7 to 9-12 adding Perkins as a back up is also a plus for them and is averaging 9 and 8 for the Grizzlies. Can either team make the playoffs? We might be able to see in a week or two
Chasing the playoffs: Atlanta Hawks (9-11) Indiana Pacers (8-9) Minnesota Timberwolves (8-11) Portland Trailblazers (9-13) these 4 teams are still in the playoff hunt or are now in it. Hawks have dropped off from chasing the Cavs to now trying to get into the playoffs. Timberwolves have improved, but their still 2.5 games from the playoffs. Portland is even worse off but can still make it to the playoffs with a huge run in the next couple sims
still watching loto balls or are new to the show:Orlando Magic (8-13) Washington Wizards (8-13) New Jersey Nets (4-14) Philadelphia (5-17) Sacramento Kings (8-16) Phoniex Suns (5-17): ooooooh shinny
Team Stocks should be updated sometime tomorrow enjoy
predictions after all star sim
Top teams in each conference:Cleveland Cavaliers,LA Lakers
Still falling:LA Clippers,Boston Celtics,Denver Nuggets
Comeback kids:Memphis Grizzlies, Atlanta Hawks,OKC Thunder
Watching loto balls:New Jersey Nets, Philadelphia 76ers,Phoniex Suns,Sacramento Kings
#8's:Oklahoma City Thunder (west) Milwaukee Bucks (east)