Post by pistonfan33 on Mar 22, 2012 1:20:46 GMT -5
LeBron is single handedly leading the east averaging an incredible 36 points 7 rebounds and 5 assist a game
Detroit Michigan----- The NBA season has started and for some reason I have been seeing more Cleveland jerseys around Michigan which is the land of the Pistons and Michigan State Spartans. So why do I feel like I have been seeing more of them now more then ever. Probably because LeBron James is almost rivaling Jordan in seasons and has the Cavs 12-2. He is dunking and shooting his way to number one and defenders look hopelessly every time LeBron blows by them for his ever so famous one handed slams. That's not all that's happened in the league however.
Off to the races, the team that is running away:Cleveland Cavaliers(12-2) The Cavs are trying to shake off what happened last year in the finals that saw them being swept by the Spurs. And they have done it in almost amazing fashion. Well LeBron has anyway averaging 36 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assist. The man cannot be stopped it seems. Let's not forget his supporting crew though, zydrunas ilgaskus who's averaging 14/10. Ben Wallace averaging 9/12 and alexander pavlovic who's putting up 10 a game. The Cavs are also top 5 in offense and defense (actually #1 in defense) the only way this team is being stopped is if something happens to LeBron. Otherwise you might want to put some money into this team.
Trailing behind, but not to far away:Los Angeles Clippers(8-2) and Los Angeles Lakers(8-3). Both teams have proven why LA might be the greatest city to play basketball in. Combined the teams are 16-5 and also a half game apart. Kobe isn't the only player on the Lakers playing well. Pierce is still averaging 19 points a game with Pau also putting up 18 and 11. On the other side of the Staples Center. Tim Thomas and Brevin Knight are leading the way and came out of no were to get the Clippers on top. Brand is also helping out with a great 17/12 a game. The pacfic division will have a tough time deciding which LA team is better. We will just have to see which team is ready to be crowned King of LA.
The unusually good team: Boston Celtics(8-5), On paper, this team is great and let's just say they're having a very nice season. Still this team needs some careful evaluation before putting any money into it and there's two words that say why, Hard Cap. This team is over by 8 million and has really shot themselves in the foot by basically trading KG for Shaq (KG is still on the team). Of course, this team is still well put together. With Shaq,Okafor,Odom and Hill, but also consider that this team is being lead by Rajon Rondo who is still young and hasn't proven alot except for what he has done so far this season. We'll see what the Celtics do though to get out of their financial troubles if there is anything that could be done by the end of this year.
The other team, #1 but not getting the respect for it Dallas Mavericks(5-2) with the addition of Kidd, the team is starting out great...... Atleast for 7 games, the Mavs are 5-2 though they did beat the Jazz and Spurs. Still 7 games isn't alot to judge a team by. The midwest is still wide open and anyone can take that #1 spot from Dallas. Their actually tied with Denver for that spot and also have the Thunder and Spurs in the same division. This team is still a little shakey and there's not alot to go off of. Still Dirk's 26 and 13 helps alot and it should get Dallas some investments.
runner ups in their division,Denver Nuggets(7-4),New York Knicks(7-4) and Atlanta Hawks(7-4). Let's start out with the teams who have a shot at #1 (sorry Atlanta) Denver as mentioned before is tied with Dallas for #1. Carmelo and AI combine for a great scoring pair, averaging over 50 points combined, more then half of what the team averages. But also getting some solid help from J.R. Smith (11 a game) and Marcus Camby (10-10 a game). New York has a great shot if Boston's hard cap troubles get the best of them Marbury is leading the team with 17-10 a game, Zach Randolph is putting up 21-10 a game with Richardson and Crawford also playing their roles well. The Knicks might just be for real this year, but their 6-5 anything can happen with that kind of record. Hawks have almost no shot at #1 if LeBron keeps doing his work in Cleveland. But their still having a great, their second behind Golden State in scoring (though defense could be better) Joe Johnson is putting up nearly 29 a game and Smith is averaging 16-8 this year. Out of all three teams though, I would say the Nuggets have the best shot of being the number 1 team, but who knows.
Defending Champs: San Antonio Spurs, (8-5)they are also tied with Dallas and Denver in a 3 way tie for 1st. Tim Duncan and Tony Parker are trying to keep the Spurs alive with both averaging 23 points a game Robert Horry is chasing his 8th ring this year and putting an impressive 8/10 (atleast for a 37 year old) Manu is having a little bit of a down year with 14 points, but hopefully as the season moves on he will play a little better. Right now The Spurs are playing great and might be the only team in the league with Clevelands number. However it's way to early to predict anyone for winning a ring.
The good but not great crowd, Detroit Pistons (6-4) Golden State Warriors (6-4) Chicago Bulls (6-5) and Utah Jazz (5-4) This is were the contending teams tend to die out and we start entering the "ok" teams. Detroit is in the middle of rebuilding, trading off Rasheed Wallace,Dice and Prince this past offseason, still their 6-4 lead by strong performances from Chauncey Billups and Rip Hamilton, still the team is rebuilding and investing in the team may not be smart. Warriors are playing good as well with their newest addition Andrew Bogut averaging 19-10 a game, Monta Ellis has had a huge impact putting up 24 a game and might turn out to be the leader of the future. Bulls sitting not far behind Detroit with Kirk Hinrich averaging 21 a game and Gordan averaging 17 a game, this team has been pretty average. Utah pretty much round out the good teams out West Williams is averaging 14.4 and 9 assist a game for Utah and Boozer leading the team in scoring with 17-11. This rounds out the good teams that could make some kind of run in the playoffs, just don't bet to much on it
Trying to not fall behind: Teams chasing the playoffs early, Houston Rockets (3-3),New Orleans Hornets (4-4), Milwaukee Bucks (4-5),Miami Heat (6-8), Portland Trailblazers (4-7) and Oklahoma City Thunder (4-7) all 6 of these teams will have to fight for that playoff spot in April throughout the year. it looks like. Most of these teams are young but theirs a couple underachievers here. Let's start out with Miami, who is really underachieving, their 6-8 have Steve Nash and Dwyane Wade and aren't in the playoff hunt to start the season. Slow starts usually hurt teams late in the season when everyone is fighting for playoff spots. But let's also be fair, Nash has been out 8 of the last 14 games so it's not like all hope is lost. If the team stays healthy they might even have a shot at taking out Boston. Hornets do hold #8 and could move up if either Detroit or Chicago starts to slip. If not however, the Hornets are likely stuck in that lower seed. The CP3-West connection is working well for them though and looks like something they will thrive off of the rest of this year. Another team who could peak their head into the playoffs is the Bucks even though they traded franchise center Andrew Bogut, their still 4-5. Here's the problem though, not a single guy is averaging more then 8 points a game besides Michael Redd and Mo Williams. If anyone needs scorers it's Milwaukee and their latest trade didn't help them do that at all. The other young teams out West are the Thunder and Blazers, both are still in the rebuilding stages of their team and both have potential franchise guys, Thunder have Kevin Durant averaging 23 a game and having a great rookie year. Blazers have Oden who isn't doing as hot, but could turn out to be a top center. Brandon Roy is leading the team with 23 points. If your hoping to find that breakout team mid season, it might be a good idea to start investing in Miami.
The little 3, teams with identical records in the same conference, yet not doing well, Indiana Pacers (4-7) Washington Wizards (4-7) Orlando Magic (4-7) these teams have taken a little bit of a beating early but still have a chance, especially if Dwight Howard is on your team. The Magic are at 4-7 due to Dwight missing a couple of games, he's still putting up 27-11 a game playing as one of the most dominant bigs in the league. Orlando seems to need more support however, they do have Lewis and Nelson but they need either an upgrade at shooting guard or a big next to Dwight. Indiana isn't doing to hot either, they do have their young star, Danny Granger averaging 17 a game along with O'neal averaging 21-11, but doesn't look like there's much the Pacers can hope for other then to make a trade for a better point guard. DC does have a nice point guard in Gilbert Arenas who is putting up 20 a game along with Butler and Jamison making a great big three, but they need depth and an upgrade at center. The Magic are probably the team I think could make a change.
The money ain't paying off, Phoenix Suns (4-9) the Suns were the biggest spenders in free agency this past offseason, but their not playing like it. The Suns did trade away Steve Nash, but picked up Gerald Wallace and Gary Payton paying out their 18 million in cap space. It's been a very disappointing season thus far for the Suns and it looks like something has to change if they still want to compete.
The NBA season started without you, teams at the bottom: Philadelphia 76ers (4-8), Sacramento King (4-8), Minnesota Timberwolves (3-7), Memphis Grizzlies (2-7) New Jersey Nets (1-6), ya their doing badly, there's still alot of season to go, but it looks like these teams are to busy staring at the loto balls to care.
That's a wrap up of how everyone is doing so far this year, now are my predictions for the next article (sim 3)
Best in the League:Cleveland Cavaliers
Comeback kids:Miami Heat,Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns
The sinking ships:Boston Celtics,Detroit Pistons,Dallas Mavericks
Still watching loto balls:New Jersey Nets, Memphis Grizzlies
Average:Golden State Warriors,Chicago Bulls,New York Knicks
Prices should come tomorrow for each team, in the mean time enjoy the article