HANG TIME HEADQUARTERS – Between the ominous words of both NBA Commissioner David Stern and Players’ Union chief Billy Hunter regarding the gulf separating the sides in the looming labor dispute and the knowledge that we’re still at least 48 hours (and counting) away from the start of the regular season, I’m not sure I can locate my motivation.
All this lockout talk is threatening to burn the edges on what is shaping up to be the most intriguing and dramatic regular season race we’ve seen in years.
Here at the hideout, we’d like to enjoy this one as best we can (just in case we have to go without for a little while after this season). We want to savor this first season of the this new era, the one that began the night LeBron James told the world he was “taking his talents to South Beach.”
We’ve already come up with our short list of things we’re looking forward to this season (feel free to add to our list below):
1) CAN MIAMI HANDLE THE HEAT?
For months now everyone has been wondering how anyone will be able to deal with James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and the Miami Heat this season. After seeing them (everyone but Wade) up close and personal Thursday in Atlanta, I’m suddenly more interested in how the Heat will deal with the heat (from the media and fans around the world) that will accompany throughout their historic journey?
There is really no blueprint for what they are doing. As much as people want to associate this crew with the Celtics’ Big 3, the dynamics are nothing alike. The Celtics were pressed together with a giant (imaginary) clock ticking on their respective career windows to win a title. Miami’s 3 are all in the primes of their careers. They have years to chase titles. Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce were all entering the final stage of their star-studded careers.
I was searching for some sense of urgency from the Heat, some of that “now-or-never” aura that all championship teams seem to posses. I found it in James, who finally appears to be operating with that chip on his shoulder that’s been missing. He’s always been motivated to win championships but it feels like all the drama surrounding his decision might have given him the extra incentive he needed to finally grasp the only that’s eluded him so far …
… that is if if injuries don’t derail the ride. Wade played just three preseason minutes and now comes word that Mike Miller could be out until January with that hand injury he suffered in practice.
2) WHO RISES UP AND WHO FALLS DOWN?
In order for someone — like the Bulls, Bucks, Thunder and Grizzlies — to rise up the standings, someone — like the Hawks, Cavaliers, Nuggets and Trail Blazers — has to slide down. It’s all guesswork right now. There’s no way of telling what will happen. All we have to go on right now is a preseason stint that some teams take much more serious than others. But what we do know is that no teams can rise without the fall of another.
Take a look at the work the Timberwolves (6-2), Hang Time Grizzlies (8-0) and Jazz (8-0) did in the preseason and tell me they aren’t angling to take someone’s spot in the Western Conference pecking order. By the same token, it’s clear that Orlando (7-0) and Boston (7-1) have no intention of conceding anything to the Heat, not even the mythical preseason Eastern Conference title. Even the jilted Cavs (6-2) did their best to make a statement during the preseason.
Come Tuesday night, though, everything changes. The games are for real and the consequences of hesitating this season could last the entire season. Because when someone goes up, someone else inevitably comes down.
3) IS THIS YET ANOTHER BUMPER ROOKIE CROP?
If you thought Tyreke Evans, Steph Curry and Brandon Jennings kept us buzzing last year, wait until John Wall, Blake Griffin and DeMarcus “Boogie” Cousins get a chance to crank things up. NBA.com’s rookie guru Drew Packham will stay busy this season, as always, chronicling the ups and inevitable downs these cats will experience. We’ll be locked in on all of it, especially Wall and Griffin, who could wage one of the better “Big Man v. Little Man” battles for the Rookie of the Year award that we’ve seen in quite some time.
It’s hard to tell just how deep a group this year’s class will be. But that’s not a bad thing. Last year Griffin was considered the only sure thing in a class filled with young and unproven guards and we ended up with an absolute bumper crop of prospects that excelled in niche roles on teams good and bad throughout the league.
This year’s crew — toss Nets forward Derrick Favors into the mix — boasts plenty of All-Star potential, perhaps even more than last year’s crew at the same stage. Time will tell. But the early returns (check below) look promising.
4) DOES ‘MELO FINISH THE SEASON A MILE HIGH?
At this stage, the only thing that will surprise us about Carmelo Anthony this season is if he’s still wearing a Denver Nuggets’ jersey at the end of the season. There’s been too much smoke billowing from this story for there not to be a fire buried somewhere beneath all of the cordial dialogue that’s gone on between Anthony and the Nuggets’ brass.
It’s not exactly a secret that Anthony’s camp has made clear his desire to be traded, despite public statements from Anthony to the contrary. And the Knicks and Nets certainly haven’t hidden their desires for him (the Nets’ latest offer, per the Record, is downright staggering — Favors, the No. 3 pick in the June draft, Troy Murphy, Kris Humphries and two more first round picks).
We don’t care where Anthony plays, so long as he’s doing it for a contender. However shaky things might seem in Denver right now, the situation there is still better than what’s going on in New York (sorry Amar’e Stoudemire) or New Jersey right now. So if Anthony wants out, we hope he knows what he might be getting into.
5) DOES THE DURANTULA TAKEOVER CONTINUE?
Kevin Durant continues to impress in every aspect. Who had a better summer? The guy signed a five-year extension with the Thunder and then went out and led the way as the Team USA went out and won the gold at the 2010 FIBA World Championship. He enters the season as the leader of one of the hottest teams in basketball (they were Sports Illustrated cover boys on NBA preview issue) with a chance to make a power move in a Western Conference that is bunched up behind the Los Angeles Lakers.
If there’s a player and team prepared for the rigors of joining the NBA’s upper crust, it’s Durant and his Thunder. They’ve exhibited all the qualities you want to see in a superstar and his upstart crew. They have the perfect complement of running mates/role players for Durant to feed off of in Russell Westbrook, Jeff Green and the rest of the Thunder’s college-aged brigade of ballers.
We see even bigger things on the horizon for Durant, though. Last year he became the league’s youngest scoring champ on record. This year he could add MVP honors to his overcrowded trophy case.
Feel free to add your own items to the list below!
MIAMI HEAT 2011 NBA CHAMPIONS
LOL!!!!! What a joke! You really think the heat have what it takes to beat the celtics, and the magic when they just lost to atlanta? Thats funny. Heat wont see achampionship for a while, just a fun team to watch. But not championship material like the LAKERS, CELTICS, And MAGIC!! You heat fans will realize that in june and then make excuses why your team lost.
they lost to atlanta without D-wade , one of the best players in the world.
just for the record, the Magic have NEVER won a championship.
Dude, it’s only the pre-season. One loss doesn’t matter.
They can beat Orlando, but they’ll probably lose to the Celtics.
The Magic?? I don’t think so. As for the Heat, it was only a pre-season game. They did not have Wade either. It is just like the Memphis Grizzlies was 8-0 in the preseason. Does that really matter? No. The Lakers were 4-4 in pre-season, does that really matter? No. Pre-season games mean NOTHING!!!!
Uhh….That was just a preseason game. Didn’t the Lakers lose to a no-name Barcelona team? Plus Wade was out and Mike Miller is injured. Preseason means nothing thats why the Pre- is in front of it. Everyone’s resting their players and still not playing their real rotations. You should watch the playoffs and then you’d see a difference.
Don’t go and stake too much on the result of a preseason game now will we people?
Jesus Christ….. You don’t even need to be on this website saying things like that. First off, The Heat were missing 3 key players (one man by the name of Dwayne Wade, the third best player in the league). Plus it was a preseason game. Even a 14 year old like myslef knows that you can’t judge the heat off of one game, let alone a Pre-season game.
They already realize it.
I 100% agree…Im a celtics fan and id just like to see the miami heat take on a 12 guy deep roster with a chip on their shoulder like the celtics, Cant wait for opening night when the C’s kill The Heat by 40…The miami heat will be a good team dont get me wrong but there about 2 or 3 years away from a title…They need a Point Guard and a Center that are completly defensivly minded, dedicated, and can facilatate and get out of the way…Exciting to watch in the regular season, but wont get far in the Playoffs, at least not till one big draft day where they get the Guard and Big Man that they need.
uhhh preseason does matter and the heat were trying to win that game too tho..but didnt…preseason is very important for a team like miami cuz their new ….chemistry peoples…and who u gonna start?
The magic ha the magic never even come close to winning a championship..
Dude.. Wade was out with an injury during that Atlanta game. that itself makes a huge difference. furthermore this was the PREseason, players might have a tendency to think that this particular game does not count, so they wont give 100% at all.. Also what happens at the very beginning of the season probably won’t be the same as in the end of the season – they’ll get to know each other, and eventually get into a rythm.. i reckon they are serious championship contenders. Wait n see..
Point is, don’t take what you see serious in the pre-season (specially with wade out)..
OK then if you said that it just a preseason and dwade is out can you miami heat fan just stop give ur team stupid idea of Heat Champion already cuz if preseason doesnt count then they not even close to win champion yet.
no
It’s so easy to hate Lebron for joining the HEAT. It’s so easy to hate the HEAT for having 3 good players. You think you’re so special for hating Miami but look around you, everyone hates the HEAT. I never once liked Lebron even before he stepped into the NBA, but now it looks like I have to root him on. I don’t understand what he did wrong, he went where he wanted to go! Orlando is my team, but I hope the HEAT win it all just to shut everybody up.
To everyone saying Atlanta beat them because they didn’t have D-wade or Mike Miller lol it’s a joke. Atlanta will beat a full strenght Miami team. Mike Miller is a non factor D-wade would’ve made a differance. Atlanta has a deep squad and don’t say pre-season don’t mean anything Lebron had 38 in that game and they wanted to win but sorry 3 guys can’t do it. Orlando has never won a title but they did get to the Finals and could’ve won but fell short. The Heat are not going to the finals I give them round 2 in the playoffs. I hope for you Heat fans Di** riders as well that the heat are fully healthy because they’re going to need an excuse for not going to the finals. Mike Miller is out, Lebron had an off night, Bosh couldn’t stop anyone in the post. I can hear these excuses already. I want to see the Heat fans after Boston kill them tomorrow. Simple fact, Bosh and Wade are they’re best players along with queen james who’s a choker. They can’t win with just these 2 and the queen. @Quentis bentley. How is D-wade the 3rd best player he’s the second behind Kobe. Lebron is a choker and does not have the killer instinct that Wade or Kobe has. Lebron has no heart in the clutch he’s a choker. The heat will be good but champs lol they have a long road to travel. like a 2 year road!!!
umm they lost to both atlanta and the bobcats. i watched some of their games and they dont even play well together right now. i wont give them until half-way through went they finally start any kind of gelling.
im a lakers fan,but still i think miami will have alotta fun and exciting games in the season.
yea the preseason doesnt matter alot for the ones who dont want it to matter for they’re teams because of injury healing,or whatever,such as;
miami, had wade out,miller now aswell.
lakers, had bryant and bynum,both trying to heal from nagging injuries.
but there are quite a few teams who wanted it to matter here,like memphis(8-0),utah(8-0),minnesota(6-2),orlando(7-0) and boston(7-1)
so the preseason is really about healing your injuries and take it easy for teams that want it that way. or,
try and win each and every game to send a message to every team out there.
THATS RIGHT BABY HEAT 77 WINS! FOR THE HATERS!
keep on dreaming kid
Buddy seriously they lost to Atlanta in the PRESEASON. It means nothing. Only the scared teams that feel they have something to prove play hard in the PRESEASON. Orlando has gone undefeated the last 2 PRESEASONS only to get spanked by lakers and celtics in the playoffs. Them and their coach like Shaq says are the kings of choking when it counts.June is when it matters.
The magic? They will never win a championship! As for the Heat, they are a great team…..to watch! And that’s all! They will not win a championship because they dont have the size down low…..To win it all now days, u hafta have a couple of big men down low that can get it done! The Florida nation will see that Lebron and Dwade are awesome but they will also notice that Chris Bosh is overrated and will be a dissappointment to the team….Mark my words!
Great post Sekou because this is certainly the most anticipated season of my lifetime.
Will the 76ers be able to integrate Evan Turner or will they trade him to get rid of Elton Brand’s contract? I can’t remeber a number 2 pick getting forgotten faster than Turner has and I am a big fan. Minnesota should give Philly a call if he starts slow.
Will the Warriors be the surprise team out west because of the acquisition of David Lee and Keith Smart’s promotion to head coach?
Will the Orlando Magic make a trade at the deadline (they should) for Gilbert Arenas or stand pat? Will Dwight Howard have a legitimate post game and average 25+ a night?
Perfectly true.. havent heard a single thing about Turner since the draft, and since Im a Magic fan..I dont want Orlando to get Arenas, Nelson is already a great PG and has great chemistry with Dwight Howard, why give that up for someone that missed last years season due to a stupid crime, instead I think Orlando should send VC, Pietrus, Jason Williams to Denver for Melo and J.R Smith
For Dwight Howard, since he was taught by the Great Hakeem Olajuwon, I think all aspects of his stats will increase, obviously his scoring will increase, I think aroud 21- 24ppg, and around 3.1 blocks.
C’mon man are you kidding? Sending one of the best perimeter defenders in the leahe would be th stupidiest thing ever!! Mike pietrus is not only an excellent defender, but he can shoot trifectas with almost 50% !!!
Anyway GO MAGIC ^^
Nelson is the reason why Magic hasnt won a Title yet, in the 3 year run they have had…..
I Would start Duhon before Nelson since Duhon has the ability to make other players better… unlike Nelson
who only knows how to throw a lob pass to Dwight (when he gets in a tight spot) they dont need Nelson..
they need a PG who can bring out the best of Dwight, and squeeze out what ever juice is left out of Carter and Lewis!
and as for the rest of your post, about Melo, i wont comment on it, lol
You can’t remember a number 2 pick getting forgotten faster than Turner? Really, you don’t remember last years draft? A guy called Hasheem Thabeet maybe, ring any bells? Sent down to the D-league during the season. Just saying, Turner is a better player than Thabeet.
As a Laker fan (not band-wagoner) who has stuck with the Lakers even when they were getting bumped from the first-round seemingly every year by the Suns (back when me and my Laker buddies dreamed of kidnapping Steve Nash until the start of the next season only for him to return wearing Purple and Gold), the Thunder are my ‘hope-we-don’t-run-into-you-when-it-starts-counting’ team. Not that I think the Thunder can take the Lake-Show in 7, just that the Lakers don’t need any 7 game series actually going to 7. The Thunder really are the future of the Western Conference (with the way they came into existence I never thought I’d be saying that let alone in less than 5 years), and along with the Jazz and Mavericks they are the second tier of talent in the present. My (not so) bold prediction for the top four spots in the West: #1 in the NBA with home-court throughout, the Lakers, #2 and third over-all behind LA and MIA, the Thunder, #3 the Jazz and #4 the Mavericks. Maybe the Mavs slide, but I’m holding pat on the rest, taking all bets and sorry San Antonio you really just plain look too old (for like the 5th year in a row).
I dont understand why everyone thinks the Thunder are going to do so good. They were the EIGHTH seed last year. They didn’t make it past the 1st round. They didnt make any major changes in the offseason. So why are they going to be so much better this year?? What makes everybody think that teams like Utah, Dallas, and Portland are suddenly going to be worse than the Thunder?? The only team in the west that can truly compete with the lakers would be a healthy Denver squad with Melo still on the team anyways but that probly wont happen so were going to see the Lakers in the finals no matter what. But, I GUARANTEE that you wont see the Olkahoma City Thunder any higher than a 6th seed come playoff time.
I totally agree. The thunder was an eight seed last year and did a decent job against the lakers. However they never really proved that there were a championship caliber team. Shouldnt be much different this year only that Durant improved a bit,….. his defense is still mediocre.
The year after the miami heat won the championship, the Dallas Mavericks were clearly the best the team in the league winning 67 games! Then came along the GoldenState Warriors and swept the Mavs. The point is some teams are just good against certain teams which doesnt make them the best in the league.
Even if the Thunder do finish 6th it’s still an improvement isn’t it?? No one expects them to be championship material this season. In a few years they will be a championship team if they keep improving (which they will) They are an exciting team to watch! GO THUNDER!
Also, this year Denver will be no good! Other than the Lakers, the Mavs are the second best team in the West by a long shot!
No question about it: barring injury, KD is this year’s MVP. But what will really be interesting is seeing how far the Thunder go into the postseason…
yes i trust you. kg is my favorite player and with him back and ready we will win this year for sure
loll… he was talking about kD.. Kevin Durant.. not KG, theres no way he could be mvp when he’s nearing the end of his career and KD is maybe only just hitting his prime! and i’m not even a OKC fan.
true dat amused
I saw Wade’s rookie season and became a HUGE FAN. He eventually won the title in ’06 but after that they were gone. LBJ and Bosh’s arrival may not guarantee instant championships. But fans like me are once again alive because of their arrival. So keeping my fingers crossed I hope they become a dynasty in the years ahead.:D
Totally in the same bucket as you my friend.. Wade has been my favourite player since his rookie season and never really liked LeBron a whole lot, but i guess i have to now.. lol.. I believe Wade will be the leader on this team though LeBron will always have the highlight plays and amazing stats but Wade has that intensity and heart for the game you dont see often, I mean the guy is 6 foot 4 and can still block shots on 7 footers and beyond.. But yes, I am definately looking forward to the Heat going far and beyond a 3-peat im thinking 4 or maybe 5 in a row, barring they dont have any major injuries..
They do have 2 of the best 3 players in the world on one squad which makes them so hard to guard.. I also look forward to seeing pick and roll play with wade and bosh.. will be just about impossible to guard..
Go Heat!!
agreed.
I first saw Wade in his second season (i live in the UK, so i only started looking at the NBA when i started playing), and loved him instantly. The additions of LeBron and Chris Bosh will only be good. CB4 i reckon won’t rack up the points but he’ll concentrate on boards. Udonis Haslem will come out with a double double most games, and mike miller popping up a few shots each game.. assuming he comes back from injury. Then it’s just up to Wade and LeBron to argue about who wants more points or more assists that night. happy days in Miami hopefully… unless they don’t share the ball.. but they look like they are, and i think wade will love not having to completely carry his team, and he’ll wanna dish it to lebron and CB4
D-Wade is the second best player in the league behind Kobe. Since his rookie year plus he’s a Chicago Native like me but he has proved that he’s a true killer on the court. Lebron was always portrayed to be better than Kobe but sorry Lebron is on the same Level as Carmelo, but has better D than Melo. D-Wade will need the ball in close games cause Lebron is a overrated choker. I didn’t like him in clevland but can’t help but notice he’s a good player. No Kobe but he’s good. D-Wade won the finals almost by himself in 06 he led them to the finals and to the come back over the Mavs. They still have a long way before they win with the choker and Bosh who’s D is not up to par. Go Wade Go Tweet again Choker James and call everyone a racist.
wow that is a staggering offer for melo, denver has to look into that one, you get favors,murphy,humphries and 2 more #1 picks, which one will be in the top 3…with that deal they can rebuild with a young exciting team in 4 years. On paper the heat looks good, but the celtics are deep and experienced, they will be a hard out for anyone including the lakers. injuries will play a big part this season. lakers in 7 over the celtics.
I wonder how can you igore that there is Houston Rocket . playing without real talent and they get above .50, now Yao ,Miller in line with talent in all postions .. they will make it under Rick.
For one thing…. I don’t think that Otis would want Arenas’ contract. Washington will sit on their mistakes as they integrate Wall into the league. Washington will be scary in a few years after Boston drops off due to age and retirements of the Big 3 of Beantown. Otis has something brewing for the magic. I can feel it. Anthony for VC perhaps??? I dunno…. Otis is sneaky like that.
Lebron is scary with a DLeague team even… Injuries have put the heat behind in their development. Lebron can’t do it alone or else Cleveland would have had theirs. Who steps up for the heat?? So far DWade had a minor injury that made him miss all but a few min of the preseason… Mike Miller is out until January… Who is Lebrons #2???? Bosh hasn’t quite lived up to that yet. Bench??? Who knows… Not counting them out, but not handing them rings before they even play a game either. They may pull it together but my odds are against that. Start the season already… The magic are craving a real game.
He certainly loves Rashard Lewis’ contract! If you look at Arenas’ career minutes he still has a lot of game left in him and, who do you think the Heat would rather see in the playoffs, Gilbert who is clutch and fears no one, or Vincent Carter?
well as a “Laker”, my biggest question is wether a tri-three-peat for Phil will happen or not. Of course the obvious contender is Miami but there are a lot of good teams this year (Magic, Bulls, Bucks, Thunder and the ever-lasting Celts and Spurs).
Furthermore, this season begins full of open ends and I realy look forward for their closure, no matter how it will come down.
If they win it all this year, this would be Jackson’s FOURTH three peat. so the term “tri-three-peat” should actually be quad-three-peat.
Yao will be luck to average 12pts. an 7 reb (still good stats but not at his old level). with just 24 min. of play. rockets make 8th seed at best but gets knocks out in 1st round. C’s still remain DA BEAST OF DA EAST. magic takes the out heat in semis proble game 7 an C’s take out magic game 6. then C’s take out Jazz in game 6 (lakers wont make it to da finals this year)overall CELTICS 2011 CHAMPIONS
The ONLY way that the Lakers wont make it to the Finals this year is if either Pau Gasol or Kobe Bryant has a season ending injury. they have a deep bench of role players and only an injury to one of their main 2 superstars would derail their chances of making it to the finals. I’m calling LA and Boston again, and i truly dont have a clue who will win. Hopefully Boston, but probly already scripted for the Lakeshow to win it all again.
I Agree ju ju that game 7 was so scripted last year that I didn’t wanna watch the NBA this year. It was the worst Finals finale ever. Give the LA Losers over 20 free throws in the 4th quarter was ridiculous Boston shot like 15 for the game. That entire finals the Lakers went to the Free throw line twice as much or even 3 times as much as Boston. Scripted Is just as bad as Fixed. WWE championship belt lol already know who wins it’s a soap opera
Ha? You must be dreamin’ that lakers out in the final. You alone dreams for that.
Dude the jazz are not going to beat the lakers or the thunder, or the mavs or even the suns (if they play zone defence again as per last post season).
rockets?? 8th on the west, watch more baskketball punk
really the magics will dispose of the heats. thats like saying the nets can make win the nba champion next season. magics is a great team no doubt but howard still remains a non factor in close games cause of the free throw prob. also wit the new tech foul rule howard my not even play the post season cause he racks up techs like rasheed wallace. i do agree with u sayin the lakers will not make nba finals cause kobe is getting old and father time catchin up and the injurys is become a constant problem. unless the lakers make a trade and get mello or a good tallent then they gonna lose. celtics is 1 injury to being in a reiterment home. in all miami can sweep the season but as long they dont get a major injury then the season theres.
Befor you said kobe is out of gas and old please watch that charles barkley said last year in the playoff and when did kobe prove him wrong.
and about the celtic is one injure away from contender look at ur miami they are 1 injure away from just another good playoff team.
so ur BS is just pure stupid
what kobe bryant r u watchg and referrng too….HUH……GETTNG OLD………YOU GOTT BE KIDDIN ME…..he will still be unstopable no matter what becuz of his competitiveness………Miami will not make it to the finals this year only becuz of CHEMISTRY……once Lebron & D Wade play 2gether this season…..THEY WILL MAKE MIAMI THE TEAM TO BEAT………..I agree about the Celtics……but THEY ARE STILL……the team to beat in the EAST……..and barring any major injuries they will continue to be……….
#9 im a celtics fan too but i dont see it being that easy,,lakers will have a chance to make it to the finals,c’mon matt barnes is theirs,,,the only way the heat will get knock out is if lebron, wade and bosh wont share the ball cuz im pree sure they lebron and wade both wants to be the mvp,,i mean who doesnt in the league,,,yeah lets hope lebron or wade becomes ball hogs
if they celtics are champions this year pigs should be able to fly their too old thety will brak done by mid season and have rondo carry them for 40 games which in return will tire him out there ganna be the 5th seed and are ganna swept by the 1st seed magic in the 2nd round the celtics got older and slower their only true improvment was delonte west but their centers are now way too slow for the pick n roll defence
The heat team is as exciting as Hardaway, Rice and Seikly. It’ll probably take a couple years to develop into a deep playoff contender. It will be exciting to see if the Thunder can defy their lack of playoff experience with speed and energy. The Magic should wait a couple of months to see if Arenas will pan out, but based on Carter’s postseason, it is better long-term for the team. Celtics will be steady IF they can stay healthy. Lakers and Magic, Part 2.
dude r u mental? i mean its one thing saying that the lakers wont make the finals but its a WHOLE different thing 2 say that the JAZZ will. the JAZZ? u mean the team who lost its 6th man in kyle korver, its 2nd option in boozer AND its starting two guard/ defensive stopper (besides kirilenko) in wesley mathews? o AND the team that has to learn on the fly and hasnt played a season with its injury prone replacement in big Al? their gunna be lucky to make it out of the first round if they dont make some mid season trades or big al doesnt intergrate in the system quickly. O and that pick and roll that made the jazz so good the past years with boozer isnt going to be nearly effective with jefferson. get real. if anyones going to beat the lakers its going to be the mavericks or the thunder. and thats a HUGE if. since the thunder lost in 6 in the 1st round to the lakers and barely added anything and the mavs got man handled by a team (spurs)that got swept by a team (suns)the lakers handled in 6. the jazz…..go back to school lol
Agree 100%
me too
You’re a fool If you think the Heat won’t AT LEAST make it to the Finals. Also, the Jazz won’t make it into the Finals… the only teams in the West that have a chance to knock off the Lakers are the Thunder and the Blazers (if they can stay healthy)
The Heat will not go to the Eastern conf finals Idiot. The will lose to Orlando,Boston or ATL. I give them until 2012-2013 season to get to the finals
Celtics 2011 Champs? Yea right, what they lack in, other Playoffs teams are good at, and that is Fastbreak, Most of the Players on the Celtics roster are to old to run and defend on the break, like KG, both O’Neals, Perkins (Not old but knee injury) Pierce, Allen, with Teams like Orlando, Miami and L.A, they will kill Boston on the break, Dwight Howard even as big can run up and down the court, Lebron, Wade and Bosh will dominate on the break, Kobe, Gasol, Barnes, Brown, Blake, all can run on the break as well, and if Dwight Howard is capable of shooting post-up jumpshots and other moves in the paint, and especially is capable of making FTs then The Celtics way of stopping him, which is hacking him so he shoots FTs, then Celtics dont have a chance, and also if VC can play like he did in the Pre-Season then Celtics got no chance of winning.
lol, that’s possible but i think celtic and laker will clash once again in the final
AGREED!
QuestionMark Have you been Huffing Either,Paint orGasoline. They said the Celtic’s can’t run last year lol What happened?? They Got cheated out of banner 18. They will get number 18 this year, the Heat don’t have the dept to beat ATL let alone Orlando or Boston. Get real, just watch tomorrow as the C’s Crush this overrated Heat team
My bold prediction of this year is the following: Kinda what is going on in the MLB now, in the american league that yankees feel apart, just like how the lakers will this year. They’ll trade bynam, Odom wont be consitant and Kobe will kobe. With that, the thunder will be in the NBa finals this year. I mean cmon look at durants summer, and the addiction of cooke, and aldrich will give kristic and collsion soem breath. In the east it wikll be a celtic magic semi final. The 2011 NBA champoinship will be the OKC thunder and the CELTICS. It will be a 6 gamer with the thunder on top
+1
i find the matchup of bulls vs thunder more exciting than the celtics vs heat. thats because the bulls are the upcoming team of the east, and the thunder are the upcoming team in the west. plus, i’ve heard about the heat so much in the summer, im starting to get a bit annoyed about hearing about them. i jus wanna see some real well-rounded young teams go at it then some idiots who’s ego’s will not co-exist
sorry but the heat can not take the heat.. they have no true point guard and no true center… bosh dwayde lebron all play like guards so they will get outrebounded and outplayed by both center and pointguard positions… Sorry just cant see 3 guards winning it all on one team..
r u saying because of a preseason game were not going to win a title ur retarded wade wasnt even playing
Miami For the win this year for sure!
No they can’t make it!
ang chochoge nyo basta MIAMI HEAT 2011 champs yan..dami pa kau sinasabi =)
Even if Boston and Magic have bigger size, they don’t have the speed, power, and shooting accuracy of the Heat! The only team even close to killing the Heat outside is the Magic, but the Heat will always close in and out for their periemter defence making sure that neither of these teams mentioned here will make a lot of threes. So, MIAMI HEAT 2011 NBA CHAMPIONS! THERE IS NO DENYING THIS!
Wow your so sure that they close out on the perimiter lol The Heat will be the biggest flop since Glen Robinson and his 100 million dollar contract BOSTON 2011 CHAMPS!!!!!
Who has shooting accuracy better than Ray Allen??? Nobody on Miami not even Mike Miller Ididot. If they don’t have size how can they over power Boston, @ miami Heat your high on acid or something you’ve lost your mind lol. BOSTON 2011 CHAMPS
great post, cant wait for this season to start!! GO ROCKETS!!
man dunno why ppl said spurs are too old…. yes is true that duncan is old, ginobili got 33 but hes not playing nba since his 18, the rest of the team whitout counting mcdyess is pretty young
Great post. I’m really excited to see whats going down this season. The Grizz have been impressive in the preseason, but I don’t know if they have it nailed down quite yet. They are definately looking like playoff material if they stay healthy. I really think the Jazz have a great opportunity to be a top contention team. I can’t wait for Jazz vs. Magic.
Jefferson is really coming out of his shell and developing into one of the best big-men. The Heat were definately hyped way too much. However, they will be an exciting team to watch in regular season. Ultimately I think that the finals will come down to two of these four teams: Boston, Orlando, Chicago, Utah. Thanks again Sekou for this great post. I can’t hardly wait for Monday!!
LAKERS 2011 CHAMPZ, HEAT NEED TO GET BACK TO THE KITCHEN AND MAKE ME SUM SANWHICHES
Your such a hater “THEHEATSUCK” Your judging a Miami Heat team that was missing a HUGE piece with the game at the hawks. Thats like saying the lakers suck if they lost to Denver and Kobe was hurt and not in the game. IDIOT!
I think this will be a great season. Icant wait when Lebron will play against the cavs in cleveland and how thier chemistry will fit together with Wade and Bosh. I am also curious how the Thunder will do this season since they have no element of surprise in thier side now. The Lakers, Celtics and Magic are still the big dogs of the league no question about it…experience and teamwork is there only a little luck is needed and a injury free this season. As for my team the Houston Rockets i know every team we will play will have an experience they will never forget. GO Rockets GO
Blake Griffin will win rookie of the year. I saw a couple of his pre-season games, he is a walking highlight reel at both ends of the court. He’s the real deal!
Kevin Durant is a great scorer but he lacks defensive intensity. He’ll be a nightmare of a match-up if he can improve on the defensive end. God I hope that happens!! He’ll be unstoppable!! Melo is over-rated (no flames, just my opinion) he’ll never be as good as Kobe or Le Bron or D Wade he’s more like a Joe Johnson. Cousins is a spoiled brat, I hope some of the superstars in this league teach him some lessons of humility.
Thinking about the Jordan/Kobe talk that has been going on lately. If Kobe wins it again this year, he’ll be one of very few players who’ve accomplished a threepeat twice (Jordan,Russell and who else?). And don’t forget that he has finished second in the finals twice becide of that.
In my book Jordan is always no 1 that won’t change before I see someone win like Russell did.
However, you can’t overlook what a tallent and winner Kobe is. The latter has shown especially during the kb24 along with the total understanding of the game that Jordan had/has also.
So i’m a bit surpriced too that MJ hasn’t seen that. If it’s not that he just trying to push his old padawan now for the second threepeat with that comment,
The Celtics will win the title this year. Kendrick Perkins knee was the only thing that kept them form winning last year, and all they’ve done this offseason is get deeper, bigger, and more talented. They will be unstoppable.
I can’t wait for the season, and the playoffs will be awesome, I am saying that in the west its between the Lakers and the Blazers, and the East Celtics and the Heat, Heat and Lakers, and the Heat win it all. There is just too much between Wade and James, then add in Bosh, it will go 7 games, but Heat take it.
Stop riding the Heat, stop riding the Lakers. Support your hometown team, even if they are bad. I hate all you bandwagoners, I really do.
Agreed.
will its just the preseaon for the heat like bosh said they are not going to play like this in march. beside they are just practicing out there i know lebron could of played harder against atlanta i mean lebron took out atlandta last playoff all my himself mostly. the laker lost to the memphis last year does that mean they won’t win a the title think again guys some game like the preseason doesn’t really matter
what the heck?? Miami lost to Atlanta this preseason means they can’t beat the Magic?? Come on guys, I mean, uhmmm forget it suckers!! Miami played without the best shooting guard in the league right now (that’s right it’s WADE not your 5-time champion KOBE).. Let’s just see what the Heat can do when they are all healthy!!
Jordan has 6 final MVP and how much does kobe has???? yeah that’s what I thought
I really dont like when people talk about things they dont know just because you dont like the heat dont mean other have to hate them too. I’ve been a heat fan since wade first came to the nba. they won a championship in 2006 and was down 0-2 before winning 4 straight to clam their prize as the nba champion. if i remember correctly wade was the one who brought them back and won nba finals MVP and now that they added lebron james, and chris bosh both players able to score 20+ each and wingman like eddie house, mike miller and even james jones when hes hot can light up the score board. Now im not saying that they gon run the table all season but when they start to get it together just remember i told u so…… last but not least make sure your team make it to the playoffand when they do hopefully miami heat will take it easy on them<<<<>>>>>
sorry bosh wont do as good as u think…should have snagged amare
vince carter will have his most efficient season this season… Just look at his preseason stats he is over 50% in FG and 3pt FG. Why would you trade him for Carmelo Anthony???
u wouldnt trade a old vince for mello? what u smokin? mello 5top 5 in scoring in the league…u gotta be talkin about the money
cause VC is gettin old…..but i agree, ORLANDO with CARTER finally fully integrated will give the lakers a hard time in the finals….
and miami wont win it this year, but for years to come, cause they’ll evolve their bench over the years….
the celtics LOOK good on paper, but I hesitate to say another championship. Injury was the only thing that stood in their way, well all they did was get a very immobile object and another injury-prone big man. I wouldn’t be surprised to see injury stop them again. If Howard gets his post moves down, then he can challenge KD for that MVP award. Griffin for rookie of the year. But here’s two questions I have. Does LBJ average a triple double? and please don’t hate on him. We love to hear players say “I’ll do whatever it takes to win a championship”, and Lebron did just that. And who’s gonna be the bounce-back player of the year? Hedo? Ming? Davis?
Devon Harris!
Did anybody see the youtube hightlights when wade beat the lakers by himself last year and they couldnt stop him. Also when lebron cavs beat lakers twice in blowouts last year. lakers and ron artest couldnt stop lebron. Wade and lebron on the same team will be even worse for lakers plus bosh. Jordan and pippen Were basically guards and they won it together. The heat have wade, lebron, and bosh plus eddie house and mike miller who is clutch with game winning shots like fisher does. Zydrunas illgauskas has size and length. Joel anthony is a undersize ben wallace. Udonis haslem is a take charge guy. The heat won a championship with wade so wade knows how to take over a series and win it for the nba title remember 2006 when he single handly beat the mavericks.
D-wade for MVP
People, just stop with all those nonsense comments, everybody will say their team is better and is going to win, the first game of 82 games for any teams haven’t start yet, and knows wat is going to happen. All i know there will b plenty of surprises this year n this year gonna b crazy, cannot wait for Miami VS. Celtics battle for opener on Tuesday. Good Luck to all 30 teams, n plz make every night a OMG n amazing night. That new technical call is so annoying, i wanna see players express feelings n argue.
Heat fans that are saying Wade wasn’t playing vs the Hawks, that wasn’t the reason they lost cuz they’re a top 3 contender even without him. I mean come on, LeBron and Bosh!!! With them two alone they should handle the Hawks either way, plus they have a deep bench, now even better by adding Stackhouse. My prediction, Celtics beat the Heat in the conference finals and get their revenge on the Lakers, who as always (remember Sacramento?) got favored by the officlals in the finals, plus Perk was out in game 7, so they took advantage of that. Since defense wins championships, Celtics in 6 or 7.
let’s all see…let the game begin..
The lakers are gonna be in
The finals againn..no doubt.. The heat? I don’t think so.. 2 all-stars playing together?? Good luck with that. (Bosh is no all star). Lakers vs Celtics
How come no one has mentioned the blazers in all of this. Last year without brandon roy for part of the season and rudy fernandez and nicholas batuum they won 50 games. Not to mention both their centers going down to knee injuries and not returning. They showed their adversity and now they are ready to contend with the best. You have mentioned the bucks and not the blazers the bucks are only a playoff team because the east is front loaded a few good teams and the rest is ehhh. Same with the bulls and bobcats. Also the magic will never win a championship until they get another star alongside dwight howard, dwight howard isnt that caliber of a center to win a championship he is nowhere close to a primed shaq
I bet the NY Knicks wind up with Gilbert Arenas. He takes over point guard from Raymond Felton and That just excites Carmelo more to go NY and after many years put NY back at the top of list with the Heat, Lakers and Celtics.
Raptors have one of the youngest and fastest teams in the NBA I wouldn’t put it past them to pull something out, and be that underdog team people love to see. Celtics may be too old to handle the speed of the young Raptors team, and the only person on the Celtics that can truly cover a player on the Raps is Rajon Rondo… Other than that, Raptors are vying for a top position at least out of the Atlantic. New York really did nothing, other than adding an aging Amare Stoudemire, and a couple young propspects, and than getting their hopes up to sign Anthony or James (failed). New Jersey is just sort of hanging in there after that embarrasing season. Philly, well.. they’re just Philly, no real expectations.. I’m telling you everyone’s written off the Cavs and the Raptors this season but I’ll say this…
James and Bosh may be playing with a “chip” on their shoulder.
But
The entire CAVALIERS TEAM and RAPTORS TEAM are playing with a chip on their shoulders. I’m just saying, the East may turn out to be veryyyyyyyyyyyyy interesting.
Miami may see the finals next year but not this year…this year will repeat but the lakers wont lol…sorry kobe boston bringing one more home..then kobe your too old next season to get past durant.”if there is a season!!!!”
….for miami to get past orlando they gotta put bron at the 2guard and wade at the point…and play 3 bigs…..against boston this season nof’n chance people
hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha you guys just think the heat are goanna do what tha celtics did the heat are the future i admit i also admit the take anything atitude is good but u just took all the atention and watch u lost to atlanta and charlotte oh my god u might have been without d-wade rofl but u have lebron the mvp or the mdp most dissapointing player u cant beat the celtics the magic or the bulls miami will win and win big but NOT in the playoffs the celtics will win in humiliating fasin for the heat so go big three and one
I hope to god Lakers and Heat are in the finals.
I’m a Laker fan, and would love to see them get another three-peat and earn Kobe Braging rights along with Michael Jordan with 6 championships. Their victory will depend on Miami. Thus far, we don’t know how the chemistry will be with Bosh, Wade, & James. If they develope a good flow by the start of the post season, Lakers are going to be in trouble. But if the Heat become another fluke team with their investments, then I’d say Lakers are guaranteed to win another championship against the Celtics. In the East, Heat or Celtics are up for the Finals, in the West, It will be Lakers or Nuggets (Depending on health of both teams) Only time will tell…
I think the Heat have trouble ahead of them. Lebron played almost 39 mininutes he had a big game, Chris Bosh almost played big minutes. While D Wade the third best player in the league was absent. I think the 3 kings will play big but the supporting cast better do much better than what they did in the preseason. When the heat play a team like the lakers. Bynum will likely dominate any of the heat centers, Gasol will likely dominate Bosh, we know James has Artest but it will be hard work for him, Kobe vs Wade it hard to see who has the edge and Fisher will harrass any point guard the heat has. Lakers bench will be much stronger than Heat bench, I think the Lakers are stronger than the Heat.
DHoward will demand double teams by the heat and Orlando 3point shooting is very good. It would be interesting to see if the Heats can beat the Magics. I don’t think they stand a chance against a healthy Celtics team.
I would put #4 about Yao & Oden-very massive season for both players for there teams.
Everyone said the Cs were too old and too slow to make it last year yet they still finished Runners-Up and with the addition of both O’Neals and West they will be there again. Heat will take one year to gel as a team and experience the playoffs after that they will start their dynasty. Prediction for this year OKC, the Jazz and Portland will all get close but won’t get passed the lakers and Heat, Bulls and Magic will get close but won’t get passed Boston, Boston-Lakers 7 game series.
what is Miami without James, Wade and Bosh?? just another team without playoffs for years
these 3 guys will don’t take a ring without good playmakers and centers, no way!
they will be eaten by Magic or Celtics on east semifinals this season
championship?? hahaha dream dream dream..
What do you think about the bulls..??
I think if D-Rose passes the ball more, Korver keeps hitting them 3s and boozer stays healthy, they will kill it. But I don’t see that happening. I predict leaving first round of finals.
I am a die-hard Lakers fan who is just shaking in my boots at the thought that my Lakers may have to face the Thunder (again) in the Playoffs. NOT REALLY!!! I like KD and his team, lots of energy and excitement, but let’s face it, these are a bunch of wet behind the ears players trying to establish themselves as a perennial powerhouse. The mere fact that the Thunder play LA is great for them for name recognition. An example – ask most fans outside of OK what city and state do the Thunder play in and less than 50% would answer correctly, Hell, I don’t know where they play. While I wish the Thunder a successful season, I just hope that they are not, like some music artists, one hit wonders. And because the Lakers desperately need a challenge, and according to the experts, this challenge may come in the form of the Thunder, I do look forward to the Lakers facing the Thunder in the Play-offs.
the heat will win this year… although i expect them to start slow as they gel together…. i could see in pre-season they will take a while to get it rolling…. but seriously, they have too much desire and beleif to not win it…. kobe will blame injury, but lakers will be too old this year…. boston have too many old players and the magic simply dont know what it takes to win it all, dwight is not a game changer at all…. so that leave the heat, they will win 5 years in a row and become one of the best ever…..
Man Stifler your as dumb as your name how can the heat win 5 championships if they can’t get past Orlando Boston or Atlanta. The Hawks have a deep team and your forgetting about the LA Losers who will destroy the heat. The Heat is lacking size and bench support. Eddie House can hang it up so can Juwan Howard their bench is a joke even with old Stack joining. The Celtics will eliminate them so will Orlando & Atlanta. They can only win if the big 2 and a half play all 48 min in each game and that’s not possible. Mike Miller is ok but not a clutch shooter, Lebron is not a clutch player and Bosh will get over looked in clutch moments. Sorry they need more help Udonis H is the best bench player on miami. Heat will self destruct lol
Cleveland 2011 CHAMPS! JJ Hickson MVP in your FACE LEBRON for leaving CLEVELAND!
I have been watching the NBA for a long time, and this is the first time I am really looking foward to a season. You got rebooted teams like the Heat and Bulls, and the still elite teams like the Lakers, Celtics, and Magic. Then you got teams that could shock everyone in doing good like the Thunder, Blazers, Bucks, Wizards, and Knicks. This is going to be an amazing season.
First off though, I know the Heat are going to be awesome, and they will win a lot of games and go deep in the playoffs, but I still think they won’t win a title. The only players on there who has one a title is D-Wade and Haslem. Bosh has never seen past the first round, and Lebron tends to be a choke artist in final games of the series. I mean, the only time he made it to the finals in 2007, he got spanked by the Spurs. Looking at the East now, and with the possiblity of Melo moving to the East this season, the Heat will have a very hard time making it to the finals.
Here is my playoff bracket for the East and the West (seeds in not particular order):
West: Lakers, Thunder, Blazers, Spurs, Mavericks, Hornets, Jazz, and either the Suns, Rockets, or Warriors.
East: Celtics, Magic, Heat, Bulls, Hawks, Bucks, Pistons, and either the Knicks, Wizards, or Bobcats.
Western Confernece Finals: Lakers vs. Thunder
Eastern Confernece Finals: Celtics vs. Heat/Magic
NBA Finals: Lakers vs. Celtics/Heat
NBA Champions: Lakers
if carmelo goes to the knicks, they’re going to the finals losing to the lakers. Im not saying that cuz i’m a knicks fan, but because they will simply have the better overall team of all the teams. Yeah the heat may have a better starting lineup but it wont be that much better than the knicks line-up and the knicks bench is so much deeper and more talented even without carmelo. And consider that the heat have a bench full of scrubs except for maybe udonis haslem and mike miller if he doesnt start.
I love the celtics, but they are just too old now, they’d be too old to handle the quickness and abilities of the knicks. I know you fans are all gonna say that’s what they said about the celtics last year about being too old, but this year is a different year, they are one year older.
The Magic, might be the knicks toughest contender in the east, because they’d have a team that’s exactly the same as the knicks; a very talented and able lineup (not as young as the knicks tho) and a deep and good bench.
Of course, this is all under the prediction that carmelo goes to the knicks. If carmelo wants to be a championship team, and still contribute the way he did in Denver, he should go to either Chicago or New York.
You all need to relax and forget Pre-season. It has a PRE in front of it for a reason.
The elites teams are goign to be
West: Lakers, Mavs, OKC
East: Celtics, Heat, Magic, Bulls
m a celtics Fan
What i would like to see is the Celtics vs Heat for eastern finals
and Mavericks vs Lakers for western final
We all know in few years lakers are doom to failure once kobe reiters in about 4 or 5 years
By that Time OKC is expected to be a top 3 western team competing for championships everyyear.
it wont be the mavericks and the lakers in the wcf, itll be the blazers and the lakers.
y r we talking bout the nba when you knoxw who is about to take over??/??
oh man, the way the nba’s been shapin up, i really gotta side with the l.a lakers. sure the miami heat have 3 great players with outstanding scoring/rebounding/passing abilities, but i know that isn’t the key to win a title. they will be a top contender, now that these players are on the same team, you really expect them to play the same role they did with they’re old franchise teams? well c’mon, lebron will make 2 jump shots, and he’ll think hes capable of making another 3 or 4 and then start taking random 3s. Wade will be playin point, but do you really think he has good passing abilities? last year playoffs, he just ran into the paint with the whole celtic defense on him and just threw away the ball way off target to an open haslem. I think its safe to say that Bosh will be the go to guy. His rebounding skills are shaping up pretty well, and if you can find him in the paint he could score, or get fouled. If you get him to the line, he can put up good numbers. He has a pretty good mid range jump shot to.
Miamis gonna need a better bench behind these guys. You can’t just rely on 3 players. if bosh or lebron gets injured, they’ve got udonis haslem, da’sean butler, juan howard, james jones, mike miller, and now jerry stackhouse to fill the forward poisition. thats pretty good, but judging by the numbers they put up, thats not a champhionchip bench.
same for wade, hes only got mario chalmers, carlos arroyo, patrick beverly, and jerry stackshouse.
I’m going with the lakers. mostly cause im a huge lakers fan, and they’re roster shows that they can be a champhionchip contender
East: Celtics, Magic, Heat, Knicks. Bulls, Hawks, Toronto and Milwaukee
West: Lakers, Thunder, Jazz, Spurs, Suns, Nuggets, Mavs, and possibly the grizziles
East Finals: Celtics vs Magic or Celtics vs Heat or Heat vs Magic
West: Lakers vs Thunder
Finals: Lakers vs Celtics
Champions: Lakers 3peat
MVP: Kevin Durant
how could you put the grizzlies in the playoffs and not the blazers
Wow do you know anything about the East? Toronto doesn’t even have a team anymore. You forgot Charlotte, and your order is terrible.
My prediction for Eastern Conference Playoffs:
Heat, Magic, Boston, Hawks, Bulls, Knicks, Charlotte, and Bucks.
Heat over Bucks
Magic over Charlotte
Boston over Knicks
Bulls upset Hawks
Heat crush Bulls
Magic beat Boston in 7
Magic beat Heat in 6… LeBron just can’t win against the Magic. Ever. Rashard has great history playing against Bosh. Also, Wade’s not going to be a leader anymore cuz he’s not going to touch the ball ever.
As for the West, I don’t care cuz Magic are taking home the trophy no matter who they play this year. Dwight’s defense is going to be even better this year, and he’s going to be DPotY for the 3rd time. Jameer Nelson’s assist numbers in preseason vs his career have shot up 2.0 apg… Stan Van Gundy’s finally figured out how to use Brandon Bass and Ryan Anderson, this being the 2nd year they’ve been with the Magic, not to mention the rest of the bench could make up a playoff team by themselves. Rashard at SF and Bass/Gortat at PF is going to give the Magic so much size advantage against anybody.
Griffin, Wall and Cousins are primed to be the best rookie class in ages. Thunder will win 8-10 more games than last season and beat whoever they face in the first round. The bucks will give everybody nightmares if Bogut can completely recover. Same with the Bulls. I hope the Warriors and Wizards can jell and fire on all cylinders. I hope the Jazz play Gordon Hayward as much as possible. I hope the Mavericks have a post-season that will live up to their season. I hope the Suns continue to defy everyones expectations. I hope Orlando destroy Miami in every game of the regular season. I hope Monta Ellis drops a whole bagful of 50 point games on top flight teams. I hope Kevin Durant wins MVP. I hope LeBron leads the league in assists. I hope Dwight Howard plays like Dennis Rodman and Patrick Ewing combined. I hope Thiago Splitter carries the Spurs deep into the playoffs. I hope Blake Griffin gets a double-double in every game.
Heat will lose to the Lakers, Celtics, and Magic…. only in the REGULAR Season. Come Spring-Summer and the Heat Machine will run in full motion to their first of multiple Championships. How can you stop a double-double monster in Bosh, a triple double monster in Lebron, and a game/series clincher in Wade all in the same team? and…they have a bench with Haslem, miller, and now stackhouse. Too much for most teams to even comprehend let alone challenge. If not this year, then surely the next 5 years will be HEATing up in the NBA.
people listen: there is a lot of expectation regarding this 2010-2011 season: im sure that you will guys like Russell Westbrook going crazy dunking, passing AND 1s j-wall(G-arenas best choice) same situation, d-D Howard same all same all ( big time blocks, tons of rebounds) K Durant overrated , C Anthony and billups doing great , deron Williams, D-rose amazing guys, S-Nash best passer but not too much help,T-Duncan, ginobily, Parker same super stars, but not good enough. B.Roy, and blazer pretty good team for playoffs, dirk, kid and mavs will make it for playoff, but wont wont be in the finals. L. James, D wade, C bosh , will devastate the whole league in the regular season, will have of the best records in the NBA, not doubt but fans from all around the world listen: when the sun sets for sure you will see Boston Celtics and LA lakes in the finals. who will win i dont know ,
it does not matter you think that SHAQ, KOBE, PIERCE , ALLEN . KG, ARTEST all these faces will be just right there in the NBA 2010-2011 final
im a michael jordan fan for life ( im not not a kobe nor lebron hater)
and for the last 4 years im a paul peirce and celtics fan
common.. the heat cannot handle the heat… i bet they also cant beat celtics.. they have no tough center.. KG, dwight, pau , and other big guys can eat up bosh.. as for dwade and lebron,, they are good players (great actually).. but unfortunate.. they need more help.. maybe in two or three years time.. they can win championships.. but now.. i think they have to work on chemistry.. celtics and lakers are more experienced teams than them.. even OKC is a tough competitor.. so is the magic.. heat can make the playoffs.. no doubt.. but against more experienced teams like LA and boston.. they have no chance of getting a championships this year.. and maybe next year also.. who knows.. i bet LA and boston rivalry again in the finals with LA in game 7..
R U joking?! Chris Bosh overrated? Please.
He’ll prove to be the main reason Miami makes any run for a championship, in any year!
Mark MY words.
people listen: there is a lot of expectation regarding this 2010-2011 season: im sure that you will see guys like Russell Westbrook going crazy dunking, passing AND 1s j-wall(G-arenas best choice) same situation, d-D Howard same all same all ( big time blocks, tons of rebounds) K Durant overrated , C Anthony and billups doing great , deron Williams, D-rose amazing guys, S-Nash best passer but not too much help,T-Duncan, ginobily, Parker same super stars, but not good enough. B.Roy, and blazer pretty good team for playoffs, dirk, kid and mavs will make it for playoff, but wont wont be in the finals. L. James, D wade, C bosh , will devastate the whole league in the regular season, will have of the best records in the NBA, not doubt but fans from all around the world listen: when the sun sets for sure you will see Boston Celtics and LA lakes in the finals. who will win i dont know ,
it does not matter that you think these guys are old: SHAQ, KOBE, PIERCE , ALLEN . KG, ARTEST, ODOM you will see all these faces will be just right there in the NBA 2010-2011 final
im a michael jordan fan for life ( im not not a kobe nor lebron hater)
and for the last 4 years im a paul peirce and celtics fan
Black “Pamba” if you know what Pamba means in one of African language, ******** SOFT COTTON **********
LET’S FACE IT KOBI IS NOT WHAT HE USED TO BE, LOT’S OF MILEAGUE, VERY OLD, REPAIRED KNEE AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST LEBRON WONT LET HIM WIN NO MORE RINGS……… HE IS DONE, THROWN IN THE SHELF BY THE ‘DECISION” BYE BYE KOBI.
TALK ABOUT CELTICS, DID THEY UPGRADE THEMSELVES OR THEY ALL REGISTERED FOR SOCIAL SECURITY IN BOSTON, THEY WENT OLD, NO TALENT, IF SECOND ONEAL IS A THREAT , MIAMI WOULDN’T HAVE LET HIM GO…
AND PLEASE, FOLKS DONT JUDGE PRE-SEASON GAMES TO REALITY, HEAT MIGHT STUMBLE BUT THEY WILL NOT FALL, IF BRON CAN OVER 60 GAMES BY LITERALLY HIMSELF AND WADE 47 GAMES , PLUS BOSH, U GOT TO BE KIDDING ME, TV ANALYST THEY ALWAYS GO WITH THE WIND, ONCE YOU WIN, THEY ALL FLIP….
heat will win the championship, they can beat the celtics easily, these celtics stars are almost has been now, theyre already on the verge of retirement, in other words theyre too old for serious matters…..
@Dave & Mighty Heat Both of you fun boys need to get a room and smoke each others pole. Miami can beat Boston easily lol we’ll see today. The Celtics will rip Lebron the choker and bosh a new a-hole. Bosh is a top rebounder but he’s no factor on D. The heat will lose in the 2nd round and Boston will take the title this year. They got CHEATED last year and they are playing for keeps this year, maybe the last season they can make a run so I think they’re going to make that run. Miami needs help their bench is a JOKE outside of D-Wade C.Bosh and the Coker James they have ahhhh NOBODY we’ll see if 3 guys can win a playoff series lol Celtic’s over Lakers in 6!!!
whats wrong with you. you would rather see if melo is still on the nuggets or in ny or nj what about if the lakers three peat and phil gets his fourth three peat and kobe and fisher get their sixth rings and continue there dynasty. I think thats a little more important than how the press treats the heat.
soory boston or lakers fans the party is ov ever for you ladies and gentleman the miami heat is for real
Don’t get me wrong both Lebron and DWade are both playmakers, scorers and they can defend, Bosh is alright but thats just 3 guys. If the Heat had gotten Derek Fisher who plays really good defense, a big man like Kendrick Perkens who plays solid defense and a few solid defenders on the bench they would be a team I would fear. James, Wade and Bosh would generate alot of offense and open opportunities for the rest of the team so the team would have enough offense to compete with anyone and the defense would be strong enough to handle anyone but this don’t seem to be the case in Miami. Miami will have alot of offense with good chemistry but they defense I am curious to see.
mark my words….Celtics win it all next season. Lakers lose to in a upset to San Antonio in 6 in the second round, who lose to the Thunder in 7 in the Western Conference Finals, Hawks wont win 50 games and will be out in the first round, Clevaland will win at least 15 games but no more than 25. Miami will go down in the ECF against Boston. Durant wins the MVP, Howard the DFPY, Wall just beats Griffin for ROY, George Hill as Sixth Man, and Thibedeau as COY. Miami win 60, Orlando 58,Thunder 57,L.A 56, Boston 52, San Antonio 53, Bulls 50, ATL 48. Wolves will win 15.
this is how I believe seeding will go
1. Thunder/Miami
2. L.A./Orlando
3.San Antonio/Boston
4.Portland/Chicago
5.Dallas/ATL
6.Houston/Milwakee
7.Utah/Indiana
8.New Orleans/Charlotte
Cp3 finds a way to stay healthy and they find a way to make the playoffs. I dont trust Mike Conley and O.J. is a scorer, not a point guard. I wanted to put the Nuggets in here but theyre without KMart and the Melo suitation is gonna lead to their downfall. I say he’s gone by the time February comes, they probably know by then it’s not gonna work. Collison win the Most Improved award and Pacers finally find a way to win behind Granger,Collison, and Roy Hibbert (yes I said ROY HIBBERT). San Antonio will come to play this time around and earn a third seed. I believe #1-7 win 50 games with NO just coming up short and #1-4 will win at least 50 for the east.
I honestly think that a HEALTHY Boston team is unbeatable. Because when Boston is healthy they are dominant. I truly belive that in game 7 of 2010 nba finals that no dout the celtics would have won if we had perkins. think this year Boston will beat Miami in the postseason kinda like how they surprisingly beat cleveland last year and then they will play lakers for the finals and get revenge.
This is my season end prediction
East: 1. Heat (best record in NBA) 2. Celtics (If stay healthy entire season) 3. Magic 4.Bulls 5. Bucks (Dark horse team) 6. Haws 7. Knicks 8. Wizards or Bobcats
West: 1. Lakers 2. Mavericks 3. Okc 4. Trailblazers (dark horse team) 5. jazz 6. Spurs 7. Suns 8. Hornets vs Grizzlies vs Clippers
East Conf. Finals: Heat vs Celtics, Celtics win in 7
West Conf. Finals: Lakers vs Trailblazers Lakers win in 6
Finals: Lakers vs Celtics, Celtics win in 7
Just wondering if all you confident Laker fans notice that Kobe has been shooting like crap for a very long time now. The only exceptions were during the Jazz and Suns series. How is anything a “given” when 30 of your posessions are used to give Kobe 30 points? They will still be great, but upsets are very possible. Pau can’t make up all the needed efficiency on his own…..and who else will CONSISTENTLY give it to them?
I hate it when people are already talking about the Heat automatically winning the championship, when the season hasnt even started yet. No one has seen the entire Heat team play yet. Yeah they look really good on paper, but it could turn out to be a bust. In order of Miami to be considered an elite team, they have to beat already elite teams like Boston, Orlando, and Los Angeles. Miami has a lot to prove this year, so I get pissed with all these bandwagon Heat fans automatically put them at the top of the NBA. Right now the team to beat is the Lakers.
san antoniooooo for the championship! Go Spurs Go!
preseason is nothing but yes some teams are trying to win even its just a preseason game, who wants to lose anyway?. People stop arguing about who’s gonna win, who’s gonna be the best team.. Yes Lakers will try to win this year ,and I agree Boston is getting older but you guys are retard I think Boston will still make it to the finals, it doesn’t matter if the big 3 is getting old as long they played well they can. I really don’t like Boston ever since the C’S big 3 joined forces. No one expect Boston will make it to the finals last year, right? look what happen.. As for the “Heat Haters” yes you guys think think heat big 3 wont make it.. But let’s just wait and see it’s too early to say things like that. and one more thing I don’t get why you people keep hating Lebron so much, It’s not Lebron’s fault that he joined forces with Bosh and Wade.. Lebron has own freedom too so whatever he choose let him be,, I’m not saying that you guys must like Lebron, by the way i’m a Derrick Rose fan but I dont expect the bulls to win the title but who knows and lets just watch and enjoy the game it doesnt matter if your team loses let the best team wins, weak or strong.This season is very interesting lets see what happens.. I don’t care who’s gonna win the title , whos gonna be the MVP.. Lets just enjoy the game and watch Where NBA happens..
i have a friend who loves spurs so much since duncan’s rookie year.. Spurs won 4times as champions not bad and very good.. I like Blair he’s a machine.
Ummm how come no one is worried about the lakers? havent they made everyone shut up for the last two years??? is it bryants knee or is it bynums knee??? maybe the Laker show will start of slow….but once the playoffs come around “THE LAKER SHOw” will be back on. I have respect for lebron and Dwade all the way but honestly bosh aint nuttin to worry about. niether is the rest of the Heat team. i mean i dont hate the heat i know theyll be in the finals with the LAKERS. but im a LAKERS fan so tell me what the hell am i supposed to say??? ahahah u already know. LAKERS ALL THE WAY WIN OR LOOSE!
It’d be great if everyone would shut up about the Heat (with no depth what-so-ever) the ever-aging Celtics, the big bust Magic and the same old Lakers.
Mark MY words, look for the underdogs this season.
all of us has a different opinions and expectation.. we all don’t know what will happen.. but here is my opinion..
KEVIN DURANT = MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
LEBRON JAMES = DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
JOHN WALL = ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
MIAMI HEAT = 73-75 WINS – RECORD IN THE NBA
WEST PLAYOFFS
LAKERS-ROCKETS
PHOENIX-DENVER
THUNDER-BLAZERS
DALLAS-HORNETS
EAST PLAYOFFS
MIAMI-HAWKS
MAGIC-BULLS
CELTICS-BUCKS
KNICKS-WIZARDS
LAKERS-HORNETS
PHOENIX-THUNDER
MIAMI-KNICKS
MAGIC-CELTICS
LAKERS-THUNDER
MIAMI-CELTICS
LAKERS-CELTICS
CELTICS..
that is only my predicion and it can happen..
LAKERS 3-PEAT! Gasol, Odom, Artest, Kobe, Fisher, Coach Phil! you can’t go wrong with the combination! Maybe if the Heat would have a center like Kendrick Perkins…Nah! LAKERS ‘TIL I DIE!
do you know who is d-wade?
2009-2010 1st round?
game4?
the celtics loss…
heat dwade less lebron & bosh…
dwade has the ability to bring back to the game even down by 10-20 points…
did you see game3?..
the celtics couldn’t beat the heat with dwade alone….
MIAMI HEAT:
gamezone101 you have a point about Wade playing a one man team similar to Lebron and now they are in a team. I agree Bosh is not an elite power forward in the NBA, but he has talent and ability to score and rebound but Bosh lacks in defense which I think his weakness.. I’m not a Heat fan , I’m a Bulls fan.. What I’m saying is that Heat is still team to watch whatever you people think and I know and we know the other heat supporting players are not that great but they can contribute (Miller, Haslem, Chalmers, Anthony)
ROOKIES:
This season the rookies looks promising like John Wall, Blake Griffin. But Demarcus Cousins seems to have attitude problemS. I’m worried about Evan Turner he didn’t play well in the preseason even its just a preseason for a rookie. and I hope he can get better in the season, I’m happy to see Blake Griffin is back and playing like an all star and I hope he didn’t end up like Greg Oden the always injured Center, or your TMAC the always injured
LAKERS:
Kobe, Gasol, Odom, Artest, Fisher, Bynum – Top 6 players of the Lakers team
Addition: Blake and Barnes – Both of them are starting players in their former team
-i’m not surprised if the Lakers win this year with another championship ring but if they lose in the finals or didn’t make it I will be surprise..
agreed !