Toronto Raptors

2006-07 record: 47-35 1^st in the Atlantic

Added: Maceo Baston, Jason Kapono, Jamario Moon

Lost: Luke Jackson, Morris Peterson, Pape Sow, P.J. Tucker

PG: T.J. Ford, Jose Calderon, Darrick Martin

SG: Anthony Parker, Juan Dixon, Carlos Delfino

SF: Jason Kapono, Joey Graham, Jamario Moon

PF: Chris Bosh, Jorge Garbajosa, Kris Humphries, Maceo Baston

C: Andrea Bargnani, Rasho Nesterovic

Versus Bulls

2006-07

Home Fri. December 8, W 93-90

Away Fri. December 28, W 107-97

Home Tue. February 13, L 111-112

Away Sun. April 8, L 89-103

2007-08

Home Sat. November 10, 7:30PM

Away Sun. November 25, 11AM

Home Wed. April 16, 7:30PM

Overview:

The Raptors became the darlings of the league last season emerging from the much of the Atlantic division to win 47 games, a 20 game improvement from the previous season. They were high scoring, energetic, and getting key contributions from a roster full of no-names. All the experts ripped them for trading Charlie Villanueva, how’d that work out? They laughed at bringing back Anthony Parker after failing in the NBA a decade ago. Jorge Garbajosa wasn’t a household name. Andrea Bargnani was the #1 pick, but few Americans had ever seen him play. It worked. It was great to see. They were not Chris and the Boshettes, they were just a talented, hungry team that got it done.

It is going to kill me to write it, but I don’t think that they will have an encore performance. Lost amid the good story was the fact that they won the Atlantic because Philadelphia, Boston, and New York were a mess, and New Jersey was battling injuries all year. The Nets exposed the Raptors for being just a good team last April in the 1^st round of the playoffs. They couldn’t contain Jason Kidd or stop Vince Carter. Now with the additions of Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, Zach Randolph, and the return of Ricard Jefferson and Nenad Krstic, I’m not so sure that the Raptors can play .500 ball within the division. Last season’s 11-5 mark within the division was second to only the Bulls, 12-4, in the East and 3^rd in the NBA, the Mavericks were the best at 14-2. A better division might send Toronto back to being a .500 team.

What they mean for the Bulls?

Much like the Celtics and Magic, I think the presence of Chris Bosh on the floor is an unwelcome sight at the United Center. Other than the games where he was slowed or missing with an early season knee injury, he massacred Ben Wallace on the offensive end. It isn’t fair for Ben Wallace to have to guard a guy like Bosh. He’s 23 years old, incredible athlete, has the ability go out on the perimeter because he has a face up game and a 15-footer, and is a great finisher around the hoop. With the shooters around him in Bargnani, Kapono, Parker, Dixon, and Garbajosa, how do you give help? I just don’t like the way the Bulls match up with the Raptors, and Bulls fans might hope that the Atlantic offers better resistance this year.

Houston Rockets

2006-07 record: 52-30 3^rd in the Southwest

Added: Aaron Brooks, Jackie Butler, Steve Francis, Mike James, Carl Landry, Luis Scola

Lost: Juwan Howard, Scott Padgett, Kirk Snyder, Vassilis Spanoulis, Jake Tsakalidis

PG: Rafer Alston, Mike James, Steve Francis, Aaron Brooks, John Lucas

SG: Tracy McGrady, Bonzi Wells, Luther Head

SF: Shane Battier, Justin Reed

PF: Luis Scola, Chuck Hayes, Steve Novak, Carl Landry

C: Yao Ming, Dikembe Mutombo, Jackie Butler

 Versus Bulls

2006-07

Away Thurs. November 18, L 100-101

Home Mon. January 8, L 77-84

2007-08

Home Sat. December 22, 7:30PM

Away Sun. February 24, 7PM

Overview:

A lot of people are making the Houston Rockets their “sleeper” team. I’m trying to figure out how Luis Scola and the 2007 incarnation of Steve Francis is going to elevate them above the Spurs, Mavericks, and Suns. I am not denying that it is possible, but I don’t see how they are going to be significantly better this year. Scola is the latest in the line of talented players from Argentina. He has started for their national team for some time and has developed a following among scouts and media people. During the FIBA Tournament of the Americas, he led the Argentinians to the finals averaging 19.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 2 assists for the tournament. He is a talented, but athletically limited power forward on a team full of talented but athletically limited players. Beyond Tracy McGrady, the Rockets don’t have an elite athlete in their rotation. Aaron Brooks, Luther Head, and Jackie Butler are athletic but appear to be buried behind veterans. I think that even if all their new parts come into their roles, they still are only a 55 win team.

I’m not going to take shots on a 55-win team. I’d love if the Bulls were a 55-win team, but the Rockets are victims of geography. To win the title, somehow they need to surpass the Mavericks and Spurs in their division. If somehow they can accomplish that, then they still have to find out how they will match up with the Phoenix Suns or Golden State Warriors in a seven game series. They are 1-6 against the Suns the past couple years and were overwhelmed at home by the new look Warriors last April in their only meeting with the true Nellyball lineup. They limited by their athleticism, and while Jeff Van Gundy was run out of town for trying to hide it by taking the air out of the ball, I don’t think Rick Adelman will have the magic touch with which to turn the clock back on Steve Francis or give Yao hops.

What they mean for the Bulls?

While the Rockets don’t match up well with a lot of teams in the West, they do with the Bulls. The Bulls just do not have the personnel to handle either Yao or McGrady, and this has caused the Bulls to lose 5 of 6 meetings since those two have been teamed up. I might be crazy, but I think that the Rockets are a team where Joakim Noah and Tyrus Thomas can have some success and might be the keys to having some success against them. The Rockets cannot match level of activity that those two can bring to the game, and against a team that on a whole is just better than them, the Bulls need to get extra opportunities and cheap put backs. This could come back to backfire if they just pick up three or four fouls and couple turnovers in five or six minutes, but I think might be worth the risk.

Miami Heat

2006-07 record: 44-38 First in the Southeast

Added: Joel Anthony, Mark Blount, Brian Chase, Daequan Cook, Ricky Davis, Devin Green, Penny Hardaway, Alexander Johnson, Smush Parker, Jeremy Richardson, Marcus Slaughter

Lost: Michael Doleac, Eddie Jones, Jason Kapono, Gary Payton, James Posey, Wayne Simien, Antoine Walker

PG: Jason Williams, Smush Parker, Chris Quinn, Brian Chase

SG: Dwyane Wade, Daequan Cook, Anfernee Hardaway, Jeremy Richardson

SF: Ricky Davis, Dorell Wright, Devin Green

PF: Udonis Haslem, Alexander Johnson, Marcus Slaughter, Joel Anthony

C: Shaquille O’Neal, Alonzo Mourning, Mark Blount, Earl Barron

versus Bulls

2006-07

Away Tue. October 31 W 108-66

Home Wed. December 27 W 109-103

Home Sat. January 27 W 100-97

Away Wed. March 7 L 70-103

Home Sat. April 21 W 96-91 Playoffs

Home Tue. April 24 W 107-89 Playoffs

Away Fri. April 27 W 104-96 Playoffs

Away Sun. April 29 W 92-79 Playoffs

2007-08

Away Wed. January 16, 6PM

Home Thu. February 14, 7PM

Away Tue. April 8, 6:30PM

Overview:

The Heat got exposed last year for being old, injured, and disinterested. While ridding itself of the Gary Payton, who hung on for three years too many, and Antoine Walker can only help them, Miami is going through a quiet rebuilding year. Rebuilding? Yes, I believe when a team changes seven players from one year to the next that they are undergoing a rebuilding project. Despite being named as possible destinations for almost every available free agent, the only name players they landed were Ricky Davis, Mark Blount, Smush Parker and Penny Hardaway.  While they will get all the headlines of the newcomers, I think that it will be who makes the team from the group of Alexander Johnson, Devin Green, Brian Chase, Jeremy Richardson, Joel Anthony, and Marcus Slaughter that Bulls fans should think about, because they were Bulls specific signings. The Heat felt like they ran into a bad matchup at a bad time in getting swept by the Bulls. Eddie Jones and Gary Payton could not keep up. James Posey and Udonis Haslem are not anything special as players, but were playing 30 minutes per against the Bulls because they were the two guys who could run the Bulls. Riley brought in as many high energy, athletic bodies as he could in the hopes that they can rub off on the veterans.

In fairness, these guys do have some pedigree. Slaughter left San Diego State a year early and made a bigger name for himself playing for Pinar Karisyaka in Turkey averaging a double-double in a very good Turkish league than he did in college. Jeremy Richardson had a similar 06-07 campaign where he averaged 17.5 PPG in Fort Worth of the NBDL while showing that he had NBA range and athleticism after flying under the radar while playing at Delta State. Devin Green bounced around the world playing with the Los Angeles D-Fenders where he averaged 19.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.50 steals in 38.4 minutes per game and the RheinEnergie Koln. He averaged 10.5 PPG, 5.5 RPG, and 1.4 SPG for the German league champs. Brian Chase emerged as a star of the NBDL last season as a teammate of Devin Green with the Los Angeles D-Fenders, averaging 16.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.41 steals and 33.2 minutes while shooting 46.0 percent from the field, 43.9 percent from three-point range and 92.3 percent from the foul line. Chase also earned All D-League Honorable Mention honors and was selected to play in the 2007 D-League All-Star Game. Joel Anthony has a mostly non-descript career at UNLV, but he did establish himself as a great shot blocker. In 20 minutes per game as a senior, Anthony averaged 3 blocks per game! Alexander Johnson had a quiet, but effective season as a power forward for the Grizzlies. His emphatic dunks, blocked shots, and all around hustle endeared himself to many. He was only released because the team needed to clear up money to sign Darko Milicic. Of young group, probably only two to four make the team, depending on what they do with Penny Hardaway, Earl Barron, and Chris Quinn, but in bringing them in Pat Riley sent the message that the Heat are going to be younger, quicker, and more active this season.

The rewards for overhauling the supporting cast probably will not be reaped until Dwyane Wade is fully recovered from his knee injury and in mid-season form around the All-Star break, Until then, all the Heat have to do is tread water and stay within reach of .500. If they can do this, then they have an opportunity to make a run at the Magic for the division and even if they fall short at least a spot in the playoffs. Come playoff time, a healthy Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O’Neal is still strikes fear into the hearts of the NBA, and the rebuilding effort will simply look like a reloading.

What they mean for the Bulls
Of the teams in the East that are likely to contend for a playoff spot, the Bulls match up with the Heat the best. Wade doesn’t like chasing around Gordon. Jason Williams can’t keep up with Hinrich. Shaq doesn’t really want to try. Even Ricky Davis had problems staying out of foul trouble when playing Deng and Nocioni the past few years when he was in Minnesota. I’m not sure how the result of the 1^st round differs if Dwyane Wade was 100% last year, clearly it would not have been a sweep, but the Bulls might just be a matchup where the Heat will be best off avoiding.

Denver Nuggets

2006-07 record: 45-37 2^nd in the Nortwest

Added: Chucky Atkins, Steven Hunter, Bobby Jones, Von Wafer, Mike Wilks

Lost: Steve Blake, Reggie Evans, DerMarr Johnson

PG: Allen Iverson, Chucky Atkins, Mike Wilks, Anthony Carter

SG: Yakhouba Diawara, J.R. Smith, Von Wafer

SF: Carmelo Anthony, Linas Kleiza, Bobby Jones

PF: Nene, Kenyon Martin, Eduardo Najera

C: Marcus Camby, Steven Hunter

Versus Bulls

2006-07

Away Tue. November 21, L 109-113

Home Thur. March 22, W 109-108

2007-08

Away Tue. November 20, 8PM

Home Fri. February 22, 7PM

Overview:

If any team was to emerge as a surprise champion, it will be the Denver Nuggets. It will require a little luck when it comes to the health of Kenyon Martin and Marcus Camby, but if they hold together the Nuggets will have what it takes to battle the Spurs, Mavericks, and Suns in the West. Allen Iverson continues to defy doubters who think he won’t be an effective player into his thirties, and playing alongside Carmelo Anthony and having the likes of Camby, Nene, and K-Mart behind him will only elongate his career. Carmelo Anthony, already a star, is only starting to hit his prime at the age of 23. He averaged 29 PPG, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists last season, and learned what it means to be a star in the league. I give George Karl a lot of credit for challenging Carmelo to be a better all around player and give better effort on the defensive end. He’s coming into this season in phenomenal shape, and poised for an even better 2008 campaign.

It took Iverson, Anthony, and the rest of the team a month or so to acclimate themselves to one another. When Iverson first arrived, Anthony was suspended, so they first went from being Melo’s team, then Iverson’s team, then figuring out the chain of command. It was a bumpy ride, but winning 10 of 11 to close the season with wins over Dallas, Utah, Lakers twice, and San Antonio, although in a game where neither team played their stars, give hope for great things to come. Clearly, Iverson and Melo will combine for 50+ points and both have the potential to go for 40 or 50 on any given night, but they also have Nene and Camby picking up the garbage. If he stays healthy, Martin offers another dimension to the team on both sides of the court. They also have a number of little known scrappers, Eduardo Najera, Yakhouba Diawara, and Steven Hunter, who will do the little things that don’t show up in the stat book.

My only concern with the Nuggets is whether George Karl can harness the immense talent of J.R. Smith. The team does not have many perimeter shooters. Beyond their Big 2 scorers, they really only have J.R. Smith, Chucky Atkins, and Von Wafer with the ability to spread a defense. Of that group, Smith should get the most minutes and have the biggest impact. Adding to the intrigue is that Karl has already announced that Yakhouba Diawara will start at shooting guard until Chucky Atkins gets healthy. The up-and-down relationship between coach and player can really sour if Smith is not willing to accept a specialized role off the bench. If not, the Nuggets will be need to look for a trade to bring in another shooter or risk another year of being one-and-done in the West.

What they mean for the Bulls?

On this year’s version of the circus trip, the Bulls make their annual trip to elevation. The Bulls historically are terrible on the trip and the game in Denver is usually no exception. When Iverson and Anthony are clicking, they can outscore anyone. With the Bulls playing in Denver as the fourth game in six days, it should not be surprising if Denver plays it’s part as a Circus trip assassin once again. The game in February should be more interesting because by that time we should know what kind of team the Nuggets and Bulls really are.  

New Jersey Nets

2006-07 record: 41-41 2^nd in the Atlantic

Added: Darrell Armstrong, Malik Allen, Jamaal Magloire, Sean Williams

Lost: Hassan Adams, Eddie House, Mikki Moore, Clifford Robinson

PG: Jason Kidd, Marcus Williams, Darrell Armstrong

SG: Vince Carter, Antoine Wright, Bernard Robinson

SF: Richard Jefferson, Bostjan Nachbar

PF: Jason Collins, Sean Williams, Josh Boone

C: Nenad Krstic, Jamaal Magloire, Malik Allen, Mile Ilic

Versus Bulls

2006-07

Away Fri. January 5, L 86-91

Home Thur. January 11, L 83-86

Home Fri. April 6, W 105-74

Away Wed. April 18,, L 97-106

2007-08

Away Wed. October 31, 6:30PM

Away Wed. February 20, 6:30PM

Home Tue. March 18, 7:30PM

Overview:

I feel dumb for feeling that the Nets will bounce back this year. How often does a veteran team take a major dip in the standings, and then bounce back? I am aware that injuries to Nenad Krstic and Richard Jefferson played a major role in the team’s mediocre 41-41 record, but Vince Carter got his extension, and history has shown that he can get complacent. Jason Kidd, while as efficient as he ever was in 2007, is going to turn 35 this season, and sat out the preseason to rest his back. At some point, nature is going to take its course. Even the timeless John Stockton started to slow and couldn’t handle a 35-40-minute per night workload once he turned 35.

That said, I think the Nets had an incredible offseason. Bringing in Jamaal Magloire, drafting Sean Williams, and getting Nenad Krstic back from a knee injury gives them frontcourt depth for the first time since they had Derrick Coleman, Armon Gilliam, and Jayson Williams. Even if Jason Kidd only plays 30-35 minutes instead of 35-40, he’s still one of the best in the business, and back ups Darrell Armstrong and currently injured Marcus Williams are capable handling 15 minutes per night. Vince Carter still has 30 PPG potential, whether he has the desire to do so over 82 games is debatable, but everyone knows that he will come to play come playoff time. Richard Jefferson should bounce back to his old ways now that his ankle problems are behind him.

This team could very well give the Celtics a run for their money in the Atlantic and go back to being a 50-win team and an Eastern conference favorite come playoff time. They have everything a team could want on paper, but coming off a 41-win season, I have my doubts.

What they mean for the Bulls?

In the East, the Pistons and Nets are two teams that are simply better than the Bulls at every position. The Heat, Knicks, Wizards, Raptors, Magic, and Celtics have guys that can cause problems and those mismatches overcome their deficiencies, but the Pistons and Nets are just better at every spot. Jason Kidd, Vince Carter, and Richard Jefferson are just better than Hinrich, Gordon, and Deng. The Nets combo platter of Krstic, Collins, Williams, Magloire, Allen, and Boone is better than the Bulls of Wallace, Thomas, Noah, Smith, Khryapa, and Gray. Add in that Jason Kidd hates Skiles and loves sticking it to him for running him out of Phoenix, I don’t like the Bulls when matched up against New Jersey.

Los Angeles Lakers

2006-07 record: 42-40 2^nd in the Pacific

Added: Javaris Crittenton, Derek Fisher, Coby Karl

Lost: Aaron McKie, Smush Parker, Shammond Williams

PG: Derek Fisher, Javaris Crittenton, Jordan Farmar

SG: Kobe Bryant, Maurice Evans, Sasha Vujacic

SF: Luke Walton, Vladimir Radmanovic, Coby Karl

PF: Lamar Odom, Ronny Turiaf, Brian Cook

C: Andrew Bynum, Kwame Brown, Chris Mihm

Versus Bulls

2006-07

Away Sun. November 19, L 72-82

Home Tue. December 19, W 94-89

2007-08

Away Sun. November 18, 7:30PM

Home Tue. December 18, 7:30PM

Overview:

Kobe Bryant is the best player in the NBA, and along with LeBron James, Tim Duncan, and Dwyane Wade, the only players who right now can lead any team to 40 wins. Jordan, Magic, Shaq, Bird, and Wilt were that way. It is elite company. The only thing that might keep Kobe from leading the Lakers back to the playoffs this year is a crumbling relationship with the Lakers front office. His complaints are understandable. Since they traded Shaquille O’Neal, their drafts have netted Javaris Crittenton, Sun Yue, Marc Gasol, Jordan Farmar, Andrew Bynum, Ronny Turiaf, Von Wafer, Sasha Vujacic, Marcus Douhit. To put this in perspective, they have passed on Anderson Varejao, Chris Duhon, Trevor Ariza, Sean May, Danny Granger, Ryan Gomes, Amir Johnson, and Daniel Gibson. They have had the opportunity to acquire Carlos Boozer, Baron Davis, Jermaine O’Neal, Kevin Garnett, and most notably Jason Kidd and not gotten the deal done. GM Mitch Kupchak has done a poor job of talent evaluation and development, and in doing so is wasting the prime years of one of the greatest talents the league has ever had.

Despite not making any major moves to better themselves, they are going to be better this year than last. Smush Parker was not meant to be a starting point guard in the NBA. Derek Fisher, although nothing special, knows Phil Jackson’s system and has played with Kobe Bryant before. Javaris Crittenton can offer a scoring threat off the bench as well as potential for the future. Chris Mihm, Lamar Odom, Vladimir Radmanovic, Maurice Evans and Luke Walton can’t possibly all be injured again.

Those small improvements can be huge if Kobe Bryant can stay motivated and in a Laker uniform. The media runs amuck of Kobe-to-the-Bulls rumors despite there really not being much substance to them. If the team can get past the off court distractions, and fend off a difficult first month of the season, the Lakers will be in playoff contention again. The X-factor for them being a legitimate threat in the West and a simple one-and-done is Andrew Bynum. The 20 year old who the Lakers would not part with to get Jason Kidd needs to have a breakthrough season. If he can come around and emerge in year three as Al Jefferson did last year, and go from a maddeningly inconsistent player with potential to a real threat on the block, the Lakers have the potential to win 45-50 games and get a #5 or #6 in the West. If not, either he or Kobe probably won’t finish the season in purple and gold.

What they mean for the Bulls?

It’s all about Kobe, and it will continue to be for the foreseeable future. Kobe has stated that he’d like to be traded to Chicago. He has also said he’d like to play in New York, Phoenix, or Dallas. It is possible as the season goes on, he’ll think about the possibilities of playing with Detroit, Golden State, Houston, or Denver. The point is, he is frustrated with the front office’s inability to give him a better supporting cast, and he is just using the Bulls as a chip to either have the Lakers bring in someone who can or get him to a better run organization. I won’t believe that Kobe will be traded until it happens, but I’m not opposed to dreaming.

Washington Wizards

2006-07 record: 41-41

Added: Dominic McGuire, Oleksiy Pecherov, Nick Young

Lost: Calvin Booth, Jarvis Hayes, Michael Ruffin

PG: Gilbert Arenas, Antonio Daniels, Roger Mason

SG: DeShawn Stevenson, Nick Young,

SF: Caron Butler, Dominic McGuire

PF: Antawn Jamison, Andray Blatche, Darius Songaila

C: Brendan Haywood, Oleksiy Pecherov, Etan Thomas (inj.)

Versus the Bulls

2006-07

Home Sat. December 2, W 112-94

Away Wed. January 10, L 103-113

Home Fri. February 23, W 105-90

Away Sun April 15, W 101-68

2007-08

Away Wed. December 19, 6PM

Home Fri. February 29, 7PM

Home Sat. April 5, 7:30PM

Overview:

I have a sneaky feeling that the Wizards are going to take a step or two backwards this year. While the Magic, Bobcats, and Hawks have improved themselves, the Wizards have only gotten younger. Not to say that they were deep last year, they clearly weren’t, but the Wizards are likely to have a second line that is closer to rivaling Georgetown in age and development than an NBA team. The level of youth and inexperience is only going to place a greater burden on the Wizards starters to produce and stay healthy if Washington is going to have any chance of returning to the playoffs.

Additionally, the loss of Etan Thomas leaves an already thin front line even thinner. Brendan Haywood is a horrible fit for a team that wants to run, but with only rookie Oleksiy Pecherov and 21 year old Andray Blatche they have no choice but to keep him as their starter. Both Pecherov and Blatche have flashed potential in the preseason, and the team would be best served if one of them can take the starting spot from Haywood, but I’m not confident that either will be able to take that step this season.

The reason for optimism is comes from the fact that Gilbert Arenas, DeShawn Stevenson, Caron Butler, and Antawn Jamison score 80 points per game. When those four are healthy, the Wizards have a chance of outscoring just about anyone. This scoring punch allowed the Wizards to run out to a 34-25 record, but when injuries struck Arenas and Butler, the lack of depth left the Wizards reeling to a 7-16 finish, as well as a 1^st round sweep from the Cavaliers. I’m not certain that even if healthy, the Wizards are capable of winning matching last season’s win total in an East where so many teams have upgraded their rosters.

What they mean for the Bulls

I still have a hard time placing Gilbert Arenas among the best in the NBA. I remember how he just massacred the Bulls in the 2005 playoffs, and then went blow for blow with LeBron in 2006. If he had not gotten hurt last year, he might have gotten serious consideration for MVP of the league. Despite all that he has done, I’m not sure whether he can be put in the same breathe as Kobe, Wade, LeBron, and Iverson. I’m not sure that when he is placed with a middling to bad supporting cast, and his team will be as poor as it has been in the past few years, he can will them to the playoffs. This is why I am dismissing the Wizards this year as finishing somewhere from 8-12 in the East and a non-issue for the Bulls.

Golden State Warriors

2006-07 record: 42-40 3rd in the Pacific

Added: Marco Belinelli, Austin Croshere, Troy Hudson, Stephane Lasme, Kosta Perovic, Brandan Wright

Lost: Adonal Foyle, Sarunas Jasikevicius, Josh Powell, Jason Richardson, Anthony Roberson

PG: Baron Davis, Troy Hudson

SG: Mickael Pietrus, Monta Ellis, Marco Belinelli

SF: Stephen Jackson, Matt Barnes, Kelenna Azubuike,

PF: Al Harrington, Austin Croshere, Brandan Wright, Stephane Lasme

C: Andris Biedrins, Patrick O’Bryant, Kosta Perovic

Versus Bulls

2006-07

Away Fri. February 9, L 121-123 OT

Home Wed. February 28, W 113-83

2007-08

Home Fri. January 18, 8:30PM

Away Thur. February 7, 9:30PM

Overview:

What can I say about a team that named Stephen Jackson a captain? On one hand, Stephen Jackson and Baron Davis might be two of the most underappreciated players in the NBA. Remember last February, even basketball sage Charles Barkley thought the Pacers bested the Warriors when they traded Jackson, Al Harrington, Keith McLeod, and Sarunas Jasikevicius for Troy Murphy, Mike Dunleavy, Josh Powell, and Ike Diogu. This was clearly an indictment of Jackson, who on paper was far and away the best player in that trade. Jackson is one of the few players around that can play in any style, multiple roles, multiple positions, and never break stride. Yet, his off the court issues cloud most people’s perception of his on-court contributions. On the other hand, it is his off the court problems that has him suspended for the first seven games of the season.

I wonder about the Warriors ability to follow through on their breakout half season. Jason Richardson was jettisoned to Charlotte for rookie project Brendan Wright. Mickael Pietrus is upset that he wasn’t extended or traded. Monta Ellis suffered a scary neck injury during the preseason that will slow him early on. Not much positive news has come out of Oakland since the Jazz eliminated them in the 2^nd round. That said, they still have Baron Davis in a contract year. Al Harrington has lost 15 pounds to better handle the team’s run-and-gun style. 1^st round pick Marco Belinelli appears to found a perfect home for a locked in gunner. Andris Biedrins will likely join the rather exclusive double-double club in his contract season. Austin Croshere, now that he is no longer on the league’s most overpaid players, might actually get appreciated for being a solid big man off the bench.

Having question marks in the East is one thing, but question marks in the West can put a team in the lottery. With a much improved Memphis team, and New Orleans still coming on strong, the Warriors can not expect to be able to flip a switch and turn it on in March again. This season will be a gauge for Nellyball, Baron Davis, and the Captain. I’m looking forward to seeing how it will play out.

What they mean for the Bulls?

The two games with the Warriors should be among the most entertaining of the season. Last Spring, the Warriors became the best late night show on television. Watching BD, J-Rich, the future Captain, and the rest of them was nothing short of incredible. They were 48 minutes of an And 1 video. I only hope that this season brings more of the same, and seeing as how the two games are going to be on ESPN and TNT, the networks feel the same way.

Orlando Magic

2006-07 record: 40-42 3^rd in the Southeast

Added: Adonal Foyle, Marcin Gortat, Kevin Kruger, Rashard Lewis, Torrell Martin

Lost: Travis Diener, Darko Milicic

PG: Jameer Nelson, Carlos Arroyo, Kevin Kruger

SG: J.J. Redick, Keith Bogans, Torrell Martin

SF: Hedo Turkoglu, Trevor Ariza,

PF: Rashard Lewis, Pat Garrity, Tony Battie, Bo Outlaw

C: Dwight Howard, Adonal Foyle, Marcin Gortat, James Augustine

Versus Bulls

2006-07

Away Wed. November 1, L 94-109

Home Wed. February 26, L 87-94

Away Thur. March 8, W 100-76

2007-08

Home Mon. December 31, 1PM

Away Tue. January 15, 6PM

Away Wed. April 9, 6PM

Home Sun. April 13, 6PM

Overview:

Is it possible that a horrible contract can actually pay off? The Orlando Magic overpaid royally to acquire Rashard Lewis. Even in the world of Tyson Chandler getting $10M annually, $110M for Rashard Lewis? It is so absurd that I almost wish it backfires for them, but once I get beyond the money I love the acquisition. The Magic already had the stud on the block that makes them contenders for the next ten years in Dwight Howard. Now they have committed to surrounding him with guys who will force teams to extend out. Last year, the Magic were a miserable three point shooting team. They only took 11 per game, and were 27^th in the league in both attempts and makes. Getting Lewis, deciding to use J.J. Redick, to go along with Hedo Turkoglu on the perimeter should help Dwight Howard take the next step in his development. Not to mention the extra firepower should help Jameer Nelson bounce back from an underwhelming 2006-07 season. If nothing else, it should keep him from thinking that him shooting from behind the arc will ever be in the team’s best interest.

Additionally, with the Miami Heat figuring to start slow with Wade injured and the roster in disarray as well as the Wizards going through a bit of transition in their own right, the Magic have the opportunity to grab a big lead in the Southeast in the first few months. If they go into the All-Star break with the division lead, maybe the decision to give Rashard Lewis $30M more than they should have doesn’t quite look so terrible.

What they mean for the Bulls?

Dwight Frigging Howard. You can pretty much guarantee that Howard will go for 25 and 15 whenever he plays the Bulls. The best defense they had for him last year was fouling him and hoping that he’d miss like he did in their March game, where he went 5-14. With what appears to be a nice supporting cast, I wouldn’t be surprised if Orlando makes it past the 1^st round of the playoffs this year. I feel about Howard the same as I do about Kevin Garnett and Chris Bosh, and he is the reason the Bulls don’t want to play the Mgaic in the playoffs.

I want to be the first person to say that Kobe Bryant to the Bulls talk is insane. Would I love to see him in a Bulls uniform? Absolutely, but it isn’t going to happen.

Reason #1 Jerry Buss doesn’t want to trade him

The Lakers tried to make Kobe happy over the summer. They brought back Derek Fisher to give him another friend in the locker room, and made a push to acquire Jermaine O’Neal and Kevin Garnett over the summer in order to appease Kobe. They weren’t willing to ante up both Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom to get Jermaine O’Neal, and they maintain that they put together a better offer than the Celtics did to get KG. Walking away from the summer with only Fisher might not be enough to change Kobe’s mind, but that doesn’t mean that Buss is going to stop trying to fix their relationship. I think he is going to give Bird until February to see if he lowers his price on O’Neal as well as trying to see what other players may come available before seriously considering moving Bryant.

Reason #2 Buss never said he is going to trade Kobe

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-lakers11oct11,0,741511.story?coll=la-home-center

“I would certainly listen,” Buss said. “At any time, I think you have to do that with anybody. It’s just part of the game, to listen to somebody who has a dissatisfied player that you think is going to fit. You can’t keep too many loyalties. You’ve got to look at it as a business. He looks at it the same way I look at it.”

When Buss said he would listen, people got this idea that Kobe was out the door. The NBA is flooded with players who are playing for teams that they don’t want to. Shawn Marion, Jermaine O’Neal, Andrei Kirilenko, Mickael Pietrus, Juwan Howard, and Yi Jianlian have all demanded trades in the past six months. None of them have been dealt. P.J. Brown said he wanted to be traded last year and never was. Scottie Pippen told the Bulls he wanted out during the second three peat and was never dealt. This is a part of what happens in professional sports. Every year Manny Ramirez says he wants out of Boston, and if I turn on the TV tonight, I’ll see him wearing a Red Sox jersey.

“I tend not to think in basketball terms that many years down the road because things change so dramatically, but he could test the waters at that point,” Buss said. “If he still is in that frame of mind, then hopefully we can do a sign-and-trade and get some comparable talent. I would like to think that we win between now and then so that it doesn’t come up.”

Let me repeat what is important here “I would like to think that we win between now and then so that it doesn’t come up.” Buss either thinks that the addition of Fisher and Crittenton and the return of Chris Mihm from injury will improve the team or that some lottery bound team will look to move a high end player for picks, youth, and expiring contracts.

Reason #3 Paxson doesn’t want to trade Deng

“You have to get comparable value when you make a trade,” he said. “It’s very hard to trade somebody like him because people who have enough material to make it worthwhile are usually contenders and they don’t want to make the trade.
“What was offered was not ever under consideration. And I told Kobe that. I told him I would try my best to accommodate his wishes, but that I could not afford to let him go unless we got comparable talent, if there is such a thing. . . . I even told him occasionally what I was offered and I said, ‘You have to know that this is not in favor of the Lakers. This would just be terrible to do.’ And he said, ‘I understand.’ ”
What Buss says here is important. He doesn’t want to sell off Kobe for 10 cents on the dollar. Paxson has already said that he won’t deal Deng. Why he wouldn’t deal Luol Deng for the best player in the NBA, I don’t know, but every report I have read says Deng is an untouchable. Buss isn’t going to give the best player in the NBA away for Tyrus Thomas, Joakim Noah, a bunch of future 1^st rounders, Ben Gordon, and either Andres Nocioni or Ben Wallace. All that does is clog up their cap, give them a young big or two without great basketball skills, an undersized two guard that can fill it up, and maybe a mid-first rounder or two. For a trade to be made, Deng needs to be a part and Paxson doesn’t want to ante up.

Reason #4 The Bulls know Skiles’ limitations as a coach

Scott Skiles isn’t a dumb coach, but he isn’t a championship coach. He can’t coach players with star personalities, and he can’t develop big men. When he took over in Phoenix, he was handled a loaded Suns team with Jason Kidd, Shawn Marion, Penny Hardaway, a pre-buffet Rodney Rogers, and a not yet decrepit Clifford Robinson. They hated his guts and stopped listening and caring less than two years in. Kidd demanded a trade, and when they got Stephon Marbury in return, everyone knew it was time for the guillotine.

Paxson has given him a second chance, and done the best to get the most out of him. Getting rid of Curry and Chandler were bad basketball decisions, but necessary if he wanted to keep Skiles as his coach. People like to think that the Bulls won the Curry trade, but Tyrus Thomas, Viktor Khryapa, Joakim Noah, and Aaron Gray for Eddy Curry doesn’t get a check mark in my book. The PJ Brown for Tyson Chandler deal didn’t work out any better. What it did do, however, was give Skiles a team that he can handle. I’m not sure bringing in Kobe Bryant who needs to be coddled and hugged at times is going to put Skiles in a position to succeed, and while their commitments to Eddy Curry and Chandler were great a Kobe Bryant investment would be in the $100M range. If a conflict was to arise, Paxson couldn’t possibly stand by Skiles. Given what they have already committed to him in giving away a 20 PPG center and a double-double seven footer, I’m not sure Paxson is going to want to have to make that decision.

Reason #5 They need to get a star back or the ability to get a star soon

 Jerry Buss needs the Lakers to be relevent. He can’t get away with DUIs and hanging out with hot 21-year old co-eds when his breadwinner is winning 30 games. As long as he has Kobe, he’s a rich man. The Staples Center will sell out, Lakers merchandise will be sold all over the globe, and his team will be on ESPN and TNT every week. Given that the Lakers are his big financial investment, this is huge for him. Ben Gordon and Kirk Hinrich aren’t stars that will 1) lead a team to 40 wins in the West 2) sell merchandise 3) fill the Staples Center. My guess is that if Kobe Bryant is to be traded, it will only happen in February if the Lakers are well below .500, if they couldn’t pry away Marion, Kirilenko, J. O’Neal, or any other soon to be disgruntled stars, and if in return for Bryant they can free up enough cap room to go spend crazy this summer and have the possibility of drafting O.J. Mayo who by February should be the 2nd biggest sports star in LA. This is why the Clipper make sense. It is why to Dallas for Dirk, Phoenix for Amare and Atlanta’s 1st, or to Houston for T-Mac could have legs. 

Reason #6 The media creation that Bryant won’t be traded to a team in the West 
 I have no idea as to how this line of thought got started. This idea that Kobe won’t be traded to a team in the West is nuts. If the Lakers are going to trade Kobe, why would they not try everything possible to put themselves in the best position to win again? What does it matter if it means that they possibly play Kobe in the playoffs? If they give away Bryant to a team in the East, they won’t even be in the playoffs. I am of the belief that if Kobe Bryant was to be traded 1-1 with any other player in the NBA that Laker team doesn’t win 32 games last year. The team around him, especially with an injured Odom and Mihm, is miserable. If they can’t find a way to appease Kobe, then how stupid would they be to limit their potential trade partners to the half of the league that is an absolute mess? If they are only winning 30 games, the conference from which Kobe is leading a team to the Finals in should be the last of their worries.