Well, I meant to get to the second political post yesterday, but things didn't run smoothly enough.. So I'll post that tomorrow. I made this NBA post before the Harden trade, but even with Harden leaving from OKC my opinion doesn't really change very much for either team.
NBA
Atlanta Hawks
Sure the Hawks lost Joe Johnson, but they added a ton of good talent: Kyle Korver, Lou Williams, and Devin Williams. A step back for Atlanta? Nope. 48-34
Boston Celtics
Will Jason Terry replace Ray Allen as the new part of the big-three? Quite possibly. Barring injuries, the Celts roll back to the playoffs once again. 47-35
Brooklyn Nets
Starpower in Brooklyn.. A top 5 team? Not so much. 45-37
Charlotte Bobcats
There was surprisingly little turnover for the worst team in the league.. After the worst winning percentage season of all-time the Bobcats have to go up... Right? Yep, barely. 23-59
Chicago Bulls
No D-Rose for a while. Which means the Bulls are better without D-Rose hypothesis can be tested (and proven wrong) more fully this year. The Bulls won't have the best record in the NBA this year. 43-39
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cavs are young, but they're improving. 38-44
Dallas Mavericks
I don't really understand how they stole Darren Collison from the Pacers.. 41-41
Denver Nuggets
Andre Iguodala on the Nuggets?? Ouch. Denver should be nasty. 52-30
Detroit Pistons
An improving team, but they need another year or two for playoff contention. 29-53
Golden State Warriors
I would have Golden State in the playoffs if it their owner would be different. 34-48
Houston Rockets
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| Why the suddenly 'cash strapped' Knicks let Lin go we may never know. Suffice it to say though, they made the wrong choice. |
Lost a few good players (Kyle Lowry, Goran Dragic), also picked up a few (Terrence Jones, Royce White, Jeremy Lin). Why are experts predicting that the Rockets will be the second worst team in the league? Sure Houston will be extremely young, but I have them as my surprise team in the Western Conference. 43-39
Indiana Pacers
A step back for the Pacers, but they still make the playoffs. 39-43
Los Angeles Clippers
They actually have a few old players.. But they also have the best PG in the game, and possibly the best young PF/C. 50-32
Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers acquired during Antawn Jamison during the offseason.. Idk about everyone else, but I think that was a huge pick up.. Oh yeah, and the Lake-show acquired Steve Nash, and Dwight Howard. A few early growing pains, but not as many as most people think. IT'S STEVE NASH running the point. While I don't like all of his off the court positions, he is the best over 30 PG out there. They also have the best center in the game. A HOF and possible HOF in Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol. How are teams going to be able to stop D-Howard, when they can't just sag into the paint? 55-27
Memphis Grizzlies
A step back for the Griz. 40-42
Miami Heat
An overlooked acquisition for the Heat so far I've thought has been Rashard Lewis. Did Rashard Lewis really do anything the last two years? No.. But, will he do something this year? Sure he will. The corner combos of Lewis and Shane Battier should be nasty. In the third year, a team's chemistry really tends to mesh.. And the Heat haven't even played their best ball the last two years. If the Heat wanted to only play for the regular-season, then I bet they could win a minimum of 67 games. However, they aren't really playing for the regular-season accolades.. 57-25
Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks gets my What the heck are you doing? award. They've been a fringe playoff team the last two years, yet they were mired in complacency in the offseason. And their combination of Monta Ellis and Brandon Jennings alone might chuck up 35+ shots a game of low quality shots. I don't know what management is doing. 28-54
Minnesota Timberwolves
The Timberwolves haven't even won 30 games since 2007. Some interesting decisions by management in the offseason.. Didn't like all of their moves, and it will probably cost them a few wins. But, if the T-Wolves can get past the first few weeks without their injured players, then they can be a good team. 42-40
New Orleans Hornets
Other than their loss of Jarret Jack, I really, really, really liked the Hornets off-season moves. They may have finished just 2 spots from worst in the leauge last year, but that was partially do to injuries. They're a young team, but (if you can't tell..) a team I really like. Some great decisions by management. They're my second surprise team in the Western Conference. 43-39
New York Knicks
In my opinion an awful offseason for the Knicks.. And yet the experts expect them to be a top 4 seed in the East.. The Knicks really appear to be going with a youth movement... They simply let Jeremy Lin and Landry Fields walk away (both 24 years old), and they also picked up Jason Kidd (39). While I do like J-Kidd.. He isn't going to be sticking around in NY for the next decade. J-Lin and Landry Fields would at least have had a chance to stick around for a decade, and be quality players. Tyson Chandler is really the only saving grace on the team and even he is over 30. Have fun with a complacent Carmelo, Knicks... 39-43
Oklahoma City Thunder
OKC has been climbing very consistently for the last four years, should a #1 seed be in line this year? I would say, no. And honestly I hope they aren't the #1 seed.. I usually dislike rooting for the Goliath's of the world. Though OKC would be one of the most likeable Goliath's of-all-time. They didn't do a ton to improve their team in the offseason, but they at least had one of the steals of the draft by selecting Perry Jones at 28. I think it is the right decision to keep Harden (He shoots an amazingly high-quantity of high-quality shots), we'll see if the Thunder end up trading him or not. KD and the Thunder roll to a 52-30 record.
Orlando Magic
Partially went into a youth movement in the offseason. Somewhat decent decision for long-term, but for the short term and this year the Magic will struggle and finish with their first losing season since 2007. 26-56
Philadelphia 76ers
I think Bynum produces stats, but not wins.. We'll see if I'm right come April. Evan Turner is the main boon about Orlando. 46-36
Phoenix Suns
My goodness, the Suns stole players left and right. Are they young? Sure they are, but they're also amazingly talented. With both Rick Welts and Steve Nash gone I think I can finally root for the Suns. Even with the loss of Steve Nash, I think Phoenix will improve. 42-40
Portland Trail Blazers
I'm assuming a healthy Lamaracus Aldridge, which is a bit of a leap of faith. 36-46
Sacramento Kings
Sacramento mostly stayed pat, which I normally wouldn't like for a cellar NBA team.. But, in this situation I think it is a good thing. 33-49
San Antonio Spurs
Despite 'constantly overachieving' (and if they are doing it consistently, then maybe they're just a better team than most people think), San Antonio is generally viewed as (at best) the third best team in the West. I would have liked more roster movement, but SA should still somewhat easily be a top 5 Western Conference team. 46-30
Toronto Raptors
Also would have liked more movement from Toronto, but they at least picked up Kyle Lowry and John Lucas III, which should be just enough to make them interesting. 37-45
Utah Jazz
Not a lot of flashy players, but they're not a horrible team. 38-44
Washington Wizards
Some vets are coming over from New Orleans to instill some sense of personal responsibility into Washington. 35-47
| NBA Standings - Updated: Jun 1, 2013 | |||||
| ATLANTIC | W | L | GB | DIV | CONF |
| Boston Celtics | 47 | 35 | 3rd | ||
| Philadelphia 76er's | 46 | 36 | 4th | ||
| Brooklyn Nets | 45 | 37 | 5th | ||
| New York Knicks | 39 | 43 | 8th | ||
| Toronto Raptors | 37 | 45 | 18 | 10th | |
| CENTRAL | W | L | GB | DIV | CONF |
| Chicago Bulls | 43 | 39 | 6th | ||
| Indiana Pacers | 39 | 43 | 7th | ||
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 38 | 48 | 9th | ||
| Detroit Pistons | 29 | 53 | 12th | ||
| Milwaukee Bucks | 28 | 54 | -56 | 13th | |
| SOUTHEAST | W | L | GB | DIV | CONF |
| Miami Heat | 57 | 25 | 1st | ||
| Atlanta Hawks | 48 | 34 | 2nd | ||
| Washington Wizards | 35 | 47 | 11th | ||
| Orlando Magic | 26 | 56 | 14th | ||
| Charlotte Bobcats | 23 | 59 | -32 | 15th | |
| EAST PLAYOFF RACE | W | L | GB | DIV | CONF |
| . | -70 | ||||
| NORTHWEST | W | L | GB | DIV | CONF |
| Denver Nuggets | 52 | 30 | 2nd | ||
| Oklahoma City Thunder | 52 | 30 | 3rd | ||
| Minnesota Timberwolves | 42 | 40 | 8th | ||
| Utah Jazz | 38 | 44 | 12th | ||
| Portland Trailblazers | 36 | 46 | 30 | 13th | |
| PACIFIC | W | L | GB | DIV | CONF |
| Los Angeles Lakers | 55 | 27 | 1st | ||
| Los Angeles Clippers | 50 | 32 | 4th | ||
| Phoenix Suns | 42 | 40 | 9th | ||
| Golden State Warriors | 34 | 48 | 14th | ||
| Sacramento Kings | 33 | 49 | 18 | 15th | |
| SOUTHWEST | W | L | GB | DIV | CONF |
| San Antonio Spurs | 46 | 30 | 5th | ||
| New Orleans Hornets | 43 | 39 | 6th | ||
| Houston Rockets | 43 | 39 | 7th | ||
| Dallas Mavericks | 41 | 41 | 10th | ||
| Memphis Grizzlies | 40 | 42 | 22 | 11th | |
| WEST PLAYOFF RACE | W | L | GB | DIV | CONF |
| . | 70 | ||||
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