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The class of 2008, or should I say the freshmen class of 2008, decided to throw out its education and declare for the NBA Draft...

NBA 2009 Preview: A Who's Who For Next Season

by Derek Pivko (Contributor)

24

11,667 reads

Opinion

June 30, 2008


The class of 2008, or should I say the freshmen class of 2008, decided to throw out its education and declare for the NBA Draft. Honestly, though, if it wasn’t for new rule forcing basketball players to finish at least one year of college, half of this class would have been drafted last year.

Instead this draft class was one of the strongest draft classes in recent memory. With this draft class it’s only going to make the NBA better for next season. With a bunch of fresh new faces entering the league this season it looks like the NBA might be getting a new face lift when it comes to different teams making the playoffs.

Last year in the Eastern Conference we saw two teams make the playoffs with a losing record. The Philadelphia 76ers and Atlanta Hawks are very thankful to play in the Eastern Conference. However, will they be able to make the playoffs this year with faces like Derrick Rose and Michael Beasley the top two picks in the NBA Draft heading to the Eastern Conference?

Free agency hasn’t started yet but this draft class might be the reason why some teams will be playing in May and other teams will pull a Miami Heat of 2008 by losing the rest of the games in hopes of landing someone like Blake Griffin, BJ Mullens, Demar DeRozan and Brandon Jennings to say good-bye to their college careers and go to the NBA (that is if Jennings does in fact go to college and not play in Europe next season).

Despite winning 4 of their final 25 games they only landed the second overall pick the NBA Draft. Which proves once again having the worst record in the league you will not get the top pick in the draft. At least the Heat won their final game of the season.

This brings up an interesting observation, who will be the worst team in the NBA next year? My opinion, it is the New York Knicks. I’m sorry for you Knick fans but I think your team is just doomed.

The one good thing the Knicks have done was getting rid of Isaiah Thomas, however, that is not enough. You have to clean up the mess that he has made and that isn’t going to be overnight. I have never seen someone dismantle a team so badly than what Thomas did.

Thomas was like the European version of the black plague where everything he did was wrong and not just wrong but god-awful. Whether it was the signing of Jared Jeffries, the trade of Eddy Curry, which helped the Bulls draft LaMarcus Albridge (who was then traded to Portland in exchange for Tyrus Thomas and Viktor Khryapa) and Joakim Noah both players could turn out to be better players than Eddy Curry.

Then there was the sexual harassment case involving a team employee, which led to the eventual firing of Thomas.

Let’s face it there was nothing good out of the Isaiah Thomas' tenure with the Knicks and because of that the Knicks are in trouble. The hiring of former Suns head coach Mike D’Antoni is a sign of good things to come but not next season.

And with the sixth pick in the NBA Draft the Knicks drafted Danilo Gallinari whom not a lot of people are sold on. Then again the last thing the New York Knicks need is another guard.

With that said what does the rest of the Eastern Conference look like? The Eastern Conference looks to be making some changes next year as we might see the return of the Chicago Bulls making their return to the playoffs.

Didn’t everyo

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24 comments Last one added 11 months ago — Leave a Comment

  1. Alexa Freed about 1 year ago

    I don't agree with your Andrew Bynum theory and assessment. Yes, he was coming along, but he was owned in the reg. season by centers like Kendrick Perkins. I also think a knee injury heals physically, but not necessarily psychologically. I expect an impact, but not a big enough one. Celtics would win even with Bynum. Lakers "D" = embarrassing.

    The Lakers, and the West in general, are offensively-minded teams. Good for winning games during the regular season, not good enough to win championships. They do not play both ends of the court. The West is deep in talent, but the best teams (Celtics & Pistons) are in the East.

    I think more credit needs to be given to the Cavaliers too.

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    • Brandon Heshee about 1 year ago

      You, Alexa, must be out of your freakin mind!!! The Pistons and Cavs BLOW!!! You are an idiot. Any playoff team in the west could beat the cavs in a best of 7 series, and any of the top 5 west teams could beat the pistons!

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    • Marcus Hagness about 1 year ago

      Ok, Brandon did you forget to take your pill this morning? The Pistons and Cavs Blow? It's a well known fact around the NBA that while the Western Conference is far more competitive, the two best teams in the NBA reside in the East. Just because the Pistons don't have a flashy star player and a bunch of celebrities paying $20,000 for courtside seats doesn't mean they aren't legit. Sure they've had their troubles in the Eastern Conference Finals, but they have won a title against the beloved Lakers before Shaq got fat(ter).

      One thing I noticed about Evan's post is that Boston and/or Detroit are at the top of every one of those categories. As I said before, the West is a deeper conference but the cream of the crop is in the East. I think the Lakers would've had a good chance to win the title this year if Detroit had advanced because even though they still made the East Finals, they could've played MUCH better. Detroit better wake up and start taking teams more seriously if they ever want to sniff championship gold again.

      So those are some reasons why the Pistons don't "BLOW".

      Onto you're brilliant opinion about Cleveland. The Cavaliers took Boston to game 7 in the second round and, unlike Atlanta, made them have to play for 48 minutes. The Cavaliers are going to be a very tough team next year. They made a big trade in the middle of the season and never really got used to each other except in flashes during the playoffs. Give them a full season with each other and the Cavaliers will be making noise in the NBA. They are in need of someone to take the reigns at the Center spot for Ilgauskas in the near future but other then that, they are right there.

      That was a brilliant analysis though Brandon, nice job.

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    • REELE ELEER 12 months ago

      HEY ALEXA, IF ANDREW BYNUM WAS DAMN PRESENT IN THE NBA FINALS BOSTON CELTICS WON'T BE ON THE STREETS CELEBRATING AS CHAMPIONS OVER THE SUPERB LOS ANGELES LAKERS. CELTICS WERE JUST LUCKY THAT BYNUM WAS NOT THERE. BYNUM WILL DEFINITELY ADD A LOT OF INTENSITY AND POWER TO THE LOS ANGELES LAKERS. AND ACTUALLY PUT INTO YOUR MIND THAT KOBE WAS SO KIND THAT HE LET KG, PAUL, AND RAY EXPERIENCE AT LEAST ONE BEFORE THEIR CAREER ENDS. I THINK YOU'RE THE ONE THAT IS EMBARASSING -- NOT THE LAKERS "D". AND HEY WHAT ABOUT THE ATLANTA HAWKS PUTTING THE CELTICS INTO A DO OR DIE SITUATION? DID THE LAKERS EVER EXPERIENCED IN THEIR JOURNEY TO THE PROMISE LAND? THEY PUT THE TIRED AND FREAKS -- SAN ANTONIO SPURS TO AN EARLY VACATION. KOBE LET DUNCAN KNOW THE THE BEST TEAM IS LA NOT SA. WELL THE TOP 15 TEAMS WOULD BE: (not including the tiring spurs)

      1. LAL
      2. BOS
      3. HORNETS
      4. JAZZ
      5. CAVS
      6. PISTONS
      7. MAGIC
      8. HAWKS
      9. RAPTORS
      10.ROCKETS (WITHOUT YAO)
      11.WIZARDS
      12.BULLS
      13.76ers
      14.BULLS
      15.BLAZERS

      HAHA.. LAKERS WILL DOMINATE THE LEAGUE AS LONG AS THE BLACK MAMBA IS PRESENT!!!

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  2. Alexa Freed about 1 year ago

    And I have to add....

    GO TRAILBLAZERS!!!!!!

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  3. Chris Charbonnier about 1 year ago

    Go Blazers!

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  4. Derek Pivko about 1 year ago

    Likewise I truly hope the Blazers do some damage next year I hope they get some great National Coverage from ESPN and ABC.

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  5. Michael Schlossberg about 1 year ago

    great run down... "The Lakers and Celtics will win 60 games, the Knicks wills not" hahaa just hit a Knick fan right where it hurts...

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  6. Irish Chris about 1 year ago

    I think you nailed it Derek. There's almost no doubt in my mind that we will see a rematch of this years Finals next year. I think you also nailed the outcome too, except they might do it in 6 games. ;)
    It's a great thing for the NBA too.

    The team that really scares me down the line is the Blazers.
    With Oden, Aldridge, and Roy all growing up together on this team, they could wreak some havoc for a long time to come. They also have Channing Frye and got the rights to an incredible talent in Bayless. He will kill for the next decade.
    If they can keep that team together, I can see Oden and Bynum battling for a long, long time.
    By then, the Lakers will have to go out and find their next superstar though.

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  7. Michael Inglis about 1 year ago

    Alexa you said this, "The Lakers, and the West in general, are offensively-minded teams. Good for winning games during the regular season, not good enough to win championships."

    Well only 3 of the past 10 NBA Final winners have come from the east.

    I think the blazers will be good this season but idk about a 3 seed just yet. I like how you gave the Magic some credit and put them in the East Finals. They are a team on the rise and the pistons are on the downfall half of their great run.

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  8. Michael Inglis about 1 year ago

    On the other hand i see you said the magic will do nothing when it comes to the playoffs but then you put them in the East Finals. Explain that?

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  9. Derek Pivko about 1 year ago

    Michael great question. When I started doing the playoff seeding I first saw them squaring up against the Raptors and I know the Magic wouldn't have any trouble against them so I had the Magic moving on. Then I saw them against the Pistons and then I figured that they wouldn't have much trouble with them either. Thanks for bringing that up!

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  10. Scott Tully about 1 year ago

    Hey derek didnt know if you knew but the first round has gone to 7 games. It has been that way for a couple years now. Also it is a little early to do a preview when free agency and trading has not even really started. Good effort. Just too early.

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  11. c s about 1 year ago

    the raptors being 6th in the conference even with JO? i can't stop laughing JO will be healthy they already said he is about 100% if JO plays only half the season games(41) the raptors will still win 50 wait and see

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  12. tone lowque about 1 year ago

    Defense wins championships. Why? Because if you go into the Finals with that rep, you get away with all kinds of chippy nonsense that no one else can. A little extra physicality never hurt. Even with Bynum, LAL is soft -- is this the biggest homer fan letter ever? -- and they still lost to the Celts.

    My two-cents:
    1. Far too early to say anything about 2008-2009 -- who thought Gasol was going to LA?
    2. If you have to say anything, Celts should get back, particularly if they can get some bench filler. Their first five are fine, good enough anyway. Intriguing draft. Powe and Baby give them some size, House and Posey shooting and toughness.
    3. The West 1-10 is better than the East 1-10. But the East 1-3 may be better than the West 1-3. So don't think LAL has the cake walk it had. Look for NO to make a move to get someone besides Peja, Peterson on the wing. Snag a Pietrus?

    Wild guess: if history says anything, expect the Spurs over the Celts in 7.

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  13. JOHN LOCK about 1 year ago

    2) Toronto Raptors—The addition of Jermaine O’Neal is either going to be a hit or miss for the Toronto Raptors. In my opinion the Raptors got the worse end of this trade. Although they got better in size including the addition of Roy Hibbert they got nothing at the guard position. I don’t think Jose Calderon is the their man at point guard but if O’Neal can stay healthy whether he comes off the bench in replacement for Bosh or starts, he could help guide the Raptors to another playoff berth.
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    WOW. WHAT A POORLY WRITTEN ARTICLE. I WONDER IF YOU ARE EVEN A BASKETBALL FAN.

    #1- THE RAPTORS GOT THE WORSE END OF THIS TRADE? TJ MISSES AS MANY GAMES AND IS MORE INJURY PRONE THAN JO. PLUS IN 2 YEARS JO'S 23 MILLION COMES OFF THE BOOKS. EVEN IF HE GETS HURT, IT WONT KILL US.

    #2- ROY HIBBERT IS GOING TO INDIANA. (EVEN MY GRANDMOTHER KNOWS THAT)

    #3- YOU DONT THINK JOSE IS THEIR MAN AT POINT? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? HE IS A WORLD CHAMPION (SPAIN 2 YEARS AGO INCASE YOU FORGOT), ONE OF THE MOST EFFICIENT POINTS IN THE NBA AND GETTING RIDICULOUSLY BETTER EVERY YEAR. NOT TO MENTION BEST ASSIST TO TURNOVER RATIO.

    #4- YOU ARE CONTEMPLATING WETHER JO WOULD COME OFF THE BENCH OR NOT. THE GUY IS A 6 TIME ALLSTAR AND IS ONE OF THE LEAGUES BEST SHOT BLOCKERS. WHY THE FU@# WOULD HE COME OFF THE BENCH.

    i CANNOT BELIEVE THE CRAP THAT THE INTERNET LETS PEOPLE PUBLISH THESE DAYS. A LITTLE RESEARCH MAY HAVE HELPED. THE PART THAT KILLS ME THE MOST IS YOUR ASSESMENT OF CALDERONE. YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW GOOD THIS KID IS GOING TO BE. LUCKILLY EVERYONE ELSE DOES. WHAT A WASTE OF TIME.

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  14. Derek Pivko about 1 year ago

    Tell me what you really think John

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  15. John about 1 year ago

    Um... you DO realize that the NBA went to best-of-seven game first round series like 5 years ago, right? Such a glaring screw-up makes it look like you hardly even watch the NBA, and I have trouble giving you much credibility because of that...

    In particular I think you're way off on the Wizards; please explain to me how a Pacers team with a lineup of Ford (mortal lock to miss at least 30 games), Dunleavy, Granger, Murphy, and Foster is better than a Wizards team with three all-stars who will all be in a good mood now that they are locked up for the long-run? And also, how exactly would the Blazers in a deciding game on the Spurs' home court- you know, game SEVEN, not game 5?

    Also, you called the Cavaliers the Cavalries... multiple times. Really, do you even watch the NBA?

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  1. John Ligon about 1 year ago

    Um... you DO realize that the NBA went to best-of-seven game first round series like 5 years ago, right? Such a glaring screw-up makes it look like you hardly even watch the NBA, and I have trouble giving you much credibility because of that...

    In particular I think you're way off on the Wizards; please explain to me how a Pacers team with a lineup of Ford (mortal lock to miss at least 30 games), Dunleavy, Granger, Murphy, and Foster is better than a Wizards team with three all-stars who will all be in a good mood now that they are locked up for the long-run? And also, how exactly would the Blazers in a deciding game on the Spurs' home court- you know, game SEVEN, not game 5?

    Also, you called the Cavaliers the Cavalries... multiple times. Really, do you even watch the NBA?

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  2. john lock about 1 year ago

    maybe my response was a little rude.
    I do believe you should give calderone a better look however.
    take a look at his numbers as a starter, his percentages, his stats per 48 minutes and what not. I think you may change your perception.
    I believe that calderone is turning into one of the best pgs in the game. He will be an allstar.

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  3. G Logic about 1 year ago

    Wow. Try proofreading your work next time english would better be then everyone easier reading it.

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  4. Derek Pivko about 1 year ago

    Toronto Raptors have also signed former University of Arizona guard Hassan Adams to a contract, he is expected to play shooting guard or small forward. Nice move by the Raptors!

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  5. jason northedge 11 months ago

    Those predictions were crazy... The celts cant be beat by one man. (a selfish one at that) There is no team in the nba that matches up with the celts. Three SUPERSTARS beat plan old allstars any day of the week.

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