2008-2009 NBA Season Preview
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25 comments Last one added 9 months ago — Leave a Comment
Scott Tully about 1 year ago
Lakers a 5 seed. OJ Mayo the next kobe. You make a lot of bold statements. Still early for a season preview. So much can happen.
Detroit a 7 seed is kind of a slap in the face. They have been 1 or 2 in the east for the past 6 years. They will not fall that far.
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Andrew Kneeland about 1 year ago
Great article. I loved the bold predictions.
Thank you for appreciating the value and sense of the Love trade from Minnesota's standpoint. At least somebody does besides me.
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Ben Weixlmann about 1 year ago
Nice article! Bold predictions, indeed. I think SAS will be strong again!
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PETER NATARENO about 1 year ago
I agree that the Clippers will be among the more competetive teams in the west. Chris Kaman and Elton Brand will be tough in the paint on defense and more than a handful on offense. They were really hurting at both guard positions but have redeemed thier roster by picking up Baron Davis and drafting Eric Gordon. Al Thornton does not seem to get much love but name another rookie other than Durant to score 39 points in a game?
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Marcel Mansour about 1 year ago
You need medication. The Clippers the best team in California? What the hell is wrong with you. The Lakers are by far and away the best team in the league going into next year. You don't like Kobe's supporting cast? He led them to the finals without Bynum and all of them never going deep to the playoffs. This upcoming season, the Lakers will be more experienced and have Bynum's presence in the middle offensively and defensively. The Clippers will be a pretty good team, but remember Baron Davis is extremely injury prone and Brand just came off a major injury and is turning 30 soon. There is no way in hell both the Lakers and Celtics won't make the Finals like you predict. At least one of them will and probably both of them. The Magic in the finals? Nice joke. They have a good team but they don't have enough help for Dwight and enough depth off their bench. Finally, no one with NBA knowledge will say Lebron is the best player in the league and not Kobe. Kobe is by far the best player both offensively and is consistently one of the best defensive players. You have absolutely no damn clue about basketball. The Hornets winning the championship? Hahaha. No chance.
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Patrick Lacey about 1 year ago
Judging by the LA thing on your avatar... I'll start off by guessing you're a Lakers fan... But anyways, what makes Kobe better than LeBron at this point? The one thing I love about all people who apparently "have NBA knowledge" is they all thought that LeBron was the best player in the league when he took the Cavs to the Finals, but now since Kobe did it, everyone thinks that Kobe is the best. LeBron hasn't even reached his prime yet and still took the Cavs to the finals with a much worse team than Kobe had. Kobe is the best scorer, but the all around game goes to LeBron, he's 6'8 and can run the point, or he can create mismatches down low against smaller forwards or guards. I'm not trying to take anything away from the Lakers or the Celtics, but if it hadn't been for a Robert Horry cheap shot to David West, we would have seen the Hornets in the Finals this year. So how can you say the Hornets have no chance? Also with the Orlando Magic, I don't think any team coming off of a 50 win season in the East can be considered a joke... I like the Celtics, and they still have the best starting five in the East but losing James Posey is a big factor for them. I'm sure a series between the 2 teams will go 7 games, but I honestly don't think the Magic are a "joke."
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Steven Jarjees about 1 year ago
How can you say that the lakers will be the 5th seed in the West when they were the number one seed in the toughest conference in history. They have the best starting lineup with Fisher, Kobe, Odom, Pau, and Bynum. They also have one of the best benches in the league with Sasha, Ariza, Walton, Turiaf, and Farmar. I think Lakers will be the number 1 seed with Andrew Bynum coming back healthy and emerging as one of the best centers in league. He is going to be a huge defensive presence and a rebound machine.
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Patrick Lacey about 1 year ago
Andrew Bynum may be one of the better Centers in the West when healthy, but this is turning into a guards' game. You know the only reason the Lakers lost in the Finals? Rajon Rondo flat out out-played Derek Fisher and Jordan Farmar. For those reading this saying.. "If it's a guards' game then why does he have the Magic in the Finals." Well, I honestly think that Jameer Nelson is becoming one of the better point guards in the conference. Look at all of the play-off teams in both conferences from last year...
Los Angeles- Derek Fisher
New Orleans- Chris Paul
SAS- Tony Parker
Utah- Deron Williams
Houston- Rafer Alston
Dallas- Jason Kidd
Denver- Allen Iverson
Now you tell me, which one of those is the worst? I don't even need to explain that one, even a healthy Rafer Alston is a much better player than Fisher, or Farmar.
Now for the East
Boston- Rajon Rondo
Detroit- Chauncey Billups
Orlando- Jameer Nelson
Cleveland- Delonte West
Washington- Gilbert Arenas
Toronto- T.J. Ford/Jose Calderon
Philadelphia- Andre Miller
Atlanta- Mike Bibby
None of these players are a liability to their teams, which is why they all made the play-offs, but for this upcoming season, I think Nelson can out-play Rondo, Calderon, Miller, and West but the rest of the Magic give them the edge over Detroit, and Washington. The only team concerning me that is not Boston is the Atlanta Hawks, Bibby and Johnson can outplay any guards in the East.
No matter how good Kobe and LeBron may be, there's no trip to the finals for either until they get a solid point guard.
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Patrick Lacey about 1 year ago
Not to mention I almost forgot Steve Nash, last time I checked he's pretty good too.
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Robbie MacGregor 12 months ago
Wow great Lakers analysis. Did you know they have Gasol and Odom on their team along with Bynum? You can find the rosters on sports.yahoo.com/nba!
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Mark Ogarte 12 months ago
I like the Magic's chances. :) They have to make a strong run to take Corey Maggette. Dwight Howard needs better supporting cast that plays defense.
I respect your opinions. We're all entitled to our own. But Pal, I guess it's too early to suggest anything at this point. :)
Let's see halfway through the season and make stuffs like this, okay! =)
The Bucks would be really good men! I bet they take the 5th or 6th spot out west!
Joe Alexander is the best caucasian player in the draft!
Plus a reliable supporting cast Andrew Bogut, Richard Jefferson and my man, the earnest Michael Redd. :)
I like their chances to take the east!
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fea eee 12 months ago
ok first of all the clips will not re-sign corey, and the clips doesnt have depth in their roster. and the east is not that interesting compare to the west so im just gonna skipped it. How do u not have Houston in the top 4, and how do u have a team like the Lakers behind clippers, paul+byum+odom+kobe is not greater than baron+brand+kaman+AL, u must be smoking. did u not know that the 2nd biggest story of the 07-08 season was the 22 winning streak, and its not a fluke, houston woulda beat utah if alston is healthy not to mention Yao, and they would gone furthur if they had Yao. i admit im a houston but still, houston not making the playoff will happened if yao and mcgrady both went out for most of the season.
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houston rockets 12 months ago
hahaha.. you're so way off base that its hilarious! you might want to try comedic writing cause your article is a joke if your dont include the rockets in next year's playoffs!!! unbelievable, you're a riot!!! just peed my pants a little!!!
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paul wall 12 months ago
HAHAHAHAHAHA
you are so dumb...
you're an idiot
first of all, oj mayo is not the next kobe, stupid.
second of all, clippers will not make the playoffs just because they have BD, they don't even know if they will have brand or maggette so stfu.
third of all, how the hell do the clippers and mavericks make the playoffs and not the rockets? idiot..
fourth of all, how the hell do the magic make the finals? how will they beat the celtics, or pistons?
you are the biggest idiot
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al ethios 12 months ago
Ditto, Fea and Houston - I mean, c'mon. 55-27 this season with hurt players? Playa..pls!! The only Texas team that won't make the playoffs will be Dallas and they decreased their chances by signing Gerald Green. They have a new coach and a dysfunctional starting lineup. I know - the truth hurts. But it will be sweet revenge when Houston finally breaks through the 1st round, and it will happen in '09, baby!
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Patrick Lacey 12 months ago
without Maggette the Clippers are a 7 or 8 seed. I also think that if Yao and T-Mac stay healthy, which rarely happens, that they can possibly knock off Phoenix or Dallas. Golden State was a very good team this season, but somewhere in the mix, 1 or 2 very good teams will miss the play-offs, that's how competitive the West is
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d d 12 months ago
that was hilarious. the clippers are going to be good, but there's no way they're going to be 4. ha. i mean, the lakers are easily the top dog in the west. i like the spurs, but they're way too old to be the 2nd best team in the west. really? i mean really? that's absurd. i could keep going on about your picks such as chicago as the 2nd seed. honestly, i think that's the worst pick here. joakim noah is garbage. not to mention larry hughes hasn't done much. the bulls have not signed ben gordon yet. tyrus thomas can't score, and derrick rose is only a 10 ppg, 5 apg player. he is by no means a michael jordan. that's a slap in the face to mj. rose is good, but check his stats at memphis, 15 and 5....ooo. not great. and then throw in vinny del negro, mr. first year coach. and dallas isn't good anymore. Houston is actually really talented and scary.
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Ahmed Aqeel 11 months ago
ok first of all all the shit bout lakers is bulllshit
gurantee lakers 1st seed in west again. {Fisher,Kobe(best player in NBA).Odom,Gasol,Bynum.}
lol clippers lost brand and maggete so now u cant tak bout the clippers there prolly going to be 9th or 11th..........nd in the east i think u shud put the nets up there they have one ofthe best young players in the nba and a great bench PG-Devin Harris SG-Vince Carter SF-Bostjan Nachbar or (bobby simmons,eduardo najera,jarvis Hayes) PF-Yi Jilian C-Nenard Kristic. they also have a powerful bench of either najera (if not starter),same wid hayes and simmons,they also got keyon dooling, brook lopez,ryan andeson,sean williams,keith van horn,josh boone,darrel armstrong,etc and thet still are looking for more players in exchange of marrcus williams and stromile swift. So the nets shud certainly be up there. Warriors ---dosnt really make a huge differect that they lost B-Davis they still have the young and talented Monta Ellis and they got great players over the summer so far and the lineup looks pretty dangereous. PG-Monta Ellis SG-Correy Maggette SF-Stephen Jackson PF-Al Harrington C-Andris Biedrins .................so i think u mite need to redo ur predictions
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Patrick Lacey 11 months ago
Nachbar and Krstic are in Europe... and unfortunately a lot of things have changed for a lot of teams since I wrote this article, so I will be making a revised preview once the season gets closer. =] Also I have created a youtube account for a new sports talk show I made called "You Heard It Here First" my account name is xV4L0Rx, search for me on there and let me know what you think of the first episode. My next episode in the series will probably be done tomorrow and I'm trying to make it a weekly show as well as writing weekly (and possibly even daily) articles here on bleacherreport.com so stay tuned.
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Danny Smiths 11 months ago
The Raptors, the 8th seed of the East? I guess they don't show Raptor games down there in Texas.
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abdull furayyan 11 months ago
a lot of trades have happened since u wrote this article so i guess all your hard work went down the drain
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Caelan B 10 months ago
dumbed ass article ever raptors 8th seed? oj mayo next kobe b u l l s h i t
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Scott Birchfield 10 months ago
This article was a little premature. Elton Brand is gone from the Clippers and Josh Childress is gone from the Hawks. That might affect your rankings.
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joe kaka 10 months ago
i mean, even though things have changed, its amazing how you had things in the first place. To say the lakers lost to boston because of point guard play is ludacris. If you actually watched the games, you would have seen how the celtics outmuscled, out hustled, and just were too physically imposing to the Lakers soft frontline. The only weakness the lakers had. Now with bynum back, the Lakers should be even better, so i dont understand your reasoning. you make points like its becoming a "guards game" when the 4 semi-finalists had 4 of the top 10 big men in the league (duncan gasol garnett wallace). ANd each of the past few champions you could easily say have had one of the top 5 big guys in the league (garnett, duncan, wallace squared, shaq, rodman, olajuwan). Not since the 92 bulls has a team won without a top 5 big.
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mike r 9 months ago
Houston missing the playoffs and Clippers the 4th seed? You sir are an idiot.
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