Bleacher Report - Articles by Steven J

NBA Midseason Report: Under- and Overachievers

Steven J — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:28:46 -0500

The NBA is already halfway done and so far it had been amazing season for some players and a nightmare for others. This is a list of players who have surpassed their expectation and players who have performed below their expectations.

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2010 NBA Offseason Is Overrated

Steven J — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 10:29:25 -0500

LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh. Those are just few of the names surrounding all the hype around the 2010 NBA free agent class.

The Knicks recently shipped Jamal Crawford to the Warriors and Zach Randolph to the Clippers in order to clear cap space; they are showing an early sign that they will be chasing after LeBron James in the 2010 offseason. They have also been rumored to be pursuing Chris Bosh along with LeBron to form the best duo in the league.

Here are the big unrestricted free agents in 2010 and how old they will be that offseason:

LeBron James (25 Years Old)

Chris Bosh (26 Years Old)

Dwyane Wade (28 Years Old)

Amare Stoudemire (28 Years Old)

Dirk Nowiztki (32 Years Old)

Yao Ming (30 Years Old)

Paul Pierce (33 Years Old)

Tracy McGrady (31 Years Old)

Michael Redd (31 Years Old)

Josh Howard (30 Years Old)

Manu Ginobili (33 Years Old)

Joe Johnson (29 Years Old)

Ray Allen (35 Years Old)

Steve Nash (36 Years Old)

Shaquille O'Neal (38 Years Old)

TJ Ford (27 Years Old)

All those players are great players. But, players like Nowiztki, Wade, Pierce, and Ginobili are highly unlikely to sign with other teams. The Mavs will most likely resign Dirk because he is their franchise player. The Heat will not let their superstar go. Pierce will stay with the franchise that he has been with his whole career.

Ginobili is going to stay with the Spurs because they have no reason not resigning him, as he has been with them for the last three championship teams. So, take those players out and it turns to a good free agent class.

Also, players like Allen, Nash, Shaq, and others will be in their mid thirties and past their primes.

Honestly, I am sick and tired of watching NBA analysts and other people on TV going on and on about LeBron going to the Knicks. It is just a free agent class with many good players, not the second coming of Christ.

NBA's "Real" Championship Contenders/Pretenders

Steven J — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 12:02:26 -0500

"Real" Contenders

Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers are the deepest and most talented team in the league. They finally have their young center Andrew Bynum back from injury. He makes a huge impact on the Lakers as he creates a defensive presence inside and is a fantastic rebounder, which they lacked in the Finals.

They have the best player in the game in Kobe Bryant and a great supporting cast. They are one of the top offensive teams in the game. They are also turning into a very good defensive team now that they have the great perimeter defender in Trevor Ariza and the down low presence of Andrew Bynum back.

Right now, I think that it is safe to say that the Lakers are the favorites to win it all.

New Orleans Hornets

One of the most exciting teams in the league. Led by Chris Paul, the Hornets are most likely a top three seed in the mighty Western Conference. They have a terrific power forward in David West, the rebounding machine and shot blocker in Tyson Chandler, and one of the best outside shooters in the game in Peja Stojakovic.

They also have good role players like James Posey, Morris Peterson, and Hilton Armstrong. They will miss their backup point guard Jannero Pargo who left for Europe.

Overall, I think this team has a legit shot at a championship and will be there at the end.

Houston Rockets

When healthy, the Rockets are one of the scariest teams in the league. They have their own version of the "Big Three" in Yao Ming, Tracy McGrady, and Ron Artest. They are always one of the top defensive teams in the game. But the only problem with this team is health.

Yao has missed 25+ games in each of the past three seasons. T-Mac also missed over 20 games last season. If this team can stay healthy, they will be a very dangerous team in the west.

Boston Celtics

The NBA champion Celtics are coming into this season as the obvious favorites in the East. But they are going to have to do it without key players James Posey and PJ Brown. They still have the "Big Three" in Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen and they are the best defensive team in the league.

I think they will finish atop the Eastern Conference, but will not have as many wins as they did last season. The East is much more competitive as teams like the Sixers, Cavs, Raptors, and Heat are becoming stronger teams.

Detroit Pistons

The Pistons have something now that they have lacked the past couple of seasons: a superstar. They pulled off a blockbuster trade in which they sent Chauncey Billups and received Allen Iverson. They now have a fantastic scorer in Allen Iverson, a good all around player in Richard Hamilton, a good big man in Rasheed Wallace, a great defender in Tayshaun Prince, and a great bench.

This team has gone to the Finals six straight seasons, but have lost in the last three. I think they are still contenders to win it all this season with or without Allen Iverson. They have a lot of experience and also a lot of youth.

Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cavs are always a threat because they have LeBron James. He finally has a reliable second option now with Mo Williams running the point. They also have a good center Zydrunas Ilgauskas, a good perimeter player in Wally Szczerbiak, a great defensive player in Ben Wallace.

Overall, the Cavs are a great team and are always dangerous when they have a player by the name of LeBron James.

Pretenders

Utah Jazz

I know many people are shocked. The Jazz are a very good team, but I do not think they have enough to get past teams like the Lakers, Hornets, and Rockets. The Jazz lost to the Lakers in the semi-finals last season, while the Lakers did not have their starting center.

San Antonio Spurs

The Spurs are a great team when healthy. But with Manu Ginobili out until December and Tony Parker out for the next two to four weeks, the Spurs are going to have a difficult time trying to win games for the next month. They will still make the playoffs, but they will be one of the lower seeds and will likely face either the Lakers, Hornets, Rockets, or Jazz in the first round.

Orlando Magic

They have a superstar in Dwight Howard and good players in Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis. Besides them, they have an average point guard and a below average bench. This team will have 50+ wins, but once it comes playoff time, it is very unlikely that they will get past teams like the Celtics or Pistons.

Philadelphia 76ers

The Sixers are a much stronger team now with Elton Brand. They have a very talented team with a lot of youth. Players like Andre Igoudala, Thaddeus Young, and Louis Williams are up-and-coming stars. Even though this team has a lot of talent, three point shooting and chemistry is a huge weakness for this team. This team does not have any pure shooters.

The Worst NBA Draft Classes of All Time

Steven J — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 10:56:54 -0400

5. 1975 NBA Draft

Top Five Picks: 1. David Thompson 2. David Meyers 3. Marvin Webster 4. Alvan Adams 5. Darryl Dawkins

David Thompson was a great player and is a Hall of Famer. He only played nine seasons due to injury and alcohol problems. Besides Thompson, this draft only consisted of two All-Stars—Alvan Adams and Lionel Hollins.

4. 1990 NBA Draft

Top Five Picks: 1. Derrick Coleman 2. Gary Payton 3. Chris Jackson 4. Dennis Scott 5. Kendall Gill

Derrick Coleman was a career 16/9 player, and made one All-Star appearance. Gary Payton is a future Hall of Famer, and was the only great player in this draft. It had many lottery pick flops. The others that made an All-Star appearance were Tyrone Hill, Jayson Williams, Antonio Davis, and Cedric Ceballos.

3. 1973 NBA Draft

Top Five Picks: 1. Doug Collins 2. Jim Brewer 3. Ernie DiGregorio 4. Mike Green 5. Kermit Washington

Doug Collins had a very solid career and was a four-time All-Star. Besides Collins, this was a draft that only had three other All-Stars—Kermit Washington, George McGinnis, and Larry Kenon—but none were great players.

2. 1971 NBA Draft

Top Five Picks: 1. Austin Carr 2. Sidney Wicks 3. Elmore Smith 4. Ken Durrett 5. George Trapp

Austin Carr was a career 15 point per game scorer, and made only one All-Star appearance. Sidney Wicks had a solid career and made four All-Star appearances. This draft was very weak because it produced only four All-Stars.

1. 2000 NBA Draft

Top Five Picks: 1. Kenyon Martin 2. Stromile Swift 3. Darius Miles 4. Marcus Fizer 5. Mike Miller

Kenyon Martin is a solid player, but has bad character issues. He has career averages of 14 points and seven rebounds per game. In his second season, he helped his team go to the Finals, but they were swept by the Lakers.

Stromile Swift, Darius Miles, and Marcus Fizer were major draft busts. Mike Miller is a solid player and a great shooter. Michael Redd was drafted in the second round, and is one of the best shooters in the game today.

Overall, I thought this draft was the worst because only three players have made All-Star teams (Martin, Jamaal Magloire, and Redd). None of these are great players though.

NBA Debate: Chris Paul Vs. Deron Williams

Steven J — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 15:00:13 -0400

Which would you rather have to start your franchise? Many people have debated this since they were drafted in 2005. Deron Williams was drafted third overall out of Illinois by the Utah Jazz. Chris Paul was drafted fourth overall out of Wake Forest by the New Orleans Hornets.

Many thought Atlanta would take Paul with the second pick, but they selected Marvin Williams instead. Chris Paul ended up winning the Rookie of the Year award that season.

Chris Paul's career stats are 46% FG, 84% FT, 18.2 points, 9.5 assists, 4.5 rebounds, 2.3 steals, 2.5 TO.

Deron Williams' career stats are 47% FG, 77% FT, 15.3 points, 8.1 assists, 2.9 rebounds, 0.9 steals, 2.8 TO.

They both had career highs in points and assists last season. Both are in the prime of their careers and are on championship-contending teams. They are two of the top playmakers in the game.

Who's Better?

Scoring: Chris Paul

I would give Chris Paul the edge because he much quicker than Deron and is a better finisher. Deron is much stronger, but Paul is so fearless when he drives to the basket and makes those floaters.

Passing: Deron Williams

Even though Chris Paul had more assists last season, Deron has better passing skills. Chris Paul is in a much higher-tempo offense than Deron is. That gives Paul an advantage to pile up the assists.

Rebounding: Chris Paul

Chris Paul is a great rebounder for his size. He is 6'0" and the guy grabbed five rebounds per game in his rookie season. Chris Paul averaged four rebounds per game last season while Deron averaged three.

Defense: Deron Williams

Chris Paul led the league in steals last season. Neither are great defenders, but Deron is a better perimeter defender than Paul is. Deron is also 6'3", so he is able to post up against the bigger point guards in the league. When they face head to head, Deron completely shuts down Paul.

In 10 career games vs. Utah, Paul averages 13.8 points while shooting a pathetic 35 percent from the field. Deron, on the other hand, averaged 17.5 points while shooting a fantastic 54 percent from the field in 11 career games vs. New Orleans.

Leadership: Chris Paul

Chris Paul has shown a stronger ability to make his teammates better through his leadership than Deron has. Chris Paul is the clear leader on his team, while Deron isn't the clear cut leader on his team because of Carlos Boozer. Chris Paul is better at making his teammates better. Tyson Chandler is a solid player, but Chris Paul makes his look great.

In Deron's second season, he led his team to the Western Conference Finals but lost to the Spurs. He averaged 19 points and nine assists. Deron had a great performance in those playoffs but came up short from the Finals.

Chris Paul took it to another level. In his third season, he led his team to the second best record in the mighty Western Conference. He led his team to the semis but lost in Game Seven to the Spurs. In the playoffs, he averaged 24 points, 11 assists, and five rebounds.

Overall...

These are two best point guards in the game today. It was a really close call, but I would rather have Chris Paul because he is a better team player than Deron Williams. He finished second in MVP voting last season and the only point guard with 20/10.

He is a superstar and is only 23 years old. He made his first All Star appearance last season, while Deron has not made an All Star appearance. Chris Paul also beats out Deron Williams in most statistical categories. I also think that Chris Paul will win a couple of MVPs and championship rings in his career.

NBA's Top-10 Trios

Steven J — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 17:40:28 -0400

10. Dallas Mavericks: Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Kidd, Josh Howard

Dirk Nowizki is one of the best shooting big men in the game. Jason Kidd is a great playmaker, but he is not the same player that was. Josh Howard is a very good scorer and a good rebounder.

9. Philadelphia 76ers: Elton Brand, Andre Igoudala, Andre Miller

With the addition of Elton Brand, the Sixers are now contenders in the east. Brand is a guaranteed 20/10 and is a very good defender. Andre Igoudala is a great all-around player who is also an athletic freak. Andre Miller is a very good point guard and a great leader.

8. Phoenix Suns: Steve Nash, Amare Stoudemire, Shaquille O'Neal

Steve Nash is a two time MVP and is one of the best point guards in the game. Amare is the best scoring big man in the game. Shaq is way past his prime, but he is still a good player.

7. Portland Trail Blazers: Brandon Roy, Greg Oden, LaMarcus Aldridge

Brandon Roy is a great all-around player and is a great leader. Greg Oden is very injury prone, but if he can stay healthy, the Blazers are going to be a scary team. He is going to be a solid offensive player and a defensive animal. LaMarcus Aldridge is a very good big man that can score the ball.

6. Cleveland Cavaliers: LeBron James, Mo Williams, Zydrunas Ilgauskas

LeBron James is the second-best player in the game. His is a great team leader, but he can be selfish at times. Mo Williams was acquired by Cavs this offseason and is a very good point guard. He is a very good scorer and a good passer. Zydrunas Ilguaskas is very good shooting big man and is a great shot blocker.

5. Houston Rockets: Yao Ming, Tracy McGrady, Ron Artest

Yao is one of the best centers in the game. He is a very big injury risk though. If he can stay healthy, the Rockets are contenders in the west. Tracy McGrady is a great scorer but is also injury proned. Ron Artest was acquired in a trade this offseason. He is the best perimeter defender in the game and is also a good scorer. If T-Mac and Yao can stay healthy, this team will be one of the top teams in the west.

4. San Antonio Spurs: Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker

Tim Duncan is the most dominant big man in the game. He is a great scorer and rebounder. He is also one of the best defensive players in the game. Manu Ginobili will miss the first two months of the season due to an ankle injury. He had his best statistical season year when he averaged 20 points, five rebounds, five assists, and he won the Sixth Man of the Year award. Tony Parker is a very good point guard who is one of the quickest players in the game.

3. New Orleans Hornets: Chris Paul, David West, Tyson Chandler

Chris Paul is the best point guard in the game. He is a great scorer and led the league in assists and steals last season. David West is an All Star that has a great mid-range game and is a very good rebounder. Tyson Chandler is the most athletic big man in the game. He is a great rebounder and shot blocker.

2. Boston Celtics: Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen

Kevin Garnett is the reason why the Celtics won it all last season. Before they acquired him, they were one of the worst teams in the league. One year later, they ended up with the league's best record and won the NBA Finals. He also won the Defensive Player of the Year award last season. Paul Pierce is the reigning Finals MVP. He is great scorer and good defensive player.

1. Los Angeles Lakers: Kobe Bryant, Andrew Bynum, Pau Gasol

Kobe Bryant is the best player in the game. He is the reigning MVP and led his team to the Finals. The Lakers finally have their young center Andrew Bynum coming back this season, who went down last year and missed the rest of the season. With Bynum back, the Lakers get a huge defensive presence down low and a great rebounder. Pau Gasol was acquired once Bynum went down. He helped lead the Lakers to the Finals.

Top Five NBA Draft Classes of All Time

Steven J — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 18:33:50 -0400

5. 1970 NBA Draft

The 1970 draft is one of the more underrated draft classes. It has more Hall of Famers than any other draft class. It consists of Bob Lanier (first overall), Pete Maravich (third overall), Dave Cowens (fourth overall), Calvin Murphy (18th overall), Nate "Tiny" Archibald (19th overall), and many other all stars.

Bob Lanier was a career 20-10 player with eight All-Star selections. Pete Maravich is one of the greatest shooting guards of all time, who averaged a career 24.2 points, 5.5. assists, and 4.2 rebounds. He also won a scoring title and is also known as one of the greatest college basketball players of time.

Dave Cowens is a great center that averaged 17.6 points and 13.6 rebounds, and won the MVP in 1973. Calvin Murphy was a career 18-point per game scorer, and one of the greatest free throw shooters of all time, who set the record for the most consecutive free throws made.

4. 1987 NBA Draft

This draft consisted of David Robinson (first overall), Scottie Pippen (fifth overall), Kevin Johnson (seventh overall), Horace Grant (10th overall), Reggie Miller (11th overall), and Mark Jackson (18th overall).

David Robinson averaged 21.1 points and 10.6 rebounds for his career and won the MVP in 1995. He also is one of greatest defensive centers of all time, and won defensive player of the year in 1992.

Scottie Pippen is one of the most gifted all-around offensive players and one of the greatest perimeter defenders of all time. Reggie Miller is the greatest three-point shooter of all time, and a future Hall of Famer.

3. 2003 NBA Draft

Many consider this the best draft class of all time. It consists of LeBron James (first overall), Carmelo Anthony (third overall), Chris Bosh (fourth overall), Dwyane Wade (fifth overall), David West (18th overall), and Josh Howard (29th overall).

LeBron James is one of the best players in game. His career averages are 27.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 6.6 assists. He doesn't have any MVPs or rings yet, but I do expect him to win a couple of MVPs. If he has a healthy career, he will end up as one of the all-time greats.

Carmelo Anthony is a phenomenal scorer. His career averages are 24.4 points, six rebounds, and three assists. Dwyane Wade is one of the best players in the game when healthy. He won his first ring in 2006, and was the Finals MVP.

2. 1996 NBA Draft

This draft consisted of Allen Iverson (first overall), Shareef Abdur-Rahim (third overall), Stephon Marbury (fourth overall), Ray Allen (fifth overall), Antoine Walker (sixth overall), Kobe Bryant (13th overall), Peja Stojakovic (14th overall), Steve Nash (15th overall), Jermaine O'Neal (17th overall), and Ben Wallace, who went undrafted.

Allen Iverson is one of the greatest scorers of all time. His career averages are 27.7 points (third all-time), 6.3 assists, and 2.3 steals. He won the MVP in 2001 and is a nine-time All-Star.

Kobe Bryant is the best player in the game today. His career averages are 25 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.5 steals. He is one of the greatest offensive players of all time and is a fantastic perimeter defender. He currently has three championships and won his first MVP award last year. He has many more rings and MVPs to come.

1. 1984 NBA Draft

This draft consisted of Hakeem Olajuwon (first overall), Michael Jordan (third overall), Charles Barkley (fifth overall), Alvin Robertson (seventh overall), Otis Thorpe (ninth overall), Kevin Willis (11th overall), and John Stockton (16th overall).

Hakeem Olajuwon is one of the greatest centers of all time. His career averages are 21.8 points, 11.1 rebounds, 3.1 blocks, and 1.7 steals. He won two Finals MVPs, and the regular-season MVP in 1993-94. He also won two defensive player of the year awards.

Michael Jordan is one of the top three players of all time. He has every award in the books. He has six championship rings, six Finals MVPs, five MVPs, two All-Star MVPs, Defensive Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, and 10 scoring titles. He is also first all-time in points per game with 30.1.

John Stockton is one of the greatest point guards of all time. He is the greatest passer of all time—and a thief to boot. He is first all time in total assists and total steals.

NBA's Worst Trades This Decade

Steven J — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 18:06:34 -0400

10. 2001, New Jersey Nets traded rights to Eddie Griffin (7th overall pick) to the Houston Rockets for rights to Richard Jefferson (14th overall pick), Jason Collins, and Brandon Armstrong.

9. 2004, Detroit Pistons acquired Rasheed Wallace and Mike James. Boston Celtics acquired Lindsey Hunter, Chucky Atkins, and a 2004 first round pick. Atlanta Hawks acquired Bob Sura, Zeljko Rebraca, and a future first round pick.

8. 2002, Chicago Bulls traded Ron Artest, Brad Miller, Ron Mercer, Kevin Ollie to the Indiana Pacers for Jalen Rose, Travis Best, Norman Robertson, and a second round pick.

7. 2002, Boston Celtics traded Joe Johnson, Randy Brown, Milt Palacio and a first round pick to the Phoenix Suns for Rodney Rodgers and Tony Delk.

6. 2005, Los Angeles Lakers traded Caron Butler and Chucky Atkins to the Washington Wizards for Kwame Brown and Laron Profit.

5. 2006, Minnesota Timberwolves traded rights to Brandon Roy (6th overall pick) to the Portland Trail Blazers for rights to Randy Foye (7th overall pick).

4. 2006, Chicago Bulls traded rights to LaMarcus Aldridge (2nd overall pick) to the Portland Trail Blazers for rights to Tyrus Thomas (4th overall pick) and Viktor Khryapa.

3. 2006, Houston Rockets traded rights to Rudy Gay (8th overall pick) and Stromile Swift to the Memphis Grizzlies for Shane Battier.

2. 2001, Chicago Bulls traded Elton Brand to the Los Angeles Clippers for Tyson Chandler (2nd overall pick) and Brian Skinner.

1. 2008, Memphis Grizzlies traded Pau Gasol to the Los Angeles Lakers for Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton, Aaron McKie, rights to Marc Gasol, and 2008 and 2010 first round picks.

NBA's Top-Five Worst Draft Picks of This Decade

Steven J — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 18:15:13 -0400

5. Denver Nuggets draft Nikoloz Tskitishvili with the 5th overall pick in 2002.

In 2002, the Nuggets drafted Tskitishvili, having high expectations of the seven footer. In 172 career games, he's averaged three points, two rebounds, 0.7 assists, and 0.3 blocks, and has shot a pathetic 30 percent from the field.

He was drafted ahead of All Stars Amare Stoudemire and Caron Butler. If they wouldn't have picked Tskitishvili and drafted Stoudemire, they would have been a completely different team in the past five seasons.

4. Cleveland Cavaliers draft Dajuan Wagner with the 6th overall pick in 2002.

In his rookie season, Dajuan Wagner averaged 13.4 points, 1.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and shot 36 percent from the field. Wagner was compared to Allen Iverson for his scoring ability. Obviously, that didn't happen. Even though he suffered injuries in 2004, he still had no future ahead of him. By the 2006 season, he was out of the league.

3. Atlanta Hawks draft Marvin Williams with the 2nd overall pick in 2005.

In the 2005 draft, the Hawks were looking to draft a point guard. Many expected the Hawks to draft either Chris Paul or Deron Williams. Instead, they drafted small forward Marvin Williams. Even though he is a solid player with the Hawks, he will never be as good as Chris Paul or Deron Williams.

2. Washington Wizards draft Kwame Brown with the 1st overall pick in 2001.

Kwame was the first No. 1 pick to be selected straight out of high school. His rookie season was not what everybody expected. He averaged four points and three rebounds while shooting 39 percent from the field. In 2004, he averaged career highs in points and rebounds, as he averaged 11 points and seven rebounds.

The Wizards offered him a five-year, $30 million deal, which he rejected. In 2005, he was traded to the Lakers for Caron Butler and Chucky Atkins. Then, in 2008, he was traded in the blockbuster deal that sent him to the Grizzlies for Pau Gasol. This past offseason, he signed a two-year deal with the Detroit Pistons.

1. Detroit Pistons draft Darko Milicic with the 2nd overall pick in 2003.

The Detroit Pistons were in need of a big man, so they drafted Darko Milicic. In his rookie season, he averaged only one point and one rebound while shooting a pathetic 26 percent from the field. The Pistons passed up on All Stars Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, and Dwyane Wade.

If the Pistons drafted Chris Bosh instead of Milicic, their lineup would have consisted of Chauncey Billups, Richard Hamilton, Tayshuan Prince, Ben Wallace, and Rasheed Wallace, with Chris Bosh coming off the bench. That would have resulted in maybe another championship for the Pistons and would have started a dynasty.

NBA Season Preview: Individual Awards

Steven J — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 17:59:28 -0400

Most Improved Player: Joakim Noah, Chicago Bulls

Last year, Noah averaged 6.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 0.9 steals, and 0.9 blocks in only 20 minutes. Per 36 Minutes, he averaged 11.5 points, 9.8 rebounds, 1.5 steals, and 1.5 blocks. With Noah now being the starting center, he will get more minutes and more opportunities. I think that he will average a double-double for the season and put up good all around stats.

Runner Up: Al Thornton, Los Angeles Clippers

Coach of the Year: Erik Spoelstra, Miami Heat

Spoelstra is entering this season as the new head coach of the Heat. Last year, the Heat had the worst record going 15-67 and I think that they can win about 25-30 more games this season and make the playoffs. With Dwyane Wade coming back healthy this season and drafting Michael Beasley with the 2nd pick, I think the Heat are going to turn it around this season and I think that Spoelstra will get a lot of credit for this.

Runner Up: Mo Cheeks, Philadelphia 76ers

Sixth Man of the Year: Manu Ginobili, San Antonio Spurs

Ginobili is coming into this season as the reigning sixth man of the year. He is one of the most versatile players in the game. If Ginobili can stay healthy this season it is pretty much a lock that he will win this award.

Runner Up: Lamar Odom Los Angeles Lakers

Rookie of the Year: Michael Beasley, Miami Heat

Beasley is the most talented rookie coming out this year's draft class. I project him to have about 17 points, nine rebounds, three assists, one block and 50 percent from the field. I think that he will have a great impact on his team and a great rookie season.

Runner Up: Greg Oden, Portland Trail Blazers

Defensive Player of the Year: Ron Artest, Houston Rockets

Artest is one of the best perimeter defenders in the game. With the addition of Artest, the Rockets are probably the best defensive team in the league. Every year, Artest is always one of the leaders in steals as he averages over two steals per game.

Runner Up: Kevin Garnett Boston Celtics

Scoring Title: LeBron James Cleveland Cavaliers

Runner Up: Kobe Bryant Los Angeles Lakers

Rebounding Title: Dwight Howard Orlando Magic

Runner Up: Andrew Bynum Los Angeles Lakers

Assists Title: Chris Paul New Orleans Hornets

Runner Up: Deron Williams Utah Jazz

Most Valuable Player: Kobe Bryant Los Angeles Lakers

Kobe Bryant is the best player in the game. Extremely clutch. He shines when it matters most. Unstoppable on the offensive end. Great defensive player. Makes his teammates better. Gets everybody involved. Great team leader. More championship rings and MVPs to come.

Runner Up: LeBron James Cleveland Cavaliers

NBA Season Preview: Regular Season and Playoffs

Steven J — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 16:01:26 -0400

Regular Season

Eastern Conference Standings

1. Boston Celtics (59-23)

2. Detroit Pistons (55-27)

3. Cleveland Cavaliers (51-31)

4. Orlando Magic (50-32)

5. Philadelphia 76ers (49-33)

6. Toronto Raptors (44-38)

7. Washington Wizards (42-40)

8. Miami Heat (40-42)

Western Conference Standings

1. Los Angeles Lakers (63-19)

2. New Orleans Hornets (56-26)

3. Houston Rockets (55-27)

4. Utah Jazz (53-29)

5. San Antonio Spurs (54-28)

6. Phoenix Suns (52-30)

7. Portland Trail Blazers (49-33)

8. Dallas Mavericks (47-35)

Playoff Matchups

Eastern Conference

Quarterfinals

1. Boston Celtics vs. 8. Miami Heat (Celtics Win 4-1)

2. Detroit Pistons vs. 7. Washington Wizards (Pistons Win 4-1)

3. Cleveland Cavaliers vs. 6. Toronto Raptors (Cavs Win 4-2)

4. Orlando Magic vs. 5. Philadelphia 76ers (76ers Win 4-3)

Semifinals

1. Boston Celtics vs. 5. Philadelphia 76ers (Celtics Win 4-2)

2. Detroit Pistons vs. 3. Cleveland Cavaliers (Cavs Win 4-3)

Eastern Conference Finals

1. Boston Celtics vs. 3 Cleveland Cavaliers (Celtics Win 4-3)

Western Conference

Quarterfinals

1. Los Angeles Lakers vs. 8. Dallas Mavericks (Lakers Win 4-0)

2. New Orleans Hornets vs. 7. Portland Trail Blazers (Hornets Win 4-1)

3. Houston Rockets vs. 6. Phoenix Suns (Rockets Win 4-2)

4. Utah Jazz vs. 5. San Antonio Spurs (Spurs Win 4-3)

Semifinals

1. Los Angeles Lakers vs. 5. San Antonio Spurs (Lakers Win 4-1)

2. New Orleans Hornets vs. 3. Houston Rockets (Hornets Wins 4-3)

Western Conference Finals

1. Los Angeles Lakers vs. 2. New Orleans Hornets (Lakers Win 4-1)

NBA Finals

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Boston Celtics (Lakers Win 4-2)

Finals MVP: Kobe Bryant

Here is my individual awards article:

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/61917-nba-season-preview-individual-awards

Chicago Bulls: What They Should Do in The Offseason

Steven J — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 16:43:29 -0400

The Bulls have several important decisions to make this offseason. Along with drafting guard Derrick Rose with the first overall pick, the Bulls are loaded with young talented guards.

As of now, the Bulls have Kirk Hinrich, Derrick Rose, Thabo Sefolosha, and Larry Hughes under contract for next season. Their main problem over the last several years has been low post scoring as they only have Joakim Noah, Drew Gooden, and Tyrus Thomas as talented big men, but none are true low post scorers. Their main decision is to decide what to do with restricted free agents Luol Deng and Ben Gordon.

Here are the following scenarios the Bulls can decide on doing:

1. Re-sign both Luol Deng and Ben Gordon and keep team in tact:

They would do this so they would not put too much pressure on Derrick Rose by keeping veteran guard Kirk Hinrich to help share the load of facilitating the offense. They hope that this decision would allow the young players to grow and become leaders. That will lead to the making the playoffs and being a very solid team.

2. Re-sign Luol Deng and sign and trade Gordon and another player for a talented big man.

Possible deals they can do: Ben Gordon, Joakim Noah, and Thabo Sefolosha for Shawn Marion.

Ben Gordon and Thabo Sefolosha for Zach Randolph.

Starting lineup after this trade would be: PG Derrick Rose, SG Larry Hughes, SF Luol Deng, PF Zach Randolph, C Joakim Noah. Backups: G Kirk Hinrich, F Tyrus Thomas, Andres Nocioni, Drew Gooden, C Aaron Gray

3. Keep Gordon and Deng and Trade Hinrich and another player for a big man.

They can re-sign both Ben Gordon and Luol Deng and trade Hinrich and Nocioni for Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks. If this was to go through then the Bulls lineup would be: PG Derrick Rose, SG Larry Hughes, SF Luol Deng, PF Shawn Marion, C Joakim Noah, with Ben Gordon, Drew Gooden, and Tyrus Thomas from the bench.

4. Make a trade for a superstar player.

Some players they can acquire are Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, Tracy McGrady, and Vince Carter. Carter would be the least likely to be traded because he is over 30. McGrady would be the other least likely to be traded because he is very injury prone.

Carmelo and Wade would be the more likely with Wade to the most likely because he is from Chicago and he is more injury prone. Even though it will be unlikely that Miami would trade Wade, they would accept an offer if a good one was proposed to them.

In my opinion, I think they should make a deal for Shawn Marion to give them a more versatile type of player instead of Drew Gooden. Marion is a solid scorer, great defensive player and great rebounder. He would help the Bulls be a sure playoff team and be a top five team in the East.