Bleacher Report - Articles by Brandon Ribak

New Jersey Nets to Fire Head Coach Lawrence Frank

Brandon Ribak — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 14:07:29 -0500

Check out the full article at NBAPrimetime.com!

After beginning the season off with a winless 0-16 record there is not much argument to be made for head coach Lawrence Frank.

“Frank, whose Nets helped him set an NBA mark by winning his first 13 games as coach in the 2003-04 season after he replaced Byron Scott, is in the final year of a contract that pays him $4 million this season,” says ESPN.

It’s always a very debatable issue when discussing the firing of coaches and in Byron Scott’s case it could be made that he deserved to continue coaching for the New Orleans Hornets after they began the season with a 3-6 record.

But in Franks case, although I like the guy, there is no support backing him of doing even a mediocre job with this squad thus far.

My question is, is it really Franks fault?

What if Phil Jackson coached the Nets for the first 16 games of the season, would they still have a winless record?

I guess where I am trying to getting at with this is when do you cross the line between a coach simply doing his job and his players clearly not performing to their ability?

I am the type of fan that believes that you shouldn’t always blame the coach for a team’s record, how do you feel about this situation?

Comment back with your opinions!

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Orlando Magic Protest Miami Heat's Michael Beasley Game Winner

Brandon Ribak — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 17:51:48 -0500

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With less than four seconds remaining in regulation, Miami’s star Dwyane Wade went up with a jump shot to put the Heat past the Magic.

As the ball fell short of the hoop while still in the air, forward Michael Beasley grabbed the rock and slammed it down, ending the game with a final score of 99-98.

Just as every other Magic fan, I instantly screamed out, “That’s freakin’ goldtending!”

I believed that there was no way the referees were going to allow the basket and to my utmost surprise…they did.

Post game, I was discussing with a few friends how the Magic would protest the final basket and according to ESPN they have.

Check out the Michael Beasley “Goaltending” video and let me know what you think about the call on the play.

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Allen Iverson: Ending a Hall Of Fame Career Back Where it All Began

Brandon Ribak — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 13:40:44 -0500

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Bring it back to June 1996 when young Allen Iverson was selected first pick overall by the Philadelphia 76ers.

After a full season, the Georgetown-er won the Rookie of the Year Award, averaging 23.5 PPG, including a 50-point game against Cleveland.

Through thick and thin Iverson remained with the Philadelphia 76ers for 10 straight seasons, carrying his team to the NBA Finals in 2001 for the first time since the Sixers 1983 championship.

Throwing all the drug and gun possessions to the side, Iverson's so-called rap album that contained offensive lyrics toward woman and gays, and the infamous "Practice" press conference video, A.I. is undoubtedly one of the best players to have ever played the game of basketball.

From creating the crossover , to literally changing the game of basketball, Iverson will forever be remembered as an extremely influential icon in NBA history.

Once it was finalized that A.I had officially retired, I had to sit down and take a moment to really let the words soak in.

I immediately thought to myself that there is no way a guy of Iverson's caliber (a man that has averaged 41.4 MPG in his career) could be completely done at the age of 34.

And I was absolutely right.

“I still have tremendous love for the game, the desire to play, and a whole lot left in my tank. I feel strongly that I can still compete at the highest level," said Iverson.

Now I understand that most teams do not want Iverson on their team because he is not "the answer" to their problems.

Most fans realize that A.I wants a starting job from an organization, and not some backup role where he will come in and compete for less than 25 MPG.

And in all reality, Iverson is the type of player that gives it his all each and every night, and we can clearly see that when taking a look at his career statistics.

So when Sixers guard Lou Williams broke his jaw the other night (forcing him to miss the next eight weeks of action) was this not only a perfect opportunity but a sort of destiny type of situation for Allen Iverson and the Philadelphia 76ers?

My wishes go out to Allen Iverson for a truly remarkable career.

I hope the Sixers make the right choice and bring this guy back into black and gold pinstripes so he can do what he was born to do, and ultimately end his Hall of Fame career back where it all began.

Kobe Bryant, LeBron James: The NBA's All Star Game 2010 Part I

Brandon Ribak — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 15:16:40 -0500

It's never too early to get started on who deserves to compete in one of the most highly publicized events on television world-wide.

NBA Primetime ranks their top performers on the season thus far and lists the starting five and bench players for both conferences.

Eastern Conference

Starting Five

G- Dwyane Wade—Averaging 27.8 PPG 14 GP (fourth in league). A clear favorite in the starting lineup.

G- Vince Carter—Has helped bring Orlando to a 12-4 record (best in Eastern Conference), while averaging just under 20 PPG, 5.0 RPG, and 2.3 APG.

F- LeBron James—Arguably the most elite player in the league, is there any doubt LJ won't make the starting five!?!

F- Josh Smith—An extreme underdog who probably won't make it into the starting five, but a player who is more than deserving of the opportunity.

C- Dwight Howard—The clear favorite at the center position, posting 17.3 PPG, 11.8 RPG, and 1.8 BPG.

Seven Bench Players

Joe Johnson- SG

Chris Bosh- PF (Will most likely make the starting five list)

Kevin Garnett- PF (If not Bosh, definitely KG)

Paul Pierce- SF

Rajon Rondo- PG

Andre Iguodala- SF

Danny Granger- SF

On the bubble bench players- Ray Allen- SG, Jamal Crawford- SG, Mo Williams- PG

Western Conference

Starting Five

G- Kobe Bryant—Leading the league with 30.1 PPG. Need I say more?

G- Steve Nash—Although CP3 will grab this spot, Nash is currently leading the league with 11.9 APG and is currently on the hottest team in the NBA.

F- Carmelo Anthony—If one athlete deserves to be in the starting five most it's Melo. No. 15 is posting a career-high 29.7 PPG, along with 6.1 RPG, 3.5 APG, and 1.7 SPG.

F- Dirk Nowitzki—Nowitki is averaging just under 27 PPG and 9 RPG, including 3 APG and 1.6 BPG, leading the Mavericks to a 11-4 record thus far (fourth in the West). He also scored 29 points in one quarter this season!

C- Andrew Bynum—Bynum is playing the best basketball of his career dropping 19.7 PPG, 10.9 RPG, and 1.7 BPG in 12 contests this season. On a team like LA, Bynum's inflated voting numbers should send him right into the starting five in the West.

Seven Bench Players

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L.A. Lakers, Orlando Magic: Ranking Top Five NBA Teams in East and West

Brandon Ribak — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:04:17 -0500

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NBA Primetime breaks down the top five teams in the East and West. These rankings are based on overall record, upcoming schedule, and team performance.

With 15 of the 30 NBA teams having an overall record above .500, we present to you the top 10 teams in the league today.

The Eastern Conference

1. Orlando Magic (11-3, .786): 1st in East

Although Orlando has struggled with injures early on thus far (Carter four games, Anderson four, and now Nelson out for the next month) the team continues to rack up the wins.

With such incredible depth, there is no reason that the Magic should drop any lower than the second seed in the East throughout the entire year.

2. Boston Celtics (10-4, .714):3rd in East

A healthy Celtic team is one deadly team to summarize it best. With the starting five competing in every game this season, it is obvious that Boston will soon overthrow Atlanta and emerge as the two seed in the East.

3. Atlanta Hawks (11-3, .786): 2nd in East

Atlanta is clearly off to one of the hottest starts that they have had in years (possibly decades).

While this team is extremely stacked, it will only be a matter of time before they drop out of the top three spots.

4. Cleveland Cavaliers (10-4, .714): 4th in East

The Cavaliers have played their last five games without Shaquille O'Neal, holding a record of 4-1 during that span.

While 10-4 is certainly not a bad record, LeBron James will quickly bring his team back into the Big Three of the East.

5. Miami Heat (8-5, .615): 6th in East

Miami ranks above the Bucks because they have Dwyane Wade on their roster.

Even though Miami has slowed down of late (losing four of their last six contests), Flash and Co. will rank as the fifth seed in the East by season's end.

The Western Conference

1. Los Angeles Lakers (10-3, .769): 3rd in West

The Lakers are 2-0 with forward Pau Gasol back in the lineup, giving a little preview of what's to come over the next few months.

With a healthy roster, L.A. is undoubtedly the deadliest team in the NBA and it will only be a matter of games before they rise back to the top of the West and stay there for good.

2. Dallas Mavericks (10-3, .769): 2nd in West

Believe it or not, Dallas is once again one of the most powerful organizations in the league.

Even without star forward Josh Howard, the Mavericks have managed to compile a 10-3 record with impressive wins against Los Angeles and San Antonio.

3. Phoenix Suns (11-3, .786): 1st in West

Yes, the Suns currently hold the best record in the NBA.

Yes, they should be ranked at the No. 1 spot in this list.

The reason we believe the Suns should rank where they do is their upcoming schedule, where they run into a brick wall of top-tier NBA teams consisting of Cleveland (2), Los Angeles Lakers (2), Dallas (1), Denver (1), Orlando (1), Portland (1) and Boston (1).

4. Denver Nuggets (9-4, .692): 4th in West

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Atlanta Hawks, Phoenix Suns: The NBA's Top Contenders and Pretenders

Brandon Ribak — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 14:35:00 -0500

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There really is nothing better then when your favorite team exceeds expectations during the regular season.

Teams such as the Atlanta Hawks and the Phoenix Suns have absolutely shined thus far, ranking at the cream of the crop in both conferences.

But with such great success rises a crucial question, will these teams be able to extend their hot streak throughout the entire season?

NBA Primetime breaks down the Top Three Contenders and Pretenders in the NBA and explains why three organizations will ultimately continue their scorching tear on the season and why the other three will fizzle down within the next few weeks.

Top Three Contenders

1. Atlanta Hawks (11-3, .786)—first in East

Atlanta is clearly the hottest team in the league right now with an 11-3 overall record on the season.

With big victories against the Celtics (in Boston), the Nuggets, and the Blazers (twice), the Hawks are obviously a legitamite team this season.

Point-guard Mike Bibby fell to an ankle injury during the teams last game, but with the offseason acquiring of Jamal Crawford, Hawks fans can rely on the sharp-shooter to contribute in loads in replace of the veteran.

The Hawks are averaging 108 PPG, ranking third in the league in scoring. If the starting core can continue to produce at the high level that they are, there is no doubt that Atlanta will rank amongst the elite in the East all season long.

2. Dallas Mavericks (10-3, .769)- T-first in West

Similar to Atlanta, the Mavericks are off to a teriffic start in the early stages of the NBA season.

Dallas' roster continues to fill up the stat sheet each and every night with forward Dirk Nowitzki leading the way, averaging 26.9 PPG (eighth in NBA).

With Josh Howard still sidelined, the Mavericks bench has managed to step up and help contribute to the teams success.

If Dallas can keep racking up the W's it is blatanly obvious that they will remain as one of the teams on top of the Western conference standings.

3. Denver Nuggets (9-4, .692)—fourth in West

Carmelo Anthony and the Denver Nuggets have shown early on this season that they have the mindset capable of making it far into the postseason this year.

Melo currently leads the league in scoring dropping 30.5 PPG on 47.9 percent shooting in 13 games.

Anthony is a top candidate in the early MVP talks thus far and is undoubtedly playing his best basketball since first entering the league.

With a supporting cast consisting of Billups, Lawson, Smith, Nene, Martin, and Anderson, all Melo needs to do is keep up the production and his team will receive the respect that they deserve.

The Top Three Pretenders

1. Phoenix Suns (10-3, .769)- T-first in West

While the Suns do indeed rank on top in the West, NBA Primetime expects a quick drop in their overall standings within the next few weeks as they will face up against the Lakers (twice), Cavaliers (twice), Magic, Mavericks, Spurs, Blazers, Celtics, and Nuggets next month.

In addition, in 13 games played thus far the Suns have compiled 10 wins, with five of the ten coming from teams under .500.

Teams with easy schedules during the first month of the season tend to have an inflated record and with an extremely difficult schedule in the month of December, the Suns will struggle to hold their first place record.

2. Milwaukee Bucks (8-3, .727)- fourth in East

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LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and the NBA's Top 2010 Free Agents: Stay or Go?

Brandon Ribak — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:55:05 -0500

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The million dollar question (or should I say billion dollar question) that has constantly been debated about religiously,

"What jersey will LeBron James/Dwyane Wade be in for the '10-'11 season?"

A question that, regardless of anyone's input, will not have a definite answer until the minute the star picks up the pen and signs the paper with whichever team he decides to join or re-join.

NBA Primetime presents to you the NBA's Top 2010 Free Agents and their most likely destinations for the '10-'11 season.

Chris Bosh (PF, TOR) Player Option- Stay or Go?

Primetime Prediction: Go

At the age of 25, forward star Chris Bosh has unfortunately not received the opportunity to compete past the first round of the playoffs throughout his six year career.

Rumors circulated throughout the league last season that Bosh publicly spoke out to analyst Stephen A. Smith, stating that he was not interested in remaining as a Raptor after the '09-'10 season.

Although Bosh denied the rumor, it is pretty evident that he is foreseeing bigger and better things outside of Canada next season, especially after coming out the other day and saying that he feels unappreciated regarding to his '03 NBA Draft class.

Whether it's competing in Miami with D-Wade or joining a squad in the West, we strongly believe that CB4 will not be a raptor after this year.

Dirk Nowitzki (PF, DAL) Early Termination Option- Stay or Go?

Primetime Prediction: Stay

At the age of 31, the German assassin still has plenty left in the tank to remain as a top tier player in the league for the next few years to come.

Although Nowitzki is yet to win a championship ring, owner Marc Cuban has surrounded his sharp-shooter with a highly publicized and talented roster compiled of guys such as Shawn Marion, Jason Kidd, Jason Terry, and Josh Howard.

We predict the seven-footer to stick with his team and make a strong push for a Finals run not only during this season, but for the seasons ahead as well.

With a healthy roster the Mavericks are undoubtedly a top-three team in the West and a top six team in the NBA.

Amare Stoudemire (C, PHX) Early Termination Option- Stay or Go?

Primetime Prediction: Go

Stoudemire is arguably one of the most dominate athletes in the league today.

Standing 6'10" and only 27 years of age, the seven year man out of Cypress Creek High-School in Florida has yet to reach his full potential in the NBA.

After averaging 21.0 PPG, 8.9 RPG, and 1.5 BPG throughout his seven year career, GM's and owners throughout the league know this guy is bound to take his game to the next level within the next few seasons.

A possible destination for Stoudemire could be anywhere from Miami to New York to all the way in Toronto.

Dwyane Wade (SG, MIA) Player Option- Stay or Go?

Primetime Prediction: Stay

The NBA salary cap is expected to drop from this seasons $57.7 million to somewhere between $50.4 million and $53.6 million for the '10-'11 season.

If all goes as planned the Miami Heat, along with the New Jersey Nets and New York Knicks, will have $20 million plus to spend in the 2010 NBA free-agent offseason signing extravaganza.

That means that the Heat will be capable of not only re-signing Dwyane Wade to a max contract, but another superstar in addition (and still have money left over to sign role players).

All Pat Riley has to do is convince D-Wade to remain in Miami (by signing a player of Chris Bosh's caliber) and his clear dreams of winning another championship will be more transparent than ever before.

To make things even better, did you know that Wade and Bosh have the same agent in Henry Thomas?

Heat fans, your boy Dwyane Wade is staying put and, moreover, they will be back in contention for another NBA Finals trophy next season.

LeBron James (SF, CLE) Player Option- Stay or Go?

Primetime Prediction: Stay

The Cleveland Cavaliers can re-sign LeBron James to "tens of millions more than any other team can" according to ESPN's Royce Webb.

With that said, all the New York Knicks hopes of signing King James have basically gone down the drain.

In addition, why would James want to leave a team that just won a league-high 66 games during the regular season last year to go compete for an organization that's current status is totally up in the air?

Regardless if the Cavaliers make it past the Eastern Conference Finals this year (which we don't expect them to), LBJ will remain with his hometown team not just because of the surplus amount of money he will obtain, but for the fact that this team has the best sense of direction en route to a NBA Finals trophy for the King in the seasons to come.

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NBA Early Surprises: Brandon Jennings and the Atlanta Hawks

Brandon Ribak — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:12:08 -0500

One thing that never gets old in the world of sports are the "I never saw this coming" kind of surprises.

Already this season we have witnessed the emergence of 10th overall draft pick Brandon Jennings, the 20-year-old punk who played in Europe after high school while it was suspected his SAT scores weren't up to snuff for NCAA play.

This is the kid who said the following about Ricky Rubio weeks before the NBA Draft:

"Yeah, I think I'm a better player than he is," said Jennings. "I just shoot the ball better than he can. The only thing I've seen him do sometimes is when he has a home-run pass or something like that. I think the dude is just all hype. I can't even front. I'm just going to be real with you guys."

This is the 6-foot-1 point guard that showed up four draft picks late to his very own NBA draft.

This kid, Brandon Jennings that is, has managed to absolutely shock the NBA world in the matter of nine games, averaging 24.8 PPG, 5.8 APG, 4.7 RPG, and 1.11 SPG, including a 55-point game performance (breaking Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's franchise rookie record).

With such supreme production from the rook, it is reasonable that all of his offseason hijinx have magically disappeared into thin air.

And now, you can't simply go a day without hearing the words "Brandon Jennings" on ESPN.

So what will become of this exceptional athlete?

Personally, I love Jennings. Aside from having the same name as me, I think this dude is exactly where he wants to be right now, in the spotlight.

I can see him pulling some "Chad Ochocinco" tactics in the near future, but regardless of what this young'n does, as long as he can back it up with his talents, his jersey shouldn't have any problem getting bought by kids worldwide.

Another surprise from this season so far?

The Atlanta Hawks.

Who would have thought that this team would be No.1 in the NBA rankings at this point in the season?

After getting swept by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round of the playoffs last season it was obvious that Atlanta was going to enter this season with a vengeance.

With the acquiring of shooting-guard Jamal Crawford and the signing of veteran Joe Smith during the offseason, this Hawks team not only added another pure-bread shooter but also a mentor with tons of experience.

Holding a record of 10-2, the Hawks have already beaten powerhouse teams such as Portland (twice), Boston, and Denver. They rank third in the NBA in PPG (108 per game) and fourth in the league in FG percentage, shooting 48.6 percent from the field.

With 70 games remaining in the season Atlanta will ultimately make a strong capaign for placing their name amongst the Top 3 best teams in the East.

Where will Atlanta place in the East by seasons end?

If all goes well and the Hawks can remain healthy, it will be no surprise seeing Atlanta finish as the fourth seed in the East.

Can they give a team like the Cleveland Cavaliers a run for their money?

Possibly.

Now wouldn't that be a shock!

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NBA Power Rankings for the Week: Atlanta Hawks on Top

Brandon Ribak — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:59:55 -0500

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1. Atlanta Hawks

The Hawks have gotten off to a quick 8-2 start this season and look better than ever thus far. With a young and promising front-court this team could be for real this season.

2. Phoenix Suns

The Suns currently have the most wins in the league with a record of 9-2. It will only be a matter of time before they begin to crumble...

3. Boston Celtics

A healthy Celtics roster is a scary team indeed. If their core can remain on the court throughout the entire season, there is no doubt that they will rank as either the one or two seed in the East.

4. Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers have kicked off the season with a 7-3 record and have done so Pau-less. Bryant is already in MVP form, and once Gasol returns to the lineup, the Lakers will rightfully take the one spot in the West.

5. Portland Trail Blazers

If Greg Oden can continue producing, there is no reason that the Blazers should fall anywhere under the three seed in the West. With B-Roy running the show, this Portland team is in for their best season since who knows when.

6. Miami Heat

The Heat are scorching hot right now, especially after a Wade buzzer-beater against the New Jersey Nets. Miami will take a dip in their overall performance once Jermaine O'Neal's production begins to drop.

7. Denver Nuggets

The Nuggets are definitely one of the most exciting teams to watch in basketball right now. Melo is playing at his peak, and rookie Ty Lawson is turning heads every which-way with his impressive statistics.

8. Cleveland Cavaliers

LeBron James and the Cavaliers hold a 7-3 record on the season. It will only be a matter of time before Shaq Daddy falls to an injury and L.J. is once again put into a situation to carry his entire team all the way into the postseason.

9. Dallas Mavericks

The Mavericks have always had a roster filled with stars and potential, and this season is no different. Nowitzki and his squad will continue to out-battle their opponents for a shot at anywhere from the three-to-five seed.

10. Orlando Magic

With Lewis returning to the lineup, Orlando is undoubtedly the deepest and strongest team in the league. It will only be a matter of time before the Magic take complete control in the East.

11. Houston Rockets

Surprise, surprise. The Rockets have began the season with a 6-4 record without Yao and T-Mac. How much longer will the above .500 record last? Not long to be quite honest.

12. Milwaukee Bucks

Two words: Brandon Jennings. 55 points!?! Are you kidding me, the next Allen Iverson in the making.

13. Chicago Bulls

The Bulls haven't gotten off to the start that many anticipated. Rose will have to step up his game if Chicago wants any chance at another playoff appearance.

14. Oklahoma City Thunder

With a team consisting of Russell Westbrook, Jeff Green, and Kevin Durant, it will only be a matter of time before they turn into the new "Big Three."

15. Indiana Pacers

The Pacers are currently seventh in the East, and that credit could be given to forward Danny Granger and center Roy Hibbert. These two are the faces of the Pacers future.

16. Sacramento Kings

With shooting-guard Kevin Martin down for a couple of months, the Kings will return to their normal losing ways within the next week or so.

17. San Antonio Spurs

The Spurs tend to begin their seasons on slow notes. No need to worry as they will be back up at the two seed in no time.

18. Toronto Raptors

The Raptors have a serious front-court composed of Chris Bosh and Andrea Bargnani. Once this team's chemistry begins to click they will have a playoff spot with their name on it.

19. Detroit Pistons

The Pistons are currently without their two vets in Rip Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince. Once they return to the lineup Detroit will have a nice shot at the seventh or eighth seed.

20. Utah Jazz

Utah needs to trade Carlos Boozer so that Paul Millsap can become the next best thing. Until then Jerry Sloan will never win a ring.

21. Philadelphia 76ers

The Sixers are a complete mess and will need some serious coaching to turn their season around.

22. Los Angeles Clippers

Chris Kaman and Eric Gordon are the only two impressive players on the Clippers roster thus far this season. Hopefully once Blake Griffin returns they will have a chance to compete in the West.

23. Golden State Warriors

Captain Jack is officially gone! Trade for Anthony Randolph in all fantasy leagues as he will emerge as the Most Improved Player this season.

24. Charlotte Bobcats

The Bobcats obtain Stephen Jackson! Regardless, they still have no shot of getting anywhere.

25. New Orleans Hornets

With Chris Paul out of the lineup and a fired Byron Scott, this Hornets team is destined to plummet.

26. Washington Wizards

Agent Zero is back, but the team still cannot win a game for their life! By mid-season the Wizards should be back near the top of the Eastern Conference standings.

27. Memphis Grizzlies

The Grizzlies decided to sign Jamaal Tinsley even though they already have Allen Iverson on their roster. Hmmm, I wonder who's going to get traded next.

28. Minnesota Timberwolves

What else can you say about this team: They suck.

29. New York Knicks

It is pretty transparent from their record that the Knicks are banking on next season to obtain a primetime player or two. But even then, will they make the playoffs?

30. New Jersey Nets

New Jersey has yet to win a game this season. To make the situation worse their star point-guard is still injured.

The Bleacher Report NBA Power Rankings are done by averaging individual feature columnist's tallies. Weekly contributors are: Denton Ramsey (Houston Rockets), Keith Schlosser (NY Knicks), Curtis Finchum (Oklahoma City), Brandon Ribak (Orlando Magic), Hotnuke (Miami Heat), Bryan Toporek (Philadelphia 76ers), Andrew Ungvari (LA Lakers), Shaun Ahmad (Washington Wizards) and DeMarco Williams (NBA Lead).

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Rashard Lewis Makes His Season Debut for the Orlando Magic

Brandon Ribak — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:02:39 -0500

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After a 10-game suspension (and not being able to attend any game) All-Star forward Rashard Lewis will make his season debut against the Charlotte Bobcats tonight at seven o'clock pm.

The Magic began the season with five new players on their roster, two coming from the offseason transaction with the New Jersey Nets (Vince Carter and Ryan Anderson) and three coming from offseason signings (Brandon Bass, Matt Barnes, and Jason Williams).

Throughout the first 10 games of the season Orlando enjoyed the emergence of forward Ryan Anderson, who is averaging 15.0 PPG and 5.0 RPG on 46.4 percent shooting from the floor and 43.6 percent shooting from beyond the three-point line in only 24.8 minutes of action.

Anderson has missed the last four games due to an ankle injury, and it is clear that his impact has been missed dearly.

With a newly assembled roster one would expect a team's chemistry to take time to build to its peak, but that has not been the case for the Magic as they already look beyond mid-season form.

Tonight's starting lineup will be something close to this: Jameer Nelson at the point, Vince Carter at the two, Rashard Lewis at the three, Ryan Anderson at power-forward, and Dwight Howard at the center position.

This starting five is arguably the strongest and deadliest lineup in the entire NBA today as the five athletes are composed of exceptional speed, versatility, aggressiveness, and most importantly a chip on their shoulder to make it back to the NBA Finals.

Lewis, who lead the league in 3PTM last season, will without a doubt give this Magic team's offense a serious boost, ultimately improving their 100 PPG (14th in league) to somewhere between 110-115 PPG before mid-season.

With a completely healthy roster the Orlando Magic are undoubtedly the deepest team in the NBA. Tonight will be the first time this season that the entire team will be dressed in their numbers and ready to play ball.

Even though the Magic are matched up against the Bobcats, tonight's game should be a little preview of what is to come this season.

Orlando 125 - Bobcats 88

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NBA Primetime: The First 10 Games of The '09-'10 Season Report Card

Brandon Ribak — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 13:06:13 -0500

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Atlanta Hawks- 6-2 record, 3rd in East

The Hawks have gotten off to a great start during the early part of this season, averaging the fourth most PPG in the league with just under 108 points per night. With Josh Smith resurrected and Al Horford posting All-Star type numbers, Atlanta is in for a spectacular season.

Grade: A

Boston Celtics- 8-1 record, 1st in East

The Celtics were the only team in the league to kick the season off with a 6-0 record. They currently lead the NBA in APG with 26.5 per game and are shooting off the charts, nailing 50.1 percent of all their shots. If the Celtics core can remain healthy and intact, there is no doubt in my mind that they will rank either first or second in the East come playoff time.

Grade: A+

Charlotte Bobcats- 3-5 record, 12th in East

The Bobcats starting small forward Gerald Wallace is tied for leading the league in RPG, grabbing 12.3 per night. Aside from Wallace's impressive performance, Charlotte's roster is not producing well enough for any chance at competing for a playoff spot this season.

Grade: D-

Chicago Bulls- 4-4 record, 10th in East

In eight games this season the Bulls have managed to beat two of the top tier teams in the league in San Antonio and Cleveland. Luol Dengs presence has undoubtedly contributed to Chicago's success this season and the breakout of Joakim Noah (averaging 11.5 PPG, 12.3 RPG) adds more icing to the cake.

This young roster will end the season somewhere around .500 and will ultimately be able to compete for a playoff spot.

Grade: B-

Cleveland Cavaliers- 5-3 record, 6th in East

After winning against Orlando the other night, many believe that the Cavaliers are surely the team to beat. But as I mentioned in my Cavaliers article , Cleveland will unfortunately fall due to lack of insurance on the bench.

With a completely healthy roster Orlando would have easily won the game against LeBron...I guess we will just have to wait and see how the cards unfold.

LeGrade: B+

Dallas Mavericks- 5-3 record, 4th in West

With an impressive win against Los Angeles, the Mavericks are off to a great start, although all the credit should be given to forward Dirk Nowitzki. Nowitzki ranks eighth in the league in scoring thus far, averaging 26.5 PPG, including a historic 29 point fourth quarter performance. With Josh Howard back in the lineup expect the Mavericks to only rise in the Western rankings this season.

Grade: B+

Denver Nuggets- 6-3 record, 3rd in West

After starting the season with a 5-0 record, the Nuggets have quietly slipped back into reality. Forward Carmelo Anthony is off to the best start in his career, ranking third in the league in scoring with 30.2 PPG.

The team ranks fifth in the league in scoring (106.3 PPG) and their rookie guard Ty Lawson is off to a fantastic campaign, averaging 10 PPG and just under three APG. With a healthy frontcourt Denver is a scary team to face up against.

Grade: A

Detroit Pistons- 4-4 record, 8th in East

Detroit's offseason acquisitions have carried this team through their first eight games of the season. Both Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva lead the team in scoring thus far.

The Pistons Richard Hamilton (one game played) and Tayshaun Prince (three games played) have battled through injury during this early season and are clearly needed heavily to become a contender this year.

Grade: C+

Golden State Warriors- 2-5 record, 13th in West

Although they have started off with a 2-5 record, the Warriors currently rank second in the league in scoring, averaging 108 PPG. Unfortunately, they also rank first in the league in opponents PPG, giving up a ridiculous 112 PPG.

Rumors have circulated regarding to Stephen Jackson leaving Golden State and if the plans fall through, this Warriors team will be in the gutter for quite some time.

Grade: D

Houston Rockets- 5-3 record, 6th in West

After losing Yao Ming for the season and T-Mac for the first few months of the year many anticipated the Rockets to be in for a serious decline. But after getting off to a 5-3 start, the team looks pretty solid thus far, ranking sixth in the league in PPG, with 104 per night.

Grade: B

Indiana Pacers- 3-3 record, 11th in East

The Pacers starting center Roy Hibbert is off to a terrific start, leading his team in RPG (10.2) and BPG (2.67). Along with Hibbert is Indiana's primetime player Danny Granger who is basically carrying this team on his shoulders thus far, posting 24.2 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 2.2 APG, 2.1 SPG, and 1.1 BPG.

Indiana will have to wait a few more seasons before they can compete in the East.

Grade: D+

Los Angeles Clippers- 3-6 record, 12th in West

Just when nothing could possibly get worse for the Clippers it unfortunately did. Rookie and first overall draft pick Blake Griffin fell to a knee injury, sidelining him for the first few months of the season.

Aside from that, center Chris Kaman is off to a incredible start this season averaging a team high 21.7 PPG, 9.6 RPG, and 1.6 BPG.

Grade: D

Los Angeles Lakers- 6-1 record, 2nd in West

Without arguably their second best player in Pau Gasol, the Lakers have managed to compile a 6-1 record this season, only falling short to Dallas.

Kobe Bryant currently leads the league in scoring averaging 33.6 PPG and will continue to carry his team all the way into the postseason.

Grade: A+

Memphis Grizzlies- 1-8 record, 15th in West

The Grizzlies were certainly not a team that was expected to raise eyebrows this season and they have definitely not disappointed.

Center Marc Gasol is off to a torrid start, averaging 14.6 PPG, 10.9 RPG, and 1.7 BPG.

With Iverson possibly departing from this Memphis team, there is absolutely no hope in making it to the playoffs this year.

Grade: F

Miami Heat- 6-1 record, 2nd in East

Miami fans should be very proud of their squad as they have gathered a record of 6-1 to tip off the season.

If the Heat can continue to win games and D-Wade can keep the motor running there is no reason Miami should rank lower than fifth in the East all season long.

Grade: A

Milwaukee Bucks- 4-2 record, 4th in East

The Bucks have undoubtedly been the surprise team in the East during the early stages of the season. Rookie point-guard Brandon Jennings is absolutely tearing up the competition, leading the rookie rankings while averaging 20.7 PPG, 5.2 APG, 4.3 RPG, and 1.3 SPG in 32.7 MPG.

With no Michael Redd on the floor how can this team continue to win games??

Grade: B+

Minnesota Timberwolves- 1-8 record, 15th in West

An argument can be made that the Minnesota Timberwolves are inevitably the worst team in the NBA as of right now.

Aside from rookie Jonny Flynn who is off to a hot start, the T-Wolves overall roster is producing in extremely low quantities.

Grade: F

New Jersey Nets- 0-8 record, 15th in East

Similar to the T-Wolves, the Nets are off to a horrific start, remaining as the only team yet to win a game this season.

With Devin Harris on the sidelines this team can expect to remain winless until their captain gets back into action.

Grade: F

New Orleans Hornets- 3-6 record, 11th in West

New Orleans thought it would be best to fire head-coach Byron Scott after the Hornets 3-6 start to the season.

With the GM taking over, hopefully the Hornets can go back to their old winning ways, especially with the way Chris Paul is playing thus far (26.1 PPG, 9.3 APG, 3.2 RPG, 1.5 SPG).

Grade: D-

New York Knicks- 1-8 record, 14th in East

While the Knicks roster looks pretty decent on paper, the team has yet been able to convert their chemistry and talent into wins.

With many rumors stating that the Knicks roster has already given up on the season, it looks as if the players are simply waiting for a big named player to join their team during the big 2010 offseason signing.

Grade: F

Oklahoma City Thunder- 4-4 record, 8th in West

The Thunder's big three, Kevin Durant, Jeff Green, and Russell Westbrook have played no short of spectacular this season.

They are the three team leaders in scoring and are ultimately the key components to success for this young roster.

Durant is averaging 27 PPG and will continue to dominate and improve for years to come.

Grade: C+

Orlando Magic- 6-3 record, 5th in East

Orlando's guard Vince Carter and forward Ryan Anderson have both been caught by the injury bug this season. To add more fuel to the fire, the Magic are still without their star forward Rashard Lewis, who was suspended for the first 10 games of the season.

Once Orlando is completely healthy they will make a strong push for the most powerful and deepest team in the NBA today.

Grade: A

Philadelphia 76ers- 4-4 record, 9th in East

Forward Marreese Speights and guard Louis Williams have both been a pleasant surprise for the Sixers early on this season.

Aside from them two, the only players actually posting numbers for Philly are Andre Iguodala and Thaddeus Young.

Elton Brand has been a dud thus far and continues to be on the decline as he nears the end of his career.

Grade: C

Phoenix Suns- 8-1 record, 1st in West

The Phoenix Suns have been the surprise team in the West so far this season, leading the conference in win percentage (.889%)

J-Rich, Amare Stoudemire, Steve Nash, and Grant Hill have been fantastic for the Suns and the rising of Channing Frye has helped the team a ton as well.

If Phoenix can keep up the momentum, they're in for a playoff seed this season.

Grade: A+

Portland Trail Blazers- 6-3 record, 5th in West

When Greg Oden plays well this Blazers squad is definitely the team to beat. In nine games Oden has produced 10.1 PPG, 8.7 RPG, and 2.2 BPG in just 23.4 MPG.

With a healthy Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge, and Andre Miller (and ofcourse Greg Oden), Portland is in for a fantastic season.

Grade: B+

Sacramento Kings- 4-4 record, 8th in West

Kings leading scorer Kevin Martin went down to injury recently and will be held out of action for close to two months.

With a depleted roster as it is, the Kings are relying heavily on rookie guard Tyreke Evans and forward Jason Thompson.

Both athletes are producing for this young team and will continue to all season long.

Grade: B

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Orlando Magic To Face Up Against The Cleveland Cavaliers Wednesday Night

Brandon Ribak — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:50:00 -0500

In what will be a flashback of last years Eastern Conference Finals matchup, the Orlando Magic will take on the Cleveland Cavaliers for the first time this season.

Cleveland hasn't necessarily gotten off to the start that most analysts and fans expected and as for Orlando, their depth is already being put to the ultimate test.

A clash between arguably two of the biggest superstars today in LeBron James and Dwight Howard make this emerging rivalry a game that every basketball fan should be tuning into, especially since it will be aired on ESPN (so no excuses!).

Starting Lineups

Cleveland Cavaliers Orlando Magic

PG—Mo Williams PG—Jameer Nelson

SG—Anthony Parker SG—Vince Carter

SF—LeBron James SF—Matt Barnes

PF—Anderson Varejao PF—Ryan Anderson

C—Shaq O'Neal C—Dwight Howard

Bench—Delonte West, J.J. Hickson, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Jamario Moon, Daniel Gibson.

Bench—Marcin Gortat, Mickael Pietrus, Brandon Bass, J.J. Reddick, Jason Williams.

Quick facts

Cleveland currently holds a record of 4-3, with their three loses coming from Boston, Toronto, and Chicago.

After losing just two games at home last season, the Cavaliers have already tied their historic record in only seven games this year.

Orlando is 5-2 on the season with two loses from Detroit and Oklahoma City.

After having a 2-0 record against the Thunder last season, the Magic fell short to them already this year.

Quick team previews

Since joining the team, Vince Carter has only competed in three of the seven games thus far this season due to an ankle injury.

Orlando will need VC at full healthy as well as two year forward Ryan Anderson who fell short to an ankle injury during the Magic's last Friday game against Detroit.

With Rashard Lewis suspended for the first 10 games of the season each player on Orlando's roster is expected to step up and produce, especially during this Cleveland game.

Aside from LeBron James, the Cleveland Cavaliers have not been spectacular so far this season.

Shaq will have a heavy load to handle during this matchup as he faces up against Orlando's Dwight Howard.

Cleveland will be forced to defend the perimeter as the Magic are extremely versatile and have big men that can shoot the trey ball.

Predictions

Orlando will be playing at home, where they beat Cleveland by 29 points during the regular season last year. With the fans on their side and a healthy VC and Ryan Anderson, the Magic should be able to come up victorious at the end of this vicious battle.

Orlando 101, Cleveland 94

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NBA Primetime: Slow Starts, Quick Recovery

Brandon Ribak — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:10:14 -0500

Five games into the beautiful 2009 NBA season and already teams are starting to show their true colors.

Organizations like New Jersey (0-5), Milwaukee (1-2), Minnesota (1-4), and Sacramento (1-4) were obviously not expected to turn heads this season and thus far neither team has disappointed in that regard.

Aside from the low-tier teams in the league, a few squads have started off on a slow note and have obvious potential to bounce back and recover throughout the next week or so.

NBA Primetime presents to you the "Slow Starts, Quick Recovery" teams of the NBA.

Utah Jazz - (1-3, .250 PCT) 4th in Northwest Division

After retaining Boozer from being dealt this offseason, the Jazz entered the year with high hopes and a well-assembled roster.

With three loses to Denver, Houston, and Dallas, the Jazz have started the season with a 1-3 overall record, averaging four points less on the offensive end than a year ago (99 PPG now, 103 PPG last season) while giving up five points more on the defensive end (105 PPG now, 100 PPG last season).

Why will they make a quick recovery?

The Jazz will face off against 12 different teams during their 13 games played in the month of November. Of those 12, only four teams posted higher than a .500 winning percentage last season.

Portland Trail Blazers - (2-3, .400 PCT) 3rd in Northwest Division

Heading into the season, the Blazers were discussed as one of the potential breakout teams in the league.

While a 2-3 start to the season is not technically bad, the Blazers are one squad that will quickly turn things around (hence, their record).

Why will they make a quick recovery?

With Greg Oden beginning to show signs of improvement (averaging 6.8 PPG, 9.8 RPG, and 2.2 BPG in 23.0 MPG in five games) and Portland's upcoming schedule of facing the Timberwolves three times, the Grizzlies twice, and one game against the Nets and the Bobcats, the Blazers should end the month of November with a record well above .500.

Washington Wizards - (2-3, .400 PCT) 5th in Southeast Division

After acquiring guards Randy Foye and Mike Miller during the offseason, the Wizards looked like another team that was on the cusp of breaking out.

Since losing forward Antawn Jamison to an injury and now guard Mike Miller to a shoulder injury, the Wizards start the early year with a 2-3 overall record.

Why will they make a quick recovery?

Two words for ya, Gilbert Arenas.

Agent Zero has officially resurrected, averaging a ridiculous 27.6 PPG, 5.6 APG, 2.6 RPG, and 1.0 SPG, in 36.4 minutes of action (not scoring under 22 points in the five games played).

With a healthy No. 0, the Wizards should be able to bounce back from their semi-slow start and compete for anywhere between the fourth to eighth seed in the East.

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NBA Primetime: The 2009-'10 Sophomore Surprises

Brandon Ribak — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:11:44 -0500

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We all saw athletes like Derrick Rose, O.J. Mayo, Michael Beasley, Kevin Love, Russell Westbrook, Eric Gordon, Brook Lopez, D.J. Augustin, Jason Thompson, Mario Chalmers, and even Courtney Lee step up and produce efficient numbers throughout their rookie campaign last season.

While those guys enjoyed tremendous success last year, other rookies unfortunately did not receive the opportunity to shine in the spotlight and ultimately show off their skills.

With the 2009-'10 season underway, NBA Primetime presents to you the second year players that are finally getting their chance to become publicized in the NBA world.

The 2009-'10 NBA Sophomore Surprises

1. Danilo Gallinari (SF, NYK)

Four games into the NBA season and the sixth pick of the 2008 NBA draft is already turning heads, averaging 19.3 PPG while shooting 19-for-42 from beyond the three-point arc.

After playing in only 28 games last season due to injury, Gallinari is getting the liberty to step into the starting lineup and show what he is really about.

The Italian is off to a scorching start to the NBA season and will undoubtedly be in the race for the biggest sophomore surprise this year.

2. Anthony Randolph (PF, GS)

Randolph showed glimpses of his potential near the end of last season when he began to play consistent minutes. This year Randolph has been given the starting nod from head coach Don Nelson and will definitely use it to his advantage.

Standing 6'10", Randolph has the extreme athleticism and arsenal to break into the spotlight.

With a few more years of experience under his belt, Randolph can emerge into one of the most dynamic and successful forwards in the NBA today.

3. Marreese Speights (PF, PHI)

With Elton Brand succumbing to injury last season, forward Marreese Speights obtained additional minutes, showing signs of serious upside during his 16 MPG.

In three games this season Speights has averaged 16.7 PPG, 7.3 RPG, and 1.0 BPG in only 23.0 MPG.

Coming off of the bench for Philly, Speights should continue to raise his playing time if he can keep up the stellar production.

If he can remain reliable and consistent, Brand might be forced to come off the bench, which would inevitably lower his minutes and give Speights more opportunity to breakout.

4. Roy Hibbert (C, IND)

7'2" center Roy Hibbert led the preseason in BPG with 3.6 a game. Since Hibbert does not receive much recognition being on a beat down Pacers squad, not many people know about this guy.

At the young age of 22, Hibbert has an ample amount of time to improve on his overall game before he enters his prime.

If the big fella can keep his season average of 7.5 RPG around that area and continue to produce on the defensive end, he can quickly become a solid center in fantasy play.

5. Ryan Anderson (PF, ORL)

After being traded to the Magic during the offseason, forward Ryan Anderson has done nothing but impress Orlando fans.

The second-year man is shooting 55 percent from the three-point line (11-for-20 3PM) and is averaging 17.3 PPG in just 25.7 minutes of action.

With All-Star Rashard Lewis out of the lineup, Anderson has become the starting power-forward for Orlando and since he has played so spectacularly, the Magic might be forced to start Lewis at the small-forward position once he returns to the court.

If you have not had the opportunity to watch Anderson this season, I highly suggest that you watch a few game recaps on this phenomenal shooter.

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NBA Primetime: The NBA's Most Deadliest Trios, Plus One

Brandon Ribak — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:59:37 -0500

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After staying active throughout the entire NBA off-season it is completely rhetorical to state that the rich got richer and the poor got poorer.

Teams that ranked on top last season acquired new stars to improve on their already phenomenal roster, and organizations that ranked at the bottom pretty much remain there as we speak.

NBA Prime-time presents to you the NBA's Most Deadliest Trios, Plus One

1. Los Angeles Lakers

The Trio- Kobe Bryant, Ron Artest, Pau Gasol

When you have a guy like Kobe Bryant on your squad you don't need much to rack up wins during a season. With the acquiring of newcomer and most underrated superstar Ron Artest, the Lakers rank as the best trio in the league.

Pau Gasol is currently injured, but once he gets back onto the court this Lakers trio is virtually unstoppable.

Plus One- Andrew Bynum

Every time Bynum began to breakout during the regular season he ended up going down with a season ending injury. This year could be different if the 22-year-old seven footer can stay healthy throughout the entire season. He has potential to become a top tier center in the league and with a pretty beefed up roster, Bynum can simply focus on his game without much pressure to produce.

2. Orlando Magic

The Trio- Jameer Nelson, Vince Carter, Dwight Howard

The Magic are pretty much the most deadliest team in the league this season. With a healthy Jameer Nelson back in the lineup you can expect the All-Star to put up solid numbers all across the board.

Vince Carter returns to his hometown and is more determined than ever to grab his first ever championship ring. At the age of 32, VC is prepared to bring back his high-flying days and shock the world with his extremely underrated abilities.

Dwight Howard is destined for his second Defensive Player of the Year award this season if he can remain durable (which he has throughout his career thus far). With two true power-forwards on his squad, Howard will finally get some help in the paint, but it's not like he needed any assistance anyway.

Plus One- Rashard Lewis

Lewis stepped up during the postseason and helped bring Orlando to the NBA Finals. This season he starts the year on the bench for the first 10 games due to suspension.

Once he makes his season debut he will undoubtedly contribute in bunches to this successful and upcoming Magic team.

3. Boston Celtics

The Trio- Rajon Rondo, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett

Talking about a stacked roster, the Celtics enter this season with one of the scariest teams in the NBA.

Young'n Rajon Rondo has quickly emerged as a top tier point-guard in the league with the arsenal to do pretty much anything and everything on the court.

Future hall-of-famer Paul Pierce is said to be in his best shape in years and already looks possessed to win another NBA title.

Kevin Garnett has returned from a knee injury that ended his season early last year. If KG really is 100 percent healthy, this Celtics team has all the weapons to make a run for the Finals.

Plus One- Ray Allen

After having two down seasons, according to Ray Allen's standards, the three-point phenom is in for a breakout year. If Ray Ray's trey ball is on, I'd definitely be afraid to face up one-on-one against this guy.

4. San Antonio Spurs

The Trio- Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, Tim Duncan

The Spurs are arguably one of the most powerful teams in the league today. Tony Parker is coming off of a career-high season last year and plans to improve on his averages this season.

Manu Ginobili has returned from injuries and expects to get back into his "top 25 best in the league" form.

Forward Tim Duncan is certainly not getting younger, but with the off-season acquisitions that the Spurs have made, he can finally get some assistance deep in games.

Plus One- Richard Jefferson

Richard Jefferson was obtained during the off-season and brings tremendous experience and leadership to the table for San Antonio.

Once R-Jeff gets settled into the Spurs lineup he will inevitably help lead this team to the Western Conference Finals, competing in a vicious dog fight against the LA Lakers.

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Orlando Magic's Newest Superstar Vince Carter Goes Down with Injury

Brandon Ribak — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 17:49:17 -0400

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From the moment of tip-off against the New Jersey Nets last night you could see it in Vince Carter's eyes that he was glad to make his first appearance back at the Izod Center.

With the ball in his hands during the first play of the game Carter attacked the hoop, rising up into the air and slamming the ball right down the net.

VC ended the first quarter with a team-high 13 points, shooting a fantastic 5-6 from the field and looking better than ever.

In the second quarter Carter went down with an injury just minutes before the end of the first half, immediately going to the locker room for the remainder of the game.

X-rays on his ankle were negative and his status for Sunday's game is currently up in the air, depending on the swelling of his ankle.

With two of Orlando's stars potentially out of the lineup for the upcoming game against Toronto, the Magic's impressive depth is already being put to the test.

Two year forward Ryan Anderson has quickly become one of the most surprising players in the league, averaging 16 PPG in two games and shooting 6-12 from the three-point line in only 24 MPG.

His calm, cool, and collective mentality and remarkable shooting ability instantly makes him a top notch scoring threat throughout the league.

With Carter possibly out of the lineup, Anderson will ultimately benefit the most, averaging 30 plus MPG against the Raptors.

In addition, four year forward Brandon Bass, who is playing remarkably well for Orlando (shooting 58.8 percent in two games), will receive the opportunity to absolutely explode onto the scene if given the chance to post 30 plus MPG as well.

Orlando fans have no need to fear regarding to the Vince Carter injury as they arguably have the best and most deepest bench in the league today.

With such young and promising potential surrounding this Orlando team, it will be only a matter of weeks before they're regarded to as the strongest overall organization in the NBA.

Mark my words NBA fans, the Orlando Magic are in for a historical season this year.

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NBA Primetime: The NBA's 2009-10 Fantasy Basketball Breakout Team

Brandon Ribak — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:13:40 -0400

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What's better than drafting a fantasy player with upside late in your draft that ultimately ends up breaking out during the season?

In my opinion, not much.

Last season I drafted forward Jeff Green during the 10th round of my draft and he ended up having a breakout season, helping to lead my team to the championship.

This season their are a plethora of fantasy players that have massive potential to break out and become a serious contributor to any fantasy team.

If you want to win your fantasy league and forever hold bragging rights against your buddies, do whatever you can do get these guys onto your squad!

1. Andrea Bargnani (C, TOR)

After gaining much needed experience in the NBA, 7'0" Italian Andrea Bargnani is finally ready to show his true potential. With the starting center job all his, Bargnani is bound to break out this season and post averages close to 20 points and eight rebounds per game.

In his first game of the season, he dropped 28 points in 30 minutes of play, and that is definitely a sign of what's to come. This sharp-shooter will enjoy a career year this season and will also help out fantasy teams tremendously.

2. Anthony Randolph (PF, GSW)

In 890 career minutes Randolph has averaged 21.3 points, 15.5 rebounds, and 3.6 blocks per 48 minutes. He is one of only a handful of players to do put up numbers like that since his rookie season. With the starting job his to lose, Randolph should be able to put up stellar averages this year.

3. Jason Thompson (PF, SAC)

After averaging 11.1 points and 7.4 rebounds per game during his rookie campaign last season, power forward Jason Thompson is in for a huge year. With inflated minutes, Thompson can quickly emerge as a top-tier forward in the NBA, producing off the chart double-doubles per game.

4. Luis Scola (PF, HOU)

With T-Mac out for a few months and Yao Ming out for the entire season, forward Luis Scola is headed for a career-high in minutes per game. Since entering the league three years ago, Scola has improved in points, rebounds, and assists per game, as well as field goal percentage. In addition, he has yet to miss a NBA game in his two-year career. If Scola is available in your draft after the sixth round, he is definitely the guy to grab before you regret it all season long.

5. Hakim Warrick (SF, MIL)

When given consistent playing minutes in Memphis, forward Hakim Warrick averaged close to a double-double per game. In Milwaukee, Warrick will get an opportunity to start and post career-highs all across the board. If Warrick is still around during the ninth and 10th round of your draft, snag him, as he could win the Most Improved Player Award this year.

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NBA Primetime: Ranking The Top 10 Rookies For The '09-'10 NBA Season

Brandon Ribak — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:00:47 -0400

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Every professional athlete has gone through the phase of entering the league for the very first time while attempting to take his game to the next level at the same moment.

With the new environment that they're surrounded by, they're forced to mature quickly and ultimately emerge into their very own diamond in the rough.

Some players immediately make an impact to the teams success from the second they step foot onto the hardwood, while others must take time to polish their arsenal and overall mindset.

Whether they're a starter or a back-up, the players eventually gets their opportunity to show off what they can offer and in the end prove what they are all about.

NBA Primetime's Top 10 Rookies for the '09-'10 NBA Season

1. Blake Griffin (F, LAC)

Injured or not, Griffin will instantly make a huge contribution to the Clippers team once he gets back on the floor. He has the stature and frame to overpower and bully literally anybody in his path and will unquestionably use that to his utmost advantage throughout his entire career.

2. Tyreke Evans (G, SAC)

Talking about a fantasy stud, guard Tyreke Evans will without a doubt rack up the most MPG amongst all rookies this season. Leading the way for Sacramento, Evans will have more than enough opportunities to battle head-to-head with Griffin for the Rookie of the Year award.

3. Terrence Williams (G, NJN)

Williams is a freakish athlete with unlimited amounts of hops. On a rebuilding team like New Jersey, T-Will should be able to average starters minutes night in and night out and show the NBA world what a slam dunk is all about.

4. Jonny Flynn (G, MIN)

With Ramon Sessions running the point-guard position for Minnesota, it is not certain on how much playing time Flynn will receive this season. Regardless, the little guard should get an ample amount of PT to be able to show off his quickness and agility. Just check out his debut numbers, 29 MPG, 18 PPG.

5. Stephen Curry (G, GSW)

Since entering the NBA, questions have rose regarding to Curry's small physique and if he will be able to produce at a high level consistently. After watching him play in his debut, it's safe to say that Curry will have no problem running the show for the Warriors this season. While he won't drop ridiculous numbers like he did during his Davidson days, Curry should be able to post around 13 PPG, 6 APG, and 1.5 SPG.

6. DeJuan Blair (F, SAS)

Blair sneaking into the second-round of the NBA Draft meant one team was guaranteed a lot more than they ever expected; of course that team had to be the San Antonio Spurs. Blair's debut game ended with his first career double-double in only 23 minutes. I guess that is a sign of what's to come.

7. Ty Lawson (G, DEN)

Lawson was luckily traded to Denver on draft night after being the third point-guard selected by Minnesota. Standing 5'11, Lawson uses his speed, proficient dribbling, and terrific eye to his absolute advantage. Backing up one of the most elite veteran point-guards in the NBA doesn't hurt his upside either.

8. James Harden (G, OKC)

At the young age of 20, lefty shooter James Harden has massive room for improvement before he reaches his true potential. During his debut game his lethal weapon could not find a way to get inside the basket, but once the jitters are out of his system he should be good for close to 15 points per night.

9. Omri Casspi (F, SAC)

Like Evans, Casspi should post inflated minutes per game as compared to the average rookie around the league. At 6'9" Casspi has shown his versatility and nose for the ball on the offensive end of the floor. Once he begins to post eyebrow-raising numbers, it could be time to pick this Israeli up in fantasy play.

10. DeMar DeRozan (G, TOR)

DeRozan is another high-flying athlete that has potential to move up in the rookie rankings this season. Although Toronto's roster is pretty stacked this season, DeRozan should be able to remain in the starting line-up if he keeps up his defensive play.

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Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic Host Their NBA Season Opener

Brandon Ribak — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:49:26 -0400

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What a joy it is to get back into the NBA writing scene and bring about debates, discussions, previews, and much more with all you basketball fans out there!

The Orlando Magic will be hosting their first NBA game of the season tonight at 7 o'clock against the Philadelphia 76ers.

Rewinding back to the first round of last years postseason and you can visualize the Sixers stealing the first W of the series after an extremely heroic and clutch jumper from their starting forward Andre Iguodala.

The Magic ended up coming back in the series, capturing four wins in the blink of an eye.

Breakdown

Philadelphia 76ers

With newly hired head-coach Eddie Jordan, the Sixers starting five looks a little something like this, Lou Williams at the point-guard position, Andre Iguodala at the two spot, Thaddeus Young at small forward, Elton Brand as the power forward, and Samuel Dalembert at the five spot.

Phillies bench includes the sharp-shooter Jason Kapono, two-year man Marreese Speights, and rookie guard Jrue Holiday.

Orlando Magic

With Rashard Lewis out of the lineup, Orlando will run with Jameer Nelson at the point, Vince Carter at the two, Mickael Pietrus as the small forward, two-year Ryan Anderson as the four spot, and Dwight Howard at the center position.

The Magic bench consists of veteran guard Jason Williams, four-year man Brandon Bass, small-forward Matt Barnes, and center Marcin Gortat.

Keys to the Game

Philadelphia

"Defense, Defense, Defense"

The Sixers must stop the Magic from having their way on the court. Orlando is known for separating the floor and distributing the ball around the perimeter.

If Philly can somehow contain the beast, that is, of course, Dwight Howard, then all they will have to worry about is preventing Orlando's shooters from knocking down the treys.

If they can contain the Magic from hitting their shots than they could be in for a great and exciting game.

Orlando

"Play your game"

Orlando is at their strongest when Dwight Howard controls the paint, has his way against his opponent, and distributes the rock to a wide-open shooter when double-teamed.

They showed in preseason that their on-court chemistry is nothing short of perfection.

If they can take that and transfer it into the regular season while consistently knocking down the open jumper, than this Magic team is in for a blow-out victory.

Game Predictions

Orlando will come out on top in this season opener extravaganza. The Magic will come out extremely aggressive, inevitably shutting down Philly on both ends of the court.

Expect Orlando to shoot somewhere around 50 percent from the field with at least eight to 10 three-pointers made.

Final Score: 102-81

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Orlando Magic No Rashard Lewis? No Problem! First 10 Games Of The Season

Brandon Ribak — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:18:41 -0400

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The Orlando Magic will have to manage without their starting forward Rashard Lewis for the first ten games of the '09-'10 season.

Lewis played in four of the eight preseason games, helping his team compile an undefeated record of 8-0 to complete preseason.

Head coach Stan Van Gundy will now get an opportunity to mix and match with his new set of players that were acquired this off season to determine who should be placed into the starting lineup and who should come off of the bench.

News has been announced that forward Ryan Anderson will get the starting power-forward nod in Lewis's absence, but with four-year man Brandon Bass making a splash in the preseason, nothing is permanent from the looks of things.

Orlando's First 10 Games of the Season (Shard-less)

1. Magic vs Sixers - Win

This should be an easy win for Orlando as they enter their first game of the season at full strength. Their back-ups will be able to receive an ample amount of minutes due to Lewis's suspension.

2. Magic @ Nets - Win

New Jersey heads into the season as arguably one of the worst Eastern Conference teams in the league. They are composed of a bunch of young and inexperienced talent.

3. Magic @ Raptors - Win

Vince Carter will be playing against his old team, while Turkoglu makes his first appearance against his beloved Magic. This should be an exciting game watching Chris Bosh and Dwight Howard go at each other.

4. Magic @ Pistons - Win

Detroit lacks in the front court, so Orlando should be able to maximize in that aspect and ultimately win this game.

5. Magic vs Suns - Win

The Suns are back to their run and gun ways, but that shouldn't stop the Magic from preventing them from scoring. Orlando enters the season as a tremendous defensive squad and that should help them capture a win.

6. Magic vs Pistons - Win

Another matchup against the Pistons, but this time is will take place in Orlando. This is another easy win for the Magic if they just stick to their game and consistently feed D-Howard in the post.

7. Magic @ Thunder - Win

This should be a great game to watch as Kevin Durant and the Thunder attempt to steal a victory from Orlando. Since the Thunder are not a great defensive team the Magic will definitely take that to their advantage.

8. Magic @ Charlotte - Win

Charlotte is the one of the worst, if not the worst team in the East. With injuries always infesting their roster this should be a simple pick-up game for Orlando.

9. Magic vs Cleveland - Win

Will LeBron and the Cavs be able to maximize against an Orlando team without Rashard Lewis? During the regular season last year the Magic destroyed Cleveland by close to forty points. With Shaq defending D-Howard we can expect to see another handful of flops and ultimately the Magic's ninth straight victory on the season.

10. Magic vs New Jersey - Win

This will be one of those games when the back-ups end up playing more minutes than the starters. Gortat, Barnes, Bass, and Williams will all get the chance to play starter minutes during a game like this just because of how bad the Magic's starting five will beat up the Nets in the first half.

Orlando's 10-0 record to start off the season without Rashard Lewis should definitely get ESPN talking highly of the Magic!

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For the Cleveland Cavaliers and LeBron James, the Time to Win Is Now

Brandon Ribak — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:34:17 -0400

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Ah, what's better than a controversial article on the Cleveland Cavaliers, LeBron James, and the fate of the organization?

To be quite honest, not much.

Cleveland enters the season with a newly designed team composed of two versatile wing-men in Jamario Moon and Anthony Parker, that can defend the go-to-guy on any roster and offensively hit the open three and slash towards the basket.

They also added a dominate center in Shaquille O'Neal, who at the age of 36, still has enough gas left in the tank to clog up the paint and defend opponents big men.

After winning a league-high 66 games last season, the Cavaliers rank amongst the elite in the entire NBA and as one of the top three teams in the East.

While Cavs fans head into the season with high expectations and yet again another opportunity to surpass the Eastern Conference Finals and capture their first NBA Finals trophy, many obstacles stand in the way of their supreme dreams.

The Cavaliers Front-court

After averaging 14.1 PPG and 9.3 RPG in 30.4 MPG throughout 73 games during the '07-'08 season, the Cavaliers starting center Zydrunas Ilgauskas experienced a decline in his career, posting the least amount of MPG and playing in the least amount of games during last season since the '01-'02 season.

Once the Cavaliers ended their postseason journey against the Orlando Magic in six games, it was blatantly obvious that Cleveland needed to go out and sign a stronger, more dominate big man to contain Orlando's Dwight Howard.

With the acquiring of Shaq, No. 34 will now assume the starting center role for Cleveland this season, but much like Big Z, O'Neal is on the decline at this point in his 17 year career.

Many questions are up in the air on whether or not O'Neal will be able to remain durable throughout the entire season (as he was benched periodically during last season with the Phoenix Suns due to fatigue).

Aside from durability being a major factor, O'Neal's presence in the paint will inevitably abstain Clevelands slashers, such as LeBron James, from attacking the hoop as easily as to that of a year ago.

Instead of going out and signing a free-agent forward for the long run such as David Lee, Charlie Villanueva, or Brandon Bass, GM Danny Ferry believed it was best to re-sign the mediocre and defensive-minded Anderson Varejao to a hefty five year contract worth up to $50 million.

Varejao will be forced to prevent elite forwards, like Kevin Garnett, from attacking the hoop and crashing the boards, something that was a big problem for Varejao last season.

With the Celtics and Magic bulking up on big men during the offseason, Cleveland will encounter a sure problem with containing these athletes from having their way on the court.

The Go-To-Guy

When taking a look at LA, Boston, and Orlando's roster, it is easily recognized that these teams have additional go-to-guys aside from their Kobe Bryants, Kevin Garnetts, and Vince Carters. They do not rely on specifically one player to simply do it all for them.

Los Angeles has big men such as Pau Gasol, Ron Artest, and Lamar Odom who have established themselves as primetime players in the league.

Boston has Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, and Rasheed Wallace who can each step into a game and knock down the big shot when needed to.

And lastly, Orlando, who has Dwight Howard, Rashard Lewis, and Jameer Nelson who can each undoubtedly lead their team to victory.

When you compare Cleveland to each of these elite teams, they're the only organization that separates themselves from the three for the main reason that aside from LeBron James, they have no go-to-guy to bring their team to a W.

With too much reliance and expectancy on James, how could this Cleveland team expect to make a trip to the Finals when they still have not obtained the go-to-guy that James has been asking for?

If you watched the Eastern Conference Finals last season you noticed that during the last two minutes of every game throughout the series, James literally had the ball in his hands for the remainder of the game, playing one on one against his opponent.

Instead of having any such impact in the closing minutes of the game, LJ's teammates simply surrounded the three-point line basically expecting The King to do all the work.

Was this due to Mike Brown's coaching or due to the lack of a go-to-guy?

With no go-to-guy aside from James, the Cavaliers will ultimately crumble during the postseason, yet again.

For the Cleveland Cavaliers, the time to win is now and if they do indeed end up falling short, LeBron James's fate will remain up in the air, causing instant panic for the entire organization and fans world-wide.

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NBA Primetime's 2009-2010 Season Predictions Part Deux

Brandon Ribak — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:49:14 -0400

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For sports fans there is absolutely nothing more satisfying than the anticipation for the start of a new season.

For NBA fans the time has finally come and the opportunity to capture all the glory is up for grabs.

Whether you're far out on the West coast or down south on the East side, a die-hard Lakers fan or a bandwagon Orlando fan, the official start of the NBA season, which does indeed begin tomorrow, brings all basketball fans together for one rare moment to experience the beginning of the 2009-2010 season.

NBA Primetime's Official 2009-2010 Season Predictions, Part Deux (Click here for Part 1)

The Top Two in the West

The Los Angeles Lakers enter the season as the defending champions and arguably as the strongest core in the league. With the acquiring of Ron Artest, the Lakers get the opportunity to improve on the defensive end of the court, while maximizing to their fullest potential on the offensive end.

Kobe Bryant will ultimately lead his team to another 60 plus game season, but the other organizations in the West will undoubtedly put up a tougher dog fight than last season.

NBA Primetime ranks the San Antonio Spurs as the second best team in the West. Forward Richard Jefferson will fit into Gregg Popovich's system particularly well, inevitably emerging as a serious threat in the West.

Tim Duncan will attempt to bring his team to victory this season, after ending last years playoffs during the first round.

The emergence of youngin's George Hill and DeJuan Blair should amplify this team and without a doubt contribute heavily to the Spurs overall success this season.

The Two Beasts in the East

The Magic ended the preseason as the only team to go undefeated. They're already in mid-season form and the six newly acquired players have fit into head coach Stan Van Gundy's system quite well.

With possibly the deepest bench in the league, Orlando will seek vengeance on any team that attempts to cross their path and that will ultimately lead them right back to the NBA Finals for another shot at the title.

A healthy Boston Celtics team is one heckavu scary team. With KG back on the floor and the signing of veteran Rasheed Wallace, this Boston team should be just about on top of the NBA rankings throughout the entire season.

Point-guard Rajon Rondo will make the leap into All-Star status and help carry this "old core" all the way to the Finals, that is if they stop the Magic.

MVP (Most Valuable Player)

What separates an MVP from a superstar is the ability to completely take over a game and bring your team to victory.

Another aspect of an MVP is the capability of bringing your team deep into the playoffs.

In this case, Kobe Bryant's name should be swarming around the MVP trophy for the upcoming season, but not in NBA Primetime's eyes.

LeBron James is arguably the best players in the NBA today, and what will separate LJ and Kobe Bryant this season will be the continuous heroic acts on James' part that will absolutely astonish any human being that turns on a Cleveland Cavaliers game.

James will improve practically each and every statistic (aside from possibly rebounding) this season and make the question, that fans have debated upon season after season, into a definite statement.

LeBron James will prove this season that he is the best player in the NBA today, period.

MIP (Most Improved Player)

Golden State Warriors forward Anthony Randolph showed flashes of super stardom throughout his rookie campaign last season.

With a starting job and up to 35 MPG, Randolph will quickly emerge as one of the most dynamic athletes in the league today.

Standing 6'10", Randolph is a true freak of nature, with arms the length of his legs and the arsenal of an absolute powerhouse.

For those of you who are unaware of Anthony Randolph, you definitely won't be by mid-season.

Sixth Man

Jamal Crawford was acquired by the Atlanta Hawks during the offseason. Since the point-guard and shooting-guard positions are locked up by Mike Bibby and Joe Johnson, Crawford will be forced to come into games off of the bench.

With that being the case, Crawford will still get close to 30 MPG, leading him to averaging close to 18 PPG and giving him the opportunity to compete for the Sixth Man Award this season.

ROY (Rookie of the Year)

Many people think this one is a complete given and if you're one of those believers than you are 100 percent right!

Blake Griffin is without a doubt the most elite athlete out of the 2009 NBA Draft and will certainly prove it this season.

Whether he obtains a starting job or not, Griffin will average starters minutes and contribute in immense measures to the Clippers success.

16 PPG and 8 RPG looks like pretty good averages for the rook.

DOY (Defensive Player of the Year)

Predicting the Defensive Player of the Year is just as simple as forecasting who will be the best in the West this season.

DWIGHT HOWARD people! Being just 23 years of age, Howard is in for another scary season, both offensively and defensively.

After averaging league bests in RPG and BPG, Superman heads into next season with every intention on winning his belt once again and emerging as the most dominate player in the NBA.

Coach of the Year

Nate McMillan takes the Coach of the Year prediction Award for the upcoming season because of the teams massive potential to rise into serious contention for the years postseason.

Shooting-guard Brandon Roy, power-forward LaMarcus Aldridge, and center Greg Oden each have the upside to take this Blazers team and turn it into NBA champions.

Last seasons record: 54-28

This seasons ending record: 59-23

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NBA Primetime's Eastern Conference: Central Division Preview

Brandon Ribak — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 21:53:22 -0400

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NBA Primetime breaks down every division in the NBA, giving you, the fans, the upcoming season predictions and preview on how each team will pan out for the year.

Eastern Conference: Central Division Preview

Cleveland Cavaliers- 58-24 (First in Central Division)

With the addition of Shaquille O'Neal, Anthony Parker, and Jamario Moon, King James will finally win his first NBA championship...right? Wrong.

The Cavaliers enter the season as an obvious force, ranking amongst the elite in the East for a second straight season; but a 36-year-old O'Neal and the acquiring of two mediocre guards/forwards does not place Cleveland as the best team in the East.

While the Cavaliers will fight with Orlando and Boston for the first-through-third seed come postseason time, they will ultimately fall during the playoffs just like last year.

Why, might you ask?

Well, for the main reason, that aside from LeBron James, the Cavaliers remain without another go-to-guy/leader that can take over a game.

Until they sign/trade/acquire this "player", James will remain ring-less, and the entire city of Cleveland will be forced to hold their breath come offseason time.

Chicago Bulls: 42-40 (T-2nd in Central Division)

Chicago will rely heavily on point-guard Derrick Rose to take this young squad to the postseason this year. While they are still a few seasons away from actually becoming a serious contender in the East, they have a decent chance of making it back to the playoffs this season.

A healthy Luol Deng and the emergence of Chicago's front-court, consisting of Tyrus Thomas and Joakim Noah (and rookie Taj Gibson), can all contribute in bunches to the Bulls success this season.

Detroit Pistons: 42-40 (T-2nd in Central Division)

The Pistons are surely not the team of old, but after signing shooting-guard Ben Gordon and forward Charlie Villanueva during the offseason, this squad can once again be discussed about regarding to playoff contention.

Leading the way for Detroit will be two year point-guard Rodney Stuckey, who will inevitably rise as the Pistons leader this season.

If the team can restrain from injuries and their front-court can somehow remain strong against top notch organizations, Detroit will ultimately be in a duel for the seventh-to-eighth seed come playoff time.

Indiana Pacers: 35-47 (Fourth in Central Division)

The Pacers are just a couple of seasons away before they enter the extremely exciting playoff run.

Danny Granger will make the jump to superstar status this season, completely taking over games for his squad, while averaging close to 30 points per game.

Aside from Granger, the team consists of a young bunch of athletes ranging from C Roy Hibbert (who lead the preseason in blocks), to F Tyler Hansbrough, to G A.J. Price. Once these guys gain experience and a better understanding of the game, this Indiana team will shoot up in the NBA rankings.

Milwaukee Bucks: 28-54 (Fifth in Central Division)

The Bucks got rid of three of their five starters during the offseason (Richard Jefferson, Charlie Villanueva, and Ramon Sessions).

With a healthy Michael Redd and Andrew Bogut, Milwaukee will seek to win no more than 30 plus games this season, if that.

Rookie point-guard Brandon Jennings will get the opportunity to show off his skills and compete for a starting role, while forward Hakim Warrick receives the chance to obtain a starting job for the first time in his career.

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Orlando Magic Head Into Season With "High-Flying" Hopes

Brandon Ribak — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 16:08:46 -0400

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After completing preseason as the only team to go undefeated with a record of 8-0 (although not saying too much), the Orlando Magic enter the '09-'10 season with supreme expectations.

With arguably the deepest roster in the NBA today, last seasons runner up is undoubtedly a serious force not to be reckoned with.

Superstar Vince Carter has already shown a re-birth to his high-flying days, attacking the hoop vigorously and finishing the slam with no regard to human life.

Since first stepping foot onto the court in a Magic jersey, VC has quickly realized that being the center of attention is a thing of the past and that in order for his team to be successful, No.15 does not have to do it all.

Carter quoted to Fanhouse,

"It's not so much a different role as I won't be doing it for as long each night. I won't have the ball 32-34 minutes a game trying to create for everyone else,'' he said. "I'll be playing off other people. Dwight will have the ball. Rashard will have the ball. Our short, little point guard will have the ball.''

In seven preseason games Carter averaged a team high 18.6 PPG, while simply focusing on his "new role", rather than having the abundance amount of pressure on his shoulders to produce in order for his old Toronto and New Jersey teams to win.

Ever since Jason Kidd and Richard Jefferson departed from the New Jersey Nets during the '07-'08 season, Carter's impression from a fans perspective has been an extremely negative one at best.

Whether it's the injury card being pulled out or the bashing of VC's aggressiveness, Carter's outlook has simply gone from being one of the most elite players in the NBA to a 32-year-old star with limited abilities to what he once possessed.

When taking a look back at Carter's 11 year career, one could easily distinguish that the star never had a true center on his squad.

Carter quoted to Fanhouse,

"I probably would have had a few (championships) by now,'' he said. "It would have been awesome. But I have no regrets. You play with the hand you're dealt, and do the best you can. You always wonder would it would be like, and now I'm getting that chance. I already know I'm going to like it.''

Through the thick of Carter's career, it has been clearly shown that Mr. Half man/Half amazing has never received the golden opportunity to compete for an NBA title.

With his best days obviously behind him, VC heads into the NBA season with "High-flying" hopes of proving to the world that there is nobody like Vince Carter and that with a well assembled roster, he can and will bring his team to glory.

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NBA Primetime: Orlando Magic Roster Breakdown

Brandon Ribak — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:30:33 -0400

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Last season the Orlando Magic played the role of the underdog throughout the postseason, surpassing professional predictions and overall expectations.

They went from beating the Boston Celtics in an enticing seven game series, to smashing the 66-16 Cleveland Cavaliers in six games.

Versatility, passion, three-point shooting, and a little bit of luck is what brought this behind the curtains Magic team to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1994.

Orlando heads into the upcoming '09-'10 NBA season with the best preseason record in the league (7-0) and with six new athletes on their roster, each bringing a special aspect to the Magic's game.

1. Vince Carter (SG) - Vince Carter enters his 12th season in the league and from the signs of things (averaging a team high 17.3 PPG in 6 preseason games), he looks to be in for a big year. Coming from a beat up New Jersey Nets squad, Carter's eye is on the prize and nothing else. VC will become the new go-to-guy for Orlando, inevitably emerging as one of the most dangerous buzzer beater threats in the league.

2. Brandon Bass (PF) - Four-year man Brandon Bass will finally get his opportunity to compete for starters minutes this season. Standing 6'8" and weighing 250 lbs, Bass's physique is extremely similar to that of LeBron James'. BB has already raised eyebrows throughout the preseason and with Rashard Lewis out for the first 10 games of the season, Bass will get the chance to prove that he deserves every minute on the court that he gets.

3. Matt Barnes (SG/SF) - Barnes enjoyed a career-best season last year with the Phoenix Suns, where he averaged 10.2 PPG, 5.5 RPG, and 2.8 APG in 27.0 MPG. Barnes arsenal is composed of excellent defense abilities and a consistent jumper. Standing 6'7", Barnes will have the role of defending the most elite players in the league today.

4. Ryan Anderson (PF) - Anderson was obtained in the Vince Carter trade and brings a lot more to the table than most imagine. The forward will ultimately cause miss-match problems for the defense as he has a sweet stroke from beyond the three-point arc. Anderson is not expected to get more than 20 MPG as he is the third-string power-forward back up, but you can guarantee that he is the best third-string back up in the league.

5. Jason Williams (PG) - Williams took off last season before returning back to the NBA court for action. J-Will will have to fight with Anthony Johnson for the back-up point-guard role, but that should not be a problem for white chocolate. Williams looks like the J-Will of old and if he can distribute the ball and hit the open trey, then the more the merrier.

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NBA Primetime's Eastern Conference: Southeast Division Preview

Brandon Ribak — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:46:39 -0400

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NBA Primetime breaks down every division in the NBA, giving you, the fans, the upcoming season predictions and preview on how each team will pan out for the year.

Eastern Conference: Southeast Division Preview

Orlando Magic— (61-21, 1st in Southeast Division)

Much like the Raptors this offseason, Orlando added an impressive amount of depth to their roster. While they lost their rookie Courtney Lee and the Turkish MJ, Hedo Turkoglu, the Magic obtained superstar Vince Carter and overlooked forward Ryan Anderson in an offseason transaction.

To add fuel to the fire, GM Otis Smith went out to sign young power-forward Brandon Bass, a versatile defender and shooter in Matt Barnes, veteran point-guard Jason Williams, and a big re-signing of backup center Marcin Gortat.

While Orlando enters the season with a rather newly assembled 15 man roster, there is much anticipation to make another appearance in the NBA Finals. And with Dwight Howard signifying himself as the most dominate big man in the NBA today, the Magic are ready to bring home the gold this time.

Atlanta Hawks— (46-36, 2nd in Southeast Division)

The Hawks surely have the talent to make it past the first round of the playoffs once again, but the big question is whether or not they will.

Atlanta acquired shooting-guard Jamal Crawford during the offseason, adding more depth and a guaranteed 15-20 points from the veteran.

Players like Josh Smith, Marvin Williams, and Al Horford are expected to step their games to the next level this season, inevitably placing the Hawks as a top five team in the East.

If all goes well, the Hawks could be in for a surprise season.

Washington Wizards— (43-39, 3rd in Southeast Division)

The Wizards are without a doubt one of the top teams in the NBA to enjoy a breakout season this year.

Adding head coach Flip Saunders to any team signifies that the organization is ready to make a name for themselves. In addition to Flip, the Wizards traded up their draft pick for point-guard Randy Foye and shooting-guard Mike Miller.

Both players bring much needed insurance to this injury prone environment and each should be able to uplift the Wizards overall win column.

At the end of the day, it will all depend on if Gilbert Arenas can remain healthy throughout the entire season and into the playoffs. If so, the Wizards will definitely be a sight to see!

Miami Heat— (41-41, 4th in Southeast Division)

There is no Heat without Dwyane Wade, it's as simple as that.

If D-Wade cannot stay healthy and produce as phenomenal and heroic as he did just a season ago, Miami fans could be in for a big shock come postseason time.

The Heat's frontcourt is extremely weak and their bench lacks depth.

Two-year men Mario Chalmers and Michael Beasley will hold a ton of weight on their shoulders, ultimately being depended upon to produce at an efficient level night in and night out.

From a GM's perspective, the Heat have to wait just one more year before they can sign a big-named player and compete for the title once again...that's if Wade decides to stay.

Charlotte Bobcats— (30-52, 5th in Southeast Division)

The Bobcats traded arguably their best player, in Emeka Okafor, for the injury prone Tyson Chandler, who makes it seem like his best days are already over.

Aside from that, the Cats were able to land a one-year deal with point-guard Raymond Felton.

Charlotte, along with Milwaukee and Sacramento, finds themselves talked about as one of the worst teams in the NBA today.

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NBA Primetime's Eastern Conference: Atlantic Division Preview

Brandon Ribak — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:40:47 -0400

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NBA Primetime breaks down every division in the NBA, giving you, the fans, the upcoming season predictions and preview on how each team will pan out for the year.

Eastern Conference: Atlantic Division Preview

Boston Celtics —(60-22, 1st in Atlantic Division)

The Celtics ultimate concern this year is how durable their veterans can be throughout the season and into the playoffs. Coming off of knee surgery, Kevin Garnett's status remains up in the air until the forward can prove to be consistent once again.

Aside from KG, the Celtics core enters the season a year older, and with age comes major injury concerns.

Danny Ainge decided to gave his organization some insurance this offseason, signing veteran Rasheed Wallace and guard/forward Marquis Daniels. Both athletes can play multiple positions, inevitably contributing to the Celtics success.

With the immense productivity from 6'1" point guard Rajon Rondo and the emergence of Glen "Big Baby" Davis during the postseason, the Celtics continue to be the favorites in the Atlantic Divison.

Toronto Raptors— (45-37, 2nd in Atlantic Division)

GM Bryan Colangelo was definitely one of the busiest managers during the offseason period.

After a disappointing '08-'09 season, Colangelo completely re-designed his team, acquiring newcomers Hedo Turkoglu, Jarrett Jack, Marco Belinelli, Amir Johnson, Rasho Nesterovic, Antoine Wright, Reggie Evans, Sonny Weems, and the drafting of DeMar DeRozan.

Toronto once again heads into the season with high expectations, but this time, they are for real. A healthy Chris Bosh, Andrea Bargnani, and Jose Calderon should take this squad from a 33-win season last year to close to 50 wins this season.

Philadelphia 76ers —(38-44, 3rd in Atlantic Division)

After playing for close to three seasons for the Sixers, starting point-guard Andre Miller opted to sign a contract this offseason with the young and upcoming Portland Trail Blazers.

Newly signed head coach Eddie Jordan plans to use his "point guard-less" theory and put it into motion for Philadelphia this season.

Lou Williams will assume the starting point guard role, while highly talked about Thaddeus Young enters his third season in the league at the starting three or four spot.

A healthy Elton Brand will certainly inflate the Sixers win column, but the big question will be if that is enough to take this team to the playoffs this season.

New York Knicks— (36-46, 4th in Atlantic Division)

The Knicks managed to keep David Lee and Nate Robinson under their belt this offseason by signing both players to a one-year contract.

New York drafted PF Jordan Hill with the eighth pick of the NBA draft, adding more youth to their roster.

Expect G/F Wilson Chandler to blow up this season, averaging career-high numbers all across the board.

As for the Knicks as a whole, fans are just going to have to wait one more season before acquiring that special "big-named" player or players.

New Jersey Nets— (28-54, 5th in Atlantic Division)

The Nets consist of an extremely young team with unlimited amounts of upside.

Devin Harris will lead the way for New Jersey, ranking as the top scoring point guard in the league.

Center Brooke Lopez seeks to improve on his rookie success and will ultimately emerge as a top center in the league after this season.

Guard Courtney Lee, rookie Terrence Williams, Chris Douglas-Roberts, and Yi Jianlian will each gain much needed experience this year and will use that to their utmost advantage once the Nets become a contender once again.

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NBA Primetime: Western Conference Upcoming Season Rankings

Brandon Ribak — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 19:08:57 -0400

As you all know, the NBA will start back up within the next three weeks and from the signs of things, this will certainly be a season to remember.

NBA Primetime will be ranking both conferences periodically throughout the regular season.

Since it is still technically offseason, this will be the "upcoming season" breakdown (expect rankings to change at least once a month once the season begins).

The Western Conference

1. Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers headed into the offseason as the defending champions and unquestionably as the best team in the NBA. The signing of Ron Artest and the re-signing of Lamar Odom just added a nice little icing onto the cake. A healthy LA team will certainly be in reach of another championship title during the upcoming season.

2. San Antonio Spurs

Although Tim Duncan is not getting any younger, the Spurs organization definitely provided him with an extra boost of relief this offseason by the acquiring of Richard Jefferson, the signing of Antonio McDyess, and the drafting of DeJuan Blair. Add Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker, and a young and upcoming George Hill to the mix, and the Spurs look to be the only team able to contend with Los Angeles this year.

3. Dallas Mavericks

Owner Marc Cuban went out and acquired high-flying Shawn Marion and center Drew Gooden this offseason. While the Devin Harris/Jason Kidd trade is still haunting Mr. Cuban, the Mavericks roster looks absolutely phenomenal on paper. If the chemistry is there and the core of the team can remain healthy, the Mavericks will be competing with the Spurs for the two spot this season.

4. Portland Trail Blazers

The Blazers are a young assembled roster with infinite amounts of potential. The signing of veteran point guard Andre Miller brings Portland the much needed experience on the court and in the locker room, but the big question relies on if Greg Oden will ultimately be able to produce and remain durable throughout the season. If so, Portland is in for a spectacular year.

5. Denver Nuggets

Denver ranks at the five spot for the main reason that they didn't necessarily improve during the current offseason. Their frontcourt, composed of Nene and Kenyon Martin, are very injury prone and it will take only one starter to go down before their record sinks.

6. Utah Jazz

After all the trade talks regarding to Carlos Boozer, Utah ended up keeping the forward on their roster. With Deron Williams running the point, the Jazz are in for another enticing season with much to prove. If Boozer is dealt before the trade deadline you can expect Paul Millsap to compete for the Most Improved Player of the Year award.

7. New Orleans Hornets

New Orleans won the award for best trade during the offseason when they gave away center Tyson Chandler for center Emeka Okafor. Okafor brings a lot more to the table for the Hornets and will undoubtedly raise all his averages alongside of the best point guard in the league in Chris Paul. Julian Wright will get an opportunity to start at the three spot, giving him the chance to excel in fantasy play.

8. Phoenix Suns

The Suns were the unfortunate team during the end of last season when they missed the playoffs by just two games. With a healthy Amare Stoudemire, Phoenix is officially going back to their run and gun style with head coach Alvin Gentry running the show. The Suns starting five will look something like Steve Nash as the point, Jason Richardson at the two, Grant Hill at the three, Amare Stoudemire at the four, and either Channing Frye or Robin Lopez at the center spot.

9. Los Angeles Clippers

The Clippers enter the season with an outstanding team on paper, once again. LA got attacked by the injury bug last season, losing Chris Kaman for the majority of the year, Marcus Camby for 20 games, Baron Davis for 17, and Zach Randolph for 32. With the young talent consisting of first overall pick Blake Griffin, Eric Gordon, Al Thornton, and DeAndre Jordan, the Clips are just a season away from competing in the postseason.

10. Houston Rockets

Losing Yao Ming for an entire year and Tracy McGrady for a few months definitely drops the Rockets overall rating. Houston will look to mix and match with Carl Landry, Chuck Hayes, Luis Scola, and David Andersen at the center spot, but regardless of the situation, the team will be pounded down low. The Rockets chances of making it to the playoffs are minimal at best.

11. Golden State Warriors

The Warriors are composed of an exciting and fast paced team. Rookie Stephen Curry will seek to show what he is all about, while forward Anthony Randolph gets the opportunity to start and instantly produce fantastic numbers all across the board. Stephen Jackson is no longer the "Captain Jack" of the Warriors organization and if he is dealt, Golden States value will immediately drop.

12. Memphis Grizzlies

Memphis went out and acquired guard Allen Iverson and forward Zach Randolph this offseason. Conley will assume the starting point guard duties and should be in for a breakout season, unless AI steals the spotlight. Mayo and Gay will both enjoy a great year if they can stay healthy, but the percentages of the Grizzlies making the playoffs are slim to none.

13. Oklahoma City Thunder

Kevin Durant will officially burst into the superstar spotlight this season once he grabs his first scoring title. Teammates Russell Westbrook, Jeff Green, and James Harden will each contribute to the Thunders' success this season, inevitably surpassing last season's 23-59 record. It will be only a matter of seasons before the Thunder rank amongst the elite in the West.

14. Minnesota Timberwolves

We all knew Ricky Rubio would never come play for the NBA, so the Wolves went out and signed youngin' Ramon Sessions. Sessions will run the point along with a very young core composed of both Al Jefferson and Kevin Love.

15. Sacramento Kings

Tyreke Evans, Spencer Hawes, and Jason Thompson will each enjoy a serious fantasy jump this season. As for the Kings as a team overall, they are absolutely horrific. Kevin Martin will lead the team in points, but after another 20-win season, you can't blame the guy if he demands to be traded.

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NBA Primetime: Eastern Conference Preseason Rankings

Brandon Ribak — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:58:13 -0400

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As you all know, the NBA will start back up within the next three weeks, and from the signs of things, this will certainly be a season to remember.

NBA Primetime will be ranking both conferences periodically throughout the regular season.

Since it is still technically offseason, this will be the "upcoming season" breakdown (expect rankings to change at least once a month once the season begins).

The Eastern Conference

1. Orlando Magic

Earlier this offseason I had the Celtics at number one in the power rankings, but after an extremely busy offseason, the Magic have moved up on the list.

Orlando heads into the season under the radar, once again, and will now have the golden opportunity to prove that last season's success was legitimate.

2. Boston Celtics

With a healthy KG, the Celtics are undoubtedly a top three team in the entire NBA. Boston's major concern will ultimately be if the vets (Allen, Pierce, Garnett, and Wallace) can remain healthy all year long and into the playoffs. If they avoid the injury bug, we might be in for another '07-'08 NBA Finals rematch.

3. Cleveland Cavaliers

Cleveland went out this offseason and got LeBron exactly what he needs to win a championship—a big fella in Shaq to defend the powerful D-Howard, and two wings in Anthony Parker and Jamario Moon to match up against the versatile forwards that both the Magic and Celtics have.

If LJ does not capture a ring this season I would be afraid to be a Cavaliers fan!

4. Miami Heat

The Heat enter the upcoming season with a serious problem in the frontcourt. Jermaine O'Neal will be 31 years of age once the season tips off, and he is clearly not the player that he once was.

O'Neal has been in a constant struggle to stay healthy and his knees are slowly beginning to die out on him. This will inevitably decrease his level of production and impact. If Miami can somehow bring in an efficient big man, winning 45 games this season is not out of the question.

5. Atlanta Hawks

The Hawks look outstanding on paper and should put up in a battle with Miami for the fourth seed near season's end. Josh Smith is destined for a rebound season and the acquiring of Jamal Crawford only adds more points to the Hawks overall PPG average.

6. Toronto Raptors

Believe it or not, the Raptors will finally have a solid season this year. Toronto has been one of the busiest organizations this offseason, signing guys like Hedo Turkoglu, Jarret Jack, and Marco Belinelli and drafting rookie DeMar DeRozan. They also acquired young gun Amir Johnson.

With a stacked roster, the only question will be whether or not the team can gel well together.

7. Washington Wizards

A supposedly healthy Gilbert Arenas immediately sky-rockets the Wizards rankings for the upcoming season. In addition, the acquiring of guards Randy Foye and Mike Miller make the Wizards roster look even more enticing.

Aside from Butler, Arenas, and Jamison, guys like Nick Young and Andray Blatche are fully prepared to step in and contribute game in and game out.

8. Philadelphia 76ers

The Sixers biggest weakness is the point guard position. Luckily for Philly fans, newly acquired head coach Eddie Jordan uses the one spot as a mixture between a point guard and shooting guard.

With Iguodala and Young improving their game every day, the Sixers have a chance to rise up in the rankings this season, especially if Elton Brand can stay healthy this year.

9. Chicago Bulls

I would love to rank the Bulls higher than the ninth seed, but when you lose the highest scorer on your team, you're in for a decline in the win column. Derrick Rose will take Ben Gordon's load and without a doubt produce ridiculous numbers all across the board.

It will come down to the consistency of the Bulls front court in order to keep Chicago from missing the playoffs.

10. Detroit Pistons

Detroit is definitely not the team of old, but with the big signings of shooting guard Ben Gordon and small forward Charlie Villanueva, the Pistons are in for an exciting season.

It will be tough to make the playoffs due to the rising of other teams, and the Pistons' front court is not particularly great.

11. New York Knicks

With David Lee and Nate Robinson re-signed for one more season, the Knicks rank at 11 on the list. We all know the 2010 free agent offseason will change up the entire New York roster, so clearly the present roster is temporary.

Athletes like Wilson Chandler, Danilo Gallinari, and Jordan Hill will get the opportunity to break out this season. But regardless, the Knicks are nowhere near contention for a playoff spot.

12. Indiana Pacers

Danny Granger will lead this young Pacers squad to new heights this season (even if that means winning just 40 games). While Indiana has no chance of making the playoffs this year, their young core will begin to formulate into a playoff contending team within the next few seasons.

13. New Jersey Nets

After losing Vince Carter this offseason, the Nets have started the process known as the "rebuilding" mode. All-star Devin Harris and center Brooke Lopez will lead the way for this extremely young team and after this season, New Jersey will enter the 2010 signing with enough money to sign a big named player or two.

14. Charlotte Bobcats

The Bobcats decided to trade up their starting center Emeka Okafor in return for the injury prone Tyson Chandler. They also re-signed point guard Raymond Felton for another year, forcing two year man D.J. Augustin to wait another season before taking over. Charlotte remains as one of the worst teams in the league.

15. Milwaukee Bucks

The Bucks gave up more production and potential than they actually received this offseason. After letting go of Richard Jefferson, Ramon Sessions, and Charlie Villanueva, Miluwakee is in for one of the worst seasons in history, unless players like Michael Redd and Andrew Bogut can stay healthy for a full season.

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NBA Primetime: The NBA's Biggest Misunderstanding of the Offseason

Brandon Ribak — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 21:22:30 -0400

From Shaq departing with the heat in Phoenix to join the cold weather in Cleveland, to Rasheed Wallace accepting a mid-level exception with the Boston oldies; the major transactions made during this offseason have without a doubt been no short of spectacular.

The rich got richer and the poor got poorer.

But of all acquisitions made throughout this offseason, one stands out as the biggest (fan based) misunderstanding of the entire offseason.

For some reason the majority of NBA fans believe that Hedo Turkoglu is a better overall player than Vince Carter.

I have read comments across the net regarding to why Turkoglu could bring the Magic back to the Finals, but a healthy VC could not.

Why Vince Carter is better than Hedo Turkoglu

Standing 6'6" and weighing 220 lbs., the freakishly athletic Vince Carter is arguably the most underrated superstar in the league today.

At the age of 32 there is no doubt that Carter is not the player he once was, but being compared to a player of Turkoglu's caliber is just plain insulting.

Entering the league 11 years ago, VC instantly became a human highlight reel, taking unknown leaps to mankind and covering every NBA fan's walls with emphatic posters.

Carter's career averages are 23.5 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 4.3 APG, 1.2 SPG, shooting 44.7% from the field, and 79.6% from the charity stripe, compared to Turkoglu's 12.3 PPG, 4.2 RPG, and 2.7 APG.

How could two potential hall of fame coaches in Rick Adelman and Gregg Popovich both pass up on Turkoglu during his first four years in the league if he is now being correlated with a superstar like Vince Carter?

The answer to that question is simple. They didn't.

Adelman and Popovich did not pass up on a potential superstar, they passed up on nothing more than a semi above average athlete.

Turkoglu became who he is today entirely because of the system that he played in with Orlando and head coach Stan Van Gundy should rightfully obtain all the credit for Turkoglu's success.

If Turk never went to Orlando, he would be nothing more than a mediocre player in the NBA today.

Carter brings more to the table in every aspect than Turkoglu ever did for Orlando.

VC is a better overall shooter, athlete, rebounder, distributor, defender, finisher, attacker, and best of all, Carter is a true "last second shot" kind of guy.

Yes, I will admit that Turkoglu has been one of the most clutch guys in the league throughout the past few seasons for Orlando, but Carter is now the player in blue and white, and it is his time to show the world what he is really made of.

Magic fans get ready because this is going to be one heckavu season!

Tune into my sports radio show streaming live every Friday from 3-5 p.m. at www.knightcast.org or check out my website at www.mvn.com/nbaprimetime to hear the podcast of the episodes!