2010-2011 NBA SEASON : EAST COAST vs. WEST COAST BEEF ( Continued )

WEST:

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Los Angeles Lakers: a.k.a. "The Emerald City". If you follow this yellow brick road you'll find no munchkins here. This team is proven, they have chemistry, they have depth, size, the best player on the planet and the best coach ( Not to mention a Kardashian ). No wonder they have won back to back championships. Still seems like all roads lead through OZ.

Utah Jazz: Kudos to Jerry Sloan and crew. No matter what happens they are able to recoup, regroup and keep marching on. The addition of Al Jefferson to the lineup in place of the recently removed Boozer was a good quality replacement. Now you add a possible double double guy as an outlet for D-Will to use in pick and roll situations ( their bread and butter ). Even in his Butler uniform, you felt like Gordon Hayward would be a Jazz player.

Memphis Grizzlies: OK Rudy Gay, you wanted big money, you got big money, now its time to put up or give it back. Coming off a gold medal with Team USA, your confidence should be at an all time high. Plus you have skills and athleticism few in the league have. This team will ride or die with the play of Gay and OJ Mayo. Coach Hollins, please don't become ATL West.

Minnesota Timberwolves: Kurt Rambis should wear his Laker frames from back in the eighties and just maybe it could help him see how not to get stuck with other teams' roadkill. Michael Beasley?? Advantage Pat Riley. Hopefully under this new organization MB can finally ease off the weed and play more consistently. With studs like Brewer, Flynn, Ridenour, Webster and Gold Medal Winner Kevin Love, they are a team headed north.

San Antonio Spurs: Old reliable still working its magic. No surprises here. Parker, Duncan and Ginobili will once again lead the charge. What IS odd is that Jefferson will don a Spurs uniform again! Is Popovich getting soft in his latter years? If they don't run Jefferson will be a non factor once again. And if Parker is moved before the season's end, it could be the signal to pull the plug and start all over.

Dallas Mavericks: Ok people. You just signed Dirk again and you have a nice mix of players but for some reason you fail to get over the hump. Ok. I'm with you...Let's blame it all on Dampier for being allergic to layups...Now what? Dampier is gone and you replaced him with Tyson Chandler?? Great move Mark Cuban. That should help you win 1 more game than last year. Tyson "Chandelier" is as fragile as they come and he is who you will have in the middle huh? Mark, your money would have been better spent cleaning up BP oil leak.

Houston Rockets: Yao! Welcome back big fella.Talk about grit and determination...This team exemplifies the true meaning. I am an Aaron Brooks fan. This lil dude can go and he is continuing to grow in confidence. Luis Scola is continuing to improve and had a marvelous showing in the FIBA games this summer. If not for duranchula, he would have been MVP. Exciting year for the Red Tide if Yao can stay healthy.

Oklahoma City Thunder: new a.k.a "The Thundercats". This may very well be the most exciting team to watch outside of "Miami Thrice". Kevin Durant is emerging as a first team All-NBA great and he is humble enough to share the spotlight. Westbrook is an outstanding player along with Jeff Green and company. This core of young guns will give any of the other 29 teams fits. Scott Brooks need to help them corral some of the unforced turnovers and increase consistency of play and they will be fine. Now the question is "Who will become Lion-O?

New Orleans Hornets: Run CP3! Run! I feel your pain. Hugh Webber didn't get better players to surround you, he just shuffled the deck. When all the other teams added pieces to improve, your owners signed the same type players. If you don't force a trade you will be frustrated...Oh, and kicking sand won't help either..you may get oil on your shoes.

Denver Nuggets: Welcome back George! You're already a winner! Now for the men in the turquoise uniforms, that is another story. Wasn't this the team that was supposed to dethrone the Lakers? What happened? Even Chauncey Billups who was signed to bring stabilization to this team became erratic. Its time for Melo to move on! This is not the time for loyalty. This is about winning and getting off this sinking ship. Talented they are, dangerous..yes..to themselves as well as others. Kenyon Martin needs to take his medicine. Birdman needs to fly again...and JR Smith is...JR Smith. Need I say more?

Golden State Warriors: Now that america knows that Stephen Curry is a true player, what does Nellie do to build on that? Montae Ellis and the acquisition of David Lee is a definite plus but they need more pieces. When will this organization become more than just a few guys that can play? Until some higher commitment to winning is invested, we will continue to see more of the same. Sad, but true.

Phoenix Suns: Lil Stevie Wonder continues to make it do what it do. Even with the void left by the departure of Stoudemire, this team will win games because of Nash. He makes people better...PERIOD. I am curious who the pick and roll will be ran with but Im sure they'll make it work. The addition of Turkoglu should be a definite plus as he fits right in and can also get his own shot. They will be playoff bound again if healthy but no repeat of last season's success. Defense and rebounding will still be an achilles heel but getting up and down the floor won't.

Portland Trailblazers: What did this owner do to deserve all the bad luck that this franchise had to overcome. From injury to bad draft picks, one of the teams that passed on MJ and drafted Sam Bowie and then his counterpart twenty years later, Greg Oden. Even still this team has great young players in Roy and Aldridge and a steady veteran point guard in Miller. If Oden can return healthy and push people to their natural positions, this team can be dangerous. By the way, that number 2 pick you passed on in 2007...He's doing ok and OKC says thanks!

Sacramento Kings: What does the organization with the rookie of the year, Tyreke Evans, do for an encore? Well, first you get a great draft pick like DeMarcus Cousins and build from there. Clearly, this team is rebuilding and doing it the right way. By putting together a young talented core, the Kings are positioning themselves to be future contenders.

Los Angeles Clippers: For years this organization has been the laughing stock of the league. Even Barkley commented that this is where free agents go to work on their game and then go elsewhere to win. Is management committed to winning? Are the players ready to blossom? This team is loaded from top to bottom. The pieces are there to make the playoffs and be a team no one wants to see. Anticipation is rising with the comeback of a healthy Blake Griffin. Maybe this is the year they live up to the hype. Maybe Baron Davis can return to all-star form. Maybe Charles was right and we continue to laugh at them...who knows...but there is a new place for the players to go work on their game....it's called the NBDL.

 

 Ilee Coleman

SofaHoops.net

[e-mail]

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