2008 NBA Season Preview: Fantasy Outlook

This is the picture you might be seeing this season. Like it or not Boston fans, this could be an entirely different season for the Celts' than last year. Without James Posey, and maybe even Sam Cassell, this team won't have the same experience or hunger that got it to it's first championship in over 20 years. Make room, Boston, for the newcomers in the East, and the best of the powerhouses out West. The days of dominance are gone, and change is relevant. Well, this is what the rest of the league is trying to tell themselves, anyways.

Eastern Conference

With the departure of Josh Childress to overseas, Ronald "Flip" Murray could look to crack the regular rotation for the Hawks. There really aren't a ton of minutes available at the wings outside of him, so he could see steady production.

Since the Celtics won the championship already, it's a difficult task to find any players who could filter through the cracks. They lost James Posey, so minutes could be made available to rookies J.R. Giddens and Billy Walker. Both are extremely athletic, and with aging starters, the Celts' could start to slowly look to their future prospects to fill roles.

If Sean May can finally stay healthy, he could enjoy a stellar season at power forward. Not that he hasn't performed well up to this point, but Raymond Felton could finally have that All Star-type season we've been waiting for. Also, a lot of people are down on third year man Adam Morrison after a lackluster rookie year, as well as an ACL injury. Look for him to get back into the rotation regularly.

Chicago's top pick Derrick Rose is definitely worth keeping an eye on, but Kirk Hinrich is the Bulls guard I'm interested in. His potential switch to shooting guard places him back in his natural scorer setting. The guy can shoot, and has a chance to score a career high in points.

Lebron James is going to get his usual stats, but who's next in line? The two guys that could make the biggest impact are the two starting guards. Newly acquired Mo Williams should provide immediate results, and Wally Sczcerbiak could thrive as the third option.

Amir Johnson's starting status could vault him into the "next great Piston forward" level, or at least will give him that chance. The main guy to look for this year, though, is second year man Rodney Stuckey. He played well in the playoffs and will only continue his rapid development.

Many people aren't very high on T.J. Ford's prospects in Indiana, but I feel he gets his mojo back and leads a high-ocane offense to new heights. Danny Granger continues to grow as well, which keeps Mike Dunleavy as a solid threat.

Chris Quinn is the front runner to start at point guard, which is good for no one but him. But at the current moment, he's all Miami's got. Michael Beasely should make an immediate impact as a rookie on Kevin Durant proportions.

Joe Alexander could come on strong in his first season as a potential 6th man, while Andrew Bogut continues his surge to the list of respectable centers in the league. Luke Ridnour looks to revive his career as he dishes out dimes to improved shooters. Of course, that's if he can keep pesky second year man Ramon Sessions' hands off the starting job.

Will the change of scenery rejuvenate an underachieving Bobby Simmons and an over-hyped Yi Jianlian? Only time can tell. Devin Harris looked sharp late last season as New Jersey's starter, and should only improve. Let’s just hope he doesn’t go up against any London street ballers during the regular season.

I'm still not sold on Chris Duhon as the starting point guard in New York, but he has a lot of potential in the new offense. However, Steve Nash-like results shouldn't be expected. David Lee should finally assume the starting role he deserves, although whether it will be at center or power forward, remains to be determined.

J.J. Redick has earned some playing time, and there's talk he could be the first guard off the bench, if not the Magic's 6th man. He could average in double digits for points. This is Jameer Nelson's make or break year.

We say every year, watch out for Louis Williams, but there aren't any surprises coming out of Philly. Andre Iguadola is consistently dominating box scores, while Elton Brand brings an elite force in the paint. This is a team to watch for.

Now that T.J. Ford is in Indiana, Jose Calderon will get the limelight he worked so hard for. He showed flashes of brilliance the past two seasons, and should explode with a great season as a solid Toronto club gets better. Jermaine O'Neil just might have found a way to resurrect his career. He and Chris Bosh could develop into a low post match-up defenses dread.

The question in Washington, is when do the knee issues stop with Gilbert Arenas? The self-proclaimed gym rat is always buzzing in the news, but always for something negative. If he misses substantial time again, Caron Butler figures to benefit the most.

Western Conference

Dating back to last year, there is evidence to prove Jason Kidd is on a fast slide to being an average point guard. This may be his last productive season. Antoine Wright, at least for now, will start at shooting guard, leaving Jason Terry and Jerry Stackhouse to come off the bench.

There is no real reason to start Allen Iverson at shooting guard, when he can clearly play the point, but the Nuggets are going with Anthony Carter, instead. This could be Linas Kleiza’s year to sine, of course, as the third option behind Iverson and Carmelo Anthony. Chris Anderson will make his case for comeback player of the year.

To be frank, the once promising Warriors are now a complete mess. They’ve lost Baron Davis and compiled a slew of average point guards to take his place. If Don Nelson is smart, he should try working with former UConn star Marcus Williams. He’s their best bet going forward. To make matters worse, Monta Ellis will be lost for at least a month, and possibly longer. Marco Belinelli could take advantage and become the team’s sixth man.

The big news in Houston is the new addition, Ron Artest. There’s reason to get excited, but fans shouldn’t hold their breath. Artest has had problems at every team he’s been with. Do you really think it stops here? Tracy Mcgrady, as good as he’s been in his career, is somewhat dropping out of the elite. He needs to stay healthy and show the Rockets for a whole season, exactly what kind of player he is.

The Clippers were all about “new” in the off-season. They unloaded Elton Brand and Corey Maggette, and brought in Baron Davis and Marcus Camby. Fair trade? Only time will tell. They also signed sharp-shooter Steve Novak, and drafted scorer Eric Gordon out of Indiana. Camby moves from center for power forward, which creates a deadly no-drive zone with Chris Kaman and him in the middle.

Out goes one Gasol, in comes another. Some may have been skeptical of the switch, but Marc Gasol is just as relentless as his brother. The real question in Memphis, though, is who is the team’s point guard? They drafted Mike Conley for a reason, but Kyle Lowry has played too well to not get minutes. This is Rudy Gay’s team now.

Last season for the Lakers was all about coming together, and the development of the team as a whole. The trade for Pau Gasol and a run at a championship was just icing on the cake. Now, with a healthy front line of Andrew Bynum and Gasol, the Lakers are the team to beat in the West.

If the Timberwolves want to get the chemistry right, they need to start Kevin Love and Al Jefferson together, rather than bring Love off the bench. They’re the types of players that can feed off each other. Mike Miller is a stud shooter that brings immediate scoring, while the team continues to look at budding point guard Randy Foye. The development of the younger players will be the difference between a 20 win season or a 30 win season.

The Hornets most notable addition was two-time NBA champion, James Posey. The Hornets feel they have the solid corps to get to the finals, but needed some veteran assistance. With Chris Paul dishing, Tyson Chandler dunking, and Morris Peterson and Peja Stojakovic shooting, the Hornets bring back the same attack that ousted Dallas in the first round last year.

Now that Luke Ridnour is in Milwaukee, Earl Watson assumes the starting role in Oklahoma City. Oh wait, the Thunder drafted Russell Westbrook. Watson begins the season first on the depth chart, but it shouldn’t last long. Westbrook is an excellent defender, and once his shooting improves, could quickly develop into a fine point guard.

Reduced minutes or not, Steve Nash is determined to get his team to the finals. With Shaq backing him it remains a possibility, but an unlikely one. GM Steve Kerr has done everything wrong in the few years he’s had the job, and has taken Phoenix from a powerhouse to a team that can’t win in the playoffs. Louis Amundson is a nice player to watch, and could be a good energy guy off the bench, assuming he makes the team.

The story of the year in Portland is that Greg Oden will finally be playing (cross your fingers). With he and Joe Przybilla rotating at center and Lamarcus Aldridge at power forward, the Trail Blazers have quite the inside presence. There’s no arguing Portland’s awesome collected talent, but what do they do with it? One thing is for sure, too much talent is never a problem.

Aside from Manu Ginobili being hurt, the Spurs are boring and old news, just like always. Just like when they bore teams to death in games, they did next to nothing in the off-season. Added swing-man Salim Stoudamire could be a nice fill-in while Ginobili rests up.

The Sacramento Kings will get a full season of Beno Udrih, which will be a good thing, regardless of what other analysts think. Kevin Martin continues to state his case as one of the league’s best guards, as he vies for his third straight season of 20 points per game. Brad Miller is still a reliable veteran, but Spencer Hawes’ second season could see him playing more than the former Pacer.

The Utah Jazz return virtually the same team that lost to the Lakers in the playoffs. Deron Williams is a top five point guard, and is surrounded by solid talent that outworks the opposition. Sharp-shooter Kyle Korver continues to stretch defenses, while Carlos Boozer wreaks havoc in the paint. The real question is will Andrei Kirelenko be in purple at season’s end?