NBA Preseason Begins: Predictions

[StrikeJMU]

With preseason begining who are the teams to watch? Power houses and possible disappointments in both the East and West?

[Grizzaholic]

I predict at least one bench clearing brawl this year that will get atleast 2 players suspended for the entire season.

I predict a team that has not won the championship in the last 10 years will win it all.

I also predict that the players will not be called for traveling at all this year.

[bonarae]

Oklahoma City will, again, qualify for the lottery. This is not their time yet, like the Nationals then fresh from their move from Montreal.
One of the superstars will be injured for at least 2-3 months.
Hope Wade will be healthy enough to lead his Heat into at least a playoff finish.
Spurs may end up a lower seed than the usual.

[bluehenbillk]

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Sixers!!!!

[89Hen]

I predict the Wizards and Cavaliers will meet in the playoffs. :D

[StrikeJMU]

God I hate the Cavaliers...I couldn't stand another year of that.

[spelunker64]

I predict the NBA will lose more fans and interest...

[Grizzaholic]

I predict the NBA will lose more fans and interest...

That will only come after the brawl.

[Killtoppers90]

NBA = xcoffeex

[wkuhillhound]

Maybe Fantasy Basketball is my forte. I seem to do much better in that.
I digress.

The Los Angeles Lakers will once again be the overrated stepchild of the West. Here hoping New Orleans wins the West. xnodx

Boston and Detroit should battle it out in the East. xthumbsupx
There is no coincidence that mulitple UK players are on the rosters. ;)

[B&G]

I'll take some shots in the dark...

MVP: Chris Paul
ROY: Michael Beasley
Step Forward: Atlanta
Step Back: Phoenix
Biggest Name Traded: Ben Gordon

[Appstate29]

NBA dissolves as a league as economic pressures force people to stop attending altogether. This was the direction it was headed to anyway, this has just put it into overdrive.

[StrikeJMU]

I see the NHL going long before the NBA. People still at least watch the NBA.

[spelunker64]

I see the NHL going long before the NBA. People still at least watch the NBA.

really? only if you have TNT

[StrikeJMU]

really? only if you have TNT

aka basic cable.

[gmoney55]

really? only if you have TNT

I'd bet TNT has more subscribers than Versus.

[StrikeJMU]

Something tells me that Detriot might have a tough time this season. Age just might have finally cought up to the Conference Finals veterans (even though Stuckey looks promising). Watch out for Toronto also, with the addition of J. O'Neil along with the great play of Bosh, anything could happen. Orlando is young and energetic so I see them doing well. Washington and Cleveland are solid with big name players that will find a way to make it to the playoffs. Overall, I feel as though the East may have taken a great leap towards a balance with the West.

PS: Lets also not forget the Hawks forcing a game 7 with the Celtics.

[Grizzaholic]

Something tells me that Detriot might have a tough time this season. Age just might have finally cought up to the Conference Finals veterans (even though Stuckey looks promising). Watch out for Toronto also, with the addition of J. O'Neil along with the great play of Bosh, anything could happen. Orlando is young and energetic so I see them doing well. Washington and Cleveland are solid with big name players that will find a way to make it to the playoffs. Overall, I feel as though the East may have taken a great leap towards a balance with the West.

PS: Lets also not forget the Hawks forcing a game 7 with the Celtics.

xlolx xlolx xlolx

[bulldog10jw]

I look for the Syracuse Nationals, the Fort Wayne Pistons, and the Kansas City-Omaha Kings to all compete for the title this year. :D

[StrikeJMU]

Syracuse Nationals (now Philadelphia 76ers), Fort Wayne Pistons (Detriot of course), and Kansas City-Omaha Kings (Sacramento Kings). Hmmm, Pistons I can see. 76ers could also be competitive, but the Kings have some work to do in order to break into a 7th or 8th seed for the playoffs.

[I Bleed Purple]

Jazz once again predicted to lose more games than they did last year, which ironically was said of them a year before. NO better hope not to face the Jazz in the playoffs. We all know how that would go.

[gmoney55]

I look for the Syracuse Nationals, the Fort Wayne Pistons, and the Kansas City-Omaha Kings to all compete for the title this year. :D

That's the Rochester Royals to you, where they won their one and only title!

[StrikeJMU]

Utah is an interesting team, a definite contender for a mid-level playoff seed. Along with Boozer and Williams the Jazz also have plenty of other talent (Kirilenko, Okur, Korver, Brewer). They play stingy defensive and have really been able to maintain consistant play for 48 minutes. Fundamental breakdowns at unfortunate times both on offense and defensive, (although surprisingly solid on the boards), have lead to the Jazz not being able to get over the hump that is the West.

[StrikeJMU]

Lineage
Rochester Royals (1945-57)
Cincinnati Royals (1957-72)
Kansas City-Omaha Kings (1972-75)
Kansas City Kings (1975-85)
Sacramento Kings (1985-present)

[seantaylor]

Kevin Love will be Rookie of the Year. Lebron MVP. Suns will win it all.

[slycat]

Mavericks finally win Championship :). The East continues to be awful with one or two great teams while the West has 8-10.

[Screamin_Eagle174]

EWU phenom Rodney Stuckey is going to bust out this year and really turn some heads... he got it started during the playoffs when Chauncey was hurt. He'll be gettin' at least 30 minutes a game this year. First preseason game the other night he had 23 points on 8/15 FG, 7/7 FT, 4 rebounds, 5 assists and 1 steal!

Go PISTONS!

[I Bleed Purple]

EWU phenom Rodney Stuckey is going to bust out this year and really turn some heads... he got it started during the playoffs when Chauncey was hurt. He'll be gettin' at least 30 minutes a game this year. First preseason game the other night he had 23 points on 8/15 FG, 7/7 FT, 4 rebounds, 5 assists and 1 steal!

Go PISTONS!

Just picked him on my fantasy team. xthumbsupx

[StrikeJMU]

Mavericks finally win Championship :). The East continues to be awful with one or two great teams while the West has 8-10.

Wizards play the Mavericks tonight...I'll be watching.

[bonarae]

I see the NHL going long before the NBA. People still at least watch the NBA.

Given its wide international fan base, sales of NBA merchandise will keep going... (especially in the Philippines and Europe)

[Peems]

Man before the season starts and Antawn is already out. Man to be a Wizards fan. BTW I think Rose will win the ROY over Beasley, Beasley has D Wade and Marion. Bulls will make a push for the 8th seed.

[CopperCat]

I predict that I won't watch more than two NBA games this year.

[StrikeJMU]

Antawn's knee is only "strained". It just blew out on him but didn't collide with anyone or the court, so hopefully it just looked worse then it really was.

[EmeryZach]

The Celtics have a preseason game at UMass tonight at the Mullins Center. I heard the tickets were too expensive for students though.

[Peems]

Antawn's knee is only "strained". It just blew out on him but didn't collide with anyone or the court, so hopefully it just looked worse then it really was.

Still any injury news is bad for the Wiz. Gilbert is out for a couple months and without Twan, Butler is really the only threat on the team. Though I think Nick Young might be pretty good this year.

[Henwatcher]

Let the dunkfest, the missed free throw and turnover party begin.

[appmaj]

Let the Larry Brown era begin. Bobcats finish not in one of the last two spots.

[I Bleed Purple]

Spent some time watching some old NBA on NBC intros and such. ABC needs that kind of presentation. Make it about the players playing the game. Let crowd noise actually enter your broadcast. Have announcers who don't want to hear themselves talk but rather bring the nuances of the game to you.

Nothing beats a great ending to playoff basketball.

[blur2005]

Spent some time watching some old NBA on NBC intros and such. ABC needs that kind of presentation. Make it about the players playing the game. Let crowd noise actually enter your broadcast. Have announcers who don't want to hear themselves talk but rather bring the nuances of the game to you.

Nothing beats a great ending to playoff basketball.
I generally dislike NBC broadcasts of all sporting events but the "NBA on NBC" was great.