Bringin' down the House

Bringin’ down the HOUSE!!!

By: Stephen Jared House


2009-2010 NBA PREVIEWS

1. CLEVELAND CAVALIERS- Who doesn’t want watch this team play? They play a fast exciting style of basketball, not to mention they have LeBron James who always provides an exciting spectacle. The Cavs will again dominate the regular season, but I don’t see them getting to the Finals. The Cavs made a nice pick up in the off season with Anthony Parker, but I don’t like the pick up of Jamario Moon. Moon is nothing but a dunker with no jump shot. Not what Cleveland is in need of. Cleveland needs another person who can score one-on-one. The Diesel has too many miles on him and I don’t see him being the guy who commands a double team anymore. The Cavs will have the best record in the East again, but they cannot make it past Boston in the play-offs. Cleveland needs to enjoy this season with the King, it will be their last. He seems to have that Empire State of mind.
2. BOSTON CELTICS- The C’s in my opinion are the best team in the Eastern Conference. They have a healthy Kevin Garnett, and they made some fantastic additions. Everyone has heard that Rasheed Wallace left Motown and came to Beantown but the move that may be the most beneficial to their team is the acquisition of Marquis Daniels. Daniels is a slasher who can drive to the basketball and score. With his D he is a great compliment to Ray Allen out on the wing when the second unit is in the game. Rajon Rondo is going to blow up this year. Rondo is a triple double waiting to happen and could be the quickest player in the league. He’s a nightmare to try to stay in front of. The Finals are where we will be seeing this team in June.
3. ORLANDO MAGIC- The Magic seem to be getting dogged by everyone who analyzes basketball, and I don’t see why. Hedo Turkoglu in my opinion is the most overrated player in the NBA. He is a 3 point shooter who can’t play a lick of defense. Vince Carter on the other hand is a superstar. Yeah Carter has a bad rep of not always playing hard, and being selfish, but has he ever really been on a good team with a chance to win? No. Carter is an elite scorer who in this situation with these pieces around him will do his job and play hard. This in my opinion in a huge upgrade. Watch out for Brandon Bass. The Magic now have a grinder at the power forward spot, something they haven’t had in the past.
4. ATLANTA HAWKS- The most intriguing team in the entire NBA to me is the Hawks. Their core group of players have played together for quite awhile and have built quit a chemistry together. Now if they build on that they could challenge any team in the East. Last year in the second round of the play-offs when they met up with the Cleveland Cavs they acted like they were scared to play LeBron and Co. They need to realize that they have the talent to beat any team in the East. I love the addition of Jamal Crawford. Crawford is nothing but a scorer but coming off the bench he is a lethal weapon. Joe Johnson is a stud. But can he be a leader and calm down and get Josh Smith under control? If the Hawks want to make some noise in the play –offs he better.
5. CHICAGO BULLS- The Bulls turned around their season after a miserable start and almost upset the Boston Celtics in a seven game series in the first round of the play-offs last season. The Bulls are going to rely heavily on second year superstar-in-the-wings in Derrick Rose. Rose can flat out play ball. He looked like a seasoned pro last season rather than a rookie with only one year of college experience. The Bulls and Rose will only get better this year. I can’t wait to see some Bulls-Celtics games. The Rondo-Rose rivalry is going to be a great one for years to come.
6. WASHINGTON WIZARDS- I’m not as high on this team as everyone else is. Yeah they will be the most improved team this year, hell they only won 19 games last year! With a healthy Gilbert Arenas, Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison this team with score with anyone. Their problem is anyone can score on them. This team has no desire to play defense and is as soft as butter. They are a finesse team in every sense of the word. I know everyone has them so high but I almost want to put them lower in the standing.
7. PHILADELPHIA 76ers- the Sixers are another team that seems to already written off. I don’t see it. I think the Sixers are a good team and could be better than Washington because they play defense. I’m not a fan of Andre Iguodala, he’s off the dribble, he doesn’t make anyone he plays with better, he does nothing above average, well maybe dunk and that’s it. Elton Brand had a devastating injury last year, but he comes back healthy he will be back to being dominate inside scorer and defender. I LOVE Thaddeus Young. He runs the floor so well and is a finisher. He will have a great year this year.
8. TORONTO RAPTORS- I’m not as high on this team as everyone else seems to be. Everyone thinks because they got Hedo Turkoglu that they are the next big thing in the East. I’m a big proponent that defensive wins not only championships but on nights when your shots aren’t falling. Defense never leaves. I’m really big on rookie DeMar DeRozen. He already has an NBA body and he can slash to the basket. The shot will come along. Chris Bosh is going to play like a stud for the season and they he will head south of the border and collect a nice pay day from Detroit.
9. MIAMI HEAT- The Heat made the play-offs last year but I don’t for see a return. They did nothing to improve in the offseason and the franchise is broke. The Heat are dressing the least amount of players of any team in the NBA. This franchise is doomed. I have never liked Michael Beasley and I am even more down on him now. He’s not big enough to be a power forward and he’s not quick enough to be a small forward. I question his desire to play also. The one thing the Heat have going for them is Dwyane Wade. Last season Wade was the first player under 6’5’’ to total over 100 blocks and steals. The Heat rode Wade to the play-offs last year, but if nobody steps up this season they will not get another free ride.
10. DETROIT PISTONS- The Pistons are a team in the rebuilding mode. But I don’t think they will be an awful team. They have leadership in Rip Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince will not let this team slip into the bottom tier of the league. They can score but the trade mark defense is gone. Any team with Kwame Brown as its starting center is not a good team.
11. CHARLOTTE BOBCATS- I would love to put this team higher in my projections but I just cannot. Yeah I know they made a little run last season, and yeah they have Larry Brown on the bench for the second season. But this team doesn’t have the talent to beat the elite in the East on any given night. I love DJ Augustin, he will be a star in the league three years from now, I can’t understand why Brown keeps playing Raymond Felton over him.
12. INDIANA PACERS- this team is so fun to watch. Danny Granger is an offensive machine, he can score points by the boat load. He has to prove he can be a lockdown defender before we start putting him in the superstar category though. I live the moves the team has made by brining in Dahntay Jones as a wing defender. They are still along way away though.
13. NEW JERSEY NETS- they have an absolute stud in Brook Lopez who in my opinion is the third best center behind Dwight Howard and Chris Bosh in the East. He does everything right, he is never out of position, he plays hard every play, and he is going to be great passing out of the double team. Devin Harris is on his way to being an elite point guard but needs to get back to playing defense the way he did in Dallas.
14. NEW YORK KNICKS- the Knicks don’t have one guy who could start for one the play off projected Eastern Conference teams. David Lee does the dirty and plays hard but he virtually has no ability to score one-on-one but damn he gives it hell out there. They are just biding their time till next season when the King comes to town.
15. MILWAUKEE BUCKS- Scott Skiles should play Brandon Jennings from day one over Luke Ridnour. Jennings is the future of the franchise and while Ridnour has more expirence this team is going now where. Play your future, take your bumps and bruises and get better.