As useful as arguing which team will Kobe be traded to, comes the heated debate: what team will rise up in the Eastern Conference. The reality of it is that Spurs or the Suns will take it to the ship next year, so to make things interesting let’s take a step closer to the NBDL and examine in some detail the east- or as I like to call it, The Sleeper Conference.
Top 5 of the sleepers
1. Cleveland Cavaliers-
Yes, you are reading right. I decided to not join the Boston Bandwagon, and to stick with a trend that has become legit which is Lebron James. Although Cleveland celebrated and rioted for their 15 minutes of fame in 2006, they’ll realize… that it was just that - 15 minutes. At least they are no longer branded as the team with Craig Ehlo getting faded by Michael Jordan in the waning seconds of a Gatorade commercial, but now they have probably the best player [especially for his age] in Lebron.
If Lebron has taught me something about himself and what he does for others is that he will always live up to the hype-haters. In 2003, it was that “he won’t be able to compete in the NBA.” In 2005, it was that “he won’t be able to make the playoffs.” In 2006, it was that “he cannot win the Eastern Conference.” So far it is Lebron 3, Haters 0. Now it’s 2007, and the NBA community shakes their heads as they say “he cannot win a NBA ring.” I think I might feel a sweep coming. The chemistry of the Cavs has definitely developed in the last few years with key big-man pieces in Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Drew Gooden. Along with a few shining moments from surprise heroes like Daniel Gibson, but the fact remains that this is Lebron’s team. And King James seems to hear the muttering of the people watching at home. All I’m waiting to see is if he’ll run for office in 2008.
2. Boston Celtics
Yes, you are still reading right. The last team in the NBA becoming a contender the following season... Did they get Greg Oden & Kevin Durant in the draft? No. Sadly, they got neither. Instead they got the all-veteran-over-30 all star team. Not a bad response. I think Danny Ainge played NBA Live ’07 a tad too much to make this trade, but it probably is the best move the Celtics made since… So anyways, you now have a starting line-up of Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, and two guys winning a raffle from the Garden’s stands (Just kidding Kendrick Perkins, nothing but love) .
So here is the analysis of the “recycling-conscious Celtics” I have no doubt that the Celtics will be good, but to repair a team from last to first takes more than just losing 5 young players for 2 accomplished players. Besides, these two players although elite, have never really done too much damage in the playoffs. I would not be surprised if KG, Ray & Paul take the best season record in the East, but I am not convinced of their ultimate chemistry and playoff caliber. There are always certain players that just beam playoff aura in them, and I think that this will still be lacking in the Celtics. I hope they prove me wrong, because it would be great to see all these guys get rings [especially KG] but reality still sits in. But I have this weird feeling that the Lakers tried to do something like this a few years back.
3. Chicago Bulls
My hometown Chicago Bulls. The lack of ambition in the off-season to help fill the scoring vacuum in the middle of the court might have drowned any chance of a championship run for the Bulls. However, legitimacy still sides with the Bulls. Even though I would have wanted to see a trade to pick up a scoring big man in someone like Zach Randolph to help appease the guards’ scoring load, Paxson sat on his hands and kept the mediocre wild-card in Joakim Noah. I don’t think it will pay off. The stench of a bad sports year is lingering from the Cubs getting swept in the first round, to the Bears starting off 2-4. What will the Bulls do? I’m afraid not much. Sure they will make it to the playoffs, but once they face a team like the Cavs, Pistons, or the Celtics, the same tune will be sung of having no inside scoring presence. I hate to be the one who said I told you so in April, especially to the Bulls.
4. Orlando Magic
The Magic are on the road to improvement and might even take it to the next step this season. I think the loss of Grant Hill may be a blessing in disguise at it will really examine their swingman situation, and develop someone that will play 90% of the season consistently. But with the young tandem of Jameer Nelson and Dwight Howard it is reminiscent of the Penny & Shaq combination from over a decade ago. So with the development of a valid swingman, don’t be surprised to see the Magic make a playoff appearance and make some noise while they are there. Besides since the Atlantic Division has made vast improvements, the Magic winning in the now dilapidated Southeast and nabbing a top 4 spot in the new playoff seeding is definitely plausible.
5. Toronto Raptors
Yes, you are still reading correctly, the Pistons did not make my top 5. The Pistons are in a loaded Central division and are one of the few teams that got worse over the off season. The team is aging. Chauncey Billups and Rip Hamilton seem to be lackadaisical, Webber seems to be getting wary, and Rasheed is getting antsy Larry Brown was the key into making things click there and I just don’t think Flip Saunders can handle adversity well. See Minnesota Timberwolves, 2004.
But anyways back to the Raptors. Sam Mitchell winning coach of the year and the Raptors making the playoffs last year really puts a new swagger in Toronto. Well, as much swagger as Toronto can handle at least. Yet the young’ens are no longer scared of the playoffs, and Chris Bosh is a great leader and will only grow moreover with Mitchell handling the clipboard. The team is young and will develop their potential in players like Andrea Bargnani and Jose Calderon into a fast-paced threat. Just think: the young Phoenix Suns of the East. So as long as no one goes Vinsane, then things can pan out for the Raptors.
-Dave C
4 comments:
how in the hell can you call the celtics a sleeper team and then completely trash them come on now.
He DIDNT trash them, he's just waiting for them to prove it ON THE COURT before he crowns them. The season hasnt started yet, they still have to prove themselves.
That being said, anyways..... Honestly if you dont think the celtics team is gonna dominate you are either lying to yourself or know NOTHING about basketball. I hate Boston but they would be an elite team out west up there among phx and utah and them, theyre gonna be a POWER in the east. You severely underrate their depth and their defense. Not to mention Rondo and Perkins that are legit 1 and 5’s and are much better than you make them out to be and a perfect fit in their lineup around the core 3 superstars. They got the defensive coach as their assistant that guy thibodeau that organized the old knicks defense and more recently the rockets defense of the past 3 seasons. Not only that but on their depth the great teams in this league are 8-10 men deep in their rotation, the Celtics HAVE that. They have proven veteran roleplayers like James Posey, Eddie House, Scalabrine, Dante Jones and Pollard, and also have very good young guys like Tony Allen, Leon Powe, Rondo and Kendrick Perkins. You say injuries but look at any team even the spurs would be killed by an injured star player when it comes to title hopes. The suns have been a 7 man rotation for 3 years and theyve been a powerhouse. The heat in the first year with shaq had MUCH WORSE DEPTH and had the equivalent to eddie house as their STARTING pointguard in Damon Jones, they had holes in 3/5th’s of their lineup and no good bench guys(unless you consider michael doleac and rasual butler good bench guys) and they won 59 games and were 1 win from the finals (and a wade injury away from winning the title in my opinon). The celtics are SET for a rotation which seemed impossible after the late garnett trade, but its the truth, they are loaded with one of the best starting 5s in the nba (and best trio)and do have depth for a very good rotation overall. KG opens up everything, they got his role to dominate inside, and he needs to be doubled down in the post because he is unstoppable when they dont double, and when they do he can get it to Ray or Pierce or Rondo/House for an open shot or a slash to the rim or to perk for an open dunk…. KG opens up everything from the inside and him and the other kid lock down the paint when theyre on defense. Its PAUL PIERCE AND RAY ALLEN too. Think about that. The depth around them is very good for a 9 man rotation too. Their overall team on paper is better than our team was in 04 that won the division and got the topseed in the west on the way to the west conference finals, and their trio with garnett is much better. They should CRUSH teams. Their GM did a very good job of filling out the roster with proven veteran roleplayers and some good young talent around the core 3 A+ all-nba guys in limited time for a great run with a possible title if things go right. But more importantly he made all the right moves and didnt make any panic/stupid moves which set himself up perfect to fill out the roster in his first full summer next offseason to LOAD UP for a SERIOIUS title run. I hate boston, but I am happy for Ray Allen and especially KG and even Pierce. And this celtic team is the nearly sole reason that I have purchased league pass for the first time EVER in 35 years of diehard NBA fandom. Theyre gonna be a POWERHOUSE this year and a special team for the next 4 years and could win the whole thing not just the east. ("you" meaning- people, critics)
hi
Your blog keeps getting better and better! Your older articles are not as good as newer ones you have a lot more creativity and originality now keep it up!
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