Sports Illustrated has the Thunder projected to finish 1st in the Western Conference. When you have one of the most prolific scorers in all the NBA, you are going to have a great shot in the playoffs every year. The fact that the Thunder also have great young pieces around Kevin Durant (Serge Ibaka, Russell Westbrook, and Eric Maynor) it make the future look even more bright. The key for the Thunder this year if they want to win it all is he continue to get looks of contributions from the bench. This was one of the reasons why they were not able to beat the Heat in the finals. Overall, the Thunder look like the team to beat in the Western Conference.
Baer Sports Talk
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
2013 Oklahoma City Thunder Season Preview
The Oklahoma City Thunder were only four games from winning the title last year with still a every inexperience basketball team. This year however could be entirely different since they have the talent to possibly win it all this year. Here is a look at the way they will take the court for opening night:
PG. Russell Westbrook
SG. Thabo Sefolosha
SF. Kevin Durant
PF. Serge Ibaka
C. Kendrick Perkins
Sports Illustrated has the Thunder projected to finish 1st in the Western Conference. When you have one of the most prolific scorers in all the NBA, you are going to have a great shot in the playoffs every year. The fact that the Thunder also have great young pieces around Kevin Durant (Serge Ibaka, Russell Westbrook, and Eric Maynor) it make the future look even more bright. The key for the Thunder this year if they want to win it all is he continue to get looks of contributions from the bench. This was one of the reasons why they were not able to beat the Heat in the finals. Overall, the Thunder look like the team to beat in the Western Conference.
Sports Illustrated has the Thunder projected to finish 1st in the Western Conference. When you have one of the most prolific scorers in all the NBA, you are going to have a great shot in the playoffs every year. The fact that the Thunder also have great young pieces around Kevin Durant (Serge Ibaka, Russell Westbrook, and Eric Maynor) it make the future look even more bright. The key for the Thunder this year if they want to win it all is he continue to get looks of contributions from the bench. This was one of the reasons why they were not able to beat the Heat in the finals. Overall, the Thunder look like the team to beat in the Western Conference.
Monday, November 26, 2012
2013 New York Knicks Season Preview
The New York Knickerbockers (Knicks) are going to do some really big time damage this year. I believe that this Knicks team has a chance to unseat the Miami Heat as the top team in the Easter Conference. Here is a look at New York's starting 5:
PG. Raymond Felton
SG. Jr. Smith
SF. Carmelo Anthony
PF. Amare Stoudemire
C. Tyson Chandler
Sports Illustrated projects that the Knicks will finish 3rd in the Eastern Conference this year. As I said before I strongly believe that this team has the chance to be better than the Heat, and at the end of the year could be holding up the NBA Championship trophy. They have all the talent in the world to be the top team the key is to get Amare Stoudemire healthy and keep everyone else healthy. The other thing that they have going for them is the depth that they have in both the front court and the back court. (Jason Kidd, Rasheed Wallace, Marcus Camby, and Ronnie Brewer.)
Sports Illustrated projects that the Knicks will finish 3rd in the Eastern Conference this year. As I said before I strongly believe that this team has the chance to be better than the Heat, and at the end of the year could be holding up the NBA Championship trophy. They have all the talent in the world to be the top team the key is to get Amare Stoudemire healthy and keep everyone else healthy. The other thing that they have going for them is the depth that they have in both the front court and the back court. (Jason Kidd, Rasheed Wallace, Marcus Camby, and Ronnie Brewer.)
2013 New Orleans Hornets Season Preview
When the season tips off for the 2013 New Orleans Hornets they will be the youngest team in the NBA. That of course could be good or bad news for the Hornets. We will just have to see how they handle themselves. Two key players that they drafted are Austin Rivers and Anthony Davis. The hype for both of these players is very high. Here is the way that the Hornets will tip off the season:
PG. Austin Rivers
SG. Eric Gordon
SF. Al-Farouq Aminu
PF. Anthony Davis
C. Robin Lopez
The Hornets are probably another year or two way from being big time threats in the Western Conference. That is why Sports Illustrated has the Hornets finishing 12 in the Western Conference. With that being said the Hornets will be a really good team in a couple of years with the youth that they have right now. If the Hornets want to make any kind of push for the playoffs, the young guns that they have will have to be able to stay healthy and on the court at the same time. If they are unable to stay healthy together they will struggle a lot because they have very little depth on the bench.
The Hornets are probably another year or two way from being big time threats in the Western Conference. That is why Sports Illustrated has the Hornets finishing 12 in the Western Conference. With that being said the Hornets will be a really good team in a couple of years with the youth that they have right now. If the Hornets want to make any kind of push for the playoffs, the young guns that they have will have to be able to stay healthy and on the court at the same time. If they are unable to stay healthy together they will struggle a lot because they have very little depth on the bench.
2013 Minnesota Timberwolves Season Preview
The Minnesota Timberwolves look like one of the most exciting teams in the NBA this year. Mainly because of one of the best big men in the NBA in Kevin Love, but also for the return of Brandon Roy back to the NBA after chronic knee injuries in Portland. Here is how the T-wolves opening night lineup looks like:
PG. Ricky Rubio
SG. Brandon Roy
SF. Andrei Kirilenko
PF. Kevin Love
C. Nikola Pekovic
Sports Illustrated has the T-wolves finishing 9th in the Western Conference. I would have to agree with that projection based on the fact that the T-wolves need to get healthy to be a force in the league. It is exciting to see Brandon Roy back in the league and I think that he will provide to T-wolves with a very good veteran presence to a young lineup. The biggest key for this team will be how Pekovic plays along side Kevin Love. If Pekovic even provides a little bit of offense it will take the offensive pressure off of Kevin Love.
Sports Illustrated has the T-wolves finishing 9th in the Western Conference. I would have to agree with that projection based on the fact that the T-wolves need to get healthy to be a force in the league. It is exciting to see Brandon Roy back in the league and I think that he will provide to T-wolves with a very good veteran presence to a young lineup. The biggest key for this team will be how Pekovic plays along side Kevin Love. If Pekovic even provides a little bit of offense it will take the offensive pressure off of Kevin Love.
2013 Milwaukee Bucks
The 2013 Milwaukee Bucks could be a very dangerous team and could sneak up on some people that do not know how talented and young this team is. Here is a look at the Bucks lineup for this year:
PG. Brandon Jennings
SG. Monte Ellis
SF. Ersan Illyasova
PF. Drew Gooden
C. Samuel Dalembert
Sports Illustrated has the Bucks just missing the playoffs by finishing 9th in Eastern Conference. I would agree with that to an extent, I think that with how wide open the Eastern Conference is I could see the Bucks being 7th or 8th in the East. With the firepower that they have in the front court, along with a lot of size in the back court they should be able to beat a lot of undersized teams in the East. The biggest downfall that I could possibly see with this team would be too many guys that just want to score, with Brandon Jennings and Monte Ellis both wanting to score the basketball first. However it the Bucks are able to play together they will be a huge force to be reckoned with in the East.
Sports Illustrated has the Bucks just missing the playoffs by finishing 9th in Eastern Conference. I would agree with that to an extent, I think that with how wide open the Eastern Conference is I could see the Bucks being 7th or 8th in the East. With the firepower that they have in the front court, along with a lot of size in the back court they should be able to beat a lot of undersized teams in the East. The biggest downfall that I could possibly see with this team would be too many guys that just want to score, with Brandon Jennings and Monte Ellis both wanting to score the basketball first. However it the Bucks are able to play together they will be a huge force to be reckoned with in the East.
2013 Miami Heat Season Preview
I present to you the 2011-2012 NBA Champion Miami Heat. The Heat had a fantastic run last year and they should be just as good of a team this year now with the additions of Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis to come off the bench. Here is the starting 5 for the Miami Heat:
PG. Mario Chalmers
SG. Dwayne Wade
SF. Lebron James
PF. Shane Battier
C. Chris Bosh
Sports Illustrated has the Miami Heat finishing as the top seed in the Eastern Conference. I strongly agree with this projection, the Heat are in a class by themselves in the Eastern Conference with the shear firepower that they have. The other thing that I am so impressed with when it come to this team is the way that they played together in the playoffs. With all of the Super stars that they have, it can be very easy to let Ego's get in the way of playing together as a team with one common goal. I see this team going very far in the playoffs again this year and possibly winning it all. This is the closest team in the NBA, to a team that could start a dynasty.
Sports Illustrated has the Miami Heat finishing as the top seed in the Eastern Conference. I strongly agree with this projection, the Heat are in a class by themselves in the Eastern Conference with the shear firepower that they have. The other thing that I am so impressed with when it come to this team is the way that they played together in the playoffs. With all of the Super stars that they have, it can be very easy to let Ego's get in the way of playing together as a team with one common goal. I see this team going very far in the playoffs again this year and possibly winning it all. This is the closest team in the NBA, to a team that could start a dynasty.
Sunday, November 25, 2012
2013 Memphis Grizzlies Season Preview
Memphis Grizzlies, the team of the playoffs last year. The Grizzlies will make another very impressive run again this year because of the development of all of the young players. (Rudy Gay, Marc Gasol, and Mike Conley) The Starting Lineup:
PG. Mike Conley
SG. Tony Allen
SF. Rudy Gay
PF. Zach Randolph
C. Marc Gasol
Sports Illustrated has the Grizzlies projected as the 6th seed in the Western Conference. I say that I have to agree with where they have the Grizzlies projected. They are going to be very good again this year but still because of the youth they will struggle putting away good teams in the playoffs. I would say that they will beat one team in the playoffs but other then that they will have to wait one of two more years for them to be on top of the Western Conference.
Sports Illustrated has the Grizzlies projected as the 6th seed in the Western Conference. I say that I have to agree with where they have the Grizzlies projected. They are going to be very good again this year but still because of the youth they will struggle putting away good teams in the playoffs. I would say that they will beat one team in the playoffs but other then that they will have to wait one of two more years for them to be on top of the Western Conference.
2013 Los Angeles Lakers Season Preview
The Lakers were another team that went out and improved by signing Steve Nash and acquiring the services of Dwight Howard. This should be a really interesting year for the Lakers because they have a lot of new players playing that did not play with them last year. Here is the Starting Lineup:
PG. Steve Nash
SG. Kobe Bryant
SF. Metta World Peace
PF. Pau Gasol
C. Dwight Howard
Sports Illustrated has the Lakers finishing 2nd in the Western Conference. I would say that that is a little high for a team that has to find out how to play well with each other rather then against each other. If they are able to play together they will be a very tough team to beat with 3 All-stars in the Starting lineup. The other key for the Lakers is going to be staying healthy with all of the veteran players that they have. (Including Kobe Bryant.) I would project that they finish 4th or 5th in the West due to inexperience playing together and the health of the veteran players. With this being said they should still be able to make a good run in the playoffs.
Sports Illustrated has the Lakers finishing 2nd in the Western Conference. I would say that that is a little high for a team that has to find out how to play well with each other rather then against each other. If they are able to play together they will be a very tough team to beat with 3 All-stars in the Starting lineup. The other key for the Lakers is going to be staying healthy with all of the veteran players that they have. (Including Kobe Bryant.) I would project that they finish 4th or 5th in the West due to inexperience playing together and the health of the veteran players. With this being said they should still be able to make a good run in the playoffs.
2013 Los Angeles Clippers Team Preview
The Los Angeles Clippers I believe are the most exciting team to watch in the NBA. Who does not like Lob City? With Chris Paul running the show again they year, this could be a team that could make a really strong push for an NBA Championship this season. The problem with this team is with how many points that they score per game how much defense are they going to play. They have the talent to play defense it now is about digging in and doing it. Here is the starting 5:
PG. Chris Paul
SG. Jamal Crawford
SF. Caron Butler
PF. Blake Griffin
C. Deandre Jordan
Sports Illustrated has the Clippers projected to finish 5th in the Western Conference. Personally, I would put them just a bit higher. The believe that they are a much better all around team then the Lakers. The Clippers have so much more depth along with so many players that can do many different things (Pass, shoot, and defend.) I would say that the Clippers will end up as the 3rd or 4th seed in the West and have a great shot at going very far in the playoffs. Look out for the Los Angeles Clippers they are taking the league by surprise.
Sports Illustrated has the Clippers projected to finish 5th in the Western Conference. Personally, I would put them just a bit higher. The believe that they are a much better all around team then the Lakers. The Clippers have so much more depth along with so many players that can do many different things (Pass, shoot, and defend.) I would say that the Clippers will end up as the 3rd or 4th seed in the West and have a great shot at going very far in the playoffs. Look out for the Los Angeles Clippers they are taking the league by surprise.
2013 Indiana Pacers Team Preview
The Indiana Pacers were one of the teams last year that were quite a surprise with how well that they played down the stretch. This year they are not going to sneak up on teams like they did last year, but they should be able to duplicate the success that they had last year. They added some help by adding some depth in the backcourt, but the main focus is how strong of a starting 5 they will have.
PG. George Hill
SG. Paul George
SF. Danny Granger
PF. David West
C. Roy Hibbert
Sports Illustrated has the Pacers picked to finish 2nd in the Eastern Conference right behind the Heat. I have to question that just a little because of the fact that the Pacers are still a very young team. With George Hill, Paul George, and Roy Hibbert still being extremely young it may be very difficult for them to climb to the top of the Eastern Conference with much more experienced teams such as the Celtics. They still have a lot of emerging talent, it now is about how they can mesh together that talent. My projection for them would be a 3 or 4 seed, but I will say they are on the rise and soon they will be a top the Eastern Conference.
Sports Illustrated has the Pacers picked to finish 2nd in the Eastern Conference right behind the Heat. I have to question that just a little because of the fact that the Pacers are still a very young team. With George Hill, Paul George, and Roy Hibbert still being extremely young it may be very difficult for them to climb to the top of the Eastern Conference with much more experienced teams such as the Celtics. They still have a lot of emerging talent, it now is about how they can mesh together that talent. My projection for them would be a 3 or 4 seed, but I will say they are on the rise and soon they will be a top the Eastern Conference.
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