NBA Preview 2007-2008

Big Baby wants predictions, he wants them now!

So as I was relaxing after another productive day down at the new Gramercy Estate and it hit me that I needed to get my predictions done and up ASAP as the season, thanks to that witty NBA television schedule starts tonight.

So with the Oden-less Trailblazers taking on the champs in San Antonio to start things off tonight, here's the Coach's Take on the upcoming season.

The league will rebound nicely despite the following:
-An uneventful (as nice as I can put it) Spurs sweep of the Cavs in the Finals last June.
-The worst scandal to hit the Association since the cocaine days of the late 70's and early 80's.

-The joke which is the Knick organization (doesn't New york deserve better than a Coach/GM and an organization who was found guilty of sexual harrassment and the wrongful dismissal of a female employee?)


This is going to be the most exciting regular season in years, thanks to the Celtics ressurgence and the conitnued rise of teams like Chicago, Orlando, Atlanta, New Orleans, Denver and Utah. Star power is strong but the attention will hopefully continue to shift back towards teams not just individual talent. Kobe might be the best in the game but that ain't putting a smile on his face or another Chip on his mantle. What the Celtics did will not only be important for the team, city and league for the obvious but for how the game is looked at, analyzed and appreciated moving forward. Team basketball will now be in the spotlight because of the Celtics (yes the Spurs have been doing it for years) and hopefully others will take notice that is how the game needs to and should be played. With the Suns on a mission, the Mavs looking to rebound and the Spurs out to defend what is theirs the best of the best will not disappoint this season. Out West Denver, Houston, Utah and the Hornets all should be improved.


4 Questions Out West

Will the Warriors be as affective?
They have the guns but the suprise element and momentum from last season was a big help. Stephen Jackson being named a captain still has me searching for some answers.


How will Dallas respond after last years playoff collapse?
They will be strong and pissed off. Problem is Phoenix is just as angry with a better team and Steve Nash leading them.
Coach Johnson and the Mavs must, must get off to a hot start.


Will the coaching, personel and style of play changes in Houston get them to the next level?
The Rockets will be an exciting and improved team as Coach Adelman will have them running at every traansition opportunity and dumping it into Yao at every opportunity in the halfcourt. Tracy McGrady must stay healthy and realize he has to attack the hoop as well as play off of Yao, not the other way around.


Will this finally be the year of the Sun?
The third time had better be the charm for Phoenix. With Nash still at the top of his game, Marion seemingly willing to keep quiet and continue his production and the addition of veteran Grant Hill the Suns will challenge again for the Western Conference crown. As good as Nash is it is about the unit and the paint which needs to be owned by Amare Stoudemire and Marion for them to break through to the Finals.

4 Questions Back East


Is Jason Kidd on borrowed time? The guy was a machine for Team USA this past summer but he has a lot of miles on those tires. Jefferson, Carter and 2nd year guard Marvin Williams are going to have to do enough to keep Kidd fresh come Spring.



What is Cleveland thinking?
We all witnessed the same conference finals last year when LeBron officially became KING JAMES, but Cleveland really thinking they are getting back to that stage with what they look like right now is crazy. Even if Varejao and Pavlovic return from their holdouts there is no way they are better than Chicago, Detroit, or Boston. The Cavs will be a playoff team but a trip back to the finals is far from a reality.


Will Chicago keep this group together?
With the Kobe rumors swirling and the Bulls clearly having the best package to offer, Chicago faces the choice of whether or not to breakup this blossoming team of young talent to acquire one player. It would be great for the sake of team basketball if Chicago said thanks but no thanks if the asking price from the Lakers is to high. Deng, Gordon, Thomas and Noah is to much in the Coach's opinion for Kobe. He has to be moved, the Bulls have all the leverage in the world here, and the talent to be very successful this season without him.


Will Boston's supposed lack of depth hold them back from winning the eastern conference?
Plain and simple. No. Great players, truly great players bring out the best in their supporting cast and that is already beginning to happen in Boston. While Garnett was trapped in Minnesota for so long all many saw were his highlights and stats, not the profound desire to win, his passing ability or his intensity with each posession. Teamed with Pierce and Allen we know about the trio and what their goal is. What many are realizing is that the entire team and oraganization seems to be completely on board. Look for Rajon Rondo to improve with each game at the point and for Tony Allen once healthy to be one of the best all around bench weapons in the game.


The East
Surprise Team: My collegues and I have been talking about the Hawks, specifically their growth and improvements. With teams like the Knicks, Raptors and Wizards all in the hunt for the postseason the Hawks will have enough talent and depth to get back to the playoffs for the first time since 1999 when Steve Smith was tearing hearts out with his jumper and Deke was in his 40's. Josh Smith and Joe Johnson are long, versatile and explosive. Rookie forward Al Horford, southpaw guards AC Law IV, Salim Stoudemire, and bigs Zaza Pachulia, Marvin Williams and Sheldon Williams give them depth, rebounding and enough scoring options to be a playoff contender this spring.



The spotlight: All attention is on Boston and rightly so. If last week's final dress rehearsal against Cleveland is any indication this team is going to be a nightmare to deal with on a nightly basis. Kevin Garnett's name will return to the best player in the league conversation and Paul Pierce will be once again appreciated as the great player he is. Will it take a few weeks for them to get completely in sync? Sure it will. But with Ray Allen, Garnett and Pierce combined with a mix of hungry vets and talented youth who are all on the same page this team will rise to the occassion and be the best in the East. Hats off to Danny Ainge for bringing the Celtics back.



The Jump: Dwight Howard will officially make the leap this season from potential stud to STUD, and it will happen quickly. Much has been made of his off-season work on his left hand around the hoop and jump shot away from it. Add Rashard Lewis to the mix in Orlando and suddenly opponents can not game plan just for Howard any longer. Point guard Jameer Nelson will also be on a mission as he is playing each night with the memory of his father driving him. Howard will benefit from all of this as he will become the new low post beast of the east.




Eastern Conference
1. Celtics
2. Bulls
3. Pistons
4. Nets
5. Cavs
6. Heat
7. Magic
8. Hawks

Playoffs
1st Round
Celtics over Hawks
Cavs over Nets
Bulls over Magic
Pistons over Heat

Semifinals
Celtics over Cavs
Bulls over Pistons

Conference Finals
Celtics over Bulls

The West


Surprise Team: The Sonics received much praise for rebuilding their team for the future with this year’s off season. But what they may not realize is that they are in playoff contention right now. Durrant, Green, West, Wilcox, Wally World, Ridenour and Co. are a talented and versatile group. Coach Carlisimo loves the challenge of teaching and growing his team and this group will give him everything they got. A late run by the Hornets and a Kobeless Laker team will challenge for that final playoff spot with Chris Paul leading the Hornets to the postseason but the Sonics will turn lots of heads this season.



The Spotlight: The Phoenix Suns

As stated above the Suns window to win a championship is open, but how long it stays open is the question. Steve Nash has been playing the best ball on the planet and is putting his historical stamp on how the position of point guard should be played offensively. He has a versatile, experienced and hungry supporting cast around him that will certainly use last years loss and controversial decision by the league to motivate them this season. This is year three that the Suns are good enough to break thru to the finals. The road has never been tougher with the champion Spurs, Mavericks, Jazz and Nuggets in the fold. Stoudemire, Marion, Diaw, Hill, Barbosa and Bell along with Nash is as strong as it gets on paper, whether or not it takes them to the promised land remains to be seen. If history holds true the Suns will finally break thru and represent the west in the finals.


The Jump: Deron Williams

With a ton of young talent that is only getting better out west this was a tough choice but Deron Williams is hard to overlook. He is a young version of Jason Kidd with a jump shot. With the emergence of teammate Carlos Boozer last season they formed a lethal guard/forward combo that exhibited power, speed and the ability to face off against the best of the west. Williams will look to lead the Jazz back deep into the playoffs like last season as his hunger for post season success must be building by the day as the season arrives. At his size his ability to shoot the ball, distribute and get into the paint at will make him one of the most feared guards in the league for a long time. His time to jump is now.


Western Conference
1. Suns
2. Spurs
3. Mavs
4. Nuggets
5. Jazz
6. Rockets
7. Warriors
8. Hornets

Playoffs
1st Round
Suns over Hornets
Nuggets over Jazz
Mavs over Rockets
Spurs over Warriors

Semifinals
Suns over Nuggets
Spurs over Mavs

Conference Finals
Suns over Spurs

NBA Finals
Suns over the Celtics

In a thrilling postseason the Suns and Celtics will battle their way threw the playoffs and into the finals. The star power and hunger of the players will make this one of the best finals we have seen the Jordan days.

One Week Away!

It is officially one week away. One week from tonight the Boston Celtics officially open the new season, and a new era. Whether or not this team is ready to go get that 17th championship banner is unknown right now but Celtic basketball is important again. Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen are really here, it is really going to happen. After years of frustration, false hope, disappoinment and what if's this team is going to be a winner and so much fun to watch. The level of excitment next week is going to be at a high we have not seen in a very long time surrounding Celtic Basketball. Danny Ainge gave Paul Pierce the running mates he has for so long desired and needed. It is time for Celtic Pride to return to the forefront of the NBA. Final dress rehearsal tonight at the Garden against LeBron and the Cavs.

Remember When?

The Big Three, Showtime, The Bad Boys, Game Time at Chicago Stadium.

With the season one week away The Coach's Take will be posting video's from back in the day. Some you will recognize and some we are sure you have never seen before. From Larry, Magic and Michael to the random of the random make sure you are checking out the site. As excited as we all are for this season you can never forget who set the standards and traditions in the past.



So in honor of the return of the Celtics, which we are sure will revive the Celtics Pistons rivalry in the East here is something from the 1987 playoffs.
Pure hump day entertainment.
Enjoy.

Deal Going Down...

Antoine Walker is on the move again.

ESPN is reporting that Antoine Walker will be dealt from Miami to Minnesota for Ricky Davis and Mark Blount. The deal also includes center Michael Doleac and forward Wayne Simien heading out to Minnesota with Walker. A future first round pick from the Heat is also rumored to be part of the deal going to the T-Wolves.

Lots of ex-Celtics on the move these days. It is amazing how many players have worn the Green and white since Danny Ainge took over in the spring of 2003. That could be a fun list to put together on a really slow off day. For now lets look qucikly at this deal:


Ricky being Ricky during his days as Celtic.

Miami gains a very talented but at times crazy scoring guard in Davis who when teamed with a healthy Dwayne Wade will make a very formidable backcourt. He can also play some minutes at the small forward if Pat Riley wants to go small and spread the floor with Jayson Williams, Wade and Davis. In Blount he acquires a quirky 7 footer that is better 17 feet from the basket than he is close to it. He can knock down the jumper on the catch but do not expect much help on the boards.
The Heat rid themselves of Walker whom Riley was very uphappy with after Toine reported to camp overweight and out of shape.

The Wolves continue to re-shape their future PG (Post Garnett) as Davis and Blount while contributors in the scoring column could be big negatives in the lockerroom around the new young T-Wolves. I bet Al Jefferson is very happy to see both of them go.

The Wolves get back two veterans with championship rings that will hopefully mentor their young nucleus this season. Toine and Al Jefferson seemed to get along during Al's rookie year with the Celtics. When Toine was dealt to Boston in February of 2005 the Green reeled off 12 straight wins. Though Antoine no longer has those legs his basketball IQ and experience should help some of these kids grow this season. Wayne Simien is a bog body with talent that simply has not put it together yet in the league.

With a roster which includes bigs Jefferson, Theo Ratliff, Mark Madsen, Craig Smith, Chris Richard, Juwan Howard, Walker, Simien and Doleac, the T-Wolves are going to have to let 3 to 4 of these players go before the season. I also did not include Ryan Gomes who plays the 3 and 4 position. I am sure Ainge and the Celtics are all over this situation as Boston could use one more big on their roster.

The Heat who are winless in the preseason needed to make a move for some scoring and this deal accomplished just that. Developing the chemistry is another story.

Enough Preseason Already...

Ray Allen attacks the hoop at MSG last night.
The Celtics open the season next Friday Novemeber 2nd
at home against the Washington Wizards.

I know last night was only a preseason game between the Knicks and the Celtics. I also know that last week in Boston the Celtics beat the Knicks by 40 points. What I am trying to figure out is what Jamal Crawford was trying to prove last night by knocking Ray Allen into the base of the basket at MSG. Are you trying to show the Knicks won’t get pushed around? Or perhaps Jamal is trying to show off his 15 pounds of muscle he put on in the off-season (I learned that by watching the Knicks season preview on MSG before the game last night hosted by Al Trautwig. Talk about a fluff piece. Unreal what MSG thinks is quality programming. At one point Mardy Collins was mentioned in the same sentence as Walt Frazier. Enough!) Either way it was completely uncalled for and will remain in the backs of the Celtics minds for the next time they meet. Good idea giving Allen, Garnett, Pierce and Co. more motivation, typical genius by the Knicks brain trust.



Gotta love Nate Robinson pounding his chest like it was a key April game last night. Now I love the effort and explosiveness he brings to the court but he may want to tone it down a little bit or Isiah might get jealous. Speaking of Coach Thomas, will this be the year he gets the most out of his talent? He spoke very highly of the defensive talent on the current club, I guess I need to double check the roster and do some homework. Last time I checked Curry, Randolph, Crawford, Q-Rich and Marbury were not getting checks for anything they are doing on that end of the floor. If Isiah can get them to buy in and play great team D which will create transition opportunities which the Knicks desperately need to compete, then my hat goes off to him.

With the season finally around the corner the Coach will have his NBA season preview up at the end of the week for you to enjoy this weekend.

Good luck to the Red Sox and the Rockies in the series…Coach has checked into full hoops mode.

What a Run!

Meet Cleveland's Mr. Clutch, Jhonny Peralta.

For those that want or need an apology for the two month absence, I am deeply sorry, I know there must be thousands of you out there that had an inner void without the Coach's Take for the last 60 days. Time got short between the end of my summer wedding tour, being back at work, the start of Legends football, my party regiment and of course moving to the Gramercy Estate. Damn, I have gotten a lot done.

In a summer that was unfortunately highlighted by Bonds, Vick and Donaghy the sports world is once again coming into its own and on the “Up and Up” as we have gotten into the fall. Well, at least for the coach, the Patriots and the Colorado Rockies.

The Browns are scoring points like the cardiac kids of the early 80’s and are 3-3. The Celtics just completed a wonderful training camp trip to Rome and London to start off there quest for a NBA Championship. Then we have the Cleveland Inidans. The team that has taken it’s toll on my father since they last won the World Series in 1948 and a team that I have broken up with and got back together with as much as that 24 villain back in the IC days. After last night’s 7-3 win over the Red Sox the Tribe is ONE WIN away from the World Series!!! WOW!!! They beat the Yankees on hallowed ground in the Bronx thanks to gutsy pitching, timely hitting and a team chemistry that is as good as any we have seen in modern day pro sports. These guys genuinely love each other and it is showing on the field.



I do not like to brag or gloat about predictions I make but here are two I need to share. When the team acquired Kenny Lofton this summer I pumped my fist immediately (I know, not many pump there fist and yell about a mid summer baseball transaction involving a 40 year old outfielder brought back to the city where he shined the brightest back in the 90’s, but that is what I do) I just knew he’d have a major hand in this run whether they were the division champs or wild card, whether they would’ve beaten the Yankees or not, I just knew he’d be a MAJOR contributor. See what is written about Lofton by many of the writers is complete bull shit. The guy gives his team a jolt every where he goes and has one priority, contribute to a winner. And in these story book playoffs he has done just that. Between his hit parade and diving catch against the Yankees and game 3’s 2nd inning homerun into the Ohio night Lofton has raised his game to new, well at times old heights and is playing every out for the city of Cleveland and all of his former Tribe teammates that were so close so many times in the 90’s but could never win it all. His hunger for that ring is apparent with how he is playing and the way he is raising the level of his Tribe teammates.



Last night in Game 4 (Paul Byrd another gutsy performance on the mound) Lofton singled with 2 outs in the 5th after the Tribe had scored 6 runs and lead 6-0. The Red Sox were on the ropes, they were shaken by how the Indians rallied for this 5th inning explosion. Lofton knowing what the Red Sox present offensively knew the game was not over and he was determined to get himself into scoring position. With Boston needing to concentrate on Casey Blake at the plate who started the rally earlier in the inning with a lead-off homerun, Lofton got a great jump and broke for second. Mirabelli’s throw was dead on but it did not matter Kenny beat it. Two pitches later Blake blooped a single to center and Lofton scooted home, an insurance run that after back to back to back Red Sox solo homeruns in the 6th was quite comforting. I almost forgot to add that that steal by Kenny pushed him past Ricky Henderson for most career post season stolen bases with 34. Kenny Lofton is a hall of fame player, period. He is doing a fine job of reminding everyone in the baseball world of that this October.

My other prediction on this series was that the Red Sox were making a huge mistake by starting Dice K in Cleveland for game 3 instead of at home in Boston in game 2. I am not going to rant about it. I was dead on, plain and simple, thanks largely in part to Lofton and Jake Westbrook who pitched an awesome game as his sinker ball was magnificent forcing ground ball after ground ball.

3 down, 1 to go.
Wednesday off and then Sabathia vs. Beckett on Thursday night.
Let’s Go!!!

Shout outs are back…mad props to The Legends, Grant and Jessica, Mac and Parks, Jared and Alana (congrats to you all on your moves), 3 Steps, PR, Rah (may need a break from Lotus for at least another week kid) Jordan (CFA is a wrap, congrats!) The Fam, and of course the brand new Gramercy Estate!