It is obvious teams are changing from a defensive mindset to more of a offensive orientation. It has honestly been a joy watching the Suns in the playoffs. They are unstoppable at times because there is no defense for a fast break, you can not stop a fast breaking team like the Suns and the fact they can shoot three pointers as good as anyone makes them even better.
Basketball is becoming even more about matchups, how can someone create matchups that favor their own success. I really hope Mike D'Antoni wins the coach of the year because he has really done a great job putting together a plan to win with the players he has. If he did the natural positions of having Amare the PF and Marion the SF they would be less successful. Having Marion at PF creates a matchup problem because he has the length and quickness to defend well and on offense there are not PF's that have his quickness. It makes them even more of a dangerous running team on the fast break. Teams have to change their lineup to play against them. Same thing with Amare, there is not 'center' that can handle him in the blocks, and he is almost unstoppable going to the hoop.
Offense is taking over, that is for sure though, just look at the teams in the playoffs and the increase in scoring. You have the Wizards, Sonics, Kings, Mavericks, Suns, all are great scoring teams and all are in the playoffs.
However I still believe that defense wins championships, simple as that. That is why most likely the finals will be between the Spurs and Pistons/Heat, because those teams can defend.
We will see though, the NBA playoffs are as interesting as they have ever been, any team can really make it and that is wonderful for the game of basketball. Just think how fun it will be to watch LeBron James in the playoffs. It is also great to see the Bulls back into the playoffs and have fresh teams and players as well.
They are new stars coming into the league every year and the high school talent is getting better and more prepared every year. This last years high school early entry class is the best one ever and that is exciting. There are a lot of talented players in Telfair, Howard, Jefferson, Livingston, JR Smith and Josh Smith to name a few.
This is a very exciting time for the NBA.
Also, they are making a sequel to hoop dreams, I believe it is a follow up with William and Authur. That is a good thing for basketball in general because the movie itself is real and tells a important story.
Here are a few teams that I think could really improve next year, even before the draft happens.
Golden State: Did a great job getting Baron Davis and really played well to end the season. They have good athletes, some good shooters and if they just get a few more big men they could be a fine basketball team. However I still wish Musselman was still the coach.
Orlando Magic: Had a fine season last year, Howard is just a stud and will only get better, Francis is another fine player and I really hope they keep him. They do need to fill the SG position though, it was good to see Stevenson play well at the end of the year but not sure he will be the man at that position. They just need a few more key positions filled as well as a coach and they will be a fine basketball team.
Boston Celtics: I know they got to the playoffs this year, but I think they will be even better next year. They have a lot of good young talent in Banks, Jefferson, Allen, Perkins etc. If Pierce gets back to form, they keep Walker and find another PG since Gary is leaving most likely, they could be a force.
Denver Nuggets: Another team that got to the playoffs but it was expecting to much since they had such a rough start to the season. With Karl now the coach and next year, they will be even better and Carmelo was amazing this season and its scary because it was only his 2nd year.
LA Clippers: They will have to help themselves in the draft, but they have some big time talent on that team. If they can get some more consistent shooters and a few big men they could be a fine team.
Teams that still need to find a lot of pieces.
Minnesota Timberwolves: KG is the man, and Ebi showed flashes at the end of the year but they have a ton of question marks. Griffin is not a lock to be coming back and they need to figure out what to do with Sprewell, Sammy, and Wally. They have a lot of work to do that is for sure.
New York Knicks: At first thought they were doing a great job but they have just collected athletes and that does not work. Their front court is horrible and they have to many slashers and not enough role players. Thomas did a great job collecting talent but they have yet to do anything with it. We will see if they can turn it around ut it wont be easy.
Portland Trail Blazers: They got a lot of young talent and at least have players to build around but they have a lot of question marks. Do not have many consistent players and getting Ratliff and Shareef was not that great of idea after all because both have been nothing special. At least they have Randolph and that was a huge loose this year.
New Orleans Hornets: Yeah I don't even have to say anything, they are in huge trouble, they makes the Hawks look like a sweet team. They only reason they have more wins is because Baron was on the team for a little while.
Atlanta Hawks: Obviously have to include them as well but they have some solid players, Josh Smith is someone to build around and Harrington has talent, but they need to fill some more holes of course and get a true super star player.
Do you think Marvin/Bogut/Paul can be a true super star player..
What do you think? I think Marvin is the best out of those 3 but they do not need a SF really. Might pick Bogut but what they really need is a PG and there are plenty of those in the draft with Paul, Felton, Williams and Jack. But we will see what draft pick they get.
What do you think? I think Marvin is the best out of those 3 but they do not need a SF really. Might pick Bogut but what they really need is a PG and there are plenty of those in the draft with Paul, Felton, Williams and Jack. But we will see what draft pick they get.
I think if they get the #1 pick, then they need to get Bogut.
Marvin is very intriguing, but having too many SF's could pose some problems with finding playing time for all of them.
The PG's are very interesting, but they could get a pretty good PG in the 2nd round I feel. Gilchrist could be a project guard worth gambling on.
I'm not sold on Paul. At Wake, he played with Gray so he wasn't really the true PG. More like an off-guard. So I don't know. Deron & Felton I like, but are probably not worth a top three pick.
I don't think Bogut is a superstar, but he should be able to average a double double as a rookie.. or close to it. I like his nastiness attitude.
One thing that I think needs to be changed in the NBA is that foreign players and American players still play differently. Foreign players are generally more skilled, are better shooters, do not turn the ball over as often and are more technically sound.
'American' players however are more athletically explosive, more aggressive on the court and generally better post up players and better ball handlers.
Sure there are stereotypes but I think they hold true to some degree. Once we get both these styles of play blended, the NBA will become even better. But at this point I still think there is a gab between the American game of basketball and the foreign game. Hopefully that gab decreases in the future.
But I must admit, the increase in foreign players into the NBA has improved the league in general and it obviously greatly expands the overall talent base.
This is more of a American thing, but AAU basketball is a issue of concern. Young kids are playing basically basketball all year round and I honestly don't think that is good. Players do not develop into a all around athelte that way. Like for basketball, it would be great if basketball players ran track and played football along with basketball. It would widen their athletic ability and make them into a more well rounded athlete. It would also decrease in the overall burnout rate in young basketball players.
Sure the athletes today are bigger, faster and stronger than they have ever been but for the most part I don't think players absolutely need to play basketball 24 hours a day when they are young. Sure at the freshman-senior level, if they are good enough they should at a high level. But for the younger ages very early on I think it is best to have kids play a variety of sports. And for the blessed that are talented enough to make it into the NBA, it will make them even better atheltes overall because of a well rounded development.
Here is how the lottery shook out, but I am sure there will be trades. The draft seems to be shaking out for all the teams though. Milwaukee would love to get Bogut, sure Atlanta would be thrilled to have Marvin and Portland would be a great place for Gerald Green. Then New Orleans can take Paul as well which fills a obvious need. And Utah is in prime position to get either Felton or Deron.
1 Milwaukee 30-52
2 Atlanta 13-69
3 Portland 27-55
4 New Orleans 18-64
5 Charlotte 18-64
6 Utah 26-56
7 Toronto 33-49
8 New York 33-49
9 Golden State 34-48
10 LA Lakers 34-48
11 Orlando 36-46
12 LA Clippers 37-45
13 Charlotte (from Cleveland via Phoenix) 18-64
14 Minnesota 44-38
15 New Jersey 42-40
16 Toronto (from Philadelphia via Denver and New Jersey) 33-49
17 Indiana 44-38
18 Boston 45-37
19 Memphis 45-37
20 Denver (from Washington via Orlando) 49-33
21 Phoenix (from Chicago) 62-20
22 Denver 49-33
23 Sacramento 50-32
24 Houston 51-31
25 Seattle 52-30
26 Detroit 54-28
27 Utah (from Dallas) 26-56
28 San Antonio 59-23
29 Miami 59-23
30 New York (from Phoenix via San Antonio)
The top up and comers in the NBA. And just a side note, last years rookie class was a wonderful class, there are many future stars in that class, it is a great mix of youth and instant production. Without question is will be the most productive deep high school class in the history of the NBA since there will be a age limit in the future.
The list is based how they can be potentially in the end.
1) Dwight Howard
2) Ben Gordon
3) Kirk Hinrich
4) Emeka Okafor
5) Andre Iguodala
6) Al Jefferson
7) Josh Smith
8) Chris Bosh
9) Sebastian Telfair
10) Luol Deng
11) Josh Howard
12) Michael Sweetney
13) Nenad Krstic
14) Bobby Simmons
15) Chris Wilcox
16) Luke Ridnour
17) Andres Nocioni
18) Damon Jones
19) Maurice Williams
20) Tony Allen
21) Anderson Varejao
22) Udonis Haslem
23) Jared Jeffries
24) Delonte West
25) Gerald Wallace
26) Marcus Banks
27) Devin Brown
28) Mike James
29) Ndudi Ebi
30) Travis Outlaw
Why wouldn't I have him #3? He is an athletic PG, he is gritty, tough and can really defend as well. He is a fine 3 point shooter, is excellent in the open court and can really run the fast break and push the basketball. He is also a good leader and is just an all around solid player and will be a great player for a long time I think.
Top players in the NBA
1) Kevin Garnett
2) Tim Duncan
3) Dwyane Wade
4) Vince Carter
5) Kobe Bryant
6) Shaquille O'Neal
7) Manu Ginobili
8) LeBron James
9) Allen Iverson
10) Amare Stoudemire
11) Tracy McGrady
12) Ben Wallace
13) Carmelo Anthony
14) Dirk Nowitzki
15) Jason Kidd
16) Yao Ming
17) Ray Allen
18) Paul Pierce
19) Chauncey Billups
20) Steve Francis
21) Rashard Lewis
22) Ron Artest
23) Peja Stojakovic
24) Rasheed Wallace
25) Jermaine O'Neal
26) Steve Nash
27) Gilbert Arenas
28) Tony Parker
29) Shawn Marion
30) Stephon Marbury
Other notable stars
Pau Gasol
Kenyon Martin
Richard Jefferson
Antwan Jamison
Michael Redd
Baron Davis
Lamar Odom
Jason Williams
Tyson Chandler
Andrei Kirilenko
Mike Bibby
Zach Randolph
Jason Terry
Quentin Richardson
Jamaal Magloire
Jamal Crawford
Jason Richardson
Top up and comers currently in the NBA with at least two years under their belt.
1) LeBron James
2) Dwyane Wade
3) Manu Ginobili
4) Carmelo Anthony
5) Yao Ming
6) Kirk Hinrich
7) Chris Bosh
8) Chris Wilcox
9) Nene Hilario
10) TJ Ford
11) Mehmet Okur
12) Nenad Krstic
The fresh faces soon to be heard from
1) Marvin Williams
2) Dwight Howard
3) Greg Oden
4) Josh Smith
5) Emeka Okafor
6) Julian Wright
7) Adam Morrison
8) Andre Iguodala
9) Deron Williams
10) Raymond Felton
11) Ben Gordon
12) Sebastian Telfair
13) Al Jefferson
14) Gerald Green
15) Gulliermo Diaz
16) Charlie Villanueva
17) Chris Paul
18) Shelden Williams
19) Martell Webster
20) Darius Washington
The NBA: past/present/future
Linear Mode
