NBA 2012 SEASON PREVIEW

I sleep, breathe and live NBA basketball.  Been watching it religiously since the 1992-1993 season, Jordan is the greatest of all time, no doubt, but it was Hakeem “The Dream” Olajuwan and the Rockets that made makaveli’s man parts tingle despite being a heterosexual male, since then my love for this game has never diminished, it has grown with each passing season . 

For those who know me, no need for an introduction, for those who don’t, all you really need to know is that this is my passion, the orange basketball is the only ball that matters to me besides the two I have.  I don’t watch any other sport, bet on any other sport or really care all that much about anything else but professional basketball.  I do this for enjoyment not for employment.  I do this to assist those to assist themselves in making a little extra income; I do not post for blind-tailors although I welcome them.  I post for individuals who have even a miniscule knowledge of the game and are interested in extending their knowledge.  I don’t post records, never have, never will, although, would appreciate if someone did, so that when the haters come out of the woodworks after a bad night, I have some soldiers to back me up.  I am arrogant, cocky, speak in the third person and quite often am a son of a bitch, I have however learned to ignore haters on this forum, it took a few years for me to learn, but with knowledge comes experience.  I know this game better than most know themselves, I love this game more than most love their spouses, I lose often, I win more often.  I have never once had a losing season nor playoff campaign, and despite the adversities of a shortened season I don’t plan on starting this year.

As stated I have about 20 years experience in this sport, however I have only been betting the association since 2005, thus have never experienced a shortened lockout season in terms of wagering before.   There are a lot of different variables to a lock-out year.  This year especially, since David Stern and NBA executives want to offset the monetary losses by cramming a 66 game season in a matter of months.  Although I don’t agree with it in a business sense, as a basketball fan and gambler I couldn’t be more thrilled.  The sheer idea of a back-to-back-to-back scenario for teams is ridiculous, it is revolutionary, and for those teams that lack roster depth and are up there in terms of age...it is sheer criminal.  Having to play 17 games in 21 nights is an atrocity to this game, but an opportunity to us who wager the sport.  Although this season will be difficult to analyze initially, I think the 66 game schedule will create opportunities never before seen in the history of NBA gambling.  Those opportunities are to be taken advantage of without hesitation.  Scared money don’t make money, nevertheless, my advice is to take it easy to begin with, get a better grasp of the NBA environment before you start wagering too much, steady money management is key to success, it is not a race, it is a marathon.  Tread cautiously but pull the trigger when your gut tells you to.

Below are team summaries, season previews and projected analysis, these are individual opinions.  Hopefully they will assist you in adapting to what could be the most competitive NBA season in history.

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PHILADELPHIA 76ERS - - - Internal improvement is the key to this team, there were no major free-agent acquisitions for the 76ers, not even minor ones worth noting.  This team will however be more competitive than they were last season.  The first reason is Doug Collins, he proved to be the leader of this team.  It is rare that a coach is designated as the leader of a team.  However, I can say without a shadow of a doubt Collins is the voice of this team.  A young team takes quite some time to adapt to a system, even a full 82 game season is not enough.  But this year, the 76ers are used to Doug’s system and will continually improve as the season progresses.  The key to this team this year is Evan Turner.  Last year he seemed like the preverbal deer in the headlights.  He looked confused most games and surprised at the physicality and speed of the NBA in comparison to the college game.  This year Evan will have confidence, which as you all know is the key to success in any endeavour. Holiday is another player who will improve this season, unlike Turner, he showed gradual signs of improvement and increased confidence as the year went on.  He is a legitimate playmaker in the NBA and I am quite certain he will be a very good 1 man in the NBA for years to come.  Young & Lou Williams and a dynamic duo off the bench, Lou could be one of the best scorers in the NBA not on a starting five.  Again internal improvement is the name of the game for Philly and Hawes is yet another example.  His low post offensive game is improving leaps and bounds and if he stays healthy Hawes could be the key to their team as he is the only real legitimate big.  Iggy and Brand are vets who will carry this squad on any given night, Speights and Vucevic round off a stellar bench and Craig Brackins is a player to watch this season, a very big man with impeccable range.  If he gets time at the 4 spot he can stretch defences which will come in handy.  The best thing going for this team is depth, not only do they have 5 serviceable starters but their bench could be one of the best in the East.  Those teams that strive in terms of roster depth, will be able to take advantage this season, under the leadership of Doug Collins combined with youth and exuberance, the 76ers will make the playoffs this year.

PHILADELPHIA 76ERS 2012 PROJECTIONS:  A playoff seed is in the picture for this team, I would suspect a 7 or 8 spot.  This is solely due to their leadership, youth and roster depth.  Evan Turner will make a strong run for MIP and Sweet Lou a few votes for sixth man as well.  In terms of playoff progression, not much of a chance considering they will have to face one of the East powerhouses.

WASHINGTON WIZARDS - - - John Wall is one of those players with such potential, he has unlimited potential, he could be one of the best point guards in the NBA if he just put the work into it.  Unfortunately, Wall spent the extended summer perfected his “dougie”.  This is a guy who will have to improve his maturity before he can ever be something special.  This year he may show glimpses of brilliance, but his greatness will not be prevalent until he increases his maturity.  This entire team needs to increase their maturity.  They have the skill no doubt, but consistency and skill are not always an automatic combination.  McGee, Blatche and Lewis are a very nice front-court.  But McGee and Blatche are as immature they come as pros in this league.  Lewis in my most humble opinion, was a prime candidate for the amnesty clause, his salary is ridiculous and he just does not fit in with this young team.  Why the Wiz did not waive him and his salary from their cap I will never understand, it could be one of the worst “non-moves” this year.  No way he can be used as trade bait as his contract is not expiring , and let’s face it he is not the best veteran voice a young team can have.  Jordan Crawford is a sharp-shooter who will start at the 2 spot, however, yet another youngin’ on this team who will be inconsistent.  He will get some time this season and may have some very nice outputs in terms of scoring, but inconsistency is once again the name of the game when it comes to the Wiz.  Besides Vesley and Seraphin, the Wiz have one of the worst benches in the East, maybe even the NBA.  Turiaf and Roger Mason won’t do shit for this team in terms of production, nor will they be able to be the veteran voices for this team.  The Wizards are in serious trouble this year and I suspect they are going absolutely nowhere.

WASHINGTON WIZARDS 2012 PROJECTIONS - - - The Wizards will be playing for one thing and one thing only...a lottery pick.  There is no chance this team will make the playoffs, there is a slight possibility of internal improvement, but I would need to see signs of maturity before I could admit to that.  I suspect this team to end up close to last in the Eastern Conference and believe that the Wiz will cash in on a very high lottery pick and then we can talk next year.  

CHICAGO BULLS - - - The Bulls had one of the most underrated moves in the off-season.  The acquisition of Richard Hamilton was perfect for this team.  First off I truly believe they got him at a very fair price in terms of market value.  The one thing the Bulls desperately needed was to solidify their starting 2 spot.  Keith Bogans was a very good defender, but in terms of consistent scoring he was a no go.  Same exact scenario with Ronnie Brewer.  Adding Rip gives the Bulls what they so visibly lacked in the post season and that was back-court scoring assistance for Derrick Rose.  Not much else to say about the Bulls, what you see is what you know and what you know is what you will get.  An outstanding front-court with Deng, Noah and Boozer.  With a healthy Boozer I can only imagine what the NBA’s best team will do to improve upon their 1st place mark.  The MVP could possibly repeat though I do doubt it, Rose and Durant are the future of the NBA and I don’t think I will ever be able to get tired of watching both these humble young stars do their thing.  The bench, despite being the same as it was last year will show signs of improvement.  Taj Gibson is another year older and more confident, he will be a intricate part to the 2nd unit this year.  C.J Watson has another year under his belt watching the MVP, despite his skill set being mediocre, playing as backup to one of the best point guards in the NBA has a positive effect on any player.  Kyle Korver was motivated with all the off-season talk about adding some perimeter guard assistance to the Bulls, he was quoted as saying he takes it as a personal challenge and may display some extra grit this season.  Omer Asik is the key this season.  He is a legitimate mobile big man who can really thrive around the current Bulls players.  The Bulls are going to be very scary this season, confidence combined with yet another year under the Thibs system is going to create an abnormally dangerous defensive monster combined with consistent offensive production.

CHICAGO BULLS 2012 PROJECTIONS - - - I think they do it again , I don’t see anyone in the East who can consistently play the defence that they do on a nightly basis combined with the array of offensive juggernauts they have on their roster.  Not only do I think they win the East, I think they once again outshine everyone in the NBA and top the best record in the association.  The key is defence, until the Thunder & Mavs can play the consistent impeccable defence that the Bulls do, Chicago will be the top dogs. 

SAN ANTONIO SPURS - - - My top 3 favourite teams in the NBA have been pretty consistent since the inaugural season of my Toronto Raptors.  Obviously, as bad as they suck and always have sucked the Raps are my fave team.  Since Damon Stoudamire, the Dinos have been my guys.  Before KG dawned a Celtics uniform my 2^nd favourite team was always the Spurs.  Since Sean Elliot, Avery Johnson and the Admiral the torrential Texans were always my favourite non-homer team.  They still hold 3^rd place on my list but this year I am very worried about this team.  Getting upset by the Grizzlies was bitter-sweet for me.  Bitter for obvious reasons stated above, sweet due to the fact that I had a hefty series wager on the Memphis Grizzlies to pull off the upset.  Matchup wise they just had their number.  This year the Spurs only have one thing going for them which is their immense front-court size.  They have a solid array of big-men, young and old that can bang with the biggest and best on a night to night basis.  Timmy, as old as he is, is still one of the most fundamentally intelligent basketball players on the planet.  He could play until he is 40 and still put up 15 and 6 a night.   Matt Bonner is a gunslinger and one of those rare 4/5 men who can stretch the defence with his consistent three point shot, he is also a very underrated defender and an asset off the bench.  Kawhi Leonard is a youngster with decent potential that can rebound the basketball.  We all saw Blair’s potential last year, as un under-sized big man he is as good a rebounder as any in the league, his skills have been fine tuned during the summer as he did not waste a minute relaxing, he played overseas and kept his game and body at work.  Finally we have Tiago Splitter.  This is his time, last year he was taught the ropes and due to the extensive time lost at the start of the season due to injury, he was never able to really obtain a steady spot in the rotation, his sporadic minutes were not to his advantage.  This season, I suspect Splitter to actually be the starting 5 man for this team.  I could be wrong but either way, he should get over 25 minutes a game and could be the make or break guy for the Spurs this season.  Offensive back-court production is what worries me about the Spurs.  Besides Tony and Manu, who else do they have that can score consistently?  I was a big fan of George Hill and was very surprised he was traded.  Gary Neal is a solid point guard but I suspect he may play the 2 spot a bit more due to his shooting skills and the addition of T.J Ford.  I think Ford still has potential, but I tend to think of Ford as an excellent playmaker and a sub-par inconsistent offensive player.  James Anderson I think is officially a bust and Jefferson is another player whom I think should have been an amnesty player to relieve some salary cap space.  Over 9 mil a season is just too much for a player of his calibre. Thus, again leaving the question...who will score for the Spurs?  Defense will win this team ball games, but this year it won’t be enough to keep them at the top of their conference.

SAN ANTONIO SPURS 2012 PROJECTIONS:  Baring any mid-season trades, I think it will be yet another first round exit for San An.  They need to make a deal for Jefferson, try and get a little more youth around the big three, take a risk on a guard who can score who has yet to prove himself.  Last year San An went on a 2 month tear to take a strong lead in the West and they never looked back.  This year they won’t be able to rest, this is a team who has been dreadful on 0 days rest over the past 4 years...now they will have 0 days rest on 3 game in 3 night situation with minimal roster depth and an aging veteran core.  “My” Spurs are in trouble.  No home court advantage in the playoffs is my projection and a first round exit once again.

HOUSTON ROCKETS - - - Pau Gasol would have looked really good in a Rockets jersey, I am not exactly saying they would have given away too much;  Pau is an all-star and a game changer...however in terms of the current year they actually would have ended up giving away quite a lot.  Martin and Goran I understand, but I hold Luis Scola in very high regard, I think Scola is a phenomenal low post scorer.  This trade was initiated with future endeavours in mind.  This would have freed up a lot of cap space for Houston not only this year, but next year as well.  The Rockets were very busy this year trying to make a big splash, they were very close to landing Marc Gasol and offered him as much as they could, but Memphis was the only team that could offer him more and they lost out.  Imagine Marc Gasol alongside Scola...wow.  Nevertheless, despite losing out on a big free-agency this summer, Houston still has a very competitive team.  First off, this is Jordan Hill’s breakout year, now he is no Yao Ming and never will be, but coming out of college into New York there was a lot of expectations for this kid.  He has finally come into his own and found his niche in the NBA, I assure you this is going to be a big season for the youngster if he can can aquire the necessary minutes.  With the recent acquisition of Samuel Dalembert, he may find himself restricted.  Dalembert was a solid pickup at two years and 13.7 million, a decent price for a much needed 5 man.  He will help fill a gap in the Rockets roster amidst the departure of the great wall of China.   Scola is an all-star calibre talent and can obtain a double double on any night against anyone out there.  Houston is a bit soft at the SF position with only Budinger being able to really fit that wing role, he has offensive capability and a good shot but needs to find consistency on a nightly basis.  Kevin Martin is an outstanding NBA scorer and go off on any given night.  Off the bench you have 2 shooting guards who will have to play off position at the 3 spot.  Courtney Lee is an excellent defender and one of the only legitimate defenders on this team, Terence Williams will finally get a chance to shine on this team after being traded from the Nets last year.  This kid has a lot of potential if he can get his maturity in check.  The point guard situation is a bit baffling for the Rockets.  Lowry is the obvious starter on this team, but with Goran and Johnny Flynn coming off the bench, I don’t see room for both of these backups to shine.  One of them will eventually have to go for another wing man.  The Rockets were very small prior to the acquisition of Dalembert.  I still have belief that Thabeet has potential and needs to be under the right system in order to flourish, but Houston is only keeping him out of necessity and eventually may package him with one of their point guards and try and obtain a legit starter at the 3 position.  Rockets will struggle against teams with size at the wing position, but their offensive fortitude will allow them to win a healthy amount of ball games and their youth will allow them to sustain the gruelling upcoming schedule.

HOUSTON ROCKETS 2012 PROJECTIONS:  Their youth and offensive aptitude will allow them to keep up with the playoff race, but with so much talent in the Western Conference they may just fall slightly short of a playoff spot.  If healthy, Jordan Hill will be in the running for most improved player of the year, Luis Scola may earn his first all-star appearance as a coach’s selection.

SACRAMENTO KINGS - - - The Kings have tremendous upside,  I think they have done quite well in terms of drafting and pulled off some decent trades and acquisitions.  That being said, the only place they will find success is at Arco Arena.  This is not a team assembled for victories away from California.  Their youth and exuberance may guide them to a few upsets this season, but consistent success if a few years and a few lottery picks away.  First and foremost, Jimmer Fredette is going to be a hell of a point guard.  His skills are remarkable, he has the best shot on this team.  If he gets the reigns to do what he wants, despite being a rookie, I foresee success following him throughout his career.  Tyreke is a two-guard, I am glad they finally realize that.  He doesn’t need the ball in his hands to be productive, he will thrive at a 2 spot but once again maturity is an important aspect to his progression.  Speaking of maturity we have Cousins, now, in my opinion when it comes to big men, maturity is not always of the utmost importance in terms of production, yes he will need to mature leaps and bounds if he wants to be a star player in this league (which he is capable of being), however to be productive maturity isn’t as important as it is for playmakers, guards and wings.  Cousins will be a solid stud this season, baring suspension he will be a productive legitimate 5 man in the NBA this year.  I was very surprised at the lucrative contract Thornton received this year.  His numbers were excellent last year averaging almost 22 points a game after the trade from New Orleans.  He is an excellent offensive player but lacks the defensive aptitude and size needed to play the 3 position.  With the recent news of the voided contract of Chuck Hayes due to a stress echo abnormality, that leaves a gaping hole at the 4 position.  Jason Thompson is a legitimate 4/5 player who can easily start for the Kings.  J.J Hickson is another possibility, I had high hopes for him last season as a rising young player but he was a disappointment to say the least.  John Salmons will most likely be the sixth man for this team.  With Jimmer, Evans and Marcus I do not see a spot for him on the starting 5.  With the recent news of Hayes, I think the Kings may go out and re-sign Dalembert maybe Humphries...but as I write this there has been no new acquisition.  If they do manage to sign another marquee free agent, that would give them enough depth to contend.  An 8 man rotation would be sufficient enough to compete.  Their youth and overall skill is decent, but not decent enough to make their first playoff appearance in years, just too much competition in the West.

SACRAMENTO KINGS 2012 PROJECTIONS - - - Jimmer and Cleveland’s Irving will make a running for rookie of the year.  The Kings will be competitive home team, but will struggle on the road.  If they continue to dawn large road spreads, I suggest taking a chance on them more often than last year.  They have a chance to be a very good team in about 2 years.        

GOLDEN STATE 2012 PROJECTIONS - - - Ekpe Udoh will have a breakout year and be a candidate for MIP this year.  Klay Thompson will be a tad bit of a bust at the 11^th pick in this year’s draft.  Mark Jackson will pull out what is left of his hair if he continues to try to institute the defensive mindset but my guess is he will realize before mid-season to let his team run loose and forego his defense first mentality.  No way GS makes it to the playoffs in a very tough, gritty and competitive Western Conference.

NEW JERSEY NETS - - - The Nets are in serious trouble.  They tried very hard to be main men in this summer’s free agency fiasco.  They tried for Nene, they were ready to make a legitimate offer, once they realized that Dwight Howard was in play it was all in for Superman.  Here is the thing, I have no doubt that Dwight has already made his decision.  He will join Deron Williams next year and create “Brooklyn’s Finest”.  New Jersey already knows that, I even think it has gone as far as a verbal commitment, maybe even a handshake.  That is the only reason this trade never went through.  New Jersey silently was playing with Orlando, they were offering Orlando Brook Lopez and basically nothing else.  They were not willing to part with any first round draft picks and why should they?  They want to establish a future to surround Deron and Dwight and that is a very smart thing to do considering the fact they have absolutely nothing this year.  They could possibly be one of the worst teams in the NBA.  Their lottery pick is going to be a substantial one and if they can acquire Dwight for nothing but a max contract and manage to keep an asset like Brook who they can later trade...then more power to Putin’s rival and the Brooklyn Brawlers.  At this point this team cannot compete from the outset, they will get demolished by top tier teams.  Deron and Morrow are a decent offensive backcourt.  Lopez really needs to step up his game if they have any chance at competing on a night-to-night basis.  The one year deal for Kris Kardashian...ooops I mean Humphries was much needed and intelligent as they manage to keep cap flexibility for Superman.  Besides those four players, there is really no one else on the roster even worth mentioning.  They are not completely lost at the 4 spot with Hump but with no real 2^nd power forward on the roster, they can’t really compete, nor can any of their small forwards even adapt to a role at the power position.  Damion James is too small, Shelden Williams is kind of a dud,  Shawne Williams is a sharpshooter who can spread the floor but ask him to defend a legit 4 and he will get crushed.  Farmer and Petro are the only real bench players with any sort of real NBA experience, MarShon Brooks is a promising talent but don’t expect much from him either.  As it stands right now, the Nets have my pick for the worst roster in the NBA.  Next year...a whole different story.

NEW JERSEY NETS 2012 PROJECTIONS - - - Didn’t use any of their cap space, they have an abundance of cap flexibility and will use that to obtain the most dominant 5 man in the NBA to pair up with one of the best point guards in the game, it’s an inevitability.  It will happen this year, or next, but it will happen that is for sure.  If this roster stands as is, the Nets will be lucky to win 12 of 66.                     

INDIANA PACERS - - - I always do my fair share of reading prior to NBA seasons, analysts, so-called experts and of course the betting public.  This year it is quite easy to decipher an individual with true NBA intellect from a casual NBA fan...just ask them about the Indiana Pacers.  Most casual NBA fans don’t realize when or how to notice an “sleeper team.  Indiana are a core example of a sleeper this year.  This a team that will compete and will make the playoffs in the Eastern Conference.  If they can get a high enough seed they may even have the confidence, youth and skill set to defy the odds and move past the first round this year.  They took the NBA’s best team last year to the limit...sort of.  Although they didn’t come close to winning the series, they sure as hell did put a scare into the Chicago Bulls.  They never gave up, they were consistent in their approach and this year they will extend on their success.  The acquisition of David West is a bit risky, but it was the right thing to do.  The Pacers have not had a consistent low-post scorer since the early days of Jermaine.  If David is even 80% of the same player he was, he will vastly improve this team’s chances on making the playoffs again and obtain a much better seed than 8^th.  David is an excellent mid-range shooter for his size, a decent rebounder and a good vocal leader.  He can help this young core succeed.  Danny Granger needs to find consistency in his health and his offensive game, this is a perennial all-star.  He has the capability of being a top 10 scorer in the NBA year in and year out, all he needs to do is play with confidence and bravado and he will shine. I think Collison is just a bit overrated at his position, that being said he is still a solid young point guard with some upside.  He needs to concentrate on his playmaking skills rather than offensively and he will be fine.  Roy Hibbert is yet another year older and more mature.  This guy is a stud, a very rare legitimate 5 man in the NBA with great low block offensive and defensive skill.  He has also been practicing his mid-range/low post shot this year and has an array of moves on the block that will surprise many this year.  He is a very nimble and mobile big man and that is an extreme rarity in the NBA.  By far the most important player on this team is young Paul George, he has grown....literally.  This kid grew two inches in the summer and now stands at 6’10.  He has a massive wingspan, amazing leaping ability, superb shot and at his age he is an excellent defender with basketball IQ.  He has not set in at the 2 position, a 6’10 giant at his position who will cause the NBA’s 2 guards a whole heap of trouble defensively.  He is quick enough to guard any 2 man in the NBA, long enough to guard any 3 man in the NBA and smart enough the cause trouble for some power forwards.  He is as unique as it gets for NBA players and is my pick for breakout player of the year.  The bench for Indiana may not be deep, but they have serviceable ballers.  George Hill is one of my favourites and will be a great backup at point and even play the 2 if need be.  Tyler showed us his grit and toughness last year and will progress very nicely.  He is a savy, tough-nosed defender and rebounder, he has under-rated offensive skill and I love this young kids game, expect big things this year from him.  Jeff Foster was a smart re-sign by Larry Bird and will provide veteran leadership, solid rebounding at a very fair price.  Lou Amundson will hell fill the void of a front-court rebounder and Stephenson and Jones are good solid wing players coming off the bench.  I love Indiana this year, I hope the betting public continues to sleep on this team, your boy Mak surely will not.

INDIANA PACERS 2012 PROJECTIONS - - - Youngsters Hansbrough and Hibbert will shine all year, West will start slow but once acclimated into the system and his knees, he will be productive.  Paul George will win the MIP this year, he is my breakout player of the year.  This young 6’10 stud will actually be the catalyst for this team’s success.  If the Pacers can somehow squeeze into the 5^th seed in the East, they may upset a team and actually make it to the Conference Semi-Finals.  They won’t do much damage after that as they will most likely have to face the Heat or the Bulls, but progression is the name of the game and the Pacers will do just that.

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS - - - Is Kyrie Irving the saviour of this franchise?  The new LeBron James?  The face of Ohio? Umm..no.  Actually he may not even win rookie of the year.  He will however improve this team.  Cleveland is not as bad as they were last year, but they still are not very good and have little to no chance at making the playoffs this year.  Byron Scott will do what he can to take baby steps.  He will indulge this team and allow them to take stride at their own pace. Varejao is healthy this year from the get go and he will ensure this team wins at least one game before March.  I think Jamison is getting old fast and could be used as an asset at the trade deadline to acquire a draft pick or some young talent, Antawn would be excellent for a team like the Celtics, but on the Cavs he is just a waste of space and minutes.  Let a youngster get those minutes, it is imperative for a young team to progress via a “baptism by fire mentality. Let Antawn go, get some youth, just my opinion.  Same goes for Anthony Parker, Byron Scott is wasting a chance at internal improvement.  There are two players I really like on the Cavs.  One of them is the Jewish Jetliner Omri Casspi, outstanding offensive skill, hell of a talent.  The other is Christian Eyenga, a very raw 6’7 youngster from the Congo.  I always have a bias for African players so maybe I am wrong but I think this kid has a bright future. Samardo Samuels is a beast of a player at 6’9 260lbs this guy can move any man off the block with his ass alone.  Tristan Thompson was a big mistake at the 5^th overall pick, Canadian or not, got no love whatsoever for the Cavs management for that selection.  Hollins, Harangody and Erden are all solid bigs, but this team lacks depth in the backcourt, a consistent veteran scorer and any type of spectacular talent.  The Cavs will go nowhere this year and once again obtain a top-tier college player in the draft, hopefully they will make the right choices next year. 

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS 2012 PROJECTIONS - - - Nets and Cavs will battle for the bottom of the barrel in the Eastern Conference.  If Irving can find his niche he may get a few votes for rookie of the year, but I have a gut feeling that he and Byron Scott may bump heads slightly.  Scott needs to realize this is not Chris Paul, nor should he have any large expectations for Kyrie.  Casspi will shine this year and prove to be a formidable wing and Antawn will be dealt at the deadline.    

DETROIT PISTONS - - - A few years ago, when  the Pistons had Big Ben, Rip City, Ba Ba Ba Billups, Prince and a championship out of nowhere, I always pictured Joe Dumars quoting that very famous Tom Hanks line in Castaway screaming “Look what I have created!!” Remember...when he made fire...awesome movie by the way, one of Mak’s favourites of all time...anyways I digress.  Now I picture Dumars insane, talking to a basketball named Spalding, drawing eyes and a mouth on it, pulling out whatever hair he has left and gluing it on this basketball...I really believe this, Spalding is his only friend in Detroit.  As fast as he created a monster, he killed it even faster.  The signings of Ben Gordon and Charlie V were a huge failure.  That is what you get when you give two young stars with no backbone a massive contract in the NBA...they won’t shine until the final year of it, why should they bother, they are guaranteed these funds, no need to oh I don’t know...go out on the floor and give it your all, bunch a young punks ruined the Pistons.  What in the blue hell was Prince thinking re-upping with this team?  Why?  I mean imagine this guy on the Celtics, Spurs, Griz, Heat...well ok not Heat...fuck the Heat.  Such an enigmatic style, stupendous talent, a player that could really put a team over the top and he decides to stay with the Pistons, what a shame.  Then Dumars goes out and re-signs Stuckey for about 9 million a year....what the hell are the Pistons doing?  They sucked royally last year with this exact roster, there is massive talent here, don’t get me wrong, but something just does not fit.  It needs to be blown up and there is an abundant amount of possibilities for Joe D but unfortunately all he wants to do is watch yet another year of Deeetroit Nooothingball.  Ridiculous...absolutely ridiculous, his pride will not allow him to comprehend that this formula just will not work.  Why draft Brandon Knight when you have Will Bynum?  Why sign Stuck for almost double-digits a year when you drafted Knight?  Why not trade Bynum when you have Stuck and Knight?  Why not take a gun, put against your conceited thick skull and pull the fucking trigger?  Please excuse my very aggravated and vulgar write-up but I just hate this team so much, they have some of the most talented young stars in the league (Greg Monroe, Austin Daye, Jerebko, Stuckey, Charlie, Ben) Followed by solid vets (Wallace, Prince, Maxiell), such a wide array of talent...yet I cannot and will not allow myself to bet for or against this team consistently at all.  In situational aspects I may decide to bet on the team, but betting against this team on any given night is very dangerous, making them the most aggravating team in the NBA.  Blacklisted... before the god damn season even starts.  Fuck Dumars and fuck the Detroit Pistons.

DETROIT PISTONS 2012 PROJECTIONS - - - I have no fucking idea. 

NEW ORLEANS HORNETS - - - The most extraordinary circumstance in NBA history caused the Hornets to lose out on a competitive team this year.  I never thought I would ever see the day when David Stern could Veto a relatively balanced trade.  I thought it was a fair trade for all teams in terms of talent.  Now with all that being said I would like to explain to all who think David “Hitler” Stern did this for selfish reasons alone.  Yes, I agree, this had nothing to do with creating a competitive balance in the NBA.  Yes I agree, he wants to have “his” New Orleans Hornets as lucrative an entity as possible in order to obtain the highest monetary amount once it is sold.  He wanted to increase the market value of this team and as a businessman myself I completely understand and even to some degree respect that.  Nevertheless, what he did was never before seen in any sport, it was done by a dictator who was high on his own power.  David “Kim Jong Il” Stern should not have done this, I am in complete agreement with most of you, he had no right to veto this trade especially when Kwame Brown was traded for Pau Gasol just a few years back.  However, what most do not realize is if this trade went through as is, the Los Angeles Lakers would have continued to be a top tier team for the next 7 years.  Trading away Odom and Gasol freed up over 28 million dollars in flexible cap room over the next 4 years, it would have not only allowed them to resign Paul, Keep Bynum and Kobe, but also sign a prime time player next year and/or the year after.  That is the reason why it caused such uproar amongst NBA owners and executives.  Another fair reason why David Stern did not agree to this trade is due to the fact that youth was not the forefront of this trade.  If Paul is gone, the rebuilding had to begin for the Hornets.  Luis Scola (as much as I love him), Kevin Martin, Lamar Odom and Goran Dragic were not indicative of a new era of youth and a new future for New Orleans, although this team would have been leaps and bounds better this year than they are now with these 4 guys, the future would not look as bright as it does now.  The success of this veto and new trade relies solely on the season of the Minnesota Timberwolves...kind of ironic isn’t it?  Tims have nothing to do with the Chris Paul fiasco, but in my opinion it all lies on them in terms of Sterns genius or idiocy.  If the Tims have a decent season and the first round draft pick obtained ends up being a low lottery pick (11^th or 12^th) than what was the point?  Granted next year’s draft is going to be deep and plentiful, nonetheless, if the Tims have a decent season and don’t end up getting a top 5 pick, this trade was not worth it.  I love Eric Gordon, I think he is a rising star in this league, but is he a future all-star? Maybe...you can even upgrade that to probably, still, the future of the Hornets all relies on what two lottery players New Orleans will draft next year.  Let’s talk current roster.  Watching Jack play for my Raps, I am more than able to tell you he will thrive in a starting situation.  He will be a legit starting guard and relish the opportunity.  Eric Gordon will compliment him and combine a pretty potent offensive back-court.  Ariza is offensively inept in my opinion, he can defend, other than that I really think he is overrated at his position.  Okafor and Kaman could combine to be quite a force in the 4 and 5 spot.  Not many teams have the fortune to have twin towers who can defend and rebound like Emeka and Chris.  I like this team’s starting lineup, put them in the East and they can contend for a playoff spot.  In the West....no chance.  Their bench consists of inexperienced youngsters with Aminu, Pondexter and Summers.  They are very shallow, I would say they are literally 5 deep and will struggle with the rigors of a 66 game shortened season.

NEW ORLEANS HORNETS 2012 PROJECTIONS - - - This team has a slightly above par starting 5.  If healthy this team will strive on multiple days rest and especially against shallow eastern conference teams.  This team will however struggle mightily against any form of roster depth and most especially when facing opponents on minimal rest.  When this team travels on minimal rest it would be time to pounce and bet hard against them, and if any form of injury sets into to the starting 5...it is pretty much over for the Hornets this season in terms of saving face and competing without the best point guard in the NBA.

MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES - - - The Griz were most probably my greatest capping accomplishment last year.  I am most proud of what I envisioned to begin the season and see it come into fruition in the playoffs.  Now granted, in last year’s season previews on Covers I touted them to earn home court advantage in the playoffs...was I really wrong?  Well...actually I was...but was I really? Ok fine I was, but you get what I am saying, although they garnered the 8^th spot in the playoffs, they did knock off the best team in the West and took the Thunder to the limit.  They proved to the World they belonged, and that was without their most dominant offensive force in Rudy Gay.  A lot of people may think that Zach and Marc played their asses off due to the fact that they were in a contract year...and all those people would be 100% correct.  Nevertheless, looking at both these players as individuals, their personalities don’t strike me as those who will basically quit on the Griz now that they have their money.  They are not young immature punks (Ben Gordon cough cough, Charlie V cough cough), I think they will appreciate the love and respect they got from the Memphis fans and the organization and go out there this year and try to obtain success for the franchise.  After a run like this, Memphis had to go out and re-sign Marc and Zach, despite their willingness to trade O.J Mayo they didn’t.  They have kept the core intact and that was a brilliant thing to do.  Lionel Hollins is an impeccable coach, he pays attention to detail, has outstanding play sets and is a hell of a motivator and leader.  The roster as it stands now is a competitive team that will easily make the playoffs again, the problem is the loss of Arthur for the season and Battier’s departure to South Beach  .  This leaves a gaping front-court hole off the bench and a veteran leader at the wing.  This team needs a little assistance via trade and they don’t really have a lot of viable assets to dangle in the market.  Their depth is a bit of a concern, I think they desperately need to add another serviceable body to this team.  The loss of Battier hurts more than most realize, but if 2^nd year man Xavier Henry can come into his own he should provide some minutes in place of Shane.  Tony Allen should start over Mayo and Sam Young is an excellent role player.  If this team stays healthy they can succeed, but I think they are 1 move away from being a top 3 team in the West.  As this roster stands right now, they will obtain playoff success, however, progressing past their successes last season will not be possible unless a move is made.

MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES 2012 PROJECTIONS - - - If the Griz decide to keep Mayo and the team as is, they will not be able to earn themselves home-court advantage this season.  However, confidence can be a dangerous thing, they could believe they are that damn good and could easily slip into the 4^th seed in the West.  In my opinion they need home court advantage in not only the first round of the playoffs, but 2^nd round as well if they want to make it to the Western Conference finals.  They need some minor tweaking of the roster to ensure they can be considered a West powerhouse.  Marc, Zach, Rudy and Conley proved they are a fantastic 4.  Allen, Mayo, Young and Vasquez are excellent role-players.  But in my opinion, they are missing a small piece to the puzzle, one they obtain this piece via trade, I think they should be considered strongly as one of the Western contenders.   

NEW YORK KNICKS - - - The city that never sleeps is awake at last.  The acquisition of Tyson Chandler creates one of the best, if not the best front court in the NBA.  If all three can stay healthy, the 3,4,5 presence for the Knicks will be the catalyst for great thongs in the big apple.  Here is the problem, this is a shortened 66 game schedule, the way the Knicks have played the last few years under Mike Dantoni will just not cut it.  Depth is the key to success this season.  The adversities are just too deep to overcome for a 6 man rotation.  It is imperative that some role players step up on the Knicks and prove their worth, if not the Knicks will no doubt make the playoffs, but they won’t accumulate any decisive success when it counts the most.  Anthony in a “full season” under the Dantoni system will shine.  He is the number 1 guy, Amare knows it, Anthony knows it and the Knicks nation knows it.  I see him averaging over 25 a game and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him top the 40 mark on several occasions.  I am a bit concerned about Amare and his 75 year old back.  He has constant problems with his back, and consistent stiffness in the back can alter his performance.  Nevertheless, he is still one of the best “power” forwards in the game.  The acquisition of Tyson allows Amare to go back to his original position which is the 4 spot.  Tyson did cash in on a lucrative contract due to the Mavs success, no doubt.  But I think it was well deserved, whether or not they overpaid for him is an opinionated discussion, in my opinion he is worth every penny if he stays healthy, and that is the key question.  Can he stay healthy?  Tyson has been riddled with injuries his entire career.  I suspect he will be the key to New York being a dangerous presence in the East.  The Knicks nation has been waiting for a 5 man who can defend the low block for years, not since Ewing have they had someone who can swat the ball down someone’s throat.  Tyson is not an offensive threat, but New York doesn’t need another offensive weapon, they desperately needed someone who can instil fear in opponents.  Guards on opposing teams will second guess themselves before entering the paint and meeting the long arm of the law.  Tony Douglas will have the starting role for the Knicks, besides being turnover prone and making poor decisions, he is a decent guard.  I just don’t see the ball in his hands for a majority of possessions.  Mello will most likely run offensive sets more often than Tony and this is the smart thing to do.  Landry Fields proved he was a steal as a 2^nd round draft pick.  He has manipulated himself into a starting 2 guard role and I don’t see him losing that spot for some time.  At 6’7 he has the size to guard any two guard and even play the 3 spot defensively at times.  His offensive game needs to be tweaked a bit, but his ability to rebound and defend makes him a viable option at the two spot.   Iman Shumpert is a guy who may surprise a few this year.  The first year man out of Georgia Tech has some serious game.  I think he may see more time at the one as a backup than Bibby.  Mike Bibby was a decent pickup for the Knicks, he is a veteran presence who can spread the floor.  I think he has lost his shot consistency over the years, but if the old man can learn to move his feet on defense he will assist the Knicks this year.  Balkman and Jeffries are other options off the bench, although I doubt they can make much of an impact this year, but if the Knicks have any chance at all in the post season, they have to find a way to utilize the bench to the best of their abilities.  The signing of Baron Davis is a bit of a head-scratcher, I don’t see him suiting up for the Knicks until late Feb due to a back problem, but the severity of his back problem could have been a ploy by his agent to ensure a bottom dweller team did not pick him up on waivers under the amnesty rule.  Baron wanted New York and he got New York.  I like the makeup of this team, but if Dantoni plans on playing the same s 6 man rotation aspect, it isn’t going to work out.  He needs to change up his methods to ensure his players are fresh for the post season.  That is the bottom line, cause Mak Cold said so.

NEW YORK KNICKS 2012 PROJECTIONS - - - If the core three stay healthy, I see home court advantage for the Knicks no doubt.  Whether or not they accumulate playoff success relies solely on the rotation.  40 minutes per game for starters will not suffice; they need to ensure their players stay fresh like the prince of bel-air.  It is imperative to post-season success that guys like Tyson and Amare are able to play massive minutes in the playoffs.  I foresee first round home-court advantage for the Knickerbockers, not sure if they take advantage of that or not, it all depends on the wear and tear of the shortened season and their opponent.  They have enough veteran presence to succeed slightly in the post season, but at this point getting past the Bulls or Heat en route to the Eastern Conference Finals is out of the question.  They need a bit more to compete with those teams.

MILWAUKEE BUCKS - - - The Bucks were by far the most disappointing team for me in terms of my capping projections last year.  I really thought they would improve on their excellent campaign two years ago but I was sorely mistaken.  The have the makeup of an excellent defensive team, they actually were a top 10 defense last year but they just could not put the ball in the hoop.  They were in the bottom in terms of offensive production and this year I don’t see much improvement in that category.  The projected starters for this team are hard to foresee, all depends on what Scott Brooks want.  If he is smart he will implement an offensive starting 5, if so my projected starters are Jennings, Jackson, Dunleavy, Sanders and Bogut.  The reason I would not start Drew Gooden is because he sucks monkey balls.  He is overpaid, over-valued and overrated.  Jackson will help in terms of offense, he is more consistent on the offensive end that Corey Maggatte.  Jennings needs to instil the same offensive mentality he had in his rookie campaign in order to put this team over the top.  The reason I start Dunleavy over Delfino is due to the fact that the Bucks need some sort of offensive support off the bench and I would rather have Delfino provide support off the bench than Dunleavy due to his defensive aptitude as well.  Larry Sanders is a guy I am very high on, at almost 7 feet this kid is a very raw talent with a ton of upside.  Offensively inept at the moment, with a little more experience he could prove to be a detriment to most opponents if he creates a mid range game and low post skill.  Bogut is not really known for his offensive contributions, but his defense at the 5 position is excellent, he is a rare legitimate centre in this league and that is a luxury most teams do not have.  I actually like the Bucks bench quite a bit, I like Beno Udrih as the backup point guard, he has decent playmaking skills and an acceptable offensive game.  Love Ilyasova’s game, he is a rarity in this league, a 6’10 forward who can spread the floor with his 3 point shot and a guy who can guard the 3, 4 and sometimes even the 5 spot.  His basketball IQ is high and he is still young and has an opportunity to grow.  As stated earlier Delfino would be better suited to come off the bench, if he doesn’t it would be Dunleavy, either way both are excellent options as role players.  Don’t really like Livingston, never have, never will...did I mention Drew Gooden sucks monkey balls?  Anyways, another 2 serviceable players off the bench for the Bucks.  Last but not least, my covers brother from another mother kaponofor3 will agree that Prince Luc Richard Mbah a Moute is undoubtedly one of the best all around defenders in the game of basketball.  If you don’t believe us, ask Kobe Bryant...if you don’t believe him ask Kevin Durant, if you don’t believe any of us than go fuck yourself.  I cannot believe that Luc was not offered more money, I understand he is a useless offensive player, but he can guard and perimeter guard in the NBA and can absolutely lock down some of the best wing men in the NBA.  Love his name and his game.  Just like last year, the Bucks have a solid roster, solid youth, solid defensive structure & solid coach, but without offensive consistency, in today’s NBA game, it will amount to absolutely nothing.

MILWAUKEE BUCKS 2012 PROJECTIONS - - - I really don’t know if the Bucks have what it take to make the playoffs, they definitely have the roster and defensive aptitude to at least sneak into the 7^th or 8^th spot in the East, but they had a very similar makeup last year and were just blown out of the water due to the fact that they could not put the orange ball through the white mesh.  Scott Brooks tinkered with his starting line-up way too much, there was never any real consistency in the Bucks rotation which caused havoc on their record.  This year I really believe it depends on Jackson’s ability to score and the progressive improvement of guys like Jennings & Saunders.  I suspect the Bucks to have yet another disappointing year.  Against defensive minded teams they may succeed, they have enough roster depth to compete, but against teams that can score, they will not be able to keep pace.

MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES - - - The Timberwolves may not be a powerhouse team by any stretch of the imagination, they will be a playoff team, nor will they come close, but one thing I can assure you is that the Tims are going to be a very exiting team to watch this year.  First and foremost, let’s start off with Kevin Love.  This kid is an absolute stud, I have never seen a player like him in all my 20 years of infatuation with this game.  He has the rebounding ability of Dennis Rodman, the heart hustle and soul of Hakeem, the versatility of Charles Barkley and the mid-range and outside game of Larry Bird.  He is by far, the most versatile young big in the game of basketball.  Although I don’t see him averaging 20 and 20, I know you all may think Mak has been smokin’ too much of the sweet stuff during his absence, but I really think the kid comes close.  He will average close to 20 point a game, and I could really see him averaging about 12 to 13 boards a game.  He has lost 20 pounds, he is quicker, faster on his feet, more confident and I feel he has another all-star year.  At long last the Spanish conquistador has graced the NBA with his presence, Ricky Rubio finally joins the Minnesota Timberwolves.  I made it my mission to watch some Euro games over the past two years just to see this kid, some of his passes just make my mouth drop, the balls on this kid is big.  He is an enigmatic young kid with a lot of inner confidence, a rare point guard who actually prefers to pass the ball rather that shine offensively.  His playmaking skills are extraordinary and once he gets acclimated to the NBA game, I think this kid will be brilliant.  Beasley is back beside Love for another year.  Last year he was able to really shine when given an opportunity, this year will be more different.  My only concern is his consistency on the offensive end, he has a lot of offensive ability, but he needs to understand his limits.  An excellent starting small forward to have, I would just rather see 3-5 less shots a game for him, and 3-5 more for Love.  I am still not sold on two positions for the Tims.  The 2 spot and 5 spot.  At the centre position you have Milicic who is back for another year, when he was healthy, the kid really surprised most.  He was quite consistent in terms of rebounding and defending and even provided some decent offensive numbers.  His health was inconsistent and that is again a concern this year.  I also like Nikola Pekovic.  He is a very gritty, tough centre who can bang bodies with the best of them.  It is either or with those two guys at the 5 position, if one goes down Minny will have to rely on the other.  Brad Miller is injured right now and even when he returns, I don’t really see Brad providing all that much after microfracture surgery.  At the 2 spot there is an abundance of young talent, but which way to go is the question.  Wes Johnson, Wayne Ellington, Anthony Randolph and Webster are all possibilities at the two spot.  I personally would go with Wes Johnson due to his size and upside but really they could experiment if they wanted to.  I don’t see how Bonzi Wells makes this roster, he is washed out and not even worth looking at.  Derrick Williams was a good pick, although they are stacked at his position, they had to go with the best available talent and he was it.  He is long, talented and very skilled.  He will have a good NBA career.  Anthony Tolliver is an excellent role player to have coming off the bench, I like his rebounding skill and ability to guard bigger stronger forwards.  Despite already having Rubio and Ridnour, I like the signing of J.J Barea.  He is someone Rubio can learn from.  I don’t really know what it is with the Tims and their love affair with point guards, but signing Barea after his performance in last year’s playoffs cannot be looked at as a negative thing.  I think he would have looked much better playing in MSG but Minny snatched him up with an abundance of cap space.  I love the team overall, but they have way too many young players who are very similar.  There is no stability on this team, they have a unique makeup but their youth and inexperience will not allow them to succeed in a veteran dominated Western Conference.

MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES 2012 PROJECTIONS - - - I think this team will be very exciting,  Love is one of my favourite if not my favourite player to watch in the league.  Rubio’s youth, exuberance and bravado will be extremely entertaining to watch all season.  His progression will be slow, but once he adapts to the speed of the NBA game, he will shine.  The Tims have an abundance of young talent, the problem is this will not amount to any consistency this year.  They will be competitive at home, they will even win their fare share of games on the road against less talented and depth challenged teams in the East, but making the playoffs in the West is out of the question.  They need 2 more years, 2 more lottery picks and some major trades to get this very forward heavy team balanced enough to contend.

BOSTON CELTICS - - - Poor Celtics.  Danny Ainge did try, resigned the youngster Jeff Green to a one-year deal and then lost him for the entire season.  Green was offered a one-year 9 million dollar deal which I personally thought was very steep.  The extreme value was partially due to Danny not wanting to lose the kid to another team since he did trade away a huge part of their roster (Perk) to obtain Green.  The deal was contingent upon Green passing the physical and he did not, therefore it will be void.  The 9 million basically counted as double as it placed the C’s well over the 70 million dollar luxury tax.  Danny then tried hard to get David West into a green uniform, because of ego and pride David West declined.  West was an ass in my opinion, he has squawked and boasted that all he wanted to do was win and compete for a championship, instead he shunned the C’s and joined the Pacers for more annual salary.  Douche.  He would have really helped the Celtics fill a much needed position.  He was promised a starting role with the team which meant KG would have to handle the 5 spot.  As it stands right now I suspect Jermaine to stay in a starting role with KG at the 4.  But how long will JO stay healthy?  How long will he actually be with the team?  As an expiring contract he may be a lucrative asset to move at or before the deadline.  If he goes down due to injury, look for newly acquired Brandon Bass to play the 4 and KG the 5.  The 1,2,3 spot are defined by the usual suspects.  Rondo, Jesus Shutlesworth and The Truth.  These guys are as good as it gets, but Pierce concerns me, he is another year older, another year slower.  Can he handle the grind of 17 games in 21 nights?  My problem with the Celts is their extreme lack of depth.  Of the bench you have a few serviceable players.  Marquis Daniels is back with the team, never suited up for anyone else despite being traded.  He will help out a lot this year, he will have to as I doubt you see Paul Pierce play the full 66 games which means Daniels will be a starter for a fair number of games which again creates an even shallower bench.  Same goes for Bass, I suspect the kid to also play a fair number of games as a starter due to rest/injury so once again, scarcity when it comes to role players.  That leaves Keyon Dooling, Chris Wilcox, Sasha Pavlovic and Avery Bradley.  Not the most dominant group of role players eh?  I think Avery Bradley is an absolute bust, he does not have the basketball IQ or playmaking skill the play the one, he doesn’t have the consistent shot or offensive game to play the 2, all this kid can do is play defense, and that he does quite well. Sasha will actually have quite a big role on this team, he will be used to give Ray Ray and Paul the rest they need this upcoming season to ensure they are well-rested come playoff time.  I like his game, but he needs to get acclimated with playing consistent minutes.  Chris Wilcox has really not been used in the NBA for quite some time, although he is not the best player, he is a much needed big body to fill the paint for the rather small Celtics.  Keyon Dooling will probably backup Rondo at the point, if he can dish out a few assists and limit his turnovers, should provide to be a viable option off the bench.  Celtics are my 2^nd favourite team in the league being my hometown Raps, I love KG, he is the epitome of heart, hustle and soul.  My problem with the Celtics this year is....well....everything.  Their age and lack of depth is a serious concern, especially with the extraordinary circumstances of a 66 game schedule.  They just do not have what it takes this year, they have enough veteran experience, pride and skill to make it to the playoffs.  But unless Danny Ainge can pull a four-leaf clover out of his ass and create something from nothing by means of trade, the Celts are not going to do any damage this year.

BOSTON CELTICS 2012 PROJECTIONS - - - Lack of roster depth, lack of distinct size down low combined with age and limited days rest this season will make the Celtics obsolete for the first time in years.  I wouldn’t even be surprised if they are unable to garner home court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.  Their fab four (KG, Double R, Ray, Double P) have the ability to dictate their season, if all are healthy and play at least 55+ games together, I see them in the top 4 conference spots.  If not, I actually could see them slipping a bit in the East.  Nevertheless, this is a playoff team, a team that does not doubt themselves ever, they will not surrender and they will overcome adversities.  But, in terms of being a serious contender for a Championship or even in the East, without a trade that can shake up the makeup, no go for the Celts this year.   

MY TORONTO RAPTORS - - - Every year, my season previews are vast as they are, always entail one team that I can talk about for hours.  This year is no different, although there is no point in expressing too many opinions or thoughts on this team, I can’t help it.  Out of all the teams in the NBA, I will most likely watch the most Raptors games despite not being in Toronto anymore.  This is due to the fact that I am a true fan, and one fine day, (a long long time from now) when the Raps are actually playing meaningful games.  I will get the satisfaction of knowing that I was there through thick and thin.  This year that Raps have only one thing going for them, their youth.  Their biggest acquisition in the off-season was that of head coach Dwayne Casey.  His defensive mindset, experience and championship pedigree will allow the Raps to progress as an organization.  The Raptors haven’t had a proper defensive head coach since....well...never.  The problem this year is Dwayne has absolutely no one who can actually play stellar defense.  The projected starters are a bit up in the air at the moment.  I am quite tired of Bargnani starting at the 5 spot, he is not a 5 man, never has been and never will be, yet a majority of his NBA career he has played as a centre.  The one positive aspect of him playing 5 is that he spreads the floor with his three point shot, claiming the opposing big off the block and thus allowing more space for offensive rebounders.  If I had my say I would place newly acquired Aaron Gray as a starting 5 man.  Let him play a few minutes to start the game then go small with either Amir Johnson or Ed Davis.  I think Ed Davis will have an excellent year.  He has the ability to rebound the basketball and he is one Raptor who can actually play a lick of defense.  With the tutelage of Casey, he will be in position to be an excellent low block defender.  I love Amir Johnson, his heart is unquestionable.  Played through injury last season when he easily could have sat, enjoyed his contract and said fuck the world.  Instead he busted his ass consistently for the Raptors.  The acquisition of Magloire was inevitable, first Canadian born player to play for the only Canadian team.  A native of Toronto who had a career game vs Toronto in the final game of the season.  He had 8 points and 19 rebounds vs the Raps.  Obviously he isn’t going to duplicate that this year but he will bring some toughness and grit to this team.  He is not afraid to lay the smack down on a defender flying in the paint.  Something the Raps have not had since Charles Oakley.  DeMar DeRozan is the face of this franchise now, not Bargnani.  He is an excellent two-guard, he has the work ethic of a German Sheppard.  He never stops trying to improve his game.  He has worked on his three point shot over the summer and that should help create some diversity in his game.  He has a willingness to surrender his body and get to the line, a superb vertical and good, yet raw defensive mindset.  He is the key to any success the Raps will have this year.  For all those who continue to think Bayless is a starting point guard in this league...you are wrong.  He just does not have the intelligence or basketball IQ to sustain 30+ minutes at the general position in the NBA.  If he starts over Jose, I will shoot myself.  I understand youth is the name of the game but he just won’t cut it as a starter.  I really don’t like James Johnson as a starter either; I don’t foresee him providing productive consistency on a night to night basis.  Barbosa is on a contract year so I really predict a huge year from him.  Look for him to put out Phoenix Suns type numbers off the bench this year.  The acquisition of Anthony Carter is a complete head scratcher.  The one and only off-season player acquisition I really liked for the Raps is the multi-year deal given to Gary Forbes.  I really like what this kid did last year for Denver.  He is a hard-nosed defender with excellent rebounding ability.  I think he needs some run to really see what he has, he could be a diamond in the rough.  I would love to see him start at the 3 spot for the Raps.  I was really high on Kleiza last year, he didn’t show much out of the gate then got severely injured and missed the remainder of the season.  Here’s hoping he comes back in shape and ready.  I will miss Reggie Evans a lot.  I wish they resigned him but he just wasn’t in their future plans.  Now, one thing I would like to mention is I was literally in tears when I heard the Raps signed free agent Rasual Butler.  If anyone remembers my rants last year, I stated that Butler was the most over-rated player in the entire league and I stand by that.  I cannot believe they signed this guy, he is a horrible shooter, he will lose consistent possessions for the Raptors with his missed shots and this team cannot afford to lose possessions like that if they want to win any games at all.  Ridiculous move by Colangelo and in my opinion the worst move overall in his general managing career.  Raps will always be my heart, but this year I will be hoping they buy into the defensive system, yet still manage to acquire a very high lottery pick.

TORONTO RAPTORS 2012 PROJECTIONS - - - Casey was the architect of the Mavs Championship defense, but he doesn’t have the roster to duplicate that success.  He will instil a mentality in this team, hold young player accountable, and this team will be a better defensive team no doubt in my mind.  But this season is a wash.  It is all about what Brian Colangelo can do next year.  I see a high lottery pick (top 7 at least), they will have almost 20 million in cap space next summer.  Wash this season with soap, Mak anxiously awaits the 2012-2013 Toronto Raptors.            

ORLANDO MAGIC - - - The Orlando Magic have a serious dilemma.  They know that their star is going to depart.  There is no way this team can find the success this year to persuade Superman to stay in Smallville.  He wants to be the face of Brooklyn alongside D Will.  He tried to create an exit strategy and that may have been his downfall.  The organization’s hands were tied.  Every NBA team knows that he wants out and they aren’t willing to part with much for Dwight, and why should they.  Dwight becomes a free agent next summer, instead of teams having to give up lottery picks, future considerations and marquee players, they can just sign him once he is free of the shackles of Mickey Mouse.  This is going to be a lingering problem all year, and with that big an elephant in the room, I don’t see how the Magic can overcome.  That ominous cloud overhead will cause as a major distraction all year.  J-Rich was signed to a very lucrative contract, a bit strange if you ask me how lucrative it really was.  He will be a mainstay in the starting 5.  Hedo is a waste of space, literally and cap wise.  I thought he was a prime candidate for the amnesty clause but the Magic thought otherwise.  He will start at the 3 spot.  At point Nelson will run the team as he usual.  But there is no longer any upside to this guy, what you see is what you get and what you get ain’t Deron Williams.  The straight up trade for Glen Davis was a desperate attempt at keeping Dwight, not a very good one.  Despite being very good friends, I don’t see their relationship as a reason to stay in Orlando instead of being the backbone of Brooklyn.  Bright light city gonna set his soul on fire and Big Baby’s tears are not big enough to extinguish the flames.  The bench of Orlando is decent, decent enough to compete on a night to night basis with some of teams in the NBA.  J.J Redick and Ryan Anderson are the main men off the bench, a good 6 and 7 man rotation but will it be enough in what is bound to be a tumultuous NBA schedule?  I don’t see Earl Clark doing too much off the bench, but he will help them fill the role of a big off the bench.  Larry Hughes and Q-Rich will be decent wings off the bench to provide some type of production considering Hedo is a Turkey from Turkey.  Chris Duhon, Von Wafer and Daniel Orton round out the Magic bench.  At the end of the day, the Magic have a decent roster, good enough to compete for home-court in the first round of the East.  But progressing past the powerhouse that is Chicago and Miami in a 7 game series will be impossible for this team.  Without at least a finals appearance, Superman will fly off into the Brooklyn sky.  I really suspect the smart thing to do would be to move him at any legitimate offer, get Brook Lopez, try and swindle the Nets for at least one first round draft pick.  You will not get a fair deal not matter what, but it is better to try and get something rather than nothing.  If Orlando doesn’t believe me just ask the Cavaliers and Raptors.

ORLANDO MAGIC 2012 PROJECTIONS - - - If Dwight does stay to entirety of the 2012 season (which would be a colossal mistake for the organization), than expect them to battle for the 3^rd, 4^th or 5^th spot on the East.  If Dwight does get traded, it will be very difficult to contend with some of the bigger, stronger Western teams.  It all depends on what this organization does at the trade deadline.  Too difficult to ascertain projections for a team in limbo.           

MIAMI HEAT - - - Don’t get it twisted, the Miami Heat are a totally different animal this year.  Last year was trial by fire...literally and figuratively.  This team learned to adapt to situations as the year progressed, they learned to deal with the hatred and scorn of opposing crowds.  They learned to acknowledge their role as villains.  It took quite some time for 3 all-stars to learn to play off of each other, and it was very difficult to two of the top 5 players in the league to learn when to take over, and went to digress.  It took time to learn and trust the system Eric Spoelstra had put in place.  This year is a whole different story.  The Heat know what to expect, they know each other better and most importantly they know themselves better.  I did expect more experienced players to be drawn to Miami and accept the veteran’s minimum.  But it is quite obvious that those same NBA players that say all they want is a ring, actually mean all they want is the money to buy a million rings.  In my honest opinion, the best chance a player has to win a championship in the near future, is with the Miami Heat.  Trust me, that is not easy for me to say considering the fact I absolutely hate the Miami Heat.  I was ecstatic when they lost the Finals to Dirk and co.  Nevertheless, this team has what it takes to create a dynasty.  They have what it takes to be champions this year, and years after.  The acquisition of Shane Battier is an important one.  A veteran voice, a leader and a guy who can go out on the floor and let his actions speak for themselves.  No doubt there are a lot of voices on the Heat, a lit of big mouths, but the difference here is intelligence.  Battier spews intelligence when he speaks, he is a motivator, a politician, and unlike LeBron James has an overall IQ of over 4.  He is an above-par defender who can guard any 2 or 3 spot in the league, this allows the Heat a lot of variety in terms of line-ups.  It can allow James to play 4 positions.  He can be the ball-handler and playmaker at the one, he can play the 2-3 or the Heat can go small and James can play the 4 spot.  Shane creates versatility on this team beyond his ability.  Wade is Wade, he will do what he does and be one of the most dominant 2 guards to play the game.  Chalmers will take on responsibility as the starting point and relish the opportunity.  Chris Bosh will try and quiet critics, but I think this season will prove it is clearly evident that this is a two man operation and Bosh is just along for the ride.  Don’t get me wrong, teams would kill to have the luxury of having a power forward like Chris on their team, he could easily be the go to guy and a majority of NBA teams, but he is nowhere near the talent of James and Wade and should never have been compared to them skill wise.  Joel Anthony is the defensive stopper down low.  He will cause opponents to second guess before they bring weakness towards the rim.  The bench of the Heat is stacked, the aforementioned Battier, Mike Miller, Udonis Haslem, James Jones, Eddie House and a youngster by the name of Norris Cole.  Haslem and Battier are the keys to the bench.  Both solid experience veterans, if healthy, could be a vital part to Miami being the number one team in the league this season.  Mike Miller, Jones and House are all outside threats who if combined with Wade and/or James can look forward to wide open shots due to double team coverage and hit the open shot.  I just love the makeup of this team.  Pat Riley is an evil genius; he has created a perfect array of players to compliment to Wade and James.  The Miami is the beast in the East and the team to beat.

MIAMI HEAT 2012 PROJECTIONS - - - It hurts my loins to say this, but this will be the best team in the NBA.  Dallas and Miami will fight all year long for the best record in the NBA.  The Heat are just too talented, too deep and too young not to succeed.  This roster is built for a season like this.  They have what it takes win the East no doubt, the only team standing in their way in my opinion are the Bulls and I think they have em.  In terms of matchups in a 7 game series, I don’t see how the Bulls will be able to withstand the defensive pressure and offensive talent of the Miami Heat.  The Heat are easily my pick to win the Eastern Conference.  I will wait a little while to see the progress of the Mavs, Thunder and Clippers before I crown the Heat the NBA Champions, but at this point in time, I don’t think anything will stop the Heat from pushing forward and claiming the top spot and with it the Larry O’Brian trophy.        

OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER - - - Internal improvement has been the name of the game for the Oklahoma City Thunder year in and year out.  This team was created the correct way, from the ground up.  They lost their ass, and built it again with 3 lottery picks.  Westbrook, Durant and Harden who are now the core for this team.  Durant was a star the day he was born, it took Westbrook a year to find his niche in this league, it took James Harden quite some time but finally the third pick overall from Arizona State is officially an NBA stud.  He is the key to this teams continued success.  Obviously Durant is the Thunder, obviously with Westbrook running the show they would be in trouble, but their key to overcoming defeat is the progression of James Harden.  I was always high on this kid, called him the key in last year’s season preview, but it took an excellent playoff campaign to finally make this guy realize he is a star.  His confidence is at an all-time hig and he will carry that swagger with him all season long.  Together these 3 young stars will take Oklahoma City to glory.  Durant and Rose are my favourite young players in the NBA, they are the present and the future of this league, Durant’s humbleness amazes me, his maturity is beyond his years.  He is the most unique superstar we have in the NBA due to his length, wingspan, quickness and shooting ability.  He is a guard in a 7 foot body.  He will once again win the NBA scoring title and be in the running for MVP.  Westbrook needs to deflate his ego a bit, he needs to understand that this is and always will be Durant’s team.  If he can check his ego at the door before every practice and game, he could be one of the better point guards to ever play the game, lightning fast quickness, excellent offensive ability but poor decision making.  He inability to pass before he shoots is aggravating, but as he grows more mature, he will understand what needs to be done in order to win a title.  Kendrick Perkins is half the man he was and I mean that in a good way.  Losing that much weight proves his dedication to the game of basketball, he didn’t like what he saw in himself in the playoffs, and he changed.  He is a lot more nimble now, he is still strong enough to get bodies off the block but now he can actually improve on his very limited offensive game.  A 5 man doesn’t really need to be lighter to play better defense, but losing weight really helps a big man’s offensive game.  I could see Perk hitting double-digit scoring in numerous games which will really help lighten the load for Durant.  Serge Ibaka is my pick for defensive player of the year.  He has that starting 4 spot solidified as his own and he will not let it go.  He in an intricate part to the success of this team.  Thabo is Thabo, one of the best all-around wing defenders in the NBA, he will go out on any given night and stop the opposing teams best 2 guard or 3 man.  He is a difference maker when it comes to capping games and in my opinion this team’s secret weapon.  The bench of the Thunder is impressive as well.  Nick Collison is the type of guy all teams need off the bench.  He can play the 4 position and a little bit of the 5.  He is a gritty, tough defender.  His rebounding capability is above-par for his size, he is the perfect role player for this team.  By far one of the most under-rated defenders in the NBA.  Cook and Maynor are the guards off the bench, Maynor needs to keep his turnovers in check and concentrate on playmaking when replacing Westbrook, Cook needs to find a little more consistency in his shot.  One night he can go 5-5 from 3 point range, the next night he could easily go 1-7.  If he can find consistency in his offensive game, he can prove his worth and prove to be yet another essential player on this squad.  Cole Aldrich and Nazr Mohammed are the backup 5 men on this team.  Cole was the 11^th overall pick in the 2010 draft and does have quite a bit of upside.  Nazr is a big body veteran presence who can fill the lane.  I love this team.  This team has youth, exuberance, sheer skill & limitless potential.  If they can somehow add one more piece to this puzzle; say a legit 5 man off the bench or a replacement 2 guard instead of Cook, they would easily be my pick to win the Western Conference.  They could still do it, but I suspect they will face a daunting challenge in the form of the defending champs.

OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER 2012 PROJECTIONS - - - Very difficult to project their playoff success, this team has what it takes to succeed with ease in the regular season.  They have the youth factor combined with the luxury of a decent rotation.  They will be able to offset some of the fatigue factors a 66 game schedule can have.  They may take advantage of teams with age problems and a lack of roster depth.  I see them easily in the top 3 spots in the conference and home-court advantage for the first round.  In terms of playoffs success, it is difficult to ascertain at the moment.  I would want to say that this team is easily bound for the Western Conference Finals.  But I would really want to wait and see the progression of the Los Angeles Clippers as the season goes on.  I think OKC has what it takes to make this regular season their best ever, KD could win the MVP & Ibaka may win defensive player of the year.  The Thunder strike down vengeance on the NBA this year.

DALLAS MAVERICKS - - - I love the Mavericks, because of last year’s playoffs, they have officially surpassed the Toronto Raptors as the team that has made me the most money in my 5 years of gambling on this sport.  Believe it or not, I didn’t have them to win the Championship vs Miami, I actually refrained from betting on that series due to the fact that my heart said Mavs, and head said Heat.  I decided to enjoy the series without gambling a single cent.  It was two massive series wagers that accumulated the largest profit in my 5 year capping span.  The first was a fairly large wager on the Dallas Mavericks to upset the Los Angeles Lakers.  This was when they had not played a single game yet.  I also had two fairly substantial individual game wagers on game 1 and game 2, bet the spread and moneyline and cashed the Mavs as dogs on both occasions.  After the Mavs won the first two games of the series and demolished the Lakers home-court advantage I was absolutely astonished at the minimal juice that was required to cash in on the Mavs to win the series.  When I saw this line, I decided to go all in for the first time in my NBA betting career, I watched the first two game meticulously and convinced myself that there was no way the Lakers would win this series.  This was my far my largest wagers of all-time and I seriously doubt I would ever bet an amount like that again.  The Mavs will always be my love as they seriously stacked my bankroll beyond belief.  With the playoff winnings, I decided to purchase something very special for my father, starts with the letter B, ends with the letter W and has a M in the middle.  The Champs are back and in my opinion, better than ever.  I understand the loss of Tyson Chandler is a daunting task to overcome, but with some subtle additions in the front-court, combined with Rick Charlise’s ability to create something out of nothing, I am certain they will be just fine defensively.  The thing I love about Mark Cuban, is whatever players he lost, he has relentlessly tried to replace with better players or individuals with a similar makeup.  First the loss of Tyson, it will be very difficult to replace a player of his defensive stature, but Mavs have quite a few options at the 5 position.  Haywood will most likely get the go ahead at starting center.  I doubt Dirk starts at the 5.  Another player that should get a lot more run this year is Ian Mahinmi.  Mahinmi is an underrated big man in terms of his low block defense, he will never be able to provide much offensively, but at 6’11 and almost 240 now, he has enough mass to handle any body on the low post.  His size and strength combined with his decent vertical, will make him an excellent option at the 5 position off the bench.  I love Cuban’s acquisition of young centre Brandan Wright.  He was a top 10 pick in 2007 and he has never really gotten a chance to shine in the NBA, his is a very lanky, long big man with extreme defensive potential.  Last year in very limited minutes he averaged close to 10 points and 4 boards a game swatting a shot on average.  His leaping ability is excellent and as a slimmer big man his quickness is an attractive attribute.  Unlike Ian Mahinmi, Wright is also a very talented offensive player with raw potential.  I think this is a very underrated acquisition for Dallas which will prove to be big this season.  The Mavs also lost point guard J.J Barea and 2 guard Stevenson.  Cuban immediately replaced these guys with Delonte West and Vince Carter.  West is the perfect backup to Jason Kidd, West has very high basketball IQ on the defensive end which is perfect for the Mavs.  Obviosuly Delonte doesn’t have the penetration game of Barea, but he has the ability to knock down the open shot and enough intelligence to create for himself and others on the offensive end.  Say what you want about Vince Carter, he used to be half-man, half-amazing....now he is just half-man, nevertheless you have to agree he is a better offensive option compared to Stevenson.  This is the first time Dallas will have a starting shooting guard that could actually go off for 20 on any given night, imagine how that would help Dirk and company.  J Kidd is an ageless wonder, he will continue to be one of the best generals in the game of basketball.  Dirk will probably not duplicate his dominance from last year’s playoffs, but he proved to be one of the best forwards in the game of basketball last year and now that he knows it himself, that confidence will only continue to grow and the success last year will drive him for more.  The Jet and Shawn Marion are the perfect complimentary role players on this team, the luxury of a championship team to actually state that Marion and Jet are most likely they 4^th or 5^th options on this team is just amazing.  The acquisition of Lamar Odom is really just astonishing.  Forget the fact that the Lakers traded him away for absolutely nothing, the fact alone that they traded him to the Mavericks is one of the strangest things I have ever seen in the NBA.  Without the acquisition of Lamar, I wouldn’t think that Dallas would have what it takes to duplicate their playoff success.  With him, I think they are the favourites to win the Western Conference.  With all these current and former all-stars on the team, you may find it strange for me to actually state that Rodrigue Beaubois is the key to the Mavs going back-to-back.  I really believe this deep down.  Roddy B is an exceptional talent, he was riddled with injuries last year but the Mavs have always had very high expectations, he may not be as good a playmaker as J.J Barea, but what J.J did for the Mavs in last year’s playoffs, Roddy can do this year.  He has immense offensive talent, and if used correctly, can be the subtle catalyst to the successful defense of the Mavs championship.  Mavs are as good as it gets in terms of a dominant roster, they have the best rotation in the West and maybe even the NBA, if healthy, I don’t see why they can’t do it again.

DALLAS MAVERICKS 2012 PROJECTIONS - - - Robert Horry once said, that winning one championship really means nothing, going back the next year and proving it wasn’t a fluke, that is what cements your stamp in the history books.  Kidd and Dirk want to do it again, Cuban wants to do it again, with the acquisition of Lamar Odom it is more than possible.  The Dallas Mavericks are the only team in the NBA that can legitimately say they are 12 deep.  With 66 games in 124 days, their depth and roster dominance can offset the fact that some of their stars are a bit older than say the Miami Heat or Chicago Bulls.  Youth and exuberance can only do so much for a team in the playoffs, it is veteran swagger and experience that will overcome post-season obstacles.  They may not have what it takes to ensure home-court advantage throughout the NBA playoffs, but this is a team that has dominated on the road the past 2 seasons, and I suspect they will do that again.  They have the tools to repeat, the aspirations to overcome, whether or not they can overcome and repeat during a shortened season will be very interesting to see.  Never underestimate the heart of a champion.  Mak won’t.               

ATLANTA HAWKS - - - The Hawks didn’t make any strides to improve in the off-season.  The departure of Jamal Crawford will be a daunting one to overcome.  His ability to score off the bench will be sorely missed this season.  Kirk Hinrich’s injury caused Jeff Teague to be thrust into the starting point guard role.  Teague showed flashed of brilliance in the first round of the playoffs, but I just don’t see him being able to provide consistency on a night-to-night basis for the Hawks.  They still have an all-star at the 2 guard in Joe Johnson.  He will have to resume his position as the go-to-guy  as he has been for several years.  The key to this team staying afloat in the Eastern Conference is Josh Smith.  Rumors swirled around about J-Smooth demanding a trade from the Hawks, I don’t think he is very happy in Atlanta and his maturity has always been a question throughout his NBA career.  What has never been a question is his immense talent.  He is a defensive powerhouse at his position and if he can check his ego and improve his offensive consistency, he could be a force to be reckoned with in the NBA.  Marvin Williams will take on a consistent starting role at small forward, another player who struggles with consistency.  Defense has never been his strong suit, but he is big and quick enough to handle anyone at the 3 position.  Al Horford will continue to play out of position as a starting 5 man.  He is a guy who is capable of averaging a double double.  Would love to see him get more looks in the half-court game, but with guys like Joe Johnson and Josh Smith who continue to demand possessions (most of the time wasted possessions and bad shot) I see another year of Horford’s attributes being wasted.  The bench for the Hawks without Crawford is suspect to say the least.  Veteran presence is one thing, but washed up players is what I would define them as.  McGrady, Stackhouse and Radmanovic combine to provide a lot of experience, but I don’t see them consistently helping out this team in any way.  In fact I see their age and diminished capacity as a hindrance more than anything.   Zaza is a bright spot on the bench and much needed size and one of the only players who can legitimately play the 5 spot on this team.  Collins was re-signed due to necessity and other than a big body to take up space on the block, he does nothing really.  Pargo was a decent pickup at the PG spot but again just due to necessity because of Kirk’s injury, he needs to get acclimated with the NBA game again after his absence from the association last year.  Willie Green was the sole bright pickup in the off-season.  His role will be to replace the productivity of Jamal Crawford but he is nothing close to the offensive player Crawford is, he has decent offensive skill and will help the Hawks bench. Overall I don’t like this roster, usually when players are accustomed to each other their game grows as a unit, but this group is stale now and needs to be broken up.  They have an abundance of tradable assets, they should have done something to shakeup the core of this team.  Hawks are going nowhere fast.

ATLANTA HAWKS 2012 PROJECTIONS - - - Usually the Hawks are competing for home-court advantage in the Eastern Conference.  Last year I had them for the upset in the first round and was not disappointed, this year, despite their progression to the 2^nd round, I don’t see that confidence carrying them to any sort of success this year.  Eastern teams have gotten better while I truly believe the Hawks have not.  I don’t see them having any change at obtaining a top 4 spot in the East, in fact I see them battling for the bottom three spots in the East.  Another embarrassing first-round exit should spark the Hawks management to make a move and shakeup the makeup.            

CHARLOTTE BOBCATS - - - This is another Eastern team that just did nothing at all to improve their roster for the upcoming season.  Charlotte has a lot of young raw talent, but they have far too many positional players.  They key to success in the NBA is identity.  Each team has to create an identity for themselves; sometimes it is a coach, a defensive mindset, strategy or just sheer overall skill.  This roster is too jumbled to obtain a real identity. Kemba Walker and Biyombo are two additions to this roster that I believe have a bright future in the NBA, but in terms of this year, they won’t be able to change anything about Jordan’s Cats.  Walker will backup D.J off the bench, these two young point guards have a lot going for them, but their lack of size at the one position may be too difficult to overcome.  I believe Gerald Henderson will be the starting two guard for the Bobcats and given an opportunity to show what he can do at the NBA level.  Maggette is a downgrade offensively in comparison the Captain Jack, but the one thing I love about Corey is his physicality and willingness and ability to get to the line.  He will have to be the leader on this very young team and I think he will relish the opportunity.  This is Paul Silas’s  kind of player and I think he will relay most of the half-court sets through Corey.  Tyrus Thomas (if he can every stay healthy) is a hell of a player.  Offensively very inconsistent, but defensively he is a stud with excellent rebounding ability for his size.  He will hold down the starting 4 spot but his durability has always been an issue.  The biggest problem the Cats have is their lack of size.  Borris Diaw will most likely play the starting 5, and this is a guy who even at the 4 position is sometimes out of his element.  The Charlotte bench is as dry as Oprah Winfrey’s vagina.  There is no one that can really do anything on the 2^nd unit.  Diop is the only real big man on this entire team and he will play legit minutes off the bench, Derrick Brown has some skillset and will be used sparingly as will DJ White who also has some size and skill.  The acquisition of Reggie Williams was one of MJ’s only good moves this offseason, he has much needed offensive skill but the fact of the matter is the Cats are so stacked at his position I don’t see how he or any of the other wings will ever get consistent minutes to find a steady flow to the season.  Jordan is, and always will be the best to ever play the game of basketball, but as a general manager he has to be one of the biggest duds ever.  Cats will meow their way to another lottery pick.

CHARLOTTE BOBCATS 2012 PROJECTIONS - - - Too many young wings, not enough size, not enough depth, no roster identity whatsoever.  This will be one of the worst offensive teams in the NBA this year, they just will not be able to score.  Paul Silas will implement a defensive mindset into his young squad which should equate to at least minimal success during the season.  But I just don’t see any way this team makes the playoffs.  One more year, one more high lottery pick.  Next year, they will however have quite a bit of cap flexibility, and if some of the young players can progress this year, and MJ can acquire some free agents in 2013, it may not be such a waste.

UTAH JAZZ - - - The Jazz will have their first full season without hall-of-famer Jerry Sloan in nearly two decades.  There are a lot of things I like about this team.  The abundance of talented youth, the distinct size of this team and some of the subtle off-season acquisitions.  Devin Harris will never be able to out-run the shadow of Deron Williams.  DMW is one of the best point guards in the game and Utah got used to seeing a premier point guard at work.  Devin is far from one of the best, but he has very good playmaking ability, speed, quickness and a decent offensive game.  At the starting 2 position you have a veteran defensive stopper in Raja Bell, he can hit the open three which will help since Utah’s bigs will command a lot of attention down low this season.  The departure of AK47 does hurt Utah, they don’t have anyone who can really replace the player that is Kirilenko, but it will give some young wings an opportunity.  C.J Miles can never find any real consistency but I think he may be the starting 3 on this team temporarily. I think Hayward is officially a bust but I could be jumping the gun, will give him another year before I officially designate him the great white dope. Paul Milsap and Al Jefferson are the mainstays at the 4 and 5 but there is stiff competition for a starting big position off the bench which I will get to in a second.  Al Jefferson is in the best shape of his career, his has dropped a few more pounds, has been concentrating on core strengthening all summer and looks to be in phenomenal shape, whether or not that translates into success this season is yet to be seen.  Off the bench there are some bright spots and subtle changes that I like.  First and foremost, Derrick Favors.  This kid is an absolute beast, he has an extremely bright future in the NBA and deserves to be a starter, thus the trade of Okur for a 2^nd round pick.  For now, Milsap is injured and Derrick will start.  I think his performance will make it very difficult for him to be removed from the starting 5.  Enes Kanter is another youngster with a lot of upside, excellent size, rebounding ability and yet another big men who will command attention of this Utah Jazz roster.  The acquisition of Josh Howard was to offset the loss of AK47, although he is nothing like Andre, he will provide much needed depth and scoring output for Utah.  Jeremy Evans is a 6’9 forward with tremendous upside, if he gets the time he will shine.  Earl Watson is a fan favourite who will be the backup point on this time, however, despite what a lot of people say.  Tinsley is still a guy who can provide serviceable production for an NBA team.  Have always like Tinsley, since his days with the Pacers.  He has excellent vision and an above par basketball IQ.  His playmaking skills have never been in doubt and I suspect he will succeed even remotely off the bench.  Utah has the youth and roster depth to make the playoffs, even in a competitive Western Conference.  Their biggest strength is also their biggest weakness, their youth could either be their gateway to success, or their downfall.

UTAH JAZZ 2012  PROJECTIONS - - - I like this team, I like their identity in terms of their roster, I like their youth and their depth as a whole.  The problem is a lot of Western Conference teams have just as much overall talent and a tad bit more veteran leadership and experience.  If the Jazz make it to the playoffs, I don’t see them progressing past the first round.  Getting to the playoffs will be a difficult task; they will have to play near perfect to obtain a top 8 spot in a very competitive conference.  There is no room for error for this team, and with their youth, that could be a problem.        

PORTLAND TRAIL-BLAZERS - - - Portland probably has the worst luck of any team in the entire NBA.  Brandon Roy, the talent, the myth, the legend that could have been.  This is a guy who put up Kobe type numbers in his first few seasons.  He had the ability, the intelligence and the skill to not only be one of the best two-guards in the game of basketball, but if he could have attained career longevity, I really think this kid had a chance to be a future hall-of-famer.  Greg Oden is another sad case.  When you think this monster’s career can finally start, he ends up with yet another setback.  As the Portland roster currently stands right now, if you had a healthy Oden and Roy to the mix, I would actually consider them as a Western Conference powerhouse.  Without them, they are just another team with a lot of talent, but not enough depth to compete in a talent heavy conference.  Felton will man the point, he will put up big time numbers all season, as long as he keeps his turnovers in check he won’t be a detriment to the team.  Wes Matthews should have the starting shooting guard role locked up with the departure of Brandon Roy, he will continue his progression from his stellar 2010/2011 campaign where he averaged 16 points a game.  The Plastic Man, Gerald Wallace, if healthy will be a intricate part to this team all season long.  His durability has always been a question and what concerns me is the rigors of the shortened season, if he goes down and Batum enters into a starting role, the bench becomes even more scarce than it already is.  Big L is the main man on this team, he should have an all-star year.  In the half-court set Nate McMillan should go to him on a consistent basis and basically run the offense through him.  Marcus Camby is yet another year older and has never been the most durable of players.  If healthy he is the defensive presence of the Blazers and it is of the utmost importance he plays a majority of the season for the Blazers to have any chance at securing a playoff spot.  The bench concerns me slightly, Jamal Crawford will be the 6^th man on this team.  He is a much needed offensive weapon for Portland and without his acquisition the Blazers would be in a lot of trouble.  Batum is the 7^th man but I foresee him to be the first man off the bench as soon as someone gets injured on the Portland 5 and knowing their luck, it is bound to happen.  If Wes goes down, Batum enters and plays the 2, if Wallace goes down Batum enters and plays the 3.  Jamal will always come off the bench in order to garner some sort of productive support for the role players.  Kurt Thomas is the oldest active player in the league, but the man can still ball.  He can move big men off the block, rebound with the best of the youngins’ in the NBA, but once again, I have a feeling he will have to start a majority of games if Camby doesn’t stay healthy.  Craig Smith is another big man off the bench who can provide some low post assistance.  Other than that, the Portland bench has no real productive players.  8 deep is not enough to get to the playoff in the West especially with delicate players like Camby and Wallace who are bound to miss some time.  Portland’s woes will continue this season.

PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS 2012 PROJECTIONS - - - Aldridge will make the all-star team this season despite stiff competition at his position in the West, Crawford will get a few votes for sixth man of the year.  The Blazers lack the roster depth to solidify themselves as a playoff team, they have the talent to do it no doubt, but health is a concern and in order to stand a chance at competing in this conference they need to stay healthy throughout the 66 game schedule, the problem is playing 17 games in 21 nights would make even the most durable players hurt.  This team just does not have the depth to do what it takes to play post season ball.   

LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS - - - David Stern is an evil genius.  All throughout the collective barganning battle, his main agenda was “to create a competitive balance in the NBA”  What he really meant to say was that he wanted to create another successful big market team in order to increase revenues.  As much as everyone hates the guy, he is one hell of a businessman.  By vetoing the initial trade, he has finally created a 2^nd big market team in the city of stars.  The Clippers woes have been well documented the past decade, the arrival of Blake Griffin 2 years ago was a tiny glimpse of hope for a franchise that has been trying to claim its spot amongst those teams that actually matter.  That home quickly diminished with a season ending injury.  Last year, the Clippers arrived somewhat and youngsters Jordan and Griffin proved to be dominant forces.  Their progression last year was of the utmost importance to try and garner some attention around the league.  I doubt any top-tier free agent would ever have wanted to dawn Clippers red if it wasn’t for the young core and the monster that is Blake Griffin.  Many people are doubting whether or not Chris Paul will actually make this Clippers team a western conference powerhouse...those people don’t know shit about NBA basketball.  Chris Paul is arguably the best point guard in the NBA (I would give the slight advantage to Rose) Adding a talent of his calibre to any NBA team makes them an instant playoff contenders in my opinion,  adding him to a team that already has a young all-star creates a conference contender, adding him to a team with a legitimate young stud at the 5 combined with a veteran 2 guard and an experience free agent 3 man makes this team serious contenders for the conference title.  Chauncy Billups wanted nothing to do with the Los Angeles Clippers, when the Clippers acquired Chris Paul and kept Eric Bledsoe he was scratching his head like most in the league, but now that the roster has become more visible, I think that Billups is the perfect complement to Chris Paul and the young Clippers core.  He is an experienced veteran, a leader who has championship pedigree and playoff experience.  He will start at the two position for the Clipps.  It is not a role that is unknown to him, he played the shooting guard for the Nuggets in the lockout year of 1999 and played alongside CP3 in the U.S.A team at the 2 spot.  My only concern is defensively,  Billups will have to guard players that are significantly taller than him.  Opponents will be able to delegate their offense in such away to take advantage of this, but Billups is strong and savvy enough to handle his own against most if not all shooting guards in the NBA.  Prior to Butler’s injury, he was a very important part to the first-half success of the Dallas Mavericks last year, when he went down there was serious concern whether ot not the Mavericks would be able to continue their success.  Although is is not the youngest buck, he will be able to play a major role as a starter and help this ball club progress all season.  At the 4 spot you have the new human highlight film.  Blake is a man-child and this season he will prove that he is one of the best power forwards in the game of basketball.  Many think the lucrative contract offered to Jordan was a bit over-the-top, but in retrospect the Clippers couldn’t afford not to keep this kid.  He is a defensive stopper, a legitimate centre in this league and the perfect twin tower combo with Blake Griffin.  In my honest opinion, this starting 5 is one of the best in the NBA, very versatile, a mix of youth and exuberance and veteran swagger.  A deadly combination.  The bench of the Los Angeles Clippers is just as impressive as any in the NBA.  Randy Foye and Mo Williams are two guys that are defensively inept, however, they can provide offensive power sufficient enough to hold any lead their starting five creates.  Ryan Gomes is a very talented young forward with plenty of intangibles that fit this team perfectly.  Once Eric Bledsoe returns, he will provide yet another offensive weapon at Vinny Del Negro’s disposal.  The most crucial and underrated subtle acquisition to solidfy this powerful bench is that of Reggie Evans.  He is one of my favourite players in the NBA, I love his attitude and desire.  His hustle attributes to numerous extra possessions, prior to his injury last year he was the Raptors best defender (which isn’t saying much) But he was also the 2^nd best rebounder in the NBA behind Kevin Love.  He is a top 5 rebounder at his position and the perfect piece to the spectacular puzzle that is the Los Angeles Clippers.  I expect monstrous things from this team this season and am really looking forward to watching them dominate.

LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS 2012 PROJECTIONS - - - In my opinion, easily one of the best teams in the NBA.  They will battle for top spot in the west all season long with the Thunder and Mavericks.  I expect them to easily obtain home-court advantage in the western conference and easily progress past the first round of the playoffs.  They will have to face either the Thunder to Mavs en route to the conference finals and if they want to make it to the NBA finals they will have to beat both those teams.  I am very interested to see how they handle both these opponents in the regular season before I make a prediction on their final projection.  Nevertheless, I hold very high expectations for this team and I suggest you all do the same for the sake of your bankroll.

LOS ANGELES LAKERS - - - Big trouble brewing for Hollywood here.  I understand all the sceptics out there who refuse to believe that they are no longer the best team in Los Angeles, it is hard to just hand the reigns over to the Clippers when they haven’t proven themselves.  But explain to me how you can look at both rosters and not even comprehend the idea that the Lakers are just not that good anymore.  Losing Lamar Odom for absolutely nothing hurts, it hurts a lot.  This guy was the sixth man of the year, an enormously important factor to their success year in and year out.  I don’t understand how they could have just traded him away for merely a trade exception and even worst, how they could have traded him away to the Dallas Mavericks.  It makes no sense whatsoever to me.  I really believe it is imperative to make a big move right now for the Lakers.  I am not saying blow it up, but something needs to be done if they stand any chance at competing with Dallas, OKC and the Clippers.  Don’t get me wrong, any team that has Kobe, Bynum and Gasol will easily make the playoffs, and most likely will even get home court advantage in the first round.  But the fact remains that the Lakers are just not the same without Lamar Odom.  At point Fisher will man his usual position, Kobe is Kobe and we all know what the Black mamba is capable of.  He went to Germany in the off-season and got the best of the best to handle his health issues and he should be more productive than he was last year.  His marital problems shouldn’t interfere with his focus, the guy is stoic and very intelligent, his pride will guide him to success.  I refuse to call Ron Artest Metta frickin World Peace.  Ron Ron will man the 3 position but without Lamar Odom he will have to handle more responsibility offensively and on the low block in terms of rebounding and I just do not think he will be able to handle the extra load.  Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum still makeup one of the most devastatingly dangerous 4/5 combos in the NBA.  Just as last year, my biggest concern for the Lakers is their lack of depth.  Adding Josh McRoberts and Troy Murphy really helps somewhat offset the departure of Lamar Odom.  McRoberts is a very talented young big with tremendous upside and defensive/rebounding talent.  Murphy if given the opportunity can spread the floor and hit the open shot which is much needed for this Lakers squad and something they missed last season.  Matt Barnes will have to play a much more decisive role on this team in order for them to have any consistent success and Jason Kapono is another addition that should help them.  Still, in comparison to the top 3 teams in the West, the Lakers have a very shallow bench.  With the rigors of a 66 game schedule, they need roster depth in order to compete and I just do not think they have what it takes to duplicate the successes of past seasons.

LOS ANGELES LAKERS 2012 PROJECTIONS - - - The Los Angeles Lakers will always be a competitive team.  Even when Kobe decides to hang up his sneakers I am certain the Lakers organization will always do what it takes to stay competitive.  But gone are the days of them being the top dogs.  Other teams are younger, deeper and in some aspects hungrier than the Lakers.  I suspect a 4^th seeding in the West, but depending on whom they face in the first round, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Lakers depart in the first round.  That would be a serious wake up call to upper management.  I still think the Buss family are in the works to try and pull off a big trade, there are finite possibilities with what they can do especially when they have tradable assets like Gasol and Bynum.  As it stands right now, I see three teams that are without a doubt better than the Lakers, this is not a championship team, and anyone who thinks otherwise have to question their sanity.                

PHOENIX SUNS - - - I have a shirt I got in Canada that reads “Free Nash”, he deserves a chance to compete for an NBA title.  There is a small window of opportunity in an NBA player’s career, and that window is slowly but surely closing shut for Steve Nash.  There is no way the Suns can compete for championship, not now, or anytime soon.  It is a shame that Nash has to continue busting his ass for a team that probably won’t even make the playoffs.  I don’t feel the same sympathy for Grant Hill, he had a chance to get out, but Hill has always been a guy who chooses money and convenience over opportunity.  The departure of Vince Carter via amnesty has created a starting role for Josh Childress.  High expectations for this kid and I just don’t know if he has what it takes to be a starting two guard in this league.  Defensively he is as good as it gets as a shooting guard, he has the size, quickness and strength to guard any 2 man even most small forwards in the NBA, but offensively he is inept, always has been and always will be.  He doesn’t fit in to the identity of this team and how they want to play ball.  Grant Hill will man the 3 spot and he is Mr. Consistency.  He will do what he does all season.  Channing Frye will continue to get the opportunity to start, he has had ample time to find consistency in his offensive game but has not been able to prove himself on a night-to-night basis.  Robin Lopez will be the starting 5 man, he is the only real legitimate centre on the team and thus, out of necessity he will start.  The bench on this team isn’t much better than the starters.  The acquisition of Shannon Brown helps, he is the perfect fit for this system and should flourish and a 2 guard off the bench.  Ronnie Price also another off season add that fits the system nicely, but backing up Nash is not an easy thing to do and Price in my opinion is more of a 3^rd option point than a guy backing up Nasty Nash.  Telfair may also get a few looks as a backup point.  Hakim Warrick and Gortat are the lone bigs off the bench, not much they can do to change the landscape of this team, but both are serviceable productive players.  Dudley is in my opinion one of the only consistent options off the bench, he has an impeccable shot, a good defensive gritty player and deserves to get time this season.  There is not much else to be said about this team, they don’t have what it takes to compete in the western conference and I don’t think they have a shot in hell at making the playoffs. 

PHOENIX SUNS 2012 PROJECTIONS - - - This team is going nowhere anytime soon.  They have enough offensive talent to be competitive and once they face Eastern Teams regularly they will runoff a few victories, but due to the shortened schedule they won’t get an opportunity to face to many cross conference teams.  Against western powerhouse they face no chance, they don’t have the depth or size to contend at all.  It is an absolute shame that Nash is going to lead this team nowhere once again.  The Suns need to do something with this roster, my advice is trade Steve Nash and try and attain future first round draft picks and rebuild this thing from the ground up.  The Phoenix Suns will not make the playoffs this year, and due to the difference in talent compared to east bottom dwellers they won’t even get a good lottery pick.     

DENVER NUGGETS - - - I think the Nuggets have what it takes to be quite competitive this year.  I loved what they did for Mello, unfortunately they lost a key piece to that trade in Wilson Chandler when he decided to pack his bags for China.  He should return after February.  Until then they have an abundance of talent at that spot and throughout this team to stay in the playoff race.  Despite Ty Lawson being the future point guard of this team, Andre Miller should start.  The vet is an iron man, even when he is 50 years old I think he will be playing (exaggeration), nevertheless, he is a solid veteran presence who has impeccable playmaking ability and very good decision making skills.  The Nuggets re-signed Aaron Afflalo to a lucrative multi-year contract, described by George Karl as a “glue guy”, he is an exceptional scorer and above par defender who will be the starting 2 guard on this team all year.  At small forward they have young sharp-shooter Danillo Gallinari, he could be the leading scorer on this team on any given night, he needs to find a little more consistency in his offensive game and needs to improve his defensive mindset to really set his mark on this league.  The power-forward position is by far the weakest for this squad, Kenyon Martin’s departure makes way for either a youngster like Mozgov or Koufos to take spot as the starting 5 (moving Nene to his original 4 position, or George Karl could implement veteran forward Al Harrington at the power forward position although I think he is better suited coming off the bench providing a much needed scoring punch off the pine.  Nene in my books was the 2^nd best free-agent out there apart from marc Gasol.  He has an excellent low post offensive game and should be the go-to-guy on most if not all half-court sets.  The bench of the nuggets is impressive, depending on which way they go at the 4 spot they could have Harrington, Chris Andersen & Koufos as their bigs.    Ty Lawson would be the backup point guard and the subtle addition of DeMarre Carroll who was plastered on the Memphis bench since his rookie campaign will help.  If given the opportunity, he could provide some defensive grit and rebounding presence at the 3 or even the 4 spot.  The acquisition of Rudy Ferendez and Corey Brewer from the Dallas Mavericks for basically nothing was very impressive, that move made this team in my opinion.  Both guys can play either the 2 or 3 position.  Both have good offensive ability and Brewer is an exceptional perimeter defender.  This team has the youth and roster depth in order to take advantage of this shortened schedule, they have the luxury of an experienced coach who won’t allow his young team to get too down or too high, Karl will also allow this team to play their game and won’t put a lot of restrictions which I always think is advantageous for an offensively talented team.  I think the Nuggets will have ample success in the regular season but are a few moves away from doing anything serious in the post season.

DENVER NUGGETS 2012 PROJECTIONS - - - Overall this roster is impressive, they will be able to put up impressive offensive numbers and most likely finish as one of the best offensive teams in the NBA.  Their youth and exuberance will guide them to the post season.  This is one team I would not want to face if I was any of the top 4 western teams.  The roster is capable of pulling of an upset in a 7 game series.  This will be competitive bunch under the tutelage of George Karl, they are one team that actually got something for their star player unlike the Toronto Raptors and Cleveland Cavaliers, they did the right thing by getting rid of Mello at the trade deadline and their depth is proof that it is better to get something for your star, even though it may not be a fair exchange.  Orlando Magic take notice, trade Dwight and salvage the future of your team as the Nuggets did.