Post by 20/20/20/20 on Nov 8, 2010 21:47:10 GMT -5
O let do it.
Utah Jazz
Projected Record: 52-30
How they'll beat you: Rebounding, Defense, Scoring Big Men - This is the best rebounding team in the league, and their trio of Dirk, Darko, and JO are nearly unstoppable on the offensive and defensive end down low
How you can beat them: Throw off their team chemistry or be the Boston Celtics - I don't really see many weaknesses on this team. They did have a hole at SG but Terry will fill that spot well. Pray that it simply doesn't come together like last year.
Last year's blockbuster acquisitions of Dirk and Jermaine O'Neal didn't turn out how the Jazz GM (and prognosticators like myself) envisioned as they fell just short of making the postseason. But the gang is back for another year and this year's big offseason addition is Darko Milicic. The new-look Jazz already playing with fire and off to a much better start.
Add in today's big news of the trade with the Mavericks, and even more talent is coming to Salt Lake. This is clearly the most talented team out West, but we saw last year that having the most talent doesn't necessarily equal having the most success. The only question for the Jazz is how Terry and Bogut will fit in on their squad. Terry will be a nice upgrade at SG and Bogut will have a limited role off the bench so I expect the Jazz to keep on rolling... all the way to the 1 seed at the end of the season. Prove me right this time, Jazz!
Phoenix Suns
Projected Record: 51-31
How they'll beat you: Scoring & Depth - This team is filled with players that can score, they currently have 6 players averaging 12 points or more per game.
How you can beat them: Stop their big men - I feel like a team like the Jazz can beat the Suns due to their tremendous inside defense... if you can shut down Amare and Curry and force the guards to score for Phoenix, you have a better chance to win.
How you can beat them:
After finishing with the best record in the West last year, the Suns lost to the eventual champion Grizzlies in the Western Conference Finals. Subtract Carlos Boozer and a few vets, add rookie Anthony Tolliver, FA signing Bonzi Wells, and a few other vets and the Suns are loaded once again. I think the Suns finish at the top of the West, in the dogpile with the Jazz and a few others. The final order could go many ways, but I have the Suns finishing in the 2 seed.
Los Angeles Clippers
Projected Record: 50-32
How they'll beat you: Baron Davis. - I don't want to call the Clippers a one man show, but as B-Diddy goes, the Clips go. If Baron Davis brings his A-game, good luck pulling out a win.
How you can beat them: Rebound the ball, slow the pace - The Clippers are not a good rebounding team. For a team that plays such high paced games, they still only average 53 rebounds per contest. If you can grab a large majority of the rebounds and slow the pace to a crawl, the Clippers might sputter.
The Clippers upgraded the C position in a big way this offseason by dealing for Samuel Dalembert. He provides much needed defense and rebounding down low. Other offseason acquisitions include Mickael Pietrus who came over from the Celtics. Baron Davis is still a stud and they have surrounded him with even more talented guards by adding Julius Hodge, Keyon Dooling and Corey Maggette in the past two seasons. The guard depth on this team is incredible but they are still a little weak inside due to Hakim Warrick's disappointing development. This team is absolutely on fire right now and I expect them too cool off some, but still finish near the top of the West.
Minnesota Fighting Kahns
Projected Record: 48-34
How they'll beat you: LeBron will score and everyone else plays their role - LeBron James is the best offensive weapon in the league and he will likely score 35+ on a nightly basis. This is a team with individual players who each have a specific skill and duty for the team, if Camby plays defense and rebounds, if Jackson plays the complimentary role, if Barkley handles the ball well and feeds LeBron, they will beat you.
How you can beat them: Dominate their 2nd unit - The Wolves bench isn't bad, but it isn't great and if you are able to exploit the 2nd unit by going on a few runs against their bench you might be able to open up a lead that is too big for the starters to overcome.
Talk about a quick turnaround. After posting the worst record in league history in 2006, the Wolves made the biggest splash in the entire offseason by stealing LeBron James away from the Knicks. Led by their new superstar, the Wolves look poised to grab a top 4 seed in the West just a season after losing 70 games. Credit goes to GM Ian Boyd and the sim gods for delivering King James. The Wolves have almost a completely new roster highlighted by other free agent signees Marc Jackson and Erick Barkley as well as impact rookies Corey Brewer and Mike Conley. This team will make some noise this season, but I see their real window of opportunity opening up as Conley and Brewer develop in the next few seasons.
Los Angeles Lakers
Projected Record: 45-37
How they'll beat you: Star Power: Billups and Lewis will average 55+ a night and Humphrey is a beast defensively and on the glass.
How you can beat them: Attack their weaknesses at SG and C... for a team that is set up so well at PG, SF, and PF, the Lakers are relatively weak at SG and C, especially compared to the rest of the top teams in the West.
The last of the true contenders out West, the Lakers are off to a disappointing start after a fantastic 2006 season. They traded off their young guys with potential in order to bring in Chauncey Billups and Rashard Lewis and the moved paid dividends as the Lakers ended up with the 3 seed out West. After losing to the eventual champion Memphis Grizzlies in the 2nd round, Laker fans had big dreams for '07. I expect the team to turn it around but they might be too far off the pace to earn themselves home court in the 1st round of the playoffs.
Houston Rockets
Projected Record: 42-40
How they'll beat you: Scoring in the Paint - The Rockets have a multitude of players who are great inside scorers.
How you can beat them: Have an elite SF who can score - Big Weakness at SF in Houston
Flying under the radar like always are the Houston Rockets. One of only 3 teams to make the playoffs every season so far (along with the Celtics and Clippers) the Rockets never generate a lot of buzz in the league. Always in the playoffs, never a true contender seems to be the story in Houston. Ever since being swept in the Finals by the Magic, the Rockets have sputtered in the postseason. I don't expect this year to be any different with the Rockets finishing somewhere between the 6 and 8 seed and exiting in the 1st round of the playoffs. The big contracts of Carter, Stoudamire and McDyess limit the type of moves this team can make as well.
Memphis Grizzlies
Projected Record: 42-40
How they will beat you: They find that championship mojo from the 2006 team
How you can beat them: Have good scorers inside. The Grizzlies' defense at PF and C is very bad.
The defending champ Grizzlies apparently took the offseason off and their team is paying the price this year. After re-upping TJ Ford and letting Chris Kaman walk, the team was left with two elite PGs and one starting PG spot. Scatman's solution: move Steve Nash to SG, McGrady to SF, Marvin Williams to PF, and Troy Murphy to C. That was a lot of moving and shaking for a team that just won the championship. The changes seem to be hurting the team so far and they are off to a bad start. I think they will turn it around somewhat but still end up in the bottom of the playoff picture. The Grizzlies have some work to do if they want to avoid the title of "one year wonder".
Seattle Supersonics
Projected Record: 38-44
How they'll beat you: Barbosa, Jones, and West lead a Major League style revolt against and sabotage their owner's attempts at losing
How you can beat them:They don't.
The Sonics are trying to tank in 07 after trading away many of their stars. The problem is: their roster is still better than most of the West. Resigning David West might look like a mistake for the money he was given, but West and Barbosa will keep this team around .400 and that might be enough to make the playoffs this year. Bad news for the GM.
Golden State Warriors
Projected Record: 33-49
How they will beat you: You are a lottery team.
How you can beat them: You are a playoff team.
An anomaly in my projections, the GM-less Warriors come in at the 8 seed with a pathetic 33-49 record. Obviously, I expect the 8 seed to actually post a record better than 33-49, I just don't know which of the bottom feeders in the West will step up and exceed my expectations. The Warriors seem as good of a bet as any with elite talent like Devin Harris, Pau Gasol, and Francisco Garcia. Really, it is surprising that the Warriors have performed as poorly as they have the last couple seasons. Don't be shocked to see them 6-8 games under .500 and in the playoffs.
San Antonio Spurs
Projected Record: 33-49
Mike Dunleavy is on a mission to get the Spurs into the playoffs. After receiving heaps and heaps of hate mail and death threats due to signing a monster deal with the Spurs, Dunleavy is proving the doubters wrong by putting up monster stats once again in 2007. The Spurs are the only team in the Western Conference who have never made the playoffs, and this year is a great chance for them to change that as after the top 6 teams in the West, it is anyone's guess what happens.
Sacramento Kings
Projected Record: 32-50
Kings fans have had a rough year. After their GM traded the star of their championship team in Jermaine O'Neal, fans were promised a new championship contender built around young PF Chris Bosh. Well, Bosh didn't like what he was seeing in Sacramento and bolted for the nation's capitol. The Kings are now a mess, a mix of aging guards in Kidd and Stackhouse and young bigs with Noah and Haywood. The team definitely has some talent and could find themselves in the playoffs with a little luck. But the mojo isn't good in Sac-town and the results have shown no signs of change thus far.
Portland Trailblazers
Projected Record: 31-51
Seems like the Blazers are always a lotto team. They have added some talent in the past few free agent periods but still lack the depth that the top teams out West have. Portland needs Mike Bibby to step up and earn his money if they want to make the playoffs. Heralded by some as the 2nd best player in the league, Bibby has performed far from that in Portland. If Bibby steps up and puts the team on his back, I could see the Blazers in the 8 seed out West. Problem is Bibby has never done that and I expect the Blazers to find themselves in the lottery once again. Good news for Blazers fans: they finally have their own 1st rounder this year.
Denver Nuggets
Projected Record: 27-55
Players are on a carousel in Denver where the Nuggets have once again changed the core of their team. Dumping the big contracts of Rasheed Wallace, Shaquille O'Neal and Stephen Jackson, the Nuggets of 2007 look nothing like the star studded lineup of 2006. While they will have more cap flexibility in a few years, this year's team will struggle compared to the playoff team from 2006. The Jazz GM, owner of the Nuggets 08 1st round pick is pleased.
Dallas Mavericks
Projected Record: 25-57
The Mavericks already sucked and now they have initiated a firesale. That spells a lot of losses and a tough year in Dallas. In a move never before seen in the sim league, the Mavs traded their 1st rounder in the year that they decided to tank. The decison to give the Jazz their 08 1st rounder makes no sense and has left some Mavs fans wondering what direction their franchise is headed. Plenty of children in the Big D are using their Rafael Araujo jerseys to wipe away tears tonight.
Playoffs:
1.
8.
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4.
5.
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3.
6.
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2.
7.
All Western Conference 1st Team:
C: Jermaine O'Neal, Utah
PF: Amare Stoudemire, Phoenix
SF: LeBron James, Minnesota
SG: Vince Carter, Houston
PG: Baron Davis, Los Angeles
2nd Team:
C: Eddy Curry, Phoenix
PF: Pau Gasol, Golden State
SF: Dirk Nowitzki, Utah
SG: Steve Francis, Phoenix
PG: Chauncey Billups, Los Angeles
3rd Team:
C: Rafael Araujo, Dallas
PF: Darko Mlicic, Utah
SF: Tracy McGrady, Memphis
SG: Julius Hodge, Los Angeles
PG: Devin Harris, Golden State
Utah Jazz
Projected Record: 52-30
How they'll beat you: Rebounding, Defense, Scoring Big Men - This is the best rebounding team in the league, and their trio of Dirk, Darko, and JO are nearly unstoppable on the offensive and defensive end down low
How you can beat them: Throw off their team chemistry or be the Boston Celtics - I don't really see many weaknesses on this team. They did have a hole at SG but Terry will fill that spot well. Pray that it simply doesn't come together like last year.
Last year's blockbuster acquisitions of Dirk and Jermaine O'Neal didn't turn out how the Jazz GM (and prognosticators like myself) envisioned as they fell just short of making the postseason. But the gang is back for another year and this year's big offseason addition is Darko Milicic. The new-look Jazz already playing with fire and off to a much better start.
Add in today's big news of the trade with the Mavericks, and even more talent is coming to Salt Lake. This is clearly the most talented team out West, but we saw last year that having the most talent doesn't necessarily equal having the most success. The only question for the Jazz is how Terry and Bogut will fit in on their squad. Terry will be a nice upgrade at SG and Bogut will have a limited role off the bench so I expect the Jazz to keep on rolling... all the way to the 1 seed at the end of the season. Prove me right this time, Jazz!
Phoenix Suns
Projected Record: 51-31
How they'll beat you: Scoring & Depth - This team is filled with players that can score, they currently have 6 players averaging 12 points or more per game.
How you can beat them: Stop their big men - I feel like a team like the Jazz can beat the Suns due to their tremendous inside defense... if you can shut down Amare and Curry and force the guards to score for Phoenix, you have a better chance to win.
How you can beat them:
After finishing with the best record in the West last year, the Suns lost to the eventual champion Grizzlies in the Western Conference Finals. Subtract Carlos Boozer and a few vets, add rookie Anthony Tolliver, FA signing Bonzi Wells, and a few other vets and the Suns are loaded once again. I think the Suns finish at the top of the West, in the dogpile with the Jazz and a few others. The final order could go many ways, but I have the Suns finishing in the 2 seed.
Los Angeles Clippers
Projected Record: 50-32
How they'll beat you: Baron Davis. - I don't want to call the Clippers a one man show, but as B-Diddy goes, the Clips go. If Baron Davis brings his A-game, good luck pulling out a win.
How you can beat them: Rebound the ball, slow the pace - The Clippers are not a good rebounding team. For a team that plays such high paced games, they still only average 53 rebounds per contest. If you can grab a large majority of the rebounds and slow the pace to a crawl, the Clippers might sputter.
The Clippers upgraded the C position in a big way this offseason by dealing for Samuel Dalembert. He provides much needed defense and rebounding down low. Other offseason acquisitions include Mickael Pietrus who came over from the Celtics. Baron Davis is still a stud and they have surrounded him with even more talented guards by adding Julius Hodge, Keyon Dooling and Corey Maggette in the past two seasons. The guard depth on this team is incredible but they are still a little weak inside due to Hakim Warrick's disappointing development. This team is absolutely on fire right now and I expect them too cool off some, but still finish near the top of the West.
Minnesota Fighting Kahns
Projected Record: 48-34
How they'll beat you: LeBron will score and everyone else plays their role - LeBron James is the best offensive weapon in the league and he will likely score 35+ on a nightly basis. This is a team with individual players who each have a specific skill and duty for the team, if Camby plays defense and rebounds, if Jackson plays the complimentary role, if Barkley handles the ball well and feeds LeBron, they will beat you.
How you can beat them: Dominate their 2nd unit - The Wolves bench isn't bad, but it isn't great and if you are able to exploit the 2nd unit by going on a few runs against their bench you might be able to open up a lead that is too big for the starters to overcome.
Talk about a quick turnaround. After posting the worst record in league history in 2006, the Wolves made the biggest splash in the entire offseason by stealing LeBron James away from the Knicks. Led by their new superstar, the Wolves look poised to grab a top 4 seed in the West just a season after losing 70 games. Credit goes to GM Ian Boyd and the sim gods for delivering King James. The Wolves have almost a completely new roster highlighted by other free agent signees Marc Jackson and Erick Barkley as well as impact rookies Corey Brewer and Mike Conley. This team will make some noise this season, but I see their real window of opportunity opening up as Conley and Brewer develop in the next few seasons.
Los Angeles Lakers
Projected Record: 45-37
How they'll beat you: Star Power: Billups and Lewis will average 55+ a night and Humphrey is a beast defensively and on the glass.
How you can beat them: Attack their weaknesses at SG and C... for a team that is set up so well at PG, SF, and PF, the Lakers are relatively weak at SG and C, especially compared to the rest of the top teams in the West.
The last of the true contenders out West, the Lakers are off to a disappointing start after a fantastic 2006 season. They traded off their young guys with potential in order to bring in Chauncey Billups and Rashard Lewis and the moved paid dividends as the Lakers ended up with the 3 seed out West. After losing to the eventual champion Memphis Grizzlies in the 2nd round, Laker fans had big dreams for '07. I expect the team to turn it around but they might be too far off the pace to earn themselves home court in the 1st round of the playoffs.
Houston Rockets
Projected Record: 42-40
How they'll beat you: Scoring in the Paint - The Rockets have a multitude of players who are great inside scorers.
How you can beat them: Have an elite SF who can score - Big Weakness at SF in Houston
Flying under the radar like always are the Houston Rockets. One of only 3 teams to make the playoffs every season so far (along with the Celtics and Clippers) the Rockets never generate a lot of buzz in the league. Always in the playoffs, never a true contender seems to be the story in Houston. Ever since being swept in the Finals by the Magic, the Rockets have sputtered in the postseason. I don't expect this year to be any different with the Rockets finishing somewhere between the 6 and 8 seed and exiting in the 1st round of the playoffs. The big contracts of Carter, Stoudamire and McDyess limit the type of moves this team can make as well.
Memphis Grizzlies
Projected Record: 42-40
How they will beat you: They find that championship mojo from the 2006 team
How you can beat them: Have good scorers inside. The Grizzlies' defense at PF and C is very bad.
The defending champ Grizzlies apparently took the offseason off and their team is paying the price this year. After re-upping TJ Ford and letting Chris Kaman walk, the team was left with two elite PGs and one starting PG spot. Scatman's solution: move Steve Nash to SG, McGrady to SF, Marvin Williams to PF, and Troy Murphy to C. That was a lot of moving and shaking for a team that just won the championship. The changes seem to be hurting the team so far and they are off to a bad start. I think they will turn it around somewhat but still end up in the bottom of the playoff picture. The Grizzlies have some work to do if they want to avoid the title of "one year wonder".
Seattle Supersonics
Projected Record: 38-44
How they'll beat you: Barbosa, Jones, and West lead a Major League style revolt against and sabotage their owner's attempts at losing
How you can beat them:They don't.
The Sonics are trying to tank in 07 after trading away many of their stars. The problem is: their roster is still better than most of the West. Resigning David West might look like a mistake for the money he was given, but West and Barbosa will keep this team around .400 and that might be enough to make the playoffs this year. Bad news for the GM.
Golden State Warriors
Projected Record: 33-49
How they will beat you: You are a lottery team.
How you can beat them: You are a playoff team.
An anomaly in my projections, the GM-less Warriors come in at the 8 seed with a pathetic 33-49 record. Obviously, I expect the 8 seed to actually post a record better than 33-49, I just don't know which of the bottom feeders in the West will step up and exceed my expectations. The Warriors seem as good of a bet as any with elite talent like Devin Harris, Pau Gasol, and Francisco Garcia. Really, it is surprising that the Warriors have performed as poorly as they have the last couple seasons. Don't be shocked to see them 6-8 games under .500 and in the playoffs.
San Antonio Spurs
Projected Record: 33-49
Mike Dunleavy is on a mission to get the Spurs into the playoffs. After receiving heaps and heaps of hate mail and death threats due to signing a monster deal with the Spurs, Dunleavy is proving the doubters wrong by putting up monster stats once again in 2007. The Spurs are the only team in the Western Conference who have never made the playoffs, and this year is a great chance for them to change that as after the top 6 teams in the West, it is anyone's guess what happens.
Sacramento Kings
Projected Record: 32-50
Kings fans have had a rough year. After their GM traded the star of their championship team in Jermaine O'Neal, fans were promised a new championship contender built around young PF Chris Bosh. Well, Bosh didn't like what he was seeing in Sacramento and bolted for the nation's capitol. The Kings are now a mess, a mix of aging guards in Kidd and Stackhouse and young bigs with Noah and Haywood. The team definitely has some talent and could find themselves in the playoffs with a little luck. But the mojo isn't good in Sac-town and the results have shown no signs of change thus far.
Portland Trailblazers
Projected Record: 31-51
Seems like the Blazers are always a lotto team. They have added some talent in the past few free agent periods but still lack the depth that the top teams out West have. Portland needs Mike Bibby to step up and earn his money if they want to make the playoffs. Heralded by some as the 2nd best player in the league, Bibby has performed far from that in Portland. If Bibby steps up and puts the team on his back, I could see the Blazers in the 8 seed out West. Problem is Bibby has never done that and I expect the Blazers to find themselves in the lottery once again. Good news for Blazers fans: they finally have their own 1st rounder this year.
Denver Nuggets
Projected Record: 27-55
Players are on a carousel in Denver where the Nuggets have once again changed the core of their team. Dumping the big contracts of Rasheed Wallace, Shaquille O'Neal and Stephen Jackson, the Nuggets of 2007 look nothing like the star studded lineup of 2006. While they will have more cap flexibility in a few years, this year's team will struggle compared to the playoff team from 2006. The Jazz GM, owner of the Nuggets 08 1st round pick is pleased.
Dallas Mavericks
Projected Record: 25-57
The Mavericks already sucked and now they have initiated a firesale. That spells a lot of losses and a tough year in Dallas. In a move never before seen in the sim league, the Mavs traded their 1st rounder in the year that they decided to tank. The decison to give the Jazz their 08 1st rounder makes no sense and has left some Mavs fans wondering what direction their franchise is headed. Plenty of children in the Big D are using their Rafael Araujo jerseys to wipe away tears tonight.
Playoffs:
1.
8.
---------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------
4.
5.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.
6.
---------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------
2.
7.
All Western Conference 1st Team:
C: Jermaine O'Neal, Utah
PF: Amare Stoudemire, Phoenix
SF: LeBron James, Minnesota
SG: Vince Carter, Houston
PG: Baron Davis, Los Angeles
2nd Team:
C: Eddy Curry, Phoenix
PF: Pau Gasol, Golden State
SF: Dirk Nowitzki, Utah
SG: Steve Francis, Phoenix
PG: Chauncey Billups, Los Angeles
3rd Team:
C: Rafael Araujo, Dallas
PF: Darko Mlicic, Utah
SF: Tracy McGrady, Memphis
SG: Julius Hodge, Los Angeles
PG: Devin Harris, Golden State
