2005-06 Preseason Predictions (merged)

captain bill

All-Star
Preseason Predictions

Allright, the offseason is all but done. How will the NBA play out this year?


My picks:

Northwest
1.Denver
PG:Miller/Watson/Boykins
SG:Lenard
SF:Carmelo/Najera/Johnson
PF:Martin/Nene
C:Camby/Hodge
This was the toughest division to call. Lot's of middling teams, no true standout that would seem to really want to win it. Denver is deep and should be very good again this year, but Seattle will be back, Minnesota has KG and Utah will also be a team to be dealt with. In the end, Denver has got a lot of young talent and also a good amount of depth. Watson or Miller, Boykins even, will probably see big minutes at SG. This team won't suprise anyone like last year, and they won't get far in the playoffs, but the northwest looks very weak and winnable. Seattle may resurge again, but I don't think they can win the division.

2.Utah
PG:Williams/McLeod
SG:Harpring/Miles
SF:Boozer/Humphries
PF:AK
C:Okur/Ostertag
Plenty of youth all around, and last time I checked they still had Andrei Kireilinko. And Jerry Sloan, Matt Harpring and Carlos Boozer. Sloan's teams always overachieve, and this one should be no different. They will play some great D and give teams fits that underestimate them or write them off. I am very tempted to give them the division title, but Seattle and Denver will both have something to say about that. I would not be suprised to see this team be very good this year.

3.Seattle
PG:Ridnour/Collison
SG:Allen
SF:Lewis
PF:Radmonovic
C:Fortson/Petro
This is much the same team that won the division last year and made it to the 2nd round, but things are different this year. Denver is playing legit and Utah will be good, and even if they do make the playoffs they probably won't see another Sac-style disappearing act. No doubt this is a talented team and may deserve to make the playoffs, but the west is just too deep and I don't know if they can stay afloat. Tough to call where they go.

4.Minnesota
PG:Jaric/Hudson
SG:Szczerbiak/Hassell/Tskitishvilli
SF:Griffin/Madsen
PF:Garnett
C:?
I am not impressed by this team. Jaric is good, yes, but when has a PG ever carried a team to the playoffs? I don't have faith in Wally to be a real impact player, so in my mind it comes down to Jaric and Garnett trying to win it. I just don't think the pieces are in place for them to go far. Above .500, no doubt, but how far will that take them?

5.Portland
PG:Telfair/Dixon
SG:Jarrett Jack
SF:Miles/Patterson/Outlaw
PF:Randolph
C:Ratliff/Przybilla
Okay, this probably isn't how the lineup will look, sue me. I think Portland has a bright future (Jack WILL be very good in this league) but simply lack the pieces to go anywhere this year. The youth movement marches onward.

Southwest
1.San Antonio
PG:Parker/Van Exel
SG:Ginobli/Finley
SF:Bowen
PF: Duncan/Horry
C:Mohammed/Nesterovic/Oberto
Spurs has a fantastic offseason after winning it all.

2.Houston
PG:Sura/James
SG:Wesley
SF:TMac
PF:Swift/Howard
C:Yao/Mutumbo
They will be good, but nowhere near a contender. Moves have made them better but are missing the pieces to challenge San Antonio. Them and the rest of the West.

3.Dallas
PG:Terry/Harris
SG:Stackhouse/Christie/Daniels
SF:Howard
PF: Dirk/Van Horne
C: Dampier/Diop
Dallas is due for an off year. They were lucky to get out of the first round last year and will be lucky to make the playoffs this year. They will be dogged by the likes of San Antonio so they, too, can Blame Finley.

4.Memphis
PG:Stoudamire/Jackson
SG:Miller/Jones
SF:Battier
PF:Gasol/Cardinal
C:Wright
Trading Wells didn't get them a lot. BJax is going downhill and the likelihood of him playing the whole season, or anything close to that, is slim. Stoudamire will not be any sort of an answer for this team. I can't see them accomplishing anything, and will be true lottery contenders this year.

5.New Orleans
PG:Lampe?Jacobsen?Claxton
SG:JR Smith
SF:Paul/Snyder
PF:Butler
C:Magloire
Unfortunately, this team still sucks. Here's to seeing Magloire in Sactown.

Pacific
1.Sacramento
Depth and talent. Could end up with the best regular season record in the NBA, but playoffs will be a serious problem. Houston, San Antonio, Denver will look scary come playoffs.

2.Phoenix
PG:Nash/Barbosa
SG:Bell/Diaw
SF:Marion
PF:Amare
C:Thomas
This team is seriously downgraded. Yeah, they wouldn't have won a ring the way they were built, but this team is nowhere close. Bell is a major downgrade from Johnson, and Amare and Marion won't be able to run and gun in their proper positions. Scores come crashing down to earth, Phoenix struggles to hold on.

3.Clippers
PG:Cassell/Livingston
SG:Mobley
SF:Magette
PF:Brand/Korolev(?will he be there)
C:Ross/Rebraca
This is a suprisingly well built team for the Clippers. They won't make the playoffs but they will be decent. Magette and Brand are good, Mobley as we know can really help carry a team in need and Cassell still has some basketball left in him.

4.Lakers
PG:McKie
SG:Kobe
SF:Odom
PF:Brown/Slava
C:Mihm/Bynum
Sorry, Warriors fans. Kobe can will a team to win and Odom ain't bad. Beyond that this team is going nowhere fast. Mihm/Brown/Odom form maybe one of the most unimpressive frontcourts in the NBA, and make our paper boys seem like brick walls on the D end. Phil Jackson will not make them magically win anything.

5.Warriors
PG: Davis/Fisher
SG:Richardson/Peitrus
SF: Dunleavy
PF:Murphy/Diogu
C:Foyle/Biedrins
Okay, they have Davis and Richardson. They had Arenas and Hughes. That didn't win them anything either. Beyond the backcourt they having nothing, zip, nada. They also won't suprise anyone and won't be written off. Now that they are taken seriously, the Baron Davis love-fest will come to an abrupt end. There are just too many good teams in the west to imagine the Warriors making the playoffs.

West Seedings:
1.SA
2.Sac
3.Denver
4.Houston
5.Phoenix
6.Utah
7.Dallas
8.Seattle

SemiFinals:
San Antonio vs Houston
Sac vs Utah

WCF:
Spurs over Kings
 
Atlantic
1.Philly
PG:Iverson
SG:Igoudala
SF:Korver
PF:Webber/Williams
C: Dalembert/Green
Philly has got a great starting 5. Chris will be back and play well, and at the very least this team will be good enough to win the Atlantic. Probably too inexperienced to advance in the playoffs, but you never know

2.Knicks
PG:Marbury
SG:Richardson/Crawford
SF:Thomas
PF:Sweetney
C:Fyre/Williams
New York has a lot of talent. Unfortunately, it is confined to the Guard positions. Larry Brown will make this team play better than it should, but that still isn't very good. Granted, they are in the east and will have an opportunity to beat up on some weaker teams, but I wouldn't read too much into this team's sudden upsurge in popularity as a winner.

3.Boston
PG: Dickau/Banks
SG:Allen
SF:Pierce/Green/Jefferson
PF:Scalabrine
C:Blount
Gerald Green will help this team immensely, but they will resemble the first half team of last year that just wallowed in mediocrity. Have a decent future, but nothing for the present

4.New Jersey
PG:Kidd/McInnis
SG:Carter
SF:Jefferson/Buford
PF:Scalabrine/Jackson
C:Krstic/Collins
Well, they at least landed McInnis this offseason. This team is going nowhere fast, and Kidd isn't getting any younger. The rest of the Atlantic actually made moves to improve, but the Nets have firmly refused to make any quality additions to their team. This will be reflected in the product they put out on the court.

5.Toronto
PG:Alston
SG:Villanueva
SF:Rose/Graham
PF:Bosh/Williams
C:Araujo/Woods
The difference between first and last in this division is not much. Toronto has an enormous amount of talent on their hands, but I don't think that this year is the year that it shows. They will have growing pains this year, but I am expecting them to do well late in the season and potentially be a playoff team next year. It would not be out of the realm of possibility for this team to go to the playoffs this year, for how weak the bottom of the east is, but I will call them to land down here anyway. Call it a gut feeling.

Central
1.Indiana
PG:Jasikevicious/Johnson/Gill
SG:Jackson
SF:Artest
PF:O'Neal/Croshere
C: Davis/Foster/Pollard
Indiana is a deep and talented and very deadly team, and because of that I award them the best division in basketball. The starting 5 is great and they have a pretty good bench, too. They can play well on both sides of the ball and will enter the post-Reggie era on a high note. (But how sad would it be if they won a ring in his first year of retirement?)

2.Detroit
PF:Billups/Arroyo
SG:Hamilton/Mo Evans
SF:Prince
PF:Wallace/McDyess
C:Wallace/Campbell
The Pistons will continue to roll. The Pacers just rolled past them. 2 trips to the finals in two years, everyone returing, stole my favorite young King. Nuf said.

3.Cleveland
PG:Snow
SG:Hughes/Newble
SF:LBJ
PF:Marshall/Gooden
C:Z/Andriuskevicious
This is a very good team, but still missing the right pieces to succeed. A PG and PF would be much in order. Marshall is nice, yes, and they can get away with him in the east, but this team cannot stand up under pressure. They will get far, but not all the way, and will still face difficulties despite LeBron becoming even better. The main one being playing against Detroit, Indiana and Chicago.

4.Chicago
PG: Duhon/Gordon
SG:Hinrich/Piatkowski
SF:Nocioni/Griffin
PF:Chandler/Harrington
C:Curry/Deng
There is question to whether Curry will even play this year. This is still the same young talented team as last year, but everyone else has improved around them. They will steadily get better but are not in any position to challenge the 3 teams above them, at least not right now.

5.Milwaukee
PG:Bell/Williams/Welsch
SG:Redd
SF:Simmons
PF:Kukoc
C:Bogut/Gadzuric
How do you say "bust" in Australian? Simmons is a nice pickup, but dumping all that cash on Redd is a mistake. This team, at least right now, won't do much of anything. If Andrew Bogut is for real and if they add a PF and PG they might actually be a contender, but until then I will not bet on this team to accomplish anything other than beat up on Atlanta.

Southeast
1.Miami
PG:Williams/Jones
SG:Wade/Anderson
SF:Posey/Butler
PF:Walker/Haslem
C:Shaq
A great lineup, but Shaq is getting old and giving him an extension may have cost Miami a chunk of their future. The Walker experiment failed in Dallas, and I don't think JWill is going to help anyone win a ring. Sorry. Other than that this team is immensely talented and shouldn't have a problem winning their division. The east, once again, will be a different story.

2.Orlando
PG:Francis/Dooling
SG:Stevenson/Jones
SF:Hill/Augmen
PF:Howard/Hunter
C:Battie/Cato
Honestly, I just don't see anyone else stepping up and taking this spot. A weaker division and a team with a good amount of talent. Francis/Hill/Howard alone will be enough to get them up here, although I do not think Hill will play the entire season.

3.Charlotte
PG:Knight/Felton
SG:Bogans/Carroll
SF:Wallace/Kapuno
PF:Okafor/May
C:Brezec/Ely
Suprise! Charlotte is loaded with young talent and the rest of the division isn't that great.. Felton is very good, and he and Knight can form a very good PG tandem. May may slide over and see some minutes at SF, and a frontcourt of May/Okafor/Brezec is not something to take lightly. Following the Baby Bulls of last year, young talent will suprise everyone and do something big.

4.Washington
PG:Arenas/Atkins
SG:Peeler
SF:Jeffries/Hayes
PF:Jameson
C:Haywood/Thomas
Washington will get back on track and start descending back down the NBA ladder. Letting talent walk away and trading for Chucky Atkins are genrally not franchise-making moves.

5.Atlanta
The Hawks. Basement. Again

East Seedings:
1.Indiana
2.Miami
3.Philly
4.Detroit
5.Cleveland
6.Chicago
7.Orlando
8.Knicks...maybe Charlotte

2nd Round
Indiana vs. Detroit
Miami vs. Philly

ECF:
Indiana over Miami

ROY:Sean May, Gerald Green a second in the running

6th:Kenny Thomas. Van Exel, May, and Mo Evans all given consideration.

Coach of the Year: Adelman. And about damn time, too.

MVP(In order of votes):LeBron, Duncan, Jermaine O'Neal

Finals:Spurs over Pacers
MVP:Duncan




edit: I didn't mean to put that face in there, does it on its own when I type ": D." Leaving it in just because
 
where was hedo in the magic lineup? and the bulls will be better than the cavs.....
 
AriesMar27 said:
where was hedo in the magic lineup? and the bulls will be better than the cavs.....

I don't think Hedo starts unless Hill, god forbid, has another injury. Hedo be the back-up.

I don't think the Bulls will be better than the Cavs, but the Bulls will be a very good team from the start this time, and make the playoffs again.
 
You might want to reconsider playing Collison as Seattle's backup PG.
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AriesMar27 said:
where was hedo in the magic lineup? and the bulls will be better than the cavs.....

No way Bulls will be better. Lebron will finally break through this year and the Bulls will struggle at first, like last year and make the playoffs.
 
Why is Hodge at the center spot on Denver? He's a swingman. I think and hope Hodge impresses to get some solid minutes, he's a versatile player. Maybe even be the back-up...


On Seattle, you're forgetting Potapenko and Mikki Moore signed with them. Potapenko will resume his starting spot (he got injured early on last season and the whining baby took over). Fortson will be a back-up, no way he can be a starter with all those fouls. Collision at PG? He'll be the 2nd or 3rd PF off the bench. Rick Brunson backs up Ridnour. The Evans/Radmanovic situation is interesting and key for them, if they don't retain Evans, and have Radmanovic starting at PF, that's quite a weak and thin frontcourt, which is a possibility. Aside from Lewis who is fine at SF. Both Vlad and Reggie are big for the Sonics, I'm surprised they didn't get something done/agreed with them immediately after re-signing Ray Allen. If they lose one or both, their depth will be hurt, which was one of the big reasons for their success last season.


Agreed on the Warriors. Though I think they have a decent chance to make the playoffs, and should be down in the 7/8/9/10 spots most of the year.


Agreed on the Jazz too, they'll be better, and I think they make the playoffs. Deron/Harp/AK/Boozer/Okur is a really good starting five. They should have Devin Brown soon also, Spurs aren't gonna match the offer, unless they aren't keeping Brent Barry. AK can play PF, but he won't be starting there, Boozer will, who would be too slow for the SFs. Just curious, what's up there?


I think Memphis has a nice chance to make the post-season, but will be battling it out with the Warriors/Lakers/probably Sonics, for the bottom two spots. Grizzlies still have good young talent, still deep, and are still a solid team, that I think will be fun to watch and root for like in the past couple seasons.


How I think the Blazers line-up will be:
5.Portland
PG:Telfair/Jack
SG: Webster/Dixon
SF: Miles/Patterson/Outlaw
PF: Randolph
C: Ratliff/Przybilla


On the Hornets, I suspect you don't know much about their team ;) . Paul will start at PG no question, evident since they drafted him. He's also not a foward at all :p . Since they signed that Lithuanian star SG (Arvydas someone), JR Smith will be moving over to the SF spot, also was reported a couple times. Rasual Butler is nowhere near a PF, and will back-up SG/SF. Also, Lampe is a C/PF, and Casey Jacobsen is a swingman, pretty good shooter.


About the Clippers center spot, Quintin Ross is a PG, and will be the second one off the bench. Chris Kaman will still be starting at center, with Rebraca backing him up.


You got Scalabrine at Jersey too :p. I think the Nets will be a lot better than last season. Provided no major injuries, the foursome of Kidd/Carter/RJ/Krstic will be great, and have improved their bench. Krstic will continue to get better. Also, if you saw a lot of Nets games last year (I get YES, the regional network that shows them), especially in the second half, you'd know Kidd showed he's still a top PG. Also, he put up like, 6 or 7 triple doubles last season, and was close to more in a bunch of games. I think they'll be a top team in the East, and will definitely make the playoffs.


With the Knicks, you forgot they signed Jerome James, and will get the starting center spot (5-year 29 mill. deal, the biggest guy anyways). Crawford won't be benched if he stays at Knicks, so he'd start at SG, and Q-Rich starts at SF, while the older Thomas backs up Q.


On Boston PF spot, as been said and reported many times, Jefferson will start at PF (he's no SF), and indicated that this past season, especially in the playoffs. Scalabrine probably backs him up.


How come Villanueva is at SG? He's a PF, he'll be the 1st or 2nd PF off the bench.


You really think Tinsley is gone from Indy? I think it's a possibility, but he's come up very good for them the last couple seasons (well, when he was around last season). I know Sarunas is a star PG from Europe, but with Tinsley still in the picture, I don't really know. Unless you mean he's injured again.


Joe Smith will start at PF for the Bucks still, more reliable as well. Kukoc will continue to back him up. I think the Bucks will be improved, and a better team obviously. I think they could make the playoffs, but that's not a strong chance.


With the Bulls, Deng will definitely resume his starting spot at SF. He's no center ;). He's such a good player, and is versatile. He was one of the top rookies till he got injured in Jan/Feb. Nocioni slotted in for him, so he'll back Deng up.


On Miami, it's been said 2 or 3 times already by the organization and media, Haslem will continue to start at PF. While Walker will come off the bench, or start at SF. Haslem also has the advantage of doing quite well in that starting spot last season, is a better rebounder, younger, athletic, has toughness, much better FT shooter, and has been with the team for two seasons. Though Walker's size could give him an advantage. Ultimately still see Haslem there, which I think would be for the better of the team. I personally would rather see and hope Posey start at SF. Which probably doesn't happen :/.


On Wizards, you forgot that they got Caron Butler and Antonio Daniels, Atkins I'd say was mostly filler in that trade for Butler. I think the Wiz stay a good, competitive team in the East, but won't be as good as last season. I think they have a decent chance to make the playoffs again.


It's been said quite a few times Felton is going to be starting at PG, while Knight will back him up. Unless Felton has problems or Knight out-plays him well, Felton will start. Unless that's what you predicted there. On May, while it's not been said or talked about whether he'd start. I don't really know if they'll bench May, who is supposed to be a big part in the future of the franchise, and because of the UNC-connection. Unless they don't want to have Okafor at center, and Brezec is solid, which could decide that. I agree on the team.. I think the 'Cats are gonna be a good, young, fun team to watch, and will surprise. I think they'll be in the bottom playoff scene, and have a pretty decent chance to actually make it into the post-season.


On the Hawks, I actually think they could be in the bottom playoff picture of the East. But very little to no chance of actually making it.

--------------------------

BibityBobtyBoom said:
damn, you wrote all that just for the preseason?

I think he's doing picks for next season, since he's talking about divisions and post-season and depth.
 
mr. moustache said:
What about last year?

That team was absolutely decimated by injuries and still played decently for stretches. I think a better indication would be to look to the season before. No coach can perform miracles, but Sloan is still probably one of the 3 or 4 best teams in the league. Last year's Kings did poorly for long stretches of time after being shook up, but that doesn't change the fact the Adelman still gets his teams to do well.


What about Magic? Stockton? Kidd?

Those guys all had great supporting casts, and at this point in his career Jaric should not be mentioned in the same sentences as those guys. And while KG-Jaric might be good enough to earn a playoff berth and do well, I don't buy it. Jaric is a good player but lacks a lot of the traditional PG skills- passing and running an offense. He can score and play D, thus is a good role player and not the type to lead a team.
 
SF:Boozer/Humphries
PF: ak47

UGH......................... you got them twisted dude. AK47 will never be a PF.
boozer and humphries both are undersized low post players.
 
KMart23 said:
SF:Boozer/Humphries
PF: ak47

UGH......................... you got them twisted dude. AK47 will never be a PF.
boozer and humphries both are undersized low post players.

All the work Captain Bill put into that and all you can pick up on is the "twisted" positions of a couple of guys on 1 team? I thought it was a pretty good job. How about you?
 
It was a very good post, but there were a bunch of things not right and just simply in the wrong place. I think. But hey, not everyone knows every team, and makes mistakes (like the Jazz foward thing).

AK47 can play PF when they go small or for spurts.
 
Nice job Capt. and while I might not totally agree with you, i do appreciate the time and effort you put into this.
 
captain bill - You just might have to change your user name after this thread.

I'm very impressed with the amount of thought and effort you put into it. I'm hereby awarding you a field promotion from

captain bill

to

MAJOR BILL!!

;)
 
nice input, analysis Cpt...erm...Major Bill

as mentioned, i saw some major discrepencies for the rosters (deng at C, AK at PF, Ross at C/no Kaman, Scalabrine on two teams, Villanueva at SG, no Hedo, Gordon not starting, switching Stevenson & Francis) (<-the semi-anal side of me)

anyways, nice job. Lots of thought put into these. *applause*

I did this sort of thing for last year. I take pride in thinking the Pacers would bomb, the Suns would rise, LAL would crash and burn, and Denver doing well (ok, so i was only partially right :D ). lol.
 
2005-2006 season predictions?

western:
1. spurs (nice additions, especially at SG)
2. kings (also nice additions, more heart)
3. suns (continued from last season. loss of johnson key, though)
4. denver (ended on a good vibe. kept same lineup)
5. houston (t-mac is nice. yao could step up, though)
6. seattle (pull it together again?)
7. golden state (richardson + baron = YES)
8. dallas (er...)
9. minnesota (more of last season i predict)
10. memphis (offseason selfdestruct in 5.. 4.. 3.. 2..)
11. la clippers (gettin better every year)
12. la lakers (neck and neck with clippers, but need more talent)
13. utah (ak-47 needs more help)
14. portland (mmm, drugs.. huh? what? trailblazers?)
15. new orleans (wow they suck. but i feel for them after katrina)
 
Warriors are up too high, and Grizz and T'Wolves and Mavs are too low. Baron Davis has also gotta stay healthy.

Loss of Q-Rich from the Suns was also key ;).
 
Kings113 said:
Warriors are up too high, and Grizz and T'Wolves and Mavs are too low. Baron Davis has also gotta stay healthy.

Loss of Q-Rich from the Suns was also key ;).

There's another team that is too high on that list. ;)


And people seem to keep on ignoring the fact the Mavs won 58 last year.
 
captain bill said:
[Stockton, Magic and Kidd] all had great supporting casts...
What "great supporting cast" did Stockton ever have besides Karl Malone? Jeff Hornacek? Bryon Russell? Horsefeathers, I say! And the same with Kidd: he's never had a teammate as good as Kevin Garnett in his entire career.

Errors aside, I can see that you put a lot of thought into this, so good on you, even if I disagree with a lot of it... I have to call a foul on your prediction for Chicago, though; I mean, I'm supposed to believe that a team that didn't lose any key players, and just added depth to their frontcourt, is going to go from fourth in the east to fourth in their own division? I can't see it.
 
Bricklayer said:
There's another team that is too high on that list. ;)


And people seem to keep on ignoring the fact the Mavs won 58 last year.

Mostly agreed. I think the Kings will be in the 3-5 area, so left it alone. If it's two, I'll be pretty surprised.

Mavs I don't know how they'll be, nor do I care about them outside of Josh Howard and Marquis Daniels. Christie, I guess, I don't see him starting though, and if he does I think it could back-fire.
 
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i respect the time u took to make the post but dont completly agree with all of your rankings...personally i dont see that the kings will have the best record in the nba at all, even second place in the west is a bit high...furthermore, the nets even without abdur-rahim are still better than boston and the knicks...i also think ur putting a little too much faith in indiana and philly and not enough in the loaded heat or the proven pistons...overall though, i think i def agree with what you are generally saying
 
Heat are loaded and will be great, but I think defense and all the names/talent they got could hurt them (not making the playoffs isn't what I mean of course). Pacers are a deep team, can play both ends of the floor well, and with Artest back will have a season like 03-04. Anyone who thinks there'll be another suspension for Artest is dreaming. Pistons I think are still a force, but I don't think will be as good in the playoffs with Flip. Sixers will be better than last season obviously, but I don't think are a contender in the East. I do though, think they're on the same level as the Nets, and winning their division. Pacers are my personal pick and hope to win the East. Heat I think have a great chance too.
 
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Great post captain, and I agree about Jaric, he is way overated by people around here. The guy is a decent point guard who doesn't make to many mistakes, but nothing more. There have been PG's who have carried their team into the playoffs, just none at Jarics talent level. I don't agree with all of your rankings, but a lot of them. Good work.
 
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