Predict-a-Bulls

[knightni]

Fantasy-wise, Rose, Noah, and Thomas are all due for breakout seasons.

[ZoomSlowik]

Fantasy-wise, Rose, Noah, and Thomas are all due for breakout seasons.

 

I would actually say Rose is the polar opposite of Thomas: he makes a FAR bigger impact in real basketball than fantasy basketball. He doesn't really hit 3's or get steals, and he's only an okay free throw shooter. That's three categories that really hurt him and are also typically the main categories you look for in point guards (with assists obviously). He really has to average at least 20-10 with a FG% around 50 to have top-30 fantasy value, that's a lot to ask. Just look where Tony Parker rates with a relatively similar statistical profile.

 

I really didn't intend to turn this into a fantasy thread.

Edited October 24, 2009 by ZoomSlowik

[DBAHO]

I thought it was weird to see that many teams with winning records, but your records are extremely far from possible. Every division has a combined winning record. The entire league is 206 games over .500. Take several wins from every one and you are getting closer.

I knew someone was going to say that.

[ZoomSlowik]

Getting back on track a bit, I'll also post my league predictions, with spaces representing tiers.

 

East

 

1) Boston

2) Orlando

3) Cleveland

 

4) Atlanta

5) Toronto

6) Miami

 

7) Washington

8) Chicago

9) Philly

 

10) Detroit

11) Indiana

12) New Jersey

13) Charlotte

14) New York

15) Milwaukee

 

West

 

1) Los Angeles Lakers

2) San Antonio

 

3) Portland

4) Denver

5) Dallas

6) New Orleans

7) Utah

8) Phoenix

 

9) Oklahoma City

10) Los Angeles Clippers

11) Golden State

12) Houston

 

13) Minnesota

14) Memphis

15) Sacramento

 

Conference Finals

 

Boston over Magic in 7 (prediction varies heavily with health)

LA over San Antonio in 6

 

Finals

 

Lakers over Celtics in 7

 

MVP- Lebron

ROY- Griffin

MIP- Anthony Randolph if Don Nelson actually lets him play

6th man- Gordon

Edited October 24, 2009 by ZoomSlowik

[Balta1701]

I would like to cheer you on for leaving out Detroit.

[danman31]

You forgot Detroit. Also, what makes you think the Thunder will be 9th? That's a big jump, even for a team with a lot of young talent unless you talking a big drop off from Phoenix.

[DBAHO]

You forgot Detroit. Also, what makes you think the Thunder will be 9th? That's a big jump, even for a team with a lot of young talent unless you talking a big drop off from Phoenix.

I'm bullish on the Thunder, think somewhere around 35 wins is certainly possible for them, especially with Scotty Brooks coaching them.

 

Durant, Westbrook and Green should naturally progress, Kristic you'd expect to be a little better this season, but they also need more depth and don't have much beef down low.

[Balta1701]

You forgot Detroit. Also, what makes you think the Thunder will be 9th? That's a big jump, even for a team with a lot of young talent unless you talking a big drop off from Phoenix.

I could totally see the Thunder making noise this year and a big dropoff from Phoenix as well.

[ZoomSlowik]

You forgot Detroit. Also, what makes you think the Thunder will be 9th? That's a big jump, even for a team with a lot of young talent unless you talking a big drop off from Phoenix.

 

That's what I get for editing. <_>

 

Not sure what you mean about the Phoenix part, I have them in 8th.

 

As for OKC, that has as much to do with the general crapiness of the lower tier of the west as it does with them. Golden State took 10th last year with only 29 wins, OKC won 23 last year. I don't see it taking anywhere near 46 wins to take 9th this year like Phoenix had last year, not with Houston losing Yao for the year and T-Mac appearing to be on his last legs. Durant is an elite scorer, Westbrook has star potential at the point, and Green and Harden are impressive 3rd/4th options.

 

The Clippers are probably the 9th most talented teams but I'm factoring in some injuries, the Rockets just don't seem to have enough talent to survive without Yao, Memphis and Golden State are a mess chemistry-wise (what the hell is Nellie thinking with Maggette at PF?), and Minnesota and Sacramento are just bad.

[whitesoxfan101]

I actually think OKC will make the playoffs as the #8 seed. I expect a huge dropoff from Phoenix, and that 8th spot is there for the taking if the Thunder can get good play out of their young talent. It would be a great story, and I hope it works out for them.

 

As for the Bulls, they are going to be a very similar team to last year, a .500, border line playoff team. Hopefully we see good things out of Johnson and Gibson, hopefully Noah and Thomas show something, and hopefully Derrick Rose can get and stay healthy. I think Deng will be a good surprise and Salmons a bad one, and the Bulls will actually have a better frontcourt than backcourt for once.

 

To me, Cleveland, Boston, LA, and the Spurs are the 4 best teams in the league by far. I expect a dropoff from Orlando, and I also am not sure Portland is as good as people think (they'll be in the playoffs, but I am not sure they are the 3rd best team in the West).

Edited October 24, 2009 by whitesoxfan101

[knightni]

I could totally see the Thunder making noise this year and a big dropoff from Phoenix as well.

 

 

[whitesoxfan101]

Yeah I noticed that too knightni. And btw, if I am wrong about the Thunder making the playoffs, it might be the Clippers making that jump instead. Either way, you will be shocked by one West playoff team IMO.

[Jordan4life_2007]

Man, you probably have to go back to the mid 80's to recall the top teams being so devastatingly deep/talented in comparison to the rest of the league. The Lakers, Spurs, Celtics, Cavs and Magic are all, at least on paper, COMPLETELY STACKED! The Lakers, as much as it pains me to say, have to be considered the favorite. They have the fewest questions marks and added an all-star in Ron Artest (although I think they would be every bit as good had they resigned Ariza instead). The Spurs are a big wildcard. IF (big f***ing IF) Manu and Duncan are healthy all year, they're every bit as good as the Lakers, IMO. When Richard Jefferson is your 4th best player, you're the s***. And I love the McDyess/Blair additions. That pretty much takes care of the west. Ain't nobody else close.

 

For the east? The Celtics, like the Spurs, are the wildcard. IF healthy, they're the class of the conference. They've got the best starting 5 in the game and a much better bench to compliment it than they had last year. I keep flip-flopping between the Cavs and Magic. The Cavs obviously have the best player on earth in Lebron. And if Shaq is the Shaq from last season, he makes them better. But it's hard to go against Dwight Howard, Vince Carter and a healthy Jameer Nelson. Their overall depth is insane. They legitimately go 12 deep. If the Celtics are healthy, they're my pick in the east. If not, I'm goin' with the Magic. Spurs over Celtics in the finals. But the safest pick is obviously the Lakers.

 

As for the Bulls? 41-41. I think Dick Allen said it best. This is a team stuck in pure mediocrity for the moment. A playoff team for sure. But that's it. However, I will enjoy, hopefully, watching the evolution of Derrick Rose.

Edited October 24, 2009 by Jordan4life

[southsider2k5]

Bulls 37-45 and miss the playoffs by two games.

[SockMe]

The pre-season got me kind of excited, ill go 50-32

[MurcieOne]

The pre-season got me kind of excited, ill go 50-32

 

I don't think the Bulls miss Ben Gordon much, Loul drives us crazy, and Salmons continues his impressive play. 48 wins.

[Steve9347]

I think predicting anything more than 43 wins is patently nuts, but that's just me.

[Kyyle23]

I think predicting anything more than 43 wins is patently nuts, but that's just me.

 

just remember how much we all doubted this team last year and how much fun it was to follow them at the end of the season through the playoffs.

 

Im not expecting Championships at all, but I think they will be a lot more competitive than most people believe.

[Steve9347]

just remember how much we all doubted this team last year and how much fun it was to follow them at the end of the season through the playoffs.

 

Im not expecting Championships at all, but I think they will be a lot more competitive than most people believe.

They got rid of their best scorer. That will make a difference.

[Jordan4life_2007]

They got rid of their best scorer. That will make a difference.

 

What's the saying? "You never know what you have until it's gone"? I can't wait until the same meatheads who consistently tore down and degraded BG while he was here start b****ing and moaning about lack of scoring and outside shooting.

[Steve9347]

What's the saying? "You never know what you have until it's gone"? I can't wait until the same meatheads who consistently tore down and degraded BG while he was here start b****ing and moaning about lack of scoring and outside shooting.

Exactly.

 

I didn't want to pay him what he wanted, but we'll miss the little bastard.

[ChWRoCk2]

Been meaning to post my predictions but have been busy.

 

These are prior to to the first set of games, fwiw.

 

East

 

Atlantic

Boston Celtics - If healthy this team wins the East.

Toronto Raptors - Hedo and DeRozan should bring more versatility, could use a scoring option off the bench

Philadelphia 76ers - An Elton Brand injury away from not being a factor

New Jersey Nets - Should be a fun team to watch with Lee, CDR, TWill and Harris, too young to make playoffs jump yet

New York Knicks - Utah will be their biggest fans and the Knicks imo are in the bottom 3 in the league

 

Central

Cleveland Cavaliers - Additions of Parker, Moon, Shaq should give Lebron some help, doesn't improve them enough to win the East though.

Chicago Bulls - Losing Gordon's scoring touch hurts but Deng coming back fully healthy and Johnson and Gibsons strong preseason play helps me remain real optimistic for the Bulls this year

Detroit Pistons - Question for me is who is going to score consistently on this team?

Milwaukee Bucks - Need a healthy Redd. Interesting to see Jennings transition to the NBA from Europe, if that goes well I'd expect that to have an effect on college prospects going into HS.

Indiana Pacers - Need their guards to play well, I like the chances of Rush and Hibbert having a solid year for them. Price and Tyler should see the court early this season.

 

Southeast

Orlando Magic - Magic will have much more competition this year in the division. Deepest team in the East, their backups could probably beat the Knicks.

Atlanta Hawks - This team will score and they finally have some options off the bench in Teague, Crawford and the vet Joe Smith. One of my sleepers to win the East.

Washington Wizards - As long as Arenas is healthy this team will make the playoffs. Foye and Miller were solid adds, they were a potential playoff team without Arenas, Foye and Miller the past couple years and should be a top 5 team in the East with them. Another sleeper to win East.

Miami Heat - I don't feel they have improved, all the talk over the offseason of Boozer joining them ended a disappointing offseason, Wade needs more help around him.

Charlotte Bobcats - Quit while you can Larry Brown. Gerald Wallace will have to carry this team by himself, MJ continues to ruin this team imo.

 

East:

Orlando

Boston

Cleveland

Atlanta

Washington

Chicago

Miami

Toronto

 

Detroit

Philadelphia

New Jersey

Milwaukee

Charlotte

Indiana

New York

 

West

 

Southwest

San Antonio Spurs - Deepest team in the West, had a great offseason, could give LA a run for their money.

Dallas Mavericks - Still waiting for them to add the center they have been needing for so long. Marion helps this roster a lot if healthy and Gooden was a quiet good addition.

New Orleans Hornets - Hornets are not getting any better, I feel Chandler is a better fit for this team than Okafor. Paul will need to carry them into the playoffs. Could be a breakout year for Armstrong and Wright.

Houston Rockets - A year ago I had them winning the West but it is hard to place them without Yao and McGrady and given how well of a fight they put up against the Lakers in the playoffs. Brooks was my sleeper pick in fanatasy this year.

Memphis Grizzlies - Grizz have managed to combine potentially 4 ballhogs into their starting 5. It is hard to imagine who is going to share in this street ball offense. If they do though, they have the talent to come close to an 8 seed.

 

Northwest

Portland Trail Blazers - Also a very deep team in the West. Miller was a solid addition. If Oden can stay on the floor they are my sleeper to win the West.

Denver Nuggets - Acquiring Lawson was one of the better moves in the drafts imo, Denver will score plenty but will fall a round or 2 short again.

Utah Jazz - If healthy they make the playoffs. If not they could potentially have two lottery picks and this years draft looks have different talented players.

Oklahoma City Thunder - Quickly becoming one of the better starting 5s. Role player or two from being a real good team. Should make playoffs this year or next.

Minnesota Timberwolves - I said it during the draft, Flynn will be the ROY. Flynn, Sessions, Love and Jefferson are some nice pieces to build around. Too bad Rubio is a prick.

 

Pacific

Los Angeles Lakers - Defending champs only added to their roster with Artest, favorites to win the West again.

Golden State - This team is pretty dysfunctional with Jackson wanting to be traded and Ellis not wanting Curry in the same rotation as him. I feel they have a good starting 5 and the backups to help in a playoff push

Phoenix - Running offense or no running offense, the Suns are no longer a top team in the West.

Los Angeles Clippers - Griffin is the lone bright spot for them this year, err was. Gordon should keep improving.

Sacramento - With the first pick in the draft, the Sacramento Kings. Evans should be the runner up for ROY. Also nice to see Omar Casspi getting to play.

 

West: Should be a good battle for the 7 and 8 spots in the West.

Los Angeles L

San Antonio

Portland

Dallas

Denver

New Orleans

Utah

Oklahoma City

Golden State

Phoenix

Houston

Memphis

Minnesota

Los Angeles C

Sacramento

 

East Champ:

Orlando (Only because I hate the Celtics)

 

West Champ:

San Antonio (Only because I hate the Lakers)

 

NBA Champ:

Orlando

 

[Chisoxfn]

43 wins. One playoff round win.

[CanOfCorn]

You also have to balance out the difference of points scored by BG vs. points allowed by player he's guarding. Yes, he will be missed on the offensive end, but Salmons/Hinrich/Pargo will do a much better job defensively. I'm not sayin'...I'm just sayin'.

[southsider2k5]

43 wins. One playoff round win.

 

If they win 43 games, they will play someone like Boston, Orlando, or Cleveland in the first round, and they will be lucky to win a game against them, let alone a series.