But we are seeing the free agent market wind down, the NBA Summer League is through, and the draft was weeks ago. What exactly is on the horizon after such a shakeup?
Miami. LA. Finals. Book it. – Los Angeles, at least on paper, is the one team that could give the “Thrice” something to think about. Somewhere, Kobe Bryant is alone in a gym, secluding himself, doing whatever he needs to do to take down that Miami monstrosity.
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… and now has the opportunity to go down as one of the most beloved players in NBA history if he can Beat the Heat. You don’t think we’re about to get his best shot?
Lets not forget, LA is a borderline super team as well. Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom and Ron Artest have all been All-Stars. Their big advantage would come in the size department, making the key Andrew Bynum.
A healthy Bynum (does such a creature exist in May or June? Right now, it’s filed next to Bigfoot and Unicorns) would give LA some unmatched skill and size in the front court. Even with a hobbled Bynum, remember the block party he and Gasol put on in the Finals? Bosh negates it a bit, but he Big Z and Joel Anthony aren’t exactly Bynum, Gasol and Odom.
Kevin Durant is about to go on a run of MVP seasons, and Oklahoma City will be the West’s second best team. Durant is a FREAK. If LeBron hadn’t Hulked Up last season, I think Durant would have walked with the trophy (sadder still because I would have called that last preseason!). That team got its first taste of the postseason, against the champs no less. They added some beef in Cole Aldrich, and Russell Westbrook is a fine second option.
The rest of the West is weaker. The Suns lost Amare. San Antonio is on its last legs. Utah lost Carlos Boozer, Kyle Korver, and Wesley Matthews … it remains to be seen if Al Jefferson can replicate his pre-knee injury form. In the NBA, the best players rise to the top, and Durant is going to cement himself as a top three talent this season, with only James and Bryant his contemporaries.
After Florida, it’s all about Chicago and New York. Miami is going to be absurd. Orlando has the league’s most dynamic big man, and should contend again.
Chicago basically has put together Utah-east behind the Boozer and Kyle Korver signings. Derrick Rose will take another step toward that Chris Paul/Deron Williams/Steve Nash tier. Tom Thibodeau is a defensive genius, and it’s too soon for his team to tune out his unrelenting intensity. That team smells like a three seed in the East, maybe a two.
New York struck out on LeBron, but it’s a team with tantalizing upside. Danilo Gallinari is an elite shooter who has 20 PPG upside. Getting Anthony Randolph, Ronny Turiaf and Kelenna Azubuike for David Lee was a coup — all three will crack that rotation, and the former Tiger Randolph in particular has All-Star upside. NY made a big splash in signing Amar’e Stoudamire, and Raymond Felton could flourish in an up-tempo offense. I expect a team that athletic and deep to run some teams off the floor … no, LeBron won’t be the King of New York, but this team should win 41-45 games, with some upside to surprise for more in a weak conference.
Sacramento will be the Oklahoma City of 2010. I really like DeMarcus Cousins. He and Tyreke Evans would be an exceptional big man/little man combo, if only Evans were all that little . He’s 6-foot-6, 220 pounds, who averaged 20-5-5 as a 20-year-old rookie. That is simply outstanding. Carl Landry was a great pull for them last season. It’s a team with a lot of size, length, and athleticism. Youth could hold them back from a MAJOR push, but a No. 6-8 seed? I think it’s in play.
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Jon wrote on Jul 27, 2010 8:52 AM:
"with only James and Bryant his contemporaries."
Dwyane Wade!?!!!??? Come on now, I am the biggest Kobe fan out there, but Wade is right there on his level. I would have to go Kobe, DWade, then Lebron, and THEN Durant. (I actually have Lebron and KD tied on my board in anticipation of the season he is about to have). That being said, there is no rationalization for not putting DWade into that category, that is just ridiculous. The best player, on the best team (in the east).
"Orlando has the league’s most dynamic big man"
Garnett, Gasol, Bosh, Stoudemire, Bynum, Lee, Bogut, Duncan, O'Neal, Aldridge.
He's very big and strong, and he's very good, but dynamic? No, not at all.
Great article, a lot of terrific points, thanks for posting. "