NBA Basketball Preview

The time is here. The 82 game season where teams clash and sneakers squeek. It's always tough to predict outcomes, but everyone tries to do it. Here are my thoughts, and predictions, and the rationale I have behind them.

Rookie of the Year

Micheal Beasely: Hands down, honestly the only one that can compete with him will be Greg Oden. Yes, Greg Oden is still considered a rookie as he sat out all of last season with knee surgery. However, he is injury prone. Try to look back at when he has been healthy for a season?? Well not the one year he was at Ohio State throwing up free throws lefty, not this last year where his knee check up turned into a forgotten rookie season. So the next most talented player will be Mike Beasely. Supported by two other impact players in Dwayne Wade and Shawn Marion, I think this is a lock in as long as his health holds.

Most Valuable Player


Kobe Bryant: It's a tough call between Kobe and Lebron, but Kobe has a supporting cast this year. Even more so than last year. I know this might hurt some numbers at times as others like Bynum and Gasol will be throwing down dunks and hooks. But now it will be more difficult to double team him. With two towers down low, more double downs low will occur, leaving Kobe open for jumpers and perimeter shots. Lebron once again is stuck in a Barry Sanders scenario. No supporting cast, but will still plug away the numbers. The fact is, the numbers will be close, but the Lakers will be one of the best teams in Basketball, and that will tip the scales on voting.

Sixth Man of the Year
Rodney Stucky: Many names come to mind when thinking about the sixth man of the year. Ginobli, Stackhouse, and this year Lamar Odom. However, I feel that many of these use to be six man studs, will be thrown into the starting lineup. Mike Finley won’t be able to play the minutes as he is getting aged, and Manu will have to step up. Lamar Odom will soon jump in the lineup when they forget how dynamic he is compared to Vladimir Radmanovic. Rodney Stuckey however is still in Billips shadow. He stepped it up in the playoffs when Billups was sidelined, and he has had one hell of a pre-season. Look for this young man out of Washington where he played 1-AA basketball to impress the crowds and sportswriters.

3 Bubble Teams-

Houston Rockets: Look out fans, these guys could be in the top 3 of the west, or they could drop out completely. If the health of Tracy and Yao can be consistent through most of the games, these guys will compete for an NBA championship. However, if these two go down once again like they are prone to do, it could be tough to make it once again in the west. The addition of Ron Artest is risky, but I think they have some even keeled players that will combat his intensity. With Shane Battier coming of the bench to lock up shooters, and drain threes, the rockets could be this years NBA champs. Just watch out for the injuries to creep up, and Artest to search for some fans to lay the smack down on.

Atlanta Hawks: These guys surprised us all in the NBA playoffs against the Celtics. The good part is that this was a young team gaining experience, and the better part is that most of them are back. The only hit they took was one of their men of the bench Josh Childress took some big cash to play across seas. They still bring back veteran Mike Bibby, and explosive young guns Joe Johnson and Joe Smith. The only question mark I have is Marvin Williams. He has underperformed every year in my opinion. His defense is poor, but his numbers should see improvement. Lastly, Al Horford is a true workhorse. He boards with the best of them, and throws elbows down in the paint. Many analysts have the Hawks as on of the bottom 4 teams in the east. I think they will once again prove to be you guns in the NBA playoffs come time.

Toronto Raptors: The raptors look to be a shoe in for the playoffs. They bring back a very similar team that made it last year, and add a veteran in O'neal. Yes he is injury prone with a poor attitude, but the dynamic duo of O'neal and Bosh down low looks real good on paper. Jose Calderon is a shifty point guard that will put up 10 points and as many assists weekly. He will be a consistent ball distributor. The 2 and 3 position could be week for this club, but with Kapono launching threes off the bench, and former first round pick Barganani grabbing some boards, this team could put the hurt on the eastern conference.

Team to Watch: Many people are stoked on the Blazers this year as they are up and coming, but I think they already established that they were for real last year. Now by adding Oden, Bayless, Fernandez, and turnover prone Jarret Jack, we can really predict a playoff team. However, I think the team to make the biggest jump from last years poor play are the Miami Heat. These guys will contend for a playoff spot. With Dwayne Wade seeming to be healthy, it could be his big comeback year. Late in the year the Heat added Shawn Marion who can defend at some many positions, and will get you some boards. They also added rookie of the year candidate Beasely to the squad. Adding some toughness to the paint. Haslem and Beasley will be wreaking squads in the paint, scrapping boards up along with Shawn Marion. Mario Chalmers will have lots of bite off at point guard. As long as he kicks the herb before games and meetings, I feel he will produce some decent numbers. They have a nice shooting player able to come of the bench in James Jones. Lookout for this squad, they are on the rise.