Vancouver Metro Basketball League

By Andrew “Soda” Wadden

The 2009-10 NBA regular season is just right around the corner. The final games of the preseason are wrapping up and rosters are starting to get set. Looking at the movement from this off-season they’re many questions going into this season. Can Kobe and the Lakers repeat? Is Shaq the answer to the Cavs playoff troubles? Who is the true favourite?

With less than 10 days to go before the show begins, here’s my picks for the playoffs and whom I see taking this year’s title.

East

1.  Cleveland Cavaliers
Key additions -Shaquille O’Neal, Anthony Parker
The Cavs are better with the addition of O’Neal which is scary considering they won a league high 66 games last year. Shaq of course makes the Cavs dangerous but I feel one of their best moves this off-season was the addition of former Raptor guard Anthony Parker, especially now since the recent troubles of Delonte West. AP will get some gorgeous looks from a driving and dishing Lebron or by the inside/outside game Shaq can create. Parker has proved in the past he can hit the opener looks and they will come aplenty this year. Question is do they have what it takes to win it all?

2. Boston Celtics
Key addition- Rasheed Wallace
If this team is healthy come playoff time watch out. The Celtics are on a mission and if the preseason is any indication of what’s in store, the rest of the East better be ready. There is probably no better place for power forward Rasheed Wallace to have gone then to Boston and its group of veterans. Sheed has gelled in the Celtics system in the preseason and will play a big role for the club this year. With Kevin Garnett healthy it’s not out of the question to see these Celtics return to the finals.

3. Orlando Magic
Key additions- Vince Carter, Brandon Bass, Jason Williams
I questioned the moves of the Magic this off-season. Allowing Hedo Turkoglu to walk was a mistake as I saw it. Carter will bring 20 points per game to this team but I question whether it be enough come playoff time. Bass will have a career year on a team that he should get more minutes with. Jason Williams returning to the NBA could go well for the Magic or not so well, hard to say. The reality is the Magic will once again win the Southeast Division and that’s all they’ll win.

4. Atlanta Hawks
Key addition- Jamal Crawford
The young Hawks are still young though the addition of Jamal Crawford brings some veteran savvy to the line-up. These Hawks are fun to watch and have some impressive players including the high-flying Josh Smith and the dynamic Joe Johnson. They will get plenty of scoring from Smith, Crawford and Johnson but their youth and inexperience will be their downfall when it comes to facing either the Celtics or the Cavs in a seven game series.

5. Washington Wizards
Key additions-Mike Miller, Randy Foye, Fabricio Oberto
Gilbert Arenas should be also mentioned as a key addition as he’s been gone from the Wizards for close to two seasons now. After a tough off-season getting his knee back to 100% Arenas is back and healthy ready to return to all-star form. The addition of lights out shooter Mike Miller gives the Wiz another threat from three. I really like the addition of Foye and Oberto. Foye will be a solid back-up to Arenas who is more than capable to run the offense and Oberto brings some strength on the glass and can score a bucket or two. The Wizard will return to the playoffs and will be the most improved team in the league this season.

6. Chicago Bulls
No key additions for the Bulls that I really see. The Bulls like the Hawks are young and getting better. Luol Deng is back after missing most of last season, young stud Derrick Rose is on the verge of becoming one of the best point guards in the NBA, while John Salmons is one of the most underrated guards in the league. These Bulls were terrific battling the Celtics to seven games in last year’s first round showdown and will be tough as nails for whomever has to tangle with them come this year’s dance.

7. Miami Heat
Key addition- Quentin Richardson
As I write this hopefully Richardson doesn’t get traded again, after a crazy off-season that saw him go from the Knicks to the Grizzlies, then traded to the Clippers, then to the Timberwolves before eventually getting dealt to the Heat. If he’s still with the Heat come the start of this season Richardson should see his scoring average raise on a Heat team that he’ll be a big piece of their offense. He’ll have to be, because outside of Dwyane Wade this club is scarce on the offensive end. Of course this team goes where Dwyane Wade takes them. They’ll be back in the playoffs but it will be for a short stay, no matter how hard Wade tries.

8. Toronto Raptors
Key additions- Hedo Turkoglu, Jarret Jack, Reggie Evans
The NBA’s most active off-season team are completely revamped but is it for the better? Yes they’re a better team with whom they’ve added but it still doesn’t completely address what they need the most, rebounding and toughness. Turkoglu will generate more offense, Jack gives them a solid back-up point guard who can also play the two and Evans brings what they lack the most, defensive toughness and presence on the glass. Problem is he’s the only one that brings this to the team. The Raps will return to the playoffs but will be exposed for their lack of rebounding and defence come the post-season.

West

1. Los Angeles Lakers
Key addition- Ron Artest
Artest is a very interesting story for the Lakers this year. Will he be the out-of-control Artest or will he settle down and be the capable force he can be? If Artest can get his game in check and play Laker basketball this team is clearly the favourite once again. He is the key to this club returning to the finals for the their third year in a row.

2. San Antonio Spurs
Key additions- Richard Jefferson, Antonio McDyess
Love the addition of the very underrated Jefferson who makes the Spurs just that much more dangerous. McDyess will be key coming off the bench for this veteran club. This team is built for the playoffs.  Are they ready to return to the finals? Don’t count them out.

3. Denver Nuggets
No one really stands out as a key addition though I do like the drafting of point guard Ty Lawson who I think one day will be very good, especially under the guidance of Chauncey Billups. The Nuggets are stacked with a balance of scoring and toughness throughout their line-up. They gave the Lakers a good series in the West final last season and could very well find themselves there again this year.

4. Dallas Mavericks
Key addition- Shawn Marion
The Mavericks are always in the hunt and they have improved their line-up this season. No major moves just a little tinkering. Marion couldn’t have asked for a better situation for him. The Matrix proved at the end of the last season in Toronto that he has some spark left in his game. Marion will be another weapon for the Mavs on both offence and defensive end of the floor. The Mavs like their state rival Spurs are a veteran club who very well could take the West.

5. Portland Trail Blazers
Key addition- Andre Miller
The Western Conference’s young-guns are an exciting team who have all the right players to one day be an elite team. So much talent at such a young age is the Blazers Achilles heel. Adding veteran Andre Miller is an interesting move by Portland. Miller is a shoot-first point guard joining a team led by the shot-happy Brandon Roy. You would have thought that Portland would want a pass-first point guard to compliment Roy. Young-stars LeMarcus Aldridge and Greg Oden make up a nasty post while Rudy Fernandez is a hell of a player. I like this team a lot as they’re a fun bunch to watch; unfortunately they won’t go very far this post-season.

6. New Orleans Hornets
Key addition- Emeka Okafor
Swapping the popular Tyson Chandler for Okafor is a good move by the Hornets. Obviously the team thought a shake-up was needed so they acquired Okafor from the Bobcats who should produce a solid double-double on most nights. With the way Chandler’s health has been over the last two seasons it’s the right move for the Hornets seeing as Okafor hasn’t missed a game over his last two seasons. The Hornets are far from the team they were a few season ago but will once again make the playoffs this year.

7. Utah Jazz
The Jazz’s key addition was matching the Blazers offer-sheet for power forward Paul Millsap. With their other power forward Carlos Boozer electing to not opt-out of his contract the Jazz now find themselves in the luxury tax and with two very good power forwards. Depending on what happens this season I can see the Jazz trading Boozer, giving them relief on their pay role. They may get little value from trading Boozer but I’m sure this is something they’re considering. You never know though, there may be a team that comes down with injury that drives Boozer’s value back up. Either way it goes down the Jazz make the playoffs once again though they won’t be round long.

8. Los Angeles Clippers
Key addition- Blake Griffin
Griffin is the only rookie that I will recognize as a key addition because in his case he is a key for this Clipper team. Griffin is the most NBA ready rookie and should make an impact for the Clippers. It’s hard to believe that the other team in L.A. will be the playoffs but this team actually looks as though they can compete. A healthy and determined Baron Davis will be the main key to the success of this club. If B-Diddy can return to his all-star form the Clips are a lock for the eighth spot in the West. They’ll have the Suns and Rockets nipping at their heels, but I see the Clippers pulling through and returning to the playoffs for the first time since 2006.

Eastern Conference Champion- Boston Celtics

Western Conference Champion- Los Angeles Lakers

NBA Champion- Los Angeles Lakers

I have a hard time seeing anyone beating L.A. Artest makes them better and having Kobe Bryant as a teammate will keep Artest in check and focused on winning. The Celtics will do their best to contend but its back-to-back titles for the Lakeshow and another ring for Kobe and crew.