WESTERN CONFERENCE

Shooting Guard

Clint Lomax:
Kobe Bryant – Los Angeles Lakers
“Besides his scoring being down two points per game (ppg), everything else is almost the same from last season. The problem with Kobe is that he helps other teammates make the All Star game, but hurts them when it comes to other awards like MVP consideration for Pau Gasol. While he is still in the NBA doing his thing, it is hard for anyone to take his customary locker spot at current All Star weekends.”

Greg Dyck:
Kobe Bryant – Los Angeles Lakers
“I tried to figure out a way to justify Manu Ginobili into this spot, but I couldn’t. Despite all the talk of rapid decline in Laker land, Kobe’s team is second in the West and he’s still dropping 25 a night.”

Andrew ‘Soda’ Wadden:
Kobe Bryant – Los Angeles Lakers
“Kobe is having another top tier season and one can’t deny that he deserves to be a starter. I do, however, want to state a case for Monta Ellis of the Golden State Warriors. Ellis is having an all-star season and will make the team as a reserve. Ellis’ efficiency average is a tad below Bryant’s and he is leading the Western Conference in scoring (25.8 PPG). Bryant gets the nod because he’s Kobe and is still producing while nursing injuries. Plus, his team wins. Not just in the regular season, they win championships. Monta has a long way to go before he’ll be able to claim that, especially in Golden State.”

Point Guard

Clint Lomax:
Chris Paul – New Orleans Hornets
“He gets my nod over Deron Williams of the Utah Jazz for a few reason. Even though he is five PPG behind Deron and is even in assist per game, Chris beats him in a few very important categories. Including Steals, Field Goal %, Free Throw %, and 3 point %. He does this and he plays two minutes per game less than Deron. I’m a big defensive guy, so Chris will usually get my vote if it is a close competition. Also rooting for The Hornets will be the new team that David Stern sends to Seattle!”

Greg Dyck:
Chris Paul – New Orleans Hornets
“Paul has led the Hornets to 5th place so far in the West, leading the league in steals, as well as averaging a double-double. I also like the fact he’s just focused on winning with his team and the early season trade rumors have disappeared.”

Andrew ‘Soda’ Wadden:
Russell Westbrook –Oklahoma City Thunder
“This was the hardest position in both conferences to figure out, as you can state a case for five different point guards in the West. It came down to the player I felt was having the most lights out season out of them all and to me it’s Westbrook. His efficiency numbers are staggering. 22.5 PPG, 8.4 APG, 5.0 RPG for a total average of 35.9, which leads all guards in the West. Deron Williams, Steve Nash, Chris Paul and Tony Parker are all having great seasons, but Westbrook is the starting all-star to me.”

Power Forward

Clint Lomax:
Kevin Durant – Oklahoma City Thunder
“An obvious choice because of his almost masterful array of scoring skills he displays on a nightly basis. I would like to see more rebounds and blocked shots from him, but that is not an All Star game prerequisite.”

Greg Dyck:
Blake Griffin – Los Angeles Clippers
“It’s gotta be Griffin. If the game weren’t being played on his court, I would have toiled between Carmelo (second in votes, is going to start anyway), and Dirk Nowitzki, who’s out injured anyway. Blake’s been the most exciting player this season, he’s going to own the dunk contest, and become a household name everywhere if he isn’t already. Him and Paul should start drawing out ally-oop plays now.”

Andrew ‘Soda’ Wadden:
Kevin Love – Minnesota Timberwolves
“Who was the last T-Wolve to start in an all-star game? I’m not even going to look it up as I’m sure it was Kevin Garnett. How about before Garnett? Exactly. It’s rare that a Timberwolve get’s to be an all-star let alone a starter. Love, however, is having a lights out season on a terrible Minnesota team. Love leads the Western Conference in efficiency (39.6 AVG), second only to Lebron James in the entire NBA. His 15.6 RPG are 2.3 more than anyone else in the NBA. Love’s numbers don’t lie. He deserves this spot.”

Small Forward

Clint Lomax:
Carmelo Anthony, Denver Nuggets
“Melo is another obvious choice for me. Which is funny in some ways with the competition that is out there for the forward position. You know what you are going to get with Carmelo night in and night out…..BUCKETS! Oh yeah, he is averaging 8 rebounds per game to go with his 23 PPG average.”

Greg Dyck:
Kevin Durant – Oklahoma City Thunder
“It’s rare that someone can be first in the league in scoring, but still be an extremely unselfish player. His numbers are slightly down from last year, most notably FG, and 3pt%, but he battled through some nagging injuries early in the season, and I expect those to rise in the second half.”

Andrew ‘Soda’ Wadden:
Kevin Durant – Oklahoma City Thunder
“If you were to build an NBA franchise and could take one player to build around, who would it be? Durant is one of those types of players. He leads the NBA in scoring (28.1 PPG) and is leading his Thunder team to a playoff berth once again. Easy pick at this one.”

Center

Clint Lomax:
Nene – Denver Nuggets
“You weren’t expecting this pick, were you? Yes, I believe Nene should be a starter for the West at the center position! Why? He is explosive, more agile, super strong, and is shooting 64% from the field this season! Mostly on dunks, but they are powerful dunks over people! His ability to move the ball around like Otis Thorpe use to do has elevated his game.”

Greg Dyck:
Pau Gasol – Los Angeles Lakers
“Not technically a center, but it doesn’t really matter. He’s played his way into the starting rotation- 18-10-4, and I like it when hometown guys get to start when the all star game is in their city. Plus who else would you put here? Duncan’s too far on the decline and is clearly saving what’s left for the playoffs, Tyson Chandler has been good, but not as good as Pau. LaMarcus Aldrige? Zach Randolph? Exactly.”

Andrew ‘Soda’ Wadden:
Pau Gasol – Los Angeles Lakers
“It came down to Nene in Denver or Gasol to me and really Pau deserves it. Nene is playing the best season of his career and will find a spot on the West’s reserve list but Gasol was the one who was leading the Lakers early on this year and really he has proved that he can be a number one man when asked to be. His numbers are solid (18.6 PPG, 10.6 RPG) and he plays on a winner. Sure bets of an all-star.”

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Point Guard

Clint Lomax:
Derrick Rose – Chicago Bulls
“His scoring average maybe down, but his presence and impact on the game is overwhelming! I have yet to see any guard stop him from doing what he wanted to do. His strength and explosiveness makes him almost impossible to guard, but I would like to see more steals per game from him.”

Greg Dyck:
Derrick Rose – Chicago Bulls
“Rose is my pick for league MVP at the midway point, 24-8-5 doesn’t even begin to tell you how good he’s been for the Bulls. He’s playing with a mean streak and is out to prove his name should be in the same breath as Lebron, Kobe, and Wade.”

Andrew ‘Soda’ Wadden
Derrick Rose – Chicago Bulls
“It’s been an MVP calibre season thus far for the Bulls young superstar. Rose is the most efficient guard in the entire NBA when it comes down to points/rebounds/assist totals (37.3), and is leading his much improved Chicago team into a high seeding in this year’s NBA playoffs.”

Shooting Guard

Clint Lomax:
Dwyane Wade – Miami Heat
“The season has been up and down for Wade, and the Big four are lowering his averages (including the now re-surging Mike Miller) by their own demands for the ball. That has not stopped him from putting up monster games and highlight real moves and dunks. Wade is the same guy he was last year and maybe even better! He has games of: 39,36, 40, and 45 point games already this season!”

Greg Dyck:
Dwyane Wade – Miami Heat
“He’s still finessing out chemistry issues in Miami, they look good through 3.5 quarters, and then in crunch time everyone still seems confused, especially during this four game losing streak they’re riding. He’s on the team because he’s the best two guard in the conference.”

Andrew ‘Soda’ Wadden:
Dwyane Wade – Miami Heat
“Wade is fifth in the league in scoring (25.1) and is leading a make shift Heat team to wins. You might as well pencil him into this spot for at least the next five to seven years.”

Small Forward

Clint Lomax:
LeBron James, Miami Heat
“Barring “The Decision”, LeBron would have been the top vote getter for the All Star game (in my opinion). His scoring maybe down (for obvious reasons), but he his three point shooting % is up! That for a guy that is nicknamed “LeBrick”. One of the most idiotic names that I’ve heard “LAKERS FANS AND KOBE FANATICS” come up with. Embracing “The Villian” role has only made him more determined to dominate everything and everyone in his path! Don’t be surprised if he walks away with MVP honors at the All Star game, and possible Co-MVP of the NBA with Dwyane Wade! YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST.”

Greg Dyck:
LeBron James – Miami Heat
“25-7-7, and definitely poised to become only the 4th player to win 3 straight MVP’s. The only chink in the armour for LeBron right now is he’s 3rd in the NBA in turnovers. He has to protect that ball better. LeBron vs Kobe/Durant. I can’t wait.”

Andrew ‘Soda’ Wadden
LeBron James – Miami Heat
“Like his partner Wade, James is another perennial lock when it comes to being an all-star. The villain he may be, but he’s also one of the best, if not the best, players in the game.”

Power Forward

Clint Lomax:
Amar’e Stoudamire – New York Knicks
“Just when everybody thought that Amar’e would fold without Nash (like most players do when they leave Phoenix), he has moved his game to the next level! Not only lifting The Knicks out of the cellar of their division, but bring pride back to Madison Square Garden. Increased range on his jump shot has made him harder to guard than ever.”

Greg Dyck:
Amar’e Stoudamire – New York Knicks
“Easy pick at PF, has made basketball in NY relevant again, and surely will garner some MVP attention at season’s end. Everyone who thought he needed Nash to be a great player couldn’t have been more wrong, he’s having one of his best statistical seasons yet at 26-9-3.”

Andrew ‘Soda’ Wadden:
Amar’e Stoudamire – New York Knicks
“Back-to-back seasons a Knick will be in the all-star game. This is huge for New York fans. Before David Lee played in last year’s game there hadn’t been a Knick all-star since 2001 (Allan Houston & Latrell Sprewell). Amar’e is proving that he can lead a team. He’s playing so well that his point guard Raymond Felton may even get on the team as a reserve. You got to love seeing basketball finally being relevant in the Big Apple again and that has everything to do with Amar’e.”

Center

Clint Lomax:
Dwight Howard – Orlando Magic
“SUPERMAN IS IN THE BUILDING! What else can you say about the man that can dunk on a 12 foot basketball hoop and has about 3% body fat! He averages a high double double per game, and has been in the running for defensive player of the year for the last 2 years. Only Kryptonite to his game is free throw %, which is going down by the way!”

Greg Dyck:
Dwight Howard – Orlando Magic
“All Star weekend was made for guys like Dwight, guys who basically just want to play ball and have fun most nights (much to the chagrin of Stan Van Gundy). He’s having another banner year as well, 2nd in the NBA in rebounds behind Kevin Love, while averaging 22 a game. Too bad he’s the only player on the Magic aware of how to play defence.”

Andrew ‘Soda’ Wadden
Dwight Howard – Orlando Magic
“The beast is back as the east’s starting center. Howard is a lock every year at this spot. Howard’s numbers back this up. 22.1 PPG, 13.3 RPG and 2.2 BPG. Everything you want in a center.”

By Clint Lomax

It has been a long time from 2002, when Lebron was only the second high school player in recent history to dawn the cover of Sports Illustrated.  Kevin Garnet was before him, but you’d have to go back to Felipe Lopez to find the next Jordan on the iconic cover (November 28, 1994 to be exact).  Technically, Lopez had already signed with St John’s University, but The Big East schedule had not started yet so I technically labeled him as a high schooler at that point.  Rumors of this Kid named James (A.K.A. The Chosen One), which was given to him as far back as middle school.  This is also the player that NBA Scouts and experts claimed that he could have played in the NBA his junior year of high schoo!  Lofty hype created from an early age is probably where all the hate against him began. 
“Who does this guy think he is?” 
“Who anointed this kid as The Chosen One or The King?”  
I don’t know exactly who started this hype machine, but I can tell you who didn’t start it.  Lebron James!  At least not verbally.  The majority of fans and foes have automatically named James as the one who originated all the nicknames he has today.  The thing that Lebron is guilty of is adopting them as his own.  Someone once told me that “the best nickname is the one someone makes for you”.  Unlike some athletes today who have named themselves (these players will remain nameless for now).  Names like:  The Iceman, Pistol Pete, Mr. Clutch, The Magic Man, Mr. Basketball, Dr. J, Wilt the Stilt, The Big Dipper, Air Jordan, His Airness are timeless!  Names like CB4 (Chris Bosh), CP3 Chris Paul, and Bad Porn (Corey Maggette) are just lazy.

It seems like yesterday that we were watching this young talent meet and exceed all the hype that was put upon him.  Since his decision to go to St. Vincent/St. Marys and passing on the local high school everyone wanted him to go to is probably what started some of these critics.  Few players in the last 20-30 years have had as much hype from the ninth grade to the present, and been able to keep up with it like the Lebron has.  In some cases, he has exceeded expectation.  Only in the NBA title department is Lebron James lacking.  The concept of “The One Man” team is adopted by all team and player fanatics that either have no clue or refuse to acknowledge the old saying that it takes a village.  A lot of fanatics really believe that you can pull a one man title run like Danny Manning and the 1988 Kansas Jayhawks did in their run to an NCAA title that year. People always forget that not only did Manning have quality players with him; he also had the Legendary Larry Brown as a coach. Magic Johnson replaced an injured Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in game 6 of the 1980 NBA Finals, and put on a Herculean performance.  While he scored 42 points, grabbed 15 rebounds, and dished out 7 assists the Lakers beat the 76ers by the score of 123-107.  Here is a good question for the one man team fanatics. If Magic scored 42 points (34 percent of the total scoring), who scored the rest of the 123 Laker points?  A little know fact is that Jamaal Wilkes scored 37 points in that game. Wilkes was actually the second leading scorer in the regular season and the playoffs behind Abdul-Jabbar.  Rarely do we here about Wilkes.  Why?  My theory is the one man team syndrome.

What happen to the love from way back from videos like this:

Or this:

I’ll have more on this in Part 3 of this article series.  I will leave you with this.  A lot of people believe he should of made the decision depicted in the next video, than the one he made to go to Miami. Enjoy!

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by Clint Lomax

I thought I’d write a quick article on Paul “The Truth” Pierce enlight of the 2 game mini sweep of the Miami Heat (so far).  I probably would not have if it wasn’t for his recent tweet mocking Lebron’s infamous “The Decision” quote:  “It’s been a pleasure to bring my talents to south beach now on to Memphis.”  There has not been a day that I have not liked Paul Pierce since he hit the NBA.  I followed him at Kansas, but he reminded me of Ohio State standout Evan Turner.  With a bumper crop of Kentucky Wildcats already on the storied Boston Celtics (Antoine Walker, Ron Mercer, Walter McCarty), Pierce was the 3^rd leading scorer his rookie year with 16 points per game (ppg).  For the next 11 years Pierce would go on to average 22.5 ppg along with 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1.5 steals per game.  Pierce has been known as one of the most complete NBA players going today.  Hence the nickname “The Truth”.  I don’t know when he received that nickname, but in my opinion it fits! 

On other little known fact is Pierce is one of only seven players to play more than 10 years with the same team as of 1995.  The other players (off the top of my head): Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, Tim Duncan, Adonal Foyle, Jeff Foster, and Michael Redd.  I know what you’re thinking…….ADONAL FOYLE!  LOL, I was thinking the same thing.  As time went on for Pierce, he became the poster child for all that was wrong with the Celtics Win/Loss record.  Even with all the clutch shots and ironman-type performances, he was being saddled as a superstar that will never win a ring.

Enter Doc Rivers and what would be known as the modern day “Big 3” (Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen).  The first two season under Rivers, the Celtics did not break the 40 win mark!  Going into the 07-08’ season, the choice was fire Doc Rivers or trade Paul Pierce to a contender for quality players.  Thankfully for Doc Rivers and Boston Celtic fans, Danny Ainge pulled the trigger on a trades that brought Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett to Boston.  The rest is history! 

The last thing I can leave you doubters with is….. don’t sleep on Paul Pierce!

Twitter: mjlover23

Facebook: Clint Lomax

Scroll to 1:05 mark.

Metro League on The Express

OK here’s your 2010-11 NBA season preview, Eastern and Western Conferences are counted down in the order in which I believe the teams will finish. I`m open to discussions and heated debates, just please no blind arguments. Let’s begin.

West

LA Lakers:
It was a fairly quiet off season for the Lakers, Phil Jackson enters his final year as their head coach (allegedly), and Matt Barnes was added which will make the Lakers a very difficult team to play with him and Artest patrolling on defense. You just know Kobe spent the entire off season working harder than ever; if it`s possible, after so many people are already anointing this the season of the Heat. If Andrew Bynum can`t stay healthy all season, they still have the best power forward in the NBA in Pau Gasol, even though Gasol is not the best defender, especially with true centers, they do, however, have a deadly front court with he and Odom, who by the way spent the summer playing center for team USA, which is going to play dividends on defense for the Lakers without a doubt. Another thing to watch for is if Barnes can extract the crazy back out of Ron Ron, the two may feed off each other in a bad, yet extremely entertaining way. Expect another trip to the the finals unless….

Oklahoma City Thunder:
The Thunder may in fact blossom quicker then we expect them too. They`re probably two years away from being the best team in the west, but they`re also built to win now. Kevin Durant will win the scoring title for the second year in a row, and Russell Westbrook is an amazing complimentary player who is a definite top five point guard. This team has cogs moving in every which way feeding off each other, the best chemistry in the league, which can`t be undervalued. Each player on this team knows what role they`re in the game to do each night, which a surprisingly low amount of NBA GM`s can say about their roster. You won`t see this team take many nights off either, they`re young, hungry, and have a player who`s in the argument for best in the league right now in KD.

Utah Jazz:
Al Jefferson is going to come alive under Jerry Sloan and realise his beastly powers down low, I see a high ceiling for him and I`m not alone. I even think he`s going to be an upgrade over Carlos Boozer. Look for him and D-Will to carry this team to a big season. Their one downfall is their scoring depth, if those two fall into injury trouble and Kirilenko, and Raja Bell has to be relied on often, it will be a problem.  Jerry Sloan`s teams always have a high compete level, and they have maybe the toughest home court to travel too.

Dallas Mavericks:
This team needs to win now and they know it. Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd are another year older, and they haven`t really added anything since last year’s trade from the Wizards. I expect one more early playoff exit, and next off season is the one where Cuban decides it`s time to move in another direction. They had to have swung out and missed with moves in the off season, because I just don`t see how this team has improved since last year’s disappointment for a team that claims it wants to win now.

San Antonio Spurs:
Just like their fellow Texans above, urgency is the name of the game. Look for Tony Parker to improve this year as he needs to get one more fat contract before he gets too old. Tim Duncan has slipped out of the list of top three or four power forwards in the NBA and they’re going to need even more help from DeJuan Blair and Tiago Splitter-who needs to develop fast, down low, and head coach Greg Popovich is just the guy to make it happen.

Portland Trail Blazers:
Rudy Fernandez wants to get out of not just Portland, but the entire NBA. Apparently Rudy is soured with his experience in Portland, even though last season the Spanish sharp-shooter had the highest three point percentage of all time for a rookie and even after he was rewarded with limited minutes. Can`t say I entirely blame him. Portland didn’t use him to his abilities. I still like their roster despite Greg Oden and Brandon Roy`s health issues, they have the depth to pick up wins even though those two most likely won`t play a full season.

Houston Rockets:
If Brad Miller was the answer to Yao`s injury problems they could dip out of playoff position. Still, I like the construction of this team. Shane Battier makes up for a pretty week defensive back court in Aaron Brooks and Kevin Martin, however, the two can put up numbers on the other end. Luis Scola is also a gifted scorer who has a hard time defending bigger guys down low. I see Scola as a late bloomer who improves his game much like his team does this year.

Denver Nuggets:
I still see them slipping into the playoffs despite all the Carmelo trade talk that`s going to be following the team until he inevitably gets traded. Look for Ty Lawson to take away some minutes from an ageing Chauncey Billups. Chauncey is also going to have to be a calming factor for this team in what`s surely going to be a bad vibes year. How can a team rally around a guy who doesn`t want to be there?

Phoenix Suns:
The NBA should take a book out of the Oscars for guys who never won the big one, but everybody really wants them too, now it`s the end of their career and no more greatness is going to come. The NBA Lifetime Championship award- Steve Nash and Allen Iverson would be at the top of the list, Latrell Sprewell would be at the bottom. This team just isn`t built to win with too many small forwards on their roster providing the same role. Where`s the sandpaper?

LA Clippers:
I`m excited to see Blake Griffin turn into one of the game’s best power forwards. If he can keep the team competing in games, it might *gasp, make Baron Davis try, and not just hurl up bad three balls. Getting rid of Dunleavy as coach last year can`t hurt going into the new season as well. Eric Gordon is a guy who`s going to improve big time this year, and I`ve always enjoyed Chris Kaman`s work ethic down low. The future looks slightly better for the Clippers, I just don`t see them quite there yet.

New Orleans Hornets:
Same as above with the Denver Nuggets, with CP3 just playing out his time with the club before he leaves on his own, or they smartly decide to trade him for assets, it will be hard for the team to get up every night without a guy who really wants to be there and lead the team. Even with Paul playing at a high level, they don`t have enough going on with David West as their number two guy. I do, however, like the Ariza pick up this off season.

Golden State:
All we`ve been hearing this off season is the new attitude around the franchise, new owner, new coach, but I can`t help but see all their games being 140-135 (maybe not that high….but you get the point). Adding David Lee at center giving up Anthony Randolph makes them very easy to score on down low, and their back court defense isn`t very slightly either, Curry and Monte Ellis are both undersized and don`t play particularly punishing D. The team will be able to match scoring though, that`s for sure. Also, anytime you get rid of Corey Maggette from your team it`s a good thing, and look for Andris Biedrins to have a bounce back year.

Sacramento Kings:
Probably the team with the most potential to shoot up this list. Last year’s Rookie of the Year Tyreke Evans is turning into one of the most exciting players to watch in the game, and number one draft pick DeMarcus Cousins had a huge preseason. The problem is, those two are extremely difficult to coach, and have their share of issues. The roster still seems a little dishevelled and needs a few trades, and drafts before they become legit.

Memphis Grizzlies:
Rewarding Rudy Gay with a max contract was a bad idea. It screams: we`re desperate and want to avoid being the worst, so mediocre is ok, at least some fans will show up, and we`re going to pull the trigger on this because he wants to play here. We see new Rudy Gay`s often in the NBA, mid-sized guards who are excellent scorers but don`t defend and can`t carry a team. Not an irreplaceable max dollar guy. I`d rather award a max contract to Kevin Love. Hey, speaking of…

Minnesota Timberwolves:
Kevin Love! The lone bright spot on the worst roster in the NBA. At least Love rebounds and plays hard every night! Where to start with this team? The Darko Milicic contract is the funniest thing that happened all summer. That Michael Beasley is going to be relied upon as a leader; it`s almost too easy. I see this team quitting on Kurt Rambis sometime in January.

East

Miami Heat:
This is probably the most top heavy I`ve ever seen an NBA conference, there`s four teams that can legitimately compete, who will eat wins from bottom feeders (there`s going to be a battle for the bottom of the East this year) with D-League depth. Many better scribes have spent thousands of words talking about the Heat all off season, so I`ll spare it, we all know it`s going to be the most anticipated team ever watched since Jordan`s return. The one thing that may bring this team down is injuries, Wade didn`t drive the lane once last year to save himself for this one, but he`s already missed some pre-season games, so has LeBron. When the two and a half headed monster is on the court (I still think Bosh hasn`t proved himself as a top tiered talent) my eyes, and everyone else’s will be glued to the TV.

Orlando Magic:
Miami`s one weak spot is center, and the Magic have just the guy to exploit it. Dwight Howard needs to be fed the ball more this year, they have a lot of different scorers on their team, but they have to wake up and realise they got to get the ball to their best player more on offense, especially if giving the ball more to Howard means getting the other team in foul trouble. I`m convinced this team would be better off without Vince Carter, he takes bad shots, and too many of them, Jameer Nelson would be better suited taking more of his offensive piece of the pie. The blue print is in place with this team, they can frustrate Miami by punishing them with what they don`t have. They just have to execute.

Boston Celtics:
Getting Shaq was a good off season move. I hated him in Cleveland, sucked that offense dry, I hated him in Phoenix, once again did bad things to the offence, but they need him to compete with Dwight Howard, and exploit the Heat`s big weakness. The only problem is the over under on how many games he can play is probably around 42, and the over under on how many games it takes for him to get bored on the bench and eat Nate Robinson as a snack is about the same. The big difference this year from last is I think they believe they`re a better team. They listened too much all last year about how they`re too old all regular season, and then proved in the playoffs they still have it, this year they`re coming into the season knowing they still have it. I think Rasheed was a big part of their regular season futility last year, getting rid of the shadow of ‘Sheed mailing it in every night for his final year in the NBA is a huge positive for this team. Was Delonte West just picked up to torture LeBron when they play Miami? I don’t know, but I love the move. Look for Garnett to regress even more this season, knee surgery this late in a career is often the kiss of death. Between KG, Shaq, Jermaine O`neill, Big Baby and Kendrick Perckins (who has knee problems of his own) it`s at least one of the deepest front courts in the NBA. Oh yeah, and there best player, Rajon Rondo, is going to get even better this year; however, I do predict John Wall to take the steals title away from him.

Chicago Bulls:
The last of legit teams in the east, we may see a 30-some odd win team sneak into the playoffs this year because of it. Much like the Thunder, this team is built with pieces in place to complement each other, Derrick Rose is your go-to guy and leader, Joakim Noah battles hard, does the dirty work, sets screens, makes it hard for opponents and all the other selfless stuff, Luol Deng… I`m not sure his role actually but he has to earn that fat contract somehow, Carlos Boozer, who`s going to eat up rebounds and provide offense inside, and Brian Scalabrine, who was clearly added because of how well he cheers at the end of the bench. The Bulls are probably a year or two away from being really legit, but I like the roster, and they`re going to be fun to watch, especially if Rose develops a jumper.
* Quick side note- why do the three most exciting guards in the East -Rose, Wall and Rondo, all have bad jump shots? It`s like they went to the Isaiah Thomas School Of Point Guards, not that it`s completely a bad thing! I`m just saying.

New York Knicks:
New York Knicks number five you say!? How? Look at the rest of the Conference, this team isn`t half bad comparatively, Anthony Randolph is going to develop into a solid NBA player, same for Danilo Gallinari. Free agent signee Amar’e Stoudemire is ready to play hard every night in a city that`s dying for a legit star. You can bet that Amar’e wants to be that guy, especially in the bright lights of New York City. Oh and don’t forget Eddy Curry will bounce back with a 20-10 season. Ok, the last ones a joke, but I hear the T-Wolves are interested in overpaying Curry when his contract runs out and he no longer should be in the league! (See Darko). Raymond Felton may not have been the other big name Knicks fans were hoping for, but he`s a good upgrade at point guard.

Milwaukee Bucks:
It`s nice to see Andrew Bogut finally paying off for the Bucks, now if only he can stay healthy for a long period of time. The combo of him and Brandon Jennings when they`re playing well is fun to watch. Let`s just hope Cory Maggette doesn`t teach them a lesson on how to be a lazy NBA player, but still remain relevant in the league. Hopefully last season was a stepping stone of many more competitive ones in the future.

Atlanta Hawks:
One of my least favourite teams in the NBA, Joe Johnson pretty much quit trying in the playoffs last year, and how did he get rewarded? A max contract! (Re-read my Memphis Grizzlies preview for how much I hate it, although he`s better than Rudy Gay) The talent is there with the Hawks, they just have to execute better, Al Horford`s a great player, and Josh Smith brings a lot of talent to the team as well. I just don`t see them getting over the hump of the other teams in the East. Bringing in a new coach in Larry Drew was must for this team, hopefully for Hawks fans; he can bring the talent level to its fruition.

Charlotte Bobcats:
I don`t know how I see them slipping into the playoffs, I just couldn`t pull myself to put any of the other teams above them. Steven Jackson is a really good player, not a number one guy, but not that far off. Bobcat fans need to hope DJ Augustin finally has a break out year and see some of that potential. When it comes down to it they just don`t quite have enough good NBA players on their roster, and sadly won`t finish low enough for a top 5 lottery pick; which I`m sure Charlotte fans would rather have over a first round playoff exit.

Washington Wizards:
John Wall could be good enough to propel them into the playoffs. Wall may be the fastest player in the NBA (I`ve just decided he needs to race Jennings and Rondo to truly prove it though) and is going to turn into maybe the best defender out of any point guard in the league. The question is how soon can this develop? The Wizards can`t rely on him as their number one scorer just yet, although he`s going to amass a lot of his points in the paint as he has a knack for getting to the rim. They need to get rid of Gilbert Arenas, which is easier said than done as he has that massive contract, but he`s cancerous. First he wants to stay and help. Now he looks like he`s planning an escape. It`s not his team anymore, and if he doesn`t want to be a compliment player, let him go. This is going to be a scoring by committee team for now, and they`re probably better off without Arenas’ questionable shot selection. Up front they have Andray Blatche, who`s a good center to have start, and this is where it get`s confusing, the team website has Yi Jian Lian as the starting power forward, which I hope is a mistake to throw other teams off, because there`s not much good he can do, unless your team`s in a pickup league where nobody plays defence.

Philidelphia 76rs:
Uh-Oh, Evan Turner is having a bad pre-season, and was supposed to be your new bright spot this year. Hopefully it`s just him adjusting to the new level of play. At least Andre Igoudala proved he might be able to take it to the next level this summer at the Fiba tournament. He and Jrue Holliday should provide much of your scoring. With Thaddeus Young slotted to play the four, when he`s really a number three, and Elton Brand your undersized five, your already handicapping yourself. This team needs more punch up front before I can take them seriously.

Indiana Pacers:
Darren Collison is a good upgrade at point, and that should ignite Danny Granger at least a little. Do we even know how good of a player Granger is? Is he a legit number one on a potentially winning team, or should he be a compliment guy? We probably won`t find out this year, but he`ll be relied upon to be Indiana`s best player night in night out. Getting benched by coach K at the worlds probably didn`t do much for his ego. I looked up and down the roster and my eyes popped, how is Jeff Foster still in the NBA?

Cleveland Cavaliers:
Your consolation prize Cleveland: All of North America will be chearing for you. How could you not?

New Jersey Nets:
The best things about the Nets are happening off the court, not on the court, which doesn`t bode well for winning now. However, there is optimism in the air. Some very interesting questions remain to be answered. Like, can their new Russian billionaire owner Mikhail Prokhorov turn this team into a worthy contender? Can the Nets swing a deal to land megastare Carmelo Anthony back to city he was born in? With the possibilities of a new day on the horizon for the Nets, things are finally worth getting excited for if you’re a fan of the franchise. They also have some decent roster players too. Brook Lopez is for real and can only get better as he matures. First round pick Derrick Favors was a smart draft pick and should turn into a legit power forward. Devin Harris is a former all star who has to do better than he did last year, where I think he felt a little too much pressure.  Look for him to loosen up this year and be more of a creator.

Toronto Raptors:
DeMar DeRozan will be fun to watch improve, he`s got a lot of talent, but still needs to be a better ball handler, and shooter. Bargnani is going to be who the team is centered around, but I just don`t him being able to fill the void that Chris Bosh provided. Toronto was a mediocre team with him, and now the Raptors are just going to be plain bad without him. This team just needs more talent. I like Amir Johnson, but that contract is horrible, I`m not sure if I can really tell you what this teams direction is anymore. Sign as many foreign players as possible and hope an up tempo game works? At least they got something for Hedo, which I still can`t believe the Suns took that contract, because like they desperately needed another small forward.

Detroit Pistons:
The biggest question going into the Pistons season is if they’re going to hold on to their two best players, Rip Hamilton, and Tayshaun Prince. Hamilton will be hard to move because he has three years and 38 million left on his contract, too much for most teams to swallow given his age, 32, and the fact he’s only really effective coming off screens. Prince on the other hand will be an easier asset to move. Yes, he’s coming off of a down year, but he’s a great defender, and this is the final year of his contract. I think Joe Dumars time is up in Detroit, the team has no chemistry. Ben Wallace can defend a little, but his career is pretty much over, and who knows what to expect out of Ben Gordon, or Charlie Villaneuva, another terrible contract.

By Clint Lomax

Here we go. My NBA Power Rankings for the 2010-2011 season! I spent my summer studying the happening around the league closely, surveying all of the free agent movement, who got drafted where, who impressed in the NBA summer league and who shined at the FIBA World Championships in Turkey. With So much to go over, and so much of the NBA landscape transformed let’s waste no time and get things started.

30. Detroit Pistons – Who could of imagined the Pistons would fall so far so fast? Actually, it was kind of a gradual slid into where they are right now. Richard “Rip” Hamilton is the most consistent thing going for the Pistons right now. Ben Gordon, Charlie Villanueva, and Tayshaun Prince will carry the bulk of the load but I don’t think that will be enough for them to make the playoffs. Even if Tracy “T-Mac” McGrady is back in action, I think it is more window dressing than anything else. Austin Daye, Jason Maxiell, and Greg Monroe will have to grow leaps and bounds for Detroit to get out of the cellar.

29. Toronto Raptors – It is a rebuilding year. Not hating on Canada’s only NBA team, but if they do better than the 25th rank this year it will be a successful season for them. Counting on Andrea Bargnani for 82 games is hoping for a diamond pinky ring in your stocking at Christmas time! With Chris Bosh and Hedo Turkoglu gone, it will be a team effort to fill all of those stats. The Raptors faltered with Bosh out of the lineup. What is going to happen with him not even on the team? Look for DeMar DeRozan, Amir Johnson, Sonny Weems, Jarrett Jack, and Leandro Barbosa to play their butts off this season. I just think it is an uphill battle with a stronger Eastern Conference this year.

28. Memphis Grizzlies – O.J. Mayo, Rudy Gay, and Zach Randolph are the Grizzlies big 3. I see a lot of scoring out of this group but only one that plays defense in this group is Gay. Marc Gasol will be steady at Center, and will get good defensive minutes from Center Hasheem Thabeet. I can’t find a lot of teams that Memphis will beat to make a run at the 8th playoff spot.

27. Sacramento Kings – The Kings are one of the youngest teams in the league with players like Tyreke Evans, Omri Casspi, DeMarcus Cousins, and Jason Thompson. They will be exciting to watch, but I don’t see any of their big men carrying them to a playoff spot. It will be interesting to see how much the Lakers will slap them around this season.

26. New Jersey Nets – Even with the new addition of Russian owner Mikhail Prokhorov, the Nets are still rebuilding. Seems like they have rebuilding for over 10 years now! They failed to grab any of the 10 big free agents this summer, and that is why I placed them at #26. Look for Terrance Williams, Devin Harris, and Brook Lopez to anchor the team. Former Laker and two time champ Jordan Farmar should bring a winning spirit to the team. Farmar, combined with Anthony Morrow and rookie first rounder Derrick Favors should scare a few teams but that is about it.

25. Golden State Warriors – The high powered Warriors are boosted by the acquisition of David Lee. It should be interesting to see how Lee will achieve a double-double average without getting the ball on a regular basis. Stephen Curry and Monta Ellis in the backcourt are lethal, but they don’t lead the league in assists. Golden State is a little short in the front court so they definitely have to play transition ball. Yet I still think that will not work for them this year.

24. Cleveland Cavaliers – “The Decision” is history. Now it’s time to start playing the games. With Lebron gone to Miami, there are plenty of opportunities to rise to star status for everyone on the roster. Mo Williams may have another All Star season, but I have Ramon Session, Daniel “Boobie” Gipson, JJ Hickson and Antawn Jamison carrying a heavy load. However, the collective Cavs line up doesn’t have the broad shoulders of Lebron’s to rely upon. Unfortunately for Cleveland, they’ll now see how much of a load those shoulders had to carry. It’s back to the lottery for the long suffering Cavs fans.

23. Philadelphia 76ers – The Sixers are definitely a team you could level as “top heavy”. Andre Iguodala and Elton Brand will anchor the team. Jrue Holiday and Spencer Hawes should be a good support system this season for the 76ers, however their bench is young or “not ready for primetime”. Don’t put your eggs in the “Evan Turner basket” for a few years.

22. Indiana Pacers – The Pacers have an outside chance at the playoffs, but they won’t make it because they’re always injured. They need to change the facilities or their training personnel needs to be fired, because something here is wrong. They are stacked with talented players like Danny Granger, T.J. Ford, Darren Collison, and Mike Dunleavy Jr., and they also have good young talent in Tyler Hansbrough and Roy Hibbert, but it’s like I said before. They can’t stay healthy!

21. Charlotte Bobcats – The team with the owner that recently boasted he could have scored 100 points in today’s NBA in his prime, the owner who settled all of his haters and adversaries in his HOF speech, but is still considered the G.O.A.T. (Greatest Of All Time) still has to prove himself in one are. Management! Being the majority owner is not enough; he must also prove that he is not another Isaiah Thomas type GM when it comes to the chess pieces he puts on the floor. Last year’s playoff berth was a big accomplishment, but even more pressure is on them to do better. Losing Raymond Felton to the Knicks will open opportunities for point guard’s DJ Augustin and Shaun Livingston. Tyrus Thomas is a good pick up for the frontline, but in steps Kwame Brown to throw cold water on the whole “optimism” portion of this section. Stephen Jackson and Gerald Wallace will anchor this team, but I’m not sure if Larry Brown can pull a “1988 Danny Manning and the Jayhawks” routine with this group.

20. Washington Wizards – They should change their name back to the “Bullets” after last season’s Jerry Springer/TMZ episode between Javaris Crittenton and 100 Million Dollar contract owner Gilbert “Agent 0” Arenas. Misfortune seems to follow this franchise, but with the #1 overall draft pick of John Wall things maybe looking up. The Wizard’s line up is really solid on paper. John Wall and Gilbert Arenas at the guard positions and Josh Howard playing the small forward give the Wizards a big scoring punch. Not to mention the progression at the center position including both Andre Blatche and JaVale McGee. Their bench is young and up and coming, but that may be the reason they don’t make the playoffs this year.

19. Los Angeles Clippers – If Blake Griffin remains healthy, that will guarantee that the Clippers don’t lose 50 games this season. However, it doesn’t make them a playoff contender this year either. Baron Davis and Olympian Eric Gordon are great guards but have shown to be less than durable. Chris Kaman is always solid, but when he is on the bench the Clippers definitely take a nose dive in performance. I am cautiously optimistic that the Clippers will be in the playoffs again in 2-3 years.

18. New Orleans Hornets – Chris “CP3” Paul is the franchise player of this organization, and takes this team as far as his fiery hands will take them. With trade rumors still fresh, I still think Chris Paul will do his thing. The acquisitions of Marco Belinelli and Trevor Ariza will had some thunder and lightning to their offense, but it’s the Hornets defense that worries me. Paul and Ariza usually average a good number of steals per game, but with David West (6’9”) and Emeka Okafor (6’10”) being the Hornets only force in the front court, New Orleans will be very weak in the paint this season. No spring dance once again for the Hornets this year.

17. New York Knicks – With the disappointment of only getting one of the 10 prized free agents, the Knicks are still hopeful that the team can hover around .500 until they find out if they can get Carmelo Anthony or Chris Paul. With Amare Stoudamire, Kelena Azubuike, Danilo Gallinari, and Wilson Chandler, The Knicks may be able to tread water till reinforcements arrive. The problem is how long do they have to battle without them!

16. Minnesota Timberwolves – Well surprise, surprise! I feel like I haven’t even paid attention to this team since Kevin Garnett left town for greener pastures. But with players like Kevin Love, Luke Rindour, Michael Beasley, Martell Webster, and 1st round draft pick Wesley Johnson, the Timberwolves may be on to something here. Their personnel lend it to multiple game strategies which are a prerequisite for a championship team. The problem is who is this teams marquee go to player going to be?

15. Denver Nuggets – Carmelo Anthony is not gone, but does have one foot out the door. I don’t know what that is going to do for team chemistry, but I can guarantee that it is not a part of a championship formula. The usual suspects are back in: Chauncey Billups, Kenyon Martin, Nene, Ty Lawson, J.R. Smith, and Chris “Birdman” Anderson. What I don’t see is that player pickup that gets them over the “Los Angeles Lakers” hump. I know George Karl can coach, but he is nok  match for Phil “The Zen Master” Jackson, nor is his roster.

14. Phoenix Suns – Every year people write the Suns off for dead, but somehow they always rise up. The ageless Steve Nash refuses to relinquish his spot as one of the best guards in the NBA. The Suns tried to boaster their line up by bringing in Hedo Turkoglu to increase the scoring and passing IQ that is already near the top in the league. The key to the Suns playoff run is their back up point guard play of Goran Dragic, and the sharpshooting of almost everyone on their team. Robin Lopez can’t replace Amare Stoudamire, but he can do what any good center does and that’s rebound, shot block and clog the middle defense. This team, however, is all about the three ball. Time to see if three point shooting will ever win a championship. Don’t count on it with this club.
13. Atlanta Hawks – Joe Johnson is paid more money than any of Miami’s big three, yet I don’t have them coming out of the second round this season. They needed big time height at the Center position to compete with the elite teams in Boston and Orlando, and who did they pick up this off season to help them with that? No one, that’s who. They’re definitely talented, especially with last year’s 6th man of the year Jamal Crawford, high flying Josh Smith and the ageless wonder Mike Bibby, but they just don’t have what it takes to take out Orlando or Boston in a seven game series.

12. Milwaukee Bucks – Fear The Deer is back, and I don’t mean The Texas Rangers (they have some Antler thing going on for their World Series run). Andrew Bogut and Michael Redd are back from injury this season, but I don’t know if they will need them. Ok, they’ll need Bogut, but they have a log jam of talent on this team with Corey Maggette, Drew Gooden, Keyon Dooling, Brandon Jennings, Carlos Delfino, John Salmons all being very capable players. This team will make you fear them come playoff time.

11. Houston Rockets – I have one word to describe the Houston Rockets. Stacked! This team is ridiculously deep, which throughout the regular season should run about an 11 man rotation. I kid you not. This team has weapons and are really explosive. I just hope they prove me wrong for giving them an just an 11 rating, because this team will surprise many!

10. Portland Trailblazers – Portland was among the league leaders in injury minutes lost last season, and even before the season starts newcomer Jeff Pendergraph is out for the season. Brandon Roy will anchor this powerful Portland team to an inevitable clash of the titans meeting with the Lakers in the first or the second round of the playoffs. With a front line like Greg Oden , LaMarcus Aldridge, Marcus Camby, and Joel Pryzbilla, I believe The Trailblazers have the best athletic front court line up to hang with the Lakers in the west.

9. Utah Jazz – Jerry Sloan has his modern day John Stockton in Deron Williams. Now all he needs is to find that Karl Malone. Al Jefferson is not Karl Malone, but he will help Andrei Kirilenko and Paul Millsap in the front line. Raja Bell adds more defensive toughness, but the Jazz are still an undersized team. Rookie Gordon Hayward should contribute right away, but they have a young big man that will need more seasoning before he can catapult the Jazz back to title contention.

8. San Antonio Spurs – I know my brother in law is going to be upset with me, but the truth is the truth (even if it is my truth). The usual suspects are back, but one year older. Tim Duncan is 36 and Antonio McDyes is 36 years old. Manu Ginobili is getting up there in age too, so they are really counting on DeJuan Blair, George Hill and Tiago Splitter to grow up quick if they are going to upset the top teams in the west. However, don’t count out head coach Greg Popovich. His team is similar to Boston as far as experience and defensive intensity and can win games off that alone. Especially come springtime.

7. Chicago Bulls – Evidently this is supposed to be a top three or four team in the East. Derrick Rose, Luol Deng, and Joakim Noah are the cornerstones to the Bulls success. Even though Carlos Boozer is out for a few months (on one of the worst non basketball injury excuses I’ve ever heard), I believe the Bulls will be able to hold the fort until he returns. Nice and rested for the stretch run for the playoffs. This team seems to have it all, shooting, passing, rebounding, and defense. My question is how much more will Rose extend his game? As far as sharing the ball with his teammates more and getting more steals on defense. Can Rose elevate his game to those of the greatest in the NBA? If so, this team will be dangerous.

6. Dallas Mavericks – Mark Cuban’s cameo appearances on Entourage were more impressive than his team’s playoff performances as of late. Dallas has been stacked for the last five or six years, yet they have under achieved since their NBA Finals appearance versus Miami. The fire power is still there with Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Terry, and Caron Butlert, plus even at 37 years-old, Jason Kidd can still distribute the ball better than anyone in the NBA. Tyson Chandler and Brendon Haywood will add versatility to the front line, which may be what Dallas has been missing all these years. Dallas improves their roster ever so slightly. Let’s see how it translates.

5. Oklahoma City Thunder – One of the youngest teams in the league was a quarter and a half in game six versus the Lakers from extending the series to a game seven last year. They have the same team back plus they added Morris Peterson to give Durant a blow without losing too much shooting. The only place they didn’t upgrade was at the center position. Serge Ibaka is a up and coming center, but backups like Nenad Kristic, BJ Mullens, and Cole Aldrich are not going to do it in my opinion. They will need to upgrade this area if they want to be able to beat the Lakers.

4. Orlando Magic – Orlando is talented. However, besides adding Chris Duhon and Quentin Richardson, how much better is Orlando from last year? We all know they can shoot. In my opinion, Marcin Gortat should be starting for any other team in the NBA. The bench is deep and strong with talent at all positions. The reason why I have them at four instead of three is because of guard play. As much as I like Jameer Nelson, I don’t think his assist totals are high enough for Orlando to win a title. It may not be his fault completely. It may be the fact that they shoot more three point shots than anyone else in the league, or that Nelson is just so aggressive, and sometimes unstoppable, that it drags his assist totals down. The only intangible that may stop Orlando from winning a title is that I’ve never heard of a “high pitch, loud mouth” coach like Van Gundy winning a championship. I think the closest one was Rick Adelman.

3. Miami Heat – My personal favorite to win the whole thing, yet I am concerned about the big three’s chances. One is injuries. Already Dwyane Wade has been hit with a hamstring injury, and is not in game shape yet. Mike Miller is lost till January with a broken hand. Now they have reserves, but they are what I call “the minimum” reserves. Players that sign for the minimum are usually specialist in one or two facets of basketball, or they are older journeyman getting one last pay cheque. All indications are that Lebron will spend a lot of time at the point guard, and he and Wade will be taking most of the shots. Chris Bosh and Udonis Haslem will anchor the front line, but Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Juwaan Howard, and Jamaal Magloire must get into the mix. Miami was in the top 10 in defense without Lebron and Bosh last season. I don’t see any reason why they won’t be higher this time around. The Big three must find their winning pedigree sooner than later to be in the running for this year’s championship.

2. Boston Celtics – You cannot unseat them from this ranking until they do something to unseat themselves. Boston was one minute and 30 seconds away from wining two rings in three years. Despite the disappointment and the retiring of Rasheed Wallace, didn’t overhaul their line up. They actually added more firepower. Jermaine O’Neal and Shaquille O’Neal are bigger acquisitions than most people give them credit as. They may not score 20 points a game but they do something ultimately better and that’s using their infinite basketball IQ. Both of them know they are not going to carry the team, so they put maximum effort into what? Defense! An occasional block shot, rebound, good switch and rotations to force bad shots, etc. You cannot put a price on those types of plays. With Kendrick Perkins out for half the season with injury, this line up will be crucial to resting Kevin Garnett throughout the season. When I say Boston is ridiculously deep, I mean they are overflowing with talent that can come in and rest starters even Rajon Rondo and Paul Pierce. Time is running out for this aging squad, though. Anymore injuries to this team could cripple their chance of challenging for this year’s ring contest. It’s now or never.

1. Los Angeles Lakers – As much as people say that I am a hater of the Los Angeles Lakers, or that I hate on Kobe for no reason….nothing could be further from the truth. The champs have added even better talent than they had last year. Matt Barnes and Steve Blake are nearly perfect additionsa to a team that is more a cookie cutter than a project. They’re not too old, they’re skilled at every position, they have more unselfish players than the latter, and they have the best coach in NBA history along with the legendary “triangle offense”. With Jordan Farmar and Adam Morrison jettisoned from the team, it would seem at first glance that the Lakers have little to no weaknesses. The only thing that should concern them is the health of Andrew Bynum. Bynum is and always will be the key to the Lakers winning a championship. As good as the new Batman and Robin are (Kobe and Pau Gasol), they need Bynum’s presence in the middle on offense and defense. But mark my words, if Oklahoma City gets the first or second seed in the West and make it to the Western Conference Finals, watch out Laker fans!

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Check out Vancouver Basketball’s Andrew ‘Soda’ Wadden giving his NBA preview on ‘Sports Talk Weekend’ with host Rick Quinton on CKNW AM 980.

Soda with Rick Quinton – Sports Talk Weekend (23-10-10)