File :-(, x, )
Anonymous
One of these teams will be a Dark Horse team come playoffs time...

WHICH ONE /sp/?
>> Anonymous
i choose the dinosaur raping the basket ball
>> Anonymous
Rockets
>> Anonymous
well I'm not sure houston belongs in there, generally "dark horse" isn't a term you used to describe a possible title contender.
>> ????
fuck it, I'm a calling it now. none of these teams get to second round of playoffs. timestamp 10:30 on november 8th. But this early I can call the fact, Golden State, no post season.
>> Sneak !!+y8MDiWrdyT
If Orlando keeps its act together and Howard can play as well as he did last year, we might actually get to the 3rd round.

Oh wait, Detroit has Iverson now, don't they? Nevermind, we're fucked.
>> UZ !kHzD4It5Tc
NUGGEST

AMIDOINITRITE
>> Anonymous
>>458900

doesn't mean shit, it was a pointless trade. They swapped pointguards? I mean really? Sure maybe Billups wasn't quite as good as Iverson as paper but there's no enormous difference.

I mean fuck the NETS beat them with Iverson yesterday.
>> Anonymous
>>458901
ENJOY UR SIDEGRADE
>> Anonymous
For a surprise pick I would go with the Bobcats. They have solid players at every position except the 4, and as long as they don't get decimated by injuries I think Larry Brown can straighten things out. I won't go as far as to say they will beat Boston or Detroit, but they can pose a bigger challenge than others expect.

Both Raptors and the Ws have huge rebounding issues, they are also too jumper happy, I know that Ellis isn't playing right now, but until he comes back from suspension and prove he can play the point Warrior fans should stop assuming he can play the 1 spot. Portland is very well rounded with a strong bench, I expect them to make some noise even if Oden still isn't healthy by playoff time. Neither the Rockets nor the Magic are uprising teams or underdogs in their conference, so no comment.
>> Anonymous
>>458884

No, Houston belongs here...they may be talked about as title contenders but no one will ever take them seriously if they can't win a fucking playoff series. Honestly, until they matter in the playoff they are not title contenders
>> Anonymous
Is that really one of Toronto's alternate logos? Badass
>> Anonymous
Not GSW. They have way too brutal a schedule to open the season with. Ellis didn't help matters and I think it's going to get really ugly with his contract. Harrington isn't helping matters by bitching about wanting out and playing like ass so the Warrior's can't get jack for him (Harrington for Marbury straight up NY how about it? We both get rid of a problem). GS won't even sniff the playoff this year unless something drastic happens at the bottom of the West.

The real light of hope in GS is Beadrins. Getting a double double nightly. He should be going to the all star game but it will be Yao an Shaq. Yao because he has about 3 BILLION people voting for him and Shaq because fans think it's 1998 and not 2008. He's not nearly as dominant as he was 10 years ago.
>> Anonymous
R
A
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>> Anonymous
If O'Neal can play at least 25 solid minutes a game, then Raptors.
>> HKK !h7MHU9L/Oo
Raptors: They will win the championship in honor of Michael Crichton.
>> Anonymous
>>458900
Talentwise, Orlando is the second best team in the east.
They wouldn't really be a darkhorse.
>> Anonymous
if my spurs choke i'm cheering for the raptors.
>> Anonymous
I hope Toronto wins, I really respect Chris Bosh. He's easily one of the top 3 big men in the league but is so underrated. Plus I think it would be awesome if the only Canadian team in the league won the Championship.
>> Anonymous
The Rockets may make it out of the first round of the playoffs this year just to shut people up, but I bet by then they'll be overwhelmed and get beaten by Dallas or some shit. T-Mac is a pretty big fail, second-round virgin and all that jazz. Yao is a very over-rated big-man, or maybe it just looks that way because he's in the West; but really, if you're on the floor 46 minutes a game and you're 7'6", you're going to get some rebounds and hookshots in. And they keep him out that long because he's got a few billion people to cheer for him, it's as much as business decision as it is a coaching decision.

I may just sound a little butthurt here, but Orlando got lucky making it to the second round last year over Toronto. Not just the fact that Toronto came in after basically imploding at the end of the season with the whole 'TJ Ford is a piece of shit!' + 'Chris Bosh is still basically hurt' thing, but also the fact that they hit so many damn 3's!!! They shot an insane percentage from 3, and when they missed, Howard was a monster on the boards like he always is. Now that the east has more legitimate big men (Brand, a better Dalembert, O'Neal, even Bargnani to an extent) he won't be AS dominant. If you ask me, Orlando won't be a real big contender until they get an actual pointguard and wings that can do more than shoot a three.
1/4
>> Anonymous
Will the Warriors even make the playoffs? Probably not. The West is way too strong for them to half a star and a half in Ellis and Beadrins. (That is to say, Beadrins should be an all-star because he's doing great in the absence of Ellis and Davis, and carrying his team; while Ellis will only play half a season). Actually, Ellis will have to take a while to get used to being a pointguard AND get back into the flow of the game; maybe 1/4-star? Either way, they won't make the playoffs to even be a "dark horse."

This leaves Portland and they're amazing centre <s>Sam Bowie </s> Greg Oden. Really, when he ends up playing, I have no doubt he'll be an amazing talent and be averaging 20-20's. And Roy? Holy shit is that kid amazing. With solid back-up like Aldridge and that, you can't help but think Portland will become a powerhouse somewhere down the line if Oden is healthy. That said, I still think they may be too young, and not have an outside threat once Oden starts getting doubled in the post. Once they get a few role-players, like someone else to rebound with Oden, and an outside shooter or two (a great fit for J.J. Riddick now that I think of it, where the hell is that guy anyway?); they will be title contenders. Specifically, I can see them dismantling New Orleans; but that's just me.
2/4
>> Anonymous
>>460500

Rockets lose to Dallas? Have you watched either team in the last two years? As for Yao being overrated he was one of only five people in the league averaging better than 20 pts/10 reb per game. Their problem isn't their stars, its just that you can't get past the first round in the West (unlike the East) with just two good players. But they have a more developed Scola, Artest and a much stronger bench. Their prospets are much better.
>> Anonymous
Now for the Raptors: Chris Bosh is a beast. If he isn't at least considered for MVP this year, I will be shocked and lose a lot of faith in the NBA. Sure, his rebounding numbers might not be with Howards; and his points might not get to the 50's like James' or Kobe's, but what he does for his team is more intangible like a Kevin Garnett last year. Did anyone see their game today against Charlotte? Admittedly, they were all playing like shit, but Bosh refused to let them lose. 14 points, 3 blocks (+many more altered), 5 rebounds (at least) - are pretty impressive numbers for the fourth quarter; but it was the fact that he brought his team along with him that kept them in the game. He was running the floor, being intense of defense, going after the offensive boards, boxing out, getting to the free-throw line, driving the basket, and kicking when need be that made him so great in that quarter. What other issues do they have? Rebounding? O'Neal, Bosh, and Moon should take care of that. And besides that, Bargnani is being less of a bitch and is willing to go under either basket now. Back-up point-guard? Calderon is just as good as any all-star guard, but no one really knows about the people behind him: Roko Ukic, and Will Solomon. Ukic is a speedy little fucker, who knows how to set up the right people the right way. His major bash against him is how young and flimsy he is; but he can hold his own for a while if Jose needs a rest. Will Solomon is more bulky, and can drive the lane (something even Jose doesn't do well). Just look at him today: 7 assists in the 4th quarter. Sure it might've been against Charlotte, but if you saw them, I'd say the majority would've worked against Boston just as well.
>> Anonymous
Now for the Raptors: Chris Bosh is a beast. If he isn't at least considered for MVP this year, I will be shocked and lose a lot of faith in the NBA. Sure, his rebounding numbers might not be with Howards; and his points might not get to the 50's like James' or Kobe's, but what he does for his team is more intangible like a Kevin Garnett last year. Did anyone see their game today against Charlotte? Admittedly, they were all playing like shit, but Bosh refused to let them lose. 14 points, 3 blocks (+many more altered), 5 rebounds (at least) - are pretty impressive numbers for the fourth quarter; but it was the fact that he brought his team along with him that kept them in the game. He was running the floor, being intense of defense, going after the offensive boards, boxing out, getting to the free-throw line, driving the basket, and kicking when need be that made him so great in that quarter. What other issues do they have? Rebounding? O'Neal, Bosh, and Moon should take care of that. And besides that, Bargnani is being less of a bitch and is willing to go under either basket now. Back-up point-guard? Calderon is just as good as any all-star guard, but no one really knows about the people behind him: Roko Ukic, and Will Solomon. Ukic is a speedy little fucker, who knows how to set up the right people the right way. His major bash against him is how young and flimsy he is; but he can hold his own for a while if Jose needs a rest. Will Solomon is more bulky, and can drive the lane (something even Jose doesn't do well). Just look at him today: 7 assists in the 4th quarter. Sure it might've been against Charlotte, but if you saw them, I'd say the majority would've worked against Boston just as well. 3/4
>> Anonymous
Solidified up front to deal with monsters like Howard, lock-down defenders like O'Neal and Parker will take on anyone up front or in the backcourt. Their major weakness is still going to be the fast-break, and getting on the offensive glass, but they'll still going to be going to the second round. I guarantee it.

tl;dr Toronto will make it to the second or third round of the playoffs. The rest might not even make it, except Orlando, who have a slim chance of getting out of the first round.
>> Anonymous
Solidified up front to deal with monsters like Howard, lock-down defenders like O'Neal and Parker will take on anyone up front or in the backcourt. Their major weakness is still going to be the fast-break, and getting on the offensive glass, but they'll still going to be going to the second round. I guarantee it.

tl;dr Toronto will make it to the second or third round of the playoffs. The rest might not even make it, except Orlando, who have a slim chance of getting out of the first round.

4/4
>> Anonymous
(How I keep double posting, I have no idea, sorry about that)
>>460521
There's no way it's a coincidence T-Mac has never been able to make it out of the first round. He just can't cut it in the playoffs, somehow. I can't explain it, but as soon as he sets foot on the court during the playoffs his team becomes shit. Losing to Dallas was just an exaggeration.

As for Yao, 20 points and 10 rebounds? Big deal. I'll give him he can score, but a lot of it comes from just being bigger than other guys, although I really do like the fact that he can step out a bit, which will spread the floor for his team and allow for more offensive rebounds by other people (like Bosh does for O'Neal and Moon). But 10 rebounds? THE GUY IS FUCKING 7'6"!!!!! He could probably get that just standing under the basket waiting for the other team to miss. He's his teams only rebounding option, so it makes sense that he'll get more rebounds than other people. I'm sure Shaq could be averaging 10-15 rebounds a game if Amare wasn't around, just like I bet Howard wouldn't be racking up the 20-20's if he wasn't the only rebounding option (good as he is).

Artest is no saving grace, Scola is the new Manu (take that as you will), and I see nothing really new off the bench.
>> Anonymous
I am not going to take away Toronto's win today, but Bosh is playing heavy minutes, and if you need Bosh to bail out the team everytime it just goes to show they are once again not ready to enter second round. They have one star and a bunch of role players, and that hasn't changed this season. Getting O'Neal is always a plus(if he stays healthy) because nothing is more important than interior defense and rebounding, but they still have trouble creating their own shots outside of Bosh. Calderon lives and dies by his jumpers, if it's not on, he's not going to attack the paint and make the offense easier for anyone. O'Neal has terrible accuracy, safe to say he won't ever average 20 a game. Everyone else are either shooters(Barg, Kapono, Parker) or guys that are offensive liabilities(solomon, Moon). They can get out of 1st round if Barg continues to improve on defense and stop setting for jumpshots, otherwise, with their predictable offense from a lack of star power and their mediocre perimeter defense no one can feel confident betting on them come playoff time.
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
Oh please, oh please, oh please, oh please
>> Anonymous
>>460587
Does Detroit have anything but role players? Think about it, they have no real stars except maybe Sheed, and that's half because he's so damn angry all the time and that's entertaining. No one has consistently big nights or anything. I'm a Cavsfag but I can still see Toronto getting to the second round, maybe even third.
They've done nothing but improve their team, by getting O'Neal, and getting rid of the dead weight that was TJ Ford. Moon's shot is improving, and he can still attack the offensive glass, and Solomon just needs to create motion in the offence, not his own shot. As for creating shots, Bargnani is learning to, and Parker always has been able to.
>> Anonymous
i would say blazers, but i would hope orlando
>> Anonymous
I'm a warriors fan, they aren't making the playoffs this year. no way. a few years down the line though, ellis + biedrins + wright + randolph are going to be destroying the western conference. just not quite yet.
>> Anonymous
>>460507

I think Fernandez and Webster have a good outside shot.

It really sucks that Webster is out for the start of the season.
>> Anonymous
>>460614

Detroit was able to win in 04 because they field one of the best defense over the last 10 years. Both Rasheed and Ben Wallace can guard multiple positions, Prince and Billups are great on-the-ball defenders, not to mention the old Big Ben was an athletic beast that could strip and block the ball anytime it comes to the paint. Raptors still have huge problems with their perimeter defense, and if J'Oneal gets into foul trouble Bosh is going to get slaughtered in the paint. Additionally, you can't score by committee the way the Pistons did and still expect to win it all anymore. With new rules that favor slashers you need an elite perimeter player who can score in the paint at will. The only one that fits the bill is Barg, and he's a 7 footer who's being masqueraded as a SF who is neither elite or likes to score in the paint.
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
/thread
>> Anonymous
portland
i'd say raptors, but they don't look that great thus far. they need to beat teams like Atlanta. a little disappointing, since i'm a raps fan. Bosh can't go 30-15 every night.
>> Anonymous
I don't see neither the rockets nor the magic as "Dark Horse" teams.