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Originally Posted by alansmithee
...I honestly think the team to beat is the Nuggets. Karl had them playing really well last year, and I think they will just get better. Either them or Houston, I think the West representative will be either one of those two.
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The Nuggets played well under Karl, but that wasn't for the whole season. All that hype about them upsetting someone in the playoffs after taking game 1 against the Spurs was squashed when S.A. swept the next four. The nuggets only made one improvement, adding Earl Watson. I like Watson, and was glad to see if get the full mid-level exception, but his presence is going to take away minutes from their other core group of guards (Boykins and Miller and the point, Johnson and Leonard at the two). Playing Miller at the two will work, but he is not nearly the shooting threat that Leonard or even Johnson is. Miller has no three point range whatsoever, he is a mid range jumper guy. I think they will be a playoff team, but so will 7 other teams in the West
Like maximusveritas stated, the Spurs are clearly the team to beat. The best team in the NBA added depth in the sole area they needed it, three point shooting. Finley has shot over 40% from three-point range the last two years. Hopefully that number wont drop significantly, e.g., Brent Barry. Many people chose the popular pick of the Suns to win it all in the playoff predictions thread last year, but their weakness was exposed. They couldn't play any defense, Parker and Ginobili scored at will. The defensive minded Spurs eliminated one of their weapons by rendering Marion useless.
I am a Washington and Atlanta fan. I liked that the Hawks got Joe Johnson (who needs draft picks, they haven't worked for them up until last year anyways), but they have no inside presence. Looks like another lottery year.
The Wizards pissed me off incredibly by being stingy with Hughes. They did eventually match the Cav's offer, but Hughes already felt disrespected and went with the Cavs. I don't blame him, the guy had a great year (led the league in steals, All Defensive First Team), yet they lowball him on their initial offer. I think Antonio Daniels is a good fit and an efficient player, but he is older and less of a weapon than Hughes. They let good players go away right as they enter their prime (Chris Webber, Rip Hamilton, Ben Wallace, Rasheed Wallace).