zhevek

So, I posted this same question last year about this time on this board, and I looked at the answers, and no one predicted that the Pistons would win... though one person did predict that they would get to the finals.

I think the Spurs adding Brent Barry is what will make them win it all. They have the three point shooter they were missing last year.

Of course, I really wish the Warriors would win it all, but errr, that's not happening. I guess I live in Portland now, instead of the Bay Area, so I should pull for the Jail Blazers

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1slOwCD8

Go Chicago Bulls! ...............j/k
I dont know, I havent really watched that much basketball since the glorious Bulls years.
Who knows, possible beginning of 3-peat again.

Lockjaw

The Spurs.
They have the defense to stop just about anyone and a serviceable offense.
And with Shaq off in the East the road just got a bit easier in the West.

Nimbletoe

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Go Pistons!

mosha

Not the Nets They totally took apart that team when they let kenyon go.

CityOfAngels

Eh,...I'll give it to KMart that he's a superb dunker...but that's about it. The future of the Nets is definitely RJ. Their real hole is in the center position. Neither of the Collins twins have done much in the L.

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radioguy

MAVS!! they finally have a real center. i know that fortson was in a contract year and probably won't be as good this year as last, but look at who he replaced. he is a definite upgrade. losing nash hurt, but getting terry and the kid harris from wisconsin will help the backcourt.

will the defense be better? probably, but i don't know if it will improve enough to win it all.

Cross-Over

I wrote this in another thread about NBA Fans, "In my opinion, the best team is the San Antonio Spurs. They play great defense, are very well coached, have role-specific guys, and have one of the top two players in the league. Barry is a great addition, he shoots well and can create with the ball."

I like the Spurs will defeat the Pistons in the Finals.

Lockjaw

As a Mavs fan....you have got to be kidding me.

Terry Fortson? He's not even on the team any more. I think you are talking about Dampier. And Devin will be riding the bench and Daniels will be running point.
The Mavs have had too much turn over to contend seriously this year. I'd be shocked if they made the top 5 teams in the West. They'll be better defensively but they will be much much worse on the offensive side of the ball and against some of the shut down defensive teams in the league their shooting won't get it done. They'll basically play out like this. They'll be able to beat exclusive offensive oriented teams with their improved D.
Teams that are able to ugly up a game with a shut down D will give them problems but they should be able to win. Overall teams with a powerful offensive and a tough defensive they'll get raped against because they can't play defense as good as those guys and they can't shoot and score as well as they could in the past to compensate for their lack of D. It used to be they would force teams to run the court with them. Now they'll try to play a half court game they aren't going to be able to pull that off. Maybe next year...but we hear that all the time.

Rudel73

Clevaland...drew gooden will be better than boozer and with LBJ feeding him the ball. Zydrunas is still in the top 5 centers in the NBA and eric snow/jeff mcinnis at 1-2 will be hard to stop! Plus tons of veterans coming off the bench makes them very deep!!!

LUVTAPPER007

The Mavs are gonig all the way.

Mojo_PeiPei

Minnesota Timberwolves.

We have the best player on the planet in Kevin Garnett. Sam Cassell is healthy now, and since Troy Hudson is back, Sam will play less and be more efficent, saving himself for the playoffs. We have Spree who just keeps on dominating, plus playing behind him we got a healthy Wally World. Trenton Hassell is our lock down perimeter defender, if he plays half as good as he did last season, everything will be square. Fred Hoiberg is the best role player on the planet, nobody can touch the Mayor. I feel a little scared about our 5 spot, but between Big Irv Johnson and Kandi man (who might be the worst player on the planet, not sure yet), we are still better then 70% of teams.

Minnesota is a solid Defensive team, and a threat at any point to be an explosive offensive team. I like our chances to get to the finals this year, especially since Shaq is out of the west.

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Cross-Over

Lockjaw,
I think the Mavs plan on starting Jason Terry at the point. Since its been said that Stackhouse is going to come off the bench, that leaves either Daniels or Howard at the three. They started Daniels late last year, and that will probably continue.

Lockjaw

See I would think Daniels would be overmatched at the 3 spot. I think Fin would be a bit better suited for the 3 spot and Daniels at shooting guard. And with his better defensive and dribbling abilities over Fin I think he'd be a better fit at helping closing down the other teams shooting guard and could take more 2 guards off the dribble better than Fin.

runtuff

Well I'm bettin' it won't be the Boston Celtics.

Cross-Over

I really didn't think of that scenario when I posted, I narrowed in on the thought of Daniels not starting at the point with the acquistion of Terry.

You might be right and I agree with you, Finley at 3 and Daniels at 2 seems better (if both start). However, Finley is a better shooter.

If I made the lineup, I would start Finley at the 2 and Howard at the three. Howard is a very good rebounder and gives you some toughness. I would bring in Stack and Daniels off the bench. Daniels could run point (when Terry is on the bench) and play the 2.

Jesus Malverde

The San Antonio Spurs. They should have gone last year but then they pulled the choke of the summer by letting the Lakers come back from 2-0. Brent Barry won't make that much difference, I would be happier if he plays the defense that we needed last year against LA.

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radioguy

i screwed that up. i meant dampier. you think they would draft harris at #5 and put him on the bench? i can see him being eased into the starting rotation early on so that they get him some experience. during preseason so far, terry has been real streaky. harris may replace terry in the starting lineup before long.

farcryer

It'd be great if the Rockets won. I have fond memories of being a young fan in Houston when they went back-to-back in 94-95. Hey they have T-Mac, Yao, it could happen...? Right?

Well- someday, hopefully, we'll get another parade.

espi

It's hard to pick against the Pistons this year, they're bringing back largely the same team that they won with last year, with the additions of McDyess and Delfino. Plus, they have my one of my favorite NBA names: Smush Parker! Hehe..."Smush", that guy must hate his parents. Oh, I do hate the Derrick Coleman deal - that guy is cancer.

I think the Wolves will probably come out of the West. They're in a very similar situation to the Pistons: they have nearly the same team last year, and weren't that far off from getting to the finals. Although, Spree has gotta quit his bitching, no one is gonna give him $40 million, especially not a contender. I can't believe I had myself actually liking him over the past couple of seasons. What an ass.

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crossova

AUtigers1212

Pistons will repeat as champs in '04-'05

aerozeppelin

I totally agree - they came close to winning it all last year, and with Hudson back depth should give them the edge. Plus, no more LA to worry about - just let Kobe hog the ball, shoot 50 times and kill the team. Without Shaq in conference, there just isn't a dominant center to abuse the lane against the Wolves - Yao is good, but isn't physical like Shaq was. Plus, the Timberwolves play hard and odn't have any major off-court distractions, unlike other teams like LA, Sacramento, etc....

Mojo_PeiPei

Oh yeah, I actually mispoke when I said KG is the best player on the planet, and at the same time neglected to mention said best player... Mark Madsen.

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espi

No, no, no. You're confusing best player with best dancer. Mad Dog is the best dancer.

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YellowBlaze654

heck yea far cryer clutch city
i hope the rockets do better this year t-mac and yao should be a deadly duo

wolfpack0102

Pistons will win

EbolaVirus

The Detroit Pistons will make it back-to-back titles.

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theFez

Celts!! Super Bowl, World Series, NBA championship all in boston in the same year.

if they were playing hockey, it would be the B's too!!

or i might be drunk.

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Jadedfox

Pacers.

--jaded

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JSwiss

Despite being a Celtics fan I've gotta say that Detroit's got my pick for winners this year. Adding in the people they did in the off season only makes them stronger without any big losses.