Why wouldn't it be a good strategy. How many teams will be over the salary cap or luxury tax in two years? 15? 20? Teams that have no shot of making the playoffs/championship will want to dump salary ala the Suns this offseason. The salary cap is getting smaller as well.

 

Like I said we'll see who they get for him. You may be right.

Odom back to the Lakers. Let's just go ahead and order their rings.

Odom back to the Lakers. Let's just go ahead and order their rings.

 

Why?

 

 

I think the Magic are going to be better next year than what they were this year if they can stay healthy. Plus, the Magic should have won at least two of the games they lost in the Finals but either blew it by missing free throws or with gimme shots.

 

You can never count Lebron out, and same for the Celtics if healthy. I would say it would have been a totally different playoffs in the east given the Celtics were at full strength.

 

And always right when you think they've got their fill and won all they are going to win, the Spurs usually find a way to sneak in there. Injuries killed them last year, and they have much improved their team this off season.

 

If that Nuggets group keeps on developing and improving the way they play with each other, they also may have another say so about the situation.

 

Heck, the Blazers may even put up a fight in the west being it is always so tight and wide open. They are just one of many talented teams that are staying with the same core group of guys, and they just continue to get better as a team.

 

 

 

 

So IMO, its way, way too early to crown the Lakers again. This year in the playoffs, the Lakers had a lot of trouble closing out games, and a couple teams, especially the Magic always found themselves in a position to win games. As a few sports journalists and analysts said, you can say the Magic gave away the championship as much as the Lakers won it. So, althought the Lakers will be defending, an although they have the most talented roster in the league, they still didn't show me enough dominance to say with confidence they will win again.

One of my all time favorite players, Jason Williams (White Chocolate), will be coming out of retirement and working out for the Knicks next week...

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4369594

Why?

 

 

I think the Magic are going to be better next year than what they were this year if they can stay healthy. Plus, the Magic should have won at least two of the games they lost in the Finals but either blew it by missing free throws or with gimme shots.

 

You can never count Lebron out, and same for the Celtics if healthy. I would say it would have been a totally different playoffs in the east given the Celtics were at full strength.

 

And always right when you think they've got their fill and won all they are going to win, the Spurs usually find a way to sneak in there. Injuries killed them last year, and they have much improved their team this off season.

 

If that Nuggets group keeps on developing and improving the way they play with each other, they also may have another say so about the situation.

 

Heck, the Blazers may even put up a fight in the west being it is always so tight and wide open. They are just one of many talented teams that are staying with the same core group of guys, and they just continue to get better as a team.

 

 

 

 

So IMO, its way, way too early to crown the Lakers again. This year in the playoffs, the Lakers had a lot of trouble closing out games, and a couple teams, especially the Magic always found themselves in a position to win games. As a few sports journalists and analysts said, you can say the Magic gave away the championship as much as the Lakers won it. So, althought the Lakers will be defending, an although they have the most talented roster in the league, they still didn't show me enough dominance to say with confidence they will win again.

 

Why? I think Artest has made every team that he has went to better, although at times his temper has cost both him and his club. Who has a set of better perimeter defenders than Bryant and Artest? If their bigs remain healthy how do you counter Bynum's size, Gasol's finesse, and Odom's unorthodox game. I don't see how the Magic can compete with that. KB and Artest cancel out VC defensively. They have to defenders for Lewis in Odom and Artest.

 

The Celtics have a good chance because of KG and Rondo. I think Pierce and Allen are too old to really win a series against LA. If Rondo can be problems for Fisher the Celtics would have a great chance because I think KG, if healthy, can hold down the post.

 

The Cavs could only beat them if LeBron has a series like he did against Orlando, and everyone else is really on their games. I don't know if I trust them to do it.

 

The Spurs could be their biggest challenge outside of the Celtics, IMO. Unless, Artest ruins their chemistry they are going to be very tough to beat.

Why?

 

 

I think the Magic are going to be better next year than what they were this year if they can stay healthy. Plus, the Magic should have won at least two of the games they lost in the Finals but either blew it by missing free throws or with gimme shots.

 

You can never count Lebron out, and same for the Celtics if healthy. I would say it would have been a totally different playoffs in the east given the Celtics were at full strength.

 

And always right when you think they've got their fill and won all they are going to win, the Spurs usually find a way to sneak in there. Injuries killed them last year, and they have much improved their team this off season.

 

If that Nuggets group keeps on developing and improving the way they play with each other, they also may have another say so about the situation.

 

Heck, the Blazers may even put up a fight in the west being it is always so tight and wide open. They are just one of many talented teams that are staying with the same core group of guys, and they just continue to get better as a team.

 

 

 

 

So IMO, its way, way too early to crown the Lakers again. This year in the playoffs, the Lakers had a lot of trouble closing out games, and a couple teams, especially the Magic always found themselves in a position to win games. As a few sports journalists and analysts said, you can say the Magic gave away the championship as much as the Lakers won it. So, althought the Lakers will be defending, an although they have the most talented roster in the league, they still didn't show me enough dominance to say with confidence they will win again.

 

 

 

The Magic have Vince Carter now. If the going gets tough he quits. They still aren't as talented as the Lakers, nor do they have a better coaching staff.

 

I am not counting LeBron out, but LeBron and Shaq are not going to be able to beat the Lakers in a 7 game series. I'd love to see the Cavs make itto the Finals, but they just don't have enough, IMO, to beat the Lakers in 7 games.

 

KG is never going to be the same. I posted this in another thread. (Bad knees) + (1000 plus NBA games) + (30 plus years of age) = Huge fall off. Pierce is not the same player, Allen is not the same player. You could make the argument that Rondo is the best player on the team. And don't even mention Rasheed. Did he even play this year? Everyone says "if the Celtics are healthy...." That's the thing, they'll never be as healthy as they were when they won it all. They are also older than the Lakers.

 

The Spurs have the best chance to defeat the Lakers. If there is any coach out there that has shown a knack to defeat the Lakers it's Popovich. If the Spurs can get healthy this year, they have the best chance, IMO, to beat the Lakers. That being said, I don't think anyone will beat the Lakers.

 

The Nuggets were good this year, but the Lakers improved their team, the Nuggets didn't.

 

I am not even going to acknowledge the other team you mentioned. If you want to beat the Lakers this year, you cannot be a team that lost a series in the 1st round when you had home court advantage.

 

Phil Jackson has been around a long time. Do you seriously think if Ron Artest disrupts the team chemistry that he'll be allowed in the locker room? He'd get the Starbury treatment so fast, it wouldn't be funny. Artest may be crazy, but I don't think he's an idiot. He knows what kind of opportunity this is.

 

As to the bolded statement......did you not watch the Finals? You do remember they closed out the series on Orlando's home court. You do remember that right? Did you not watch the Denver series when the Lakers closed out the series on Denver's home court? Did they beat everyone by 20 points, no, but to say they didn't show you anything is unfathomable to me. They closed out the two most important series on the opposing teams home court. That is what CHAMPIONS do.

 

You should delete that whole post and just say.....

 

"My name is dolamite, and I am a Laker hater."

The Magic have Vince Carter now. If the going gets tough he quits. They still aren't as talented as the Lakers, nor do they have a better coaching staff.

 

I am not counting LeBron out, but LeBron and Shaq are not going to be able to beat the Lakers in a 7 game series. I'd love to see the Cavs make itto the Finals, but they just don't have enough, IMO, to beat the Lakers in 7 games.

 

KG is never going to be the same. I posted this in another thread. (Bad knees) + (1000 plus NBA games) + (30 plus years of age) = Huge fall off. Pierce is not the same player, Allen is not the same player. You could make the argument that Rondo is the best player on the team. And don't even mention Rasheed. Did he even play this year? Everyone says "if the Celtics are healthy...." That's the thing, they'll never be as healthy as they were when they won it all. They are also older than the Lakers.

 

The Spurs have the best chance to defeat the Lakers. If there is any coach out there that has shown a knack to defeat the Lakers it's Popovich. If the Spurs can get healthy this year, they have the best chance, IMO, to beat the Lakers. That being said, I don't think anyone will beat the Lakers.

 

The Nuggets were good this year, but the Lakers improved their team, the Nuggets didn't.

 

I am not even going to acknowledge the other team you mentioned. If you want to beat the Lakers this year, you cannot be a team that lost a series in the 1st round when you had home court advantage.

 

Phil Jackson has been around a long time. Do you seriously think if Ron Artest disrupts the team chemistry that he'll be allowed in the locker room? He'd get the Starbury treatment so fast, it wouldn't be funny. Artest may be crazy, but I don't think he's an idiot. He knows what kind of opportunity this is.

 

As to the bolded statement......did you not watch the Finals? You do remember they closed out the series on Orlando's home court. You do remember that right? Did you not watch the Denver series when the Lakers closed out the series on Denver's home court? Did they beat everyone by 20 points, no, but to say they didn't show you anything is unfathomable to me. They closed out the two most important series on the opposing teams home court. That is what CHAMPIONS do.

 

You should delete that whole post and just say.....

 

"My name is dolamite, and I am a Laker hater."

 

Or maybe you're just a Laker homer?

Or maybe you're just a Laker homer?

 

I am, but I also love the NBA and I think anyone who can't see the obvious is blinded by hate. I argued with Cats 3X more than anyone about the Lakers and he overcame his hate to see that the Lakers are the most talented team with an excellent shot to repeat and will be the odds on favorite to win the title next year. I mean seriously, they won it all last year, they have the same team minus Ariza but they added Artest. Sounds to me like the recipe to repeat. barring injury of course, but how can any team be considered better. I just don't see it.

 

But, okay, I am a homer and the biggest Kobe Bryant fan in the world, but whatever. :idunno:

So can someone give me a big rundown on all the deals that's happened in the offseason?

So can someone give me a big rundown on all the deals that's happened in the offseason?

 

Sam Cassell & Dikembe Mutumbo retired.

 

Thunder, Wiz, Suns, Raptors, 76ers, Kings, Pistons & T'Wolves all got a new coach.

 

Warriors & Bulls both got new GM's.

 

-Richard Jefferson to Spurs.

-Bruce Bowen & Kurt Thomas went to the Bucks

-Randy Foye & Mike Miller went to the Wiz

-Shaq to Cleveland

-Ben Wallace to Suns

-Rafer Alston & Cortney Lee to Nets

-Vince Carter to Magic

-Jamal Crawford to Hawks

-Speedie Claxton & Acie Law to Warriors

-Shawn Marion to Mavs

-Hedo Turkoglu to Raptors

-Jerry Stackhouse to Grizz

-Quenton Richardson to Timberwolves

-Zach Randolph to Grizz

-Emeka Okafor to Hornets

-Tyson Chandler to Bobcats

The Celtics and Lakers are the top two teams in the league. If Odom bolts, then the Spurs would be the favorites in the west.

 

That's obviously assuming all teams are healthy.

 

Orlando and Cleveland are at least a notch below those teams if everyone is 100%. But, you can't count Cleveland out ever because of LJ. Dwight Howard cannot dominate and carry a team in the same way Lebron can.

What do you mean if he Bolts? He is going to LA already.

The Magic have Vince Carter now. If the going gets tough he quits. They still aren't as talented as the Lakers, nor do they have a better coaching staff.

 

I am not counting LeBron out, but LeBron and Shaq are not going to be able to beat the Lakers in a 7 game series. I'd love to see the Cavs make itto the Finals, but they just don't have enough, IMO, to beat the Lakers in 7 games.

 

KG is never going to be the same. I posted this in another thread. (Bad knees) + (1000 plus NBA games) + (30 plus years of age) = Huge fall off. Pierce is not the same player, Allen is not the same player. You could make the argument that Rondo is the best player on the team. And don't even mention Rasheed. Did he even play this year? Everyone says "if the Celtics are healthy...." That's the thing, they'll never be as healthy as they were when they won it all. They are also older than the Lakers.

 

The Spurs have the best chance to defeat the Lakers. If there is any coach out there that has shown a knack to defeat the Lakers it's Popovich. If the Spurs can get healthy this year, they have the best chance, IMO, to beat the Lakers. That being said, I don't think anyone will beat the Lakers.

 

The Nuggets were good this year, but the Lakers improved their team, the Nuggets didn't.

 

I am not even going to acknowledge the other team you mentioned. If you want to beat the Lakers this year, you cannot be a team that lost a series in the 1st round when you had home court advantage.

 

Phil Jackson has been around a long time. Do you seriously think if Ron Artest disrupts the team chemistry that he'll be allowed in the locker room? He'd get the Starbury treatment so fast, it wouldn't be funny. Artest may be crazy, but I don't think he's an idiot. He knows what kind of opportunity this is.

 

As to the bolded statement......did you not watch the Finals? You do remember they closed out the series on Orlando's home court. You do remember that right? Did you not watch the Denver series when the Lakers closed out the series on Denver's home court? Did they beat everyone by 20 points, no, but to say they didn't show you anything is unfathomable to me. They closed out the two most important series on the opposing teams home court. That is what CHAMPIONS do.

 

You should delete that whole post and just say.....

 

"My name is dolamite, and I am a Laker hater."

 

Everyone knows how I feel about the Magic. They will not win the title this season. Maybe if VC was 25 years old, but I don't even think they would then.

 

I wouldn't count out the Celtics. With Rasheed, I think they match the Lakers front court better than any team in the league. KG will slow down a little bit, but he is so fundamentally sound, much like Tim Duncan, that lack of athleticism will not make him that ineffective. Rondo would be a headache for Fisher. I do think Kobe/Artest vs. Pierce/Allen is a mismatch at this stage of their careers, but if the Celtic duo can pick their spots they would be very scary for the Lakers.

 

The Cavs, well... Unless LBJ becomes the UNQUESTIONABLE best player of all-time for next season, I just don't think that Cleveland can win the title. The addition of Shaq helps, but I think not finding a quality replacement for (to get rid of) Anderson Varajao hurts more. Varajao would be a nice 8th or 9th man, but he is always in a disadvantage as a starter.

 

The Spurs are a legit theat. But, they have to remain healthy.

 

The Blazers are at least another year away, IMO. And with the Nuggets standing pat, I do not see how they can be much better.

 

But I would say that I think their is about a 60% chance the Lakers win the title this season.

Everyone knows how I feel about the Magic. They will not win the title this season. Maybe if VC was 25 years old, but I don't even think they would then.

 

I wouldn't count out the Celtics. With Rasheed, I think they match the Lakers front court better than any team in the league. KG will slow down a little bit, but he is so fundamentally sound, much like Tim Duncan, that lack of athleticism will not make him that ineffective. Rondo would be a headache for Fisher. I do think Kobe/Artest vs. Pierce/Allen is a mismatch at this stage of their careers, but if the Celtic duo can pick their spots they would be very scary for the Lakers.

 

The Cavs, well... Unless LBJ becomes the UNQUESTIONABLE best player of all-time for next season, I just don't think that Cleveland can win the title. The addition of Shaq helps, but I think not finding a quality replacement for (to get rid of) Anderson Varajao hurts more. Varajao would be a nice 8th or 9th man, but he is always in a disadvantage as a starter.

 

The Spurs are a legit theat. But, they have to remain healthy.

 

The Blazers are at least another year away, IMO. And with the Nuggets standing pat, I do not see how they can be much better.

 

But I would say that I think their is about a 60% chance the Lakers win the title this season.

 

You did a very good job pointing out all the teams flaws.

 

But Sheed is still a good player, and adds a lot to the Celtics. Remember, they were legitamate title condenders last year without him until KG got injured. Both Pierce and Allen are shooters, and that will not change with age. Pierce will still be able to create his own shot, and Allen will still be lights out.

 

The Magic were in the Finals last year, and lost their best "overall" player in the playoffs in Turk. They added Vince Carter, but with the lost of Turk's leadership, I do not thik they will get back.

 

The Cavs were the best team in the NBA regular season last year. They were weak down low and were missing another athletic wing, so they added Shaquille O'Neal and Moon. IMO they are the clear cut favorites to come out of the East.

 

The Spurs are always a threat in the West, with one of the best big men in the game, one of the best point guards, and one of the best coaches of all time. Add Ginobli off the bench if healthy, and they are always a threat to come out of the West. They then go out and add a very good scorer and athletic shooter in Jefferson, and add Mcdyess and that is a recipe for success. Sure they are old, but we have said that for the past 5+ years. IMO they are the best shot to contend with the Lakers by far.

 

The Blazers are still a year or 2 and a player or 2 away from being real contenders. They added nothing in the offseason (Miller, but that doesn't add much), so I say they make the playoffs in a top 4 seed, but they do not really contend. Oden gets better, but IMO one of the least productive offseasons.

 

Nuggets stayed the same, so I think they are the 3 seed, but with no changes, they did not stay at the same level as the Lakers and Spurs in the West.

 

With all that being said, the Lakers win the title next year.:clap:

You did a very good job pointing out all the teams flaws.

 

But Sheed is still a good player, and adds a lot to the Celtics. Remember, they were legitamate title condenders last year without him until KG got injured. Both Pierce and Allen are shooters, and that will not change with age. Pierce will still be able to create his own shot, and Allen will still be lights out.

 

The Magic were in the Finals last year, and lost their best "overall" player in the playoffs in Turk. They added Vince Carter, but with the lost of Turk's leadership, I do not thik they will get back.

 

The Cavs were the best team in the NBA regular season last year. They were weak down low and were missing another athletic wing, so they added Shaquille O'Neal and Moon. IMO they are the clear cut favorites to come out of the East.

 

The Spurs are always a threat in the West, with one of the best big men in the game, one of the best point guards, and one of the best coaches of all time. Add Ginobli off the bench if healthy, and they are always a threat to come out of the West. They then go out and add a very good scorer and athletic shooter in Jefferson, and add Mcdyess and that is a recipe for success. Sure they are old, but we have said that for the past 5+ years. IMO they are the best shot to contend with the Lakers by far.

 

The Blazers are still a year or 2 and a player or 2 away from being real contenders. They added nothing in the offseason (Miller, but that doesn't add much), so I say they make the playoffs in a top 4 seed, but they do not really contend. Oden gets better, but IMO one of the least productive offseasons.

 

Nuggets stayed the same, so I think they are the 3 seed, but with no changes, they did not stay at the same level as the Lakers and Spurs in the West.

 

With all that being said, the Lakers win the title next year.:clap:

 

I agree with alot of what has been said here.

 

I didn't discount Rasheed, I think besides Artest, he was the best pick-up by any NBA team this offseason. I think that the Celtics are the Lakers worst nightmare, if you are talking about overall in the matchup department. You can make the argument that they are better at every position on the floor besides the 2 guard than the Lakers. Rondo > Fisher, Pierce is probably a little better than Artest (close to call though, they play completely different games), I think Garnett is still better than Gasol, and it wouldn't be crazy to think that Rasheed is better than Bynum.

 

But, I think the Spurs have something that could really be a problem for LA. Like you said it's Ginobili off the bench. MG plays starter minutes, but with the energy he brings he would be really tough coming in for Kobe, IMO. Ginobili is the kind of guy who can really wear you down when he has the ball. They could use Artest in those situations, allowing KB to take Jefferson, but I think Ginobili may be a little to slippery for Artest. Parker obviously is about the worst matchup for Fisher in the league. Duncan would be a load for Gasol.

 

I still don't think the Cavs have enough to top the Lakers, or probably the Celtics or Spurs. They did get more length on the perimeter, but that was only needed against Orlando. Delonte West is a very good perimeter defender (ask Joe Johnson), but he couldn't match up with Turk. Though players like Ray Allen, Ginobili, and Kobe are better players I think he is still the best option (other than LBJ obviously) to guard them. Shaq helps because the Cavs had no one would could score consistently in the post last season (or since Boozer), but does anyone really trust him when he has the ball anymore? It is a nice change of pace though to be able to go from a bruiser in Shaq to a shooter in Big Z though.

 

And I said it before, and I'll say it again..."The Orlando Magic got worse this offseason." I'll call it now, 3 seed in the East and a loss in 5 games to the 2 seed Cavs/Celtics.