Pages

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

2013-2014 NBA Preview: Atlantic Division


Boston Celtics
2012-2013 Record: 41-40 (7th in East)
Key Additions: Kelly Olynyk, MarShon Brooks, Kris Humphries, Gerald Wallace
Key Losses: Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Jason Terry
Projected Starting Lineup: Rajon Rondo, Courtney Lee, Gerald Wallace, Brandon Bass, Vitor Faverani

The Celtics have gone head first into rebuilding mode, the team has been almost completely stripped down and sold for parts. Future Hall of Famers Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett were traded within the division to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for mostly expiring contracts and draft picks. Coach Doc Rivers

Monday, October 28, 2013

2013-2014 NBA Preview: Central Division


Chicago Bulls
2012-2013 Record: 45-37 (5th in East)
Key Additions: Mike Dunleavy, Mike James, Tony Snell
Key Losses: Marco Belinelli, Richard Hamilton, Nate Robinson
Projected Starting Lineup: Derrick Rose, Jimmy Butler, Luol Deng, Carlos Boozer, Joakim Noah

Did you hear that? There it is again. That was the sound of every single person in Chicago holding their breath. Every time Derrick Rose hits the ground after jumping high up in the air, nobody in Bulls territory is going to move until he gets back up, praying that he does in fact get back up. The biggest addition to the Chicago Bulls roster this season is not someone they signed in free agency or traded for but rather their former MVP coming back from injury. Rose, Chicago’s superstar point guard, is coming off of a torn ACL suffered in the first round of the 2012 playoffs that caused him to miss all of last season. Rose will

Sunday, October 27, 2013

2013-2014 NBA Preview: Southeast Division


Atlanta Hawks
2012-2013 Record: 44-38 (6th in East)
Key Additions: Paul Millsap, Elton Brand, Gustavo Ayon, Dennis Schroeder, DeMarre Carroll
Key Losses: Josh Smith, Devin Harris, Zaza Pachulia, DeShawn Stevenson, Ivan Johnson
Projected Starting Lineup: Jeff Teague, Lou Williams, Kyle Korver,                                                                           Paul Millsap, Al Horford

The problem with Al Horford over the last couple of years has been that Horford, a natural power forward, has been forced to play more down low as a center because of the lack of much rebounding on the Hawks. With the additions of Paul Millsap and Gustavo Ayon, Horford can take more of an active role outside the paint, showing off more of his midrange shot. Millsap and Ayon bring plenty of energy and rebounding ability to a team that lost big men Zaza Pachulia and Ivan Johnson this summer. A move for Horford

Friday, October 25, 2013

2013-2014 NBA Preview: Southwest Division


Dallas Mavericks
2012-2013 Record: 41-41 (10th in West)
Key Additions: Jose Calderon, Samuel Dalembert, Monta Ellis, Devin Harris, DeJuan Blair, Shane Larkin, Wayne Ellington, Fab Melo
Key Losses: Darren Collison, O.J. Mayo, Chris Kamen, Mike James, Elton Brand
Projected Starting Lineup: Jose Calderon, Monta Ellis, Shawn Marion, Dirk Nowitzki, Samuel Dalembert

Dirk Nowitzki and Shawn Marion. Those are the only two players left on the Dallas Mavericks from their 2010-2011 championship season. The team has seen almost a complete turnover in the last two seasons. With Nowitzki, 35, coming to the end of his career, the Mavs hope to make one final run to the Finals with him as the centerpiece. The main players who are hoping to help the team make a playoff run behind Nowitzki are relatively playoff inexperienced. Newly acquired Jose Calderon and Monta Ellis will compose the starting backcourt that hopes to keep Nowitzki rested until playoff time. The two guards, in a combined 16 years in the NBA, have only made the

Thursday, October 24, 2013

2013-2014 NBA Preview: Northwest Division

Denver Nuggets
2012-2013 Record: 57-25 (3rd in West)
Key Additions: Nate Robinson, J.J. Hickson, Randy Foye, Darrell Arthur
Key Losses: Andre Iguodala, Corey Brewer, Kosta Koufas
Projected Starting Lineup: Ty Lawson, Randy Foye, Danilo Gallinari, Kenneth Faried, JaVale McGee

The Nuggets did the unthinkable this offseason, and I am not talking about letting go of All-Star Andre Iguodala. On May 2, 2013 the Denver Nuggets, the 3rd seed in the West, lost Game 6 of their opening round matchup against the 6th seeded Golden State Warriors and were bounced from the 2013 playoffs. Six days later Nuggets coach George Karl earned his first ever NBA Coach of the Year award after a regular season that saw

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

2013-2014 NBA Preview: Pacific Division

Golden State Warriors
2012-2013 Record: 47-35 (6th in West)
Key Additions: Andre Iguodala, Toney Douglas, Jermaine O’Neal
Key Losses: Jarrett Jack, Carl Landry
Projected Starting Lineup: Stephen Curry, Klay Thomspon, Andre Iguodala, David Lee, Andrew Bogut

If everyone can stay healthy, a tough order to fill for injury prone center and former number one overall pick Andrew Bogut, the Warriors can sport one of the best starting lineups in the league this year. The addition of Andre Iguodala takes this team to potential conference finalist, a label they almost fulfilled last year in a surprising run to the second round of the playoffs. ‘Dala, a very underrated defender, comes in with a defensive presence that