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Allen Iverson heads to the Motor City – Will Success Ensue?

AlexV — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 05:45:39 +0000

Check out the new threads! Now check out the potential. Read on...

To think that Allen Iverson has not been thrown into a better situation by being traded from the Denver Nuggets to the Detroit Pistons is a preposterous line of thought. He’ll be leaving a team that has been knocked out of the 1st round of the playoffs the last three seasons in only five games in each one of those series.

Although the Nuggets have a proven leader in Chauncey Billups, success may not come as easy playing the west as opposed to the east for this former Finals MVP.

Iverson now joins the cream of the crop in the East. And even if the Pistons would be hard-pressed to make it to at least the Eastern Conference Finals for four straight years in the West as they have in the East, the fact remains that they are part of the elite in their own conference. Two of the key factors in this trade are the timing and the cap space that has been cleared up.Iverson and the rest of the Pistons will now have over 70 games to gel before the playoffs, and with the 20 million plus dollars in spending room that General Manager Joe Dumars has created, the Pistons can afford to make some more moves before this year’s trade deadline and/or especially before the start of next season to make Iverson’s new team even stronger.As for the concerns that the loss in the trade for the Pistons of Chauncey Billups as a true point guard and floor general, don’t count out Allen Iverson’s potential in that same role.

GM Joe Dumars looks to have made good on this deal in his goal to get the Pistons their second NBA Championship under his direction.

Over the last five seasons he has averaged 7.3 assists per game, while Billups has averaged 6.8.

If Iverson can cut down on his 3.9 turnovers per game as opposed to Billups 2.2 through that same five year span, then his 29 points per game against Billups’ hardly comparable 17 per game, also in the past five years can do wonders. Add that to his assists per game and much more playoff savvy crew than the one in Denver, and the Pistons are a clear cut prime contender to overtake the Boston Celtics as Eastern Conference Champions, and perhaps even attain home court advantage throughout the East if not the entire playoffs.

2008-2009 NBA Regular Season Opening Night

AlexV — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 02:56:13 +0000

LeBron James looks to remind us why they call him "The King."

When the NBA opens up their regular season tomorrow, the fans should be treated to a hotly contested battle between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Boston Celtics.

Last season, the two teams went to seven games before Boston finally came out on top. The main stat of the series was the fact that both teams won all of their home games. If the Cleveland Cavaliers are looking to make a statement to open the season, a win in Boston would be a great way to do so.

The second game of the TNT double-header features Greg Oden’s NBA regular season debut when Portland travels to L.A. to face the reigning Western Conference champs.

The Lakers welcome back a promising young star in Andrew Bynum and look to continue their Western Conference dominance from last year when they finished with the best record in the conference. Last season, Portland was off to a surprising early start when they went on a 13 game winning streak at one point, but faded away the remainder of the year. Don’t count out the young and talented Trail Blazers to make things interesting.

The schedulers did a decent job putting some spirited potential on the board for day one of the 2008-2009 NBA regular season.

Greg Oden hopes to be wearing a Jersey and in a puddle of sweat the next time he's in this position.

Andrew Bynum may play a Key Role in putting the Lakers over the Top

AlexV — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 00:39:17 +0000

Perhaps Bynum can continue to be the rising star he was before his injury last season.

Last season, the L.A. Lakers took care of business in the first three rounds of the playoffs. They swept the Nuggets in the first round, eliminated the Jazz in six games in the second round, and defeated the Spurs in just five games in the Western Conference finals. It wasn’t until the NBA Finals that they hit a wall when they lost to Boston in six games.

This year, they’ll welcome back a healthy Andrew Bynum. And if you witnessed his performance in last night’s pre-season game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, then you too may see why Andrew Bynum could place the Lakers back in the Finals with a much better shot at winning it all.

Bynum was dominant going 10-15 for a 66% scoring percentage, with 23 points. Bynum also added eight rebounds and three blocks. What was most promising was his poise under the basket. He didn’t just get easy dunks all night. He was laying it up and taking short jumpers. The scary thing is he is only 20 years old.

The return of Bynum will give the Lakers two superstar caliber players on the inside with Pau Gasol being the other. The Celtics beat the Lakers last year with their trademark stingy interior defense. If the Lakers can match that this season, then seemingly, their main threat from last season may meet a more formidable Los Angeles team in this years Finals.

If Bynum's prodcution continues to improve it could make this guy a very happy man at the end of the season.

Preseason Outlook on NBA’s top Championship Contenders in 2008-2009 Regular Season

AlexV — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 19:05:04 +0000

Kobe Bryant may have that same look on his face at the end of this season too.

You know, basketball is unlike pro football where your schedule can be favorable or brutal depending on whom teams are scheduled to play. But in basketball, you play every team. With that being said, I give you my top contenders for the title this season.

The Celtics have such a swagger. They have stifling interior defense and the stars are all leaders either by example or a mixture of that and charisma. They are a confident bunch from top to bottom.

The New Orleans Hornets are young, quick, defensive, and are lead by the best point guard in the league… Chris Paul. They let it slip against the Spurs, but they are young, and the Spurs are another year older.

The Lakers made it to the Finals, and they cruised in their Western Conference playoff matchups. However, the story was much different in the Finals.

The Lakers seemed to outmatch the Western Conference, but the Celtics won convincingly in the Finals against them so I’d put them ahead of L.A. The Hornets are good, but they are still younger than the Celtics, and ultimately the only have one true superstar against three in Boston.

I’d give the edge to Boston to win it all again.