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NFL Mock Draft 2009 Draft of 2009 Lacks Star Power NFL Draft 2009: Getting Started Super Bowl Well Worth Tuning In For
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Prospects On Center Stage NBA Preview 2008/09: Final Call
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NBA Preview 2007/08: Western Conference By Ron Jumper With the West, I can’t help but feel there are going to be some major changes made before this season is over. With the possibility of Kobe Bryant, Shawn Marion, Andrei Kirilenko, and even Mike Bibby changing locations, there could be a whole new look to the Western Conference by February. However, I feel obligated to do a preview of the Western Conference so here goes… Northwest Division: 1. Denver Nuggets 2. Utah Jazz 3. Minnesota Timberwolves 4. Portland Trail Blazers 5. Seattle Supersonics The Nuggets are just so talented, I look at that roster and imagine the possibilities. From a talent standpoint, they surpass most teams with Melo and AI alone. I haven’t even mentioned the talented trio of Nene, Marcus Camby, and Kenyon Martin. I even like J.R. Smith and Chucky Atkins as guys who can provide a spark offensively when needed. A big key also is having a guy like Najera to make all the hustle plays. What good team doesn’t have a guy like that? The Jazz didn’t make a big splash this off-season, but I still expect them to be competing for this division. Some like them more than I do, but I think they are just a notch behind the Nuggets. The Timberwolves are not supposed to be good this season, but they won’t be awful either. With Al Jefferson, Randy Foye, Gerald Green, Corey Brewer, and even Antoine Walker, they won’t be that bad. People forget that Jefferson was emerging as a force to be reckoned with last season. I even like the forgotten man in their latest trade, Wayne Simeon. With Portland, this has just been a bad season before it has even started. Already no Oden and they have also had to endure Brandon Roy’s nagging heel injury. While I still like the direction they are heading, it is not going to be this year. With Seattle, this team is simply going to be bad. They already revolve the offense around Durant, who is just a rook, and have no inside scoring to speak of. Expect this team to be absolutely awful this season. Pacific Division: 1. Phoenix Suns 2. Los Angeles Lakers 3. Sacramento Kings 4. Golden State Warriors 5. Los Angeles Clippers The Suns are the best team in this division by far. After them, I think this could be the worst division in the NBA. The Lakers, Kings, Warriors, and Clippers would all be battling the Grizzlies to avoid last place in the Southwest division. Expect the Suns to run away with this division, whether Marion gets traded or not. I hate what the Lakers have done, they have made silly move after silly move. They have drafted point guards in consecutive drafts, which is useless in the triangle offense. They refuse to trade Andrew Bynum for another guy that could contribute now. I normally am very anti-Kobe but, when it comes to wanting to be traded, I can’t blame him. When they traded Shaq, the idea was to put a team in place that could win now and prove Kobe could lead a team to a title. However, the Lakers are tight-roping the line between winning now and rebuilding. If I'm Kobe, I sit back and relax until they trade me. The Kings are not going to very good. Fans will scratch their head throughout the season, as Reggie Theus is just simply not an NBA coach. I hate to break it to everyone but, wow, is he awful. Expect odd lineup combinations and poor game management time after time in crucial situations. He will be lucky if he makes it through the season with his job. While I don’t like the Kings, I really don’t like the Warriors. Expect them to get nothing out of Brandan Wright this year. You know, the guy they traded Jason Richardson for. Also, don’t expect the same magic this season. Do expect Baron Davis to get injured and for them to be last in the league in rebounding and points allowed. The Clippers would be all the way up to second if they just could have a healthy Elton Brand, because I really like the drafting of Al Thornton and the free agent signing of Brevin Knight. None the less, they just don’t have a go-to guy and will suffer in the 4th quarter because of this. Southwest Division: 1. San Antonio Spurs 2. Houston Rockets 3. Dallas Mavericks 4. New Orleans Hornets 5. Memphis Grizzlies The Spurs are simply the best and should remain so if they can stay healthy. I like what they did this off-season. I know, I know, you’re thinking: wait, what did they do this off-season? Exactly. The Houston Rockets are going to get it done this season. Granted, I hate to see Van Gundy go because it was so easy taking the Under in Rockets games the last few years, but Adelman will pick up the pace. Expect Rafer Alston to have a career year, I mean what could be better for one of the greatest streetball players to ever live than an uptempo style? Also, expect it to increase T-Mac’s field goal percentage substantially because he won’t have to force up shots as the shot clock winds down because of their stagnant half-court offense. The Mavericks are still a good team, but I think they could have really used some fresh faces. I think they could have really used a little confidence boost, by way of maybe a Grant Hill or even Michael Pietrus. They really didn’t change much, other than bringing in Trenton Hassel and an aging Eddie Jones. Expect them to be a playoff team, but I just think their swagger will be gone this season after the way they have performed in the postseason in the last 2 seasons. The Hornets are going to be a good team this season and I definitely have them making the postseason. I really like what Byron Scott is doing with this team. They have young guys and Scott is doing a great job of walking them through and showing them the ropes. Watching them in practice, I like their roster more and more. If they can have a healthy Peja, this team could be really dangerous. The Grizzlies aren’t bad but they just can’t compete out West. Also, when you predict the NBA season, here is a major rule to live by: NEVER EVER BUY INTO ANY DARKO HYPE!!! I don’t want to hear things like, “You know, I watch him play and I think he is coming around.” NO, NO, NO. Stay away. That’s all, folks… October 29, 2007 |
| NCAA Football | |
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Be Careful What You Wish For
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| NCAA Basketball | |
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Jumpology: My Bracket Jumpology: Scouting The Heavyweights Jumpology: Reviewing The Bracket
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