Raptors first
- I'll admit, I'm curious what a team with Marion could do for a full season. He impressed me in this stretch run, and at the right price I'd not be disagreeable to his return.
- Bargnani might one day be a superstar. His potential is tantalizing, but he's still a huge defensive liability. The team, on average, is outscored by 6.4 points when he's on the floor. Hopefully he does develop more acute defensive instincts somehow this summer. Oh, and some more body definition. Professional athletes should never, ever look less in shape than the average dude at the gym.
- Bosh, in my mind, is still overrated. He's really really good. But to put him in the same class as Chris Paul and Dwight Howard (and Al Jefferson. What, do injuries discount a half season of work to Raptors TV staff?) is a little disingenuous, no? I mean, Bosh is good. But he's not special. He's penultimate tier talent in the NBA, which is nothing to sneeze at. But it's not the top.
- This team could be in the playoffs as early as next year if they get a real bench. Like, even just three guys to play the 1-3 spots for 15 minutes a night serviceably. That's really all it'll take. Simple. Honestly, did you watch Cleveland vs Philly tonight? The Cavs played with only bench guys and still almost won. Remember how Sasha Pavlovic used to START for that team? The dude barely plays now, he's like 10 on the depth chart. That is a team with depth. Instead, we started guys named Patrick O'Bryant, Jake Voshkul, Will Solomon, and Joey Graham this year. Ouch.
- With that in mind, I'm more excited for this off-season than I was about the entire second half of the year.
Playoff Predictions
Cleveland over Orlando in the Eastern finals.
LA over Dallas in the Western finals.
LA over Cleveland in the Finals.
Upsets
Miami over Atlanta (EC round 1)
NO over Denver (WC round 1)
Dallas over San Antonio (WC round 2)
Asides from that, I see the upper seeds wining all their matchups the rest of the way. I can barely contain myself. This is by far my favourite time of year for sports.
4 comments:
i would hardly call those 3 "upsets". especially with manu out and TD hobbled and dwade being dwade. everyone ranked 2-7 in the west has a chance to win.
although, i agree i can't see any real potential upsets. i'm gonna go with the 76ers over the magic.
Upsets in the literal sense of the word (by seeding).
The 76ers just barely. BARELY beat the Boobie Gibson all-stars last night. I was not impressed.
Moreover, KG is probably out for the year. If the Eastern Final isn't Cleveland vs. Orlando, I'll eat a shoe.
well, Orlando was beaten on home court by the NYK and the powerhouse Raptors.
i mean, it's unlikely, but i think it's the most likely of any potential real upsets.
If KG is out the whole way, Chicago over Boston is suddenly looking considerably more possible.
It's gonna be wild.
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