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Joe's Expert Panel Predicts The Future III
OK, maybe expert is too strong of a word. Due to contractual obligations and the high price of talent these days, Joe Netsfan is forced to revise his expert panel for the latest and greatest celeb prognostications. In addition to our lone holdover, The Star Ledger's Crack Reporter Steve Politi, we're joined this year by two eager-to-crack wise guys, none other than SwampDragon2 and Joe his own self. Hey, it was the best I could do in this "already out of control" season we find ourselves in. So, sit back and enjoy the mayhem, and won't it be interesting to check out these picks at season's end.
Dragon's Dreams Of A Season
Our man Dragon begins his second season as our ace contributor on all things NBA. Dragon views himself as smarter than the rest, now let's see what brilliance he proclaims for the 2004 - 2005 season.
Dragon's Atlantic Division
1) Philadelphia (3)
2) New Jersey (6)
3) New York (8)
4) Boston (9)
5) Toronto (13)
Dragon's Central Division
1) Detroit (1)
2) Indiana (4)
3) Cleveland (5)
4) Milwaukee (10)
5) Chicago - (12)
Dragon's SouthEast Division
1) Miami (2)
2) Orlando(7)
3) Washington (11)
4) Atlanta (14)
5) Charlotte (15)
Dragon's SouthWest Division
1) San Antonio (3)
2) Houston (4)
3) Dallas (6)
4) Memphis (9)
5) New Orleans (13)
Dragon's NorthWest Division
1) Minnesota (2)
2) Denver (5)
3) Utah (7)
4) Seattle (11)
5) Portland (12)
Dragon's Pacific Division
1 ) Sacramento (1)
2) Los Angeles Lakers (8)
3) Phoenix (10)
4) Los Angeles Clippers (13)
5) Golden State (15)
Dragon's Conference Champions and Finals Picks
Eastern Conference Champ: Detroit Pistons.
Western Conference Champ: San Antonio Spurs
NBA Finals Winner: Spurs
Finals MVP: Duncan Donuts
Dragon's Questionnaire
Best Team (Record Sacramento, Overall San Antonio)
Worst Team Charlotte Bobcats by default, New Orleans by location so basically anything having to do with the past or present Hornets this season will feel about as comfortable as syphilis.
Most Improved Team Orlando
Surprise Team Boston, Give them another year and Danny Ainge might not look so stupid after all
League MVP Duncan Donuts
Scoring Champ Kobe Bryant, after all, what would the season be like if Kobe doesnt get what he wants
Rookie of the Year Emeka Okafor, again, by default
Suprise Net tie, Eric Williams & Nenad Krstic
Net MVP Richard Jefferson
Dragon's Keys to Nets Season
1. Balanced scoring from Mercer, Scalabrine, Collins to keep early pressure off of Jefferson
2. Maintaining strong paint presence against weaker East frontcourts despite loss of Kenyon Martin
3. Getting Kidd back at optimal health, whether or not he gets traded.
4. Above all else, heed Hulk Hogans advice Eat your vitamins, and say your prayers.
Nets Record - 42-40. Yeeha.
Joe Netsfan's Jumping Of The Shark
Joe's his own celebrity picker? Clearly, he's jumped the shark for sure. Well, with the high price of everything these days, including talent fees, what did you expect? In any case, since Joe is never going to get to the division by division analysis he promised, this will have to suffice. Here's how Joe sees the league breaking in '04-'05:
Joe's Atlantic Division
1) Philadelphia - Iverson and the Iversonettes get it done, somehow.
2) New York - Not sure if this team will come together, but Isiah could be coaching them by Christmas. That'll change things.
3) New Jersey - Sorry folks, I just don't feel it like you do. After RJ, it's chuck it and pray...
4) Boston - The Glove doesn't fit, neither do most of the rest of Ainge's Angels...
5) Toronto - Know what I don't get? How Toronto puts up with Vince Carter, both on and off the court.
Joe's Central Division
1) Detroit - Stay hungry, and keep Larry Brown happy. That's a tall order to repeat.
2) Indiana - Still lacking that thing that gets them over the hump. Stephen Jackson ain't it...
3) Cleveland - LBJ can do it, but can anyone else?
4) Milwaukee - Not hopeless, but the Great White Hope (Van Horn) will have to loom large.
5) Chicago - With Deng, Gordon and Nocioni, they may have gotten 2007 right.
Joe's SouthEast Division
1) Miami - Shaq and Wade new Shaq and Kobe, only this one doesn't bitch and sulk.
2) Orlando - Still feels like too many square pegs hammered into too many round holes, but in this division they'll make it all the way to the playoffs.
3) Washington- Outside shot at .500, if Jamison can carry them.
4) Charlotte - Joe's surprise pick beats Atlanta out of the cellar by a few games.
5) Atlanta -Look, Antoine Walker couldn't do it with Paul Pierce, how do you expect him to carry this sorry collection of scrubs. Joe's bet for worst in league.
Joe's SouthWest Division
1) San Antonio - Cream of the West, and probably the NBA.
2) Dallas - Not willing to relenquish second to Houston. Better team than people think, especially with Nowitzki being the man.
3) Houston - Remember, Jeff Van Gundy couldn't win with Ewing. Why do we think he will with Yao? McGrady better as second banana, though.
4) Memphis - Hubie's health holds out better than this team's playoff hopes. Sorry, Logo...
5) New Orleans - If I could wish anything for Byron Scott, it's that he's humbled by this bunch. Seriously humbled. Baron Davis must go.
Joe's NorthWest Division
1) Minnesota - Second-best team in the West. Now prove it in the playoffs.
2) Utah - Best coached team of no-names since, well, Sloan's last team. Watch Gooden, Kirilenko and Harpring wreck havoc on NBA teams.
3) Denver - 'Melo's anything but. Relax and let it come to you, big fellow. Or Kenyon's gonna smack you upside the head, and mean it.
4) Portland - Needs more than Zach Randolph. What it doesn't need is any more trouble.
5) Seattle - As depressing as the weather.
Joe's Pacific Division
1 ) Sacramento - Not nearly as dominant as in year's past, but still dangerous.
2) Los Angeles Lakers - Kobe. Kobe. Kobe. Kobe. Kobe. Odom. Kobe. Kobe. Kobe. Kobe. Lakers' likely shot selection chart in 95% of games.
3) Phoenix - Run and stun, with the fast (Nash) and the furious (Stoudamire). Going places.
4) Golden State - What is it about this team that makes them more depressing than Dick Vitale?
5) Los Angeles Clippers - Money for nothing.
Joe's Conference Champions and Finals Picks
Eastern Conference Champ: Detroit Pistons.
Western Conference Champ: Minnesota Timberwolves. With apologies to Tim Duncan.
NBA Finals Winner: T-Wolves
Finals MVP: Kevin Garnett
Joe's Questionnaire
Best Team San Antonio Spurs. Watch for another of those 30 game runs where they go 26 - 4 late in the season.
Worst Team Atlanta Hawks. The roster should serve as a cautionary tale for free agency.
Most Improved Team Washington Wizards. Like I said, on the cusp...
Surprise Team Charlotte. Because they're better than the Hawks. And Utah, becuase they're just plain better.
League MVP Kevin Garnett. And he'll earn every bit of it.
Scoring Champ Kobe Bryant. How could it not be?
Rookie of the Year Luol Deng. By the end of the year, he'll be the rookie everyone talks about.
Suprise Net Jason Collins. He'll be the Nets' secondary option, especially without Kidd, and he'll average double figures in scoring.
Net MVP Richard Jefferson
Joe's Keys to Nets Season
1. Can Jason Kidd come back from knee surgery, and if so, will he be a Net for the season? Kidd staying would actually cause a bigger distraction at this point.
2. Who's going to score? And can the Nets make outside shots? Ron Mercer and Rodney Buford were brought in to do just that, but if they don't cut it...
3. Is Richard Jefferson capable of carrying the Nets on his back for the entire season?
4. Without a fast-break offense, can the Nets defense contain teams if they can't outscore them?
5. Is it a lost season if the team doesn't at least challenge for the Eastern Conference crown? The Nets should think so.
Nets Record - 41-41, if Kidd returns and plays out the season. Figure 35 - 47 if not.
Steve Politi's Piece Of The Action
Steve Politi, Sports General Assignment Reporter for the Ledger, is beloved by Joe for his skewed sense of humor and ability to see the sense in the nonsense that is the NBA. Steve's second season of prognosticating promises to be as, um, interesting as his first. Steve promises this is the year he wins the title as "Most Accurate Guesser" in our sweepstakes. Take it away, Steve.
Politi's Atlantic Division
1) New Jersey - until someone beats them in this ugly division.
2) New York - and Shandon Anderson averages 1.2 points a game.
3) Philadelphia - a hands-on throwback coach with A.I. haven't we done this before?
4) Boston - Gary Payton is subtraction by addition.
5) Toronto - too much Vince, not enough anything else.
Politi's Central Division
1) Detroit - still the best.
2) Indiana - still second best.
3) Cleveland - LeBron gets to the postseason.
4) Chicago - Ben Gordon, Luol Deng -- they have to get better, right?
5) Milwaukee - Desmond Mason has a very attractive wife.
Politi's SouthEast Division
1) Miami - Shaq eats this conference for dinner.
2) Orlando - best offseason in the league.
3) Atlanta - goodness, there are a lot of bad teams in the NBA
4) Washington - poor Eddie Jordan.
5) Charlotte - what the hell is a Primoz Brezec?
Politi's SouthWest Division
1) San Antonio - Duncan. Yawn.
2) Houston - McGrady will flourish here.
3) Memphis - the well-coached NBA team -- such an oddity!
4) Dallas - Could be the year it finally falls apart for the Mavs.
5) New Orleans - Byron inherits a bad team.
Politi's NorthWest Division
1) Minnesota - Sammy and Spree? Can I cover THIS team?
2) Denver - Leave the weed at home, Melo.
3) Utah - on the rise.
4) Portland - on the decline.
5) Seattle - on the Pacific.
Politi's Pacific Division
1 ) Sacramento - forgive me if i'm not jumping on the Brent Barry bandwagon.
2) Los Angeles Lakers - Kobe finally learns he can't do it alone.
3) Phoenix - a few years away.
4) Golden State - was that a typo in SI, or is adonal foyle really a starting center in the NBA?
5) Los Angeles Clippers - Kittles for Richardson? Not good.
Politi's Conference Champions and Finals Picks
Eastern Conference Champ: Detroit Pistons.
Western Conference Champ: Minnesota Timberwolves.
NBA Finals Winner: T'Wolves
Finals MVP: Kevin Garnett
Politi's Questionnaire
Most Improved Team Orlando (easy, considering last season)
Surprise Team Houston ... will play in the conference finals.
League MVP Shaq
Scoring Champ Vince Carter
Rookie of the Year Luol Deng
Suprise Net Eric Williams. Still has some life in him.
Net MVP Richard Jefferson
Politi's Keys to Nets Season
1. Will Kidd's knee hold up?
2. Will the Nets find toughness after losing K-Mart?
3. Will Mourning comeback at even 75 percent of what he once was?
Nets Record - 45-37.
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