Upcoming 2011-12 NBA Preview: Southwest Division

WESTERN CONFERENCE – SOUTHWEST

DALLAS MAVERICKS

Last Season: 57-25, Division Champions, 3rd Overall in West, NBA Champions

Key Losses:  J.J. Barea, Caron Butler, Tyson Chandler, Corey Brewer, Rudy Fernandez, DeShawn Stevenson, Peja Stojakovic (retired)

Key Additions:  Lamar Odom, Vince Carter, Delonte West, Andy Rautins, Brandon Wright, Brian Cardinal (resigned)

Main Rotation:  Starters – Jason Kidd, Vince Carter, Shawn Marion, Dirk Nowitzki, Brendan Haywood; Key Reserves – Jason Terry, Lamar Odom, Delonte West, Rodrigue Beaubois, Brandon Wright, Brian Cardinal, Ian Mahinmi

The defending NBA Champions felt a huge blow this offseason as they’re defensive presence, Tyson Chandler, decided to sign with the New York Knicks.  Dallas would not have won the championship without Chandler.  He was the one that put this team over the top.  In addition, the Mavs also lost fan favorite J.J. Barea, DeShawn Stevenson, and Peja Stojakovic.  Barea was Dallas’ best player at breaking down the defenses.  The Mavs lost a lot in terms of defense but in regards to offense they are much improved with additions of Lamar Odom, Vince Carter, and Delonte West.  Odom will not be that enforcer that Chandler was though but if he can bring the sixth man attitude he played with in L.A., then Dallas should be just fine.  He’s still a near 7 footer, who overall, is more skilled than Chandler.  Vince Carter and Delonte West are solid replacements as well, especially West who is a bigger, stronger back up point than Barea was.

Upcoming 2011-12 NBA Preview – Pacific Division

WESTERN CONFERENCE – PACIFIC

LOS ANGELES LAKERS

Last Season:  57-25, Division Champions, 2nd Overall in West, Lost to Dallas in Western Conf Semis

Key Losses:  Shannon Brown, Lamar Odom, Phil Jackson (head coach)

Key Additions: Jason Kapono, Josh McRoberts, Troy Murphy, Darius Morris (draft), Andrew Goudelock (draft), Mike Brown (head coach)

Main Rotation: Starters – Derek Fisher, Kobe Bryant, Metta World Peace, Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum; Key Reserves – Steve Blake, Jason Kapono, Matt Barnes, Josh McRoberts, Luke Walton, Troy Murphy

How are the Lakers going to react to losing two key components to their championship runs as well as the voided trade that could’ve landed Kobe’s first ever all-star point guard Chris Paul?  Gone are Phil Jackson who retired and Lamar Odom who was traded to Dallas.  Roll out the red carpet for their replacements – new head coach Mike Brown and Josh McRoberts…or wait.. is it Troy Murphy.  Brown is an ok replacement but as far as Odom’s replacement…. wow, what a downgrade.  Odom’s versaility, size, and offense will be sorely missed by the Lakers.  Josh McRoberts wouldn’t have been that bad of a choice to fill in another bench spot but not like this.  He’s a serviceable big man but will not provide anywhere near the impact Odom brought.  For Troy Murphy, I can’t believe he’s still in the league.

Upcoming 2011-12 NBA Preview: Northwest Division

WESTERN CONFERENCE – NORTHWEST

OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER

Last Season: 55-27, Division Champions, 4th Overall in West, Lost to Dallas in West Conf Finals

Key Losses:  Byron Mullens, Robert Vaden

Key Additions:  Daequan Cook, Lazar Hayward, Reggie Jackson (draft)

Main Rotation:  Starters – Russell Westbrook, Thabo Sefolosha, Kevin Durant, Serge Ibaka, Kendrick Perkins; Key Reserves – James Harden, Eric Maynor, Daequan Cook, Nick Collison, Nazr Mohammed, Nate Robinson

Upcoming 2011-12 NBA Preview: Southeast Division

EASTERN CONFERENCE – SOUTHEAST

MIAMI HEAT

Last Season: 58-24,  Division Champions, 2nd Overall in East, Eastern Conference Champions,  Lost to Dallas in NBA Finals

Key Losses: Mike Bibby, Jamaal Magloire, Zydrunas Ilgauskas (retired)

Key Additions: Shane Battier, Eddy Curry, Mario Chalmers (resigned), Juwan Howard (resigned), James Jones (resigned), Norris Cole (draft)

Main Rotation: Starters – Mario Chalmers, Dwayne Wade, LeBron James, Chris Bosh, Joel Anthony; Key Reserves – Shane Battier, Udonis Haslem, Mike Miller, Eddie House, James Jones, Norris Cole, Juwan Howard

Upcoming 2011-12 NBA Preview: Atlantic Division

EASTERN CONFERENCE – ATLANTIC 

NEW YORK KNICKS

 

Last Season: 42-40, 2nd in Division, 6th overall in East, Lost to Boston in 1st Round

Key Losses: Chauncey Billups, Derrick Brown, Anthony Carter, Roger Mason JR, Shawne Williams, Sheldon Williams, Andy Rautins, Ronny Turiaf

Key Additions: Tyson Chandler, Mike Bibby, Baron Davis, Jared Jeffries (resigned), Iman Shumpert (draft), Josh Harrelson (draft), Jerome Jordan (draft)

Main Rotation: Starters – Baron Davis, Landry Fields, Carmelo Anthony, Amare Stoudemire, Tyson Chandler;  Key Reserves – Tony Douglas, Mike Bibby, Jared Jeffries, Renaldo Balkman, Jerome Jordan

With the addition of Chandler to the mix, the Knicks now have the best frontcourt in the NBA without a doubt.  Without Chandler, this team is pathetic on defense.  Carmelo and Amare are nowhere near defensive stoppers so it was important for the Knicks to bring in a defensive presence.  Although, the Knick’s backcourt, especially at point, is fairly weak.  If only they were able to keep Billups while adding Chandler, the Knicks would have the best starting five in the league.

Troubled History of the Portland Trail Blazers: An Overcast in Portland – When will it end?

This has to be the darkest set of clouds to hover over the city of Portland.  For over 34 years, the Portland Trailblazers have been hit with the worst luck in sports history.  After making the playoffs for the first time in the 1976-77 season with a 49-33 record, the Blazers made a Cinderella run through the playoffs led by center Bill Walton and won the NBA championship.  The following season looked like Portland was well on its way to defend its title as they jumped to a 50-10 start.  However, enter the dark clouds.  What happens next would be the beginning of the worst luck a team could ever have.  Here is a timeline of all the bad luck the Blazers had experienced since their championship run.

Former Backcourt Duo, Billups and Hamilton, Let Go By Their Teams

Deeeeetrooooit Basektballlll!  This was the Detroit Pistons era from  2003-2009 and they had one of the best backcourts of all time – Chauncey Billups and Rip Hamilton.  With the NBA lockout shortening the season as well as the offseason/training camps, teams have been rushing to wine-and-dine free agents, create interesting trade scenarios, and determining other roster movements.  Part of the “other” roster movements consists of waiving, releasing, buying out, and utilizing the amnesty clause on players.  This is what happened to Billups and Hamilton during the first week of player transactions in the NBA.

NBA Lockout Over: 10 REASONS TO BE EXCITED ABOUT NBA

Now we just reviewed the top 10 negatives of the NBA.  Let’s take a look at the positives.  The fundamentals of the game are still the same and it’s still the game of basketball itself that excites me.  Removing all the “entertainment” and “drama”, there’s still a game being played where there’s a winner and a loser, rivalries, and unbelievable individual performances.  Now that we’re a few weeks away from tip-off and hearing all the free agent talks and trade rumors, I’m getting pumped up for the season.  I won’t even consider December 25, 2011 Christmas Day anymore but rather Opening Day.

NBA Lockout Over: 10 THINGS TO DREAD ABOUT THE NBA

The NBA lockout is over and there will be a 2011-12 NBA season.   After 149 day lockout, the season will begin on Christmas day with a shortened 66 game regular season.  I’ll have to admit I wouldn’t have really missed the NBA if the season was cancelled.  That’s odd since I’ve been obsessed with basketball for about 25 years.  It’s a different game now than what it was even 10 years ago.  The game has become too much about greed, popularity, and sports “entertainment”.  Owners/players have become greedy.  The Superstars have too much power over the game.  Lastly, there’s too much unnecessary drama.  Let’s go over the negatives of the NBA having a season this year.

2011 NBA Draft – Winners and Losers: 21-30

It’s been almost two weeks since the 2011 NBA Draft, which was nothing to get too excited about.  There was not going to be a Magic, Ewing, Shaq, Lebron, D-Rose, or a Blake Griffin coming out of this draft to make an immediate impact.  Basically, there was no jackpot, franchise turn-around type player.  Instead it was cast of potentials. There are four players that have the potential to be future all-stars in my opinion:  Two freshmen point guards, a tweener, and a European big.  Everyone knows drafts are meant to be dissected once it’s over and done with.

Who were the winners and losers of this draft?  Well, let’s take a look at who were the head-scratchers down to the winner of this draft.