Triple Threat Sports NBA Preview!!!
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| Triple Threat Sports - 10/30/2006 3:25 PM |
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By John Therpan, With the NBA starting soon, I know there are plenty of division and conference previews available for your reading pleasure. I wanted to do something a little different, as while the regular season is great from a handicapping perspective; the "real" season for NBA players comes in the playoffs. As such, I wanted to preview what I think the playoff seeds will be in each conference at the end of the 82 game grind. As I am sure you know, the NBA has changed the way it seeds teams for the post season this year, as no longer does a division winner automatically get a top three seed. It will be interesting to see how things shake out this year, but here is how I think things will look come playoff time. Eastern Conference: Detroit - Pistons were 12 games better than any other team in the East last year, and while the loss of Ben Wallace hurts this is still a good team, one that will be inspired by all the negative attention given to them this off season. They will be the top seed again. Cleveland - Capable of beating out the Pistons, but have to wonder if Larry Hughes can stay healthy for a full season and if Zydrunas Ilgausksas will actually play like an All Star again after fading badly in the playoffs last year. Miami - Defending champs obviously are the team to beat overall, but with the inevitable Shaq injury, do not expect them to have the best regular season record in the East. New Jersey - Weak division competition should see them near the 50 win mark again if the Big Three of Carter-Jefferson-Kidd all stay healthy. Chicago - Much hype, and gotta love Heinrich and Gordon, but those projecting a run to the finals are way off base. Washington - At times are the East's version of the Suns, as defense typically just a rumor. Indiana - No way to leave a team with Jermaine O'Neal out of the playoff race, but just not enough here to consider the Pacers a real threat. Toronto - Chris Bosh and a roster chock full of Euro's will team together to make for some tough matchups for the rest of the league. Yes, Raptors did finish 13 games off the playoff pace last year, but I think they will be one of the bigger surprise teams in the league this season. Do not foresee any first round upsets, with each top seed moving on to the Eastern Semifinals. There, the Detroit/New Jersey series should be a "good" one, but the D Wade vs LeBron (oh yeah, Heat vs Cavs) series is the one everyone will be talking about. Call for the Pistons in six and the Cavs in seven. That would set up an Eastern Conference Finals pitting the Pistons vs the Cavs, and that of course would be a reprisal of last year's seven game Eastern Semis meeting. Detroit won that one in seven games, and I expect them to do the same here. The NBA is a stepladder league, and teams like the Cavs typically do not go from losing in the conference semis to making the NBA Finals, so experience wins out in this projection. Western Conference: Phoenix - Run and gunners should have Stoudamire for the whole season and should be able to run enough foes into submission to attain the best record in the West. Dallas - Lost in the Finals last year to the Heat and are a contender to get there again. Avery Johnson is trying to stress defense more this season. San Antonio - Greg Popovich has made it clear that, while he wants to win regular season games as often as possible, the focus of this season is getting ready for the playoffs. As such he will limit regular season minutes and in doing so maybe sacrifice the wins that would get the Spurs the team top seed, but he feels that will pay off in the long run. Only concern is whether Tony Parker will be focused, after all, losing Eva Longoria is a tough thing to overcome. Houston - T-Mac and Yao Ming played 31 games together last year and the Rockets soared to a 21-10 record in those games. Tough to say just how good they will be if together all season, but projected out over a whole season that 21-10 record would turn into a 56-26 mark, which would have been the third best record in the West last year. Perfect health probably will not happen, but luck is likely to be better than last year in that regard, and this is a team nobody will want to face in the playoffs. LA Clippers - Should post back to back winning seasons for the first time in 30 years. Denver - Have to show this writer they can play and win important games on the road before I see them winning a playoff series. LA Lakers - Fast start is a key to the success of this team, and (on cue) they open with 11 of 15 at Staples. New Orleans - Returning to New Orleans has worked well for the Saints, as they look poised to make the playoffs, and the I think the same thing will happen for the Hornets. Peja Stojakovic, Tyson Chandler and Bobby Jackson join a team that was 38-44 despite all the turmoil of last year, and the added talent, plus the excitement of the new home fans, should spur a playoff berth, and they could give the Suns fits in the first round. Just like in the East, I see all four top seeds advancing in the first round, with the Spurs having the easiest time and, as mentioned, the Suns maybe struggling the most. Phoenix will be ripe for the taking in the semis and a healthy Houston team should knock them off. In the other semi I will go with the Spurs to beat the Mavs in a reversal of what happened last year. San Antonio matches up very well with Houston and should dispatch them in five, six at the most. While the Spurs rest, the Pistons will be taken the distance by the Cavs, and that will help the Spurs jump out to an early lead in the Finals, a lead they will not relinquish. Popovich vs. Saunders is also a mismatch, and I see Tim Duncan hoisting another trophy this season. Triple Threat Note: Last season was the first for us in the NBA, as we added a fourth member to our team, the author of this preview, John Therpan. He proved to be a valuable addition as our NBA specialist. He dominated in the playoffs, hitting 68% in the post season, and overall (regular season and playoffs) his Best Bets, plays rated 5* or better, were 14-5 (74%)!!! Right now all youwinnow.com clients can get a trial week of NBA service for just $25, or the entire month of November for just $69. John does not have a play every day, but when he has them, they win. Have a Great Day! |
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