NBA Breakdowns: New Orleans Hornets

Offseaon moves:
• Sold their first-round pick to Portland.
• Let Bonzi Wells go, signed James Posey to four-year, $24 million deal.
• Extended Chris Paul for three years for the maximum.

I like this team to come out of the West easily. They are a tough defensive team with the addition of James Posey, and the compliments of Chris Paula and Tyson Chandler. The Hornets can pretty much score at will with their pick and roll game and have excellent three point depth with Peja Stojakavich, Paul and Posey. This team has progressed every year since Paul has came to the league and I expect nothing less in 09.

The New Orleans Hornets will represent the Western Conference in the Championship. (and of course lose to the Celtics)
You heard it first.

NBA Breakdowns: L.A. Lakers

Offseason Moves:
• Let Ronny Turiaf go; signed Josh Powell.
• Re-signed Sasha Vujacic to a three-year, $15-million deal.

I hate the Lakers, hate them. Their team reflects everything wrong with the NBA. (man above team) After getting destroyed by the Celtics they barely did anything this offseason other than let Andrew Bynum get healthy. Everyone seems to think Bynum will be the savior and the guy that puts the Lakers over the top. Not going to happen. The low post chemistry between Gasol and Bynum doesn't make sense. Both players like playing low and under the basket, they will not be able to run a solid offense that way. Defensively Bynum will help out, but at the end of the day this is still a really soft defensive team and streaky offensive team. They will be a top tier team in the West due to Kobe, but will lose to the defensive minded Hornets.

55-27

NBA Breakdowns: Utah Jazz

Offseason Moves:
• Extended Deron Williams for three years for the maximum.
• Re-signed C.J. Miles to a four-year, $15 million deal.
• Traded Jason Hart for Brevin Knight.
• Drafted Kosta Koufos.

This is another team that scares the hell put of me. They have a great big man in Carlos Boozer as well as three point shooting everywhere. Deron Williams is arguably the best point guard in the league(besides Rajon) and has turned out to be a steal in the 2005? draft. Their interior defense is a little bit in question because they hardly have any, Paul Millsap, Mehmet Okur and Kosta Koufas do not want to play low and especially defend. This team is on the brink of making the championship and can possibly do it with the squad they got. With that being said I predict they will go 60-22 and be first in the West.

NBA Breakdowns: Portland Trailbazers

Offseason moves
• Drafted Brandon Rush; Traded Rush and Jarrett Jack to Indiana for Jerryd Bayless and Ike Diogu.
• Lost James Jones; signed Rudy Fernandez

This team is one of the coolest teams in the NBA. They are going into the season with a starting line-up as Steve Blake, Brandon Roy, Martell Webster, LeMarcus Aldridge, and Greg Oden. Plus they have tons of depth to back them up. Their biggest question marks are how effective can Greg Oden be? Is Rudy Fernandez the real deal? and How well can all these young pieces do together? The answers to all of these will be found out during the season, but I think it will work out very nicely for them. If this team can develop into a team who can shoot three pointers they will be in for a treat in Portland. I think they will be 45-37 and get knocked out of the playoffs in the second round because they are too young.

NBA Breakdowns: Oklahoma City Thunder

Offseason moves:
Key Additions: Russell Westbrook, Joe Smith, Desmond Mason, K. Weaver, S. Ibaka, DJ White, D. Hardin
Key Losses: Luke Ridnour, Francisco Elson, Adrian Griffin, Donyell Marshall, Mickael Gelabale

The Thunder have a really bright future and are a decent team but I don't see it happening this year. They go into the season with Earl Watson, Kevin Durant, Jeff Green, Chris Wilcox and Nick Collison. It's not bad considering this team has been imploded recently. This team hinges on the production of Jeff Green, Russell Westbrook, DJ White and Kevin Durant. This team is going to take it's lumps especially with the lack of interior offense.

22-60

Minnesota Timberwolves

-Drafted O.J. Mayo; traded Mayo, Marko Jaric, Greg Buckner and Antoine Walker to Memphis for Kevin Love, Mike Miller, Brian Cardinal and Jason Collins.
-Drafted Nikola Pekovic and Mario Chalmers; traded Chalmers to Miami for two future second-rounders and cash.
-Traded a cap exception to Philadelphia for Rodney Carney and Calvin Booth.
-Signed Kevin Ollie

Well basically this is what the Celtics would have looked like if they didn't get Garnett and Allen. Their best stregnth is their young talent, but I am not sold on a lot of it. Jefferson is solid, but he is not an All-Star that will drive your team anywhere. Thus this team will suck, and they will be at least 3 years from competing for anything. I love Gomes, but once again he is only a complementry player. They will surprise some teams, because they have some players that can score in bunches, but sorry guys not enough to make a difference.

25-57

-BMack

NBA Breakdowns: Denver Nuggets

Offseason Moves
• Drafted Sonny Weems.
• Gave Marcus Camby to the Clippers.
• Traded Bobby Jones and Taurean Green to New York for Renaldo Balkman.
• Re-signed J.R. Smith to a three-year, $16 million deal.

The nuggets are a tricky team because I feel they should be a lot better than they actually are. With a team that has AI, Melo, Kenyon Martin, and JR Smith they should be a lot better than they are. The problem with this team is they play zero defense, zero and that is why they can't get over the hump. I feel that giving away Camby really destroyed any type of defense help or presence. It wouldn't surprise me if you see this team implode and rebuild. They have a chance to be a playoff team but I don't think so.

39-42

Houston Rockets Preview

-Drafted Donte Greene, Joey Dorsey and Maarty Leunen.
-Traded Greene, Bobby Jackson, a 2009-first round pick and cash to Sacramento for Ron Artest, Patrick Ewing Jr. and Sean Singletary.
-Signed Brent Barry
-Traded Sean Singletary to Phoenix for D.J. Strawberry
-Traded Patrick Ewing Jr. to New York for the rights to Frederic Weis

Two things are going to be question marks this season for Houston. One is the health of their stars. McGrady and Yao are two of the best players in the NBA, the problem is they are never on the court. The 2nd problem is Ron Artest. He is already having problems with Yao, and he is always ready to explode. Saying that I think Artest will be fine for a year. Most players like him are. Overall this will definitely be a playoff team, but their record won't blow you away (because of injuries/rest). It's this simple, at the end of the year, if their star players are healthy this team will make noise in the playoffs.

2008/2009 Record: 49-33

-BMack

NBA Breakdowns: Charlotte Bobcats

Offseason Moves:
• Signed Okafor to a six-year, $72 million contract.
• Drafted D.J. Augustin and Alexis Ajinca.
• Signed Shannon Brown and Mike Wilks.

MJ was a great player, but running a team, not so much. The biggest question was him drafting D.J. Augustin even though they have Raymond Felton. Most of his draft picks Sean May, Adam Morrison, and Felton have not worked out to well and this team has been and will be stuck in the cellar of the NBA for years to come. They at least committed to Okafor which is a good move because you can't find good centers anymore. They are strong on the wings with Jason Richardson and Gerald Wallace but other than that, they suck. Everyone is injury prone and they don't seem to be gelling together well.

22-60

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NBA Breakdowns: Miami Heat

Offseason Moves:
• Drafted Michael Beasley and Mario Chalmers.
• Let Jason Williams go, re-signed Chris Quinn for two years, $2 million.
• Let Ricky Davis go, re-signed Dorell Wright for two years, $5.5 million.
• Signed James Jones to a five-year, $23 million deal.
• Let Earl Barron go, signed Jamaal Magloire.

The Heat are a very interesting team, they have a lot of talent but will they gel well. They are going into the season with Marcus Banks, Dwayne Wade, Michael Beasley, Shawn Marion, and Mark Blount and that isn't bad to say the least. If Wade stays healthy, Beasley is the player he was in college and Marion isn't a shithead this team could be very good. Their biggest strength is speed, they have a lot of fast guys on the court to make them almost the Phoenix Suns of the East, if the run and gun works, they can put up a lot of points. It is really to predict this team, so I am gong to take the cowards way out and predict them to be a playoff team with a 42-42 record.

Washington Wizards

Offseason Moves:
-Resigned Antawn Jamison (4 year deal)
-Resigned Gilbert Arenas (6 years deal)
-Signed Dee Brown
-Drafted JaVale McGee

They signed Jamison (my boy), and I was pumped. I started to this that maybe this team had gotten through their thick heads that they don't need all these scorers, and need to sign some guys for defense. So, I figured Jamison/Butler would be the scorers, and they would then sign some defense. Instead they sign that no talent ass clown Arenas. He is worthless, and the team played much better without him. They will put up a lot of points and beat up on bad teams, but the Eastern Conference getting stronger the playoffs will be a struggle.

2008/2009 Record: 37-45

-BMack

NBA Breakdowns: Orlando Magic

Offseason Moves
• Drafted Courtney Lee.
• Let Maurice Evans go, signed Mickael Pietrus to a four-year, $23 million deal.

This team scares the hell out of me. I hate teams with a good big man and everyone else being a good deep threat. Going into the season they have Jameer Nelson, Michael Pietrus, Hedo Turkoglo, Rashard Lewis and Dwight Howard. This team has a ton of talent but their most glaring weakness is interior defense, if a team has a good PF and C and can run a high low game Rashard Lewis wont be able to guard a big man. I think this team will definitely be in the playoffs and be a force to be reckoned with in the regular season.

46-36

NBA Breakdowns: Atlanta Hawks

Offseason Moves:
• Lost Josh Childress to a team in Greece.
• Signed Josh Smith to a 5-year $58-million deal.
• Signed Maurice Evans to a 3-year, $7.5-million deal.
• Signed Randolph Morris to a two-year deal for the minimum.

I like the Hawks a lot and they are a scary team. Going into the season with Mike Bibby, Joe Johnson, Marvin Williams, Josh Smith and Al Horford is a pretty good young team with a really good young nucleus. They almost shocked the Celtics last year and could shock a lot of teams in the regular season. The loss of Childress is getting a lot of press because he went to Greece, but who cares he wasn't really that good anyways. The signing of Josh Smith to a 58 million dollar deal over 5 years is an absolute steal, he is one of the best players in the league and could develop into an elite player next year.

42-42

NBA Breakdown: Milwaukee Bucks

Offseason Moves
• Traded Yi Jianlian and Bobby Simmons to New Jersey for Richard Jefferson.
• Gave Andrew Bogut a five-year, $60-million extension.
• Signed Tyronn Lue to a one-year, $2.2-million deal; signed Malik Allen to a two-year, $2.6-million deal; signed Francisco Elson to a two-year, $3-million deal.
• Drafted Joe Alexander and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute.
• Traded Mo Williams to Cleveland and Desmond Mason to Oklahoma City; received Damon Jones from Cleveland and Luke Ridnour and Adrian Griffin from Seattle.

They certainly were movers and shakers all offseason but I don't know how much they improved for this season. They have a million SFs, Richard Jefferson, Michael Redd, Charlie Bell, and Joe Alexander and I don't understand how that is going to work. Their biggest weakness is frontcourt depth, Behind Bogut and Villanueva they have no one, except for Dan Gadzuric and he blows. Even with all these moves I don't think we will be seeing more than 23 wins.

23-59

NBA Breakdowns: Chicago Bulls

Offseason Moves
• Let Chris Duhon go, drafted Derrick Rose and Omer Asik.
• Signed Luol Deng to six-year, $71 million deal.
• Re-signed Ben Gordon.

Last year the Bulls were a team that had loads of potential and disappoint. The Bulls strengthened their front court in the draft of Derrick Rose. Everyone says he is the next big thing, but I don't see it. They have all these college stars in Aaron Grey, Tyrus Thomas, Joakim Noah, and Drew Gooden and they all suck and are busts. Maybe Larry Hughes, Luol Deng, Ben Gordan and Kirk Hienrich can all gell together and gain some momentum, but I don't think so. Expect another disappointing season from them and maybe a fire sale.

36-46

NBA Breakdown: Cleveland Cavaliers

Offseason Moves:
• Traded Joe Smith to Oklahoma City and Damon Jones to Milwaukee for Mo Williams.
• Drafted J.J. Hickson and Darnell Jackson.
• Re-signed Daniel Gibson to a five-year, $21-million deal.
• Re-signed Delonte West to a three-year, $13-million deal.

I really like the Mo Williams deal and believe he is an extremely solid wingman. I also like the re-signing of Delonte and Daniel Gibson, but they are all extremely similars players. They are going into this season with a starting line-up of Mo Williams, Delonte West/ Wally, LeBron James, Ben Wallace and Big Z and on paper that's not bad, but it's not that great. I trust LeBron will be able to do what he does every year and bring his team to the playoffs, but I don't trust Delonte, Wally, and Pavlovic will be able to make it all year without getting injured. I like the draft pick of J.J. Hickson and if he can make any type of impact down low, that will help them out a lot.

50-32

NBA Breakdowns: Indiana Pacers

Offseason moves:
• Traded Jermaine O'Neal to Toronto for T.J. Ford, Rasho Nesterovic, Maceo Baston and a first-round pick.
Let David Harrison go, drafted Roy Hibbert
• Drafted Jerryd Bayless; traded Bayless and Ike Diogu to Portland for Jarrett Jack, Josh McRoberts and Brandon Rush.

I like what the Pacers did this offseason. They got rid of Jermaine O'Neal who was injury prone and just not playing for them anymore. They added Jarrett Jack, Roy Hibbert and Brandon Rush. This is a good young team who will be fun to watch and if Ford can stay healthy all season they might surprise some people in the east. Hibbert will need a couple of years and Brandon Rush will average around ten points around a season.

Around .500

NBA Breakdowns: Detroit Pistons

Now we are moving to the Central Division in the East and moving to the Detroit Pistons.

Offseason moves
Signed Kwame Brown to a two-year, $8 million deal.

They are basically the same team they have had forever. Billups, Prince, Wallace, Hamilton, and Mcdyess. But the window is closing for the Pistons. The Biggest question is have teams figured them out and is their game plan not working? I think yes. The Pistons did nothing all of the offseason and if you think Kwame Brown is a good player and worth 8 million dollars you are wrong. He is flat out terrible. Rodney Stuckey, Arron Afflalo and Jason Maxiell are the only real young players but that is it. They still will win games and be tough on offense but I don't see it this year for the Pistons.

50-32

NBA Breakdown: Boston Celtics

Now it is my pleasure to breakdown the Boston Celtics. Minus James Posey this team is relatively the same. A year older but the same. The additions of draft picks J.R. Giddens and Bill Walker along with free agent signings of Patrick O'Bryant and Darius Miles help shape out this years roster.

The questions surrounding this team are:
Who is going to replace James Posey?
The answers are Tony Allen, Bill Walker and J.R. Giddens.

Tony Allen finally he has his brace off of his injured knee and is ready to fly high. Tony is a defensive minded player who can pretty much guard any 3-1 and is a cutter on offense. Him along with Rondo are the only two who I believe can make it to the basket at will.

Bill Walker could have been a 1rst round lottery pick if not for getting injured and being overshadowed by Michael Beasley. Walker is another high flyer and can knock down some shots from the perimeter. He is very athletic and wide so that will make it tough for people to puch him around on defense.

J.R. Giddens is another guy who had lottery potential if he wasn't involved in some knife fights in college. Getting some good role models in KG, Paul, and Ray definitely have me not worried about his off court issues. He is another high flyer who is instant offense. He has been saying from day 1 he is going to work on his defense and I believe him.

What can Darius Miles do?

Once Darius Miles was the best dunker an maybe best athlete in the NBA, but that is about it. He can score in bunches but is very inconsistant offensively. He is a veteran and seems to be working very hard at improving his game. If he is close to the player he was before the injury, this might be a steal.

What can Patrick O'Bryant do?
Patrick O'Bryant is starting to be called a bust, but I think he will be able to turn it down. When he was playing for Golden State that team was always pushing the ball and it is hard for a big man to adjust to that. He is huge and athletic, so I will label him as a guy who will be raw offensively but will be a factor on defense. He can block shots, and with Perk banged up, he might fit in nicely.

With the core of KG, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen I expect nothing less than a repeat. They all have the intensity and drive to do it again and it wont be hard if they stay healthy. There are no more questions about the back court as Rondo has established himself as a good PG in the league. We also have a lot of depth behind him in Eddie House, Gabe Pruitt and Sam Cassell. Also, Perkins is what he is. A huge body that can play defense and If O'Bryant works out, we will have Perk, O'Bryant, Powe, Davis, and of course Scalabrine as big men.

Prediction 62-20

NBA Breakdowns: New York Knicks

offseason moves:
Mike D'Antoni (coach)
Drafted Danilo Gallinari, acquired Patrick Ewing, Jr
Signed Chris Duhon to a two-year, $10 million deal
Traded Renaldo Balkman for nothing

I don't like this team now or in the future. They are a terrible team and with douches like Stephon Marbury, Zach Randolph, and Eddy Curry on the team you are not going to win. The role players Nate Robinson and David Lee are never utilized in the way they need to be to expand as players. Also, I question D'Antoni's move to draft Danilo Gallinari over Jerryd Bayless, Eric Gordan or D.J. Augustine. I just don't trust any foreign players and especially pussy Italians. Also, signing Chris Duhon got heavily overpaid and was never really that good anyways. Jamal Crawford is the only player I like on this team and he isn't enough to do anything.

Obviously mike D'Antoni will do a better job than Isiah Thomas, but the Knicks will still go 24 and 58.