Now that the trade deadline is over and there are not as many injuries this time a year (look it up) the teams making that finial playoff push are set. So I’ll give you a game by game look at each teams schedule to see what each team’s finial record should be. I’ll start with the East.
Milwaukee (28-32, 8th) Milwaukee has an average schedule and should finish 8-14. That will put that at 36-46 not enough to make it this year.
Chicago (26-32, 9th) No team added more talent at the trade dead line then did Chicago, but they didn’t upgrade their coach and should finish 13-11. That will put that at 39-43 which would have got them in no problem last season.
New Jersey (26-32, 10th) The Nets have been hot and cold lately, but they seem closer to the hot side right now. They should finish 8-16 which will put them at 34-48 disappointing after a really good start to the season.
New York (24-33, 11th) The Knicks tried to make some trades to make their team better and even though I do like Chris Wilcox, Larry Hughes is just not getting it done. They should finish with a record of 10-15 and they will end up at 34-48. At least they didn’t do worse then Jersey, but still not enough.
Indiana (25-35, 12th) The Pacers just can’t get away from the injuries this season I have to say though Marquis Daniels is playing much better then I ever thought he would in this league, but the injuries it will hurt them to the tune of 9-13 and they’ll end up 34-48, seems like a popular record.
Charlotte (23-35, 13th) They can’t score they’ve never been able to score and if they don’t fix that they’ll never be any good. They have been playing good defense all year and Larry Brown teams usually play their best this time a year so they should finish at 16-8 and overall 39-43. The Bobcats will own the tiebreaker with the Bulls which would give them the right to lose to Cleveland or Boston this year.
Toronto (23-36, 14th) They’re just not as good as they should be and I still just can’t figure out why, but they’re going nowhere fast. They should finish the season at 9-14 and they’ll finish up at 32-50. Not the worse record in the world, but really bad compared to making the playoffs easy last year.
Well there you have it the Bobcats will make the playoffs this year for the first time just beating out the Bulls for the 8th and finial spot.
Tune in next time when I’ll tell you the seeding for both the East and the West.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Friday, February 13, 2009
Playoff Push
This is one year when both conferences are having a great battle for those finial playoff spots. As for the western conference if the Suns end up making the cost cutting moves that it looks like they want to make then we can safely put them in at 9th place and teams 3-8 will just be jockeying for position. As for the eastern conference now that Elton Brand is down for the season the 76ers should just get better, D Wade is gonna keep his team above water, and as bad as Detroit has looked at times there is no way they’re gonna miss the playoffs. So in the whole NBA that just leaves one playoff spot truly up for grabs, the 8th spot in the east.
Lets face it now that the Magic have lost Nelson there is only 4 teams with a real chance of winning it all this year, the Celtics, Cavs, Lakers, and maybe the Spurs. Even though the other 12 teams that make the playoffs are pretty much just playing for fun it’s still the goal of every team to at least get into the playoffs. There are still 7 teams with a real chance of locking down the 8th seed in the east, that’s right 7. With the only team with no shot being Washington (I think they’ll make it next year so they should just enjoy the high lottery pick and give the kids some playing time). So between Milwaukee, New Jersey, Chicago, New York, Charlotte, Indiana, and Toronto who has the best chance of making it? Let’s examine each team’s chances.
Milwaukee (8th)
I can’t say enough about the play of Ramon Sessions, he is almost single handedly keeping the Bucks in the playoffs, there is no way he goes back to the bench even when Luke Ridnour comes back. You can really tell that this is a Scott Skiles coached team, they play hard every game and that gives them a chance to win every game. I just think the lost of Redd and Bogut will be too much for the Bucks to handle in the long run. If any other team had lost their two best players we wouldn’t even give them a chance, that is a testament to just how hard they are playing right now. Chances 40%
New Jersey (1 game behind)
Vince Carter, Devin Harris, and Brook Lopez are all playing better then expected (I’m still having a hard time understanding why the Bobcats didn’t draft Lopez) and as a result the Nets are winning more games then expected. Here’s the catch those are the only good players New Jersey has. They live by them and they die by them, if they don’t all show up then neither do the Nets. Even worse we’re still hearing talks about New Jersey getting out from under VCs contract. This would effectively take the Nets out of the playoff race this season. Also, New Jersey has one of the tougher schedules for the rest of the year. Chances 20%
Chicago (2 games behind)
How unfair was it for the Bulls to get Rose in this year’s draft. Even with the addiction of the best player in the draft the Bulls haven’t seemed to have found themselves this year. Now if you’ve seen a Bulls game lately you’ve seen that they’ve been playing the best basketball of the season and they’re sure are doing it at the right time. It seems as though the players have finally learned how to play together. Here’s the biggest problem for the Bulls their coach sucks. In fact they have the worse coach in the league right now. As good as the Bulls can look can you really trust a team with the worse coach in the league (if you’re still debating it the answer is no you can’t). Chances 50%
New York (3 ½ games behind)
Just think if the Knicks hadn’t traded Zach Randolph for cap relief they would be in the driver’s seat for the 8th seed right now. With Coach Mike D’Antoni running things the Knicks are looking a whole lot better then they have any right to. Let me just say this team is no more talented then last year’s team and it’s not as deep. (What if the Bulls had hired D’Antoni, their GM is as bad as their coach) Who would have ever thought David Lee would be so good, he’s real good. Here’s the problem with then Knicks they’re playing above themselves right now and they’re still 3 ½ games behind and I just can’t see them making up any more ground then that. Chances 10%
Charlotte (3 ½ games behind)
Another team where the coach makes all the difference, could you really see Charlotte making the playoffs under Coach Vincent. No me neither. Coach Brown is working his magic and the Bobcats are getting better and better every game. I can’t overstate how much better I think we would be if we had drafted Brook Lopez, but I’ll just have to try to move on. The trades that Brown has asked for have all worked out great, except for DeSagana Diop who is a younger version of Nazr Mohammed (I know their games are different, but they both are about the same talent wish) stupid big contract and all. It’s clear that this team just isn’t deep enough to play without all their starters healthy. The All Star break couldn’t have come at a better time for the Bobcats this year, they should be completely healthy coming out of the break and poised for a great run. I think this team is playing as good as the Bulls right now plus their coach is a Hall of Famer so I’ll give them a slight edge. Chances 55%
Indiana (4 ½ games behind)
We’ve reached the “if they were gonna do it then why haven’t they done it yet” group. The Pacers are hitting a reasonably easy part of the schedule, but they have been under performing all season long and I don’t see that changing now. Mike Dunleavy can’t stay healthy and you can’t expect T.J. Ford to play the rest of the games this season. Danny Granger good, but he’s not yet carry a team good. Chances 20%
Toronto (5 games behind)
The Raptors are every bit as talented as they were last year if not more. Things aren’t just working out for them. I’ll say that this is not their year. If you have Chris Bosh as your best player you shouldn’t miss the playoff and especially in the east. You can just see Bosh getting unhappier and unhappier with each lost. I know how hard it is to trade Bosh knowing there’s no way to “win” that trade, but of all the good 2010 players I think Bosh is the most likely to leave. Chances 5%
Lets face it now that the Magic have lost Nelson there is only 4 teams with a real chance of winning it all this year, the Celtics, Cavs, Lakers, and maybe the Spurs. Even though the other 12 teams that make the playoffs are pretty much just playing for fun it’s still the goal of every team to at least get into the playoffs. There are still 7 teams with a real chance of locking down the 8th seed in the east, that’s right 7. With the only team with no shot being Washington (I think they’ll make it next year so they should just enjoy the high lottery pick and give the kids some playing time). So between Milwaukee, New Jersey, Chicago, New York, Charlotte, Indiana, and Toronto who has the best chance of making it? Let’s examine each team’s chances.
Milwaukee (8th)
I can’t say enough about the play of Ramon Sessions, he is almost single handedly keeping the Bucks in the playoffs, there is no way he goes back to the bench even when Luke Ridnour comes back. You can really tell that this is a Scott Skiles coached team, they play hard every game and that gives them a chance to win every game. I just think the lost of Redd and Bogut will be too much for the Bucks to handle in the long run. If any other team had lost their two best players we wouldn’t even give them a chance, that is a testament to just how hard they are playing right now. Chances 40%
New Jersey (1 game behind)
Vince Carter, Devin Harris, and Brook Lopez are all playing better then expected (I’m still having a hard time understanding why the Bobcats didn’t draft Lopez) and as a result the Nets are winning more games then expected. Here’s the catch those are the only good players New Jersey has. They live by them and they die by them, if they don’t all show up then neither do the Nets. Even worse we’re still hearing talks about New Jersey getting out from under VCs contract. This would effectively take the Nets out of the playoff race this season. Also, New Jersey has one of the tougher schedules for the rest of the year. Chances 20%
Chicago (2 games behind)
How unfair was it for the Bulls to get Rose in this year’s draft. Even with the addiction of the best player in the draft the Bulls haven’t seemed to have found themselves this year. Now if you’ve seen a Bulls game lately you’ve seen that they’ve been playing the best basketball of the season and they’re sure are doing it at the right time. It seems as though the players have finally learned how to play together. Here’s the biggest problem for the Bulls their coach sucks. In fact they have the worse coach in the league right now. As good as the Bulls can look can you really trust a team with the worse coach in the league (if you’re still debating it the answer is no you can’t). Chances 50%
New York (3 ½ games behind)
Just think if the Knicks hadn’t traded Zach Randolph for cap relief they would be in the driver’s seat for the 8th seed right now. With Coach Mike D’Antoni running things the Knicks are looking a whole lot better then they have any right to. Let me just say this team is no more talented then last year’s team and it’s not as deep. (What if the Bulls had hired D’Antoni, their GM is as bad as their coach) Who would have ever thought David Lee would be so good, he’s real good. Here’s the problem with then Knicks they’re playing above themselves right now and they’re still 3 ½ games behind and I just can’t see them making up any more ground then that. Chances 10%
Charlotte (3 ½ games behind)
Another team where the coach makes all the difference, could you really see Charlotte making the playoffs under Coach Vincent. No me neither. Coach Brown is working his magic and the Bobcats are getting better and better every game. I can’t overstate how much better I think we would be if we had drafted Brook Lopez, but I’ll just have to try to move on. The trades that Brown has asked for have all worked out great, except for DeSagana Diop who is a younger version of Nazr Mohammed (I know their games are different, but they both are about the same talent wish) stupid big contract and all. It’s clear that this team just isn’t deep enough to play without all their starters healthy. The All Star break couldn’t have come at a better time for the Bobcats this year, they should be completely healthy coming out of the break and poised for a great run. I think this team is playing as good as the Bulls right now plus their coach is a Hall of Famer so I’ll give them a slight edge. Chances 55%
Indiana (4 ½ games behind)
We’ve reached the “if they were gonna do it then why haven’t they done it yet” group. The Pacers are hitting a reasonably easy part of the schedule, but they have been under performing all season long and I don’t see that changing now. Mike Dunleavy can’t stay healthy and you can’t expect T.J. Ford to play the rest of the games this season. Danny Granger good, but he’s not yet carry a team good. Chances 20%
Toronto (5 games behind)
The Raptors are every bit as talented as they were last year if not more. Things aren’t just working out for them. I’ll say that this is not their year. If you have Chris Bosh as your best player you shouldn’t miss the playoff and especially in the east. You can just see Bosh getting unhappier and unhappier with each lost. I know how hard it is to trade Bosh knowing there’s no way to “win” that trade, but of all the good 2010 players I think Bosh is the most likely to leave. Chances 5%
Monday, February 9, 2009
Trading
Trade deadline is coming up pretty soon on February 19 I thought I’d give you a good way to come up with some trades that can work. Now the thing that most people miss when that propose a trade, because we’re all fans, is that they have to make the trade fair and make sense for both sides. Now you know I’m not plugged into the league, but I like to think that I come up with some good trades all season all. Here’s my secret I use the Trade Machine on espn.com. Here's the link http://games.espn.go.com/nba/features/trademachine. It’s not gonna make us real GMs, but it sure is a fun diversion. Try it you’re self and see what you can come up with and for some motivation I’ll share some of my better trades with you.
*First trade
Phoenix Suns
Incoming Players
Mike Conley
Salary: $3,630,480 Years Remaining: 2PTS: 7.8 REB: 2.9 AST: 3.1 PER: 12.25
Outgoing Players: Leandro Barbosa
Memphis Grizzlies
Incoming Players
Leandro Barbosa
Salary: $6,100,000 Years Remaining: 3PTS: 11.9 REB: 2.5 AST: 1.8 PER: 16.38
Outgoing Players: Mike Conley
We all know how good Barbosa is he’s one of the fastest men in world, but he’s always gonna be the 6th man in Phoenix. This would let OJ Mayo move to the point and give Memphis a legit sg, plus they would still have Lowry as their backup point. Conley has really come on lately so he would be the backup to Nash that Phoenix has never had and then they would have a replacement for Nash that would know the system whenever Nash decides to leave. Plus Phoenix would save almost $3mil which I’m sure that would like.
*Second Trade
Toronto Raptors
Incoming Players
Shawn Marion
Salary: $17,810,000 Years Remaining: 1PTS: 12.0 REB: 8.9 AST: 1.8 PER: 16.08
Michael Beasley
Salary: $4,314,960 Years Remaining: 2PTS: 13.4 REB: 5.5 AST: 0.8 PER: 15.60
Outgoing Players: Jason Kapono, Chris Bosh
Miami Heat
Incoming Players
Jason Kapono
Salary: $5,784,480 Years Remaining: 2PTS: 8.0 REB: 1.9 AST: 1.7 PER: 8.99
Chris Bosh
Salary: $14,410,581 Years Remaining: 2PTS: 22.8 REB: 9.7 AST: 2.4 PER: 22.40
Outgoing Players: Shawn Marion, Michael Beasley
I really think this is a no brainer for Miami Bosh and Wade together would be awesome. There’s a very small group of players you wouldn’t trade for Chris Bosh. For Toronto I think you have to think about it like the Kevin Garnett trade you’re probably not going to get fair value for a player of that caliber, but if you can get a young PF like Michael Beasley and a lot of cap (probably a lot of that would go to resigning Marion) that seems like a better offer then they could get this year or next. If Bosh leaves for nothing it would be the worse thing ever for Toronto.
*3rd Trade
Phoenix Suns
Incoming Players
J.J. HicksonSalary: $1,329,480 Years Remaining: 2PTS: 4.6 REB: 2.7 AST: 0.2 PER: 15.04
Wally SzczerbiakSalary: $13,775,000 Years Remaining: 1PTS: 7.3 REB: 3.0 AST: 1.0 PER: 12.54Outgoing Players: Amare Stoudemire
Cleveland Cavaliers
Incoming Players
Amare StoudemireSalary: $15,070,550 Years Remaining: 3PTS: 20.8 REB: 8.2 AST: 2.0 PER: 20.16Outgoing Players: J.J. Hickson, Wally Szczerbiak
Cleveland would also give up two first round picks, but you can't put that into the trade machine. I really think this would give Cleveland a legit #2 option behind King James and would make them this years favs for the title. For Phoenix J.J. Hickson looks like he could be the real deal so he can step up now and replace some of Amare's production, plus I think Hickson will become a much better defender then Stoudemire in the near future. Wally has a great expiring deal which is what Phoenix is looking for and the though the two draft picks will be in the late first round you can still find a good player would drops or who came out too early at that point.
Now these were just three examples of what you can come up with this trade machine. Try it you’re self you wont be disappointed. I'll give my grades for all this seasons trades right after the deadline. Also, my midseason reviews for all teams come out this weekend.
*First trade
Phoenix Suns
Incoming Players
Mike Conley
Salary: $3,630,480 Years Remaining: 2PTS: 7.8 REB: 2.9 AST: 3.1 PER: 12.25
Outgoing Players: Leandro Barbosa
Memphis Grizzlies
Incoming Players
Leandro Barbosa
Salary: $6,100,000 Years Remaining: 3PTS: 11.9 REB: 2.5 AST: 1.8 PER: 16.38
Outgoing Players: Mike Conley
We all know how good Barbosa is he’s one of the fastest men in world, but he’s always gonna be the 6th man in Phoenix. This would let OJ Mayo move to the point and give Memphis a legit sg, plus they would still have Lowry as their backup point. Conley has really come on lately so he would be the backup to Nash that Phoenix has never had and then they would have a replacement for Nash that would know the system whenever Nash decides to leave. Plus Phoenix would save almost $3mil which I’m sure that would like.
*Second Trade
Toronto Raptors
Incoming Players
Shawn Marion
Salary: $17,810,000 Years Remaining: 1PTS: 12.0 REB: 8.9 AST: 1.8 PER: 16.08
Michael Beasley
Salary: $4,314,960 Years Remaining: 2PTS: 13.4 REB: 5.5 AST: 0.8 PER: 15.60
Outgoing Players: Jason Kapono, Chris Bosh
Miami Heat
Incoming Players
Jason Kapono
Salary: $5,784,480 Years Remaining: 2PTS: 8.0 REB: 1.9 AST: 1.7 PER: 8.99
Chris Bosh
Salary: $14,410,581 Years Remaining: 2PTS: 22.8 REB: 9.7 AST: 2.4 PER: 22.40
Outgoing Players: Shawn Marion, Michael Beasley
I really think this is a no brainer for Miami Bosh and Wade together would be awesome. There’s a very small group of players you wouldn’t trade for Chris Bosh. For Toronto I think you have to think about it like the Kevin Garnett trade you’re probably not going to get fair value for a player of that caliber, but if you can get a young PF like Michael Beasley and a lot of cap (probably a lot of that would go to resigning Marion) that seems like a better offer then they could get this year or next. If Bosh leaves for nothing it would be the worse thing ever for Toronto.
*3rd Trade
Phoenix Suns
Incoming Players
J.J. HicksonSalary: $1,329,480 Years Remaining: 2PTS: 4.6 REB: 2.7 AST: 0.2 PER: 15.04
Wally SzczerbiakSalary: $13,775,000 Years Remaining: 1PTS: 7.3 REB: 3.0 AST: 1.0 PER: 12.54Outgoing Players: Amare Stoudemire
Cleveland Cavaliers
Incoming Players
Amare StoudemireSalary: $15,070,550 Years Remaining: 3PTS: 20.8 REB: 8.2 AST: 2.0 PER: 20.16Outgoing Players: J.J. Hickson, Wally Szczerbiak
Cleveland would also give up two first round picks, but you can't put that into the trade machine. I really think this would give Cleveland a legit #2 option behind King James and would make them this years favs for the title. For Phoenix J.J. Hickson looks like he could be the real deal so he can step up now and replace some of Amare's production, plus I think Hickson will become a much better defender then Stoudemire in the near future. Wally has a great expiring deal which is what Phoenix is looking for and the though the two draft picks will be in the late first round you can still find a good player would drops or who came out too early at that point.
Now these were just three examples of what you can come up with this trade machine. Try it you’re self you wont be disappointed. I'll give my grades for all this seasons trades right after the deadline. Also, my midseason reviews for all teams come out this weekend.
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