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Tuesday, November 2, 2004 - forget about the fate of democracy and that little election between a really dull guy and a dullard (you're welcome to figure out who's who). Today kicks off the NBA season and more importantly, Doug E.'s insight and opinions about the mighty National Basketball Association. Forget ESPN The Magazine or Sports Illustrated, say hello to Doug E. Fresh on the air and on the web. Once again, I rank the teams according to their predicted finish in each conference (plus assign an overall "power ranking," just like the big boys). The top 8 make the playoffs based on records (the number one, two and three seeds go to the division winners but home court is determined by their records... get it?). As Emily Litella used to say on Saturday Night Live, "never mind." Stay tuned throughout the season for more NBA tidbits, columns and other stuff. With the NHL mired in their lock-out, there should be plenty of hoops on "Sportstalk with Dan Russell." It's a safe bet that we'll go to a weekly NBA report as my basketball media empire expands like Ruben Studdard waistline. That's right, I'm livin' large.
Why the San Antonio Spurs, you ask? Well, they probably should have won last season except for that little Derek Fisher buzzer beater. Add on one more year of experience (and a couple of fat contracts) for both Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker, the addition of Brent Barry's overall game and 3 point threat, a plethora of role players, a coach who makes people play D and execute plus the best all around player in the game, that's a winning recipe. Like a delicious peach pie, Homer. Aaaaah, pie. Yes, the T-Wolves made the jump last year. Yes, KG was the MVP. Yes, the same cast is back, plus the walking wounded from last season in the persons of Wally Szczerbiak and Troy Hudson. Can the Wolves make the next leap. NO. This is a team that mirrors KG's personality; play hard and unselfishly but unfortunately, in the end, they puff their chest out with false toughness and can't close out the other neighbourhood bully. Add in the annual Sam Cassell "I'm underpaid" shtick plus the food bank situation for Latrell Sprewell and it leaves the less than Golden Gophers a little bit short. Meanwhile, over in the East... Shaq Vice will indeed reek havoc throughout the time zone but the rest of the Heat roster will not be up to the task. A pissed-off Shaq will get the squad to the conference finals but a lack of perimeter skills will cost Crocket and Tubbs by the end of the year. Dwayne Wade is sweet but unless he's developed a jumper since the Olympics, Miami will have to wait. One last thing, please circle your calendar for the Heat/Lakers Christmas Day bash as Shaq has promised much merriment for all (except for one whiny, manipulative little accused rapist). God bless us all, Tiny Diesel. So, that leaves the other eastern heavyweights, Detroit and Indiana. I really thought the Pacers should have beat Detroit last year. A couple of injuries, Ron Artest imploding and Tayshaun Prince tossing Reggie's stuff like so much weak cheese - other than that and it's an all ABA final. Both teams made positive moves in the off-season but I really think that Indy has more room for improvement and has to be hungrier. Joe Dumars didn't sit still but hey, they got their rings, got their extensions (go Rasheed, go Rasheed) and I've got that feeling that there will not be a second championship belt for the kinda' Bad Boys. Plus, don't even get me started on how Larry Brown is the most overrated coach in the league. I'll touch on that one later in the season. Doug E. For more Doug E. "Sportstalk" columns (or what passes for a columns), click here!
eberhardt basketball, where "Life is Good but Basketball is Better." |
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