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Hopefully, I will continue with my somewhat sporadic NBA blog this season. We're in the process of redesigning ebehoops.com and will make the journal a real blog - updated most of the time, space for reader comments, links to other sites, etc. "In the Paint" will also be back as a regular Friday night performer on "Sportstalk with Dan Russell" on CKNW 980am. You can also check us out streaming on the internet at www.cknw.com. NBA hoops for the people in a well informed, professional manner. That could be my new mantra.
Usually, this is where I defend picking the Spurs to beat the Pistons for the nth year in a row. However, after consulting the Ouija board, I'm not convinced the Spurs can actually win the title two years in a row. Are they a dynasty? Yes but they won't be able to pull off the repeat. San Antonio is once again a well constructed, if older, unit. Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu remain an unbelievable strong core. Coach Greg Popovich will have to pay more attention to things before the All-Star break if he doesn't want the Mavs, Suns and the Houston Rockets to run away with the regular season. I really believe the "Texas Triangle (plus New Orleans)" will beat each other up and come playoff time the Suns will be the beneficiaries. I'm going with my theory from a year ago; Suns beat Mavs, Mavs beat San Antonio, San Antonio beats Suns - the playoff match-ups are the key. So, that's a long winded way of saying I think after three years of very bad luck that the Phoenix Suns will finally have a little good luck. NBA champions = Phoenix Suns. Have the Suns really improved? Not in a huge way. Grant Hill is a very nice pick-up who still has quite a bit of game left (provided he can stay healthy, which is always a big if). He won't be able to shoot the three like Mike D'Antoni likes (I really think the Suns brass is fooling themselves on that bit of spin) but his medium range pull-up game and his slashing to the hoop will be incorporated into Phoenix's attack. Eventually. Steve Nash, as always, will be the key. I really get the feeling that Steve will be able to push the Suns over the top and put the cherry on top of his resume. It's one of those mental toughness things. Elsewhere in the west, NO/OK becomes this year's team on the rise. Yes, I said the same thing last year but multiple injuries derailed the Bugs. Chris Paul is back healthy, Tyson Chandler continues to improve (and had a solid summer in a limited role with the US squad) and Peja will spread the floor for the Hornets as they return to the bayou. The East usually gets just a cursory mention but this year there was a couple trades that you might have heard about. A young kid named KG and a shooter named Jesus now call Boston home. So, that's two unselfish veterans hungry for a title added to Paul Pierce. Nice. Boston will win the now tough Atlantic division, edging out the improved Raptors. The East, however, will belong to the Detroit Pistons come playoff time. This will be the Bad Boys last run with the same key players. Rasheed Wallace will be the key for Detroit, as he calms himself in a Buddhist 'kinda way. Add in some strong young rookies (Stuckey, Afflalo) and the Pistons mix will be ideal. Last year I actually pulled a Kreskin and predicted that the Cavs would win the right coast conference. This year, the Cavs won't even make the playoffs. Life changes quickly my friends. Most importantly, get yourself an HD television and enjoy the NBA season. It really is an amazing experience living in 1080. Enjoy. 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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