We all know that the Suns, Mavericks, and Spurs, are the hands down favorites in the West, while the Wizards, Pistons, and Heat (depite their struggling season) are voted most likely to win the east.
But which of the other playoff contenders is most likely to present a threat to these teams?
In the West - The Jazz, Rockets, Lakers, Nuggets, even the Clippers?
And the East - Bulls, Cavs, Magic, Pacers, or maybe the Nets or Raptors?
Who could play the spoilers and why?
2007-02-02 16:23:21 · 8 answers · asked by last_texans_fan 2 in Sports ➔ Basketball
In the West, my first inclination would be to say the Rockets, but I'm not sure Yao and McGrady will have time to develop chemistry for the playoffs by the time Yao comes back. So I'm going with the Lakers, assuming that they can get their starting line-up of Brown/Bynum, Walton, Odom, Bryant, and Parker. Odom creates match-up problems for just about every team in the league (ever seen him grab a rebound dribble down court, and coast in for a lay-up which becomes an and-1?)
Walton does a good job distributing the ball, and if Bynum continues to play well, teh Lakers might just have enough "punch"
Kobe, of course, is the ultimate clutch player, so never count the Lakers out of a game.
In The East, I'm going to go with the Cavs. The playoff experience from last year is going to prove invaluable (and give them a leg up above all of the other aformentioned teams except for maybe New Jersey). Watching teh Cavs play recently, I've noticed that Damon Jones is shooting well and Daniel Gibson has come out of nowhere to provide much needed scoring help for the Cavs and Lebron. If Larry Hughes steps up his game, Cavs have the experience and enough scoring (assuming they continue to play good defense) to suprise some people, ESPECIALLY considering how weak the Leastern Conference is this year.
2007-02-02 16:55:28 · answer #1 · answered by jrodbendi 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If Carlos Boozer stays healthy, I can see Jazz having a good chance at beating any of the big three. Jerry Sloan is not a rookie coach, he's been there and he knows how to win, so they're going to be an even bigger threat in the playoffs. Kiralenko just has to step his game up. They also need somebody reliable of the bench, maybe trade for maggette.
Out east, things can go anyway, Shaq is no longer a threat, Pistons are soft under Flip, and the Wizards dont play defense. It's just a collection of mediocre teams
2007-02-02 16:58:17 · answer #2 · answered by ali n 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Right now I am surprised that the Toronto Raptors are on top of their division. I am a Heat fan, and i live in da 954 reppin Coral Springs nugga! But, I think the team to beat in the east right now is Agent Zero's (Gilber Arenas) Washinton Wizards. With the emergance of Caron Butler, the Wizz are scary. In the West I gotta go with division leading Utah Jazz. If Boozer can stay healthy, and Deron Williams keeps playing like Steve Nash out there, the Jazz are going to surprise everybody this year.
2007-02-03 00:51:17 · answer #3 · answered by Cub_Fanatic 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
for the west its gotta be the jazz. as a team they hold the best record in the entire league in the beginning of the season, has been leading their division from day one, and they are currently fourth best in the west. the rockets are great when they are healthy but right now they are only playing 75% to the best of their ability. the lakers are a threat but that's reallly no surprise. the nuggets can do well if only they can play consistently.
in the east its a toss up for me with the bulls and the wizards. most of the east sucks so much right now that, in my opinion, only these two could take on the pistons.
but that's just what i think.
2007-02-02 19:28:20 · answer #4 · answered by thizzin' 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Jazz and Nuggets in the west. Jazz are hitting the right notes now. They are young and can get better.
Nuggets have a lot of potential with Melo and Iverson partnership. Definitely can cause some upsets in the playoffs.
Bulls and Cavs in the east. Big Ben has loads of championship experience. It will come in handy in the playoffs. Cavs are knocking on the finals door. LBJ is up there again.
2007-02-02 16:37:55 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
West:
im surprised the jazz are this good and that the lakers are playing this well. im surprised that the clippers are doing horribly and even portland is showing some life.
East:
gilbert arenas and the wizards. i never knew arenas would explode this season and butler is having an allstar year. im surprised the nets suck this badly with two stars in the weakest division.
2007-02-02 17:14:10 · answer #6 · answered by what? 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Rockets, with Yao back and Mcgrady on his game again.
Bulls, Ben Gordon, Ben Wallace, Deng, Hinrich.
2007-02-02 22:44:02 · answer #7 · answered by PearApple 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
the clippers is the west for playing so bad
the nets in the east for playing so bad
2007-02-02 16:33:46 · answer #8 · answered by Erin 4 · 0⤊ 3⤋