So everyone's sold on the Lakers, huh? Well, I'm not, and here's why – the only thing harder than winning a championship is repeating as champion. Yes L.A. has Kobe. Yes L.A. has Gasol. And yes L.A. now has Artest. They will be one of the final four teams and they could very easily win another title. But I just don't see it. I just think they come up a little short.

But if L.A. isn't winning the title, then who is? Well, that's a question I've batted around for quite some time. I'm a huge fan of the Magic. Dwight Howard is a stud and his supporting cast rivals Kobe's. I love the Spurs this year. Cleveland and Boston will both be there in the end. But ultimately my prediction is that the Magic will top the Spurs to win their first NBA championship. For the rest of my predictions, keep on reading.

Eastern Conference

1. Orlando Magic (65-17) - Love the Vince Carter addition. They have more depth than last season too.

2. Cleveland Cavaliers (60-22) - LeBron is enough to pencil them in for 55-60 wins.

3. Boston Celtics (58-24) - Still solid, but getting older. It all depends on Garnett.

4. Atlanta Hawks (48-34) - Hawks are good, but not in East's elite.

5. Chicago Bulls (44-38) - Bulls will make a push for homecourt, but I have them coming up just short.

6. Miami Heat (43-39) - They're a Dwayne Wade injury away from the lottery.

7. Indiana Pacers (41-41) - The Pacers? Am I crazy?? Nope, I really like this young squad.

8. Philadelphia 76ers (40-42) - There's just not much to like here. I'm not crazy about them.

9. Toronto Raptors (38-44) - They'll be improved, but I don't know by how much.

10. Detroit Pistons (35-47) - A lot of offseason movement, but I don't think it'll matter.

11. Washington Wizards (33-49) - Similar to the Pistons. Active but does that make them better?

12. New York Knicks (31-51) - I love D'Antoni, but he's trying to make a feast with spoiled food.

13. Charlotte Bobcats (28-54) - They will regret the Okafor trade. Big time.

14. New Jersey Nets (24-58) - Growing pains are inevitable for this young group.

15. Milwaukee Bucks (17-65) - With the first pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, the Milwaukee Bucks select ...

Western Conference

1. Los Angeles Lakers (65-17) - Lakers should again cruise through the regular season.

2. San Antonio Spurs (58-24) - Won't win the West in the regular season, but will come playoff time.

3. Portland Trailblazers (55-27) - Portland should win their division and be among the West's best.

4. New Orleans Hornets (54-28) - Love the addition of Okafor. My potential surprise team.

5. Dallas Mavericks (52-30) - Dallas has a deep, solid team, but it still might not be enough.

6. Utah Jazz (48-34) - Jazz are still playoff material, but not a title contender.

7. Denver Nuggets (47-35) - I was high on Denver last year, but I forsee a slide down this season.

8. Houston Rockets (43-39) - No Yao, No Artest, No T-Mac ... no problem? I think they grab the No. 8 seed.

9. Phoenix Suns (41-41) - The Suns again just miss out on the playoffs.

10. Los Angeles Clippers (39-43) - This team should be much improved, but is one year away still.

11. Minnesota Timberwolves (38-44) - My T'wolves will surprise if they stay healthy.

12. Golden State Warriors (30-52) - Some nice young pieces, but still too raw.

13. Oklahoma City Thunder (28-54) - Will be better, but not near the playoffs yet.

14. Memphis Grizzlies (20-62) - Should be another long year for the Grizzlies.

15. Sacramento Kings (18-64) - They'll struggle to win 18 games if Martin misses any time.

Playoffs

Eastern Conference - First round: No. 1 Orlando over No. 8 Philadelphia, No. 2 Cleveland over No. 7 Indiana, No. 3 Boston over No. 6 Miami, No. 5 Chicago over No. 4 Atlanta. Second round: No. 1 Orlando over No. 5 Chicago, No. 2 Cleveland over No. 3 Boston. Finals: No. 1 Orlando over No. 2 Cleveland.

Western Conference - First round: No. 1 Los Angeles over No. 8 Houston, No. 2 San Antonio over No. 7 Denver, No. 3 Portland over No. 6 Utah, No. 4 New Orleans over No. 5 Dallas. Second round: No. 1 Los Angeles over No. 4 New Orleans, No. 2 San Antonio over No. 3 Portland. Finals: No. 2 San Antonio over No. 1 Los Angeles.

NBA Finals - Orlando over San Antonio

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Jackson just can’t seemingly learn how to behave – it doesn’t matter where he plays or what he does, he’s always in the headlines for the wrong reasons either on or off the court.

After a relatively quiet start to his career in San Antonio and Atlanta, ever since he arrived with the dysfunctional Indiana Pacers at the start of the 2004-5 season it has been a long downhill run for the swingman.

Within a couple of months of his Pacer debut, he was handed a 30-game ban for his role in the Palace of Auburn Hills brawl and the season after he was charged with criminal recklessness for firing his gun during an altercation outside a strip club in Indianapolis.

Although things were better for him after a trade to Golden State in early 2007, he was ejected twice during their NBA playoff series win over Dallas, but he did go on to become an important cog in Don Nelson’s team until his demand for a trade this summer.

Continue reading "Jackson just cant get his way"

I hope that it's not part two for the San Antonio Spurs. Manu Ginobili got hurt last summer playing for Argentina in the olympics and at the time, contract negotiations between Ginobili and the spurs were underway. Now, those talks have stalled, as the spurs have taken a cautious approach regarding his contract, meaning no extention up to this point!. If Ginobili doesn't come out this year and have one his best, he stands to lose millions.

 Tony Parker was injured playing basketball for France this week and I'm quite sure that the spurs are not happy with this latest episode. The question is will he be healthy and 100% for the spurs training camp and the regular season? Sometimes players that play basketball year round begin the season tired and not playing at their usual high level, and it does affect the entire team. So at some point, personal judgement and career decisions must be made by the players themselves and  realize the risks involved with playing basketball during the summer.

Continue reading "Top european NBA players risk injury money to play summer basketball"

At this point in the summer I am going to break down who I think is going to land in the playoffs after the nine.ten. This is based on what has happened so far around the league.

Western Conference Playoffs:

1. Los Angeles Lakers

2. San Antonio Spurs

3. Portland Trailblazers

4. Dallas Mavericks

5. Denver Nuggets

6. Utah Jazz

7. Phoenix Suns

8. New Orleans Hornets 

Easter Conference Playoffs:

1. Cleveland Cavaliers

2. Boston Celtics

3. Miami Heat

4. Orlando Magic

5. Chicago Bulls

6. Atlanta Hawks

7. Toronto Raptors

8. Indiana Pacers 

The turnover from last year is small with the Suns replacing the Rockets in the Western Conference and the Raptors and Pacers replacing the Sixers and Pistons in the Eastern Conference. There is however, some movement in the standings, except at the top. 

Continue reading "NBA Playoff Predictions"

The spurs and lakers have done just about everything possible to put themselves in a position to win a championship. Both teams added some key players and odds are that the western conference will come down to these two teams!

How is Ron Artest going to fit into the lakers rotation and get his shots? I know that he's going to bring a toughness to the lakers that they haven't had in recent years, but will he have a positive impact on the team? I'm sure Phil Jackson will do a good job of managing player issues. The spurs on the other hand, are back in the discussion with their offseason moves. It will be interesting to watch the lakers and spurs play during the regular season. They will meet  four times and these games will all be statement games. The fact that the L.A. Lakers are the current NBA champs means that the San Antonio Spurs might have a little something to prove!     

Continue reading "Is there a heated rivalry between the San Antonio Spurs and LA Lakers on the horizon"

Have the spurs put together enough talent to contend with elite teams in the NBA?

I believe the answer is a definite yes. The San Antonio Spurs have had an offseason many feel was their best ever and with the talent already in place, the spurs should be in the hunt for another title. It will be interesting  to see how the new players mesh with the likes of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili. Richard Jefferson and Antonio McDyess will add much needed scoring and length to a team that was exposed a bit during this  years surprising first round exit against the Dallas Mavericks. Looking back to last season, the spurs had quite a few issues that needed to be addressed to make the team better, younger and more athletic.

Continue reading "Can the San Antonio Spurs win a 5th NBA Championship for the upcoming 2009-2010 season"

The 2009-10 Washington Wizards’ roster seems to finally be shaping up as the addition of Fabricio Oberto solidifies their frontcourt with a viable back-up who has significant playoff experience.  Oberto made his name with the San Antonio Spurs, complimenting Tim Duncan and fulfilling that role admirably.  His statistics are unimpressive but he will essentially be asked to fill the Shrek-sized hole left by the departure of Michael Ruffin.  Let’s just hope his number isn’t called to guard a Lebron crab-dribble on the baseline at the end of a playoff game.
Oberto will find his niche grabbing rebounds and providing spotty offense but basically his purpose will be to absorb personal fouls.  Barring an injury, which given the Wizards history it should be expected, he probably won’t see extended minutes considering that Saunders is known for a short rotation.  It would be ideal for Andray Blatche and/or Javale McGee to step up and be ready to be relied on but again, a seven-man rotation, or whatever he plans on utilizing, won’t allow for them to make many mistakes.  Regardless, competing against Dwight Howard and Shaq requires depth down low for the purpose of fouling.  The Celtics have both Kevin Garnett and Rasheed Wallace now so depth at the forward and center positions is extremely important. 

Continue reading "The New Look Wizards and What it Means for Their Chances in 09-10"

I realize there are still plenty of free agents left to be signed and trades still to be consummated. But, I also feel that there's been enough action in the NBA offseason so far to accurately grade every team. As always, comments, questions and other thoughts are welcome in the comments below. Here we go:

Atlanta Hawks - B+: They added Jeff Teague and Jamal Crawford to a 47-win, playoff team. And they kept Mike Bibby. Not too shabby for the Hawks.

Boston Celtics - B-: Adding Rasheed Wallace looks great on paper. But I'm not convinced a lineup of Rondo, Allen, Pierce, Garnett and Wallace can co-exist peacefully. My guess is Garnett will make it work. But for now, call me a doubter.

Charlotte Bobcats - C: Not much to be excited about here yet. They added Gerald Henderson in the draft, which I like. But as the rest of the East adds pieces, the Bobcats stand pat.

Chicago Bulls - C+: Yes, they lost Ben Gordon. No, it will not set them back. The Bulls added James Johnson and Taj Gibson and I suspect they have a few more moves coming this offseason.

Cleveland Cavaliers - A-: Give the Cavs credit, they are doing everything they can for LeBron James. Adding Shaq speaks for itself, while Anthony Parker and Danny Green were shrewd additions.

Dallas Mavericks - B: It's been a rough ride so far for the Mavs. They kept Jason Kidd and added Shawn Marion, but lost out of Marcin Gortat and Brandon Bass. I think they would have overpaid for Gortat, so not getting him wasn't the end of the world.

Denver Nuggets - B+: I love the addition of Ty Lawson. Keeping Chris Andersen and adding Arron Afflalo is icing on the cake, though losing Dahntay Jones is a bit of a hit.

Detroit Pistons - B-: The Pistons have been active, but I really don't know if they're much better. Gordon and Charlie Villanueva are nice pieces, but I question the Austin Daye selection. Chris Wilcox is OK, but I would still take Rasheed Wallace or Antonio McDyess over him.

Golden State Warriors - B: I'm a fan of Stephen Curry and definitely see him as an upgrade over Jamal Crawford. I'm not crazy about Acie Law or Speedy Claxton, but at least they add depth.

Houston Rockets - F: What a nightmare. Ron Artest? Gone. Yao Ming? Possibly done for his career. Tracy McGrady? Who even knows? Trevor Ariza is not NEARLY enough to offset this mess.

Indiana Pacers - B+: I'm a fan of what the Pacers have done. They've added Tyler Hansbrough, A.J. Price and Dahntay Jones, while only losing Jarrett Jack. That's a positive tradeoff if you're Indy.

Los Angeles Clippers - B+: This was an 'A' until the Clips traded Quentin Richardson for my Timberwolves' spare parts. But still, you have to love Griffin. He's a beast. Sebastian Telfair should be a decent backup. Craig Smith is actually solid, but he won't see much time.

Los Angeles Lakers - A-: Hard to give them anything but an 'A' after adding Ron Artest and re-signing Shannon Brown. Even though they lost Ariza and (most likely) Lamar Odom, the Lakers will be a dominant force next year.

Memphis Grizzlies - B: There's been a lot of moving and shaking for the Grizzlies this offseason, but they've added two post presences (Hasheem Thabeet and Zach Randolph). Combine them with O.J. Mayo and Rudy Gay and, well, you've got a decent start.

Miami Heat - D: To date, Miami has only added rookies Patrick Beverly and Robert Dozier (and re-signed Joel Anthony). Yawn. Should they add Lamar Odom, Allen Iverson or both, this grade will improve.

Milwaukee Bucks - D-: What, exactly, is Milwaukee trying to do? Besides, of course, lose 60 games next year. They dump Richard Jefferson and Charlie Villanueva and essentially replace them with Brandon Jennings, Jodie Meeks, Bruce Bown and Kurt Thomas. Good luck with that.

Minnesota Timberwolves - C: Jonny Flynn and Wayne Ellington look legit, which makes me a happy T'wolves fan. Unfortunately, there's the Rickt Rubio mess. Adding Quentin Richardson is nice, but hardly a blockbuster move. Overall, some nice pieces have been added, but a lot more have been removed.

New Jersey Nets - C: I understand that the Nets are positioning for a run at LeBron James. But their team was fun to watch when healthy last season. So, they go and trade Vince Carter and Ryan Anderson. Courtney Lee is a nice piece, as is Terrence Williams through the draft. But Devin Harris can't do it alone.

New Orleans Hornets - C-: Basiclally, they swapped Jannero Pargo for rookie Darren Collison. Most would agree that's an upgrade. However, it's completely irrelevant in the grand scheme of the Western Conference.

New York Knicks - A-: Are the Knicks actually having a ... gulp ... GOOD offseason? Well, in a word, yes. They've added Jordan Hill, Toney Douglas and Darko Milicic, while subtracting dead weight in Chris Wilcox and Quentin Richardson. I like it.

Oklahoma City Thunder - B+: The Thunder added James Harden and B.J. Mullens to an already young, talented bunch. They could benefit from a veteran or two, but for now, I'll give them a solid mark.

Orlando Magic - A+: My first 'A+." Why the Magic? Well, Vince Carter for Hedo Turkoglu is an upgrade no matter how you look at it. Then consider Marcin Gortat, Brandon Bass and Ryan Anderson for Courtney Lee, Rafer Alston and Tony Battie. I'll take that first group. The Magic have done very well so far.

Philadelphia 76ers - C+: So they added Jrue Holiday. ...that's it? So far it is. I'm not a big Holiday fan to begin with, so I'm a little less than impressed.

Phoenix Suns - A-: The Suns get an 'A-'? Am I crazy? I don't think so. Shaq was ripe for a trade. And replacing him with Earl Clark, Taylor Griffin, Channing Frye and Sasha Pavlovic (and re-signing Grant Hill) at the very least ensures they'll be fun to watch.

Portland Trail Blazers - B-: Fyre was a solid player, but got lost in the shuffle in Portland. Dante Cunningham was a good get in the second round. This grade is largely incomplete, mainly because I'll have to see how the rookies pan out.

Sacramento Kings - C+: The Kings have been difficult to figure out. They make nice pickups, like Tyreke Evans and Omri Casspi, but then make head-scratchers, like signing Sean May and trading for Sergio Rodriguez. At least we can say they've been active.

San Antonio Spurs - A+: Adding Richard Jefferson, DeJuan Blair and Antonio McDyess more than equals an 'A+' for San Antonio. Seriously, they've hit a home run this offseason.

Toronto Raptors - A: I think Hedo Turkoglu is overrated, but I understand why they went after him. He will fit well with their team. I like the Jarrett Jack addition, but I question the Demar DeRozan draft pick. If he's an instant hit, this grade should be an 'A+.'

Utah Jazz - B: So they kept Paul Millsap and added Eric Maynor and Goran Suton. All good moves. But, they are apparently set on dealing Carlos Boozer. Depending on what they get in return for him, this grade will change accordingly.

Washington Wizards - B: As a T'wolves fan, I was sad to see Randy Foye go. He is a talented player who got a bad rap for struggling with injuries, but he'll thrive in Washington. Mike Miller never fit in with Minnesota, but he's far from finished.

That's all 30 teams. Agree? Disagree? Like, I said, post away in the comments section. A little healthy debate never hurt anyone. Also, as a sneak peak, later this week I'm going to unveil something I've been excited about for a while now. I will announce the inaugural Andrew Lovell Sports Hall of Fame class, coinciding with my birthday weekend. I'll save the specific details of this Hall of Fame for now, but I promise it will be fun (if only for me).

Despite the hype surrounding a lot of high picks from this year’s NBA Draft the man who seems to have been making the biggest impact in Summer League action has been Rodrigue Beaubois, taken 25th by the Dallas Mavericks and thought even then to be a bit of a reach.

The Frenchman, born in Guadeloupe,  did provoke some comparisons with his compatriot Tony Parker, and the early results would suggest those comparisons might just be accurate.

Although the Mavericks team has only gone 1-4, Beaubois has impressed in averaging 17 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.8 assists on good shooting percentages as well.

The best overall performance was the most recent and last of the Vegas League (Sunday) when Beaubois ended when he hit 9-of-12 shots for 23 points and dished out five assists, the sort of line you would expect from Parker, a player he seems to have modelled his game on.

Continue reading "Summer has been good to Beaubois"

Continue reading "How Kerr Ruined the Suns"