Post by beatonz on Feb 10, 2022 16:29:13 GMT -6
New season is upon us, I wanted to take a look around the league and make some predictions for some end of the year hardware before the seasons starts.
Top 3 Championship Contenders
1. Brooklyn Nets
The Nets are back to back champions, and their core remains the same coming into the 2002 season. Marko Jaric and Robbie Hummel are two of the better players the Nets lost this off season but player bench roles who are replaceable players on a deep team like the Nets. One of these East teams will have to get lucky during the playoffs to knock off the reining champs.
2. Chicago Bulls
Somehow, the bulls managed to keep their team together (resigning their front court Robert Traylor and John Salley), returning with essentially the same team and adding some nice bench depth with Festus Ezeli who was signed from the Knicks.
Poop Jackson is sure to contend for the MVP award again this season, and with such great team defense this team is favourites to take down the mighty Nets next season despite losing to them in the Eastern Conference finals last year.
3. Sacramento Kings
Had to throw a West team in here. The Kings took the West last year making it to the finals only to get destroyed by the Nets.
Do I think they can compete against the top 1-4 teams in the East in a 7 games series, not really, but they have a strong core group of players who could once again surprise the league by taking another step forward. I underestimated them last year and would be a fool to do so again this season.
Honrouable Mentions
Top 3 MVP Candidates
1. Poop Jackson
A very well deserved MVP award last season, putting up ridiculous scoring numbers. A repeat season, could land him his second MVP in a row.
A number of players around the league appear to have made a leap in scoring ability who could threaten a repeat award in this category.
2. Paul Pierce
Always in the discussion for the MVP award is the first player taken in the ITP7 draft, Paul Pierce. With the addition of Nurkic for an entire season and potentially some break out play from Jordon Clarkson we may see Pierces assist numbers rise but make no mistake about it, the Lakers are going to need Pierce to play at an MVP level if they intend on competing in the West.
3. Ben Gordon
Gordons offseason growth has sky rocketed him into the MVP discussion coming into the season. Growing in almost all statistical categories, specially scoring and handling, will having him competing for a scoring title and the assist title.
With so many scoring options on this Raptors team, expect a 10+apg season while averaging close to 30ppg.
Honrouable Mentions
Top 3 Defensive Player of The Year Candidates
1. Michael Olowokandi
Heavy favourite coming into the season is the Candy Man, don't expect much to change here, he has outstanding blocking ability putting up closed to 4bpg last season and I expect similar output in this category this year.
2. Joel Embiid
Despite his pathetic post and perimeter defensive rating, the man can straight up block a ball. He will be right up there with Olowokandi for blocked shot per game, just not sure if that 23 post defense will stand up against emerging big men developing in the East. He has yet to be named to a defensive team but this could be the year.
3. Ron Harper
If Ron was running the point in Chicago, I would have him more heavily favoured to win this award, but no doubt in my mind he is still deserving to be on the list. Ron leads this team on defense and can be expected to be in the top of the league for steal
Honrouable Mentions
Let me know what you think I got wrong, who do you think I snubbed off my lists?
Top 3 Championship Contenders
1. Brooklyn Nets
The Nets are back to back champions, and their core remains the same coming into the 2002 season. Marko Jaric and Robbie Hummel are two of the better players the Nets lost this off season but player bench roles who are replaceable players on a deep team like the Nets. One of these East teams will have to get lucky during the playoffs to knock off the reining champs.
2. Chicago Bulls
Somehow, the bulls managed to keep their team together (resigning their front court Robert Traylor and John Salley), returning with essentially the same team and adding some nice bench depth with Festus Ezeli who was signed from the Knicks.
Poop Jackson is sure to contend for the MVP award again this season, and with such great team defense this team is favourites to take down the mighty Nets next season despite losing to them in the Eastern Conference finals last year.
3. Sacramento Kings
Had to throw a West team in here. The Kings took the West last year making it to the finals only to get destroyed by the Nets.
Do I think they can compete against the top 1-4 teams in the East in a 7 games series, not really, but they have a strong core group of players who could once again surprise the league by taking another step forward. I underestimated them last year and would be a fool to do so again this season.
Honrouable Mentions
- LA Lakers - Can Paul Pierce ramp it up this season and drive the Lakers to the promise land?
- Toronto Raptors - Best team in the league... should probably be favourites...
- Portland Trailblazers - Big run to the WCF last season, lets see if they can repeat that success.
- Indiana Pacers - Team relies heavily on Julius Randle, if he can stay healthy, watch out.
- New York Knicks - Joe Curry actually put together a pretty decent team who have developed nicely, maybe a sleeper in the East
- Orlando Magic - Experimenting with Shane Battier/Predrag Stokakovic at PG could be the move.
Top 3 MVP Candidates
1. Poop Jackson
A very well deserved MVP award last season, putting up ridiculous scoring numbers. A repeat season, could land him his second MVP in a row.
A number of players around the league appear to have made a leap in scoring ability who could threaten a repeat award in this category.
Always in the discussion for the MVP award is the first player taken in the ITP7 draft, Paul Pierce. With the addition of Nurkic for an entire season and potentially some break out play from Jordon Clarkson we may see Pierces assist numbers rise but make no mistake about it, the Lakers are going to need Pierce to play at an MVP level if they intend on competing in the West.
3. Ben Gordon
Gordons offseason growth has sky rocketed him into the MVP discussion coming into the season. Growing in almost all statistical categories, specially scoring and handling, will having him competing for a scoring title and the assist title.
With so many scoring options on this Raptors team, expect a 10+apg season while averaging close to 30ppg.
Honrouable Mentions
- Joel Embiid - Great development this offseason improving his scoring to A- A-, not to mention his ridiculous blocking numbers. Can he control those turnovers with only 9 handles?
- Caron Butler - Surprising many last season with a 2nd All League Team appearance, he is just waiting to take off with his A- B+ scoring
- Rafael Araujo - Playing as a third option in an outside offensive focused team doesn't help but he can score at will and now has the rebounding to back it up
- Marcus Smart - Great all round player, brings the offense and the defense. Demonstrated he is capable of winning in last years playoffs. This team would not be the team they were in last years playoffs without him.
- Vince Carter - A team that lacks pure scoring is going to rely heaving on Carter, expect to see his numbers once again improve
Top 3 Defensive Player of The Year Candidates
1. Michael Olowokandi
Heavy favourite coming into the season is the Candy Man, don't expect much to change here, he has outstanding blocking ability putting up closed to 4bpg last season and I expect similar output in this category this year.
2. Joel Embiid
Despite his pathetic post and perimeter defensive rating, the man can straight up block a ball. He will be right up there with Olowokandi for blocked shot per game, just not sure if that 23 post defense will stand up against emerging big men developing in the East. He has yet to be named to a defensive team but this could be the year.
3. Ron Harper
If Ron was running the point in Chicago, I would have him more heavily favoured to win this award, but no doubt in my mind he is still deserving to be on the list. Ron leads this team on defense and can be expected to be in the top of the league for steal
Honrouable Mentions
- Anthony Davis - Continued development has again seen the young star make a jump on the defensive end.
- Elfrid Payton - All defensive team last season and second team the year before, under appreciated player in Payton
- Vince Carter - Vince brings it on both ends of the floor, looking to see if he can bump those steals and blocks up
- Brandon Haywood - A+ defense, but blocking isn't on the same level as others mentioned on this list
- Shane Battier - Will playing out of position at PG hurt his chances?
- Emeka Okafor - Good defender, just too many other better big men defenders to be considered a true candidate.
Let me know what you think I got wrong, who do you think I snubbed off my lists?