The 2004/2005 *NBA Talk* thread

[vonkaar]

According to ESPN, the power rankings look like this:

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http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/powerranking?season=2005&week=1
Rec. Comment
1 (5) Pacers 3-0
2 (9) Jazz 3-0
3 (3) Heat 3-0
4 (1) Pistons 2-1
5 (2) Spurs 2-1
6 (4) Timberwolves 2-1
7 (12) Mavericks
8 (11) Suns 3-0
9 (7) Rockets 2-2
10 (24) Raptors 3-0
11 (6) Nuggets 1-2
12 (8) Kings 0-3
13 (14) Lakers 2-2
14 (17) Trail Blazers 2-1
15 (10) Grizzlies 0-3
16 (19) Bucks 1-1
17 (20) Magic 2-1
18 (16) 76ers 1-2
19 (28) SuperSonics 2-1
20 (27) Wizards 2-1
21 (13) Cavaliers 0-3
22 (15) Celtics 1-2
23 (29) Clippers 2-1
24 (23) Hornets 0-3
25 (21) Nets 1-2
26 (22) Knicks 0-2
27 (18) Warriors 0-3
28 (26) Bulls 0-2
29 (30) Bobcats 1-1
30 (25) Hawks 0-3

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My response:

Utah is waaaay freaking overrated... They could be 3-3 with the next three games... (Denver, Toronto and Detroit). The Jazz needs to go away.

Go Mavs! Miami will be our next big hurdle... but we should cruise to 5-0 before meeting them. If we beat Miami, we could cruise all the way through NJ, Washington, Phoenix and NY before meeting Minnesota at home. A 10-0 start before seeing the Wolves would be a great bit of motivation =p. I'm not predicting that, however.. I mean, you have to lose SOME of the games. Last year, that was our big problem. We won the games that were tough, but lost to the teams we should have killed. So, tonight's game against GSW might give us an idea for the future.

Toronto... holy shit. What a time to be a Raptors fan. 3-0, and it's not like they've had a cushiony schedule. Detroit and Houston were both arguably top 5 teams coming into the season. Portland is looking strong too, especially considering the fact that Toronto had to deal with Zach Randolph's explosion of 33/15/4. They are looking incredibly strong, but... it's too early for any radical predictions.

L.A. - Kobe is getting what he deserved. He's taken 87 shots in only 4 games.

Houston / Denver - Obviously not clicking on all cylinders yet.

San Antonio / Minnesota - SA will win this battle... Wolves look as if they are on the brink of implosion... Spreewell and Cassell are disgruntled and they were the change that took Minnesota from an annual first-round knockout to the Conf championships last year.

Sacramento - I blame the schedule... and Peja. Webber is back, albeit older... Brad Miller looks good... Bobby Jackson is back... all good signs. Peja needs another 2003/2004.

Memphis - They have now lost 11 games in a row. Ouch.

Golden State, Charlotte, Atlanta, Washington - My early picks for lottery teams.

Miami - My fantasy team needs a healthy Shaq! Come on already!

Cleveland - LBJ's one-man show... they'll improve soon though.

Chicago - much better than their record shows. They only lost by an average of 7.5 games and played a pair of experienced teams.

NY - Ready to implode.

None of the remaining teams get any comment from me... just not as interesting as the above group.

[Tacks]

"Taxx... you are smoking crack. Miami will finish 42/40" -Vonkaar

[Malluas]

hehe once they start playing teams that are good and healthy they will start to lose... unless the league wants shaq in the playoffs again.


Vonk... its partyly the schedule for the kings... they choked at houston.. they had a 15 point lead near the end of the 3rd. and then a 4 point lead in OT so. But the league was stupid to do that schedule like that.. Not only was it only the 2nd time in history where a team opens with the Texas Triangle... it was ALL the oppenents home opener... BLAH

they will bitch slap toronto tho. No chance they start the season 0-4.. if they do i am gettin ready for the TRADE EVERYONE, or cut chris and peja and get nothing...on the radio here hehe

[Phlegm]

Surprised that the fucking warriors are not last. Those fuckers suck big time.

[Zanchief]

they will bitch slap toronto tho.

Toronto has had a good start but I'm not screaming too loud for a number of reasons.

1) I knew they had a pretty good team considering they had a pretty good team last year and had some bad injuries and a head coach meltdown and they added key pieces like Alston.

2) All they're games were at home so far.

3) Loren Woods has over achieved.

Sacramento in Sacramento is gonna be a tuff game to win but the way this team scores I think they can beat anyone on any given night.

Time will tell, but if they play half as well as they have they could take their division. 3rd place in the playoffs would be sweet.

[Zanchief]

And I just want to point out that I thought Phoenix would have an awesome year and they have been destroying opponents by 20 pts a night.

[vonkaar]

Atlanta, Philidelphia and Jersey...

oooooh

[Malluas]

they will bitch slap toronto tho.

Toronto has had a good start but I'm not screaming too loud for a number of reasons.

1) I knew they had a pretty good team considering they had a pretty good team last year and had some bad injuries and a head coach meltdown and they added key pieces like Alston.

2) All they're games were at home so far.

3) Loren Woods has over achieved.

Sacramento in Sacramento is gonna be a tuff game to win but the way this team scores I think they can beat anyone on any given night.

Time will tell, but if they play half as well as they have they could take their division. 3rd place in the playoffs would be sweet.

just its sacs home opener and they are coming off 3 losses hehe and i don't htink the kings have lost 4 in a row for like 4 years

whoreonto will be good this year tho. As long as everyone stays healthy

[Rzail]

Being a NYer and a big Knicks fan, if their defense does not improve...look for a new coach ASAP. Maybe Isiah, Mark Aguirre, maybe even Phil? Fucking Knicks looked fucking HORRENDOUS against the Celts. Hopefully, Marbury/Crawford will start clicking soon.

[Rotj]

Kobe's only taken 87 shots? Wow. I was thinking it should have been 120.

The Jazz are over-rated in those rankings but top 5..would suit them. They are owning..even without their first preference of Arroyo in there. Boozer has upped his game big time.

So disappointed with Orlando dropping their first game..out of all the teams..to the BOBCATS. What a kick to the balls.

Seattle is an interesting case. If they actually play team ball.. it proves that they can keep up with the pace imo..And if Fortston can rebound back into a rebounding machine..excuse the pun..they could be a team which could screw up a few division standings.

[Xaiveir]

Seattle is a dark horse. They will sneak into the playoffs, and probably get a first round upset againts someone, or at least push a team to the brink of elimination.

They have a very solid team, they just cant afford to make mistakes.

[vonkaar]

Holy crap... at least I admit to a bit of superfan-blinded optimisim when I speak of the Mavs taking first in the West...

It's pretty early to put Seattle in the top ten... let alone the top 8... let alone the top 4...

[Xaiveir]

Ill put Seattle in the top 8 of the western conference. I dont think they are a top 4 team at all, but i wouldnt be surprised if they get a first round upset. My guess is they will be seeded 7th at the end of the year.

Never said they would be in the top 4, if you are refering to me saying they will probably will get a first round upset as saying they are a top 4 team you need to get some glasses. Perhaps i should have reworded it to, i wouldnt be surprised if they upset a team in the first round. Better vonk ??

[vonkaar]

Saying that they could get to the second round of the playoffs after 6 days is basically calling them a top 4 team.

Although... GS is fucking destroying Dallas atm, so... anything is possible.

[Tacks]

Cong Mavs.

[vonkaar]

Crazy, nail-biting game...

But my man, Josh Howard came through...
Dirk is now 3 for 4 on double-doubles... he's the man...

Also, I was thrilled to see our fans giving Eddie Najera a standing ovation... it was great... he totally deserved that. I'm just afraid that the redneck idiot fans in Dallas are going to boo Nash on the 16th =/.

[vonkaar]

I can't watch the last 6 minutes of this Mavs/Magic game... we are probably shooting 28%. It's fucking disgusting.

[Malluas]

i had to miss the kings game cause of work

looks like my fantasy team did well with bibby and bobby owning the raptors

[Rotj]

Word up to my Magic. What an awesome win for us.

[vonkaar]

Well.. a win is a win... but I wouldn't say it was awesome. Both teams played horribly. That was the worst shooting I've seen my guys do in years. We fucking shot 29%... there was probably close to 40 turnovers in the game... ugly ugly game.

[Zanchief]

Raps sucked last night.

[Malluas]

yeps hard to win in sac... and a home opener ... forget it

[vonkaar]

The 2005 GM survey voted Sacramento the #1 'toughest home-court advantage' by something like 75%... that's crazy.

[Tacks]

38 more wins to go for Miami.

[Malluas]

hehe aren't the kings the best home team in total wins in the last 4 years?

I kno they were before last year.