Ball15Life

Here's my look at the statistic leaders for this upcoming season

Points: L. James 27.8PPG

I really don't think Durant will win it again, as he will more than likely be getting less touches than last year. As we observed from the playoffs, Westbrook loves to score, and Harden should start and get his shots. Heck, even Ibaka may get touches as his offensive game is developing. James should be more focused than ever after his shortcoming last year.

Rebounds: D. Howard 14.3RPG

I think Love's 15 last year was exaggerated because no one else wanted to rebound (their starting C and SF averaged 5.5 each) and I seriously don't see Adelman accepting that.

Assists: D. Williams 12.8APG

Nash's and Rondo's weapons are getting old, while the Nets have an improving big in Lopez, a shooter in Morrow, and new talent in Brooks. It's not unrealistic, as he averaged over 12 as a Net when he was traded.

Blocks: S. Ibaka 2.7BPG

Ibaka averaged the same amount as Howard in 10 less minutes of play, and only .2 less than Bogut in 8 minutes less play. He should get much more minutes.

Steals: M. Ellis 2.4SPG

This is really a guess, Jackson will demand D. I don't know if Ellis delivers, but he was 3rd last year at 2.1, so this isn't that farfetched.

Trade Ideas - ofc they can be tweaked though, but the idea is there

C. Kaman and A. Aminu for J. Smith

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=...

I think Smith can play the 3 for the Clippers (their weakest position) and ATL gets an All-Star in Kaman and can move Horford to his more natural PF. They get a replacement SF in Aminu who has high potential.

Rondo and Green for Bynum and Morris

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=...

This may seem like a joke, but it's actually a fair trade. The Lakers need a PG, Rondo's one of the best and a starting SF over Artest. The Celtics get younger at their weakest position with the 2nd best center in the NBA and a prospect PG. The Celtics would need to resign Green for this though. However, I don't see Rondo willing to play for the Lakers or Bynum for the Celtics.

Mayo and Arthur for Gibson and Korver

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=...

Chicago gets their SG without giving up too much. Memphis makes roon for Henry while getting a backup for Randolph and a 3pt. shooter in Korver. Chicago could also add Asik if the deal seems uneven

I know because of Blake Griffin everyone's been jumping on the Clipper Bandwagon, but this is legit.

So, we already know they have All-Star/Star Blake Griffin, underrated top 10 (top 5?)SG in Gordon, and a legit up and coming center in Jordan. Their biggest weakness is SF, and they could use help at PG too. It looks like there will be no season which couldnt be better for the Clippers. I read somewhere that if there is no season, the lottery will probably go by the worst records for teams in the past 3 seasons, with the Clippers being 80-166 (4th worst). They traded their pick to the Thunder which was traded to Boston, but it is top 10 protected. And if the lottery is anything like this, it will definitely be top 10, letting them keep it. They also have Minnesota's lottery pick from the Sam Cassell trade in 05' and Minny finished 56-190 the last three years, worst in the league. This means the Clips will assuredly have 2 top 10 picks, a high chance for 2 top 5's, and the best chance for a #1. Next year's draft will be stacked. I see them with a chance for Harrison Barnes if they go for a SF, and picking up Teague or Rivers with their other. Or they could go big for Drummond, let Jordan walk and trade Kaman for Iggy, and draft a PG. No matter what, they cant go wrong. With Griffin, Gordon, and the rookies developing this team will be scary. Off the bench would be Bledsoe, Aminu, Foye and Gomes. This would leave them with little to no cap space, but I don't see them needing to sign anyone in FA, unless it's Howard. They would be young and very, very athletic. I could see them passing the Thunder as the best upcoming team in the league. What do ya'll think?

I mean height-wise is the NBA getting smaller? Now all you see are 6'1" and shorter PGs compared to the average 6'3". SGs are 6'4" compared to the average 6'6". I think the most rapidly shrinking position is PF. You see a lot of 6'8"/6'9" guys compared to the 6'10"/6'11" guys before. Idk, it may be just me but it seems like the draft classes get shorter and shorter every year.

If the lockout cancels the whole season, resulting in no games being played, then how would the draft work? I doubt they would cancel it because that would be unfair for college players who stayed last year and have to stay again. But how would the lottery work? Would the Warriors still have their lottery pick (top 7 protected) even though they probably won't finish bottom 7 during the season or would it be the Nets (who they traded it to)?

It looks like the NBA lockout is pretty close to being over (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AkO.W3Gd_tBi... and that an 82 game season can still be salvaged.

I'm a pretty avid NBA fan and not really biased, so what do you think of these predictions?

(Obviously not including free agents or trades due to lockout)

Eastern Conference

Boston: 52-30

New York: 48-34

Philly: 42-40

New Jersey: 30-52

Toronto: 20-62

Chicago: 64-18

Indiana: 40-42

Milwaukee: 38-44

Detroit: 33-49

Cleveland: 23-59

Miami: 64-18

Orlando: 49-33

Atlanta: 44-38

Charlotte: 38- 44

Washington: 31-51

Western Conference

San Antonio: 56-26

Dallas: 56-26

New Orleans: 43-39

Memphis: 50-32

Houston: 45-37

Oklahoma City: 60-22

Denver: 51-31

Portland: 50-32

Utah: 42-42

Minnesota: 25-57

LAL: 55-27

Phoenix: 38-44

Golden State: 40-42

LAC: 40-42

Sacramento: 28-54

MVP: Dwight Howard

DPOY: Serge Ibaka

MIP: John Wall

ROY: Kawhi Leonard

SMOY: Reggie Williams

COY: Erik Spoelstra (only due to media though)

I see a lot of young teams improving and older teams slowing down, tell me what you think.

So, tryouts are less than a month away and I really want to make the frosh basketball team. It's like my goal for my freshman year (other than good grades). I would say I'm okay, I think I'm better than an average player. I just joined a team for the first time this summer, so I have like 8 or 9 games under my belt. I'm still pretty inexperienced compared to kids who've played for years. But, I know how to do everything, like cuts and screens. I think I'd know how to do every drill during tryouts. I'm small at 5'4"/105lbs, but I'm pretty strong for my size and have been lifting weights, and I play SG because my team already has an experienced, pretty good PG. I only average like 2 points, but 5 rebs and 2 or 3 steals. I'm a much better defensive, rebounding player than a scorer, kind of like a Tony Allen type. I know I'll be one of the smallest guys in tryouts, so I'll have to play the point. I want to learn to play it too, but rarely get the opportunity. I've been going to open gyms so far, with the JV/V players and coaches, along with some other freshmen. I would make the team if it were against the freshamn I've seen so far, but I know there will be much more kids when tryouts come, like the tall football kids. My biggest concerns are that they'll choose the taller kids over me because they need size. I know I may seem paranoid, but this is very important to me. What do you guys think? Anything I should do? Thanks.