08-09 NBA Season...?

Question

Who would be your sleeper teams moving toward the coming season?  Teams that didn't make the playoffs in 07-08 that would make the playoffs in 08-09.  Teams that barely made the playoffs that would inprove this coming season.

I like Milwaukee in the East.  Scott Skiles has proven that he can motivate players to play well in his 1st couple of seasons as a coach.  And this roster is getting better and better.  With their three headed monster of Redd, Jefferson and Mo Williams they should be very good.  And the bench is becoming one of the best in basketball (on paper).

The team that should improve from last season should be the Atlanta Hawks.  But only because the Bucks & 76ers seem to be the only teams who made drastic changes to their rosters to succeed in the East.

I'm on the fence with the Clippers.  Camby and Davis was huge, but in the Pacific...not sure.

Teams on the way down are...The Nuggets, The Mavs (but Artest could change that), and the Suns.

What do you think?

mojo · Accepted Answer

My sleeper team is Portland.
Just so much young talent.
We didn't see Oden last year but I'm sure he's going to be a monster on boards and blocks.
I don't think they really need him to score much behind Roy, Aldridge and all the other dudes.
I have high hopes for them.

I do think the 76'ers will have a good season and will make the playoffs. With Brand and AI there I'm sure they'll make some noise.

The Clips, hmm, Davis, Thornton, Kaman, Camby.
Davis is going to have his hands full. Thornton did have a decent year but it will have to be a much improved season from him and if Kaman can do what he did last year. They will make the playoffs. I'm sure there will be less layups around the basket with Kaman and Camby patrolling the paint.

? · Answer

East 1. Boston Celtics (still) 2. Detroit Pistons (consistent) 3. Orlando Magic (second straight season) 4. Cleveland Cavaliers (Consistent) 5. Philadelphia 76ers (Surprising) 6. Toronto Raptors 7. Washington Wizards 8. Atlanta Hawks, Indiana Pacers, New Jersey (any of the three) or lets say Milwaukee Bucks and Miami Heat are also included. West 1. San Antonio Spurs (what can I say?) 2. New Orleans Hornets (stull no 2) 3. LA Lakers 4. Phoenix Suns 5. Dallas Mavericks 6. Utah Jazz 7. Houston Rockets 8. Denver Nuggets (although Camby is not around), Portland Trail Blazers (with Oden healthy and surprising rookies), Warriors and Clippers (also fighting for the last spot) MVP - LeBron James MIP - Kevin Durant COY - Rick Caralisle 6MOY - Manu Ginobili ROY - Michael Beasley Additions: Tony Parker -NBA Live 09 cover (why does EA Sports chose Tony to be the cover?) hehehehe

dru · Answer

the warriors will make it this year. they should have made it last year if it wasnt 4 the rockets luck. that 22 wins WITHOUT yao was ridiculous. they would have never made it 2 the finals.

now the warriors basically have no playmaker and every player can score 20 pts a game. but each of them can get at least 3-4 assists a game. and now they have a great slasher in maggette who gets 2 the freethrow line a LOT. and if the big guys get a chance 2 play they could be huge.

forti · Answer

"the Bucks & 76ers seem to be the only teams who made drastic changes to their rosters to succeed in the East."

What about the Raptors?  Not only gettin JO was huge for the Raps, but now Calderon will be a fulltime starter this season.  They are a very under-rated team.

Henry · Answer

BLAZERS.
I live in Portland and they have good players in every position. They have good rookies too: Greg Oden, Jerryd Bayless, and Rudy Fernandez (great player from Europe).
Mavs will also do good. Their new coach (Rick Carlisle) has always taken his teams to a new level.
Houston will be great with yao back.
Denver is gonna suck without Marcus Canby.
Miami has made some OK trades, so they will do better (can't do worse!).
Phili also looks promising.

Anonymous · Answer

for the east i think the heat for 1 if wade is the same old wade that we kno then mia is deff a lock for the playoffs
and i think atlanta wont be in the playoffs this year 

for the west i like the portland if oden is healthy and plays well i think that team can make some trouble out west
i think that denver is out this year and this is prob PHX last year to win the title with this team i think

JohnMark · Answer

You forgot about the Miami Heat.
Healthy Wade, Marion, and Beasley would probably get their team to the seventh/eighth spot in the East.

Dallas or Denver will probably not make the playoffs and if Lebron James gets injured Cavs would have no chance in making it.

Anonymous · Answer

the clippers arent going to the playoffs
boston is going to win 44 games and wont make it to the playoffs
the cavs are gonna lose to the wizards
and the bulls will be NBA champions again for the first time in 11 years.

Anonymous · Answer

i think in the west, portland will b in the playoffs. in the east i to like the bucks, they have much improved and ramon sessions came on at the end of last yr and i think he will win most improved this comin yr. on the down in the west is def. the nuggets. in the east i think its cleveland

mnballa · Answer

The T-Wolves! duh?
Kevin love + Al Jefferson
no one is gonna be able to stop that combo

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08-09 NBA Season...?

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