Utah Jazz 98, Denver Nuggets 94
Both teams were without their best players (Gold-medalists Deron Williams and Carmelo Anthony), but I never doubted the Jazz wouldn't pull it out, even when it was tied in the fourth. Carlos Boozer started strong and didn't let up. Andrei Kirilenko seemed to enjoy his new role of leader of the second unit. Meanwhile the energy of the Nuggets was unfocussed at times, leading to turnovers and missed shots after each burst of scoring.
This game bodes well for the Jazz, in that they should be able to hold down the fort until D-Will rejoins them next week. Their next two games are against the Clippers.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
NBA Preseason Rankings - West
Western
1. L.A. LAKERS - The last time the Lakers lost in an ugly Finals, the team blew apart. This time, Phil and Kobe aren't going anywhere. Their only off-season loss of note was Ronny Turiaf, and they'll be getting back a healthy Andrew Bynum. Kobe's the reigning MVP, and who's going to knock him off the mountain? The question is going to be chemistry. How will Bynum, Gasol and Odom all play together in the front-court?
2. UTAH - They went 38-16 after getting Kyle Korver, and since they only lost third-string point-guard Jason Hart for slight upgrade Brevin Knight, they should be able to keep that chemistry. This is still a young team, and all indications are that Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer can still get better. They need Mehmet Okur to start well, and they need CJ Miles to be a stable backup at the 3 until Matt Harpring gets back. They have two 7-foot projects in Kyrylo Fesenko and Kosta Koufos who will probably spend a lot of the season in the D-League unless the Jazz get a few more injuries.
3. NEW ORLEANS - They picked up James Posey and only lost PJ Brown. They have playoff experience. Chris Paul's the most explosive point guard in the game, and Tyson Chandler's one of the best defensive centers. They will have a good combo of outside shooting (Paul, Posey, Mo Peterson, Peja Stoyakovic) and inside scoring (Chandler, David West). But they need to find a consistant big-man player off the bench and hope that their frontline stays healthy.
4. HOUSTON - Ron Artest may be a head-case but he definitely improved Sacramento when he was there. Now that he's with a contender in Houston, I see him using this as his last real shot at a title. Not that he's that old, but really, if Yao and T-Mac still can't get out of the first round with him, what use is he? Brent Barry is there to provide outside shooting and a veteran example. Luis Scola's been a lucky pick-up. The question mark with them is health. Can all the main players stay healthy?
5. SAN ANTONIO - Four championships in seven years, and all those rings were in odd years. They can never be counted out until they lose in the first round. They won't have Manu Ginobili for a while with injuries, and that will affect their wins, which will ultimately affect their seeding. The main three are still solid, with Tim Duncan and Tony Parker, but their surrounding cast is a year older without much youth on the bench.
6. PORTLAND - I see them making the jump. They faded a bit last year, but Greg Oden is here, LaMarcus Aldridge is a year better, Brandon Roy's a stud, they had a another great draft night. They'll love the playoffs but they have so much potential, I don't see them settling for a first-round exit.
7. PHOENIX - This will be the year the Suns set. I think this will be the year Steve Nash loses a step, and Shaq's not getting any better. However, if Amare Stoudamire and Leandro Barbosa are healthy, they should still get to the playoffs. But that will be it. They traded away a ton of draft picks to stay under the cap, but their cupboard's getting more and more bare.
8. DALLAS - Jason Kidd showed he could keep up with international competition, a crucial cog to getting the gold back for the USA. Now he'll get a full year to make sure he knows where Dirk Nowitzki likes the ball. They got DaSagna Diop back for defense. Their other pieces are still in place. Buuuut, there's no doubt in my mind the Kidd trade slammed the lid on Dirk ever getting his ring.
9. DENVER - I don't see how getting rid of Marcus Camby is going to make their chemistry or defense any better. They'll win a lot of games, and maybe even make the playoffs if Phoenix or Dallas falls faster than anyone thinks, but anything less than the second round will probably result in letting Iverson walk, or a George Karl firing, or both. But I think they'll need at least 48 wins to get to the playoffs and I don't see them quite getting there.
10. GOLDEN STATE - They lost Baron Davis, and they won't have Monta Ellis for a chunk of the season. They did get Corey Maggette, but he can't be The Guy. He's great if he's your third biggest star. But there's enough intriguing parts still there (Stephen Jackson, Al Harrington, Andris Biedrins, Marcus Williams, Marco Bellinelli) to do some runnin' damage.
11. L.A. CLIPPERS - Time for Al Thornton to be the man, now that Elton Brand is gone. Baron Davis is an upgrade at point guard, but I don't see the Clips being any better than last year.
12. MINNESOTA - Randy Foye, Al Jefferson, Mike Miller, Kevin Love, Ryan Gomes, Brian Cardinal... is it enough to make a jump? I doubt it.
13. MEMPHIS - Another team in that youth rebuilding mode. OJ Mayo should be a star, and running aside Mike Conley and Rudy Gay, it could happen in his rookie year. But outside that one neat year under Hubie Brown, this has been a losing franchise.
14. OKLAHOMA CITY - The fans will be there the first year, but even if Russell Westbrook is as good as they hope, how good can this team be? Two years from now, sure, but this year?
15. SACRAMENTO - Kevin Martin and Francisco Garcia will keep them an occasional threat in games, but Brad Miller's declining and they don't have Bibby or Artest or Abdur-Rahim.
1. L.A. LAKERS - The last time the Lakers lost in an ugly Finals, the team blew apart. This time, Phil and Kobe aren't going anywhere. Their only off-season loss of note was Ronny Turiaf, and they'll be getting back a healthy Andrew Bynum. Kobe's the reigning MVP, and who's going to knock him off the mountain? The question is going to be chemistry. How will Bynum, Gasol and Odom all play together in the front-court?
2. UTAH - They went 38-16 after getting Kyle Korver, and since they only lost third-string point-guard Jason Hart for slight upgrade Brevin Knight, they should be able to keep that chemistry. This is still a young team, and all indications are that Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer can still get better. They need Mehmet Okur to start well, and they need CJ Miles to be a stable backup at the 3 until Matt Harpring gets back. They have two 7-foot projects in Kyrylo Fesenko and Kosta Koufos who will probably spend a lot of the season in the D-League unless the Jazz get a few more injuries.
3. NEW ORLEANS - They picked up James Posey and only lost PJ Brown. They have playoff experience. Chris Paul's the most explosive point guard in the game, and Tyson Chandler's one of the best defensive centers. They will have a good combo of outside shooting (Paul, Posey, Mo Peterson, Peja Stoyakovic) and inside scoring (Chandler, David West). But they need to find a consistant big-man player off the bench and hope that their frontline stays healthy.
4. HOUSTON - Ron Artest may be a head-case but he definitely improved Sacramento when he was there. Now that he's with a contender in Houston, I see him using this as his last real shot at a title. Not that he's that old, but really, if Yao and T-Mac still can't get out of the first round with him, what use is he? Brent Barry is there to provide outside shooting and a veteran example. Luis Scola's been a lucky pick-up. The question mark with them is health. Can all the main players stay healthy?
5. SAN ANTONIO - Four championships in seven years, and all those rings were in odd years. They can never be counted out until they lose in the first round. They won't have Manu Ginobili for a while with injuries, and that will affect their wins, which will ultimately affect their seeding. The main three are still solid, with Tim Duncan and Tony Parker, but their surrounding cast is a year older without much youth on the bench.
6. PORTLAND - I see them making the jump. They faded a bit last year, but Greg Oden is here, LaMarcus Aldridge is a year better, Brandon Roy's a stud, they had a another great draft night. They'll love the playoffs but they have so much potential, I don't see them settling for a first-round exit.
7. PHOENIX - This will be the year the Suns set. I think this will be the year Steve Nash loses a step, and Shaq's not getting any better. However, if Amare Stoudamire and Leandro Barbosa are healthy, they should still get to the playoffs. But that will be it. They traded away a ton of draft picks to stay under the cap, but their cupboard's getting more and more bare.
8. DALLAS - Jason Kidd showed he could keep up with international competition, a crucial cog to getting the gold back for the USA. Now he'll get a full year to make sure he knows where Dirk Nowitzki likes the ball. They got DaSagna Diop back for defense. Their other pieces are still in place. Buuuut, there's no doubt in my mind the Kidd trade slammed the lid on Dirk ever getting his ring.
9. DENVER - I don't see how getting rid of Marcus Camby is going to make their chemistry or defense any better. They'll win a lot of games, and maybe even make the playoffs if Phoenix or Dallas falls faster than anyone thinks, but anything less than the second round will probably result in letting Iverson walk, or a George Karl firing, or both. But I think they'll need at least 48 wins to get to the playoffs and I don't see them quite getting there.
10. GOLDEN STATE - They lost Baron Davis, and they won't have Monta Ellis for a chunk of the season. They did get Corey Maggette, but he can't be The Guy. He's great if he's your third biggest star. But there's enough intriguing parts still there (Stephen Jackson, Al Harrington, Andris Biedrins, Marcus Williams, Marco Bellinelli) to do some runnin' damage.
11. L.A. CLIPPERS - Time for Al Thornton to be the man, now that Elton Brand is gone. Baron Davis is an upgrade at point guard, but I don't see the Clips being any better than last year.
12. MINNESOTA - Randy Foye, Al Jefferson, Mike Miller, Kevin Love, Ryan Gomes, Brian Cardinal... is it enough to make a jump? I doubt it.
13. MEMPHIS - Another team in that youth rebuilding mode. OJ Mayo should be a star, and running aside Mike Conley and Rudy Gay, it could happen in his rookie year. But outside that one neat year under Hubie Brown, this has been a losing franchise.
14. OKLAHOMA CITY - The fans will be there the first year, but even if Russell Westbrook is as good as they hope, how good can this team be? Two years from now, sure, but this year?
15. SACRAMENTO - Kevin Martin and Francisco Garcia will keep them an occasional threat in games, but Brad Miller's declining and they don't have Bibby or Artest or Abdur-Rahim.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)