As my fantasy football season winds down, with my 7-7 team just out of the playoffs (we had a lot of 7-7 teams), I realize now in the final two weeks that I'm not really up how the NFL teams are doing as I usually would be. Part of it is due to the death of NFL Primetime. I know The Blitz is similar, but it's just not the same. I'd much rather watch Chris Berman and Tom Jackson recap the day than Bob Costas, Keith Olbermann and Chris Collinsworth. (I love Costas, but his true calling is play-by-play). Another factor is that I don't watch football before church, and this year my church goes from 2:00 to 5:00pm, and then you get home, you have dinner, so only if the Sunday night game is must-see do I see much of it. The main factor though, is my fantasy team.
I would check individual stats daily. I couldn't have told you before looking it up today what the Jaguars records is, but I can tell you David Garrard and Maurice Jones-Drew had slow starts before coming into their stat stride, and Matt Jones has been a high-and-low receiver for them. I can tell you new coach Mike Singletary didn't do much for Frank Gore's scoring. I can tell you Kyle Orton was a godsend before his injury, and that weeks before it happened, I knew Derek Anderson and Jon Kitna would wind up getting benched. Kurt Warner would be the MVP if the Cardinals had a better record. What is their record, again? I can tell you the Dolphins defense wound up being better than the Colts. The Cowboys had frustratingly inconsistant receiving. Tony Gonzalez is still a kick-butt tight-end.
My two favorite teams, the ones I really followed, sucked this year. That may have been another factor. The Seahawks will never be able to avenge losing in the worst officiated Super Bowl of all time, and the Raiders really need Al Davis to go away. My third team used to be the 49ers, but that's tapered off every year since Steve Young left, and now I don't really care. My fourth team is now my third team, e.g. whoever plays the Broncos that week. My fourth team is whoever goes undefeated, and then they need to win the Super Bowl, because I want someone to shut up the 1972 Dolphins once and for all. Can you picture Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Steve Kerr, etc., publicly shipping champagne every time the last NBA team loses its 13th game, thus keeping their 70 win-team special?
Monday, December 8, 2008
Friday, December 5, 2008
NBA Western Conference Power Rankings
1. L.A. LAKERS (15-2) - Kobe & company look head and shoulders above everyone else. Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum are twin-towering nicely together, Vlad Radmanovic and Derek Fisher are deadly enough from outside, and the second unit remains an energy booster with Jordan Farmar and Trevor Ariza. I can't help but think Lamar Odom will be trade-bait in February, but do you even want to make a move with things running so smoothly as is?
2. DENVER (13-7) - Yes, Denver. Allen Iverson for Chauncey Billups may have been the mutually beneficial trade in the past three years. Billups is that good steady point guard that makes everyone better while still getting his own. The West's elite point guard pool had been shrinking with the declining of Jason Kidd and Steve Nash, but Chris Paul, Deron Williams and Tony Parker now have to worry about Chauncey being in their Conference.
3. PORTLAND (14-6) - Greg Oden may not win Rookie of the Year (Rose and Mayo can duke that one out), but the team, the young promising team, is living up to its potential right on schedule. They're dangerous in the regular season.
4. NEW ORLEANS (10-6) - I read an article recently on the relationship Coach Byron Scott has with his players. Jason Kidd helped run him out of town after two trips to the Finals, and Scott this year doesn't seem to have the ear of his players. It doesn't mean Scott's going to get run out this year - his track proves he's a good coach - but CP3 and Scott don't seem to have the sympatico enjoyed by, say, Duncan and Popovich.
5. SAN ANTONIO (10-8) - The Spurs aren't about the regular season, but they lost more than they normally would if Parker & Ginobili hadn't been hurt. But they're ba-a-a-ack!
6. UTAH (12-8) - They are 20 games in. Their Big Four are Deron Williams, Carlos Boozer, Mehmet Okur and Andrei Kirilenko, and they've missed 30 games among them, not to mention crucial DNPs due to injury by roleplayers like Kyle Korver, Matt Harpring and Brevin Knight. D-Will still isn't 100%. But if they can get everyone back healthy, they're suddenly one of the deepest teams in the league, with all the extra time Paul Millsap, Ronnie Brewer, CJ Miles and Ronnie Price are getting. But home-court advantage will be important to this team come play-off time, and this looks like it'll be 2007 redux, with nine winning teams and only eight spots.
7. DALLAS (10-8) - Dirk Nowitzki, Josh Howard, and Jason Terry are doing their parts, and Jason Kidd, while slower, is still a triple-double threat. The rest of the team, however, needs to step up. Stackhouse & Dampier are looking old, and Gerald Green hasn't been the most consistant player. And all of east Texas can just weep at what Devin Harris is doing in Jersey.
8. HOUSTON (12-7) - T-Mac's out for three weeks, but Luther Head's been pretty good taking the minutes.
9. PHOENIX (11-9) - Ah, Shaq. The other tragic trade of the West. The run-and-gunning offense is gone, as is D'Antoni. Amare's still got it, Nash hasn't slipped much, and yet, they don't have a prayer to get out of the first round as presently constituted.
and the rest...
10. GOLDEN STATE (5-13) - Their record is terrible, but the Jamal Crawford trade should make it better. Otherwise Nellie, who recently had a contract extension, should be moved.
11. SACRAMENTO (5-15) - Kevin Martin and Spencer Hawes and... yeah. They're going nowhere.
12. MINNESOTA (4-13) - Al Jefferson and Mike Miller are great on my fantasy team, but their record suggests that's about all this team has.
13. MEMPHIS (4-14) - Rudy Gay, OJ Mayo, Mike Conley, Marc Gasol... they need to overpay a starter free agent to get anywhere.
14. L.A. CLIPPERS (3-15) - Same old Clippers.
15. OKLAHOMA CITY (2-17) - They're averaging a win a month.
2. DENVER (13-7) - Yes, Denver. Allen Iverson for Chauncey Billups may have been the mutually beneficial trade in the past three years. Billups is that good steady point guard that makes everyone better while still getting his own. The West's elite point guard pool had been shrinking with the declining of Jason Kidd and Steve Nash, but Chris Paul, Deron Williams and Tony Parker now have to worry about Chauncey being in their Conference.
3. PORTLAND (14-6) - Greg Oden may not win Rookie of the Year (Rose and Mayo can duke that one out), but the team, the young promising team, is living up to its potential right on schedule. They're dangerous in the regular season.
4. NEW ORLEANS (10-6) - I read an article recently on the relationship Coach Byron Scott has with his players. Jason Kidd helped run him out of town after two trips to the Finals, and Scott this year doesn't seem to have the ear of his players. It doesn't mean Scott's going to get run out this year - his track proves he's a good coach - but CP3 and Scott don't seem to have the sympatico enjoyed by, say, Duncan and Popovich.
5. SAN ANTONIO (10-8) - The Spurs aren't about the regular season, but they lost more than they normally would if Parker & Ginobili hadn't been hurt. But they're ba-a-a-ack!
6. UTAH (12-8) - They are 20 games in. Their Big Four are Deron Williams, Carlos Boozer, Mehmet Okur and Andrei Kirilenko, and they've missed 30 games among them, not to mention crucial DNPs due to injury by roleplayers like Kyle Korver, Matt Harpring and Brevin Knight. D-Will still isn't 100%. But if they can get everyone back healthy, they're suddenly one of the deepest teams in the league, with all the extra time Paul Millsap, Ronnie Brewer, CJ Miles and Ronnie Price are getting. But home-court advantage will be important to this team come play-off time, and this looks like it'll be 2007 redux, with nine winning teams and only eight spots.
7. DALLAS (10-8) - Dirk Nowitzki, Josh Howard, and Jason Terry are doing their parts, and Jason Kidd, while slower, is still a triple-double threat. The rest of the team, however, needs to step up. Stackhouse & Dampier are looking old, and Gerald Green hasn't been the most consistant player. And all of east Texas can just weep at what Devin Harris is doing in Jersey.
8. HOUSTON (12-7) - T-Mac's out for three weeks, but Luther Head's been pretty good taking the minutes.
9. PHOENIX (11-9) - Ah, Shaq. The other tragic trade of the West. The run-and-gunning offense is gone, as is D'Antoni. Amare's still got it, Nash hasn't slipped much, and yet, they don't have a prayer to get out of the first round as presently constituted.
and the rest...
10. GOLDEN STATE (5-13) - Their record is terrible, but the Jamal Crawford trade should make it better. Otherwise Nellie, who recently had a contract extension, should be moved.
11. SACRAMENTO (5-15) - Kevin Martin and Spencer Hawes and... yeah. They're going nowhere.
12. MINNESOTA (4-13) - Al Jefferson and Mike Miller are great on my fantasy team, but their record suggests that's about all this team has.
13. MEMPHIS (4-14) - Rudy Gay, OJ Mayo, Mike Conley, Marc Gasol... they need to overpay a starter free agent to get anywhere.
14. L.A. CLIPPERS (3-15) - Same old Clippers.
15. OKLAHOMA CITY (2-17) - They're averaging a win a month.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Lower-bowl experience - Jazz d. Suns
Since 1995, I've been to about 12 Utah Jazz games, and they have never lost a game that I have attended. They even won both games I attended during their 26-56 season. My record is still intact, but last night for the first time I was able to sit in the lower bowl.
My sister got tickets through her work, and we went to courtside before the game as the Jazz were shooting. CJ Miles is 6'6" but when you see him in person, you realize how tall 6'6" really is. Then you see how thick the 6'7" Paul Millsap is.
And then you see just how huge the 7'1" Shaquille O'Neal really is. There were times it was Millsap's job to guard Shaq, and Shaq just dwarfs him. Reminded me of the NBA commercial of Shaq in front of Tony Parker, and the caption reads "Where fe fi fo fum happens." First time I've seen Shaq play live in about a decade.
So we sat in Row 21 behind the Phoenix bench. For my first Jazz game ever, I didn't feel the need to squint.
First quarter, CJ Miles was on fire, and good thing. The Jazz had 17 points and 13 were from CJ. Everything he threw up went in. Meanwhile Jarron Collins did what he does. Take a charge. Each game where he gets time, he draws an offensive foul. Otherwise he missed two shots from the same spot, and was then yanked for Kosta Koufos, who is getting a surprising amount of playing time. Doesn't bode well for Kyrylo Fesenko's future with this team.
Second quarter Andrei Kirilenko and Brevin Knight helped wake the Jazz up. They got some steals and made some shots that made the crowd stand up.
The most memorable moments for me came in the fourth quarter. Millsap on Shaq, Shaq spins for a dunk, and li'l Millsap blocks him. The crowd roars. Less than two minutes later, AK47 swats a Shaq shot out of bounds. Suns inbound it, get to Shaq, and AK blocks him AGAIN.
The Jazz won 109-97. I have Boozer on my fantasy team, so I was doubly pleased with him.
The Jazz are now 5-0 at home, and 2-4 on the road. Normally I'd be frustrated, but they've been injury-ridden. Deron Williams and Mehmet Okur didn't play, and AK's missed some games.
To Larry H. Miller, once more, the Jazz have never lost a game I've attended. I think I need some free season tickets.
My sister got tickets through her work, and we went to courtside before the game as the Jazz were shooting. CJ Miles is 6'6" but when you see him in person, you realize how tall 6'6" really is. Then you see how thick the 6'7" Paul Millsap is.
And then you see just how huge the 7'1" Shaquille O'Neal really is. There were times it was Millsap's job to guard Shaq, and Shaq just dwarfs him. Reminded me of the NBA commercial of Shaq in front of Tony Parker, and the caption reads "Where fe fi fo fum happens." First time I've seen Shaq play live in about a decade.
So we sat in Row 21 behind the Phoenix bench. For my first Jazz game ever, I didn't feel the need to squint.
First quarter, CJ Miles was on fire, and good thing. The Jazz had 17 points and 13 were from CJ. Everything he threw up went in. Meanwhile Jarron Collins did what he does. Take a charge. Each game where he gets time, he draws an offensive foul. Otherwise he missed two shots from the same spot, and was then yanked for Kosta Koufos, who is getting a surprising amount of playing time. Doesn't bode well for Kyrylo Fesenko's future with this team.
Second quarter Andrei Kirilenko and Brevin Knight helped wake the Jazz up. They got some steals and made some shots that made the crowd stand up.
The most memorable moments for me came in the fourth quarter. Millsap on Shaq, Shaq spins for a dunk, and li'l Millsap blocks him. The crowd roars. Less than two minutes later, AK47 swats a Shaq shot out of bounds. Suns inbound it, get to Shaq, and AK blocks him AGAIN.
The Jazz won 109-97. I have Boozer on my fantasy team, so I was doubly pleased with him.
The Jazz are now 5-0 at home, and 2-4 on the road. Normally I'd be frustrated, but they've been injury-ridden. Deron Williams and Mehmet Okur didn't play, and AK's missed some games.
To Larry H. Miller, once more, the Jazz have never lost a game I've attended. I think I need some free season tickets.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Jazz 1-4 road trip
It's hard to win on the road when 3 of your 4 best players aren't yet playing. So now they're 6-4.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Jazz 5-1
The Jazz lost their first game of the season during the third quarter against the Knicks. Carlos Boozer was whistled for two quick fouls, adding up to his fourth with still 11 minutes to go in the third. It went downhill from there. Without Deron Williams there, Ronnie Price did what he could, but if he doesn't improve I can see him not playing at all when D-Will returns, with the backup point guard minutes going to Brevin Knight, who's been more solid.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Jazz go 4-0 w/o Deron Williams
True, they've played the Clippers twice, but they also beat the Nuggets and Blazers, and all without Deron Williams. Last night against the Blazers, Brevin Knight proved to be a steadier hand at point than Ronnie Price. The stats don't necessarily reflect that, but watching the game, the team in general looked more calm in the fourth with Knight. Carlos Boozer made some crazy shots, Paul Millsap played inspired D, and Andrei Kirilenko is a Sixth Man candidate.
Where the Jazz suffer right now is perimeter defense and their own perimeter shooting. That will improve a bit when D-Will comes back, but perimeter D was a weakness of theirs last year too.
Only three other teams remain undefeated. Lakers, Pistons, Hawks. Lakers have played the Clippers twice too. The Hawks beat the Hornets on the road. Now that's impressive.
Where the Jazz suffer right now is perimeter defense and their own perimeter shooting. That will improve a bit when D-Will comes back, but perimeter D was a weakness of theirs last year too.
Only three other teams remain undefeated. Lakers, Pistons, Hawks. Lakers have played the Clippers twice too. The Hawks beat the Hornets on the road. Now that's impressive.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Iverson-Billups trade
I think this trade helps Denver more than it helps Detroit. Denver now has the steady-handed veteran point guard it's craved ever since the morning after they traded away Andre Miller. George Karl has his Gary Payton.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
1 Down, 81 to go
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.
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.
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.
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