god damn the Spurs are even more boring to watch this year due to old age.
the Lakers are still the Lakers, they are Western Conferences favorites for sure. isn't Pau Pau Gasol injured for a couple weeks?
the Nuggets have a lot of talent in the West - but I hear they want to trade Chauncey Billups?! why?! I don't understand how Billups gets shuttled around so much. I think he is one of the most technically superb point guards in the bizz. watching him take it down the court, pass, and make those signature clutch 5 foot put-ups is like watching a painter skillfully brush strokes on his canvassed masterpiece.
the East looks to slightly edge out the Western Conference in combined talent.
the Orlando Magic will be good, despite being a new look team. Skip To My Lou went to New Jersey while Hedo "the Michael Jordan of Turkey" Turk got traded to the Raptors. they lost some key contenders but they gained Vince Carter from the Dirty Jerz and Brandon Bass from New Orleans. they could be better than last year, but I see them being a little bit worst due to getting used to these grand roster changes.
this could be the break-out year for the Toronto Raptors. Jose Calderon is a solid point guard and "they" are saying this is the break-out year of Andrew Bargnani - which we will just have to wait and see what happens there. the addition of the "Michael Jordan of Turkey" combined with the perpetually impressive Chris Bosh... woah nelly! they could produce some great NBA watchin!
the Atlanta Hawks will be good again this year, but when it comes down to it they just don't have the firepower to defeat the other Eastern contenders
![:\](https://bluelight.org/xf/BL_Images/Orig_Emoji/wrygrin.gif "wry grin :\")
the Cleveland Cavaliers were the sexy pick to win the East in the off-season. while they have the talent, they have some problems starting off 0-2. Shaq looked good enough in their home opener but he played lazy lazy LAZY defense against Toronto. the Cavs were susceptible to the pick-and-roll PRIOR to getting Shaq-Fu and this acquisition only makes that offensive play more difficult to defend. however, LBJ gets triple-doubles as easily as I walk to the Corner Store to get some blunt shells - they will at least be in the Eastern Championships.
I expected a solid Celtics team, and I'll try not to base too much one game; but if the big (and old) three/four don't break any hips or anything, I fully expect them to take the east.
as it pains me terribly to agree with johannes, we all know it's true. us fans should never wish for any professional player to get hurt (save Tim Tebow), but one can only pull for the age of the Big 3 to take some effect soon. Rajon Rondo (aka Chris Tucker) has only improved every year in the NBA. he is a joy to watch. the Celtics are a great basketball team.
in the end... it looks like the easy pick for the NBA Finals to be what johannes stated previously:
Lakers vs. Celtics, baby.
Lakers in 7 (I am being generous here, please don't hate
)
I LOVE THIS GAME!
