In the spirit of the holiday season, it’s time to look at what each NBA team wants for Christmas. Unfortunately for some of these teams, there is no Santa in the NBA to bring them yuletide cheer. They are stuck with cold, hard reality. I’ll go through the teams by division in the Eastern Conference today and then the Western Conference on Friday.
Atlantic Division:
Boston Celtics:
What they want:
A victory over the Lakers in their marquee Christmas Day matchup would the icing on the cake of a season that has gone absolutely perfectly so far. Everything else has gotten absolutely perfectly. They have practically clinched a playoff berth already with a 13 and a half (!!) game lead over 9th place Chicago. Their season won’t really start until the playoffs
What they’ll get:
I wouldn’t bet against Boston winning tomorrow or making a return trip to the finals. As good as Cleveland and L.A have been, Boston has to be the favourite right now. Boston’s been good and Santa is going to reward them
New Jersey Nets:
What they want:
The continued speedy development of Brook Lopez and the sustained play at a ridiculously high level by Devin Harris. It would also be nice if they could get out of the Swamp.
What they’ll get:
The Nets are playing a whole lot better than pretty well anybody expected and a lot of that has to do with Devin Harris morphing into an unstoppable slashing guard. I see no reason for that to stop any time soon. Lopez has looked good in the action that he’s seen but he’s not the third scoring option they so desperately need. Much to Jay-Z’s dismay, they ain’t leaving New Jersey any time soon
Philadelphia 76ers:
What they want:
Elton Brand to live up to the massive contract they signed him to in the offseason. Someone who can make a 15 foot jumper when Brand is getting quintuple teamed in the low post.
What they’ll get:
It’s too early to make definitive judgements with regards to the Brand signing, but it does seem like they are trying to jam a square peg into a round hole. Brand is a half-court, post-up player who demands double teams. The 76ers succeeded last year because they ran like crazy and their high flyers made easy baskets in transition and thus masked their horrifying inability to make outside shots. As long as they don’t have any outside shooting, 76ers fans will be stuck watching their team trying to fast break with four players while Brand lags back court
New York Knicks:
What they want:
For LeBron to openly declare that he is coming to the Big Apple in the summer of 2010. If Nate Robinson and David Lee continue having career years to distract from the facts that the Knicks are THROWING THIS SEASON that would help ease the transition. But mostly just the LeBron thing.
What they’ll get:
LeBron is way too business savvy to tip his hand with regards to 2010. There has been a lot of speculation concerning his love of NYC but, at least for now, I can’t see him making a choice one way or another. Knicks fans, you can only hope these next two years of suffering aren’t for naught.
Toronto Raptors:
What they want:
An athletic swingman would be nice. Some secondary scoring to help Chris Bosh out a little would be appreciated. If things keep going as they are, it might be best to wish for a swift, merciful end to the season.
What they’ll get:
Another wasted all-star season from Chris Bosh. Jermaine O’Neal has been a bust so far and his contract is becoming burdensome. Jose Calderon has played well at times, but not quite at the level that some expected. Andrea Bargnani....well, you get the idea. Things aren’t getting better any time soon. Get ready for a big lump of coal.
Central Division:
Cleveland Cavaliers:
What they want:
To win an NBA title either this season or next in order to convince LeBron to stay. To that end, for the Celtics to stop being so damn good and ruining their chances of winning the Larry O’Brian Trophy.
What they’ll get:
Another fantastic season, and perhaps the first MVP trophy of many to come from LeBron. Unfortunately, what really matters is the playoffs and Boston is still the team to beat, despite Cleveland’s outstanding start. Will LeBron stay or will he go? I have no idea.
Detroit Pistons:
What they want:
To have a do-over on the Billups-Iverson trade. A return to form for Rasheed Wallace and some more minutes for Rodney Stuckey.
What they’ll get:
The Pistons must have made the Iverson trade with the goal of clearing cap space for 2010 because they could not be a worse fit for A.I. He has slowed a step and his perimeter defence has greatly deteriorate. Rasheed Wallace might be over the hill by now, he’s 34, and he isn’t getting any younger. Stuckey has looked pretty okay, but nothing to write home about this season. Joe Dumars and co. are hoping to land a big free agent to go along with Prince and Hamilton, but what those two need above all else is a high quality point guard who will get them the ball. They just traded that away. Maybe Dumars sees something I don't. Regardless, things are not looking so bright.
Milwaukee Bucks:
What they want:
To have Michael Redd stay healthy and start making jumpers again. To have Ramon Sessions continue to develop and eventually replace Luke Ridnour. A player who can create his own shot.
What they’ll get:
Richard Jefferson continuing to eat up more than 13 million in salary while shooting 42 percent from the field. Yikes. Another .500 record and a battle for the 8th playoff spot in the East. At least the Packers are good and Brett Favre is leading them to glory again. Oh wait.
Chicago Bulls:
What they want:
Considering how well Derrick Rose has turned out, I don’t think the Bulls can ask for much more. I guess if Luol Deng lived up to his mega-deal that would be nice, but I think Bulls fans are so euphoric from the arrival of Rose that everything else seems trivial.
What they’ll get:
The Bulls are another team with a chance a shot at the 8th spot in the East and not much else. I don’t think this season matters too much, the Bulls will have their chances in the coming years.
Indiana Pacers:
What they want:
For T.J Ford to do a little more passing and a little less shooting. One more play maker to help Danny Granger out. Right now, the Pacers are Granger, MeJay and a whole lot of role players.
What they’ll get:
A lottery finish and a high draft pick. Danny Granger is someone to build around and maybe they could be something in a couple of years. They aren’t there yet. If someone could talk T.J Ford into passing a bit more, he could be a deadly point guard with his tremendous speed, but I don’t know if that’s possible.
Southeast Division:
Orlando Magic:
What they want:
To contend in the Eastern Conference with Cleveland and Boston. For Jameer Nelson to continue to have a career year and good health for Mickael Pietrus.
What they’ll get:
Some people would contend that I have a bone to pick with the Magic based on the fact that I don’t include them in discussions about the NBA’s elite teams. Dwight Howard is a beast and Rashard Lewis is a very good scorer. With the addition of Mickael Pietrus, they now have a lock down defender who can pitch in offensively too. All this points to the Magic being very good but I think too much is riding on Jameer Nelson. If Nelson keeps this pace up all year, they are very close to Boston and Cleveland. If he regresses, they aren’t. Good luck Jameer!
Atlanta Hawks:
What they want:
Josh Smith getting it together would help. He’s been a little off so far this
season. If some people came to watch this exciting basketball, maybe the Phillips Arena wouldn’t seem so much like a morgue.
What they’ll get:
A great up and coming team with a bright future that will contend for years to come. Josh Smith will round back into form and the Hawks will win 45-50 games. Look for Marvin Williams to keep improving...but the fans still won’t show. It is Atlanta we are talking about after all.
Miami Heat:
What they want:
Beasley becoming a viable secondary option behind Wade would improve their chances going forward. Find a willing trade partner for Shawn Marion. I don’t think the Heat need Marion’s skill set as much as they need a true big man.
What they will get:
Dwayne Wade carrying them to a 40-45 win season and hopefully a half decent draft pick. The Heat are still a prime free agent destination, so if they unload Marion for cap room, maybe they make a run at a major free agent.
Charlotte Bobcats:
What they want:
The Bobcats are stuck in a big way. They have one useful player, Gerald Wallace, one player with potential, D.J Augustin, and a whole bunch of role players making way too much money. They need a new team.
What they will get:
Larry Brown trying to murder Sean May with his eyes before the season’s over and at best a 35 win season. Bobcats management has doomed this team for a long time to come. It’s really kind of sad.
Washington Wizards:
I can’t even bring myself to write about the Wizards. Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison are having good years and everybody else is a catastrophe. I don’t see Arenas’ return as saving this team either. If the Wizards win 25 games this year, it will be a success.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
1 comment:
thats a damn good post
Post a Comment