Not sure if this was posted, but very interesting take by an unnamed current NBA player.
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I know fans love predictions from the experts. Well, you can listen to guys who have never even played in the NBA -- or, in a few cases, haven't played for a while -- or you can take it from me, a real player who's on the court every single game. Here's my view of how things will go down in the 2010-11 season:
SURPRISE TEAM: KNICKS
New York may have missed out on LeBron, but Amar'e Stoudemire is a great consolation prize. He doesn't rebound, but he's one of the best players in the league and he's playing in the perfect system for him. And that's not all I like about the Knicks. That Danilo Gallinari is dangerous. Starting this season, he'll become a mini-Durant -- and that will pose a major matchup nightmare for teams. With Amar'e in the middle, Gallinari has the ability to hit 10 3s a game, and he's developing his mid-range shot and dribble, too. They've definitely got some pieces to be excited about. But they're not getting that big piece from Denver ...
THE DEAL THAT WON'T HAPPEN: MELO TO THE KNICKS
I'm not sure Melo actually wants to play defense, but that's fine. He's the second-best scorer in the league behind Kevin Durant. He wants to carry his team, he has the balls to be scary in the playoffs and, most importantly, he wants to win. Well, Denver knows this stuff, too, and that's why they aren't sending him anywhere. You can't get close to equal value for a guy like that. Oh, and will someone please relay this message to Chicago: You guys are crazy! If I'm the Bulls, I give up Noah and my first-born to get Melo. Noah is a nice player, but he's no Melo. Their hard-bargain makes zero sense.
THE (ODD) DEAL THAT COULD HAPPEN: MELO TO THE LAKERS (NEXT SUMMER)
I'm hearing Carmelo to LA. People are saying the Lakers are looking for a new face who can step in to replace Kobe when he's ready to retire. It's never too early to start looking for your next star, I guess.
MVP: KEVIN DURANT
No chance Kobe wins another MVP. That means the next few (or more) MVPs will be awarded to the kid in Oklahoma City. Forget LeBron, D-Wade and Melo. They all had their shot. It's over for them. They're going to step aside -- or get pushed aside -- by KD. He'll average 35 ppg and I predict that, in a season not far away, he'll average 50, easy. He's that good. And, at that point, you might see the first player in modern history to require a triple-team. He will absolutely go down as one of the top five players in the history of the NBA, alongside MJ, Kobe, Wilt and Bill Russell. That KD, he's the real story of the season. Don't sleep on him.
EAST FINALS: HEAT OVER CELTICS
They're a little older, sure, but the Celtics are at least two-deep at every position, and that's as good as we've seen them. The second-best moves of the offseason happened in Boston. It's just too bad Shaq is too lazy and too into being a TV star to get in top shape -- he could play four more years if he wanted to -- but he's still a beast in the paint. And forget what you've heard about Jermaine O'Neal being washed up. He's not. In fact, he's hungry and healthy, and he's more of a team player now and is still very effective on the court. If he's your fifth-best player, you are a dangerous team. But still not quite good enough.
The Cs are scared of Miami -- I've personally heard this from one of their horse's mouths -- and with good reason. I already covered the Heat in my previous column, but I like them even more now. They'll be a beast because the Big Three will share the wealth. None of them is selfish, they can all pass and they're three of the smartest players I've seen. (Yeah, I'm including Chris Bosh. Smart dude.) It's like the Celtics when they got their Big Three, but with three differences: These guys are a) younger, b) more talented and c) going home without their rings.
WEST FINALS: LAKERS OVER THUNDER
I know some guys in LA, and they say the Thunder will be their most formidable opponent. They aren't a year or two away from being special -- they're already there. But the Lakers are just too damn good, and that was before they fortified their bench, swapping Jordan Farmar for Steve Blake, DJ Mbenga for Theo Ratliff and adding that feisty Matt Barnes.
NBA CHAMPIONS: LAKERS
Ron Artest disrupts LeBron as much as anybody can. Kobe wins his matchup with D-Wade. And sorry, CB -- Gasol is the best "4" in the league. Now, crazy things can happen. Let's say Andrew Bynum is gimpy. Or that LeBron plays out of his mind. Or that Fat Shaq whips himself into Semi-Fat Shaq and the Cs best the Heat to get back into the Finals. Fine. Whatever. Still, Kobe tips the scale. Forget MVPs. He's well on his way to becoming the best ever. The Heat will be a tough out -- LA will have to win another Game 7 -- but a healthier-than-last-season Kobe will average whatever he needs to average ... series over.
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I like the sound of the whole mini-Durant talk regarding Gallo. Also, i'm cool with no Melo trade, as long as we get him at the end of the process, whenever that is.
Really tho, it's a huge thing to have a respected All Star on your team. Even if it's just one guy, it makes a difference. He's an efficient player and he gets to the line like crazy. Teams will have trouble stopping him cuz he's not a traditional post up big. He plays out in space and can hit from anywhere, even 3. Amar'e will have a heavy load to carry but I think he's made for it.
10/26/2010 8:42 PM
