- Jun 3, 2002
- 10,518
- 271
- 136
I know the beginning of next season is still 3.5 months away but I thought that since pretty much all the trades that are going to happen this off season have already been (all but) finalized, that a poll would be appropriate. For those who aren?t up-to-date:
- Mourning is strongly rumored to have agreed to sign on as a Net.
- Kidd agreed to resign as a Net.
- O?Neil agreed to resign as a Pacer.
- Larry Bird is back with the Pacers, this time as team president.
- Malone agreed to sign on as a Laker.
- Payton agreed to sign on as a Laker.
And that?s pretty much the big news that will become official on July 16th. Besides the draft a couple weeks ago, the Lakers, Kings, Spurs, Mavs, Nets, Pistons, etc. are keeping roughly the same squads.
Knowing all of this, who?s your favorite team next year? Try to be partial.
Here are my favorites:
1. Lakers; was basically one in-and-out Horry shot away from the title, so they were potent last season even with Shaq?s injuries. Adding Payton and Malone makes the Lakers a killer squad, especially considering the defensive presence Payton brings and the offensive presence Malone brings, finally taking some pressure away from Shaq. With good rookies like Luke Walton and Brian Cook added to the mix and assuming Shaq is close to or at 100%, Lakers could be unstoppable. It may take time for this new team to find a rhythm offensively, but defensively Lakers should be much better.
2. Kings; IMO, if Webber wasn?t injured, definitely would have beat the Mavs in Round 2 and would have had a great chance at putting away the Spurs in the WCF (and therefore would have won the title). Still a very potent team even if they don?t change anything about their current squad.
3. Spurs; simply too inconsistent, terrible at keeping a lead. Obviously they won the title and I?m sure that was great for their confidence, so it?ll be interesting to see how much confidence they gained from the championship. Still, it?s tainted knowing that Webber and Dirk were both hurt, and that Kobe and Shaq had some of their own nagging injuries. That?s basketball though, and there?s no denying that the Spurs played awesome basketball in the postseason, however inconsistent.
4. Nets: good overall team that?s only getting better now that it looks like Zo is coming aboard. Zo and Kmart in the front court is an imposing offensive threat, and even more of a defensive threat. Zo needs to be as in shape and healthy as he was a couple years ago to be the presence he once was, so that?s a concern.
5. Mavs; still a great overall team with Nash, Finley, Dirk, Van Exel, and the rest, but defense is a major concern. Unless the Chinese 7-footer they picked up in the draft a couple weeks ago is good, Mavs needs to either get better at defense or add a defensive-minded player or two to their squad. Still a contender.
- Mourning is strongly rumored to have agreed to sign on as a Net.
- Kidd agreed to resign as a Net.
- O?Neil agreed to resign as a Pacer.
- Larry Bird is back with the Pacers, this time as team president.
- Malone agreed to sign on as a Laker.
- Payton agreed to sign on as a Laker.
And that?s pretty much the big news that will become official on July 16th. Besides the draft a couple weeks ago, the Lakers, Kings, Spurs, Mavs, Nets, Pistons, etc. are keeping roughly the same squads.
Knowing all of this, who?s your favorite team next year? Try to be partial.
Here are my favorites:
1. Lakers; was basically one in-and-out Horry shot away from the title, so they were potent last season even with Shaq?s injuries. Adding Payton and Malone makes the Lakers a killer squad, especially considering the defensive presence Payton brings and the offensive presence Malone brings, finally taking some pressure away from Shaq. With good rookies like Luke Walton and Brian Cook added to the mix and assuming Shaq is close to or at 100%, Lakers could be unstoppable. It may take time for this new team to find a rhythm offensively, but defensively Lakers should be much better.
2. Kings; IMO, if Webber wasn?t injured, definitely would have beat the Mavs in Round 2 and would have had a great chance at putting away the Spurs in the WCF (and therefore would have won the title). Still a very potent team even if they don?t change anything about their current squad.
3. Spurs; simply too inconsistent, terrible at keeping a lead. Obviously they won the title and I?m sure that was great for their confidence, so it?ll be interesting to see how much confidence they gained from the championship. Still, it?s tainted knowing that Webber and Dirk were both hurt, and that Kobe and Shaq had some of their own nagging injuries. That?s basketball though, and there?s no denying that the Spurs played awesome basketball in the postseason, however inconsistent.
4. Nets: good overall team that?s only getting better now that it looks like Zo is coming aboard. Zo and Kmart in the front court is an imposing offensive threat, and even more of a defensive threat. Zo needs to be as in shape and healthy as he was a couple years ago to be the presence he once was, so that?s a concern.
5. Mavs; still a great overall team with Nash, Finley, Dirk, Van Exel, and the rest, but defense is a major concern. Unless the Chinese 7-footer they picked up in the draft a couple weeks ago is good, Mavs needs to either get better at defense or add a defensive-minded player or two to their squad. Still a contender.
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