May 8 2008 - 2:10am Eastern
1. I’ll be the first to admit … I did not think the Hornets were THIS good. Chris Paul is an unreal talent and New Orleans had a fantastic year, but I did not see the Bugs manhandling the Spurs the way they have thus far.
2. Told ya so #1 - Kobe Bryant wins the MVP award.
3. Otis Smith’s ‘gamble’ on Rashard Lewis last summer (signing him to a BIG free agent deal) has turned out to be a pretty significant coup.
4. Does Detroit have a chance in their series against the Magic if Chauncey Billups is forced to the sidelines with that hamstring injury?
5. Carlos Boozer has got to step it up for the Jazz or Utah is gonna get swept by LA.
6. Told ya so #2 - Kevin Garnett wins the Defensive Player of the Year award.
7. I could see Avery Johnson landing in Phoenix if Mike D’Antoni leaves the Suns for New York, Chicago, or elsewhere.
8. I’m sympathetic to his situation with his daughter and her health, but I’m tired of seeing and hearing the ‘Derek Fisher-released-by-Utah-signed-by-the-Lakers’ story over and over. And we’re only two games into that series!
9. Told ya so #3 - Hedo Turkoglu wins the Most Improved Player award.
10. Told ya so #4 - Byron Scott wins the Coach of the Year award.
11. Does anybody think Mo Peterson really misses Toronto anymore? He’s enjoying great (team) success in New Orleans.
12. You told ME so - Kevin Durant wins the Rookie of the Year award. I still would have given the hardware to Al Horford. And he did get my #1 vote when I sent my ballot in to the league office.
13. Can ANYBODY on the Jazz guard Kobe Bryant?
14. Is the door closing on the Pistons’ domination in the East, or do they have enough youngsters in guys like Maxiell and Stuckey to keep them going with only minor tweaks along the way?
15. Ray Allen and Paul Pierce combined for 4 points in Game 1 against the Cavs and Boston still beat Cleveland. That tells me a lot about the Celtics as a TEAM … if I didn’t know it already after their 66-win season.
16. Chris Paul is the best point guard in the NBA, period. Nash, Kidd … anybody else … don’t even compare anymore to CP3.
17. Carmelo Anthony needs to give his head a shake. When will he and other athletes learn they’re not immune to the law?
18. Billy Knight leaves Atlanta just when his team seems to FINALLY be on the rise? Strange.
19. I can’t stop thinking about how good a guy like Udonis Haslem would look in Toronto.
20. Not that I’m condoning or promoting gambling … but … I’d bet the farm that LeBron James scores more than TWO field goals in Game 2 (and every game remaining in the post season).
E. Smith
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Hi Eric,
- Randolph StewartI also thinks that Udonis will look good in a Raps uniform, is he not a PF, and I don’t think he deserves coming of the bench. Anyhow what about Najera, is he an UFA.
Eric, do you think the Raptors need to make some major moves in the off-season? Currently as it stands I see the Raptors as the 8th best team in the East.
1.Boston
2. Orlando
3. Detroit
4. Cleveland
5. Washington
6. Atlanta
7. Philadelphia
8. Toronto
And we can’t forget, teams like Indiana, Chicago, Miami, and Charlotte will all be improved next season.
If the Raptors don’t make some BIG moves in the off-season, we may not even make the playoffs next year.
Thoughts?
- Brandon in TorontoHaslem is a nice role player, but the Raps need legit stars to help out Bosh. He definitely could help the Raps in the rebounding and defense department, but the Raps need to replace Parker and Moon with better players.
- aviI feel that the Rashard Lewis signing was big for Orlando, but they could have gotten him for a lot less. There was no competition to sign him. but it was still money well spent.
If we don’t draft a guy like Roy Hibbert (if he’s coming out), Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, The Lopez twins (Brook & Robin at Stanford) or Kevin Love. Haslem if available would be a great fit. All those guys bring toughness, which we DESPERATELY need
but, I REALLY want Roy Hibbert whenever he decides to leave Georgetown.
Here is how I see the coaching carousel playing out:
Avery Johnson - Knicks ( he could whip that team into shape and unload some of those me first players, MARBURY, RANDOLPH etc… Crawford is their best player by far)
Mike D’Antoni - Bulls (Great fit, Gordon, Deng, Hinrick etc… will love this guy)
Rick Carlile - Mavs (I would see if there was anyone else first, but Carlile is a good coach)
- KamalRoy Hibbert can’t rebound and hes 7′2.
- Brandon in TorontoBrandon, 8th???
I think they’re 6th.
1.Boston
2.Detroit
3.Cleveland
4.Orlando
5.Washington
6.Toronto
7.Philadelphia
8.Atlanta
I think Philly was a surprise team this season.In January they weren’t in the playoffs. Are they a playoff team? Yes but they’re not as good as they’re final record shows. That was the Raptors last year!
As for Atlanta, they weren’t even 500 this season. As for washington, their starting five w/Arenas is better than the Raps but their depth stinks.We have a better shooting team/bench. We fell apart at the end of the season and they barely got 5th ahead of us.
- jeff1. 25,000 for Vancouver Franchise.
2. One Farm on Lebron James +2 points
3. 4 told you so’s
4. One Happy Laker Fan
Keeping notes. I agree about Haslem perfect fit to what the Raps Need. Good luck to your purple and gold Eric. Don’t think they need it. I am a happy former Hornet fan(pre Raptors)
- James BorbathBrandon,
Either you don’t watch Big East basketball or you don’t pay attention to Georgetown.
I watch as much college ball as I do the NBA and let me tell you, aside from his troubles against Greg Oden last year Roy Hibbert can dominate any center in the college game. He does need to improve his shot blocking, but he could easily improve on that.
Don’t you think he would compliment Chris Bosh and make a good 1,2 punch?
- Kamal13. Can ANYBODY on the Jazz guard Kobe Bryant?
Nobody in the league can guard Kobe Bryant.
- Mamba -
- D12Hibbert grabs 6 boards a game, hes 7′2.
Thats laughable. Hes getting out rebounded by a guy from Depaul, Jeff Adrien, Haseem Thabeet, DeJuan Blair(Whos 6′7) and countless others.
He has Bargnani symdrome. We need a rebounder, we don’t need a guy who can “dominate any centre in college ball” when clearly he can’t.
- Brandon in TorontoLebron shut Kobe down completely for 10 minutes when Cleveland needed to this season. Mono a Mono. Kobe was pointless. Right now Lebron has his own problems.
- Miles