The NBA 2006/2007 season starts today. The opening night brings a double header on TNT followed by 13 games the next night. While it may not be enough to steal the limelight from the NFL, but still something to look forward to on weeknights, especially the nights of TNT broadcasts.
Few question marks of the season
Will the acquisition of Ben Wallace help Bulls get to the Conference Finals?
Will Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming be healthy to lead Rockets to the playoffs?
How about the Lakers getting consistent production from Odom and be a contender in the West?
And what about the veteran Miami team? Can Wade carry them again?
Will Kevin Garnett ever get a chance to play for a ‘real’ contender?
Can Amare Stoudamire come back fully fit this season for Phoenix?
Can Isiah come out alive from New York if he fails again even after leading the highest salary capped team in NBA?
Is it LeBron’s turn to reach the NBA finals this year?
Can Dallas pass the spurs to reach NBA finals again?
Rookies to watch out for
Brandon Roy - Trail Blazers
Rajon Rondo - Celtics
Tyrus Thomas - Bulls
Marcus Williams - Nets
Key Matchups on National TV
Today , when Bulls visit the defending champs n Kobe’s LAL hosts the Suns
Nov 2 - Duncan n Co. visit the Mighty Mavericks.
Nov 30 - BigBen-less Pistons visit Shaq and Wade
Dec 25 - Kobe vs. Shaq on Christmas again
Dec 28 - Nash and the Suns visit Dirk’s Mavericks.
Feb 1 - LeBron vs. Wade
Feb 25 - BigBen goes back to Detroit
… add more
TNT experts picks for the Finals
Barkley and Kerr - Heat vs. Spurs
Kenny - Cavaliers vs. Spurs
Miller and Collins - Pistons vs. Dallas
A lot depends on how Amare Stoudemire plays after surgery this year. If he is anything like 2 years ago, Phoenix can beat Spurs or Dallas in the West and get to the finals.
In the East, I like Lebron and Cavaliers. Dont think Heat will be making it to the finals.
^ you doubting San Antonio?
I think it will come down to Chicago, Detroit and Cleveland in the east.
In the west, i think we'll have another SA - Mavs conference finals barring any prominent injuries. So far what i've heard on Amare is not positive at all; i hope he comes back 100% healthy ... they will be an exciting team to watch. I would watch out for the Lakers too; they can be a surprising contender.
While Ben brings tough defense to the table, he’s an awful addition in terms of offense.
A big IF here and even if both of them are healthy, I don’t think Rockets will make the playoffs.
Lakers will have problem, let alone be a contender for title.
Yessir
Only if he gets traded…
The kind of injury he’s been dealing with for two years, history is not on his side. Check Chris Webber and Penny Hardway on wikipedia.com
No. Knicks are a joke franchise.
Cavs are are not legit title contenders. I’ll start with the Larry Hughes signing, and what a terrible one it was. Larry Hughes and LBJ are not compatible and Hughes’s defense is so blown out of porportion. Don’t like that fit at all. Second, for all the hype LBJ gets for making his supporting cast better, you would expect Damon Jones and Donyell not to have career low shooting percentages. Finally, LBJ is a stud, no doubt about that but how much more can he do? What he average, 30/7/7 last season. What else do you expect from him? Just one more note. We all know how they took the Pistons to 7 but that same Piston team showed serious signs of declining against the Heat so let’s not overreact from a good series they had when the Wizards could have been in the same spot instead of the Cavs.
Sure..they can. But I think Spurs will beat them in a playoff series.
The 19 year old kid Andrew Bynum, protege of Laker legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, made his first career start scoring 18 pts, 9 reb, 5 asst. Lakers have high hopes with him as he matures and his game improves. Watch out Shaqs of the world.
Alright i am Freaking Tired of the League helping San Antiono out my god did anyone see last nites game SUNS vs SPURS Bruce Bowen and the whole of Spurs they get away with some much crap that last secod fould when trhey called it on Barbosa did anyone see the replay Bowen clearly slapped his hand and they call a charge on Barbosa i hate tehse Refs i hate David Freakin Stern i hope they go to hell Pheonix got robbed from a win last nite any comments guys????
Phoenix got robbed ... most certainly, but it wasn't the referees alone. One free throw here and there and we wouldn't even be talking about it. Having said that, I think the Refs have been very inconsistent this year.... the whole zero tolerance on foul reactions is bs. I don't think every referee practices that ... The foul calls are much more sissy ... Kirk (bulls) gets called for a foul before he even touches the opponent ... and then you see Bowen getting away with the bear hugs... something happens to the refs when they go on National TV...
We are nearing midpoint of the season and it's been quite interesting so far. Especially the brawl in the GahhhhDen.
I'm a Laker fan and my teams been hit with some major players injured, season starting with Kobe, then Mihm - out for the season, Lamar - at least a month and now Kwame.
The team is still trying to find their groove and the bench is much deeper than in years past, which means one of two things ... we are going to have a solid block in the playoff building or a lot of players will be traded to make a blockbuster go through.
AI going to Denver is also another twist to the season. I have always loved AI's finesse and output. He's a great pick up for Denver but I don't think he has more than two good years left in him and plus everyone knows it's Melo's team. The old superstar and new one will definitely collide. It's just human nature that when you're young you think you know it all and don't listen but when you're the old one you do know it all because you've been through it.
I don't have a good vibe from Miami and realistically don't see them repeating. And they are the strongest contenders in the East. The West, as its been for the past few years it the dominant league. A king in the East is a bum in the west.
Chicago, and New York are playing pretty good right now.
Of course, you have to always consider San Antonio as long as the big 3 are together, Duncan, Ginobli and Parker
I know my team should make it to the playoffs (barring any further deep injuries). Then Phil needs to kick in some of his Zen Magic and stick to the triangle - I know it's a really boring offense but tell that to those 9 championship rings he has. If the Lakers follow that formula, we should be in really good shape.
Miami is pretty much done for now... Riley has taken an indefinite leave of absense and the team is like 11-18 or some. They might still go far in the weak East though.
West remains the charm of NBA with Phoenix, SA, DAL and LAL competing for top honors. Dallas has won 25 of the last 27? i remember they starting like 0-5 ... wat a remarkable comeback. The playoffs are gonna be really good in the west. Amare is getting back to his form, but their defense still has holes.
