NBA 2011-2012 Season

[Wacko4Zacko]

Its almost Christmas and and that means the season is almost here. So anyone want to start off the thread with NBA finals predictions?

I got Knicks vs. Spurs, with Knicks winning in 6 game series. 4-2

[Romo Ravens]

Wacko, you're still alive? Go Lakers!

[codizzle]

Knicks vs Spurs?? Wow
Will the spurs even make it to the playoffs?

I'll make a prediction this weekend but I'm thinking okc vs heat right now

[Ed_Reed20]

I'm interested to see how the shortened season will affect teams.

While I'm a Heat fan, I find it pretty funny that Eddy Curry could actually crack the regular rotation this year.

[Ravenslifer]

I think it will be Heat-Thunder. I think the lockout will hurt a lot of teams, but I don't see it hurting a team like the Heat that's basically three superstars. While other teams struggle to find chemistry, I think the Heat will have it right out of the gate. And Durant just keeps getting better and better. It's scary how many people on the East Coast just don't realize how good this guy is.

[Wacko4Zacko]

Spurs having the veterans that they have I think will be least impacted by lockout, plus all talk in the West is about Thunder, Clippers, Lakers and Mavericks. Spurs are just hiding there waiting for them to just float by and get into playoffs. Apparently all of the starters are healthy and Duncan is in his best shape. No one is looking or talking about the Spurs which makes it easy for them to coast by.

[FerrariFan87]

The Clippers might surprise some people with CP3 at the helm... Heat should cruise again with the West being a lot tighter.

[ravens__]

[quote name='FerrariFan87' timestamp='1324616069' post='919105']
The Clippers might surprise some people with CP3 at the helm... Heat should cruise again with the West being a lot tighter.
[/quote]

It's scary 'cause it's not just CP3.. They got Griffin obviously, DeAndre Jordan, Mo Williams, Chauncey Billups, Caron Butler.. The pieces are in place and the chemistry is already there judging from the two games against the Lakers..

As for the East, it looks as if it's Miami's to lose.... Sadly.

[Ed_Reed20]

It's going to be tough for the Spurs to avoid fatigue and injury with the condensed schedule. Even if they do stay healthy, I just don't think they're as good as a number of teams in the West.

[FerrariFan87]

Lakers upset about the Clippers celebrating after dunks... anyone else think they have a beef? I couldn't care less to be honest.

http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/7381642/los-angeles-lakers-matt-barnes-los-angeles-clippers-stop-dunk-celebrations

[codizzle]

[quote name='FerrariFan87' timestamp='1324664846' post='919427']
Lakers upset about the Clippers celebrating after dunks... anyone else think they have a beef? I couldn't care less to be honest.

http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/7381642/los-angeles-lakers-matt-barnes-los-angeles-clippers-stop-dunk-celebrations
[/quote]
I think all the clippers hype is funny... They beat a lakers team that could care less for the most part.. Obviously Kobe didn't care about either game..
Let's wait before we crown the clippers the next great team...
I wanna see Blake and jordan play some defense first.. I really do not believe that word is either of their vocabularies.

[Ravensstrike4424]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' timestamp='1324567583' post='918116']
I'm interested to see how the shortened season will affect teams.

While I'm a Heat fan, I find it pretty funny that Eddy Curry could actually crack the regular rotation this year.
[/quote]


shortened season benefits the young teams

[Wacko4Zacko]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' timestamp='1324664665' post='919424']
It's going to be tough for the Spurs to avoid fatigue and injury with the condensed schedule. Even if they do stay healthy, I just don't think they're as good as a number of teams in the West.
[/quote]

Shortened season can benefit. This team has chemistry and shortened season will decrease the fatigue and spurs will be healthy and plus how long have these guys been playing together for? They know eachother and there is no new offense or defense. No new system to learn so this team is in its right position.

[Jamal]

Ebanks and McRobers will start on Christmas day apparently.... Yikes.

Not to mention Fisher is still the starting PG.

Just a flat out disastrous off-season for the Lakers.

I really like Memphis, and see them as a serious contender in the west.

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='Wacko4Zacko' timestamp='1324677995' post='919567']
Shortened season can benefit. This team has chemistry and[b] shortened season will decrease the fatigue[/b] and spurs will be healthy and plus how long have these guys been playing together for? They know eachother and there is no new offense or defense. No new system to learn so this team is in its right position.
[/quote]

They've got back-to-back games seventeen times this season and three back-to-back-to-back contests as well. I don't see how that's going to decrease the likelihood of fatigue.

Their experience together will help but I wouldn't be surprised if a team ran them out of the gym in the play-offs like Memphis did last season.

[codizzle]

Spurs lost George hill and have no legitimate big man outside of Tim Duncan who is 37? .. They have no shot at all

[ravens rule]

Bulls vs Clippers

[gabefergy]

[quote name='codizzle' timestamp='1324694059' post='919724']
Spurs lost George hill and have no legitimate big man outside of Tim Duncan who is 37? .. They have no shot at all
[/quote]
They have DeJuan Blair and Tiago Splitter, but I agree they dont have a shot at a title. Too old, not enough game.

In the West its either gonna be the Thunder or the Clips, also dont count out Memphis.

East is gonna come down to Heat and Bulls. Bulls adding Rip helps a lot. Knicks could turn it on too especially if Baron Davis comes back inspired to play at MSG.

[Jamal]

Lets not completely count out the Lakers yet.

Yes, they have absolutely nothing at PG, and took a big hit on the bench, but if Bynum can step his game up to where it was late last regular season, this team will still be a nightmare for teams to match-up with. When Gasol and Bynum are on, only Memphis is a team in the West that could match up with their big's.

[gabefergy]

[quote name='Jamal' timestamp='1324839422' post='922496']
Lets not completely count out the Lakers yet.

Yes, they have absolutely nothing at PG, and took a big hit on the bench, but if Bynum can step his game up to where it was late last regular season, this team will still be a nightmare for teams to match-up with. When Gasol and Bynum are on, only Memphis is a team in the West that could match up with their big's.
[/quote]
Thats true, but they are a team with no depth. Bynum has never been able to stay healthy, and I dont think a shortened season with less rest is gonna help that. They are abysmal at PG and other than Kobe have no perimeter defenders or scorers. It's just not a good combination. On paper right now, I have them as 5th or 6th best team in the West and thats pretty generous.

[ryan23945]

i think its the bull year to at least make the finals

heres to the clip making a run

go lake show

[Ed_Reed20]

Good start to the season for the Heat. Hopefully, Battier gets healthy soon.

[Jamal]

Man, this Heat team will be darn near impossible to beat in the playoffs.

[bpytnjr58]

There will be a new beast at Staples this year...Go Clippers!!

[Romo Ravens]

My Lakers

[Jamal]

[quote name='Romo Ravens' timestamp='1324965069' post='923831']
My Lakers [img]http://content.boards.baltimoreravens.com//public/style_emoticons/default/sad.png[/img]
[/quote]
A triple nighter to start off the season for an aging team missing a very important player is flat out brutal.

[FerrariFan87]

Poor Lakers... but how do you lose to the Kings?? C'mon, Man!

Wizards choked big time last night, blowing an early 21-point lead, but we look like we can be competitive...

The Heat look fierce and should roll through the East.

[Jamal]

I think the Kings might actually be a decent team this year. They have some nice young talent.

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='Jamal' timestamp='1325017780' post='924358']
I think the Kings might actually be a decent team this year. They have some nice young talent.
[/quote]

Agreed. I've been a fan of Tyreke for a while and with Thornton scoring buckets, Salmons and Freddette as complimentary options and Hayes, Cousins and Hickson in the back court, they could be good.

[Wacko4Zacko]

I am calling it right now for Kings to get the the #8 seed