NBA Predictions

1) Golden State Surprise: My first prediction is that the Warriors are going to be this year’s Thunder. Monta Ellis is great. He can steal, he can shoot, he can pass, but he can also create turnovers. This team at the moment relies on him, as well as Stephen Curry, to produce most of their offense. He needs to stay at shooting guard, his best position, so he can do what he does best, score. I really like Stephen Curry, he can shoot, he can pass, and he’s young. He is their point guard of the future, and he’ll only get better. He takes shots that seem impossible, and makes them look easy. If you play tight defense on him, he’ll drive. If you leave him too much space, he’ll make a shot while you watch. He and Monta are a great pair of guards and will be one of the best pairings in the league. David Lee finally is out of New York and put himself in the perfect place. With the Warriors he is the third best player. He no longer has to carry a failing team on his back, and he can just rebound and pass it out to Curry or Ellis, or take it up. He is extremely underrated. He is strong and is hard working underneath the basket. During a game against the Celtics last season I remember seeing him get a rebound while Garnett and Wallace were boxing him out. He then continued after by slamming it in over KG. It was a play that many players could not make. Dorell Wright is surprising me, I knew he could shoot threes, but I didn’t know he could make 3.8 a game. He will make a serious impact down the stretch. I’m not a huge Andris Biedrins fan, but he is a good role player. He also allows Lee to move to power forward where he should be. The thing about Biedrins is that he always gets injured. If he stays healthy, he is vital for this team’s success. The key for the Warriors is to work on getting back on defense and to try and avoid injuries as much as possible. If they are healthy this season, I can see them at least making the playoffs.
2) New Decade for New Orleans: I think that the Hornets are going to surprise the southwest division. They are going to win the division. Simple as that. I like the Spurs and the Mavericks because of the veterans, but I LOVE the Hornets because of the overall group. Chris Paul is the second best point guard in the league (behind Rondo, of course). He can drive and has a brilliant fall away jump shot. He can pass or take it himself. The only problem I have with him is that when the game is on the line, he forces it inside and puts a lot of pressure on himself. He needs to believe in his teammates a little more. But boy can he steal the ball. He is a magician on defense. Jerryd Bayless is a good backup point guard. Last year in Portland he was a good shooter. He is explosive like Nate Robinson, yet he needs to work on his passing in order to be a threat off the bench. Trevor Ariza was a good pickup. He is unselfish, he makes threes, and he plays hard defense. After playing with the Rockets as a leader, he can ride in the backseat while Paul and West drive. He can be like Ron Artest is in LA. David West is strong, a good rebounder, and tough underneath the basket. He is an ok number two player on a playoff team, but any team with him as their third best player would make it to the championship. Emeka Okafor is a good blocker and rebounder, but he isn’t Tyson Chandler. His chemistry with Paul is getting better, but I wonder how long it will take before he and Paul are a feared duo. Marcus Thornton and Peja Stojakovic are also good bench players. Peja is getting old though. He can make shots still, but defense is becoming a problem. Thornton was a good rookie, and as good during the 25.6 minutes per game he played, while averaging 14.5 points. He will be crucial for this team’s success. I was hoping that maybe LeBron or Carmelo would join New Orleans and create a super team. LeBron would have been good with West and Paul. And Carmelo would be a good all around player, like he already is, without creating a extreme team like the Heat. I liked the Heat until The Decision. Not because LeBron came, just because he didn’t give the Knicks a try to balance out the power, or Cleveland one more chance just for a couple of years. The Hornets need to try and get Carmelo, and need to try to keep Chris Paul, he is the base of the team.
3) The Knicks Return: Amare, Ronny, Danilo, Landry/Wilson, and Raymond, should be the starting five. Amare is Amare. He has proved himself as a beast in the post and as a rebounder. He is a decent defensive player and will work well with Raymond Felton. Ronny Turiaf needs to be the starting center. He isn’t great offensively, but Amare can make up for that. He is a great shot blocker and would lift the defense to another level as a starter. Landry Fields has surprised me, he can shoot. But I still believe though that Wilson Chandler should be the starter. He is good all around. Danilo Gallinari reminds me of Dirk Nowitzki the way he can shoot, but he needs to work on defense. Raymond Felton will do. He is a step up from Chris Duhon and will be productive. Toney Douglas and Anthony Randolph will help off the bench and be strong. The Knicks will have a bench resembling the Heat. With a lot of role players who will help while the starters rest. If the Knicks can get Carmelo, they will become a deep-run playoff contender. The keys for the Knicks are defense and chemistry. If the players can quickly read each other’s skills, they can be a force in the east.