NBA Previews
Pacific Blogger Previews


Golden St. Warriors
Rob Mahoney: Upside and Motor
LA Clippers
ClipperSteve: Clips Nation
LA Lakers
Kurt: Forum Blue & Gold
Josh Tucker: Respect Kobe
Trevor Smith: HoopsAddict
Phoenix Suns
Phoenix Stan: Bright Side of the Sun
Sacramento Kings
Tom Ziller: Sactown Royalty
Also see links to all the previews at CelticsBlog.com
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Last Few NBA Previews
I'm officially out of steam with the NBA previews, so I'm posting the last three teams in one post. This includes the Lakers, so have fun with it. (I'll still post the Pacific Links when I get a chance and collect the last few links)
Kurt: Forum Blue & Gold
3. What are the team’s biggest weaknesses? The thing about these Lakers are less that there are glaring weaknesses than there are questions that need to be answered. Depending on the answer, it could be a weakness, but you can make an argument that the weaknesses exposed last year have been solved.
One of the most talked about is the defense/toughness issue. The Celtics manhandled the Lakers in the Finals. Some thought the Lakers needed to shake up the roster and bring in an Artest-like player to match up with Paul Pierce. (Really? Because Artest has shown how well he plays within a team system?) The Lakers think that the return of a healthy Andrew Bynum patrolling the paint, along with Gasol as another seven footer, solves that problem. At the end of the preseason, even with the defensively questionable Vladimir Radmanovic in the starting lineup, the Lakers defense looked good, and tough. But the question is still there when the games matter.
Josh Tucker: Respect Kobe
How will it all end?With Phil Jackson’s tenth and Kobe Bryant’s fourth ring, in an extremely satisfying victory over the Celtics. While the East may have improved, I don’t see any other team beating the Celtics in a 7-game series yet, though the Cavs might have the best chance. Nor do I think any West Coast team can handle the Lakers at full strength, though the Hornets would give them a good fight. But I’m expecting the Lakers to really shore up their defense this year — partially by making it a bigger priority, and partially by incorporating better defensive players like Bynum and Ariza back into the rotation. With Bynum on the court and consistency bourne of experience from Vujacic and Farmar, the Lakers will be too much for an older, less motivated Celtics team this time around.
They say that revenge is a dish best served cold. Well, this dish has 82 games and three rounds off Playoffs to cool off before Kobe & Co. serve it up.
Trevor Smith: HoopsAddict
Don: With Malice... - Coming Soon
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Clippers Blogger Preview
Clippers preview:
ClipperSteve - Clips Nation
3. What are the team's biggest weaknesses?
I wish I knew, I really do.
All of the bullets under strengths can just as well come down here and be listed under weaknesses. There's just no way to know how these pieces fit together.
To that end, I think you have to list chemistry as a weakness, at least for now. Maybe everything will click right away. Who knows? It's worth noting that we use this term 'chemistry', implying an immediate reaction that happens based on the elements involved and not on any ongoing experience together. But of course we know it doesn't really work that way. Baron Davis played one pre-season game before catching the flu and spraining his finger. As I mentioned before, Camby didn't play at all. Veteran Tim Thomas played a single game before shutting it down to rest a groin pull. This gave ample time for the rookies to get game experience, which is all well and good. But these guys need some reps together, and they just haven't had them.
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Warriors Blogger Preview
Warriors preview:
Rob Mahoney of Upside and Motor:
1. What significant moves were made during the offseason?
The Warriors jumped the shark. Two seasons ago they were a darling, last season they took a slight step back (but enough of a step to fall just short of the postseason), and now they'll find themselves struggling to reach 11th place in the West. Welcome back, lottery balls; the Bay's missed you.
The biggest reason the Warriors take the plunge this season is the departure of Troy Hudson...and that Baron Davis guy. He was the leader of this team on the court, the spark that ignited a renaissance, a human Chia Pet of beard growth, and the team's best ticket draw. He made the Dubs competitive and he made them exciting, a feat that not many players in this league can pull off.
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Southeast Blogger Previews


Atlanta Hawks
Matt McHale: Basketbawful
Hoopinion: Peachtree Hoops
Charlotte Bobcats
Brett: Queen City Hoops
Ziggy: BobcatsPlanet
Miami Heat
Darren Heitner: SportsAgentBlog.com
Gregory Broome: The Peninsula is Mightier
Orlando Magic
Ben: Third Quarter Collapse
Washington Wizards
Rashad: Hoops Addict
HoopsAvenue: HoopsAvenue
Mike Prada: Bullets Forever
Truth: Truth About It Dot Net
Also see links to all the previews at CelticsBlog.com
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Wizards Blogger Previews
Washington Wizards Previews:
Mike Prada: Bullets Forever
What significant moves were made in the offseason?
Didn't you hear? The Wizards re-signed shoot-first, injured, selfish drama queen Gilbert Arenas to an 111-million-dollar deal for six years. What idiots! They should have known that Arenas was going to have a third surgery and that nobody wanted him anyway (the Warriors don't count, remember!). I mean, whenever you have the chance to pass on a guy like Arenas in favor of getting luxury tax room and using your mid-level exception on Chris Duhon, you have to do it!
Rashad: Hoops Addict
What are the team’s biggest strengths?
The Wizards biggest strength can be summarized in one word: Continuity.
Eddie Jordan has been the head coach of this team for six years making him the longest tenured coach in the Eastern Conference. Leading scorers Arenas, Butler and Jamison have been in starting lineup for four consecutive years. Centers Brendan Haywood and Etan Thomas are the only two players left from the Michael Jordan era (2001-2003).
HoopsAvenue: HoopsAvenue
What are the team’s biggest weaknesses?
Well, besides staying healthy, the Wizards biggest weakness continues to be defense. They’ll also be tested on the inside. The Wizards tied for last place in 3-point field goal percentage defense last season, a sign that they don’t always make their rotations and gamble too much, a charge any Wizards fan will tell you is true. Their field goal percentage defense was better, but could stand to be improved. Coach Eddie Jordan has put a great deal of emphasis on defense the past few seasons (and they have gotten better), but further progress needs to be made if the Wizards want to contend.
Truth: Truth About It Dot Net
4. What are the goals for this team?
All things considered, the goal is to make the playoffs. The team is a proven injury survivor. Knowing you can do it is a huge part of the needed mentality to take on such a challenge.
Of course the "ifs" are big....but if the team proves they can stay above water, it will most likely indicate that the inexperienced players have made vast strides. If the team can gain confidence, and if Gilbert comes back at full strength, and if Haywood's time out falls on the shorter end of 4-6 months, and if the team can sneak into the 7th or 8th playoff spot....then maybe, just maybe, the Wizards can surprise in the playoffs and get to the Eastern Conference finals. I know, I know....a huge IF.
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Magic Blogger Preview
5. Will J.J. Redick finally earn a place in the rotation and contribute on a nightly basis?
Surprisingly, yes. Earlier this summer, I firmly believed that J.J. would become a worthy NBA player, just not with the Magic, and as such advocated a trade. But the time he's spent in the gym has paid off, and he's faster, stronger, and more athletic than ever before. Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy, always known as a candid guy, said Redick had the best preseason of any Magic guard. Earlier, he praised J.J.'s previously awful defense. There's no chance that Redick will crack the starting lineup as long as Pietrus is healthy, but there's a great chance he'll be the first man off the bench on opening night, and may play up to 20 minutes a game. I think he's due for a great year.
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