5 Predictions for the 2007-08 Season

By Craig Kwasniewski

In lieu of a typical bloated NBA preview, here are a few things I think will happen this season:

1. Kobe will be traded to Chicago after December 15th. Wow, another Kobe trade prediction... how original! Yeah but in this case, it *WILL* happen. Laker idiot, Jim Buss loves hustling white guys and Andres Nocioni's new contract prevents any deal before December 15th. I see some sort of deal of Tyrus Thomas, Andres Nocioni and Ben Gordon for Kobe Bryant. Luol Deng will NEVER get traded to the Lakers!!! All Bulls GM John Paxson has to do is wait for the Lakers to panic and lower their demands. Expect a panic from the Lakers especially with a difficult early schedule, Odom still being injured and with all the Kobe distractions.

2. The Celtics will *NOT* advance to the NBA Finals. First off, let me say that I love that the C's are relevant again. And big ups to Danny Ainge for having the balls to roll the dice on Big Three, Part Deux. That being said, the C's are still coached by Doc Rivers and have a second year, unproven player at the point. Much like the 1997 Houston Rockets, the Celtics glaring weakness at the point will eventually be their downfall in the postseason. Plus Rivers will find a way to "Doc up" the season, because he's still the worst head coach in the NBA. Just because Garnett is playing for the C's doesn't mean Rivers suddenly got a prescription to smart pills. Once Rivers is fired, the C's will win it all... in 2008-09.

3. Yao Ming will be exposed as a fraud. Rich Adelman's high-post offense requires a big with high basketball IQ, who's a good passer and a has decent shooting range. I can't see Ming fitting into the fluid, heavy-backdoor cutting offense that Adleman runs. So expect another first round exit in the postseason for the guy. How many coaches do we have to go through to realize that just because he gets a bajillion web hits on NBA.com/china does NOT make him an All-Star?

4. You will be carpet bombed wil a TON of "Melo's finally getting it" stories... and Denver still loses in the first round. The Nike media machine will be in full force with Melo this season.... again. Expect a ton of "Melo and Karl are getting along better than ever" and "Melo's been a great leader" stories as the season goes along. But just like all of his previous playoff efforts, a healthy dose of George Karl choking, Kenyon Martin getting injured, Marcus Camby getting hurt and Melo getting frustrated will lead to yet another disappointing season in Denver.

5. The Phoenix Suns win the NBA Title. Here's a fact: the Spurs NEVER repeat as champs. Maybe it's the guilt of having 2 asterisks to their titles or they get complacent, but they never repeat. Dallas is in emotional shambles. So that leaves it to the Phoenix Suns. They were a few poorly officiated games from winning it last season and with Nash's leadership and another season of basically the same core of players, I see the Suns having the drive (and veteran depth with Hill) to win it all. Suns over the Pistons 4-2 in the 2007-08 NBA Finals.

Comments

[Matt]

Yao Ming is a Fraud? You're right about the billion votes from china not making him an all star but I guess the 25pts and 9rbs avg last year doesn't qualify him as one either. What other center had averges like that? hmmm... none. Considering you have Laker Season tickets I doubt you missed the 25pts and 12rbs he put up against the Lakers last night. All star the man is, Fraud he isn't.

[chris]

This is a pretty bad blog

[Apophis036]

Hey the Rockets are 2-0, don't know how much Yao got involved compared to McGrady but they seem to be doing alright.

And I hate to say it but I like Dallas or even San Antonio over Phoenix in the playoffs. Though I hate San Antonio I am a Mavericks fan and they seem to have a better team.

[coach]

Whew . I thught you wrote that Yao will expose himself to the Lakers girls .
Yao will be alright in coach Adelman's system . Yao just have to learn German now !

[No Blood No Foul]

First of all, I think you're right on with the Kobe trade...six more weeks of the daily "Kobe update" will be more than enough to force LA to concede that Deng's not coming.

As for the C's, I think you're right about Rivers, but I keep seeing them play and they've been dominant. Sure, it's early, but you can't deny the talent they have makes them as good as Chicago (sans Kobe), Miami, or Cleveland. Maybe they face Detroit in the conference finals and get lucky...

Yao is no fraud -- he's the real deal. It's just that today's top centers don't hold a candle to the guys from 15-20 years ago. Yao will make it work in Adelman's system, but only because Adelman will adjust it for Yao.

Denver will lose in the first round if they don't win their division. They need to do what Utah did last year and sneak into the conference finals.

The Suns were my pick to win it too, mostly because they were good enough to win last year. Add in Grant Hill, and they've got all the makings of a champion.

Good post.

[NBA Staff Blogger 2]

How's everyone doing? I work in the League office and was intrigued by the five 2007-08 predictions, specifically the Celtics failing to reach The Finals and the other picking the Suns to win the title. If you check out the 2007-08 NBA.com GM survey at http://www.nba.com/preview2007/gmsurvey_predictions.html, you'll find that nearly 40% of general managers pick the Spurs to repeat (25.9% tabbed the Suns), while the Celts tied with the Pistons (with nearly 26% of votes) to advance to The Finals.

[billyjoebob]

Mr. Stern,I connot believe that you would willinglyallow Mr. Bennett to follow through on his words. A group of local investors came foward,stating firmly that they had the resources tn place to purchase the Sonics.And keep the whole franchise in seattle not just the Storm.Seattle is a very big sonics fans,and do not want to lose thier team.As commissioner of this league,you have the power to force clay Bennett to choose between two opions:either sell his interest in sonics to the new group,or stay in Seattle and enjoy it.Please Mr. Stern don't let them take our Sonics,PLEASE HELP US SAVE OUR SONICS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Grunge fan]

Well maybe Stern is allowing the re-location as a penalty to Sonic fans for cheering Tim Duncans injury in the playoffs the last time the team was there.

But really, if there's enough enthusiasm in Seattle for an NBA team than maybe the Sonics will stay or maybe they'll get a new team. But probably both possibilities will be ruled out.

[Grunge fan]

Well maybe Stern is allowing the re-location as a penalty to Sonic fans for cheering Tim Duncans injury in the playoffs the last time the team was there.

But really, if there's enough enthusiasm in Seattle for an NBA team than maybe the Sonics will stay or maybe they'll get a new team. But probably both possibilities will be ruled out.

[Rosetta Stoned]

One article every two weeks, seems like a healthy pace. Or are you just waiting until the end of the season to build dramatic tension to see if you got them right.

[reasoninrevolt]

Hahahahahaha - asterisks. Man, how many times do the Spurs have to win the championship to get respect? How many of their players have to win international championships? I know you guys are Mav's fans but come on! Give respect where its due. If anything, the Mav's have proved once and for all, that nothing is for granted in the NBA and it's DAMN hard to win championships. By the way, their single (05-06) trip to the finals should have an asterisk, the Spurs would have won that game 7 if the refs whistled the 2 fouls against Duncan on the final play. :P

[Ghost]

wow that Yao guy really sucks

[basketbawful]

Quick Yao Ming update. Here are Yao's stats and current league ranking among centers:

24 PPG (1st)
10.4 RPG (6th)
3.1 APG (2nd)
55.3 FGP (5th)
89.4 FTP (1st)
2.7 BPG (3rd)

Also, his Player Efficiency Rating (PER) is 26.73, which is easily first among the league's centers. Look's like Yao's figured out Adelman's system.

[Jason]

Is it ok to say you were totally wrong with the benefit of 3 years of hindsite?

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how many times do the Spurs have to win the championship to get respect? How many of their players have to win international championships? I know you guys are Mav's fans but come on! Give respect where its

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[Konstantine]

PG-RR-#9 tu peux smrippuer mon commentaire #10 STP? Je voulais mettre revanche et j'ai mis guerre par rapport a la rivalite L.A Boston mais c'est pas le mot que je voulais employer PEACE