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Here's a list of players that I believe have at least a slight chance at becoming very improved players next year. It's a long list, so I divided it into sections, and I made the descriptions as brief as possible. Players with an increased role: Darko Milicic - promised 36 minutes per game. Rodrigue Beaubois - will likely be given starting role when back from injury. Darren Collison - traded to Pacers, no longer CP3's back up. Kevin Love - Al J's out of the way. Andray Blatche - will receive full year as a starter, perhaps many more years to come. Dorell Wright - Will start for a high tempo team. Tyler Hansbrough - Troy Murphy got traded with no PF in return. Marreese Speights - Dalembert got traded. Amir Johnson - Bosh gone plus a large pay day gives him plenty of opportunity. Terrence Williams - Lee got traded, T-Will steps in. JaVale McGee - full year as a starter plus USA team experience. Marcus Thornton - Played well as a back up, and will likely become a starter. Luke Ridnour - Flynn's injury leaves a window of opportunity. Joel Anthony - Will start next to the big three. Players that are back from a severe injury: Greg Oden - A tremendous defender and rebounder as a starter. Shaun Livingston - Potential is still there, will have a chance in Charlotte Players that have consistently improved over the years: Rajon Rondo - went from nobody, to that point guard next to the big three, to the best player on the team. Andrea Bargnani - Consistently improved his scoring. Will he rebound and defend? Al Horford - Took only 3 years to become an all star. Rodney Stuckey - Has improved his offense each year. Louis Williams - Has grown a more and more efficient scorer and playmaker every year. Aaron Afflalo - A growing three point shooter and defender. Could he be the reason the Nuggets are shopping JR? Players that have untapped potential: DeMar DeRozan - Very talented and dedicated to improving. Michael Beasley - The #2 pick will have more freedom in Minnesota. Danilo Gallinari - Already one of the best three point shooters in the league. Donte Greene - Could become the next Lamar Odom in terms of versatility. Anthony Randolph - May have more opportunities in New York. Roy Hibbert - Is growing into a great all around center. JJ Hickson - Proven to play well as a starter last year, still needs a more polished game. Charlie Villanueva - Size, athleticism, and shooting ability. He just needs to "get it". Robin Lopez - May be given a larger role with Amar'e gone. The rest: Nicholas Batum - A very good all around player. Goran Dragic - Has learned a lot from Nash and played well in the playoffs. JJ Redick - Carter is getting old. Will JJ step in? Mario Chalmers - Has the opportunity to start next to the big three. Tyrus Thomas - He has more potential, and may even start for Charlotte. J.R. Smith - Maturity means everything for him. Brandon Rush - May have a chance to start and prove his worth. Marc Gasol - Perhaps his time to shine will come a year later when Randolph expires. Trevor Ariza - Proved he can play last year. Better shooting numbers will be his main focus. George HIll - Played well in the playoffs.

Both, cuz he won with both. hi hun

Yea that is like totally true, it's not like anybody won it in their sophomore year (Monta Ellis, Gilbert Arenas) or their third year (Zach Randolph) or anything like that ololololol Seriously bro, if you are going to laugh at what someone is saying, make sure you know what you're talking about lol...

Go Cincy! if Pats lose this game, they pretty much won't make the playoffs lmao.

yes it can lol. it isn't the end all be all but blocking shots is a pretty big part of defense, look at Dwight Howard, not a terrific man defender but his blocking disrupts entire offenses, same with Camby.

One thing I'm noticing about Ron Artest is that he's terrific in bodying his man. He has the strength to stay close and not get pushed around by strong offensive players like Melo. It makes him a great defender against jumpshooters and post players, which are two of Melo's strongest areas to his offense. Ron does have a pretty significant weakness to his defense and that's his inability to cut off the drive. He has difficulty staying in front of his man once the offensive player creates space, and it probably has a lot to do with his plantar fasciitis. Give credit to the Lakers help defense for being able to pick up on Melo so quickly when Ron gets beat.

If your girlfriend is like Diesel I will track you down and wait outside of your house for your girlfriend and when she leaves I will sucker punch her right in the jaw.

Mike Singletary isn't a top coach, he's a good motivator and was one of the fiercest players to ever play in the NFL. And you can tell it translates over into his coaching ability. But he's a half decent coach, nothing more. I think Bellichick is still one of the best coaches in the league, I completely admire the way he rebuilt that defense and how he replenishes his talent. I like his type of 34 defense, and his coaching tree is extended and boasts some quality names. So I think he's up there. Others I think include Ken Whisenhunt, Mike Tomlin, Tom Coughlin, Mike Shanahan, maybe Sean Peyton, etc. I honestly don't know about Rex Ryan. Defensive genius? Sure, no qualms about that. But I think he still needs to prove himself more as a coach.

I would absolutley have TO over Welker right now. I love all the people hating on TO, the guy is really almost the same player he was 5 years ago. He's one of the faster receivers in the NFL and a physical beast.

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Even better... http://www.youtube.com/user/mamba9381 Watching this Lakers-Nets game from the 2002 Finals is really making me reminisce. Dominant Shaq, young Kobe, a Laker team who knows how to run the triangle offense consistently, J-Kidd before microfracture (my favorite Net ever, saw him so many times in person have spectacular games), crazy and athletic K-Mart, and a pretty wild Continental Airlines Arena!

ECN vs Bigdog, should be an exciting thread