Cleveland's Finest

Regular Season Predictions East: 1. Miami - No reason they shouldn't have the best record in the NBA this year. Wade will take more control of this team and it should help LeBron gain confidence in key situations. Cole could be a big time player off the bench. 2. Knicks - Addition of Chandler was huge, and Shumpert has looked good in the preseason. When Baron comes back, watch out. This team has a stacked starting lineup that looks like the Clippers in terms of completeness. 3. Bulls - Getting Rip Hamilton was great, but this team still doesn't have someone who can get their own shot besides Rose. Unless Boozer has a turn around season, I don't see this team getting a better record than NY/Mia. 4. Celtics - I like the new bench with the two experienced Purdue rookies, a healthy Marquis Daniels, and Brandon Bass. 5. Pacers - David West brings much needed dependability in the Pacers front court. 6. Atlanta - Interested in seeing how McGrady can affect this team. A full year of Hinrich at point will make this team look much different. 7. Orlando - I see this being like Denver last year. Dwight will be traded mid-season, but this team will still have enough talent to keep the record good enough to make the playoffs. 8. Cleveland - I have to put my team in the playoffs to keep me looking forward to the season. Besides, is there that much competition for the 8 seed? Milwaukee and Philly look solid, but are too questionable. West: 1. Mavericks - They lost a lot but reloaded in a different way with Delonte, Odom, and Carter. Add to that a healthy Roddy and the improved Ian Mahinmi, and the fact that this team is getting little to no respect for a defending champion, and I like this team to get the one seed. 2. Spurs - Again, like the Mavs, this team is being underlooked big time. Manu is healthy, Splitter should be improved, and they should have a solid regular season. 3. Thunder - They could get the one seed, but I don't trust Westbrook and his jump shots. They'll still be great, and Durant will most likely win MVP. 4. Lakers - This is a big question mark. I can see LA winning the West, or getting upset in the first round, and it all depends on the play of World Peace and Bynum. Kobe and Gasol will get their numbers, but Bynum has to be healthy and World Peace has to get his head straight. He was the x-factor in their 2010 title run. 5. Clippers - It's too hard to give them home-court advantage after the record they had last year. They'll probably upset a team in the playoffs, but for the whole regular season, they'll have some problems getting adjusted together. 6. Grizzlies - In a tight western conference, the Grizzlies still need another year before they become one of the West's elite. 7. Nuggets - The addition of Andre Miller will be good for Lawson. Gallo and Nene played awesome post-Melo trade. Despite the losses overseas, this team is still talented. Shoe-in for the playoffs. 8. Blazers - I don't expect Aldridge to be as good this year, but if he is, look out. If Felton can play as well as he did last year, this team could be very good. If Oden can start at center, watch out for this team. Wild Card: Rockets - Terrence Williams is going to have a big time impact on the rest of the team. Lowry will have all year as a starter and could get this team to the playoffs. Playoff Predictions 1st Round Heat over Cavs in 5 Knicks over Magic in 6 Bulls over Hawks in 7 Pacers over Celtics in 7 --- Mavs over Blazers in 5 Spurs over Nuggets in 5 Thunder over Grizzlies in 7 Clippers over Lakers in 6 2nd Round Heat over Pacers in 5 Knicks over Bulls in 6 --- Mavs over Clippers in 6 Spurs over Thunder in 6 Conference Finals Knicks over Heat in 7 Mavs over Spurs in 6 NBA Finals Knicks over Mavs in 6 The addition of Chandler by the Knicks was huge, and it will be the reason I see them getting past Miami, and furthermore beating Dallas. Dallas has more depth, but the overall star power/weapons that New York has is just too good.

http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/7701/cavswallpaperfinal.jpg http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/7701/cavswallpaperfinal.jpg rate/hate

That first quarter was unbelievable...this is going to be a great match up to watch the next few years. Didn't realize the Lakers picked up McRoberts, and this kid at point guard is hitting some nice shots. Mike Brown's been energetic and I hear him yelling every play lol. McRoberts is perfect for this team and you can already see him impact the energy on the floor. The Clippers look sick. When I saw that starting five run the court, it just looks sick. Add to that Mo as the 6th man and Gomes, Foye...this could be a great team. The only problem could be finding a back up big man.

With Thomas and Smith the Blazers have some bulk in their front court. Have no clue what to expect from this team this year.

I just want to know when all these stars will finally be where they want to be so we can finally talk about basketball. Looking forward to seeing how Eric Gordon responds here.

Read More Sad to see him go but he'll probably get to go to a contender. He was great for us, leading us to a victory over the Heat and I'll never forget how good he was in that game. Also had a big win at New York. Good luck Baron!

Orlando would actually be a really good team too...if this trade happened I'm sure it would go through.

Wow, if they decide to keep Amare, this could be the best front court in the league for the next 5 years. Didn't like how Chauncey was dealt with in all of this, he was arguably more clutch than Melo and had the best playoff experience to offer to a relatively young team. If they try to get Baron or Gilbert for point guard, this could work. I think if they went that route, as opposed to pouring all their assets for Chris Paul, they could form a more complete team. Huge move in the East, especially. With Chandler, Knicks now have an edge against Celtics, Heat, and Bulls.

Don't forget they have Roddy B coming back...Mavs added some good versatility in the forward position with Odom and Fernandez. Only need a center BUT losing Chandler hurts big time. I think they will be good and could still go to the finals but without Chandler, they are going to have to win differently...he was too big an impact for them. If Roddy B can be a playmaker, that could be the way the Mavs get their mojo back.

So let's see...Dan Gilbert cusses, he's racist, he controls the NBA, anything else?

Haters gon' hate.

This is terrible. It was just 7-8 months ago that he willed his team to an amazing win against Dallas. Very sad, hope this isn't true.

Good riddance. I'm ready for the sport to be played.

So you think our new GM sucks because he decided to rebuild instead of retooling around Mo, Jamison, and Hickson to be a 6-7 seed? No point in being mediocre. Ask Atlanta, whose fans barely show up to playoff games. Ask Philly who's been 6-7 seed in 3 of the past 4 or 5 years... Those teams are just hamsters rolling in the cage getting nowhere. It's SMART to rebuild. It's SMART to draft Kyrie Irving, Byron Scott couldn't put up with Hickson's lack of progress in terms of not turning the ball over and being too sloppy at times, so it's SMART to get rid of a guy your coach doesn't think he can fix. Chris Grant has done nothing wrong. It's the fall out of year one, it's over. We now have young talent. ---------- He took the time to write an e-mail because he's passionate about this. He was devastated about the decision because he saw what it did to the fans. He acted in the spur of the moment, and it was understandable for some fans. He's passionate about owning a NBA team. He doesn't want collusion or corruption, and he probably thinks some is involved.

I was trying to say that Gilbert shouldn't not be the only person blamed for this. Then you for some weird reasons I don't get, bring up The Decision...I'm not gonna just let you bring it up and ignore it. I responded to your full post.

That's actually a good point; although that whole Boston series was like his "Yippee-ki-yay, mother..." before his Decision garbage.

You mean the same Antawn Jamison, who, after we acquired, every analyst booked the Cavs winning it all? (At the time, we didn't know LeBron needed to play with the sun and the moon to win a title). And I'll go further but you brought the Cavs up. How do you explain beating Boston by almost THIRTY to take a 2-1 lead...then you just disappear? And then he disappeared again last year for your team? What is in common with both times? He was EXPECTED to win, and he didn't. What's the old saying? Pressure bursts the pipe. NO MENTAL TOUGHNESS. So now Dan Gilbert CAUSED the lockout? This is so egregious...what's next is Dan Gilbert the reason your team won't win a championship? And WHY shouldn't he be pissed about LeBron leaving??? Put yourself in that situation.

I think Cleveland is being wronged NOW. I understand your pain as a Laker fan here. I heard about the trade, then I heard the trade stopped. Then I go on twitter, and it's yet again, another blame it on Dan Gilbert party...wtf? Stop blaming everything on HIM. He's just one of the few owners willing to speak up. Read his email, and don't blame HIM solely. If you want to blame people, blame the owners. Sick and tired of Gilbert getting so much hate. Some deserved? Yes, but to this extend is incomprehensible.

It's the WAY it's handled. Remember when the Nuggets were being booed last year during a point with the Melo drama? He was being booed while he was still playing games. All he has to do is tell management and not being an A-HOLE during the process.

I didn't bring up LeBron, but you did. A few points...those GMs picked who LeBron wanted. And LeBron did a shitty ass job of recruiting guys like he does now in Miami. And it doesn't make sense that David Stern, who said of LeBron's decision "The performance was fine. His honesty and his integrity, I think, shined through. But this decision was ill-conceived," arguably complimenting, would do whatever Dan Gilbert wants. There are PLENTY of small markets in the NBA, more small than large...majority rule wins.

I just don't get why players can't honor their contracts anymore. Why does Paul has to force his way out like Melo did? The Lakers fans are mad they didn't get another star, yet some small markets don't enjoy ANY stars. The lockout had arguments over this happening, and for it to pop up right after the cab is ratified is so over the top. If this happened/happens mid-season, it will not be rejected. It's timing to me imo.

You're really going to blame one sole man for a trade not happening? Obviously other owners agreed, they just didn't have the balls to speak up. Stern wouldn't make a decision off one owner. And don't think the league favors Cleveland...because we reap NO benefits from this new era of basketball.

Chris Paul seems like such a whiny baby. Is there such thing as a player who can simply play out his contract without crying about it and begging to play with more "elite" players? Live out your freaking contract for the team that signed you. You don't deserve the final year of your contract when all you do is moan about this. He isn't doing it in public, but with all these rumors, he must be doing something. If he was loyal to the Hornets, he would shut his mouth and play hard for them this year. Then he would earn the right to free agency.

Does this mean no Chandler?

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