Your Surprise Team?

[Doc]

What team surprises you or what team you think can surprise the league?

 

For me, I was going through some training camp video and I think the Wizards have a ton of talent. They have a great future in Young and Wall which can be mentored by Hirinch. They resigned Howard would is looking to come back with full force. Picked up Yi who can could potentially be a star or at least a great 2nd or 3rd option in this league. Al Thornton can pack a punch. Even though I am not high on these two but they also have potential to do great things in this league, McGee and Blatche. Hilton can come in and provide some solid minutes. Oh yeah, I also forgot they have a healthy Arenas coming back.

 

This team could be scary.

Edited September 29, 2010 by Doc

[Lemon]

I'll go with Utah in that they may be better off without Boozer. They still have a solid back court and a solid front court except this time, I doubt they'll get swept in the playoffs again.

 

I also agree with Wizards being a surprise. Out of all the teams that haven't made 500 last season, Wizards are the most likely to do it this season. Golden State can get there depending on how Coach Smart does.

[Check my Stats]

Golden State.

[AboveLegit]

What team surprises you or what team you think can surprise the league?

 

For me, I was going through some training camp video and I think the Wizards have a ton of talent. They have a great future in Young and Wall which can be mentored by Hirinch. They resigned Howard would is looking to come back with full force. Picked up Yi who can could potentially be a star or at least a great 2nd or 3rd option in this league. Al Thornton can pack a punch. Even though I am not high on these two but they also have potential to do great things in this league, McGee and Blatche. Hilton can come in and provide some solid minutes. Oh yeah, I also forgot they have a healthy Arenas coming back.

 

This team could be scary.

As much as I love the optimism, you're really overrated some of these players. I highly doubt Yi makes the All Star Game, he's soft, doesn't know how to play in the paint, and is too passive when he gets the ball. McGee is a work in progress, he isn't much more than just a freakish athlete, and we have yet to see what Blatche can do as a second/third option on a consistent basis. Hilton won't be anything more than a big body in the paint to rack up fouls and rebounds. And Nick Young is probably entering his last season as a Wizard unless he has a breakout year. He's a ghost on defense, immature, inconsistent, and not much more than a shooter who occasionally drives in when given the opportunity.

 

I'm not saying we won't make the playoffs because it is possible, but we just have too many question marks coming into this season for me to make a solid prediction.

 

My surprise team this year is the Sacramento Kings. I think Cousins has a chance to be the next big deal as far as centers are concerned, he has an amazing skillset and I don't see immaturity coming into question this season. Pairing him up with Tyreke Evans was great for this organization on draft day.

[Check my Stats]

Wizards would be really best off (long term) if they dealt Arenas and played through Wall's struggles and won around 25 games, add another top 8 pick to the core and move with the youth they have.... there are some good pieces there, except Yi but winning 35 games or just missing the playoffs isn't what this franchise needs right now. You have a potential superstar in Wall, rebuild with him the same way the Thunder did with Durant.

[deestillballin]

I will have to agree with Lemon alot of people think that Boozer leaving will make them worse, I still feel that they can make A LOT of noise.

 

I'm also going with Cleveland , They may have lost their star player, but it wasn't their only player. They may not make the playoffs but I see them at at least a 9th or Barely getting that 8th seed

[Cleveland's Finest]

Rather than say the Cavs, I'll pick another team.

 

The Kings will be like the Thunder of last year imo. Evans and Thompson are a legit duo. Udrih is the perfect complement in the back court for Tyreke. Then they have Dalembert and Whiteside, so size won't be an issue against teams like LA and Boston. Yes, the talent gap is there, but the size certainly helps. Garcia is perfect for hitting threes on the wing, and Casspi is versatile, and had a fantastic rookie season. Then you have Luther Head and Carl Landry, who both have had success; Landry was almost an all-star. If the Kings can fit him into the offense so he plays like he did in Houston, then the Kings could have 4 future stars, in Evans, Thompson, Landy, and Cousins. Cousins is also an X-factor. Being in the division with the Clippers and Warriors, they certainly have a chance. They have a lot of depth and a lot of talent spread throughout each position. We also know how good their coaching is...they lost a lot of close games last year, and remember the comeback against Chicago from 30 points down last year? I see that being enough to get them at the 8 seed.

[Check my Stats]

I don't see Kings winning more than 35 games in the West.

 

BTW, Landry is 27, he isn't a future star.

Edited September 29, 2010 by travesy3

[Poe]

The Kings and the Knicks are two teams I'm fairly certain will make the playoffs. They have good overall talent and depth at every position.

 

The Warriors have put some real pieces together in Lee and Wright, but they are missing some depth, and perhaps some coaching.

 

I see the Sixers as a potential "sleeper" team. They have some talent on that team. I can see Turner and Iggy going after a low playoff seed.

 

The Suns are another team people might sleep on. They lost Stoudemire before and that didn't stop them from making the playoffs. It's still nearly the same offensive system, they still got Steve Nash, and Hedo Turkoglu is like another Boris Diaw.

Edited September 29, 2010 by Poe

[Cleveland's Finest]

I don't see Kings winning more than 35 games in the West.

 

BTW, Landry is 27, he isn't a future star.

 

At least upcoming. His improvement over the past few years in no reason to think he could be an all star in the near future.

 

Pretty much every team in the West besides Minnesota can make the playoffs. LA, Dallas, Portland, San Antonio, and Oklahoma City are all guarantees, but then there's so many above average to average teams left. Houston, New Orleans (Paul and Ariza), Denver (Melo situation), Phoenix (how good will Hedo and Childress be with them), Memphis (last year showed signs), Utah (How good is Jefferson on a team with expectations), and Sacramento and Golden State are also possible. Besides the Clippers and Timberwolves, the last few spots in the playoffs are open for most teams.

[Flash]

Kings. I see Tyreke being elevated into elite status this year. I think his scoring along with Cousins potentially being the ROY makes them a tough team. Not to mention I expect a breakout season from Jason Thompson.

[Flash]

Let me also add the Clippers. Baron, Gordon, Griffin and Kaman is a NICE core along with DeAndre Jordan too off the bench and now you add Aminu, Bledsoe, Willie Warren and Randy Foye and that's a nice team.

[Newman]

I agree with Flash. The Clippers is one formidable team on paper, let's just hope that the players blend in well.

[Sun Tzu]

Give me the Suns. People are writing them off the list for the playoffs but I honestly don't think it would be over for them just yet. We did lose Amar'e but we did gain Hedo and Childress and I reckon things are going to well for the both of them in Phoenix.

 

The other teams that I think may surprise are; the Clippers and Kings. I think the Clippers have quite a good core and I think if they can stay healthy then it'll all be good. The Kings have a great core and Tyreke Evans is only going to become a better player along with some of the other Kings' players.

[Multi-Billionaire]

I'd say the Kings, I think Cousins will be very effective for them.

 

And (serious) Nuggets. People will write us off when we trade Melo. But I'm fairly confident with the group without him: Billups, Afflalo, Ty, KMart, Harrington, Nene, J.R. and the coach is back. Not to mention the player we'll get in return for Melo. If it is Favors, I am pretty sure the rook can give instant impact whether it's some explosiveness like Amare gave the Suns when he was a rookie, or rebounding like when Dwight gave the Magic when he was a rookie.

 

And Clippers also get my vote. They're ridiculously talented. Hopefully Griffin can play to his potential, and a core of Griffin, Gordon, Kaman, Aminu surrounded by lots of good players like Smith, Butler, and Jordan, they can win some games and be that 8th seed team.

[Clutch]

wizards

Edited September 30, 2010 by Clutch

[The Regime]

Golden State.

 

This, for a few reasons. They have three legit scoring options, no more Don Nelson, and if Biedrins is healthy they can definitely make some noise