NBA Preseason Picks

This will definitely change before October, but here are my pre-pre-season picks

West East
1. Lakers 1. Celtics
2. Jazz 2. Sixers
3. Hornets 3. Detroit
4. Spurs 4. Cavs
5. Suns 5. Raptors
6. Blazers 6. Heat
7. Dallas 7. Hawks
8. Houston 8. Magic

Yes I have the Wizards missing the playoffs! After paying Gil $111M!!! I just don't see Butler, Jamison and Arenas all being healthy and in an improved Eastern conference that could mean trouble. If they all do stay healthy they are a good team, but I don't see it happening.

MVP - LeBron James, CLE
ROY - Michael Beasley, MIA
Coach of the Year - Nate McMillan, POR
MIP - Danny Granger, IND
DPY - Marcus Camby, LAC
6th - Leandro Barbosa, PHX

West Finals - Suns/Hornets East Finals - Cavs/Sixers
Finals - Suns/Cavs Champs = SUNS

I can dream can't I....

NBA -- Preseason

Well...I was right! I know I don't have the hard copy, published comment to back this up, but ask anyone at my work party who was watching the draft with me...I knew Bayless was a "Baller". I thought the Knicks should have taken him. D'Antoni would turn him into a 25pt/gm all-star, instead they freaking chose Gallinari! He could end up a decent player but does not have the ceiling that Bayless does. Everyone told me "But the Knicks don't need another guard" and what is the first thing they do after the draft...Trade for Chris Duhon, a PG?!?!?! Why not PICK Bayless and trade for a point-forward? (Matt Barnes comes to mind) Anyway here are the 5 things I am most interested in seeing in the upcoming season...

1. The unfolding of the D'Antoni era in NY
2. The Sixers come together
3. Can the Suns finally do it? (Please I've got to believe!)
4. Will this year in the West be even tougher? (YES!)
5. Portland's HUGE upside!

"Lucky" 13 -- Preseason

Fittingly the first entry on this "Baller's World" blog is on college football! These will be reposted every week based on results of that week's games. Disagree???? Let me know...

1. Florida
2. UGA
3. USC
4. Buckeyes
5. Sooners
6. WVU
7. Missouri
8. Clemson
9. Auburn
10. LSU
11. BYU
12. Texas Tech
13. ASU

Georgia was arguably the best team at the end of last season, that does not mean however that there is any consolation to ranking them 1st this year. They'll be good but I see Florida being freakishly good, despite their tough schedule. I believe this will be a big year for the PAC-10, ASU will have a big chance to register a HUGE win against Georgia in Tempe, I think USC will beat Ohio State soundly once again awakening the "weak-10" conference rumblings. UW has a chance to knock of BYU from their BCS bid, and as a Cougar fan I'm most scared of that game on their turf.