QUOTE (ZoomSlowik @ Oct 27 2006, 03:10 PM)
I can somewhat agree with that, but IMO you have to add the Suns to that if Stoudemire is even close to healthy. A 2-time MVP at the point, an elite power forward, and two very solid wing players is a damn good core, and Barbosa and Bell aren't all bad either.
Of course if Amare can't play again then they are a lot weaker, because they have no depth inside.
The Suns make stupid offensive decisions in half-court sets, though. If they switched up their philosophy a bit and started attacking the basket instead of relying so heavily on three point shots, I might include them in the first tier.
Now, maybe Stoudamire can give them a great FG% guy in the paint, and maybe their shot selection will become immeasurably better by default, but I'm not counting on him to even play in half of their games this year. I'd be shocked if he was healthy come playoff time.
I also think that they have good defensive personnel out on the perimiter and in the mid-range (I love Bell and Marion), but their interior defense is below average. Kurt Thomas is 34 years old, and it shows. Stoudamire has some mental issues, because lord knows that he has the physical capabilities to stop people on a regular basis. Boris Diaw and Shawn Marion can't defend anybody in the paint.
I feel bad for Steve Nash, because he deserves to win a championship, but I don't think it's gonna happen in Phoenix. As stated, they don't play smart, conservative offensive basketball in half-court sets, and they don't have the defensive personnel on the interior.
The high-flying act is fun to watch, but come playoff time, they'll be forced to rely heavily on points scored in half-court sets, and IMO they just don't have the brains to make it work.
QUOTE (soxfan101 @ Oct 27 2006, 03:17 PM)
No love for the Mavericks? One of the best players in the league in Dirk, a very good SF that doesnt get much love in Josh Howard. Than they have Terry/Harris at the PG position. Also have Jerry Stackhouse coming off the bench. Also Maurice Ager is a pretty polished player from the draft and they got Dampier in the middle 2. Also Diop emerged as a pretty good defensive player too.
IMO, they are most definitely a strong second tier team, along with the Heat, Suns, Bulls, and Pistons. Assuming that Jermaine O'Neal can play 65 games and be at least 80% healthy come playoff time, I think that the Pacers are at or near the top of the second tier. Hell, I think that they're a major darkhorse to play the Spurs in the finals, but that will all go to spiff if O'Neal and Tinsley aren't healthy come playoff time. I really like what they did this offseason. Harrington is a legitimate #1 scorer, and Daniels is one of the NBA's most overlooked players. He brings a lot of intangibles to the table.
I'd put the Nets, Cavs, and Clippers in the third tier.
Yeah, the only first tier team in my mind is the Spurs. That's just how I see it.