Throwdowns > Completed

Views
6
Comments
18
  • May 11, 2008 08:52 PM ET

Ur Typical Fans Tournament: Round 1-The biggest surprise team in the NBA next year will be...

FaustoCarmonaFan is Retired (16-21-3) vs Philly-- www.sportsnoise.com (74-11-4)
6
Votes
8
Votes
6
Votes
8
Votes


I say the Charlotte Bobcats. sure, they had a bad year this year, but I see signs of change. They only won 32 games this year, but look at this starting lineup:

PG: Raymond Felton
SG: Jason Richardson
SF: Gerald Wallace
PF: Emeka Okafor
C: Nazr Mohammed

This is with Sean May and Adam Morrison on the bench and the most likely 8th overall pick in the draft. What's not to like? They are loaded with young up and comers, and Richardson's already an All-Star. Felton is one of the best young point guards in the league, Wallace is a solid vet, Emeka Okafor is a great defensive player, and Nazr Mohammed has winning experience and is a solid inside force.

Also, they got rid of coach Sam Vincent and hired Larry Brown. Brown is known for turning around struggling franchises, and he has won seemingly everywhere he's been. He's just what a young team like the Bobcats need.

I definitely could see a New Orleans-like turnaround this season for the Bobcats.


I thought about taking the Trailblazer but I wouldn't consider them a surprise, then I thought about the Timberwolves and they have a pretty solid team, but in my opinion there is one clear choice as the biggest surprise team this upcoming NBA season.

My pick is the Miami Heat they were the worst team in the NBA and just 2 years removed from a NBA Championship. I could easily see this team getting back to the playoffs and contending when they get there.

Start with Dwyane Wade who is a superstar SG, add in Shawn Marion who is a great defensive player, great rebounder, and pretty good scorer. Udonis Haslem is also a very good defensive player and is a solid 12 and 9 player. They also have some very good depth with Ricky Davis, Jason Williams, and others. They have a lot of good young players who stepped up and played solid when this team suffered through season ending injury after injury.

This team will most likely end up with the first or second overall pick with will get them a great player like Beasley or Rose. The Heat are rumored to be in love with Rose and if they get him this team will have a very solid starting lineup that can compete with anyone in the East.


I'm not so sure about Miami. There bench may seem good, but Ricky Davis, Williams, and Co. are all very old. They also had an incredible train wreck of a season and its very hard to come back from a season like that.

I also don't trust Dwyane Wade. Ever since that championship run, DWade just hasn't seemed the same. Last season, with his whole team struggling around him, instead of carrying the team like Kobe or LeBron have done. I just don't think an elite player would let his team suffer that. Marion also has not shown that he can be a star without Steve Nash to dish it out to him. I just don't trust their "stars".

And if this team had so many injuries last year, who's to think it won't happen again? Wade is still not completely healed from that nagging shoulder injury, and all the others are pretty injury prone.

This team will also have a new, probably inexperienced head coach and a very young rookie in the starting lineup. I think the Heat just have too many question marks to be considered a playoff team yet.


Miami's bench may be old, but they still can get the job done at least for one more year. Let's take a closer look at the Bobcats bench, Adam Morrison hasn't proved anything at all in the NBA and can't stay healthy, and if it is possible Sean May is a bigger injury threat. He has only played in 58 career games since being drafted in 2005. This leaves their bench with less depth.

Wade is a superstar, he has proved he can carry his team when they need him (remember the 2006 Finals). Last year was a difficult year because of injuries to pretty much every good player on the team. Marion did benefit from Nash but he is still a very good player without him. He is among the best defenders and is still good for a double double almost every night.

The injuries are a concern but with a full off season they should be able to heal completely and be ready for next year.

Brown is a good coach, but what has he done recently. Leave the Pistons all of a sudden, coach the Knicks to another horrible year. The Bobcats will have to worry about how long Brown decides to stick around until he just up and leaves.


If you are going to say any team has huge injury concern for their bench, it should be Miami. Their roster was full of D-leaguers by the end of the season, with just about every one of their ancient bench player being out. This team has to show me they can stay healthy.

Also, what's wrong with Larry Brown? For practically every team he has coached in his career (expect the Knicks, but that is a special situation) he has lead an enormous turnaround of a bad team. He is a great coach, who can get the most out of his players. Plus, who cares if he leaves after two years? How will that affect the team this year?

And I just love this Bobcats lineup. They have so many emerging young stars, and I can't help comparing them to this years Hornets. They have so many young, ultra talented players, I could see this team just scoring at will this year. I definitly think they'll have a better season than Miami.

(P.S. Adam Morrison was drafted in 2006, not '05)


I know Morrison was drafted in 06 I said May was drafted in 05 and has only played in 58 games.

Their roster by the end of the season did have their share of no name player but since they got some playing time they have developed into very solid bench players. The bottom line is this teams average age is 27 and they have some very good talent that got some very important playing during this horrible season. Add in a possible top pick in the draft and this team will make the playoffs next year.

I hate the comparison to the Hornets, that team is lead by the best PG in the NBA, Chris Paul. The Bobcats may have some talent but comparing Felton to Paul is ridiculous. The Bobcats have a very talented starting roster but that is it. There bench leaves a lot to be desired. There best 2 players off the bench are major injury concerns.

The Heat have a certified superstar and a very strong supporting cast to lead them to the playoffs. The Bobcats have a roster full of semi-stars but no GREAT players. Both team will be good next year but the Miami Heat will be better.

Comments (18) Add A Comment

May 11, 2008  08:52 PM ET
Report Abuse | QUOTE

Good luck!

May 11, 2008  09:05 PM ET
Report Abuse | QUOTE

The New Jersey Nets they will know how to play with each other and devin harris will show people how good he is or if you count them as a surprise the Trailblazers

May 11, 2008  09:08 PM ET
Report Abuse | QUOTE

How did I know someone would pick the Bobcats,good arguement to back it up to,and thanks for starting the tournament so early:)

May 11, 2008  11:50 PM ET
Report Abuse | QUOTE

Good luck Fausto

May 12, 2008  12:17 AM ET
Report Abuse | QUOTE

Timberwolves, they made a pretty good run at the end of the year. In the beginning, they were experimenting with lineups and few worked because they were really undersized since Foye was injured and Telfair was the starting PG. At the start of the year the Wolves were 8-35 without Foye, then when Foye became healthy he took the starting PG spot and the wolves were 14-25 with Foye in the lineup. Plus, the Wolves have the Miami Heat's 31st draft pick in 2008 so that can't help.

May 12, 2008  12:51 AM ET
Report Abuse | QUOTE

Wow 14-25 thats pretty good...

May 12, 2008  03:17 AM ET
Report Abuse | QUOTE

Wow 14-25 thats pretty good...

PhillyEagles36 | 05/12/08, 12:51 AM

Everyone expected the Wolves to finish last but they passed the Sonics and Heat (and tied the Grizzlies). Foye missed most of the season and was rusty coming back. As long as they can draft Lopez, Beasley, Rose, or Mayo they should be alright because I don't care if Jaric is dating Lima, he should not start. Plus they have the Heat second round draft pick which could become a good role player.

Comment has been removed
May 13, 2008  01:15 PM ET
Report Abuse | QUOTE

<--- because of bobcats depth and the heat are more likely to get the 3rd or 4th pick than the 1st or 2nd

May 13, 2008  10:11 PM ET
Report Abuse | QUOTE

<--- because of bobcats depth and the heat are more likely to get the 3rd or 4th pick than the 1st or 2nd
I Like Turtles | 05/13/08, 01:15 PM

That is an absurd uneducated statement, as they have more balls than any team. Thus far the best chance at the 1, folllowed by the best chance at the 2, if they don't get the 1.

May 13, 2008  10:18 PM ET
Report Abuse | QUOTE

OK, how the hell can you even dream of comparing them to the Hornets. Oh, wait the hornets use to play in Charlotte, now the Bobcats do. I got you. Other than that, I don't see a defensive minded center, who can throw down a mad oop. I don't see a power forward who can hit 16 footers at will and is a great rebounder. I don't see the small forward who can make open threes all day long. Oh, yeah they also don't have a guy who is revolutionizing the point guard position and finishing 2nd in the MVP (should have won it.). So where do the comparisions start.

As for the Heat Ricky and J will both come off the books, so money to spend their, who wouldn't want to play in south Beach. Add a top 5, probably top 2 pick and they have a team that can easily make a run in the EAST.

May 13, 2008  10:30 PM ET
Report Abuse | QUOTE

That is an absurd uneducated statement, as they have more balls than any team. Thus far the best chance at the 1, folllowed by the best chance at the 2, if they don't get the 1.

nickb23 | 05/13/08, 10:11 PM

Here are the odds for each draft pick
.250
.215
.178
.357

.250 + .215 = .465 (odds for Pick 1 AND 2)
.178 + .357 = .535 (odds for Pick 3 AND 4)

.535 > .465

That is why I said, "the heat are more likely to get the 3rd or 4th pick than the 1st or 2nd."

In 2007...
The Portland Trailblazers acquired the first pick in the NBA draft but they did not have the worst record
The Seattle Supersonics acquired the second pick in the NBA draft but they did not have the second worst record
The Atlanta Hawks acquired the third pick in the NBA draft but they did not have the third worst record

Having the worst record does not mean a guaranteed number one or two pick

May 13, 2008  10:32 PM ET
Report Abuse | QUOTE

Having the worst record does not mean a guaranteed number one or two pick

I Like Turtles

Your right but saying that they are more likely to get the third or fourth pick is wrong. There is absolutely no math that can back that up.

May 13, 2008  10:35 PM ET
Report Abuse | QUOTE

It does mean that you have a .250 chance of acquiring the top pick, a .215 chance of acquiring the second pick, a .178 chance acquiring the third pick, and a .357 chance of acquiring the fourth pick.

May 13, 2008  10:37 PM ET
Report Abuse | QUOTE

Your right but saying that they are more likely to get the third or fourth pick is wrong. There is absolutely no math that can back that up.

PhillyEagles36 | 05/13/08, 10:32 PM

.535 is the odds of acquiring the 3rd and 4th pick. .535 > .465

May 14, 2008  01:42 AM ET
Report Abuse | QUOTE

there's an eagles fan in arlington texas?

May 14, 2008  07:58 AM ET
Report Abuse | QUOTE

I like both of the picks in this one. However, based on the arguments, my vote is going to the left. FCF is right; there are too many question marks with the Heat. And I love FCF's reference to the Knicks as a "special situation". hahaha. But DWade is not a "certified superstar" in my opinion. Someone who is injured often and doesn't play in a whole lot of games can not be a superstar. If he plays 70 or 75 games next season and averages nice 20, 5, and 5 numbers or something, then he will be back to being one of the best in the League.

 
May 14, 2008  01:34 PM ET
Report Abuse | QUOTE

The Heat will be better than the Bobcats, they don't have any great players just a bunch of pretty good ones.

Comment

Remember to keep your posts clean. Profanity will get filtered, and offensive comments will be removed.


Leaderboard

  Fan W L T Win %
1 DetroitFan* BS: Start Stanton! 132 9 7 91.6%
2 Porkins: Catches bullets 138 13 1 91.1%
3 Baun-ded=PUCKHEAD 52 5 1 90.5%
4 The Ram 138 17 4 88.1%
5 Foosball 68 9 2 87.3%
6 Philly-- www.sportsnoise.com 74 11 4 85.4%
7 Hyped78 113 19 5 84.3%
8 Dookie: Here We Go Steelers 117 19 8 84.0%
9 [The] Coach 97 18 5 82.9%
10 BSchwartz07 129 27 6 81.5%

Truth & Rumors

MOST POPULAR

  1. 1
    Plaxico shows no remorse
    Views
    4054
    Comments
    887
  2. 2
    Teixeira good fit for Yankees?
    Views
    11510
    Comments
    639
  3. 3
    Burnett won't be on market long
    Views
    7745
    Comments
    151
  4. 4
    Warner hasn't ruled out retirement
    Views
    4042
    Comments
    58
  5. 5
    Bengals coach on hot seat?
    Views
    4907
    Comments
    48

Weekly Most Active Users

Comments + Blog Posts + Throwdowns

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5

Message Boards

  1. MMA > Fight Club

    Who will be the new 'face of…
    Views
    1093
    Replies
    10

  2. NFL > General NFL

    Ed Hochuli needs to be FIRED!!
    Views
    416
    Replies
    24

  3. NFL > General NFL

    Taking bids for a new team!!!
    Views
    25
    Replies
    2

Blogs

SI.com

Swimsuit

Melissa HaroMelissa Haro
Jessica GomesJessica Gomes

SI Photos

Rookies to Watch in the NHLRookies to Watch in the NHL
Dominant Pitching SeasonsDominant Pitching Seasons

SI Vault