Hard to go past San Antonio, Detroit, even Miami with Shaq.

Detroit!

Everyone else has lost a little bit of there touch from last season!

Except the T'Wolves! Who will now completely dominate the West!

Bags....are you gonna run a muck interstate?

yeh i agree wif u j-bags. detroit lost mehmet ockur but gained a strong veteran in mcdyess. U cant go past this roster for the 04-05 championship especially having done it last season being both a talented, experienced and defensive team. Im tipping them to make championships from the east unless pacers sign dampier then its anyones ball game.

My beloved T-wolves have kept their roster through the hard off-season and will be one of the top contendors for the west. with kings losing divac, mavs losing jamison and walker for terry and a rookie, lakers losing the diesel u gotta say the wolves r looking pretty strong atm. same would go for the spurs as parker will have another great improving season and duncan will be his normal brilliant self. but how can u go past MVP KG and his pack of hungry wolves.

Miami will be a team to watch and perhaps could apply sum serious pressure on indiana and detroit but they wont finish at the top. if the diesel gets injured then its all over red rover for miami. without the diesel they will be depending on a one year pro who dont get me wrong is damn awesome but cant keep the W's rolling in.

Portland?

hahahahahahahaaaaa!

Portland!!!! Hahahahahahahahaahahahahahahah

that's great!

Ur a funny bloke winston! I like the cut of your jib!

Hahahaha!

Someone hand me a paper bag! I'm hyper ventilating!

Mavs lost Nash as well. Drik's team now for sure. Interesting to see if they will trade for Kidd.

As for NBA Champions what MW and J Bags said.

Lakers, Lakers and more Lakers

Vidmar your tripping, get your head out of your Lakers DVD collection, they won't even go close. Jersey is where the action will be, no doubt about it. With RJ having a great Olympics he will be primed to take on the might of the east, and having his PG there, they are ready baby, ready.

Place to be in 05: Meadowlands

RJ's having a good Olympics?? John Rillie is having a better Olympics than RJ!! The only action in Jersey is all the players being traded or leaving!!

I think it'll be out of Detroit and Indy in the East & T'Wolves and Spurs in the West, with Indy playing Spurs in the Final, and Duncan getting his 3rd ring.

As much as I hate to say it, Spurs in '05.

Kobe will finally be able to justify himself attempting Jordans numbers in a side based around only his offense.

You watch, he will win the scoring title this season...

If Kobe's even playing, when's the date?

He'll be playing in the Califonian Penal League!

Dallas all the way. we may have lost nash but we have picked up Devin Harris the tallented rookie that is gonna pull a Magic Johnson and help take the team to the finals. plus with Dampier coming to D Town and Stackhouse taking Jamisons possy on the bench I think dallas will do the job I have also forgotten about Jason Terry

Terry
Finley
Stackhouse/ Daniels/ Howard
Nowitzki
Dampier

Thats gonna be a big starting 5

Dallas all the way the Lakers are lost what was the point in trading Payton he would have made that team complete

Payton
Kobe
George
Odom
Divac

but it looks like the Lakers are gona have to replace Payton with Chucky Atkins thats a move and a half

nah as if george would make the starting 5. id probably put on grant instead of him and move odom to 3. but then again they havent got much size and 3 SF's so bringing him off the bench will be a good thing maybe.brian grant has the best hair in the nba. chris andersen would be up there and so would melo but grant just takes the cake. wot a champ!

Pacers all the way. Making a NBA best 61 wins and only just falling short against Detroit partially due to injuries was a fantastic effort. That roster was seriously flawed, with a glut of forwards and a lack of backcourt scoring and shooting, now the team is alot more balanced.

Pacers v Pistons is going to be epic once again.

I think Twolves and Spurs will be on top in the West, Dallas will improve but not enough defense there.

agreed. uve said it all mark

The title will go back to the West again this year.

Has to be Minnesota, KG will only get better this year, and without Shaq to deal with, No team can stop him, and he wants it bad, real bad! Really could supporting cast their too, if Wally stays healthy and they trade Olowakandi, they will show they are overdue!

If Tmac keeps his head and Yao realises his potential, the Rockets will cause some serious damage aswell, Van Gundy can coach PERIOD!

But the east will be a little weak. Sure the Pistons will be their Mcdyess was a great pickup for them, if he stays healthy, but will they have as much hunger as last year? Will Ben Wallace show his lack of height against Miami and the Man Of Steel?

Will be alot of good teams this year and some surprises, Denver to go top four, New jersy to go bottom four, but the most consistant team will be that LA CLIPPER team, who love it at the Bottom of the NBA! God love'em

Wallace showed no lack of height in the finals series against Shaq.

Shall we run through the teams who people are backing???...OK

Miami: Shaq in! Good! Until he goes down with another Abdoninal strain, and misses 15 games or more! chalk up 15 losses right there!

Dallas: Top team, but has lost alot since Nash packed his bags! Stackhouse will flounder in the depth of there 2-3 rotation! (He ain't the player he used to be!)

Lakers: hahahahahahahahaha!!!!!
hahhahaahahahahahahahaha!!!!!
hahahahahahahahahahahaaaaaaa!
Thats great! The new whipping boys of the west! Swept in the first round if they are lucky!

Houston: If Yao and Tmac gel...well there will be a shift in the power in the west!

Spurs: No great changes in the team. Will be booted by T'Wolves in the conference finals:

Timberwolves: Will eat all that try to stop them! Will take out the best record in the league, (unless indiana get Dampier) but will get taken in 6 by Pistons.

Indiana: Will struggle withot Reggie Miller, but will be up there if they get Dampier. 8th or 1st in the eastern playoffs!

Detroit: See above post!

Bags it is almost as if you are a visionsry philosopher!

tough call this year but i say t wolwes all the way. lakers i think will make the play offs and i think kobe will stand out more this year more because will no one like shaq in the team hes gona be a 1 man show.

never underestimate the power and talent of vlade!

It will be Blazers Vs Sixers.
Darius Miles is going to have a breakout year!!
Sixers will win cause iverson is unstopable
Northener you have to be JOKING me! Nets won't even make the playoffs Jason kidd is old and richard jefferson can't shoot anything but a lay up!

Hey Northener do you know where i can buy a cheap Jason Kidd jersey. Kidd to the Mavs mid year

On the T Mac at Houston they are gonna struggle so much I reakon that T Mac will take too much of the rock and Yao will be left un-honored in the post Houston will be allright but I cant see em doing anything big. Dallas wont get Kidd from Jersey as they would have to put up some big tallent to get him and what would be the point of trading big tallent mid year but if anyone would do it, it would be the mighty mavericks

D-MAVS 2004-05 champs. Erick dampier is the newest addition to the mavs already steela line up. the team is now complete!!!!!!

teams are more even this year so it will be hard to choose.
im going with twolwes kg is gona kick ass this season

San Antonio will win the NBA Championship.

Manu Ginobilli will be an All-Star and add another ring to his Gold Medal and 2003 championship.

Kobe is free and the Lakers are primed for the ring ceremony.

Northener you Nets stink they will be lucky to be above 500

Oh have a look at the Nets knockers hey? Let me run past all of them

Glit R: You know deep down RJ had a way better olympics than AI. That's a fact!!! Who stepped up in the crucial games? RJ with his clutch shooting, as big dunks. Don't worry about the Nets, we will do way better than the Sixers...

Vidmar: Please!!! The Lakers?? With Kobe shooting all those shots there's no way they will get past the first round of the play offs. Odom proved what he is worth in the olympics.. NOTHING. Divac? Have we travelled back in time to 1991? Nets will be pushing for division champions again.

Lommax: There is no place to buy a cheap Kidd jersey because they don't sell for under $100, and for good reason too. I think you are confused with a Nowitski jersey...

This is directed at all 3 of you. In 2002 the NBA identified 4 players as being MUST GETS for the US to win the olympics in Athens, they were Ray Allen, Tim Duncan, one other (can't remember), and Jason Kidd. Hmmm, don't see Iverson, Kobe, or Finley in that list, I wonder why!!!

P.S. Anyone with Nets clothes is going to reap the rewards of a great season....

N..E..T..S, NETS, NETS, NETS!!!!

Firstly why are you called Northener is it because you are scared to travel south of Grand Junction road. If you do your ugg boots and flanny shirt will stand out. You will still be able to buy Escort Blue ciggies so come on down, make the treck.

I can't talk at all, I'm a Boston fan! Anyone know what our chances are this year?

Northern 'burbs is where it's at baby, you can hang out at Salisbury station or the Eureka, or even the Elizabeth bowl

At least my name is an accurate representation of who I am. Vidmar, anyone would think you play soccer. I recall someone mentioning the size of your schnozer, are you planning on trying out for Adelaide United?

Didn't Boston get Rick Fox back?

One of the commentator lines I will never forget was from some NBA Action highlights: "Tally ho! There's a Fox on the loose in Denver!"

He'll probably hate me for saying this in public, but one time when we were kids Oscar briefly commentated NBA in his sleep. I'm not kidding. Sat straight up in bed at about two in the morning and the only part I could understand was: "Ewing, for three!"

He must of been dreaming for Ewing to shoot a three!

Yeah Boston got Rick Fox, Payton looks as though he will retire before playing for Boston. Not sure on Fox's status either, he could retire also. Good trading Boston!

I mock all the teams that think they can take the hustle of the Mavericks. The ship is sailing to Dallas ladies and gentlemen. here is the run down on the challengers.

The Nets are gonna struggle bad luck there northerner I think your team has seen better days but with out Kenyon and maybe getting Zo back your team could still stay in the eastern finals hunt.

The Lakers are indeed a struggling franchise all I can say is no Shaq no title I think they may be an early elimination.

The T/Wolves and The Spurs will give a big challenge with Mr Duncan and KG but all Dallas has needed they have gotten in Erik Dampier I think we can take it all the way.

The loss of nash was big for dallas I really see most of the pressure on Jason Terry's shoulders he is not at Atlanta so he will need to be a pass first point guard insted of a run and gun shooter.

How many playoff games has Erick Dampier played in???

How many easy baskets did Dirk and Finley and co get due to Steve Nash???

How will the Mavericks get out of the 1st round???

3 very easy answers

None, Lots and they wont!!!

Assuming the 1970s Pittsburgh Pisces don't make a comeback, put your money on the Spurs or Pistons. Everyone seems to be overlooking that the Pistons won last year, and have improved their squad even further.

As a Bull fan (yes, there's a few of us left), I was excited overnight to see we've traded Dikembe Mutombo on to Houston. I can't believe the big fella is still playing. No-one knows his real age, so they estimate he could be 40-50 now.

Go Bulls. Keep improving and then trade away anyone with any sign of talent. It's been working for years now!

Speaking of the Bulls, a friend was over the other night and played some NBA Jam on xbox. He picked the Bulls. I had to explain how that would've been a good thing in the original NBA Jam, but not quite so good now. Either way, he got destroyed by Memphis so it's fair to say that basketball isn't his thing.

I hear DJ has been playing some original NBA Jam recently...

Moses, you are so full of it. I happen to know you were a Boston Celtics fan until one Michael J. Jordan appeared on the scene, and then, quicker than you could say "McHale, Bird and Johnson have retired" you're a Chicago fan.

...and that's the truth.

Northerner u r absolutely lost mate. There is no chance in hell that the nets will win. they will be lucky to finish top 4 in east. by the way moses mutombo is 37-38. the man is a legend. plus i think everyones got a soft spot for the bulls considering the fact almost everyone loved em about a decade ago.

I did overlook Detriot it is very true that they have gotten McDyess and Derrick "The Gorilla Dunk" Coleman and lost no one but a bench player in Okur.



and the Spurs have also gotten Brent Barry but will that mean less minutes for Ginobili.

Detroit will take the east Dallas will take the west.

Dampier will come up big.

Jamal, don't disrespect ol Smokin Mo. You can talk. You go from the Lakers to the Magic to the Lakers to someone else to someone else ..... are you a Heat fan now?

Love to see you in the Magic singlet now - you'd look like Swanno after a few too many burgers!

the antoine walker led hawks will dominate this year in the east.the weat will beat us cause we got no hieght.
walker to lead nba in points and shots attempted.

Shot and 3 point attempts yes scoring could be close he will have to contend with AI who will be close to 28 points a game and shaq will prob dominate and get himself around 27-30 PPG so easy there on antoine walker there Cheezeburger if that is your real name. With Nash out of Dallas it is Dirks team look for Dirk to reach a career high in scoring this year with Devon Harris and Jason Terry running point

easy there.dirk dirks up bad shots.antoine dominates in the low and high post.a big player he is.

king of scap lives on....

final thought.

D-MAVS are your 2004-05 nba champions!!!!!!!

Hiyo

has everyone forgotten about KINGS they have been one of the most consistent teams over the past 3-4 years, just falling short in play-offs. 2004-05 could be the year the ring goes to sac-town. if any teams to beat kings make sure they bring their defence with them otherwise they will get slaughtered.

Northerner you are a legend man keep up the chat Nets rule even though we lost big players the bench has stepped up and with RJ we are set.
I cant believe anyone hasn't mentioned Denver as being one of the top teams???
Knicks and Nuggets have finally both got strong teams.. been a few years since they last had. Check out the New York line up though theres ALOT of talent.

mavs knocked of the kings and the hornets on the first two days. they are looking good. Pistons are still the defencive powerhouse from last season and add some scoring power to that aswell. my other pick for the ship!!!

hawks will come good.give em time.

San Antonio will be around the mark. One year too early for Denver. They will be big improvers this year though. Check out their frontcourt. Nene, Camby, Mello, K-Mart. Only problem is finding the court time for all, and spreading the scoring.

K-Mart must be more rebound/defence foucussed, forget about scoring. He can scrap/dunk 14 or 16 a game.

Miller running the point. One of the most under-rated pg's in the game. Can dish it out (was in top 2 in league with the cavs) and score when he needs too. He averaged 25 a game a couple of years ago.

Need big, white European with strange name. All the graet teams have one. Must have bad haircut, come from a country that no longer exists after end of cold war, and have crazy range at 7 feet tall.

with the tim ducan lead spurs gunning for the ship the only thing stopping them from it is if timmy d gets injured.timmy d for mvp.

wat happened to atlanta cheezy?? dallas are still dominating WITHOUT NASH! dallas are massive. dirk is destroying.

MAVS are going deep into the finals!

Detroit will dominate

even tho i am a dallas man they still cant get over some of the western Powerhouses eg Spurs, T/Wolves i see Dallas Western Conference Finals it just depends on how they come up down the stretch.

I reakon it is T/Wolves time

Realistic pick is Detroit Pistons. Dark horse may be Utah Jazz. They are underrated in my opinion. They may not win the title, but they could challenge for the Western Conference.

Sacto will win it all. Strong power forwad in Chris Webber. Gun shooter-Peja. Who else? I dont have time to name the whole roster but all of u who no anything no that the Kings are the champs come 2005.


P.S. Im going for Charlotte aswell

Detroit is the team. Especially with Big Ben back and at his best....

The south gambier demons will prevail in this years playoffs. Matthew Lockwood will get BOG. Bueti will score 30 points in his debut comeback to basketball, and Jayson Baylis will get zero minutes.

I looked at the betting before the season began and Phoenix were at 90 to 1...i put a dollar on... GO YOU SUNS!! bring papa home the money!

GO YOU BOBCATS - Someone was saying about sacremento having webber...keep up son!

Lunnaz - South Gambier Demons? Last time i checked and when i pulled on the red and white "back in the day" the Demons were a football club.....

Lockie Best on Ground? well i dont really think he has any game what so ever.....


Bueti - Im guessing he will go baseline..... timmy graney if you are involved you will understand..... no disrespect bews -i would love to see you suit up again in abeags uniform!!!!

and jason baylis playing zero minutes... dont really understand whats the go there!

well, if the nets still had jefferson healthy i could say my team is a contendor but now we are relying off carters 25-30 points a game and jason kidds 7points, we aint going too far. Its a shame one of the best point gaurds can only get 10 or so points yet hes the most experienced in the team and captain. We know that he had an injury... but dam!... its jason kidd!

Jamal, do you want me to bring up a certain Orlando Magic top ..... or shall we just let that one slide?

You know what they say about people living in glass houses? Peeping toms just love them.