Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Off-Season Promises and Predictions

Update - Here we go again. Kevin Love, "Mark my words: we're going over 30 wins this year."

Now is the time when NBA writers and players start saying things. Some things are important. Some things are not. Some things you already knew (Eddy Curry is injured, out of shape, being payed millions of dollars to do less work than you do, that jerk). And some things are predictions. Or promises.

Predictions are pretty tough, obviously. Since I'm really mean, I'm going to record some predictions about the upcoming season that great NBA basketball writers are making about overall team records, playoff finishes, etc. It's pretty ridiculous to pull such a move, since no one can tell how well a team is going to be doing at the end of the regular season when the season hasn't even begun (began?). Too bad.

First off, we have Kelly Dwyer and his pre-pre-season predictions for every single team in the NBA. Yes, he has Miami winning 70. I call that 'boldness.'

(Original Link - http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_dont_lie/post/The-NBA-A-through-Z-Playoff-positioning?urn=nba-272780)
Western Conference Predictions -

1. Los Angeles Lakers (57-25)
2. San Antonio Spurs (55-27)
3. Dallas Mavericks (52-30)
4. Phoenix Suns (52-30)
5. Utah Jazz (52-30)
6. Denver Nuggets (50-32)
7. Portland Trail Blazers (50-32)
8. Oklahoma City Thunder (47-35)
9. Houston Rockets (46-36)
10. New Orleans Hornets (44-38)
11. Memphis Grizzlies (40-42)
12. Los Angeles Clippers (38-44)
13. Sacramento Kings (26-56)
14. Golden State Warriors (21-61)
15. Minnesota Timberwolves (13-69)

Eastern Conference Predictions -

1. Miami Heat (70-12)
2. Orlando Magic (60-22)
3. Boston Celtics (50-32)
4. Chicago Bulls (49-33)
5. Atlanta Hawks (48-34)
6. Milwaukee Bucks (48-34)
7. New York Knicks (41-41)
8. Charlotte Bobcats (38-44)
9. Philadelphia 76ers (35-47)
10. Toronto Raptors (31-51)
11. Washington Wizards (31-51)
12. Indiana Pacers (28-54)
13. New Jersey Nets (27-55)
14. Detroit Pistons (19-63)
15. Cleveland Cavaliers (12-70)

Other fun entries - Jason Thompson, via Jimmy Spencer's twitter feed (@JimmypSpencer)

"Being a young team won't be an excuse anymore."

This one doesn't sound major, but just wait until a player or coach busts out that old time-buying standard "We're still a young team, trying to find ourselves.

Here's one from Noam Schiller (@NoamSchiller on twitter):

"[Evan Turner will be] Brandon Roy 2.0."

Morris Peterson, at Thunder Media Day (via Royce Young):

“I think we have a real shot at a championship.”

Almost too easy, Mo, as only one team can win the championship. This one will only be awkward if OKC misses the playoffs, which is a possibility in the Western Conference, obviously.

Kendrick Perkins doesn't want to give up his starting spot, via CelticsHub:

"When I come back I will be in my spot, everyone else will just have to adjust. "

Okay, Perk, we get it. Just chill out, alright?

And one more from Noam Schiller, on Tyrus Thomas - "I think Tyrus will be great this year...I think he eventually starts." There were other words about improved numbers and limited fouls and turnovers, but I blacked out.

The rest of these are links to prediction posts/predicted records from team blogs. I couldn't get all of them, because I'm lazy.

Zach Harper's prediction for the Kings from CowbellKingdom.com (link - http://www.cowbellkingdom.com/2010/09/21/sacramento-kings-2010-11-season-preview/)

Predicted Record: 37-45

Yeah, these aren't very much fun when people aren't saying ridiculous things. Oh well.

Lakers predictions, via ForumBlueAndGold.com (link - http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2010/09/22/first-look-preview-for-2010-11/)

Predicted Record: 62-20

Suns Predictions via Michael Schwartz of ValleyoftheSuns.com (link - http://valleyofthesuns.com/2010/09/23/phoenix-suns-preview/)

Predicted Record: 48-34ish (He's a bit of a waffler [delicious]) 

Celtics Predictions via CelticsHub.com (Link - http://celticshub.com/2010/09/13/5-questions-about-the-cs/)

Predicted Record: 55-27

Knicks Predictions via KnickerBlogger.net (Link - http://knickerblogger.net/2010/09/new-york-knicks-preseason-preview-2011/)

Predicted Record: None given, though the consensus appears to be an approximately .500 record, because Knicks bloggers really like Anthony Randolph.

Nets Predictions via NetsAreScorching.com (Link - http://netsarescorching.com/2010/09/15/new-jersey-nets-preseason-preview-2011/)

Predicted Record: None given, consensus appears to be something along the lines of "not nearly as bad as last year, but still not close to .500."

Bucks Predictions via BrewHoop.com (Link - http://www.brewhoop.com/2010/9/27/1713737/milwaukee-bucks-preview-2010-2011)

Predictied Record: 50-32.

Bulls Predictions via BlogABull.com (Link - http://www.blogabull.com/2010/9/28/1713760/chicago-bulls-nba-blogger-preview-2010-11-season)

Predicted Record: 48-34

Cavaliers Predictions via FearTheSword.com (Link - http://www.fearthesword.com/2010/10/1/1724359/2010-11-nba-blogger-preview-cleveland-cavaliers)

Predicted Record: So terrible. Just hopelessly awful...unless you're these guys - 
Mavs broadcaster Bob Ortegel on the Cavaliers, "I think they're gonna be better than people expect. I think they can make a run at the playoffs."


Jon Barry - "There is still a basketball team in Cleveland, and they will meet the Heat in the 1st round of the NBA playoffs as an 8th seed."

Pacers Predictions via IndyCornrows.com (Link - http://www.indycornrows.com/2010/9/30/1720685/2010-11-nba-blogger-preview-indiana-pacers)

Predicted Record: 34-36

Pistons Prediction via DetroitBadBoys.com (Link - http://www.detroitbadboys.com/2010/10/1/1724322/detroit-pistons-2010-11-season-preview)

Predicted Record: 35-47

Utah prediction via SLCDunk.com (Link - http://www.slcdunk.com/2010/10/4/1728276/2010-nba-blogger-previews-the-utah-jazz)

Predicted Record: 53-29


Nuggets predictions via roundballminingcompany.com (Link - http://www.roundballminingcompany.com/2010/10/05/a-pre-season-season-preview/)

Predicted Record: 40-42


Thunder predictions via welcometoloudcity.com (Link - http://www.welcometoloudcity.com/2010/10/6/1731534/nba-blogger-previews-the-2010-2011-oklahoma-city-thunder)

Predicted Record: 53-29


Timberwolves predictions via Zach Harper (for WolfAmongWolves.net)

Predicted Record: 21-61


Trailblazers predictions via BlazersEdge.com (link - http://www.blazersedge.com/2010/10/9/1740032/portland-trail-blazers-2010-11-season-preview)

Predicted Record: None given.


Bobcats predictions via RufusOnFire.com (link - http://www.rufusonfire.com/2010/10/11/1744289/charlotte-bobcats-preview-2010-11)

Predicted Record: None given.


Hawks predictions via PeachTreeHoops.com (link - http://www.peachtreehoops.com/2010/10/12/1746134/atlanta-hawks-nba-blogger-preview-2010-11-season)

Predicted Records (I guess they couldn't agree on one): 50-32 or 52-30


Orlando Predictions via Orlando Magic Daily (link - http://www.magicbasketball.net/2010/10/14/orlando-magic-2010-11-season-preview/)

Predicted record: 60-22


Heat predictions via PeninsulaIsMightier.com (link - http://www.peninsulaismightier.com/2010/10/13/1741564/2010-11-miami-heat-season-preview)

Predicted Record: 67-15


Wizards predictions via TruthAboutIt.net (link - http://www.truthaboutit.net/2010/10/a-preview-about-the-washington-wizards.html)

Predicted Record: Everything from a near-playoff team to the worst team in the league. 


I'll definitely continue tracking ridiculous things said throughout the season, so we can mock people for fun. We're so much better than them, you and I.


2 comments:

  1. The part about OKC missing the playoffs was a joke right?

    ReplyDelete
  2. I'm just saying that it's a possibility. An injury here or there could knock any team in the West out.

    But yeah, they're going to make the playoffs.

    ReplyDelete