*NBA THREAD* Abe will be missed (8 Viewers)

[Kosar]

Just watched the highlights of the Jazz vs Heat game.

What is up with all of the empty seats in the lower bowl of Miami's arena DURING the game?!?!?!

What a joke of a fan base. Couldn't happen to a better team.

 

[Bobcat10]

Just watched the highlights of the Jazz vs Heat game.What is up with all of the empty seats in the lower bowl of Miami's arena DURING the game?!?!?!What a joke of a fan base. Couldn't happen to a better team.

The "spirits" line must be out the arena in that place.

 

[Premier]

There's no way this Heat team is winning the title this year. Even if they beat the massive frontlines of the Celts and the Magic, Gasol and Bynum will eat them alive.

 

[Major]

There's no way this Heat team is winning the title this year. Even if they beat the massive frontlines of the Celts and the Magic, Gasol and Bynum will eat them alive.

I love watching the Heat fail and I used to be a Lebron fan. I'd be afraid of Scola and Yao in the Finals.

 

[timschochet]

Tim-I will offer you a $60 buy out for our bet.

Nope. I'll stick with it. I admit it doesn't look very good, but it's early yet.

 

[SoBeDad]

Tim-I will offer you a $60 buy out for our bet.

Nope. I'll stick with it. I admit it doesn't look very good, but it's early yet.

When Mike Miller gets healthy and replaces Eddie "Brick" House, the Heat will be very difficult to beat as Tim predicted.

 

[No. 16]

Tim-I will offer you a $60 buy out for our bet.

Nope. I'll stick with it. I admit it doesn't look very good, but it's early yet.

When Mike Miller gets healthy and replaces Eddie "Brick" House, the Heat will be very difficult to beat as Tim predicted.

Mike Miller can block shots, defend the paint, and rebound?

 

[Smarge]

Tim-I will offer you a $60 buy out for our bet.

Nope. I'll stick with it. I admit it doesn't look very good, but it's early yet.

When Mike Miller gets healthy and replaces Eddie "Brick" House, the Heat will be very difficult to beat as Tim predicted.

Mike Miller can block shots, defend the paint, and rebound?

Miller can rebound a little, but to your point, he's really just going to replace James Jones in the lineup and do basically the same thing; spread the floor and knock down some 3s.

 

[Voice Of Reason]

I have no idea why the Heat keep putting House or Arroyo on the floor with James and Wade. The PGs do nothing offensively and are a complete liability defensively, as seen by losses to Rondo, CP3, and Williams.

And Miller will be a big addition to the team, spaces the floor is more than just a shooter, and they'd be such a headache for teams to match defensively with Wade-James-Miller @ 1, 2, and 3.

 

[Mr. PadresLakers]

I have no idea why the Heat keep putting House or Arroyo on the floor with James and Wade. The PGs do nothing offensively and are a complete liability defensively, as seen by losses to Rondo, CP3, and Williams.And Miller will be a big addition to the team, spaces the floor is more than just a shooter, and they'd be such a headache for teams to match defensively with Wade-James-Miller @ 1, 2, and 3.

Rondo, CP3 and Dwill shred most defenses. The Heat are not going to find anybody on the scrap heap now that can change that.

 

[Premier]

Tim-I will offer you a $60 buy out for our bet.

Nope. I'll stick with it. I admit it doesn't look very good, but it's early yet.

When Mike Miller gets healthy and replaces Eddie "Brick" House, the Heat will be very difficult to beat as Tim predicted.

Won't change much. They are going to get slaughtered in the paint all year.

 

[Popinski]

Just watched the highlights of the Jazz vs Heat game.What is up with all of the empty seats in the lower bowl of Miami's arena DURING the game?!?!?!What a joke of a fan base. Couldn't happen to a better team.

As for the team itself, this is not the final product. Wade and LeBron do overlap one another a good amount in terms of what they bring to the offense, but I can't see how they don't get better playing off one another. I mean, right now their chemistry in the half court offense is just poor.Obviously, their major problem is interior defense. Most expected Bosh's points to fall significantly, but he could at least counter that with being a force on the boards, picking up his defense, etc. He has done none of that, which renders him nothing more than a quality starter and certainly not $14 million. And I have no idea what the point of playing Arroyo/House is.

 

[boubucarow]

I have no idea why the Heat keep putting House or Arroyo on the floor with James and Wade. The PGs do nothing offensively and are a complete liability defensively, as seen by losses to Rondo, CP3, and Williams.And Miller will be a big addition to the team, spaces the floor is more than just a shooter, and they'd be such a headache for teams to match defensively with Wade-James-Miller @ 1, 2, and 3.

Rondo, CP3 and Dwill shred most defenses. The Heat are not going to find anybody on the scrap heap now that can change that.

Last night, the Heat doubled Williams above the three point line similar to what teams sometimes do to the Bulls and Rose. Since the Heat obviously don't think Wade can guard these players, they will have huge problems all year with explosive point guards. Throw in the issues in the paint and it seems the Heat will need to get lucky to not have multiple brutal series in the playoffs. If say they can get the Hawks, the assumption would be an easier series based on match ups. But if they have to play two or even three of the Bulls/Bucks/Magic/Celtics who can exploit their main weaknesses with talented players, the path to the Finals would be full of obstacles I am pretty sure they couldn't overcome.

 

[Kev4029]

I have no idea why the Heat keep putting House or Arroyo on the floor with James and Wade. The PGs do nothing offensively and are a complete liability defensively, as seen by losses to Rondo, CP3, and Williams.And Miller will be a big addition to the team, spaces the floor is more than just a shooter, and they'd be such a headache for teams to match defensively with Wade-James-Miller @ 1, 2, and 3.

Rondo, CP3 and Dwill shred most defenses. The Heat are not going to find anybody on the scrap heap now that can change that.

They could play Chalmers more, he has the size and the skills to match up defensively much better against most PGs and is a far better shooter than Arroyo and nearly as good as House. If I were the Heat, I would be starting Chalmers and playing him for at least 30 minutes a game, and I would rarely be playing Arroyo.

 

[the moops]

I have no idea why the Heat keep putting House or Arroyo on the floor with James and Wade. The PGs do nothing offensively and are a complete liability defensively, as seen by losses to Rondo, CP3, and Williams.And Miller will be a big addition to the team, spaces the floor is more than just a shooter, and they'd be such a headache for teams to match defensively with Wade-James-Miller @ 1, 2, and 3.

Rondo, CP3 and Dwill shred most defenses. The Heat are not going to find anybody on the scrap heap now that can change that.

They could play Chalmers more, he has the size and the skills to match up defensively much better against most PGs and is a far better shooter than Arroyo and nearly as good as House. If I were the Heat, I would be starting Chalmers and playing him for at least 30 minutes a game, and I would rarely be playing Arroyo.

Chalmers still has ankle issues I think.

 

[Abraham]

As many expected, the Heat's success is going to be determined by what goes on in the paint. If Bosh can't turn in to a beast on the boards, I don't see how this bunch wins a title this season. OBviously they can add pieces in the coming years, but the Bucks, Celtics, Magic, and Lakers are all MUCH better inside.

 

[Gr00vus]

the Bucks, Celtics, Magic, and Lakers are all MUCH better inside.

After watching a few of their games, am I right in thinking their season pretty much depends on Bogut staying healthy and that if he can they could win a playoff series or two?

Any news on Jermaine O'Neal's injury? They couldn't keep these guys in one piece for 10 games, Perkins better be fully recovered by the time the playoffs roll around.

 

[Bobcat10]

Just wait til the Heat have to deal with Mo Williams, Raman Sessions, and BOOBIE Gibson.

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

The Heat had a 19 point lead at half time. The Jazz hit 6 three pointers in the 4th quarter. Milsapp hitting three of those. The Heat shot under 40% in the second half and OT. They lost on free throws with .4 seconds left. But interior defense is to blame? They went cold and got lazy.

 

[wadegarrett]

Just wait til the Heat have to deal with Mo Williams, Raman Sessions, and BOOBIE Gibson.

you know it!!!

 

[Cliff Clavin]

So, uh... who is the projected #1 pick in the draft for next year? Need something to look forward to this season.

 

[Pick]

The Heat had a 19 point lead at half time. The Jazz hit 6 three pointers in the 4th quarter. Milsapp hitting three of those. The Heat shot under 40% in the second half and OT. They lost on free throws with .4 seconds left. But interior defense is to blame? They went cold and got lazy.

 

[Kev4029]

So, uh... who is the projected #1 pick in the draft for next year? Need something to look forward to this season.

From what I've read its Harrison Barnes from UNC. Sounds kind of like a skinnier Melo, but I haven't seen him play. Sad thing is gonna be when none of these top underclassmen declare because of the impending lockout.

 

[Major]

It's early but what teams have been the most impressive/disappointing??

obviously NO and HOU come to mind but I'm confident Houston will have the better record @ year's end.

 

[Kev4029]

It's early but what teams have been the most impressive/disappointing?? obviously NO and HOU come to mind but I'm confident Houston will have the better record @ year's end.

I think another obvious answer is Miami. Oklahoma City has not played well at all and many people were picking them for the WCF.Golden State with a record of 5-2 is very surprising, as has been the play of Monta Ellis. Curry is the real deal.The Clippers have been a disappointment, I figured with Griffin coming in and Gordon improving over the summer that Davis would be motivated, but clearly he is as fat and lazy as ever.I've also been a little disappointed in my Denver Nuggets. Injuries have played a part but many of the key players from last year (JR, Billups, Lawson, Nene) have been very sub par.

 

[TobiasFunke]

It's early but what teams have been the most impressive/disappointing?? obviously NO and HOU come to mind but I'm confident Houston will have the better record @ year's end.

The horrific Wizards will hand the Rockets a much needed pick-me-up tonight. Granted, not that much was expected, but so far, the Wiz have won one game,at home, over the Sixers, on a miracle three from Cartier Martin to send it to overtime. They have a thirty point loss to the Magic and a twenty point loss to the Knicks on the resume. They haven't even really played a good team yet other than the Magic loss, with the other two losses coming to the semi-decent Hawks and the Cavs. They already got kicked out of practice by their coach for not giving a rat's behind. I think it's fair to say that they've been a disappointment.

 

[saintfool]

It's early but what teams have been the most impressive/disappointing?? obviously NO and HOU come to mind but I'm confident Houston will have the better record @ year's end.

The horrific Wizards will hand the Rockets a much needed pick-me-up tonight. Granted, not that much was expected, but so far, the Wiz have won one game,at home, over the Sixers, on a miracle three from Cartier Martin to send it to overtime. They have a thirty point loss to the Magic and a twenty point loss to the Knicks on the resume. They haven't even really played a good team yet other than the Magic loss, with the other two losses coming to the semi-decent Hawks and the Cavs. They already got kicked out of practice by their coach for not giving a rat's behind. I think it's fair to say that they've been a disappointment.

Flip's got his work cut out for him. Depending on their record and the performance of Wall on the court, I could see Flip fired by mid-season.

 

[Balco]

It's early but what teams have been the most impressive/disappointing?? obviously NO and HOU come to mind but I'm confident Houston will have the better record @ year's end.

I think another obvious answer is Miami. Oklahoma City has not played well at all and many people were picking them for the WCF.Golden State with a record of 5-2 is very surprising, as has been the play of Monta Ellis. Curry is the real deal.The Clippers have been a disappointment, I figured with Griffin coming in and Gordon improving over the summer that Davis would be motivated, but clearly he is as fat and lazy as ever.I've also been a little disappointed in my Denver Nuggets. Injuries have played a part but many of the key players from last year (JR, Billups, Lawson, Nene) have been very sub par.

If the Clippers cut Baron Davis, does his salary count against the cap for the duration of his deal? What an albatross of a contract. Some players just refuse to play within a system. Davis is an atrocious 3 point shooter, yet he shoots a ton of them.Looking at their roster, there is a ton of talent. Griffin and Kaman are a great front court. Gordon is a solid young player, and Amini looked pretty good the other night. Bledsoe looked pretty good too. They need to get rid of Davis.

 

[SoBeDad]

Tim-I will offer you a $60 buy out for our bet.

Nope. I'll stick with it. I admit it doesn't look very good, but it's early yet.

When Mike Miller gets healthy and replaces Eddie "Brick" House, the Heat will be very difficult to beat as Tim predicted.

Mike Miller can block shots, defend the paint, and rebound?

Riles will add a role player at some point to provide strength and length around the basket. And Miller will help the Heat score - he'll also be there in crunch time.

 

[Gr00vus]

Looking at their roster, there is a ton of talent. Griffin and Kaman are a great front court. Gordon is a solid young player, and Amini looked pretty good the other night. Bledsoe looked pretty good too. They need to get rid of Davis.

Kaman is hurt again. I don't know how serious, but still he's glass.

 

[Kev4029]

It's early but what teams have been the most impressive/disappointing?? obviously NO and HOU come to mind but I'm confident Houston will have the better record @ year's end.

I think another obvious answer is Miami. Oklahoma City has not played well at all and many people were picking them for the WCF.Golden State with a record of 5-2 is very surprising, as has been the play of Monta Ellis. Curry is the real deal.The Clippers have been a disappointment, I figured with Griffin coming in and Gordon improving over the summer that Davis would be motivated, but clearly he is as fat and lazy as ever.I've also been a little disappointed in my Denver Nuggets. Injuries have played a part but many of the key players from last year (JR, Billups, Lawson, Nene) have been very sub par.

If the Clippers cut Baron Davis, does his salary count against the cap for the duration of his deal? What an albatross of a contract. Some players just refuse to play within a system. Davis is an atrocious 3 point shooter, yet he shoots a ton of them.Looking at their roster, there is a ton of talent. Griffin and Kaman are a great front court. Gordon is a solid young player, and Amini looked pretty good the other night. Bledsoe looked pretty good too. They need to get rid of Davis.

Yeah, they are stuck with his contract unless they can find some dumb team to trade for him. This is part of the reason the owners are looking to redo the CBA, they can't save themselves from signing terrible deals with players that significantly under preform their contract.

 

[No. 16]

JOHN WALL!!

 

[No. 16]

Warriors beat the Knicks... it was ugly, partly because the refs sucked, but now the Dubs are 6-2 and the Knicks are 3-5.

David Lee - 28 pts (11-17), 10 rebs, 2 ast, 4 stls, 4 TO

vs.

Amare - 33 pts (9-15), 10 rebs, 3 ast, 3 stls, 6 TO

A. Randolph - 8 mins, 0 pts, 3 rebs, 1 ast

Turiaf - DNP

Azubuike - DNP

Warriors looking solid and definitely a playoff sleeper, IMO.

 

[tommyGunZ]

JOHN WALL!!

I said it before the draft - dude is the best PG prospect since JKidd.

 

[tommyGunZ]

It's early but what teams have been the most impressive/disappointing?? obviously NO and HOU come to mind but I'm confident Houston will have the better record @ year's end.

I think another obvious answer is Miami. Oklahoma City has not played well at all and many people were picking them for the WCF.Golden State with a record of 5-2 is very surprising, as has been the play of Monta Ellis. Curry is the real deal.The Clippers have been a disappointment, I figured with Griffin coming in and Gordon improving over the summer that Davis would be motivated, but clearly he is as fat and lazy as ever.I've also been a little disappointed in my Denver Nuggets. Injuries have played a part but many of the key players from last year (JR, Billups, Lawson, Nene) have been very sub par.

If the Clippers cut Baron Davis, does his salary count against the cap for the duration of his deal? What an albatross of a contract. Some players just refuse to play within a system. Davis is an atrocious 3 point shooter, yet he shoots a ton of them.Looking at their roster, there is a ton of talent. Griffin and Kaman are a great front court. Gordon is a solid young player, and Amini looked pretty good the other night. Bledsoe looked pretty good too. They need to get rid of Davis.

How much fun would it have been if the Clips had won the Wall lottery? They could have moved BDiddy for peanuts and the most exicting show in Staples may have been the Wall-Gordon-Griffin show. Heck, if they had won the Wall lottery, maybe LeBron would have signed on.

 

[Voice Of Reason]

I have no idea why the Heat keep putting House or Arroyo on the floor with James and Wade. The PGs do nothing offensively and are a complete liability defensively, as seen by losses to Rondo, CP3, and Williams.And Miller will be a big addition to the team, spaces the floor is more than just a shooter, and they'd be such a headache for teams to match defensively with Wade-James-Miller @ 1, 2, and 3.

Rondo, CP3 and Dwill shred most defenses. The Heat are not going to find anybody on the scrap heap now that can change that.

Wade.Once the Heat put Wade on CP3, it really slowed the Hornets down. And vs the Celts, they can put James on Rondo and basically have zone the paint like LA did with Kobe.

 

[Juxtatarot]

I have no idea why the Heat keep putting House or Arroyo on the floor with James and Wade. The PGs do nothing offensively and are a complete liability defensively, as seen by losses to Rondo, CP3, and Williams.And Miller will be a big addition to the team, spaces the floor is more than just a shooter, and they'd be such a headache for teams to match defensively with Wade-James-Miller @ 1, 2, and 3.

Rondo, CP3 and Dwill shred most defenses. The Heat are not going to find anybody on the scrap heap now that can change that.

Wade.Once the Heat put Wade on CP3, it really slowed the Hornets down. And vs the Celts, they can put James on Rondo and basically have zone the paint like LA did with Kobe.

I'm not sure they want to wear down Wade in the regular season chasing down PGs. Maybe things will change in the playoffs.

 

[Major]

JOHN WALL!!

I said it before the draft - dude is the best PG prospect since JKidd.

my arss hurts after watching him pwn the Rockets. Dude is a baller. If I'm Daryl Morey, I'd consider trading Aaron Brooks for him, straight up.

 

[Mr. PadresLakers]

I have no idea why the Heat keep putting House or Arroyo on the floor with James and Wade. The PGs do nothing offensively and are a complete liability defensively, as seen by losses to Rondo, CP3, and Williams.And Miller will be a big addition to the team, spaces the floor is more than just a shooter, and they'd be such a headache for teams to match defensively with Wade-James-Miller @ 1, 2, and 3.

Rondo, CP3 and Dwill shred most defenses. The Heat are not going to find anybody on the scrap heap now that can change that.

Wade.Once the Heat put Wade on CP3, it really slowed the Hornets down. And vs the Celts, they can put James on Rondo and basically have zone the paint like LA did with Kobe.

Rondo ran wild all over the Cavs in the playoffs for a reason. I have little faith LeBron can stop him.

 

[the moops]

Joakim Noah calling someone else ugly. Oh, the irony.

Link

"Kevin Garnett will not -- will not -- get a Christmas gift from me," Noah said with a tinge of humor Wednesday on "The Waddle & Silvy Show" on ESPN 1000. "I don't like him."

"He's a very mean guy," Noah said Wednesday. "Where's the love? None at all. Ugly, too."

 

[Premier]

Utah looks like they may be the only challenger in the West to LA. That Millsap/Jefferson combo is a lethal scoring duo. Damn.

 

[Balco]

Utah looks like they may be the only challenger in the West to LA. That Millsap/Jefferson combo is a lethal scoring duo. Damn.

Very good team. Deron Williams for some reason seems to get ignored when discussing the best point guards. Very impressed with him last night.

 

[saintfool]

Utah looks like they may be the only challenger in the West to LA. That Millsap/Jefferson combo is a lethal scoring duo. Damn.

that may be a bit premature. utah has some really great wins and may be regarded as a contender. there are some other good teams that should be mentioned, off the top of my head...SA - jefferson looks comfortable and playing at a very high level; splitter is being brought along slowly but looks good; and they have depth!Dallas - deep and talented; i don't expect a R1 flameout this year...Portland - deep and talented; if they can avoid injuries then they will be there at the end of the season...i don't put much stock in wins at this time of year but i do think bad losses matter. these teams have as much talent as anyone in the west and are coached well enough. they'll give the lakers all that they can handle...

 

[Kev4029]

Utah looks like they may be the only challenger in the West to LA. That Millsap/Jefferson combo is a lethal scoring duo. Damn.

San Antonio is for real, with all this decent young guys they have controlling the minutes of Duncan and Ginobili will be fairly easy to keep them fresh for the playoffs.OKC will figure it out, Durant is off to a very slow start shooting the ball, but Westbrook is looking better than ever.Portland is missing its two centers, a front court of Pryzbilla, Camby, Oden, and Aldridge is a deep and good as nearly anybody in the NBA. If Pryzbilla and Oden can get healthy (big if), they will be able to challenge anybody.Can't deny what NO has done so far, Paul would absolutely crush LA in a 7 game series. Paul may not be enough to swing the series in NO's favor, but it would be fun.Dallas has two very good defenders from the center position and Dirk would be a tough cover for Pau and Odom.Denver has been without Anderson and Martin for all of the season and Nene has missed half the games so far, and because of that they have been getting murdered on the boards. If (like Portland, big if) those three are healthy, we've seen Denver can hang with LA. So far LA has looked very good, but its a long season and when Derek Fisher and Steve Blake are your two PGs you have to worry a little.

 

[the moops]

So far LA has looked very good, but its a long season and when Derek Fisher and Steve Blake are your two PGs you have to worry a little.

It is better than Fisher and Farmar though.

 

[Bobcat10]

So far LA has looked very good, but its a long season and when Derek Fisher and Steve Blake are your two PGs you have to worry a little.

Seen this play out before a number of times. I'm not sure it really matters. It certainly is their weak spot though.

 

[Kev4029]

So far LA has looked very good, but its a long season and when Derek Fisher and Steve Blake are your two PGs you have to worry a little.

It is better than Fisher and Farmar though.

I think Steve Blake is terribly overrated and people don't think a whole lot of him to begin with. He can't guard anybody because hes very slow laterally and is about this skinniest guy in the league. All he has ever done on offense is bring the ball up and immediately pass the ball and get out of the way (which kind of fits what LA wants) and about the only shot he can take or make is a completely uncontested jumper. He offers no value to an NBA team. Fisher is basically the same player, but he doesn't shoot as well and still thinks he is the 28 year old version of himself.This problem hasn't mattered in the past, so it may not matter in the future, but if I were a Laker fan it would still bother me.

 

[the moops]

So far LA has looked very good, but its a long season and when Derek Fisher and Steve Blake are your two PGs you have to worry a little.

It is better than Fisher and Farmar though.

I think Steve Blake is terribly overrated and people don't think a whole lot of him to begin with. He can't guard anybody because hes very slow laterally and is about this skinniest guy in the league. All he has ever done on offense is bring the ball up and immediately pass the ball and get out of the way (which kind of fits what LA wants) and about the only shot he can take or make is a completely uncontested jumper. He offers no value to an NBA team. Fisher is basically the same player, but he doesn't shoot as well and still thinks he is the 28 year old version of himself.This problem hasn't mattered in the past, so it may not matter in the future, but if I were a Laker fan it would still bother me.

Blake is a 40% 3 pt shooter and Fisher is a 37% 3 pt shooter.I think you are overestimating the suckiness of their shooting abilities.

 

[Gr00vus]

So far LA has looked very good, but its a long season and when Derek Fisher and Steve Blake are your two PGs you have to worry a little.

It is better than Fisher and Farmar though.

I think Steve Blake is terribly overrated and people don't think a whole lot of him to begin with. He can't guard anybody because hes very slow laterally and is about this skinniest guy in the league. All he has ever done on offense is bring the ball up and immediately pass the ball and get out of the way (which kind of fits what LA wants) and about the only shot he can take or make is a completely uncontested jumper. He offers no value to an NBA team. Fisher is basically the same player, but he doesn't shoot as well and still thinks he is the 28 year old version of himself.This problem hasn't mattered in the past, so it may not matter in the future, but if I were a Laker fan it would still bother me.

Blake is a 40% 3 pt shooter and Fisher is a 37% 3 pt shooter.I think you are overestimating the suckiness of their shooting abilities.

For the season (all 8 games) Blake is shooting 3s at 50%, Fisher at 57%. Would we rather have Deron Williams? Sure. But PG isn't going to be the reason the Lakers don't win, it's been the least important position on the team since Phil has been here. I don't get why people don't get that at this point.

 

[saintfool]

OKC will figure it out, Durant is off to a very slow start shooting the ball, but Westbrook is looking better than ever.

they're still so young. i expect one step back for every two steps forward. they're a year away, i think, from being legit contenders.

Can't deny what NO has done so far, Paul would absolutely crush LA in a 7 game series. Paul may not be enough to swing the series in NO's favor, but it would be fun.

i like what monty has done but rookie head coaches, especially young ones like him, tend to struggle in the playoffs. nevermind what someone like phil jackson could do to him.

Dallas has two very good defenders from the center position and Dirk would be a tough cover for Pau and Odom.

a lot of their success is going to depend on health and development of the role players like beaubois, butler and marion. otherwise, it's the same team that has struggled in the post-season.

Denver has been without Anderson and Martin for all of the season and Nene has missed half the games so far, and because of that they have been getting murdered on the boards. If (like Portland, big if) those three are healthy, we've seen Denver can hang with LA.

this team will rise or fall as carmelo's fortunes play out this season. i'm not liking what i am seeing though. karl has to right the ship and quickly.

So far LA has looked very good, but its a long season and when Derek Fisher and Steve Blake are your two PGs you have to worry a little.

almost everyone on that team is an injury concern either because of age or a personal history of it.