Fumbling for Fodder: Focused on the NBA: 2k9-10 Preview

Before we dive into the roundball, we want to share an article that tries to solve one of life's most elusive mysteries: why would anyone be a Cleveland Browns fan? The piece, by espn.com Page 2's Geoff LaTulippe, can be found here.

Now to basketball!

The NBA is in danger of turning into Major League Baseball. And that is not a good thing. Just as, every August, Pirate, Padre and Expo nee Nationals loyalists see their hopes traded away to the Big Money teams in New York and L.A., a disturbing trend took place this Association off season. The rich got richer, as is wont to happen, but this time around, it was the poorest of the poor who facilitated much of the movement.

The Nets traded away Vince Carter and got Rafer Alston and spares. The Bucks shipped Richard Jefferson in exchange for three guys they immediately cut. We don't know what the hell the plan in in Minnesota, but it appears to involve shedding any player who is to be paid an actual salary. These moves, and countless other like them, will make for a great playoff chase and even better post season series but are bad for the long-term health of the game. It remains to be seen if the moves of this summer past are all about the general economy and/or positioning for the Free Agent Class of 2010. or if they are a harbinger of the future of the NBA. We hope it is the former.

Now on the the preseason awards and useless predictions:

First Coach to be Fired:

Scott Brooks, Oklahoma City Thunder. Unrealistic expectations, paired with a mediocre team and a lack of other coaches on the hot seat make Scotty our pick.

Don't be shocked if it's: Don Nelson, Golden State Warriors. Just a hunch.

Breakout Season Coming From:

Greg Oden, Portland Trail Blazers. Dude is itching to play after a wasted rookie campaign. With a year-older crew around him and hopes for a long playoff run ahead, look for the old man to be a monster this year.

Don't be shocked if it's: Aaron Brooks, Houston Rockets

We Give Up On:

Rafer Alston, New Jersey Nets. A really good streetballer. That's all he will ever be.

We Still Say He's a Star In-the-Making:

Andrea Bargnani, Toronto Raptors. But if we don't see a breakout this season, we're done with him too.

Best Off Season, Team:

Orlando Magic. The defending Conference Champions traded Corky Turkoglu high, picked up Brandon Bass and Matt Barnes, then suckered the Mavs into sending to them via trade, the cash needed to match Dallas' offer sheet to Marcin Gortat. We're not sold on Vince the Malingerer being the key to a title, but this summer was a classic example of a team reloading on the fly. Also considered: The Los Angeles Lakers picking up Ron-Ron; The Boston Celtics bulking up with 'Sheed, Marquis Daniels.

Worst Off Season, Team:

We want to give this to the Minnesota Timberwolves, but we can't. Sure they drafted three point guards in the first round -- and then watched the best of the trio refuse to sign; sure they made moves out of financial desperation rather than competitive desire; sure, their team is going to be horrendous this season. Still, they made a great hire in Kurt Rambis at head coach and finally jettisoned Lerch McHale.

That leaves the Milwaukee Bucks as the team with the worst off season. They traded Richard Jefferson for, when subsequent deals were done, Carlos Delfino, then let Ramon Sessions and Charlie Villanueva walk. They got one spare part, in exchange for their second thru fourth-leading scorers from last season. This team will struggle to merely compete. And they have the ugliest uniforms in professional sports. Also considered: Houston Rockets' injury parade; Golden State Warriors' Captain Jack flare up.

Best Off Season, Fans:

The Dallas Mavericks turned Jerry Stackhouse, Deaven George and Greg Buckner into Shawn Marion, Drew Gooden and Tim Thomas. They also have Erik Dampier's expiring contract to trade at the deadline, in exchange for another top-tier free agent. Things have not looked this good in Big D since the start of the 2006-07 season.

Worst Off Season, Fans:

Sacramento Kings. The worst defensive team in the NBA last season hired Paul Westphal as their head coach. Not only is Whestphal the epitome of the offensive-minded coach, he had also been out of the league for eight years. Oh yeah, the team is leaving Sacramento, too. You are a Kings fan -- fyl.

Best Off Season Trade:

San Antonio Spurs aquiring Richard Jefferson for Bruce Bowen, Fabricio Oberto and Kurt Thomas. We're not convinced Jefferson is as good as advertised, but picking up a guy of his skill, in exchange for three guys that had no future in the Alamo City is just another example of how well-run an organization the Spurs are.

Worst Off Season Trade:

Golden State Warriors sending Marco Belinelli to Toronto (where he will thrive), for a broken down Devean George, who was horrid in his two seasons in Dallas.

Sam Cassell Award for he who will bitch the loudest this season about the contract he voluntarily signed:

Stephen Jackson, Golden State Warriors. Dude signed an extension in July, got suspended in September and was stripped of his captaincy this month. Look for him to be shipped out sooner than later. Look for him to be an absolute cancer until then.

Shawn Bradley Award for most undeserved contract given to a free agent:

Theo Ratliff, San Antonio Spurs. Also considered: Juwan Howard, Portland Trail Blazers.

Tyronn Lue Award for he who will turn three good playoff games into a ridiculous long-term contract:

Tyron Lue, Boston Celics. Lue has been named Director of Basketball Develpoment for the C-Men.

Penny Hardaway Award for most overrated player in the NBA:

Michael Redd, Milwaukee Bucks. We just don't get the fascination with this one-dimensional player, on a bad team.

Fashion Award:

The Mavs, Cavs and Blazers have some great new alternate unis and the Bobcats have quite possibly the worst of all-time, but the hands-down winner ofr this year's award has to be the Philadelphia 76'ers, who, in a nod to history, went from this to this. Classic lines, clear fonts -- a great look.

All-Jobless Team, as of 25 October:

PG – Stephon Marbury
SG – Jerry Stackhouse
SF – Bruce Bowen
PF – Malik Rose
C – Lorenzen Wright
Sixth Man: Darius Miles
Coach: Avery Johnson

Rookie of the Year:

Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers. If we picked anyone else, it would be a purely contrarian move. And we'd never do that.

And the Number One pick in the 2008 NBA Draft belongs to:

Las Vegas...err Sacramento Kings.

Where They Will Be, One Year From Now:

Le Bron James -- Cleveland

Dwayne Wade -- Dallas (or somewhere else that is not Miami)

Chris Bosh -- Toronto

Where they stand at the start of the season, our initial Power Rankings:

30. Sacramento Kings - Just nothing to hope for this season.

29. Milwaukee Bucks - Picking up Hakeem Warrick may be only good off season move.

28. Moscow Nyets - The fire sale continues. Will the move to Brooklyn ever happen?

27. Memphis Grizlies - AI will score 50 per game. And Memphis will lose 80% of them.

26. New York Knicks - When the season ends, and LBJ is not in NYC, the real rebuilding can begin.

25. Minnesota Timberwolves - Bad teams win a lot early and late in the season. Minny is raw, but talented.

24. Golden State Warriors - You thought the flame-out of Run TMC was ugly? Just wait.

23. Indiana Pacers - Traded crap for crap with the W's. Neither got appreciable better.

22. Houston Rockets - Time to pull the plug on the Sleepy McGrady/Yao era and rebuild.

21. Oklahoma City Thunder - Playoff talk is nonsense.

20. Washington Wizards - The perpetually overrated Wiz have an appropriately overrated coach, in Flip.

19. Chicago Bulls - Another team banking on the Summer of 2010. Foolishly.

18. Miami Heat - Better hope D-Wade is not basing his decision on the outcome of this season.

17. Charlotte Bobcats - Can Tyson Chandler and LB get them to their first post season berth?

16. Philadelphia 76'ers - It's all about Elton.

15. Phoenix Suns - Nash and Amare get you to the playoffs at least, right?

14. Detroit Pistons - Their rebuild on the fly will keep them at least mediocre.

13. Los Angeles Clippers - Griffin and Butler are nice upgrades. But they are the Clippers.

12. New Orleans Hornets - This may be the last time for a while they enter a season this high.

11. Utah Jazz - If the Boozer situation explodes, they will tumble, Jerry Sloan greatness notwithstanding.

10. Toronto Raptors - There's an interesting mix North of the border. This team will be fun to watch.

9. San Antonio Spurs - Not sold on Jefferson as the answer. Can they stay healthy?

8. Denver Nuggets - We're still not convinced last year was real. Can they repeat the performance?

7. Atlanta Hawks - Can Coach Woodson finally reach Jamal Crawford?

6. Portland Trail Blazers - Still a year away from being scary-good.

5. Dallas Mavericks - Solid team can be legitimate contender with the right trade for the Damp contract.

4. Cleveland Cavaliers - Shaq + 'Bron could = ring, if Delonte West stays on his meds.

3. Boston Celtics - It all comes down to KG's knees.

2. Orlando Magic - Surprise winners of the East got even better.

1. Los Angeles Lakers - Ron Artest was the perfect addition to this team.

And finally, our annual Useless Playoff Predictions:

EAST:

Division Champions: Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Orlando Magic
Should get in: Atlanta Hawks, Toronto Raptors

The Scrum: Philadelphia 76'ers, Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls, Detroit Pistons, Washington Wizards

Give the Slots to: Philly, Miami and Washington

Round One:
(1) Orlando over (8) Washington
(2) Cleveland over (7) Miami
(3) Boston over (6) Toronto
(4) Atlanta over (5) Chicago

Conference Semifinals:
Orlando over Atlanta
Boston over Cleveland

Conference Finals:
Boston Celtics over Orlando Magic

WEST:

Division Champions: Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks
Should get in: Portland Trail Blazers, Utah Jazz, San Antonio Spurs, New Orleans Hornets
The scrum: Los Angeles Clippers, Phoenix Suns
Give the slot to: Los Angeles Clippers.

Round One:
(1) Los Angeles Lakers over (8) Los Angeles Clippers
(7) Utah over (2) Denver
(3) Dallas over (6) New Orleans
(4) Portland over (5) San Antonio

Conference Semifinals:
LA Lakers over Portland
Dallas over Utah

Conference Finals:
Los Angeles Lakers over Dallas Mavericks

Your 2009-2010 NBA Champions: