NBA Predictions

I did put KD on the All-Star team, as far as Iverson goes, I see slim to no chance. Unless he is somehow voted in as a starter over Chris Paul, he does not make the All-Star team. With Gay, Mayo and Randolph, they already have enough people that need the ball to be effective, not to mention take plenty of shots. With Allen I, the person who needs the ball to be effective more than any other player in the league, I just do not see it happening and see him at best getting 18-20 off the bench, though Memphis will still struggle like crazy on defense. Randolph has no desire to D up, Allen I is a liability even with his quickness and maybe couple of steals a game and Hasheem Thabeet may be somewhat of a disruption, but I see him getting pushed around quite a bit, not to mention I doubt he gets much playing time. As intriguing as the Grizz may be, I do not see a team that will put things together, definitely not this year. The Thunder on the other hand are a team on the rise, but they still are very weak up front and are missing the bangers needed to help them contend. Give the Thunder one more year, they will make the play-offs, but the Grizzlies are a team with a lot of issues and with much less upside than the Thunder.

Also, with the Celtics and Cavs, yes, Paul Pierce can not guard LeBron James. Neither could anyone on Orlando last year. Bill Russell could not guard Wilt Chamberlain. You catch my drift. It is a team game, and I think their are more questions this point about the team behind LeBron James than the team behind Paul Pierce. The versatility provided by Rasheed Wallace honestly dwarfs anything Big Baby could do, not to mention that they could really compliment each other as far as a secondary unit. I feel that Cleveland has some great depth as well, but they now have just as many if not more questions about age and injury as the Celtics. As much as I think Shaq will help the Cavs tremendously, and the Big Fella always seems to grind himself into the post season ready, they have an old and injured Zydrunas Ilgauskas, not to mention a definitely untested bench, with a few players that are expected to contribute but seem to pull up short. Wallace will be a match-up nightmare for them off the bench, plus Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett will still get theirs. LeBron will indeed have his way and be the best player on the court, but it is the rest of the Cavs that worry me, as I think the Celtics bigs could give them fits similar to how the Magic did last year. If Leon Powe is healthy, he could be a huge piece for the Cavs, as he is a beast and to me is a better player and much more versatile than Glen Davis, although Baby’s strength and intangibles made it worth keeping him, not to mention that Powe has been riddled with injuries. I love that you believe Cleveland is good enough to beat Boston, and I think they have a legitimate chance, but I just think Rasheed will be a big problem for them come the play-offs. He is just an incredibly talented basketball player, and he seems willing to accept his role, not to mention the guy is battle tested in the play-offs and I just do not like the idea of anyone on Cleveland covering him. You may be right with him, as he shows time and time again he can lose all composure and just melt down, but with other guys carrying the burden I think it will allow Rasheed to maintain his emotions quite well. Artest and Rasheed are huge wild cards, and either could negatively affect their two championship contending squads at any time, but I really feel that they will just love the situations they are in and contribute to the point where both of them will make their teams that much better than their competitors.

You know that fans votes have nothing to do with being an All-Star reserve. They are voted on by the coaches of each conference. I did put B-Roy and Durant on my All-Star team, it will be a major up hill battle for T-Mac, and I think Shaq Daddy will play well enough to earn a spot like last year in his ASG co-MVP performance, and the fact that this is most likely his last year will probably catapult him into the game. I think it is safe to say that even Brooke Lopez would not mind seeing Shaq out there (I guess I sound like Bob Costas saying that, but hell, Brook Lopez would just not be as much fun to watch in an All-Star game as Shaq, EVER.)

He may be, but he has a long list of clients, plus T-Mac is much more banged up than Wade. Also, did you know Darius Miles used to work out with Grover? The man obviously has credentials, and MJ is the gold standard of testimonials, but I think T-Mac falls short of Wade status. Way short. If he is anywhere close to where he used to be, than it is POSSIBLE (not probable) that he makes an All-Star team, especially considering the fact he has made 7, but I think with the combination of talented guards in the West, along with Houston’s most likely below .500 record along with T-Mac not coming back until late November at the earliest, it means he will be sitting front row watching the game in Dallas, in civilian clothes.

I think he very well could make the team, and since they try to go with “true” centers he has to be the odds on favorite for his numbers, but with how many solid PGs there are on winning teams, it could turn out Al does not make the team once again. Last year I feel he was snubbed in favor of a guy like David West, who was on a worse team putting up worse numbers (than the year before, not than the T-Wolves), but I think he might not hook it this year once again due to the Wolves being bottom feeders and the fact that Parker and Williams just flat out deserve it more than a guy like Al Jefferson in my opinion. To me, Tony Parker and Deron Williams are All-Stars, period, and for one of them not to make the team due to a guy who puts up numbers on a team that is absolutely awful leaves kind of a bad taste in my mouth. Al will put up numbers, and if they have to choose a true center than he would make the team by all means, but if Tony Parker and Deron Williams do close to what they did last year and get left off the All-Star team, it is definitely ridiculous.