[td8118Participant]

Oklahoma is ahead of schedule like Portland was and COULD be a potential darkhouse for the 8th seed…Durants game has matured just like i thought it would

The Bulls have not lost a step without their leading scorer…I believe they are a better team this year with Luol Deng and more experienced Rose, Thomas, Noah

The Celtics are the best team in the NBA

Brandon Roy is one of the 5 most complete players in the NBA

Brandon Jennings is much more NBA ready then i thought…the Knicks should have drafted him

The Cavs have not found their identy and look lost on offense…They will figure it out but i have doubts of them making the finals

I went in to the season saying many times that only 5 teams have a legitimate chance of winning the finals(LAL, BOS, SA, ORL, CLE)…Denver is now on that list, Carmelo’s game is getting stronger and stronger

People who were saying that Turkolu was a big loss can stop now….The Magic have the most explosive offense in the NBA

[llperez]

I agree with everything you said, except I still think the lakers will be the best team when they get Gasol back.

[The Big O]

I forgot Gasol was injured lol

J-Smoove vs Lamar the candyman Kardashian

I hope his jumper is on tonight, it would really open things up against Lamar’s length

[rtbtParticipant]

Although td8118 made some very good points, it’s still far too early to draw any significant conclusions.

As for Denver, they’re much improved but I don’t believe they have a legitimate shot at the title. I still think barring any serious injuries, it will be LA vs Orlando.

As for the Magic, I happen to think they’re going to miss Turkoglu, however, they have something else going for them. When a young team finally makes the NBA finals, they develop a level of confidence and kind of a swagger that will serve them throughout the year. That’s what we’re seeing from them early in the season and it may be enough to carry them back to the finals.

[td8118Participant]

Yeah good point, definitely seeing that with the Magic right now….Can they be tough enough to beat a full Celtic team though? The talents there its just a question of whether Dwight Howard improves enough this year

[Bryant24Participant]

u had good points but i think bulls are going to struggle this year without gordon scoring and right now rose is playing on a sprained ankle they lack a talented scorer besides rose and deng and salmons are not the answer.

[rtbtParticipant]

I don’t know what people expect from the guy, but I happen to think Dwight Howard is already an elite superstar. Every team that plays Orlando has to focus on and double team him, leaving guys wide open for 3 pointers. And then my favorite part of the game is rebounding and nobody does it better than him. We take it for granted when he grabs 22 or 24 rebounds. If anyone else did that, they’d be talking about him all week.

And let’s not forget all of the shots he blocks. I don’t know why, but people expect him to be perfect and he isn’t. Just like everyone else, he has flaws in his games. I think his offensive moves are getting better and we should simply accept the fact that he can’t shoot foul shots.

Dwight Howard was the reason Orlando made it to the finals and will probably get there again this year.

[doubledribblerParticipant]

Sorry, but Turkoglu was a big loss, it just so happens that Orlando not only got Vince Carter, but added some other really nice pieces to their team that they didn’t have last year. Offensively there is nothing not to like about Orlando, but I wouldn’t trust anyone to play any type of defense on that team other than Howard.

I don’t think Cleveland or Denver has a chance at the finals. Z is looking way better than Shaq right now and they still can’t defend Orlando. Boston and San Antonio’s biggest concerns will be their health. If Boston is healthy, there is no way Orlando can beat them.

I agree that the Bulls are better. Though they could have a worse record than last year. I think Rose being hurt and having a tougher Eastern Conference could affect their record. It already looks like Rose and Noah have improved. Hinrich seems to be playing well with more time this year, plus you have a healthy Deng, Salmons and Miller are more comfortable and Johnson and Gibson are younger guys that were drafted, but can contribute a little bit now.

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

OKC has gotten better this year, but they’d have to win at least 48 games to make the playoffs in the West as the 8th seed and I just don’t see it happening. They don’t have enough size in the post. They’re still a season away.

I agree about the Bulls. I think they’re a better defensive team now without Ben Gordon and there are more shots to go around. It still remains to be seen who’ll make big shots for them in clutch situations though.

I agree, but it’s early. Pau Gasol hasn’t played. Boston and Orlando are looking like the best teams though at this point.

I agree. I’ve said this all summer. Somebody on here tried to say OJ Mayo had more upside than Roy and that Roy was overrated. They said he couldn’t get better. Hilarious. Somebody said they’d take Durant over Roy right now. Hilarious.

I agree, but it’s still early. Teams don’t really know much about Jennings, so they haven’t had film to scout him. He’s getting ready to start showing up in oppossing teams’ gameplans.

I agree. They’ll get better, but even still… I don’t think they’re better than Boston or Orlando.

Melo is looking good, but I don’t think Denver is a title contender. They don’t have enough size.

It’s too early to say Turk isn’t a big loss for Orlando. Turk was a big time clutch performer who consistently hit big shots.

[festar35Participant]

Carmelo is an absolute beast. Dropped 42 against the Griz this time, he is going off.

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

Mayo went off tonight too. He has 40+ I think.

[RickyRubio9Participant]

I agree with most besides best team. I still don’t have much on that in just one week. Can Cleveland put it together?
Will Spurs stay healthy and is Duncan going to be Duncan? He hasn’t put up the same numbers, neither has Manu or R.J.
C’s, Lakers, and Magic look good though, Lakers are missin’ Pau though and Magic are without Lewis as well. The fact that the Magic are still winning is scary…C’s have been doing their thing.

[Author]

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