(This is another in a series of 30 guest columns that will run in October, when optimism reigns supreme across the NBA. The theme will be “Five Reasons to Feel Positive About … ” We encourage you to follow the authors on Twitter and visit their sites. – CS) Portland Trail Blazers fans had to endure one of the franchise’s worst meltdowns in the lockout-shortened 2011-12 season. Following an epic sell-off and housecleaning, the Blazers enter this season with a new
Northwest Division Fantasy Preview (Part II) For the introduction to this article and our comments on the Thunder and Nuggets see Part I. Utah Jazz Last year the Jazz surprised many by qualifying for the playoffs and again are viewed as a bubble team. The reason isn’t their talent level but how the pieces come together. Whereas the Denver Nuggets are an example of an ideal fantasy team, the Jazz resemble a poorly-built one. All their talent, depth and upside is concentrated in a
There are three NBA teams with new coaches for the start of the 2012-13 season, and no one is expecting any of them to work miracles. In fact, ownership and management appear to be expecting just the opposite. The Charlotte Bobcats and Orlando Magic both are undergoing massive rebuilding projects and don’t seem overly concerned with winning. Both teams have hired inexperienced coaches with strong backgrounds in player development, which means they also have strong backgrounds in patience. It remains to be
Pity poor Paul Allen. He only came in at No. 20 on the Forbes list of the 400 Richest Americans. But at least he’ll have something to hold over the heads of the other owners when they convene next month for the Board of Governors meeting in New York (then again, Allen– worth 15 billion– may not attend. He usually sends someone in his place). The only owner who can flex muscles with him is Mikhail Prokhorov of the Brooklyn Nets, with $13.2
Hi, I’m Bruce. It’s a great pleasure to be joining the team here. Kent talked about the “The Zeros” in Tuesday’s Spin. I want to expand on some of the things he said about rookies because it’s the risk that rookies (and other risky players) give you that is critical to winning. This doesn’t just apply to fantasy (the benefits of risk apply in basketball, and in the real world too) but it certainly does apply to fantasy. “Can’t Miss” Then Kent went
With the opening of training camps in late September, there is now more offseason behind us rather than in front of us. With six weeks to go, many teams are looking to fill the final spot or two on their rosters. And as we pointed out last week, there is not much to choose from. Although there has been talk about some of these teams possibly adding another player, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Golden State, Indiana, the Los Angeles Lakers, Memphis, New York, Oklahoma City
UNDER CONTRACT: F LaMarcus Aldridge, F Nicolas Batum, G Wesley Matthews, F J.J. Hickson, F Luke Babbitt, F Jared Jeffries, G Elliot Williams, G Nolan Smith, G Ronnie Price, G Sasha Pavlovic DRAFT PICKS: F-C Joel Freeland (2006), F Victor Claver (2009), G Damian Lillard, C Meyers Leonard, G Will Barton FREE AGENTS: G Jonny Flynn, F Craig Smith, F Shawne Williams, C Dan Gadzuric MOVES: The Trail Blazers needed a real center – no, not rookie Meyers Leonard – to take the pressure off
NEW YORK — It pays to be a center, whether you are an All-Star or a promising young Turk. Also, there is a lot of interest in a 38-year-old two-time MVP. And, the main domino has not yet fallen, although Monday will be a key day in the life of Deron Williams, the Brooklyn Nets and the Dallas Mavericks. One more thing: For the first time ever, restricted free agents rather than unrestricted free agents ruled the day on Day One of the