These are my opinions and predictions. Feel free to post your own.
....surprise for the Celtics will be the ascension of Gabe Pruitt into the back up PG role. Most, apparently including LeBron, have disparaged this kid from the get go but I've always liked his game. It is so different from Rondo's and once he's confident I think you will see the emergence of a very good outside shooter that will properly space stuff on the court for the second unit. And since it is Doc managing we all know we will definitely see a Green Team on the floor a lot during the regular season.
....disappointment for Celtic fans will be the play or lack thereof of the rookies. This C's team is a deep team that has championship experience. There's little room or need for either rookie so expect to be disappointed this season if you're one of those people who thrives on watching rookies develop. That's going to be happening in the NBDL.
....league wide disappointment will be in New York where Danilo Gallinari will not be a factor at all. He's been hurt and as much as D'Antoni knew his dad and this kid, I have felt it was a huge mistake drafting him that high when it was widely acknowledged he was more player than athlete. Just a bad pick in my opinion.
....league wide surprise will be just how good O.J. Mayo is. My personal pre-season ROY poll would be
1. Mayo
2. Oden
3. Beasley.
Once Mayo gets a handle on everything with his team I think the team will see just how good overall he is and will start going to him. I see a future perennial All-Star myself.
.... league wide surprise team will be the Timberwolves and this is not just because of their pre-season record. I think they take a nice step forward this year and will have close to 40 wins. I think they have a solid nucleus of 22-24 year olds that are now entering their 5th or more season in the NBA and are going to start to grow. Big Al and Gomes and to a lesser extent, Telfair, did last year. I see more growth there as well as some coming from Brewer and Foye. They will not be world beaters. They won't even make the playoffs. But they are going to improve greatly. And that will be a surprise.
....league wide disappointment team will be the Dallas Mavericks. I expect Kidd's game to fall off big time and think he will adversely effect that team to the point where they may be fighting for their playoff lives come April.
....hottest renewed rivalry will be the Celtics vs. the Sixers. I think with the addition of a healthy Brand in Philly, that the 4 meetings between these teams will be hotly contested and I think the national networks will pick up on it. That 2nd to last game of the season might be for the Atlantic division crown, who knows.
....headache will be Ron Artest. What I see in Houston is a bunch of fairly laid back underachievers. Add the volatile Artest and if this team has slow start or losing streak I could see fists flying in Houston between team mates. My guess is Artest will be good for at least one suspension this year, one fight this year, and at least one messed up interview that stirs controversy. I know that Stern is praying that his addition means extended playoff run in the nation's fourth largest market but instead, Stern will be wondering why he ever let this guy in the league in the first place.
....question mark will be Derrick Rose in Chicago. I don't see him making an immediate impact and after an okay season I think people will be questioning the wisdom of choosing him first over other players that I believe will have bigger years. Will it be just Rose getting acclimated to the NBA or will it be that he wasn't that good to begin with? I think that question will be asked a lot in the second half of the year.
....media creation will be the invincibility of the Los Angeles Lakers. Now that the national people can announce Kobe as "Last season's MVP" Kobe Bryant there will be no end to the praise thrown his way and towards his team. With the return of media darling Andrew Bynum, expect tons of stories on TNT, ABC and ESPN questioning whether this Lakers team is the best ever. We as Celtics fans will be annoyed beyond all belief.
....deadline trade will involve Shawn Marion. I don't know where he's going but he will be moved. I also don't see nearly as much big name deadline trades this year I we did last year. Now next season, that will be a different story. But I say look for limited movement of big name players this trade season.
