I started writing for Amicohoops.net, please take a look!

[GC003332]

Hopefully your first prediction comes true.

Side note , why have a Cavs index on the site?, Warriors are the defending champs and have the reigning MVP.

Keep up the good work.

[Csfan1984]

I think you will come out 1 for 4

[Rondo2287]

Hopefully your first prediction comes true.

Side note , why have a Cavs index on the site?, Warriors are the defending champs and have the reigning MVP.

Keep up the good work.

Sam Amico who runs the site forks for FSN Ohio covering the Cavs

[PhoSita]

Appreciate your predictions.

I don't think IT is likely to get the All-Star nod, just because I think he'll continue to come off the bench and bench guys very rarely make it to the AS Game.

That said, not very many bench guys are the number one scoring option for their teams.  IT could very well put up 18-20 points per game coming off the bench and that might be enough.

At the same time, he'll be competing with Kyrie Irving, John Wall, Jeff Teague, Kyle Lowry, Derrick Rose, Reggie Jackson, and Goran Dragic.

Tough sledding.

Still, if it comes time for the coaches to name All-Star reserves and the Celts lead the Atlantic Division and have one of the top 5 or 6 records in the East, the coaches may feel compelled to name an All-Star from the Celts, and Isaiah will likely be the one they pick in that scenario.



As for the other predictions, I think trading a power forward is a virtual lock, and winning the division will probably be tougher for the Celts than you allow in your post, but still very doable.

[Rondo2287]

Appreciate your predictions.

I don't think IT is likely to get the All-Star nod, just because I think he'll continue to come off the bench and bench guys very rarely make it to the AS Game.

That said, not very many bench guys are the number one scoring option for their teams.  IT could very well put up 18-20 points per game coming off the bench and that might be enough.

At the same time, he'll be competing with Kyrie Irving, John Wall, Jeff Teague, Kyle Lowry, Derrick Rose, Reggie Jackson, and Goran Dragic.

Tough sledding.

Still, if it comes time for the coaches to name All-Star reserves and the Celts lead the Atlantic Division and have one of the top 5 or 6 records in the East, the coaches may feel compelled to name an All-Star from the Celts, and Isaiah will likely be the one they pick in that scenario.



As for the other predictions, I think trading a power forward is a virtual lock, and winning the division will probably be tougher for the Celts than you allow in your post, but still very doable.

Thanks for the read Phosita, my reasoning was similar to what you outlined above for Isaiah being an allstar.  Its a lot like wanting to have the best set up man in baseball at the allstar games as well. 

[sofutomygaha]

Appreciate your predictions.

I don't think IT is likely to get the All-Star nod, just because I think he'll continue to come off the bench and bench guys very rarely make it to the AS Game.

That said, not very many bench guys are the number one scoring option for their teams.  IT could very well put up 18-20 points per game coming off the bench and that might be enough.

At the same time, he'll be competing with Kyrie Irving, John Wall, Jeff Teague, Kyle Lowry, Derrick Rose, Reggie Jackson, and Goran Dragic.

Tough sledding.

Still, if it comes time for the coaches to name All-Star reserves and the Celts lead the Atlantic Division and have one of the top 5 or 6 records in the East, the coaches may feel compelled to name an All-Star from the Celts, and Isaiah will likely be the one they pick in that scenario.



As for the other predictions, I think trading a power forward is a virtual lock, and winning the division will probably be tougher for the Celts than you allow in your post, but still very doable.

I saw you sneak Reggie Jackson in there. Like no one would notice!!!

[PhoSita]

Appreciate your predictions.

I don't think IT is likely to get the All-Star nod, just because I think he'll continue to come off the bench and bench guys very rarely make it to the AS Game.

That said, not very many bench guys are the number one scoring option for their teams.  IT could very well put up 18-20 points per game coming off the bench and that might be enough.

At the same time, he'll be competing with Kyrie Irving, John Wall, Jeff Teague, Kyle Lowry, Derrick Rose, Reggie Jackson, and Goran Dragic.

Tough sledding.

Still, if it comes time for the coaches to name All-Star reserves and the Celts lead the Atlantic Division and have one of the top 5 or 6 records in the East, the coaches may feel compelled to name an All-Star from the Celts, and Isaiah will likely be the one they pick in that scenario.



As for the other predictions, I think trading a power forward is a virtual lock, and winning the division will probably be tougher for the Celts than you allow in your post, but still very doable.

I saw you sneak Reggie Jackson in there. Like no one would notice!!!

Reggie's nothing but average, but he's going to run roughly a million pick and rolls and have a pretty high usage rate on that Detroit team.  You scoff, but last year in 27 games he averaged 17.6 pts 9.2 ast and 4.7 reb for the Pistons.  If the Pistons are anywhere close to .500 and Reggie's putting up stats like that, he'll be in contention for an AS spot.

[SHAQATTACK]

Nice job Rondo. Keep posting the links so we can keep checking out your work.

+1 ......good job ......keep us to speed on your articles.

[Rondo2287]

Thanks for the kind words guys. A preseason round table article should be up tomorrow. Should be a fun read

[Rondo2287]

http://amicohoops.net/2015/10/ah-writers-roundtable-season-preview/

roundtable preview, my respsonses summarized below

Top five teams in the NBA?

Kevin Conway: Spurs, Warriors, Cavaliers, Clippers, Rockets.

Finals prediction?
The Spurs will put together one last run. Kawhi is once again able to slow LeBron and Cleveland has no answer for Duncan and Aldridge.

Team likeliest to surprise — in a good way?
Orlando Magic. They continue to add good young talent. If their players continue to develop, they could make a real jump this year. (Not playoffs, but close.)

Team likeliest to disappoint?
New Orleans Pelicans. Injuries look to be getting the best of the Pelicans already as another year of Anthony Davis’ prime is wasted.

Most overrated player?
Dwight Howard. How many games worse would the Rockets be if they had Ian Mahinmi starting?

Most underrated?
David West. Vet minimum salary this season and could be huge for the Spurs.

If you ran the NBA, what’s the one change you would make?
Shorten the season — 82 games is too much. The lockout year was just the right amount of basketball going into the playoffs.



One roundtable question got left on the cutting room floor which was biggest name to switch teams this season, I said Dirk

[PhoSita]

http://amicohoops.net/2015/10/ah-writers-roundtable-season-preview/

roundtable preview, my respsonses summarized below

Top five teams in the NBA?

Kevin Conway: Spurs, Warriors, Cavaliers, Clippers, Rockets.

Finals prediction?
The Spurs will put together one last run. Kawhi is once again able to slow LeBron and Cleveland has no answer for Duncan and Aldridge.

Team likeliest to surprise — in a good way?
Orlando Magic. They continue to add good young talent. If their players continue to develop, they could make a real jump this year. (Not playoffs, but close.)

Team likeliest to disappoint?
New Orleans Pelicans. Injuries look to be getting the best of the Pelicans already as another year of Anthony Davis’ prime is wasted.

Most overrated player?
Dwight Howard. How many games worse would the Rockets be if they had Ian Mahinmi starting?

Most underrated?
David West. Vet minimum salary this season and could be huge for the Spurs.

If you ran the NBA, what’s the one change you would make?
Shorten the season — 82 games is too much. The lockout year was just the right amount of basketball going into the playoffs.



One roundtable question got left on the cutting room floor which was biggest name to switch teams this season, I said Dirk

Some interesting takes. 


Here are my responses to the same questions:


Top five teams in the NBA?

Same as you -- Spurs, Warriors, Cavs, Rockets -- except I'd put the Thunder ahead of the Clips.

Finals prediction?

LeBron once again reaches the Finals after beating a revamped Bulls team (featuring Carmelo Anthony) in the Eastern Conference Finals.

The Thunder are his opponent, and they ride the [Westbrook - Morrow - Durant - Ibaka - Adams] lineup to a title in seven games thanks to their home court advantage in Game 7.

Team likeliest to surprise — in a good way?

Would it be a surprise if the Pacers made the playoffs with Paul George back?

Alternatively, I'd pick the Pistons. I don't think they'll make the playoffs, but they'll make a run at a .500 record thanks to the R-Jax / Drummond pick and roll and a great rookie campaign from Stanley Johnson.

Team likeliest to disappoint?

The Lakers are always a good bet to disappoint their delusional fans. 

Otherwise I'd go with the Jazz, who I think are going to struggle to reach the lofty playoff expectations set for them because they don't have a starting caliber point guard at a time when point guard play is more important than ever.

Most overrated player?

Deandre Jordan -- the focus of a major off-season controversy featuring two teams fighting over signing him to a max deal, and yet the Clippers might be better with him on the bench in the last few minutes of the fourth quarter.

Most underrated?

Could it somehow be Carmelo Anthony at this point?  Still feels to me like he's got a couple meaningful post-season runs in him.  Maybe starting this year.

If you ran the NBA, what’s the one change you would make?

I'd drastically change the way that draft order is determined.  Focus would be on lessening the difference in lottery odds between the very worst team in the league and the other teams in the bottom 5-10 spots, and making it so that lower seeded teams in the playoffs have a chance to move up into the top 10 of the draft.


Biggest name to switch teams this season -- Already mentioned above: Carmelo