I'm a little late to all this, and I was trying to read through 8 pages of posts as quickly as I could. So instead of asking specific questions, I'll just state my opinions that the other GM's can respond to.
Blazers are clearly the best team on paper. I have some concerns with the Blazers though (sorry Roy, it's easier for me to hate on the favorites than the underdogs). It's already been mentioned, but I feel 3 point shooting (among the starters) will be a concern. I feel defenses will be able to sag off, limiting penetration, and forcing them to an outside game where they may not thrive. I just picture the 2004 Olympics team. A lot of talent, a lot of ability to slash to the hoop, but when defenses sag off they may struggle to adjust. Another concern (that I predict Roy having an easy answer for here in our fantasy world, and i'll have the same answer too when it comes to my team
) I see a concern of players re-signing. Those young guys have egos, while they may be comfortable being 2nd or 3rd fiddle now, but when their contracts are up, one or two of them might desire to by the main main and leave for another team (ala Joe Johnson).
Utah, Denver, Twolves. All 3 of them I could see surprising some people in the playoffs. Twolves have Lebron and that's enough. Utah and Denver, I just like the way their teams are built. Denver and Utah, I both really like that they have a clear pecking order. I see Utah with TMac as option 1a and Joe Johnson as option 1b, I can see them both getting hot in a playoff series averageing 30ppg each, and knocking off a powerful Blazer team. I can see the same thing (but to a lesser extent) with Denver. Brand is option 1, Jefferson is option 2, and Bibby 3, with maybe Bibby stepping up to option 2 in the playoffs and playing huge. I just feel Denver is very, very thin at Center, I don't see Mutombo being able to be the starting center for a full season and the playoffs.
Angry Pickles = real life New York Knicks.
Blazers are the favorite, very likely the team to come out of the West. I think they won't win the title this year due to youth, but they may make the Finals. At the same time though I wouldn't be surprised to see them knocked off in the first or second round by a Utah or Denver. (Let me re-emphasis, I see Blazers as the favorite, but I just wouldn't be completely surprised to see another team knock them off, unlikely, but not out of the realm of possibility). Utah, Denver, and Minnesota I see all with potential to make the playoffs (in the order I mentioned them), but from what I see now I don't think any of them will make it to the Finals.
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Topic: Celticsblog Mock GM Press Conferences: Northwest Division (Read 51329 times)