Justification for Western Voting:
1) Portland-Its the begining of the season. I can't rightly disqualify a team for injuries that may or may not happen.
2) Buffalo-Before the season warms up this has to be the favorite in the Pacific IMO. Dwight Howard is the best player in the conference, and the second most dominant player in the league. I don't agree with all the surrounding parts, but they don't stop this team from being a favorite right now.
3) Houston-This could easily be Dallas, but I thikn Houston's talent at the top is better. A lot of their success depends on just how "David Robinson-esque" Randolph is, and how Ellis does playing as a starting point on a good team. JJ can do a good job handling a lot of the ball handing duties.
4) Phoenix- I've thought a lot about this, and I've come to the conclusion that even though I still believe that come playoff time I should be the best team, I don't think I will have the best record in a conference where we are going to absolutely beat the crap out of each other.
5) Seattle- Great team, should be better in the playoffs also.
6) Golden State- The 1 2 3 of Buffalo Phoenix and Golden State is very much debatable. We're all playoff teams, its all personal preference. I think Phoenix finishes slightly better.
7) Dallas- A solid team that will make the playoffs, but I don't think they're remarkable. Their front line to me is a little redundant, and when the top 5 teams all have establishes and strong post presences, this will hurt, more in the playoffs though.
Utah-I think Dirk Nowitzki and Chauncey alone are enough to guarantee a playoff spot. Mike Dunleavy healthy and in 2007/08 form should put them ahead of Dallas.
9) San Antonio-I think this could be a playoff team, but someone had to be the close loser. From other votes I think they're underrated, but I don't think their bench is good enough to get into the dance, and I don't think their stars are good enough to compensate for the bench.
10) Memphis-Frontline and wing depth both concerns too much for me to put them above San An, but I will get back to them.
11) Sacramento-I feel really bad about leaving Brandon Roy out of the playoffs. He's the 2nd best SG in basketball, but I don't like Hedo paired with him, I don't think Thabeet or Thompson are starting caliber players on playoff teams, and I don't like any of their bench beyond Craig Smith to play a major role this year.
12) Denver-Very good young team, but too young I think. I'd like to put them higher, but I don't think they will be this year. Pietrus and Azubuike are both good wing players, and Haslem is a good post player, but I don't think they're good enough to push the youngsters to make a big leap this year.
13) Minny-I can't get behind a team that's gonna need goot night in night out production from Peja, Z-Bo, and John Salmons. This is a team built of supporting players, without a leader.
14) New Orleans-I don't want this to seem like Kobe hate, but even Kobe doesn't like the pieces around him here.
15) Las Vegas- Some players I think are over hyped (Ariza stands out), and some players aren't ready for primetime(Beasley, Hickson, Gordon). Very good TOTF, but not a good team of the present.
Topic: 2009 Celticsblog Draft: Voting Analysis : Team of the Future (Read 673032 times)