Norman Mah: Fact. I honestly think this guy knows what he's doing. Sure, he's made a lot of very questionable trades but he wouldn't be making these moves if he didn't have something up his sleeve. He kind of reminds me of Bill, makes a ton of questionable moves but somehow makes it work. Sucher, in my opinion, is no different. Plus, he's been one of the most active GMs in the league, very glad to have him here.
Matt Pipsair: Fact. I don't neccesarily like the trade he made with the Hornets but his other moves were pretty good in my opinion. Getting Maggette, who should have strong consideration to get a ratings boost, was a move in the right direction first and foremost. He is a legit scorer who will give him that added scoring dimension from the wing. Picking up Gerald Wallace was also a great move, even though he traded
him to New Orleans a few days later for Jameer and Kapono, which instantly turned into Morris Peterson. I personally like his team next year with Jameer/Maggette/Battier/West/Al Jeff. His bench isn't too shabby either. This could all be because Shane Battier is my favorite non-Hornet too so yea.
The Hornets have the best starting 5 in c2c.
Fact or Fiction?
Norman Mah: Fact. I gave the slight edge to Pippy over KVH as his team is truly amazing...But Pips...He's turned the worst team in the league last year into a serious contender. Emeka Okafor is turning out to be an absolute stud in this league, it's obvious that
playing with Jason Kidd is surely paying off, not to mention when you've got a mentor like Gasol helping you with your moves...Meka is a star in the making. Next year, New Orleans will be his team.
Matt Pipsair: Fact. Possibly me being a homer, possibly me being right. Kidd/GWall/Dirk/Pau/Emeka has to be the most formidable starting 5 in c2c. There is no other starting 5 with star power at 4 positions. Gerald Wallace isn't too shabby either. Detroit is
probably the only team that could challenge that lineup but the Hornets beat them in 3 out of 5 positions.
The Denver Nuggets are the team to beat in the West.
Fact or Fiction?
Norman Mah: Fact. Absolutely fact. Despite their recent loss to a young Trail Blazer team, this team IS the team to beat in the West. You have one of the smartest GMs in the league in Tomas (strategy wise), you have a stud like Bosh to build the team around
and then you throw great role players around him in Kevin Martin, Lamar Odom, and Luke Ridnour...You've got a team. Tomas is a genius...He even turned some guy named Justin Williams (seriously...Who is this guy?) into a rebounding machine.
Matt Pipsair: Fiction. The West is continually gaining star power through trades while he just lays back. Dirk, JO, ZBo, GWall, Melo and Deron have all been traded to the West in the last few days and the Nuggets continute to stick with Odom, Kevin Martin and
Bosh. The Jazz are nipping at their heels for the top spot in the Northwest and the Hornets are right behind them for the best record in the West. It's going to be an interesting race for the best in the West without a doubt.
The Orlando Magic(s) will finish the season with 60+ wins.
Fact or Fiction?
Norman Mah: Fiction. While I do think Orlando has the best team chemistry in the entire league, they're starting to cool off a bit. Still though, Ray Allen is playing like an MVP and when you define MVP, it's a player that makes his team better and right now...Ray Allen. Also, is Shelden Williams really averaging 14/8.6 a game? Damn.
Matt Pipsair: Fact. He's only 23 wins away and it's not even the All Star break yet. Don't ask me how he does it but he just wins. The team isn't all that impressive, I guess he just has a ton of time on his hands to work with strats.
The New Jersey Nets will be the first team in c2c to win back to back championships.
Fact or Fiction?
Norman Mah: Fact. I just barely voted fact on this one. Though if you think about it...How can they not win the championship this year? Last year, they pretty much only had AI, VC, JWill, Wally, and Magloire....Now they've got AI, Agent 0, RJ, KMart, AND Shaq daddy with a great bench. If the Nets don't repeat, it'll be a huge major
failure for the team. Anything can happen though in the East. To many good teams.
Matt Pipsair: Fiction. Richie, you're a cool dude but it's not gonna happen again this year. Your combo of AI and Gilbert is a hell of a scoring duo but they play negative defense. Sure Shaq and KMart play some defense but its not enough when you play against teams with dominant wings like Detroit, Milwaukee, Miami and even Chicago.
It's never a good sign when your 6th man is Vin Baker either.
The Sixers made the right move by trading Jermaine O'Neal for Anderson Varejao, Marquis Daniels and the Cavaliers 1st.
Fact or Fiction?
Norman Mah: Fiction. Just barely on this one too. JO is a big name, you can get a lot with a big name but if you think about it...Andy V is a 4 ball player and Marquis is a good role player, plus you add a lotto pick (the Cavs AREN'T making the post season) and you've got a solid deal. Anything can happen in the lotto, remember last
year, Bill's pick skyrocketed up to the 3rd pick...He could strike gold again.
Matt Pipsair: Fiction. Fiction. Bill complained about Jerm's contract but he goes out and picks up 2 contracts just as bad. Anderson is not worth near the money he is signed for and neither is Marquis. At least with JO you have a top 10 big. Anderson isn't even a top 20 big man and Marquis isn't close to being a top 100 SG/SF. Sure
that pick could be a top lotto pick but it could also be a really late lotto. Clever has improved his team quite a bit and could really make a push at that 8th seed in the East. |
