The Bizniz, Volume 2, Issue 16 ARCHIVE

11/1/07

By the way, I could not for the life of me get this to format at all. The version I have in Word is lovely with three columns and everything looking just so. I tried fixing it all manually but that was ridiculously frustrating. MySpace has to work on that compatibility. You get the info still, however.

2007-2008 NBA Season Preview

Western Conference Eastern Conference

Northwest Division Atlantic Division
Utah Boston
Denver New Jersey
Portland Toronto
Seattle New York
Minnesota Philadelphia

Pacific Division Central Division
Phoenix Detroit
Golden State Chicago
LA Clippers Cleveland
LA Lakers Milwaukee
Sacramento Indiana

Southwest Division Southeast Division
Dallas Washington
San Antonio Miami
Houston Orlando
New Orleans Atlanta
Memphis Charlotte

Playoff Seeding Playoff Seeding
1.) Phoenix 1.) Detroit
2.) Dallas 2.) Chicago
3.) San Antonio 3.) Boston
4.) Utah 4.) New Jersey
5.) Denver 5.) Washington
6.) Houston 6.) Cleveland
7.) Golden State 7.) Miami
8.) LA Clippers 8.) Toronto

Playoff Prediction

Suns over Clippers Pistons over Raptors
Mavericks overWarriors Bulls over Heat
Spurs over Rockets Celtics over Cavaliers
Jazz over Nuggets Nets over Wizards

Suns over Jazz Pistons over Nets
Spurs over Mavericks Bulls over Celtics

Spurs over Suns Bulls over Pistons

NBA FINALS

SPURS OVER BULLS
Finals MVP-Tim Duncan

Regular Season Awards/Honors

MVP Rookie of the Year
Steve Nash Kevin Durant

Defensive PoY 6^th Man of the Year
Kobe Bryant Jason Terry

Most Improved Player Coach of the Year
Ronnie Brewer Scott Skiles

All-NBA First Team All-NBA Second Team
PG Steve Nash PG Deron Williams
SG Kobe Bryant SG Dwyane Wade
SF LeBron James SF Carmelo Anthony
PF Dirk Nowitzki PF Kevin Garnett
C Yao Ming C Tim Duncan

Season Summary

Everyone concedes that the Western Conference represents the lion's share of power in the league. The Spurs, Mavs, and Suns are the top three teams, in some order, according to anyone who knows basketball. The Suns likely would've won the title last year if not for the highly controversial suspensions of Amare Stoudemire and Boris Diaw during their series with the eventual champion* Spurs. Will Shawn Marion be a distraction during the year in wanting to be traded? Time will tell. Can the Mavs rebound from their shocking loss to the Warriors in the first round? Repeating is extremely difficult in today's game-can the Spurs do so? The Jazz, Rockets, and Nuggets will all contend in the West. Another major wild card is Kobe. He could tip the scales for whatever squad can obtain his services-he's still the best player on planet Earth. As for the East, there are some compelling stories and teams. Obviously, Boston made the biggest splash in the offseason, acquiring Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen. I think they'll be better, and fun to watch, but I'm a little less enthusiastic than many about the C's. No team with three 20 point per game scorers has ever won a title (only one team has even made it to the NBA Finals.) Detroit seems poised for another run, yet they likewise seem prone to a meltdown. New Jersey is a chic pick, provided they have a healthy Nenad Kristic. I think the Cavs will take a step back-they did nothing. Chicago has a great shot with a talented and athletic roster. Ben Gordon and Kirk Hinrich are one of the best duos in the league (quietly combined for 38 a night last season.) I've picked the Spurs to win it all. God willing, I'll be wrong. I'm a Suns fan and I think they have the pieces to win it all. I wonder though if last year was really their shot. The Spurs are so battle tested and experienced that it's tough to pick against them, especially when they catch the breaks they did last year. The NBA is in a little trouble with dwindling ratings and an officiating scandal. For the league's sake, here's hoping we don't see a Spurs/Pistons Finals…..