Cleveland Cavaliers
Coach: Mike Brown
Projected Finish: 57-25
Projected Starters
C – Zydrunas Ilgauskas (14.1 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 1.6 bpg)
PF – Ben Wallace (4.8 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 1.6 bpg)
SF – LeBron James (30.0 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 7.2 apg)
SG – Wally Szczerbiak (11.5 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 1.4 apg)
PG – Mo Williams (17.2 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 6.3 apg)
Key Reserves
G - Delonte West
F - Anderson Varejao
G - Daniel Gibson
Analysis
This team is better than the team that went to the NBA Finals in 2007. Cleveland General Manager Danny Ferry finally addressed the team's deficiencies in the back court with the acquisition of Mo Williams. Do not be surprised to eventually see two changes eventually in the starting lineup. A back court of West and Williams will be the Cavaliers future, with Gibson as sixth man. If all is truly forgiven between Varejao and Cleveland, he will eventually be the starting power forward on this team.
Detroit Pistons
Coach: Michael Curry
Projected Finish: 54-28
Projected Starters
C – Rasheed Wallace (12.7 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 1.7 bpg)
PF – Amir Johnson (3.6 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 0.5 bpg)
SF – Tayshaun Prince (13.2 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 3.3 apg)
SG – Richard Hamilton (17.3 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 4.2 apg)
PG – Chauncey Billups (17.0 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 6.8 apg)
Key Reserves
G - Rodney Stuckey
F - Antonio McDyess
F - Jason Maxiell
Analysis
I can not tell you how many e-mails I have received, telling me not to overlook Detroit. Does this look like I am over looking the Pistons? However, by standing still they are now looking up at Cleveland as the new power in the NBA Central Division.
Indiana Pacers
Coach: Jim O'Brien
Projected Finish: 46-36
Projected Starters
C – Jeff Foster (6.4 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 0.7 bpg)
PF – Troy Murphy (12.2 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 2.2 apg)
SF – Mike Dunleavy (19.1 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 3.5 apg)
SG – Danny Granger (19.6 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 2.1 apg)
PG – T.J. Ford (12.1 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 6.1 apg)
Key Reserves
G - Jarrett Jack
G - Brandon Rush
C - Roy Hibbert
C - Rasho Nesterovic
Analysis
I like what Larry Bird has done with this team in the off-season. Ford is one of the toughest players in the Association. The rookies will help become the core of a good young team. Shawne Williams gone, and Tinsley surely soon to follow, this team will be going places.
Chicago Bulls
Coach: Vinny Del Negro
Projected Finish: 40-42
Projected Starters
C – Joakim Noah (6.6 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 0.9 bpg)
PF – Drew Gooden (12.0 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 0.8 bpg)
SF – Luol Deng (17.0 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 2.5 apg)
SG – Kirk Hinrich (11.5 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 6.0 apg)
PG – Derrick Rose (Rookie)
Key Reserves
G - Ben Gordon
F - Andres Nocioni
G - Larry Hughes
Analysis
Vinny Del Negro? As coach? Why? Is John Paxson after a promising start at the helm of the Bulls turning into a clone of his brother Jim, one of the worst General Managers in the history of the Association? Hughes, hurt yet again, Rookie Rose also injured. Very strange mix of players, seems transient, does Paxson have a deal in the works?
Milwaukee Bucks
Coach: Scott Skiles
Projected Finish: 32-50
Projected Starters
C – Andrew Bogut (14.3 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 0.8 bpg)
PF – Charlie Villanueva (11.7 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 0.5 bpg)
SF – Richard Jefferson (22.6 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 3.1 apg)
SG – Michael Redd (22.7 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 3.4 apg)
PG – Luke Ridnour (6.4 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 4.0 apg)
Key Reserves
G - Charlie Bell
G - Joe Alexander
Analysis
New Bucks General Manager John Hammond and new coach Scott Skiles have their work cut out for them with this rebuild project. How will Jefferson, who last year became the number one option for the Nets deal with being at least second, after Redd. He might be third option after Bogut.
Coach: Mike Brown
Projected Finish: 57-25
Projected Starters
C – Zydrunas Ilgauskas (14.1 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 1.6 bpg)
PF – Ben Wallace (4.8 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 1.6 bpg)
SF – LeBron James (30.0 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 7.2 apg)
SG – Wally Szczerbiak (11.5 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 1.4 apg)
PG – Mo Williams (17.2 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 6.3 apg)
Key Reserves
G - Delonte West
F - Anderson Varejao
G - Daniel Gibson
Analysis
This team is better than the team that went to the NBA Finals in 2007. Cleveland General Manager Danny Ferry finally addressed the team's deficiencies in the back court with the acquisition of Mo Williams. Do not be surprised to eventually see two changes eventually in the starting lineup. A back court of West and Williams will be the Cavaliers future, with Gibson as sixth man. If all is truly forgiven between Varejao and Cleveland, he will eventually be the starting power forward on this team.
Detroit Pistons
Coach: Michael Curry
Projected Finish: 54-28
Projected Starters
C – Rasheed Wallace (12.7 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 1.7 bpg)
PF – Amir Johnson (3.6 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 0.5 bpg)
SF – Tayshaun Prince (13.2 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 3.3 apg)
SG – Richard Hamilton (17.3 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 4.2 apg)
PG – Chauncey Billups (17.0 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 6.8 apg)
Key Reserves
G - Rodney Stuckey
F - Antonio McDyess
F - Jason Maxiell
Analysis
I can not tell you how many e-mails I have received, telling me not to overlook Detroit. Does this look like I am over looking the Pistons? However, by standing still they are now looking up at Cleveland as the new power in the NBA Central Division.
Indiana Pacers
Coach: Jim O'Brien
Projected Finish: 46-36
Projected Starters
C – Jeff Foster (6.4 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 0.7 bpg)
PF – Troy Murphy (12.2 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 2.2 apg)
SF – Mike Dunleavy (19.1 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 3.5 apg)
SG – Danny Granger (19.6 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 2.1 apg)
PG – T.J. Ford (12.1 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 6.1 apg)
Key Reserves
G - Jarrett Jack
G - Brandon Rush
C - Roy Hibbert
C - Rasho Nesterovic
Analysis
I like what Larry Bird has done with this team in the off-season. Ford is one of the toughest players in the Association. The rookies will help become the core of a good young team. Shawne Williams gone, and Tinsley surely soon to follow, this team will be going places.
Chicago Bulls
Coach: Vinny Del Negro
Projected Finish: 40-42
Projected Starters
C – Joakim Noah (6.6 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 0.9 bpg)
PF – Drew Gooden (12.0 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 0.8 bpg)
SF – Luol Deng (17.0 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 2.5 apg)
SG – Kirk Hinrich (11.5 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 6.0 apg)
PG – Derrick Rose (Rookie)
Key Reserves
G - Ben Gordon
F - Andres Nocioni
G - Larry Hughes
Analysis
Vinny Del Negro? As coach? Why? Is John Paxson after a promising start at the helm of the Bulls turning into a clone of his brother Jim, one of the worst General Managers in the history of the Association? Hughes, hurt yet again, Rookie Rose also injured. Very strange mix of players, seems transient, does Paxson have a deal in the works?
Milwaukee Bucks
Coach: Scott Skiles
Projected Finish: 32-50
Projected Starters
C – Andrew Bogut (14.3 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 0.8 bpg)
PF – Charlie Villanueva (11.7 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 0.5 bpg)
SF – Richard Jefferson (22.6 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 3.1 apg)
SG – Michael Redd (22.7 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 3.4 apg)
PG – Luke Ridnour (6.4 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 4.0 apg)
Key Reserves
G - Charlie Bell
G - Joe Alexander
Analysis
New Bucks General Manager John Hammond and new coach Scott Skiles have their work cut out for them with this rebuild project. How will Jefferson, who last year became the number one option for the Nets deal with being at least second, after Redd. He might be third option after Bogut.
