Don't underestimate James Posey in New Orleans either. Posey will be a HUGE addition to the young and very talented Hornets.

__________________
"If winning isn't everything, then why do they keep score?" - Vince Lombardi

Last year's worst team, Miami, will be less catastrophic this year.

Who will be this year's REALLY BAD TEAM?

__________________
If you can't beat them in the alley, you can't beat them on the ice.

New Jersey Nets, Sacramento Kings, and/or Memphis Grizzlies.

__________________
"If winning isn't everything, then why do they keep score?" - Vince Lombardi

Champion Celtics to visit White House on Friday
Sep. 18, 2008

CBSSports.com wire reports The team's owners, along with general manager Danny Ainge, coach Doc Rivers and members of the team, will attend a ceremony Friday with the president. The Celtics plan to give him a personalized jersey and an autographed basketball.
Boston defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in six games in June to win their first championship in 22 years.
On Thursday, fans lined up at the Connecticut state Capitol to see the championship trophy and Celtics star Ray Allen, a former University of Connecticut standout.
Celtics guards Tony Allen and Rajon Rondo, Celtics president Rich Gotham and Celtics veteran JoJo White also were in attendance.

__________________
"If winning isn't everything, then why do they keep score?" - Vince Lombardi

PREDICTED STANDINGS FOR EASTERN CONFERENCE: 2008-09

1 Boston Celtics
55-27
How big is the Posey problem? Enough that the departure of Big Game James helps take the Celtics down 11 wins in our survey. Plus, by next June, the Big Three will nearly be the Big 33 (Kevin Garnett, 33; Paul Pierce, 31; Ray Allen, 33). But guess what? They're still the East's beasts. | Offseason Moves



2*Detroit Pistons
50-32 Pick your metaphor: Is the championship window closed? Are Sheed, Rip, Tay and/or Mr. Big Shot headed out the door? Will Michael Curry finally put a stop to the coaching carousel? Can Kwame cut it? Will Joe D blow it up? With no answers apparent, Detroit remains a team in limbo. | Offseason Moves



3*Cleveland Cavaliers
50-32
If the Cavs can find chemistry in the combo of King James and Mo Williams ... if Big Z and Big Ben have anything left ... if J.J. Hickson makes an immediate impact inside ... Cleveland can win 50 for the third time in four years. Which is just enough to earn LeBron his first MVP award. | Offseason Moves



4 Orlando Magic
49-33
Superman's deflating departure from the East semis has us feeling skeptical about Orlando. And apologies to Anthony Johnson, Mickael Pietrus and Courtney Lee, but it's far from clear the Magic have addressed their weaknesses at the point, shooting guard and power forward. | Offseason Moves



5 Philadelphia 76ers
47-35
Philly flipped from feeble to phenomenal in a few months last season, and the Elton Brand acquisition appears to have accelerated the Sixers' progress. But they need further growth from Andre Iguodala, Thaddeus Young and Lou Williams, plus another strong year from Andre Miller. | Offseason Moves



6 Toronto Raptors
45-37
Jermaine O'Neal has missed 122 games in four seasons, while T.J. Ford has missed 130, and each player helped wreck his previous team's chemistry. So the Raptors can only hope their new center puts his problems and sore knee behind him long enough to provide relief for Chris Bosh. | Offseason Moves





7 Washington Wizards
43-39
Agent Zero's biggest contribution to the Wizards last season was his blog, but Arenas and his repaired knee still got a $111 million contract. So will the return of Arenas and Jamison be enough to get the Wiz out of the first round of the playoffs for the first time in four years? Probably not. | Offseason Moves



8 Miami Heat
39-43
Dwyane Wade's scintillating Olympics performance was a welcome sight, but the roster remains a mismatched mishmash and the coach is a rook. Still, Marion, Beasley, Chalmers and Jones should help the Heat double (or perhaps even triple) their 15-win total of last season. | Offseason Moves



9 Chicago Bulls
38-44
No team is more baffling than the Bulls, which went from darlings to dregs in just months last year. The pessimist sees more of the same: weird chemistry and growing pains. The optimist sees a quick, Derrick Rose-led turnaround for the team many thought would win the East last season. | Offseason Moves



10 Atlanta Hawks
37-45
Good news: The Hawks gave the Celtics a tougher playoff series than the Lakers did. Bad news: Josh Childress flew to Europe. Good news: The Baby Birds are a year older. Bad news: The East is deeper. More bad news: Another 37-win season probably doesn't get it done. | Offseason Moves



11 Milwaukee Bucks
35-47
To get stronger on defense, Milwaukee moved out Mo Williams and Yi Jianlian, hired Scott Skiles as coach and fortified with Richard Jefferson ... and Luke Ridnour, the pixie point guard who "can't guard a chair." If the chemistry works, it should add up to a jump up the charts. | Offseason Moves



12 Indiana Pacers
34-48
Jettisoning Jermaine O'Neal to Toronto was a bold step, and new PG T.J. Ford should keep Jim O'Brien's Pacers running. But does Larry Bird's reform movement add up to change Pacers fans can believe in? Probably not, at least until he finds some players worthy of an All-Star vote or two. | Offseason Moves



13 Charlotte Bobcats
32-50
Which Larry Brown did Michael Jordan hire: The one who has turned around many a young team in his Hall of Fame career, or the one who led the Knicks so badly that many accused him of sabotaging the season? Another question: What does the (nearly) 68-year-old coach have left? | Offseason Moves



14 New York Knicks
29-53
Mike D'Antoni will certainly raise team morale. But will the Knicks see a boost in the standings? Not as long as two heavyweights -- Eddy Curry and Zach Randolph -- are around to spoil the fun-and-gun. It'll be a season of transition, but change won't be happening in seven seconds or less. | Offseason Moves



15 New Jersey Nets
28-54
The youth movement is under way, as the Nets' brain trust builds hope that a King will lead them in 2010. Until then, the '08-09 season is all about finding out which prospects are pieces of the puzzle for the future. In other words, as part-owner Jay-Z might say: "Show me what you got." | Offseason Moves



* - The Pistons finished slightly ahead of the Cavaliers in our average prediction.


Predicted standings based on the votes of these 25 ESPN writers, editors and contributors: Henry Abbott, J.A. Adande, Kevin Arnovitz, Jon Barry, Jordan Brenner, Maurice Brooks, Chris Broussard, Ric Bucher, Chad Ford, Jemele Hill, John Hollinger, Mark Jackson, Scoop Jackson, Tim Legler, Jackie MacMullan, Chris Palmer, Chris Ramsay, Dr. Jack Ramsay, Jalen Rose, Chris Sheridan, Marc Stein, David Thorpe, Royce Webb, Brian Windhorst and Matt Wong.

__________________
"If winning isn't everything, then why do they keep score?" - Vince Lombardi

1. After all the hubbub over Seattle moving, will the new OKC team win at least 30 games in their first season in Oklahoma City?

Thunder GM Sam Presti has done a great job revamping the roster, but they still are loaded with stiffs at PF and Center. How fast and raucous the fans in OKC are for this team may make a difference. It's possible that they finish .500 or so at home, if they can scrap 10 road wins a 30 win season is very possible.

2. Are the Spurs a team that, slowly but surely, decline? Ginobili has a bad ankle and Duncan could wear down. They had some weaknesses last year- lived and died by the three-point shot and their home record (as we saw in the Lakers series)

In the NBA teams don't slowly decline, they have a falloff. It usually happens as younger team matures and the wiley team can no longer out think them. Ginobili's injury is a problem, but the regular season is not a priority for this team the playoffs are. At this point the Spurs are likely forth best in the west, behind Lakers, Jazz and Hornets.

3. Will Mike D'Antoni regret leaving Phoenix and quintessential team-player Steve Nash for the Knicks and Stephon Marbury, the epitome of a malcontent?

D'Antoni may have regrets for taking the Knicks job, but not in leaving Phoenix.
The Suns are in decline, they like the Mavs went all in with bad hands and busted. The Knicks have a zillion guards on this team, Marbury won't be a factor.

4.Will Portland breakthrough with all that young talent?

Brandon Roy's surgery and the role of Greg Oden probably stunt this team for this season. If Oden develops as a Center, look out next season.

5. Elton Brand, Baron Davis, and Corey Maggette- Who will have the better first-year in their new cities?

Elton Brand by a landslide, he give the Sixers a low post game. Baron Davis is the victim of a bait-n-switch, so the Clippers will be the Clippers. Maggette is just a numbers player, doesn't make you better.

PREDICTED STANDINGS FOR WESTERN CONFERENCE: 2008-09

1 Los Angeles Lakers
55-27
Kobe, Pau and Phil should build on their half-year of history and keep L.A. atop the West, especially if Andrew Bynum is healthy. Now they need to get tough and gritty enough to win it all, and that includes the Bench Mob of Jordan, Sasha, Vlad, Luke and Mihm ... but no more Ronny. | Offseason Moves



2 New Orleans Hornets
54-28
Chris Paul's breakout season ended with him ahead of LeBron James and just behind Kobe Bryant in the MVP race. Even if CP3 can't make another quantum leap, the optimists in New Orleans hope that James Posey brought his championship moxie from Miami and Boston with him. | Offseason Moves





3 Houston Rockets
53-29
Tracy McGrady, Yao Ming and the Rockets should finally make it out of the first round. But along the way, expect Ron Artest to create some chemistry challenges on the offensive end. Fortunately, he'll make up for it on defense, which is where Houston will really shine once again. | Offseason Moves






4*Utah Jazz
51-31
The Jazz faithful might not like this forecast, but the team's meek exit from the conference semifinals left a bad taste and the Jazz did very little to improve in the offseason. But with a young roster this strong, led by Olympians D-Will and Booz, maybe they didn't need to do much. | Offseason Moves





5*San Antonio Spurs
51-31

Fill in the blank: 2003, '05, '07, __. If you said '09, you're probably wrong, because that's the year we should be putting the Spurs "odd-year champions" pattern to rest -- or at least that's how it looked at the end of last season, as the aging Spurs limped out of the West finals. | Offseason Moves






6 Phoenix Suns
47-35
The Suns slumped when Shaq arrived, then got hot, then flamed out. So who are the real Suns? With the noisy exit of Mike D'Antoni and the quiet arrival of Terry Porter, the hope in Phoenix is that Nash and Amare can keep their offensive mojo working while defense is added to the mix. | Offseason Moves





7 Dallas Mavericks
45-37
Jason Kidd arrived with a thud and he'll be 36 in March. But the glass-half-full view in Cuban Country is Dirk, Josh and J-Kidd have plenty left, new coach Rick Carlisle will be a tonic for their damaged psyches, and the Mavs are just 26 months removed from a spectacular run to the Finals. | Offseason Moves



8 Portland Trail Blazers
44-38
Oden, Oden, Oden. That's the story in Portland, where the rookie big man is working out to rave reviews after his microfracture recovery. With Brandon Roy leading a young, exciting team and Jerryd Bayless setting the summer league afire, expectations are through the roof in Blazerland. | Offseason Moves



9*Golden State Warriors
39-43
Corey Maggette will add scoring for the run-and-gun Warriors, but how will they replace point man Baron Davis, who took his act to the Clippers? Couple the loss of B-Diddy with the recent injury to Monta Ellis, and things aren't looking so hot for Don Nelson's bunch -- this season, at least. | Offseason Moves



10*Denver Nuggets
39-43
The giveaway of Marcus Camby made it official: Denver is rebuilding. The loss of their backstop also raises a question: How many points per game will the Nuggets allow? Still, they'll get theirs, with A.I., Melo and J.R. free to fire, creating the best pickup games in the NBA. | Offseason Moves



11 Los Angeles Clippers
35-47
The '09 Clip Show has a new cast of characters ... and we do mean characters. Boom Dizzle and The Cambyman are joined by Ricky D and J-Will plus rooks Gordon and Jordan. This is going to be really fun or a complete disaster. The movie "Semi-Pro" comes to mind. | Offseason Moves



12 Sacramento Kings
34-48
Ron Artest is gone, and this is Kevin Martin's team now. His uncanny talent for high-efficiency scoring will be enough on some nights, but to really make noise the Kings need extraordinary contributions from ordinary players like Udrih, Salmons, Garcia, Moore and Miller. Good luck. | Offseason Moves



13 Minn. Timberwolves
26-56
Minnesota has a different look this season -- and they got new uniforms, too. By acquiring sharpshooter Mike Miller and rookie big man Kevin Love for draftee O.J. Mayo, the Wolves have put some nice new pieces around Al Jefferson. But the improvement will be incremental at best. | Offseason Moves



14*Memphis Grizzlies
23-59
O.J. Mayo is one of the early-season favorites for ROY, and he'll team with Rudy Gay and Mike Conley to form an exciting young nucleus in Memphis, which has plenty of '09 cap room. But while the future might be bright, this looks like another season in the basement for the Grizzlies. | Offseason Moves



15*Oklahoma City
23-59
Season 1 will be one long, thunderous pep rally for Oklahoma's new team -- even if OKC appears to be the NBA's worst team, nothing can dampen the local optimism. What would stoke that fervor further would be measurable growth by Kevin Durant, Jeff Green and Russell Westbrook. | Offseason Moves

__________________
"If winning isn't everything, then why do they keep score?" - Vince Lombardi

My god, Sacramento has fallen apart.

Six years ago, there was the posibility of a Celtics/Sacramento NBA Finals. Only one of those team eventually got it together and won a title.

__________________
If you can't beat them in the alley, you can't beat them on the ice.

According to 25 ESPN writers, editors and contributors, the Celtics and Lakers might as well have played a 14-game series back in June. Why? The same two teams are headed on a collision course at the end of the 2008-09 season, with one little twist: This time, the Lakers will be crowned champions.
Here is the committee's early forecast for who will come out on top in the Eastern and Western conferences:

2008-09 PREDICTIONS: EASTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPS


1
Boston Celtics
55-27 (17 VOTES)

2
Cleveland Cavaliers
50-32 (6 VOTES)

3
Philadelphia Sixers
47-35 (2 VOTES)


Fresh off winning the NBA title, it is a safe assumption that the Celtics will dial down their intensity level on defense, right? No chance. Kevin Garnett would never let that happen.


Although Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce are all in their early 30s, Boston is an overwhelming favorite to win the East again, according to our panel of voters.


For starters, the ultrafocused Garnett will keep the team hungry. Secondly, unlike the West, there aren't as many quality challengers in the East. Lastly, despite losing James Posey to the Hornets, Boston has plenty of young players, such as Leon Powe, Rajon Rondo and Kendrick Perkins, ready to make sizable contributions.


Still, where is the love for the perennial Eastern Conference power Pistons? Not a single person on our panel thinks Detroit will win the East. Interesting.


On the other hand, our committee thinks that either Mo Williams is the missing piece in Cleveland or that LeBron James is capable of even bigger things. Probably the latter.


Although other teams in the East are deeper, more experienced and, top to bottom, more talented, only one squad has James, and that is Cleveland. He has carried the Cavs to the Finals on his back before, and if the role players can step up, a return trip is possible.


Philly also has the horses to be a threat. By luring Elton Brand away from the Clippers and inking Andre Iguodala to a new deal, some think the Sixers could crash the party come June.


Andre Miller is an underrated floor leader, Louis Williams and Thaddeus Young have shown flashes of brilliance, and Samuel Dalembert has the tools to be one of the top big men in the conference. How far the Sixers go in the playoffs may come down to the outside shooting of Kareem Rush and Donyell Marshall.



2008-09 PREDICTIONS: WESTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPS


1
Los Angeles Lakers
55-27 (14 VOTES)

2
New Orleans Hornets
55-27 (8 VOTES)

3
Houston Rockets
53-29 ( 3 VOTES)


Last offseason, the biggest on-court topic of conversation was how unhappy Kobe Bryant was with the inability of the Lakers' front office to surround him with a championship-caliber roster.


Although that puzzle obviously was solved, Bryant and the Lakers still are making headline news as we approach training camp for the 2008-09 campaign:


1. Is the reigning league MVP making the right decision by not having surgery to fix his pinkie?

2. How will L.A. work Andrew Bynum into the lineup without disrupting team chemistry?


Despite those two lingering questions, our experts have little doubt that the Lakers are the team to beat in the West. Bryant will be hungrier than ever in his quest to win a championship without Shaquille O'Neal, and the Lakers' already effective bench gained a year of valuable experience.


However, the Hornets' bandwagon is getting crowded, too, after putting together the best season in franchise history. With an MVP candidate in Chris Paul, an All-Star in David West and a championship glue guy in James Posey, the Hornets will be there if the Lakers slip up.


But some believe the Rockets will be crowned West champs, even though Tracy McGrady is 0-7 in the first round of the playoffs. The addition of Ron Artest has some convinced that Houston will win not only one playoff series but three. Still, T-Mac and Yao Ming have to stay healthy.


Oddly enough, the panel either forgot that the Spurs win the NBA title every other year (2003, 2005, 2007) or doesn't care. How else do you explain San Antonio's not receiving a single vote to win the West?

Predictions compiled from the forecasts of 25 ESPN writers, editors and contributors: Henry Abbott, J.A. Adande, Kevin Arnovitz, Jon Barry, Jordan Brenner, Maurice Brooks, Chris Broussard, Ric Bucher, Chad Ford, Jemele Hill, John Hollinger, Mark Jackson, Scoop Jackson, Tim Legler, Jackie MacMullan, Chris Palmer, Chris Ramsay, Dr. Jack Ramsay, Jalen Rose, Chris Sheridan, Marc Stein, David Thorpe, Royce Webb, Brian Windhorst and Matt Wong.

__________________
"If winning isn't everything, then why do they keep score?" - Vince Lombardi

2008-09 PREDICTIONS: NBA CHAMPS


1
Los Angeles Lakers
55-27 (12 VOTES)

2
New Orleans Hornets
54-28 (6 VOTES)

3
Boston Celtics
55-27 (4 VOTES)

4
Houston Rockets
53-29 (2 VOTES)

5
Cleveland Cavaliers
50-32 (1 VOTE)








The Lakers might win the 2008-09 NBA title if ...
• The most famous pinkie in the history of hoops holds up. We've been hearing about Bryant's finger since February, and now he has opted against surgery because he doesn't want to miss any time this season with the team. Maybe this change of heart will lead to a quieter training camp for the Lakers … or not.
• Andrew Bynum regains last season's form. The Lakers were good enough to reach the NBA Finals last season and that was without their rapidly improving big man. Bynum injured his left knee eight months ago, but now says he is 100 percent healthy. If that's the case, watch out.
• The bench mob -- minus Ronny Turiaf, who is now in Golden State -- once again provides quality minutes.
The Lakers might not win the 2008-09 NBA title if ...
• Kobe gets too weary during the next nine months after the Lakers' deep playoff run and his Olympic commitment. Also, if his finger forces him to miss time, that will mean trouble in Lakerland.
• The frontcourt gets too crowded. After Pau Gasol was acquired midseason, he performed well in the frontcourt with Lamar Odom. How will Bynum fit in?
• Derek Fisher shows signs of aging and Jordan Farmar isn't ready to fill the void.









The Hornets might win the 2008-09 NBA title if ...
• Newly acquired James Posey plays tight D and hits clutch 3s like he did in Miami and Boston.
• Chris Paul improves on his MVP-worthy season from a year ago.
• The young squad learned some valuable lessons during its impressive postseason run.
The Hornets might not win the 2008-09 NBA title if ...
• They don't find someone to fill the void at 2-guard.
• Chris Paul, David West and/or Tyson Chandler has one of those seasons in which he misses a big chunk of time due to injury.
• The West is the wild, wild West again. Last year eight teams won 50 or more games, and with many squads making roster tweaks, the West is expected to be as competitive as ever.









The Celtics might win the 2008-09 NBA title if ...
• They continue to be the top defensive club in the league.
• Kendrick Perkins and Rajon Rondo take their games to the next level.
• They can get strong contributions from the likes of Eddie House, Leon Powe, Glen Davis … and (yes) Darius Miles.
The Celtics might not win the 2008-09 NBA title if ...
• They can't find someone to make up for the loss of specialist James Posey.
• The big three of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen start showing their age.
• The champs become complacent after winning their rings. The past six NBA champs each failed to defend their title.









The Rockets might win the 2008-09 NBA title if ...
• Ron Artest brings his usual intensity to the defensive end while accepting his role as the third option behind Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady on offense.
• Brent Barry can provide veteran leadership and clutch shooting.
• They finally make it out of the first round.
The Rockets might not win the 2008-09 NBA title if ...
• Ron Artest blows up the team chemistry.
• Tracy McGrady's back flare-ups get too serious or Yao suffers another injury.
• Rafer Alston can't come close to duplicating last season's success.









The Cavaliers might win the 2008-09 NBA title if ...
• Newly acquired Mo Williams is truly the answer at the point.
• LeBron improves on his already off-the-chart statistics.
• Ben Wallace shows he has more left than just a nice afro.
The Cavaliers might not win the 2008-09 NBA title if ...
• The Celtics' star trio stays healthy.
• They don't get LeBron some more help.
• Another team signs that dude who beat LeBron in H-O-R-S-E.


Predictions compiled from the forecasts of 25 ESPN writers, editors and contributors: Henry Abbott, J.A. Adande, Kevin Arnovitz, Jon Barry, Jordan Brenner, Maurice Brooks, Chris Broussard, Ric Bucher, Chad Ford, Jemele Hill, John Hollinger, Mark Jackson, Scoop Jackson, Tim Legler, Jackie MacMullan, Chris Palmer, Chris Ramsay, Dr. Jack Ramsay, Jalen Rose, Chris Sheridan, Marc Stein, David Thorpe, Royce Webb, Brian Windhorst and Matt Wong.

__________________
"If winning isn't everything, then why do they keep score?" - Vince Lombardi