Going to use solely Olympic's lines...naturally, if you look around you can probably find better numbers for the overs and unders.
NBA Rookie of the Year:
Drew Gooden +400
This is a six horse field. Gooden, Stoudamire, Ming, Jay Williams, Butler, and Wagner I grade as the only players with a legit chance for this award, based on playing time and potential production. I give Gooden the nod as it looks like he is going to be the starting SF for Memphis and has looked super in exhibition games. Monster rebounding numbers. He looks like a lock for averaging a double-double. Gasol will be the Grizz first option, after that though Gooden should be #2. West loves him and is going to bench Battier in favor of Gooden. Looking at potential numbers of 16ppg, 10.5rpg, 1.5bpg. Stoudamire looks like a player, but he will be at best the Suns 4th option. Ming won't get many touches playing with Francis and Mobley. Williams will put-up good numbers..his playing time might be cut into though as Chicago will be giving Crawford time at guard as well. Wagner will also put-up numbers, but a low shooting percentage, high turnover to assist ration, and terrible team will work against him. Butler looks to be the second choice..but there are still plenty of veterans in Miami who will command the ball more than him, which will affect his production a bit.
NBA MVP:
Jason Kidd +800
Will be the sentimental choice to begin with as plenty feel he was robbed last season. Nets are even better this year and will Jefferson in the starting lineup, his assists should rise a tad, as the Jefferson/Martin/Kittles trio is murder in transition. He showed in the latter stages of the postseason that he could score if necessary and I think that will give him more confidence in his shooting..might average a 1.5-2 more ppg and FG% rise another couple of points. Duncan and Kobe are the other favorites (not counting Shaq due to potential injury problems)...Duncan will produce the same type of numbers, but I don't see him getting the award again if Kidd does likewise.
Atlantic Division Champion:
Nets +150
Addition of Mutombo, Rogers (who made the Mutombo deal worthwhile), and Childs gives the Nets more quality depth and a more well-rounded team. Had no backup PG last season..getting Childs takes care of that...he also played his best basketball during his previous years in NJ. Team has great defense, excellent transition offense, executes the halfcourt offense very well, size, speed, depth. Knicks, Heat, and Washington are out of the question...if Hill stays healthy, Orlando is a possiblity, even so, I don't think they are an upper echelon team...Sixers will be fighting for a mid-playoff seed, and Boston is without a point-guard.
Central Division Champion:
Hornets +250
All that was missing was a perimeter scorer off the bench..problem solved when they traded for Alexander. Campbell might miss some time but I like Magliore...best backup center in the league and would start for most teams. When Campbell gets back they have a tough duo to match-up with. Mashburn needs to stay healthy, and Davis' back is a concern. But if they play a majority of their games, no question to me that they are the strongest team in this division. Pacers will be their primary threat, I'm still not sold they will win over 50 games, especially with Isiah as coach. Pistons will regress after a dream season, Raptors aren't a consideration to me any longer as one of the top teams in the East even with a healthy Carter..same goes for Milwaukee...Hawks are improved but not enough to win the division..Bulls/Cavs, I don't think so.
Midwest Division Champs:
Mavericks +100
Not much value here but Mavs are clearly the team in this division. Sure, they finished second last season to San Antonio, but only by a game and they are the younger team on the rise. They should reach the 60 win mark..I don't see the Spurs doing the same, and if Duncan is out for any period of time, that kills the team. Mavs can lose a Finley, Nowitzki, or Nash and still be a very competitive team. Jazz, Rockets, and T-Wolves are solid teams but I don't view any of them as possible division champs. Grizz are on the way up..long ways to go though...Nuggets, umm, no.
Pacific Division:
Blazers +800
I'll go with one longshot here. Kings and Lakers obviously the two big faves and rightly so. Portland does have the talent and depth to compete with those teams for an entire 82 game schedule though. Chemistry stinks and too many guys want minutes...even so, from 1 through 10 maybe only a team or two that has more talent. Putting it together is another story though. Clips have many of the same problems as Portland, but don't have the experience. Sonics and Phoenix will be vying for an 8th seed at best...not too worried about the Warriors.
NBA Eastern Conference Champion:
Hornets +500
NBA Western Conference Champion:
Kings +185
NBA Champion:
Hornets +1800
Trailblazers +4400
Over/Under Regular Season Wins:
Kings Over 57 (-125)
Mavericks Over 57
Celtics Under 47.5
Trailblazers Over 48 (-135)
New Orleans Over 48
Bucks Under 42.5
Hawks Under 42.5 (-120)
Warriors Under 25
Cavs Under 23
NBA Rookie of the Year:
Drew Gooden +400
This is a six horse field. Gooden, Stoudamire, Ming, Jay Williams, Butler, and Wagner I grade as the only players with a legit chance for this award, based on playing time and potential production. I give Gooden the nod as it looks like he is going to be the starting SF for Memphis and has looked super in exhibition games. Monster rebounding numbers. He looks like a lock for averaging a double-double. Gasol will be the Grizz first option, after that though Gooden should be #2. West loves him and is going to bench Battier in favor of Gooden. Looking at potential numbers of 16ppg, 10.5rpg, 1.5bpg. Stoudamire looks like a player, but he will be at best the Suns 4th option. Ming won't get many touches playing with Francis and Mobley. Williams will put-up good numbers..his playing time might be cut into though as Chicago will be giving Crawford time at guard as well. Wagner will also put-up numbers, but a low shooting percentage, high turnover to assist ration, and terrible team will work against him. Butler looks to be the second choice..but there are still plenty of veterans in Miami who will command the ball more than him, which will affect his production a bit.
NBA MVP:
Jason Kidd +800
Will be the sentimental choice to begin with as plenty feel he was robbed last season. Nets are even better this year and will Jefferson in the starting lineup, his assists should rise a tad, as the Jefferson/Martin/Kittles trio is murder in transition. He showed in the latter stages of the postseason that he could score if necessary and I think that will give him more confidence in his shooting..might average a 1.5-2 more ppg and FG% rise another couple of points. Duncan and Kobe are the other favorites (not counting Shaq due to potential injury problems)...Duncan will produce the same type of numbers, but I don't see him getting the award again if Kidd does likewise.
Atlantic Division Champion:
Nets +150
Addition of Mutombo, Rogers (who made the Mutombo deal worthwhile), and Childs gives the Nets more quality depth and a more well-rounded team. Had no backup PG last season..getting Childs takes care of that...he also played his best basketball during his previous years in NJ. Team has great defense, excellent transition offense, executes the halfcourt offense very well, size, speed, depth. Knicks, Heat, and Washington are out of the question...if Hill stays healthy, Orlando is a possiblity, even so, I don't think they are an upper echelon team...Sixers will be fighting for a mid-playoff seed, and Boston is without a point-guard.
Central Division Champion:
Hornets +250
All that was missing was a perimeter scorer off the bench..problem solved when they traded for Alexander. Campbell might miss some time but I like Magliore...best backup center in the league and would start for most teams. When Campbell gets back they have a tough duo to match-up with. Mashburn needs to stay healthy, and Davis' back is a concern. But if they play a majority of their games, no question to me that they are the strongest team in this division. Pacers will be their primary threat, I'm still not sold they will win over 50 games, especially with Isiah as coach. Pistons will regress after a dream season, Raptors aren't a consideration to me any longer as one of the top teams in the East even with a healthy Carter..same goes for Milwaukee...Hawks are improved but not enough to win the division..Bulls/Cavs, I don't think so.
Midwest Division Champs:
Mavericks +100
Not much value here but Mavs are clearly the team in this division. Sure, they finished second last season to San Antonio, but only by a game and they are the younger team on the rise. They should reach the 60 win mark..I don't see the Spurs doing the same, and if Duncan is out for any period of time, that kills the team. Mavs can lose a Finley, Nowitzki, or Nash and still be a very competitive team. Jazz, Rockets, and T-Wolves are solid teams but I don't view any of them as possible division champs. Grizz are on the way up..long ways to go though...Nuggets, umm, no.
Pacific Division:
Blazers +800
I'll go with one longshot here. Kings and Lakers obviously the two big faves and rightly so. Portland does have the talent and depth to compete with those teams for an entire 82 game schedule though. Chemistry stinks and too many guys want minutes...even so, from 1 through 10 maybe only a team or two that has more talent. Putting it together is another story though. Clips have many of the same problems as Portland, but don't have the experience. Sonics and Phoenix will be vying for an 8th seed at best...not too worried about the Warriors.
NBA Eastern Conference Champion:
Hornets +500
NBA Western Conference Champion:
Kings +185
NBA Champion:
Hornets +1800
Trailblazers +4400
Over/Under Regular Season Wins:
Kings Over 57 (-125)
Mavericks Over 57
Celtics Under 47.5
Trailblazers Over 48 (-135)
New Orleans Over 48
Bucks Under 42.5
Hawks Under 42.5 (-120)
Warriors Under 25
Cavs Under 23
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