Post by idle on Feb 27, 2009 13:02:49 GMT -5
SAN ANTONIO - The 1991 season has only a handful of games remaining before the playoffs. The best teams in the league have emerged - here is a preview of what you can expect from the league's top teams as they compete for a championship.
Washington Bullets 59 20
The Dream Shake - would you like fries with that? The Bullets are the most improved team, already winning 12 more games than last season. Hakeem has won the MVP and DPoY awards last year and All-Star Game MVP this year. He's averaging 34 points (51%), 14 rebounds, and 4 blocks and is the most dominant player in the league. It'll be impossible for their opening round opponent to stop Hakeem.
The Bullets have a half game lead on the Warriors for the league's best record and they should capture the regular season title - the Warriors are missing several players due to injuries the next 5 days. The Bullets are the clear favorite to win the championship.
Golden State Warriors 58 20
The Warriors were good last season - they had the 2nd best record in the league and reached the UOSLR Finals. They are dominating the West with a 13.5 game lead on the next closest team.
The team is so good because they have the league's best PG in John Stockton and another first round creation pick at center - Brad Daugherty. He's been dominant averaging 30 points on 51% shooting the past 2 seasons.
The Warriors are the clear favorites to make it to the UOSLR Finals.
Toronto Raptors 55 25
As good as the Warriors are, the Eastern Conference makes the West look like a jayvee cheerleading squad. The Raptors won 60 games last season, best in the league, and have the league's 2nd most dominant player - Michael Jordan. Their GM has done a great job surrounding him with a strong frontcourt with Clemson University alums Elden Campbell and Horace Grant.
They reached the Conference Finals last year and are my pick to win the championship. They beat the Bullets in the Conference Semifinals last year in 5 games so their deep frontcourt is capable of containing the Dream.
Indiana Pacers 48 32
The Pacers have a deep roster but no superstar like their competition in the East. Chris Mullin and Joe Dumars are an excellent backcourt and the Pacers made a good trade for Otis Thorpe. He is a big scorer in the post and that may be the move that gives them a chance to survive the Raptors in the 2nd round.
San Antonio Spurs 45 34
The Spurs won the Midwest title last year but have not been idle this season - making several moves before the trade deadline. After losing in the first round to a .500 team, the Spurs needed to improve their roster - they added Moses Malone, Otis Smith, Anthony Avent, Danny Schayes, and Craig Hodges to the playing rotation.
The Spurs have clinched their 2nd Midwest title and will face a team with a losing record in the 1st round but the road to the UOSLR Finals goes through the Warriors and they will be there in the Conference Finals.
Seattle SuperSonics 43 34
The SuperSonics only won 38 games last season and lost to the Warriors in the 1st round. They're a better team now and should clinch the 3rd seed over the Kings. Their 1st round opponent will be against a .500 team but will have to beat the Spurs and Warriors in the next 2 rounds to have a shot at a championship. It'll be a tough road.
Buffalo Braves 38 40
The reigning champions tore through the playoffs last season as a 7th seed - going on the road against the 2nd, 3rd, and 1st seeds to make the UOSLR Finals. There the West's #1 seed, the Warriors, waited but the Braves won in 6 games. Charles Barkley was named MVP.
Can the Braves repeat?
No. They are 1.5 games out of the playoffs and in 12th place. They need to win their remaining 4 games and need a lot of help to earn a chance.
Their GM must have given up on the season - he's missed the past 14 sims while he's working out of Mississippi. This is causing a big problem with his superstar Barkley - his points, rebounds, assists are all down from last season. Barkley would much rather be in Alabama than a stone's throw from Canada and hates having to work when his GM obviously isn't.
Washington Bullets 59 20
The Dream Shake - would you like fries with that? The Bullets are the most improved team, already winning 12 more games than last season. Hakeem has won the MVP and DPoY awards last year and All-Star Game MVP this year. He's averaging 34 points (51%), 14 rebounds, and 4 blocks and is the most dominant player in the league. It'll be impossible for their opening round opponent to stop Hakeem.
The Bullets have a half game lead on the Warriors for the league's best record and they should capture the regular season title - the Warriors are missing several players due to injuries the next 5 days. The Bullets are the clear favorite to win the championship.
Golden State Warriors 58 20
The Warriors were good last season - they had the 2nd best record in the league and reached the UOSLR Finals. They are dominating the West with a 13.5 game lead on the next closest team.
The team is so good because they have the league's best PG in John Stockton and another first round creation pick at center - Brad Daugherty. He's been dominant averaging 30 points on 51% shooting the past 2 seasons.
The Warriors are the clear favorites to make it to the UOSLR Finals.
Toronto Raptors 55 25
As good as the Warriors are, the Eastern Conference makes the West look like a jayvee cheerleading squad. The Raptors won 60 games last season, best in the league, and have the league's 2nd most dominant player - Michael Jordan. Their GM has done a great job surrounding him with a strong frontcourt with Clemson University alums Elden Campbell and Horace Grant.
They reached the Conference Finals last year and are my pick to win the championship. They beat the Bullets in the Conference Semifinals last year in 5 games so their deep frontcourt is capable of containing the Dream.
Indiana Pacers 48 32
The Pacers have a deep roster but no superstar like their competition in the East. Chris Mullin and Joe Dumars are an excellent backcourt and the Pacers made a good trade for Otis Thorpe. He is a big scorer in the post and that may be the move that gives them a chance to survive the Raptors in the 2nd round.
San Antonio Spurs 45 34
The Spurs won the Midwest title last year but have not been idle this season - making several moves before the trade deadline. After losing in the first round to a .500 team, the Spurs needed to improve their roster - they added Moses Malone, Otis Smith, Anthony Avent, Danny Schayes, and Craig Hodges to the playing rotation.
The Spurs have clinched their 2nd Midwest title and will face a team with a losing record in the 1st round but the road to the UOSLR Finals goes through the Warriors and they will be there in the Conference Finals.
Seattle SuperSonics 43 34
The SuperSonics only won 38 games last season and lost to the Warriors in the 1st round. They're a better team now and should clinch the 3rd seed over the Kings. Their 1st round opponent will be against a .500 team but will have to beat the Spurs and Warriors in the next 2 rounds to have a shot at a championship. It'll be a tough road.
Buffalo Braves 38 40
The reigning champions tore through the playoffs last season as a 7th seed - going on the road against the 2nd, 3rd, and 1st seeds to make the UOSLR Finals. There the West's #1 seed, the Warriors, waited but the Braves won in 6 games. Charles Barkley was named MVP.
Can the Braves repeat?
No. They are 1.5 games out of the playoffs and in 12th place. They need to win their remaining 4 games and need a lot of help to earn a chance.
Their GM must have given up on the season - he's missed the past 14 sims while he's working out of Mississippi. This is causing a big problem with his superstar Barkley - his points, rebounds, assists are all down from last season. Barkley would much rather be in Alabama than a stone's throw from Canada and hates having to work when his GM obviously isn't.
