Fifty Peso Previews NBA 2011-12: Northwest Division

Denver Nuggets


Major Additions: None
Major Subtractions: None


     The Nuggets are looking for a drama-free year after the whole Carmelo Anthony trade situation last year.  They have the right line up for it, as there are no clear stars on the team.  The Nuggets have great pieces in Ty Lawson, Andre Miller, Nene and Danilo Gallinari, and they are looking to continue their run and gun ways. That will mean exciting basketball and a slot in the playoffs.  The Nuggets will make the playoffs again, but they do need someone, perhaps Nene (he of the new massive contract) to rise and take the cudgels as the go-to-guy if they want to go deep in the playoffs.


Fearless Forecast: Eliminated in the playoffs (1st round)

Read more

Fifty Peso Previews: 2011 NBA Playoffs West

     It was upsets galore on the 2nd day of the NBA playoffs but they did little to change my forecast for the Western Conference.  Check them out below.  For the East preview click here.


San Antonio Spurs (1) vs Memphis Grizzlies (8)

     Usually number 1 seeds are pegged to have an easy time in the first round but the Spurs are bothered by two problems. One, they still don't have Manu Ginobili, although rumors are he'll suit up in game 2. Two, the Grizzlies have given them problems before.  The Grizz have two capable big men in Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph and that means Tim Duncan has to exert effort on defense, which tires him out. In the end though, the experience, defense and discipline of the Spurs together with Memphis lack of depth in the outside shooting department will cause the Spurs to win out.


Fearless Forecast: Spurs take series (4 games to 2)

Read more

Fifty Peso Previews: 2010-11 Northwest Division

If you guys missed the 1 hour special of Lifestyle Network's Clash of the Toque-en Ones, there are replays on Dec 24 at 430 pm, dec 25 at 8 am and 1030 pm and dec 26 at 9 pm! Don't miss it!


Yes, I am very late, but I'm finally finishing my NBA Fifty Peso Previews with this post on the Northwest Division.


Denver Nuggets

Major Additions: Al Harrington
Major Subtractions: None


     Usually, great teams don't like to tinker with their line ups too much, but the Nuggets are far from great. Adding Harrington is not enough, and obviously Carmelo Anthony agrees.  Anthony has essentially asked for a trade and expect the Nuggets to make something happen within the year.  With Anthony gone, this will pretty much be a dead year for the Nuggets as the rest of their players like Chauncey Billups, Kenyon Martin and Chris Anderson have been slowed by both age and injuries. The Nuggets will have to rebuild.


Fearless Forecast: Eliminated in the regular season

Read more

Fifty Peso Previews: Northwest Division

     The Northwest Division used to be the "throwaway" division, as it usually had only one or none of its teams make the playoffs.  Last year was sort of a rebirth for the division with the Denver Nuggets going all the way to the Western Conference Finals for the first time in over two decades.  This year, what was once the nerdy kid whose lunch money was taken promises to emerge as the new school bully.

Denver Nuggets


Last Year: Eliminated in the playoffs (Western Conference Finals) by the L.A. Lakers
Key New Additions: Ty Lawson, Arron Afflalo
Projected Starters: Chauncey Billups, Arron Afflalo, Carmelo Anthony, Kenyon Martin, Nene


     The arrival of Billups provoked a change in the once talented but lethargic Nuggets and it tranformed the Nuggets into title contenders that caused the eventual champs Lakers quite a scare.  With the team coming back this year and a further strengthening of their backcourt, the Nuggets are looking to once again challenge for the title.  The ride, though, might not be as smooth as they thought.  Coach George Karl has a tendency to rub off the wrong way on his players after several years and this could be the year that that happens with these Nuggets.  Also, the Nuggets have several very injury-prone players have tremendously healthy years last year that one has to begin to get worried if they could have that kind of a year again.  However, if the Nuggets are blessed with health again and Billups' leadership skills are as hyped, then the Mile High City will be among the NBA's elite cities.


Fearless Forecast: At least 2nd round of the playoffs


Minnesota Timberwolves


Last Year: Failed to make playoffs
Key New Additions: Jonny Flynn, Ramon Sessions, Sasha Pavlovic
Projected Starters: Jonny Flynn, Corey Brewer, Ryan Gomes, Al Jefferson, Mark Blount


     The Timberwolves are a true hard luck case.  New GM David Kahn made all the right moves by shedding salaries, picking well and gathering talent, planning on having a young improving team that could entice big name free agents to take a second look at Minnesota next year.  Then, reality set in.  First pick Ricky Rubio couldn't get a buy out, deciding to play a couple more years in Europe, and promising big man Kevin Love broke his left hand in a pre season game.  It certainly is not a good start for the Wolves this season but they do have some nice pieces in Jefferson, Sessions, Flynn and Gomes.  When Love comes back by December, the Wolves could provide some spirited competition to teams looking to make playoffs.  As for challenging for a playoff spot?  That might have to wait.


Fearless Forecast: Eliminated in the regular season


Oklahoma City Thunder


Last Year: Eliminated in the playoffs
Key New Additions: James Harden, Etan Thomas
Projected Starters: Russell Westbrook, Thabo Sefalosha, Kevin Durant, Jeff Green, Nenad Krystic


     Thunder owner Clay Bennett broke the hearts of the Sonic fans by moving the team to OKC, but he sure is doing right in his new city.  Hiring GM Sam Presti was a stroke of genius as Presti has created a young team with boatloads of talent.  With Durant, Green, Westbrook and now James Harden, look for the Thunder to run a great offense while playing scrappy defense that Coach Scott Brooks will ask for.  While the Thunder still lack a dominant inside force to complement their athletic wingmen, they will give their opponents fits, especially when Durant begins to dominate.  It might be nice to mark your calendars as this could be the year the Thunder make the playoffs for the first time.


Fearless Forecast: Eliminated in the playoffs (1st Round)


Portland Trail Blazers


Last Year: Eliminated in the playoffs (1st Round) by the Houston Rockets
Key New Additions: Andre Miller, Juwan Howard
Projected Starters: Andre Miller, Brandon Roy, Nicolas Batum, LaMarcus Aldridge, Joel Pryzbilla


     GM Kevin Pritchard's hard work is now paying off.  Ridding themselves of the "Jail Blazers" Portland now has a line up of ultra talented players with great attitudes to complement them.  The additions of Miller and Howard were meant to provide the veteran leadership to a team which features the unworldly versatility of Roy, the sweet shooting touch of Aldridge and the power and athleticism of Greg Oden.  If they can all put it together with no major injuries, there is no limit to where the Blazers can go.  The West had better watch out as a new dominant force could emerge and bring Rip City back to life.


Fearless Forecast: At least 2nd round of the playoffs

Utah Jazz


Last Year: Eliminated in the Playoffs (1st Round) by the L.A. Lakers
Key New Additions: Eric Maynor
Projected Starters: Deron Williams, Ronnie Brewer, Kyle Korver, Carlos Boozer, Mehmet Okur


     The Jazz have quite a talented line up in their hands this year and the good part is they have played together for quite some time now.  Unfortunately, this team has been plagued by injuries (almost every member of their core group of players have missed significant time) and by continuous speculations of players being traded (especially Boozer).  Utah's success this year will rely on their ability (and luck) to conquer these problems.  If they can, then Hall of Fame Coach Jerry Sloan can and will lead them deep in the playoffs.


Fearless Forecast: Eliminated in the playoffs (1st round)


photos courtesy of Ball Don't Lie and Getty Images

Monkey Wrench into the NBA's Best Laid Plans

     It all started last summer, at the Beijing Olympics.  The U.S., hungry for redemption after their recent failure, brought along a team intent on winning.  It was the best team formed since the 1996 Olympics, and at the forefront were two huge, global stars, Lebron James and Kobe Bryant. Branded as leaders, the two elevated their games and brought home the gold medal.  Right then and there, the NBA sensed something great and licked their chops.  Kobe vs Lebron for the NBA Title.  Now that sounded like a blockbuster and the NBA started a novena, praying for  divine intervention to deliver them their dream finals match up.

     Lo and behold, as the season wore on, the NBA was beginning to smile.  Lebron and the Cavs razed through the Eastern Conference just as Kobe and the Lakers romped through out West.  With both teams entering their respective conference finals, the NBA's best laid plans for a blockbuster finals (with massive TV ratings) was so close David Stern could taste it.  Now, though, someone has thrown a monkey wrench or two into the well-oiled plan.  Enter the Orlando Magic and the Denver Nuggets.  

     As things stand now, the Magic and the Nuggets have taken away the two favorites' homecourt advantage, with the Magic leading the Cavs 1-0 and the Nuggets ties with the Lakers at 1 all.   Will these two teams, who are looking for redemption themselves, prove to be the proverbial monkey wrench or will they merely be cumbersome obstacles that will be hurdled?

     The Orlando Magic has not exactly been on everyone's radar when talking about who will win the Larry O'Brien trophy this year, and the boys from Orlando have taken the snub personally.  They now pose quite a threat to the Cavs and it's not just because they aren't the Pistons.  As shown in Game 1, Orlando had the Cavs beat on two ends.  

     First of all, Orlando's frontcourt is huge, but lithe and lightning-quick.  A front line featuring 7 foot Dwight Howard, 6-10 shooters Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu and 6-8 Michael Pietrus are simply too quick for the equally huge but lumbering front line of the Cavs.  While James can match up with any one of the Magic's forwards, he can't guard all of them at the same time.  In game one, while it was Howard's 30 points that lit up the scoreboard, the Cavs lost because of the other three forwards, with Hedo and Lewis combining for Orlando's final 17 points.  If the Cavs are to make it to the finals, like they told the world they would do, then their tall lumbering front line (Anderson "Sideshow Bob" Varejao guarding Rashard Lewis, are you serious?) must find a way to become light on their feet.

     Secondly, the Cavs played to Orlando's strength, which I believe is not their three point shooting but more so their defense.  Everyone reverted back to their "watch Lebron" playbooks, standing around hoping to get a pass for a spot-up three.  Although James had a monster game, going 20 of 30 from the field, it took too much out of James.  In fact, I think he passed up a shot on a late drive that could have won the game, simply because of fatigue.  All Star Mo Williams and Delonte West must regain their regular season shooting and aggressiveness and Zydrunas Ilgauskas must make Dwight Howard work on defense if they are to beat the Magic in this series.

     The Denver Nuggets almost became the poster child of how not to build an NBA roster as the past few years showed the Mile High team as a group of shoot first, players with immense talent but no will to win a championship.  What a difference an old and wise point guard makes.  Chauncey Billups has come into Denver and changed the team's outlook (and therefore) its chances this season.  The "new-look" Nuggets actually feature the same core of players, save for the enigmatic Chris "Birdman" Andersen, but they have shown a desire and will for teamwork and defense that was last seen on a Nuggets team when Dikembe Mutombo was wagging fingers at opponents.  They could pose problems for the Lake show because, as seen in Games 1 and 2, the Nuggets bring in a toughness and and offensive arsenal that have the Lakers on their heels.

     First of all, the Nuggets this year are tough, in a good basketball way.  They are showing a willingness and the health needed to bang bodies inside, once again threatening to expose Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom as softies playing in a tough guy's game.  Kenyon Martin, Nene and Birdman have relentlessly attacked the lanes for both offense and defense, taking the Houston Rockets model of bullying the Lakers inside.  If the Lakers want to make David Stern happy, they must dig deep, fight back especially inside the paint to grab rebounds and loose balls, shoot high percentage dunks and layups and block and change shots.

     Secondly, the Nuggets while successfully approximating the Rockets' toughness on defense, are infinitely more talented on offense.  Carmelo Anthony has shown, at least in these playoffs, that he deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as King James and he has a lot of help.  Linas Kleiza and J. R. Smith are bringing it from the bench, K-Mart and Nene have been active and useful on the offensive end (Heck, Nene even had 6 assists in game 2. 6!!! OMG! The Black Hole of basketball learned to pass!) and most importantly, Billups has a stability to keep the Nuggets calm through thick and thin.  The Nuggets are clicking on all cylinders offensively, and if Kobe wants to get a chance to win his first title without Shaq, he must lead his team not just in offense, but more so on the defensive end.  They must clog the lane and force the Nuggets into shooting from the outside.  

     So now David Stern is beginning to sweat.  His dream blockbuster finals scenario is being pushed onto the brink of oblivion.  Will the Cavs and the Lakers bounce back and give Stern a reason to smile or will Dwight Howard and Carmelo Anthony be the Team USA teammates playing in the finals?

     As for me, you all know I love ruining best laid plans, so I will be in my usual place, eagerly awaiting Cleveland's and L.A.'s impending disappointments.