John Hollinger's 2007-08 Predictions

[CameronCrazy06]

1. Celtics 51-31
2. Nets 39-43
2. Raptors 39-43
4. Knicks 38-44
5. 76ers 21-61

1. Bulls 55-27
2. Cavaliers 54-28
3. Pistons 48-34
4. Bucks 35-47
5. Pacers 28-54

1. Magic 49-33
2. Heat 43-39
3. Hawks 42-40
4. Bobcats 40-42
5. Wizards 33-49

1. Rockets 61-21
2. Spurs 59-23
3. Mavericks 58-24
4. Hornets 39-43
5. Grizzlies 34-48

1. Nuggets 53-29
2. Jazz 50-32
3. SuperSonics 35-47
4. Trail Blazers 26-56
5. Timberwolves 22-60

1. Suns 54-28
2. Lakers 43-39
3. Warriors 36-46
4. Kings 27-55
5. Clippers 20-62

NOTE: These aren't all posted in one article, there's 30 team previews and they each have a predicted record in the outlook section. Link - http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/trainingcam...agicPreview0708

 

[RipCity32]

Magic ahead of the Pistons? Pistons are going to win at least 50 games this year. That's all I see that is wrong.

 

[bestkeptsecret13]

1. Magic - 49-33
2. Wizards 43-39
3. Hawks 42-40
4. Bobcats 40-42
5. Wizards 33-49

Please tell me this is some sort of typo... I'm assuming the Heat are one of those Wizards, but still, if you have the Wizards at #2 and the Heat at #5 that makes no sense and neither does the Wizards at #5 and the Heat at #2. There's no way the Hawks and Bobcats are 40 win teams either...

 

[RipCity32]

Yeah after looking a bit more these are pretty bad.

 

[bestkeptsecret13]

Magic ahead of the Pistons? Pistons are going to win at least 50 games this year. That's all I see that is wrong.

This backs up CC06's comment about Pistons fans only following the Pistons... For you to say the Pistons record is the only thing wrong with those standings just proves you either didn't look at the whole thread or don't know what you're talking about... I see about 13-14 things that make you scratch your head, or at least my head.

 

[RipCity32]

Who knew the Rockets were going to be the best team in the league this season?

 

[CameronCrazy06]

The Heat are 2, the Wizards 5. Here's what he has for the 'Outlook' of the Wizards -

The Wizards are talking about taking a step up and challenging the East's elite; I look at them and wonder if they aren't going in the opposite direction. Take a look at their three best players and tell me which of them are going to take a step up from last year: Arenas, who depends entirely on his quickness but is coming off knee surgery? Butler, who comes off a career year at 27? Or Jamison, who is 31 and has seen his numbers slowly declining the past couple years?

I'll go with "none of the above," and for that reason Washington's secondary players are going to need to step up in a major way. But here we have the same problem -- Daniels is a 32-year-old penetrator and nobody would be shocked if he hit the wall this year; while Haywood and Jordan have a prickly relationship that seemed to get even worse last season. The dynamic between Haywood and Thomas bears watching as well -- they fought multiple times last year, and it's rather shocking that one or the other wasn't traded this summer.

One other thing to keep an eye on is the contract-year push. Jamison's deal expires after the season, while Arenas can opt out of his contract season's end and is likely to do so. The Wizards can theoretically give Arenas an extension, but because he isn't on a max deal it's in his interest to play out the season and then cash in. That could be a good thing if it causes both players to dial up their efforts in search of the next payday, or a very bad one if it causes them to play more selfishly -- this team already has had friction in the past as a result of Arenas' shoot-first mentality at the point.

But realistically, if Washington is going to improve it will come from two things: The kids and the defense. Pecherov and Young are unknown quantities, while Blatche is another X factor. If one of them emerges as a major contributor then it's much easier to see Washington keeping up in the East.

That's especially true if the team plays any defense, but to date they've offered no evidence that they plan to do so. One wonders if this will put Jordan on the hot seat at any point, or indeed if it already has; Washington's lackadaisical approach to this end of the floor is costing it dearly.

But although there are many reasons the Wizards could be better, I tend to put more faith in the reasons they could be worse. I think this prediction is going to shock some people, but I see Washington in decline for at least a year or two until the youngsters are ready to step up, and if so I think the all-fun-and-no-defense approach of the past two years will be evaluated much more harshly.

 

[bulls12]

idk what makes the Rockets better than the Spurs...

poor Clippers, Sixers, and T'Wolves. they all suck.

 

[bestkeptsecret13]

Yeah after looking a bit more these are pretty bad.

That's more like it... Anyway, they are from John Hollinger, an ESPN employee, so of course they were going to be terrible. Also, we had one of Hollinger's articles on here last summer (I believe) and just about everybody agreed that the guy was a complete joke.

 

[RipCity32]

This backs up CC06's comment about Pistons fans only following the Pistons... For you to say the Pistons record is the only thing wrong with those standings just proves you either didn't look at the whole thread or don't know what you're talking about... I see about 13-14 things that make you scratch your head, or at least my head.

Nevermind you seen my post

 

[VC3]

1. Suns 54-28
2. Lakers 43-39
3. Warriors 36-46
4. Kings 27-55
5. Clippers 20-62

NOTE: These aren't all posted in one article, there's 30 team previews and they each have a predicted record in the outlook section. Link - http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/trainingcam...agicPreview0708

36-46? LOL. John Hollinger has NO basketball knowledge whatsoever.

These are terrible predictions. My next door neighbor who doesn't know basketball can predict better.

I also don't see the Hawks winning that many games this season.

 

[bestkeptsecret13]

Look at the post ahead of yours..

Look at the post below your's... We obviously posted at the same time...

 

[RipCity32]

Look at the post below your's... We obviously posted at the same time...

Look at the post now, I edited mine. lol

 

[CameronCrazy06]

idk what makes the Rockets better than the Spurs...

I don't have any huge problem with this, the Spurs aren't really a regular season team and the Rockets finally have a consistent PG that won't come close to the league lead in turnovers.

 

[VC3]

Rockets winning 61 games? LMFAO. John Hollinger is my hero.

 

[bulls12]

either way I think these are terrible...
Raptors will easily win 40-42 games this season.

-edit-
ATLEAST 42 wins.

 

[bestkeptsecret13]

1. Celtics 51-31 (This team is built for the regular season, I don't see how they don't win 60 games)
2. Nets 39-43 (I don't see them finishing above the Raptors, but they might make the playoffs)
2. Raptors 39-43 (Raptors won the division last year and have a better team than last year, so...)
4. Knicks 38-44 (If the Bobcats and Hawks can get 40 wins, why do the Knicks only get 38?)
5. 76ers 21-61

1. Bulls 55-27
2. Cavaliers 54-28
3. Pistons 48-34 (While the Pistons aren't as strong as they were in the past, I can still see 50 wins)
4. Bucks 35-47 (They were a playoff team two years ago, with a healthy roster, everybody was hurt last year, and the addition of Desmond Mason they will be back)
5. Pacers 28-54

1. Magic 49-33 (Sure they added Lewis, but they don't have much else besides Howard, I wouldn't go out and give them the division right now)
2. Heat 43-39
3. Hawks 42-40 (They are far from a 42 win team...)
4. Bobcats 40-42 (They are far from a 40 win team...)
5. Wizards 33-49 (This team is predicted by a lot of people to win the division, 5th place is laughable)

1. Rockets 61-21 (Best team in the league? Did I not say this guy is a joke?)
2. Spurs 59-23 (Will finsh ahead of the Rockets, they won the title last year and have everybody back)
3. Mavericks 58-24 (Will finish ahead of the Spurs and Rockets, they are improved from last season)
4. Hornets 39-43 (They're on the rise, might not make the playoffs, but they will make a strong push)
5. Grizzlies 34-48 (This was a playoff team a few years ago, they were missing Paul for most of last season, I see a rebound)

1. Nuggets 53-29
2. Jazz 50-32
3. SuperSonics 35-47
4. Trail Blazers 26-56
5. Timberwolves 22-60

1. Suns 54-28
2. Lakers 43-39 (Lakers will not finish ahead of the Warriors, they didn't change much in the off-season)
3. Warriors 36-46 (They have Harrington and Jackson for a full season, they definetly gonna be tough this year)
4. Kings 27-55
5. Clippers 20-62

 

[VC3]

BKS we all love you. (non homo)

 

[RipCity32]

Just want to say one thing, if anything the Pistons improved with the youth and all, plus we are planning on getting C-Webb back in a few months, so yeah. But I don't want to start no fights, so I'll leave it at that.

 

[bestkeptsecret13]

Just want to say one thing, if anything the Pistons improved with the youth and all, plus we are planning on getting C-Webb back in a few months, so yeah. But I don't want to start no fights, so I'll leave it at that.

Yeah, anybody that thinks C-Webb is going to Greece is a fool... There's got to be a number of teams in the league that would love to have him, and I don't see why the Bulls aren't making the strongest push for him. I don't want to get off-topic, but he would be an amazing fit. He brings a veteran attitude to the locker room, can score down low (which we desperately need) and is a good passer and rebounder too. I would love to see him come to Chicago, but I seriously doubt it happens...