Hooped Up: Dallas Mavericks 08-09 Season Preview

Hooped Up | October 30, 2008

A team-by-team preview of all 30 NBA teams heading into the 2008 – 2009 season, Hooped Up style.  

Dallas Mavericks
Once a top team in the league and now just trying to hang on for dear life in the west.  Adding the the mix for a playoff run was a little desperate and didn’t pan out at all.  Josh Howard done lost his mind this summer and Jerry Stackhouse and Erick Dampier have seen better days. They’ve possibly tinkered themselves out of a playoff spot in the west and this group is aging faster than Mark Cuban cares to acknowledge.  

In his mind this crew is right in the hunt, could he be right?

Projected Starters: PG - / SG - Jerry Stackhouse / SF - Josh Howard / PF - Dirk Nowitzki / C - Erick Dampier

Additions: Shan Foster, DeSagana Diop, Gerald Green, James Singleton, Keith McLeod, Cheyne Gadson, JaJuan Smith, Charles Rhodes

Losses: Malik Allen, Jamaal Magloire, Tyronn Lue, Juwan Howard 

Projected Wins: 41+

Team Theme Song:  Bruce Springsteen – Glory Days
The best days of this team is behind them and the boss Mark Cuban will be reminiscing on the glory days all season long. 

Overall
With a full season under his belt will the Mavs will Kidd be better? This could very well be his last NBA campaign and things might turn ugly. Dirk Nowitzki won a MVP trophy two years ago but, his elite status is still in question. Jason Terry will provide a nice lift of the bench but, they might need him to start over Stackhouse and Josh Howard is all over the place and the first chance Mark Cuban has to deal the troubled forward he will.

This season will be painful for Mavericks fans to watch and Mark Cuban will have to tell himself the truth about his ball club finally.

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Hooped Up: New Orleans Hornets 08-09 Season Preview

Hooped Up | October 29, 2008

A team-by-team preview of all 30 NBA teams heading into the 2008 – 2009 season, Hooped Up style.  

New Orleans Hornets
The Hornets finished red hot before running into the San Antonio Spurs in the second round of the western conference playoffs last year but made a new name for themselves along the way. Chris Paul proved that he is a top 5 point guard in the league and the Hornets rode his back to a changing of the guard in the ole west.  They added James Posey to the line up over the summer which is huge and Tyson Chandler is the new Ben Wallace.  What does that mean for this club this year though?

It means playoffs and home court advantage in the first round, that’s what.

Projected Starters: PG - Chris Paul / SG - Morris Peterson / SF - Peja Stojakovic / PF - / C - Tyson Chandler

Additions: James Posey, Devin Brown, Sean Marks, Courtney Sims, Jared Jordan

Losses: Chris Anderson, Jannero Pargo, Bonzi Wells

Projected Wins: 52+

Team Theme Song: The Alkaholics – Make Room
Make room on the western conference mountain top for the Hornets.

Overall
This group is put together well and there are high hopes in New Orleans. has arrived to the good power forward club and when he’s double teamed Peja Stojakovic will make teams pay. Mo Peterson is a pesky defender and will make it tough for the other teams best perimeter player nightly. If this team can stay healthy Chris Paul can lead them to the promise land and along the way, maybe pick up an MVP trophy.

If you have a “sleeper ” in the west amongst the big dawgs to go to the finals, it’s probably the Hornets.

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Hooped Up: San Antonio Spurs 08-09 Season Preview

Hooped Up | October 29, 2008

A team-by-team preview of all 30 NBA teams heading into the 2008 – 2009 season, Hooped Up style.  

San Antonio Spurs
The team that has cornered the market on winning big games will continue to do so this season.  They didn’t really add anything crazy to the 08-09 version of the Spurs but you don’t mess with excellence. They have Tony Parker, , , Michael Finley and the Greg Popovich system and that has been enough in the past.

Is it enough now though?

Projected Starters: PG - Tony Parker / SG - Michael Finley / SF - Bruce Bowen / PF - / C - Fabricio Oberto

Additions: George Hill, Malik Hairston, James Gist,Roger Mason, Salim Stoudamire, Anthony Tolliver, Desmon Farmer

Losses: Brent Barry, Robert Horry, Demarr Johnson, Damon Stoudamire

Projected Wins: 52+

Team Theme Song: Nas feat Puff Daddy – Hate Me Now
Everybody wants to be the Spurs, but nobody wants to be the Spurs. That’s hate!

Overall
Hate on these guys all you want! When it comes down to it, they are the measure of success in the league and you got to go through them in the west to make your bones. is maybe the best power forward to play the game and another great year from him will be on tap. Tony Parker is an all-star point guard and when Ginobili is healthy he will provide his effective inside outside style to this squad. The rest of this cast knows it role and fills it to near perfection under Pop’s direction and know what team ball is. 

These guys are always in the championship picture and this year is no different. 

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Hooped Up: Memphis Grizzlies 08-09 Season Preview

Hooped Up | October 29, 2008

A team-by-team preview of all 30 NBA teams heading into the 2008 – 2009 season, Hooped Up style.  

Memphis Grizzlies
Losing games will never look so fun! This squad has a bunch of young talent that can fastbreak and finish like nobody’s business. Thanks to a big assist from Kevin McHale the Grizzlies were able to nab OJ Mayo and then they were able to get Marc Gasol in the trade for his brother to the Lakers. It will be a long season for the Grizzlies again and losing with these guys hangs around like an unpaid bill.

So where does this group go from here?

Projected Starters: PG - Michael Conley / SG - OJ Mayo / SF - Rudy Gay / PF - Hakim Warrick / C - Marc Gasol

Additions: O.J. Mayo, Darrell Arthur, Marc Gasol,Antoine Walker, Marko Jaric, Quinton Ross, Brent Petway , Greg Buckner, Hamed Haddadi

Losses: Mike Miller, Kevin Love, Juan Carlos Navarro, Jason Collins, Brian Cardinal, Kwame Brown, Andre Brown, Casey Jacobsen

Projected Wins: 22+

Team Theme Song:  Guru feat MC Solaar – Le Bien, Le Mal
The good, a lot of young talent…the bad, a tradition of losing.

Overall
The young talent on this Grizzlies team has enough upside to make you puke. OJ Mayo is a bonafide creative off guard, Micheal Conley is a confident and speedy point guard, Rudy Gay can run and jump like a gazelle, Marc Gasol is a big fundamentally sound center and Hakim Warrick finishes extremely well. This team will struggle with their interior defense because they lack a shot blocker but this will improve overtime or with a defensive addition down the road. Give them time.

They won’t win games, but the fastbreak in Memphis will be video game like.

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Hooped Up: Houston Rockets 08-09 Season Preview

Hooped Up | October 29, 2008

A team-by-team preview of all 30 NBA teams heading into the 2008 – 2009 season, Hooped Up style.  

Houston Rockets
The Rockets made the biggest off season splash when they acquired defensive superstar Ron Artest.  Paired with Tracy Mcgrady they will be one of the most impressive wing combos in the league. is healthy after a little time away…before the Olympics. Rafer Alston beat a DWI and loves vodka and cranberry and Luis Scola should be able to improve on his rookie campaign.

If defense wins championships then this would be the team, but can Rick Adelman control this group and make them reach their full potential?

Projected Starters: PG - Rafer Alston / SG - Tracy McGrady / SF - Ron Artest / PF - Luis Scola / C -

Additions: Joey Dorsey, Maarty Leunen,Ron Artest, Brent Barry , D.J. Strawberry, Von Wafer, Marcus Campbell, Frederic Weis

Losses: Bobby Jackson, Donte Greene, Steve Novak, Patrick Ewing Jr., Sean Singletary, Dikembe Mutombo

Projected Wins: 58+

Team Theme Song:  Heltah Skeltah – Operation Lock Down
Ron Artest is ground patrol and is air patrol.  The Rockets defense should be on that next level this season. 

Overall
This might be the best defensive ball club in the league with the addition of Ron Artest. Tracy McGrady and Shane Battier should also get credit for their defensive abilities too.   is a premier player in the league and as long as he stays healthy, a deep playoff run is almost guaranteed.  The question is with Rafer Alston and his decision making abilities on and off the court. Can he be a more selective shooter and set the table for the collection of stars he has around him?  When you are considered a bigger distraction than Ron Artest, you got to look yourself in the mirror dude.  

With a healthy arrest free squad, the Rockets are ready for a real title run finally!

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Hooped Up: Sacramento Kings 08-09 Season Preview

Hooped Up | October 29, 2008

A team-by-team preview of all 30 NBA teams heading into the 2008 – 2009 season, Hooped Up style.  

Sacramento Kings
Meet your new Sacramento Kings! Mike Bibby gone, Ron Artest gone, and Shareef Abdur Rahaim…kinda gone but on the coaching staff.  Yes, things are a changin’ for the Kings and young stars Kevin Martin and Francisco Garcia are the new faces on the billboards. Brad Miller and the re-aquired Bobby Jackson still represent the old school but it’s all about the kids.  

Hey, rebuilding ain’t that bad right? 

Projected Starters: PG - Beno Udrih / SG - Kevin Martin / SF - / PF - Mikki Moore / C - Brad Miller

Additions: Jason Thompson, Donte Greene, Bobby Jackson, Bobby Brown

Losses: Ron Artest, Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Anthony Johnson, Lorenzen Wright, Sean Singletary, Patrick Ewing Jr.

Projected Wins: 20+

Team Theme Song:  Arrested Development – Revolution
This team is officially on the road to change and with the deep pocket Maloofs and cap room, a revolution is happening in Sactown just give it time. 

Overall
Reggie Theus has proven that he can work with young talent from his Hangtime days and he’ll be around to see this group turn things around.  Brad Miller is still one of the leagues better centers, Beno Udrih is a decent point, Mikki Moore shows flashes of goodness and is pretty solid. Kevin Martin is a NBA star and if they can build around his skills the rebuilding process won’t be that painful.  

Loud arena yes, playoffs no.

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Hooped Up: Phoenix Suns 08-09 Season Preview

Hooped Up | October 29, 2008

A team-by-team preview of all 30 NBA teams heading into the 2008 – 2009 season, Hooped Up style.  

Phoenix Suns
On paper this team is amazing! Steve Nash and Shaquille O’Neal are muti MVP winners, Grant Hill and Amare Stoudemire have each won the Rookie of the Year award, Leandro Barbosa won Sixth Man of the year and Boris Diaw won the Most Improved Player award. With such a decorated squad, you’d think they would be oozing championships but, only the new guy Shaq can speak about that accomplishment and unfortunetly he can’t contribute like he did in the past to get those rings in Phoenix.

The whole team is getting older and if the window is still open, it’s by a crack. 

Projected Starters: PG - Steve Nash / SG - Raja Bell / SF - Matt Barnes / PF - Amare Stoudemire / C - Shaquille O’Neal

Additions: Robin Lopez, Goran Dragic, Sean Singletary,Matt Barnes, Louis Amundson

Losses: Brian Skinner, Gordon Giricek, Sean Marks, D.J. Strawberry, Eric Piatkowski, Linton Johnson

Projected Wins: 44+

Team Theme Song:  Kanye West – Stronger
What doesn’t kill this group of vets can only make them stronger. For how strong is the question thought. 

Overall
The truth of the matter is that the Suns were a Robert Horry hip check away from a championship in 2007 and that might have been the last real chance. They went more halfcourt by dumping Mike D’Antoni and Shawn Marion in favor of Terry Porter and Shaquille O’Neal and inserted newly acquired Matt Barnes into the starting line up.  Steve Nash is still one of the best players in the league and will be the engine of this group, and Amare Stoudemire is still on the incline at just 25 years old. This team is so talented but after they blew their chance in 2007, everybody else in the west got better and things instantly got harder.

The playoffs yes, a Championship…probably not but, this is the league were amazing happens so you never know.

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Hooped Up: Los Angeles Clippers 08-09 Season Preview

Hooped Up | October 28, 2008

A team-by-team preview of all 30 NBA teams heading into the 2008 – 2009 season, Hooped Up style.  

Los Angeles Clippers
Baron “The Beard” Davis arrived and things looked great!  Then they lost Elton Brand to Philadelphia, Corey Maggette to Golden State, Jason Williams to retirement, Shaun Livingston to Miami and longtime GM Elgin Baylor was fired. On the bright side, they added sleeper Eric Gordon from the draft, defensive wall Marcus Camby, swingman Ricky Davis and Jenny Craig…well kinda.

This team will be fun to watch but will that be just about it? 

Projected Starters: PG - / SG - / SF - Al Thornton / PF - Marcus Camby / C - Chris Kaman

Additions: , Marcus Camby, Ricky Davis,Brian Skinner, Jason Hart, Steve Novak, Eric Gordon, DeAndre Jordan, Mike Taylor

Losses: Elton Brand, Corey Maggette, Brevin Knight, Josh Powell, Shaun Livingston, Dan Dickau, James Singleton, Smush Parker, Quinton Ross, Nick Fazekas

Projected Wins: 35+

Team Theme Song:  Ghostface Killah feat. Jadakiss and Comp – Run
This team is built for the fastbreak and they will run and run they shall!

Overall
Even though this isn’t the same team that signed up for in the beginning, the Clippers still have a lot of bright spots and will be exciting.  Getting Marcus Camby was a steal and will pair with Chris Kaman to form a stellar frontcourt situation.  Eric Gordon was also a steal and had NBA range in college and will be deadly enough to unseat by seasons end as a starter. Tim Thomas, Al Thorton and Ricky Davis round out a group of very athletic forwards that finish well and will get easy buckets with leading the break.  

This team will be hella fun to watch but, because of the deep west they might find themselves the odd man out for that 8th spot. 

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Hooped Up: Los Angeles Lakers 08-09 Season Preview

Hooped Up | October 28, 2008

A team-by-team preview of all 30 NBA teams heading into the 2008 – 2009 season, Hooped Up style.  

Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers came into the NBA finals on fire after acquiring Pau Gasol  but got man handled by the Boston Celtics. They never really added or subtracted from this line up, but they will have a healthy Andrew Bynum returning that will have to co-exist with Pau Gasol on the block; they moved Lamar Odom to the bench to be the sixth man capable of playing all five positions and will start Vladimir Radmonovic in his place. MVP Kobe Bryant is angry about how the season ended last year and who can blame him, the Lakers got moirdered in the finals. 

This team wants another shot at the title and it looks like they might just get it.

Projected Starters: PG - Derek Fisher / SG - Kobe Bryant / SF - Vladimir Radmonovic / PF - Pau Gasol / C - Andrew Bynum

Additions: Joe Crawford, Sun Yue, Josh Powell, Dwayne Mitchell, Brandon Heath, CJ Giles

Losses: Ronny Turiaf, D.J. Mbenga, Ira Newble

Projected Wins: 60+

Team Theme Song:  Madvillain – All Caps
Kobe Bryant wants you to spell his name KOBE BRYANT to secure his legacy of success without SHAQ and only a CHAMPIONSHIP win will allow this. 

Overall
After a MVP season and championship beatin’ by the Celtics, Kobe Bryant is angry and will play with one single thought all season long.  Revenge!!!  12 year pro Derek Fisher who has seen his fair share of playoff combat has got to feel the same way too. A healthy contract seeking Andrew Bynum in the front-court will have his best season ever and Pau Gasol will be consistent at the power forward spot. Lamar Odom is always the x-factor and with his new bench role, he might turn out to be more valuable as a movable line up piece. 

If they don’t make another trip to the the NBA finals this year, it would be considered a failure. Straight up! 

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Hooped Up: Golden State Warriors 08-09 Season Preview

Hooped Up | October 28, 2008

A team-by-team preview of all 30 NBA teams heading into the 2008 – 2009 season, Hooped Up style.  

Golden State Warriors
Before Monta Ellis caught gnarly road rash in a moped accident, Baron Davis decided to head south to LA, Matt Barnes east to Phoenix, and Mickeal Pietrus south east to Orlando. But they did add Corey Maggette who will be the focus of the team with Ellis on the mend, energy guy Ronny Turiaf and undrafted DeMarcus Nelson. Stephen Jackson should have an even better year then last and will be option number two this go around.

The questions is can the Warriors keep pace long enough to stay relevant with the rest of the west until  Monta Eliis comes back?

Projected Starters: PG - Monta Ellis / SG - Stephen Jackson / SF - Corey Maggette / PF - / C - Andris Biedrins

Additions: Corey Maggette, Ronny Turiaf, Marcus Williams, DeMarcus Nelson, Anthony Morrow, Dion Dowell, Rob Kurz 

Losses: Baron Davis, Matt Barnes, Mickael Pietrus, Patrick O’Bryant, Kosta Perovic, Austin Croshere

Projected Wins: 35+

Team Theme Song:  The Pharcyde – Runnin’
Even without Monta Ellis at the point, this ball club will be runnin’ every chance they get!

Overall
Stephen Jackson and Corey Maggette will headline this group until Monta Ellis returns and Marco Belinelli and Kelenna Azibuike will have a chance to contribute off the bench. will be a match up advantage at the forward spot and Andris Biedrins will be an efficient force in the interior.  DeMarcus Nelson has been named the starting point until Ellis returns but, this might not be enough to weather the storm in the west. 

The playoffs look out of reach but, with a young team like there’s time for minor set backs.

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