The Eastern Conference figures to be more competitive this time around, with Derrick Rose back to boost the Bulls, an improved Pacers squad, and the best team money can buy for the Nets all around to challenge the Heat. Still, the majority of Hoops Rumors readers who voted in yesterday's poll think the East will once more field the league's worst team, picking the Sixers to finish last. Here's the latest from the conference that has produced the last two champions and the last two teams to finish with the league's worst record:
- The Cavaliers surely wouldn't mind it if LeBron James has a change of heart and wants to rejoin the wine-and-gold next summer, but the team isn't counting on him coming back to Cleveland, as Mary Schmitt Boyer of The Plain Dealer writes in her weekly mailbag column. Boyer also says she believes the Cavs are looking for another big man and a backup point guard, and she doesn't think a poor season for the team will mean the ouster of GM Chris Grant.
- Mark Deeks of ShamSports confirms that Michael Beasley's minimum-salary contract with the Heat is essentially a training camp invitation, with no guaranteed money (Twitter link).
- Tracy McGrady reveals to Dave Feschuk of the Toronto Star that he wishes he never left the Raptors for Orlando in 2000, and he feels like the heavy minutes he played for the Magic took a toll on his body, which broke down long before most others do.
- We rounded up news on Atlantic Division teams earlier today.
I always thought Vince and TMac would have been really great together
Sounds like Tracy agrees with you, at least in hindsight. In that same interview he said they would have won that series against the Sixers in ’01 if he had still been around, and you have to wonder how much farther they could have gone.
–Chuck
to be fair, I understood the move at the time b/c there was a lot of rumors about Tim Duncan joining him in Orlando. Grant Hill also signed at the time, but I was skeptical about his health, which turned out to be correct. I was at the game in which Hill originally injured his ankle, and I remember it being pretty gruesome. It really is unfortunate. I’ve always felt like TMac gets unwarranted hate and criticism over not making it out of the 1st round. Its kind of the same thing with Carmelo Anthony and others who get criticism for not winning. First, I dont get why everyone seems to disrespect the rest of the league like no other team is good enough to beat them, and it has to involve them choking it away. Secondly, people seem to not understand that 1 player isnt going to win an NBA Championship by themselves, especially in this era. People always refer to Jordan, like Scottie Pippen didnt exist. That Bulls team was pretty bad before Pippen got there, and I find it hard to believe they would have been as dominant had it not been for the 6″8 uber athlete that could defend 1-4, create his own shot, get to the basket, shoot the 3, etc. I’ll cite Kobe Bryant. There is NO way that he would have 5 championships had it not been for the teams he played on. I think where they were before getting Gasol in that ridiculous trade is the proof of it. I can also point to the Finals where the Lakers lost to the Pistons as being Kobe’s fault single-handedly for losing that series, and then point to game 7 against the Celtics, in which Kobe went 3-22 and got bailed out by Pau Gasol and Ron Artest in order to win that series. Hilariously, Kobe still won Finals MVP in that series.
Even in a sport where individuals can affect the outcome more profoundly than in most, it’s still a team game.
–Chuck
I just wish others would understand that, but the media plays a huge role in creating the stupidity that exists
Truly. Our goal here is to filter out that noise.
–Chuck
thats why this is the place to go