Some News - Late Sunday Night

camby out?

It looks like the garbage speaker's Marcus Camby may be out for week 1. A huge blow to the speakers, who look to be in a tight rebounding battle against The Lovin' Spoonful. This could give the Spoonful a couple extra points for the week. Does anyone else really benefit? Perhaps. 1) Chris Kaman has less competion for rebouds, and 2) since Tim Thomas is injured as well, they might move Al Thornton over to PF and play Ricky Buckets at SF.

 

dunleavy out - marquis in

My$hkin's Mike Dunleavy is also likely out for at least the opener, and perhaps both of Indiana's games in Week 1, giving Les Digits some hope in a few categories. Importantly, The Later Hosen's Marquis Daniels is filling in, which makes the Hosen favorites to win steals against tsaogrip.

Weekly Forecast -- Week 1

The Later Hosens vs. tsaogrip 0002

General: The defending champs face a tough matchup in Week 1. 2nd Round pick Danny Granger only plays two games, while tsaogrip has 2 top 4-gaming Bucks in Michael Redd and R-Jeff (though only 2 games from VC and C-Booz). Tsaogrip also has a significant Sunday game advantage.

Injuries: None yet.

Categories:

Tsaogrip should win AST, PTS, FGM, FTM, and FT%

The Hosen should win 3s, DREB, BLK

Toss ups -- OREB, STL, TO, PF, FG%

What to watch for:

(The Hosen's Joakim Noah)

For the Hosen, all eyes will be on the young frontcourt (Oden, Love, Noah) and their minutes. The roles of Russell Westbrook, Nate Robinson, Flip, Marquis, and Marreese will also be under scrutiny. Look for J-Salm and Matt Barnes to light it up, but how much will they contribute outside of points?

As for tsaogrip - he'll be watching the Knicks SFs (Q-Rich and W-Chandler) to see how things shake out, and looking to see how much and how well Yi and Diaw play.

Fearless Prediction: I think the young Hosen will step up on the glass, and win OREBs, but at the expense of the negatives: Final Score tsaogrip 8 - Hosen 6

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Nor'easter vs. Mongoose

General: An intriguing matchup - those of you who read the 'First Look' series know that we thought quite highly of both these teams' drafts. Both teams are huge in the frontcourt. Nor'easter gets 4 games from Bogut, but only 2 from Emeka, DevHarr, and Duncan. Mongoose has 4 from C-Vill, but only 2 from Okur and D-Will; overall, the games situation in general, and on Sunday in particular, is pretty even.

Injuries: Mongoose will be without Martell webster until December, it seems; Deron Williams' appears out for Week 1; if he does play, it could make a big difference. Baron Davis is questionable. Thaddeus Young has a hurt back. Nor'easter is missing Monta Ellis indefinitely.

Categories:

Nor'easter should win AST, FTM, FG%

Mongoose should win TO, PF, FT%, 3s, STL

Toss ups -- OREB, DREB, PTS, BLK, FGM

(Nor'easter's Devin Harris)

What to watch for: Being without D-Will hurts the Goose's chances of winning PTS and FGM. Any Disq's could make a big difference, and with such big-man heavy teams, there will surely be some. The Mongoose will be curious to see Thaddeus Young, Baron Davis in LA, and young Mr. Bynum. Are Tyrus Thomas and Brandon Bass really starting? We'll see. For Nor'easter, the minutes of Jarrett Jack, Al Thornton, Pietrus, and RudyFer are worth monitoring.

Fearless Prediction: Without Williams, and with B-Dizzle 'questionable', Nor'easter will prevail: Final Score Nor'easter 9 - Mongoose 6

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Les Digits vs. play my$hkin flute

General: Unfortunately, I don't think this one will be so close. I think my$hkin just has more minutes on the floor this week. Les Digits has only 2 games from Jamison, Chauncey, J-Smoove, Horford, and T-Murph. That will prove too much to overcome, I suspect, in the counting categories.

Injuries: my$hkin will be without Larry Hughes, and Dunleavy is banged up. Les Digits has no Manu, J-Smoove might be limited, and MarvWill is suspended for the first game of the season.

Categories:

Les Digits should win TO, PF

my$hkin should win PTS, FGM, FTM, FG%, FT%, AST, STL, BLK, 3s

Toss ups -- OREB, DREB

(my$hkin's Chris Duhon)

What to watch for: Les Digits needs to see how the minutes situations of Conley, D-Rose, and Varejao shake out. My$hkin will be looking to see how much run Kelenna, Duhon, Posey, and Mayo get, and how they respond

Fearless Prediction: No doubt about the outcome: Final Score my$hkin 10 - Les Digits 4

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blazers (thenopp) vs. odensque

General: This one should be interesting*. Both teams are more or less at full strength, and thenopp will outscore odensque by quite a bit. However, the big men of odensque (Brand, Dalembert, Big Z) may very well be enough to make this a fight.

*assuming lineups are set

Injuries: thenopp is without Agent Zero for a while, and Carmelo is apparently suspended for the first two games. Odensque will be without the services of Brad Miller, who's suspended for 5 games.

Categories:

thenopp should win PTS, FT, FGM, FT%,

odensque should win OREB, DREB, BLK, STL, TO

Toss ups -- 3s, PF, FG%, AST

(thenopp's Wally Szczerbiak)

What to watch for: odensque is very interested to how see the new look Sixers gel with Brand and Dalembert. He'll need good weeks from preseason disappointments Marion and Moon in order to win blocks, and will be looking carefully at the minutes and play of B-Simmons and Bayless. Thenopp needs to see whether rookies B-Lopez and Marc Gasol will help shore up his thin frontcourt - and whether aging veterans Hill, Mobley, and Szczerbiak can contribute this year.

Fearless Prediction: I think thenopp will win 3s and AST, but either JO or Hinrich will fatally DISQ: Final Score: odensque 8 - thenopp 7

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garbage speakers vs. The Lovin' Spoonful

General: garbage speakers may suffer from C-But, J-Rich, AK-47, and J-Rich only having two games, though the Spoonful also have some key 2-gamers (Bibby, Parker, R. Brewer). I think the Spoonful will outscore the speakers, and win via the counting stats, but the margin of victory will come down to rebounds.

Injuries: Only Francisco Garcia is out for the speakers, though Camby hasn't played in the preseason. On the Spoonful side, Wade and Bosh are forever day to day, and Little K-Mart, Ben Gordon, and Beno are slightly banged up.

(garbage speaker's Kyle Korver)

Categories:

The Lovin' Spoonful should win PTS, FTM, FGM, FT%, AST

garbage speakers should win TO, PF, BLK

Toss ups -- 3s, STL, FG%, OREB, DREB

What to watch for: garbage speakers wants to see Camby and Artest thrive in their new environs, and will be curious about the roles of Terry and Odom. Spencer Hawes might be huge this week with Brad Miller out. The Lovin' Spoonful want to see how much Hakim Warrick plays, how well LaMarcus fits in with Oden, and what's up with supposedly starting Chris Quinn. Starbury's role is also in question, and which Bargnani will show up this year?

Fearless Prediction: Sadly, Hawes will grab a lot of boards (and Carl Landry(?) won't) - Final Score: The Lovin' Spoonful 8 - garbage speakers 6

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The first Waiver Wire pickups will be tonight/tomorrow; I'll be sure to review who did what, and why...

First Look -- garbage speakers

Quick Draft Summary: Autodrafting got the speakers some good values, but no point guards. With a number of all-round contibutors, however, the speakers look well balanced, if rich in question marks.

Frontcourt: Camby (3), Odom (6), Biedrins (7), Kirilenko (8), Hawes (16), McDyess (17)

If Camby stays healthy and dominant, then the rest of these guys can make the speakers competitive in the big-man categories, perhaps even dominant in blocks. These are not big point scorers, however, so LeBron and the other SFs will be counted on for scoring. I'm not sure it will be enough.

Backcourt: Marcus Wiliams (13), Ramon Sessions (15), Antonio Daniels (19)

Well, luckily LeBron provides plenty of assists, and C-But is a steal machine (as might Artest be), because this is a bad scene, PG wise. M-Will may start, but is apparently in Don Nelson's doghouse after a terrible preseason. Sessions appears not to be starting...or backing up. Daniels will be solid while Arenas is out, but by no means spectacular.

Swingmen: LeBron(1), C-But(2), J-Rich(3)

The speakers were one of two teams not to draft a PG or C in the first 3 rounds, and these are indeed three outstanding players. They contribute all around, but as noted above, they may be the only players to average > 16 PPG on the team (depending on the 'X-Factors' below)

X-Factors: Artest(5), Korver(20), Terry(9)

Artest is the ultimate X-Factor, and could, as always, provide first round value, or retire to pursue his rap career. Korver's getting no love this pre-season, but might give quite a boost in 3s. Jason Terry is extremely productive, but is seemingly always in danger of losing minutes. Other sources of uncertainty include Odom, who is supposedly coming off the bench, and Camby, who is on a new(old) team, and 'day to day'.

Gomes(12), Parker(11), Nocioni(18) and Green(14) could all be boom or bust as well.

Strengths: 3s, STL, BLK

Weaknesses: FGM, PTS, FT%

Best Pick: Daniels (19) -- much needed PG help came late. I also like Hawes (16)

Worst Pick: Garcia (10) -- he's hurt, and there were plenty of similar players available later.