Still a week until the season starts but I thought we could start making fun of the Knicks a little early.

I think the Bulls might do something good this year, now that they got Big Ben Wallace.

I was looking at their lineup and wasn't as impressed as I thought they'd be. They didn't really do much outside of Big Ben.

I like the Celts this year quite a bit more than usual. Rajon Rondo looks like a steal so far.

Go Sonics! Learn Defense! Bench Ridnour!

Move to Oklahoma!

I have to laugh at the Knicks lineup. Their top rebounder only averages 6 a game.

I kind of like the Bobcats lineup. They won't win shit this year but they're building a nice core of young players to make the team a playoff regular down the line.

As a Sonics fan from Iowa, I couldn't care less. Actually, Oklahoma is even closer if I ever have the urge to go to an NBA game, which will never happen.

If Amare comes back strong, the Suns may just take it this year.

HEY!

Don't make me destroy you like Knicks managment destroys franchises.

...oops.

Don't you mean Isiah Thomas?

I refuse to say that name.

You'd think everyone would have learned a couple years ago not to write off the Spurs just because they had one off year, but you'd be wrong in most cases. For right now, I'm still going with them to win the whole thing. I really like the revamped frontcourt they've put around Duncan, with Elson and Butler, as well as Bonner off the bench, which should be huge.

If Amare returns to form, then they have a great chance, as well, but judging from the couple preseason games I saw him in, I can't say I have much faith in that happening, sadly. But that's been a couple weeks, so I'm looking forward to see him against the Lakers on Tuesday to see if he's gotten better.

The Bulls did just what they needed to do, I think. They didn't need to totally revamp or anything, just add a couple pieces, and that's what they did. They're not much more impressive, true, but they did push the Heat to the brink last year, and the moves they did make should make them a contender at least in the East. But age-wise, they didn't do themselves any favors, losing Chandler and Songalia for Wallace and Brown, so they need to contend now.

And if you don't like Ridnour, we'll gladly give you Jamaal Tinsley for him. ;)

Duncan gets overlooked a lot. I guess if he ran his mouth constantly or played in one of the darling cities he'd get a lot more attention. The SI preview didn't really give them a lot of love either.

Good call Alfdogg, and I see Chicago being a SERIOUS contender this year.

New York should enjoy that one win while they can. They'll be looking at that 1 for awhile.

So the Bulls slam the Heat by 40 points, then have a letdown against Orlando.

Hey. Sorry I haven't been around.

Last night had to be really disheartening for the Jazz. They get off to the best start in the league, then have their first shot on national TV, and Kobe mops the floor with them. I still think they'll make the playoffs with little trouble, but I don't know that they're really a threat to win a round, like I had thought previously.

The Pacers play at Seattle tonight, they've won their first two out West over Portland and Golden State after losing in Toronto, and still have four of their next five on the road afterward.

The East may have hit an all-time low in the first month of the season, with the 6-9 Nets sitting alone atop the Atlantic and the Bulls and Heat laying big-time eggs (though to be fair, the Heat have been without Shaq for a couple weeks now and will be for at least a couple more). Only Detroit and Cleveland look like major players in that conference, which is pretty sad considering the makeup of those teams, aside from LeBron of course. Orlando has the best record in the conference right now, but they're not a team I see going deep in the playoffs.

On the other side of the coin, nearly every single team in the West looks like, at the very least, a playoff team, or at least look like they could beat any team on any given night (Minnesota, Seattle, Portland). But those Grizzlies...*shudder* You think they're not counting the days until Gasol's return?

Dwight Howard got Player of the Month in the East, and Yao Ming won it in the West.

BTW, I'm rescinding my Tinsley-for-Ridnour offer. He's been playing better than ever thus far this season.

Haven't the Jazz started the last couple of seasons really hot though? I'd say Chicago has been the most disappointing team this year. I think a lot of the fans saw a championship coming and right now it looks like the team will be lucky to make the playoffs.

So it looks like Philly is going to finally kick Iverson out of town. They really should've done it a couple of years ago when it became clear he was no longer capable of single handedly making the team a playoff contender.

Yeah, the Bulls were stinking earlier in the season. Now they're 10-10, just lost to Minnesota after winning seven straight games. They're looking better now.

Carmelo hits like a girl.

Apparently the deal is done, AI to Denver for Andre Miller, Joe Smith and two first-rounders.

Woo-hoo. Just what the Nugs need-- another gangsta to throw punches in Melo's absence!

They were able to keep Najera and Nene.....folks tell me that's good.

This is my annual NBA Post. Going to the game on Friday night, so I need some fodder to appear partially educated.

Why does he go by Nene? Is that his first name? Never understood the reason of some athletes having their first name on their jersey.

It's not. It's how it is where he's from.

In some other countries they have their names opposite as we have them. Like if your name is John Smith. In another country it would appear as Smith John. Kind of like when in Puro they announce them Misawa Mitsuuuuuharrrrruuuuuu!!!!!

Not really. When he first came to the Nuggets, he was going by Nene Hilario. His real name is actually Maybyner Rodney Hilario.

He legally changed it to just "Nene" a few years ago. It's a Brazilian thing...sorta' like Pele. I don't get it. It's like if Champ Bailey legally changed his name to just "Champ"-- that's not his given name, either.

His name should be "Injured", because that's basically all he is.

Amazing... the starting centers for the All-Star Game:

Shaq - played FOUR games all season.
Yao Ming - missed at least the last month.

Another reason to abolish fan voting. It's the ALL STAR GAME, not the MOST POPULAR PLAYER GAME.

You are incorrect, sir. It IS the most popular player game. In fact, that's exactly what it is, and what it should be.

Then why is it called the All-Star Game, when 2 players combined for 25 games played out of 80+?

Suns are taking it this year.

It's really their last chance. Nash isn't getting any younger. And apparenlty Marion wants out.

I have hopes the Knicks have a record above .500 this year. They have the talent, but is there enough chemistry? That's obviously been the major problem the last 4 seasons, along with having too many fucking shooting guards and lack of big men (a problem we've had for well over a decade).