Which team will be the biggest surprise . . .

[Guest_Randy]

of the NBA this year?

[SPURSX3]

orlando - grant hills ankle holds the whole season!!  :eek2:  

[spursfan101]

The Sixers will be the biggest suprise and will win the East. :cheers:  

[rickortreat]

IMO, it's too early to tell.  The preseason is no way to evaluate the teams who were strong last year.  

LA has to be a dissapointment to their fans, simply because they don't have Shaq anymore.  I'll be shocked and very impressed if they're in it at the end.  My perception is that they're no longer an elite team, Kobe is going to need help to accomplish anything.

I wouldn't count out Detroit to reapeat, but I think they're vulnerable to Indiana- who would have won except for the injuries.

With all the line-up changes, I'm not even sure who the elite teams are besides San Antonio and Minnesota.  

[Derek Bodner]

Make that the Atlantic and I'll agree with you.

Of course, Me, you, Randy, JoMal and.... heck, we'll even take jw could win the atlantic.

[guest-koast]

IMO, it's too early to tell.  The preseason is no way to evaluate the teams who were strong last year.  

LA has to be a dissapointment to their fans, simply because they don't have Shaq anymore.  I'll be shocked and very impressed if they're in it at the end.  My perception is that they're no longer an elite team, Kobe is going to need help to accomplish anything.

I wouldn't count out Detroit to reapeat, but I think they're vulnerable to Indiana- who would have won except for the injuries.

With all the line-up changes, I'm not even sure who the elite teams are besides San Antonio and Minnesota.

Actually Im happy to report from Laker land that alot of people are not that disapointed right now.  Sure the Lakers aren't in the running as the top team in the west but the team is far from a bunch of scrubs.  Even though its only pre-season they have shown quite a few things, including much better scrappy defense and the ability to run together.  The Lakers always do very horrible in the pre-season but have been able to win games but good margins so far.  Of course its all pre-season and things change but so far so good.

I think the biggest suprise this year is going to be the Knicks and the Jazz.

[Guest_Randy]

I'm going with Orlando -- I really think they have a real shot at being a BIG surprise this year.  They have a LOT of "IF's" -- IF Francis can learn to play team ball, IF Hill can stay healthy, IF Howard has a great rookie year, etc. but I still think they are the "shocker" of the league.

I don't think that Detroit repeats -- I think that Indy wins the East and SA wins the West.

[Derek Bodner]

I think the biggest suprise this year is going to be the Knicks

If by surprise you mean flop, I agree with you.

[JoMal]

Make that the Atlantic and I'll agree with you.

Of course, Me, you, Randy, JoMal and.... heck, we'll even take jw could win the atlantic.

While I have often had my movements compared to Shaq's, I don't think they were talking about basketball.