NBA Preview in Haiku

The NBA should be both entertaining and competitive this year. Even the truly horrible franchises have some intriguing young talent, and many teams are plaing an umtempo brand of basketball that is infinitely more fun to watch than the late nineties Knicks-Heat brawlfests. It is hard to picture anyone dethroning the Spurs this year, but their are at least a few teams who should keep it interesting.

EASTERN CONFERENCE
NCAA Caliber:
15) Toronto Raptors
Charlie “How do we
Sleep when the beds are burning”
Villanueva

14) Charlotte Bobcats
They will sell more tickets
By drafting May and Felton
But won’t win more games

13) Atlanta Hawks
Say it aint so, Joe
Chose money over winning
So no more playoffs

Have Some Hope:
12) Orlando Magic
Howard is a stud
But without his life mate, Cat
Francis is just sad

11) Boston Celtics
I love their young guys
Allen, Jefferson, and Green
But will Paul Pierce lead?

10) New York Knicks
Overpaid centers
An overcrowded backcourt
Are Zeke’s specialties

9) Philadelphia 76ers
A.I. (Iverson) plus A.I. (Iguadola)
Should give Philly fans some hope
When Eagles blow it

8) Chicago Bulls
Best American born
Caucasian player in the
NBA? Hinrich.

Definite Playoff Teams:
7) Washington Wizards
Wizards will miss Hughes
But not Kwame Brown at all
Ghost of MJ gone.

6) Milwaukee Bucks
Is Bogut for real?
T.J.’s back? Redd overpaid?
Questions, but some hope

5) Cleveland Cavaliers
Finally the year
James plays in the postseason
In June or just May?

4) New Jersey Nets
My least favorite team
With quitters and wife beaters.
Sadly, they’re not bad.

Possible Champs:
3) Detroit Pistons
A team of winners
Underappreciated
Except for Darko

2) Indiana Pacers
Best summer signing?
Sarunas Jasikevicius.
Seven syllables?

1) Miami Heat
A weak division
Assures most overall wins
Home court advantage

WESTERN CONFERENCE
Young and Bad:
15) New Orleans Hornets
My mother taught me
If I don’t have anything
Nice to say…shut up!

14) Portland Trailblazers
The Portland question
What will this year’s first crime be?
Drugs, rape, or murder?

Some Kind of Average
13) Los Angeles Lakers
Jackson and Kobe
Back together. But for what
A losing season

12) Los Angeles Clippers
Nice starting line-up
Not much of a bench, except
Livingston’s a stud

11) Memphis Grizzlies
Woohoo, the Grizzlies
I guess Pau is pretty good
Yeah…I’ve got nothing

10) Golden State Warriors
Are competitive
Until Baron gets injured
And that’s a given

9) Utah Jazz
Underachievers
Are bound to improve this year
But Utah still sucks.

8) Minnesota Timberwolves
More talent last year
But don’t bet against Garnett
Back to the playoffs

7) Seattle SuperSonics
Impressive season
Last year…Is there anything
Left for an encore?

Championship Contender, But Rough Regular Season
6) Phoenix Suns
Nash won MVP
But without Stoudemire
Suns are not special.

Playoff Tickets Punched
5) Sacramento Kings
Shareef’s played eight years
But has not seen the playoffs
That should finally change

4) Dallas Mavericks
Sure will they win games
But the playoffs just promise
More disappointment

3) Denver Nuggets
Weaker division
Gives Denver hope of home court
Throughout the playoffs

2) Houston Rockets
Maybe I am smoking
But I think the Rockets can
Take the Spurs to five

Playing For History
1) San Antonio Spurs
Deep and talented
Proven winners fear no one
Your NBA champs