Allow Me To Reintroduce Myself...My Name Is Mak

And for those of you who know me, know this is like Christmas day for your boy Mak.  Another NBA season begins.  Love it.  Going to be a fun season fellas, looking forward to sharing thoughts and contributing all year long.  I think this year has to potential to be a very profitable year in the association.  The most interesting off-season in sports history should be topped off with one of the best NBA seasons of all-time, looking forward to sharing it with all of you.

I have compiled a season preview for each conference.  Instead of posting it all on one very long thread, for the next few weeks I will post team thoughts and my predictions along with the games I am betting on to give you an idea of where I stand on each team.  As always I appreciate your thoughts and suggestions, good luck all season long gents - - - MAK
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BOSTON CELTICS - - - It is only fitting for me to start off with the team I believe will be the 2010-2011 NBA Champions.  They should have been the champs of the 2009-2010 season, they deserved to be the champs.  Even you Los Angeles lovers deep down know that the Lakers were lucky to come away with victory in game 7.  I do believe it is a bit un-professional for Doc Rivers to bluntly state that Boston together has yet to lose a playoff series, that if big Perk was manning the middle in game 7 that they would have hoisted the glorious gold ball.  Nevertheless, he is 100% correct.  Boston has never lost a series together.  Size and defensive post presence was the one and only reason the Celtics lost game 7.  So what did Danny Ainge do in the off-season?  Not only did he re-sign the truth, he resigned Jesus as well solidifying another run.  Then, Celts upper management decide to get some size and obtained two perfect post presences for Doc River’s system.  Jermaine O’Neal and The Big Green Mile.  Jermaine is old yes, his knees are a question mark yes, but he is someone that is very under-rated as a defensive post presence.  He can block shots with the best of them.  He changes numerous shots and always commands attention in the paint.  Although his offensive game is a shell of his former all-star form, Jermaine can still ball and is a huge pickup for Boston.  Shaq is not done, far from it in my opinion.  That giant still has 3-4 years left and he can still contribute.  He proved all doubters wrong in Phoenix and despite injury costing him half a year in Cleveland I still think he looked good when he played.  These two monster pickups alongside Big Baby and Kevin Garnett boast the best 4 man big rotation in the NBA, when Perkins does return a lot of people think it will be a log-jam at the 5 position.  I just think it allows Doc the flexibility of resting Kevin and Shaq before their epic playoff run.  This size alone will allow them to demolish the current Los Angeles roster in a 7 game series...in my opinion.  Boston did not stop there; they got better in the back-court as well signing Von Wafer from overseas and Delonte West.  Two more outstanding pickups by Celtics upper management.  The internal improvement of Rondo, Nate and Baby are a given, but my x-factor for the Celtics this year is Marquis Daniels.  With the loss of Tony Allen, he will get much more time this year.  He has worked very hard over the summer, and it has shown in Celtics practice and preseason.  Marquis is shooting the ball with extreme accuracy.  He states he shot 1000 3 point shots a day during the summer which is just crazy.  This Celts team is brimming with bitter distaste.  They want to get that taste out of their mouth, they want to pace themselves during the regular season, but they also realize it is crucial to get that best overall record to ensure that if there is another game 7 in the NBA Finals, it is played in Boston.  Celts to win the championship this year...but Mak has them #2 in the east after the regular season is done. 

2010/2011 BOSTON CELTICS - - - Will finish # 1 in their division.  Will finish #2 overall in the Eastern Conference .  Will finish #2 overall in the NBA.  Will win the 2010-2011 NBA Championship.

MIAMI HEAT - - - I cannot believe the amount of people I have seen, read or come across that actually have doubts about what type of monster Pat Riley has created.  All these doubters are comical actually.  Do you all not realize the sheer talent that blesses this roster.  Honestly, it could be one of the best rosters I have ever seen in my almost 2 decades of watching NBA basketball.  For all those who don’t think 3 superstars can make a difference...you are wrong.  Ask the Boston Celtics.  A team that finished with something like 25 wins a few years ago were on the verge of getting the overall #1 pick in the lottery.  They got shafted by ping pong balls so instead GM Danny Ainge decided to add two future hall-of-famers to his roster compiling 3 stars on one team...the rest is history gents.  If Lebron can win 61 games with the Cleveland roster, if Wade can do what he did with the atrocious roster he had, then can you only imagine what they can do together with Chris Bosh and company?  Only one problem, the league will be out for blood every time they face the Heat.  Nevertheless, they have 3 top 10 players in the NBA which is unimaginable.  Not only do they have the three musketeers but Pat Riley has manages to surround them with a hell of a 2nd unit.  Acquiring Mike Miller was massive for them (prior to his devastating injry).  They needed that 4th man, they needed that “Rondo”.  He may not be the the real 4th man but Mike is perfect for this team and will see a lot of open shots once he returns.   He is an impeccable outside shooter and will make a big impact on this team.  2nd most important signing was getting Haslem back.  Udonis could be the most underrated PF’s in the NBA.  He is a perfect rebounder, a bruiser down low and sets pin point perfect screens.  Something Miami will desperately need since they will run constant high pick and roles with Flash and King.  Carlos Arroyo and Mario Chalmers are really in a meaningless position here.  Most of the ball handling and tempo control will be up to Dwayne and Lebron.  I do think Carlos will prove himself to be the starter over Mario.  Rounding out the stellar lineup is Eddie House, Stackhouse, Joel Anthony, Juwan Howard , Big Z and some promising young rooks.  If healthy and cohesive this team will be the #1 team in the NBA at the end of the regular season...so why is it that I don’t see them winning the Championship?  Simple, Boston has a much better team in my opinion.  They simply out match them in every which way.  In a 7 game series I honestly think Miami stands very little chance at all at beating Boston.  I only think they win the regular season title because Chris, Lebron and Dwayne have a lot to prove.  Boston wants that #1 regular season spot as well and will fight for it but Doc will care more about salvaging his old team for when it counts while Miami will want to make a statement all year long.
2010/2011 MIAMI HEAT - - - Will finish #1 in their division.  Will finish #1 in the East.  Will finish the regular season with the most wins in the league.  Will be eliminated by the Boston Celtics in the conference finals.

Mak... welcome back.  Looking foward to this season. 

TUESDAY OCTOBER 26TH MIAMI HEAT @ BOSTON CELTICS

PICK: BOSTON PK (-110)

Match-up wise I really think the Celtics have the upper hand.  Their size, depth and overall cohesiveness will be too much for the jittery Heat to overcome.  There is just an enormous amount of pressure on this Heat team.  All eyes will be on them and they know it.  Instead of slowly progressing into an identity as a team they get thrown into the fire right away and face the Celtics who have been brewing over their game 7 loss.  A Celtics team that has gotten much better since last year.  The internal and external improvement of the Boston bench is scary.  In the preseason the bench of the Celts held their own and created their own identity.  Nate Robinson, Big Baby, Jermaine O’Neal, Marquis and others will play a big role in the success of this team tonight and all season long.  Boston just looks primed and focused and know how to play with each other.  The Heat have hardly practiced as a unit, Wade was in Chicago for custody hearings, Mike is injured, they just signed Stackhouse who has not had a full practice with the team.  The PG and C starters are still up in the air even though it will probably be Arroyo and Joel.  The Heat are a very very talented group of individuals.  But even immense talent needs some type of focus and cohesion.  I think it will take a little while for Miami to build that identity and learn as the season progresses.  I don’t think all the emotion, excitement and skill level that the Heat will possess tonight will allow them to defeat the Celtics in their home in the first game of the season.  I just do not see it happening.  Then again this could be the first and last time I doubt the three amigos.  Can’t wait to see this game fellas.  Best of luck whatever side you choose and enjoy the game, I sure as hell will.
7 UNITS 2010/2011 NBA CHAMPIONS - - -     

Good to be back Mandingo.  Looking forward to the season as well.  Best of luck bud.

Hi Mak,

so your wagering 7 units on celtics tonight or that they will win the championship.

what are your units you use? between 7-10 or between 1-10 thanks

nice write up

Gl this season Mak 

Hi Belvedere,

Wagering 7 units on the Celts tonight at PK -110.  Although the +900 future on them winning the Championship is pretty tasty.  Too bad I don't believe in tying my money up for that long otherwise it is a good gamble.

My units will change over the course of the season, but suffice to say that 7 units on an opening day in the NBA season is a good feel on the game.  Win or lose, I doubt I will wager over 7 units during the first few weeks of the season.  Best of luck with your plays. 

Thank you appreciate that.

You too Time Is Money

Mak! been a fan of you for 2 years now.

Your right. Lebron has 61 wins with his Cleveland. How can he do worse with Wade and Bosh at his side?

AND the 3 kings have something to prove, and unfortunately for Boston, they're the first victims.

I'm looking for a 10+ point win by the Heat tomorrow.

I'm also looking for an alley oop from Wade to Lebron.

then Lebron will return the favor...

HEAT - 1

CAN'T STAND THE HEATLET THE GAMES BEGIN!!

ow last question : to win or to risk x units?

MKH, you might be the smartest one I have come across.  You hate the heat yet you bow to them early.  If they win by +10 as you say, that is a huge statement game.  I would lose my 7 units but to be honest I would be smiling because it would just mean true NBA fans are in for a hell of a season.

 

celts

To win.

ITS GOOD TO BE BACK MAK !! looking forward for the season to unfolds, lets keep winning...

Hulkamania

Good to see you again Animax.  Best of luck this season.

Mak is Back

Can't wait to see all the other great NBA cappers come back as well

GL to you mak and along with the season, hope to see you around a lot more often now

Also mak what do you have the O/U as, or maybe no opinion?