prediction:
-C's win 53 games. 3rd in East. Behind Cleveland and Indy.
-AB in top 3 voting for DPOY
-Brown in top 3 for ROY despite limited minutes due to depth of team
-Rozier makes the leap -- becomes clearcut back up to IT -- looks like his successor as starter when IT looks to hit payday in 2 years.
-Smart and KO will be improved but they'll be the new whipping boys here in Sully's absence for not improving more
EDIT: C's get out of first round but get knocked out in second round. progress but not enough to satisfy the faithful. blame is cast on a young bench that cannot score enough and IT getting exposed as a weak link on D by the opposing PGs in the playoffs
Let's see how I did:
-C's win 53 games. 3rd in East. Behind Cleveland and Indy.
--> # of wins will be spot on if C's beat the Bucks tomorrow. Ranking in East is a little off. Cleveland should have been better than their record. missed on Indy badly though. -AB in top 3 voting for DPOY
--> not likely to happen with all the time he's missed and some valid arguments his D may have regressed a bit -Brown in top 3 for ROY despite limited minutes due to depth of team
--> we'll see but top 3 would be a longshot. still looks like a top rookie from this draft class -Rozier makes the leap -- becomes clearcut back up to IT -- looks like his successor as starter when IT looks to hit payday in 2 years.
--> missed here. Rozier went from a promising prospect last year to one where we'd be happy if he becomes a consistant contributor -Smart and KO will be improved but they'll be the new whipping boys here in Sully's absence for not improving more
--> Smart and KO improved somewhat but I really nailed the whipping boy treatment they got this year. I don't think any other player on the team has been verbally bashed anywhere near what these 2 have received. EDIT: C's get out of first round but get knocked out in second round. progress but not enough to satisfy the faithful. blame is cast on a young bench that cannot score enough and IT getting exposed as a weak link on D by the opposing PGs in the playoffs
--> still to be seen. young bench has been a concern down the stretch as has IT's D with the PGs on other teams going at him on offense. We'll have to see if this continues in the playoffs. if the C's get Chicago in the first round and they start Rondo, he may not score over IT but I think his passing ability will pose a problem as he goes over IT frequently