Post by briarduck on Jul 10, 2009 0:05:33 GMT -8
The Detroit Tribune…NBA News Notes
1995 Playoff Recap…
The tale of two conferences…
The crème of the crop West wins out vs the Underdog winning East in the first round!
Round one, in the West we saw the top four advance easily while in the East the bottom four advance, its in two round where in the West things got interesting, and what do you would expect with a battle of the best four teams in the West with the Sonics, Jazz, Suns and Nuggets, with some very close games. The East was again a different story, with the Pistons and the Pacers handling the Heat and Celtics quite easily!
The conference Championships were two very interesting match-ups, in the East it wasn’t much of a series with the Pacers coming close to sweeping the Cinderella Pistons who came very close after an amazing season. In the West it was the Sonics versus the Suns and it was quite a good series with the Sonics edging the Suns in what looked like a Sonics sweep the Suns battled back to make it a close one but the Sonics finishing them off in game seven to earn their first Championship versus the Pacers!
The Championship series was set, it would be the Pacers versus the Sonics, David vs Goliath, many didn’t believe the Pacers could even make it a series and after game three no one would believe the out come fans had started to think of next season with the eventual sweep looming. Well that must have woken up the Pacers players reading the newspapers/emails/message boards, watching sports center because what the did next was simply amazing, winning four straight in dramatic fashion….we can still hear the chats “The Pacers Win, the Pacers WIN!! That’s one for the records book!
What a year, so what’s next? Can 1995/96 season match the excitement? Lets have a look ahead…
1995-96 Pre-Season Eastern Conference Power Rankings
1. Indiana Pacers
How they Finished in 1994/95? Conference Champs and World Champs
What they did in FA? C Rik Smits, PF Dale Davis, PG Pooh Richardson
Did they improve TC? Two words “Dale Davis” that would put a smile on any GMs face…if they had him! After winning the World Championship they have very little to complain about!
How will they do this year? Can they repeat? That is the question. YES! They are strong and deep with talent.
2. Charlotte Hornets
How they Finished in 1994/95?
What they did in FA? SF Larry Johnson, PF Randy White, C Danny Schayes, PG Greg Anthony, PG Rumeal Robinson
Did they improve TC? With LJ and Zoe any BM would be proud, they lead by example and are the team’s leaders!
How will they do this year? Why does this team keep coming up short, they have the studs/stars and depth…maybe experience? We see a strong run in the playoffs…FINALLY!
3. Boston Celtics
How they Finished in 1994/95?
What they did in FA? PF Brian Williams, PG Kenny Smith, SF Dennis Scott, SF Jerome Kersey
Did they improve TC? Bostons GM couldn’t be happier about Van Exel development err..seemless transition to the NBA. Now if Gary Trent and Mario Bennett can follow suit.
How will they do this year? Very good young team with solid veterans will it be enough? Should be a fun playoff and battle for the top of the conference…they are similar to the Hornets but maybe better? We will find out soon enough.
4. Chicago Bulls
How they Finished in 1994/95?
What they did in FA? n/a
Did they improve TC? The Bulls young is developing as expected and are very happy with Charlie Ward and would like to see a jump by a few others!
How will they do this year? The enigma, every time we think they are just average team with one star they prove us wrong. They make moves every year to stay a playoffs caliber team, is this their last run? Don’t rule them out!
5. Orlando Magic
How they Finished in 1994/95?
What they did in FA? SG Kendall Gill, C Victor Alexander
Did they improve TC? They have Shaq, what else needs to be said
How will they do this year? Again they have Shaq…are they underachieving in the playoffs? Lets just say they have many more year s to figure it out.
6. Atlanta Hawks
How they Finished in 1994/95?
What they did in FA? SF Curt Kitna, SF Taylor Goodrich, PG Jim Les, C Donald Hodge, SF Harvey Grant, SG Ed Downey
Did they improve TC? Hawks GM would love to be happier but outside of Penny the team youth just aren’t getting it done in camp…
How will they do this year? We love the young silky smooth combo guard Penny, The Admiral and Cliff Robinson but then the talent level drops off. We like this team but we see a first round exit.
7. Detroit Pistons
How they Finished in 1994/95?
What they did in FA? PG Sedale Threatt, SG Kevin Edwards, PF Charles Shackleford
Did they improve TC? Pistons GM are pretty frustrated with Soph Mashburn’s development but are delighted with Jason Kidd and Grant Hill development, who are developing a ton of chemistry and are the team leaders.
How will they do this year? They were the Cinderella team last year, everything fell in place to make the Eastern Conference finals then the floor fell out, will they play as well? Its hard to tell but they have the pieces and depth they are just young. So how will they do? The top half of the conference looks very strong, so baring any lucky breaks, look for them to make the second round if they are lucky and first round if they meet one of the top three teams!
8. Washington Bullets
How they Finished in 1994/95?
What they did in FA? PG Isiah Thomas
Did they improve TC? Bullets GM had mention they are happy with rookie CWebb’s development and “Super Soph” Sam Cassell had a hell of a camp!
How will they do this year? After just missing the playoffs last year the Bullets look good to make it this year but are still a couple years away for being a real contender…first round exit!
Outside looking in…
Miami Heat
OUR PREDICTION
Division Champs? Charlotte Hornets and Orlando Magic
Championship Game? Charlotte Hornets
1995 Playoff Recap…
The tale of two conferences…
The crème of the crop West wins out vs the Underdog winning East in the first round!
Round one, in the West we saw the top four advance easily while in the East the bottom four advance, its in two round where in the West things got interesting, and what do you would expect with a battle of the best four teams in the West with the Sonics, Jazz, Suns and Nuggets, with some very close games. The East was again a different story, with the Pistons and the Pacers handling the Heat and Celtics quite easily!
The conference Championships were two very interesting match-ups, in the East it wasn’t much of a series with the Pacers coming close to sweeping the Cinderella Pistons who came very close after an amazing season. In the West it was the Sonics versus the Suns and it was quite a good series with the Sonics edging the Suns in what looked like a Sonics sweep the Suns battled back to make it a close one but the Sonics finishing them off in game seven to earn their first Championship versus the Pacers!
The Championship series was set, it would be the Pacers versus the Sonics, David vs Goliath, many didn’t believe the Pacers could even make it a series and after game three no one would believe the out come fans had started to think of next season with the eventual sweep looming. Well that must have woken up the Pacers players reading the newspapers/emails/message boards, watching sports center because what the did next was simply amazing, winning four straight in dramatic fashion….we can still hear the chats “The Pacers Win, the Pacers WIN!! That’s one for the records book!
What a year, so what’s next? Can 1995/96 season match the excitement? Lets have a look ahead…
1995-96 Pre-Season Eastern Conference Power Rankings
1. Indiana Pacers
How they Finished in 1994/95? Conference Champs and World Champs
What they did in FA? C Rik Smits, PF Dale Davis, PG Pooh Richardson
Did they improve TC? Two words “Dale Davis” that would put a smile on any GMs face…if they had him! After winning the World Championship they have very little to complain about!
How will they do this year? Can they repeat? That is the question. YES! They are strong and deep with talent.
2. Charlotte Hornets
How they Finished in 1994/95?
What they did in FA? SF Larry Johnson, PF Randy White, C Danny Schayes, PG Greg Anthony, PG Rumeal Robinson
Did they improve TC? With LJ and Zoe any BM would be proud, they lead by example and are the team’s leaders!
How will they do this year? Why does this team keep coming up short, they have the studs/stars and depth…maybe experience? We see a strong run in the playoffs…FINALLY!
3. Boston Celtics
How they Finished in 1994/95?
What they did in FA? PF Brian Williams, PG Kenny Smith, SF Dennis Scott, SF Jerome Kersey
Did they improve TC? Bostons GM couldn’t be happier about Van Exel development err..seemless transition to the NBA. Now if Gary Trent and Mario Bennett can follow suit.
How will they do this year? Very good young team with solid veterans will it be enough? Should be a fun playoff and battle for the top of the conference…they are similar to the Hornets but maybe better? We will find out soon enough.
4. Chicago Bulls
How they Finished in 1994/95?
What they did in FA? n/a
Did they improve TC? The Bulls young is developing as expected and are very happy with Charlie Ward and would like to see a jump by a few others!
How will they do this year? The enigma, every time we think they are just average team with one star they prove us wrong. They make moves every year to stay a playoffs caliber team, is this their last run? Don’t rule them out!
5. Orlando Magic
How they Finished in 1994/95?
What they did in FA? SG Kendall Gill, C Victor Alexander
Did they improve TC? They have Shaq, what else needs to be said
How will they do this year? Again they have Shaq…are they underachieving in the playoffs? Lets just say they have many more year s to figure it out.
6. Atlanta Hawks
How they Finished in 1994/95?
What they did in FA? SF Curt Kitna, SF Taylor Goodrich, PG Jim Les, C Donald Hodge, SF Harvey Grant, SG Ed Downey
Did they improve TC? Hawks GM would love to be happier but outside of Penny the team youth just aren’t getting it done in camp…
How will they do this year? We love the young silky smooth combo guard Penny, The Admiral and Cliff Robinson but then the talent level drops off. We like this team but we see a first round exit.
7. Detroit Pistons
How they Finished in 1994/95?
What they did in FA? PG Sedale Threatt, SG Kevin Edwards, PF Charles Shackleford
Did they improve TC? Pistons GM are pretty frustrated with Soph Mashburn’s development but are delighted with Jason Kidd and Grant Hill development, who are developing a ton of chemistry and are the team leaders.
How will they do this year? They were the Cinderella team last year, everything fell in place to make the Eastern Conference finals then the floor fell out, will they play as well? Its hard to tell but they have the pieces and depth they are just young. So how will they do? The top half of the conference looks very strong, so baring any lucky breaks, look for them to make the second round if they are lucky and first round if they meet one of the top three teams!
8. Washington Bullets
How they Finished in 1994/95?
What they did in FA? PG Isiah Thomas
Did they improve TC? Bullets GM had mention they are happy with rookie CWebb’s development and “Super Soph” Sam Cassell had a hell of a camp!
How will they do this year? After just missing the playoffs last year the Bullets look good to make it this year but are still a couple years away for being a real contender…first round exit!
Outside looking in…
Miami Heat
OUR PREDICTION
Division Champs? Charlotte Hornets and Orlando Magic
Championship Game? Charlotte Hornets
