Who will be the most improved team in the NBA?

By: Marc Gauthier and Jake Goldberg

Posted: 11/5/08

After some great off-season moves, the Philadelphia 76ers will be the most improved team in the NBA this season. Signing Elton Brand from the Clippers adds some size to an already big frontcourt. With the talented Andre Igouldala leading the backcourt, the Sixers have filled the missing pieces on a team that will surely contend for the Eastern Conference title at the end of this season.

The Miami Heat will be the most improved team this season. A healthy Dwyane Wade, Shawn Marion and explosive rookie Michael Beasley will take them from the gutter to the playoffs. Once this team gets to know how to play with each other, it should be a fast-paced, exciting team poised for great things in 2008-2009. Watch for this team to strike midseason and be the talk of the league.

Marc: The Philadelphia 76ers, without a doubt, are going to be the most improved team in the NBA this year.

Jake: Michael Beasley, Dwyane Wade and Marion have something to say about that.

Marc: Beasley? That's why you think the Heat are going to be an improved team? If so, that's suspect.

Jake: Rookie of the Year; mark it down, Marc. Plus a healthy D-Wade? That's scary stuff, man.

Marc: OK, I'll be sure to do that. All rookies aside, how about that Elton Brand? He's really good.

Jake: He is pretty good - when he plays. He's only played in eight games in the past two seasons.

Marc: Yeah, but that's due to injuries. Your main man D-Wade knows a few things about that if I'm not mistaken.

Jake: Wade does know, but his newly-won gold medal attests to his being back in form and one of the league's best.

Marc: Well, besides Marion and maybe Beasley, who does Wade have to back him up? At least Brand has another potential franchise player in Andre Igoudala.

Jake: And then the list goes downhill fast. The Heat's three are legit and they have a solid player in Haslem and a young point-guard in Mario Chalmers.

Marc: First of all, Phily's back up point-guard Louis Williams is better than Chalmers, and Haslem is a poor man's Samuel Dalembert.

Jake: Samuel Dalembert couldn't make an eight-foot jumpshot. Haslem is steady - double digits in points and eight-plus rebounds.

Marc: Dalembert would outplay Haslem any day of the week. But anyway, I'm concerned with the fact that you've lost to Charlotte and New York. What's up with that?

Jake: It's early; team is still gelling. With a new coach and new players it takes time. I know you beat New York and Sacramento, but let's not count our chickens before they hatch.

Marc: Yeah, but the Bobcats? Ouch. The Sixers put up over 116 points in both those wins, while holding their opponents to an average of 89 points. The Heat gave up 120 points to New York and 100 points to Charlotte.

Jake: Like I said, the team is young. You can't just expect them to come together after three games. Once they come together, look at the explosive possibilities on the fast break. They are so atheltic.

Marc: Athletic, yes, but I'm still worried about their defense. The Sixers might not be as athletic, but they certainly can lock down defensively and as we know, defense is a key to success in the NBA.

Jake: Who is playing defense on the 76ers? The rather slow 32-year-old Andre Miller? Also, where has Andre Igoudola gone? Twelve ppg so far, shooting 42.9 percent from the floor and 16.7 3-point percentage?

Marc: Just like you said - it's early. You have to count on Igoudola's coming into form soon enough. And when Miller gets tired, we'll just put in Williams. Will his 22-year-old body work for you?

Jake: His 6-foot-2-inch, 175-pound body won't help much when he gets worked around the court. He's a good back-up, but he should probably gain some weight though - this is a big-boy game.

Marc: While the Sixers' backcourt defense might be questionable, their frontcourt defense is as solid as they come. They'll be able to body up Chris Bosh, Kevin Garnett and even your boy Haslem in the East.

Jake: They will struggle with a running team, with an old Brand, Miller and Dalembert. Miami will run them off the floor before halftime.