Unfortunately, since I am a realist, I dont see us finishing in the top 4 this year.  We are a 6-8 seed that has potential to cause a trouble and maybe push a game 6 in the 2nd round.  Beyond that, we have to hope the Robert Horry spirits are on our side for any further advancement.

Regarding the summer league, we have another Brian Skinner type that is capable of playing for us, the question is will he play.  Robin's turn-around dunk wa a professional basketball player's move.  Skinner doesn't have that possibilty available to him, nor does he have the length to guard 7 footers like Lopez.  If he could xhoot three's...I miss Tim Thomas. 

I'll believe the numbers I see from Tucker and Strawberry when they happen in the regular season.  Tucker is a stud right now, but got less PT than Strawberry last year despite being drafted one round higher. 

I still think we should have gone after Pietrus in some way, but such is vie.  Bell, Barbosa, and Diaw are the keys to this season.  All of them step up, we are contenders.  We can't have the majority of our games where Leandro and Doris disappear, and our only fighting chance is hoping Bell is on and gets 4 or 5 threes that night.

We have made no effort to try and replace the easy baskets that Shawn got us, and have made no moves this offseason to deal with it.  Their is an enormous trust in our current roster, and we can only hope with good reason.

If we trust in this group, what have we heard about summer workouts.  Where is Boris and Shaq's weight?   Has Amare been working on tha tturn-around jumper and D?  How are Bell and Hill's nagging injuries?  Is Steve done getting his rocks off with soccer?   What is good Sir Terrence and Stephen up to with free agents?

As far as free agents go, there are a few cheapo's out there that could help us once money runs out.  J.R. Smith is worth stretching the luxury tax slightly.  Aside from that, Jason Williams, Matt Barnes, Devin Brown, Janerro Pargo, and Tony Allen would be great off the bench.  Maybe there is an athlete out there to get out on the break for easy buckets and back door cuts, some no name like Petway that used to play at Michigan.

Hurry up and get here end of October