I’m really high on Philly. If this team stays healthy, they have an almost-perfect combination of ingredients to contend for a championship. I think the only piece that’s really missing is that bona-fide star who can take the ball in crunch-time and score. I like Iguodala a lot but see him more as a Lamar Odom-type. There really isn’t a “gimme the rock, I’m going to score right now” kind of guy on this team–this is what plagued the Pistons in recent years as well.

I’m a Miller fan–I see him kind of as a poor man’s Jason Kidd. I think Brand is great as a rebounder and defender, but just average as a scorer. Dalembert is solid. Iguodala, like Odom, does many things well but nothing on an expert level. The bench depth with Louis Williams, Donyell Marshall, Willie Green, Kareem Rush, Reggie Evans, Royal Ivey and Theo Ratliff is incredible–this really might be the best bench in the league.

I think Speights has tremendous upside. Andre Emmett is tough. I thought Derrick Byars was going to be a lottery pick when he came out (dude is a great shooter). There is a lot of potential on this bench, and the best part is, they’re not being asked to do anything RIGHT NOW. These can be developed, and if needed, can step in as temporary fill-ins and do an OK job.

So, the depth here is incredible. They can play D… they have ridiculous size. As long as they play hard, they have enough talent to win 50 games EASILY.

Like I said, the only thing I worry about with this team is injuries, and who’s getting the ball in crunch-time.

Thad Young is definitely the X-Factor (Louis Williams is right there too). I think Thad has great skills and can become a really, really good player. If one of these two guys break out, Philly is going to be ridiculously tough.

I say they finish third in the East, win the first round, then bow out in a hardly-fought second round match.