Billy The Follower

Funny you should mention that, the league pass app was released on PS Network today for PS3, Vita & PS4. Apparently it's only available in the US though, which makes no sense. Hopefully they change that!

Great news. I use unblock-us so hopefully I can get it from the PS Store tonight. Thanks very much.

Ended up watching Detroit/Washington last night, which was a fun little match. Drummond, Smith and Monroe gelled better than I expected, although I'll be interested to see how they do against a higher standard of opposition. Andre Drummond in particular is a player that I've got high hopes for, and I'd really like to see Mo Cheeks give him some more minutes this year. I'm also a big fan of Caldwell-Pope, not just for his amazing name, but for his all-round defensive qualities. Next up is the Grizzlies away on Friday, which should be more of a challenge.

I too saw the 76ers/Heat first quarter score and thought there must have been some sort of mistake. It just goes to show how great the NBA is, though - anyone can beat anyone and there's no guaranteed wins.

I'm really hoping a tv deal gets signed as, despite loving League Pass, I'm on PS3 and therefore can't stream it via my console. I'm therefore reduced to watching it on the laptop or the iPad. Does anyone know if League Pass will be accessible via PS4 or, if you've got an internet-enabled tv, how easy it is get League Pass on it?

So, I've taken the plunge and, after much research (and an successful NBA 2K14 MyCareer game) I've decided I'm going to be a Pistons fan. I've always liked them and can remember seeing highlights of them absolutely murdering a young Michael Jordan in an attempt to nullify him. Somehow such barbarism makes them more appealing to me.

In terms of my predictions...

East

1. Miami

2. Chicago

3. Indiana

4. Brooklyn

5. Cleveland

6. Detroit

7. Knicks

8. Washington

-----------------

9. Atlanta

10. Toronto

11. Charlotte

12. Milwaukee

13. Boston

14. Magic

15. Philadelphia

West

1. LA Clippers

2. OKC

3. Houston

4. San Antonio

5. Golden State

6. Memphis

7. New Orleans

8. Portland

--------------------

9. LA Lakers

10. Minnesota

11. Denver

12. Dallas

13. Sacramento

14. Phoenix

15. Utah

So, I watched Heat/Bulls last night and echo Art's thoughts completely - the Heat were too good and the Bulls looked off the pace. Really good to see Rose back although I think he's still a long way from where he was, which is natural after such a long layoff.

Fell asleep before the Clippers/Lakers game but it doesn't necessarily surprise me that the Lakers won. It's a marathon though, not a sprint and in the long run I think a loss like this might actually benefit the Clippers and eliminate any ounce of complacency that may exist.

Also, Andrew Bynum just checked in. I'm currently checking the weather channel to see if hell has just frozen over.

Let's go Pistons etc.

First time NBA poster.

Just to add my thoughts to a few of the topics up for discussion...

I'm playing NBA 2K14 and really enjoying it. Despite this, I really feel that, in terms of presentation, 2KSports have really taken their foot off the gas. Menus are very similar to last year and there's been no real jump forward in terms of graphics. Despite that, it's still a great game.

In terms of predictions this year, I really think the Nets could have a standout season. They've strengthened really well with Garnett and Pierce and they've got a deep squad who can score and defend. A lot depends on Deron Williams but I think their absolute minimum aim should be to win the Atlantic Division and reach the Conference semis.

The East as a whole is looking strong with Miami, Chicago and Indiana, along with an improved Nets. I'll be interested to see who the Knicks do - I think they've missed their window to make a deep run into the Playoffs and I think the East have improved overall whilst they've arguably stayed at the same level. I still think they'll make the Playoffs but as a lower seed and, against one of the better teams, I see a first round exit.

I'm also very, very interested in the Bobcats. I think they're finally taking steps in the right direction by acquiring Jefferson and I think Cody Zeller is going to be a very good draft pick. I'm also a big fan of Kemba Walker, so I think they're potentially onto something good.

In the West, I really think it's wide open, and it's going to be as much down to mentality as to talent. I think last season was last chance saloon for the Spurs. OKC without Harden are not the same team, and a lot will depend upon Westbrook's recovery. I can't remember seeing a team fall so far, so fast as the Lakers - from being THE team merely a few years ago to being a place where people like Chris Kaman go to try and get their career back on track. As great as Kobe is, and as much as it pains me to say it about Steve Nash (who is my favourite player ever), the Lakers are now relying on two players who, because of their age, need to have their minutes rationed. Add in the fact that Kobe is coming back from serious injury and I think it's going to be a long, hard slog of a season for Lakers.

In the West, I think the real "Showtime" team are now the Clippers. By extending Chris Paul's contract they've cemented themselves as a force for years to come and, with Doc Rivers in charge, I think they've got a very, very good shot of going far and I'd probably place them as my favourites for the Western Conference. With the Clippers, it's all about mentality and whether or not the experience of Rivers can overcome an inferiority complex that's been established through decades of Lakers domination.

In answer to an earlier question, I think the Rockets will do well, but I don't think they have it in them to win a title. Having said that, if Dwight Howard shows up with a point to prove after last season's fiasco and Harden is firing on all cylinders, there's no reason why they can't prove me wrong. I also think that Lin is going to have an improved season now that he's out of the limelight. His numbers for last season were actually very respectable, and he's a very solid point guard, but he could never live up to the hype as a marquee player.

Other teams I'm looking forward to watching: Curry and the Warriors, Lillard and Aldridge in the eternal struggle to get Portland past the first round of the Playoffs, watching the Cavs grow up in front of my eyes and seeing how the Raptors do, having brought in Rudy Gay.

This brings me on nicely to my next point - which team do I support? I love watching the NBA, but the one thing that has stopped me fully committing to it in the same way I do football is that I can't decide on a team to support. Generally, I don't like bandwagon hopping, so teams like the Heat, Lakers, Celtics etc are out. I can never support OKC as the team that I did support all those years ago, the Sonics, were destroyed so they could be formed. In sports like football, teams tend to have social and political identities and this helps me associate with them and draws me towards certain teams. This doesn't seem to be the case in basketball though, with the cloest thing I can find being the Suns coming out against Arizona's immigration stop and search policy and the Blazers coming out in support of gay marriage.

I'm also generally a glutton for punishment, and like teams that aren't great so that, when they do become a force, it feels so much better. I'm currently leaning towards either the Bobcats, Raptors, Suns or Pistons in terms of who to support, but I'm open to ideas. Sell me your team, so I can buy their jersey and shamelessly pretend that I've been a fan for years.

Ice XVIIMajikDarkside

3CWSWA

Jeff Jarrett

Conscience vs Eric "The Fist" Canyon- SWA Dissent

Conscience - YOUR NWA: Scottish and 3CW Heavyweight Champion!

You're a tit.Get some training or get to fuck.