MVN: Most Valuable Network

'Tis the season for blog previews, and Cavalier Attitude's Amar Panchmatia and Bull Riding's Matt Kolsky got the Central Division started. The Eastern Conference will be much improved this season, with these two teams contending for the chance to play in the Finals. Amar feels that the Southwest Division is the toughest in the league. Here are the previews for those teams:

San Antonio Spurs
Spur of the Moment   
Pounding the Rock

New Orleans
Hornets 24/7    
The New Orleans Hornets Fan

Memphis
Shades of Blue

Houston
HoopsBlogging

Dallas
Showboating

Archives
CelticsBlog NBA Page

Many thanks go out to Jeff Clark from Celticsblog for hosting this project. If you missed it, I contributed the Sixers preview here. Other previews of the Atlantic Division rivals can be found here.

The Sixers are still looking for their first preseason win when they host the Nets at the Wachovia Center Friday night. The Nets are pretty much the same team, with Jamaal Magloire in place of Mikki Moore and a promising rookie - Sean Williams - to take over for Cliff Robinson. The Sixers should win this game, with the Nets resting the starters for the season. After viewing their practice first hand, it is apparent to me that we have the depth to run like a college team and must get after the opposition.

UPDATE (Conclusion of the Sixers-Nets game):

Despite my declaration the the Sixers should win the game, they lost by one point in overtime, 90-91 (RECAP).  Nets forward Bostjan Nachbar scored 35 points, including 11 in the extra session.  Everytime I've watched him, I've come away impressed.  By that, I mean that I've always seen him show some intensity whenever he is inserted into a game.  Without Jason Kidd, Richard Jefferson, Vince Carter or Nenad Krstic - Nachbar was that go-to guy.

Lou Williams led the Sixers with 33 points.  All of them came after halftime.  He played just under 40 minutes of action.  From the recap from AP's Dan Gelston,

"Williams...has likely played his way into the backup point guard spot behind Andre Miller or even possibly at shooting guard." 

"I was in a good groove," Williams said. "I'm just comfortable wherever Coach allows me to play."

If you consider that this would be his senior year in college, you're talking about a lottery pick talent in the wings for the Sixers.  Lou might be as good as Mike Conley Jr. and Acie Law IV.  I've been saying that I hope Mo gives him minutes at shooting guard.  Thanks for getting that in there, Dan!

Kyle Korver and Sam Dalembert sat out with nagging injuries.  For Sammy, it's the stress fracture in his left foot.  For Kyle, it's a pulled groin that he suffered at the end of camp in North Carolina.  Both guys are day-to-day and are just taking precautions to get healthy for the start of the season.

Rodney Carney earns an honorable mention for his performance of 15 points, 4 assists and 2 steals in 39 minutes.  He only grabbed 2 rebounds, which is consistent with his play during his rookie season, but didn't turn the ball over once.  My conclusion is that Carney is much more of a guard than a forward.  With the 2 guard position up for grabs, Carney has outplayed Willie Green so far this preseason.

The Sixers host the Wizards Sunday night at the Wachovia Center.  The game starts at 6pm.  Stay tuned to Passion and Pride for your Sixers fix!