It’s not a secret that there is plenty of talent overseas. Since many years ago, the overall level outside the States has had a tremendous development.

The Olympics finally crowned USA Basketball as champions.

All the American players had a nice performance according to what was expected from them before the tournament. Apart from the USA Basketball march to the gold medal, there have been a lot of interesting stories around the tournament. Let’s rank the best performances among the international players.

After an much anticipated offseason for the Nuggets, they once again disappointed loyal fans across the country.

An uneventful summer is heading towards a conclusion, and a beginning to the 2008-09 season is rapidly drawing near.

Unlike in my previous articles, I won't make any predictions and simply relax and watch the events occur.

Here is what I expect from the Nuggets in the upcoming months.

With Monta Ellis' recent ankle injury, the Golden State Warriors are looking thin at point guard. Might the recuperating Shaun Livingston be the answer to the team's woes?

There have been reports that the former Illinois star has looked impressive in recent workouts during the summer—impressive enough that Warriors General Manager Chris Mullin has visited Chicago to obtain his personal insight.

Those Americans who watched the 2008 Beijing Olympics should know his name by now: Rudy Fernandez.

Today, August 29, 2008, I’m picking Fernandez to sneak up on the NBA and garner the third most Rookie of the Year votes in the upcoming season. No offense to the young Spaniard, but Michael Beasley and Greg Oden are just too good. 

The unique team remaining at Canada is facing this season a big challenge: advance through the NBA Playoffs. The Raptors has shown ha huge improvement the previous couple of seasons, but they have struggled in the postseason. 

In 2007, after clinching the Atlantic division title and getting the home court advantage for the first round, the Nets hold them off in six games. Last year, Orlando Magic defeated them in the first round after six games too, despite things were different throughout the regular season.

The Northwest Division has undergone a facelift in the last couple of years with the Portland Trail Blazers suddenly becoming a dangerous young team and the Seattle Supersonics moving to Oklahoma City.  Rumors hold that the new OKC team name will be the Thunder.
 
At any rate, the Northwest Division features some young, up-and-comers, like Brandon Roy, Greg Oden, Kevin Durant and Al Jefferson, as well as an improving Utah Jazz team, led by Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer, and a Denver Nuggets team that’s constantly treading water.

Just like the Overrated edition, I want to know what you guys think as well. Am I right? Am I wrong? Have I got this the complete wrong way round?

Here is the Underrated edition...

The Detroit Pistons had once again yet another successful season, or routine to the naked eye.

They reached the Eastern Conference Finals for the sixth straight season and were dismissed for the fourth time in those six years and fired another head coach prematurely.

But Detroit's season did not go without a few bright spots one of them being newborn, versatile guard being Rodney Stuckey.

Here is a recap of how the future All Star guard has paved his way to the NBA.

Monte Ellis was the one piece that was going to come out and make all the Warriors fans forget about Baron Davis.

In fact, he was Davis' replacement since he left for the Los Angeles Clippers and Steve Nash .

Ellis has been sidelined with a severe high ankle sprain.  The length of the injury has been reported as a minimum of three months before he can successfully return to the basketball court.