It’s that time of year again! Yep, that’s right, as I write this column the NBA is getting ready to tip off in less than 24 hours! The season begins in South Beach as the reigning NBA Champion Miami Heat host their rivals, the Boston Celtics. It’ll be the first time we get to see Ray Allen in uniform with Miami’s ‘Big Three’, as he will be facing off against the rest of his old ‘Big Three’ and the new-look Celtics (these teams seems to be developing a genuine hatred for one another, but more on that later). But as I’m sure you know, Allen wasn’t the only big name player to move to a championship contender (Dwight Howard anyone?) and we’ll analyze all the player movement as we break down each team’s outlook and predict how they’ll fair in the 2012-13 season.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Pacific Division
Lakers- Key Additions- Dwight Howard, Steve Nash, Antawn Jamison, Jodie Meeks, Earl Clark, Chris Duhon
Notable Losses- Andrew Bynum, Matt Barnes, Ramon Sessions
Might as well start with the team that made the biggest splash in the offseason, and So Cal’s proudest franchise, the Los Angeles Lakers. Growing up in L.A. you may expect me to be a Lakers fan, but I took the opposite approach and genuinely dread seeing them win. That being said, I have to give credit where credit is due; and Mitch Kupchak and the rest of the organization are due a ton. How is it that the Lakers ALWAYS land the best players available? From Wilt to Kareem, Shaq to Pau and Dwight (not to mention drafting the likes of West, Magic, Worthy, and Kobe), the Lakers have become the Yankees of the NBA: they don’t rebuild, they reload. My only question is why in the world do teams keep trading with them?! When was the last time you remember the Lakers trading for a superstar and not having it work out beautifully for them? And I still haven’t even mentioned that the Suns handed them (their biggest rivals, by the way) one of the best point guards of all time in Steve Nash. Imagine the Patriots trading Tom Brady to the Jets in the next two years. Yea, that’s how stupid the Suns should feel. All of a sudden the Lakers biggest weakness is now yet another strength. And their bench that has been their Achilles’ heel the last couple years? Oh yea, they added firepower in Jamison and Meeks to complement a full season from the surprising Jordan Hill. While they look like the class of the league on paper, a lot is still to be determined as they have yet to play a regular season game all together. The loss of Matt Barnes could be more important than people think, as you never know what you’re going to get from the Artest formerly known as Ron and Earl Clark will start the season on the bench with an injury. Barnes was more important to this team than many realized, but it’s still a stretch to think his loss will offset the upgrades at the point, center, and the bench.
http://posterizes.com/wp-content/uploads/Los-Angeles-Lakers-2012-2013-Dynasty-Wallpaper-1280x800.jpg
Where does this Lakers starting 5 rank in the all-time best lineups? You decide! Leave your thought in the comments below!
Bottom Line- Anything less than a number 1 seed, now that OKC must also adjust to a new lineup, will be looked at as a disappointment. However, every Laker fans knows that the regular season is nothing more than practice for the playoffs. With aging stars, the ultimate goal is a ring and anything less won’t be tolerated in Lakerland.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Pacific Division
Lakers- Key Additions- Dwight Howard, Steve Nash, Antawn Jamison, Jodie Meeks, Earl Clark, Chris Duhon
Notable Losses- Andrew Bynum, Matt Barnes, Ramon Sessions
Might as well start with the team that made the biggest splash in the offseason, and So Cal’s proudest franchise, the Los Angeles Lakers. Growing up in L.A. you may expect me to be a Lakers fan, but I took the opposite approach and genuinely dread seeing them win. That being said, I have to give credit where credit is due; and Mitch Kupchak and the rest of the organization are due a ton. How is it that the Lakers ALWAYS land the best players available? From Wilt to Kareem, Shaq to Pau and Dwight (not to mention drafting the likes of West, Magic, Worthy, and Kobe), the Lakers have become the Yankees of the NBA: they don’t rebuild, they reload. My only question is why in the world do teams keep trading with them?! When was the last time you remember the Lakers trading for a superstar and not having it work out beautifully for them? And I still haven’t even mentioned that the Suns handed them (their biggest rivals, by the way) one of the best point guards of all time in Steve Nash. Imagine the Patriots trading Tom Brady to the Jets in the next two years. Yea, that’s how stupid the Suns should feel. All of a sudden the Lakers biggest weakness is now yet another strength. And their bench that has been their Achilles’ heel the last couple years? Oh yea, they added firepower in Jamison and Meeks to complement a full season from the surprising Jordan Hill. While they look like the class of the league on paper, a lot is still to be determined as they have yet to play a regular season game all together. The loss of Matt Barnes could be more important than people think, as you never know what you’re going to get from the Artest formerly known as Ron and Earl Clark will start the season on the bench with an injury. Barnes was more important to this team than many realized, but it’s still a stretch to think his loss will offset the upgrades at the point, center, and the bench.
http://posterizes.com/wp-content/uploads/Los-Angeles-Lakers-2012-2013-Dynasty-Wallpaper-1280x800.jpg
Where does this Lakers starting 5 rank in the all-time best lineups? You decide! Leave your thought in the comments below!
Bottom Line- Anything less than a number 1 seed, now that OKC must also adjust to a new lineup, will be looked at as a disappointment. However, every Laker fans knows that the regular season is nothing more than practice for the playoffs. With aging stars, the ultimate goal is a ring and anything less won’t be tolerated in Lakerland.
Clippers- Key Additions- Lamar Odom, Jamal Crawford, Matt Barnes, Grant Hill, Ryan Hollins, Ronny Turiaf
Notable Losses- Mo Williams, Nick Young, Randy Foye, Reggie Evans
While the Lakers were making all the headlines this offseason, their cross-town rival Clippers made some head-scratching decisions. Maybe it was time to let the backcourt trio of Williams, Young, and Foye go with Chauncey Billups returning to the lineup and Eric Bledsoe earning more playing time, but adding Odom, Crawford, Barnes, and Hill makes little sense to me. Throw in Caron Butler as the starter and they now have a log-jam at the small forward position, where it will be tough to get them all the playing time they have come to expect in their careers. More importantly, I question whether they have anything left in the tank. Did they watch Odom play in Dallas last year? As a Mavericks fan I did. I don’t hate him for it like some, but I find it absurd that someone could watch those tapes and think “Oh yea, this is the guy that’s going to push us to the next level”. I really think he just doesn’t care about the game anymore, and hey, that’s ok. Let him go make his money and do reality T.V. shows with Khloe on a bad team, but I think it is foolish to count on him in a critical season for your franchise (in case anyone forgot, Chris Paul becomes a free agent after this season and if you think he’s going to stay on the Clippers with their history and without some security that they can contend for championships, you’re sadly mistaken). And if Paul walks, expect Blake Griffin to follow him right out the door. Still, no pressure Clippers.
Bottom Line- They have talent and potential, but putting it all together is a whole different story. The pieces don’t seem to fit together too nicely, and I simply don’t think Vinny Del Negro is the coach that is going to make things work. I’d love for them to prove me wrong and create a real rivalry between the L.A. teams, but my expectations aren’t too high for them this season. I see them landing the six-seed out west, maybe the fifth-seed if things fall their way, but either way they won’t be getting any further than the second round, at best.
Warriors- Key Additions- Harrison Barnes, Andrew Bogut*, Carl Landry, Jarret Jack
Notable Losses- Nate Robinson, Monte Ellis*
I know the Bogut-Ellis trade happened during the season last year, but since Bogut is yet to make his Golden State debut I’m counting him as a new acquisition. If he can remain healthy, Bogut may be the defensive presence in the middle coach Mark Jackson has been looking for. He can help make up for David Lee’s deficiencies on the defensive side of the ball as well as protect the rim when the guards get beat. Landry and Jack are nice bench players that will help make up one of the deeper benches in the league with Brandon Rush among others. Harrison Barnes fits in well with the offense, giving them a dynamic young backcourt featuring Barnes, Steph Curry, and Klay Thompson. They may not be ready this year, but the future finally looks bright for the Warriors, if they can stay healthy. *knock on wood*
Bottom Line-The Warriors are not close to championship contenders yet, and they know it, but they may make a push for the playoffs. I think they are still a year away, but they will be fun to watch and should make large strides they can build upon in the years to come. I have them finishing in tenth, just a few games out of the playoffs.
Kings- Key Additions- Aaron Brooks, Thomas Robinson
Notable Losses- none
The Kings may be this year’s most interesting team. I call it the JaVale McGee Factor: I have no idea what is going to happen on any given play, and frankly I can’t wait to watch. They have player with tremendous talent (Tyreke Evans, DeMarcus Cousins, Thomas Robinson), but as a team they are terribly moody and dysfunctional. Many highlight-reel plays and many others that will make you scratch your head and laugh; that is what to expect from this team this season. They are one of the few teams that can compete with the best teams in the league on a good night, yet lose to even the worst teams when things start going wrong. My biggest question regarding the team is how did Aaron Brooks end up on it? He was a solid NBA point guard before he got lost in basketball purgatory in China last season, and likely could have been a contributor to a contender had he signed with one. Sadly, he will spend the season on this personality mess of a team.
Bottom Line- While they may be a source of the occasional awe-inspiring play and good laugh, at the end of the day they will lose more games than they win, period. They need to develop a true identity before they can move forward. They’ll be in the lottery yet again next summer, finishing around 13th in the deep Western Conference.
Suns- Key Additions- Michael Beasley, Goran Dragic, Kendall Marshall, Wes Johnson, Luis Scola, Jermaine O’Neil
Notable Losses- Steve Nash, Robin Lopez, Hakeem Warrick, Grant Hill
Letting Nash move on and contend for his elusive first title was the right thing to do, although I question allowing him to go to your nemesis. Still, losing Nash will set them back quite a ways. They added some interesting pieces in Beasley and Dragic, and Scola is a quality starter. Still, it’s not enough to make up for losing your franchise player and two-time MVP. It’s a rebuilding project out in the desert, and they will benefit from a high lottery pick they can receive with a bad record this year.
Bottom Line- They won’t be contending for a playoff spot, but they know that. Patience can be a virtue and it will take quite a bit of it to get through the next couple seasons. Hopefully for them, it will pay off down the road. I’ve got them 14th out of the 15 teams in the West, which would set them up well for the 2013 NBA Draft. It’s never too early to start thinking about next year!
Southwest Division
Spurs- Key Additions- none
Notable Losses- none
The Spurs didn’t make any majors moves this offseason, but what else is new? They’re a year older and maybe this is the year their age will finally show, but like I mentioned in my week 8 football recap, I’m done counting them out. They’ll have another season like they always do, reeling off a long winning streak in the middle of the season and finishing in the top-3 in a loaded Western Conference. Don’t forget, they had a 2-0 lead over the Thunder in the Western Conference Finals last year before Durant and co. caught fire. They may be boring because of their consistency, but they’ll be a factor down the stretch. They may be the only team that can challenge the Thunder and Lakers out west.
Bottom Line- They’ll get a top-3 seed, I see them at number 2, but with so many veterans their goal remains a Finals appearance and a shot at a title. Duncan and Ginobili aren’t getting any younger and each passing year feels like now-or-never. Luckily for them, Tony Parker is peaking and playing at an All-NBA level. Mix in solid role players and a great coach and they’ll be right there in the running.
Grizzlies- Key Additions- Jared Bayless
Notable Losses- O.J. Mayo
Bayless is a nice back-up point guard to Conley, but the loss of Mayo may be bigger than initially thought. His uninspiring play in the playoff series against the Clippers overshadowed his value to the team. He was the best (and only?) 3-point shooter on the team. Their inside game is one of the best in the league with Gasol, Z-Bo, and the return of Darell Arthur from season-ending injury last year, and Conely, Tony Allen, and Rudy Gay are all very good at what they do. But, none of them are particular good from long-range and that can be costly when teams decide to pack the paint and make the Grizz beat them from the outside. They are good enough to get a top-5 seed and maybe win a playoff series or two if they get hot, but their lack of shooting limits them from being much more than that.
An underlying story to keep an eye on with this team: don’t be shocked to see either Rudy Gay or Zach Randolph go via trade if the organization doesn’t think they can compete with the likes of the Lakers and Thunder with the roster they currently have. Both have large contracts and can bring back valuable pieces that may fit in the rotation better.
Bottom Line- This is a good team, potentially a real good team. But that may be their limit for now as they don’t have the multiple options on offense that are needed to make deep playoff runs. A first-round playoff battle with another solid-but-not-elite team may be in store, similar to last season. I predict a 5-seed, assuming they keep this team in tact throughout the season, which may be less likely than most would think.
Mavericks- Key Additions- Darren Collison, O.J. Mayo, Chris Kaman, Elton Brand
Notable Losses- Lamar Odom, Ian Mahimi, Jason Kidd, Jason Terry, Brendan Haywood, Delonte West
The Mavs had high hopes of bringing Deron Williams home to pair with aging superstar Dirk Nowitzki. According to Williams himself, if not for the difference in dollar amount of their offers they may well have done so. They still managed to do well with their plan B, landing Mayo, Kaman, Collison, and Brand on short-term contracts, keeping their options open for the future. But with Dirk sidelined to start the season, they will likely have to fight just to make the playoffs. As a Mavs fan, I will miss Terry immensely; he gave everything he had every play and was one of the main reasons they beat the Heat two years ago in the Finals. Kidd, Haywood, and Odom are all a different story. Odom was never really a part of the team besides the jersey he wore (Jason Terry said that before a game last season, Odom told him “Y’all must really hate those guys” referring to the rival team they were about to play. Terry replied, “What do you mean ‘y’all’? You’re a part of this team too now!”- Yea, I’m going to miss Jet, Odom? Not so much). Kidd was a great veteran presence when they won it all, but last year teams realized he couldn’t make a layup anymore and just dared him to dribble inside the 3-point line. And Haywood, well his most memorable moment as a Maverick may have been getting on Kevin Durant’s poster in the 2011 playoffs. A picture is worth a thousand words they say, and this one says it all.
(Although he was a member of their championship team, the enduring memory of Brandon Haywood's tenure as a Mav was this Kevin Durant poster. http://www.bigisthenewsmall.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/kd-dunk.jpg)
Bottom Line- The Mavs are too well coached by Rick Carlisle and Dirk is too good, when healthy, for this team to miss the playoffs. That being said, if Dirk’s knee problems keep him out longer than expected that could present a problem. With or without him, their ceiling is still a low playoff seed and a shot at a first round upset, but that’s about it. I have them sitting at the 7th seed in the West, just like last year, and losing in the first round again, as much as it pains me to write that.
Notable Losses- Mo Williams, Nick Young, Randy Foye, Reggie Evans
While the Lakers were making all the headlines this offseason, their cross-town rival Clippers made some head-scratching decisions. Maybe it was time to let the backcourt trio of Williams, Young, and Foye go with Chauncey Billups returning to the lineup and Eric Bledsoe earning more playing time, but adding Odom, Crawford, Barnes, and Hill makes little sense to me. Throw in Caron Butler as the starter and they now have a log-jam at the small forward position, where it will be tough to get them all the playing time they have come to expect in their careers. More importantly, I question whether they have anything left in the tank. Did they watch Odom play in Dallas last year? As a Mavericks fan I did. I don’t hate him for it like some, but I find it absurd that someone could watch those tapes and think “Oh yea, this is the guy that’s going to push us to the next level”. I really think he just doesn’t care about the game anymore, and hey, that’s ok. Let him go make his money and do reality T.V. shows with Khloe on a bad team, but I think it is foolish to count on him in a critical season for your franchise (in case anyone forgot, Chris Paul becomes a free agent after this season and if you think he’s going to stay on the Clippers with their history and without some security that they can contend for championships, you’re sadly mistaken). And if Paul walks, expect Blake Griffin to follow him right out the door. Still, no pressure Clippers.
Bottom Line- They have talent and potential, but putting it all together is a whole different story. The pieces don’t seem to fit together too nicely, and I simply don’t think Vinny Del Negro is the coach that is going to make things work. I’d love for them to prove me wrong and create a real rivalry between the L.A. teams, but my expectations aren’t too high for them this season. I see them landing the six-seed out west, maybe the fifth-seed if things fall their way, but either way they won’t be getting any further than the second round, at best.
Warriors- Key Additions- Harrison Barnes, Andrew Bogut*, Carl Landry, Jarret Jack
Notable Losses- Nate Robinson, Monte Ellis*
I know the Bogut-Ellis trade happened during the season last year, but since Bogut is yet to make his Golden State debut I’m counting him as a new acquisition. If he can remain healthy, Bogut may be the defensive presence in the middle coach Mark Jackson has been looking for. He can help make up for David Lee’s deficiencies on the defensive side of the ball as well as protect the rim when the guards get beat. Landry and Jack are nice bench players that will help make up one of the deeper benches in the league with Brandon Rush among others. Harrison Barnes fits in well with the offense, giving them a dynamic young backcourt featuring Barnes, Steph Curry, and Klay Thompson. They may not be ready this year, but the future finally looks bright for the Warriors, if they can stay healthy. *knock on wood*
Bottom Line-The Warriors are not close to championship contenders yet, and they know it, but they may make a push for the playoffs. I think they are still a year away, but they will be fun to watch and should make large strides they can build upon in the years to come. I have them finishing in tenth, just a few games out of the playoffs.
Kings- Key Additions- Aaron Brooks, Thomas Robinson
Notable Losses- none
The Kings may be this year’s most interesting team. I call it the JaVale McGee Factor: I have no idea what is going to happen on any given play, and frankly I can’t wait to watch. They have player with tremendous talent (Tyreke Evans, DeMarcus Cousins, Thomas Robinson), but as a team they are terribly moody and dysfunctional. Many highlight-reel plays and many others that will make you scratch your head and laugh; that is what to expect from this team this season. They are one of the few teams that can compete with the best teams in the league on a good night, yet lose to even the worst teams when things start going wrong. My biggest question regarding the team is how did Aaron Brooks end up on it? He was a solid NBA point guard before he got lost in basketball purgatory in China last season, and likely could have been a contributor to a contender had he signed with one. Sadly, he will spend the season on this personality mess of a team.
Bottom Line- While they may be a source of the occasional awe-inspiring play and good laugh, at the end of the day they will lose more games than they win, period. They need to develop a true identity before they can move forward. They’ll be in the lottery yet again next summer, finishing around 13th in the deep Western Conference.
Suns- Key Additions- Michael Beasley, Goran Dragic, Kendall Marshall, Wes Johnson, Luis Scola, Jermaine O’Neil
Notable Losses- Steve Nash, Robin Lopez, Hakeem Warrick, Grant Hill
Letting Nash move on and contend for his elusive first title was the right thing to do, although I question allowing him to go to your nemesis. Still, losing Nash will set them back quite a ways. They added some interesting pieces in Beasley and Dragic, and Scola is a quality starter. Still, it’s not enough to make up for losing your franchise player and two-time MVP. It’s a rebuilding project out in the desert, and they will benefit from a high lottery pick they can receive with a bad record this year.
Bottom Line- They won’t be contending for a playoff spot, but they know that. Patience can be a virtue and it will take quite a bit of it to get through the next couple seasons. Hopefully for them, it will pay off down the road. I’ve got them 14th out of the 15 teams in the West, which would set them up well for the 2013 NBA Draft. It’s never too early to start thinking about next year!
Southwest Division
Spurs- Key Additions- none
Notable Losses- none
The Spurs didn’t make any majors moves this offseason, but what else is new? They’re a year older and maybe this is the year their age will finally show, but like I mentioned in my week 8 football recap, I’m done counting them out. They’ll have another season like they always do, reeling off a long winning streak in the middle of the season and finishing in the top-3 in a loaded Western Conference. Don’t forget, they had a 2-0 lead over the Thunder in the Western Conference Finals last year before Durant and co. caught fire. They may be boring because of their consistency, but they’ll be a factor down the stretch. They may be the only team that can challenge the Thunder and Lakers out west.
Bottom Line- They’ll get a top-3 seed, I see them at number 2, but with so many veterans their goal remains a Finals appearance and a shot at a title. Duncan and Ginobili aren’t getting any younger and each passing year feels like now-or-never. Luckily for them, Tony Parker is peaking and playing at an All-NBA level. Mix in solid role players and a great coach and they’ll be right there in the running.
Grizzlies- Key Additions- Jared Bayless
Notable Losses- O.J. Mayo
Bayless is a nice back-up point guard to Conley, but the loss of Mayo may be bigger than initially thought. His uninspiring play in the playoff series against the Clippers overshadowed his value to the team. He was the best (and only?) 3-point shooter on the team. Their inside game is one of the best in the league with Gasol, Z-Bo, and the return of Darell Arthur from season-ending injury last year, and Conely, Tony Allen, and Rudy Gay are all very good at what they do. But, none of them are particular good from long-range and that can be costly when teams decide to pack the paint and make the Grizz beat them from the outside. They are good enough to get a top-5 seed and maybe win a playoff series or two if they get hot, but their lack of shooting limits them from being much more than that.
An underlying story to keep an eye on with this team: don’t be shocked to see either Rudy Gay or Zach Randolph go via trade if the organization doesn’t think they can compete with the likes of the Lakers and Thunder with the roster they currently have. Both have large contracts and can bring back valuable pieces that may fit in the rotation better.
Bottom Line- This is a good team, potentially a real good team. But that may be their limit for now as they don’t have the multiple options on offense that are needed to make deep playoff runs. A first-round playoff battle with another solid-but-not-elite team may be in store, similar to last season. I predict a 5-seed, assuming they keep this team in tact throughout the season, which may be less likely than most would think.
Mavericks- Key Additions- Darren Collison, O.J. Mayo, Chris Kaman, Elton Brand
Notable Losses- Lamar Odom, Ian Mahimi, Jason Kidd, Jason Terry, Brendan Haywood, Delonte West
The Mavs had high hopes of bringing Deron Williams home to pair with aging superstar Dirk Nowitzki. According to Williams himself, if not for the difference in dollar amount of their offers they may well have done so. They still managed to do well with their plan B, landing Mayo, Kaman, Collison, and Brand on short-term contracts, keeping their options open for the future. But with Dirk sidelined to start the season, they will likely have to fight just to make the playoffs. As a Mavs fan, I will miss Terry immensely; he gave everything he had every play and was one of the main reasons they beat the Heat two years ago in the Finals. Kidd, Haywood, and Odom are all a different story. Odom was never really a part of the team besides the jersey he wore (Jason Terry said that before a game last season, Odom told him “Y’all must really hate those guys” referring to the rival team they were about to play. Terry replied, “What do you mean ‘y’all’? You’re a part of this team too now!”- Yea, I’m going to miss Jet, Odom? Not so much). Kidd was a great veteran presence when they won it all, but last year teams realized he couldn’t make a layup anymore and just dared him to dribble inside the 3-point line. And Haywood, well his most memorable moment as a Maverick may have been getting on Kevin Durant’s poster in the 2011 playoffs. A picture is worth a thousand words they say, and this one says it all.
(Although he was a member of their championship team, the enduring memory of Brandon Haywood's tenure as a Mav was this Kevin Durant poster. http://www.bigisthenewsmall.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/kd-dunk.jpg)
Bottom Line- The Mavs are too well coached by Rick Carlisle and Dirk is too good, when healthy, for this team to miss the playoffs. That being said, if Dirk’s knee problems keep him out longer than expected that could present a problem. With or without him, their ceiling is still a low playoff seed and a shot at a first round upset, but that’s about it. I have them sitting at the 7th seed in the West, just like last year, and losing in the first round again, as much as it pains me to write that.
Hornets- Key Additions- Ryan Anderson, Robin Lopez, Hakeem Warrick, Austin Rivers, Anthony Davis
Notable Losses- Trevor Ariza, Emeka Okafor, Gustavo Ayon, Jarrett Jack, Chris Kaman, Marco Belinelli, Carl Landry
They got the top pick last year, but that was following much turnover after the loss of CP3. The key acquisition in that trade, Eric Gordon, missed most of the year. With him coming back, rookies Rivers and Davis, and the addition of last year’s Most Improved Player Ryan Anderson, the Hornets will be significantly better. They can stretch the floor as both their bigs have good range, Anderson all the way out to the 3-point line. As much as I dislike Anthony Davis (and I’m not even really sure why), he has the look of an instant-impact player who can change the culture of a team with his defensive presence. Eric Gordon, when healthy, has also showed signs of being an elite shooting guard in the league. They are young and still a ways away from making a real impact on the playoff race, but they will be greatly improved and fun to watch.
Bottom Line- They aren’t a good team yet, but they are vastly improved. They will make it out of the cellar and into the middle of the lottery and may even have a game or two in which they knock off one of the elite teams, showing bright signs for the future. For now, though, they will finish 12th out west, not good but an improvement and a step forward.
Rockets- Key Additions- Jeremy Lin, Terrance Jones, Royce White, Omar Asik, Carlos Delfino, James Harden
Notable Losses- Chase Budinger, Kyle Lowry, Goran Dragic, Courtney Lee, Louis Scola, Kevin Martin
The Rockets lost a lot this offseason, trying to make moves that would eventually land them a star like Dwight Howard that they have been striving for since the infamous failed 3-team trade that would’ve landed them Pau Gasol. Instead, they took some chances by giving out big money to relatively unproven players in Jeremy Lin and Omar Asik and trading a lot to land the talented James Harden. Now individually I actually really like all of their pieces. The question remains, however, can these players preform at superb levels for an entire season when they are now the focus of the other team’s gameplan. I have a feeling they will struggle at points making the transition, and even the magic powers of James Harden’s beard can’t turn this team into a playoff team. On a positive note for Rocket fans, it will be very interesting to see how Lin and Harden fair now that they are the faces of a franchise, instead of interesting, albeit talented, sideshows.
Bottom Line- This team just doesn’t have enough experience to do much damage. They will go through lots of growing pains like most teams with as much youth as they have. I have them finishing last in the west this season. Too bad they gave up their draft picks to get Harden, because they might end up being very high picks. Hopefully they were smart enough to get those top-5 protected, at least.
Northwest Division
Thunder- Key Additions- Perry Jones III, Hasheem Thabeet, Kevin Martin, Jeremy Lamb
Notable Losses- James Harden, Daquaen Cook, Cole Aldrich
Well, the day many Thunder and small-market fans feared finally came. All of those people who root for the Davids to slay the Goliaths had their hearts torn out when they sent James Harden and his beard to Houston for Kevin Martin and Jeremy Lamb, as well as some draft picks (which may end up being more important down the road if the Rockets aren’t good). For this season though, Martin and Lamb will be hard-pressed to replace the chemistry Harden had with the rest of the young Thunder core. Can Martin accept a role as a 6th man extraordinaire on a true contender, a role he’s never played before? We will find out. But, the rookies Lamb and Jones may be the bigger underlying story here, as both have immense potential but slipped in the draft due to a lack of production in their second collegiate seasons. Now that they will be in an environment with guys like Durant, Westbrook, and Ibaka to push them and in roles where they don’t have to carry their team, they both could have large impacts as rookies (Remember how good Lamb looked as a freshman playing Robin to Kemba Walker’s Batman? Now think of what he is capable of with Durant and Westbrook in the leading roles). But, if I were a Thunder fan I’d be worried about how good they can be without the mystical powers of Harden’s beard. Maybe it’s time for Durant to add some peach fuzz to that baby face (just a thought).
Bottom Line- After coming so close to a championship at such a young age, nothing will satisfy this team now besides raising a banner. Durant seems to just get better and better, and he really has no equal in the league besides LeBron. Too bad they are friends and work out together in the offseason; a little bad blood could turn Heat-Thunder into one of the best rivalries of this era. As it is, Durant should dominate as he will be the best player on the court night in and night out, and he knows it. Add the development and maturation of Russell Westbrook and Serge Ibaka and this team has the looks of a perennial contender. Coming back from down 0-2 to the Spurs in the Conference Finals was a galvanizing experience and taught them a lot about what it takes to be the best. The new-look Lakers will present a tough challenge to their Western Conference throne, and you can expect those games to be very intense. Harden may be gone, but don’t think the rest of the Thunder forgot about that elbow from MWP. It will take time for some of the new pieces to fall into places, which may lower their playoff seeding a tad (I have them as the number 3 seed behind San Antonio and Los Angeles), but they will gladly trade that for another chance at a title.
Nuggets- Key Additions- Andre Iguodala
Notable Losses- Aaron Afflalo, Al Harrington
Having to let Afflalo and Harrington go was a small price to pay for getting Iguodala. As he showed in the Olympics this summer, he is an elite defender, one of the best in the league. Putting him in George Karl’s up-tempo offense will likely boost his offensive game as well seeing as he excels in the open court. Alongside the speedy Ty Lawson, Danilo Gallinari, and the Manimal, Kenneth Faried, they have some real talent on the roster mixed with guys willing to do the dirty work. Their rotation at center is one of the deepest in the league as well, between Timofey Mozgov, Kosta Koufos, and JaVale McGee.
I have to take this chance to talk about the most entertaining player in the league, JaVale McGee. He is one of the most athletic players in recent memory, making multiple plays a game that make your jaw drop. Still, he has possibly the lowest basketball IQ of any player in the history of the NBA (or even high-school basketball, for that matter). Please, do me a favor and YouTube search ‘JaVale McGee worst plays’ when you have a chance. If you don’t get a chuckle out of it you probably don’t think Kevin Hart is funny either.
(Is there a more entertaining player in the league than JaVale McGee? I doubt it.
http://t.qkme.me/3p8kga.jpg)
Bottom Line- This team is young, exciting, well-coached and unselfish, everything a fan could want. To top it all off, they’re really good! It will be tough to knock off the elite teams like the Lakers and Thunder, but every team would and should be scared to have to play the Nuggets in a seven-game series. They’ll earn a top-4 seed and home court advantage for at least one round (where they are REALLY good, by the way). From there they should be able to make it out of the first round for the first time in a while, but would face a daunting task from there, taking on the top seed.
Notable Losses- Trevor Ariza, Emeka Okafor, Gustavo Ayon, Jarrett Jack, Chris Kaman, Marco Belinelli, Carl Landry
They got the top pick last year, but that was following much turnover after the loss of CP3. The key acquisition in that trade, Eric Gordon, missed most of the year. With him coming back, rookies Rivers and Davis, and the addition of last year’s Most Improved Player Ryan Anderson, the Hornets will be significantly better. They can stretch the floor as both their bigs have good range, Anderson all the way out to the 3-point line. As much as I dislike Anthony Davis (and I’m not even really sure why), he has the look of an instant-impact player who can change the culture of a team with his defensive presence. Eric Gordon, when healthy, has also showed signs of being an elite shooting guard in the league. They are young and still a ways away from making a real impact on the playoff race, but they will be greatly improved and fun to watch.
Bottom Line- They aren’t a good team yet, but they are vastly improved. They will make it out of the cellar and into the middle of the lottery and may even have a game or two in which they knock off one of the elite teams, showing bright signs for the future. For now, though, they will finish 12th out west, not good but an improvement and a step forward.
Rockets- Key Additions- Jeremy Lin, Terrance Jones, Royce White, Omar Asik, Carlos Delfino, James Harden
Notable Losses- Chase Budinger, Kyle Lowry, Goran Dragic, Courtney Lee, Louis Scola, Kevin Martin
The Rockets lost a lot this offseason, trying to make moves that would eventually land them a star like Dwight Howard that they have been striving for since the infamous failed 3-team trade that would’ve landed them Pau Gasol. Instead, they took some chances by giving out big money to relatively unproven players in Jeremy Lin and Omar Asik and trading a lot to land the talented James Harden. Now individually I actually really like all of their pieces. The question remains, however, can these players preform at superb levels for an entire season when they are now the focus of the other team’s gameplan. I have a feeling they will struggle at points making the transition, and even the magic powers of James Harden’s beard can’t turn this team into a playoff team. On a positive note for Rocket fans, it will be very interesting to see how Lin and Harden fair now that they are the faces of a franchise, instead of interesting, albeit talented, sideshows.
Bottom Line- This team just doesn’t have enough experience to do much damage. They will go through lots of growing pains like most teams with as much youth as they have. I have them finishing last in the west this season. Too bad they gave up their draft picks to get Harden, because they might end up being very high picks. Hopefully they were smart enough to get those top-5 protected, at least.
Northwest Division
Thunder- Key Additions- Perry Jones III, Hasheem Thabeet, Kevin Martin, Jeremy Lamb
Notable Losses- James Harden, Daquaen Cook, Cole Aldrich
Well, the day many Thunder and small-market fans feared finally came. All of those people who root for the Davids to slay the Goliaths had their hearts torn out when they sent James Harden and his beard to Houston for Kevin Martin and Jeremy Lamb, as well as some draft picks (which may end up being more important down the road if the Rockets aren’t good). For this season though, Martin and Lamb will be hard-pressed to replace the chemistry Harden had with the rest of the young Thunder core. Can Martin accept a role as a 6th man extraordinaire on a true contender, a role he’s never played before? We will find out. But, the rookies Lamb and Jones may be the bigger underlying story here, as both have immense potential but slipped in the draft due to a lack of production in their second collegiate seasons. Now that they will be in an environment with guys like Durant, Westbrook, and Ibaka to push them and in roles where they don’t have to carry their team, they both could have large impacts as rookies (Remember how good Lamb looked as a freshman playing Robin to Kemba Walker’s Batman? Now think of what he is capable of with Durant and Westbrook in the leading roles). But, if I were a Thunder fan I’d be worried about how good they can be without the mystical powers of Harden’s beard. Maybe it’s time for Durant to add some peach fuzz to that baby face (just a thought).
Bottom Line- After coming so close to a championship at such a young age, nothing will satisfy this team now besides raising a banner. Durant seems to just get better and better, and he really has no equal in the league besides LeBron. Too bad they are friends and work out together in the offseason; a little bad blood could turn Heat-Thunder into one of the best rivalries of this era. As it is, Durant should dominate as he will be the best player on the court night in and night out, and he knows it. Add the development and maturation of Russell Westbrook and Serge Ibaka and this team has the looks of a perennial contender. Coming back from down 0-2 to the Spurs in the Conference Finals was a galvanizing experience and taught them a lot about what it takes to be the best. The new-look Lakers will present a tough challenge to their Western Conference throne, and you can expect those games to be very intense. Harden may be gone, but don’t think the rest of the Thunder forgot about that elbow from MWP. It will take time for some of the new pieces to fall into places, which may lower their playoff seeding a tad (I have them as the number 3 seed behind San Antonio and Los Angeles), but they will gladly trade that for another chance at a title.
Nuggets- Key Additions- Andre Iguodala
Notable Losses- Aaron Afflalo, Al Harrington
Having to let Afflalo and Harrington go was a small price to pay for getting Iguodala. As he showed in the Olympics this summer, he is an elite defender, one of the best in the league. Putting him in George Karl’s up-tempo offense will likely boost his offensive game as well seeing as he excels in the open court. Alongside the speedy Ty Lawson, Danilo Gallinari, and the Manimal, Kenneth Faried, they have some real talent on the roster mixed with guys willing to do the dirty work. Their rotation at center is one of the deepest in the league as well, between Timofey Mozgov, Kosta Koufos, and JaVale McGee.
I have to take this chance to talk about the most entertaining player in the league, JaVale McGee. He is one of the most athletic players in recent memory, making multiple plays a game that make your jaw drop. Still, he has possibly the lowest basketball IQ of any player in the history of the NBA (or even high-school basketball, for that matter). Please, do me a favor and YouTube search ‘JaVale McGee worst plays’ when you have a chance. If you don’t get a chuckle out of it you probably don’t think Kevin Hart is funny either.
(Is there a more entertaining player in the league than JaVale McGee? I doubt it.
http://t.qkme.me/3p8kga.jpg)
Bottom Line- This team is young, exciting, well-coached and unselfish, everything a fan could want. To top it all off, they’re really good! It will be tough to knock off the elite teams like the Lakers and Thunder, but every team would and should be scared to have to play the Nuggets in a seven-game series. They’ll earn a top-4 seed and home court advantage for at least one round (where they are REALLY good, by the way). From there they should be able to make it out of the first round for the first time in a while, but would face a daunting task from there, taking on the top seed.
Jazz- Key Additions- Mo Williams, Marvin Williams, Randy Foye
Notable Losses- Devin Harris
The Jazz made some interesting moves this offseason, sending point guard Devin Harris to Atlanta for the embattled Marvin Williams. Williams and Foye are nice additions, however, and their shooting can help balance their offense with their powerful inside game. Jefferson and Millsap are established quality big men, and Favors and Kanter are exciting young prospect with lots of talent. With so many good bigs, I would expect one of the veterans to be on the trading block if the right deal presents itself (say, for instance, Rudy Gay). Add another wing player and they could be dangerous in the playoffs. As it stands, they will be in the playoff hunt but aren’t a threat to the Thunder, Lakers, or Spurs.
(One side note: Is it just me or are the Jazz one of the most boring teams to watch on T.V.? With so many teams going small and speeding up the game they’ve decided to slow it down and just be bigger than everyone else. Interesting strategy, we’ll see how that works out for them).
Bottom Line- They are a solid team who probably won’t lose many games to bad teams but probably won’t win many games against the elite teams. This is a great formula to land them in the 8th seed for the second year in a row (and they have to be thankful for injuries to key players on other contending teams for that).
Timberwolves- Key Additions- Chase Budinger, Andrei Kirilenko, Alexey Shved, Brandon Roy, Greg Stiesma, Louis Amundson
Notable Losses- Michael Beasley, Martell Webster
Speaking of key injuries, the Timberwolves were looking like a team on the rise then got hit with injuries to both Ricky Rubio and Kevin Love. When they are on the floor, this team has the feel of a playoff team. Without them for an extended period to start the season, it will be tough for them to stay in the playoff race. That is even more evident with the questions surrounding the return of Brandon Roy and Andrei Kirilenko to the NBA. If they both play like they did earlier in their careers, this team can be scary. The only benefit to K-Love’s injury is that now former number 2 overall pick Derrick Williams will get more playing time and a chance to prove himself; he showed flashes of brilliance at times last year.
The thing no one seems to be talking about: The ‘Wolves have somehow seemed to assemble an almost exclusively white roster of players. Besides Roy and Williams, almost every other player that projects to get playing time is white, although many are of different nationalities: Russian, Spanish, etc. Is there some kind of conspiracy going on up in Minnesota? Remember, they also tried trading Derrick Williams for Pau Gasol! Just something to think about…
(Has there been a whiter team since the 1960's?
http://stmedia.startribune.com/images/358*217/M21554875.JPG)
Bottom Line- They have made great strides to go from bottom dwellers to potential playoff contenders, and they’ve done so mostly by following the Thunder-model and building though the draft. Too bad Love and Rubio will be sidelined for so long, because the Western Conference is too tough to be able to endure missing your two best players. I think they’ll make a push when they both return, but will ultimately fall just short of the playoffs, finishing in ninth place.
Blazers- Key Additions- Jared Jefferies, Damian Lillard, Meyers Leonard
Notable Losses- Raymond Felton, Kurt Thomas, Jamal Crawford
Blazer fans are probably thrilled to see Crawford and Felton leave, after both were disappointing in Portland. Felton may have become the first professional athletes to admit to being out of shape for a full season, and brag about it because he was in shape the other seven seasons he’s been in the league! Can someone please tell Raymond that he’s getting paid millions of dollars to play a game, the least he could do is cut back on the McDoubles during the season?
While happy to see him gone, fans should be even more excited about the addition of the rookie Damian Lillard. Playing for a small school in Weber State made many NBA execs nervous about how he’d translate to the NBA; but, if the summer league meant anything then he might turn out to be really, really good. He was virtually unstoppable this summer, averaging almost 27 points per game in Vegas. Yes, I know, it’s the summer league; but watch him and you get the feeling he’s the real deal. Unfortunately, after him, LaMarcus Aldridge, Nicholas Batum, and Wes Matthews, the Blazers are painfully thin; and in the NBA, if you don’t have depth it’s hard to compete on a nightly basis.
Bottom Line- This is a year of development for the Blazers. They have a good foundation, they just need time to acquire the pieces to fill in around their core. For now, they’ll be solid but not good enough to make the playoffs in a loaded Western Conference (have I mentioned enough that the West is LOADED, especially compared to the East).
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Atlantic Division
Celtics- Key additions- Jason Terry, Courtney Lee, Jared Sullinger, Leandro Barbosa
Notable Losses- Ray Allen, Keyon Dooling, Mikal Pietrus
Many though last year would be the final time we’d see the aging Celtics in tact. That may have been right in the sense that their original ‘Big Three’ has split up, but this team has made upgrades across the board and looks even better than last year’s team. While Ray Allen is no doubt a Hall-of-Famer, everything that has come out since his departure makes it seem like he was more of a burden on the team last season than a benefit. Letting him go to give Avery Bradley more playing time may have been a solid move on its own; adding Terry, Lee, and Barbosa to replace him is without question a huge upgrade. Combine that with adding a true post player in Sullinger through the draft and bringing back Jeff Green on the wing (after he needed heart surgery before the season even began last year) and the Celtics are well rounded and have upgraded at all positions. Oh yea, and I still haven’t even gotten to Rajon Rondo yet! I can’t help but be in awe watching him play. He is a true primetime player, as he gets even better on the biggest stages. Remember him single-handedly keeping the Celtics in that playoff game against the Heat? If he has developed any kind of consistency in his shot (and in the playoffs it seemed like he was getting better), he may be becoming the most dynamic player outside of LeBron. For some strange reason, he was left off of the Olympic team this summer, and you can be sure he’ll use that as motivation to dominate on a nightly basis this year, instead of taking nights off.
Bottom Line- They got better, and they were already one of the best teams in the East (which isn’t saying too much, to be fair). With Rose’s injury, the Celtics are really the only team with any prayer of unseating the Heat from their throne atop the Eastern Conference. They will cruise through the regular season like they have the last few seasons, but they should still end up with the #2 seed due to the weakness of the rest of the East. From there, they seem destined for a showdown with their bitter rival, the Heat, with a spot in the NBA Finals on the line. With the animosity building between the Celtics and their departed comrade Ray Allen on top of the bad blood between Rondo, Garnett, and Pierce and Bron, Wade, and Bosh and we could be in for an epic battle. (Another factor adding to the hatred between these two teams: Jason Terry called out LeBron in the ’11 Finals before going off in the final three games with LeBron guarding him. You can bet the Heat are still at least a little upset with Terry for taking their first title from them).
Knicks- Key Additions- Marcus Camby, Jason Kidd, Rasheed Wallace, Raymond Felton, Ronnie Brewer
Notable Losses- Jeremy Lin, Landry Fields, Jared Jefferies
The Knicks were a mess last season, and, looking at their moves on paper, they didn’t seem to sort much out. Adding three players (Camby, Kidd, & Wallace) who were considered old three years ago may not have been the best idea they’ve had (but it probably wasn’t the worst, knowing their history of head-scratching moves). While I don’t see how those players make them better, and Felton certainly isn’t a game-changer either, there is still something attractive about this team to me. With Stoudemire sidelined to start the season, they will have time to develop an identity around Carmelo on offense and Tyson Chandler on defense. Brewer is a very good defender who can help on that side, and J.R. Smith is a pure scorer while Novak is one of the premier 3-point shooter in the league. If they get on a role early and Amare can accept a smaller role (maybe even coming off the bench?) when he returns, this team has some potential.
Bottom Line- With the rest of the middle-tier teams in the East undergoing large-scale changes, the Knicks have a chance to move up in the standings if they can sort out and accept their individual roles. I have them at the 5th seed for now, and it will be interesting to see them get a shot in the playoffs at someone without the letters H-E-A-T on their jerseys.
Notable Losses- Devin Harris
The Jazz made some interesting moves this offseason, sending point guard Devin Harris to Atlanta for the embattled Marvin Williams. Williams and Foye are nice additions, however, and their shooting can help balance their offense with their powerful inside game. Jefferson and Millsap are established quality big men, and Favors and Kanter are exciting young prospect with lots of talent. With so many good bigs, I would expect one of the veterans to be on the trading block if the right deal presents itself (say, for instance, Rudy Gay). Add another wing player and they could be dangerous in the playoffs. As it stands, they will be in the playoff hunt but aren’t a threat to the Thunder, Lakers, or Spurs.
(One side note: Is it just me or are the Jazz one of the most boring teams to watch on T.V.? With so many teams going small and speeding up the game they’ve decided to slow it down and just be bigger than everyone else. Interesting strategy, we’ll see how that works out for them).
Bottom Line- They are a solid team who probably won’t lose many games to bad teams but probably won’t win many games against the elite teams. This is a great formula to land them in the 8th seed for the second year in a row (and they have to be thankful for injuries to key players on other contending teams for that).
Timberwolves- Key Additions- Chase Budinger, Andrei Kirilenko, Alexey Shved, Brandon Roy, Greg Stiesma, Louis Amundson
Notable Losses- Michael Beasley, Martell Webster
Speaking of key injuries, the Timberwolves were looking like a team on the rise then got hit with injuries to both Ricky Rubio and Kevin Love. When they are on the floor, this team has the feel of a playoff team. Without them for an extended period to start the season, it will be tough for them to stay in the playoff race. That is even more evident with the questions surrounding the return of Brandon Roy and Andrei Kirilenko to the NBA. If they both play like they did earlier in their careers, this team can be scary. The only benefit to K-Love’s injury is that now former number 2 overall pick Derrick Williams will get more playing time and a chance to prove himself; he showed flashes of brilliance at times last year.
The thing no one seems to be talking about: The ‘Wolves have somehow seemed to assemble an almost exclusively white roster of players. Besides Roy and Williams, almost every other player that projects to get playing time is white, although many are of different nationalities: Russian, Spanish, etc. Is there some kind of conspiracy going on up in Minnesota? Remember, they also tried trading Derrick Williams for Pau Gasol! Just something to think about…
(Has there been a whiter team since the 1960's?
http://stmedia.startribune.com/images/358*217/M21554875.JPG)
Bottom Line- They have made great strides to go from bottom dwellers to potential playoff contenders, and they’ve done so mostly by following the Thunder-model and building though the draft. Too bad Love and Rubio will be sidelined for so long, because the Western Conference is too tough to be able to endure missing your two best players. I think they’ll make a push when they both return, but will ultimately fall just short of the playoffs, finishing in ninth place.
Blazers- Key Additions- Jared Jefferies, Damian Lillard, Meyers Leonard
Notable Losses- Raymond Felton, Kurt Thomas, Jamal Crawford
Blazer fans are probably thrilled to see Crawford and Felton leave, after both were disappointing in Portland. Felton may have become the first professional athletes to admit to being out of shape for a full season, and brag about it because he was in shape the other seven seasons he’s been in the league! Can someone please tell Raymond that he’s getting paid millions of dollars to play a game, the least he could do is cut back on the McDoubles during the season?
While happy to see him gone, fans should be even more excited about the addition of the rookie Damian Lillard. Playing for a small school in Weber State made many NBA execs nervous about how he’d translate to the NBA; but, if the summer league meant anything then he might turn out to be really, really good. He was virtually unstoppable this summer, averaging almost 27 points per game in Vegas. Yes, I know, it’s the summer league; but watch him and you get the feeling he’s the real deal. Unfortunately, after him, LaMarcus Aldridge, Nicholas Batum, and Wes Matthews, the Blazers are painfully thin; and in the NBA, if you don’t have depth it’s hard to compete on a nightly basis.
Bottom Line- This is a year of development for the Blazers. They have a good foundation, they just need time to acquire the pieces to fill in around their core. For now, they’ll be solid but not good enough to make the playoffs in a loaded Western Conference (have I mentioned enough that the West is LOADED, especially compared to the East).
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Atlantic Division
Celtics- Key additions- Jason Terry, Courtney Lee, Jared Sullinger, Leandro Barbosa
Notable Losses- Ray Allen, Keyon Dooling, Mikal Pietrus
Many though last year would be the final time we’d see the aging Celtics in tact. That may have been right in the sense that their original ‘Big Three’ has split up, but this team has made upgrades across the board and looks even better than last year’s team. While Ray Allen is no doubt a Hall-of-Famer, everything that has come out since his departure makes it seem like he was more of a burden on the team last season than a benefit. Letting him go to give Avery Bradley more playing time may have been a solid move on its own; adding Terry, Lee, and Barbosa to replace him is without question a huge upgrade. Combine that with adding a true post player in Sullinger through the draft and bringing back Jeff Green on the wing (after he needed heart surgery before the season even began last year) and the Celtics are well rounded and have upgraded at all positions. Oh yea, and I still haven’t even gotten to Rajon Rondo yet! I can’t help but be in awe watching him play. He is a true primetime player, as he gets even better on the biggest stages. Remember him single-handedly keeping the Celtics in that playoff game against the Heat? If he has developed any kind of consistency in his shot (and in the playoffs it seemed like he was getting better), he may be becoming the most dynamic player outside of LeBron. For some strange reason, he was left off of the Olympic team this summer, and you can be sure he’ll use that as motivation to dominate on a nightly basis this year, instead of taking nights off.
Bottom Line- They got better, and they were already one of the best teams in the East (which isn’t saying too much, to be fair). With Rose’s injury, the Celtics are really the only team with any prayer of unseating the Heat from their throne atop the Eastern Conference. They will cruise through the regular season like they have the last few seasons, but they should still end up with the #2 seed due to the weakness of the rest of the East. From there, they seem destined for a showdown with their bitter rival, the Heat, with a spot in the NBA Finals on the line. With the animosity building between the Celtics and their departed comrade Ray Allen on top of the bad blood between Rondo, Garnett, and Pierce and Bron, Wade, and Bosh and we could be in for an epic battle. (Another factor adding to the hatred between these two teams: Jason Terry called out LeBron in the ’11 Finals before going off in the final three games with LeBron guarding him. You can bet the Heat are still at least a little upset with Terry for taking their first title from them).
Knicks- Key Additions- Marcus Camby, Jason Kidd, Rasheed Wallace, Raymond Felton, Ronnie Brewer
Notable Losses- Jeremy Lin, Landry Fields, Jared Jefferies
The Knicks were a mess last season, and, looking at their moves on paper, they didn’t seem to sort much out. Adding three players (Camby, Kidd, & Wallace) who were considered old three years ago may not have been the best idea they’ve had (but it probably wasn’t the worst, knowing their history of head-scratching moves). While I don’t see how those players make them better, and Felton certainly isn’t a game-changer either, there is still something attractive about this team to me. With Stoudemire sidelined to start the season, they will have time to develop an identity around Carmelo on offense and Tyson Chandler on defense. Brewer is a very good defender who can help on that side, and J.R. Smith is a pure scorer while Novak is one of the premier 3-point shooter in the league. If they get on a role early and Amare can accept a smaller role (maybe even coming off the bench?) when he returns, this team has some potential.
Bottom Line- With the rest of the middle-tier teams in the East undergoing large-scale changes, the Knicks have a chance to move up in the standings if they can sort out and accept their individual roles. I have them at the 5th seed for now, and it will be interesting to see them get a shot in the playoffs at someone without the letters H-E-A-T on their jerseys.
Sixers- Key Additions- Andrew Bynum, Dorrell Wright, Jason Richardson, Nick Young, Kwame Brown
Notable Losses- Andre Iguodala, Lou Williams, Elton Brand, Jodie Meeks
Landing Bynum was a huge-risk, huge-reward move. If he plays up to his potential, he is the best offensive big man in the game today and can impact the game on defense as well (double-digit blocks in Game 1 of the Nuggets series last year). Losing Iggy, however, may be more detrimental than most think. He is not an elite offensive player, but defensively they have no one near his capabilities, and most teams don’t. Lou Williams was also an important piece that they let go for nothing. Everyone talked about Harden’s bench production, but Williams was right there with him. They’ve added shooting around Bynum in J. Rich, Wright, and Nick Young, which could make for a nice inside-outside game. That also allows Jrue Holliday and Evan Turner to be more creative and effective off the dribble if teams can’t help as much. They have a ton of potential and it will be interesting to see how they come together. I’d be a little nervous counting on a guy with hair like this to lead my team though!
(Would you trust a guy that looks like this to lead your team?http://blacksportsonline.com/home/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Andrew-Bynum-Hair.jpg)
Bottom Line- This team comes down to Andrew Bynum and how much he has matured. Unfortunately for them, he could miss the beginning of the season with a nagging injury (not a good sign with his health history). Once he’s back, it will take some time to get everyone to gel together. Because of this, I have them finishing 6th in the East; but they will be dangerous in the playoffs is everything pans out right. Don’t be surprising if they pull off yet another first round upset this year!
Nets- Key Additions- Joe Johnson, Reggie Evans, Andray Blatche, Mirza Teletovic, C.J. Watson, Josh Childress
Notable Losses- Anthony Morrow
The Nets made a splash this offseason, both on the court and off; adding star 2-guard Joe Johnson while making the long awaited move to Brooklyn. Watson is a good backup point guard and Evans is a hustle player who does the dirty work. Meanwhile Blatche has lots of talent (although he struggled in Washington) and maybe the change of scenery will bring out the best in him. Who knows what Teletovic will bring, as Americans have seen very little of him, but the Nets seem very high on his potential. Combine these addition with stars Johnson and Deron Williams and they have a lot to like on paper. Still, I’m not falling in love with this team. For all the moves they made, they really only added Johnson (the most over-paid player in the league) and some secondary bench players to a team that won just a third of their games last season. They’ll be better, but they’re not a threat to the Heat or Celtics just yet.
Bottom Line- The Nets made the moves they had to in order to draw attention to them with their move to Brooklyn. It’s all fine and dandy now, but once they have to actually play basketball I will be excited to see how much they have really improved from last season. I’m not sold, as I have them snagging the 7th seed in the East, just behind the Knicks and Sixers.
Raptors- Key Additions- Kyle Lowry, Landry Fields, John Lucas III, Terrance Ross
Notable Losses- none
The Raptors struck out trying to land Canadian-born Steve Nash this offseason, but they still did pretty well for themselves. Lowry will team up with Jose Calderon to make one of the better point guard tandems in the league. Fields and Lucas will end up giving them a lot of depth, as well. The sneaky addition for them is having last year’s first round pick Jonas Valanciunas finally come over seas to join the team. With him in the middle and Andrea Bargnani stretching the floor, they have a sneaky good team developing up north. They’ll need another year to pull it all together I think, but if a team like the Knicks, Nets, or Sixers implode, expect the Raptors to step in and fill the playoff void they left.
Bottom Line- They are still young, which is not good if you want to be a contender. Luckily their front office understands that you have to build step by step and not every team can land a ‘Big Three’ in one offseason like the Heat (especially not in Toronto- who the hell would willingly move there?). Still, they’ll hang around the 8th seed for a while, finally just missing out and finishing a few games back in tenth place in the East.
Notable Losses- Andre Iguodala, Lou Williams, Elton Brand, Jodie Meeks
Landing Bynum was a huge-risk, huge-reward move. If he plays up to his potential, he is the best offensive big man in the game today and can impact the game on defense as well (double-digit blocks in Game 1 of the Nuggets series last year). Losing Iggy, however, may be more detrimental than most think. He is not an elite offensive player, but defensively they have no one near his capabilities, and most teams don’t. Lou Williams was also an important piece that they let go for nothing. Everyone talked about Harden’s bench production, but Williams was right there with him. They’ve added shooting around Bynum in J. Rich, Wright, and Nick Young, which could make for a nice inside-outside game. That also allows Jrue Holliday and Evan Turner to be more creative and effective off the dribble if teams can’t help as much. They have a ton of potential and it will be interesting to see how they come together. I’d be a little nervous counting on a guy with hair like this to lead my team though!
(Would you trust a guy that looks like this to lead your team?http://blacksportsonline.com/home/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Andrew-Bynum-Hair.jpg)
Bottom Line- This team comes down to Andrew Bynum and how much he has matured. Unfortunately for them, he could miss the beginning of the season with a nagging injury (not a good sign with his health history). Once he’s back, it will take some time to get everyone to gel together. Because of this, I have them finishing 6th in the East; but they will be dangerous in the playoffs is everything pans out right. Don’t be surprising if they pull off yet another first round upset this year!
Nets- Key Additions- Joe Johnson, Reggie Evans, Andray Blatche, Mirza Teletovic, C.J. Watson, Josh Childress
Notable Losses- Anthony Morrow
The Nets made a splash this offseason, both on the court and off; adding star 2-guard Joe Johnson while making the long awaited move to Brooklyn. Watson is a good backup point guard and Evans is a hustle player who does the dirty work. Meanwhile Blatche has lots of talent (although he struggled in Washington) and maybe the change of scenery will bring out the best in him. Who knows what Teletovic will bring, as Americans have seen very little of him, but the Nets seem very high on his potential. Combine these addition with stars Johnson and Deron Williams and they have a lot to like on paper. Still, I’m not falling in love with this team. For all the moves they made, they really only added Johnson (the most over-paid player in the league) and some secondary bench players to a team that won just a third of their games last season. They’ll be better, but they’re not a threat to the Heat or Celtics just yet.
Bottom Line- The Nets made the moves they had to in order to draw attention to them with their move to Brooklyn. It’s all fine and dandy now, but once they have to actually play basketball I will be excited to see how much they have really improved from last season. I’m not sold, as I have them snagging the 7th seed in the East, just behind the Knicks and Sixers.
Raptors- Key Additions- Kyle Lowry, Landry Fields, John Lucas III, Terrance Ross
Notable Losses- none
The Raptors struck out trying to land Canadian-born Steve Nash this offseason, but they still did pretty well for themselves. Lowry will team up with Jose Calderon to make one of the better point guard tandems in the league. Fields and Lucas will end up giving them a lot of depth, as well. The sneaky addition for them is having last year’s first round pick Jonas Valanciunas finally come over seas to join the team. With him in the middle and Andrea Bargnani stretching the floor, they have a sneaky good team developing up north. They’ll need another year to pull it all together I think, but if a team like the Knicks, Nets, or Sixers implode, expect the Raptors to step in and fill the playoff void they left.
Bottom Line- They are still young, which is not good if you want to be a contender. Luckily their front office understands that you have to build step by step and not every team can land a ‘Big Three’ in one offseason like the Heat (especially not in Toronto- who the hell would willingly move there?). Still, they’ll hang around the 8th seed for a while, finally just missing out and finishing a few games back in tenth place in the East.
Southeast Division
Heat- Key Additions- Ray Allen, Rashard Lewis
Notable Losses- none
The Heat are coming off a championship season in which they saw their star LeBron James finally do everything all his critics have ever wanted him to do. He took over and, without Chris Bosh for a long stretch and with Wade hobbled, decided that nothing was going to stand between him and a title. Oh, and then he went and led the Olympic team to a gold medal and has basically been the king of the basketball world since (if he wasn’t already). He is the most difficult player to guard, because he is so absurdly big, strong, and fast. Put a small forward on him and he’ll post them up (finally!). Put a bigger player on him and he’ll take them outside and go right by him or shoot uncontested jumpers as the defender sags off. Yes, the additions of Allen and Lewis only make this team more dangerous (YOU leave the league’s all-time leading 3-point shooter to double LeBron, I dare you). But ultimately, this is LeBron’s team and now it is his league too. If he plays the way he did in the 2012 playoffs and the Olympics, no one is stopping him.
(LeBron and the Heat got their first ring together last year, can they get their second in a row this year? http://cdn0.sbnation.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/2349717/d691101229110005306.0_standard_352.0.jpg)
Bottom Line- Once the ‘Big Three’ joined forces, the expectation every year became a championship. They came close the first year and won it the second (ironically never having the top seed in the East). I think they get the top seed this year, with Rose out. In the East their only real threat will be the Celtics, and they won’t see them until the Conference Finals; but when they do, get ready for a war.
Hawks- Key Additions- Devin Harris, Lou Williams, Kyle Korver
Notable Losses- Joe Johnson, Marvin Williams, Kirk Hinrich
The Hawks traded arguably their best player for essentially nothing besides cap space, which would make you think they got a lot worse. Well, I think you would be wrong. They replaced Johnson, a ball-stopping, heavy-usage player, with Lou Williams, Devin Harris, and Kyle Korver. That trio can easily make up his production and actually give them more flexibility and, with Korver, more outside shooting. Stealing him from Chicago for cash was one of the best moves of the offseason- he can carry an offense when he gets hot. Add to that Josh Smith, who is in a contract year and will be playing inspired ball, and the return of Al Horford (an elite big man who many forgot about when he got hurt) and they have one of the best frontcourts to go with their new-look backcourt. They don’t have the media attention or hype surrounding the likes of the New York teams, but they will be more consistent and, quite possibly, flat out better.
Bottom Line- They cleared Joe Johnson’s catastrophic contract off the books so that they could have flexibility for the future and were still able to put out a pretty damn good product on the court. I like this team- they’re exciting, athletic, and hard-workers. I think they’ll play better than the teams with bigger names stars but more question marks; well enough to earn the fourth seed and get home-court advantage for the first round. They may win that first series, but all it means is they get the honor of being a footnote on the Heat’s quest for back-to-back titles.
Wizards- Key Additions- Emeka Okafor, Trevor Ariza, Martell Webster, Bradley Beal
Notable Losses- Andray Blatche
Amnestying Blatche was a good move, but puzzling when you consider they took on about the same amount of cap with the trade for Okafor and Ariza. Even more distressing, Ariza has been outplayed by Martell Webster so far in Washington. I really liked the Beal pick- he gives them shooting that they desperately needed- but with John Wall sidelined to start the season they will definitely struggle. Even when he comes back, Wall needs to prove he can be a franchise player, and that means improving aspects of his game in which he has struggled- such as his atrocious 3-point shooting (he averaged nine percent from behind the arc at one point last season… NINE!).
Bottom Line- This team is going to struggle throughout the season even with him (I have them finishing 13th in the East), but with Wall out they lack a dynamic playmaker. There will be plenty of growing pains to go around, but they have some young pieces that will get much needed experience for the future. With the rest of Washington sports turning their fortunes around (Bryce Harper and Strasburg for the Nationals, RGIII for the Redskins), it’s time for the Wiz to follow suit.
Bobcats- Key Additions- Ben Gordon, Ramon Sessions, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Brandon Haywood
Notable Losses- Corey Maggette, D.J. Augustin
The Bobcats were pathetic last year. So bad that some even wondered if the Kentucky Wildcats would have been able to beat them (there is no way that would ever happen, by the way. These players are professionals for a reason, they aren’t losing to a bunch of college kids- no matter how good the college kids are). But this is a new team and they have some good pieces finally. MKG is a hard-working kid who could turn into a star. He was largely overshadowed by the play of Anthony Davis at Kentucky, but many people forget he was the top-ranked overall prospect as a junior in high school, before being surpassed when Davis shot up seven inches magically (to put that in perspective, he was seen as the best player in the entire country his junior year in high school- when his teammates included a guy named Kyrie Irving. Yea, the same Kyrie Irving that was the number 1 pick in the NBA just last year). They’ll be better, but not by much. They need a couple more high-lottery picks to get back to competing with the best the league has to offer.
Bottom Line- They won’t win often, but hopefully a little more than last year. I see them finishing next-to last in the East and “earning” a top-5 pick easily. While it will be tough this year, it may help them out in the long run (as long as MJ doesn’t screw up that pick, too).
(Side note: how can someone who was as incredible of a player as Jordan be so terribly bad at judging talent? I don’t understand, was he the one who picked Christian Laettner over Shaq for the Dream Team?)
Magic- Key Additions- Gustavo Ayon, Aaron Afflalo, Al Harrington, Mo Harkless, Nikola Vucevic
Notable Losses- Dwight Howard, Jason Richardson, Earl Clark, Chris Duhon
Anytime you lose a player the caliber of Dwight Howard you aren’t going to contend right away. Unfortunately for the Magic, I don’t think they’ll be contending for a while. While they got back a few nice players in Afflalo and Harrington, neither is good enough to carry a team and be ‘the man’. With this roster they will struggle mightily this year, but they expected that when they made the trade. The strategy to get really bad before you get good is defendable. What is inexcusable is their inability to include the walking monstrous contract that is Hedo Turkoglu in the deal. On top of that, they decided to extend Jameer Nelson’s contract this offseason as well, further tangling up their future payroll. If you’re going to rebuild, do it! Don’t go into it with a half-assed plan and get stuck with long-term contracts for role-playing veterans.
Bottom Line- The Magic are going to be really bad, and I mean REALLY bad. I hope for his sake J.J. Redick gets traded to a contender, where his shooting could be useful, instead of being stuck on this mess of a team. Unfortunately for the Magic though, they probably won’t find any takers for Turkoglu or Nelson. They will, however, be the worst team in the NBA, in my opinion. Hopefully they can catch a break and win the lottery, but that will have to be left up to chance (or David Stern. The lottery is rigged!!! Just kidding). (Maybe).
Central Division
Pacers- Key Additions- Ian Mahimi, D.J. Augustin, Gerald Green
Notable Losses- Darren Collison, Louis Amundson
The Pacers didn’t change much this offseason, as their additions essentially cancelled out their subtractions. Mahimi versus Amundson and Augustin versus Collison are basically washes. Still, as constructed, the Pacers are a good team. They had a series lead on the Heat last season before LeBron and Wade began their roll to the title. Another year of experience could be huge for young players like Paul George and Roy Hibbert, who are starting to come into their own. With so many dysfunctional teams in the Eastern Conference, they should still stay atop the mess. Too bad they took Miles Plumlee in the draft over guys like Perry Jones III, who could have really helped their offense.
Bottom Line- The Pacers are a good team with good chemistry and a mean streak (as demonstrated by Granger and West going after LeBron in the playoffs). These attributes make them a virtual lock, I believe, for the third seed in the mediocre Eastern Conference. It would take some breaks, however, to do damage after the first round of the playoffs against either the Celtics or Heat.
Heat- Key Additions- Ray Allen, Rashard Lewis
Notable Losses- none
The Heat are coming off a championship season in which they saw their star LeBron James finally do everything all his critics have ever wanted him to do. He took over and, without Chris Bosh for a long stretch and with Wade hobbled, decided that nothing was going to stand between him and a title. Oh, and then he went and led the Olympic team to a gold medal and has basically been the king of the basketball world since (if he wasn’t already). He is the most difficult player to guard, because he is so absurdly big, strong, and fast. Put a small forward on him and he’ll post them up (finally!). Put a bigger player on him and he’ll take them outside and go right by him or shoot uncontested jumpers as the defender sags off. Yes, the additions of Allen and Lewis only make this team more dangerous (YOU leave the league’s all-time leading 3-point shooter to double LeBron, I dare you). But ultimately, this is LeBron’s team and now it is his league too. If he plays the way he did in the 2012 playoffs and the Olympics, no one is stopping him.
(LeBron and the Heat got their first ring together last year, can they get their second in a row this year? http://cdn0.sbnation.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/2349717/d691101229110005306.0_standard_352.0.jpg)
Bottom Line- Once the ‘Big Three’ joined forces, the expectation every year became a championship. They came close the first year and won it the second (ironically never having the top seed in the East). I think they get the top seed this year, with Rose out. In the East their only real threat will be the Celtics, and they won’t see them until the Conference Finals; but when they do, get ready for a war.
Hawks- Key Additions- Devin Harris, Lou Williams, Kyle Korver
Notable Losses- Joe Johnson, Marvin Williams, Kirk Hinrich
The Hawks traded arguably their best player for essentially nothing besides cap space, which would make you think they got a lot worse. Well, I think you would be wrong. They replaced Johnson, a ball-stopping, heavy-usage player, with Lou Williams, Devin Harris, and Kyle Korver. That trio can easily make up his production and actually give them more flexibility and, with Korver, more outside shooting. Stealing him from Chicago for cash was one of the best moves of the offseason- he can carry an offense when he gets hot. Add to that Josh Smith, who is in a contract year and will be playing inspired ball, and the return of Al Horford (an elite big man who many forgot about when he got hurt) and they have one of the best frontcourts to go with their new-look backcourt. They don’t have the media attention or hype surrounding the likes of the New York teams, but they will be more consistent and, quite possibly, flat out better.
Bottom Line- They cleared Joe Johnson’s catastrophic contract off the books so that they could have flexibility for the future and were still able to put out a pretty damn good product on the court. I like this team- they’re exciting, athletic, and hard-workers. I think they’ll play better than the teams with bigger names stars but more question marks; well enough to earn the fourth seed and get home-court advantage for the first round. They may win that first series, but all it means is they get the honor of being a footnote on the Heat’s quest for back-to-back titles.
Wizards- Key Additions- Emeka Okafor, Trevor Ariza, Martell Webster, Bradley Beal
Notable Losses- Andray Blatche
Amnestying Blatche was a good move, but puzzling when you consider they took on about the same amount of cap with the trade for Okafor and Ariza. Even more distressing, Ariza has been outplayed by Martell Webster so far in Washington. I really liked the Beal pick- he gives them shooting that they desperately needed- but with John Wall sidelined to start the season they will definitely struggle. Even when he comes back, Wall needs to prove he can be a franchise player, and that means improving aspects of his game in which he has struggled- such as his atrocious 3-point shooting (he averaged nine percent from behind the arc at one point last season… NINE!).
Bottom Line- This team is going to struggle throughout the season even with him (I have them finishing 13th in the East), but with Wall out they lack a dynamic playmaker. There will be plenty of growing pains to go around, but they have some young pieces that will get much needed experience for the future. With the rest of Washington sports turning their fortunes around (Bryce Harper and Strasburg for the Nationals, RGIII for the Redskins), it’s time for the Wiz to follow suit.
Bobcats- Key Additions- Ben Gordon, Ramon Sessions, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Brandon Haywood
Notable Losses- Corey Maggette, D.J. Augustin
The Bobcats were pathetic last year. So bad that some even wondered if the Kentucky Wildcats would have been able to beat them (there is no way that would ever happen, by the way. These players are professionals for a reason, they aren’t losing to a bunch of college kids- no matter how good the college kids are). But this is a new team and they have some good pieces finally. MKG is a hard-working kid who could turn into a star. He was largely overshadowed by the play of Anthony Davis at Kentucky, but many people forget he was the top-ranked overall prospect as a junior in high school, before being surpassed when Davis shot up seven inches magically (to put that in perspective, he was seen as the best player in the entire country his junior year in high school- when his teammates included a guy named Kyrie Irving. Yea, the same Kyrie Irving that was the number 1 pick in the NBA just last year). They’ll be better, but not by much. They need a couple more high-lottery picks to get back to competing with the best the league has to offer.
Bottom Line- They won’t win often, but hopefully a little more than last year. I see them finishing next-to last in the East and “earning” a top-5 pick easily. While it will be tough this year, it may help them out in the long run (as long as MJ doesn’t screw up that pick, too).
(Side note: how can someone who was as incredible of a player as Jordan be so terribly bad at judging talent? I don’t understand, was he the one who picked Christian Laettner over Shaq for the Dream Team?)
Magic- Key Additions- Gustavo Ayon, Aaron Afflalo, Al Harrington, Mo Harkless, Nikola Vucevic
Notable Losses- Dwight Howard, Jason Richardson, Earl Clark, Chris Duhon
Anytime you lose a player the caliber of Dwight Howard you aren’t going to contend right away. Unfortunately for the Magic, I don’t think they’ll be contending for a while. While they got back a few nice players in Afflalo and Harrington, neither is good enough to carry a team and be ‘the man’. With this roster they will struggle mightily this year, but they expected that when they made the trade. The strategy to get really bad before you get good is defendable. What is inexcusable is their inability to include the walking monstrous contract that is Hedo Turkoglu in the deal. On top of that, they decided to extend Jameer Nelson’s contract this offseason as well, further tangling up their future payroll. If you’re going to rebuild, do it! Don’t go into it with a half-assed plan and get stuck with long-term contracts for role-playing veterans.
Bottom Line- The Magic are going to be really bad, and I mean REALLY bad. I hope for his sake J.J. Redick gets traded to a contender, where his shooting could be useful, instead of being stuck on this mess of a team. Unfortunately for the Magic though, they probably won’t find any takers for Turkoglu or Nelson. They will, however, be the worst team in the NBA, in my opinion. Hopefully they can catch a break and win the lottery, but that will have to be left up to chance (or David Stern. The lottery is rigged!!! Just kidding). (Maybe).
Central Division
Pacers- Key Additions- Ian Mahimi, D.J. Augustin, Gerald Green
Notable Losses- Darren Collison, Louis Amundson
The Pacers didn’t change much this offseason, as their additions essentially cancelled out their subtractions. Mahimi versus Amundson and Augustin versus Collison are basically washes. Still, as constructed, the Pacers are a good team. They had a series lead on the Heat last season before LeBron and Wade began their roll to the title. Another year of experience could be huge for young players like Paul George and Roy Hibbert, who are starting to come into their own. With so many dysfunctional teams in the Eastern Conference, they should still stay atop the mess. Too bad they took Miles Plumlee in the draft over guys like Perry Jones III, who could have really helped their offense.
Bottom Line- The Pacers are a good team with good chemistry and a mean streak (as demonstrated by Granger and West going after LeBron in the playoffs). These attributes make them a virtual lock, I believe, for the third seed in the mediocre Eastern Conference. It would take some breaks, however, to do damage after the first round of the playoffs against either the Celtics or Heat.
Bulls- Key Additions- Kirk Hinrich, Marco Belinelli, Vladimir Radmonovic, Marcus Teague
Notable Losses- Kyle Korver, Omar Asik, C.J. Watson, Ronnie Brewer, John Lucas III
With Rose out for an extended period of time, the Bulls were obviously not going to be as good as the past two years. What people seem to be overlooking is the massive personnel changes they made around Rose. They let almost all of their bench players go, which was the strength of their team. Korver was their best perimeter scorer besides Rose, and Belinelli is nowhere near as good of a shooter as Korver is. Neither is Hinrich. And when Rose was sidelined last year, Watson and Lucas picked up the slack (remember when they knocked off the vaunted Heat without Rose?). Now that role falls on Hinrich and the rookie Teague for an even longer stretch, and I don’t see them sustaining the level of play of the last few years. Even their highly touted defense will take a hit without Brewer on the wing and Asik manning the middle when Noah is out (Asik might be the most underrated big man in the league). All these are more than enough reasons for them to regress before Rose returns, but that’s the biggest issue I have with this team- I don’t see Rose coming back this year, at all! Look, he blew out his knee. For a guy who relies on his athleticism as much as Rose does, he’s going to need that knee at full strength and can’t risk coming back too early and suffering a career-threatening injury. If they aren’t competing for a top-four seed, and they wont be, there is no reason for him to come back and take that risk.
(Will the Bulls be able to survive without Rose for an extended period of time?http://thegatsbyeffect.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/derrick-rose-injury-042812.jpeg)
Bottom Line- This team got worse, with or without Derrick Rose being healthy. Without him, they are no longer contenders. That being said, Tom Thibodeau is one of the best coaches in the league and they still have very good frontcourt in Boozer, Noah, and Taj Gibson. In Tib’s system they will get the most out of every player, and I think that will be enough to sneak into the playoffs as the 8th seed.
Bucks- Key Additions- Samuel Dalembert
Notable Losses- none
The Bucks have quietly assembled a pretty good team up in the woods of Wisconsin. They have a ton of quality big men; the biggest problem there is figuring out how to divide up the minutes between the young guns and the veterans. The main issue I have with this team (the one that keeps me from making them a playoff team) has to do with the trade they made toward the end of last season. I understand it was time to move on from Bogut, but bringing in Monte Ellis makes no sense to me. Wasn’t the problem with him in Golden State that him and Curry both needed the ball in their hands too much? How does that change with Ellis sharing the backcourt with Brandon Jennings? If anything, the need for the ball is worse between these two, as Curry was much better off the ball as a spot up shooter and running off screens than Jennings. They are both very good scorers and can single-handedly win a game here and there, but I question how they will do over the course of the season.
Bottom Line- They are on the brink of playoff contention up in Milwaukee. I think they’ll need another season, however, to sort out the Jennings-Ellis backcourt before they make that jump. By the end of the year, they’ll know if they can move forward with both or if it is time to let one go. I have them finishing in ninth place, just shy of the playoffs.
Cavs- Key Additions- Tyler Zeller, Dion Waiters, C.J. Miles
Notable Losses- Antawn Jamison
The Cavs flirted with landing Andrew Bynum this offseason in a three-way trade, which would have paired him with Kyrie Irving and formed a dynamic 1-2 punch. With Cleveland’s luck, of course that didn’t end up working out. Irving is still a bright young star and can make the leap to ‘elite’ with improvements in his second year. But the rest of the team is lacking, and I hate what they did in the draft. Hate! I can’t stress that enough. Zeller is a solid player and I get trading up to get him, that’s fine. But Waiters at number 4 overall? Really? This is a guy who came off the bench in college and you want him to be a starter and second best offensive playmaker on your team? Remember the last college 6th man to get drafted that high? That would be Marvin Williams. Yikes! (Ask the Hawks if they’d rather have Williams or, say, one of the next two picks that year: Deron Williams and Chris Paul.) Missing on Waiters like the Hawks did Williams could be detrimental to the long-term success of this team, because it seems like they also missed with the number 4 overall pick last year in Tristan Thompson.
Bottom Line- While they got a young star in Irving, they still need to surround him with a strong supporting cast. Irving is really good, and may even become great, but he’s not LeBron James- you can’t surround him with any four players you find on the street and still be perennial contenders. With this supporting cast, Irving can only take them so far. I have them finishing 11th in the East, needing to land a couple more impact players next offseason to make the leap back into contention.
Pistons- Key Additions- Corey Maggette, Andre Drummond
Notable Losses- Ben Gordon
The Pistons have a mesh of decorated veterans (Tayshaun Prince) and promising young players (Brandon Knight, Greg Monroe, Andre Drummond). Monroe has already begun to look like an All-Star quality center, which is a great sign. If Drummond continues to play to his potential like he has in the preseason, they could develop into a devastating duo. Add in Knight as a good young point guard and the Pistons are on the right path. As for this year, however, they have too many veterans like Maggette (ball-hogs) and not enough like Prince (‘glue guys’) to balance out the youth of this team and make a playoff push.
Bottom Line- This will be a developmental year for their young players. Taking Drummond in the draft was a risk (one that is looking like it may pay off), but it was also an admission that they were playing for the long-term rather than the short-term (a good idea). They’ll still be moderately successful, however, finishing 12th out of the 15 Eastern Conference teams.
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That covers my thoughts on all 30 NBA teams for the upcoming season. Hopefully I didn’t offend anyone (except Raymond Felton- if he decides to take a year off, he deserves all the insults that come with it… fatty!). Feel free to leave a comment and start a debate if you disagree with any of my analysis (and I’m sure you do). Check back soon to see my playoff predictions, award winners, and sure-to-be-wrong expectations for the 2012-2013 NBA season!
I hope you enjoyed reading! If you have any questions, comments, or other suggestions on how to improve the column or any other topic feel free to contact me at my email address [email protected], on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/adam.colman.9 or on Twitter @AdamRColman.
Thanks for the support!
Notable Losses- Kyle Korver, Omar Asik, C.J. Watson, Ronnie Brewer, John Lucas III
With Rose out for an extended period of time, the Bulls were obviously not going to be as good as the past two years. What people seem to be overlooking is the massive personnel changes they made around Rose. They let almost all of their bench players go, which was the strength of their team. Korver was their best perimeter scorer besides Rose, and Belinelli is nowhere near as good of a shooter as Korver is. Neither is Hinrich. And when Rose was sidelined last year, Watson and Lucas picked up the slack (remember when they knocked off the vaunted Heat without Rose?). Now that role falls on Hinrich and the rookie Teague for an even longer stretch, and I don’t see them sustaining the level of play of the last few years. Even their highly touted defense will take a hit without Brewer on the wing and Asik manning the middle when Noah is out (Asik might be the most underrated big man in the league). All these are more than enough reasons for them to regress before Rose returns, but that’s the biggest issue I have with this team- I don’t see Rose coming back this year, at all! Look, he blew out his knee. For a guy who relies on his athleticism as much as Rose does, he’s going to need that knee at full strength and can’t risk coming back too early and suffering a career-threatening injury. If they aren’t competing for a top-four seed, and they wont be, there is no reason for him to come back and take that risk.
(Will the Bulls be able to survive without Rose for an extended period of time?http://thegatsbyeffect.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/derrick-rose-injury-042812.jpeg)
Bottom Line- This team got worse, with or without Derrick Rose being healthy. Without him, they are no longer contenders. That being said, Tom Thibodeau is one of the best coaches in the league and they still have very good frontcourt in Boozer, Noah, and Taj Gibson. In Tib’s system they will get the most out of every player, and I think that will be enough to sneak into the playoffs as the 8th seed.
Bucks- Key Additions- Samuel Dalembert
Notable Losses- none
The Bucks have quietly assembled a pretty good team up in the woods of Wisconsin. They have a ton of quality big men; the biggest problem there is figuring out how to divide up the minutes between the young guns and the veterans. The main issue I have with this team (the one that keeps me from making them a playoff team) has to do with the trade they made toward the end of last season. I understand it was time to move on from Bogut, but bringing in Monte Ellis makes no sense to me. Wasn’t the problem with him in Golden State that him and Curry both needed the ball in their hands too much? How does that change with Ellis sharing the backcourt with Brandon Jennings? If anything, the need for the ball is worse between these two, as Curry was much better off the ball as a spot up shooter and running off screens than Jennings. They are both very good scorers and can single-handedly win a game here and there, but I question how they will do over the course of the season.
Bottom Line- They are on the brink of playoff contention up in Milwaukee. I think they’ll need another season, however, to sort out the Jennings-Ellis backcourt before they make that jump. By the end of the year, they’ll know if they can move forward with both or if it is time to let one go. I have them finishing in ninth place, just shy of the playoffs.
Cavs- Key Additions- Tyler Zeller, Dion Waiters, C.J. Miles
Notable Losses- Antawn Jamison
The Cavs flirted with landing Andrew Bynum this offseason in a three-way trade, which would have paired him with Kyrie Irving and formed a dynamic 1-2 punch. With Cleveland’s luck, of course that didn’t end up working out. Irving is still a bright young star and can make the leap to ‘elite’ with improvements in his second year. But the rest of the team is lacking, and I hate what they did in the draft. Hate! I can’t stress that enough. Zeller is a solid player and I get trading up to get him, that’s fine. But Waiters at number 4 overall? Really? This is a guy who came off the bench in college and you want him to be a starter and second best offensive playmaker on your team? Remember the last college 6th man to get drafted that high? That would be Marvin Williams. Yikes! (Ask the Hawks if they’d rather have Williams or, say, one of the next two picks that year: Deron Williams and Chris Paul.) Missing on Waiters like the Hawks did Williams could be detrimental to the long-term success of this team, because it seems like they also missed with the number 4 overall pick last year in Tristan Thompson.
Bottom Line- While they got a young star in Irving, they still need to surround him with a strong supporting cast. Irving is really good, and may even become great, but he’s not LeBron James- you can’t surround him with any four players you find on the street and still be perennial contenders. With this supporting cast, Irving can only take them so far. I have them finishing 11th in the East, needing to land a couple more impact players next offseason to make the leap back into contention.
Pistons- Key Additions- Corey Maggette, Andre Drummond
Notable Losses- Ben Gordon
The Pistons have a mesh of decorated veterans (Tayshaun Prince) and promising young players (Brandon Knight, Greg Monroe, Andre Drummond). Monroe has already begun to look like an All-Star quality center, which is a great sign. If Drummond continues to play to his potential like he has in the preseason, they could develop into a devastating duo. Add in Knight as a good young point guard and the Pistons are on the right path. As for this year, however, they have too many veterans like Maggette (ball-hogs) and not enough like Prince (‘glue guys’) to balance out the youth of this team and make a playoff push.
Bottom Line- This will be a developmental year for their young players. Taking Drummond in the draft was a risk (one that is looking like it may pay off), but it was also an admission that they were playing for the long-term rather than the short-term (a good idea). They’ll still be moderately successful, however, finishing 12th out of the 15 Eastern Conference teams.
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That covers my thoughts on all 30 NBA teams for the upcoming season. Hopefully I didn’t offend anyone (except Raymond Felton- if he decides to take a year off, he deserves all the insults that come with it… fatty!). Feel free to leave a comment and start a debate if you disagree with any of my analysis (and I’m sure you do). Check back soon to see my playoff predictions, award winners, and sure-to-be-wrong expectations for the 2012-2013 NBA season!
I hope you enjoyed reading! If you have any questions, comments, or other suggestions on how to improve the column or any other topic feel free to contact me at my email address [email protected], on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/adam.colman.9 or on Twitter @AdamRColman.
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