Now that we’ve gone through each franchise in our team-by-team analysis, it’s time to name this season’s award winners, make some bold predictions, and (most importantly) crown a champion. We’ll start with the regular season award winners, ranking them ballot-style and including a dark horse candidate…
MVP
1. Kevin Durant, OKC- The MVP is really a two-player race, as Durant and LeBron are unquestionably the best players in the league- and no one else is really close to their level right now. LeBron may have a better all-around game, but Durant has a few advantages coming into this season. He is, without a doubt, the league’s premier scorer and very well may be one of the best pure scorers the game has ever seen. He has Ray Allen’s shooting stroke in George Gervin’s body, only taller. In fact, watch highlights of Ray Allen in the prime of his career and the similarities between him and Durant are eerie. While he’s already led the league in scoring the last three seasons (the first player to do so since Jordan), I expect him to take it to another level this year offensively (especially now that Harden is gone). Almost as importantly as his own improvement, I believe that the voters who decide the MVP will want a new winner (as they seem to get tired of voting for the same guy year-in and year-out, take Derrick Rose’s MVP for example—nothing against Rose, just LeBron was clearly the best player that year to any unbiased observer). With that being said, if Durant can play at even 80% the level of LeBron, he should take home this year’s MVP award.
2. LeBron James, MIA- This is not a knock on LeBron, I still think he’ll be the class of the league. In fact, he may have an even better year than his last MVP season. There is no doubt in my mind that he is the best player in the league. My only reasons for putting him a spot behind Durant are voter apathy and increase in Durant’s relative worth (or VALUE to his team) with Harden’s departure. Still, it should not surprise anyone if LeBron wins the award yet again.
(Will LeBron-Durant reach all-time great rivalry status- on par with that of Russell-Wilt, Magic-Bird, and Jordan-Barkley?)
http://www.athleticka.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/lebron_durant_finalshistory_gettyap_061212.jpg
3. Rajon Rondo, BOS- I LOVE his game. He is exciting, aggressive, and makes all of his teammates better- and he plays his best games on the biggest stage! In other words, he does everything an MVP should. His introverted personality makes him a bit of a reach, because fans don’t connect to him in the same way they do to charismatic guys like LeBron and Durant. Can you picture Rondo doing a ‘Doodle Jump’ commercial? Me neither. Nevertheless, he has improved his jumper, making him almost impossible to guard, and with the way he controls the Celtic’s offense, he may be the most important player on a championship contender. Take him off that team and they would struggle to hit 80 points. He may not be the third best player in the league, but this is an award based on VALUE, and Rondo personifies it.
Dark Horse- Tony Parker, SAS- Is he really a dark horse? Everyone knows who he is by now and he finally got thrown into MVP talks, albeit briefly, last season. However, as good as the Spurs are, they often seem to get overlooked and that applies to their individual players as well. For anyone that watches him on a semi-regular basis, you know he has drastically improved his game over the last few years and definitely deserves t be mentioned when the MVP is brought up. If he increases his scoring and assist numbers just a tad and the Spurs can notch a few signature, primetime wins over teams like the Lakers, Thunder, Heat, or Celtics, he will be in the discussion- and deservedly so.
MVP
1. Kevin Durant, OKC- The MVP is really a two-player race, as Durant and LeBron are unquestionably the best players in the league- and no one else is really close to their level right now. LeBron may have a better all-around game, but Durant has a few advantages coming into this season. He is, without a doubt, the league’s premier scorer and very well may be one of the best pure scorers the game has ever seen. He has Ray Allen’s shooting stroke in George Gervin’s body, only taller. In fact, watch highlights of Ray Allen in the prime of his career and the similarities between him and Durant are eerie. While he’s already led the league in scoring the last three seasons (the first player to do so since Jordan), I expect him to take it to another level this year offensively (especially now that Harden is gone). Almost as importantly as his own improvement, I believe that the voters who decide the MVP will want a new winner (as they seem to get tired of voting for the same guy year-in and year-out, take Derrick Rose’s MVP for example—nothing against Rose, just LeBron was clearly the best player that year to any unbiased observer). With that being said, if Durant can play at even 80% the level of LeBron, he should take home this year’s MVP award.
2. LeBron James, MIA- This is not a knock on LeBron, I still think he’ll be the class of the league. In fact, he may have an even better year than his last MVP season. There is no doubt in my mind that he is the best player in the league. My only reasons for putting him a spot behind Durant are voter apathy and increase in Durant’s relative worth (or VALUE to his team) with Harden’s departure. Still, it should not surprise anyone if LeBron wins the award yet again.
(Will LeBron-Durant reach all-time great rivalry status- on par with that of Russell-Wilt, Magic-Bird, and Jordan-Barkley?)
http://www.athleticka.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/lebron_durant_finalshistory_gettyap_061212.jpg
3. Rajon Rondo, BOS- I LOVE his game. He is exciting, aggressive, and makes all of his teammates better- and he plays his best games on the biggest stage! In other words, he does everything an MVP should. His introverted personality makes him a bit of a reach, because fans don’t connect to him in the same way they do to charismatic guys like LeBron and Durant. Can you picture Rondo doing a ‘Doodle Jump’ commercial? Me neither. Nevertheless, he has improved his jumper, making him almost impossible to guard, and with the way he controls the Celtic’s offense, he may be the most important player on a championship contender. Take him off that team and they would struggle to hit 80 points. He may not be the third best player in the league, but this is an award based on VALUE, and Rondo personifies it.
Dark Horse- Tony Parker, SAS- Is he really a dark horse? Everyone knows who he is by now and he finally got thrown into MVP talks, albeit briefly, last season. However, as good as the Spurs are, they often seem to get overlooked and that applies to their individual players as well. For anyone that watches him on a semi-regular basis, you know he has drastically improved his game over the last few years and definitely deserves t be mentioned when the MVP is brought up. If he increases his scoring and assist numbers just a tad and the Spurs can notch a few signature, primetime wins over teams like the Lakers, Thunder, Heat, or Celtics, he will be in the discussion- and deservedly so.
Defensive Player of the Year
1. Andre Iguodala, DEN- This may come as a surprise to some, since this award has become center-dominated the last few year. But with his defensive specialties being on full display for Team USA this summer in the Olympics, I think that Iggy will finally get the attention he deserves. He has been one of the elite perimeter defenders for years now (ask LeBron, Pierce, Durant, etc. who they hate being guarder by the most and he’ll be right at the top of that list), and the move to Denver and their up-tempo system may allow him to get a few more steals per game- allowing those that focus only on statistics to see just how good he is.
(Did Iguodala finally get the recognition he deserves for his defensive skill set in the Olympics this summer?
http://l3.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/wvZdker0Hseoru1khc93eA--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7cT04NQ--/http://media.zenfs.com/en/blogs/sptusnbaexperts/Dre81512.jpg)
2. Dwight Howard, LAL- Well, you knew he’d be somewhere on this list; at this point in his career, it would seem absurd for him to be left off. As long as he is healthy, he’ll be blocking shots and grabbing boards at league-leading levels; and as long as he’s around the top in those categories, he’ll be around the top of the Defensive POY balloting, too.
3. Serge Ibaka, OKC- He blocks shots as well (and violently) as just about anyone in the league. With OKC’s rise to the top of the Western Conference, it has drawn attention to his unique rim-protecting skill set. He isn’t the best one-on-one defender and sometimes gets caught out of position, but if he can get even marginally better at those aspects of his game he will get serious consideration as the league’s best defender.
Dark Horse- Anthony Davis, NOH- Yes, I know, he’s a rookie and it’s going to take some time for him to adjust to the NBA game. But, the NBA award system is as much of a popularity contest as anything else, and Davis already has the name recognition which is half the battle. If he can get into the top 5 in blocks and be close to the top in steals for big men, expect him to garner at least a few votes.
1. Andre Iguodala, DEN- This may come as a surprise to some, since this award has become center-dominated the last few year. But with his defensive specialties being on full display for Team USA this summer in the Olympics, I think that Iggy will finally get the attention he deserves. He has been one of the elite perimeter defenders for years now (ask LeBron, Pierce, Durant, etc. who they hate being guarder by the most and he’ll be right at the top of that list), and the move to Denver and their up-tempo system may allow him to get a few more steals per game- allowing those that focus only on statistics to see just how good he is.
(Did Iguodala finally get the recognition he deserves for his defensive skill set in the Olympics this summer?
http://l3.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/wvZdker0Hseoru1khc93eA--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7cT04NQ--/http://media.zenfs.com/en/blogs/sptusnbaexperts/Dre81512.jpg)
2. Dwight Howard, LAL- Well, you knew he’d be somewhere on this list; at this point in his career, it would seem absurd for him to be left off. As long as he is healthy, he’ll be blocking shots and grabbing boards at league-leading levels; and as long as he’s around the top in those categories, he’ll be around the top of the Defensive POY balloting, too.
3. Serge Ibaka, OKC- He blocks shots as well (and violently) as just about anyone in the league. With OKC’s rise to the top of the Western Conference, it has drawn attention to his unique rim-protecting skill set. He isn’t the best one-on-one defender and sometimes gets caught out of position, but if he can get even marginally better at those aspects of his game he will get serious consideration as the league’s best defender.
Dark Horse- Anthony Davis, NOH- Yes, I know, he’s a rookie and it’s going to take some time for him to adjust to the NBA game. But, the NBA award system is as much of a popularity contest as anything else, and Davis already has the name recognition which is half the battle. If he can get into the top 5 in blocks and be close to the top in steals for big men, expect him to garner at least a few votes.
Rookie of the Year
1. Anthony Davis, NOH- It almost feels like we should just give him the award right now (and maybe the 2020 MVP while were at it) the way he has been hyped up. I’m not convinced he’s going to be an MVP-caliber player just yet, but the more I watch him play, the more I see why everyone is so high on him. He’s a bit raw still, but he’s already a game-changing defender and has shown glimpses of a nice offensive skill set. If he puts up even solid numbers, his popularity and brand-name (the ‘Brow!!) will be enough to win him the award.
(While it is certainly unique, would you keep the Unibrow if you were Davis?) http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/slides/photos/002/601/326/hi-res-150039313_display_image.jpg
2. Bradley Beal, WAS- Many forget how hyped Beal was coming out of high school, largely because he spent most of his only year in college playing out of position at small forward. He will welcome moving back to shooting guard in the NBA, a position where he flourished at in the NCAA tournament when Billy Donovan finally pulled his head out of his a** (I say this with all due respect to Donovan, he is a great college coach. I just don’t understand why you would hold back your own player like that). Besides his beautiful shooting stoke (a much-needed attribute for the Wizards), he is a surprisingly ferocious rebounder for his size- it’s not often you see a 6’3” guard grabbing almost 7 boards a game, as Beal did in college. He should post a quality stat-line, keeping him in the running for ROY.
3.Damian Lillard, POR- Lillard was a monster in college, but playing for a small school scared many teams away from him early in the draft. On a Blazers team that lacks much firepower behind Aldridge and Batum, Lillard should get plenty of chances to score and create. As long as he can sustain his level of play for an entire NBA season (remember, rookies are used to playing 30 games at most in a college season, and the 82-game NBA season can be an adjustment), he should score a ton.
Dark Horse- Andre Drummond, DET- Drummond was a disappointment in his only year at UConn, where unexpectedly went to college a year early and was very raw. He is still growing into his body, but he has the potential to be dominant- the preseason was evidence of that. Detroit already has an all-star caliber center in Greg Monroe, and they’re hoping he can teach Drummond a thing or two to speed up his development.
1. Anthony Davis, NOH- It almost feels like we should just give him the award right now (and maybe the 2020 MVP while were at it) the way he has been hyped up. I’m not convinced he’s going to be an MVP-caliber player just yet, but the more I watch him play, the more I see why everyone is so high on him. He’s a bit raw still, but he’s already a game-changing defender and has shown glimpses of a nice offensive skill set. If he puts up even solid numbers, his popularity and brand-name (the ‘Brow!!) will be enough to win him the award.
(While it is certainly unique, would you keep the Unibrow if you were Davis?) http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/slides/photos/002/601/326/hi-res-150039313_display_image.jpg
2. Bradley Beal, WAS- Many forget how hyped Beal was coming out of high school, largely because he spent most of his only year in college playing out of position at small forward. He will welcome moving back to shooting guard in the NBA, a position where he flourished at in the NCAA tournament when Billy Donovan finally pulled his head out of his a** (I say this with all due respect to Donovan, he is a great college coach. I just don’t understand why you would hold back your own player like that). Besides his beautiful shooting stoke (a much-needed attribute for the Wizards), he is a surprisingly ferocious rebounder for his size- it’s not often you see a 6’3” guard grabbing almost 7 boards a game, as Beal did in college. He should post a quality stat-line, keeping him in the running for ROY.
3.Damian Lillard, POR- Lillard was a monster in college, but playing for a small school scared many teams away from him early in the draft. On a Blazers team that lacks much firepower behind Aldridge and Batum, Lillard should get plenty of chances to score and create. As long as he can sustain his level of play for an entire NBA season (remember, rookies are used to playing 30 games at most in a college season, and the 82-game NBA season can be an adjustment), he should score a ton.
Dark Horse- Andre Drummond, DET- Drummond was a disappointment in his only year at UConn, where unexpectedly went to college a year early and was very raw. He is still growing into his body, but he has the potential to be dominant- the preseason was evidence of that. Detroit already has an all-star caliber center in Greg Monroe, and they’re hoping he can teach Drummond a thing or two to speed up his development.
ALL-NBA TEAMS
First Team
G- Rajon Rondo, BOS- As noted in the MVP section, I expect Rondo to make ‘the leap’ this year.
G- Dwyane Wade, MIA- If he can stay healthy, he is the league’s premier 2-guard (with all due respect to Kobe).
F- LeBron James, MIA- The best player in the league, he’s become a lock for this spot.
F- Kevin Durant, OKC- The best scorer in the league, he’s very close to becoming a lock here too.
C- Dwight Howard, LAL- Did I have another option here?
http://i.usatoday.net/sports/gallery/2010/nba/s100213_all-star/s100214_001-lebron-east.jpg
Second Team
G- Chris Paul, LAC- So crafty with the ball, I think everyone agrees that he’s one of the top pure point guards by now.
G- Russell Westbrook, OKC- With Harden gone more responsibility falls on his shoulders, and that means no more erratic shooting nights. I think he’s up for the challenge.
F- Carmelo Anthony, NYK- He’s going to put up stats one way or the other, but I think playing with LeBron and co. in the Olympics taught him it takes more than just talent to win.
F- Blake Griffin, LAC- Everyone knows about his athleticism, but he’s quietly been developing a pretty good all-around game. You don’t put up 20 points a night just by jumping high, ask Jeremy Evans (last years Dunk contest winner).
C- Andrew Bynum, PHI- No Kobe= more shots for Andrew. And maybe even some 3’s!
Third Team
G- Kyrie Irving, CLE- Last year I said Derrick Williams should be drafted ahead of him… how’d that work out? Yea, I admit when I’m wrong.
G- Kobe Bryant, LAL- He seems to defy age, but with this team he shouldn’t need to put up the same stats he’s been churning out year after year.
F- Josh Smith, ATL- He’s in a contract year… that’s all I got. No real reason, just a feeling he’s going to have a huge year.
F- Pau Gasol, LAL- He was already one of the best passing bigs ever, now he’s running the Princeton offense with Dwight Howard to lob it up to. He should see his assist totals rise to go along with already stellar points and rebounding averages.
C- Tyson Chandler, NYK- Arguably the best post defender around, and is there really another choice?
(Side note: The NBA decided this year to take the center position off of the All-Star balloting, allowing fans to choose three frontcourt players rather than two forwards and a center. Now, I don’t know if they have/will do something similar with the All-NBA teams- I haven’t heard so yet- but wouldn’t it make so much sense? With the way teams are building their rosters, good centers are becoming harder and harder to find. Are we really going to snub guys like Nowitzki, Love, and Aldridge for Chandler?)
First Team
G- Rajon Rondo, BOS- As noted in the MVP section, I expect Rondo to make ‘the leap’ this year.
G- Dwyane Wade, MIA- If he can stay healthy, he is the league’s premier 2-guard (with all due respect to Kobe).
F- LeBron James, MIA- The best player in the league, he’s become a lock for this spot.
F- Kevin Durant, OKC- The best scorer in the league, he’s very close to becoming a lock here too.
C- Dwight Howard, LAL- Did I have another option here?
http://i.usatoday.net/sports/gallery/2010/nba/s100213_all-star/s100214_001-lebron-east.jpg
Second Team
G- Chris Paul, LAC- So crafty with the ball, I think everyone agrees that he’s one of the top pure point guards by now.
G- Russell Westbrook, OKC- With Harden gone more responsibility falls on his shoulders, and that means no more erratic shooting nights. I think he’s up for the challenge.
F- Carmelo Anthony, NYK- He’s going to put up stats one way or the other, but I think playing with LeBron and co. in the Olympics taught him it takes more than just talent to win.
F- Blake Griffin, LAC- Everyone knows about his athleticism, but he’s quietly been developing a pretty good all-around game. You don’t put up 20 points a night just by jumping high, ask Jeremy Evans (last years Dunk contest winner).
C- Andrew Bynum, PHI- No Kobe= more shots for Andrew. And maybe even some 3’s!
Third Team
G- Kyrie Irving, CLE- Last year I said Derrick Williams should be drafted ahead of him… how’d that work out? Yea, I admit when I’m wrong.
G- Kobe Bryant, LAL- He seems to defy age, but with this team he shouldn’t need to put up the same stats he’s been churning out year after year.
F- Josh Smith, ATL- He’s in a contract year… that’s all I got. No real reason, just a feeling he’s going to have a huge year.
F- Pau Gasol, LAL- He was already one of the best passing bigs ever, now he’s running the Princeton offense with Dwight Howard to lob it up to. He should see his assist totals rise to go along with already stellar points and rebounding averages.
C- Tyson Chandler, NYK- Arguably the best post defender around, and is there really another choice?
(Side note: The NBA decided this year to take the center position off of the All-Star balloting, allowing fans to choose three frontcourt players rather than two forwards and a center. Now, I don’t know if they have/will do something similar with the All-NBA teams- I haven’t heard so yet- but wouldn’t it make so much sense? With the way teams are building their rosters, good centers are becoming harder and harder to find. Are we really going to snub guys like Nowitzki, Love, and Aldridge for Chandler?)
BOLD PREDICTIONS
In this segment, I will make some of my predictions for the upcoming season- many of which may seem a little out-there. No, I’m not crazy, I just don’t see the fun in foreseeing Durant winning another scoring title (anyone who watches basketball could predict that- except maybe JaVale McGee). So without further ado, here goes my 5 bold predictions for the 2012-2013 NBA season!
1. Rajon Rondo will average just short of a triple-double, missing out by only one rebound per game- While it may seem like Rondo is a walking triple-double at times, keep in mind that no one has averaged these astounding numbers for the duration of an entire season since the ‘Big O’ Oscar Robertson- all the way back in 1962! It’s been 50 years since that happened! Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, Jason Kidd, LeBron James… NONE of them have been able to accomplish this feat (Magic came the closest, averaging 18.6 points, 9.6 boards, and 9.5 assists in the 1981-82 season). Yet, I believe Rondo will make a run at it this season. He has averaged a double-double pretty regularly the last few years, leading the league with 11.7 assists per game last season, so points and assists shouldn’t be a problem. Then comes the rebounding, and for most 6’4” point guards 10 rebounds per game seems absurd. However, Rondo has a few things going for him. First, he has incredibly long arms and HUGE hands (his hands have become something of an urban legend- I’ve heard them compared to Shaq’s!). Having extremities that long can make up a little bit for lack of height (and who says you need height to rebound? Look at what Charles Barkley was able to accomplish as a 6’6” power forward). Also, the Celtics bigs are among the league’s worst in rebounding rates- especially on the offensive side, where Garnett and Bass tend to hang around 12-15 feet- giving the rest of the team (namely Rondo) more opportunities at rebounds. Combine the previous two facts with the Celtics stifling defense (which creates missed shots at league-high rates with tons of opportunities for rebounds) and Rondo just may have a chance to break the 50-year drought.
2. The Denver Nuggets will roll off 15+ straight wins in the middle of the season- The Spurs have made wining streaks like this seem like a common occurrence the last few years, but it is actually a pretty rare phenomenon. So why, then, do I think the Nuggets- a team I don’t even have as a top-3 seed- will pull it off? Well, there are a few factors brewing into the perfect storm for them. Coming off of the lockout-shortened season, players will have to adjust to playing more games over a longer period of time. What does this mean for a Nuggets winning streak? Players are going to get bored! Playing games night-in and night-out gets old month after month, we see it every year when player start taking nights off (either by actually not suiting up or simply not showing up to play). The Spurs have taken the first seed the last two years and had long winning streaks by avoiding these lulls. This year, the Nuggets have the perfect combination of depth (they have 12 legitimate NBA players), youth, and coaching (George Karl won’t let them get complacent) to get on a roll and ride it out for a few weeks while the rest of the league starts taking nights off.
3. Jae Crowder will be one of the most important rookies this season, regardless of whether or not he gets recognition in the ROY balloting- For those of you who don’t know Crowder, he is the Mavericks do-it-all second-round pick who plays his a** off every night. He slipped in the draft due to his height (a 6’6” power forward), but anyone who saw him play at Marquette knows just how good he can be. He reminds me of the Nuggets second year player Kenneth “The Manimal” Faried, and not just because of their hair styles. Crowder isn’t quite the rebounder Faried is (then again, who is? Faried has a tenacity not seen since Rodman), but he is a much more polished player. Crowder is quicker, allowing him to guard the league’s bigger 3-men as well as many power forwards. This also helps him on offense, making him more dangerous off of the dribble than Faried- and he has a nice 3-point shot to go with it! Maybe I’m a homer because he’s a Maverick and played his college ball in Wisconsin, but he looks to me like he could turn into an X-factor for the Mavs.
(The Manimal Version 2.0? Seriously, were these two separated at birth?!
http://www.sportsmemes.net/pics/1383.jpg)
4. Aaron Brooks will be traded to a contender at the trade deadline- I’m still trying to figure out why and how he ended up in Sacramento. Wasn’t he a coveted prospect just a couple years ago? Did teams just forget he came back from China already? He isn’t the distributing-type point guard like Nash or Rondo, but he can definitely score and be a spark-plug off of the bench for a team that needs it. Can you think of any championship-contenders with aging point guards and a dire need for bench production? Too bad for those guys in purple and gold, I don’t think the Kings are as dumb as the Suns… *thinking about it*… damn it this is going to happen somehow, isn’t it?
5. The Grizzlies will realize they can’t contend with the roster they currently have and unload Rudy Gay and his monster contract for shooting and cap space- With Gay and Randolph making tons of money, and Gasol and Conley needing to get paid soon too, the Grizz will decide to move on without Gay. Personally, I am not as high on Gay as many people. Yes, he is an athletic scoring wing player, but those are almost a dime-a-dozen nowadays. You have to choose an identity, big with shooters or small and fast with serviceable bigs. With two elite big men in Z-Bo and Marc Gasol, going big and surrounding them with shooters is the best way to go in Memphis. Gay is still a very good player and can fetch a lot in return on the trade market. If they can get a couple high-level shooters (J.J. Reddick?), cap space, and maybe some draft picks in return for Gay, the Grizzlies would set themselves up for the future as well as give them a better chance at beating teams like the Lakers, Thunder, and Spurs now (Important: remember when the Grizzlies knocked off the Spurs in the first round two years ago? RUDY GAY DIDN’T PLAY IN THAT SERIES! He was injured and missed most of the season. If that isn’t evidence that they can survive without him I don’t know what is).
6. The upstart Bulls, without Derrick Rose and no one believing in them, will knock out the Heat in the first round of the playoffs!- Just kidding! No way this is happening…
And with that, it’s time for my playoff predictions, as we crown an NBA champion!
In this segment, I will make some of my predictions for the upcoming season- many of which may seem a little out-there. No, I’m not crazy, I just don’t see the fun in foreseeing Durant winning another scoring title (anyone who watches basketball could predict that- except maybe JaVale McGee). So without further ado, here goes my 5 bold predictions for the 2012-2013 NBA season!
1. Rajon Rondo will average just short of a triple-double, missing out by only one rebound per game- While it may seem like Rondo is a walking triple-double at times, keep in mind that no one has averaged these astounding numbers for the duration of an entire season since the ‘Big O’ Oscar Robertson- all the way back in 1962! It’s been 50 years since that happened! Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, Jason Kidd, LeBron James… NONE of them have been able to accomplish this feat (Magic came the closest, averaging 18.6 points, 9.6 boards, and 9.5 assists in the 1981-82 season). Yet, I believe Rondo will make a run at it this season. He has averaged a double-double pretty regularly the last few years, leading the league with 11.7 assists per game last season, so points and assists shouldn’t be a problem. Then comes the rebounding, and for most 6’4” point guards 10 rebounds per game seems absurd. However, Rondo has a few things going for him. First, he has incredibly long arms and HUGE hands (his hands have become something of an urban legend- I’ve heard them compared to Shaq’s!). Having extremities that long can make up a little bit for lack of height (and who says you need height to rebound? Look at what Charles Barkley was able to accomplish as a 6’6” power forward). Also, the Celtics bigs are among the league’s worst in rebounding rates- especially on the offensive side, where Garnett and Bass tend to hang around 12-15 feet- giving the rest of the team (namely Rondo) more opportunities at rebounds. Combine the previous two facts with the Celtics stifling defense (which creates missed shots at league-high rates with tons of opportunities for rebounds) and Rondo just may have a chance to break the 50-year drought.
2. The Denver Nuggets will roll off 15+ straight wins in the middle of the season- The Spurs have made wining streaks like this seem like a common occurrence the last few years, but it is actually a pretty rare phenomenon. So why, then, do I think the Nuggets- a team I don’t even have as a top-3 seed- will pull it off? Well, there are a few factors brewing into the perfect storm for them. Coming off of the lockout-shortened season, players will have to adjust to playing more games over a longer period of time. What does this mean for a Nuggets winning streak? Players are going to get bored! Playing games night-in and night-out gets old month after month, we see it every year when player start taking nights off (either by actually not suiting up or simply not showing up to play). The Spurs have taken the first seed the last two years and had long winning streaks by avoiding these lulls. This year, the Nuggets have the perfect combination of depth (they have 12 legitimate NBA players), youth, and coaching (George Karl won’t let them get complacent) to get on a roll and ride it out for a few weeks while the rest of the league starts taking nights off.
3. Jae Crowder will be one of the most important rookies this season, regardless of whether or not he gets recognition in the ROY balloting- For those of you who don’t know Crowder, he is the Mavericks do-it-all second-round pick who plays his a** off every night. He slipped in the draft due to his height (a 6’6” power forward), but anyone who saw him play at Marquette knows just how good he can be. He reminds me of the Nuggets second year player Kenneth “The Manimal” Faried, and not just because of their hair styles. Crowder isn’t quite the rebounder Faried is (then again, who is? Faried has a tenacity not seen since Rodman), but he is a much more polished player. Crowder is quicker, allowing him to guard the league’s bigger 3-men as well as many power forwards. This also helps him on offense, making him more dangerous off of the dribble than Faried- and he has a nice 3-point shot to go with it! Maybe I’m a homer because he’s a Maverick and played his college ball in Wisconsin, but he looks to me like he could turn into an X-factor for the Mavs.
(The Manimal Version 2.0? Seriously, were these two separated at birth?!
http://www.sportsmemes.net/pics/1383.jpg)
4. Aaron Brooks will be traded to a contender at the trade deadline- I’m still trying to figure out why and how he ended up in Sacramento. Wasn’t he a coveted prospect just a couple years ago? Did teams just forget he came back from China already? He isn’t the distributing-type point guard like Nash or Rondo, but he can definitely score and be a spark-plug off of the bench for a team that needs it. Can you think of any championship-contenders with aging point guards and a dire need for bench production? Too bad for those guys in purple and gold, I don’t think the Kings are as dumb as the Suns… *thinking about it*… damn it this is going to happen somehow, isn’t it?
5. The Grizzlies will realize they can’t contend with the roster they currently have and unload Rudy Gay and his monster contract for shooting and cap space- With Gay and Randolph making tons of money, and Gasol and Conley needing to get paid soon too, the Grizz will decide to move on without Gay. Personally, I am not as high on Gay as many people. Yes, he is an athletic scoring wing player, but those are almost a dime-a-dozen nowadays. You have to choose an identity, big with shooters or small and fast with serviceable bigs. With two elite big men in Z-Bo and Marc Gasol, going big and surrounding them with shooters is the best way to go in Memphis. Gay is still a very good player and can fetch a lot in return on the trade market. If they can get a couple high-level shooters (J.J. Reddick?), cap space, and maybe some draft picks in return for Gay, the Grizzlies would set themselves up for the future as well as give them a better chance at beating teams like the Lakers, Thunder, and Spurs now (Important: remember when the Grizzlies knocked off the Spurs in the first round two years ago? RUDY GAY DIDN’T PLAY IN THAT SERIES! He was injured and missed most of the season. If that isn’t evidence that they can survive without him I don’t know what is).
6. The upstart Bulls, without Derrick Rose and no one believing in them, will knock out the Heat in the first round of the playoffs!- Just kidding! No way this is happening…
And with that, it’s time for my playoff predictions, as we crown an NBA champion!
Eastern Conference Finals- Heat vs. Celtics- The first couple rounds in the East will be boring, as both teams will cruise through them, setting up the much-anticipated bloodbath that will be the Heat-Celtics series. With their new additions adding depth and Rondo playing at a career-best level, not to mention the outstanding coaching schemes Doc Rivers will employ, the Celtics will give the Heat all they can handle. Unfortunately, it won’t be enough to stop LeBron and co. as the Heat make it three Finals appearances in as many years.
Western Conference Finals- Lakers vs. Thunder- The Lakers will face a young and hungry Nuggets team for the second year in a row, this time in the conference semifinals. With Ty Lawson running circles around Nash, Iguodala finally giving Denver someone to challenge Kobe, and the youth of the Nuggets running the Lakers up and down the floor every night, the Nuggets will have a shot, yet again, to send the Lakers home earlier than expected. Lucky for the Lakers, they will have worked the kinks out by then and they still have Kobe Bryant. Lakers survive in seven. Meanwhile, the Thunder will be locked in a battle of their own with the ageless Spurs. The Spurs had them on the ropes last year in the Western Conference Finals, and they’ll have a shot again this year. However, Durant will come up clutch in the final moments of two crucial games early on, allowing the Thunder to take the series in a relatively suspense-less six games- setting up the showdown everyone is expecting. The Lakers will take Game 1 at home, with Kobe coming up big late and adding to his legacy of clutch play. But, it will be all Durant from there, hitting game-winners in games 2 and 4 while also dominating in a blowout win in Game 3. The Lakers will send it back to OKC with a Game 5 victory, but it will be too-little too-late, as the Thunder will take Game 6 in dominant fashion and set up a rematch with the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals.
NBA Finals- Heat vs. Thunder- Isn’t this what everyone wants (sorry Lakers fans)? Bringing back a true rivalry to the NBA, with the two best players on the planet playing the same position and squaring off with the stakes as high as they get? Even being guarded by each other, both will be brilliant. Their competition will push each other to new heights (the only thing Jordan lacked in his career) and, ultimately, the team that wins will be the one that gives their superstar the most help. Wade has more experience than Westbrook, but Russell learned a lot in last year’s loss and will outplay Wade in the series. Bosh’s will chip in more on offense than Ibaka’s, while Ibaka’s defensive presence will be far more impactful than Bosh’s. This is where Harden could have swung the series for OKC, but relying on journeyman Kevin Martin and a pair of rookies won’t get it done against the likes of Ray Allen, Shane Battier, Mario Chalmers, and co. It will be a great series, ending with LeBron taking one step closer to immortality. Heat win their second title in a row, this time at home in six games.
(Expect LeBron and the Heat to be celebrating again come next June.)
http://sinbapointforward.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/lebron-wade-celebration.jpg
There you have it! Exactly how the 2012-2013 NBA season will play out, you don’t even have to watch the games! But just in case you do, try to forget everything I said by June- I don’t want to know how wrong I was when the Bucks are battling the Blazers for the title… (just kidding, no way David Stern would let that happen! It’s a shame we only get two more years of him, better enjoy it while it lasts!)
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!
Western Conference Finals- Lakers vs. Thunder- The Lakers will face a young and hungry Nuggets team for the second year in a row, this time in the conference semifinals. With Ty Lawson running circles around Nash, Iguodala finally giving Denver someone to challenge Kobe, and the youth of the Nuggets running the Lakers up and down the floor every night, the Nuggets will have a shot, yet again, to send the Lakers home earlier than expected. Lucky for the Lakers, they will have worked the kinks out by then and they still have Kobe Bryant. Lakers survive in seven. Meanwhile, the Thunder will be locked in a battle of their own with the ageless Spurs. The Spurs had them on the ropes last year in the Western Conference Finals, and they’ll have a shot again this year. However, Durant will come up clutch in the final moments of two crucial games early on, allowing the Thunder to take the series in a relatively suspense-less six games- setting up the showdown everyone is expecting. The Lakers will take Game 1 at home, with Kobe coming up big late and adding to his legacy of clutch play. But, it will be all Durant from there, hitting game-winners in games 2 and 4 while also dominating in a blowout win in Game 3. The Lakers will send it back to OKC with a Game 5 victory, but it will be too-little too-late, as the Thunder will take Game 6 in dominant fashion and set up a rematch with the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals.
NBA Finals- Heat vs. Thunder- Isn’t this what everyone wants (sorry Lakers fans)? Bringing back a true rivalry to the NBA, with the two best players on the planet playing the same position and squaring off with the stakes as high as they get? Even being guarded by each other, both will be brilliant. Their competition will push each other to new heights (the only thing Jordan lacked in his career) and, ultimately, the team that wins will be the one that gives their superstar the most help. Wade has more experience than Westbrook, but Russell learned a lot in last year’s loss and will outplay Wade in the series. Bosh’s will chip in more on offense than Ibaka’s, while Ibaka’s defensive presence will be far more impactful than Bosh’s. This is where Harden could have swung the series for OKC, but relying on journeyman Kevin Martin and a pair of rookies won’t get it done against the likes of Ray Allen, Shane Battier, Mario Chalmers, and co. It will be a great series, ending with LeBron taking one step closer to immortality. Heat win their second title in a row, this time at home in six games.
(Expect LeBron and the Heat to be celebrating again come next June.)
http://sinbapointforward.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/lebron-wade-celebration.jpg
There you have it! Exactly how the 2012-2013 NBA season will play out, you don’t even have to watch the games! But just in case you do, try to forget everything I said by June- I don’t want to know how wrong I was when the Bucks are battling the Blazers for the title… (just kidding, no way David Stern would let that happen! It’s a shame we only get two more years of him, better enjoy it while it lasts!)
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!
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