THE Season Preview
Oct 25, 2016 0:53:08 GMT -5
Yacob (freelance idiot), Grizzlies GM (Royce), and 9 more like this
Post by Golden State Warriors (Caleb) on Oct 25, 2016 0:53:08 GMT -5
It took awhile but here it is! Sorry it's not as pretty as usual, but i just tried to get it out as i don't have as much time as i did in high school and even the early parts of college.
1. Denver Nuggets
Kevin has put together a very solid team. From top the bottom there is both star-power and depth. I think getting KD at 10 was a steal, despite his contract. He does a little bit of everything, and yes his scoring and minutes may go down, but Golden State will run a system that will allow him to be more efficient and be a playmaker. I think his scoring stays pretty similar. I think Favors and Adams are going to be a force to reckon with down low. If it not for Adams being in line for a major payday next year, I think he would have went much earlier. He should be locked in at 35 minutes a night if he stays healthy and is a legit threat to average a double double. Favors will continue to improve, and is on a great contract. Kevin did a great job of rounding out the team with solid depth. Collison was a sneaky pick, and 5 mill for a starting PG is robbery no matter what. I think Borgodon and Barton were both great picks. Barton is a high energy guy who has really gained Malone’s trust, and while there is somewhat of a logjam there Barton will find his minutes. Brogdon is also in a great situation. The only real competition for minutes is Rashad Vaughn, who while still young has been awful during his time in the NBA. Middleton going down will almost force Malcolm into immediate minutes. Brogodon still has a lot to learn, but he could start the learning off with playing time if he earns Kidd’s trust. Lastly, getting JR as late he did was nice. JR while not the most efficient will have big nights and busts but will be a solid contributor for this team. I didn’t quite get the Napier pick, but that’s okay. Mahinmi was paid for a reason, and while he was a bit too much for my liking, is one injury away from a big time role. Kevin should be chasing a title this year, and this time it’ll count
Only time will tell if he can grab it. The Northwest should be his to lose though.2. Utah Jazz
Ah good ol' small dick TJ. His recent trades were risky, but that's just how he likes it. If all goes to plan the picks will be low both years. But Powell and Richardson are both guys who don't score a ton in this league, and you never know who you can pick up with a first. The Mike Conley pick shocked a lot of people, but the more i looked at it i liked it. He had a lot of cap at the time, and i think a lot of are sleeping on Conley because of a tough two years. The Grizzlies struggled with injuries, but should be back and with a new system in place he could thrive. He's a pass first guy, which helps as every missed shot is -1. Patty Mills was a sneaky good pick from the veteran TJ. TP isn't getting any younger and i've always really liked Patty's game. He can shoot the lights out and has really improved year after year. I could see this being the year where Mills takes a step forward in SA for Tony. Lastly we get to CJ. CJ signed a massive extension this summer which must have been exciting for TJ showing that he'll be a huge part of the offense and locking him up long term, but it also hurts a bit as he could probably have resigned him for a bit cheaper. CJ is probably a little bit better IRL than he is in here, but CJ no doubt is a solid guy to go to at SG.
TJ's a little weak at the wing with nobody really outside of Rudy Gay. Rudy is as consistent as they come although he is starting to get up there in age. He should be around 25-28, solid for a SF. If the Kings move him he could benefit, as there are a lot of mouths to feed, with the biggest being Boogie down low. Trading one of his big men for a wing before the season starts might be beneficial. TJ's strength is definitely down low. Led by big Rudy TJ has a ton of guys down low. Gobert is on one of the better contracts in the league as was a steal IMO. Gobert should continue to improve and if he can develop some sort of post game, he could be a top 5 big man in the league. The Dirk and Tristan picks were head scratchers to me. Dirk at the price left him squeezed the rest if the draft, and while i get drafting your guy in Tristan i don't really see him scoring more than 20 during the season, putting his price tag at a little too much. I loved Zeller pick and Sanders is a nice little flier as i've hear rumbles he might be making a comeback at some point. Even with TJ trading four picks i still think he's slightly behind Kevin. Should be a battle between these two all year though.
3. Oklahoma City Thunder
Loren's team has been kinda slept on as we start to near the season. It isn't loaded with superstar but is well rounded and has guys that just get it done. I legit think he has a shot to be a 7-8 seed, lets run through the team. One thing the Thunder need to work on is just position eligibility, they have no small forwards or centers. But there are solid players across the board. The team is led by Paul Millsap and Klay Thompson both All-stars who aren't quite seen as superstars. It'll be very interesting to see what happens to Klay's role. Yes, he should have even more room to to shoot, but it's only natural there will be less shots to go around for him. His lack of peripheral game may stand out a bit more this year. Millsap does it all at power forward, but it will interesting to see how the spacing in Atlanta is effected with Dwight, and if Shroeder has any real impact on Millsap's value. Markieff is another guy who i think will have a really solid year, he played really well in Washington and should continue to grow with more time in Washington. After Markieff the production falls off pretty quick, and that's why the Thunder are more of a fringe playoff team than contender. Korver, Afflalo, and ZBO all aren't bad but are more role players, than guys to be counted on night in and night out. McCaw and Johnson were two savy pick ups though. Both could see minutes this year if the cards fall the right way. Overall as it stands now, the team isn't bad but it's definitely nothing more than a middle of the pack team right now. It will win some games, but won't compete with the big dogs. Only time will tell to see how Loren approaches it.
4. Minnesota Timberwolves
The Twolves are kinda like the opposite of the Thunder right now. Low depth, but big stars up front. AD is capable of being the best player in fantasy especially in this format. He had a down year by his standards this past year, but should be back and ready to go this year. Lillard is also a little bit over paid but there is no denying he is a stud. As we look a little deeper the roster has more guys i really like. MKG has always been one of my favorites, Henson is great when he gets minutes. I loved Exum before he got hurt. McCollough is in a great position to thrive. The thing is all these guys have something that hampers their value, thus putting the Twolves slightly below the Thunder for me. The potential is much higher here, and if guys like MKG and Exum can stay healthy and play at the level their talent suggests, this could be a dangerous team. Brandon has shown that as a GM he can put together a young team that can win in the future he just needs time. This team is looking like it has a really bright future, but unless it acquires more depth, this year will most likely be a rebuilding year.
5. Portland Trailblazers
The Blazers roll in at 5th in the division but it was tough with the draft pick they got. They've put together a fun team with a lot of promise. Wiggins has the potential and is the situation to be a top 10 player in this league. Walker took big steps this year, and if he continues to improve could end up being an all-star. Kemba is someone i've never been high on, but i have to admit he's improved every year, and could take that next step to being an all-star. KCP is a guy i really like, he's looked really good this off-season and could be one of the best two way shooting guards in the league before long. Parsons and Aminu aren't bad and the more i look at this team, the more i think it might be better than i though originally. The depth is still a place where the Blazers lack, but i could actually see this team making a move if they add depth around the key guys.
Pacific Division
1. Golden State Warriors
Not going to go into super depth about my team, because it’s my team. I do think that I have the strongest team in the division. The Steph trade really helped my depth, although I already regret the trade. I like Nurkic, Harkless, as sneaky guys who could break out onto the scene and I am really happy I got Nurk where I did. I hope to see Dekker and Saric develop this year. Really how far I go this year comes down on four guys. Batum, Butler, Tobias, and Jeff Teague. All four are in a good situation to succeed and it really comes down to health. I like my team to come out of the Pacific.
2. Sacramento Kings
I got David’s Kings coming in second in the division. David put together a very solid team despite grabbing the 23rd pick. The Kings are led by two pretty underated stars in here. Melo showed this summer he still more than has it, and honestly looks rejuvenated. In an up tempo Hornaceck system he could thrive. I think people are down on Blake because he hasn’t been able to stay healthy, but when healthy he is one of the best in the game. His ability to facilitate from the power forward spot is rare, and huge for him fantasy wise. Overall the Kings success this year is going to rely on 1. Obviously health. But two the depth of the team. Dragic was actually an unreal pick up and if he stays in Miami he could be in for a massive year. I’ve heard rumors Bev may need surgery, but if he doesn’t he should receive a boost in an up tempo Rockets system. Zaza, Livingston, Kilpatrick, etc all look like they will carve out roles, but all most do so if the Kings want to reach that next level. Very good team here in Sac, not sure if it is championship level yet, but it is up there.
3. Phoenix Suns
Sorry Trey but your boy edges you out here and it really omes down to depth. Despite getting the last pick in the draft the Suns put together a team with a lot of promise. There were times during the draft where I scratched my head at a couple picks. But the team does have a nice mix of vets and youngins. The vets could prove to have more value when the trade deadline and playoffs approach. Vuc is in an interesting situation this year but should continue to produce as long as given the minutes. Schroeder and Dunn will form one of the more fun young back court duos in the league. Schroeder has finally been given the keys, and I have full confidence he will emerge this year. Dunn had a great summer league, but struggled this pre season. Overall not expecting a ton this year, but he’s a very very exciting prospect to have. I know I am a Warriors fan but Damian Jones was a sneaky pick. Overall this team is exciting and has promise, but wouldn’t finish close to 3rd in a lot of other divisions, the Clippers and Lakers help them out here. Look out for Phoenix in a couple years though.
4. LA Clippers
And Trey barely edges out the cross town rivals here. Trey’s draft started off hot and it’s not really his fault Ingram got hurt. But picking someone like Bosh was idiodic, and while Evans at his spot may have been “good value” you can’t take someone with that risk that early. Trey desperately needs to take a stance on what direction he wants to take this team, and that’s been his problem in the past. You can’t draft Ingram first overall and commit to a process and then be playing guys like Chris Bosh, Monta Ellis, and Tyreke Evans in large roles. Trey’s my boy and he’s come a long way but a direction here would be nice. Chriss, IT, Simmons are a nice base, but you need more than a nice in the big leagues. The Clippers will struggle this year, but It will be fun to see Simmons and Chriss develop this year.
5. LA Lakers
The Lakers really have a nice core set in place. There is a clear young movement. The team is led by the stud that is Paul George. George had a great bounceback season and should be the cornerstone of this rebuilding Lakers team. Ibaka and Knight are kinda like the sidekicks to George and both are super interesting cases. Ibaka kinda never really fit in in OKC, but it looks like this is a place that really wanted him is invested in making him a big part of their deal. He’s looked good in the preseason and if he could get back to vintage IBaka games with lines of like 17 14 and 6 blocks that’d be awesome. Knight meanwhile is even more interesting. He seems to have success everywhere he goes, but eventually he gets moved on from. He doesn’t do any one thing particularly amazingly, but there isn’t one thing he struggles with. Booker and Bledsoe are studs though so monitoring that situation will be important for the Lakers management. Guys like WCS and Lyles are going to be very fun to see develop this year. This is the year for both where they can take big steps forward towards being studs or kinda regress and never improve like a Harrison Barnes. The Lakers will spend time in the cellar this year, but this team is fun, and will be something to deal with in a couple years IF handled right.
Southwest
1. Memphis Grizzlies
Good ol Luke put together a winner. The only real problem I see is money is very very tight for him this year. Other than that it looks to be complete from top to bottom KAT should push to be a top ten scorer this year with a year of added experience under his belt. Derozan is coming off a good year, a new contract, and a gold medal. I could see some complacency but I doubt it, and he should be solid for something around the mid 20’s this year. Really what sets this team apart is depth, and it’s really similar to the title contending teams Grizz had in the start of Bball 25. The guard play is weak, but the wings, and PF is where he really has an edge. Ryan Anderson I think is in for a really nice year fantasy wise. The Rockets will be playing at a very open pace and he should see a ton of looks, while not being asked to play much defense. Mozgov, while one of the jokes of the off-season should see minutes, and I could easily see the big man averaging around 20 if Walton takes a liking to him. He is pretty mobile for a seven footer, and has soft hands and decent vision. Deng is another guy who will be interesting to watch. Is he still able to play at a high level, or will this be more of a phasing out with guys like Ingram and Randle getting the bulk of the minutes. My guess is somewhere in between. Dieng and Plum are also guys who could go either way. I can see Plum locking in as Stotts starting power forward but I could also see him in a utility role with the amount of bigs that Portland has. I could see Dieng establishing himself as the guy to pair with Towns down low, but I could also see Thibs saying, nah Dieng isn’t a guy I like and sitting him on the bench. Each situation has an effect on the Grizzlies season. Right now this team’s floor is a lower tier playoff team, but its ceiling is a perennial title contender.
2. SA Spurs
Chris has put together a hell of a team. It’s kinda one of those deals where at first you glance over it and are like, “eh whatever”, but then you look at it more and more and you realize like damn this could be a winner folks. Let’s start the point. Delon won’t get much run if any at all this year, but he’s got potential. Rubio is someone where if he plays he is going to produce, especially in a league like this where missed shots are -1. I think the Dunn hype is a little overblown right now, and Rubio should see his usual minutes this year. I wasn’t a believe at first with TJ but he’s a player in this league, he understands the game and while he is the most skilled, athletic, or big hes a winner and makes the right play. As we go across the roster almost every player is a contributor. Thad and Sully are both in new situations, but both sitations are places where they can really grow and thrive as players. I’m not a huge Monroe fan, but the usage will most likely be there. But the two guys I really like the most on this team are Kent Bazemore and Clint Capela. I think it might take a little while with Baze but with Teague and AL gone I think he heads up a leadership position in ATL. He’s a hard worker and think his usage will start to rise, along with just his overall game. Capela is in a great situation. D’Antoni is just going to runrunrun, and Capela is gonna get oops, tip ins, boards, and blocks aplenty. As long as he doesn’t get into any dog houses, 30+ a game is easily in reach. The Spurs are a very solid team, championship bound? Not sure. But they’ll definitely be a team to monitor this year.
3. New Orleans Pelicans
Sorry Landon. This is probably the best division in the league excluding the Rockets. I have the Pelicans in here just above the Mavs for the sole reason of depth. The Pelicans new GM has proven to be savy, smart, and prudent. He has the future of the team in mind but has also put together a very good product on the floor now. This team is obviously led by Andre Drummond. Obviously his ft’s hurt you in this league, but nowhere near the way they do in cats. Drummond is an absolute monster in here and will be this franchise’s cornerstone. But the team’s strength is the depth. It may just be the deepest team in the league in terms of sheer players who have roles in the NBA. Delly will have a role out in Mil, Ish will be a starter for a good part of the year, DJ will back up Mudiay in Den. Henderson, Lamb, and Winslow will all be getting minutes this year. The Pels also have a plethora of young bigs with a lot of potential. It’ll be very interesting to see this team play out. Yes, they have a lot of depth, and potential but really the only sure thing is Drummond. Winslow could be a 22-25 point scorer, or he could be around 12-13. Someone like Len could take the job from Chandler rearly on and average 30, or he could be locked into an inconsistent time share and be around 15. Who knows where Delly’s minutes will be at to start you feel me? The team’s floor is low high though, they’ve got bodies, and will be in the hunt al year.
4. Dallas Mavericks
One of my favorite dudes in the league put together a solid team. This is a tough divison and honestly every team 1-4 in here is pretty close. The thing holding the Mavs back in my eyes? Depth. Harden may end up being the #1 fantasy player this year in that dirty D’antoni system. Brook Lopez is also a stud when healthy and given the team around him in Brooklyn his usage should be insane. The thing is that if he gets hurt there is a very good chance he will get shut down. One, because he is Brook Lopez and that’s just what he does, and two, the Nets may not win 10 games this year. Outside of the two studs there are five really solid role players. Clarkson, Reddick, Taj, Deron, and RHJ. But all have some question marks. Clarkson has potential, and looks like he will be given the time but id he built but more than a role player in this league? Reddick is much better in real life than he is here. The difference between him averaging 12-13 to 18-19 is huge. Taj has had some quiet years, but with Pau and Noah gone this IS HIS SHOT. Deron is obviously not the Deron of old, but can he be a dependable guy this year? It’s about a 50/50 deal with him. He could easily just scatter 25 or games across this year. Lastly, RHJ has talent and should get time, but will that translate to success in here? Time will tell. Super high ceiling with this team, super low floor as well. Harden is as sure of a bet as anything, but the key to this team is its guys below him carrying their weight. Time will tell.
5. Houston Rockets
Super bad team right now, but Steph Curry is god so it is okay. The team is definitely in rebuild mode and Zoolander is still kinda feeling out the league. One thing the Rockets need to do is work on acquiring some depth. Right now it’s one of those bad situations where there is a little cap, but also little depth. I think the drafting of Harrison Barnes was a head scratcher for sure. Yes, he may be ticketed for a higher usage and more minutes, but I don’t think hes very good at basketball. We’ll see though. Horford and Ginobli are also two huge contracts holds, but are both older and on the back end of their career, for a rebuilding team holding onto them doesn’t make a ton sense. That being said there are pieces, and if he can move guys like Horford and Manu for younger pieces this could be a team to watch. For now this team will be in the bottom all year long until they work on depth.
East
Atlantic
1. Boston Celtics
This is kinda a weird division a lot of these are super close, so one injury here, or a break out there and this division could finish completely different. As of now I have Yacob and his Celtics in first. The strength of this team is no doubt its depth. YAcob showed his savviness throughout the draft. Iman Shumpert as late as he went was a steal. He was one of the few if not the only player who had a guaranteed role still available. He may be a tad expensive, but Iman is one JR Smith injury away from huge minutes. The C's have one of the more interesting/fun front courts in the league. First we have big Nikola Jokic, Yacob's pride a joy. I'm a huge fan of him, and the rate of which he improved during last year was insane. He showed his stuff in the olympics and could be one of the best big men in the league soon. He has excellent passing for his size, a polished post game, and can even stretch the floor a bit. If he can chill a bit on the fouling this guy will be a stud this year. Then we have Joakim. The guy was an MVP candidate not too long ago. With Zinger there, and Melo playing the 4 in small ball situations, there should be plenty of space for Joakim to average 4-5 assists with double digit boards. He's in a great situation to bounce back. Bender is another really fun player. I love his upside, but he still looked really raw during summer league. But so did Zinger, who had a massive year. He'll have an adjusting period, but i think he'll be a good player in this league. Only time will tell if that production starts his rookie year. Rounding out the front court we have Festus. A lot of people hated the pick, but i saw enough from him to like him as a player. What i don't like his his situation. The Blazers have a million players at every position besides point. Festus is by far and away the best rim protector on the team, and if he can earn Stotts trust could be a sneaky good pick.
2. Toronto Raptors
I got the Raps just ahead of the Knicks here, and again the theme seems to be depth. Really there are not guaranteed studs on this team except for Draymond, but there are quality pieces up and down the lineup. Draymond is an interesting case, it seems like Perk has been down to move him for a while but no real deal has come up. In terms of his production I think a lot of people think it’s gonna fly down. I honestly think it’ll be around the same, yes his scoring might go down a tad, but it was never really that high, his shots should be easier, he should have even more opportunities for assists, and boards should be about the same. The guy will still be a stud. Gallo and Booker are two guys I really like, Booker has the potential to be a superstar in this league and kid is 19. He still may not be at the point of being a 30+ scorer but he’ll get there eventually. Gallo is another one of those score first wings, that is probably better in real life than in here, but he’s a good guy to build on and should have a good year. The rest of the squad isn’t super flashy, but its enough to get the job done. Bogut should see good minutes in Dallas, he’ll protect the paint and gobble boards. Gortat is as solid as they come, and especially with Mahinmi going down, he should have all the minutes he can handle. One last guy I really like on this team is Rozier. He may not get a ton of minutes but I really like this guy’s game and makeup. Maybe I don’t watch enough but It seems to me from when I watch the c’s that this guy should be playing over Smart.
3. New York Knicks
Tyler got scared out West so he decided to come out East. The team took a big hit when Middleton went down for the year, Middleton was primed for a big year, and it honestly just sucks he went down. Jrue Holiday going down is really tough two, so that’s two of Ty’s top guys down and the season hasn’t even started yet. John Wall is a top 5 point guard in the league. He’s generally pretty efficient scoring, is an assist and steals machine, and is a good rebounder for a point guard. He will be the Knicks franchise guard for as long as this league is a live. Ty was able to make a couple really sneaky pick-ups as well. Mirza I think is in for a solid year off the bench in Milwaukee. J Green has every opportunity to become the staple at power forward next to Gasol in Memphis. Robin Lopez is as solid as they come and should do just as expected in Chicago this year. Turner got paid in Portland for a reason and should honestly be in a similar role to the one he was in Boston. Warren and Stanley are both young wings, who should continue to grow and see more minutes this year. It’ll be interesting for the Knicks management to see how much they develop this year. Overall this is still a very solid team, with playoff aspirations. With Middleton this team is the best in the division IMO, with Jrue and Middleton it a competitor for a title. If Tyler can pull a move to acquire some win now pieces he could still be in for something but for now, this team may sneak into the playoffs, but a title is out of reach.
4. Philadelphia 76ers
The 76ers started off the draft really well for me. Kristaps is one of my favorite players in the league already, and has an absolutely insane ceiling. While I am not the highest on Druss, I have to admit he is talented and is in a good situation to succeed. Those two already form a really awesome foundation to build on. The 76ers I think then got one of the bigger steals in the draft with Joel Embiid. Joel is injury prone, yes. But he’s immensely talented, and an absolute freak size wise. If he can start to gain momentum and play consistently throughout the season this guy literally could be the next great big man in the league. These three
5. Brooklyn Nets
Nets seems to be the guy people love to shit on hahaha. That being said I’m a big fan of the squad. Yes, some people may say when you get a supposed even playing field with a draft you should go for it. But some people really enjoy rebuilding from the bottom up with young guys and seeing them develop. There is something really satisfying about it when done correctly. I think this team has a really good chance to do that. This team is loaded with young talent. Even with Powell and J-Rich gone the team still boasts young guys like Jabari, Hezonja, Mudiay, and Valentine. Still this isn’t going to win anything anytime soon, but the talent is there. It is always fun especially as the season wears on and young guys get more and more opportunities. Josh has a lot of situations to monitor. Again a lot of talent, but nowhere near ready. The Nets still be a fun team to watch though.
1. Chicago Bulls
I can pretty confidently say the Bulls should win this division they’re deep at every position beside point guard, and if they find a PG watch out. The core of this team is Whiteside and LMA. Whiteside should be locked in for a monster year. He’s a monster on the boards and blocking shots, and should get more opportunity to score this year. LMA is interesting. Will he take a step forward in terms of offensive production or will it continue run through Leonard while the others mix in. LMA is capable of having the offense through and we’ll see how that goes this year. The Bulls have solid role players around the two with guys like Niko, Demarre, and Randle. Niko isn’t very good imo but hes one of the few guys on the Bulls that can should the three ball, he should get time. Randle is awesome. He should get all the minutes he can handle under Walton and is a double double threat every night. Vaughn is another interesting piece, he actually sucks a ton but there is nobody to play instead of him. Overall it’s a good team but it just doesn’t have enough for me to consider it a title contender. Talent is there, but I just don’t feel like theres quite enough just in terms of players to win at the end.
2. Indiana Pacers
This one is close but im going Pacers just above the Bucks. I’m going Pacers for one reason and that is Russell Westbrook. Im personally not a big fan of the guy, but the guy’s usage this year is going to be absolutely unreal he may set the record for triple doubles in a season and is going have so many games with insane state lines. The rest of the team isn’t great, but there is depth at all positions. Bismack is an interesting position and if anyone were to get hurt he will be a machine this year. Noel should get a nice little bump with Simmons being out. Bledsoe is still an absolute stud and I think is being slept on a little bit this year. And Wes and Allen both aren’t the most efficient and won’t be huge in this league, but are contributors none the less. This was one of the more surprising teams for me when I was going through excel. John has put together a sneaky good team and it actually might be better than Charlie’s Bulls. Westy is gonna lead this team the playoffs no doubt, and how far they go once they get there is yet to be determined.
3. Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks slide right in at 3. But don’t get me wrong this is a very solid team. The team is led by future hall of famer Chris Paul. He’s strting to get to the back half of his career but he should still be good a double double this year, with around 20 points. After CP3 comes one of the bigger upside players in the league in Giannis Antetekounpo. After a move to point guard he was absolutely unreal and tore up the league. He has crazy potential and if he can play the way he did last year, CP3 and him will be an awesome duo all year. After these two the team drops off pretty hard. Tyson is decent but should be in a time share with Len. DMO stll doesn’t look like he’ll have a role anywhere. Tyler Johnson is good but idk if he is worth the money. Harris is good, but he’s better in real life than here. Lastly I really like Crowder but again not sure if he alone makes up enough for the lack of depth outside of the to studs. This will be a good team I can’t see it being more than a backend playoff squad. The potential is there with two top 15-20 guys, if a supporting cast can be brought in the team could be dangerous.
4. Detroit Pistons
Mervin had a surprisingly disappointing draft. He gets shit on a lot but he honestly know his stuff. Kawahi is one of the best young players in the league, and that was a great start. But i felt like he went young a little too quick. I didn't like the Kevin Love pick as early as he took him. He's expensive and will never be more than the third option in Cleveland. There are plenty of guys i like, Bojan looked good in the Olympics, Doug is a great shooter, Lavine is sick, Sabonis has a ton of potential. But i just don't see any of these guys really doing anything to push this team this year. If everybody develops the way they could this might be a good team in the future, but there is just something lackluster about this team. IT reminds of those teams in 25 that would have a new owner every couple weeks. Some good pieces, but a perenial 3-10 team every year. I know Merv has the knowledge, he's just gotta put it to use. And who know i could end up being wrong and this team turns out to be nice, but i just don't see it right now. Decent players but won't sniff the playoffs.
5. Clevland Cavs
The guards are the strength of the team, and unlike last league the worst team in the league still has talent and pieces. Kyrie is proving himself to be a top player in this league. Unfortunately his game isn't really made for this league. He has yet to go a full season scoring efficiently the whole way through. He also doesn't rack up as many assists as the top point guards do. That being said, he is still making a case to be an elite point guard, and is a great building block. Jamaal Murray and Buddy Hield are also two very interesting pieces. Again, both players games aren't exactly made for this league, Murray is a pure shooter but will have to become more of a creator if he wants to be elite in this league, with Mudiay that is unlikely. Hield flashed the ability to fill it up at OU, but it's going to be a lot more difficult in the pros. Either way it'll be interesting to see these two young guards develop this year. Down low there is some talent, but nothing really to write home about. Nance has flashed a lot of potential, but to be honest i don't see him being much more than a good role player that brings energy off the bench. Frye is probably a candidate to be dealt to a contender at the deadline. I'm a fan of Poetl, but i doubt he's used much the first couple years, although again i really liked what i saw from him at Utah.
The Cavs are obviously going to struggle this year, but i think management already know . If Hield and Murray don't have good showings though this team could be in trouble. Time will but Jon does have some work to do when it comes to building this franchise into a contender.
1. Atlanta Hawks
Good ol’ John will somehow make the ECF no matter where I put him on here. He does have a really solid team though. Spearheaded by the two Olympians DJ and Lowry, the Hawks have put together a solid squad. It is again a win now squad. I think the big key for this team is D-Rose. That is not really a good thing, but he is a good position to produce this year. If he can stay healthy (huge if) he could turn in a solid year. But I can also see him struggling early or going down and Jennings taking the job. He has a good group of guy’s around him and his role should be more defined as the second fiddle behind Melo. Zinger spaces the floor and Noah’s vision should help him as well. Ariza should continue and maybe even build upon his numbers in the Rocket’s new up temp system. Jack, Bayless, and Aldrich were also all great under the radar picks for me. If Thibds takes a liking to Cole early I can see him starting next to Towns. Aldrich had a really solid last year off the bench for LA the Clipps last year. Jack is a solid pro who has had success everywhere he goes. He should settle into a role behind Schroeder and should earn coach Bud’s and the team’s trust off the bat. Bayless also has a shot to finally be a starter in this league. He was a really solid get for Hawks. Overall a very solid team, but nothing special, will have to continue to build if a title is in the cards for Hawks this year.
2. Miami Heat
Despite just switching to a new owner the Heat have a very solid team. I wasn't so sure about the Lou Williams pick, just seems like a pretty crowded back court, and at 7 mill he was just a guy i would have stayed away from. I did like Mario has a late round flier for cheap, as he has proven he can be an everyday contributor and should probably latch on to a contender eventually. Oladipo was also a steal, with the trade to OKC there should be plenty of shots for Victor. We could see Victor at 35 minutes and take that next step if Billy lets him go.
D-Wade and Lebron are reunited in Miami. D-wade will be very interesting this year. Any year now D-wade will have that Kobe type year where the production just drops. But with him locked in as the starting SG in his home town i don't think this is the year. LeBron isn't getting any younger either but should still be locked in for another elite year of production. Marvin Williams was a sneaky good pick, he flew under the radar last year but had a really solid year and is on a pretty reasonable contract.
Pau rounds out the veteran superstar lineup. Pau had another really good year last year and seems to have a lot left in the tank. Thon and Ellenson both have a lot of potential, but i'm not sure either are ready to contribute yet, especially Ellenson. Thon is interesting though, and i could see him starting to have a role as the season progresses. Taking a flier on Beasley was something i liked as well. He played well last year, and could end up thriving in D'antoni's system.
Bryan has put together a solid team. His window for a title is probably this and next with Pau and Dwade towards the end of their career. But he also has guys like Ellenson and Thon who will be a big part of the franhise moving forward. He is however over cap and will have to deal with that rather soon. The Heat could take a hit overall if they have to deal one of their stars. Overall i like this team, and the Heat should be a playoff team, but i don't think they quite have the depth to make a title run right now.
3. Washington Wizards
Wizards being 3rd in this division shows just how good this division is. Reggie JAckson being out really is a huge hit, this is definitely still a playoff team but with him being out the range from where they could be whether it be winning the division and a top 3 seed or sneaking in on the back end. I really like the center tandem in Boogie and Dwight. Both have the potential to be headcases but both are extremely talented. Joerger is a good coach and i feel like he will get the most out of his stud big man. He should have an extremely high usage and should be in for a monster year. I think Dwight is actually in for a nice bounce back year. Houston just wasn't a good place for him. Harden is a ball dominant guy, and i think Atlanta's system in general is just a lot more fluid. The days of him demanding the ball in the post are long gone, but he should be good for 15-18 points a game with double digit boards. Guys like Porter, Lee, and Chandler are all sneaky. Porter is a guy i really like. It seems like Brooks really believes in him and if he gets the minutes he really can fill it up and do it all. Lee and Chandler are both in spots i like this year as well. This is a very good team. But Jackson being out may cost a game or two. They have a medium amount of depth, but if the injury bug comes biting this team i dont think has enough to make it. I like this team as a 4-8 seed, and if a couple moves are made they could jump both Miami and Atlanta.
4. Orlando Magic
Perry! Perry loved his bigs in this draft. He got one of my favorites in Myles Turner. I absolutely love, love, love Myles Turner. I really don't think Al Jeff hurts him too much. There will be inconsistency but overall i think he soldifies himself as an up and coming all star. Hayward being out is gonna hurt a little, but either way i don't think this was really challenging for a playoff spot. It will be interesting to see how Kanter plays out this year. Do the Thunder see him as a spark off the bench or a guy that can work his way into the starting lineup. He's always pretty efficient offensively and his flaws in real life on defense don't effect him here. JV is another really interesting big, he has he potential to be very good but this is kind of a do or die year for him, and he's being hovering around this level for awhile. If i'm Casey i make a concerted effort to get him touches this year. Evan Fournier is another i love. He is a little to overpriced for me, but the dude is a stud. He knocks the shot down can get to the rim, and be a decent distributor. It'll be interesting to see if he can take that next step to like an All-star and not just a good player. This is a really solid team, and while i'm not sure it's a playoff team yet, this is going to be a fun team to keep track of this year. Playoff bound no doubt for Perry in the next two years.
5. Charlotte Hornets
Again probably the best 5th place team in a division. Jahlil, Ingram, and Jaylen are an awesome trio that should be super trio for years to come. The team is still far away from competing but the pieces are in place to eventually be a very good team. Eric Gordon has looked very good this pre-season but you know when the season roles around he'll find some way to get injured. Thad Young is basically in the same sort of situation as he was last year, so he should be solid. Overall this team just doesn't have enough depth to compete. There is a great young core to build around, but this will be a rebuilding year for the Hornets.
Eastern Conference Playoff Predictions
8 Washington Wizards
1 Atlanta Hawks
5 Miami Heat
4 Toronto Raptors
6 Indiana Pacers
3 Chicago Bulls
7 New York Knicks
2 Boston Celtics
1. Atlanta Hawks
4. Toronto Raptors
3. Chicago Bulls
2. Boston Celtics
1. Atlanta Hawks
3. Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls
Western Conference Playoff Previews
1. Denver Nuggets
8. OKC Thunder
4. Utah Jazz
5. Sacramento Kings
3. Memphis Grizzlies
6. SA Spurs
2. Golden State Warriors
7. New Orleans Pelicans
1. Denver Nuggets
4. Utah Jazz
6. SA Spurs
2. Golden State Warriors
4. Utah Jazz
2. Golden State Warriors
4. Utah Jazz
Chicago Bulls > Utah Jazz
I have a funny feeling despite Charlie not ever winning a title in 25, he flukely wins a title this year. Let's see how it goes.
