The lockout is over and the NBA will return Christmas Day. After a very busy off season where we saw CP3 traded and Lamar Odom basically given away, here’s how I think the teams stack up.
Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder hold the top spot in the west with their core of young players which includes the best scorer in the league in Kevin Durant. Russell Westbrook is one of the best point guards in the west, and James Harden is on the brink of a break-out season. The key for the Thunder to make a run to the finals will be if Westbrook can change his shoot first mentality, and take on the role of a true point guard.
2. Dallas Mavericks
Any chance the Mavericks had of defending their title significantly decreased when they failed to re-sign Tyson Chandler and watched him go to the New York Knicks. JJ Barea, another key piece of their title team left for the lowly Minnesota Timberwolves, while Caron Butler left for “Lob City”, leaving their roster with many holes. They acquired Lamar Odom in a mind boggling trade with the Lakers and signed veteran Vince Carter to go along with aging Nowitzki, Terry, Marion, and Kidd. They didn’t get any younger, and they would have to avoid the injury bug to make it out of the west.
3. Los Angeles Lakers
Do not count out a team that has Kobe Bryant on its roster. With all the drama of the nixed CP3 trade, Kobe’s divorce, and giving away their best player to the team that swept them from the playoffs the previous season, the Lakers are perennial contenders and this season won’t be any different. Kobe has expressed his anger and frustration with Laker front office in various interviews, and there is one thing you must never do – bet against an angry Kobe. The window of opportunity for Bryant and the Lakers is closing and Bryant wants to prove he has more left in the tank to capture his 6th title, tying Michael Jordan. And Laker fan or not, who isn’t looking forward to hearing the PA announcer yell out “Metta World Peace” for the first time?
4. LOB CITY! (Los Angeles Clippers)
The Clippers are relevant! How long have we waited to hear that? Donald Sterling finally decided he was tired of watching his team be yearly cellar dwellers by trading for Chris Paul and changing the culture of the franchise. Pairing up Chris Paul with Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan makes the new look Clippers one of the most exciting, young teams in the league. The best show in LA is no longer in purple and gold.
5. Memphis Grizzlies
Last season the Grizzlies shocked the NBA world when they upset the top seeded Spurs in the playoffs. This year they won’t sneak up on anybody. Re-signing Marc Gasol to play alongside a resurging Zack Randolph, and a recovered Rudy Gay, it gives the Grizz one of the best front lines in the west – if not the league.
6. San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs will finish in the middle of the pack in the western conference this year. However, if their big 3 in Duncan, Ginobili, and Parker can stay healthy, they have a load of experience that could payoff down the stretch as they try and make one last run at a championship as the Duncan era comes to an end.
7. Denver Nuggets
Denver’s #1 priority in the offseason was to re-sign Nene, and they got the job done. However, they gave him a 5-year $65 million contract, superstar money for an above average player. The Nugget’s next move was better, re-signing under-the-radar guard Aaron Afflalo to sure up their defense and give them another outside shooter to help fill the void J.R. Smith left when he ran off to play in China. Also don’t sleep on Danilo Gallinari, probably the most underrated player in the league.
8. Portland Trailblazers
The Bad Luck Blazers. Brandon Roy, the face of the franchise retires because of bad knees, Greg Oden is a total bust, and LaMarcus Aldridge had a scare with a heart condition. After all that I think the Blazers have enough to squeak into the playoffs with solid players such as Wesley Matthews, Raymond Felton, and Nicolas Batum.
9. Houston Rockets
The Rockets tried to get Pau Gasol from the Lakers in the trade that was denied by commissioner David Stern. Even if they were successful in acquiring Gasol, that would not have put them over the hump and into contention in the west. In my opinon it would have made them worse by giving up one of the best scorers no one talks about, Kevin Martin, who averaged 23.4 PPG last season, and a solid big man Luis Scola whose 18.3 PPG and 8.2 RPG are virtually the same as Gasol’s 18.8 PPG and 9.1 RPG, but comes a lot cheaper.
10. Utah Jazz
The wild card team of the west is the Utah Jazz. Their youth is their biggest asset, and yet, their biggest problem. No one knows what rookies Enes Kanter and Alec Burks will bring to the table. Gordon Heyward has shown signs of breaking out, and Derrick Favors could possibly be the most improved player in the NBA. Utah has a real chance to make the playoffs, but if it doesn’t come together they could also be in for a very long, rebuilding year.
11. Phoenix Suns
They have Steve Nash…that’s all you need to know about the Suns. A lot of contenders could use him (Knicks, Heat, Lakers) if Phoenix would be willing to part ways with its aging point guard.
12. New Orleans Hornets
Everyone is talking about the Hornets being the worst team in the west, which I don’t understand. Don’t get me wrong though, they won’t even sniff the playoffs. Losing Chris Paul was inevitable, but they didn’t lose him and get nothing in return. Eric Gordon is an up and coming, young point guard who was a star for the Clips. You pair him with Al-Farouq Aminu, Emeka Okafor, and Trevor Ariza and that gives you some solid players. They also received Minnesota’s first round pick in the Paul deal that looks like it will be a top 3 pick, which gives New Orleans a chance to be competitive in the future.
13. Sacramento Kings
JIMMER MANIA! Fredette will be by far the most watched and anticipated rookie this season, and has shown so far in the pre-season that his game will have no trouble transferring over to the pro game. The Jimmer dominated the ball at BYU, and it looks like he will have the same chance in Sacramento as they have talked about starting him at point guard and moving Tyreke Evans to the 2-guard. Ok so maybe he won’t dominate the ball, but at least it would be in his hands every possession instead of getting lost in the black hole that is Evans and DeMarcus Cousins. Sac-Town will score a lot of points, but they will have a hard time stopping other teams.
14. Golden State Warriors
I wanted to put Golden State higher, but then the Monta Ellis drama surfaced. What’s with athletes taking pictures of their junk and sending it to team employees?? If I’m Stephen Curry I’m out of Golden State the first chance I get.
15. Minnesota Timberwolves
The most exciting, bad team in the league. It will be interesting to see if Ricky Rubio can live up to the hype, and help Kevin Love turn things around in Minnesota. My guess is no, but you never know.
Eastern Conference
1. Miami Heat
After last season’s disappointing finals loss to the Dallas Mavericks in 6 games, the Miami Heat will begin the season on Christmas Day in Dallas where they will watch as the Mavs raise their championship banner – as if they needed anymore motivation for this season. LeBron is coming into the season with a whole new attitude, shedding himself of the villain image that he admittedly embraced last year, which affected the way he played in a big way. With the addition of veteran Shane Battier to go alongside perennial MVP candidate Dwyane Wade, and the reincarnated dinosaur Chris Bosh, it’s hard to see anyone in the east stopping Miami…
2. Chicago Bulls
…Except for the Bulls. Expect big things this year and at least for 5 more years from Derrick Rose and company as they just locked up their All-Star and league MVP for $90+ million. The only thing that held the Bulls back from getting to the finals last year (besides Carlos Boozer) was lack of a 2-guard to complement Rose on the floor. The perfect player would have been Aaron Afflalo from Denver, but he decided to resign and stay in the mile high city, so Chicago filled the void with former Detroit Piston guard Richard Hamilton. Rip will be a huge upgrade over Keith Bogans who averages just 6.7 PPG for his career compared to Hamilton’s 17.7. After a frustrating year in Detroit, expect a big improvement in Hamilton this season, and don’t be surprised if they dethrone the Heat and represent the East in the finals
3. New York Knicks
The Knicks will sport the best front court in the league with Carmelo Anthony, Amare Stoudemire, and newly acquired Tyson Chandler. Their biggest question will be their guard play, and if Chandler can bring a defensive mindset to a team that’s last priority last year was defense.
4. Boston Celtics
With up and coming young teams in the East, this could be the last chance for the aging Boston Celtics. It’s hard to accept that players like Garnett, Allen, and Pierce – all players I grew up watching – are now considered old, but it’s true that their best years are behind them. Experience wins in the playoffs and if they can stay healthy Boston is more than capable of making one last playoff run.
5. Orlando Magic
This Magic’s spot at #5 is pending where Dwight Howard ends up. If he leaves, they would rank much lower, but regardless I don’t see them going anywhere this year. For everyone that was upset when the Jazz traded Deron Williams to the Nets last season, just look at the drama that has surrounded Dwight Howard and Chris Paul.
6. Indiana Pacers
The up-and-coming team of the east are the Pacers. Signing David West was huge, and there are talks that they could end up with Memphis guard O.J. Mayo to bolster their offensive attack and complement Danny Granger. This team gave Chicago all it could handle last year in the playoffs, and all they have done since then is get better.
7. Atlanta Hawks
Joe Johnson’s $100+ million contract is killing this team, and it’s a contract he will never live up to. They can’t afford to get better, and they just lost Jamal Crawford to the Trailblazers. With a top heavy eastern conference, the Hawks will make the playoffs, but that’s as far as they’ll get.
8. Philadelphia 76ers
After a disappointing rookie season, Evan Turner is set to rebound in his sophomore season. With Elton Brand, Lou Williams, and Thaddeus Young, the sixers should have enough talent to capture the last playoff spot in the east. They also have a valuable trade asset in Andre Iguodala, who has run his course in Philly.
9. Milwaukee Bucks
Brandon Jennings is capable of going for 40 on any given night…the only problem is those nights are few and far between. More consistent play from Jennings and Andrew Bogut’s health is the key to Milwaukee’s success.
10. Washington Wizards
Get ready for a break out year from former #1 pick John Wall. There’s nothing about this guy that you can’t like….well maybe that dumb dance he named after himself…and that song – let me rephrase that – There’s nothing about his game that you can’t not like.
11. New Jersey Nets
The Nets had an opportunity to get back to being relevant, first with the acquisition of All-Star point guard Deron Williams. But now the crap has hit the fan. With the injury to center Brook Lopez, not only did the Nets lost their second best player, they also lost their bargaining chip to get Dwight Howard to New Jersey. The chances of D-Will signing long term in soon to be Brooklyn look more and more slim.
12. Detroit Pistons
13. Toronto Raptors
These teams have no chance.
14. Cleveland Cavaliers
It’s no secret that the Cavs are in full rebuilding mode. With #1 pick Kyrie Irving causing some excitement in Cleveland, they are still a few years away from contending.
15. Charlotte Bobcats
The team is run by the greatest player to ever live…to bad that doesn’t help this terrible team. Kemba Walker is the lone bright spot and will be fun to watch. The rest…painful.
MVP
Kevin Durant – Oklahoma City Thunder
Defensive POY
Dwight Howard – Orlando Magic…or wherever he ends up
Coach of the Year
Scott Brooks – Oklahoma City Thunder
Sixth Man of the Year
Jamal Crawford – Portland Trailblazers
(only because I think Lamar Odom and James Harden will start by seasons end)
Most Improved POY TIE
John Wall – Washington Wizards
Derrick Favors – Utah Jazz
Rookie of the Year
Derrick Williams – Minnesota Timberwolves
(I don’t want to say Jimmer so I can pull a Rick Reilly when he does win it)
Eastern Conference Finals
Chicago Bulls over Miami Heat
Western Conference Finals
Oklahoma City Thunder over Dallas Mavericks
NBA Finals
Oklahoma City Thunder over Chicago Bulls
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