Well guys, a new NBA season is starting and it’s a very exciting time of year, as the NBA regular season tip-off is fast approaching! On Tuesday October 28th, 30 teams will begin the gruelling 82-game marathon to eventually be whittled down to 16 playoff teams, who will then battle it out to decide who will be crowned 2015 NBA Champion!!! There is nothing in sports quite like the thrill and exhilaration of a drama-filled, action-packed professional basketball post-season playoff run -and I will endeavour to scribble down a few thoughts of my own as to how it may play out and what’s been happening in the off-season.
Today, with the help of our legendary NBA expert P Andrew, we are going to go through both NBA conferences and reveal what to expect, which teams to bet on, what to avoid, and how you can succeed with ZCode NBA betting!
EASTERN CONFERENCE:
(teams listed in alphabetical order with last season’s record)
Atlanta Hawks (38-44) – Perennially one of those teams that is always better than average, but never quite good enough to advance far in the playoffs, which they almost always qualify for. I would expect much the same once again from the Hawks. They will likely finish somewhere just above the middle of the pack once more and secure a play-off berth somewhere in the lower half of the Eastern seedings. Whilst failing to make any significant off-season moves, they return a fully-intact solid core of Jeff Teague, Paul Millsap, Kyle Korver, and DeMarre Carroll – and will clearly be boosted by the return from injury of skilled centre Al Horford. Useful additions of both Kent Bazemore and Thabo Sefolosha (formerly of the Thunder) will help but will probably not be enough to push this squad too deep into the playoffs. This team just cant seem to attract star players or big names and in my estimation will remain in the same dreaded cycle they have been stuck in for years.
Boston Celtics (25-57) – Coming off an injury-plagued horror season last year, the Celtics will be hoping for better this season, and I can see them making a small step up this year perhaps – if they can stay healthy. Not a great start with Rajon Rondo having broken a hand already and expected to miss the start of the season after sitting out most of last year. In the draft, they added solid point/combo guard Marcus Smart out of Oklahoma State and they have some nice pieces, without really blowing you away, in the likes of Avery Bradley, Brandon Bass, Jared Sullinger, and Marcus Thornton. They also added to their depth in the off-season by picking up centre Tyler Zeller and swing-man Evan Turner. It’s likely that the best case scenario for this squad will be battling it out for one of the last playoff spots (of 8) in the East – and if they should get there, don’t expect them to go very far at all. Much depends on the health and contribution of by far and away their best player, Rajon Rondo.
Brooklyn Nets (44-38) – Last year, high hopes for this big-spending squad were met with eventual disappointment and a result that represented a massive underachievement in their eyes, as they were easily bundled out of the playoffs 4-1 by the Miami Heat. Now they have lost Paul Pierce and their already ancient remaining core is another year older. They have the talent to be competitive in the East for sure, but I can’t see a team led by Deron Williams as marquee player ever going all the way. He is far too inconsistent, and lacks heart and a killer instinct in my eyes. As he goes so will they go. Definitely should be in the mix for a lower/middle seeding playoff spot with the talent they have, but way too many holes and question marks to expect big things from this team.
Chicago Bulls (48-34) – Can Derrick Rose play the full season and remain healthy??? This is the million dollar question in Chicago, and the driving force behind how far the Bulls can go this year. There is a huge opportunity for this squad to go deep in the playoffs if the former league MVP can stay on court and display the insane, explosive athleticism and slashing, scoring skill-set that he became known for before the tragic injury/injuries. Bulls added super-skilled, cerebral big man Pau Gasol in the off-season to round out an outstanding front-court of Gasol, Joakim Noah, and Taj Gibson. Gasol would be considered one of the better signings of the off-season and possibly a game-changer in the contest for eastern supremacy. Bulls maintain one of the stingiest, most hard-nosed defenses in the league – master-minded by defensive genius head coach Tom Thibodeau – and also have a bit of shooting in Mike Dunleavy, Kirk Hinrich and promising rookie Doug Mcdermott (if he can find his feet in the league and clock some meaningful minutes) to help space the floor for Rose and Gasol. We know that rebounding and toughness has never been a problem for this team. Depending on how well they mesh, this could be a big year for the Bulls.
Charlotte Hornets (43-39) – This team shocked the hell out of me last year, improving from one of the worst 2-year stretches by a team in NBA history to actually qualifying for the 7th spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs, where they were quickly dismissed by the Miami Heat. I can see them maintaining this season and again challenging for one of those lower-seeded playoff spots. They have a solid core of Al Jefferson, Gerald Henderson, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, and live-wire point guard Kemba Walker… also added nut-job swing-man Lance “let me whisper sweet nothings in your ear” Stephenson and Marvin Williams, which can only help a woefully weak, thin bench over the course of a long season. I also loooove the rookie they picked – Noah Vonleh – a versatile, smooth big man that might turn out to be a real sleeper pick of this draft class. In the end, they don’t really quite have the weapons to make serious noise come playoff time, but should be satisfied if they can build on last year by getting there once more.
Cleveland Cavaliers (33-49) – Well,the Cavaliers clearly made by faaaar the biggest splash in the off-season, completely over-hauling their roster and going from strugglers to legitimate Eastern Conference favourites in a matter of a few weeks. In case you’ve been living under a rock, a guy called Lebron James (only the greatest basketball player alive today) decided to return home to his former team – with whom he started out with as a rookie – after a 4-year run in Miami, during which time he won 2 titles. He says it is bigger than him and bigger than basketball to try and bring a pro championship to the city of Cleveland, close to his home-town Akron, and is his sole objective now with his new crew. Once signed, Lebron went about luring all-star power forward Kevin Love to Cleveland as well and eventually succeeded. Now the Cavaliers boast one of the very best trios of players that any team in the league can offer. Kyrie Irving is a burgeoning, blossoming superstar and show-cased his ever improving game and maturity by starring at the recent basketball world champs. Love seems like the absolute perfect fit for Lebron’s game: his relentless pursuit of rebounds and ability to shoot from distance complementing what James can offer with his all-court, multi-faceted game. This team should be able to pile up points by the truck-load, but the question is – what can they do at the defensive end?? Can Lebron transform a bunch of poor defenders by reputation into a team who can hang their hat on getting stops when necessary the way that Garnett once did in Boston?? Only time will tell. There are still more than a few question marks surrounding this group with a first year NBA head coach in David Blatt and apprehension over how well and how quickly a team with soooo many new and dominant pieces can gel. (remember the growing pains experienced by “super teams” such as Miami when they first came together – and the Lakers once Dwight joined??) Chemistry is HUGE in basketball; there is only one ball and a lot of egos but, whatever the case, there is more than enough talent on this roster to compete for the Eastern Conference title. Don’t believe the crap Lebron has been talking for a second about “It’ll take a lot of time and patience” … He’s all about his business and serious about winning a championship as soon as possible!!! Expect a lot of over-inflated spreads against them. They could be great to fade early as they try to gel and find chemistry together.
Detroit Pistons (29-53) – I felt that the Pistons under-achieved a bit last season and should have gotten within sniffing distance at least of 8th spot in the playoff race. They have decent talent in spots, but just not the type of explosive, dynamic, multi-skilled talent that tends to take you far in the modern NBA. If anyone can turn this sorry-ass team around, it will be screaming Ron Jeremy look-alike Stan Van Gundy as he returns to a head coaching role for the first time since the debacle in Orlando. But even for him, I think it’s a tall task – they just don’t quite have the “horses” to run with the better squads in the league. On paper, they have one of the nicest frontcourts going round in Andre Drummond, Greg Monroe and head-case Josh Smith, but it just doesnt translate to much success on court. Depth on the bench is sadly lacking. Shaping up to be another fairly tough one in Motown City, methinks.
Indiana Pacers (56-26) – Last season the Pacers experienced one of the most horrific meltdowns ever seen in sport over the span of a season. They started out hot in pursuit of the #1 seed in the East so that they could grab homecourt advantage should they meet Miami in the playoffs. Well meet them they did and they were summarily dismissed by the defending champs. It looked like Indiana blew their wad early and expended way too much physical and emotional energy in the early going, chasing that top record. This mental implosion had many people posing serious questions about the harmony and cohesion of the group – and those questions remain. It looks like it could be a very tough season for this club after losing their best player, Paul George, to a horrendous leg injury during a USA pre-world champs game, and also losing their next best creative player/scorer in Lance Stephenson, who signed with the Hornets. They now look woefully short on scoring/shooting and had already struggled in that regard even with a full complement. The only pick-up of any note for them this off-season was combo guard Rodney Stuckey… and overall this team just does not look to have the scoring punch nor depth to seriously challenge come playoff time, despite their defensive strength and solid coaching. I expect them to definitely regress to the middle of the pack in the playoff picture, or perhaps even worse.
Miami Heat (54-28) – Well, obviously things will be rather different in South Beach now that star player Lebron James has skipped town, leaving newly re-signed Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade to carry the load with much-reduced expectations. This team will NOT be favored to win a title, but I can honestly see them remaining competitive in this conference. They made a few okay additions through draft and free agency; if Wade can stay on court most of the season (a BIG “if”), then I see them playing with a bit of a chip on their shoulder and trying to prove that they are more than just a one-man show. It would not surprise me at all to see the Heat competing for a #4 or #5 seed come playoff time, perhaps even better if they maximize what they have with some good luck and good coaching.
Milwaukee Brewers (15-67) – An atrocious team that I would expect to remain atrocious for at least another season; this roster is packed with fringe NBA talents and underachievers, and unfortunately in this town there has been a losing mentality for far too long. It infects players until they eventually stop playing hard and wish they were somewhere else. Consensus says that their #1 draft pick Jabari Parker is the most NBA-ready player in the draft. He should contribute immediately, given what he’s shown in pre-season and in college. It will likely be a long year for him and his team-mates, however, as they finish outside the playoff picture looking in.
New York Knicks (37-45) – The Knicks now have the winningest coach in NBA history, Phil Jackson, as their president – and one of his former players, Derek Fisher, as head coach… which might make for an “interesting” year ahead as players learn a new system and ethos. But in the end, I don’t see enough talent around Carmelo Anthony to make serious noise at the business end of the season. This club is still biding its time and stacking chips to make a run at a big-name free agent signing in the future and wouldn’t seriously entertain thoughts of going deep in the playoffs if they were to get there. You look at the roster and it’s just a bunch of old guys, injured guys, malcontents, head-cases and underachievers.But, as always, it will be fun watching a newly slimmed-down Carmelo rack up points. It just might not add up to much as i can see the Knicks finishing around the same mark as last season, if not worse.
Orlando Magic (23-59) – Another tough year probably lies ahead for this hard-working but over-matched group. Most could be considered border-line NBA talent at best and although they can upset any team on their night, particularly at home, they generally will not frighten anyone over the long run. I will be fairly shocked if they can even sniff the playoffs. Aside from Victor Oladipo, Tobias Harris, and Nikola Vucevic, there is not much to be excited about in terms of quality and consistent productivity on a nightly basis. And even those guys struggle with consistency.
Philadelphia 76ers (19-63) – An historically bad season last year is likely to be followed by yet another stinker as year 20 of the 250-year rebuilding plan in Philly gets underway. This team hasn’t been relevant since Allen Iverson was “talkin bout practice!!” and may not be for a little while yet. One of the most transparent tanking jobs ever seen in sport last year resulted in mostly D-leaguers taking the court for the 76ers for much of the season – and they nearly set an all-time NBA losing streak record, just tying it in the end. They got the high draft pick they were after and used it on Kansas centre Joel Embiid, who has a serious foot injury and is a bit of a gamble in my mind regardless. Not sure how much we get to see him play this year, but the return from rehabilitation of previous lottery pick Nerlens Noel can only help as he has some real nice up-side as a defensive stopper and mobile, athletic big man. Michael Carter-Williams is the only other player of note here on this squad but he will not be enough to prevent this team from once again being total and utter garbage. Their goal for the season may be to win more games than the Bucks once again. No playoffs for the 76ers!!
Toronto Raptors (48-34) – Great year for the Raptors last season as they made it to the playoffs for the first time in a looong while and gave the more experienced Nets all they could handle before eventually losing in Game 7. Expect another solid campaign from this tough, hard-nosed squad that relies heavily on hustling and defending for the full 48, whilst the stellar back-court rotation of DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowrey provide much of the offense at the other end. The continued development/improvement of Jonas Valanciunas and addition of bench sniper Louis Williams should help this team maintain the momentum it built through 2013. They pulled off a lot of big surprise wins on the road versus far more fancied opponents – which said something for their togetherness and heart. Perhaps they over-achieved a tad and need to take a wee step back from that 48 win mark, but the talent still remains to be somewhere around there and in contention once again for a nice playoff seeding.
Washington Wizards (44-38) – This is most definitely a team on the rise and a lot of folks are taking notice; they will not slip under the radar any longer. After many years of mediocrity they finally slipped into the playoffs last year, dumping the more fancied Bulls out before succumbing to the Pacers. Led by one of the most promising, exciting back-courts in the league in John Wall and Bradley Beal, and with talent at every single position and a little depth on the bench also, there is no reason at all why this club can’t repeat last season’s effort and go one better even. Only lack of experience and coaching may hold them back – but even then they might have what it takes in a fairly shallow Eastern Conference to shake things up a bit once winning time arrives in April. Paul Pierce comes over from the Nets to address that experience issue and there is decent talent in the front court, mid-size spots, and at the point.The more I look at this team, the more I like them – and if they cant take a big step this year then I’m sure it’s not too far into their future.
SUMMARY: I hate to be boring and predictable, but in the end I must side with the pundits’ consensus in selecting Cleveland Cavaliers and Chicago Bulls as the stand-out teams/cream of the crop in the East – and if they can remain relatively injury-free then both should find a way to advance to the Eastern finals. Bulls, as always, will build their game around rebounding, one of the very best defenses in the league, and one of the very best coaches when it comes to that aspect of the game. Now with the new additions they have made, they should be able to move the ball a lot better and create and make shots, so that scoring won’t be the excruciating chore it often apppeared without Rose on the floor. Cavaliers will almost certainly have their growing pains and will take time to figure things out with so many new huge pieces coming together; this is only natural. But by the time playoffs roll around they should be fine – there is a lot of talent on this roster and that is what carries you when it all boils down to it. If this series were to eventuate, it’s a tough one to pick. I can see it going 6 games at least, maybe 7, and a battle of styles ensuing – Bulls with the big advantage in coaching, defense, and long term chemistry while the Cavaliers will boast more scoring power, depth and clutch players, which can decide games at that time of year. Anyhow, essentially this is a stars league and star power wins out more often than not so in their first year together I would lean slightly to Lebron’s new crew to escape from the East victorious… just.
Honorable mention goes to the Washington Wizards, Toronto Raptors, and Miami Heat, who all could surprise a few people again. And the Brooklyn Nets have enough to perhaps make the second round again, but probably no further. It’s hard to overlook a team with the pedigree of the Pacers, but they simply don’t appear to have the cattle to get it done. Just my hunch… I’ve been wrong before, it may well happen again… hehe.
WESTERN CONFERENCE:
Dallas Mavericks (49-33) – I hear a lot of talk about how the Mavericks made great improvements in the off-season and can take a big step forward this year in western playoff seedings, but I personally don’t really buy it. After adding a nice player in Chandler Parsons and returning Tyson Chandler – former championship winner with this very club – I feel that Dallas nonetheless will pretty much stand pat and be somewhere around the congested middle/lower half of the western playoff picture. Losing Jose Calderon, Samuel Dalembert, and Shawn Marion offsets to some degree what they were able to do in the break of seasons. In a brutally competitive division and conference I don’t see them improving the way many others do; but time will tell. As always they will be led by all-time great Dirk Nowitzki, who still has a bit left in the tank, and he will be ably supported by Monta Ellis and Parsons.They are one of many teams that could possibly spring a big surprise deep playoff run and I must say I do like the depth on the bench they have – but honestly I can’t see them getting past the 1st round of the playoffs should they qualify.
Denver Nuggets (36-46) – This club could potentially be one of the big improvers this season after a very disappointing return last year where they missed the playoffs, which was an aberration for a pretty steady team in recent years. Having uber-athletic (though bone-headed) centre JaVale McGee and forward Danilo Galinari both returning from injury is huge for this squad. Both missed all or most of last season and it ripped the heart out of the team’s aspirations. Traditionally one of the very toughest buildings to win in, expect Pepsi Centre to be returned to that status as a real fortress as teams are forced to get up and down or risk being run out of the building in the high altitude as the Nuggets throw a variety of versatile, athletic, skilled guys at them and rotate with the depth they have. Kenneth Faried can only be better for his outstanding world championship experience, and in Ty Lawson they have a jet who can dictate the tempo the way that this group needs. I think a minimum of 45 wins should be on the radar for these guys and that may or may not be enough to sneak into the playoffs. But regardless, once there unfortunately they are not really built for long term post-season success. This has always been the knock on them and will remain so as they do things by committee and without a real all-star level alpha male, a low post threat, or a high volume scorer. And, as many points as they can pile on, they tend to give up just as many… not really a formula for post season success.
Golden State Warriors (51-31) – Another quality team in a conference stacked with them. I would expect more of the same from them once more, perhaps scratching on the door of 50 wins again. Basically returning the same roster from last year with the only exceptions being a bit of added depth at guard spots with Leandro Barbosa and Shaun Livingston (a nice pick-up), they have more than enough talent to finish within the top 4 or 5 in the west if they maximise their potential, led by the well-known exploits of hot-shooting guard tandem Steph Curry and Klay Thompson and solid play at most other positions. The big unknown quantity for this team, though, will be the introduction of first year coach Steve Kerr. The former multiple championship winning role player will take over from Mark Jackson, who was rather surprisingly dumped after 2 largely successful seasons at the helm. It remains to be seen what Kerr can do. I definitely have my reservations as to whether he can be ruthless/brutal enough or if he instead buddy-buddies up to the players the way Jackson tended to. We saw just last season the type of growing pains that can be had in the recent player-to-coach transition with Jason Kidd, and it’s certainly a roll of the dice to say the least to go with a guy who has little to no previous NBA level coaching experience. A team that can potentially tip up some bigger name sides come playoff time, the Warriors can be dangerous if they get on a roll. It would not surprise me to see them advance to the second round of the playoffs if they really click – perhaps even further.
Houston Rockets (54-28) – This is a team that had a very poor off-season in my eyes, missing out on Chris Bosh who re-signed with Miami, and losing Chandler Parsons, Omer Asik and Jeremy Lin. That may not sound like a whole lot to your average layman, but it has really stripped them of depth, and Parsons was an unselfish “glue” guy that did lots of little, unseen things that no-one else wanted to. Dwight Howard to me is a complete flake who always seems to run, hide, and look for someone else to blame when the going gets tough. Any side that is relying on this dude as its primary marquee player is in trouble, I believe. Great physical specimen, dominant player when motivated no doubt… but a true mental midget. Picking up forward Trevor Ariza was a good move, but not enough to keep this ball-club anywhere near title contention. The burden on all-stars James Harden and Howard may prove to be too great with some of the scrubs around them. Things might go south quickly as those are the type of guys that will turn on you and go solo in a hurry if things don’t go well. I predict some sort of regression for this team – perhaps even enough to miss the playoffs altogether.
Los Angeles Clippers (57-25) – This is the year the Clippers really need to make a move in the post-season or serious questions may start to be asked – and moves made to alter the squad a little (or a lot). They are starting to build a reputation as regular season bully boys who can’t get over the hump at the pointy end of the season, despite the presence of high profile all-stars Blake Griffin, and Chris Paul, plus a more than capable cast of support guys like DeAndre Jordan, Jamal Crawford, and Matt Barnes. Still, there is something missing that prevents me from considering them true title contendors. They don’t have that look somehow. Good enough talent, coaching, and new ownership to start afresh after the nightmare that was last season – all these point to another successful year that should see this team right in the thick of it at the final stages… but I can see them probably coming up a bit short once more. This is their year to prove doubters like myself wrong, no excuses any more.
Los Angeles Lakers (27-55) – After one of the worst season results in Lakers’ living memory, there isn’t a whole lot of hope in Hollywood for much better in 2015, despite the return of living legend Kobe Bryant from injury (both achilles and knee). It’s so damned bizarre seeing them play second fiddle/baby brother to the traditionally moribund Clippers, but that’s the way it is these days, at least for the time being. It’s really tough to get much of a read on this group – in recent seasons the Lakers seem to have a funny knack of putting together an awfully peculiar bunch of mis-matched, under-appreciated/unwanted or under-talented fringe-type guys with the odd head-case thrown in for good measure. Again, looking over this current roster it’s tough to know what to expect, except to say that they certainly will not be an elite force in the West… but whether Kobe can single-handedly will them to compete for a playoff spot or not is anyone’s guess. It will be fun watching him go around for one of his last few seasons, in any case, and also to see if 257 year old Steve Nash can make it through a game… oh, and to see if Nick Young can avoid getting punched in the face by Kobe for any of his typical “knuckle-head” behaviour. That will actually be one of my personal highlights, come to think of it. Gotta love Swaggy P – hehehe. Prediction: no playoffs in Laker-land.
Memphis Grizzlies (50-32) – A super-solid ball-club should have another solid season based around the solid play of frontcourt beasts Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol… solid!!! First year coach Dave Joerger surprised and impressed in his first go-around after Lionel Hollins was shockingly let go. Things look pretty bright for him and this team going forwards. They are plainly and simply built for playoff basketball and are the one team no-one else wants to meet in the first round. The target for them will be to register enough wins to get some home court advantage in that first round. To that end, the additions of scorer Vince Carter, plus Beno Udrih and Earl Clark, should help in adding a bit of depth to a bench that has definitely been a weak point in years past.
Once again, this should be a playoff team and will take a lot of beating and a heck of a physical fight to dump out… just not sure they have the prime time super-stars and X-factor to carry them all the way to the finals.
Minnesota Timberwolves (40-42) – One team in the West that one can fairly confidently say will definitely miss out on the playoffs. This is a very young ball-club that is “building for the future,” to put it euphemistically. Proven NBA-quality talent is pretty thin on the ground after Kevin Love was traded to Cleveland. This team will probably take its lumps as some of the younger guys learn the NBA ropes. To be honest, they probably have enough to compete for a playoff berth in the weaker East – but alas they are NOT in the East. Young phenom Andrew Wiggins should provide a few show-stopping moments with his absurd athleticism, and fans will be hoping he shows the type of killer instinct that hints at future franchise player-type potential. In conjunction with Ricky Rubio, it could be “lob city part 2,” which will be entertaining if nothing else in a tough season for Wolves fans.
New Orleans Pelicans (34-48) – Okay,you can stop laughing… yes that is their real name, the Pelicans… enough to strike fear and terror into the heart of the staunchest, toughest opponent before even stepping onto the floor. The only thing stopping this team from having a pretty decent sort of season is health, I feel, as they were devastated by multiple season-ruining injuries last year to starters Ryan Anderson and Jrue Holiday. They cant afford to be missing any of their top players, as tough as the competition is, but they now have a bit of insurance by added depth in the form of Omer Asik, Jimmer Fredette, and John Salmons. Led by sensational young talent Anthony Davis, who is coming on in leaps and bounds at an alarming rate and could be a league MVP-type in years ahead, the Pelicans have a starting 5 that can go toe-to-toe with most in the Western Conference, and just need to build the sort of belief that has been missing in a losing environment for so long in order to contend for one of the last playoff spots. My best guess is that they will just miss out, but show nice glimpses of a promising future in the process.
Oklahoma City Thunder (59-23) – One of the few elite teams in the league that one can say has a legitimate, realistic chance of winning a championship from year to year. The Thunder will once again enter 2015 season with that lofty goal. They have, however, been dealt a setback which may prove costly with league MVP Kevin Durant recently injuring a foot in pre-season play and being invalided out of the opening stanza of the season – at least a month’s worth of regular games being the early prognosis. Whilst it may not seem a fatal blow on the surface of things, it may well prove critical further down the line if the Thunder cannot get enough wins throughout the year to secure home-court advantage going deep into the later rounds. Oklahoma have one of the very best home-court advantages in the league with raucous, loyal supporters turning up to cheer them on no matter what, through thick and thin. Whether Russell Westbrook is able to keep the team afloat during Durant’s absence will be critical in my view, and clearly a lot of other guys are gonna have to step up also who may not be used to such a prominent role – the likes of Reggie Jackson,Jeremy Lamb, and veteran Nick Collison. It would be no surprise to see O.K.C right in the thick of it at the pointy end of the season again, but in my own personal view their success is a bit of a sad indictment on the way the game of basketball is played. They play an extremely individualistic style of basketball, highly predicated on isolation play. Coach Scott Brooks has no control whatsoever over what his star players do, or if he does, he is a terrible coach. The fact that the Thunder can achieve what they do year after year speaks to just how amazing Durant and Westbrook both are as scorers and all round players in general – absolutely 2 of the very best on the planet. But me personally, not a big fan.
Phoenix Suns (48-34) – Easily the biggest surprise package by a landslide last season, the Suns come into this year with pretty high expectations. They’re now expected to make another really strong push for the playoffs after just missing out in 2014. I, like many others, was shocked at what they were able to achieve last season, and greatly under-estimated the talent they possessed and the cohesion they were able to bring in such a short amount of time together. And a lot of it was done without one of their best players, point guard Eric Bledsoe, who was out injured for a good stretch. Over the off-season they didn’t make any huge moves, but getting Isaiah Thomas to back up at the point guard spot and rookie T.J. Warren (via draft) strengthens their roster a little. It will be a big ask for coach Jeff Hornacek to improve on his first up effort as a guy new to the league in that capacity, but he has made a great impression thus far. With the line-up they have, they will clearly be looking to play with pace and spacing, and trying to hit the long ball as much as possible. Definitely not built to play slow and bang with anyone; this could be a major failing for them should they get over the hump and into the playoffs. I would anticipate perhaps a bit of regression for the Suns, as they won’t take anyone by surprise now and teams are not overlooking them so much. Probably just missing out on the 8 again but still a team on the rise for sure.
Portland Trail Blazers (54-28) – Yet another strong team in the West. It will be tough for them to emulate the success of last season’s break-out year, in which they qualified for the playoffs for the first time in a while and went on to shock the much more fancied Houston Rockets in the first round with a dramatic, buzzer-beating 3 pointer. Portland boasts a starting 5 that are the envy of most around the league, with all-stars LaMarcus Aldridge and Damian Lillard and really solid, talented guys who play their roles well in Robin Lopez, Wes Matthews and Nicolas Batum. It is their bench that has long been a horrible problem for them. But they are slowly addressing that area also and have a few guys that can contribute in that regard now. They just picked up Chris Kaman and Steve Blake to provide a little back-up. I like the Blazers squad and expect them to be battling right around the middle of the pack for playoff position once more… but something tells me they may have a slight drop-off just based on the way they play and things that went in their favor that may not continue to going forwards. It’s only so long you can survive so heavily on a steady diet of almost exclusively long jump-shots in this league whilst hardly getting any points in close (in the paint), and only playing less than average defense to boot. They were also on the positive end of a heck of a lot of narrow margin outcomes last season, and all of this type of stuff tends to catch up with you eventually. All in all, there’s no reason why Portland can’t get into the post-season again but i think they will probably get bounced in the first or second round.
Sacramento Kings (28-54) – One of the more moribund franchises in the league, the Kings just can’t ever seem to put it together. They always have reasonable talent and some sort of hope at season’s opening, but it normally quickly turns south as knuckle-head antics and selfish play/bad attitudes start to creep in once the reality sets in that once again they will just be making up the numbers.
Looking at the roster for this year, there doesn’t appear to be much hope that anything will change dramatically. Aside from DeMarcus Cousins, one of the most talented young big men in the game, there isn’t much to get excited about. Most other spots are filled by marginal NBA journeyman, young unproven greenhorns,and overpaid underachievers. Not much hope for anything more than about 30 wins tops in Cow-town, I’m afraid.
San Antonio Spurs(62-20)-The defending NBA champion Spurs return basically their entire roster from last season, and even managed to somehow pick up a gem lower down in the draft – Kyle Anderson out of UCLA – which isn’t great news for the rest of the league because when this team clicked they were on a whole nother level and made a beautiful symphony of basketball brilliance and excellence that was too much for others to handle. In the Finals against a pretty decent Heat team, Spurs made their opposition at times look straight amateurish and took their hearts out about mid-way through what was inevitably a short series. Spurs are as dependable as death, taxes, and Detroit Tigers Bull-pen (you KNOW they will eff it up every time!!) and all the cliches get tiresome to hear but they all remain true. They play the epitome of team-first basketball and it is a thing of beauty to watch, with every man working for the greater good and good shots being passed up for great ones and each man willing to do the dirty work/unseen things that all contribute to registering a win on any given night. Experts have been writing this team off as “too old” and “past their window of opportunity” for about a decade now and yet they keep coming back year after year as a league leader and title contendor doing it their way. Now, having re-invented themselves in recent years under the guidance of coaching genius Gregg Popovich, the one goal that remains is the only one to have eluded Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker et al – and that is to repeat as champions. I would imagine that inside the camp this has definitely been spoken of and, as time winds down on the storied yet under-stated careers of this “big 3”, there is probably a quiet, determined,steely resolve to get back to the mountain-top and do one of the most difficult things in American pro sports,win back-to-back titles. This is one of the winningest franchises in all of U.S. pro sporting history, and it would be foolish to bet against them adding one more chapter to what they’ve already achieved – so I’m not about to do it. Another season as a contendor for top spot in the West for sure. Done “The Right Way”.
Utah Jazz (25-57) – The less said about this team, the better. Expect them to be bringing up the rear in a very deep, competitive conference. They are slowly stockpiling some nice young talent, but they definitely are not ready yet and it would be a rather large shock if they somehow found their way into the playoffs. Our good Australian ZCode friends will have a vested interest in this club; tracking the progress of two young Aussie kids Dante Exum and Brock Motum, which should provide some interest as they show their wares in the toughest basketball stage on the planet. One expects it will be tough going for them and their team-mates though, as they can expect to take their lumps in another “transitional” year. To win 30 games would probably be a realistic target for this group; playoffs qualification a huge stretch. I will look to the sky for the presence of flying pigs before I expect that to happen.
SUMMARY: Western Conference is a super competitive, brutal landscape in which only the strong survive; and there are really only 2 or 3 “weak” teams. Having said that, there are also a small handful of elite teams that are just a cut above the rest. In my eyes, those teams are the usual suspects: the Thunder and Spurs, with a group of teams nipping at their heels looking to make that breakthrough – Clippers, Warriors, and Grizzlies. Which seeding the Thunder end up with could prove pivotal as they will need every advantage they can muster if they eventually meet up with the Spurs and the period early on minus Durant, and then during his re-integration when he will be shaking off rust, might come back to haunt them. Thunder can provide a match-up problem for San Antonio with insane athleticism and speed/quickness and also are one of the hungriest teams around looking for another taste of Finals basketball after failing once… but, as already mentioned, when this Spurs group turns it up to the highest level no one can live with them. Their intelligence and chemistry can overcome any deficiencies/disadvantages they may give up. The big question mark for them is – will they be desperate and hungry enough to reach those levels once again??? The way the heartbreak of 2013 Finals loss to Miami burned Spurs very deeply and drove them on like men possessed last year is well documented. They were on a mission and could not be stopped – and it’s only natural that after that desire is satiated, some sub-conscious satisfaction will set in.
After going back and forth several times, I again have to go the dull route and plump for the indomitable Spurs to repeat as Western Conference champions, probably in a long, competitive series. If they don’t meet the Thunder, it may be the Warriors, Clippers, or Grizzlies that they have to overcome – and they have the experience and know-how to get past all of those squads. Popovich has proven to be a master at having his team primed and ready for post season play with regular rest and rotation during the regular season grind and this will prove critical for their bid at repeat trips to the Finals. Also right in the mix should be the Trail-Blazers, Mavericks and possibly Nuggets – but all these teams have too many holes and flaws to advance very deep in my view.
OVER ALL: Should the Spurs manage to get out of the West, I can’t honestly see any team from the Eastern Conference toppling them if they are at or near their best once more. As stated, they showed that they can take basketball to a whole new level when clicking, with incredible ball movement, discipline, and precision that is hard to match. As long as they still have the fire inside/motivation, the unlikely achievement of back-to-back titles is attainable for the black’n’silver. Bulls will not quite have the offense to keep up over the course of a series, and Cavaliers’ new group surrounding Lebron will not quite be ready on their first foray into the big-time as a collective unit. In the end, it’s hard to go past the class, quality, and completeness of the defending champs – so that’s where I lean. But whichever team emerges from the West will, I believe, start as strong favorites – be it Thunder or a surprise team like the Clippers, Warriors, etc. There is always a chance that someone new will emerge, given how tough and competitive it is out West, so nothing would really shock or surprise.
Just remember that the NBA season is a marathon and a grind. Injuries, form, chemistry, trades, motivation, and a raft of other things can alter the fortunes of any team in an instant. So making predictions this far out is always fraught with danger. But based on the information available, we do the best we can. Top teams will remain top teams and in the 7-game series format, the best teams with the greatest, most cohesive talent and coaching almost inevitably come out victorious – there aren’t too many jaw-dropping shock upsets come playoff time.
So that’s my take on it! Hopefully it will be a brilliant season ahead yet again, and hopefully I haven’t bored anyone to sleep with my ramblings. Good luck to us all!! See you in the ZCode VIP club!!! Remember that we have great expert and automatic NBA systems there, like NBA Aragorn and Legolas systems, that are really profitable every year! Don’t miss out! Take care.
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