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NBA Season Preview

I get it, the world doesn’t really need another guy with a blog sitting in his underwear with a bowl of Cheerios making NBA predictions, but I just can’t seem to lay off the subject matter and I’m experiencing some sort of energetic pull to make my unfounded observations known to the great blogosphere wasteland.

 First order of business, The Golden State Warriors.  Last year the likable little shooting assassins finally captured the nation’s attention with their upset playoff series win over the 3 seeded Denver Nuggets.  Curry became a breakout star and the play of Klay Thompson and Harrison Barnes marked the Warriors as a new world power.  In the off-season the terrific management team miraculously unloaded the obscene contracts for Andreas Biedrens and Richard Jefferson and added an all-star caliber wing in Andre Iguodala.  But, and there is always a but when it comes to the Warriors, they lost two key veterans in Jarrett Jack and Carl Landry to free agency.  So where do they now stand?  My questionable scientific NBA team predictor algorithm has the W’s battling Houston for the 5-6 seed in the West and compiling a 48-34 mark for the regular season.  My emotions are begging me to give them a higher seed but rational thinking tells me they are essentially a very good starting 5 with a major drop-off at point and center if the oft injured Curry and Bogut miss some time.  What a difference a year makes though, last year at this time I could have been arrested for proclaiming the Warrior’s the 5 seed in the West.

In the overall scheme of things here are a few quick pointers:

  1. The West will be a war just to make the playoffs.

  2. The East is a 4 pony race.

  3. LeBron is still “The King” until somebody can beat him in a 7 game series.

  4. The race to return from season ending injuries last year will determine this year: Rose, Westbrook, Rondo, Love, Granger, Gallanari, Bynum and The Mamba will all be trying to get back into game shape while on the job.

  5. There are no rookies ready to take the league by storm but it will be fascinating to see who emerges as a potential all-star of the future.

Regular Season Predictions:

Western Conference:

 

  1. San Antonio Spurs:  They are getting old, but the brilliant play of Kawhi Leonard and the marksmanship of Danny Green, combined with their Big 3, should keep them at the top.  The big key will be Marco Bellinelli replacing the departing Gary Neal.  Neal has been clutch in the payoffs and Marco will need to step up when needed.  Pop will have them ready.

  2. LA Clippers:  There are a lot of new pieces in Clipperland that may take a little time to mesh, but having CP3 out there leading the club should make the transition for Doc Rivers a smooth one.  I like the pickups of Jared Dudly, JJ Reddick and Darren Collison.  Come playoff time the limitations of Griffith and Jordan may keep them out of the finals, but Lob City should be in full force for the 82 game grind.

  3. OKC Thunder:  Losing Kevin Martin in the off-season looked like a blow to the Thunder but I never doubt the maneuvering by their ace GM Sam Presti.  If he thinks Jeremy Lamb is ready to step up, then I believe Jeremy Lamb is ready to step up.  KD will be brilliant as always.  The keys will be Westbrook returning from a torn ACL, the development of Serge Ibaka as a post player and the defensive/rebounding presence of Kiwi rookie Steven Adams.

  4. Memphis Grizz:  Same core, different coach from last years conference finals team.  If the new coach, promoted assistant David Joerger, can keep Z-Bo happy and Tony Allen on planet earth, they should be very good again.  I like their additions of Mike Miller, Nick Calathes and SDSU long sleeve shirt rockin alum, Jamaal Franklin.

  5. GS Warriors:  See above for my thoughts on the W’s

  6. Houston Rockets:  I’m guessing we are going to see a much better Dwight Howard than the shell of Dwight Howard that we witnessed in LA last year.  Escaping Kobe’s doghouse to the loving tutelage of Kevin McHale and Hakeem Olajuwon should work wonders for the gentle giant’s delicate psyche.  Harden is a star and Chandler Parson’s should thrive playing with these two monsters.  J. Lin and Asik are the big question marks.

  7. Denver Nuggets:  Most are writing the Nuggets off after losing Coach Karl and A.I. but if Gallinari can return from his injuries, I still like their core of Lawson, Faried, Andre Miller and Wilson Chandler.  As a bonus, in addition to having the most entertaining player in basketball, JaVale McGee, and the enigma that is Anthony Randolph, they now have mighty Nate Robinson running around wreaking havoc.

  8. Minnesota T-Wolves:  What an interesting roster if they can avoid the injury bug.  Love is a stud, Nikola Pekovic is a beast and Rubio is just a joy to watch pass the ball.  Rick Adelman should be able to coax this bunch into the playoffs.

 

Other points of intrigue in the West:

 

  • The Pelicans!  GM Dell Demp’s acquisitions of Tyreke Evans and Jrue Holiday could be genius or a major flop and The Brow (Anthony Davis) is ready to become a star.  Can Eric Gordon stay healthy?

  • Will Dirk remain a happy camper in Dallas?

  • Are the Suns the worst team in the NBA?

  • Damian Lillard

  • If Kobe can’t return and Gasol gets hurt, should the Lakers be relegated to the D-League?

Eastern Conference:

 

  1. The Heat:  The Champs made no major off-season moves but should still get it done again.  I would love to see their gamble on Greg Oden pay dividends.  Will Pat Riley get to cash in on his trademarked “Three-Peat”?

  2. Indiana Pacers:  Same rugged club as last year with more experience. I like the pickup of Luis Scola to replace Psycho T (Tyler Hansborough) and look for Paul George to blow up.  If Danny Granger can get back to the player he was a few years ago and mesh with this new style, the Heat are in trouble.

  3. The Bulls:  While totally dependent on Rose’s knee, this is another rugged club ready to make life miserable for the Heat.

  4. The Brooklyn Nets:  It will be fun to watch Jason Kidd coach his contemporaries and former rivals in KG and Paul Pierce.  On paper this team looks amazing but I’m just not sold.  Their fortunes will depend on D. Williams getting back to the elite PG level and feeding their horse Brook Lopez on the block.

  5. Who cares?

  6. Really, does it matter?

 

OK I feel like I’m shortchanging the East.  Call it my liberal West Coast bias.  But the bottom line is the Knicks, Pistons, Hawks, Cavs and Wizards are not very good.

 Other points of intrigue in the East:

 

  • Kyrie Irving!  He’s incredible when healthy.  Here’s a raise of the milk in the cereal bowl to the Cavs having a healthy year and getting Bynum on the floor.

  • The Wiz backcourt of Wall and Beal.  These two young thoroughbreds should be nightly staples on Sports Center.

  • The Pistons starting 5: Chauncey, Brandon Jennings, Andre Drummond, Josh Smith and Greg Monroe!  It’s fun to say that out loud like each name is a more shocking revelation.   Almost makes me wish I still had the NBA package.  Maybe Dumars has his magic back?

  • Are the 76ers the worst team in the NBA?

  • Will former Butler coach Brad Stevens make it through a full season in Boston?

Well there you have it hoop fans.  It’s time to sit back and be amazed and get reacquainted with Charles, Ernie, The Jet, Rick Kamla, Steve Smitty and my personal favorite, Jim Barnett, for another exciting season of NBA basketball.  I will check back in for the playoffs.