We are less than a week away from NBA on TNT returning (6 PM CT, Tuesday night) with the best post-game crew in sports and two marquee match-ups between the Cavs and Bulls (7 PM CT) plus the Pelicans at the defending champion Golden State Warriors (9:30 PM CT). Let that sink in. Are we really ready for basketball to start already? There has not been anywhere near enough hype for this season even though we are coming off a greatly entertaining year and a ton of stars are returning from injuries (Kevin Durant, Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony to name a few). It also feels like the NFL season just began but, apparently they are already seven weeks into their season! There are still nine Thursday Night Football games to suffer through that will create the now-annual conflict of "Do I watch Titans-Jaguars or Cavaliers-Heat?". The answer is always obvious and yet, the NFL continues to win. Heck, even baseball is still going (even though there are only a handful of games remaining) and the World Series is going to be huge as two franchises with a history of bad luck face each other for their first title in my lifetime. As much as I love the NBA and have missed seeing basketball these last few months, I just think that the 66-game season when all of the games started on Christmas day was the best amount of attention that regular season basketball has garnered these past few years and it's an idea that (while clearly never happening because $$$$$) should be explored for the sake of maximum hype the way the NFL builds up over the off-season.
For the third consecutive season, I will be ranking the players on each individual roster based on... impact? what order of the rotation they'll be in? how good they are? I'm not really certain myself but, just assume it is one of those three criteria.
I'm including each players 2013-14 PER (Player Efficiency Rating) next to their names. As a reminder or for those who are not aware, here's a basic summary of what each number or level could be defined as...
- A Year For the Ages: 35.0
- Runaway MVP Candidate: 30.0
- Strong MVP Candidate: 27.5
- Weak MVP Candidate: 25.0
- Bona fide All-Star: 22.5
- Borderline All-Star: 20.0
- Solid 2nd option: 18.0
- 3rd Banana: 16.5
- Pretty good player: 15.0
- In the rotation: 13.0
- Scrounging for minutes: 11.0
- Definitely renting: 9.0
- The Next Stop: DLeague 5.0
I will also have you, the reader, know that I did these roster rankings over the past week and some players may have been released since I began because of the end of the preseason and roster limitations.
+ = Potentially out for the season
R = Rookie
DNP = Did Not Play
Here are my 2015-16 Roster Ranks along with a summary of each of the teams' outlooks. Enjoy.
Atlanta Hawks
Head Coach: Mike Budenholzer
2014-15 results: 60-22, swept by Cleveland in Eastern Conference Finals
| Al Horford | 21.4 |
| Paul Millsap | 20.1 |
| Jeff Teague | 20.6 |
| Kyle Korver | 14.8 |
| Thabo Sefolosha | 13.8 |
| Dennis Schroder | 15.7 |
| Tiago Splitter | 19 |
| Kent Bazemore | 9.7 |
| Mike Scott | 15.1 |
| Mike Muscala | 18.1 |
| Tim Hardaway Jr. | 12.1 |
| Shelvin Mack | 13.2 |
| Walter Tavares | R |
| Justin Holiday | 12.1 |
| Terran Petteway | R |
Atlanta stunned the world with their dominance over the Eastern Conference last season and absolutely no one had them finishing the regular season as the #1 seed in the East. Ultimately, they were not the best team in the Eastern Conference (proven by Cleveland's sweeping of them in the Conference Finals) and plenty of flaws were exposed throughout the postseason after Thabo Sefolosha's incident with the NYPD. The good news is Thabo is back, the bad news is Pero Antic' left for Europe and the team's major off-season addition was Tiago Splitter (Championship experience but, not the shooter that Antic' could have been). The team looks a bit deeper but, most teams do before the season starts and player's injuries single-handedly destroy teams. This team wasn't crazy young to begin with (most players were in their primes last season & Korver is in his mid-30's) so, you should expect some regression even though Atlanta is one of three locks to make the Eastern Conference's side of the playoffs (Chicago & Cleveland being the other two).
Boston Celtics
Head Coach: Brad Stevens
2014-15 results: 40-42, swept by Cleveland Cavaliers in First Round
| Isaiah Thomas | 20.6 |
| Jae Crowder | 13.9 |
| Kelly Olynyk | 15.9 |
| Amir Johnson | 15.4 |
| Avery Bradley | 11.5 |
| Marcus Smart | 11 |
| Evan Turner | 12.9 |
| Tyler Zeller | 19 |
| Jared Sullinger | 17.9 |
| Perry Jones III | 6.9 |
| James Young | 8.5 |
| David Lee | 17.9 |
| R.J. Hunter | R |
| Terry Rozier | R |
| Jonas Jerebko | 15 |
Boston was another surprise out of the East as nobody had any realistic expectations of them clinching a playoff spot and yet, that's exactly what they did thanks to Head Coach Brad Stevens and the mid-season acquisition of Isaiah Thomas. Since their 8-1 finish over the final nine games of last season, Boston added a defensive force in Amir Johnson, a project in Perry Jones III and the rotting corpse of David Lee. Don't get me wrong, David Lee could absolutely have something left in the tank but, he's not an All-NBA player anymore. Ultimately, this team is a bunch of puzzling puzzle pieces that will probably fit together because of the coaching genius that is Brad Stevens but, I have my doubts on the team whose best player is Isaiah Thomas (see: Early 2010's Kings).
Brooklyn Nets
Head Coach: Lionel Hollins
2014-15 results: 38-44, lost in 6 to the Atlanta Hawks in First Round
| Brook Lopez | 22.8 |
| Joe Johnson | 14.1 |
| Thaddeus Young | 15.7 |
| Jarrett Jack | 14.6 |
| Bojan Bogdanovic' | 11.6 |
| Wayne Ellington | 11.7 |
| Andrea Bargnani | 16.7 |
| Donald Sloan | 13.2 |
| Shane Larkin | 10.9 |
| Markel Brown | 9.2 |
| Thomas Robinson | 15.3 |
| Rondae Hollis-Jefferson | R |
| Chris McCollough | R |
| Sergey Karasev | 10.6 |
| Quincy Miller | 7.4 |
The intentions of the 2015-16 Nets are unclear. Are they trying to tank? Are they just hoping they can grab onto that depressing eighth seed again? If they wanted to succeed, they never should have dumped Deron Williams for nothing. If they wanted to tank, why didn't they trade Joe Johnson to Cleveland or another suitor when they had the chance? Why are they wasting Brook Lopez's prime? This feels like another 2013-14 Milwaukee Bucks scenario all over again where, from the outside, this team looks like they'll either be low in lottery odds or an obvious first round bounce from the playoffs but, they ultimately end up with 20 wins or fewer. I mean... they project Donald Sloan as their opening night Point Guard and we don't need to look far (last season's Pacers) to tell how poorly that will end up for the team. I expect half of this roster to be dealt at the deadline or earlier as this is a hopeless franchise going nowhere fast. This also the last stop for Wayne Ellington, Andrea Bargnani and Thomas Robinson to prove themselves as real NBA players. The only hope this team has is #29 overall pick Chris McCollough exceeding expectations and potential draft-steal Rondae Hollis-Jefferson maturing offensively and we all know how poorly a lot of late first-rounders turn out.
Charlotte Hornets
Head Coach: Steve Clifford
2014-15 results: 33-49
| Al Jefferson | 19.7 |
| Kemba Walker | 17.7 |
| Michael Kidd-Gilchrist+ | 15.1 |
| Nicolas Batum | 13.1 |
| Cody Zeller | 14.1 |
| Jeremy Lin | 15.6 |
| Brian Roberts | 11.7 |
| Marvin Williams | 11.8 |
| Tyler Hansbrough | 13.3 |
| Jeremy Lamb | 15 |
| Spencer Hawes | 9.8 |
| Frank Kaminsky | R |
| P.J. Hairston | 9 |
| Troy Daniels | 9.6 |
| Aaron Harrison | R |
It's become increasingly clear that GM Rich Cho and/or Owner Michael Jordan have no idea what they are doing with the Hornets. Frank Kaminsky may have had any chance of a successful NBA career thwarted when Charlotte took him even though they already had two different versions of him already on the roster (Zeller & Hawes). It was bad enough when this team was fully healthy but, now Michael Kidd-Gilchrist is possibly out for the entire season due to shoulder surgery. The team's starting lineup is fine (Walker, Lamb/Roberts/Lin?, Batum, Jefferson, Zeller) and the bench will be serviceable but, the entire team just feels like a mismatch schematically speaking. Last year's first-rounder P.J. Hairston would have had a chance at breaking out if the team hadn't traded for Jeremy Lamb and Nicolas Batum is coming off a terrible season where he totally lost the ability to shoot. Jordan and Cho better hope this team is coached well early or they will have to make the always tricky decision of firing Steve Clifford. "Psycho T" Tyler Hansbrough could shine defensively even while all the other bigs are trying to figure out how to play basketball together.
Chicago Bulls
Head Coach: Fred Hoiberg
2014-15 results: 50-32, lost in 6 to Cleveland Cavaliers in Conference Semifinals
| Chicago Bulls | |
| Jimmy Butler | 21.3 |
| Pau Gasol | 22.7 |
| Derrick Rose | 15.9 |
| Joakim Noah | 15.3 |
| Taj Gibson | 16.1 |
| Mike Dunleavy Jr. | 11.6 |
| Nikola Mirotic' | 17.9 |
| Aaron Brooks | 14.5 |
| Bobby Portis | R |
| Tony Snell | 10.2 |
| Kirk Hinrich | 6.8 |
| Doug McDermott | 6.1 |
| E'Twaun Moore | 10.4 |
| Cameron Bairstow | 2.1 |
| Jordan Crawford | DNP |
We have seen Derrick Rose's best days, we have seen Joakim Noah's best days, we have seen Pau Gasol's best days and that leaves all of the pressure on the one All-Star that is still in his prime, Jimmy Butler. If what we saw from Jimmy Buckets last season is any indication, the Bulls are in tremendous hands as this Shooting Guard can do everything the team asks of him both offensively and defensively. Despite the Rose/Noah/Gasol trio likely on a decline, those are still a fantastic and intimidating group of three players to have behind the new and future face of the franchise. Rose will miss some games, look like the old MVP Derrick Rose in some games and hog the ball and toss bricks during other games. Gasol will be Pau Gasol as long as new Head Coach Fred Hoiberg does not ask him to do too much offensively. Joakim Noah is someone the organization should be worried about as he looked exhausted and ineffective at the back-end of last season. The Bulls also have quite possibly the best bench in the Eastern Conference with long-range shooter Mike Dunleavy Jr., an intriguing rookie in PF Bobby Portis and hopefully, Nikola Mirotic' can dodge the sophomore slump season that is common among rookies who exceed expectations early.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Head Coach: David Blatt
2014-15 results: 53-29, lost NBA Finals in 6 to Golden State Warriors
| Lebron James | 26 |
| Kyrie Irving | 21.6 |
| Kevin Love | 18.9 |
| Tristan Thompson | 15.7 |
| Iman Shumpert | 11.5 |
| Anderson Varejao | 17.7 |
| Mo Williams | 15.5 |
| Timofey Mozgov | 16.6 |
| J.R. Smith | 13.6 |
| Richard Jefferson | 11.3 |
| Matthew Dellavedova | 8.6 |
| James Jones | 11.1 |
| Joe Harris | 5.6 |
| Austin Daye | 8.3 |
| Jared Cunningham | 7.4 |
Cleveland is still looking for their first championship in a professional sport since the 1964 Cleveland Browns won something not named the Super Bowl yet. The Cavaliers came pretty close last season until the unstoppable force that was Golden State took them and Kyrie Irving out. The big three of Lebron, Kyrie and Love have returned as have the MOZGOD, Jumper Ridiculous Smith, Dellavedownunder and Basketball's James Jones. After all of the rumors that had Cleveland acquiring a threat from deep like Joe Johnson or Jamal Crawford, the team settled on a way-past-his-prime Richard Jefferson who can kind of shoot and sort of play basketball still but, he does not do anything miraculous. Anderson Varejao has returned after another injury-filled season in which he was absent for the entirety of the Cavs' playoff run. If Varejao can be 75% of what he was pre-2014, this team is in excellent shape for another Eastern Conference title. Also, Mo Williams scored 50 points in a game last year and even though the opportunity probably will not present itself this season, he can still help offensively in ways Matthew Dellavedova couldn't down the stretch. Now that basically everybody on the roster has played a full season together, it's championship or bust for David Blatt and company.
Detroit Pistons
Head Coach: Stan Van Gundy
2014-15 results: 32-50
| Andre Drummond | 21.5 |
| Reggie Jackson | 17.2 |
| Brandon Jennings | 19.7 |
| Stanley Johnson | R |
| Ersan Ilyasova | 16.9 |
| Kentavious Caldwell-Pope | 11.2 |
| Marcus Morris | 13.7 |
| Aron Baynes | 16 |
| Jodie Meeks | 14.2 |
| Steve Blake | 9.5 |
| Anthony Tolliver | 11.1 |
| Joel Anthony | 14.7 |
| Spencer Dinwiddie | 10.3 |
| Reggie Bullock | 6.2 |
| Danny Granger | 8.7 |
The two-headed Point Guard monster of Brandon Jennings/Reggie Jackson worked out surprisingly well after Jackson was acquired from Oklahoma City via trade and the two will be healthy this season (at least, they are now) so, expect them to continue to steal minutes from each other and give Stan Van headaches while also producing. The gaping hole that Greg Monroe has left will be extremely difficult to fill and Aron Baynes is never anyone's first choice for such an important role. Experts seriously questioned the sanity of management when Detroit took Stanley Johnson in this year's draft over Justise Winslow but, he's looked nice over minor summer games and should play an important part in the Pistons' lineup right away. This still is not the deepest team ever despite the additions of Baynes, Marcus Morris, Steve Blake and Ersan Ilyasova but, they won't be picking in the top ten again next season.
Indiana Pacers
Head Coach: Frank Vogel
2014-15 results:38-44
| Paul George | 13 |
| Monta Ellis | 16.6 |
| Rodney Stuckey | 15.5 |
| Jordan Hill | 16.2 |
| George Hill | 21.5 |
| C.J. Miles | 14.1 |
| Solomon Hill | 10.2 |
| Ian Mahinmi | 10.8 |
| Chase Budinger | 12.3 |
| Myles Turner | R |
| Lavoy Allen | 14.9 |
| Toney Douglas | 11.3 |
| Joseph Young | R |
| Glen Robinson III | 8.5 |
| Shayne Whittington | 20 |
A team with so many wildcards last season, it was amazing how dull watching this team could be at moments last year, even while just barely missing the postseason. Paul George has returned from a devastating torn ACL and time will tell as to whether or not he returns into MVP discussions (I'm thinking he will). GM Larry Bird helped Indiana's cause a tad this off-season by signing Monta Ellis and a hopefully-not-phoning-it-in Jordan Hill. The team also landed the 11th overall pick and took Myles Turner, a Center who they hope eventually takes over where Roy Hibbert left off. Other than a few additions of players with little to no successful postseason experience, the future is not overly bright for the Pacers organization and at moments this season, we will be watching Paul George the same way we saw Lebron in his first stay with the Cavaliers, wondering "Can they please just find anyone to help this guy out?".
Miami Heat
Head Coach: Erik Spoelstra
2014-15 results: 37-45
| Chris Bosh | 19.9 |
| Goran Dragic' | 17.5 |
| Dwyane Wade | 21.4 |
| Hassan Whiteside | 26.3 |
| Luol Deng | 15.5 |
| Josh McRoberts | 10.2 |
| Gerald Green | 15.5 |
| Chris Andersen | 16.1 |
| Mario Chalmers | 11.8 |
| Justise Winslow | R |
| Amare' Stoudemire | 20.4 |
| James Ennis | 11.5 |
| Udonis Haslem | 10.7 |
| Tyler Johnson | 12.1 |
| John Lucas III | 13 |
Don't be shocked if this team enters the Cavs-Bulls-Hawks discussion this season. Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade already have plenty of playoff experience together and the hole left by Lebron last season has now been filled with the quietly excellent depth provided by Dragic', Deng, McRoberts, Gerald Green and rookie Justise Winslow. The key to this team entering the top four in the East is if Winslow can live up to expectations for even half of his rookie season. Amare' Stoudemire might be washed up as a starter but, coming off the bench worked out pretty damn well for him in Dallas last season. Hassan Whiteside is an enigma that averages somewhere around zero assists and fifteen rebounds a game. Erik Spoeltsra is a top five NBA Head Coach and he could really do wonders with the bright future of Miami basketball.
Milwaukee Bucks
Head Coach: Jason Kidd
2014-15 results: 41-41, lost in 6 to Chicago Bulls in First Round
| Khris Middleton | 15.7 |
| Greg Monroe | 21.3 |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | 14.9 |
| Jabari Parker | 14.6 |
| Michael Carter-Williams | 14.1 |
| John Henson | 18.1 |
| O.J. Mayo | 13.6 |
| Greivis Vasquez | 12.7 |
| Jerryd Bayless | 11.2 |
| Miles Plumlee | 13.4 |
| Chris Copeland | 7.4 |
| Tyler Ennis | 7.4 |
| Rashad Vaughn | R |
| Johnny O'Bryant III | 3.8 |
| Jorge Gutierrez | 11.1 |
If Khris Middleton can pull off a repeat of last season WITH a healthy Jabari Parker, this team could be very threatening to the currently elite teams in the East. The addition of Greg Monroe was a stunner that will take some time for the team to get adjusted to but, everything should be solved by April. All the panicking about Milwaukee's offense and potential spacing issues are somewhat warranted and yet, after two impressive seasons of Jason Kidd coaching in the NBA, I don't really have any doubt that this team is going to be in championship contention if not this season, next season. O.J. Mayo is in a contract season and passes the eye-test of looking like he is in much better shape than he has been in his Bucks tenure. It would not be baffling to see Mayo have his best year since he was in Memphis. The team made a move questioned by many that already seems to have worked in their favor by replacing now-injured Jared Dudley's bench offense and minutes with Greivis Vasquez's offense and minutes. Chris Copeland and Miles Plumlee are interesting players that could work out really well in the right system and oh yeah, every young guy had a full off-season to improve and 19-year old Rashad Vaughn could end up being a draft steal based on the growing aura of hype inside the organization. It's sort of impossible not to feel good about this team after 44 years of little-to-no hope.
New York Knicks
Head Coach: Derek Fisher
2014-15 results: 17-65
| Carmelo Anthony | 21.6 |
| Robin Lopez | 16.3 |
| Arron Afflalo | 10.7 |
| Jose Calderon | 11.3 |
| Kyle O'Quinn | 14.9 |
| Kevin Seraphin | 12.6 |
| Jerian Grant | R |
| Derrick Williams | 12.9 |
| Kristaps Porzingis | R |
| Langston Galloway | 12.4 |
| Lance Thomas | 8 |
| Lou Amundson | 11.8 |
| Sasha Vujacic' | DNP |
| Cleanthony Early | 8.5 |
| Thanasis Antetokounmpo | DNP |
Phil Jackson, if you are reading this, PLEASE TRADE CARMELO ANTHONY. I don't feel bad for Carmelo as much as I feel bad for basketball fans who have to watch this dude waste his prime (the latter years of it at least) on this sinkhole of an NBA team. The Knicks are actually planning on starting #4 overall pick and virtual unknown Kristaps Porzingis at Power Forward opening night. Reminder: Kristaps Porzingis is 20 and has never played in this country. Robin Lopez is a nice piece on a good team but, has never proven to perform well on bad teams up to this point in his career. Arron Afflalo has also been a part of many basement teams previously and is not the free agent the Knicks should have gone after if they wanted a playoff berth. Kyle O'Quinn will be a good addition off the bench while Derrick Williams will also get unsatisfying minutes with little production. Jerian Grant is most likely to be the breakout player on this roster as he is a perfect fit for the triangle offense ran by Fisher and Jackson. They might not be 17-65 bad but, this is still a very, very bad basketball team.
Orlando Magic
Head Coach: Scott Skiles
2014-15 results: 25-57
| Tobias Harris | 16.8 |
| Victor Oladipo | 16 |
| Nikola Vucevic' | 21.6 |
| Elfrid Payton | 13.9 |
| Aaron Gordon | 11.4 |
| C.J. Watson | 15.4 |
| Evan Fournier | 12.5 |
| Mario Hezonja | R |
| Channing Frye | 9.5 |
| Jason Smith | 12 |
| Andrew Nicholson | 10.4 |
| Dewayne Dedmon | 13.3 |
| Shabazz Napier | 9.3 |
| Roy Devyn Marble | 5.9 |
| Greg Stiemsma | 7.9 |
Orlando made one of the more puzzling decisions of the off-season by not just waiting for a Tom Thibodeau to get fired and instead hiring Scott "first round exit" Skiles. Orlando is much like Milwaukee in that both teams are stacked with youth. Victor Oladipo appears to be a very good, not elite NBA player, Elfird Payton and Aaron Gordon are both ready for a breakout while the team also just made another top ten choice in the draft in Croatian Forward Mario Hezonja. Only time will tell if any of those experiments live up to their draft position. Tobias Harris is still on that level right behind All-Star where he's not quite good enough to ever get recognized and Nikola Vucevic' is right there with him. Another off-season working together will be vital in the improvement the Magic see this year and they are in the conversation for who finishes as the #8 seed.
Philadelphia 76ers
Head Coach: Brett Brown
2014-15 results: 18-64
| Nerlens Noel | 15 |
| Jahlil Okafor | R |
| Robert Covington | 14.7 |
| Tony Wroten | 15 |
| Isaiah Canaan | 12.4 |
| Jerami Grant | 8.7 |
| JaKarr Sampson | 9.4 |
| Nik Stauskas | 7.5 |
| Kendall Marshall | 12.4 |
| Hollis Thompson | 11 |
| Carl Landry | 14.9 |
| Richaun Holmes | R |
| J.P. Tokoto | R |
| Furkan Aldemir | 12 |
| Christian Wood | R |
One more year. Joel Embiid re-injuring his foot sucks and severely hampers any chance of him becoming a super-duper-star. Sadly, this team will not top 25 wins without Embiid on the court BUT, that does not mean there won't be any bright lights leading Philadelphia to the end of the tank-so-hard tunnel. Jahlil Okafor was the #1 player on my big board in this year's draft and he will be a force offensively while Nerlens Noel will continue to play like a future Defensive Player of the Year candidate. The guards are still a mess with Isaiah Canaan and Tony Wroten starting and not playing like one of the 45 best guards in the league. Robert Covington is another bright spot as he can have stretches where he looks like Peja Stojakovic' from deep whilst also still looking like a young 76ers kid who has no idea what to do. I love, love, love the additions of Nik Stauskas and Kendall Marshall as neither have been given fair chances (without injuring themselves) off of a bench. JaKarr Sampson and Jerami Grant are still around because somebody somewhere believes in them. Brett Brown has gone through a ton of losing and worst of all, so have the fans of Philadelphia but, I am truly under the impression that this is the last year where they will be the laughing stock of the NBA.
Toronto Raptors
Head Coach: Dwane Casey
2014-15 results: 49-33, swept by Washington Wizards in First Round
| Kyle Lowry | 19.3 |
| DeMar DeRozan | 17.5 |
| Jonas Valanciunas | 20.6 |
| DeMarre Carroll | 15.9 |
| Terrence Ross | 11.2 |
| Patrick Patterson | 14.7 |
| James Johnson | 17.9 |
| Luis Scola | 16.8 |
| Bismack Biyombo | 15.2 |
| Cory Joseph | 15.6 |
| Delon Wright | R |
| Bruno Caboclo | -1.8 |
| Lucas Nogueira | 5.2 |
| Anthony Bennett | 11.4 |
| Norman Powell | R |
Canada's basketball team is widely expected to regress, mostly due to the improving conference in which they reside. The underrated big three of Lowry/DeRozan/Valanciunas is back for another shot at making the second round and they added former-Hawk DeMarre Carroll along for the ride. Carroll was a breakout player for the #1 team in the East last year and his signing went mostly unnoticed by the national media. He probably won't be as good as he was last year but, Terrence Ross should be much more efficient in Lou Williams' sixth man role than Ross has been in years past. A player that has always been underrated in his days with Charlotte, Bismack Biyombo is finally on a playoff-caliber roster and fitted comfortably in a role off the bench. Cory Joseph was an excellent pickup as he already has the tutelage of Gregg Popovich and Tony Parker in his NBA experience and will come off the bench once again when he could easily start for a handful of teams in this league. Delon Wright will come into play as well as he carries a strength defensively that no other Guards have on the Raptors. Dwane Casey was widely speculated as a goner after last postseason's failures and if they can't make the second round this year, it's pretty close to a guarantee that his days in the six are over.
Washington Wizards
Head Coach: Randy Wittman
2014-15 results: 46-36, lost in 6 to Atlanta Hawks in Conference Semifinals
| John Wall | 19.9 |
| Marcin Gortat | 18.3 |
| Bradley Beal | 14 |
| Nene' | 14.3 |
| Alan Anderson | 10.6 |
| Otto Porter Jr. | 11.6 |
| Kris Humphries | 15.5 |
| Jared Dudley | 12.3 |
| Ramon Sessions | 11.2 |
| Gary Neal | 11.1 |
| Garrett Temple | 10.9 |
| Drew Gooden | 11.9 |
| Martell Webster | 5.9 |
| Kelly Oubre | R |
| DeJuan Blair | 7.8 |
Randy Wittman had some weird moments as a coach last year (remember him flipping the dry erase board constantly?) and he still hasn't reached an Eastern Conference Finals despite the talented trio of Wall, Beal and Gortat that most coaches (like 25 of them) would kill to have. Nene' is not getting any younger and Jared Dudley will miss a couple of months due to off-season surgery instead of immediately replacing the ridiculously clutch Paul "Toronto killer" Pierce. If Alan Anderson is the answer, I do not want to know the question. Kelly Oubre Jr. was taken in the first round and is expected to play a pivotal role in this team's rotation but, I'm just not seeing it this season. 2015-16 will be the year of Otto Porter Jr.. The former #3 pick in the worst draft ever (2013) will be relied upon to start at Small Forward and play better defense than... well...
this. To be completely honest, the roster looks a lot weaker than last season but, there is still hope that we have not seen John Wall's best or even Bradley Beal's best and it's not like this bench is inexperienced. Washington should be a top-5 team in the East.
Dallas Mavericks
Head Coach: Rick Carlisle
2014-15 results: 50-32, lost in 5 to Houston Rockets in First Round
| Chandler Parsons | 16.4 |
| Dirk Nowitzki | 19.3 |
| Wesley Matthews | 16.1 |
| Deron Williams | 15.7 |
| Zaza Pachulia | 15.7 |
| Devin Harris | 14.9 |
| J.J. Barea | 15.1 |
| Samuel Dalembert | 11.8 |
| Charlie Villanueva | 17.5 |
| Jeremy Evans | 20.6 |
| John Jenkins | 15.9 |
| JaVale McGee | 14.4 |
| Raymond Felton | 12.5 |
| Dwight Powell | 13.9 |
| Justin Anderson | R |
After losing the DeAndre Jordan sweepstakes, Dallas is basically screwed for the upcoming season. Dirk isn't young anymore, Wes Matthews is coming off of a Torn Achilles, Deron Williams has slowed down a ton and ZaZa Pachulia isn't exactly a beacon of youth anymore either. This starting lineup looks good on paper and will be lackluster in execution. It's not like the bench is any better as that too is stacked with older names (Felton, Villanueva, Dalembert, Harris) as a result of Mark Cuban's carefree dealing of nearly every early draft pick since the early 2000's. Thankfully for Dallas's sake, they still have an excellent coach in Rick Carlisle but, this team needs to add fresher legs than they have in order to truly contend or even sneak into the playoffs.
Denver Nuggets
Head Coach: Mike Malone
2014-15 results: 30-52
| Kenneth Faried | 18.5 |
| Wilson Chandler | 13.2 |
| Jusuf Nurkic' | 14.8 |
| Danilo Gallinari | 16.8 |
| Emmanuel Mudiay | R |
| Jameer Nelson | 12.1 |
| Will Barton | 13.6 |
| J.J. Hickson | 14.4 |
| Darrell Arthur | 11.6 |
| Gary Harris | 5 |
| Randy Foye | 11 |
| Mike Miller | 4.6 |
| Nick Johnson | 4.8 |
| Joffrey Lauvergne | 10.5 |
| Erick Green | 9 |
Not even the elevation levels of the Rocky Mountains can save this team from the impending lottery pick they'll have in 2016. Last season's Nugget team was the most embarrassing team in the NBA if you heard anything about how Brian Shaw ran the place and hiring Mike Malone should have only positive implications on the future of the franchise. With a court and roster re-design, it's clear this team is cleaning their slate and searching for a new identity. Unfortunately, you need to do some sucking before you become excellent in a league like this and no matter how good Emmanuel Mudiay might be this season, he won't be Ty Lawson just yet. A healthy Danilo Gallinari should add some offensive firepower this team has missed for a few years but, let's be honest, they're getting a high lottery pick next year unless Gary Harris became Dwyane Wade overnight.
Your defending 2015 NBA Champion Golden State Warriors
Head Coach: Steve Kerr
2014-15 results: 67-15, won the Championship in 6 over Cleveland Cavaliers
| Stephen Curry | 28.1 |
| Klay Thompson | 20.9 |
| Draymond Green | 16.4 |
| Harrison Barnes | 13.4 |
| Andrew Bogut | 15.8 |
| Andre Iguodala | 12.3 |
| Marreese Speights | 19.6 |
| Shaun Livingston | 12.9 |
| Festus Ezeli | 16.2 |
| Leandro Barbosa | 15.3 |
| Jason Thompson | 10.2 |
| James Michael McAdoo | 17.8 |
| Brandon Rush | 0.8 |
| Ian Clark | 8.8 |
| Kevon Looney | R |
Rarely does a defending NBA Champion have so little turnover on the roster from their championship season into the year after. Rarely does a starting lineup that was so young win an NBA title. Rarely do two guards shoot their way into rings. Barely ever does a Head Coach win a title in his first year. This is one of the most unique and exciting teams in NBA history so, enjoy it while it lasts even if you are on the losing end of it. They did lose a decrepit David Lee and the barely-used Justin Holiday but, replaced them with experienced rebounder Jason Thompson and rookie Kevon Looney. They probably won't get as lucky health-wise or opponent's health-wise but, this is still an incredibly strong basketball team that has great odds at winning back-to-back titles for the first time in franchise history.
Houston Rockets
Head Coach: Kevin McHale
2014-15 results: 56-26, lost in 5 to Warriors in Conference Finals
| James Harden | 26.8 |
| Dwight Howard | 19.3 |
| Ty Lawson | 18.5 |
| Trevor Ariza | 12.7 |
| Terrence Jones | 18.3 |
| Patrick Beverley | 11.4 |
| Corey Brewer | 14 |
| Donatas Motiejunas | 14.4 |
| Clint Capela | 12.1 |
| K.J. McDaniels | 10.7 |
| Jason Terry | 11.5 |
| Marcus Thornton | 15 |
| Montrezl Harrell | R |
| Sam Dekker | R |
| Chris Walker | R |
Another team with a surprising amount of returning players, Houston was in great shape BEFORE the troubled Ty Lawson fell into GM Daryl Morey's lap. Dwight Howard is another year older and won't be playing 82 games again but, that does not mean he won't be one of the five best defensive players in the league and one of the poster-children of great bigs in the NBA. James Harden should have won the regular season MVP last season and he will carry that extra chip on his shoulder next to the dozens of other chips he already has up there. Sam Dekker was a weird pick and probably won't come into play in key moments this season. One big thing to keep an eye on is the progress of PF/C Clint Capela who barely got any regular season minutes and then was used frequently in their impressive playoff run. The former first-rounder is entering his second season in the league and I expect a ton of progress from the Swiss prodigy.
Los Angeles Clippers
Head Coach: Doc Rivers
2014-15 results: 56-26, lost in 7 to Houston Rockets in Conference Semifinals
| Blake Griffin | 22.9 |
| Chris Paul | 26 |
| DeAndre Jordan | 21 |
| J.J. Redick | 16.2 |
| Paul Pierce | 15.2 |
| Jamal Crawford | 16.7 |
| Josh Smith | 14.9 |
| Lance Stephenson | 8.9 |
| Wesley Johnson | 11.1 |
| Austin Rivers | 10.4 |
| Cole Aldrich | 18.2 |
| Luc Mbah a Moute | 10.6 |
| Pablo Prigioni | 12.3 |
| Chuck Hayes | 10.4 |
| C.J. Wilcox | 8.6 |
The trio of Blake-CP3-DeAndre has been been together and coached by Doc Rivers for two years and has yet to make the Western Conference Finals. That might not seem like a big deal but, when a team is trying to win over the Lakers' city, they must win more now. That was clearly the mentality for General Manager Doc Rivers (he does both jobs) as the team signed veteran and Doc-favorite Paul Pierce, occasional-migraine-coming-off-a-playoff-team Josh Smith and always-a-migraine Lance Stephenson. It seems weird saying this but, if this team makes the Finals, it is easily the best coaching job Doc has ever done even though he already has a ring from the 2007-08 Celtics. The chemistry mismatch that is this team could implode at any moment or gel perfectly into the Western Conference Finals. It is a total coin-flip this year.
Los Angeles Lakers
Head Coach: Byron Scott
2014-15 results: 21-61
| Kobe Bryant | 17.7 |
| Roy Hibbert | 15.5 |
| D'Angelo Russell | R |
| Lou Williams | 19.9 |
| Julius Randle | -7.5 |
| Jodan Clarkson | 16.9 |
| Brandon Bass | 16.4 |
| Nick Young | 14.3 |
| Larry Nance Jr. | R |
| Ryan Kelly | 8.6 |
| Tarik Black | 14.8 |
| Robert Sacre | 10.9 |
| Anthony Brown | R |
| Metta World Peace | DNP |
| Jabari Brown | 11 |
Kobe Bryant might still have the tendencies of the old Kobe but, that doesn't make him play as well as the old Kobe. Surrounding the former All-Star is a cast of nobodys who used to be somebodys and a few promising prospects. The Lakers almost completely rebuilt the roster that went 21-61 a year ago with the acquisitions of Roy Hibbert via trade, Sixth Man of the Year Lou Williams via free agency and Boston big Brandon Bass also via free agency. None of these players automatically add wins although I will say that Roy Hibbert was one of the best Centers in the league three years ago and talent does not just disappear like his has so, it is possible that he has a comeback season to remember here. Speaking of comebacks, the future of Laker basketball is a bit brighter today with the return of Julius Randle from a torn ACL in the first game of last season. The youth got even stronger this off-season with the drafting of PG D'Angelo Russell and the controversial choice of PF Larry Nance Jr. (who nobody had going in the first round). Jordan Clarkson also showed some flashes as a rookie last season and could be a quality 7th man in this line-up.
Memphis Grizzlies
Head Coach: Dave Joerger
2014-15 results: 55-27, lost in 6 to Golden State Warriors in Conference Semifinals
| Marc Gasol | 21.7 |
| Mike Conley | 18.6 |
| Zach Randolph | 19.5 |
| Jeff Green | 14.5 |
| Tony Allen | 14.7 |
| Courtney Lee | 11.5 |
| Brandan Wright | 20.4 |
| Matt Barnes | 11.3 |
| Beno Udrih | 15.5 |
| Vince Carter | 9.7 |
| Ryan Hollins | 13.2 |
| Jordan Adams | 12.9 |
| Jarnell Stokes | 18.7 |
| Jarell Martin | DNP |
| JaMychal Green | 14.9 |
The Warriors would have won the series whether or not Mike Conley was injured but, it was abundantly obvious that Memphis's chances were hindered by a hampered Conley at Point Guard. The window is either closing or already closed for this team with Zach Randolph slowly declining and another year without enough offensive help (Jeff Green is nowhere near enough). Brandan Wright will be another great defensive addition to this team and I'm sure nobody has a chance at dropping 90 points on them ever (sarcasm noted) but seriously, where is the offense? Matt Barnes fits in the same boat as an inconsistent shooter and solid defender. If anything goes wrong with Marc Gasol, this team is screwed.
Minnesota Timberwolves
Head Coach: Sam Mitchell
2014-15 results: 16-66
| Andrew Wiggins | 14 |
| Karl-Anthony Towns | R |
| Nikola Pekovic' | 16.7 |
| Ricky Rubio | 15.2 |
| Kevin Martin | 16.7 |
| Gorgui Dieng | 17.3 |
| Shabazz Muhammad | 20 |
| Zach LaVine | 11.3 |
| Andre Miller | 13.4 |
| Adreian Payne | 7.7 |
| Kevin Garnett | 15.3 |
| Tayshaun Prince | 12 |
| Tyus Jones | R |
| Damjan Rudez | 8.2 |
| Nemanja Bjelica | R |
The Bucks of the West, Minnesota is one or two years behind Milwaukee as Andrew Wiggins isn't at an All-Star level quite yet (nor will he be this season) and Karl-Anthony Towns is simply a rookie ready to play on day one. The rest of the team could use a few more spare parts and otherwise, looks like a dark-horse betting option for the eighth seed in the West. This team needs Nikola Pekovic' to play like he is in a contract year again and they need Shabazz Muhammad to surprise with his efficiency on the court again if this team wants to compete for that last spot in the Western playoffs. The addition of Tyus Jones won't mean a whole lot until the team deals Kevin Martin (possibly at the deadline this year?). I loved the adding of multiple experienced veterans but, I still believe that they could have acquired fresher legs than those of Andre Miller and Tayshaun Prince. They already had Garnett as a leader who can't do all the things he used to do, they didn't need two more of those. This is just a thought but, it is possible that they added calm and happy Andre Miller to counter the angry and yelling Kevin Garnett (who is rarely that way behind the scenes) just to show the young guys that the staff does not want them to be overly-aggressive. The Zach LaVine experiment is entering year two and now, he'll hopefully be coming off the bench with Ricky Rubio (fingers-crossed) healthy at the moment. Even if they don't make the playoffs or get a top-five pick, the future is just as bright in Minnesota as it is in L.A. with the former Minnesota team, the Lakers.
New Orleans Pelicans
Head Coach: Alvin Gentry
2014-15 results: 45-37, swept by Golden State Warriors in First Round
| Anthony Davis | 30.9 |
| Tyreke Evans | 17.8 |
| Jrue Holiday | 18.8 |
| Eric Gordon | 12.8 |
| Omer Asik | 15.5 |
| Ryan Anderson | 15.7 |
| Quincy Pondexter | 9.9 |
| Alexis Ajinca | 20 |
| Norris Cole | 10.9 |
| Dante Cunningham | 9 |
| Kendrick Perkins | 7 |
| Nate Robinson | 10.6 |
| Alonzo Gee | 13 |
| Jeff Adrien | 14.2 |
| Luke Babbitt | 11.1 |
The brow is back and better than ever as Anthony Davis is another year wiser and worked on his long-range shooting with new Head Coach Alvin Gentry all off-season. One problem... the team added nothing to help last year's eight seed other than now they will have Norris Cole for a full season after acquiring him last year at the deadline. Kendrick Perkins was also picked up as was Nate Robinson but, this is not 2010 and neither of those moves mean anything in the present day. Too much money was spent on the injury-prone trio of Jrue Holiday, Eric Gordon and Omer Asik and the Pellies are facing the consequences right now by potentially wasting some of Anthony Davis's best years. Tyreke Evans is the only other bright spot in the starting lineup who is semi-reliable and Ryan Anderson is a good sixth man but other than that, this team is nowhere near where they should be yet. Hopefully for their sake, Alvin Gentry is a vast improvement over Monty Williams.
Oklahoma City Thunder
Head Coach: Billy Donovan
2014-15 results: 45-37
| Russell Westbrook | 29.1 |
| Kevin Durant | 27.6 |
| Serge Ibaka | 16.6 |
| Steven Adams | 14.1 |
| Enes Kanter | 20.4 |
| D.J. Augustin | 13.9 |
| Nick Collison | 11.2 |
| Kyle Singler | 8.5 |
| Anthony Morrow | 14.9 |
| Mitch McGary | 16.6 |
| Dion Waiters | 10.9 |
| Andre Roberson | 9.1 |
| Cameron Payne | R |
| Steve Novak | 8.6 |
| Josh Huestis | DNP |
Scott Brooks is long gone as the coach and with a new Floridian sheriff in town, Oklahoma City is probably going to look slightly different in some way, shape or form this season. One thing that will be of noticeable help is the health of Kevin Durant who was never healthy at any point after December last season. The team won't need triple-doubles every single game from Russell Westbrook anymore as a result of the Durantula's return. The thing this team always has had trouble with is depth beyond the starting lineup and adding Enes Kanter at the deadline last season while helping the bench immensely on offense, also hinders the quality of their defense as Kanter is one of the worst defensive Centers in the league right now. The team also should be aided by a good backup Point Guard in D.J. Augustin. There is hope surround OKC with Mitch McGary's possible breakout season also but, at first view this bench is still missing one or two pieces necessary to get to the Finals again, let alone win one.
Phoenix Suns
Head Coach: Jeff Hornacek
2014-15 results: 39-43
| Eric Bledsoe | 18.5 |
| Markieff Morris | 15.8 |
| Brandon Knight | 17.2 |
| Tyson Chandler | 20.1 |
| Alex Len | 13.5 |
| P.J. Tucker | 12.6 |
| Ronnie Price | 10.2 |
| T.J. Warren | 14 |
| Henry Sims | 14.5 |
| Devin Booker | R |
| Mirza Teletovic' | 10.7 |
| Jon Leuer | 12 |
| Cory Jefferson | 13.3 |
| Archie Goodwin | 11.3 |
| Sonny Weems | DNP |
Limiting themselves to one Morris twin, the Suns had a solid off-season of under-the-radar moves that will assist in their now-annual hunt for the eighth seed. A full year of Brandon Knight should look a lot better than the half-season of Knight Phoenix saw last season and most importantly, Eric Bledsoe's star is just now beginning to blossom as the Suns will once again play with one of the league's most exciting combinations of Guards. This year, Phoenix added Tyson Chandler which as a veteran leader and post defender will help the Suns look much more threatening defensively than they have in the Hornacek-era. If T.J. Warren is ever going to break out, this year is the year and the same could be said for ex-Net Mirza Teletovic'. First-rounder Devin Booker is a definite project and Hornacek has proven to do well with players of his ilk. They aren't championship contenders but, there isn't another coaching staff in the West that will get more out of this average team.
Portland Trail Blazers
Head Coach: Terry Stotts
2014-15 results: 51-31, lost in 5 to Memphis Grizzlies in First Round
| Damian Lillard | 20.8 |
| Mason Plumlee | 18 |
| Meyers Leonard | 14.8 |
| C.J. McCollum | 13.1 |
| Gerald Henderson | 13.3 |
| Al-Farouq Aminu | 14.4 |
| Ed Davis | 20 |
| Chris Kaman | 17.4 |
| Maurice Harkless | 8.4 |
| Noah Vonleh | 13.2 |
| Allen Crabbe | 8.7 |
| Phil Pressey | 11.8 |
| Pat Connaughton | R |
| Tim Frazier | 8.1 |
| Cliff Alexander | R |
Another team in the running for Ben Simmons next year, Portland lost every one of their starters from last season except Damian Lillard. This means that all of the young prospects on Portland's bench are now starters and might result in some great games and some horribly awful games. Mason Plumlee has experience starting for Brooklyn and is likely starting alongside first-time starter Meyers Leonard as a really quality one-two white big-men combo. C.J. McCollum had shown spurts of great basketball at the end of last year and I expect him to slot in pretty nicely as the team's starting Shooting Guard although, there is a strong possibility that he should stay a sixth man. The big signing this off-season was Al-Farouq Aminu... No seriously. Ed Davis looked great on a crappy Laker team and should do more of the same on this inexperienced Blazer team. Noah Vonleh is a guy who I thought was the next Chris Bosh but, apparently the Hornets did not believe that as they sent him packing after one year of looking like a rookie (because he was one). The deepest depths of this team actually shape out pretty well also with Allen Crabbe (has gotten playing time in Portland before), an exciting athlete in Pat Connaughton, a sleeper rookie in Cliff Alexander and the under-utilized-in-Boston PG Phil Pressey. This team is not any good at the moment but, give them a year, some cap space and another lottery pick or two and they'll be right back in playoff contention.
Sacramento Kings
Head Coach: George Karl
2014-15 results: 29-53
| DeMarcus Cousins | 25.3 |
| Rajon Rondo | 13.5 |
| Rudy Gay | 19.8 |
| Darren Collison | 17.5 |
| Ben McLemore | 10.4 |
| Willie Cauley-Stein | R |
| Marco Belinelli | 12.5 |
| Omri Casspi | 14.4 |
| Caron Butler | 9.3 |
| Kosta Koufos | 14.2 |
| Quincy Acy | 12 |
| Seth Curry | -11.4 |
| James Anderson | DNP |
| David Stockton | 10.8 |
| Duje Dukan | R |
If the Clippers don't succeed due to chemistry, then there is no way that this team will succeed. It all began last season when George Karl was hired and may or may have not tried to deal DeMarcus "Boogie" Cousins. That obviously did not sit well with Cousins and the two have been rumored to be soaked in hatred for each other ever since. How else could the Kings have possibly made things any worse? Easily, by adding Rajon Rondo (a total team-killer in Dallas last year) when they already had a quality starting Point Guard (who can actually shoot) in Darren Collison. The team also drafted C Willie Cauley-Stein about four picks too early when there is value to be had in trading the #6 overall pick and they added a duo of past-their-prime shooters in Marco Belinelli and Caron Butler to replace Nik Stauskas (the #8 pick in last year's draft), whom they traded for nothing. This team is a mess and no amount of Curry family members could possibly save it.
San Antonio Spurs
Head Coach: Gregg Popovich
2014-15 results: 55-27, lost in 7 to Los Angeles Clippers in First Round
| LaMarcus Aldridge | 22.8 |
| Kawhi Leonard | 22.1 |
| Tim Duncan | 22.7 |
| Tony Parker | 15.9 |
| Danny Green | 16.5 |
| David West | 16.1 |
| Manu Ginobili | 16.2 |
| Boris Diaw | 12.7 |
| Patty Mills | 13.1 |
| Kyle Anderson | 8.2 |
| Ray McCallum | 12.5 |
| Rasual Butler | 11.4 |
| Matt Bonner | 10.1 |
| Jimmer Fredette | 9.9 |
| Jonathon Simmons | DNP |
What is there to say about the combination of Popovich, Duncan, Parker and Ginobili that has not already been said? They might not always be at 100% during the regular season but, once it's playoff time, it's go time. I loveloveLOVE watching LaMarcus Aldridge play basketball and I finally have a reason to maybe, possibly enjoy watching this team. Kawhi Leonard broke out of his stone-faced shell last season (while still remaining stone-faced) and should take another step forward into All-NBA territory if he has that in him. The old guys might be past their starting days (Diaw, the 2000's big 3, Bonner, West and Butler) but, with the way Popovich just throws his minutes around kindly from October to April, they should all be at close to 100% in the playoffs and ready whenever called upon. Kyle Anderson is about to become one of the guys (like Patty Mills, Aron Baynes and Tiago Splitter) that San Antonio stashes and excels with and getting Ray McCallum from Sacramento for a second-round pick should have been vetoed for "basketball reasons" just like the Chris Paul deal was, it was that unfair. They'll be back in the playoffs and the only thing keeping them from the Western Conference Finals is health or some major trade acquisition by someone in the conference (think Melo to Houston or something to that extent).
Utah Jazz
Head Coach: Quin Snyder
2014-15 results: 38-44
| Gordon Hayward | 20.2 |
| Derrick Favors | 21.9 |
| Rudy Gobert | 21.6 |
| Alec Burks | 13.1 |
| Trey Burke | 12.6 |
| Trevor Booker | 15.3 |
| Dante Exum+ | 5.7 |
| Trey Lyles | R |
| Rodney Hood | 12.4 |
| Joe Ingles | 9.6 |
| Elijah Millsap | 7.9 |
| Jeff Withey | 17.7 |
| Bryce Cotton | 14.6 |
| Tibor Pleiss | R |
| Chris Johnson | 10.2 |
Hop on the Utah Jazz bandwagon as there are only a few seats left! This team seemed too young to start the season and yet, they finished as hot as any team not named Boston last year thanks to the improvements in Derrick Favors game and the explosion of the phenomena known as "The Steiffel Tower" Rudy Gobert. There is certainly an argument against the rise of the Utah Jazz as Dante Exum tore his ACL and is almost definitely out for the year but, looking at the rest of the roster, it's going to be hard to deny this team a playoff spot. Alec Burks was quietly really good and improving right before he also suffered a season-ending injury last year but, now he is back and ready to be a key member in the revival of Utah's only major sports franchise. Due to the team's lack of success last year (record-wise), they were able to draft Trey Lyles from Kentucky with the 12th overall selection and he'll just be another player to add on necessary depth behind Favors, Gobert and free agent addition Trevor Booker. Without Exum, expect to see a climb in minutes and production from Rodney Hood. The Jazz probably feel more ready to lock themselves into the playoffs than any casual NBA viewer and they seemingly have the right head coach to lead them into late-April.
PS: I just now noticed that I forgot to cover the Jazz in
last season's preview. That was a major fail on my part.
2014-15 Predictions
Western Conference
1. San Antonio Spurs (Yes, I realize they might throw half the regular season away. No, I don't care)
2. Houston Rockets (Ty Lawson, please stay out of your car, the bar or jail)
3. Golden State Warriors (Somebody's getting hurt. I know you can't predict injuries but, it can't go that perfectly two years in a row)
4. Oklahoma City Thunder
5. Los Angeles Clippers
6. Memphis Grizzlies
7. Utah Jazz
8. New Orleans Pelicans
9. Phoenix Suns
10. Minnesota Timberwolves
11. Los Angeles Lakers
12. Dallas Mavericks
13. Sacramento Kings
14. Portland Trail Blazers
15. Denver Nuggets (Typically my 15th seeds in the West finish at .500 so, congrats Denver!)
Eastern Conference
1. Cleveland Cavaliers
2. Chicago Bulls
3. Atlanta Hawks
4. Milwaukee Bucks (from here through 7th, things get very messy)
5. Washington Wizards
6. Toronto Raptors
7. Miami Heat (They could totally finish 4th. I have no confidence in the Eastern picks)
8. Indiana Pacers
9. Orlando Magic
10. New York Knicks
11. Boston Celtics (Like I said, NO confidence at all in these picks, ESPECIALLY Boston)
12. Detroit Pistons
13. Charlotte Hornets (They could easily be 15th)
14. Brooklyn Nets
15. Philadelphia 76ers
 |
AP Photo/Gary McCollough
The Pellies will get the eighth seed again and Atlanta's futuristic unis won't help them get the #1 seed |
MVP: Lebron James (he might not sit out 2 weeks this year)
ROTY: Emmanuel Mudiay
DPOTY: Serge Ibaka (-shrugs-)
6th Man: Gerald Green?
Coach of the Year: Quin Snyder
Most Improved: Andrew Wiggins
Western Playoffs
1st Round
SAS 4 - NOP 2
HOU 4 - UTA 0
GSW 4 - MEM 0
LAC 4 - OKC 3
2nd Round
SAS 4 - LAC 3
GSW 4 - HOU 2
Western Conference Finals
SAS 4 - GSW 2
Eastern Playoffs
1st Round
CLE 4 - IND 1
MIA 4 - CHI 3
ATL 4 - TOR 2
MIL 4 - WAS 2
2nd Round
CLE 4 - MIL 0
MIA 4 - ATL 3
Eastern Conference Finals
CLE 4 - MIA 1
ANDY TODD'S BIG BAD NBA CHAMPIONSHIP 2015-16 PREDICTION
Cleveland Cavaliers over the San Antonio Spurs in 7 games.
 |
Eric Gay/Associated Press
They almost won the championship with strictly Lebron last year, I AM confident in this choice. |
Lebron did it again! The Heat won the championship four years ago after a full year of just figuring out how to play together and adding depth via trades. The Cavaliers have figured out how to play together, gotten healthy and added depth via trades. Notice anything similar here? The Spurs could also win the championship this year (It's certainly in play) but, if something similar to game six in the 2013 Finals occurs, anything is possible. I don't really have any idea how these two teams match up due to all the new variables. I just chose Cleveland because they won two against Golden State last year with nobody performing besides Tristan Thompson and #23. Congratulations on your predicted championship, Cleveland. Please don't mess this up for the sake of your city. Best of luck to your teams of choice!
