NBA Preview Part 2

 

 

Here is the second installment of my NBA preview.  Today we hit on the Central Division in the Easter Conference and the Pacific Division in the Western Conference

 

Central Division

 

Detroit Pistons

Last Season: 59-23

Lost in Conference Finals to Boston Celtics

 

I and everyone else thought major changes would be coming to the Pistons last season, we were wrong.  They did fire head coach Flip Saunders and replaced him with the untested Michael Curry.  Curry was an assistant to Saunders last year and was a role player during his NBA career with Philly, Detroit, Toronto, and Indiana.  The move reminds me of the Mavericks swapping Avery Johnson in for Don Nelson.  The only difference is the Mavs did it during the second half of the season.

 

One thing I hope Michael Curry has the guts to do is give some of his young players more of a chance.  Amir Johnson, Rodney Stuckey, Aaron Affalo, Jason Maxiell all need to get more minutes even if it means taking time away from the starting five.  They are high energy players and Rodney Stuckey has the chance to be the sixth man of the year.  They also picked up Kwame Brown, the former #1 pick who has never lived up to expectations.

 

Cleveland Cavaliers

Last Season: 45-37

Lost in Second Round to Boston Celtics

 

Cleveland gave Boston the biggest challenge in the playoffs last year.  The question surrounding the Cavs is the same one that has been hovering over this team since LeBron James has been there; does he have the supporting cast to succeed?  They picked up Mo Williams in the off-season and I would not be surprised to see Mike Brown use Delonte West and Mo Williams in the same back court as long as West gets his head together.  Williams needs to adjust to playing without the ball and shooting as a spot up shooter.  LeBron James dominates the ball and Williams will not have it in his hands as much as he did in Milwaukee.

 

Sasha Palovic has to find the form that he had during Cleveland’s run to the NBA Finals two years ago.  I thought Palovic was one of the up and coming European players in the league, last year he took a step back. 

 

They drafted JJ Hickson out of NC State and Danny Ferry needs him to pan out.  Besides LeBron James, the Cavaliers have had some really bad first round picks since 2000.  Its not just Danny Ferry’s decision making under question, it was the people before him too, Chris Mihm, Dajuan Wagner, DeSagana Diop, Shannon Brown, and Luke Jackson is disgusting.  They did have a nice find in the second round two years ago with Daniel Gibson.

 

Indiana Pacers

Last Season: 36-46

 

Danny Granger and Mike Dunleavy showed improvement last year.  I do not feel the Pacers can be a playoff team with these two as their first two scoring threats.  They are nice players, but Granger is a side kick and Mike Dunleavy should be the third scoring option on legitimate teams. 

 

They traded Jermaine O’Neal for TJ Ford, one injury prone player for the other and the deal left Indiana very thin at the front line.  Rasho Nesterovic, Jeff Foster, Troy Murphy, and Roy Hibbert is very weak.  Indiana will not win the 36 games they won last year.

 

Chicago Bulls

Last Season: 33-49

 

The Bulls were the most disappointing team in the league last season.  They came into the season with expectations to go deep into the Eastern Conference playoffs and fell flat on their faces.  Former Phoenix Suns employee Vinny Del Negro was named the head coach; this will be his first NBA head coaching job.

 

The Bulls lucked out in the Draft Lottery and ended up with the first pick.  They drafted the hometown Chicago kid Derrick Rose out of Memphis.  With the injury to Larry Hughes, Rose will be asked to contribute right away.  Ben Gordon, Kirk Hinrich, and the Memphis product will rotate in the backcourt. 

 

Chicago has two very athletic, young big men who have not developed basketball skills.  Tyrus Thomas jumper improved last year, but he still did not make it on a regular basis.  Joakim Noah can get cheap buckets around the basket, but does not do much else.  They can not be on the court at the same time because they are both too much of a liability on offensive end.  Drew Gooden will be relied upon to be the inside scoring threat.

 

Milwaukee Bucks

Last Season: 26-56

 

 

Last year I was completely wrong about the Milwaukee Bucks.  I thought they were going to be much better than they were. 

 

Michael Redd has developed into one of the best scoring guards in the league.  He has averaged over 20 PPG for the past five years.  They picked up Richard Jefferson from the New Jersey Nets to give themselves another threat on the offensive end.  I expect RJ and Michael Redd to be a lethal scoring duo.

 

Andrew Bogut and Charlie Villanueva have the potential to be a nice C-PF combination.  Bogut is a good passing center, can shoot the rock, and has good vision.  Villanueva has scored fifty points in a game and can do everything you want out of a big man.  He has the ability to shoot threes (had seven in one game last season), face up, and back someone down.  Now Charlie needs to put it all together and play with effort on a consistent basis. 

 

The Bucks let Mo Williams walk away to the Cleveland Cavaliers.  Williams was not prototypical point guard, he was shoot first pass second.  Luke Ridnour, Ramon Sessions, and Tyron Lue will be asked to replace him. 

 

Pacific Division

 

Los Angeles Lakers

Last Season: 57-25

Lost in the NBA Final to the Boston Celtics

 

The Los Angeles Lakers did not make any major moves during the off season.  The biggest addition will come from within: Andrew Bynum.  Bynum gives the Lakers the ability to shift Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom to the four and three; the Lakers have the biggest and most skilled front line in the league.   Ohhh yea, they also feature one of the top three players in the NBA, Kobe Bryant.

 

LA has a very solid point guard combination.  Derek Fisher is steady and hits shots when given the opportunity.  He has tons of playoff experience and is a team player.  Jordan Farmar is a spark off the bench, pushing the tempo and bringing energy. 

 

With Phil Jackson leading the trip the Lakers will be ready for the playoffs.  Jackson uses the regular season as a tool to make sure every player experiences all different game situations.  The Zen master has no qualms sacrificing a game, to make sure each individual has the opportunity to get involved. 

 

Phoenix Suns

Last Season: 55-27

Lost in the First Round to the San Antonio Spurs

 

I did not like the Shaquille O’Neal trade when it happened and I still do not think it will pan out.  The reason for trading for Shaq was to put the Suns over the top and get them to the NBA Championship.  I remember Shaq sitting at that first game in the luxury box pointing at his championship rings and I do not think will see him add on to that total with the Phoenix Suns.  This Suns team has reached their peak.  When you have players thinking about purchasing other NBA Franchises, you know this is coming towards a last hurrah. 

 

I like the Terry Porter hire, he is a good coach, but needs players who fit his style of play.  Will the Suns be improved on the defensive end?  Of course, they were so bad last year on D that it could not possibly get any worse. 

 

Porter’s decision to move Grant Hill to the bench gives the Suns a solid nine man rotation.  I am not Matt Barnes fan, but as a starter he will be asked to play defense and not have to worry about scoring.  I watched Goran Dragic play in two pre season games, he has talent and will be good in time, but I think the speed of the game will give him trouble.

 

The Suns have two seasons left with this roster.  They have no flexibility till the 2010/2011 season.  I see the Suns being in the 5-8 range in the Western Conference Playoffs.  I think there are a couple teams that will pass over them and I do not think Phoenix is a true NBA Championship contender.

 

Golden State Warriors

Last Season: 48-34

 

Don Nelson has a lot of work to do with this Golden State Warriors team.  They lost their best player in Baron Davis and did nothing to replace him.  GS picked up Corey Maggette, Corey is injury prone and one dimensional.  I could see Don Nelson liking him because he has the ability to play shooting guard and small forward giving him flexibility with the line up.

 

Monta Ellis suspension really hurt the Warriors.  He was going to become the main ball hander on the team and the focal point of the offense.  His injury/suspensions also thrusts Marcus Williams into a more important roll, he showed flashes with the Nets, but was surprisingly more of a scorer then a playmaker.

 

In the last two drafts the Warriors have acquired Anthony Randolph and Brandan Wright (got him for Jason Richardson).  Two skinny, raw, talented players that need time to grow.  The Warriors understand they are not going to win a championship with this team and are looking to build for the future. 

 

Sacramento Kings

Last Season: 38-44

 

Reggie Theus did a great job of coaching last season.  To lead the Kings to 38 wins in the Western Conference was more impressive than making playoffs as the seventh or eighth seed in the Easter Conference.  Theus was able to get the most out of a team that was not as talented as the win total shows.  Kevin Martin is a good player, but not a #1 scoring option, Brad Miller is another year older, and they do not have a true low post threat.  For the Kings to take the next step the front office needs to bring in more talent.  They traded away Ron Artest and Mike Bibby bringing back scraps in return.  Sacramento is on the same plan as the Phoenix Suns; two years with this team and if it does not pan out the team will get a face lift for the 2010/2011 season when they are only on the books for $20 million.

 

Los Angeles Clippers

Last Season: 23-59

 

After a trip to the second round two seasons ago the Clippers returned to their lowly persona.  They let go of NBA Legend and decision maker Elgin Baylor and handed the reigns of the team to Mike Dunleavy. 

 

During the off season LA thought they put together the lethal 1-2 punch of Baron Davis and Elton Brand.  That dream came to a crashing halt when Brand decided to go to Philadelphia.  That did not stop the Clippers from improving their team; they acquired Marcus Camby for a second round pick.  Chris Kaman gives Camby the ability to not have to guard the other team’s best offensive big man.  He will be able to worry about help defense, rebounding, and not having to bang bodies in the middle. 

 

The Clip show is very deep at the SG and SF positions.  Dunleavy needs to figure out a way to keep Al Thornton, Tim Thomas, Eric Gordon, Ricky Davis, and Cuttino Mobley all happy.  I like Al Thornton and would play him over 30 minutes a game, use Eric Gordon as a scoring boost off the bench, and Tim Thomas as the back up SF.  Ricky Davis or Cuttino Mobley need to have their rear end attached to the bench.          

 

written by bryan