Minnesota Timberwolves will win the match at odds 2.90
Wednesday, October 14, 2015
10:14 PM
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Last season was one of the most interesting ones in the recent NBA history. Contenders were emerging left and right and it was interesting all the way to the finals. And it wasn’t just that the title race was close. MVP race was dead even almost till the acceptance speech by Steph Curry. Ohio native added a championship ring to the MVP title to tie off an amazing season for him and Golden State alike. The dark side of the last years interesting season was an unprecedented amount of serious injuries that plagued rosters all across the League. Some of those, like Durant's, changed the landscape and the outcome of the entire playoff tree. And some of them will be impacting this season as well, which is something every team had in mind during the trade window. Almost every team has had a significant roster change. Here is a quick summary of every team's roster movements. We will start with the Eastern Conference:
Atlanta Hawks
Losing DeMarre Carroll to the Toronto Raptors does hurt a team that admittedly overachieved during the first 60-win season in franchise history, but the vast majority of the key contributors are back. Once you throw in Tiago Splitter, Walter Tavares, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Justin Holiday, this team could feasibly be slightly more talented than the previous iteration. And they are motivated. The ridiculous number of injuries and missed open shots during the playoffs left a sour taste at the end of the Eastern Conference Finals. Mike Budenholzer's system will be even more familiar now that he has another year under his belt as a head coach. Jeff Teague, Kyle Korver, Paul Millsap, and Al Horford all return after making the All-Star team. Deep roster and motivation are the reasons why this team might go a step further this season.
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics aren't truly a team capable of winning a championship, but they're masquerading as such because there's a strong possibility they can advance to the playoffs. And once they're at that stage of the season, anything can happen, especially with Brad Stevens calling the shots. But the problem with the C's is simple. It's generally impossible to win without a superstar, and Boston doesn't have one. Though Marcus Smart, Jared Sullinger, Amir Johnson and others are all promising, some with more enduring upside than others, it's highly unlikely this team boasts so much as a single All-Star. Holding up the Larry O'Brien Trophy without representation in the midseason festivities is just about unfathomable.
Brooklyn Nets
Expectations for the Nets used to be about competing for the championship. Reasonable quest with the start power they acquired in a short period of time. But when asked what his expectations are for this year's group, head coach Lionel Hollins replied: 'To go out and be as good as you can be. Where that falls, we'll see when it comes to April.' Even if the three-man combination of Joe Johnson, Thaddeus Young, and Brook Lopez is enough to keep the Brooklyn Nets competitive on some nights, the utter lack of depth and the uncertain nature of the smaller positions will ultimately spell doom. Assuming that Jarrett Jack and Bojan Bogdanovic claim the final two spots in the starting lineup, the Nets will be looking at a second unit composed of Shane Larkin, Wayne Ellington, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Thomas Robinson and Andrea Bargnani. Every Nets fan will be going for soda breaks when this lineup steps on the court. Even if the Nets are as good as they can be, they're falling well short of a title. That much is already set in stone.
Charlotte Hornets
Can Kemba Walker become more than a high-volume point guard who shoots below 40 percent from the field? Can Nicolas Batum serve as the defensive stopper while Michael Kidd-Gilchrist spends six months on the sidelines? Is Frank Kaminsky ready to make an immediate impact? The Hornets were a popular pick to break out heading into the 2014-15 season, but the acquisition of Lance Stephenson backfired in a big way and doomed this team from the start. One year after winning 43 games and advancing to the first round of the playoffs, Charlotte regressed badly, finishing with only 33 victories. Unless everything clicks, it's more than likely the Hornets finish right in between the two previous outcomes. The Charlotte Hornets could be significantly better than many other bottom-feeders in the Eastern Conference, but they could also be much worse. While their competitors have plenty of known commodities on the roster, as well as a few upside plays, the former Bobcats are mired in uncertainty.
Chicago Bulls
Even though Derrick Rose is out with a left orbital fracture, the Chicago Bulls have talent galore. And with new head coach Fred Hoiberg calling the shots, they could get creative enough to maximize the strengths of Rose, Jimmy Butler, Pau Gasol, Joakim Noah, Nikola Mirotic and even Doug McDermott. Hoiberg's offense gets everyone involved, asking for plenty of screens in all areas of the court. Given the plethora of scoring options whose talents were mitigated last season on a route to a No. 11 finish on the offensive leaderboard, this is good news. If nothing else, it will allow for more depth on the wings. But the Bulls still have some major concerns that prevent them from rising any higher in standings. The frontcourt is composed of big-name players in Noah and Gasol, but they're not exactly in the midst of their athletic primes. Gasol did well this summer winning a Euro title and an MVP award, but NBA is a lot more physical and rough. Beyond that, there's a glaring lack of depth in the backcourt, especially if Rose can't stay healthy. Having Aaron Brooks and Kirk Hinrich serve as the primary backups isn't exactly a positive.
Cleveland Cavaliers
The persisting absence of Tristan Thompson (still without a contract), and the injuries to Kevin Love, Kyrie Irving, and Iman Shumpert are posting a big question mark over the fate of this season for Cavaliers. The lack of depth in the frontcourt is particularly troublesome, seeing as the Cavs are currently counting on Love, Timofey Mozgov, Anderson Varejao (coming off a ruptured Achilles) and Sasha Kaun. But they still have LeBron James, so it's not like they're going anywhere. They're the clear-cut favorites in the East, even with all the concerns, and they can afford to rest key players throughout the bulk of the regular season. Whether they're No. 2 or No. 6, it doesn't really matter. While the Warriors will have to navigate a Western Conference gauntlet that necessitates beating three strong teams just to reach the NBA Finals, the Cavs have their work lessened by the simple fact: they play in the Eastern Conference. Contenders indeed.
Detroit pistons
Now in his second year operating as both the head coach and general manager of the Detroit Pistons, Stan Van Gundy has managed to build a roster that's more tailored to his center oriented style, like in Dwight's era with Magic. In the Motor City, Andre Drummond is the new Dwight Howard. Around him, the Pistons have Reggie Jackson, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Marcus Morris and Ersan Ilyasova in the presumptive starting five, a group bolstered by the presences of Brandon Jennings, Jodie Meeks, Stanley Johnson etc.
That combination obviously isn't nearly on the same level as the Orlando one from Van Gundy's glory days. But it's another step in the right direction for a Detroit organization that is trying to get back into the playoffs for the first time since 2009, when they were swept out by LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. 
Indiana Pacers
The Pacers have something few other teams in their half of the league can claim, a superstar capable of performing like one of the Association's top 10 players. If George fully recovers from the brutal leg fracture he suffered last summer and regains his pre-injury momentum, he's a two-way stud capable of single-handedly winning games on any given night, against any given opponent. If George regains his form and is joined by a slashing Monta Ellis, an insanely underrated George Hill and a version of Myles Turner who plays like anything but a rookie, the ceiling is quite high for this gold-and-blue-clad team.
Indiana might not be the contender like they were prior to Paul's injury, but they are the team that can steal the playoff spot shot against any team in the Eastern Conference.
They will spell someone's doom in the playoff's this year and every team will be happy to avoid them.
Miami Heat
The Miami Heat roster enough big-name players that they feel like one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference. But even with a full season of Goran Dragic and a healthy Chris Bosh, they need to prove they can overcome the inconsistency of Hassan Whiteside, the inevitable absences of Dwyane Wade and the wear and tear Luol Deng is constantly fighting through after years of grinding away under Tom Thibodeau's supervision. Optimism is understandably reigning supreme in South Beach right now. The return of Bosh, the addition of Justise Winslow and the star-studded starting lineup (on paper) all demand those kinds of feelings. Chances are, this will be a very competitive team that gets better as the year progresses. But the Heat are far from perfect. They just might not be good enough to challenge the top spot in the Eastern Conference. Too much adjustment is needed, and too many question marks exist on the defensive end of this roster.
Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks find themselves in the same territory as the Boston Celtics, seeing as there's no true star you can point to on the current roster. But unlike the C's, this squad has plenty of contributors with enormous upside (Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jabari Parker, and Michael Carter-Williams), as well as two fringe All-Stars (Khris Middleton and Greg Monroe). Additionally, the Bucks have an identity. Under head coach Jason Kidd, this team has put together a swarming defense filled with lanky wingspans and players who are capable of switching on virtually every pick. Monroe doesn't fit in perfectly after signing a big deal during the offseason, but that's a sacrifice Milwaukee was willing to make, given the need for a go-to scorer in the post. Teams this young typically don't figure into the title picture, but the Bucks are talented and skilled enough on the defensive end that they could serve as an exception.
New York Knicks
New York Knicks improved substantially this offseason simply by signing a number of veterans who actually belong in the rotations of competent NBA squads. Arron Afflalo should settle in as a nice two-way wing who can line up at either the 2 or the 3. Robin Lopez is a tremendously underrated center who should bring a (hopefully contagious) defensive mentality to Madison Square Garden. Players such as Kyle O'Quinn and Derrick Williams could contribute to lesser extents. Add to that New York's two first-round picks. Jerian Grant should overtake Jose Calderon as the starting point guard rather early on, and Kristaps Porzingis' lanky 7-foot frame is bubbling over with potential.The combination isn't going to result in a team capable of challenging for supremacy in the Eastern Conference, but the playoffs no longer represent a pipe dream for the Knicks. They're still a ways off, but at least there's a legitimate reason for hope in the Big Apple.
Orlando Magic
Could this be the year that Magic makes a leap towards being a competitive team in the Eastern Conference? If Victor Oladipo continues knocking down outside jumpers and Elfrid Payton veers away from the Rajon Rondo school of nonshooting point guard development, there's a chance they actually could do it. After all, this team is brimming with unrealized potential, and simultaneous strides from all involved could make the Magic into one of the season's biggest surprises. General manager Rob Hennigan has done a great job acquiring young talent: Oladipo, Payton, Aaron Gordon, Tobias Harris, Nikola Vucevic and Mario Hezonja are all moving in the right direction. Given the youth of the nucleus, two steps forward and one back is the likely course of the rebuild process, but hey at leat they started to move forward. First, the Magic must develop an identity. Then, making the playoff push is a realistic possibility. Only after those two boxes have been checked can they begin thinking about a championship.
Philadelphia 76ers
Without Joel Embiid or Dario Saric, Sixers are going to war with too little to no star power. Jahlil Okafor could win Rookie of the Year while Nerlens Noel continues in the same manner as last year when he won Most Improved Player award, and they'd still struggle to remain truly competitive. Point guard is particularly problematic. Philadelphia will be attempting to get by with either Tony Wroten (fresh off an ACL tear), Kendall Marshall (still in possession of some upside), Isaiah Canaan or Pierre Jackson, and that's hardly something to brag about. The Philadelphia 76ers may be going in the right direction, but that doesn't mean they're anywhere close to competing for a playoff spot, much less a berth in the NBA Finals. They are still in the rebuild process and they still are pulling some confusing moves but hopefully, tanking days are behind them.
Toronto Raptors
Kyle Lowry, DeMar DeRozan, Jonas Valanciunas and virtually every other member of the Toronto Raptors core are still in place. But now DeMarre Carroll is coming to town after a breakout season with the Atlanta Hawks, hoping to help propel the Canadian representatives to the next level. Having DeRozan healthy for a full season should provide a boost, as should further development around the painted area from Valanciunas. Plus, the Raptors, only one year removed from posting the fourth-best offensive rating in the Association, will still be a fine-tuned scoring machine. Playoff spot is guaranteed for this roster and if they stay healthy and time the peak of their form just right, who is to say that they cannot play the conference finals this year.
Washington Wizzards
Not only do the Washington Wizards have one superstar in John Wall, but if Bradley Beal finally makes the leap, they could have two playing together in the backcourt. And just like that they can contest the best guard tandem (Curry and Thompson). That said, it's tough to bet on the Florida product making such massive progress in just a single offseason after injury-created stagnation early in his career. His reputation is currently stronger than his production, after all. The bigger questions exist in the frontcourt, where Otto Porter, Jared Dudley, and Kelly Oubre will need to replace Paul Pierce in a seamless fashion. Additionally, the aging bigs, Marcin Gortat, and Nene, must rebound from their late-season struggles and live up to their contracts if the Wizards are going to make any noise in the playoffs. Washington is the first team you could hypothetically wager on without simply wasting your money. But that still doesn't make this squad a good investment in the title race.
Eastern conference is still a weaker of the two and it will be interesting if the new season brings about a change in that situation. This year's Western Conference looks like this:
Dallas Mavericks
On paper, the Dallas Mavericks look like a collection of big-name players. Deron Williams, Wesley Matthews, Chandler Parsons, Dirk Nowitzki. But each of the four aforementioned names is far from a sure thing. Let's run through them one more time.
Williams hasn't played like an All-Star in years and the Brooklyn Nets flat-out waived him. Matthews is coming off a ruptured Achilles, a notoriously difficult injury to recover from, especially for a player who will be 29 at the start of the season. No one knows when Parsons will be healthy or why he's stopped developing. Nowitzki is clearly declining as time catches up to him. The Mavericks have so much pedigree here that it's impossible to overlook them. But they're still fighting an uphill battle and doing so with a terrifying lack of depth behind those expected starters, all of whom carry major question marks into the season.
Denver Nuggets
The lack of an established star makes it rather difficult for Nuggets to have the quality necessary to compete for a title. Though overflowing with high-upside prospects would change that, Emmanuel Mudiay, Jusuf Nurkic, and the others aren't quite enough to qualify as such. With Ty Lawson gone to the Houston Rockets, who's the best player on this roster? Danilo Gallinari and Kenneth Faried are the obvious answers. Danilo is coming off a long break after return from ACL problems, but he thrived at this summer's EuroBasket festivities. It is interesting to see how Faried is going to react to, hopefully, bigger playing time this season. With Mike Malone taking over as the head coach and attempting to find the proper balance between building a defensive identity and taking advantage of the Mile High City's altitude, this season will inevitably be about adjustments and growth.
Golden State Warriors
Until someone proves otherwise, the team that continues rostering the Splash Brothers and plenty of other positive contributors remains the cream of the crop in the Association. It's worth noting how ridiculously good the Golden State Warriors were during their run to the franchise's first title in 40 years. Although many have spent the offseason trying to poke holes in their resume, pointing to curiosities like all the injured point guards they faced during the postseason, this team should get the accolades it deserves in due time. Now the Warriors are ready to pick up where they left off. There were no huge departures during the offseason, and the arrival of Jason Thompson is actually going to make them even better. Confidence is sky high with this team, and with their game style, it should be if they want to repeat the last season.
Houston Rockets
If Lawson and Harden can co-exist, this team, which advanced all the way to the Western Conference Finals last year, just gets even more dangerous. That's by no means a guarantee, considering the bearded 2-guard is most comfortable running the show and the new floor general has never been asked to spend much time playing off the ball. Heading into the season, health serves as the only glaring weakness here. Dwight Howard hasn't exactly avoided injuries the last few years, and the power forward rotation is rather shaky. Terrence Jones suffered a number of maladies last season while Donatas Motiejunas is recovering from back surgery. If health issues fade into the background and this rotation is ready to go, it can compete with anyone
Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers took some gambles this offseason, and the cumulative impact should only make them even stronger. And they are already strong enough, seeing as Chris Paul and Blake Griffin will be rejoined by DeAndre Jordan after the ridiculous sequence that almost ended with the 7-footer jumping ship to the Dallas Mavericks. Out went Matt Barnes and in came Paul Pierce. But perhaps even more impactful are the additions of Josh Smith, Lance Stephenson, and Pablo Prigioni, all of whom are flawed players who can nonetheless help provide some semblance of depth in the Staples Center. We are looking at one of the league's best three-man nuclei and it's bolstered by a cast of valuable rotational players for the first time in a while. Let's just hope they all stay healthy.
Los Angeles Lakers
Health and the learning process? That's typically not the ultimate focus for a team with a championship in its sights, and it speaks to Bryant's grudging acceptance that this isn't a title-caliber team. He might not say so in as many words, but it should already be clear the Lakers don't have the high hopes typically associated with this franchise. Though Bryant can still explode in the scoring column, especially while surrounded by a few other intriguing pieces, a big question mark still remains. D'Angelo Russell is adjusting to the NBA after a rough go at it during summer league. Julius Randle is attempting to bounce back from the broken tibia he suffered during the first game of his rookie year. Jordan Clarkson is trying to prove he wasn't merely the product of opportunity. Roy Hibbert is fighting for redemption in a new location. Progress, not excellence, is all the Lakers can hope for.
Memphis Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies are trying to run it back one more time, rostering nearly the exact same core that played last season. Maybe having Jeff Green for a full season will benefit this squad. Maybe Jordan Adams will break out and give the Grizzlies the floor-spacing presence they so desperately need off the bench. Maybe Jarnell Stokes, JaMychal Green, and Brandan Wright can give the aged frontcourt a boost, keeping them incredibly fresh for the inevitable playoff efforts. Notice how the standard players weren't mentioned case there is no need for them to change anything in their game. They are already peaking and playing a 50-55 wins per season basketball. Memphis is not a top title contender but they are a force to be reckoned with, and misfortune of any other Western conference team could be their breakout chance.
Minnesota Timberwolves
With Ricky Rubio back in business and joining reigning Rookie of the Year Andrew Wiggins, there's plenty of intriguing talent in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. That's especially true when you throw Shabazz Muhammad, Tyus Jones, Zach LaVine, Nemanja Bjelica and Gorgui Dieng into the mix. Add to that the punch that Pekovic packs, and the commanding personality of Garnet, their games should be quite interesting. But while the 'Wolves should be a League Pass favorite and a constantly improving bunch, they have light-years to go before getting their hands on the Larry O'Brien Trophy.
New Orleans Pelicans
The unibrow big man is coming off a historic season in which he challenged Wilt Chamberlain, LeBron James and Michael Jordan for all-time single-season supremacy on the PER leaderboard. Now, he's adding even more muscle and is increasingly comfortable shooting from beyond the arc, which means he's going to make the NBA into his own personal playground as if it wasn't already. But the Pelicans are still about more than Davis, and the pieces surrounding him are only getting better. More importantly, they're healthy. We still haven't seen what the core of Jrue Holiday, Tyreke Evans, Eric Gordon, Ryan Anderson and Davis can do when everyone is able to step onto the court simultaneously for a prolonged stretch, and that offers the hope of plentiful untapped upside. Remember, betting against the New Orleans Pelicans is betting against Anthony Davis. You would have to be foolish to make it a habit.
Oklahoma City Thunder
Kevin Durant is back, and he won't be playing nice as he seeks to reclaim his spot atop the NBA hierarchy after an injury-plagued 2014-15 campaign. When we last saw this forward take the court for a full season, he won the regular-season MVP award. But Durant alone doesn't make the Thunder into true contenders. Once more, he'll be playing alongside Russell Westbrook and Serge Ibaka. Enes Kanter and Steven Adams make for a nice offense-defense tandem at the center position, and there's depth across the board. This roster is loaded with upper-tier talent and capable backups, which should put less of a burden on Durant than he's shouldered in previous seasons. OKC didn't make the playoffs last season, but unless that pesky injury imp decides to wreak havoc once more, they're a virtual lock this year. Now the Thunder can reasonably set their sights on a championship instead of just the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference they unsuccessfully chased during the last go-round.
Phoenix Suns
Without Goran Dragic and Isaiah Thomas, the Phoenix Suns backcourt looks a lot different than it did with a three-headed point guard monster heading into the 2014-15 campaign. But a different look isn't necessarily a bad one since both Eric Bledsoe and Brandon Knight are high-quality talents capable of playing the two backcourt spots. The big question regarding the faith of Markieff Morris remains. Even though Markieff Morris backtracked on his desire to leave during Phoenix's media day festivities, the outcome of this problem is still hanging and a similar situation surrounds the no. 3 spot. If T.J. Warren doesn't break out at small forward, a lot can still change in this Suns roster. Phoenix won't compete for one of the bottom spots in the Western Conference, but the lack of established talent and utter absence of continuity should also prevent it from actually going for one of the eight coveted playoff spots. Instead, the Suns are mired in mediocrity without much immediate upside.
Portland Trail Blazers
Now that Damian Lillard is the only incumbent starter, it's hard to imagine this team has enough chemistry and upside to make any semblance of noise in the loaded Western Conference. LaMarcus Aldridge? Gone to the San Antonio Spurs. Wesley Matthews? Attempting to recover from his ruptured Achilles, and doing so in a Dallas Mavericks uniform. Robin Lopez? Across the country and playing for the New York Knicks. Nicolas Batum? Traded to the Charlotte Hornets. Even if Meyers Leonard and Ed Davis suddenly spring to life as emerging NBA stars, it's likely that the Blazers end up adding the No. 1 pick of the next NBA draft to the 2016-17 roster. It's rebuilding time in Rip City.
Sacramento Kings
As much as the Kings deserve some mocking and laughter for the way they handled certain situations during the offseason, this is a potent roster. Rondo, for all the trouble he endured with the Dallas Mavericks, can still be a quality defender and distributor when he puts his mind to it, and the other major additions, Marco Belinelli, and Willie Cauley-Stein, above all else, do fill in some weaknesses. This team has a huge upside potential. But, with George Karl pacing the sidelines and big personalities such as DeMarcus Cousins, Rajon Rondo and Rudy Gay in the locker room, there's always a chance the Sacramento Kings go volcanic and are forced to start over from scratch. The offseason was filled with plenty of dysfunction, even if the front office still managed to acquire an impressive amount of talent.
There is much to be gained as well as lost for this organization this season. Kings can either be black sheeps or dark horses of the seasons. It will be interesting to see which path they choose to follow.
San Antonio Spurs
Faced with the prospect of watching Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili retire this offseason, they might have finally declined after years of rubbing shoulders with the NBA's best. Instead, Duncan and Ginobili are back...and they re-signed Kawhi Leonard to a big deal...and they stole LaMarcus Aldridge away from all other suitors...and they managed to convince David West to opt-out of his contract with the Indiana Pacers, throw away eight figures and sign a paltry deal in San Antonio. And they even brought Euroleague's MVP Marjanovic to tower over everyone. Fortunately for the rest of the NBA, the Spurs will need some time to adjust. Aldridge's ball-dominant ways don't make him a perfect fit in the offense Gregg Popovich typically runs though everyone involved is talented enough that it shouldn't be a problem. San Antonio won't run away with the West and win 73 games, but this will inevitably be another typically excellent team.
Utah Jazz
Boasting plenty of roster continuity, this franchise is bringing back all of the key pieces (save an injured Dante Exum), and the vast majority of them are young enough that they're still drawing from the seemingly limitless well of untapped potential. Rudy Gobert, Derrick Favors, and Gordon Hayward could all make some noise in the All-Star conversation while Alec Burks and Rodney Hood should look quite strong on the wings. During the second half of the 2014-15 campaign, Utah went 19-10 (a 54-win pace) while posting a ridiculous defensive rating of just 99. To put that in perspective, the Golden State Warriors were No. 1 on the season-long leaderboard, conceding 101.4 points per 100 possessions. The most honest statement that could be said about them this season is: Overlook the Utah Jazz at your own peril. I wouldn't bet many times against them this season.
Last year was one of the most interesting seasons in the recent NBA history, but that statement could also be true a year from now. Can Golden State repeat the last years season and defend the title? Can Bulls finally stay healthy and make a significant run in the playoff's? Is this they year when LeBron finally wins a title for the city of Cleveland? One thing is for sure: winter is coming and an interesting season is upon us.
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