22 Days: Pistons & Trailblazers Preview

Team 28: Detroit Pistons

Projected Starting Lineup:

1.) Brandon Knight

2.) Rodney Stuckey

3.) Tayshaun Prince

4.) Jonas Jerebko

5.) Greg Monroe

Key Reserves:

-Will Bynum
-Charlie Villanueva
-Corey Magette
-Andre Drummond

On paper, this team does not look bad. In the early 2000′s, this would have been a playoff team. Unfortunately for the 2012-2013 Pistons, that was the most diluted time in recent NBA history and they are playing in the most stacked NBA the league has ever seen. Brandon Knight is a scoring point guard and did a decent job averaging 12.8 points during his rookie season. He still needs a lot of work on the rest of his game. He is a below average on-ball defender, and a horrible facilitator who does not do anything efficient on the court. He posted a 1.7/1 assist/turnover rate and only posted an 11.79 PER, ranking him 242nd in the league. Like I talked about yesterday, Rodney Stuckey has always been an undersized combo guard who switched between the off-guard and point-guard. Now that it’s becoming common place in the league, he isn’t as out of place, but he also isn’t any good. Tayshaun Prince may be getting up there in age, but he is still a very versatile player who can defend multiple positions and score from the inside and out. There has been a lot of movement up in the motor city, so don’t be surprised if Prince is shipped off to a contender before the trading deadline. Jonas Jerebko is a nice player, but is much more suited coming off the bench as opposed to starting. If rookie Andre Drummond can channel is potential and become a legitimate center at a point in the season, look at him starting and Greg Monroe moving over to the power forward position. Greg Monroe reminds me a lot of Brook Lopez; he has a smooth inside game that doesn’t involve much physicality, a decent on ball defender who can occasionally block. The difference is, Monroe actually competes on the boards – averaging close to 10 a game last season. Their bench has some punch, but it comes to show that the lack of a superstar in this day an age will not allow you to compete on a large stage in the NBA.

Team 27: Portland Trailblazers

Projected Starting Lineup:

1.) Damien Lillard

2.) Wesley Matthews

3.) Nicolas Batum

4.) LeMarcus Aldridge

5.) Meyers Leonard

Key Reserves:
- J.J. Hickson
- Ronnie Price
- Jared Jeffries
- Joel Freeland

What happened to the Blazers team that had everyone climbing over their bandwagon not two years ago. Oh that’s right, knees. Greg Oden and Brandon Roy were supposed to be two cornerstones to this franchise and were forced to the sideline due to chronic injuries to their knees. What is left, is one All-Star surrounded by rookies and decent role players. Damien Lillard tore it up in the summer league, but how much can be expected from a guy who never played a ranked team throughout his entire college career? Now he is going up against the most stout group of point guards the league has ever seen. I think he will be solid, but I do not think he will be able to carry this team to the places many other believe they can reach. Their wing play is alright, both Matthews and Batum are solid defensive players who are athletic, but tend to be streaky when it comes to shooting – especially from deep. They do still have one cornerstone with LaMarcus Aldridge who reached his first NBA All-Star game just a season ago. He is a deadly mid range shooter who is fluid around the rim. He can shoot over both shoulders and can fade and score from both baselines. He has continually improved on his rebounding skills averaging eight a game. He still needs to improve in that area, as the focal point of their inside game, he has to average more than two rebounds a quarter. Myers Leonard came into the NBA as a project and will now be the starting Center for a team that has a very demanding fan base. All of this change has been the after effect of the teams firing of GM Kevin Pritchard, the man responsible for getting this team to the playoffs just two years ago. This team has a high upside and a high downside. They could end up being a menacing team, but more than likely they will sink underneath their inexperience.


Joshua Jackson


JoshJackson_TID

23 Days: Orlando & Charlotte Preview

Team 30: Orlando Magic

 Projected Starting Lineup:


1.) Jameer Nelson

2.) Aaron Afflalo

3.) Hedo Turkoglu

4.) Glen Davis

5.) Gustavo Ayon

Key Reserves:
-Al Harrington
-J.J. Reddick
-Josh McRoberts
-Nikola Vucevic

Where do you even start with how bad this team is? Not only is their starting line-up filled up with maybe one legitimate NBA starter, their bench is just as pathetic. Jameer Nelson simply put, is not good. He averaged 11.9 points last season and couldn’t get an assist-turnover ratio of 3:1, which is a necessary stat for a good point guard to reach. A large part of the reason he has became a “name” in this league is due to Dwight Howard, who will no longer be his alley-oop muse. Not only that, but he’s the only PG on the roster not named Ish Smith. Aaron Afflalo is a good player. He is an excellent on ball defender and has the ability to guard bigger guards like Kobe and smaller guards like Eric Gordon. He has decent range, but is very streaky from deep and is at his best working off the ball making rim cuts and coming off picks. The only problem is, with this roster Afflalo will be forced to become the focal point of this offense. Hedo Turkoglu is a washed up shooter who cannot shoot anymore. While averaging 10.9 points last season, he only connected on 35% of his attempts from deep, the lowest percentage he’s had since his rookie season in 2000-2001. Glen Davis is an undersized power forward who has shown an incapability throughout his career to shoot 50% from the field, shooting a career low 42% from the field last year. He is a liability on the defensive end as well as a below average rebounder for his position. Davis is in the running for worst starting PF in the league this year. Gustavo Ayon, the 6’10″ Mexican will be asked to play out of position for a team that has nobody to fill the position. I literally mean nobody. According to ESPN, this team does not have a single Center on the roster. Ayon is an above average back-up PF, but will struggle mightily at the Center position. He is a solid rebounder, but nobody in this front court has the ability to protect the rim. Expect the Magic to be at the top of points given up at the end of the season. First time coach Jacque Vaughn will have a lot on his plate throughout the season with this roster.


Team 29: Charlotte Bobcats

Projected Starting Lineup:

1.) Ramon Sessions

2.) Ben Gordon

3.) Michael Kidd-Gilchrist

4.) Bismack Biyombo

5.) Brendan Haywood

Key Reserves:

- Gerald Henderson
-Tyrus Thomas
-Kemba Walker
-Byron Mullens

Now, this team is nothing close to a good team that could be competitive this year. But my god, how much better is this team than last years team? It was well publicized that Charlotte was host to the worst NBA team in the history of the league last season. Michael Jordan has done a good job of making this team look more competitive, but not good enough to get them out of a chance at getting that lucky lottery ping pong ball. Ramon Sessions is a solid point guard who relieved Kemba Walker of his undeserved starting role. Sessions is much more of a pass first point guard who still has the ability to create off the dribble for himself. Ben Gordon adds a wing player who can stretch out the defense, shooting at a 43% clip from beyond the arc. He is a defensive liability, but with the league shifting towards smaller two-guards, he might have been ahead of his time. Either way, he takes the starting spot away from Gerald Henderson, the teams leading scorer from last year (I told you they were bad). The bright spot for Bobcats fans this year is watching the growing-up process for the youngest player in the league, the second overall pick Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. The motor and competitive fire for this kid were unmatched in college last season and he was a large part in getting John Calipari his first national championship. He can guard three different positions, be a menace in both offensive and defensive transition, and is an excellent slasher who can get to the rim. His shooting stroke is going to need vast improvement, but the energy he brings to this team will also lead to the Bobcats vast improvement. Their inside game is still suspect at best with a Russian Roulette of posts. Bismack Biyombo is an above-average shot blocker, but his one on one defense and overall offensive game need vast refinement. Brendan Haywood is not good at anything other than claiming that he is good at everything. Their back up post situation is just as rough with Tyrus Thomas who is an athletic specimen and nothing else and Byron Mullens who couldn’t find a spot on OKC’s 15 man roster just a season ago. They will be better than last season, but it won’t get them out of the basement of the league.

Joshua Jackson


@JoshJackson_TID

NBA Preseason Power Rankings

With training camps just getting under way and most rosters nearing completion, we bring you the first of many NBA Power Rankings. As we move towards to beginning of the regular season on October 30th. What we give you now is a quick breakdown of where we feel the teams will fall into place, as well as giving you the date in which we will dive into much greater depths. Tomorrow we will bring you our first installment, where we will look at the Magic and the Bobcats.

30.) Orlando Magic – See 2010 – 2011 Cleveland Cavaliers. (October 7th)


29.) Charlotte Bobcats – When you were the worst team in league history a year ago, getting up 
to 29th in the league is an accomplishment.  (October 7th)


28.) Detroit Pistons – Still feeling the effects of spending $20 million on Ben Gordon and the cancer patient formerly known as Charlie Villanueva in the same off-season. (October 8th)


27.) Portland Trailblazers – A far cry from being the sneakiest good team in the league, a title they held for three years running not long ago. (October 8th)


26.) Phoenix Suns - Not only did they lose the face of the franchise, they got pennies on the dollar back for him. (October 9th)


25.) Toronto Raptors – I like the Kyle Lowry signing, but there is not enough talent on the roster for them to be a serious threat. (October 9th)


24.) Houston Rockets – Come July, Houston might be reconsidering their Luis Scola salary dump in a failed attempt at Dwight Howard. Have you ever seen a team with 12 seventh men? (October 10th)


23.) Atlanta Hawks – Josh Smith and Al Horford are still beasts in the paint, but they might be starting the worst wings in the league. (October 10th)


22.) New Orleans Hornets – A solid young core centered around Anthony Davis and Eric Gordon, but will have a tough time controlling the paint with no true enforcer. (October 11th)


21.) Washington Wizards – A starting five of actual NBA players will allow the dumbest named team in the league to work some magic. (October 11th)


20.) Sacramento Kings – Still a team full of black holes who play as if defense is optional, but the rest of the league better not forget to box out against an inside tandem of Robinson and Cousins. (October 12th)


19.) Golden State Warriors – If Bogut can stay healthy, which he won’t, the Warriors might be a dark horse for the eighth seed in the West. (October 12th)


18.) Cleveland Cavaliers – Although I’m not buying into their last two #4 overall picks (Thompson and Waiters), I will always trust in Uncle Drew. (October 13th)


17.) Milwaukee Bucks (East #8) – Their top two guards (Ellis and Jennings) can light it up and speed up teams, but their third and fourth guards are Beno Udrih and Marquis Daniels – Yikes. (October 14th)

16.) Utah Jazz – Any teams that think it is a good idea to trade for Marvin Williams doesn’t deserve to make the playoffs. (October 15th)


15.) Dallas Mavericks (West #8) – An absolute shell of the team that won the title two seasons ago – but that’s what happens when you have to tape Shark Tank instead of meet with Derron Williams. (October 16th)


14.) Minnesota Timberwolves ( West #7) – Brandon Roy with a healthy knee could finally bring stability to the Shooting Guard position which has been unstable since the supremely unstable Latrell Spreewell. (October 17th)


13.) New York Knicks (East #7) – Supremely talented in the back court with Anthony, Stoudemire, and Chandler but will falter due to a starting point guard who looks like Cedric the Entertainer. (October 18th)


12.) Memphis Grizzlies  (West #6) – Losing O.J. Mayo will not help the Griz, a team that already digressed a lot from the team that made it to the Western Conference Semi-Finals two years ago. (October 19th)


11.) Indiana Pacers (East #6) – Supremely athletic on the wings, but the Pacers were too quiet in the off season to better their position in the league. (October 20th)


10.) Philadelphia 76ers (East #5) – A solid team who could not find a go to scorer.  Add the most skilled offensive center in the league and that weakness has become a strength. Will he mesh with Doug Collins? Larry David says Eh. (October 21st)


9.) Denver Nuggets (West #5) -  I may be ranking them too high based on how fun they will be to watch, but with Lawson and Iguodala running the break, this team will be very fun to watch. With Javelle McGee finally being matched up with a real coach, he might give them unexpected toughness in the paint. (October 22nd)


8.) Chicago Bulls (East #4) – How fast does Derrick Rose return from injury? Will he be 100%? Those two questions could be the only thing that matters for a team that completely revolves around his play making abilities. They still suffer from Carlos Boozer crippling contract and a huge hole at shooting guard, but if Rose comes back healthy, this position might seem conservative. (October 23rd)


7.) Brooklyn Nets (East #3) – I usually hate teams that come together in one off-season, but the pieces Brooklyn compiled are very complementary. D-Will as the primary ball handler, Johnson as the off-ball scorer, Wallace as the pest on the wing, Humphries as the dominant rebounder, and Lopez as the scoring threat on the inside. There bench is one of the worst in the league, but their starters should negate that weakness. (October 24th)


6.) Los Angeles Clippers (West #4) – The Lamar Odom signing allows one of the more rigid teams of the past season to become much more versatile. They can play small with Odom and Griffin in the post and not lose much. While I think they over-payed for Jamaal Crawford, he still gives them much needed punch from the wing. This is not even mentioning Chris Paul, the best all-around point guard in the league. (October 25th)


5.) San Antonio Spurs (West #3) - A year older, the Spurs will once again fly under the radar as a team to contend with in the playoffs. Duncan may be a broken down Hyundai compared to the Bentley he once was, but if Tony Parker can play at last years’ level, this team is still one of the few teams that has a chance to make it out of the crazy west. They still have the best bench in the league and the veteran know-how to make a run. (October 26th)


4.) Boston Celtics (East #2) – This team gave the Heat the best series last season, and have added more fire power to the roster. Jason Terry will basically be a wash to what Ray Allen has given them the last few seasons, and will not complain about coming off the bench. Avery Bradley has come into his own as a Bruce Bowen-esque menace that can hit the corner three. Uncle Jeff Green is back from a heart condition that caused him to miss all of last season. With Rondo, Pierce, and Garnett still playing at a high level, this is the second best team in the East. (October 27th)


3.) Los Angeles Lakers (West #2) – The only reason this team in not number one on the rankings is the egos that will now try and mesh and create a juggernaut. With Nash and Kobe running the back court, teams will have a very difficult time stopping them, but at the same time, those two player are not exactly defensive savants. Luckily they have Dwight Howard, the best defensive center since the Dream, to clean up the mess they are more than likely to leave. Will Kobe, Dwight, Gasol, and World Peace (all divas in their own right) be able to coexist? I guess only time will tell. (October 28th)


2.) Oklahoma City Thunder (West #1) – OKC is home to the best pure scorer the league has seen since Jordan and an athletic freak that has the ability to score at will. Either can put up 30 in a game without breaking a sweat. That is without mentioning James Harden, who came into his own as a scorer last season, and Serge Ibaka who became a premier shot blocker who is slowly gaining an offensive game. Kendrick Perkins will anchor the team at the Center position – a player that morphed from an amnesty candidate to a bonafide asset the day Dwight went to the Lakers. He is one of the few centers that can guard Superman straight up, and I do not think the Lakers will be able to guard OKC on the perimeter. They should be the team to emerge from the West. (October 29th)


1.) Miami Heat (East #1) – Simply put, LeBron James made the leap to a bonafide all-timer last season. They’ve added depth in Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis. Although they lack a true center who can tie his shoes, they are so good when they go small they force teams to shift to their game plan. Not only that, but in the words of D’Angelo Barksdale, “The king stays the king.” (October 30th)