Projected Starting 5: Jameer Nelson (PG), Arron Afflalo (SG), Hedo Turkoglu (SF), Gustavo Ayon (PF), Glen Davis (C)
Overview: No offense to Orlando Magic fans if there are any left, but this team will be absolutely horrendous this year. To be honest I had no idea who their coach was so I had to look it up (Jacque Vaughn, a Popovich disciple so not bad) and then I looked at their roster and boy it does not look good. There are no all-stars on this team, not even a third best player on a championship team, or a young player for the team and fans to be really excited about.1 This team basically consists of a bunch of role players that will now have to assume roles that should not be given to them on this level of competition. Jameer Nelson congratulations you are now the superstar of this team, Hedo Turkoglu you're the sidekick, and Glen Davis you're the main interior post scorer...yikes. To go along with an identity crisis, this team also has no valuable trade assets to other teams besides JJ Redick, so even if they want to change the roster it won't be easy. The only positives I will give to this Magic team are Arron Afflalo who I absolutely love and will be solid for them, the fantasy values of their potential starting 5 only cause someone has to score, rebound, and dish, and their odds to draft Shabazz Muhammad or Nerlen Noel's high-top fade.2 Other than that, it's going to be a very long season in Orlando.
Player to Watch: Andrew Nicholson - Cause someone has to be anticipated right? I mean Nicholson had a solid summer league and has looked good in the preseason. Also he boosted his draft stock late last year thanks to the tournament, and who knows, maybe he's a late bloomer?
Things That Intrigue Me: The Record for Most Starting Line-Up Changes in a Season - I tried really hard to find the record and couldn't find it, but I'm pretty sure the Magic will have a chance to break it this season given its losses, potential trades, and potential injuries. It'll be really fun when people are raving about a 3-game winning streak led by a starting 5 of E'Twaun Moore, DeQuan Jones, Q-Rich, Gustavo Ayon, and Nik Vucevic...
Season Prediction: (12-70)
14. Cleveland Cavaliers
Projected Starting 5: Kyrie Irving (PG), Dion Waiters (SG), Alonzo Gee (SF), Tristan Thomas (PF), Anderson Varejao (C)
Overview: KYRIE IRVING, KYRIE IRVING... and KYRIE IRVING. Look I hate the Duke Blue Devils. I hate the players that come into the league from that school, but I love love love Kyrie Irving. He is without a doubt going to be a superstar and he already means everything to this franchise after just one season in the league. It surprised me just how good he actually was especially only playing 11 games of collegiate ball. Besides his incredible ball-handling skills, he's a clutch performer that is more efficient down the stretch, he is fearless attacking the rim and is an excellent finisher, and he has that confidence and swagger you want from your franchise player. Then there is the rest of his team...it's not much at all.Their bench is pretty eh...hey Boobie and CJ MIles! Sideshow Bob is their only solid frontcourt player while Tristan Thompson and Tyler Zeller still need time to develop. Dion Waiters who I have highly praised is a rookie so it will also take him time to adjust. This team has potential to be good. The pieces are there but they're just too young to compete. The losses will be plenty, but they will be very fun to watch this season mainly because of that backcourt of D-Wade 2.0 and Uncle Drew.Player to Watch: Dion Waiters - As highly praised as Kyrie Irving is, it's his new backcourt mate that will catch my attention for this season. I've claimed him as the next D-Wade numerous times and just read the paragraph on rookie sleepers right here.
Things That Intrigue Me: Kryptonite to the King of Flop - With the new flopping rules implemented this season how will it affect the way Anderson Varejao plays this season? Will he be an ineffective defender? Will his skills become obsolete and cause him to shave his afro?? I hope not.
Season Prediction: (25-57)
13. Charlotte Bobcats
Projected Starting 5: Kemba Walker (PG), Gerald Henderson (SG), Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (SF), Tyrus Thomas (PF), Brendan Haywood (C)
Overview: This is actually a team with a ton of talent that includes a mix of young talent and underachieving talent that will probably be very fun to watch. So then you ask why do I have them this low in the East? Well talent doesn't necessarily equate to wins in this league especially when the good talent I speak of is young (Kidd-Gilchrist, Kemba, Bismack) and the underachieving talent are the veterans (Tyrus Thomas, Ben Gordon, etc.). To add to that, Michael Jordan is their owner, and they are the Charlotte Bobcats. I do not care if Mike Dunlap is getting love as a potential good coach in the league, their front office is just bad.3 Kidd-Gilchrist will be a great NBA player even though he went to the one team I did not want him to be drafted by.4 I just think there will be way too much pressure for him to be a player he's not capable of being, an alpha dog superstar. Guys like Gerald Henderson, Byron Mullens, and Kemba Walker will have plenty of opportunities to prove they can be solid players in the league. A change of scenery might do Ben Gordon well and I see him having a 6th man of the year type of season. Ramon Sessions can be exactly what he was meant to be a behind-the-scenes solid 7th man. While I do not see Tyrus Thomas's tenure on the team lasting very long into the season. The future of this team can be bright depending on how the young guys develop, but currently I just don't see them with the right mix of guys to win now. Player to Watch: Bismack Biyombo - It's year two of seeing whether or not we have the next Ben Wallace. He's already getting high-praises as a defensive game-changer and the highlights should keep on coming. The one aspect of the game I'm focused on is his offense if has has acquired any this offseason. From the looks of his preseason...not so much, but it doesn't mean with more minutes and practice he won't get there and make a huge improvement this year.
Things That Intrigue Me: The Legend of Byron "BJ" Mullens - Ladies and gentleman Byron Mullens was the #1 ranked high school senior in the class of 2008 and once garnered praises as "the next Dirk Nowitzki," I kid you not. However after putting up these numbers in his lone college season, he disappeared into obscurity as a late 1st-round pick and sat on the bench for the Thunder his first two seasons in the league. Until last season, he joined the Bobcats and proved he can play a bit. He now plays on a team where minutes are plenty and he can now shine his hybrid pedophile stache/beard from arena to arena with a new array of three-point shooting this season and I'm a bit excited and you should be too.
Season Prediction: (30-52)
Projected Starting 5: Brandon Knight (PG), Rodney Stuckey (SG), Tayshaun Prince (SF), Jason Maxiell (PF), Greg Monroe (C)
Overview: This was really a toss-up of positioning between the Bobcats and Pistons, but I gave the Pistons a slight edge because...because...I don't even know. The Pistons have a roster of guys who have played longer together? They still have Tayshaun Prince? I don't know, but I actually think the Pistons roster looks a lot better than the mess they've had in the past few years. They've gotten rid of volume shooters the past few years (T-Mac, Ben Gordon, not Charlie Villanueva) and they finally have semblance of a team that is decent for Eastern Conference standards, but once again not good enough to compete for a playoff spot. I still like Brandon Knight and I think he will be better and so will Rodney Stuckey as an off-guard for another season. Tayshaun Prince has to be traded this year right?5 Greg Monroe will be underrated and undervalued again only because he plays for this team and I can just feel it, Andre Drummond will be a monster and eventually start at center with Monroe moving to the 4 when the year is all said and done. The bench is ok with Corey Spaghetti leading the way and Lawrence Frank is a decent coach. They'll be pretty bad this year, but they are on the right track to building a good team. They're a lottery pick contributor and Tayshaun Prince-trade away from getting there.
Player to Watch: Andre Drummond - The talk about Drummond is that he's a hit or miss. He's a physical specimen with very very raw skills that need a lot of work (no post game and needs to adjust to his physical gifts and game speed) clearly evident in his freshman year at UCONN. However the flashes of brilliance were shown as well with his ability to block shots, clean the glass, run the floor, and finish with strong dunks in the post. He's had a very impressive summer league and preseason and he reminds me and many of a young Amare Stoudemire. He's already a better defender than STAT at the tender age of 19 and now he just needs to work on his offensive game to become the potential superstar center he is capable of being.
Things That Intrigue Me: Where are the Rest of the 2004 Detroit Pistons Today? - Mike James, Rip Hamilton (Bulls), Chauncey Billups (Clippers), Rasheed Wallace (Knicks), Free Darko (Celtics) Ben Wallace, Corliss Williamson, Lindsey Hunter, Elden Campbell, Darvin Ham, (Retired)...and Tayshaun Prince is still a Piston folks.
Season Prediction: (32-50)
11. Washington Wizards
Projected Starting 5: John Wall (PG), Bradley Beal (SG), Trevor Ariza (SF), Trevor Booker (PF), Nene (C)
Overview: I really like this Wizards team. I like the offseason acquisitions of Trevor Ariza and Emeka Okafor, I like the drafting of Bradley Beal, and I still like their young prospects in Chris Singleton, Jan Vesely, Trevor Booker, and Jordan Crawford. The team has gotten rid of their most problematic players (Rashard Lewis, Nick Young, JeVale McGee) and now have a roster with a ton of depth ready to compete in the East, but they still concern me a bit mainly because the success of the team rests heavily on the shoulders of one guy who is also the team's... Player to Watch: John Wall - It's been John Wall since his rookie year, last year, and this year. It's the all important third year and it's time that Wall plays to the level he is capable of playing at and live up to the potential and special athleticism only two other point guards in the league were blessed with (see: Russell Westbrook and Derrick Rose). I know it's harsh to expect so much in his third season but D-Rose won an MVP in year 3 and Russell Westbrook was All-NBA 2nd team in year 3. Wall can be just as good if not better than both the guys I compare him to. He just lacks that killer instinct and work ethic the other two have. He's reckless on the court and seems complacent with his skill which won't cut it. He needs to have shown improvement in his game and work hard to be better. If Wall can have a breakout year I would not be shocked if the Wizards end up being the 7 or 8 seed in the East. The talent is there and it's only a matter of time that Wall becomes a superstar in this league right? Here's to hoping this is the year.
Things That Intrigue Me: Where is Eva Kodouskova? - Ms. Kodouskova as basketball fans remember is Jan Vesely's girlfriend and co-owner of the award for best kiss on draft night shared with hubby Jan Vesely. As of May 2012, they were still together. Apparently she plays basketball professionally in the Czech Republic and I really hope these two lovebirds are still together.
Season Prediction: (36-46)
10. Toronto Raptors
Projected Starting 5: Kyle Lowry (PG), Landry Fields (SG), DeMar DeRozan (SF), Andrea Bargnani (PF), Jonas Valanciunas (C)
Overview: Alright I remember last season not showing love to this team (ranked them 15th) at all and having Josh finish their preview, but after looking at their roster for the season I have to say, I am quite intrigued by the potential of this team. They have A LOT of depth and it's a very good mix of it. I love the Kyle Lowry trade and I apologize to him for overlooking and doubting his ability the last few seasons. He's a good point guard that can do everything and I'm convinced he'll be good for the team. Landry Fields was overpaid but he's a solid player that will continue to do Landry Field things (intangibles). As for their two "star" players, I think Andrea Bargnani will have a good season once again though he needs to crash the boards more especially since he is a 7-footer. He'll always be a good player but never the star 1st pick he was expected to be. As for DeMar Derozan I think it's time he becomes a 20-point a game scorer with an improving jump-shot that will lead this team into contention for the final playoff spot in the East. The pressure for the starters to succeed won't be high either because I really like their bench and the versatility of the lineups Dwane Casey will be able to put together. He has guys like Jose Calderon, Linas Kleiza, John Lucas, Terrence Ross, and Ed Davis that are interchangeable with the starters and will allow them to play any style of basketball. This team has the potential to be a League Pass favorite and will be much better than last season.
Player to Watch: Jonas Valanciunas - Watch the video. He's quite a character. Enough said.
Things That Intrigue Me: How Long Will It Take Before Vince Carter Joins Tracy McGrady in China? - For my real basketball fans that are my age and reminiscent of the late 90s early 2000s we all remember T-Mac and Vinsanity on the Raptors together and we all remember the greatest slam dunk contest performance ever.6
Both of those things mentioned were freaking awesome. As some of you may know, Tracy McGrady is on his way to playing in China this year and with Carter's game declining rapidly, it seems like it's only a matter of time before he joins his cousin overseas. China is a basketball haven for high-volume scorers that do not play defense and it won't shock me if T-Mac puts up 40 a game over there and I can't wait till he and VC are doing it together in China possibly next year. It would be sweet to bring back the good old days. Season Prediction: (40-42)
Projected Starting 5: Brandon Jennings (PG), Monta Ellis (SG), Mike Dunleavy (SF), Ersan Ilyasova (PF), Samuel Dalembert (C)
Overview: Sorry Milwaukee! I had to do it to you guys again. You're good and going to be better this year, but still not good enough to make the playoffs, sorry. The make-up of the Bucks this year really perplexes me because on paper they look like they're going to be a very very good team defensively (Dalembert, Udoh, Drew Gooden, John Henson, Joel Pryzbilla, Mbah a Moute, Marquis Daniels) but there is this problem that will affect their style of play which leads to this...
Player(s) to Watch: Monta Ellis & Brandon Jennings - I know this one is a cop out, but come on! Who else is there to enjoy on this team other than the Mississippi Missile and Gumby?? Mike Dunleavy? Ersan Ilyasova? Besides both these guys are high-volume shooters, and they're super fast with awesome ball handling and they're fun to watch! They're going to get a ton of buckets! Oh wait... that is where the problem lies. Their coach is Scott Skiles the ultimate boring, grind it out, defensive-driven coach and the make-up of the team besides its two best players caters towards that style. It's going to be great when Monta or BJ jack up a contested three within 10 seconds of a possession while allowing a fastbreak score after the miss and Scott Skiles can do nothing but play both these guys because they're his two best players and his only offense besides Ersan Ilyasova and an erratic Mike D. This team is going to be just wonderful.
Things That Intrigue Me: Where Did the Greatest High School Mixtape of All-Time in My Opinion Go?? - Please friends if you can find the high school mixtape of Brandon Jennings's 2006-2007 high school season at Oak Hill Academy courtesy of the good folks of Hoopmixtape I believe, I will love you forever. I can't find it. I don't know where it went but I miss it. It is a timeless classic. It will make you think you can dunk and break people's ankles even if you are a 5'9 Chinese boy that can only dribble right. Josh where did it go?? :(
Season Prediction:(41-41)
Back with the rest of the East tomorrow or Friday. Thanks for reading.
Footnotes
1 I like
Moe Harkless but he’s a project and there are some expectations for Andrew
Nicholson but still nothing great to look forward to.
2 Orlando
has a brand new stadium and is actually not a bad place to play so why wouldn’t
Stern want to help this team out after they were robbed in the Howard trade. arena
3 The last and
only time the Bobcats made the playoffs, their two best players were Gerald
Wallace and Stephen Jackson and you think that was a well-assembled team?
Michael Jordan is the GOAT as a player but as an executive/owner/GM, he is
atrocious. gifts
4 I
really wanted the Cavs to be the team. Kyrie and Kidd-Gilchrist would have been
very fun to watch.
5 I
couldn’t believe it when he resigned last year instead of going to a contender,
and I still don’t know how the Pistons have not traded him when they have three
other serviceable small forwards (Maggette, Jerebko, Daye) and a fourth! Kyle
Singler.
6 Jordan,
Dominique, etc. do not count because I’m a 90s baby and didn't witness it live,
sorry J-Rich.
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