10-7. Memphlandstonalas Grizzailblocketricks
Intrigue: AT - Match up any of these four teams in the playoffs for a seven game series and tell me which one is the sure favorite to win. You can't. The West is a blood bath and if these four teams somehow play each other in the playoffs you just can't predict what will happen. It's a toss up because they're so evenly matched. Memphis Grizzlies - Once again this team is going to grit 'n grind their opponents to death and it will work (7-1 so far). They won't be fun to watch but they'll be right in the thick of things come playoff time. I love the addition of Vince Carter and the return of Quincy Pondexter should spark some more offense, which is something they've always been missing.
Portland Trail Blazers - They were one of my favorite teams to watch last season and especially in the playoffs. They return the same starting 5 from last year, and are hoping LMA can take that high-level of play he displayed in the playoffs and transfer it all throughout this new season, leading them to heights beyond the Western Conference Semis. Lillard is also in year 3 and looking to continue smashing all expectations like he has been doing since he entered the league. The key is their bench contribution. They have one of the best starting 5's in the league and if some of the guys from the bench (McCollum, D-Wright, T-Rob, Blake, or Kaman) give them valuable minutes every night, they'll be one of the deepest teams in the league as well.
Houston Rockets - When I watched Harden and Howard play last season, there were moments where they were very reminiscent of a young Kobe and Shaq playing together before Phil Jackson. Harden will never be Kobe because of defense and Dwight will never be Shaq because he lacks the demeanor, but I think with the right group of teammates around them, a great coach, and a changed attitude from the both of them (caring less about themselves and more about the team), they could at least give us some semblance of that dynamic duo. The problem is the group around them isn't that great, their coach isn't very good, and we're talking about D-12 and The Beard (Those guys care way too much about other people's opinions). Their star power and ability alone will have this team in the playoffs, but they have to be disciplined and great as leaders to make everyone else around them better to put them over the top. They'll need the other "role players" to step up especially when a lot of them are inexperienced or Jason Terry at 37 playing important minutes. It's their time to value those guys and learn to use their abilities to make the entire team look good and not just themselves. It'll go a long way in fulfilling the success Daryl Morey envisioned when he brought these two guys to Houston, and it may also validate the point that maybe these two guys can be our modern-day Kobe and Shaq.
Dallas Mavericks - I think this Mavs team can be good, but I'm not as high on them as a lot of other people are. A large part of that has to do with the fact that it's not 2007 or 2008 anymore and it's actually 2014. I understand that their heavy lifters are Dirk, Monta, and Chandler Parsons, but there seems to be expectations for guys like Jameer Nelson, Devin Harris, Richard Jefferson, JJ Barea, and Tyson Chandler to play significant minutes and be the players they were two? three? four years ago?...That's unrealistic for all those guys minus Chandler, who hopefully can give them a little bit of the 2012 version to anchor their defense. Their offense will be great as long as there's a healthy Monta and Dirk, but getting better on defense is what they need to improve on this year. There's no doubt that they'll be a very good team and get better as the year progresses, but I think at their best they're only slightly better than last year.
JL - Umm... whatever Anson said, I guess. Just follow along.
Memphis Grizzlies - Grind House - The Memphis Grizzlies are becoming the same as the Spurs to a certain extent. No, this doesn't mean they're as good as the Spurs. What it does mean though, is that the Grizzlies are one of a handful of teams who give you the same exact product year in and year out. You already know what this team is going to do. They're going to defend, they're going to the post, and they're going to play a physical brand of basketball. If you don't like that, then maybe this isn't the team for you. What I will say is that while it's not the most beautiful thing to watch in the NBA, it gets results and we should all appreciate this old-fashioned style of basketball while it's still around (In the 80's and 90's, big men were everything).
Portland Trailblazers - Fluke Season? - The Blazers started hot last season. Really, really hot. To the tune of 36 and 9. There's no way the Blazers replicate that this season, but they are still a really good team that will be in the playoffs come spring time. The difference between last season and this season is that no one is overlooking this young Portland team. They're taking them for what they're worth. Was last season just because of the fact that they got to a hot start? Not exactly. The Blazers are good, but are they contenders? I don't think so, but they're a very good team that has one of my favorite players to watch in the league: Damian Lillard. It's year three for Lillard, and the third or fourth year for most NBA players give a tell-tale insight to how their career is going to look. It's going to be interesting to see how the Blazers stack up in a very loaded Western Conference. LaMarcus Aldridge is coming off a career year, and some people are saying he's the best power forward in the league. I'm not exactly buying that just yet. He's going to need to have another 22 and 11 season before I'm convinced. The Blazers are going to have a chip on their shoulder, but from the way I see it, that's just how they want it to be.
Houston Rockets - Houston, You Are The Problem - This year, there's no Lebron James-led Miami Heat super friends team. What does that mean? It means two things: the East is balanced this year and that there's an open spot for a new NBA villain. Let me explain. For the past four seasons, the Heat have been the team that everybody loves to hate. Everyone hates the teams that are just too good for no reason. This year's villain? The Houston Rockets. "Dwight Howard left every team he's been on, and he's a prima donna who won't ever win. James Harden can't play defense for his life." That's the type of commentary that every NBA fan leaves with this team. This is the new team to hate. Why? I don't really know. Because Darryl Morey seems like a prick? Because Harden and Howard left mean comments about their teammates? There's just so many things to hate about this team, right? That being said, you can hate all you want, but the Rockets are dangerous basketball team. People love to hate teams that are just flatout good. Was anyone hating on the Rockets before Dwight got there? No. Is there anyone that hates the Lakers right now? No, not really. The Lakers aren't good enough to hate. People tend to hate on the success of others. The Rockets are legitimate contenders and they'll be there come June, whether you like it or not.
Dallas Mavericks - Reloaded Guns - The Mavs are a good team every year, but let's be honest, no one expected them to push the eventual champs to a 7-game series. The Mavericks exceeded expectations last season. The only reason why they even did that was because of Rick Carlisle. Carlisle is a great coach who coached the Mavs just as well if not better than Popovich in that Spurs series. In spite of all that, they were just outmatched. The Spurs had the better team and won. Fast forward a few months to the offseason. For the past four summers or so, they've struck out on buying a super star in free agency. This season? They didn't acquire any super stars again. But! They did acquire talent. They lost Vince Carter, but replaced him by acquiring a handful of respectable veterans (Aminu, Barea, Tyson Chandler, Jameer Nelson, fat boy Felton, Richard Jefferson, and Charlie Villanueva). That wasn't even the biggest thing that they did. They somehow managed to pull away Chandler Parsons from Houston. Parsons is a very good player who plays pretty well on both ends of the court. For the first time in a while, Dirk's surrounded by some very solid talent.
Players to Watch: AT - Mem: Vince Carter - The signing of Vince Carter in my opinion is so underrated and so important for this team. This may be the deepest team in the Grit 'N Grind era and signing Vince has a large part to do with it. With Courtney Lee, a healthy Quincy Pondexter, and VC they may have a scoring trio of role guys they've so desperately needed and lacked since 2011 (Mayo, Vasquez, Battier). As VC has aged and lost some of his athleticism, he's adjusted his game very well, and he'll need to adjust again this time for a significant role as the team's 6th man. He's still capable of putting up 25 on a given night and I think he's very capable of contributing to a deep run towards his first NBA title.
Por: The Bench Unit - Like I said earlier, anybody that can contribute will be a blessing for this team. McCollum missed a ton of games last year so he has something to prove especially since he was a high draft pick. T-Rob is in the same situation and he's playing for a new contract. While Kaman, Blake, and D-Wright need to prove they can still produce in this league after sub-par seasons last year.
Hou: Trevor Ariza - (Small take on Chandler Parsons first) People gave Daryl Morey a lot of flak for not matching the Mavs' offer for Chandler Parsons and instead choosing to sign Ariza. Honestly, I didn't mind that decision at all. While Parsons is a good player that has only improved, and is three years younger, I think we tend to overvalue him because when considering his production the last few years at a price of less than $1 million/year it is phenomenal. That value changes however when the production comes at a cost of $15 million/year instead. That's borderline all-star/DeMarcus Cousins' money for someone who I quite frankly think won't ever be an all-star. He's at best a third banana on a championship team. I also don't think the trio of he and D-12 and Harden would have won a championship, and they would have had to pay him $15 million more per season. The only way I would have re-signed him for that price was if Bosh came on board but that didn't happen...
As for Ariza, his contract is at a reasonable average of $8 million/year and it decreases annually. The only problem I have with it is that it is for four years, but the four years will run through his prime. There are concerns that he won't show up because it is not a contract year, but I actually think his lack of production in non-contract years had to do more with an unfit role. His worst seasons recently came the year the Hornets traded Chris Paul, and his first year on a young Wizards team that wasn't ready yet. They were expecting him to be one of the best players, but at best he's the fourth banana on a very good team (See: last Lakers season, previous Rocket stint, and last Wizards season; he's 3rd banana with these guys). There is more upside potential to Parsons's game, but the early samples (ignore his last two games) have him currently outplaying the guy he was brought into replace (and yes it's early and things can and will change), and Ariza seems capable of filling most of that role that was once for Parsons. He'll be a fine contributor and an x-factor throughout the year. Also at a much smaller price, he offers the team more flexibility for the future.
Dal: Monta Ellis - I'm happy for Monta, and I'm happy he's happy on the Mavs. He's actually been great for them and he's worked very well with Dirk as his sidekick. Another year playing with Dirk, and the addition of Chandler Parsons, could mean a monster season is on its way. He's always been fun to watch but I think he's now getting the respect he deserves as not only one of the leagues' best scorers but one of the leagues' best players overall. He's found a coach that is willing to tweak his system for him and he's matured and improved along the way. In the summer of 2013 Monta needed the Mavs to help him grow into his game while the Mavs needed him to be something more than a consolation prize in a failed free agency coup. Their gambles have paid off. I'm glad it's worked out.
JL - Mem: Mike Conley - One thing about the Grizzlies is that no one outside of Tennessee really ever cares for them or pays attention to them. I'm sure they appreciate that to some degree. One guy on the team has slowly become one of the top, young guards in the NBA. His numbers are never flashy, and he might not even ever make an All-Star team, but here's a guy who's always consistent. I really like Mike Conley's game. It's simple and, like his numbers, is never too flashy. Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol do the same things every year and garner most of the attention (if any) in Memphis, which is understandable. They both average about 17 and 10 each year, but Mike Conley is the guy you need to watch for. Last season, he had the best season of his career, statistically. Watch for him to maybe help this Grizzlies team to the next level. You know they're gonna make the playoffs, but how far are they going to go? That all depends on how much better Conley has gotten.
Por:
Hou: Isaiah Cannon - I like this kid. He's a tad bit strange looking with the weird tattoos, chubby figure, and ugly haircut, but the dude can ball. He's a straight bull. He reminds me a lot of Kyle Lowry. He'll dominate you in a physical matchup and he's not afraid to back down from anyone. Despite being a bit bigger, he's quick. Really quick. I think in the years to come, he'll overtake Beverley as the starter for the Rockets. His game's nice. Cannon's only in his second season, but I know he's going to be a good player. Beverley is obviously a lot better right now, but he has a limited ceiling that I'm certain Cannon's going to surpass. He didn't get too much playing time last season because he was buried in the Rockets point guard rotation behind Lin and Beverley. He was dominating in summer league, and while summer league isn't quite an indicator for whether a player will have a successful NBA career, I believe in him. With Lin gone, he's going to get plenty of opportunities this season to show what he's worth. Keep a tab on him.
Dal: Tyson Chandler - Dallas did surprisingly well last season. No one expected them to push the eventual champs to a seven game series. I wasn't even expecting them to make the playoffs. I thought the Suns would catch them. It's important to keep in mind that the Mavs did this without having any real inside presence. Their two starting bigs were Dirk and Samuel Dalembert. If you're trying to win a championship, Dalembert is definitely not the guy you should be starting unless you're in some league in China or something. Over the offseason, the Mavs traded for Chandler, but it's important to see which Chandler turns up this season. Last year, Chandler didn't do much for the Knicks and was definitely not the inside force that we're accustomed to seeing every year. He played poorly and the Knicks suffered a great deal because of it. I'm confident he can bounce back playing with a group of veterans and playing in a new but familiar setting. If Tyson Chandler can be 70 to 80 percent of what he was during the Mavs lone-championship season, the Mavs are going to be a completely different team (as opposed to a team without such said player). The Mavs need him in order to make any type of post season noise.
Personal Take: AT - I'm pooped talking about four teams in one. I'll give you:The Most Unfitting Players to Suit Up for These Franchises in Their NBA History in Anson's Opinion:
Mem: I mean when I think of the Grizz, I think of Z-Bo and Marcus Gasol, and even dating back to their Vancouver days, Shareef Abdur-Rahim, and "Big Country." I can even see baby Mike Bibby running that squad, but you know what point guard I didn't like running that team? Jason Williams. That picture is just awful. He doesn't have hair anymore and he refuses the full bald look, he's not wearing a King's jersey, there's no purple hyperflights on his feet, and he's playing on the most boring team in the NBA...I don't like it.
Por: It's hard to find a perfect fit to don the Rip City threads like the captains of the Jail Blazers, but the absolute worst fit without a doubt was: Scottie Pippen. He may have fit into the black/red color scheme like the Bulls but they're not the Bulls. He also lost his goddamn sense of style without MJ channeling his inner-Rasheed with a headband and cornrows on occasion. Just like Mike had the Wizards era we can't forget (which we'd like to forget), Scottie had the Blaze era (same applies).
Hou: Charles Barkley - It was actually the only live image I ever witnessed in my life of Chuck but I don't like it. He will always be a Sixer and a Sun. That's where he played his best ball, and the Rockets-era was just too similar to all the old stars signing with a team to try and win a ring (a la Karl Malone and Gary Payton gross, etc.). The round mound of rebound was still productive on the Rockets and I can't knock him for going after the ring, but I just don't like him in that Rockets jersey.
Dal: I could go with the Rodman, but I'm going to go with: Derek Fisher. Not only was his stint there forgettable, but it was short (9 games) and ended due to a fishy reason (Hehehe unintended pun until I reread what I typed.). Although he made contributions on other teams like the Warriors, Jazz, and Thunder, I could only see him don the purple and gold. Any other team and it just isn't right, especially with the Mavs.
JL - Mem: Remember when the Grizzlies moved to Memphis and got rid of their awesome jerseys? Yeah, me too. I guess the light blue and silver is working for them since they're winning ball games, but let's just take a look back at these jerseys and remember how beautiful they were. And yes, that's Mike Bibby on the Grizzlies. A bit cringe worthy since his career didn't really start until he got to Sacramento. Then again, Bibby's career was really only noteworthy while he was in Sacramento... Either way, those jerseys are still great.
Por: Another player appreciation post?! Okay! Sounds great! So, in the Hornets preview, I talked a little bit about how much I love tiny players and Muggsy Bogues right? Same thing with Damon Stoudamire! I'm aware that everyone thinks the Jailblazers era and the era right before that was the worst time to be a Blazers fan, but I beg to differ! Let's just think about their team really quick. You got Damon Stoudamire, Derek Anderson, Rasheed effing Wallace!, Arvydas Sabonis, and a dying Scottie Pippen! Sounds pretty great to me! I loved that team. I truly believe that Arvydas Sabonis was the most skilled big man to ever play the game of basketball. It's just a tragedy that he wasn't allowed to come over and showcase his talent in the NBA until he was well past his prime. Still don't believe me? Watch/click this. Yes, I've linked it three times in a row, but that's just because I really want you to watch it. Damon Stoudamire was just a blur on the court and was pretty exciting to watch. The dude was only 5'10" if even that. But that's not even the best part about that team. It was Rasheed Wallace, hands down. I loved Sheed when he was a Blazer. He went on to become a relatively mature person and won a chip with the Pistons, but I thought he wasn't as fun by that time. In the original NBA Street game, KG's on the Timberwolves, Shaq and Kobe are on the Lakers, and Sheed's on the Blazers. So, that's all that matters. But then again, Jordan's a Wizard in that game. Ehh... whatever I guess. Air Force Ones and "ball don't lie!"
Hou: Yao Ming, Yao Ming, Yao Ming... Yao Ming, Yao Ming! Just kidding. I don't have any interesting stories to tell about the Rockets. Everyone knows about Tracy McGrady's legendary 13 in 35 seconds so here's a video of the Rockets mascot scaring people.
Dal: Lately, I've been debating which Dirk haircut was the worst one of his career. Or rather, the second worst. We all know there's nothing that beats this one. So here's three other options: hairstyle one, hairstyle two, or hairstyle three. They're all kind of cool, I guess? I don't know too many other seven foot Germans that could've pulled it off. Then again, I don't know of any other seven foot Germans.
Where They Will All Be Come June: AT - These guys will unfortunately be the 8-5 seeds in the West. One will at least be able to have home court advantage in the first round (most likely Portland because division title) due to the unfortunate circumstances that have plagued OKC early on in this season, and might possibly avoid playing the teams in the conference ranked ahead of them. That doesn't change the fact though, that when the top eight teams in the West are at full strength, these four will not beat the other four teams ranked ahead of them regardless of seeding. They'll all put up a valiant effort in their first round match-ups but I have all four of them out. They just have to hope they end up matching up against each other.
JL - I have no doubt in my mind that these teams are going to make the playoffs. I just honestly don't know where they'll be or how they'll stack up against each other. The West is such a wash. It's really difficult to decide where they'll be come June in terms of seeding and how far they'll get. A lot of things can change between now and then, but if I absolutely had to rank them, it'd be as follows (best to worst): Mavs, Blazers, Rockets, and then Grizzlies. Or… I think that's how I would do it? I'm not even sure. I just know the Mavs have the best owner and made huge improvements in the offseason, the Blazers beat the Rockets last season, the Rockets lost key players from last season, but are the only team with a bonafide superstar (two at that), and that the Grizzlies have their own brand of basketball. I really don't know. Rank them however you want because there's really no wrong answer.
6. Golden State Warriors
Intrigue: JL - Splash Bros. & Barnes and Iggy Entertainment - Welcome to the greatest show on earth. Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson bring something to the table that's unrivaled and unlike anything in the history of basketball. Throw in some flashy Iguodala passes, a Bogut altercation here or there, and some Harrison Barnes mail bags and you've got yourself the greatest thing to hit the bay area (basketball-wise) since Run TMC. In fact, this core group of guys has a chance to be bigger than Run TMC. Call me crazy, but it's true. You have to remember that Run TMC was only together for 3 years because of the Mitch Richmond trade. Klay finally got an extension and you know the Warriors are going to do anything retain Steph. Steph and Klay made huge improvements in the offseason. Klay finally, finally, finally learned how to dribble a basketball, and Steph made a huge leap on the defensive end. He's currently leading the league in steals, and while steals aren't exactly any way to measure a player's effectiveness on defense, he's gotten these steals in the scheme of their defense. If you watched the game against the Suns or the Clippers, you saw that Steph shut down CP3 and Eric Bledsoe - two very dangerous players on offense. Expect the Warriors to keep their core together for a long time. Speaking of which, t's the first time in a very long time that the Warriors are legitimate title contenders. I know the '06 - '07 Dubs were great, but they only made it to the playoffs once as 8th seeds. By the way, I love the moniker "Stephlon Don."AT - Playing with Legitimate Title Expectations in the Steve Kerr Era - (This preview is more like an analysis of the team now, sorry.) They possess the deepest roster in the NBA. They have a legitimate coach now (especially Alvin Gentry and Ron Adams as offensive and defensive coordinator). They might be the most fun team in the league to watch. Most importantly they have realistic title potential. The Warriors aren't just a good team this year, I think they are great (or will be great). They won't just be known for their high-powered offense, but their defense will impress too (evident already). I've always tried to temper expectations for teams I really like, but for the Warriors their time is now. Steph Curry may possibly win his first MVP and his compliments are very good. Klay and Bogut I will get to in a bit, but Draymond has lost weight? (well he looks in really good shape) and improved that shot a lot to make him "stretch-4" worthy and starter-worthy. I'm all for Iggy (well if he keeps playing hesitant then no) off the bench if it means benefiting Harrison (eh...remains to be seen as well) and D-Lee coming off the bench I am definitely for as well. Fetus is back! And Livingston (length! and allows Steph to play the 2-role while defending the other 2!), Barbosa (Blur.), and Rush (hopeful 3-specialist) I dig for added depth. Oh and we still have Flo Rida's brother for some banging in the post and numerous irrational mid-range jumpers. They are 11-deep yall. They have the chemistry. They will only get better as the season progresses, and if they stay healthy and avoid a catastrophic injury (*fingers crossed*) they may be able to validate my expectations and some experts' as well (Shout out Marc Spears and Woj!).
Players to Watch: JL - Harrison Barnes - Let me start off by saying that the outcome of the Warriors season won't be based entirely off how Barnes performs, but it would definitely help their chase for their first championship in 40 years. But in order to look forward, we need to take a look back. In the 2013 playoffs, Harrison Barnes played a huge role in the Warriors post season run that pushed the eventual Western Conference champs (should've been Finals champs), the San Antonio Spurs, to the brink of elimination. I know that the Spurs won in six games but if the Ginobili didn't hit that three at the end of game 1, it would've been a 2 - 0 lead for the Dubs and could've maybe changed the complexion of that series. This season, Barnes finally has a secure role as a starter, and I'm expecting big things from him. Last season, we saw a confidence depleted Barnes play uncomfortably in an iso-heavy offense where he was the focal point of the second unit. This season with Kerr's new motion offense, Barnes should be able to be flourish as a fourth option doing what he does best: finishing near the rim off cuts and hitting open jumpers.
AT - Andrew Bogut - With him on the court the Warriors are a completely different team. They go from decent playoff team knocked out in the first round without him, to championship contender with him. He is not only the best rebounder and defensive anchor of the team, he is also an underrated passer and a key facilitator of the offense. This season he's gotten more responsibility on the offensive side and they've run a lot of plays through him (replication of Spurs offense). On many occasions he gets the ball at the top of the key and guys either rub off him for a hand-off or cut towards the bucket for a pass to lay-up, or he's looking to dish to a teammate coming off a pick on the wings or on the baseline. He's also allowed to push the ball up after the rebound if necessary. As long as Bogut is playing during the playoffs at full health, we will finally reap the complete benefits of the Monta trade. He has to stay healthy all season. Pray he stays healthy all season. He has to stay healthy all season. PRAY HE STAYS HEALTHY ALL SEASON. Repeat.
Personal Take: JL - I've been a Warriors fan my entire life. For this one, I want to give a shout out to the guys that "led" us through tumultuous times as the team stuck in the basement and the laughing stock of the NBA. Here's a special shout out to you, Mike Dunleavy and Troy Murphy, to leading us to multiple 20 win seasons. We definitely couldn't have done it without you two starting. I appreciate the effort. You know what? For the first time since Baron Davis, the Warriors have a real point guard! It's exciting, I know! No more Speedy Claxton or DeMarcus Nelson or Marcus Williams! It's great! It shouldn't go unnoticed just how bad the Warriors were. I remember going to a Warriors game when I was younger, and we played the Clippers. We ended up losing the game by about 30-something to the Clippers. The Clippers weren't good! They had Marko Jaric, Michael Olowakandi and Corey Maggette starting... Losing to them by 30? That's just a bit much. The best part about going to Warriors games back then were seeing players on the other team or getting something signed by Adonal Foyle. Shout out to Adonal. The dude literally signed everything that was handed to him. I appreciate it, but that's how bad the Warriors were. The only bright spot about the Warriors between the years 2000 and 2010 were the one We Believe season and the Jason Richardson dunk contests. That's it. We're finally near the top, and all those bad years only make it that much sweeter. Thanks for everything, Danny Fortson. You were great. You too, Mike Montgomery. Not really. Last season, the Warriors lost a winnable (*cough*Bogut*) seven-game series to the Clippers, and it hurt. But it definitely didn't hurt as much as knowing your favorite team had no future. I wouldn't trade last year's team for any of the Mike Dunleavy led teams. But here's all those awful Warriors team and the golden years.
AT - This one is quite long and I apologize but it's been on my mind since the summer so it was time to get it out. Bear with me please!
Klay Thompson or Kevin Love? - During the summer one of the most exciting storylines that potentially could have happened but never came to be was the Warriors acquiring Kevin Love. There was mutual interest for an exchange of players between the teams, but one team desired one player so much that without acquiring him, the deal wouldn’t be made, while the other team persistently would be unwilling to include him in the deal thus making it null and void. That guy of course was Klay Thompson and it began to spark a huge debate between fans and experts with the question: Would you trade Klay Thompson for Kevin Love?
I understand why the Warriors didn’t pull the trigger because
Thompson is beloved by his teammates, maintaining chemistry is very important,
and they couldn’t piss off their superstar with another decision he would not
have approved. The deal would have also included David Lee, a veteran leader of
the team and one of the most-liked guys on the roster. Ensuring a happy roster
is key to success and as I’ve stated already, the Warriors are still a
championship-caliber team despite not making the deal.
HOWEVER, I also live by the rule of taking the quality big
man over the quality guard any and every time especially in this situation. Thompson
is a talented player that is improving and he probably is the second best
shooting guard in the game (Did I just offend D-Wade?), but his talent isn’t on
the same level as Love’s. This one is probably going to make some Warrior fans
mad, but Thompson is Kevin Martin with better defense (Peep the stats! At age
24 Martin’s numbers are identical to Thompson’s hot start to this season. Klay’s
24 this year btw). Thompson’s success can also be attributed to the fact that
he plays on a team with a lot of other good players which allows him to only
have to play a certain role fit to his strengths (shoot and defend the best
guard on the opposing team). Could you see Thompson as an alpha dog with more responsibilities
in Minnesota, putting up the same numbers and earning the same praises with the
players on that team? Could he lead those teams previously headlined by Love to the
playoffs? I doubt it. At best Thompson is an all-star (Only Monta, Kobe, and
Harden stand in his way in the West) capable of dropping 40 on a great shooting
night, but he has to be on the right team that plays a certain style. He also
plays a position that is replaceable (Let’s see where Stauskas will be in a
couple years. I think that’s another Klay-breed on its way.) and not
highly-valued anymore. As long as he’s on the Warriors he’ll be ok, but he’s
not even the best anything on the team…
For me I don’t think there is much of a debate. I would have
included Thompson in the deal and I wouldn’t have hesitated to do it either. Kevin
Love is a rare talent that you will not find in most big men. He would at least
be the best rebounder on our team and the best outlet passer (I had many dreams
of us trading up for him when he was a draft prospect and seeing those outlets made
to Monta for lay-ups). He is the best
rebounder and the best outlet passer in the NBA, and he is the second best power forward as well. He is an all-star (3x), and he was
all-NBA second team (2x). He’s also only a year and half older than Thompson.
He’s been discredited the last few years for being unable to lead his team to
the playoffs, but as this season progresses, we’re all going to witness just
how good he really is when asked to be a second banana, the perfect role fit
for him. He would have been an excellent fit in our new system. Just imagine
all those threes Draymond gets now being shot by the former three-point shooting champ and the new splash brother instead. Just imagine the glass
eating he would do with Bogut. Just imagine the outlets to Steph landing right
behind the three point line for a quick-trigger splash! I just made myself
sick.
All the negatives that were said about Love’s poor defense
and Kevin Martin’s (he would have been our new shooting guard) poor defense
would not have mattered on this team. Bogut and Green could make up for Love’s
lack of defense inside and allow him to strictly chase boards. As for Martin,
he would only be asked to shoot and score, and at least try and play defense.
If there was any point of a game where he was a liability, Iggy, Livingston, or
Barbosa could come off the bench for him. David Lee at this point is
best-served as a sixth man scorer for the Warriors and we might never get what
we expected out of Harrison Barnes. They were expendable and they would not
have been a great loss to us if they were shipped to Minny with Klay. The first
game Kevin Love grabbed 25 rebounds and Kevin Martin hit 8 threes in a
thrilling win would have made all fans forget the former “Splash Brother” and
the potential greatness that could be Harrison Barnes. Winning cures everything
and it also builds chemistry (unless you’re Shaq and Kobe) amongst the players
on the team. It also influences where a player wants to play so those fears of
Love being one-and-done with us could have at least been tempered (He would get
Klay’s extension money and more and a winning culture). It would have been really exciting to feature
a lineup of Curry, Martin, Green, Love, and Bogut with Iggy leading the bench
mob. I wish the Warriors would have made the gamble. It was worth the risk. Now
I guess we’ll never know what could have been.
Where They Will Be Come June: JL - Like I said earlier, the Warriors are the best they've been in a very long time. The Dubs have a high ceiling and hopefully they surpass these expectations. If everything goes right, the Warriors are going to make and maybe, just maybe win the NBA Finals. Realistically though, I believe the Warriors are going to make it to the Western Conference Finals and get ousted by either the Spurs or the Thunder. Even if the Warriors don't make it to the Finals this year, we have a very special player in Stephen Curry who's only going to keep get better and take us further next season.
AT - Due to the unfortunate injury bug that has plagued the Thunder, someone has to step up and take a vacant spot left for the Western Conference Finals. The Warriors are that team (Between me and you I didn't believe this prior to the year starting, but I believe now). They'll fall short though but no worries there is no declining with this team for the foreseeable future. Only championship contention from here on out...As long as Andrew Bogut stays healthy. Pray that Andrew Bogut stays healthy. Repeat.
We are almost done with the preview. One final part is left. Once again we apologize for finishing a little after two weeks of the season starting, but be pleased we did it! Stay posted for the last part sometime this week and as always, thanks for reading.
Interesting post
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