To come up with the standings predictions, I used a very complex ivy league MIT type formula to come up with a "score" for each team. It involved ranking players, coaches and a couple other variables. I will spare the nerdiness explanations, but here you go. It was interesting to see who ended up finishing where.
First up, the West.
---------
1. Los Angeles Clippers
2014-2015 Points: 2391
2013-2014 Record and Result: 57-25, Lost NBA Western Conference Semifinals (2-4) versus Oklahoma City Thunder
Projected Rotation
C - DeAndre Jordan
PF - Blake Griffin
SF - Matt Barnes
SG - JJ Redick
PG - Chris Paul
Bench
G Jamal Crawford
FC Spencer Hawes
G Jordan Farmar
FC Glen Davis
FC Ekpe Udoh
GF Chris Douglas-Roberts
GF Reggie Bullock
The Clippers 57 win team remains almost intact, but it was still a busy season for Los Angeles "other" team. The Donald Sterling saga is behind this franchise, for the most part, and a very talented team can focus on trying to win a championship. This squad starts with point guard Chris Paul, the best point guard in basketball. Paul is coming off his third straight All NBA First Team/All Defensive First Team honors. Blake Griffin had his best offensive output during his four year career, averaging over 24 points per game. Los Angeles has several quality role players surrounding their two All Stars. DeAndre Jordan finally put everything together, leading the NBA in rebounds per game and blocking 2.5 shots per game. JJ Redick and Jamal Crawford help stretch the defense with deadly three point shooting. Spencer Hawes should be a great fit as an offensive minded backup big man, and Matt Barnes is an upgrade over Jared Dudley at the small forward position. Glen Davis, Ekpe Udoh, Jordan Farmar and Chris Douglas-Roberts provide even more experience for a very deep, veteran laden team. The Clippers are on the short list for true NBA Championship contenders.
-----
2. San Antonio Spurs
2014-2015 Points: 2185
2013-2014 Record and Result: 62-20, Won NBA Finals (4-1) versus Miami Heat
Projected Rotation
C - Tiago Splitter
PF - Tim Duncan
SF - Kawhi Leonard
SG - Danny Green
PG - Tony Parker
Bench
GF Manu Ginobili
FC Boris Diaw
GF Marco Belinelli
FC Matt Bonner
G Cory Joseph
FC Jeff Ayres
F Kyle Anderson
The Spurs are in the midst of the longest dynasty since the Celtics teams of the 60's. San Antonio has won at least 61% of their games every year of the Tim Duncan era, and just took home their fifth trophy in 16 seasons. San Antonio will seemingly be in the mix for championships as long as Duncan, Gregg Popovich and Tony Parker are in silver and black. This team still runs through Duncan and Parker. Duncan is not the player he used to be, but is still very efficient and one of the better power forwards in the league. Parker has become the leader of this team, and had one of his most efficient seasons. It is hard to believe he is only 31 years old. Kawhi Leonard arrived as a true superstar during the Spurs playoff run in 2014, winning NBA Finals MVP. The 22 year old has serious All Star potential, and it was hard to believe San Antonio was able to land him for only George Hill. The Spurs did not tinker with the roster that much. Marco Belinelli, Manu Ginobili, Danny Green, Tiago Splitter, Boris Diaw, Patty Mills and Matt Bonner return to round out the bench. Popovich is a master of managing his teams minutes, to ensure the veterans are fresh for the playoffs, but the team still wins between 55 and 60 games. There is no reason not to expect the same this season.
-----
3. Oklahoma City Thunder
2014-2015 Score: 1895
2013-2014 Record and Results: 59-23, 1st in Northwest. Lost NBA Western Conference Finals (2-4) versus San Antonio Spurs.
Projected Rotation
C - Kendrick Perkins
PF - Serge Ibaka
SF - Kevin Durant
SG - Anthony Morrow
PG - Russell Westbrook
Bench
G Reggie Jackson
FC Nick Collison
G Jeremy Lamb
C Steven Adams
F Perry Jones
G Sebastian Telfair
F Andre Roberson
The Thunder improved their winning percentage every year with Kevin Durant, topping out at .732 in 2012-2013. Last year, they still won 59 games, but failed to defeat the veteran Spurs in the Western Conference Finals. Oklahoma City will only go as far as their three All Stars take them, and that will be the case this year. It starts with Kevin Durant, the most efficient scorer in basketball. He finally won his first MVP award in 2013-2014, with ridiculous shooting percentages and an average of 32 ppg. Russell Westbrook remains Durant's offensive sidekick, though his percentages often take a tumble during the playoffs, when teams clamp down on Durant and dare Westbrook to beat them. Serge Ibaka is one of the better rebounders and shot blockers in the league, and his offense has developed quite nicely. The Thunder desperately needed someone else to step up to take the pressure off the big three, and it looks like Reggie Jackson could be that man. Jackson showed that he could successfully run a good team in the event Westbrook goes down with injury again, and will probably handle the bulk of the shooting guard minutes with Anthony Morrow and Jeremy Lamb picking up the slack. Kendrick Perkins remains an albatross that Scott Brooks just can't quit. The hope is Steven Adams can eventually take over the starting role. This franchise has spent countless first round picks on developmental centers going back to the SuperSonics days. Adams showed flashes as a rookie that he could develop into something decent. Depth on this team is a concern. Morrow was the only worthwhile free agent addition. Oklahoma City had a chance to add talent via the draft, but opted to reach for Mitch McGary and Josh Heustis, two players who are unlikely to ever have a real NBA role. The Thunder should march through the regular season again, but it will be up to Scott Brooks to make adjustments and not become over matched as he has during previous playoff appearances.
-----
4. Golden State Warriors
2014-2015 Score: 1856
2013-2014 Record and Results: 51-31, Lost NBA Western Conference First Round (3-4) versus Los Angeles Clippers
Projected Rotation
C - Andrew Bogut
PF - David Lee
SF - Andre Iguodala
SG - Klay Thompson
PG - Stephen Curry
Bench
F Draymond Green
F Harrison Barnes
G Shaun Livingston
G Leandro Barbosa
C Festus Ezeli
F Marreese Speights
GF Brandon Rush
The Warriors are going through a coaching change, but are a safe bet to make the playoffs for the third straight year, which would be an accomplishment the Golden State franchise hasn't pulled off since they won the title in the mid 70's. It all starts with the sweet shooting back court of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, who combined to knock down 6 three's a game. Curry stayed healthy and put up one of the best offensive seasons in the league last year. He is not a traditional point guard, but the offense was built around him to succeed. Thompson and David Lee are the two other big time scorers on this roster, both capable of 20 points any night. Andre Iguodala's defense and energy was a welcome addition to Golden State. He is no longer a threat to score, but can handle the ball and guard the opposition's best scorer, which is needed since Curry, Thompson and Lee are all defense deficient. Andrew Bogut is another asset on that side of the ball, as long as he can stay healthy. Unfortunately, he is unlikely to make it through a full season. While Harrison Barnes took a step back his second season, Draymond Green blossomed, especially in the playoffs. Those two will anchor an impressive, deep second unit. The Warriors might not be a championship threat, but they are in that second tier of teams who should win 50 games.
-----
5. Dallas Mavericks
2014-2015 Score: 1831
2013-2014 Record and Results: 49-33, 4th in Southwest. Lost NBA Western Conference First Round (3-4) versus San Antonio Spurs.
Projected Rotation
C - Tyson Chandler
PF - Dirk Nowitzki
SF - Chandler Parsons
SG - Monta Ellis
PG - Jameer Nelson
Bench
G Raymond Felton
G Devin Harris
FC Brandan Wright
F Al-Farouq Aminu
F Jae Crowder
F Richard Jefferson
FC Greg Smith
Thanks to an unheard of unselfish act by an NBA superstar, the Mavericks were able to retool the roster quite nicely. Dirk Nowitzki, still an All Star level player, agreed to resign for 7 million dollars a year, which allowed Dallas to steal young stud Chandler Parsons from the rival Houston Rockets. The Mavericks were unable to land a maximum offer superstar free agent, but became much deeper and talented. It starts with Notiwzki, who is the familiar Maverick amongst several new faces. The best player in franchise history, he rebounded from a poor prior season to return to his usual 20-10 self. Dallas brought back Tyson Chandler to anchor the inside. The Mavericks defense has not been the same since Chandler departed as a free agent. Parsons is a jack of all trades forward who has gotten better every year, and might not be a fringe All Star type. Monta Ellis quietly had one of his most efficient seasons last year. He is Nowitzki's main scoring counterpart. Jameer Nelson and Raymond Felton were brought in to compete for point guard duties. With Ellis and Devin Harris, Dallas has four very veteran guards who have a ton of career assists on their resume. This Dallas team reminds me a lot of the championship squad several years ago, and it would not surprise me one bit if they wind up hoisting the Naismith Trophy.
-----
6. Memphis Grizzlies
2014-2015 Score: 1673
2013-2014 Record and Results: 50-32, 3rd in Southwest. Lost NBA Western Conference First Round (3-4) versus Oklahoma City Thunder.
Projected Rotation
C - Marc Gasol
PF - Zach Randolph
SF - Tayshaun Prince
SG - Courtney Lee
PG - Mike Conley
Bench
GF Tony Allen
GF Vince Carter
C Kosta Koufos
G Beno Udrih
FC Jon Leuer
GF Quincy Pondexter
G Jordan Adams
The Grizzlies have been flying under the radar for years. They have made four straight playoff appearances, thanks to a strong defensive team philosophy and a great post game on offense. This team is built for playoff basketball, but injuries to key players have caused the team to suffer when it comes to playoff seeding. Once again, Memphis will be led by the front court of Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph. Gasol suffered an injury and it took him a while to get back into the flow of things. He has been durable during his career and should be in line for an All Star season. Randolph has lost some of his bounce at age 33, but remains a crafty post scorer. Mike Conley has always been a slept on borderline great point guard. He had his best scoring year, and continues to put the ball into the basket with great percentages. Surrounding the big three are several veterans on their last legs. Memphis has really missed Rudy Gay's scoring, and will hope Vince Carter and Tayshaun Prince have enough left in the tank to knock down some three pointers. Courtney Lee was actually the team's best outside threat last year, but he has always been a journeyman type. Tony Allen rounds out the rotation. He is a huge liability on offense, but can still play some shut down defense for about 25 minutes per night. If the Grizzlies can remain healthy, they have shown they can hang with, and even knock out, the likes of the Spurs and Mavericks in the playoffs.
-----
7. Portland Trail Blazers
2014-2015 Score: 1628
2013-2014 Record and Results: 54-28, 2nd in Northwest. Lost NBA Western Conference Semifinals (1-4) versus San Antonio Spurs.
Projected Rotation
C - Robin Lopez
PF - LaMarcus Aldridge
SF - Nicolas Batum
SG - Wesley Matthews
PG - Damian Lillard
Bench
FC Chris Kaman
G Steve Blake
FC Thomas Robinson
GF Dorell Wright
G Will Barton
G CJ McCollum
F Victor Claver
After two injury ruined seasons, the Trail Blazers bounced back in a big way in 2013-2014. Thanks to one of the best starting lineups in the NBA, Portland started the season 22-4 on their way to a 54 win season. It is hard to believe LaMarcus Aldridge was traded for Tyrus Thomas on draft day. He had his finest season, setting career highs with 23.2 points and 11.1 rebounds per game. Aldridge has developed into a complete offensive player, with good range and a great free throw shot. It is even tougher to imagine that the Blazers were able to draft Damian Lillard with the pick they acquired for a washed up Gerald Wallace. Lillard was thought of as a risk coming out of mid major Weber State, but he topped 20 points per game his second year, hitting 40% from three and 87% from the line. He is not a traditional pass first point guard, but is already an All Star caliber scorer. Nicolas Batum rounds out the big three in Portland. He signed an offer sheet with the Timberwolves, which was quickly matched by Portland. Sporting a post All Star 57.4 effective field goal percentage, the 25 year old is on the verge of stardom. Wesley Matthews, a shrewd free agent signing after a solid first season with the Jazz as an undrafted rookie, scored 16 points per game, hitting 40% from three. Robin Lopez rounds out the top five. The Blazers have been looking for a solid center since drafting Greg Oden, and Lopez was just what the doctor ordered. He played in all 82 games, and shattered his career high with 8.5 rebounds. This is a young, versatile, talented starting lineup. The starters will have to stay healthy, however, because the bench is pretty weak. Chris Kaman, Steve Blake and Dorell Wright have had past NBA success, but are bit players at this point in their career. Thomas Robinson, Will Barton and CJ McCollum have yet to have much NBA success. This is a championship quality starting lineup, but might lack the depth to overtake the Western Conference studs.
-----
8. Houston Rockets
2014-2015 Score: 1602
2014-2015 Record and Results: 54-28, 2nd in Southwest. Lost NBA Western Conference First Round (2-4) versus Portland Trail Blazers.
Projected Lineup
C - Dwight Howard
PF - Terrence Jones
SF - Trevor Ariza
SG - James Harden
PG - Patrick Beverley
Bench
GF Francisco Garcia
FC Donatas Motiejunas
G Isaiah Canaan
G Jason Terry
F Jeff Adrien
G Ish Smith
FC Clint Capela
As good of an offseason that the Rockets had in 2013, this summer was the polar opposite. First was the puzzling Chandler Parsons saga. Parsons moved on to Dallas, and was replaced with Trevor Ariza. The last time Ariza had a career year, the Rockets signed him to a big contract and traded him a year later. After another huge free agent year, he is back in Houston. Ariza had a great shooting year, and the Rockets will need him to continue that with little scoring options other than James Harden and Dwight Howard. Harden exploded statistically once he became the man in Houston, averaging 25.4 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 4.7 apg and 1.6 apg. Harden looked terrible during the playoffs, and it is hard to see him leading a team to the championship. Howard is what he is by now. A good defender who can clog the lane, and a solid shot blocker. He has failed to develop much of an offensive game, though he ate up Robin Lopez and the Blazers during the playoffs. Despite his shortcomings, he is a top three center. The Rockets gutted some of their depth, trading away Jeremy Lin and Omer Asik at a chance to sign Chris Bosh. Bosh spurned their advances, and Houston is left with a plethora of youngsters and castoffs to fill out the roster. Terrence Jones had a mini breakout as the starting power forward, and could really flourish during his third year. Patrick Beverley is a good defender who will have to handle the ball more without Parsons around. The Rockets are still waiting for Donatas Motiejunas to take the next step. His offense is desperately needed. Jason Terry was brought in for additional veteran depth, but his best days are well behind him. The duo of Howard and Harden is among the best in the NBA, but the Rockets are not championship quality. In fact, I think they will be battling with Portland, Denver, New Orleans and Phoenix for the last couple of playoff spots.
-----
9. New Orleans Pelicans
2014-2015 Score: 1534
2013-2014 Record and Results: 34-48, 5th in Southwest
Projected Lineup
C - Omer Asik
PF - Anthony Davis
SF - John Salmons
SG - Eric Gordon
PG - Jrue Holiday
Bench
FC Ryan Anderson
GF Tyreke Evans
G Austin Rivers
C Alexis Ajinca
G Jimmer Fredette
GF Darius Miller
C Jeff Withey
This roster has some fantasy basketball friendly names, but I hate how it is constructed. One thing I do not hate, however, is Anthony Davis. The third year forward has already joined NBA super stardom, and you could already make a case that he is one of the top five players in the league. How is this stat line for a 20 year old second year player? 20.8 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 2.8 bpg, .519 FG%, .791 FT%. Davis is truly special, and only injuries (he has missed 33 games in two years) can slow him down. There are other good players on this roster, but how do they mesh together? Ryan Anderson is one of the best three point shooters in the league. Jrue Holiday has had plenty of success. Eric Gordon is a flashy scorer that simply needs to stay healthy. Tyreke Evans has a 20-5-5 season under his belt. It will be up to Monty Williams to figure out how to use these guys together, something he failed to do last year. Omer Asik and John Salmons were brought in to give the Pelicans a solid 20 minutes or so each. Salmons should start the game, and can still knock down some jump shots, but will give up most of his minutes to Evans. Asik should take some pressure off of David defensively. He is not much of a scorer, but scoring is not what the Pelicans need from him. New Orleans lost Al-Farouq Aminu, Jason Smith, Omri Casspi and Brian Roberts from their second unit. For as good as Davis is, this was just a 34 win team last year. A .500 season and a playoff appearance would be a good first step for this team.
-----
10. Denver Nuggets
2014-2015 Score: 1437
2013-2014 Record and Results: 36-46, 4th in Northwest
Projected Rotation
C - Timofey Mozgov
PF - Kenneth Faried
SF - Wilson Chandler
SG - Arron Afflalo
PG - Ty Lawson
Bench
G Randy Foye
F Danilo Gallinari
FC JJ Hickson
C JaVale McGee
G Nate Robinson
FC Darrell Arthur
F Quincy Miller
The Nuggets, coming off a 57 win season, lost their head coach, general manager, and two best defensive wing players. Then during the season, Danilo Gallinari did not play a minute and JaVale McGee was limited to five games. That was simply too much to overcome in the brutal Western Conference, and Denver missed the playoffs for the first time in 11 years. If the Nuggets can stay healthy, and Brain Shaw can improve his coaching decisions, the Nuggets are deep and athletic enough to return to the playoffs. There are no superstars on this team, but few rosters in the NBA boast as much depth. Kenneth Faried started the season on the bench, but he ended it as Denver's most important player. Fresh off a fantastic FIBA showing, Faried will hope to become more of a leader for the Nuggets, both through his hustle and improved offense. Ty Lawson might be the quickest player in the NBA. Lawson's percentages took a hit, but he improved his scoring and assist numbers. In the smack dab of his prime, Lawson could be poised for an All Star season. Arron Afflalo was reacquired from the Magic for peanuts, and his veteran presence will be a huge addition for a young Denver team. Afflalo took his stats to another level for a bad Orlando team, but should settle back into his usual role as a shooter and solid defender for the Nuggets. Wilson Chandler and Danilo Gallinari, two of the three mainstays from the Carmelo Anthony team, have both showed flashes with Denver, but have yet to put together complete seasons. Both are good, athletic shooters, and a healthy season from both would go a long way towards the Nuggets becoming one of the top scoring teams in the league once again. JJ Hickson was probably Denver's best low post scorer last season. He does his best damage off the bench against backups, so it will be important for JaVale McGee to remain healthy and Timofey Mozgov to continue to improve. The Nuggets can go ten deep easily, but without a superstar, it will be tough to make noise in the playoffs if Denver can return.
-----
11. Phoenix Suns
2014-2015 Score: 1381
2013-2014 Record and Results: 48-34, 3rd in Pacific
Projected Rotation
C - Miles Plumlee
PF - Markieff Morris
SF - PJ Tucker
SG - Goran Dragic
PG - Eric Bledsoe
Bench
G Isaiah Thomas
GF Gerald Green
F Marcus Morris
F TJ Warren
C Alex Len
G Archie Goodwin
F Anthony Tolliver
The Phoenix Suns were expected to lead the Andrew Wiggins sweepstakes. Instead, they won 47 games and were in the playoff mix for most of the season. Head coach Jeff Hornacek pushed the tempo all year. Guards Goran Dragic and Eric Bledsoe proved to be perfect fits for this offense. It was a crime that Dragic was not named to the All Star team. He shattered his career high for points per game and field goal percentage. Bledsoe proved he was worth a lot more than what the Clippers received in trade for him, averaging 17 points himself. Both guards were interchangable as scorers and ball handlers. If that was not enough, Phoenix brought in Isaiah Thomas, who will continue to push the tempo when one of the aforementioned two are out of the game. Thomas, a 20 point per game scorer last year as well, was never quite appreciated by Sacramento. He is not much of a defender, but should fit right in with Pheonix run and gun offense. Defense is not the Suns forte. PJ Tucker is probably the teams best on the ball defender. He will be pushed for minutes by Gerald Green, who excelled as a fill in starter last year, and first round draft pick TJ Warren. Markieff Morris is the main man on the front court. With Channing Frye gone, the starting power forward spot is his to lose. Morris has developed a solid jump shot to go along with his inside scoring and rebounding. Marcus Morris and Miles Plumlee are two blue collar, hard working types that will round out the front court. If the Suns can get anything from 2013 first round pick Alex Len, that would be a bonus. This team has some real talent, but will be hard pressed to match it's 48 wins from last year. Dragic and Bledsoe will have to repeat their career years, and the role players up front will have to continue to play out of their mind. This team should still finish at or a little above .500.
-----
12. Minnesota Timberwolves
2014-2015 Score: 1158
2013-2014 Record and Results: 40-42, 3rd in Northwest
Projected Rotation
C - Nikola Pekovic
PF - Thaddeus Young
SF - Corey Brewer
SG - Kevin Martin
PG - Ricky Rubio
Bench
GF Andrew Wiggins
G Mo Williams
C Gorgui Dieng
G JJ Barea
GF Chase Budinger
F Anthony Bennett
FC Ronny Turiaf
Like Kevin Garnett before him, the Timberwolves were forced to trade the second best player in franchise history. But unlike the Nuggets, Magic and Pelicans, it looks like Minnesota might have gotten a fair return. It starts with Andrew Wiggins. Wiggins was perhaps the most hyped high schooler since LeBron James. He is not James, but has all the makings of an NBA All Star. Wiggins will be raw on offense until he can tighten up his game, but could land on some All NBA and All NBA defensive teams during his prime. It will be up to management to surround him with talent in a way they could not with Garnett or Kevin Love. The Wolves also landed Anthony Bennett. Bennett had a bad rookie season, but gets a new lease on his career with the Timberwolves. He will have to fight for minutes with Thaddeus Young. Young is not quite as good as his stats on a terrible Sixers teams suggest, but he is a solid, athletic starter who should continue to put up numbers on his new team. As far as holdovers, Ricky Rubo and Nikola Pekovic represent the rest of the future Wolves. Pekovic is a solid scorer and rebounder, a notch below All Star caliber. Rubio is a creative play maker who has really struggled on offense. These days defenses dare point guards who can't shoot to beat them from deep, and Rubio will need to work on that part of his game to justify a contract extension. Gorgui Dieng could eventually push Pekovic for the starting center position, he had a very solid rookie season. Zach LaVine was a swing for the fences type selection. He might have been the most talented player in this class, but is a long way from contributing. The Wolves are probably not a playoff team, but I do not think they will bottom out. There is enough talent on this roster to push for a .500 record.
-----
13. Sacramento Kings
2014-2015 Score: 903
2013-2014 Record and Results: 28-54, 4th in Pacific
Projected Rotation
C - DeMarcus Cousins
PF - Jason Thompson
SF - Rudy Gay
SG - Ben McLemore
PG - Darren Collison
Bench
G Ramon Sessions
F Carl Landry
FC Reggie Evans
F Derrick Williams
G Nik Stauskas
G Ray McCallum
F Omri Casspi
As usual, the Kings have talent, but the roster construction is pretty terrible. First, the good. DeMarcus Cousins has arrived as an elite NBA player. In my opinion Cousins, not Dwight Howard, is the best center in the NBA. He averaged 22.7 ppg and 11.7 rpg as a 23 year old. He has a complete offensive game. Rudy Gay was a nice mid year aquisition. Gay shot 48% after coming over from Toronto, as opposed to 38% with the Raptors. Cousins, Gay and Isaiah Thomas were the only trio of teammates to all average over 20 ppg last season. Now, the bad. The rest of the roster. For some reason, the Kings never quite believed in Thomas. He was traded, and career backup Darren Collison was brought in to replace him. Last time Collison was a starter, he face planted with the Pacers. Ray McCallum and Ramon Sessions will get plenty of point guard minutes. Ben McLemore was a disaster as a rookie, and now he will have to fend off first round draft pick Nik Stauskas. McLemore is a good three point shooter, but shot only 37% from the field. That will not cut it. Derrick Williams didn't work out in Minnesota, and he was not much better in Sacramento. Carl Landry, Jason Thompson and Reggie Evans will battle for front court minutes, but none are good defenders. It should be fun to watch Cousins continue to blossom, but this is still a team that will struggle to shoot a solid percentage or play defense. 35 wins will be a stretch.
-----
14. Los Angeles Lakers
2014-2015 Score: 823
2013-2014 Record and Results: 27-55, 5th in Pacific
Projected Rotation
C - Jordan Hill
PF - Carlos Boozer
SF - Wesley Johnson
SG - Kobe Bryant
PG - Jeremy Lin
Bench
F Julius Randle
GF Nick Young
FC Ed Davis
G Steve Nash
GF Xavier Henry
F Ryan Kelly
C Robert Sacre
Since trading for Dwight Howard, things have not gone well for the Lakers. Los Angeles is used to being the bully at the lunch table, pretty much signing whoever they want. Well, Howard spurned Los Angeles last year, and this past off season a ton of cap space could not result in contracts for LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh or Dirk Nowitzki. Instead, the Lakers were forced to resign several role players from a bad team and add an amnestied Carlos Boozer. This will be Kobe Bryant's biggest test since playing with the likes of Smush Parker and Kwame Brown. The 18 year old veteran only played in 8 games last year, but has the drive and hunger only a handfull of players in NBA history have possessed, and is determined to come back with a vengence. Bryant will be fine, but it's the rest of the roster that will keep the Lakers from competing. Julius Randle was a solid draft pick. He should start as a scorer off the bench, and could grow into a Zach Randolph type. Boozer was not worth his contract, but he is not quite washed up. He is no threat on defense, but can still score 20 points on most nights. Jeremy Lin, Wesley Johnson, Jordan Hill, Nick Young, Ed Davis and Xavier Henry are low level replacement types who will be forced to carry the rest of the minutes. It is hard to believe Steve Nash is still in the NBA, but he is hanging on on the Lakers bench. He has little left in the tank, and cannot be relied on as he completes his 18th and likely last season. To add insult to injury, the Suns get the Lakers first round pick from the Nash trade unless it lands in the top 3. Bryant will probably keep the Lakers from finishing that bad, but there is no chance they sniff the playoffs this year.
-----
15. Utah Jazz
2014-2015 Score: 591
2014-2015 Record and Results: 25-57, 5th in Northwest
Projected Rotation
C - Derrick Favors
PF - Trevor Booker
SF - Gordon Hayward
SG - Alec Burks
PG - Trey Burke
Bench
C Enes Kanter
G Dante Exum
F Jeremy Evans
FC Rudy Gobert
GF Steve Novak
GF Rodney Hood
G Ian Clark
I applaud the Jazz swinging for the fences with the Dante Exum selection. Utah will need to take more chances like that, because they have a huge hill to climb in the Western Conference. This team has young talent, but it hard for me to say they are better than any team in the conference right now. Quin Snyder, former coach of those good Missouri college teams, takes over, and will instill a new, free flowing offense. He has spoken up Derrick Favors as the leader of this team. Favors has slowly developed, but had a mini breakout during his fourth year in the league. He has improved his offense, and his defense and rebounding were already NBA caliber. Gordon Hayward was resigned to a huge deal. It was a premium price to pay for a guy who shot 41% last season, but is only 24 years old and is one of the better all around small forwards in the NBA. If he can tighten up his efficiency, he could be an All Star. It will be tough for teams not to double Hayward unless another guy steps up on offense. Trey Burke and Alex Burks have the potential to be a solid scoring back court, and the addition of Exum gives this unit real potential. Burke is more of a scorer than a distributor, and Burks is more of a slasher than a shooter. Enes Kanter is still very young, and has shown good potential early in his career, but bouts of inconsistency drove former coach Tyrone Corbin mad. Rudy Gobert and Rodney Hood could grow into solid bench players. Gobert especially put on a show during the FIBA tournament. This team is very young and talented, but I do not see a chance this team competes for the playoffs this year.
First up, the West.
---------
1. Los Angeles Clippers2014-2015 Points: 2391
2013-2014 Record and Result: 57-25, Lost NBA Western Conference Semifinals (2-4) versus Oklahoma City Thunder
Projected Rotation
C - DeAndre Jordan
PF - Blake Griffin
SF - Matt Barnes
SG - JJ Redick
PG - Chris Paul
Bench
G Jamal Crawford
FC Spencer Hawes
G Jordan Farmar
FC Glen Davis
FC Ekpe Udoh
GF Chris Douglas-Roberts
GF Reggie Bullock
The Clippers 57 win team remains almost intact, but it was still a busy season for Los Angeles "other" team. The Donald Sterling saga is behind this franchise, for the most part, and a very talented team can focus on trying to win a championship. This squad starts with point guard Chris Paul, the best point guard in basketball. Paul is coming off his third straight All NBA First Team/All Defensive First Team honors. Blake Griffin had his best offensive output during his four year career, averaging over 24 points per game. Los Angeles has several quality role players surrounding their two All Stars. DeAndre Jordan finally put everything together, leading the NBA in rebounds per game and blocking 2.5 shots per game. JJ Redick and Jamal Crawford help stretch the defense with deadly three point shooting. Spencer Hawes should be a great fit as an offensive minded backup big man, and Matt Barnes is an upgrade over Jared Dudley at the small forward position. Glen Davis, Ekpe Udoh, Jordan Farmar and Chris Douglas-Roberts provide even more experience for a very deep, veteran laden team. The Clippers are on the short list for true NBA Championship contenders.
-----
2. San Antonio Spurs2014-2015 Points: 2185
2013-2014 Record and Result: 62-20, Won NBA Finals (4-1) versus Miami Heat
Projected Rotation
C - Tiago Splitter
PF - Tim Duncan
SF - Kawhi Leonard
SG - Danny Green
PG - Tony Parker
Bench
GF Manu Ginobili
FC Boris Diaw
GF Marco Belinelli
FC Matt Bonner
G Cory Joseph
FC Jeff Ayres
F Kyle Anderson
The Spurs are in the midst of the longest dynasty since the Celtics teams of the 60's. San Antonio has won at least 61% of their games every year of the Tim Duncan era, and just took home their fifth trophy in 16 seasons. San Antonio will seemingly be in the mix for championships as long as Duncan, Gregg Popovich and Tony Parker are in silver and black. This team still runs through Duncan and Parker. Duncan is not the player he used to be, but is still very efficient and one of the better power forwards in the league. Parker has become the leader of this team, and had one of his most efficient seasons. It is hard to believe he is only 31 years old. Kawhi Leonard arrived as a true superstar during the Spurs playoff run in 2014, winning NBA Finals MVP. The 22 year old has serious All Star potential, and it was hard to believe San Antonio was able to land him for only George Hill. The Spurs did not tinker with the roster that much. Marco Belinelli, Manu Ginobili, Danny Green, Tiago Splitter, Boris Diaw, Patty Mills and Matt Bonner return to round out the bench. Popovich is a master of managing his teams minutes, to ensure the veterans are fresh for the playoffs, but the team still wins between 55 and 60 games. There is no reason not to expect the same this season.
-----
3. Oklahoma City Thunder2014-2015 Score: 1895
2013-2014 Record and Results: 59-23, 1st in Northwest. Lost NBA Western Conference Finals (2-4) versus San Antonio Spurs.
Projected Rotation
C - Kendrick Perkins
PF - Serge Ibaka
SF - Kevin Durant
SG - Anthony Morrow
PG - Russell Westbrook
Bench
G Reggie Jackson
FC Nick Collison
G Jeremy Lamb
C Steven Adams
F Perry Jones
G Sebastian Telfair
F Andre Roberson
The Thunder improved their winning percentage every year with Kevin Durant, topping out at .732 in 2012-2013. Last year, they still won 59 games, but failed to defeat the veteran Spurs in the Western Conference Finals. Oklahoma City will only go as far as their three All Stars take them, and that will be the case this year. It starts with Kevin Durant, the most efficient scorer in basketball. He finally won his first MVP award in 2013-2014, with ridiculous shooting percentages and an average of 32 ppg. Russell Westbrook remains Durant's offensive sidekick, though his percentages often take a tumble during the playoffs, when teams clamp down on Durant and dare Westbrook to beat them. Serge Ibaka is one of the better rebounders and shot blockers in the league, and his offense has developed quite nicely. The Thunder desperately needed someone else to step up to take the pressure off the big three, and it looks like Reggie Jackson could be that man. Jackson showed that he could successfully run a good team in the event Westbrook goes down with injury again, and will probably handle the bulk of the shooting guard minutes with Anthony Morrow and Jeremy Lamb picking up the slack. Kendrick Perkins remains an albatross that Scott Brooks just can't quit. The hope is Steven Adams can eventually take over the starting role. This franchise has spent countless first round picks on developmental centers going back to the SuperSonics days. Adams showed flashes as a rookie that he could develop into something decent. Depth on this team is a concern. Morrow was the only worthwhile free agent addition. Oklahoma City had a chance to add talent via the draft, but opted to reach for Mitch McGary and Josh Heustis, two players who are unlikely to ever have a real NBA role. The Thunder should march through the regular season again, but it will be up to Scott Brooks to make adjustments and not become over matched as he has during previous playoff appearances.
-----
4. Golden State Warriors 2014-2015 Score: 1856
2013-2014 Record and Results: 51-31, Lost NBA Western Conference First Round (3-4) versus Los Angeles Clippers
Projected Rotation
C - Andrew Bogut
PF - David Lee
SF - Andre Iguodala
SG - Klay Thompson
PG - Stephen Curry
Bench
F Draymond Green
F Harrison Barnes
G Shaun Livingston
G Leandro Barbosa
C Festus Ezeli
F Marreese Speights
GF Brandon Rush
The Warriors are going through a coaching change, but are a safe bet to make the playoffs for the third straight year, which would be an accomplishment the Golden State franchise hasn't pulled off since they won the title in the mid 70's. It all starts with the sweet shooting back court of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, who combined to knock down 6 three's a game. Curry stayed healthy and put up one of the best offensive seasons in the league last year. He is not a traditional point guard, but the offense was built around him to succeed. Thompson and David Lee are the two other big time scorers on this roster, both capable of 20 points any night. Andre Iguodala's defense and energy was a welcome addition to Golden State. He is no longer a threat to score, but can handle the ball and guard the opposition's best scorer, which is needed since Curry, Thompson and Lee are all defense deficient. Andrew Bogut is another asset on that side of the ball, as long as he can stay healthy. Unfortunately, he is unlikely to make it through a full season. While Harrison Barnes took a step back his second season, Draymond Green blossomed, especially in the playoffs. Those two will anchor an impressive, deep second unit. The Warriors might not be a championship threat, but they are in that second tier of teams who should win 50 games.
-----
5. Dallas Mavericks2014-2015 Score: 1831
2013-2014 Record and Results: 49-33, 4th in Southwest. Lost NBA Western Conference First Round (3-4) versus San Antonio Spurs.
Projected Rotation
C - Tyson Chandler
PF - Dirk Nowitzki
SF - Chandler Parsons
SG - Monta Ellis
PG - Jameer Nelson
Bench
G Raymond Felton
G Devin Harris
FC Brandan Wright
F Al-Farouq Aminu
F Jae Crowder
F Richard Jefferson
FC Greg Smith
Thanks to an unheard of unselfish act by an NBA superstar, the Mavericks were able to retool the roster quite nicely. Dirk Nowitzki, still an All Star level player, agreed to resign for 7 million dollars a year, which allowed Dallas to steal young stud Chandler Parsons from the rival Houston Rockets. The Mavericks were unable to land a maximum offer superstar free agent, but became much deeper and talented. It starts with Notiwzki, who is the familiar Maverick amongst several new faces. The best player in franchise history, he rebounded from a poor prior season to return to his usual 20-10 self. Dallas brought back Tyson Chandler to anchor the inside. The Mavericks defense has not been the same since Chandler departed as a free agent. Parsons is a jack of all trades forward who has gotten better every year, and might not be a fringe All Star type. Monta Ellis quietly had one of his most efficient seasons last year. He is Nowitzki's main scoring counterpart. Jameer Nelson and Raymond Felton were brought in to compete for point guard duties. With Ellis and Devin Harris, Dallas has four very veteran guards who have a ton of career assists on their resume. This Dallas team reminds me a lot of the championship squad several years ago, and it would not surprise me one bit if they wind up hoisting the Naismith Trophy.
-----
6. Memphis Grizzlies2014-2015 Score: 1673
2013-2014 Record and Results: 50-32, 3rd in Southwest. Lost NBA Western Conference First Round (3-4) versus Oklahoma City Thunder.
Projected Rotation
C - Marc Gasol
PF - Zach Randolph
SF - Tayshaun Prince
SG - Courtney Lee
PG - Mike Conley
Bench
GF Tony Allen
GF Vince Carter
C Kosta Koufos
G Beno Udrih
FC Jon Leuer
GF Quincy Pondexter
G Jordan Adams
The Grizzlies have been flying under the radar for years. They have made four straight playoff appearances, thanks to a strong defensive team philosophy and a great post game on offense. This team is built for playoff basketball, but injuries to key players have caused the team to suffer when it comes to playoff seeding. Once again, Memphis will be led by the front court of Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph. Gasol suffered an injury and it took him a while to get back into the flow of things. He has been durable during his career and should be in line for an All Star season. Randolph has lost some of his bounce at age 33, but remains a crafty post scorer. Mike Conley has always been a slept on borderline great point guard. He had his best scoring year, and continues to put the ball into the basket with great percentages. Surrounding the big three are several veterans on their last legs. Memphis has really missed Rudy Gay's scoring, and will hope Vince Carter and Tayshaun Prince have enough left in the tank to knock down some three pointers. Courtney Lee was actually the team's best outside threat last year, but he has always been a journeyman type. Tony Allen rounds out the rotation. He is a huge liability on offense, but can still play some shut down defense for about 25 minutes per night. If the Grizzlies can remain healthy, they have shown they can hang with, and even knock out, the likes of the Spurs and Mavericks in the playoffs.
-----
7. Portland Trail Blazers2014-2015 Score: 1628
2013-2014 Record and Results: 54-28, 2nd in Northwest. Lost NBA Western Conference Semifinals (1-4) versus San Antonio Spurs.
Projected Rotation
C - Robin Lopez
PF - LaMarcus Aldridge
SF - Nicolas Batum
SG - Wesley Matthews
PG - Damian Lillard
Bench
FC Chris Kaman
G Steve Blake
FC Thomas Robinson
GF Dorell Wright
G Will Barton
G CJ McCollum
F Victor Claver
After two injury ruined seasons, the Trail Blazers bounced back in a big way in 2013-2014. Thanks to one of the best starting lineups in the NBA, Portland started the season 22-4 on their way to a 54 win season. It is hard to believe LaMarcus Aldridge was traded for Tyrus Thomas on draft day. He had his finest season, setting career highs with 23.2 points and 11.1 rebounds per game. Aldridge has developed into a complete offensive player, with good range and a great free throw shot. It is even tougher to imagine that the Blazers were able to draft Damian Lillard with the pick they acquired for a washed up Gerald Wallace. Lillard was thought of as a risk coming out of mid major Weber State, but he topped 20 points per game his second year, hitting 40% from three and 87% from the line. He is not a traditional pass first point guard, but is already an All Star caliber scorer. Nicolas Batum rounds out the big three in Portland. He signed an offer sheet with the Timberwolves, which was quickly matched by Portland. Sporting a post All Star 57.4 effective field goal percentage, the 25 year old is on the verge of stardom. Wesley Matthews, a shrewd free agent signing after a solid first season with the Jazz as an undrafted rookie, scored 16 points per game, hitting 40% from three. Robin Lopez rounds out the top five. The Blazers have been looking for a solid center since drafting Greg Oden, and Lopez was just what the doctor ordered. He played in all 82 games, and shattered his career high with 8.5 rebounds. This is a young, versatile, talented starting lineup. The starters will have to stay healthy, however, because the bench is pretty weak. Chris Kaman, Steve Blake and Dorell Wright have had past NBA success, but are bit players at this point in their career. Thomas Robinson, Will Barton and CJ McCollum have yet to have much NBA success. This is a championship quality starting lineup, but might lack the depth to overtake the Western Conference studs.
-----
8. Houston Rockets2014-2015 Score: 1602
2014-2015 Record and Results: 54-28, 2nd in Southwest. Lost NBA Western Conference First Round (2-4) versus Portland Trail Blazers.
Projected Lineup
C - Dwight Howard
PF - Terrence Jones
SF - Trevor Ariza
SG - James Harden
PG - Patrick Beverley
Bench
GF Francisco Garcia
FC Donatas Motiejunas
G Isaiah Canaan
G Jason Terry
F Jeff Adrien
G Ish Smith
FC Clint Capela
As good of an offseason that the Rockets had in 2013, this summer was the polar opposite. First was the puzzling Chandler Parsons saga. Parsons moved on to Dallas, and was replaced with Trevor Ariza. The last time Ariza had a career year, the Rockets signed him to a big contract and traded him a year later. After another huge free agent year, he is back in Houston. Ariza had a great shooting year, and the Rockets will need him to continue that with little scoring options other than James Harden and Dwight Howard. Harden exploded statistically once he became the man in Houston, averaging 25.4 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 4.7 apg and 1.6 apg. Harden looked terrible during the playoffs, and it is hard to see him leading a team to the championship. Howard is what he is by now. A good defender who can clog the lane, and a solid shot blocker. He has failed to develop much of an offensive game, though he ate up Robin Lopez and the Blazers during the playoffs. Despite his shortcomings, he is a top three center. The Rockets gutted some of their depth, trading away Jeremy Lin and Omer Asik at a chance to sign Chris Bosh. Bosh spurned their advances, and Houston is left with a plethora of youngsters and castoffs to fill out the roster. Terrence Jones had a mini breakout as the starting power forward, and could really flourish during his third year. Patrick Beverley is a good defender who will have to handle the ball more without Parsons around. The Rockets are still waiting for Donatas Motiejunas to take the next step. His offense is desperately needed. Jason Terry was brought in for additional veteran depth, but his best days are well behind him. The duo of Howard and Harden is among the best in the NBA, but the Rockets are not championship quality. In fact, I think they will be battling with Portland, Denver, New Orleans and Phoenix for the last couple of playoff spots.
-----
9. New Orleans Pelicans2014-2015 Score: 1534
2013-2014 Record and Results: 34-48, 5th in Southwest
Projected Lineup
C - Omer Asik
PF - Anthony Davis
SF - John Salmons
SG - Eric Gordon
PG - Jrue Holiday
Bench
FC Ryan Anderson
GF Tyreke Evans
G Austin Rivers
C Alexis Ajinca
G Jimmer Fredette
GF Darius Miller
C Jeff Withey
This roster has some fantasy basketball friendly names, but I hate how it is constructed. One thing I do not hate, however, is Anthony Davis. The third year forward has already joined NBA super stardom, and you could already make a case that he is one of the top five players in the league. How is this stat line for a 20 year old second year player? 20.8 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 2.8 bpg, .519 FG%, .791 FT%. Davis is truly special, and only injuries (he has missed 33 games in two years) can slow him down. There are other good players on this roster, but how do they mesh together? Ryan Anderson is one of the best three point shooters in the league. Jrue Holiday has had plenty of success. Eric Gordon is a flashy scorer that simply needs to stay healthy. Tyreke Evans has a 20-5-5 season under his belt. It will be up to Monty Williams to figure out how to use these guys together, something he failed to do last year. Omer Asik and John Salmons were brought in to give the Pelicans a solid 20 minutes or so each. Salmons should start the game, and can still knock down some jump shots, but will give up most of his minutes to Evans. Asik should take some pressure off of David defensively. He is not much of a scorer, but scoring is not what the Pelicans need from him. New Orleans lost Al-Farouq Aminu, Jason Smith, Omri Casspi and Brian Roberts from their second unit. For as good as Davis is, this was just a 34 win team last year. A .500 season and a playoff appearance would be a good first step for this team.
-----
10. Denver Nuggets2014-2015 Score: 1437
2013-2014 Record and Results: 36-46, 4th in Northwest
Projected Rotation
C - Timofey Mozgov
PF - Kenneth Faried
SF - Wilson Chandler
SG - Arron Afflalo
PG - Ty Lawson
Bench
G Randy Foye
F Danilo Gallinari
FC JJ Hickson
C JaVale McGee
G Nate Robinson
FC Darrell Arthur
F Quincy Miller
The Nuggets, coming off a 57 win season, lost their head coach, general manager, and two best defensive wing players. Then during the season, Danilo Gallinari did not play a minute and JaVale McGee was limited to five games. That was simply too much to overcome in the brutal Western Conference, and Denver missed the playoffs for the first time in 11 years. If the Nuggets can stay healthy, and Brain Shaw can improve his coaching decisions, the Nuggets are deep and athletic enough to return to the playoffs. There are no superstars on this team, but few rosters in the NBA boast as much depth. Kenneth Faried started the season on the bench, but he ended it as Denver's most important player. Fresh off a fantastic FIBA showing, Faried will hope to become more of a leader for the Nuggets, both through his hustle and improved offense. Ty Lawson might be the quickest player in the NBA. Lawson's percentages took a hit, but he improved his scoring and assist numbers. In the smack dab of his prime, Lawson could be poised for an All Star season. Arron Afflalo was reacquired from the Magic for peanuts, and his veteran presence will be a huge addition for a young Denver team. Afflalo took his stats to another level for a bad Orlando team, but should settle back into his usual role as a shooter and solid defender for the Nuggets. Wilson Chandler and Danilo Gallinari, two of the three mainstays from the Carmelo Anthony team, have both showed flashes with Denver, but have yet to put together complete seasons. Both are good, athletic shooters, and a healthy season from both would go a long way towards the Nuggets becoming one of the top scoring teams in the league once again. JJ Hickson was probably Denver's best low post scorer last season. He does his best damage off the bench against backups, so it will be important for JaVale McGee to remain healthy and Timofey Mozgov to continue to improve. The Nuggets can go ten deep easily, but without a superstar, it will be tough to make noise in the playoffs if Denver can return.
-----
11. Phoenix Suns2014-2015 Score: 1381
2013-2014 Record and Results: 48-34, 3rd in Pacific
Projected Rotation
C - Miles Plumlee
PF - Markieff Morris
SF - PJ Tucker
SG - Goran Dragic
PG - Eric Bledsoe
Bench
G Isaiah Thomas
GF Gerald Green
F Marcus Morris
F TJ Warren
C Alex Len
G Archie Goodwin
F Anthony Tolliver
The Phoenix Suns were expected to lead the Andrew Wiggins sweepstakes. Instead, they won 47 games and were in the playoff mix for most of the season. Head coach Jeff Hornacek pushed the tempo all year. Guards Goran Dragic and Eric Bledsoe proved to be perfect fits for this offense. It was a crime that Dragic was not named to the All Star team. He shattered his career high for points per game and field goal percentage. Bledsoe proved he was worth a lot more than what the Clippers received in trade for him, averaging 17 points himself. Both guards were interchangable as scorers and ball handlers. If that was not enough, Phoenix brought in Isaiah Thomas, who will continue to push the tempo when one of the aforementioned two are out of the game. Thomas, a 20 point per game scorer last year as well, was never quite appreciated by Sacramento. He is not much of a defender, but should fit right in with Pheonix run and gun offense. Defense is not the Suns forte. PJ Tucker is probably the teams best on the ball defender. He will be pushed for minutes by Gerald Green, who excelled as a fill in starter last year, and first round draft pick TJ Warren. Markieff Morris is the main man on the front court. With Channing Frye gone, the starting power forward spot is his to lose. Morris has developed a solid jump shot to go along with his inside scoring and rebounding. Marcus Morris and Miles Plumlee are two blue collar, hard working types that will round out the front court. If the Suns can get anything from 2013 first round pick Alex Len, that would be a bonus. This team has some real talent, but will be hard pressed to match it's 48 wins from last year. Dragic and Bledsoe will have to repeat their career years, and the role players up front will have to continue to play out of their mind. This team should still finish at or a little above .500.
-----
12. Minnesota Timberwolves2014-2015 Score: 1158
2013-2014 Record and Results: 40-42, 3rd in Northwest
Projected Rotation
C - Nikola Pekovic
PF - Thaddeus Young
SF - Corey Brewer
SG - Kevin Martin
PG - Ricky Rubio
Bench
GF Andrew Wiggins
G Mo Williams
C Gorgui Dieng
G JJ Barea
GF Chase Budinger
F Anthony Bennett
FC Ronny Turiaf
Like Kevin Garnett before him, the Timberwolves were forced to trade the second best player in franchise history. But unlike the Nuggets, Magic and Pelicans, it looks like Minnesota might have gotten a fair return. It starts with Andrew Wiggins. Wiggins was perhaps the most hyped high schooler since LeBron James. He is not James, but has all the makings of an NBA All Star. Wiggins will be raw on offense until he can tighten up his game, but could land on some All NBA and All NBA defensive teams during his prime. It will be up to management to surround him with talent in a way they could not with Garnett or Kevin Love. The Wolves also landed Anthony Bennett. Bennett had a bad rookie season, but gets a new lease on his career with the Timberwolves. He will have to fight for minutes with Thaddeus Young. Young is not quite as good as his stats on a terrible Sixers teams suggest, but he is a solid, athletic starter who should continue to put up numbers on his new team. As far as holdovers, Ricky Rubo and Nikola Pekovic represent the rest of the future Wolves. Pekovic is a solid scorer and rebounder, a notch below All Star caliber. Rubio is a creative play maker who has really struggled on offense. These days defenses dare point guards who can't shoot to beat them from deep, and Rubio will need to work on that part of his game to justify a contract extension. Gorgui Dieng could eventually push Pekovic for the starting center position, he had a very solid rookie season. Zach LaVine was a swing for the fences type selection. He might have been the most talented player in this class, but is a long way from contributing. The Wolves are probably not a playoff team, but I do not think they will bottom out. There is enough talent on this roster to push for a .500 record.
-----
13. Sacramento Kings2014-2015 Score: 903
2013-2014 Record and Results: 28-54, 4th in Pacific
Projected Rotation
C - DeMarcus Cousins
PF - Jason Thompson
SF - Rudy Gay
SG - Ben McLemore
PG - Darren Collison
Bench
G Ramon Sessions
F Carl Landry
FC Reggie Evans
F Derrick Williams
G Nik Stauskas
G Ray McCallum
F Omri Casspi
As usual, the Kings have talent, but the roster construction is pretty terrible. First, the good. DeMarcus Cousins has arrived as an elite NBA player. In my opinion Cousins, not Dwight Howard, is the best center in the NBA. He averaged 22.7 ppg and 11.7 rpg as a 23 year old. He has a complete offensive game. Rudy Gay was a nice mid year aquisition. Gay shot 48% after coming over from Toronto, as opposed to 38% with the Raptors. Cousins, Gay and Isaiah Thomas were the only trio of teammates to all average over 20 ppg last season. Now, the bad. The rest of the roster. For some reason, the Kings never quite believed in Thomas. He was traded, and career backup Darren Collison was brought in to replace him. Last time Collison was a starter, he face planted with the Pacers. Ray McCallum and Ramon Sessions will get plenty of point guard minutes. Ben McLemore was a disaster as a rookie, and now he will have to fend off first round draft pick Nik Stauskas. McLemore is a good three point shooter, but shot only 37% from the field. That will not cut it. Derrick Williams didn't work out in Minnesota, and he was not much better in Sacramento. Carl Landry, Jason Thompson and Reggie Evans will battle for front court minutes, but none are good defenders. It should be fun to watch Cousins continue to blossom, but this is still a team that will struggle to shoot a solid percentage or play defense. 35 wins will be a stretch.
-----
14. Los Angeles Lakers2014-2015 Score: 823
2013-2014 Record and Results: 27-55, 5th in Pacific
Projected Rotation
C - Jordan Hill
PF - Carlos Boozer
SF - Wesley Johnson
SG - Kobe Bryant
PG - Jeremy Lin
Bench
F Julius Randle
GF Nick Young
FC Ed Davis
G Steve Nash
GF Xavier Henry
F Ryan Kelly
C Robert Sacre
Since trading for Dwight Howard, things have not gone well for the Lakers. Los Angeles is used to being the bully at the lunch table, pretty much signing whoever they want. Well, Howard spurned Los Angeles last year, and this past off season a ton of cap space could not result in contracts for LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh or Dirk Nowitzki. Instead, the Lakers were forced to resign several role players from a bad team and add an amnestied Carlos Boozer. This will be Kobe Bryant's biggest test since playing with the likes of Smush Parker and Kwame Brown. The 18 year old veteran only played in 8 games last year, but has the drive and hunger only a handfull of players in NBA history have possessed, and is determined to come back with a vengence. Bryant will be fine, but it's the rest of the roster that will keep the Lakers from competing. Julius Randle was a solid draft pick. He should start as a scorer off the bench, and could grow into a Zach Randolph type. Boozer was not worth his contract, but he is not quite washed up. He is no threat on defense, but can still score 20 points on most nights. Jeremy Lin, Wesley Johnson, Jordan Hill, Nick Young, Ed Davis and Xavier Henry are low level replacement types who will be forced to carry the rest of the minutes. It is hard to believe Steve Nash is still in the NBA, but he is hanging on on the Lakers bench. He has little left in the tank, and cannot be relied on as he completes his 18th and likely last season. To add insult to injury, the Suns get the Lakers first round pick from the Nash trade unless it lands in the top 3. Bryant will probably keep the Lakers from finishing that bad, but there is no chance they sniff the playoffs this year.
-----
15. Utah Jazz2014-2015 Score: 591
2014-2015 Record and Results: 25-57, 5th in Northwest
Projected Rotation
C - Derrick Favors
PF - Trevor Booker
SF - Gordon Hayward
SG - Alec Burks
PG - Trey Burke
Bench
C Enes Kanter
G Dante Exum
F Jeremy Evans
FC Rudy Gobert
GF Steve Novak
GF Rodney Hood
G Ian Clark
I applaud the Jazz swinging for the fences with the Dante Exum selection. Utah will need to take more chances like that, because they have a huge hill to climb in the Western Conference. This team has young talent, but it hard for me to say they are better than any team in the conference right now. Quin Snyder, former coach of those good Missouri college teams, takes over, and will instill a new, free flowing offense. He has spoken up Derrick Favors as the leader of this team. Favors has slowly developed, but had a mini breakout during his fourth year in the league. He has improved his offense, and his defense and rebounding were already NBA caliber. Gordon Hayward was resigned to a huge deal. It was a premium price to pay for a guy who shot 41% last season, but is only 24 years old and is one of the better all around small forwards in the NBA. If he can tighten up his efficiency, he could be an All Star. It will be tough for teams not to double Hayward unless another guy steps up on offense. Trey Burke and Alex Burks have the potential to be a solid scoring back court, and the addition of Exum gives this unit real potential. Burke is more of a scorer than a distributor, and Burks is more of a slasher than a shooter. Enes Kanter is still very young, and has shown good potential early in his career, but bouts of inconsistency drove former coach Tyrone Corbin mad. Rudy Gobert and Rodney Hood could grow into solid bench players. Gobert especially put on a show during the FIBA tournament. This team is very young and talented, but I do not see a chance this team competes for the playoffs this year.
No comments:
Post a Comment