I've been neglecting this blog and in large part the NBA itself. I haven't watched an actual game this entire season, and I only watched highlights once, of a Lakers' match a couple of months ago. So as usual, take what I'm saying with a grain of salt. Some of my predictions are more or less spot on, prophetic even. Others, not so much. In fact, instead of ruminating on teams outright, I'm going to go back to the predictions and gradings I made before the season began to see if they have or appear to be on the verge of coming true.
Back in August and September, I gave every team a offseason grade, based on the transactions they did (or didn't) make over the summer. This was besides making predictions on how they would fare this season. I don't mind gloating when I'm right, so I can't be afraid to take it on the chin when I'm wrong. With that said:
ATLANTA HAWKS (19-19): B
OFFSEASON GRADE: F
The Hawks have come out a lot better than I expected them to, and on some nights, the media even talks about them as if they're formidable. Most of the news coming out the ATL still centers around Trae Young. He's another player who I can kinda imagine on the Lakers.
'Hey, I'm making a gazillion dollars a year - f*ck a championship'. If that's his disposition, then by all means, stay in Atlanta.
Otherwise, it may be time for a scene change. The way ATL is like constantly flipping their roster, it may get more interesting but never actually better. Letting Collins go was more significant or symbolic than a lot of people realized, because was he even actually the problem?
BOSTON CELTICS (27-11): B+
OFFSEASON GRADE: B
The Celtics aren't invulnerable, and their record, as impressive as it may be, reflects that. But one thing they do have going for them, obviously, is favoritism from the powers-that-be. And it's also clear that certain media organizations are pushing the idea of Tatum as MVP, whether he actually deserves it or not. I remember predicting a couple of years ago myself, even before Boston won a championship, that Tatum may one day win MVP, but it shouldn't be because of some colorism, dickridin type shit. He may not even be the best player in Boston.
BROOKLYN NETS (13-25): B
OFFSEASON GRADE: F
The Nets suck, but the way the NBA is currently designed, they may make the play-ins and who knows, even the playoffs. But they're supposed to be tanking or something like that.
Recently, the Nets re-acquired D'Angelo Russell. Readers of this blog know that trading him to begin with was a move I strongly criticized. Brooklyn, instead of being patient and building on the foundation Russell helped establish, instead decided to go star chasing. They've smarted for it and now stand as a warning to other teams that decide to take the feening route. Bringing Russell back now feels like too little, too late. But this team deserves a B because with their current record and the hand they'd be dealt this season, they're actually overachieving on the standings.
CHARLOTTE HORNETS (8-27): B
OFFSEASON GRADE: D
The Hornets suck, like as bad as they've ever been. But they have reason to celebrate because it appears that the team's star, LaMelo Ball, may actually be an allstar starter, if it were up to the fans at least. This is despite Charlotte having a woeful .229 winning percentage, and Ball, though relatively healthy, missing like a third of their games thus far. The Hornets should also be officially patting themselves on the back for not giving in to the pressure to draft Scoot Henderson last season, even though it's appearing that Brandon Miller may not necessarily be a model of health either.
CHICAGO BULLS (18-20): B
OFFSEASON GRADE: B+
It feels like the Bulls are better than last season and not only that but are generating more interest. That may in large part be due to Coby White, who honestly I thought at one point was overrated. His emergence makes the idea of parting with Zach LaVine more tolerable.
Speaking of which, I'm still hoping LaVine somehow makes it to the Lakers this very season. I believe in Cinderellas and shit like that, I guess, but expecting Chicago to make any type of noise in the postseason feels like a stretch.
CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (33-4): A+
OFFSEASON GRADE: A-
The Cavs are a team who I felt suffered from lack of NBA favoritism over the past couple of seasons. If that is in fact the case, their current record doesn't reflect it, though we won't really know until playoff time.
Evan Mobley, whom readers of this blog know I always strongly believed in, is finally representing. With Embiid more or less being washed, there's no other team in the East I can think of with that type of long, skinny, semi-traditional big type of player. Evan doesn't appear to have the athleticism of a Giannis or Wemby. But being a more stationary player, esp when you're a big, has it's advantages also.
The way I see it, the only team really standing in the way of Cleveland making the Finals is Boston. The best thing about this squad is that as their young star rises, on any given night a number of their other stars, i.e. Mitchell or Garland or even a sixth man, can take the lead. And remember that this roster is also youthful in general and furthermore one that doesn't really have major injury issues, at least not like some other teams.
DALLAS MAVERICKS (22-16): B+
PRESEASON GRADE: C
The Mavs making the Finals last season, imo, was a fluke, and they were ultimately exposed by a team who for the most part didn't even have their starting C available.
Thus far, they've more or less performed as expected (by me) this season, being an above-average WC team but not one of the elite. Then again, wasn't that the same story last season, until playoff time came around?
I'm starting to lose hope that Luka Doncic will ever win MVP. In terms of actual skills, he's arguably the most naturally-talented player in the NBA. But he doesn't have the durability.
That said, Dallas has done a pretty good job in terms of assembling a roster to try to mitigate that issue. There's other braintrusts out there, employed by teams with a regularly-injured star, who never seem to figure out a way to cover those inconsistencies. Kyrie simultaneously has his health issues, but this squad has remained respectable. So that B+, imo, is really a testament to their braintrust.
DETROIT PISTONS (20-19): A
OFFSEASON GRADE: C-
In the world of professional sports - or let's say the NBA in particular - once a team develops a losing standard, like there's no telling when they'll overcome it. Usually, things change after they draft that special someone. Whether or not Cunningham is that one, like I don't think the world is wholly convinced. But he does put up stats and has proven to be a player Detroit can build around, so to speak.
For a couple of seasons, I've been recommending, as difficult as it may be, that they try to land a star vet. Instead, dudes went out and basically acquired a bunch of veteran role players. And that strategy has paid off.
The Pistons have come to realize, sooner than a lot of other teams would, that youth movements don't work unless you draft a number of star rookies like in succession. So kudos to their braintrust for not suffering the fans any longer with a young-yet-promising team that wasn't winning.
DENVER NUGGETS (22-15): A-
OFFSEASON GRADE: A
The Nuggets may not be as intimidating as they have been in recent years, but I would still imagine this is a team that no one really wants to face in the playoffs. They have two of the top five players - if not the top two - when it comes to the ability to produce triple-doubles. And their record isn't that bad, considering the injury issues and all. With Westbrook around, this squad has more versatility than perhaps any other in the league.
GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS (19-19): B
OFFSEASON GRADE: C
The Warriors aren't that good but earned a B for at least being competitive. Like I still don't think any team can look at the Dubs as an easy out, not with Steph still around, and Hield occasionally repping at the 2.
The loss of Slo Mo, from way back in the beginning of the season, like we never got to see how well he would mesh in Golden State, but I have to presume it was a major loss. That said, even though you may not be able to take Warriors ability to win for granted, by the looks of things they'll be lucky to even make the play-ins.
HOUSTON ROCKETS (25-12): A+
OFFSEASON GRADE: C
Out of all of the teams to prove my preseason predictions wrong, the Rockets are at the top of the list. I not only saw issues with their roster but also a lack of favoritism from the powers-that-be. But there they are, currently standing at second in the West.
I was clearly wrong about their roster compatibility and owe Fred VanVleet - for what it's worth - an apology. But in terms of how far the NBA will allow them to go, that remains to be seen.
INDIANA PACERS (21-18): C
OFFSEASON GRADE: B
It's been months since I heard of the Pacers, another fluke team from last season's playoffs. You know dudes are a fluke when the following season they fail to represent, even though they're not old nor had any major roster losses.
LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS (20-17): A
PRESEASON GRADE: B
One thing about the Clippers, even if they are stuck in time with Kawhi, is that at least they play up to their talent level. The biggest name on the team is the Beard, who will likely never make an all-star team again. But you can't sleep on these guys. And I guess if Leonard did come back, though I'm not expecting him to for any significant duration, that would send them to another level.
Back in the old days, teams always made sure they had a serviceable, big-bodied C. Now, it's like you have a few squads with exceptional centers, and the rest trying to play really fast.
LAC is another team that, since the De'Andre Jordan era, don't seem to really care about securing an exceptional big, taking nothing away from anyone they already have rostered. But with teams like Minnesota, Denver and OKC out there, it's hard to imagine the Clippers going far without more size and without Kawhi.
LOS ANGELES LAKERS (20-16): B
PRESEASON GRADE: D
Man, do I love/hate the Lakers. I want to say something awful about them, but oh shit, they're actually at 20 and 16 (against my expectations). Like their record is better than their roster is.
One thing I always say about LAL is that, at least they have the powers-that-be on their side. I don't know how true that may or may not have been this season, but it's like when the Lakers win, we all win.
That said, I'm presuming it's going to take a miracle, or some really rigorous fixin', to get them anywhere near the WCF, unless --- oh shit, Zach LaVine! Maybe with someone like that on the roster, perhaps Lebron "Rushmore" James will finally feel comfortable enough to focus more exclusively on playing to his size rather then chuckin' to his team's detriment. He recently criticized dudes' style of play, but he was one of the main players who ushered in the too-many-threes era, and the last time I remember seeing him play, King James was still chuckin.
MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES (25-14): A
OFFSEASON GRADE: F
The Grizzlies had what appeared to be an underwhelming offseason, which caused me to give them an F in that regard. However, what's now become evident is that the team didn't really need major upgrades (in terms of trades or free agents).
Ja Morant is still doing his thing, I guess, but his popularity has taken a nosedive since all of the scandals. Idk who's currently the favorite for ROY, but Zach Edey appears to be the only rookie on my radar who's actually making a winning contribution to his team. And as far as recent free agents go, Pippen Jr. has proven to be a solid signing.
That said, it's hard to imagine Memphis coming out
of this season as champions. This team still looks like they could use
another star or above-average player. But who knows? Maybe Marcus
Smart will finally prove to be the one, and the Grizzlies' braintrust
will come out looking like geniuses. The drafting of Edey now looks
like a masterful move.
MIAMI HEAT: C-
PRESEASON GRADE: D+
The Heat are doing pretty good, all things considered. It's unusual for this team, with its solid and respected braintrust, to have a star publicly demand a trade. But Jimmy is one of those transient, noncommittal types, so it was only a matter before he got tired of like not winning.
If there's any team who could pull off a Cinderella, it's the Heat. So one thing I always ask in these situations is will the team Butlerr eventually land on be any better? Or will it be one of those ugly Kawhi situations where dude is like benched or at home indefinitely, until his organization figures things out?
Either way, the Heat are not stupid, nor are they known for being hasty. If they do move Butler, chances are they'll be just as good, if not better, than they currently are. It isn't like Jimmy has necessarily been making headlines in terms of winning them games this season.
MILWAUKEE BUCKS (20-6): B
OFFSEASON GRADE: B-
Slowly but surely, it feels like Dame + Giannis are figuring things out. But this doesn't feel like a roster that can take time granted.
I just discovered Kris Middleton is back and obviously working his way back into form, as usual type shit. Dame + Giannis is a dream pairing, but the rest of the roster for the most part leaves something to be desired.
You can't really call Milwaukee a superteam, even though they're sorta built like one. These situations are complex, increasingly so due to the way the league stipulates things like trades and the money involved. Even though I was a strong advocate of the above pairing, bringing Dame over now feels like too little too late. Or let me say that whereas the Bucks' braintrust was savvy enough to land him, they failed in terms of adjusting the rest of the roster to his presence.
MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES (20-17): C+
PRESEASON GRADE: D
The Timberwolves have their franchise player in Anthony Edwards, but it's like they don't have a set identity yet. It's like they held onto KAT longer than they should have. So now it sorta feels like they're trying to figure things out without him being around.
Mike Conley, I'm not trying to scapegoat him or anything, but his presence feels sorta anachronistic. Or let me say if anything, given the talent around him, dude should be averaging more assists. But it's like I haven't seen Minnesota play this season. And based on what I observed last year in the playoffs, they don't really play a traditional PG style anyway, like at all.
NEW ORLEANS PELICANS (8-31): F
PRESEASON GRADE: B-
I wanted to give these dudes an F minus, like an H or some shit. There's no way you could have convinced me that a team with Zion + McCollum + Ingram + Dejounte would be at the bottom of their conference(!) midway through the season.
Maybe the time has come to put the Ingram trade rumors to rest. The last thing an organization this disappointing needs is further distractions. He's arguably been their most consistent star of the decade, but dude keeps getting scapegoated.
Sometimes, the way I see it, these problems of being over-talented can be mitigated by a respected, pass-first PG. But I don't think there's anymore of them around besides maybe Ben "the Pariah" Simmons.
The one good thing about New Orleans is that, at least in theory, they have more quality trade chips than any other team. But again that's in theory, because as we speak, three of their Big 4 are on the injured list. They have four players who are like borderline allstars, but the best player currently on their team is arguably the relatively-unknown Trey Murphy III.
Is there actually such a thing as a losing culture, when an organization is so accustomed to missing the mark that they continue to do so, even when, on paper, they shouldn't? If there is, I would have to say the Pelicans exemplify that standard. Either that, or they have like really bad luck.
NEW YORK KNICKS (25-14): A
OFFSEASON GRADE: B+
I really didn't approve of the Knicks trading for KAT at the last moment, especially considering that they gave up what's his name, DiVincenzo in the process. That really sucked, because he was a hero for NYK last season. So I'm still looking forward to that decision coming back to bite NYK in the ass.
I won't go as far as to say that KAT is overrated, but I didn't feel he was the type of center NY needed. That said, I was apparently wrong. Or in the very least the Knicks got their own version of Kristaps Porzingis and now appear to be more or less equal with the Celtics. Too bad though that now it's looking like the Cavs may be better than both of them.
OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER (31-6): A+
OFFSEASON GRADE: A
The Thunder are generally considered to be the best team in the NBA. I was sorta shocked that they lost to the Mavs last postseason. But now, whether true or not, it feels like the West is theirs to lose.
ORLANDO MAGIC (22-18): A-
OFFSEASON GRADE: B
It may be a long time coming before the Magic are once again a national TV team, but these guys continue to impress. Their two main scorers are out, but they've managed to maintain a respectable record and currently first place in their division.
I'm not anticipating any of that translating into postseason success beyond what they achieved last year, but who knows. If there's any team in the East who can pull off some dark horse shit, I guess that would be Orlando. And that fact is pretty impressive in and of itself, considering that just a couple of years ago they were like garbage.
PHILADELPHIA 76ERS (15-21): D
OFFSEASON GRADE: C
It feels kinda unfair giving the Sixers a D, because with a big 3 featuring Embiid and George, two always-injured stars, who like no one should have expected them to go far with. And when I say no one, I especially mean Philly's braintrust, who should have known better.
Maybe their banking on that increasingly common hopefully-they'll-be-healthy-for-the-playoffs strategy. I tend to refer to the Clippers as the Sixers of the West, but now it feels more like Philly is the LAC of the east(?).
PHOENIX SUNS (17-19): F
PRESEASON GRADE: F
Looks like I may have been spot on with this one, champs. The Suns' current record ain't that bad, and there's still time to turn things around. But their showing thus far is not becoming of their talent level.
Crying over the split milk is a recurring theme in this blog, and Phoenix should have never given CP3 up. If you have a superteam, the most important player is arguably the PG and/or glue guy. Think Rondo on the '08 Celtics. You have these chucks, KD and Beal and, oh my gosh, Booker, so who's responsible for distributing the ball between them?
Oh well, at least it looks like Durant will once again be an all-star starter. In other words, at least the Suns are an interesting watch.
PORTLAND TRAILBLZERS (13-24): D
OFFSEASON GRADE: C
The Blazers were expected to suck this season, and sure enough there they linger, near the bottom of the (Western) standings. I don't really know what's going on with this team, because they rarely get a mention on news sites.
I like beating dead horses, so let me say that their current complete lack of relevancy all goes back to the Damian Lillard trade of last year. The Bucks are now appearing as if they're finally getting their shit together. Contrastingly, I think it's now been more or less proven, as I argued all the way from the get-go, that even if Scoot didn't enter the NBA too early, he had too much responsibility thrust on him - being expected to fill the shoes of Dame - too soon. Like who knows if he'll ever be that good even if they had exercised patience with him?
SACRAMENTO KINGS (19-19): D+
OFFSEASON GRADE: B
Most of the time when the Kings make the headlines, it isn't anything particularly good, like an injury. There's been talk of De'Aaron Fox bouncing soon or whatever. Things like that don't really excite me because if there's one position the NBA in general is most-talented at, it's prolly PG. Someone like Fox, as good as he is, has only made the all-star team once, as an injury replacement. That's how many quality PGs there are out there.
This squad was expected to fare better than their current record shows. The thing about the Kings is that there's always that feeling they can turn things around. Their roster is above-average, and I think the color of their uniforms also have something to do with it.
That said, the NBA has once again become such that the West is the dominant the conference. And it's like hard to imagine these dudes suddenly standing out amongst the rest of the conference. This is a team that would have done really good in the 90s.
I'm still imagining Sabonis being paired with a dominant C, like what almost happened in Philly.
SAN ANTONIO SPURS (18-19): B+
OFFSEASON GRADE: A
I was surprised that Wemby isn't closer to the top of allstar fan voting, that KD and Jokic remain more popular than he is. All things considered, that would likely change if like the Spurs were more competitive. They've definitely progressed, but dudes need to at least like make the play-ins type shit.
That would embarrassing to other, more established and respected teams, if the less-talented Spurs knocked them out of a play-in spot. But it would be a testament to Wembanyama's basketball greatness. And who knows? Make the playoffs with a player like that, and anything can potentially happen.
TORONTO RAPTORS (8-29): F
OFFSEASON GRADE: C
The Raptors are another disappointing team, albeit one that no one really had high expectations for this season anyway. I always felt that Scottie Barnes was overrated, no disrespect to him, because it ain't like he overrated himself. I believe that Toronto went into this season at least expecting to make the playoffs. I would presume doing so is still possible mathematically but not likely.
Remember when the Raptors used to be like perennial borderline contenders? Their braintrust isn't half bad, but it's like it's going to take them a solid decade to get over the departure of Kawhi.
UTAH JAZZ: (9-26): F
PRESEASON GRADE: F
The Jazz really suck, in a way that's not to expected from a Danny Ainge team. The general belief is that they're tanking in the name of landing Cooper Flagg. So it would really suck ass if they still don't land in the draft position to get him, or if Flagg is not as good as some as predicting.
That said, I think fans in Utah have more or less grown accustomed to being home of a underachieving NBA team, or one led by whiteboys who can't compete with the upper echelons of the league.
WASHINGTON WIZARDS (6-30): F
OFFSEASON RANKING: B+
We all knew the Wizards were going to suck, but having the worst record in the league is like a new low type shit. Their roster isn't as bad as their record. And as for my boy Jordan Poole, he's playing consistently and averaging almost 22pts/game. But, let's just say he's not as popular as LaMelo Ball. And if dude wants to raise his status, the team has to start winning also. Oh well, at least he got that one championship with the Dubs, who never should have traded him to begin with.
CONCLUSION
I'm wary of putting too much faith in OKC, considering how they kinda disappointed me last season. But they're a young team that actually made a couple of wise roster moves over the offseason, one in which a lot of lesser squads weren't making wise decisions at all. And as expected, they look even better than they did in 2023-24. Like it'd be a shame if they flunk out once again, though there is quality competition out West, with the team they should perhaps be worried about most being the Nuggets.
Out East, remember that the Cavs started off 15-0, and it was the Celtics who ended that streak. So Cleveland, as good as they may be, can't take things for granted. But also remember that the Cavs have continuity which, though not much respected these days, is still a major factor. The Knicks are also stiff competition. But as it currently stands, I'd likewise be disappointed if Spider and co. fail to take the East.
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