2024-25 NBA Mid-Season Grades

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.

2024-2025 Offseason Grades (Central Division)

CHICAGO BULLS: B+

I was really hoping that Zach LaVine found his way to LAL.  That didn't happen, but the good thing about Chicago's situation is that now, at least they're a one-alpha team.

LaVine may not be a franchise player in the truest sense of the word, in terms of being able to consistently will a team to victory.  But, he isn't a scrub either.  And the pairing of him and DeRozan was always a questionable strategy, given that the Bulls didn't necessarily surround them with complementary role players, or at least those who were able to stay healthy.

I also like the acquisition of Josh Giddey, because he can fill the role that Lonzo Ball was supposed to.  He may not as good of a defender as Lonzo, but he is a better all-around offensive player.

Also, the way the Bulls' roster is currently made up is such that they can tank without looking like they're intentionally doing so.  You know what I'm saying?  Like they have a respectable roster, but perhaps one not good enough to make the playoffs.

That said, Chicago actually has one of the better braintrusts as far as garbage teams go.  I think what this roster, as is, may need to get to the next level, if they haven't gotten one already, is a speedy, athletic big who focuses primarily on defense and rebounding, not built like Drummond but one you can rationalize starting alongside Vucevic, since he apparently isn't going anywhere anytime soon either.

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS: A-

The Cavs are literally running it back with their same roster from last season and may be the only team in the league doing so.  That type of commitment demands some level of applause in this day and age.  That's more or less how champions were built back in the days.

That said, I agree with pundits who argue or notice that there's compatibility issues between Garland and Mitchell.  Donovan is a 2 who plays more like a 1 and furthermore is ball dominant.  In other words, if he decides to chuck, there's really no need to force him not to.  Forcing Mitchell, against his will, to share the ball with the other Gs and wings may do this roster more harm than good.

One solution is perhaps to bring Darius off the bench and rather start a G alongside Mitchell who's more defense oriented.  But then, the issue will become if Garland is as effective as a sixth man than he is as a starter.

Either way, at this moment there really isn't much reason to believe that Cleveland is on the verge of winning a championship.  But the ex-factor, once again, is Evan Mobley.  He's the type of player who, if Joel Embiid is unable to find his form, no other team in the East possesses.

DETROIT PISTONS: C-

The Pistons seem to have finally forsaken their youth movement by acquiring a handful of vets, most notably Tobias Harris, over the offseason.  I've been arguing for years that more veterans need to go to young teams like this.  However, I was thinking more along the lines of those who can make more of a difference, not only in terms of winning but also like ticket sales.  Meanwhile, Detroit's youth-laden roster from last season was more exciting, on paper, than their current one (even though they kept most of those young guys).

A little progress is better than no progress.  But the question is, has progress actually been made?

The problem with considering Cade Cunningham a franchise player is first of all, the Pistons are now paying him so much money that if they did decide to part ways, he'd be hard to trade.  You know, first it's like what team actually needs his skillset, and then it's like, what would they be willing to give up in return?  I know I may be projecting too far into the future, but that's the kind of issues Detroit, unless it overachieves, is likely to face.

Obviously no perennial all-star, i.e. the type of player they likely need to actually move the needle, is eager to join the Pistons.  So all things considered, it'd probably be better off if they didn't have any max player and engaged in a full rebuild sooner than later.  Or put another way, if Cade isn't a franchise player (which, imo, he has never proven to be, despite the stats), then they're going to look real stupid the longer they hold onto him.

INDIANA PACERS: B

I criticized the Pacers a lot during the playoffs and don't want to go there again.  If certain other teams in the East are healthy, I doubt that Indiana will make the conference finals again.  But that said, logic will dictate that after the success of last season, the right thing would be to run it back, with an upgrade or two.

That upgrade is expected to come in the form of James Wiseman, which isn't a completely bad gamble, since Myles Turner's style of play can be frustrating at times.  Wiseman was drafted onto the Warriors, a team which, as perennial contenders (up until recently), wasn't necessarily the best environment for young, developing, insecure players.  Since then, he's played for the Pistons and never quite panned out to be the phenom some were predicting when he was in high school.

But maybe, things will be different in Indiana.  Unlike Detroit, this is a team that actually wins games.  And unlike Golden State, even though the Pacers are theoretically contenders, there shouldn't be a whole of pressure or expectations unrealistically placed on Wiseman's shoulders, you know, to instantly prove a champion.  It's like either he finally represents in a definitive way, or he doesn't.

MILWAUKEE BUCKS: B-

I enjoy reminding the world that I was the first pundit to suggest the pairing of Giannis + Dame.  The problem is that, due to injuries, we never got to see their full (postseason) potential.  I think it's safe to say that if nothing else, if Giannis was healthy then the Bucks would have gotten past the first round of the playoffs.

I'm sorta a pessimist when it comes to injuries.  Sometimes, players get hurt really bad and make what seem like miraculous comebacks.  Other times, you're expecting them to return to form, and they never do.  Or let me say that my strategy is that, once a star player proves injury-prone, to always have a viable backup plan, just in case.

The Bucks, though they've made some quality additions, do not appear as if they have done so, nor do they necessarily look better than they did last season.  Besides Dame and Giannis, this squad is banking on a handful of aged starters, one of whom has an even worse injury history.  So I don't feel inspired, and obviously neither does any other pundit, since I have yet to see anyone mention Milwaukee as contenders this upcoming season.

But of course, in theory Giannis + Dame can be the best big/small combination in the league.  Maybe what the Bucks should think about doing is going all out and perhaps assembling what looks more like a win-now roster around them.  They're in a tough spot in terms of facing decisions because when you look at their top-six players, they're definitely contenders if healthy (and maybe a bit younger).

CONCLUSION

The Cavs should be the best team in the Central Division and, if they're able to be more innovative, perhaps even contenders.  They're the only team in the East who, as of now, has a starting five that consists of twin towers, not to mention a perennial allstar 2guard.

But of course, you can't sleep on the Pacers after the showing they had last season.  They now should be fully accustomed to the presence of Pascal Siakim.  But after how they performed last playoffs, injuries and all, I'm not convinced.  But, the same thing can be said for the Cavs.

2023-24 NBA Playoffs Game 5, Round 2 Ruminations

NUGGETS 3, TIMBERWOLVES 3

If I had written this post yesterday like I was supposed to, before Game 6, I really didn't have anything good to say about how the T'wolves were looking.  Jokic went straight at Gobert, who's supposed to be like the best defensive C in the NBA, and soundly prevailed.  So I was about to be on some 'better luck next year' type shit.

But then, they turned and totally destroyed the Nuggets in Game 6.  I do believe that Minnesota is the better team, even if Denver has actual experience on their side.  But considering how this series has played out over the past week, I'm not overly confident that they're going to take Game 7, in Denver.

If they do, then I think it's safe to say that their time - and the era of Anthony Edwards - has officially arrived.  Whoever wins the West will likely be the champion, in part because their rival is coming from a less-challenging, injury-ridden conference.  And I do believe that whoever wins this series will take the West, but that no longer feels as much as a given as when Round 2 first began.

MAVERICKS 3, THUNDER 2

This has been another exciting Western Conference series in which the two teams appear for the most part to be evenly matched.  I think it's safe to say that Dallas is the Cinderella of the West.  Of course the Mavs are extremely talented and, in terms of all-star appearances, have the best backcourt in the league.  But this team has been underachieving and poorly constructed for so long that now they do seem like a legitimate threat, it's sorta hard to believe.

I don't really have anything bad to say about the way either of teams are playing.  If I do see one potential flaw in OKC's makeup, it's lack of depth in the middle.  And speaking of Holmgren, I think it's safe to say that in most NBA seasons, he would've been ROY.  Dude it out there, deep into the playoffs, manning the middle like a vet.

KNICKS 3, PACERS 2

I read that, after Game 5, Rick Carlisle was pissed off.  And even before reading this article, I already had a good idea why he would be.  There's really no excusable reason why a team in the 2nd Round of the Playoffs should lose to an opponent with half of their rotation players too injured to play.

Well actually, there is a reason - Jalen Brunson.  And I'm about to say two things about Jalen I thought I never would.  #1 - He may be the best scoring PG in the NBA, and #2 - he's the greatest Knick, in terms of actual performance, since Patrick Ewing.

Of course the Pacers still have a chance, but you know what I'm saying?  It's the same thing with Round 1, like it's hard to respect a team who struggles to capitalize on their opponents' injuries.  And if they do flunk out like that, without any clear signs of the other team being favored by the NBA, then who's really to blame besides Carlisle himself?

CELTICS 4, CAVALIERS 1

There's a celebratory spirit in Boston, but there's reasons for the Cavs to rejoice also, if not more.

The Celtics making it past these teams with their best player injured is not properly preparing for a potential Western opponent.  It was like Kobe said during one of those years he was still playing, about why he was confident in his team's Finals' chances, because they had been "battle tested".  In other words, they endured challenging playoff series against exceptional teams on their way there.

Meanwhile, the Celtics beat the Heat without Jimmy Butler, 4 to 1.  Then they bested the Cavs, in large part without Mitchell, 4 to 1.  If the Knicks make it to the Conference Finals, that's another team with major injuries that Boston will face.  And let's not forget that Kristaps "the Knee Brace" Porzingis remains out like indefinitely.  But from a preparation perspective, maybe the Celtics should be be rooting for the Pacers, since they're at least near full strength and may serve as better practice, so to speak, for the Finals.

As for the Cavs, I think at least one question has been answered, which is it being time to move on from Jarrett Allen and start Mobley at C.  I've noticed that, once it became established that he's holding down the middle, Evan started busting out impressive post-up moves here and there.  And the offense seems to be more fluid without Jarrett, which isn't a bad thing for him personally, as there's other teams out there, even the Magic, that could probably utilize him better.

What Cleveland should be focused on, taking for granted that Donovan will stick around (I hope he doesn't dumb out and go to the Lakers), is acquiring a stretch 4 to play alongside Mobley or a 3&D.  It has to be someone who can not only shoot but play defense, block shots and rebound.  And there aren't many of those floating around these days, meaning they may have to look to the draft.

2023-24 NBA Playoffs Game 1, Round 2 Ruminations

TIMBERWOLVES 2, NUGGETS 0

When Minnesota (likely) wins the championship, don't forget who predicted it first.  In fact, I foresaw it since the beginning of last season.

During the last post, maybe I was a bit hasty in saying that the Nuggets don't finally miss Bruce Brown.  I'm not saying that if he was still around, it would ultimately make a difference with a team built like the Timberwolves.  But it would have given them a better chance than relying on the likes of Reggie Jackson or Christian Braun, since Brown has proven, going back to his days with the Nets, that he can score on anyone and even carry a team of superstars offensively.

I know this past year kinda sucked for Bruce, but I can imagine him having a hearty laugh now, and I hope he gets picked up by some contender during the offseason rather than being stuck in the wasteland known as the Toronto Raptors.

I also hope the world finally realizes what I meant in the past when arguing that it's not proper to give a center who can't or doesn't play defense, i.e. Nikola Jokic, MVP.  This isn't anything personal against "the Joker" - a nickname which reads like a jab in and of itself.  But C is traditionally the most important defensive position in basketball.  You don't notice so much when playing against teams that rely on jumpshots, as most do these days.  But now, with so many Timberwolves driving to the basket, the Nuggets are being exposed.

Behind the scenes, that may ultimately be Denver's undoing - their cockiness, as exhibited by their inability to properly foretell challenges.  Granted, you being the reigning champion, getting blown out during the playoffs in your own arena has to be frustrating.  But when you have dudes, even a star of the team, throwing tantrums and shit, that shows that not only have they forgotten how to lose but also never really exercised the possibility of such transpiring.  That's the kinda shit that can happen when you beat a big-name yet mediocre team like the Lakers.  'Hey, we just beat Lebron and AD' can make you forget just how suspect and disorganized LAL actually is.

I can't see the future and therefore am not going to sit here like 'the Nuggets are going to get swept'.  But with the T'wolves beating them by nearly 30 points(!) in Denver(!!) without Rudy Gobert(!!!), it's definitely looking that way.

Maybe Denver's braintrust needs to read this blog more.  I was the one who's been suggesting for a season or two that they go after a shot blocker, like Mo Bamba, to mitigate the Joker's defensive woes and that of the Nuggets' frontline in general.  If they do end up getting swept right after winning a championship, well, it'll be interesting to see what comes next for this squad.

KNICKS 1, PACERS 0

This is yet another series where Indiana may not have homecourt advantage but are just as talented, if not more so, than the team they're facing.

In Game 1, NYK basically rode the shoulders of Jalen Brunson.  That's not the worst strategy as now Jalen is looking like a perennial all-star.  But I question the sustainability of that method throughout an entire series against the Pacers, after the Knicks already more or less leaned on it versus the Sixers.

Randle has already been out.  More recently, Bogdanovic, one of the best shooters in the NBA and an excellent acquisition of the Knicks, went down for the Playoffs.  Now, they're saying that Mitchell Robinson won't play in Game 2 and is also no-go until next season, which I think is an even bigger blow to NYK than losing Julius or Bojan.

So the Pacers are definitely poised to win this series.  If the Knicks rather emerge victorious, it would have to be due more to heroics and outsmarting Indiana than outclassing them (unless they start suffering major injuries also).  OG Anonoby for instance, I wouldn't be surprised if he makes all-star next season.  If I were building a team, he's exactly the type of forward I would want, as is Josh Hart - the types who's playing styles are more organized and team-oriented than erratic.

THUNDER 1, MAVERICKS 0

Talent- and depth-wise, these two teams are more or less evenly matched.  Chet Holmgren is the best bigman in the series, but Dallas seems to have more quality bigs in general.  Luka + Kyrie are the better starting backcourt offensively, but the best starting G defensively is Lu Dort.

The one clear advantage OKC does have though is that their core is younger.  It's starting to feel like Kyrie has been in the NBA forever, and Luka was never particularly a model of athleticism in comparison to his peers.  Irving probably has more NBA mileage than the entirety of the Thunder's starting five.  Fair and square, those types of things matter in sports - a lot.

In fact in the game of basketball, there's only two things that trump talent (besides rigging) - youth/athleticism and to a lesser degree, strategy.  So Dallas is obviously going to have to rely on the latter, either that or both Irving and Doncic getting ridiculously hot (which is sorta possible) - meaning that it's time for Jason Kidd and the rest of the coaching staff to tap into their inner guru.

CELTICS 1, CAVALIERS 0

Cleveland scored a big break in facing Boston without Kristaps Porzingis.  But by the looks of things, they're going to fail to capitalize for two reasons.

First is Jarrett Allen also being injured (as usual).  Second, based on their Game 1 performance, the Cavs are totally unable to use Evan Mobley to exploit the middle sans Porzingis.  It appears they didn't even really try to, which shows how wing dependent their offense actually is.  Also, Mobley weighs about the same as Jason Tatum, and Al Horford is considerably heavier.  So it ain't like he's able to back either of them down at will.

The first couple of times I saw Mobley play, I speculated that he may be the second coming of Kareem, like he appeared to have the build and the potential.  But instead of developing his post game, he was rather pressured to learn how to shoot from outside.  If Evan had a skilled post game, he could bust a couple of moves downlow and shoot right over Tatum or Horford.

Over the past few years, Cleveland has done an excellent job of assembling deep, talented rosters, amongst the best in the East.  But their braintrust overall leaves something to be desired, because their on-court strategy sucks.  'Just give the ball to Donovan' barely worked against the Magic, so it's unlikely to prevail versus the Celtics, hobbled as they may be.  They're basically trying to beat Boston at their own game, which is not going to work.

2023-24 NBA Playoffs Game 1 Ruminations

Originally, I was intending to write playoff predictions for each separate team.  But there's too many variables to be making long-term guestimations at the moment.

At the top of the list of those variables is the potential for injury.  Back in the old days, when a team submitted their playoff roster, you could pretty much take for granted that the players listed would be active throughout.  Nowadays, I would speculate that every team in the playoff has at least one key player, a star even, who is either currently injured or injury prone.  So even if none of the games during this postseason are rigged, still, you can't be going crazy with the predictions.  And that brings us to the first contest on this list:

SIXERS 104, KNICKS 111

Joel "the Injury Report" Embiid got hurt but still managed to play the fourth quarter.  However, despite putting on a show during the earlier parts of the game, he didn't appear to be a factor near the end.  That would likely have something to do with injuries.  Now, I'm reading he may not play in Game 2.  So the luck of the Knicks continues.

For instance, I'm now starting to believe that NYK may actually be better off without Randle and with Anunoby starting in his stead.  Why?  Because OG is a lot saner than Julius in terms of shot selection.

As for the Sixers, they've been playing musical chairs for too many seasons now.  Now, I also see why they need a second superstar.  With a second superstar alongside Maxey, even with Embiid hurt, they could still probably beat most teams.  But that said, Philly's depth also isn't as intimidating as it has been in the recent past, even like going back to the beginning of this season.

That dunk Joel did off the backboard, the one that re-f*cked up his knee, has to be one of the top 10 in-game dunks in NBA history.  Like that sh*t almost caused me to jump out of my seat.

SUNS 95, TIMBERWOLVES 120

That, my friend, is what you call an ass bustin.

I picked Minnesota to win it all at beginning of last season, but fortune and favor wasn't on their side.  This year, it looks like they're actually entering the playoffs at or near full strength.  Also, Anthony Edwards has emerged as perhaps the best 2-guard in the league.  So, to me at least, it's easy to envision the T-Wolves emerging as WC champions.  The only western teams I think may be able to beat them in a series are DEN and LAC.

As for the Suns, their roster is designed to thrive on firepower.  So if the big 3 aren't dropping like 30 points each against an opponent of this caliber, Phoenix doesn't stand much of a chance.

Braintrusts are finally starting to wise up and realize that size does matter.  So we  may be entering the age of twin towers, with organizations such as MIN, CLE and to some extent even the likes of DEN, LAL and NOP having already gone such routes.  Up against those types of odds, Nurkic isn't likely to cut it.  So dudes are prolly missing Ayton right about now.

PELICANS 92, THUNDER 94

Holmgren may have had five blocks, but OKC's interior defense still sucks, to the point of being a cause for alarm.  They put the defensive onus of holding down the post on a rookie who's too skinny for that kind of responsibility.

SGA showed why he's a tier above most other stars in the NBA.  It isn't only about points.  He has the ability to takeover and actually win games, with consistency, which is rare, jordanesque even.  McCollum, who's a damn fine player himself, had a chance to win the game.  But ultimately, he's not in the MVP conversation.

That said, the Pelicans aren't the ones to sleep on.  I believe I said last season that they were deepest team in the league, and that may also be true or near true now.  The homey Alvarado, repping NYC, needs to play with a more level head.

PACERS 94, BUCKS 109

When the star of your team is an (oversized) PG, if you go out to seek a second star, you're supposed to look for one who's dominant in the post.  Instead, the Pacers went out and got Siakim, who has a  similar playing style to Tyrese.

That would imply that they intend to rely on Myles Turner into the foreseeable future.  He's like a fringe allstar, so that isn't a bad decision.  But something just didn't look right with the way they played, like they didn't have composure.  Maybe it's just lack of experience running together under such circumstances.  Contrastingly, Milwaukee's core already has experience playing at the highest levels, and you could tell by the way they handled business.

That said, dudes should be praying that Giannis pops up sooner rather than later.  Dame will do what Dame does, but, you know what I'm saying?  Once the Pacers settle down, I don't think they're going to be getting their asses bust like that.

MAVERICKS 97, CLIPPERS 109

Dallas is a perfect example of what I mean by you can't have a star PG without a post player to match.  Lack of interior presence is one of the issues they continue to deal with during the Luka era.

A couple of months ago, reports were implying that the Mavs finally found their C in Daniel Gafford.  By the looks of things, that may have been more of a regular-season type of phenomenon.  Dwight Powell, who has been relegated to the bench, may not be the most talented bigman in the NBA, but at least he knows how to put up a fight.

Also, I just checked and, oh sh*t, Jason Kidd is still coach of this team.  If he had been reading this blog, he would have known that Doncic's biggest on-court issue, regardless of how many assists he may tally, is lack of rapport with his teammates, thus disqualifying Luka as the ideal PG.  That means, move him to the 3.  But, you know, these days coaches are afraid to tell superstars to play in positions where they may not want to.

As for the Clippers, the world needs to realize that there is a such thing as a "Playoff James Harden" - a beard for all seasons, so to speak.  Also - wait a minute - Westbrook is the best pound-for-pound player in league history, in terms of actually generating stats.  So, sleep on him if you want.  He didn't thrive with LBJ + AD, but then again, who does?  If you play for the Lakers, either you're going to underachieve and become a scapegoat, or overachieve and get traded or snubbed.  The only player who has really bucked that trend has been Austin Reaves.

The thing that impresses me the most about LAC is that they have multiple stars with similar skillsets, yet they don't overlap each other.  You have the Beard out there busting ass with PG13 lurking in the shadows, and you forget like oh dip, their third and fourth options are future hall-of-famer.  I guess that's one way of beating the injury bug, by having so many superstars that it doesn't matter so much if one is hurt.

HEAT 94, CELTICS 114

This one pretty much went as expected.  Miami is a different team without Jimmy Butler.

Still, I'm not so quick to completely count them out, as in getting swept or blown.  Soon, some team is going to expose Boston's lack of interior defense.  They have Porzingis, who's visibly the tallest dude on the court in most games he's in, out playing at the top of the key and behind the three-point line.

'Hey Kristaps, get your ass down in the post.'

'But, I don't like playing there, coach.'

'Then TF is you 7'2" for?'

Also, I'm sure I stated in the past that Adebayo should be moved to the point.  That's taking nothing away from Jacquez, who has a ridiculously amount of grit for a rookie.  But Bam needs to at least touch the ball during every offensive position, and all things considered, it'd just be best to let him bring it up.  The Heat have the best pair of jump-shooting whiteboys in the league amongst their wings.  And I don't see any reason why Thomas Bryant can't start at C.  Hey Erik, time to really exercise that bigass P-pop dome head of yours.

MAGIC 83, CAVS 97

You really can't ask for a better franchise player than Donovan Mitchell.  He's confident, fearless, and the fans totally feel him.  But I've believed, since the time he was drafted, that Evan Mobley is Cleveland's x-factor.  I'm not saying that he needs to shoot threes like other people are recommending, but it should be that when he's on the court, he makes it impossible for the opposing team to forget, even for a moment, that he's there.

The Magic are likeable, and I deadass didn't know that Jonathan Isaac was now playing.  Last I heard, he came back and got re-injured yet again.  Dude is tall AF, which is something I never knew.

But that said, now obviously isn't Orlando's time.  But again, they are likable, have a valid leader in Banchero and, I would say most importantly for a young team like this, at least made the playoffs.  So their future is looking brighter than any other of the youthful squads in the East. 

LAKERS 103, NUGGETS 114

Of course, the first thing I'm going to argue, as always, is that LBJ should be running the point.  After that, LAL's second-biggest problem is lack of continuity.

It's amazing how teams who are a lot less storied than the Lakers are able to consistently field better rosters.  And, it isn't as if the one Los Angeles currently has is that bad.

I'm not going to call for Darvin Ham's head yet.  But he's another one who needs to, let's say take full advantage of the extra cranial circumference he's been blessed with.

Also, I'm still foreseeing that, at some point during these playoffs, the Nuggets are going to miss Bruce Brown.

CONCLUSION

It feels strange writing about the playoffs without mentioning Steph, so I wanted to do it at least once before closing out.

NBA Musings 231113 - Don't Forget About the Cavs

I'll be honest and say that I forgot to mention the Cavaliers in my last post while delineating the few teams that actually have the size to counteract the Nuggets.  It's like sometimes, I forget the Cavs even exist.  But I was reminded of their existence when they recently defeated the Warriors for the second time in as many weeks.  And one of the players who stood out was Evan Mobley who, btw, is visibly taller than anyone in the Dubs' rotation.

Although I can't find the link at the moment, Mobley was recently criticized, if I remember correctly, by a prominent member of the Cavs' braintrust, due to inability to shoot.  The argument was that, since Jarrett Allen likewise can't do so, then it doesn't pay to have two non-shooting bigs on the same squad, especially as starters.  That's how thinking is in today's NBA.  It's like shooting is even prioritized over defense which, all things considered, shouldn't be.

So perhaps Cleveland should be more focused on maximizing what they have as opposed to conforming to the makeup of other rosters.  Ideally, you fight fire with water, not fire with fire.  And with that in mind, in theory the Cavs are just as much in position to win the East as anyone else.  The Celtics may be better on the perimeter but not in the interior.  And as for the Sixers, having two quality defensive bigs to throw at Joel Embiid is definitely better than having just one.

KNICKS STARTING TO WIN AGAIN(?)

Last season I criticized the Knicks, reasserting that Randle was their alpha, and immediately after he went on a tear, and the team started winning.  I did the same thing a few days ago, and since then NYK has won three straight, even though all three of the teams they beat - the Spurs, Clippers and Hornets - are, as it currently stands, suspect.

Now, it is becoming more obvious that NYK's x-factor is RJ Barrett.  I'll be honest and say that for awhile there, I was starting to believe that dude was a bust or, in the very least, overrated.  But he keeps getting better.  And now, it's not unreasonable to speculate that Barrett may even be an allstar soon.

I also kinda slept on Immanuel Quickley, believing that he had already hit his ceiling.  Even from the time he was a rookie, Quickley, imo, has always been above-average in his position as backup PG.  But now it's like he's developed into a legitimate threat, someone that opposing teams have to be mindful of.

That said, it remains to be seen how the Knicks fare against teams that actually have their shit together.

SHOUTOUT TO TYRESE MAXEY

I was able to perceive Tyrese Maxey's superstar potential from the time he was an unknown rookie, back when Ben Simmons was still around.  Then, when Simmons refused to play and with Maxey starting at the point, the Sixers were still winning, as if nothing had changed.  So I was thinking to myself that when they did trade Ben, they would use the opportunity to acquire someone like an allstar level 3.  Instead they acquired Harden, in the process potentially stunting the progress of Tyrese, i.e. relegating him to third or fourth on the pecking order, even though he obviously deserved more.  But Maxey took it in stride instead of griping or demanding a trade (something that made me admire him even more), and in the long run, things are working out for the best.  Just don't forget who it was that first recognized he was a great player.

SHOUTOUT TO SCOOT HENDERSON

Scoot Henderson is injured again, as to have been expected, and he's also been stinking the joint up, as at least I expected.  It isn't his fault because, even if does prove to be a generational talent or whatever, it should have been obvious to the Blazers' braintrust that he isn't the type of rookie you start, especially not at point.  It'll be interesting to see what they do with Scoot when he returns.  But hopefully, it won't be throwing his ass right back into the fire.

THE RETURN OF MILES BRIDGES

LaMelo Ball may be the most-popular player on the Hornets, but imo Miles Bridges is the best, or at least he was a couple of seasons ago, even if he didn't make allstar.  Melo has a sound all-around game, but chuckin' PGs are common these days, and Charlotte's roster isn't good enough to capitalize on his passing abilities.  So in the grand scheme of things Miles was the more-valuable player, the type that you can win games with.

That said, even with Bridges and Ball, this squad isn't likely to make the playoffs.  Hornets' fans booed when they choose Brandon Miller over Scoot, but I believe now they realize that was a wise decision, which isn't something you hear often in relation to Charlotte.  Oh well.  At least with Bridges back, they'll be more entertaining to watch and currently have a better outlook than the Grizzlies, which definitely wasn't something I saw coming.

Trade Talk: Mitchell vs. Sexton + Markkanan + Draft Picks

Cleveland Cavaliars get	Utah Jazz get
Donovan Mitchell	Lauri Markkanen
	Collin Sexton
	Ochai Agbaji (?)
	3 first-round picks
	2 pick swaps (?)

All things considered this wasn't a bad trade, and what I mean by that is two things really.  One is that it became increasingly obvious that the Jazz wanted to move on past Donovan Mitchell, and I guess in that case, the sooner the better.  And second, after they got such a big draft haul for Rudy Gobert, in addition to expecting to be garbage for the next couple of years, then their draft future looks really bright.  And Utah has a pretty good draft history.  So maybe five years from now, they'll be like the team to beat or whatever.

Awhile ago I got to pointing out, using Lebron's teams as an example, how building a roster out of aged all-stars isn't the best strategy when it comes to professional athletics.  Sometimes I feel like some braintrusts, like the Pistons, got a wind of that philosophy and like went running with it.  But in all my years of following the NBA, I only remember two youth movements that made it to the Finals.  One was the Shaq + Penny Magic, and the other was the Durant + Westbrook + Harden Thunder.  So making such a move is far from a surefire strategy.  But maybe it's like a older dude chasing a younger girl, like sometimes, instead of proven experience and backtalk, what you rather prefer is someone who's malleable.

And in reality, it ain't like either Collin Sexton or Lauri Markkanen are slouches.  Sexton is known as being a chuck, and I never heard anyone speak highly of his defense.  Well at the same time, pundits have been recently saying that Mitchell also doesn't defend well, though he does appear to be a player who possesses more of the ability to will his team to a win (unlike Sexton).

Meanwhile, I have to be perfectly honest and just say flatout that I don't feel good about the Cavs losing Markannen.  Before the trade, they had what I would call the best balance of any NBA team between quality guards and bigmen.  Now, that balance has been kinda fucked up, unless one of two things happen.  One would be Kevin Love having another renaissance year and even proving to be a starter if need be, neither of which I'm banking on.  And the other would be Evan Mobley proving himself as like an indisputable all-star.  I'm a Mobley fan, and the first time I saw him play thought he may be like the second coming of Kareem.  But the last time I saw him he was playing like a 7-foot 2guard, which is the last thing the Cavs need, especially now with Mitchell around.

What I'm expecting this team to do is rely heavily on three-guard lineups.  The Cavs still have the deepest guard core, but oddly enough the x-factor may be the likes of Ricky Rubio and Raul Neto.  Why?  Because this team probably isn't going to get too far with players like Garland and Mitchell, both of whom have chucking issues, running the point.  That's the problem with losing Markkanen, that now they have one less, really-tall and reliable jump shooter.

But still, this squad has too much scoring depth to put control in the hands of a player who's reluctant to pass.  That's what I believe kinda did them in last season, once Rubio got hurt.  But like, you never know.  One of the problems with the Jazz during the Mitchell + Gobert era was supposed to be lack of support scoring.  But now, Donovan should have more than enough teammates to pass to, in addition to Jarrett Allen, whose style is like similar to Rudy's.  So, it's like good luck to whoever's coaching them, as what I'm kinda perceiving is that it's going to come down to a power struggle between Garland and Mitchell, and eventually, one of them may have to go.

CONCLUSION

This was a shrewd move by the Cavs, but I'm not jumping on the bandwagon of calling them contenders just yet.  The way I see it, they're just an injury or two away from falling off just like season.  And maybe you're saying to yourself, 'yes, but that's true about every team'.  But in this case, I would say the some of the role players may even be more important to moving this team forward than the stars.  In other words, they'll need someone on the court to stabilize them from going like buckwild with Mitchell, Garland and Mobley and even the likes of Love as their main scoring options.  They'll be able to outrun some teams, but not all of them.

Meanwhile, as for Utah, it's like they know what they're doing.  They're supposed to be after some young dude(s) who is coming into the NBA in the next season or two and is a 'surefire prospect', you know, like Markelle Fultz, Zion Williamson or the perennially-injured AD.  I was watching this documentary once where I believe Teddy Atlas was saying that 'boxing is always looking for the next big thing'.  And, the NBA has become a lot like that also.  But to me, unless you're talking about a Shaq or LBJ, I'm not really interested in those 'next big thing' predictions, especially for dudes who like haven't even proven themselves in college (or the G-League or whatever these days).  But at some point, I guess the Jazz had to pull the trigger and initiate a rebuild.

2022 NBA Inception Awards

Even though the NBA starts giving out its annual awards during the Playoffs, they're supposed to be based solely on regular season performance.  That would explain why for instance they dumbed out and gave Tom Thibodeau "Coach of the Year" in 2021.  So this time, I decided to jump on the bandwagon and also give out the NBA Inception Awards now, before the Playoffs start, as the postseason will inevitably influence some of these decisions.  Maybe later I'll post some postseason awards also.  But in the meantime...

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER - JOEL EMBIID

Criteria: a player who most contributed to a team everyone thought would be garbage rather overachieving.

Based on the above criteria, this award could have easily gone to Luka Doncic or even Nikola Jokic (considering the Nuggets injuries).  Ja Morant is another one, but the Grizzlies, for whatever it's worth, have shown that they can win without him.

The Sixers also tend to represent without Embiid.  But I decided to give it to him anyway because truthfully, everyone thought this team would be garbage with Simmons refusing to play, and Philly procrastinating in trading him.  Instead, under Embiid's leadership they proved to be one the best teams in the East.

MOST IMPROVED PLAYER - DESMOND BANE

This is another tough one.  Draymond Green even recently threw Jordan Poole's name into the mix, someone who I never thought about as a MIP before then but definitely a deserving candidate.  But I have to give to Desmond Bane.  Why?  Because deadass up until like a few months ago, I never even heard of dude.

HONORABLE MENTION - TYRESE MAXEY

Tyrese Maxey may not be "most improved" in the truest sense of the word, because he was also damn good last season but just wasn't getting a lot of playing time.  But I hope this dude is recognized one way or another, because he's an absolute terror and someone who opposing offenses have to respect just as much, if not moreso than the Beard.

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR - EVAN MOBLEY

Criteria - a rookie who has started on a team everyone thought would be garbage and instead helped them overachieve.

Scottie Barnes also fits the above criteria, arguably more than Evan Mobley, because in reality the Cavs have a pretty good all-around roster.  Meanwhile, at least I was convinced that the Raptors would be terrible this year.  Part of the reason they're not speaks to the culture of the organization, as does the fact that they were able to pick a diamond in the rough in Barnes.  But honestly, I haven't seen enough of Barnes to really evaluate him.

HONORABLE MENTION - JONATHAN KUMINGA

Anyone who reads this blog would know that I'm a Kuminga fan.  But this entire rookie class is impressive.  Cats like Jalen Green and Cade Cunningham have been representing of late, and I also like Davion Mitchell's game (when he's actually attacking the basket).  But Kuminga has to be, quite unexpectedly, like the rookie leader in dunks.

COACH OF THE YEAR - TAYLOR JENKINS

This season started with a lot of surprise teams - the Bulls, the Wizards, the Cavs and the Grizzlies.  Since then Washington has fallen off, as Cleveland and Chicago have cooled down to the point that no one is really taking them as contenders anymore.

Meanwhile, you mean to tell me that Memphis has locked down 2nd place in the West, and they're deadasss better than even the Lakers?  No one saw that coming.  So even though there's other deserving coaches like Doc Rivers and of course Monty Williams, I'd give it to Taylor "White Beard" Jenkins, especially when you also consider how good the Grizzlies have been without Morant.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR - GARY PAYTON II

I know the Mitt can't be seriously considered for this award by NBA standards because he's not a starter or someone who's been getting mucho minutes.  But mark my words - in the next couple of years Payton II may be considered the best all-around defender in the NBA.  Dude always has a defensive impact and an outstanding low-post presence and on both ends of the floor.  And that's why his nickname has been upgraded to "the Gauntlet".

THE TRACY MCGRADY 'MAYBE IT'S TIME TO RETIRE' AWARD - ANTHONY DAVIS

Criteria - a star player who should be considering retirement, even though you know he's not going to actually do it.

NBA basketball isn't necessarily what you would call a contact sport, but there's always dudes hitting the floor anyway.  And it's never enjoyable when it happens to people to like AD, because there's always this fear like 'oh shit, major injury'.  I believe I even recently heard an announcer recently that maybe AD should retire.

Of course, Davis a factor when he's on the court.  But it ain't like it used to be, and at least he has a championship to his name.

THE DARYL MOREY 'LIL TAIWAN' AWARD - ENES KANTER

Not all real niggas are born and bred in the United States.  Enes Kanter comes from Turkey, one of those countries where like they're always some civil rights beef.  And in more recent times, he basically traded in his sports career in the name of publicly calling out some of China's well known human rights issues.

THE "I BELIEVE I CAN FLY" AWARD - GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO

I'm starting to believe that the Bucks drafting Giannis with the 15th pick in 2013 was like the best draft pick in NBA history.

THE PATRIOT AWARD - TYLER HERRO

Criteria - the player who most exemplifies that there's still a place for Caucasian Americans in the NBA.

Last offseason I strongly advocated the Lakers going after Tyler Herro, even making him their top priority after the way the Heat disrespected him earlier in the season.  Instead, they went after players like Russell Westbrook, Kendrick Nunn and Avery Bradley.  And, we see how that played out.

COOLEST DREADLOCKS AWARD - JAE CROWDER

Anyone whose been on this earth longer than  30 years has to be amazed at how now dreads, afros and even dirty beards are in style.  At first, I thought Jae Crowder actually let his hair knot up into one long ponytail.  Now, I see that he's using rubberbands or something.  But still, they look damn cool when he ties them together, like he's the Predator or some shit.

HONORABLE MENTION - DAMIAN LEE

Damian Lee's dreads are part of his energetic playing personality.  He may suck on occasion, but Damian never runs out of energy or vigor.

"REVENGE OF THE NERDS" AWARD - SETH CURRY

Criteria - the player who best illustrates that making it in the NBA isn't all about being a mad tall and/or super athletic.

I remember when Seth Curry was struggling to find a place in the NBA.  This season, he's been a better 3pt shooter (percentage wise) than even Steph and is the one Nets role player that other teams have to fear the most in the Playoffs.

THE GOLDEN SPAZ AWARD - DRAYMOND GREEN

Sometimes I get tired of seeing Draymond bitch and moan.  He's like the oldest dude on the court but often acts like the youngest.  However, he is the Golden Spaz - the only player in the NBA who refs allow to regularly throw tantrums without technicals or ejections.  And more importantly, other some other disagreeable players his spazzing tends to be beneficial to his team.

HONORABLE MENTION - JIMMY BUTLER

I never read up on the origin of that beef between Jimmy Butler and Erik Spoelstra.  But I do know that Jimmy seems to to have interpersonal issues on like every team he's ever played for.

THE PRICE OF A TICKET AWARD - JA MORANT

Criteria - the one player who makes you most appreciative that you actually watched the game.

The truth is that the experience of going to and fro an NBA arena isn't what most people would actually classify as a pleasant one.  There's thousands of other people showing up the same time, meaning that there's traffic, processing lines, etc.  And then even after the game, like sometimes on the way home you can get mugged or some shit.  So the last thing you need in addition to all of that is the game itself being boring.  Well, I can't remember the last time I regretted watching Ja Morant play.

HONORABLE MENTION - DEVIN BOOKER

Devin "Poker Face" Booker is one of the few players whose jump shots are entertaining; his face is like emotionless, and he just straightup embarrasses defenders.  When you combine those three factors with the fact that his team actually wins, he's more like Kobe than any other current NBA player.

Jonathan Kuminga, Rookie of the Year?

The title, of course, is a rhetorical question.  I've already been advocating Evan Mobley for ROY since like October or November.  And even though I'm not as optimistic about his future as I was back then, I still stand by the stance.  Why?  Because throughout the entire season, since day one as far as I can tell, he's been a starter on a team that has not only proven to be the biggest surprise squad of the East but may also end up being an actual playoff threat.  The Cavs made some impressive moves the past couple of years besides drafting Mobley.  But still, I think it's safe to say that most of us thought entering into this season that they would still be more or less garbage, as is their standard.  And Evan is one of the main reasons why they are not.

The real reason I was inspired to write this post is because about a week ago I was peeping out a game between the Cavs and Pistons.  And the commentator, being the salaried d*ckriders that they are, actually had to gall to advocate that Mobley and Cade Cunningham share the ROY Award based on the grounds that they have similar stats.  Meanwhile Cunningham is a scrub, and under his lead the Pistons are garbage, as usual.  But one good thing I will say about Cade, after having watched him play a couple of times, is that as he ages and becomes naturally stronger, he may also prove to be unstoppable offensively.  So even though he may suck now, I don't actually believe that Detroit made a mistake by drafting him at number one.

Meanwhile, Jonathan Kuminga has been repping since the turn of 2022.  And the reason why advocating him for ROY isn't as viable an argument now as it was just a week ago is because the Warriors have been sucking as of late.

But that isn't Kuminga's fault.  Instead the Dubs have so many quality rotational players that Steve Kerr is still figuring things out while the stars are injured or resting.  And honestly, I don't envy him.  For instance Jordan Poole, aka the 3rd Splash Brother, apparently has self-confidence issues that are negatively affecting his decision making and him grabbing the mantle as the team's future leader.  Kevon Looney looks like an excellent starter when either Draymond, Steph or Klay are actually starting with him.  But when he's starting alongside the younger guys, not so much.  And Nemanja Bjelica, in my opinion, is an excellent point-center, sorta like a poor man's Jokic. But you wouldn't want to cast him into more of a traditional, down-low C role.  And sometimes, I now see why people had issues with Andrew Wiggins being named an all-star.  And all of this confusion has also affected Kuminga, even though he's been steady throughout.  For instance he averages more points per 36 minutes than any other rookie who regularly plays, including Cunningham and Mobley.  So that's another way of saying that if given the playing time, he does produce.

CONCLUSION

The other two rookies I hear people talk a lot about are Josh Giddey and Scottie Barnes, neither of whom I've really seen play.  I tried to peep out an OKC game recently to finally get a glimpse at Giddey, but it seems that they may be resting him, which all things considered would be a wise decision.  And I did watch Barnes play once against the Pelicans, but to my remembrance he didn't really do jacksh*t that particular game.  But that said, if ROY isn't given to Mobley or Kuminga, based on what I've actually seen I'd still give it Davion Mitchell over Cade Cunningham.