2026 NBA Offseason Grades: Northwest Division

DENVER NUGGETS: B

The Nuggets have acquired the services of DeMar DeRozan, which is a quality pickup.  I would even argue that he's an upgrade over Watson, even though they're different types of players.  DeMar is more resilient and proven.

But it looks like, based on preliminary suggestions, that they may actually bench him on behalf of Christian Braun.  If that's true, that means both Westbrook and DeRozan, i.e. one lock and one probable future HoFer, would have been benched in favor of Braun.  Please, someone make sense of that to me.

I think Lonnie Walker IV was also a solid acquisition.  But unless you're a fan of nostalgia, I really don't see any need to get excited about Denver from the jump though, with DeMar, it is possible they'll overachieve.

The bench, regardless if he or Christian leads the second unit, is nothing to write home about.  But I guess, all things considered, the braintrust did the best they could.  Losing Watson kinda sucks, but not really, after it was revealed, reading in between the lines, that he wasn't overly committed to the organization.

MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES: A

It remains to be seen if the Wolves have gotten better.  Kuminga for Reid and Ball for Conley + Randle are like equal tradeoffs on paper.  But I agree with other pundits that it was better for Minny to do something (drastic) rather than standing pat.  Looking at the signs last postseason, you don't want to risk a situation where Edwards may decide to force his way out.  And things have definitely improved in that, besides Philly (and San Antonion, I guess), so long as they're healthy, the T-Wolves are the only other team that's must-watch, win or lose.  Building that kind of roster, without Lebron or Wemby, is something to be applauded.

OKC THUNDER: A-

The NBA is more injury prone than ever, and likewise having insurance (i.e. a deep roster) is also more ideal than ever.  But I like the fact that the Thunder have trimmed down, because even though all those moving pieces were intimidating, they weren't as good as a lot of people thought.

That championship they won, it's arguable they wouldn't have (despite homecourt advantage) if Haliburton didn't get hurt.  And last season, deep roster and all, they lost in the WCF anyway.  Yes, I know Williams was hurt (and they rushed him back) and one of those redundant yet effective wing dudes was also injured.  But not being able to survive a couple of injuries defeats the purpose of being that deep to begin with.  And also, as fans, we could use more Alex Caruso and Jared McCain.

But I guess the one downside is people now believing that Holmgren is overrated, yet OKC failed to acquire any additional, notable bigs to back him up.  I don't necessarily feel that way.  I believe Chet is so tall that Wemby is the first time he ever faced anyone whose actually taller.  He lost his biggest advantage, so it's a learning curve.  Dude may have that Ryan Reynolds' head, but he's still a child.

PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS: A-

I like the fact that Portland acquired Morant and also that they've retained the services of Scoot, for what it's worth.  This is a deep and formidable, albeit undersized, G core, especially if Lillard returns anywhere near his previous, perennial-allstar form.  It's also balanced, like you have two elders and then two younger bucks.  They could be a surprise team.  But at the same time, it doesn't necessarily appear as if they're vying for a championship.  Or let's say that, if they are expecting to win it all, then the onus has once again been placed on Damian, despite his age and injury history.

UTAH JAZZ: C

Last season, the Jazz were being advertised as a team who, despite sucking since the departure of Spider + Gobert, would finally have their shit together this coming season, or in the very least a frontline to look forward to in Markannen + Jackson Jr. + Kessler, buttressed by a young, promising G core.  And just like that, with the departure of Walker, the vision has evaporated.

Meanwhile, I'm looking at the roster like okay, a lot of these younger dudes I don't really know.  But it's like, who cares?  Has progress been achieved, as envisioned in February?  I'm surprised a braintrust led by Danny Ainge is mired in mediocrity like this.  Maybe he shoulda stayed in Boston.

CONCLUSION

A couple of teams in this division, i.e. Minnesota and Portland, have made powermoves as compared to last season's rosters.  And since the conference has gotten weaker in general, a sleeper or two will inevitably emerge out West.  But none in this division have clearly upgraded besides, fingers crossed, the Blazers.  And the only indisputable contender, as it currently stands, is of course OKC.

Lebron to Golden State, For Parity's Sake

First off, let me begin by stating that I am an Adam Silver fan and for the most part support all of this “parity” shit he’s pushing, even while a number of other pundits are vehemently complaining.

TAX APRONS

Concerning all of this “tax apron” shit, first of all, the way I remember it, NBA teams have always been more or less empowered to spend as much as they like - that is to say, within their respective budgets.  So it’s not like that’s actually changed now, but more like the more dough you spend, the higher the “tax” penalty.

So now, finally, you see that organizations across the board are truly shook.  But still, this isn’t a perfect system, and indeed, no worldly system is.

For instance, let’s say someone like Elon Musk were to buy an NBA team.  Would he be as reluctant as James Dolan to venture into the ‘dreaded second apron’.  Would he be reluctant to spend at all?  The richer you are, the more you can buy.  That’s not the NBA; that’s financial reality.

And in terms of promoting equality across the league, let’s be frank.  There are some teams out there, money or no, that have a much harder time attracting stars than others.  That’s something I’ll get into a bit later, when talking about Lebron and Detroit.

Well now, the better teams won’t be able to pay everyone who may want to play for them.  So since “the NBA is a business”, more players will be compelled to go to the less popular teams that can actually afford their worth(?).

That said, I think it does sorta suck that now, players are being more or less forced to take pay cuts.  We had a few years there where C-listers were commonly making $10+mil/year.  But now, those days appear to be over (i.e. the Dort situation).

ANTI-TANKING

While teams are being forced to penny pinch, they’re concurrently being disincentivized from intentionally losing which, unlike other professional sports(?), is actually a thing in the NBA.  So now, everyone is being pushed into the middle, so to speak.

You can no longer rationalize stacking a team to your heart’s content.  And let’s be honest - do superteams statistically work anyway?  More have failed than succeeded, and even the ones that have won sometimes still have to rely on the NBA powers-that-be(?).

And at the same time, you can no longer rationalize intentionally losing either -  at least not with the goal of landing the highest draft pick possible.  Or more simply put, what Silver and co. have done is made the league more competitive.

The way I foresee it, we fans will no longer be treated to scab games, i.e. teams fielding a bunch of D-listers while stars are resting or whatever, because popularity = sales, winning = popularity and losing ≠ high draft picks like it used to.  So there’s really no reason to stash a favorite on the injury list, unless maybe he’s truly hurt.

EXPANSION IN MIND

And when arguing against Silver, one thing pundits always seem to forget is that soon, the NBA will be expanding to 32 teams.  I personally believe that’s the primary reason why the powers-that-be are now taking “parity” more seriously, because the league already has an issue when it comes to disseminating talent, and it’ll only get worse if you add a couple of more squads to the mix with things remaining as they were.

So what am I now predicting?  That the NBA will continue to trend towards youth, as apparently there’s a plethora of talented youngsters popping up in the past couple of years.  However, in terms of these youth movements, it’s like a team will be really competitive for maybe like five years and then fall off.  Part of the reason will be organizations not having as much money to throw around anymore, so once stars age and start getting injured, it’ll affect them more adversely than ever (i.e. Jalen Williams).

NO SYMPATHY FOR OKC

No, I don’t feel sorry for the Thunder.  I’m a strong advocate of stacking teams, in terms of having as many above-average players on your roster as possible, not in terms of blowing out the competition but because now, in the NBA’s “tender age”, dudes are getting injured more than ever.  So better to have as much roster insurance as possible.

But at same time, look at OKC in the playoffs.  Like the old saying goes, ‘there’s only one ball to go around’.  Yet you have a team of like 10+ players who deserve extended court time.  And despite their depth, the Thunder still failed to repeat regardless.

Since acquiring what’s-his-name from Philly, OKC had more dudes than they could field anyway, even with a couple of injuries.  Players want to win, but I would venture to say even moreso, they want to actually play.  So yeah, spread the wealth a bit.

EFFECTIVE BRAINTRUSTING NO LONGER AN OPTION

So what Silver has done is made it such that having a quality braintrust is now perhaps more important than ever.  Luck is very much a factor, as injuries can derail even the best laid plans.  But now, payroll departments have to work overtime to make sure every penny spent is put to good use, and GMs have to think harder about compatibility, i.e. maximizing role players instead of over-relying on superstars.

LEBRON TO THE PISTONS?

That said, the Knicks are heading into next season as a superteam.  They may not be in the traditional big 3 sense (unless Anunoby is now considered a superstar).  But they are in terms of having two perennial allstars, buttressed by two or three players who may be allstars if they were on lesser teams.  And by that definition, there are also arguably other supersteams out there, such as the Spurs, the aforementioned Thunder and even the Cavs, as they currently stand without Lebron.

And speaking of Lebron, as readers of this blog know, I’ve been most strongly advocating the idea of him going to the Pistons, even though they aren’t on his shortlist or even apparently on his long list.  Obviously, it’s not someplace James wants to go, and who know if they want him either.  But I made that assertion based solely on fit, i.e. of all eight teams who at least made the semifinals last postseason, they’re the ones who most need Lebron and vice versa, in terms of actually winning a championship.

And on that note, let me ask this.  When was the last time an A-list, coveted NBAer voluntarily went to the Pistons?  I’m sitting here racking my brain, spanning over the last 30-40 years and literally can’t think of anyone.

I have no idea why this is so, since they aren’t like a small market team.  Detroit is one of America’s premiere cities, and unlike most franchises, I mean yeah, the Pistons have their eras of sucking (i.e. the 2010s), but unlike most at least they have a couple of (modern) championships under their belt.

So now, they’re going to be forced to overpay Jalen Duren.  That’s right, I said it - overpay.  Dude is a stud, like you can just look at him and see that.  But he reminds me of one those types who's like really tall and athletic but doesn’t know how to actually play basketball.

Duren is a star based solely on physicality, so to speak.  And I mean it’s all good; I’m not hating.  Dennis Rodman, arguably my favorite player of all time, also falls into that category, even more than Jalen.

But Duren doesn’t strike me as the kind of C that can lead a team to a championship.  But that said, there’s a number of max players out there, regardless of position, who can’t lead a team to a championship.

GOLDEN STATE OF MIND

But now, the reason I’m writing this post is in support of Lebron going to the Warriors instead.  Do I think Lebron + Steph, buttressed by the Dubs’ current roster, can win a championship?  Hell no, unless maybe Butler comes back at reinvigorated, 1000% strength and furthermore is able to stay on the court.

But with that in mind, for parity’s sake, it looks like these guys are really going to suck.  So at the heart of my argument is this.  Even if Golden State doesn’t win games, at least with Lebron - unlike the past couple of seasons - they’ll be must watch.  So if you can’t achieve parity in competitiveness, at least try to do so in viewership.

Another reason Lebron + Golden State may be a match made in heaven is because neither appreciates youth.  I knew the day would come when the Dubs would regret not taking the likes of Poole and Kuminga more seriously, making more of an effort to incorporate youthful standouts instead of writing them off, and that day was already last season.  So as they currently stand, things definitely aren’t looking pretty heading into 2027.

CONCLUSION

I’ve slept on the Warriors in the past only to later eat my words.  But things reach a point where even if you’re unable to accept reality, you at least have to respect it.

Steph is still must watch, when it’s the postseason and he’s actually playable.  But otherwise, nobody really gives AF about the Dubs anymore, and you know, we fans want a reason to care.  That issue would be instantly rectified with the acquisition of Lebron.

But obviously, you know, the King wants to win besides just pleasing fans.  In terms of actually winning, based on his shortlist, I also recently argued that the Sixers would be the best choice.  They wouldn’t be a better fit than the Pistons, but again, there’s no indication he wants to go to Detroit.  And it seems that LBJ may have recently dropped a hint that he is likewise leaning towards Philly.

2026 Elimination Ruminations: Cleveland Cavaliers

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (8-10)

I was waiting for weeks for the Cavs to get eliminated just to say that, I hope they didn’t promise the Beard a max extension when they acquired him (like Morey reportedly did).  And now that I’ve done the research, oh sh*t, dude has like a $45mil player option(!) for next season.  And there’s no way he’s going to turn that money down, not at this stage in his career.

If this were the NFL, where the risk of serious injury is a lot greater, I’d say that Harden needs to retire already because after his stint with Cleveland, whenever it ends, I don’t think any team is going to really want him again, at least not for any type of star-level money, regardless of how potent he may be offensively.

None of this is meant to be an insult against the Beard.  The Cavs are a good watch, and whether the Knicks win a championship, Haliburton comes back or whatever, with a full season of Harden, I’m totally expecting them to be the number-one seed out of the East next season.  Like this squad is built for the 82-game grind.  They’re the only team I can think of, off the top of my head, that not only have two allstar level PGs (if you consider Mitchell as one), but furthermore, they two have totally different looks.  In other words, the Cavs play different dependent on which one of them is running the show.

SHOUTOUT TO DARIUS GARLAND

But their braintrust made two big roster mistakes this season.  First was trading Darius Garland.  Why?  Because last postseason, when they got embarrassed by the Pacers, the excuse was ‘Garland is injured’.  So if that’s the case, now that he’s back, let’s at least give him another chance to see if he can compete in the playoffs and be ‘healthy’ throughout, you know, if he was the difference between them failing and potentially making it out of the East.

Second, it doesn’t wholly make sense why they traded him for Harden.  Why?  Because going back to that two PG thing, the argument was already that Darius and Spider’s styles overlapped, and that Mitchell, all things considered, should be given the keys to the car.  Instead, they turned around and gave them to the Beard, in a manner of speaking.

NO BEARD, NO CRY

James is a lot better than Donovan at getting all of his teammates involved.  It’s also cool that when Harden is running the show, Mitchell gets a chance to lay back and rest, until he’s really needed to explode.  But like I said, that kinda confusion, if you will, is good for the regular season but not so much for the playoffs - not against one of the handful of teams that's actually deeper and more talented than Cleveland.  The way the Cavs got to the ECF, given their talent and depth, wasn’t too convincing.

Maybe we can say that, with time, they all will mesh better.  Or rather, as optimistic(?) fans(?) we have to say that, because there’s no way the Beard is going to opt out of that payday.  So we’re going to get another season of this if we want it or not, because even though some of the lower-rung teams may be willing to take on Harden and his contract - I'm thinking something like the Blazers for instance - let's not forget he’s diva-ish and isn’t likely to play for a squad that doesn't look like a contender.  That can be a real problem, i.e. an overpaid player demanding to play on a contender - and furthermore, the contender being dumb enough to give him that money.

So by the looks of things, the one who’s going to have to bite the bullet - be scapegoated, if you will - is Jarrett Allen.  He’s made a name for himself as sort of this perennial DPOY type.  But given the way the Pistons ran all roughshod in the paint, against both Allen and Mobley, it's obvious that the former, not to blame it all on Jarrett, but he's lost a step or two.

He’s still good for lobs and putbacks and stuff like that, which is needed playing alongside Mobley, who prefers the perimeter.  But with that in mind, the Cavs could still use an upgrade.  And it doesn’t have to be a C per se but even one of those brolly type wings like Sengun or Anunoby.  But instead, you know, that money is going to the Beard.

LET’S GO KNICKS(?)

Even though I was expecting NYK to fuck up in one way or another instead of reaching the Finals, I also said, way back at the beginning of this season, that the East was theirs to lose, but lose it they didn’t.  So, give props where props are due.  They have the most all-around talented starting five in the league, and sticking together another season, instead of hastily blowing it all up, has paid off.  Also, unlike last year, everyone is ‘healthy’ this postseason, and they’ve also buttressed the bench.

The reason I'm glad they made it, more than anything, is because they’d be the best matchup for the Thunder.  Taking nothing away from the Spurs, but the way OKC’s roster is built, obviously you’re going to need more than a Wemby to beat them in a seven-game series.  And even if San Antonio does win, they’re probably going to be too worn down to really compete with the Knicks.

NYK and OKC are the two deepest, most-talented teams in the league, and thankfully they’re in different conferences, so it’s only right they should meet.  Also, their contest will finally settle the young vs. old debate, in a way.  You don't see young bucks like Jared McCain getting run on the Knicks.

Also, one last shoutout to Halliburton and the Pacers.  Let’s not forget that they were on the verge of totally upsetting the Thunder last season.  Too bad Myles Turner bounced, and they traded away Mathurin like that.  They should’ve at least gave themselves a chance to run it back and see if they could replicate the magic and, whether win it all or lose, go down as a legendary team in history.

CONCLUSION

Maybe in a perfect world, Lebron would return to the Cavs, and the Beard would head out to L.A. to play alongside - or rather let’s say replace - the perennially-injured Luka.

I recently read that whoever wins the WCF will be the favorites over the Knicks.  But check this out - they're bringing in the rowdiest of the rowdy.  I’m not so sure the Spurs can beat the Knicks in a seven-game series.

But as for OKC, even though they aren’t as all-around talented, they are younger, have better balance and greater depth (the latter particularly if everyone is playable).

The Spurs Having OKC's Number

The Spurs apparently have OKC's number.  This is where, if you're a team like the Thunder, the NBA rigging in your favor becomes important.  And relatedly, this is also why it's imperative to have at least one hands-down superstar on your team.  You know, not just someone who's really good but a player who fans across the board want to win.

Every perennial champion or contender is going to have at least one team they simply can't beat, whether that team is also contenders or not.  That's been true going back at least to the 1990s.

The 1998 Bulls for instance couldn't hang with the 1998 Lakers, even before Kobe truly found his footing.  I remember Jordan and co. also had what looked like issues with the early-1990s' Nets, a relatively garbage team but one likewise replete with quality players who were younger (and faster) than the Bulls core.

The Lakers have also had problems with faster teams, even going back to the Kobe + Shaq championship days.  J.J. Redick finally admitted, indirectly, that LAL's core is too old and too white - something that we at NBA Inception understood since the time they traded for Doncic.  But this organization being unable to defend youth isn't anything new.  Derek Fisher used to always get burned by opposing star PGs.  The present-day Lakers have one of the most hardheaded braintrusts in the NBA, so again, you shouldn't realistically be expecting them to win a championship anytime soon unless, you know what I'm saying?  Is Luka really rig-worthy?

ARE THE SPURS CONTENDERS?

There's a difference between being able to beat a champion and actualy being a contender.  The conference playoffs have three rounds, meaning that even if San Antonio does luck out and face OKC, somewhere along the line there's two other teams they also have to beat before getting to the Finals.  And that's also presuming that the Thunder doesn't figure them out between now and then.

So I'm not in a rush to call these gusy contenders even though I'm glad there's at least one team out there has proven they can beat OKC.  The more interesting observation, in the grand scheme of it all, is that besides the Knicks and Nuggets, all of the other older teams in the NBA looked more or less washed.  But of course if you've been reading this blog over the past few years, then you knew this day was coming.

SHOUTOUT TO JALEN WILLIAMS

Something all star players should fear(?) is their team proving bettrer without than with them.  I know that isn't fully the case with Jalen, but you get what I mean.  You're looking from the sideline, watching your team go like 23 and 1 or some shit, and on one hand you're like 'wow, this is amazing'.  You're jumping out of your seat and cheering, as if you too are on the court.  But in the back your mind it's like 'what if they start losing when I come back?'

The NBA is a strange beast these days.  Predictability has, in large part, been thrown out the window.  Or rather let me say that dudes are now injured so often that, you know what I'm saying, you have to live with or without them.  And some teams learn to play better without a star player or two.  Wemby almost ended up there himself until, oh shit, the Spurs starting beating the Thunder.  Then it became obvious that even if they did having a higher winning percentage when he was injured, they aren't actually better without him.

CONCLUSION

Honestly, I don't want to see a non-superteam(?), you know, only lose like five game throughout the entire season.  When something like that happens, you know what I'm saying?  SGA isn't Jordan, like people don't want to see him winning all the time like that.  If he were Jordan, then Team Canada wouldn't be so garbage.  And when the Warriors only lost nine games, it's like with the roster they had, they should have won all 82.  So thank you Wemby and co. for at least making the NBA competitive again.  And as for the Thunder's braintrust, if you're looking forward to the benefit of rigging - which often separates champions from other contenders in the world of professional sports - then I suggest you like market your brand better or something.

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.

Trade Talk: Mikal Bridges (to Knicks) vs. 5 First-Round Draft Picks (to Nets)

I agree with those pundits who argue that to Knicks going all-in to win a championship is the right thing to do.  All things considered, if you have roster of contenders on your hand, time is not to be taken for granted anymore.  There isn't anymore of that taking five to six years to build a core into champions, unless maybe they're young, like the Thunder (who I will get to later).  The potential for injury and player salaries no longer allow such luxuries, and injuries in the NBA are real, pretty much across the board.  For instance, the Celtics just managed to win a championship even though their starting C was hurt throughout most of the playoffs and like during half of the Finals.

So I don't particularly agree with the Knicks acquiring Bridges to fill the void, because once again, their roster is health dependent.  Yes, if Mikal was with NYK last offseason and actually playable, they prolly would have beaten the Pacers, even with Anunoby, Robinson, Bogdanovic, Randle, etc. on the injury list.  But that's in part illustrative of just how suspect Indiana is.

It appears that the Pacers are pretty much going to be bringing back their entire roster, i.e. the one that just made the conference finals.  But I have yet to come across a pundit mentioning them as potential contenders in 2024-25.

That said, the way the Knicks roster currently looks, they'll really be banking on Julius Randle staying well or at least healthy enough to make it through a postseason.  I would say Randle and Mitchell Robinson, but we can already take for granted that the latter will have injury issues.  In other words, NYK has assembled this roster full of quality guards and wings which, by default, now makes their bigs more valuable.  That is to say that if a G or F goes down, there's others to replace him.  But such is not so much the case with their Cs.

And I know what you may be saying - 'hey, the Celtics just won a championship with guards and forwards and their premiere big injured'.  That's something that we will touch on later.

I guess that's part of the reason why people were considering Isaiah Hartenstein to be such an important cog in NYK's wheel, but I didn't.  He had one sorta good postseason and was instantly overrated.  In fact, based on what I observed, he became worn down and even proved to be a liability as the series against the Pacers wore on.  Like it isn't that extraordinary for the tallest dude on the court to average 9 points and 8 rebounds.  That's another thing about last season's Eastern Conference Finals, that even if only Mitchell Robinson were around to backup Hartenstein, that could've made a major difference for the Knicks.

That said, I think Isaiah, whether playing behind Chet Holmgren or starting alongside him, is an excellent addition for the Thunder.  There, the expectations on him won't be unrealistic.  I personally envisioned someone like Clint Capela going to Oklahoma City instead.  But it appears that the Hawks, whatever the hell they're doing at the moment, plan to keep him instead.

CONCLUSION

My biggest complaint against the acquisition of Bridges though is that, instead of being more creative, the Knicks are trying to beat the Celtics at their own game.  It's going to be difficult, it not impossible for another squad to assemble a better group of all-around guards and wings than Boston currently has.  The way NYK is strategizing reminds me of all those teams who, in vain, tried to fashion themselves after the Dubs.  But again, if Randle stays healthy (and Porzingis doesn't), the Knicks may well make it out of the East.  But then again, perhaps the same thing could have been said about last season.  Oh well.

As for the Nets, they're sorta like the team that time forgot.  Remember that, around the time they first moved to Brooklyn, they went into win-now mode and gave up their future (i.e. draft picks) for veteran players, kinda like the Knicks just did for Mikal.  So now, there isn't even like a single star on the Nets' roster, unless you're still looking to Ben Simmons to represent.  Also, it's hard to imagine that any veteran who actually wants to win would go to Brooklyn, even if they do have like the best arena.

I guess the person I feel sorry for the most in all of this is Nic Claxton.  Like I would really like to see him on a quality team with committed stars, even if it's one like the Magic who, oddly enough, prioritized a wing player in free agency over acquiring a more-needed post-playing big.

Where Do We Go From Here? (OKC Thunder Edition)

At first, I didn't have any plans of writing an article like this about the Thunder.  That's because there isn't anything wrong with their roster per se, as in rotation players who I've noticed during the Playoffs that need to be replaced.  OKC has one of the easier rosters to fix, as the team is talented with a clear identity and apparently is on the rise.  So all they need to do is make the right addition.

SIZE MATTERS

The reason why the Thunder couldn't best with the Mavs and likely wouldn't have prevailed against the Timberwolves anyway is because this team looks like is built to beat the Warriors.  I've been arguing for years that size matters in the NBA, even when the mainstream turned against traditional bigs.

I've also been saying that it wasn't wise for teams to try to build their own versions of the Splash Brothers or to go out of their way to try to beat the Dubs at their own game, especially not now, in the 2020s as their dynasty is coming to an end.

Steph + Klay are an anomaly, not the new norm.  They helped change the NBA by encouraging more three-pointers.  But you see who else has won championships in recent years.

The Lakers did it during the bubble with Lebron + AD.  The Bucks won in 2021 with Giannis + Lopez up front.  The Nuggets prevailed last year with the biggest frontline in the NBA.  And if Minnesota takes it this year, as I believe they will, they have twin towers, buttressed by long-ass athletes like Naz Reid.

And wait until Chet Holmgren and Victor Wembanyama are on the same team.  Then people will understand what I meant years ago when I said that the future of the NBA will be teams with five Giannises.  Last season, the Thunder didn't even have a recognizable C, and this season, it felt as if Chet was the only true bigman on their roster.  That's how little this braintrust has come to respect size.

But again, I'm not lambasting OKC, because the progress they've made has shown true growth, the type of which most NBA rosters can only dream of.  Even with a rookie manning the middle, they went from 10th place in the West in 2022-23 to 1st place in 2023-24.  In other words, this is the young team that has shown the most development in recent years.  And come next season, they'll still be relatively young.

ENTER CLINT CAPELA

What actually prompted me to write this post was reading that Clint Capela may be on the trade block this summer.  Back in January, I already stated how he would be an ideal fit on the Thunder.

Capela, currently being 30, may seem a bit aged for OKC.  But his style of play, which relies heavily on rebounds and alley-oops as opposed to needing the ball in his hands, would be perfect for this team.  He's a true bigman, one who doesn't shoot three-pointers and won't need to on the Thunder.  Also, OKC could use a recognizable and experienced vet in their rotation.  Capela has a youthful, energetic playing style that hopefully a team in a better position than the Hawks can capitalize on while he's still vibrant.

And no, I'm not writing Atlanta off for next season.  But it's obvious, to me at least, that they're currently in a rebuild.  And it's not really fair to drag a vet like Capela - who played for the Rockets back when they were contenders during the late-2010s - along for that ride.  After a promising start, the Hawks have underachieved during the Trae Young era and need to like move on type shit.

My second hope is that if the Thunder do go about acquiring Clint, they'll be able to do so without giving up any of their playoff-rotation pieces.  I'm a big advocate of quality roster retention, because familiarity and trust can win games.

For instance, imo the downfall of the Grizzlies didn't began with Ja Morant's antics.  It was when they lost key players like Kyle Anderson in 2022 and Tyus Jones in 2023 that set the stage for their forgettable 2024.  And let's not also forget Xavier Tilman, who was traded earlier this year and isn't even getting playoff burn on the Celtics, despite Porzingis being hurt.

Neither Anderson or Jones are big names in the NBA.  But it would have been more beneficial for the Grizzlies to have Jones this past season than Marcus Smart (who he was traded for), as Tyus had established a standard of overachieving on Memphis and was part of the brethren-like culture their roster managed to build.

CONCLUSION

It may be disappointing to some of us that the Thunder didn't make it pass the 2nd Round after finishing first in the West.  They were also my sentimental favorites entering into the Playoffs.  But their future looks like a lot brighter than many of their rivals, including the Nuggets and Pelicans.  That's because OKC isn't plagued by injuries (fingers crossed), an aging roster or incompatible players.  All they need is a certain key addition (Clint Capela) to take them to the next level.  And to note, the Thunder also have one of the lowest payrolls in the NBA.  That means they may well be able to afford Capela without giving up any key players.

SGA for President

A more accurate title for this post would have been "Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for MVP".  But "SGA for President" sounds better.

The thing about the MVP Award is that you can't have the same person winning year in and year out, even if they do deserve it.  This is something I learned back during the Jordan Era.

From 1991 to 1998, except for those a couple of seasons he more or less took off, there was no question that MJ was literally "the most-valuable player", not only in the NBA but sports in general.  But one of those years, the league gave it to Charles Barkley and during another, to Karl Malone.

I'm not going to sit here and try to imply that the "Round Mound of Rebound" and "the Mailman" didn't earn it.  But the point is that, there's politics behind these awards.  The type of players who perform at an MVP level tend to do so perennially.  So sometimes, instead of giving it to the same person, decisions have to be made based on other criteria, i.e. in the name of not appearing as if you're dickridin.

That's why I'm advocating SGA as MVP.  I'm not doing so not based on the argument that he's actually better Nikola Jokic or any of the other one or two top candidates this season.  The Thunder are a pretty talented team and would probably make the playoffs even without SGA.  And I knew it was only a matter of time before one of these really young squads transforms into a contender, considering how they're more energetic, and recent champions are aging.  I thought the Grizzlies' would reach that level before OKC, but things didn't quite turn out like that.

But even with phenoms like Giddey, Dort, Williams and I would say Holmgren especially in terms of pushing this team over the top, SGA is the alpha and the one who has proven that he can win games when need be.  And honestly, I think most of us were expecting the Thunder to gradually become better, not anticipating that they would conclude the season with the number one seed, even over the defending champions, in the highly-competitive West.

SGA has already been in the MVP conversation for a couple of seasons, so might as well give him his flowers.  Like, you can't take sh*t for granted.  A couple of seasons ago, when Jokic won his first MVP, the award should've rather gone to Chris Paul.  And since then, CP3's game has never been quite the same.

The funny thing is, given Embiid's injuries, there probably really isn't anyone else really in the MVP conversation, outside of SAG and Jokic, besides for maybe Luka, Brunson or, if you really want to go there, AD.  The Celtics have become so well balanced that even though they have the best record and will likely take the East, it's hard to single out Tatum as the league's MVP.  So this season definitely doesn't feel like others in recent memory, where you'd may have five or even more viable MVP candidates.

CONCLUSION\

The Thunder are one of my favorite teams to watch.  I like Josh Giddey, because he's a pretty Whiteboy who looks like he should be on a fashion runway or album cover rather than leading fastbreaks.  I like Chet Holmgren, because he's dumb tall, visibly so even, but also multi-faceted and an impactual rookie.  I like Lu Dort, because on TV he looks too short and stocky to be in the NBA.  But most of all, I like SGA. 

I still remember when he was a rookie.  Shai was a number 11 pick, not someone you'd expect to one day be an MVP.  He wasn't one of the players who people were talking about going into that draft.  So it's like, give props where props are due.

Jokic, who by the way wasn't drafted until the second round(!), has too many accomplishments to still be considered a cinderella (lol).  The other usual suspects, like Lebron, Giannis and Steph, didn't represent like that this year.  So now, it's time to finally move on to the next big story, either SGA or Luka.  And with the Thunder having secured the number one seed, the decision is sort of a no-brainer.

2023 NBA Play-In Predictions (Round 2)

So far, I'm shooting 50% as far as 2023 Play-In predictions are concerned.  I did foretell that Lebron James and the Lakers, i.e. the NBA's leading man and most-profitable franchise, were going to beat the depleted Timberwolves, which they did (just barely).  And as for the Thunder vs. Pelicans, that was anyone's game, though now I have to admit that Zion Williamson, if he had decided to play, would have probably made a difference.

I also rightfully predicted that the Bulls would best the Raptors.  But what I got wrong with the Hawks vs. Heat is overestimating just how thin Miami's depth actually is.  Like, where's Duncan Robinson?  And why didn't they start Kyle Lowry?  And as for Kevin Love, he was basically a no-show.

BULLS VS. HEAT

And speaking of Miami, I think the Bulls once again have the advantage, even if they're not playing at home.  The Heat's starting lineup against the Hawks the other day consisted of two guys, Gabe Vincent and Max Strus, who I never even heard of like that.  Maybe this time around they'll start Lowry, who scored a game high 33 points against Atlanta, even though he was -12.  I mean, why not?  I don't remember the Heat, since they first came into the NBA, ever being garbage.  But now, the championship window they enjoyed for the last few seasons has passed.  And the Bulls, even though they also disappointed this year, look hungrier.

THUNDER VS. TIMBERWOLVES

Even if the T-wolves fail to make the playoffs, I would still argue that they're one of the better teams in the NBA.  Now that Rudy Gobert is back, logic would dictate that they should be able to handle OKC.  Either way, I believe that both of these teams can give Denver a run for their money.  But if it is the Timberwolves, as I'm predicting, fair and square I wouldn't be overly surprised, even if a couple of key bench players aren't around, if they could beat the Nuggets in a seven-game series.

CONCLUSION

OKC is a young, developing team who I believe is next-up after the Grizzlies.  But I doubt if they can beat the Thunder if Gobert, the type of inside defensive presence that the Pelicans lack, is playing.  Hell, I don't even think the Lakers would have gotten past them if Rudy was around.  But that said, I'm definitely looking forward to the presence of Chet Holmgren next season, maybe.

As for the Heat, I believe they matchup better with the Bulls, i.e. a team who is more in their age range than the Hawks.  But it's like, I don't even want to see Miami make the playoffs, because they're slow and generally unexciting.  Traditionally speaking slower, more-steady teams are more-formidable.  But the NBA has changed a lot in the last few years, and these days that strategy isn't as effective.

2023 Western Conference Play-In Predictions (Round 1)

TIMBERWOLVES (42-40) VS. LAKERS (43-39)

FAIR & SQUARE

Even if the Lakers did respect hard work and continuity, which they apparently don't, the Timberwolves would still have a better roster.  Lebron is no joke on offense but is a defensive liability.  And watching AD play, I feel like he's constantly in pain but taking one for the team.  Like he's still an exceptional player but isn't the AD of old.  For instance, you never hear anyone saying he's one of the best centers in the game these days.  And whereas the Lakers are now one of the deepest teams in the NBA, it isn't necessarily that the role players adequately complement a chuckin Lebron and a hobbled AD.  Maybe it would be if, once again, they had continuity.  But the way LAL rotates players in and out of the starting lineup, even the ones who have been around since the beginning of the season, is disheartening.

WHAT WILL THE NBA DO?

But they're probably still going to prevail against the Timberwolves away because, lucky for them, Minnesota has been experiencing all types of misfortunes of late.  First was Naz Reid, who's an absolute beast, breaking his wrist.  Then during the last game of the season Jaden McDaniels, another important and effective player off the Minnesota bench, broke his own hand punching a wall, which ain't something you hear everyday.  And then, lo and behold, the one T-wolves opponent the Lakers would have to worry about most, Rudy Gobert, decides to punch his own teammate, even though doing so would undoubtedly result in him getting suspended, you know, right before his team is about to play the most-important game of their entire season.

So I personally believe the script for this one has already been written.  The Timberwolves, imo, weren't favored during last season's playoffs, and they aren't favored now.  The Lakers, at or near full strength, barely beat the tanking Jazz the other night.  So in my mind there's really no way they could beat a healthy Minnesota squad at full strength in such a critical game.  But the Timberwolves are down three key players, i.e. a starter and two regular-rotation guys, so we will likely witness LAL getting their asses bust by Memphis in the First Round instead.

THUNDER (40-42) VS. PELICANS (42-40)

FAIR & SQUARE

I believe that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Brandon Ingram will end up counteracting each other, even though the former tends to have a greater impact on games, especially close ones, overall.  So then, it's up to the other players to decide who wins this game, and I think New Orleans has the edge there, especially if McCollum plays.

You can argue that if Zion were playing it would be no contest, but he and Ingram don't play particular well together anyway, and if the Pelicans were smart they'd trade Zion and get another star or two who's healthy and actually complements Brandon's skillset.

WHAT WILL THE NBA DO?

I can imagine that the NBA would be more inclined to have SAG and Josh Giddey in the playoffs than the Pelicans, and I wouldn't be surprised if OKC even give the Nuggets a run for their money, even in a seven-game series.  But the Pelicans made it out of the play-ins last season and can probably do so again.  Or at least that's what I believe, that they're a better all-around team than OKC, though again with Shai, miracles are possible.

CONCLUSION

I can understand how the NBA is favoring Lebron again.  He just broke Kareem's record, which is the biggest (American) sports' story of the year, and also these days he doesn't make as many political statements as a couple of years ago.  But it's going to be sad when the Lakers run into a really good, healthy team, unless they're really expecting the likes of Malik Beasley and D'Angelo Russell to win a series for them.

And personally I think OKC would stand a better chance against Denver, but it's hard for me to imagine them beating the Pelicans, which is a deceptively-deep squad.

The Westbrook Dilemma

Russell Westbrook is the greatest scapegoat I ever actually seen in the NBA.  He like averages triple-doubles and is perhaps pound-for-pound the greatest athlete to ever grace the league.  Every team he's played on, he's been either the first or second-best player, even with the Lakers (when you take AD's injuries into consideration).  But then when those teams lose, the blame always falls on him.

The problem, as his critics argue, is supposed to be that Westbrook is too selfish.  The issue with that logic is that it's virtually impossible to call a player who averages 10 assists selfish, unless maybe you expect him to average 20.  Westbrook will lead a team in assists, and pundits will be like the team isn't succeeding because he's hoggin the ball, lol.  And I know sometimes that can be true, to some extent.  For example, I feel like Luka should pass more.  But then on the other hand it's like come on, give me a fuckin break.

The best chance Russell had to win a championship was when he was partners with KD.  Westbrook was sorely criticized for not being a better sidekick.  But that's the thing that some people could never understand - he was never KD's sidekick.  Westbrook is dominant in too many aspects of the game to be anybody's sidekick, which is one of the reasons the Lakers failed last season by trying to make him one.  You know what I mean?  You can't tell him 'okay, we want KD to be the undisputed scoring alpha, so you tone it down', because toning it down one level would mean toning it down all levels.  Westbrook can finish a game with the best statline on the team, but then the media would be like he's the reason that they lost, lol, and I can't think of any other player, ever, who's been treated like that.

So this is my argument.  The reason teams have had limited success with Westbrook is because his athleticism is unprecedented, i.e. something that no franchise has ever dealt with before, and therefore, they don't actually know how to use a player like him.  There's been small, diesel players here and there for some time, like Derek Fisher or David Wesley.  But none of them really used that size to their advantage.  But as for Westbrook, he can rebound better than most power-forwards.

So now that the first Westbrook has come, that no one knows how to make sense of, he's a pariah.  But if a second one shows up, by that time franchises will probably have a better idea how to deal with this type of player.  The Thunder actually did pretty good with Russell, i.e. even after KD left.  But then they fucked up and tried to go the instant superteam route.  That's like when you're watching an action movie, and in the final fight the bad guy is kicking the good guy's ass, until the villain decides to get that extra advantage by grabbing a weapon and just fucks himself up.

CONCLUSION

There's really no reason to believe the Lakers will do better next season than they did last.  Bringing in Darvin Ham was okay, as he's probably someone who'd have more success convincing Lebron that he shouldn't be running the point, or probably not.  But my suggestion is that, since Westbrook is like something we never seen before, they should also try something we never seen before and put him at the 3.  Put him in a position where he has to focus on rebounding and the key just as much as dribbling and the perimeter, like how Andrew Wiggins has been playing for the Warriors.

Normally, suggesting you do that with a player listed at 6'3" would sound totally stupid, even in the smaller NBA.  But let me repeat myself by saying that this dude is a once in a lifetime talent.  So even if not the Lakers, whatever team Westbrook may find himself on next, I hope they dedicate themselves more to finding creative ways to maximize his talents instead of like making him the scapegoat, like the Lakers are doing.

Russell just averaged 18pts, 7 rebounds and 7 assists during, what for him, was an off season.  Most stars never average that much in those three categories simultaneously in their entire careers.  He was also more consistently on the court than LBJ or AD.  But still, some people want you to believe that he's like the main reason the team failed, lol.