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Joakim Noah Earns 2013-14 All-NBA First Team Honors

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joakim-noahFrom the Chicago Bulls and news wires….

NEW YORK, June 4, 2014 – The Oklahoma City Thunder’s Kevin Durant, the 2013-14 Kia NBA Most Valuable Player and winner of four scoring titles in five seasons, highlights the 2013-14 All-NBA First Team.  Durant was the lone unanimous selection, appearing on all 125 ballots as a First-Team pick while LeBron James of the Miami Heat garnered 124 First-Team votes.

Joining Durant and James on the First Team are Chris Paul of the Los Angeles Clippers, James Harden of the Houston Rockets and Joakim Noah of the Chicago Bulls.  Harden and Noah captured First Team honors for the first time in their careers.  Paul is an All-NBA First Team selection for the fourth time.  Durant makes his fifth appearance on the First Team, while James earned his eighth All-NBA First Team nod.

Durant averaged a career-best 32.0 points to go with 7.4 rebounds and 5.5 assists, also a career high.  In capturing his fourth scoring title, he joined Jordan (10), Chamberlain (seven), Gervin (four), and Allen Iverson (four) as the only players in league annals to win at least four scoring titles.  He shot .503 from the field, .391 from three-point range, and .873 from the free throw line, leading all players in free throws made (703) and attempted (805).  Durant authored two 50-point games, topped the 40-point mark on 14 occasions, and turned in 17 games with at least 30 points and 10 rebounds.

James shot a career-high 56.7 percent from the field this season, marking the seventh consecutive season he has improved his field goal percentage.  He connected on 116 three-point field goals, the second straight season he has made over 100 three-point field goals while shooting at least 55 percent from the field.  He posted his ninth 2000-point season, becoming only the fourth player in NBA history to accomplish this feat, joining Karl Malone (12), Michael Jordan (11) and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (9).

Noah, who appeared in 80 of Chicago’s 82 games, ranked sixth in the NBA in rebounding (11.3 rpg), 12th in blocks (1.51 bpg) and added 1.24 steals.  He was one of just three players (Detroit’s Andre Drummond and New Orleans’ Anthony Davis) to average at least 10.0 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 1.2 steals.  Behind Noah, the Bulls held opponents to a .430 field goal percentage, second-stingiest in the league.

Paul led the NBA in assists (10.7 apg) and steals (2.48 spg), while averaging 19.1 points and 4.3 rebounds as the Clippers won a franchise-record 57 games.  Paul became the seventh player in NBA history to top the 6,000-assist plateau before the end of his ninth season.  He’s only the fourth player in NBA history to reach 6,000 assists before his 29th birthday, joining Magic Johnson, Isiah Thomas and John Stockton.

Harden finished fifth in the NBA in scoring (25.4 ppg), and added 6.1 assists and 4.7 rebounds. He was one of only two players (LeBron James) to average at least 25.0 points, 6.0 assists and 4.0 rebounds.  He finished second in the NBA in free throws made (576), topped the 30-point mark in 24 games and registered two 40-plus outings.  Harden also ranked fifth in the NBA in minutes (38.0 mpg).

The All-NBA Second Team consists of guards Tony Parker of the San Antonio Spurs and Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors, forwards Blake Griffin of the Clippers and Kevin Love of the Minnesota Timberwolves and center Dwight Howard of the Rockets.

The All-NBA Third Team includes the Portland Trail Blazers’ Damian Lillard and the Phoenix Suns’ Goran Dragic at guard, the Indiana Pacers’ Paul George and the Trail Blazers’ LaMarcus Aldridge at forward and the Charlotte Hornets’ Al Jefferson at center.

For the first time this season, complete media voting results for each NBA annual award will be posted on nba.com/official following the announcement of each winner.  The All-NBA Teams were chosen by a panel of 125 sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada.  The media voted for All-NBA First, Second and Third Teams by position with points awarded on a 5-3-1 basis.  Below are the results of the voting for the 2013-14 All-NBA Teams, with First Team votes in parentheses.  The balloting was tabulated by the independent accounting firm of Ernst & Young LLP.

 

2013-14 ALL-NBA FIRST TEAM

 

Position                             Player, Team (1st Team Votes)                   Points

Forward                             Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City (125)                         625

Forward                             LeBron James, Miami (124)                                       623

CENTER                          JOAKIM NOAH, CHICAGO (101)                  551

Guard                                James Harden, Houston (73)                                     502

Guard                                Chris Paul, L.A. Clippers (86)                                     540

 

2013-14 ALL-NBA SECOND TEAM

 

Position                       Player, Team (1st Team Votes)                            Points

Forward                             Blake Griffin, L.A. Clippers (5)                             350

Forward                             Kevin Love, Minnesota (2)                                    237

Center                                Dwight Howard, Houston (9)                                 226

Guard                                Stephen Curry, Golden State (65)                          489

Guard                                Tony Parker, San Antonio (14)                              210

 

 

2013-14 ALL-NBA THIRD TEAM

 

Position                          Player, Team (1st Team Votes)                    Points

Forward                             Paul George, Indiana (4)                                        171

Forward                             LaMarcus Aldridge, Portland (2)                          159

Center                                Al Jefferson, Charlotte (4)                                       191

Guard                                Goran Dragic, Phoenix (1)                                        115

Guard                                Damian Lillard, Portland (2)                                    115

 

 

Other players receiving votes, with point totals: Carmelo Anthony, New York,86 (1 First Team vote); John Wall, Washington, 70; Tim Duncan, San Antonio, 63 (1); DeMar DeRozan, Toronto, 56; Anthony Davis, New Orleans, 40 (1); Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas, 37 (1); Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City, 32 (1); Kyle Lowry, Toronto, 29; DeAndre Jordan, L.A. Clippers, 21; Roy Hibbert, Indiana, 17; Marc Gasol, Memphis, 16 (2); DeMarcus Cousins, Sacramento, 14 (1); Kyrie Irving, Cleveland, 7; Dwyane Wade, Miami, 6; Mike Conley, Memphis, 4; Serge Ibaka, Oklahoma City, 4; Zach Randolph, Memphis, 4; Joe Johnson, Brooklyn, 4; Lance Stephenson, Indiana, 3; Ty Lawson, Denver, 2; Paul Millsap, Atlanta, 2; Chris Bosh, Miami, 1; Andre Drummond, Detroit, 1; Monta Ellis, Dallas, 1; Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio, 1.

 

Where We Stand in the NBA MVP Race

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durant and lebronWe are in the midst of one of the best NBA MVP races in recent history. Kevin Durant and LeBron James are engaged in an epic fight for supremacy. Unfortunately for the rest of the league, it appears both players are going all-in on earning the award. Thus, we are likely going to see more see situations like the one in Charlotte where LeBron personally destroyed the Bobcats franchise. While it is a two-man competition for MVP, it is still important to note the performance of a handful of other players that have had fantastic seasons. So I have decided to formulate my list for the top five MVP candidates this season, including my opinion on who leads the Durant/LeBron debate.

Before we start, here are a few players who are putting together great season but did not crack the top five. I have also included some short notes as to why they did not make my list.

Dirk Nowitzki- Another fantastic year, but his numbers aren’t quite there.

Kevin Love- Crazy-good numbers, bad team.

Carmelo Anthony- Crazy-good numbers, horrendous team.

Dwight Howard- Putting together a great two-way season, but hasn’t been dominant.

As for the Top Five:

5. Stephen Curry

The Numbers:

  • 24.1 points  and 8.8 assists per game
  • 193 three-pointers made, most in the NBA
  • 615 points off of pull-up shots (Any jump shot outside 10 feet where a player took 1 or more dribbles before shooting). 139 more points than the second highest pull-up total, per NBA.com.

The Impact:

During his 2010-11 MVP season, Derrick Rose averaged 27.1 points and 7.7 assists per game. Curry has put up very similar numbers this season, carrying the Warriors to a 36-24 record. Curry’s MVP case is aided by the inconsistent play of his supporting cast this season. Klay Thompson and Harrison Barnes have failed to make “The Jump” like many expected, leaving Steph to shoulder more of the offensive load for Golden State. In addition to his strong numbers, Curry is one of the most exciting players to watch in the game. Few players around the NBA cause Twitter eruptions like Steph does. Probably because few players can do things like this.

4. Joakim Noah

The Numbers:

  • 12 points, 11.4 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game
  • Opponents shooting just 44.5% on shots at the rim when being guarded by Noah, eighth best in the league, per NBA.com

The Impact:

Noah’s numbers are solid, but they only tell a fraction of his impact on the Bulls this season. Noah has helped write one of the most unexpected storylines of the year. After losing Derrick Rose and trading Luol Deng, the Bulls appeared destined for the lottery. However, Noah and Head Coach Tom Thibodeau would not let it happen. The Bulls are now 33-27 on the year and have won eight of their last ten games. They will likely end up as the three seed in the Eastern Conference and will be a pain in the ass for the Pacers or Heat to play in the second round. Chicago can thank Joakim Noah for staying relevant in what looked like a lost season.

3. Blake Griffin

The Numbers:

  • 24.2 points and 9.8 rebounds per game
  • Shooting 53.2% from the field, ninth best in the NBA, per NBA.com
  • Shooting a career-high 70% from the free throw line

The Impact:

Chris Paul’s injury on January 3 produced a fork-in-the-road moment for the Clippers. Would they hold their ground in his absence and maintain a top seed in the West or would they slip in the standings and end up with an unfavorable playoff matchup? The Clippers needed Blake Griffin to step up in Paul’s absence and lead the team. He produced with flying colors and the Clippers went 13-5 with CP3 out of the lineup. Not only was a Clippers collapse diverted, but Blake established himself as a top MVP candidate. His play has drastically improved from past seasons. Griffin has developed a solid low-post game with multiple moves on the block. He has become a reasonably dependable shooter from mid-range and the foul line, forcing defenders to respect those facets of his game. Finally, while he has always been an above-average passer, the Clippers are allowing him to make plays with the ball in his hands. This is especially evident on the fast-break, as you can see in the following clip.

 

As for numbers one and two on my list, let us compare the following players:

Player A- 37.3 mpg, 27.5 ppg, 58.3% FG, 38.4% 3FG, 7.0 rpg, 6.4 apg

Player B- 38.4 mpg, 31.6 ppg, 50.7% FG, 39.6% 3FG, 7.7 rpg, 5.6 apg

How the hell do you choose one?

What if we compare memorable moments?

Player A is LeBron James and B is Kevin Durant. The race for MVP, like their numbers, is incredibly close. Durant appeared to have the early lead, putting up video game numbers with Russell Westbrook out of the lineup. However, LeBron has roared back in the last four weeks, including a career-high 61-point face-melter against Charlotte. They are the two best players in the world, playing arguably the best basketball of their respective careers, and doing so on two of the top teams in the NBA.

What makes this race even more enjoyable is the competition level between LeBron and Durant. It seems as if they are fueled by media discussions about who is the MVP. When one player seems to gain an edge, the other responds with a huge game. It’s as if their box scores are battling one another from across the country. As fans, we are the beneficiary of this fantastic theater. It is important that during all of the debating about who is the MVP, we take a step back and enjoy these two players playing the game at unbelievable levels.

Let’s get to it. The MVP standings at this point in the season are…..

2. LeBron James 

The Impact:

LeBron is having another phenomenal year. His efficiency has been particularly impressive this season. He is the only non-center with a top five field goal percentage and his  66.2% true shooting mark is second best in the league, per NBA.com. Amid frequent lineup shuffling and injuries, LeBron has been the sole point of consistency for Miami. Now, the Heat are surging, having won nine of their last ten games, and they have the look of a team hunting for the one seed in the East. Thanks to LeBron, they will probably capture it.

1. Kevin Durant

The Impact:

Durant is putting together the strongest all-around season of his career. As I have outlined already this season, Durant’s playmaking and defense have improved drastically. Like Griffin, Durant was put in a position where he had to carry his squad without a key teammate. It was during this period when Russell Westbrook was injured that Durant solidified his MVP case. Despite Westbrook rejoining the lineup in recent weeks, Durant is still putting up monster numbers, averaging 32.6 points per game in the five games since Westbrook has returned. As long as Durant continues to get his 20 field goal attempts per game, he will keep putting up dominant numbers.

 

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Rise of the Slim Reaper: Kevin Durant’s Mission to Dominate the NBA

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Kevin Durant The rest of the NBA must look back on it fondly. A peaceful memory of the way things were. A time, just a few short years ago, when Kevin Durant hadn’t turned. A time when he was still a mild-mannered star who, despite his immense talent, looked happy just to be in the NBA playing with his friends. Unfortunately, the rest of the league must wake from their daydream to the nightmarish reality that is Kevin Durant in 2014. A Kevin Durant that is no longer satisfied being second-billed to LeBron James. A Kevin Durant who has a chip on his shoulder bigger than Richard Sherman’s ego. A Kevin Durant who wants to destroy everyone in his path.

I first saw rumblings of Durant’s new nickname on Twitter. After a career-long search, had the NBA universe finally found an apt moniker for one of its biggest stars? I was hesitant at first, unable to commit to the new identity without investigating if it truly fit. Slim Reaper. Undoubtedly catchy, but did it really apply? Then I watched highlights of Oklahoma City’s victory over Portland, a game in which Durant took over the last three-plus minutes of the game to propel OKC to a comeback win. I was sold. It wasn’t that Durant scored 11 points in the final 3:30. Rather, it was the way he did it. In those final minutes, Durant had the look of an assassin. He appeared enraged that Portland would have the audacity to think that they could stop him. He wanted the win, but he also wanted it in the most cold-blooded way possible. With the shot-clock winding down and a four point lead, Durant coolly pulled-up from three and buried an “F-you for not double teaming me” rainmaker to seal the victory. A cold-blooded assassin on the court, a perfect fit for a name like Slim Reaper.

Shotchart_1390763151293

Durant’s play this season has been spectacular, especially considering the time Russell Westbrook has missed due to injury. His scoring has been well-publicized and deservingly so. In the 16 games Durant has played since Westbrook was sidelined on December 27, KD has averaged 36.2 points per game, per NBA.com. Additionally, Durant has scored 30 or more points in his last ten games, including a career-high 54 against Golden State. For the season, Durant is leading the NBA in scoring at 31.1 points per game. He is doing so while also leading the league in true shooting percentage at 64.3%, per NBA.com. His incredible efficiency has propelled him to a Player Efficiency Rating of 31.0, also tops in the NBA, per ESPN.com.

Despite his ridiculous scoring numbers, I would argue that KD has been just as impressive in other areas of his game. He is becoming a very good defender, using his length and quickness to generate deflections while also averaging just under eight rebounds per game. Durant is not quite on the Paul George/LeBron James level of two-way superstars, but he has greatly improved his play on the defensive end over the last few season. Moreover, Durant is averaging a career-high 5.2 assists per game this season. Like his defense, Durant’s playmaking ability’s have improved exponentially throughout his career. His assist numbers are even more impressive when one considers that the over-sized corpse of Kendrick Perkins is clogging the paint and Derrick Fisher is getting minutes despite shuffling around with a walker.

The battle for MVP will be exciting to watch as we enter the second half of the season. As I look at the field, Durant’s lava-hot play over the last month has moved him to the top spot on my list with LeBron and Paul George close behind. An MVP trophy will mark another step on Slim Reaper’s quest to take over the NBA.

 

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A Few Good Men: Players Who Deserve to be Named NBA All-Stars

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2014 All-Star Jerseys. Photo Courtesy NBA.com
The unfortunate looking 2014 All-Star Jerseys. Photo Courtesy NBA.com

The NBA All-Star Game is supposed to showcase the best talent in the league and reward players who are putting together exceptional seasons. Unfortunately, the 12 most deserving players from each conference are rarely selected to the team, thanks in large part to fan-voting. Before voting concludes on Tuesday, I have put together a roster of the players who should find themselves in New Orleans. The roster I have assembled is based on quality of play rather than a popularity contest. I followed the same selection parameters as the NBA has established. 12 players will be named to each team and I will separate them by frontcourt and backcourt. Here are the players who deserve to wear these god-awful t-shirt jerseys come February 16.

Eastern Conference Starters

Frontcourt: Joakim Noah, LeBron James, Paul George

Backcourt: Dwyane Wade, John Wall

Eastern Conference Reserves

Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, Paul Millsap, Roy Hibbert, DeMar DeRozan, Kyrie Irving, Lance Stephenson

Eastern Conference Snubs

Andre Drummond, Kemba Walker, Luol Deng, Brandon Jennings, Arron Afflalo, Jeff Teague

Tough Decisions

1. Noah starting over Hibbert

One may be surprised to find that Roy Hibbert is averaging just 7.8 rebounds per game, more than three less than Joakim Noah. Noah is having another great year, averaging 11.7 points and 11 rebound per game. While he isn’t as good of a low post defender as Hibbert, Noah’s tenacity and athleticism has helped the Bulls stay relevant despite losing Derrick Rose and trading Luol Deng.

2. Bosh being selected over Drummond

Andre Drummond is an absolute beast and his development this season should certainly be recognized. However, his play has been inconsistent at times and his team has struggled throughout the year. On the other hand, Bosh is putting up his typical numbers while shouldering more of the load with Wade frequently out of the lineup in Miami. Moreover, Bosh has hit several game winning shots for the Heat this season. Bosh gets the nod this year.

3. John Wall starting over Kyrie Irving

Both players are phenomenal young talents and their numbers are very similar. Irving does average more points per game, but Wall averages more assists and steals. The decision to start Wall over Irving came down to the success of their respective teams to this point in the season. The Wizards are holding on to the fifth seed while Cleveland is struggling to stay relevant in a depressingly inept Eastern Conference.

Western Conference Starters

Frontcourt: LaMarcus Aldridge, Blake Griffin, Kevin Durant

Backcourt: James Harden, Steph Curry

Western Conference Reserves

Kevin Love, Dwight Howard, Anthony Davis, DeMarcus Cousins, Damian Lillard, Mike Conley, Goran Dragic

Western Conference Snubs

Tim Duncan, Dirk Nowitzki, David Lee, Serge Ibaka, Monta Ellis, Ty Lawson, Tony Parker, Russell Westbrook (Injured), Chris Paul (Injured)

Tough Decisions

1. Blake starting over Kevin Love

Love’s numbers are plain stupid. He is averaging 25 points and 13 rebounds while shooting nearly 40% from three. Griffin’s numbers are not quite as staggering, but they are in the same ballpark. Blake is averaging 22.5 points and 10 rebounds while singlehandedly keeping the poster industry afloat with dunks like this one.

I give Blake the start because he has shown the ability to carry the Clips with CP3 sidelined.

2. Anthony Davis being selected over David Lee

Yes, The Brow missed a few weeks in December due to a broken hand. Still, when on the court, Davis has been fantastic. His numbers are slightly better than David Lee in terms of scoring and rebounding, but the two are truly separated on defense. Davis is becoming a solid all-around defender and is already an exceptional shot blocker. This will be the first of many All-Star Games for The Brow.

3. Mike Conley over Ty Lawson and Tony Parker

The West is flooded with quality point guards. The decision to select Conley over players like Lawson and Parker was based on the success Conley has been able to have despite missing Marc Gasol (Big Spanish) for much of the year. The statistics for many of the “snubbed” guards are similar, but Conley has had to do more with less. Now that they are healthy, I think Conley and the Grizz could go on a big second half run this season.

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All videos courtesy of Youtube and the NBA

 

NBA Preseason Predictions

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Paul GeorgeHaving established the notable storylines, it is time to make some bold predictions about the upcoming NBA season. For those keeping track at home, that is three preview columns by one writer. Some said it couldn’t be done. Is this a case of me going on record and putting my NBA reputation on the line? Is it a way to prove my basketball acumen? Is it a way to fill another week before real basketball begins? Let’s just say yes to all of those things. From predicting the MVP to which coach will be fired first, these predictions cover all things NBA. Let us begin.

1. Kevin Durant will win the Most Valuable Player Award

Kevin Durant

Durant has improved on every aspect of his game since entering the NBA in 2007. I expect him to have another dominant offensive year and lead the league in scoring. Durant will have to carry the Thunder early with Russell Westbrook sidelined for the first 4-6 weeks of the season. During this time, KD will not only be able to put up video game-like numbers, but he will also demonstrate his immense value. While I expect the Thunder to take a step back as a team, I see Durant further elevating his play. Durant will beat out Derrick Rose and LeBron James to win his first career MVP.

2. Kobe Bryant will return by Christmas and average over 24.5 shots per game this season

Three factors influence this prediction. One, Kobe is an insane person who will do and has done anything to get back onto the court. Two, Kobe is 6,770 points behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most in NBA history. Three, the Lakers will be an average to below-average team this season that will not contend in the West. Add these aspects together and you have Kobe going into pop-a-shot mode upon his return. I see Kobe coming back just over eight months after tearing his Achilles with a focus on making up some serious ground on Kareem’s record. It is important to note, however, that Bryant must not only overcome injury and Father Time, but he will also have to physically wrestle the ball out of Nick Young’s hands in order to take a shot.

3. Derrick Rose will post better statistics this season than he did in his MVP seasonDerrick Rose

Rose has not played like someone coming back from a serious knee injury this preseason. Rather, he looks like the same explosive talent he was before, with some teammates saying that he looks better than ever. Rose averaged 25 points and 7.7 assists during his MVP season in 2010-11. With an improved jump shot and a new offense that will emphasize transition and speed, look for Rose to end up with better numbers than he had in his MVP season. I am predicting Rose will average 26.5 points and 8 assists per game this season and finish second in MVP voting.

4. Rajon Rondo will be traded

After tearing his ACL in January, Rondo and the Celtics have no set timetable for the star guard’s return. However, it is reasonable to assume that Rondo will return before the February 20th trade deadline. By this point in the season, the Celtics will be out of the playoff race and fully embracing a rebuilding project under first year coach Brad Stevens. Thus, I see the Celtics trading Rondo along with Gerald Wallace’s horrendous contract to stockpile young talent and draft picks. Watch for Detroit and Sacramento as possible landing spots for Rondo.

5. The 76ers will win twelve games this season

The 1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers finished with a record of 9-73, the worst mark in NBA history. Watch for that notorious record to be threatened by this year’s Sixers installment. Looking at Philadelphia’s roster brings about a mixture of sadness, anxiety, confusion, and laughter. Evan Turner will be counted on to carry the offensive load. That is all that needs to be said to understand just how bad the Sixers are going to be. The only point of intrigue for Philadelphia will be Nerlens Noel, but he likely won’t play until late in the season if at all. Still, I see the Sixers piecing together twelve wins and dodging the record books. This will be fantastically awful to watch.

Victor Oladipo6. Victor Oladipo will win rookie of the year

This year’s crop of rookie talent has been lamented for months. No player truly stands out as a “can’t miss prospect” and I would argue that there are only a handful of players that will emerge as difference makers from this year’s class. One of the players that I do see contributing to his team is Magic guard Victor Oladipo. Oladipo demonstrated tenacious defense and effort in college, two skills that can quickly transfer to the pro level. His jump shot improved during his college career and should continue to get better in the pros. I see Oladipo developing into a defensive stopper while putting respectable offensive numbers and winning rookie of the year.

7. Mike Woodson will be fired by the Knicks during the season

Mike Woodson faces the deadly combination of high expectations and a disjointed roster with the Knicks. Woodson will have to figure out how to put together his lineups quickly if he wants to avoid losing his job. The questions begin in the frontcourt where he will have to figure out how to play Andrea Bargnani, Amare Stoudemire and Metta World Peace with Carmelo Anthony. Anthony was very good offensively when playing at power forward, but it is difficult to play Bargnani or Stoudemire at center or small forward without allowing opponents to score at will. Offensively, Metta World Peace does not provide the necessary spacing for Anthony to thrive at a small-ball four. MWP shot just 34.2 percent from three last season and hoisted nearly six threes per game. I predict the Knicks will struggle early in the season, leading to Woodson being fired as coach.

8. Cleveland will win more than 45 games this season

Cleveland is a fascinating team. There are so many question marks that surround the Cavs that I can make an argument for them winning 25 games and an argument for them winning 45 games. I will predict the 45 win total for several reasons. One, I think Kyrie Irving will stay healthy and continue to develop as one of the NBA’s top guards. Two, I believe new coach Mike Brown will bring a much needed defensive mindset to the Cavs. Finally, I see the Cavs getting important production from both Andrew Bynum and Anderson Varejao. If these three things happen, the Cavs will land a playoff spot in the East. This may end up being my most embarrassing prediction by season’s end.

9. Anthony Davis will win Defensive Player of the Year

Anthony Davis’ rookie season did not go as expected. He missed 18 games due to injury and was not the defensive force that people expected. Davis’ timing and spacing when guarding the pick-and-roll was a struggle at the beginning of the year, but he improved his overall defensive game throughout the season. In the preseason, Davis has looked much improved both offensively and defensively. I predict that Davis will continue his dominant play into the regular season and become a defensive force. Davis will average over eleven rebounds and three blocks per game on his way to winning Defensive Player of the Year.

Chris Paul10. The Bulls and Clippers will finish with the best records in their respective conferences

The Bulls have been an excellent regular season team under coach Tom Thibodeau, finishing with the best record in the Eastern Conference two of his three years as coach. The return of Derrick Rose and the familiarity of Chicago’s core will propel the Bulls to the top seed in the East. In the West, the Clippers will benefit from the addition of Doc Rivers along with improved outside shooting in the form of Jared Dudley and JJ Redick. The Clippers will score a ton of points offensively and win the West. However, neither will win the title.

Which leads to my final prediction…

11. Indiana will defeat Golden State in the Finals

Golden State had an unexpected and exciting playoff run last season, coming up short against the Spurs in an excellent series. With the addition of Andre Iguodala and a healthy David Lee, I see the Warriors catching fire in the playoffs. The Warriors will defeat the Clippers in the Western Conference Finals to advance. The Pacers pushed the Heat to the brink of elimination last season in the Eastern Conference Finals. I predict a rematch between the same two teams, however, this year the Pacers will capitalize on their size advantage and improved bench to beat the Heat. In the Finals, I think Indiana’s size will be too much for  Golden State. Indiana will win the NBA championship with Paul George winning MVP of the Finals.

 

*Please note that if any of these predictions prove to be incorrect, they will be removed from the record and never discussed again.

 

 

 

 

 

NBA Storyline-A-Palooza Part 2

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Can Miami Three-peat this season?
Can Miami Three-peat this season?

This week, I am unveiling the eleven questions whose answers will shape the upcoming NBA season. Here are questions 6-11.

Click here to view part one of this article.

6. Who will have the ball at the end of games for the Nets?

Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov wants a championship and is willing to dip deep into his own pockets to get one. The Nets are reportedly around $30 million over the salary cap and will pay nearly $90 million in luxury tax penalties this season. The Nets tax is astronomically high due in part to several roster moves they made this summer, including a trade with the Celtics that brought back Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Jason Terry. In addition, the Nets signed Andrei Kirilenko to a mini mid-level exception deal. The Nets  veteran roster is loaded with talent, but it also features a handful of players who like to have the ball in their hands at the end of close games. Last season, Joe Johnson and Deron Williams both liked to isolate in these scenarios. Paul Pierce is another player who likes to take the last shot, often pulling up for a jumper from the right elbow in the closing moments. It will be up to first year Coach Jason Kidd to diagram late game offensive sets that take advantage of his roster”s propensity to make clutch shots. Look for Kidd to put the ball in Williams” hands while utilizing Garnett”s ability to set effective (and often illegal) screens off the ball to free up Johnson and Pierce for open shots.

7. Can the Clippers win a title with Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan as their starting frontcourt?

The addition of Doc Rivers as Head Coach has brought a sense of legitimacy to the Clippers title chances. While Rivers is certainly an upgrade over Vinny Del Negro, the Clippers face glaring problems in their frontcourt that could keep the team from advancing deep in the playoffs. The Clippers frontcourt of Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan will certainly produce a number of highlight dunks this season due to their freakish athleticism. However, the two have not utilized their athleticism to become dominant all-around players. Both Griffin and Jordan average under 8.5 rebounds per game, with Griffin”s rebounding totals having dropped each of his three seasons in the NBA. Defensively, Jordan struggles on pick-and-rolls while Griffin has failed to average a single block per game in any season.

On the offensive end, Griffin and Jordan are limited outside of plays at the rim. Jordan”s offensive game is non-existent, as he attempts under 1.5 shots per game outside of three feet. Griffin”s lack of offensive growth is especially frustrating. Teams consistently sag off defensively and allow Griffin to shoot from mid-range. To this point, Griffin has been unable to develop a consistent shot, shooting just 34% on shots further than fifteen feet, . Finally, both Griffin and Jordan struggle mightily from the foul line, shooting 66% and 38.6% respectively. These frighteningly low numbers make playing the two in close games difficult as opposing teams are comfortable fouling either one. Griffin and Jordan will have to make major strides in every facet of the game in order for the Clippers to compete for the title.

8. Who will most blatantly tank this season?

One could argue that the 76ers have already sealed up this contest. Philadelphia traded away its best player in Jrue Holiday, and decided to wait until August to hire its head coach. However, teams like the Jazz and Suns have refused to make it easy for the Sixers, constructing teams that will battle for the league”s worst record. These teams are looking to be bad, really bad, in order to lockup a top pick in next year”s draft. The talent in the upcoming draft has been well documented, with potential stars such as Andrew Wiggins, Julius Randle, Dante Exum, and Jabari Parker likely to enter the NBA. Wiggins is considered the number one player and has been discussed as the best prospect since LeBron James. Watching YouTube videos of the Canadian prodigy reveals why. The worst place to be as an NBA franchise is consistently hovering around .500. Tanking a season to land a top pick, especially in the upcoming draft, is the best way to turn around a franchise. Consequently, we could see plenty of random “injuries” for players on struggling teams this season. It will be enjoyable to check the standings each week to see which team is winning the battle for inferiority.

9. How will injured stars look in their return?

Injuries are a part of every season. However, there seemed to be more injuries to star players last season than in recent years. The list of injured players reads like an All-NBA Team: Bryant, Rondo, Love, Westbrook, Rose (technically injured two seasons ago, but missed all of last year), Granger, and Bynum just to name a few. All of these injuries had a significant effect on their respective teams, but Rose and Westbrook appeared to be the biggest losses. Both the Bulls and Thunder were positioned to compete for an NBA championship. While both teams battled, they were each unable to overcome the absence of their star point guards. Rose has had the longest recovery period out of the players mentioned above and is seemingly back and better than ever. On the other hand, Westbrook will likely miss the first six weeks of the season as he recovers from knee surgery. How these fallen stars return from injury will have a definite impact on the NBA landscape.

10. How big is the gap between LeBron James and Kevin Durant?

LeBron James is the best basketball player in the world. Over the last two years, James has won two NBA championships, two Finals MVPs, two regular season MVPs and a Gold Medal. There is no room for argument on the issue. What can be argued is how big the gap is between James and the league”s second best player, Kevin Durant. While LeBron dominated the NBA last season, Durant became just the sixth player in league history to post a 50-40-90 season (shooting 50% from the field, 40% from three, and 90% from the foul line). In addition, Durant made significant strides as a distributer, increasing his assist totals from 3.5 in 2011-12 to 4.7 in 2013-14, . Durant also developed defensively, using his increased strength and supernatural length to improve as both a one-on-one and help defender. James is four years Durant”s senior and is considered at the peak of his powers. However, if Durant continues to add to his game offensively and defensively, the gap between the two may begin to narrow. While Durant may not surpass James as the NBA”s best player this upcoming season, he may very well take that moniker within the next few years. Not only will the battle between the two for league dominance be a treat for basketball fans, but it will also likely shape the future of the NBA.

11. Can anyone beat the Miami Heat in a seven game series?

Over the past three seasons, the Heat have lost one playoff series. That series loss resulted from LeBron James shrinking in big moments. That problem appears to be a thing of the past and the Miami Heat come into this season as overwhelming favorites to three-peat as NBA champions. The biggest question facing the Heat is health. Their rotation is made up of veteran players who have logged some serious mileage including Ray Allen, Shane Battier, and Chris Andersen. Moreover, Dwyane Wade”s knee issues seem to be a problem that will plague him the rest of his career. In the offseason, the Heat made some minor adjustments to their roster. The additions of Michael Beasley and Greg Oden are low-risk, high-reward signings that could provide a spark to this Heat team. If healthy, Oden adds size that Miami will use to match up  against teams like Indiana and Chicago.

The Heat will likely coast through the regular season, limiting the Big Three’s minutes and resting older players like Allen and Battier. Miami has nothing to prove in the regular season and the thought of a 27-game win streak seems farfetched. The East will be a top heavy conference this year, with Indiana, Chicago and Brooklyn likely to emerge as legitimate threats to the Heat”s reign. These teams will each have to prove that they have overcome issues that have prevented them from beating Miami in the past. The Bulls will need a consistent secondary offensive option outside of Derrick Rose to emerge. The Pacers will need improved bench play and continued growth from Paul George. The Nets, while showcasing a new look roster, will need to remain healthy and learn to play with one another. If these teams can do this, they have a chance. Still, it remains difficult to imagine a team beating Miami four times in seven games. Not with their experience, not with their defense, and not with LeBron James leading the way.