NBA All-Star Break Rankings

            Now that Marv Albert is done complaining about the lack of defensive effort in the All-Star Game, we are here to rank all 30 teams. In reverse order, we are listing the teams we feel have the best chance to win the title in June. Spoiler alert…it won’t be the 76ers.

Atrocious

30. Philadelphia 76ers

            Someone needs to tell Joel Embiid to take it easy on the junk food while he’s rehabbing.

29. New York Knicks

            We’re still trying to figure out which hallucinogenic drug Phil Jackson was on before the season when he thought the Knicks were a playoff team. At least they actually have the rights to their first round pick this year.

28. Minnesota Timberwolves

            Minnesota earns karma points for actually trying to win games in the brutal Western Conference this year, and after a slow start Andrew Wiggins is beginning to look like a future superstar.

27. Los Angeles Lakers

            Considering how atrocious Kobe Bryant was shooting from the field, it might hurt their lottery chances that he is on the shelf for the rest of the year.

Occasionally Frisky

26. Orlando Magic

            If they can keep the core of young guys they have together, Orlando might have the makings of a playoff team within two years.

25. Utah Jazz

            Quietly, Utah is giving up the fourth fewest points per game among Western Conference teams. No one knows that because they are scoring the fewest points per game among Western Conference teams.

24. Indiana Pacers

            They are a pain in the ass to play every night, but points have been incredibly hard to come by without Paul George. As far as lottery teams, they could have the greatest impact on the playoff picture depending on whether or not they decide to move some of their veteran players.

23. Sacramento Kings

            Here’s a short synopsis of the Kings’ season so far for those of you on the East Coast.

1. Got off to a promising start with Boogie Cousins playing like a MVP candidate.
2. Boogie contracted meningitis (which is bonkers), and the Kings went into a total freefall.
3. The Kings fired Mike Malone while Cousins was out sick.
4. Sacramento is now a team in utter turmoil, but at least Boogie is back healthy.

          We here at No Credentials love Boogie Cousins, and we fully support the Boston Celtics sending 8 future first round picks to acquire him.

22. Boston Celtics

            Boston has enough draft picks over the next few years to build a 53-man roster, which would be cool if they were an NFL franchise.

In Need of a Rebuild

21. Brooklyn Nets

            Fortunately for the Celtics, three of the picks they are owed will be coming from the dumpster fire that is the Brooklyn Nets.

20. Denver Nuggets

            Denver is living proof of what happens when you end up picking between tenth and twentieth every year in the draft.

Fatally Flawed, But in the Eastern Conference

19. Detroit Pistons

            The Pistons keep dropping inefficient shooters (Josh Smith was waived, and Brandon Jennings ruptured his Achilles), which probably means D.J. Augustin should be looking into how much his deductible is on his health insurance.

18. Miami Heat

            Miami runs the same plays they have for years, but they don’t as well when Lebron James isn’t in the lineup.

17. Charlotte Hornets

            Lance Stephenson has worked out so bad for the Hornets, they are actually considering flipping him for Joe Johnson and Joe Johnson’s ginormous contract.

16. Milwaukee Bucks

            Milwaukee has managed to stay afloat despite the loss of Jabari Parker (what a bummer) to injury and Larry Sanders to the love of marijuana. The Greek Freak is the real deal.

Destined to Be on the Outside Looking In

15. New Orleans Pelicans

            One year I renamed one of my fantasy football teams “Aaron Rodgers”, because he was the only reason my team was competitive. New Orleans should consider doing the same and going by “The Brow” the rest of the way.

14. Phoenix Suns

            Phoenix is losing its grip on the eighth seed, which is a problem when they still have the hardest part of their schedule ahead of them. Rumors that Goran Dragic is on the trade block smacks of desperation.

Flawed Contenders

13. Los Angeles Clippers

            In a loaded Western Conference, Blake Griffin’s staph infection is enough to drop the Clippers out of the playoffs altogether.

12. Washington Wizards

            Bradley Beal has been off all season while dealing with a variety of injuries, and that’s what will hold Washington back from being a contender in the East.

11. Oklahoma City Thunder

            Despite all of the games missed by both Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, and the handi-cap of having the worst coach in the league, the Thunder are only half a game behind Phoenix. Their title chances hinge largely on whether or not they can avoid Golden State in the first round of the playoffs.

10. Dallas Mavericks

            Rajon Rondo has delivered uneven results so far, but we’re guessing he will deliver value come playoff time.

9. San Antonio Spurs

            This San Antonio club remains me of the Spurs squad that was swept by the Suns in the first round of the 2010 playoffs. That’s not a good thing.

8. Houston Rockets

            James Harden has been playing out of his mind, but Houston’s title hopes hinge largely on whether or not Dwight Howard is back at full strength before the playoffs.

7. Toronto Raptors

            Remember last year when the Pacers got to the playoffs and suddenly forgot how to execute basic offensive functions? That’s our prediction for how the Raptors will look in April.

Legit Title Contenders

6. Portland Trail Blazers

            LaMarcus Aldridge deciding to play through his thumb injury was the turning point of Portland’s season.

5. Cleveland Cavaliers

            We’re already looking forward to the over analysis of Kevin Love shooting 25% from the floor in Cleveland’s first round playoff series. We’d bump Cleveland as high as second if they can add one more useful big man.

4. Memphis Grizzlies

            Other than the Spurs, there isn’t another team in the league whose players understand their roles and deliver consistently on a nightly basis.

3. Atlanta Hawks

            Atlanta has played beautiful basketball all season long, but too many times we’ve seen groups like this crumble in a conference finals. We’re not sure if Al Horford or Jeff Teague are capable of delivering a bucket when it really matters come playoff time.

2. Chicago Bulls

            To say Chicago’s play has been uneven is being kind, but assuming Joakim Noah can get to at least 80% effectiveness by April 1, there isn’t a deeper team in the league.

1. Golden State Warriors

            If it were medically possible, the Warriors would be wise to freeze Andrew Bogut in carbonite so he can be healthy in the playoffs.

NBA Season Wrap-Up: Teams 5-16

            Here’s our second set of post-season NBA team reviews. Today, we look at the teams that have lost in the playoffs so far.

16. Atlanta Hawks

No Credentials Pre-Season Rank = 23
Fantasy MVP = PF Paul Millsap (quietly kept Hawks afloat after Al Horford went down for the year)
            The Hawks deserve a lot of credit for hanging in there and competing after Al Horford tore his pectoral. After not cashing in big last summer, Jeff Teague took a step forward as a Mike Conley-lite kind of player, and they hit gold with Kyle Korver. An upgrade at small forward is sorely needed, and with their cap space and roster flexibility, consider them a dark horse in the Carmelo Anthony sweepstakes.

15. Charlotte HORNETS

No Credentials Pre-Season Rank = 28
Fantasy MVP = Al Jefferson (has finally found a home in Charlotte)
            Other than Cleveland, the biggest winner in the draft lottery was the Hornets. With Detroit slipping one spot down to ninth in the lottery, they had to forfeit their first round pick to Charlotte. This is a massive development for an up and coming team fresh off a surprise playoff appearance. It’s even better news considering their own pick was already shipped to the Bulls. Charlotte won’t find an elite rim-protecting center at pick eight, but look for them to add some 3-point shooting. Doug McDermott makes a ton of sense here, unless Michael Jordan has flashbacks to drafting another elite Caucasian college player high in the draft (2006, Adam Morrison). Either way, the future finally looks bright for the Hornets.

14. Chicago Bulls

No Credentials Pre-Season Rank = 2
Fantasy MVP = PF/C Joakim Noah (finally got his due for his defensive prowess this season)
            Dreams of a championship run immediately turned to tanking when Derrick Rose was lost because of a torn meniscus. Unfortunately for Bulls fans, Chicago couldn’t even successfully tank, and ended up fourth in the Eastern Conference. Things aren’t all bad though, as they have the cap space to add a max contract. Chicago will be one of the first teams mentioned when Kevin Love or Carmelo Anthony are discussed. In addition to cap space, the Bulls boast two first round picks at 16 and 19 (you’ll know where that came from if you were paying attention reading about the previous team). We don’t expect Chicago to use both of those picks, with the odds of them using one or both in a sign in trade or to move up in the draft or more likely.

13. Toronto Raptors

No Credentials Pre-Season Rank = 20
Fantasy MVP = PG Kyle Lowry (most notable All-Star snub this year)
            The young Raptors roared to life after ball-hogging Rudy Gay was sent to Sacramento, but it’s not a guarantee that they bring the same core back next season. Kyle Lowry, who was a monster all season and the catalyst for Toronto’s post-Rudy success, is a free agent. Fortunately for the Raptors, the number of teams that will be looking to spend big money on a point guard is low, so they shouldn’t have to break the bank to keep him. Don’t expect Toronto to make any huge splashes in free agency (because you know, they play in Toronto), as it makes the most sense for them to bring their core back and let them develop for another season.

12. Dallas Mavericks

No Credentials Pre-Season Rank = 11
Fantasy MVP = PF Dirk Nowitzki (massive bounce back year after injury plagued 2012-13)
            Since winning the 2010-11 title, Dallas has whiffed on landing major free agents, and instead settled for short-term, non-cap clogging contracts. This year that strategy paid off with a spiriting playoff appearance against San Antonio. We should expect the Mavericks to make their usual run at the top free agents, before settling for solid cheap veterans to fill out their roster when they inevitably whiff.

11. Memphis Grizzlies

No Credentials Pre-Season Rank = 9
Fantasy MVP = PG Mike Conley (steady contributor all season, especially when Marc Gasol was injured)
            Memphis pushed Oklahoma City to the brink in round 1, but an untimely Zach Randolph suspension derailed their hopes of winning a Game 7. We wrote that their lack of perimeter scoring would be their undoing, and that is exactly what happened. Adding a 2 or 3 that can score and stretch the floor is of utmost importance.

10. Golden State Warriors

No Credentials Pre-Season Rank = 10
Fantasy MVP = PG Stephen Curry (has he finally put health concerns to rest?)
            We’re not sure how switching from one color analyst to another will make a difference barring a major roster shakeup. Golden State is very interested in Kevin Love, but without draft picks to offer and no desire to move Klay Thompson, we don’t see that happening. Regardless of whether or not they are successful in adding Love, moving David Lee to provide better floor spacing is a priority.

9. Houston Rockets

No Credentials Pre-Season Rank = 4
Fantasy MVP = SG James Harden (not as consistent as last year, but still productive)
            Reportedly, Houston is doing everything in it’s power to construct it’s own Big 3. James Harden and Dwight Howard proved to be an effective duo, and either Anthony or Love make sense as possible additions. Houston could’ve very easily won every game of their first round series against Portland, so unless they add a max-level player, they shouldn’t blow anything up.

8. Brooklyn Nets

No Credentials Pre-Season Rank = 7
Fantasy MVP = SF Paul Pierce (surprisingly valuable in his first season away from Boston)
            A disappointing season from start to finish doesn’t leave much reason for optimism. They don’t own their first round pick for the next five years, which is insane. They’ll likely lose both Paul Pierce (to another team) and Kevin Garnett (to retirement), but are too far over the salary cap to replace them with elite talent. Swinging a trade would be the only way Brooklyn could do anything, but there aren’t any particularly desirable assets the Nets own. At least Brook Lopez will be back, but there’s no guarantee he returns to his previous All-Star form after a second surgery on his foot. We wouldn’t be shocked at all if the 2017 and 2018 first round picks owed to the Celtics are both in the lottery.

7. Washington Wizards

No Credentials Pre-Season Rank = 15
Fantasy MVP = PG John Wall (the top point guard in the East)
            This year’s winner of “team that gave it’s fan base the most hope for the future”, Washington is poised to make a jump to an elite level next season. John Wall made the leap to a legit franchise player, and it doesn’t look like Bradley Beal is that far behind him. Wall and Beal could be the top backcourt in the NBA by this time next season. Bringing back Marcin Gortat is vital to Washington’s chances of remaining relevant, but we fully expect that to happen. Their first round pick is headed to Phoenix, and with little cap space any improvement next year will have to come from within.

6. Portland Trail Blazers

No Credentials Pre-Season Rank = 12
Fantasy MVP = PF LaMarcus Aldridge (showed in playoffs he can carry a title contending team)
            Portland made solid strides this season in winning their first playoff series in fourteen years, and the roster is young enough to still develop more. Having a bench that consists of more than just Mo Williams would be a good start to improving their chances of advancing further in the ridiculous Western Conference.

 



5. Los Angeles Clippers

No Credentials Pre-Season Rank = 5
Fantasy MVP = PF Blake Griffin (holy free throw percentage Batman!)
            The Clippers had numerous things to feel great about this year (Blake Griffin becoming a legitimate MVP candidate, officially dominating L.A. with the demise of the Lakers), but their insane owner washed most of that away. Due to the likely drawn out legal proceedings that will be necessary to resolve the Clippers ownership situation, they are the hardest team to forecast going into the off-season. Our best guess is there will be no significant player additions, but the same core along with Doc Rivers will return for 2014-15.

NBA Second Round Picks

#1 Indiana Pacers vs. #5 Washington Wizards
            Washington doesn’t possess the sharp-shooting big men Atlanta has, which will not nullify Roy Hibbert. That will be enough for Indiana to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals despite the fact they have no one that can stay in front of John Wall. Pacers in 6
         
#2 Miami Heat vs. #6 Brooklyn Nets
            Miami was the only team to post a first round sweep, and we expect the momentum to carry over against the old Nets. Heat in 5

#2 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. #3 Los Angeles Clippers

            Similar to what we said about Indiana’s second round match-up actually being easier than their first, the Thunder should be much more efficient against the Clippers. Los Angeles doesn’t employ anyone that can check Kevin Durant, and even when fully healthy Chris Paul has a hard time staying in front of Russell Westbrook. Thunder in 6

#1 San Antonio Spurs vs. #5 Portland Trail Blazers

            We’ll forecast that this will be the most entertaining of the second round series, and the most likely to go the full seven games. The extra couple days of rest should give the Trail Blazers a great chance to steal Game 1 in San Antonio, but we ultimately expect the Spurs to pull it together to set up a seemingly inevitable Thunder-Spurs Western Conference Finals. Spurs in 7

10 Awesome Things That Happened This Weekend (4/25-4/27)

10. Nene is Bonkers
            It was an impressive effort by the Wizards on Sunday to overcome the loss of Nene, who inexplicably head butted Jimmy Butler Friday night.

9. Warriors Demolish Embattled Clippers

            Sadly, a Clippers team that had the look of making a Finals run looks like it could be derailed by it’s idiot owner.

8. Penguins Grab 3-2 Series Lead

            They finished the job Monday night. So much for No Credentials’ upset special.

7. Pacers Save Season, Even Series With Hawks
            Sadly, they squandered their Game 4 effort with a lackluster performance at home Monday night.

6. Joey Logano Wins Wild Shootout at Richmond

            There’s been tons of talk this year about the potential of young studs Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott, which makes a lot of people forget that Joey Logano is only 23 years old. He took over the points lead (sort of) with his spectacular run to the front with 5 laps left Saturday night.

5. Trail Blazers Push Rockets to Brink of Elimination

            In a series where either team could’ve won every game, we’re still not counting the Rockets out despite Houston facing a 3-1 deficit.

4. Ducks Pull Off Improbable Comeback, Eliminate Dallas

            Dallas came flying out of the gate, but almost looked a little like their local NFL team in gagging away a third period lead.
         
3. Thunder Survive Game 4
            On a night where Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook were both awful, it was Reggie Jackson who gave Oklahoma City a lift.
      
2. Bruins Advance to Second Round Date With Montreal
            Apparently it’s an NHL rule that the Bruins have to play at least one Canadian team every single playoff year.

1. Vinsanity Takes Down San Antonio

            Vince arguably was the most maligned superstar in the NBA during the 2000s, so it was nice to see him make the greatest shot of his career Saturday night.

NBA Mid-Season Rankings = The Title Contenders

9. Washington Wizards
24-23, 5^th in Eastern Conference
Good News = John Wall has established himself as a top-5 point guard.
Bad News = After a promising start to the season, Bradley Beal has been hampered by injuries and a minutes cap on a nightly basis.
What They Should Do = At first glance, it seems laughable to include the Wizards in a post titled “Title Contenders”, but hear me out. Most assume that a Pacers-Heat Eastern Conference Finals is inevitable (mostly because it is, but again, hear me out), but of any of the other East teams, Washington is the only one that has the parts to pull off an upset. John Wall is talented enough to carry a team, Bradley Beal should improve as he returns to full strength, and the Nene-Gortat combo could wreck havoc with the Miami Heat. By default, Washington is the only team besides the top two to have any smidge of hope of reaching the Finals. Furthermore, the Wizards already pushed their chips into the middle of the table before the season when they sent their first round pick next year to Phoenix for Marcin Gortat. Washington doesn’t have a great deal of assets left to move, as Trevor Ariza has actually been a fairly integral part of the rotation. He does have an expiring contract, so if they were able to get an upgrade at the 3, his would be the logical starting point of a trade package. Eric Gordon, Evan Turner, or Gordon Hayward would all be dream pickups for Washington.

8. Houston Rockets

32-17, 5^th in Western Conference
Good News = James Harden has rediscovered his shooting stroke.
Bad News = They are short a point guard.
What They Should Do = Dwight Howard has fit in nicely with the Rockets, but an upgrade at the point is sorely needed. Patrick Beverly hasn’t reached his potential, and Jeremy Lin is better suited as an offensive spark plug off the bench. Unfortunately, the list of quality point guards that will be likely be on the trading block is slim. Here’s the list of possible trade targets as identified by No Credentials’ Research Department.

Rajon Rondo, Celtics – I don’t think a trade package built around Jeremy Lin and Omer Asik would be enough to get Rondo in Houston, unless the Rockets throw in a shit load of draft picks.

Kyle Lowry, Rockets – The former Rocket has been one of the league’s top-15 players since Rudy Gay was shipped to Sacramento. Toronto’s management team has an interesting decision to make, as Lowry is a free agent after the season, but they also have a chance for home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. If the Raptors opt to move Lowry, Houston is the most likely landing spot.

Isaiah Thomas, Kings – Reportedly Sacramento is working on an extension for Thomas (who quietly has put up a 21.4 PER this season), but if they get a feeling that he won’t re-up for next year, they could look to move him for draft picks. 

7. Golden State Warriors

29-19, 7^th in Western Conference
Good News = For the first time in his career, Stephen Curry is on track to stay mostly injury free for two straight years.
Bad News = They have the lowest scoring bench in professional basketball, and likely will have to visit either San Antonio or Portland in the first round of the playoffs.
What They Should Do = When the jumpers are falling, there’s no more enjoyable team to watch in the NBA than the Golden State Warriors. Fortunately for them, there’s a little more substance to them this year, as they’ve actually been a quality defensive team. Andrew Bogut has been healthy, and has been great at masking the defensive deficiencies of David Lee. Andre Iguodala has fit in perfectly as an elite wing defender who takes pressure off of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. Golden State sold off most of their draft picks to Utah in a salary dump deal to open up space to sign Iguodala, so it’s unlikely that they will be able to trade for bench help. They’ll need to hope for improved production from Harrison Barnes (one of the most disappointing sophomores of the year) and Draymond Green to help solidify their reserve units.

6. Los Angeles Clippers

34-16, 4^th in Western Conference
Good News = Blake Griffin is quietly having a career year, and has carried the team during the absence of Chris Paul.
Bad News = Paul’s injury makes it unlikely the Clippers can move up into one of the top two seeds.
What They Should Do = They have incredible depth on the perimeter, but beyond Griffin and DeAndre Jordan, you’re not getting any other quality big-man minutes on this team. Los Angeles doesn’t need to acquire a superstar, just someone that can give them a competent 15-20 minutes a night (for Celtics fans, think of the 2008 version of P.J. Brown).

5. Portland Trail Blazers

34-14, 3^rd in Western Conference
Good News = Portland boasts the highest scoring offense in the league.
Bad News = While better than last year, the bench still leaves something to be desired.
What They Should Do = Portland is a scary place to go as a road team, so if they can land in either of the top-2 spots in the West, you can book them for the Conference Finals. Acquiring solid wing defenders would be their best bet.

4. San Antonio Spurs

35-13, 2^nd in Western Conference
Good News = Much like Jason Voorhees, the Spurs just won’t go away.
Bad News = They haven’t looked good against their fellow elite teams.
What They Should Do = San Antonio is ridiculously deep at shooting guard and small forward, but like Los Angeles, it’s a reserve big man that could really help. Boris Diaw is a finesse player, and Matt Bonner is essentially a three-point specialist. Someone that could sub in if Tim Duncan or Tiago Splitter is in foul trouble would be a wise addition for the playoffs.

3. Miami Heat

34-13, 2^nd in Eastern Conference
Good News = Lebron James is still Lebron James, and Chris Bosh has stepped up in a big way over the past month.
Bad News = Dwyane Wade has been forced to manage the health of his knees since opening night.
What They Should Do = If I’m in charge of Miami, I’m shutting down Wade for the rest of the regular season. They have an 8.5 game lead on the third seed in the East, so they can cruise the rest of the year and still end up second to Indiana. Unless Greg Oden goes down, there isn’t a need for a roster move here, but Wade’s health is vital to Miami’s chances of capturing a third straight championship.

2. Indiana Pacers

37-10, 1^st in Eastern Conference
Good News = Paul George has officially ascended into the top-5 players in the league discussion, and they just added Andrew Bynum for peanuts.
Bad News = For now, none.
What They Should Do = I had a well written paragraph about how the Pacers should sign Andrew Bynum, but they beat me to the punch and did that this past weekend. Danny Granger’s expiring contract is a massive trade chip, and it wouldn’t be shocking to see them use that to land two or three more bench players. How they utilize Granger’s contract will ultimately determine how much of a favorite they will be in the Eastern Conference Finals.

 



1. Oklahoma City Thunder

39-11, 1^st in Western Conference
Good News = Two words…Kevin fucking Durant. Also, Russell Westbrook will return within two weeks.
Bad News = Kendrick Perkins still trots out onto the court for them.
What They Should Do = For the love of God, amnesty Perk already. In terms of per-minute production, Perkins is one of the least valuable players in the league. The Thunder flow much better when they have Nick Collison on the floor, and play small ball with Serge Ibaka at center and Durant at the four. Their small ball lineup is the most frightening in the league, with the capability to roll Durant-Westbrook-Ibaka along with Reggie Jackson and Thabo Sefolosha. Oklahoma City owns the rights to Dallas’ first round pick, so they could use that to add a cheap big.

NBA Trade Deadline Review

            2012 will go down as one of the most disappointing trade deadlines in NBA history. Dwight Howard didn’t go anywhere, and even re-upped with Orlando through next season (so that means we get to relive the past four months next year. Awesome, can’t wait!). Deron Williams didn’t go anywhere (the Nets are screwed). None of the Celtics were shipped out of town (probably foolish, but it isn’t bad to let the old gang have one more try at it before burning the forest down in the off season). However, there were still moves that were made. Here’s No Credentials list of his top 10 moves at the NBA trade deadline (it wasn’t hard to make this list, because there were only 10 trades in the final week before the deadline).

10. Hawks Trades Second Round Pick to Golden State for Cash

            You’ll have to scroll down to number one on this list for further confirmation that Golden State is going to be all-in with this year’s draft.

9. 76ers Trade Rights to Ricky Sanchez to Grizzlies for Sam Young

            Philadelphia is already loaded at the 2 and 3, so I’m not sure what they were going for with this trade. Young is a nice player, who perhaps down the road can provide valuable bench minutes. I know very little about Ricky Sanchez, but it never seems like a bad thing for teams to own the rights to international prospects.

8. Pacers Trade Second Round Pick to Toronto for Leandro Barbosa

            Barbosa has done very little since leaving Phoenix, but it’s worth it for a playoff team in need of depth at guard to spend a second round pick on him.

7.   Rockets Trade Hasheem Thabeet, Jonny Flynn, and Future Second Round Pick to Trail Blazers for Marcus Camby

            Hasheem Thabeet and Jonny Flynn were drafted three years ago, and I think they’ve already been traded 16 times combined. This was a great move by Houston. Camby provides no scoring, but on a team with as many offensive options as the Rockets, he doesn’t need to. They will not be a fun team to play in the first round.

6. Wizards Acquire Nene and Brian Cook, Nuggets Acquire JaVale McGee and Ronny Turiaf, Clippers Acquire Nick Young

            I understand why Washington likes this deal (they get rid of two of the dumbest players in the NBA). I understand why the Clippers like this deal (they acquire a competent, albeit absent minded shooting guard, who will benefit from being the fourth banana offensively). Someone needs to come up with a better reason than “we fucked up when we gave Nene all that money last December” to explain why Denver was in on this trade. McGee is much more athletic than Nene (which should be an asset for a team that likes to run), but it’s asking a lot of McGee to be the heart of the defense on a playoff team.

5. Lakers Trade Luke Walton, Jason Kapono, and 2012 First Round Pick to Cavaliers for PG Ramon Sessions and SG Christian Eyenga

4. Lakers Trade Derek Fisher and 2012 First Round Pick to Rockets for Jordan Hill
            Ramon Sessions shouldn’t be mistaken for the second coming of Magic Johnson (he’s more like a homeless man’s Nick Van Exel), but he’s a significant upgrade from Derek Fisher’s corpse. Throw in Los Angeles getting rid of more dead weight in the form of Luke Walton (do you realize he’s going to get paid $5.5 million this year, and $6 million in 2012-13?), and Los Angeles is immediately a more athletic team.

3. Trail Blazers Trade Gerald Wallace to Nets for Mehmet Okur, Shawne Williams, and Future First Round Pick

            Whenever you get the opportunity to obtain a future first round pick from a fucked up franchise, you do it. I don’t care if that pick might not be until 2039. Kudos to Portland for burning the forest down and starting fresh. The team still has a nice core, and the potential of two lottery picks in next seasons draft (New Jersey’s is top-3 protected) gives them a chance to reload for 2013.  

2. Warriors Trade Monta Ellis, Ekpe Udoh, and Kwame Brown to Bucks for Andrew Bogut and Stephen Jackson

1. Spurs Trade Richard Jefferson and 2012 First Round Pick to Warriors for Stephen Jackson
            It’s been five days, and I still can’t figure out the reason Milwaukee made this trade. If they wanted any clue as to how a backcourt of Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis will function, they needed to look no further than see how Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry worked out. There will be plenty of points, but who’s going to guard opposing two-guards?
            As for Golden State, I like the setup they have for 2013. They’ll enter next year with a core of Curry, Klay Thompson, Dorell Wright, David Lee, and Andrew Bogut. Lee in particular will benefit the most with Bogut picking up the majority of the defensive slack. Throw in a lottery pick from a loaded 2012 draft class (plus an additional late first rounder from San Antonio), and Golden State has the all the makings of a playoff contender.
            San Antonio comes out as the clear short-term winner. Surrendering a first round pick was well worth the upgrade from Richard Jefferson to Captain Jackson. It’s been a long time since Jackson was a key contributor to the Spurs 2003 championship team, but he still has enough in the tank to provide another source of offense. Assuming that Manu Ginobili is fully healthy come playoff time, San Antonio will have as much firepower as anyone in the West.  

Slightly More Informed NBA 1st Round Picks

            I’m not going to spend that much time here because it looks like it will be a mostly chalk first round.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

#1 Chicago Bulls vs. #8 Indiana Pacers

            Indiana can run and gun a little bit, but Chicago’s overwhelming defense will be too much for them. I would be surprised if any of these games were close.

Prediction = Bulls in 4

#2 Miami Heat vs. #7 Philadelphia 76ers

            Some of you may think I’m on drugs, but I expect this to be the most competitive first-round series in the Eastern Conference. Remember back in 2008, when Boston’s Big 3 played its first playoff series against the Atlanta Hawks? Joe Johnson and Josh Smith played out of their minds during the Hawks’ home games, and ended up pushing Boston to seven games. 76ers coach Doug Collins has had his group playing inspired defense since the New Year. Miami obviously has the best three players, but Philadelphia probably has the 4^th through 11^th best. Look for plenty of drama, and a spike in “What’s wrong with the Heat?” stories on ESPN (because we haven’t been force fed enough of those all year).

Prediction = Heat in 7

#3 Boston Celtics vs. # New York Knicks

            Boston has looked like a drunken college student playing Madden at 2 am ever since the February trade deadline, but the Knicks are the perfect opponent to get them fired up. The Knicks actually believe that they are a very dangerous team, and are dumb enough to talk that up with the media. Garnett and Pierce will not let Boston lose this series.

Prediction = Celtics in 6

#4 Orlando Magic vs. #5 Atlanta Hawks

            Atlanta always chokes in the postseason (with the exception of 2008 against Boston). There undersized front-line will be no match against Dwight Howard.

Prediction = Magic in 4

WESTERN CONFERENCE

#1 San Antonio Spurs vs. #8 Memphis Grizzlies

            I’m predicting a Spurs sweep, but I also am willing to bet Memphis will be in every game. Memphis plays real tough defense, but when you rely on a few crazy dudes (Zack Randolph, O.J. Mayo, Tony Allen), you should expect a few late-game breakdowns.

Prediction = Spurs in 4

#2 Los Angeles Lakers vs. #7 New Orleans Hornets

            It wouldn’t be a surprise if the Lakers win every game by more than 10 points. Along with the Bulls-Pacers, this is the most lop-sided match-up of the first round.

Prediction = Lakers in 4

#3 Dallas Mavericks vs. #6 Portland Trail-Blazers

            The only “upset” I’m willing to bet on (I say upset loosely because on paper, Portland is a better team). Portland’s massive front-line should be able to overwhelm Dallas. Other than Dirk Nowitzki, the Mavericks do no have another player that would crack the starting lineup for Portland. Unless Dirk scores 35 a game, I like Portland to advance to the second round.

Prediction = Blazers in 6

#4 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. #5 Denver Nuggets

            Since trading away Carmelo Anthony, the Nuggets have been a fantastic story. However, they could not have ended up with a worse match up than Oklahoma City. They don’t have anyone that can guard Kevin Durant, and the Perkins-Ibaka duo should be able to control the paint. I’d like to see Denver move on, but it’s not going to happen.

Prediction = Thunder in 5

Assessing the NBA Title Contenders

            We’re pulling into the stretch run in the NBA. With teams having around 20 games left to play, this is when we’ll start to see who’s cranking it up for the playoffs (unless someone sleepwalks into the playoffs like the Celtics last year and then goes on a tear. At this rate that team could be the Heat). Here’s a quick paragraph assessment ranking each of the teams I feel has a chance at winning the NBA title (even if that chance is 1 and 100,000, like the Trail Blazers and Knicks probably are). We’ll see how accurate these rankings are when the playoffs arrive. Without further ado…

10. Portland Trail Blazers

            Portland has entered into the discussion of fringe title contender after the incredible Gerald Wallace heist. Portland traded an expiring contract, two mediocre players, and two first round picks (which will likely be in the late teens to early 20s) for a player who just last season made the all-star team (perhaps if Michael Jordan spent less time at the poker table and the golf course, he would’ve shopped for a better deal). In theory, Portland has enough size up front to contend with the Lakers. There main issue is shooting. Relying on Brandon Roy to give you 25 minutes a game in the playoffs is a risky proposition.

9. New York Knicks

            Melo, Amar’e, and Billups would have to play out their mind for two months for New York to have a punchers chance at a title. I don’t see them getting it done this year, but their current projected playoff opponent (the Miami Heat) should be scared to death to face them in a seven game series.

8. Orlando Magic

            Orlando has done an excellent job of building a cast of misfits around the best center in the NBA. The Magic rely to much on threes to be considered a serious title contender, but if the match-ups fall right Howard could get them to the Conference Finals.

7. Miami Heat

            Some folks would point to the struggles of the Miami Heat as a sign that God really exists. While that may be an aggressive opinion, it’s good to see a group that thought they were going to win seven championships has to deal with some adversity. With the lack of a point guard, center, or a bench, this team will be lucky to get past the second round.

6. Oklahoma City Thunder

            It’s hard to gauge the playoff potential for this club until we see Kendrick Perkins on the floor. Perkins hypothetically brings enough interior defense to push the Thunder as high as #3 on this list, but No Credentials will need to see a five game sample before putting that in print.

5. Dallas Mavericks

            Tyson Chandler has brought a defensive presence to the Mavericks that they have never had in the Dirk Nowitzki era. They’ll want to do everything they can to secure the #2 seed in the West so they can avoid playing a potential game 7 at Los Angeles in round 2.

4. Chicago Bulls

            Chicago has the best C/PF combo in Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer, an under the radar wing player in Luol Deng, and the most valuable player in the league this season in Derrick Rose. This is the club I’m worrying about as a Celtics fan. 

3. San Antonio Spurs

            The transition San Antonio has made from a defensive oriented team to an up-tempo offense has been remarkable. It will be interesting to see what happens if Tim Duncan gets 35+ minutes in the postseason (he’s averaging under 30 so far this season). We may not have seen the best of the Spurs yet. 

2. Los Angeles Lakers

            People were ready to hit the panic button a month ago (remember the Carmelo Anthony for Andrew Bynum trade rumors?), but an eight game winning streak has silenced most doubters. Their road to the NBA Finals this year will be harder (likely second round match-up with Dallas, either San Antonio or Oklahoma City in the conference finals), but the Lakers size advantage still makes them the favorites in the West.

1. Boston Celtics

            Boston’s trades were widely panned by media critics, but the team has gone 5-0 since Jeff Green arrived. Their unselfishness leads to an unguardable offense (when they are firing on all cylinders) because you never know where a shot is going to come from. For those of you concerned about Shaq’s health going into the playoffs, don’t worry. Throughout his career, he has always missed tons of games during the regular season. This guy wasn’t brought in to win games in February and March. He’ll suit up for every playoff game.