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.

To Tank or Not to Tank? The Curious Case of the Oklahoma City Thunder

            Mark Cuban raised some interesting thoughts about whether or not Oklahoma City should shut down Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook to land a lottery pick in next year’s draft, and those thoughts have inspired us to introduce a new series called, “To Tank or Not to Tank?”. Naturally, our first team is O.K.C.

The Team = Oklahoma City Thunder

Current Record = 3-6, tied for eleventh in the West

Situation = Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook are both out until late November, leaving the Thunder with Serge Ibaka, Reggie Jackson, and a bunch of other dudes.

The Case to Tank = I can’t think of another championship contending NBA team that was so ravaged by injuries to start the season. O.K.C’s entire offense literally revolves around their two star players. There is no fancy motion offense, and few set plays. For the most part, Durant and Westbrook take turn jacking jumpers or driving to the basket.

            If they were in the East, it would be much more likely that they could stay within shouting distance of the eighth seed until their star players returned, but their place in the Western Conference makes that much more unlikely. Let’s say they have to go eight more games without Durant and Westbrook. If they were to go 2-6 in those games, that puts them at 5-12. 49 wins was what it took to make the playoffs in the West last year, and the Thunder would have to go 44-20 the rest of the way to match that. The talent is there to do it, but by the time they got to the playoffs, they might not have anything left in the tank for their first round series against the first or second seed.

            Tanking gives the opportunity for the Thunder to develop young players like Perry Jones (who was sensational before going down with an injury of his own), Reggie Jackson (a restricted free agent next season who the Thunder should keep), and Steven Adams. Add a lottery pick to this group, and the Thunder suddenly are a significantly deeper squad in 2015-16. A team this talented hasn’t been in the lottery since the Spurs drafted Tim Duncan in 1997, and that only happened because David Robinson was shut down for most of the season.

The Case to Not Tank = Can you say “Kevin Durant will be an unrestricted free agent after the 2016 season”? Enough has been written about the James Harden trade that we won’t rehash it here, but the seeds for Durant leaving may have been sown when The Beard was shipped to Houston. The Thunder’s notorious penny-pinching ways could be enough to convince Durant to flee to greener pastures. Throw in Russell Westbrook’s free agency a year after that, and you could be talking about a starless Thunder team that opens the 2017 season. The best way for the Thunder to convince Durant to stay is to win a title in one of the next two seasons. They are talented enough that they could make a deep playoff run regardless of which seed they end up with, and with some of the valuable experience earned by some of their younger players, they should be better equipped to give their star players rest during the playoffs. Last year the Thunder played Derek Fisher during the last ten minutes of their season, which is insane when you consider Fisher is now COACHING the Knicks. Replacing him with Perry Jones or Steven Adams would be a major talent upgrade.

No Credentials Final Verdict = We wouldn’t mail it in if we were running the Thunder. Plenty of contending clubs are stumbling out of the gate (as of this writing, the Spurs and Clippers would also be on the outside looking in if the playoffs started today), and as long as they get one of their star players back before Thanksgiving, there will be enough time for the Thunder to solidify their playoff position. A team that four years ago looked like it had a bright long term future is now less than two years away from facing Kevin Durant hitting the open market, so they need to maximize every opportunity to win a NBA championship. 

NBA Season Wrap-Up = OKC and Indiana

            Our latest edition of our NBA year-end recap looks at the two clubs who lost in their respective conference finals.

4. Indiana Pacers

No Credentials Pre-Season Rank = 8
Fantasy MVP = SG-SF Paul George (for the first three months of the year, was a top-4 ranked fantasy player, and finished the year inside the top-10)
            Indiana might have been the worst passing team in the history of man to make it to a conference finals. They couldn’t even get the ball into the post to take advantage of their size against the Heat. While most of the talk surrounding the Pacers revolves around whether or not they should resign Lance Stephenson, they really would benefit from adding a quality point guard. A star point guard isn’t necessary, just someone that can adequately get the ball into the post.
            As for Stephenson, No Credentials can’t figure out if Stephenson made or lost money during his wild and wacky playoff run. For all of his goofiness, he was still Indiana’s most important defender during their series against Miami, and at times was their best playmaker. There isn’t a viable replacement for him available on the open market, so for better or worse the Pacers and Stephenson are likely going to be together for the foreseeable future.

 

 

3. Oklahoma City Thunder

No Credentials Pre-Season Rank = 6
Fantasy MVP = SF Kevin Durant (don’t need to explain this one)
            Fresh off a loss in the Western Conference Finals, the Thunder are at multiple cross roads. We’ll address them in bullet form.

Would it be more beneficial long-term to split Durant and Russell Westbrook?

            The answer here is simple…only if a team makes a ridiculous offer for Westbrook. There were times against the Clippers and Spurs that Westbrook was the catalyst instead of Durant, and seems that they both are comfortable complimenting each other. Some stronger coaching (more on that later) is needed to reaffirm Russell’s place in the team pecking order, but that’s something that can be fixed. In a league dominated by rosters with multiple stars, it would make no sense to split the second best player and another top-10 player.

Should the Thunder finally amnesty Kendrick Perkins?

            Yes, yes, and yes again. Perkins is the easiest go to person to look at when evaluating how Oklahoma City built it’s supporting cast. The Thunder’s greatest advantage is the athletic ability of Durant-Westbrook-Ibaka, but with the exception of Reggie Jackson and Steven Adams, the rest of their playoff roster was made up of old washed up veterans. The fact that they went down in Game 6 with Derek Fisher as one of their five guys on the court is laughable (not as laughable as the amount of times Fisher found himself getting posted up on due to a pick-and-roll switch, but close). Perkins being let go would free up $9.5 million on their cap, which they should be able to spend on a player or players that would post a PER higher than –3.0. We’d also like to see them give guys like Jeremy Lamb and Perry Jones III some more run during the regular season, as they do possess the natural athletic ability to compliment the core players. Amnestying Perkins makes tons of basketball sense, but we’re guessing the Thunder are too cheap to do it (they would still have to pay Perkins if they amnestied him, even though it wouldn’t count against their salary cap). At the very least, hopefully they don't play him very much next year.

Is Scott Brooks the right fit as Head Coach?

            Normally, I’m rational when discussing whether or not a coach who led his team to the NBA Final 4 should be kept, but the Thunder feel like a team that hasn’t hit it’s potential yet, and I don’t see Brooks being the guy to do it. He’s a good coach, but his offense is vanilla (it’s the talent of Durant and Westbrook that generate points here, not the Xs and Os), and his refusal to sit washed up veterans (to reiterate, Derek Fisher played the entire overtime in Game 6. Derek fucking Fisher!) rather than develop than roll with their younger bench players is detrimental to the team. Brooks is a good coach, but good isn’t good enough when given the talent he has at his disposal. The Chicago Bulls faced a similar situation when they fired Doug Collins after the 1990 season. Chicago was an up-and-coming team that couldn’t get past the Detroit Pistons. After losing in the Conference Finals, the Bulls canned Collins, hired Phil Jackson, and the rest is history. Oklahoma City should go down the same path here, but we’re guessing they are too cheap to fire Brooks and pay his buy out. So after all these words, we expect the Thunder to return in 2014-15 with virtually the same roster, and again be a championship contender.

NBA Conference Finals Predictions

#1 Indiana Pacers vs. #2 Miami Heat
            With these two team’s history of turning it on and off from game to game, we’ll be lucky to get three close games out of this series. Ultimately, we’ll bet on the team with the best player to prevail. Heat in 6

#1 San Antonio Spurs vs. #2 Oklahoma City Thunder

            This will be the series where we learn how valuable Serge Ibaka actually is. Ultimately, we expect the Thunder to play small with Durant at the four and try to outrun the Spurs, which could relegate Tiago Splitter to the bench. Fortunately for the Spurs, Kawhi Leonard has the physical tools to hang with Durant, and barring another step forward by Steven Adams, there is no one on O.K.C. to protect the rim (sorry Kendrick Perkins supporters, he doesn’t count anymore). We expect Durant and Westbrook to go down swinging, but San Antonio will prevail to set up a NBA Finals rematch. Spurs in 7

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 (5/2-5/4)

10. Jon Lester Racks Up 15 Ks
            It was an extremely gaudy number of strikeouts for Lester, who isn’t known for a high strikeout rate. He hasn’t pitched this well in a game since his no-hitter all the way back in 2008.

9. Denny Hamlin Earns First Win of 2014 at Talladega

            Denny can thank his lucky stars that NASCAR didn’t throw a caution flag before he took the white, as there was no way he would’ve held the lead on the backstretch during the final lap.

8. Pacers Survive 3-Point Chucking Hawks
            Atlanta set NBA records for most threes in a series and a single playoff game Saturday, but that wasn’t enough to overcome a Pacers squad that sort of look like it figured things out. We’ll find out when they face John Wall and the Wizards tonight.

7. Thunder Outrun Z-Bo-Less Grizzlies

            Marc Gasol wasn’t able to clog up the paint without his fellow star big man, and Oklahoma City took full advantage.

6. California Chrome Dominates Kentucky Derby

            California Chrome couldn’t have asked for a better set of circumstances for the Derby, but that’s because he’s a horse and he can’t ask questions.

5. Brooklyn Survives Late Raptors Rally, Advances to Second Round Date With Miami

            We were pulling for the Raptors, but ultimately Brooklyn will deliver the greater test for Miami than the young Toronto club would have. The Nets are 4-0 against the Heat this season.

4. Marion Gaborik Ties Game Late, Then Delivers Kings Overtime Victory Over Ducks

            When he’s engaged, there are few snipers more effective than Gaborik in THE NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE. Saturday night, Gaborik was engaged.
         
3. Bruins Rack Up Four Third Period Goals, Even Series With Montreal
            It’s hard to remember another hockey team that has as much of a flair for the dramatic as the Bruins have had over the past five years or so. Saturday was another memorable comeback, which ensures they wouldn’t travel to Montreal in a 0-2 hole.
         
2. Clippers Outlast Warriors in Game 7 Shootout
            Doc Rivers looked more excited Saturday night than he was when the Celtics won the title six years ago. I guess with all his team has dealt with over the past week, it was warranted.

1. Damian Lillard Delivers the Dagger, Eliminates Houston

            0.9 seconds was all Lillard needed to send the Rockets home for the summer. Blazers-Rockets may not have lasted the full seven games, but from start to finish it was the most entertaining series of the first round.

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 First Round Picks

          We covered the first half of the best part of the sports year with our hockey picks (so much for Bruins in 4), and now here's our second set of picks.

Western Conference

#4 Houston Rockets vs. #5 Portland Trail Blazers

            Of all the Western first round match-ups, this is the most likely to go the full seven games. We’ll bet on Houston winning a Game 7 at home against a Portland club that hasn’t been the same since it’s dominant opening two months. Rockets in 7

#3 Los Angeles Clippers vs. #6 Golden State Warriors

            Going small without David Lee last year was one thing, but trying to do it without defensive anchor Andrew Bogut is a tall order. Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson are good enough to win a couple of games by themselves, but the lack of interior defense will prove fatal to Golden State. Clippers in 6

#2 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. #7 Memphis Grizzlies

            Rough draw for the Thunder, as they’ll get beat up a little bit down low, but ultimately their superior perimeter play will overcome the Grizzlies. Thunder in 6

#1 San Antonio Spurs vs. #8 Dallas Mavericks

            By far the greatest mismatch in the West, it will take a superhuman effort by Dirk Nowitzki to make this series remotely entertaining. Spurs in 4

Eastern Conference

#4 Chicago Bulls vs. #5 Washington Wizards

            Washington has more talent, but the dramatic difference in the quality of coaching will ultimately doom Washington. Bulls in 6

#3 Toronto Raptors vs. #6 Brooklyn Nets

            The only “upset” we’ll predict in Round 1, and that’s only because of seeding. Brooklyn is much deeper, and should handle the Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan tandem. Nets in 6

#2 Miami Heat vs. #7 Charlotte Bobcats

            We’re willing to bet that a monster game by Al Jefferson will prevent the Bobcats from getting shutout. Heat in 5

#1 Indiana Pacers vs. #8 Atlanta Hawks

            Atlanta isn’t adequately equipped to capitalize on a Pacers club prone to long bouts of errant field goal attempts. Pacers in 4

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.

10 Awesome Things That Happened This Weekend (12/20-12/22)

10. Nets Lose Robin Lopez For the Year
            Most of Brooklyn’s troubles this year could be traced to time missed by both Deron Williams and Lopez, and now they’ll be without their elite 7-footer for the season. They’ll scratch their way into the playoffs (mostly because they are one of two teams in the Titanic Division that actually want to make it to the postseason), but you could kiss any slim championship hopes they had good-bye. The only move on paper that makes sense would be a trade package built around Paul Pierce for Pau Gasol.

9. Texas Rangers Ink Shin-Soo Choo to $130 Million Deal

            For all of the large MLB contracts No Credentials has mocked over the years, this one takes the cake. It will be a joy to watch Texas pay a 38-year old Choo $18.5 million to muff fly balls.

8. Colorado State Stuns Washington State in “Flax Seed Bowl”

            That’s our first installment of “Meaningless College Bowl Game of the Week”, sponsored by SPAM.

7. Giants Eliminate Detroit From Playoff Contention
            Detroit supporters can only hope this result leads to the end of the Jim Schwarz era.

6. Charlotte Unveils New Hornets Logo

            Unfortunately for Charlotte fans, they were unable to unveil a new owner at the same time.

5. Thunder Dominate San Antonio          
            Oklahoma City has been the least talked about elite team in the league, but their impressive win in the Spurs building reestablishes them as the top team in the Western Conference.

4. New England Demoralizes Baltimore

            This was a particularly perplexing performance by Baltimore, as they could’ve wrapped up a playoff berth with a win. Joe Flacco never looked comfortable playing with a knee brace for the first time this season.

3. Peyton Manning Throws 51^st Touchdown Pass

            Manning will have a fair chance at eclipsing the single season yardage mark next week against the Raiders, as Denver will have to play their starters to secure the top seed in the AFC.
         
2. Dallas Sets Up Third Straight Week 17 NFC East Showdown
            In typical Cardiac Cowboys fashion no less. It would’ve been a mercy killing for Washington to eliminate Dallas Sunday, but the world gets to view the agony of defeat again when a Romo-less Cowboys lose yet another “win or go home” Week 17 game.

1. Panthers Rally, Take Control of NFC South

            Either Carolina has mastered the art of climate control, or they were extremely lucky to get the weather conditions they had for their epic showdown with the Saints. Carolina sows up a second seed with a win next week.

Blow Out the Budget 2013-14 NBA Preview

            The start of the NBA season is upon us, and No Credentials has reviewed every roster. We’ve identified the championship contenders, the middle of the road squads, and the clubs that should try to go 0-82. For each team, we list each player that fits the following criteria.

Franchise Players = Guys that could be one of the two best players on a championship contending team (example: Lebron James).

Fringe Stars = Guys that will put up numbers on a bad team, but ideally, should be the third or fourth offensive option. This category also covers elite defensive specialists and young players who haven’t made the leap yet to franchise status (examples = Ty Lawson, Larry Sanders, Bradley Beal).

Supporting Cast = Guys that are capable of filling out an NBA rotation. If you’re relying on them too much, good luck in the draft lottery (example = Avery Bradley).

First Round Rookies = Rookies that will be on NBA rosters this season. We didn’t include players that are stashed in Europe.

           Without further ado, here are 6,500 words about NBA basketball.

 

Riggin For Wiggins

30. Phoenix Suns

Franchise Players = None
Fringe Stars = PG Eric Bledsoe
Supporting Cast = PG Goran Dragic, C Emeka Okafor, PF Channing Frye
First Round Rookies = C Alex Len (1-5, Maryland)
Outlook = Phoenix is second in line for the “Riggins for Wiggins” sweepstakes, but unlike Philadelphia, it looks like the Suns have actually been trying to construct a competitive basketball team. Eric Bledsoe will finally have a crack at significant playing time, but it’s hard to see him and Goran Dragic coexisting in the same back court. It would make a ton of sense for Dragic to be shipped elsewhere. Marcin Gortat was the most valuable trade chip Phoenix had (his contract expires at the end of the season), and Phoenix didn’t wait long to ship him out of town. Emeka Okafor was acquired mostly because of his huge expiring contract, but if he’s able to return by season’s end could be a decent mentor for Alex Len. The Suns are primed to have a ton of ping balls in the 2014 Draft Lottery.

29. Philadelphia 76ers

Franchise Players = None
Fringe Stars = SF Thaddeus Young
Supporting Cast = SG Evan Turner, C Spencer Hawes, SG Jason Richardson
First Round Rookies = C Nerlens Noel (1-6, Kentucky, traded from Pelicans), PG Michael Carter-Williams (Syracuse, 1-11)
Outlook = 2013-14 is going to be pretty atrocious for the 76ers, but that is by design. They’ve blown the roster up in an effort to get as many young assets as possible. Nerlens Noel was the perfect acquisition for this sort of plan, as it’s unlikely he sees the court until sometime after New Years Day. Even better, New Orleans sent their 2014 first round pick along with Noel for the rights to Jrue Holliday, meaning they could have two ping-pong balls in the “Riggins for Wiggins” sweepstakes (more on New Orleans later). They could be trotting four lottery picks from back-to-back drafts this time next year. No team has a better five-year outlook than the Philadelphia 76ers, so remember that Philly fans when they finish 15-67 this year.

28. Charlotte Bobcats

Franchise Players = None
Fringe Stars = C Al Jefferson
Supporting Cast = SF Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, PG Kemba Walker, SG Gerald Henderson, SG Ben Gordon, PF Bismack Biyombo
First Round Rookies = PF Cody Zeller (1-4, Indiana)
Outlook = There’s a slight chance Charlotte isn’t putrid this season. Al Jefferson won’t play a lick of defense, but he’s the first low-post scorer the Bobcats have ever had. Kemba Walker was a pleasant surprise last season, but I still would prefer to see him in a sixth man role on a playoff team. Kidd-Gilchrist showed flashes last spring, and when healthy, Gerald Henderson is capable of filling the stat sheet. Ben Gordon has a very valuable $13 million expiring contract, meaning if the Bobcats play their cards right, they could be able to scoop up some extra draft picks from a club looking for salary cap relief. Charlotte will still have a great chance at the number one overall pick, but at least they finally have some direction. 

27. Utah Jazz

Franchise Players = None
Fringe Stars = PF Derrick Favors
Supporting Cast = SF Gordon Hayward, C Enes Kanter, SG Alec Burks, PF Marvin Williams
First Round Rookies = PG Trey Burke (1-9, Michigan, traded from Timberwolves)
Outlook = For the first time since immediately following the end of the Stockton-Malone era, the Jazz will not be in playoff contention this season. Part of that is by design, as they let Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap walk without receiving anything in return. More playing time for Derrick Favors and Enes Kanter is a good thing, as both have the look of quality NBA big men. Gordon Hayward is a solid scorer, but asking him to be the go-to scorer is ridiculous. Expect a lot of 4-18s out of Utah’s Great White Hope. Trey Burke has the talent to eventually be a Mike Conley-like point guard for the Jazz.

26. Boston Celtics

Franchise Players = PG Rajon Rondo
Fringe Stars = SF Jeff Green
Supporting Cast = PG Avery Bradley, SG MarShon Brooks, PF Jared Sullinger, SF Gerald Wallace, PF Kris Humphries, SG Courtney Lee, PF Brandon Bass
First Round Rookies = PF Kelly Olynyk (1-13, Gonzaga, traded from Mavericks)
Outlook = I’ve flip-flopped 20 times on whether or not the Celtics will be terrible or mediocre. I guess we’ll split the difference and predict they will be bad. Until Rajon Rondo returns, it’s hard to envision how this team is going to score on a consistent basis. Jeff Green is the obvious first option, but has been wildly inconsistent throughout his NBA career, and shown no desire in being the star attraction. It looks like December or January is the time when a Rondo season debut is a possibility. What they do with Rondo will be very interesting, as he’s one of the few superstars in the league on a reasonable contract. You could argue either way, but No Credentials vote is to keep him. If the ping-pong balls hit right, Rondo paired with one of the studs from next years draft could immediately return the Celtics to relevance.  

25. Orlando Magic

Franchise Players = None
Fringe Stars = C Nikola Vucevic
Supporting Cast = SF Tobias Harris, SG Arron Afflalo, PG Jameer Nelson, SF Hedo Turkoglu, PF Glen Davis
First Round Rookies = SG Victor Oladipo (1-2, Indiana)
Outlook = Orlando had a great off-season in the sense that they locked up a valuable piece, added a great young building block in the draft, but still are shitty enough that they’ll end up with a great draft pick next year. Nikola Vucevic is a rebounding machine that with an improved offensive game could eventually be a top-3 center in the NBA. Oladipo is a hyper active guard who at the very least will be a defensive stopper. Tobias Harris was the steal of last year’s trade deadline (he was the centerpiece in Milwaukee’s package for J.J. Reddick), and it wouldn’t be a shock to see him average 18 per game. In terms of expiring contracts, Jameer Nelson is the most valuable one, as he represents $8 million coming off the books next summer. He’s a point guard with playoff experience, so it wouldn’t be shocking to see him shipped to a contender in February.
 

Too Good For Wiggins, Too Shitty For the Playoffs

24. Sacramento Kings

Franchise Players = C DeMarcus Cousins
Fringe Stars = None
Supporting Cast = PG Greivis Vasquez, SG Marcus Thornton, PG Isaiah Thomas PF Carl Landry, PF Patrick Patterson, SF John Salmons, PF Chuck Hayes, PF Jason Thompson
First Round Rookies = SG Ben McLemore (1-7, Kansas)
Outlook = Six months ago it appeared to be inevitable that the Kings would end up relocating to Seattle, but miraculously California’s state capital was able to keep it’s one professional sports franchise. Unfortunately most of the same roster from a year ago is still intact. At least black hole Tyreke Evans has been moved to New Orleans, meaning that this team will officially run through DeMarcus Cousins. Whether that is a good or bad thing will depend entirely on if his head is screwed on straight. Besides Boogie, there’s a bunch of dudes you’d love to have coming off your bench surrounding him. Marcus Thornton has shown flashes of offensive brilliance, but is not nearly efficient enough to be your most reliable perimeter scorer (playoff teams should be checking in on him around the trade deadline. The guy could single-handedly swing a playoff game or two if he gets hot). How they distribute the minutes between Vasquez and Thomas will be interesting, as there’s no way strategically that they can be on the floor at the same time. Ben McLemore has the talent to eventually be a top-10 two-guard, but he looks like a guy that won’t fully show it in year one.

23. Atlanta Hawks

Franchise Players = C Al Horford
Fringe Stars = PF Paul Millsap, PG Jeff Teague
Supporting Cast = SG Louis Williams, SG Kyle Korver, PF Elton Brand
First Round Rookies = PG Dennis Schroeder (1-17, Germany)
Outlook = Atlanta’s roster has basically been built around the premise of shedding salary to have money for free agency next season, which is ironic because elite free agents never sign with the Hawks. It wouldn’t be shocking to see them make a blockbuster trade in an effort to acquire a star caliber player (Rudy Gay anyone?). As for what is on the roster, the starting group is decent enough, but the bench leaves a lot to be desired. Al Horford and Paul Millsap will be one of the better low post pairings the NBA has to offer, but it’s tough to see how any offense is going to be initiated without Josh Smith. Barring a major trade, the Hawks will find themselves in the lottery for the first time in many years.

22. Los Angeles Lakers

Franchise Players = SG Kobe Bryant, PF Pau Gasol
Fringe Stars = None
Supporting Cast = PG Steve Nash, C Chris Kaman, SG Nick Young, PG Steve Blake, SG Jodie Meeks, C Jordan Hill
First Round Rookies = None
Outlook = Not since the 2004-05 season (the year Shaq was traded to Miami) have the Lakers been in such a state of flux. Dwight Howard became the first marquee Lakers free agent to bolt for another franchise. Kobe’s recovery from a torn Achilles’ is the greatest unknown, as the question of when he will actually play has to be answered before we can see what level he can compete at. A fully healthy Bryant would have a hard time dragging this group into the playoffs. Pau Gasol and Steve Nash are the two Lakers whose situation actually improved from a year ago. Gasol will return to his rightful spot in the post, and Nash-Gasol pick-and-rolls have the chance to be devastating. Pau is a free agent after the season and could fetch himself one more max contract if he plays to his potential. The bench isn’t quite as atrocious as last season, but the Lakers are still one of the shallowest clubs in the NBA. Chris Kaman will make an impact when he’s healthy, and Nick Young is one of the more infamous irrational confidence guys the league has to offer. It’s going to be a rough year in Laker-land, but at least they know the NBA will rig the 2014 Draft Lottery so they end up with Andrew Wiggins they’ll have a top-10 pick in a loaded draft.

21. Denver Nuggets

Franchise Players = None
Fringe Stars = PG Ty Lawson, PF Kenneth Faried, SF Danilo Gallinari
Supporting Cast = C JaVale McGee, SG Wilson Chandler, PG Andre Miller, PF J.J. Hickson, PG Nate Robinson, C Timofey Mozgov, SG Randy Foye, PF Darrell Arthur
First Round Rookies = None
Outlook = Normally a solid bet for landing somewhere between the fourth or eighth seed in the Western Conference, this is the year we see the wheels coming off a bit for the Nuggets. There are a lot of interesting parts, but figuring out how new coach Brian Shaw doles out minutes will go a long way in determining if this group can stay in playoff contention. Danilo Gallinari will miss a large chunk of time at the beginning of the year, which is a killer to a team that relies so heavily on three-point shooting. Ty Lawson will have to shoulder a larger scoring load as long as Gallinari is out. JaVale McGee finally appears to be slated to get regular minutes, but we aren’t sure if more of McGee is a good thing. When he’s engaged, there are few big men who impact the game on the defensive end as much as him. We see the Nuggets sliding out of their usual top-8 finishing spot and ending up in the lottery next spring.

20. Toronto Raptors

Franchise Players = None
Fringe Stars = SF Rudy Gay, SG DeMar DeRozan, PG Kyle Lowry,
Supporting Cast = C Jonas Valanciunas, PF Amir Johnson, SF Landry Fields, PF Austin Daye, SF Steve Novak, PF Tyler Hansbrough, SG Terrance Ross
Rookies = None
Outlook = If you want to make a bet on which NBA team will brick the most 15-foot jump shots this season, look no further than the Raptors. Rudy Gay is paid like a franchise player, but has never demonstrated in his NBA career that he’s capable of carrying one. Kyle Lowry stuffs the stat sheet, but his difficult personality rubs teammates and coaches the wrong way on too many occasions. DeMar DeRozan would be best suited as a sixth man, but he is fantastic and attacking the rim and getting to the foul line. Amir Johnson has plenty of skills that would benefit a championship caliber team, but unfortunately he’s buried in Toronto. The greatest wildcard on the Raptors roster is Jonas Valanciunas. If he makes a leap, the Andrea Bargnani trade will go down as a brilliant move.

 

Furiously Battling For the Right to Get Swept in the First Round

19. Milwaukee Bucks
Franchise Players = None
Fringe Stars = C Larry Sanders, SG O.J. Mayo
Supporting Cast = SF Ersan Ilyasova, PG Brandon Knight, SF Caron Butler, SG Carlos Delfino, PG Gary Neal, PG Luke Ridnour, PF John Henson
First Round Rookies = SG Giannis Antetokounmpo (1-15, Europe)
Outlook = There isn’t another team in the NBA with a weirder assortment of wing players. Gone are Brandon Jennings and Monte Ellis, and in are O.J. Mayo and a bunch of dudes who are best served coming off the bench. If nothing else, they do have the chance to roll out a spunky small-ball lineup. Larry Sanders is slated to receive the largest amount of minutes he’s ever gotten, but he needs to limit his fouls in order to reach his full potential. If he does, a defensive player of the year award is within reach. We also can’t sleep on the Greek rookie who has 36 letters in his last name. Ultimately, this looks like a group that could finish anywhere between eighth or twelfth in the Eastern Conference.

18. New Orleans Pelicans

Franchise Players = PF Anthony Davis
Fringe Stars = PG Jrue Holiday, SG Tyreke Evans, SG Eric Gordon, C Ryan Anderson
Supporting Cast = SG Anthony Morrow, SF Al-Farouq Aminu
First Round Rookies = None
Outlook = What do you get when have an owner who is demanding to win now, and a general manager desperate to stay employed past this season? Your 2013-14 New Orleans Pelicans. It would appear on paper that this team has no depth (in good conscious, we couldn’t list Austin Rivers as a supporting cast member after his epically abysmal rookie campaign), and very little defense. However, if their top five players click offensively, watch out. Many experts are concerned how the Holiday-Evans-Gordon trio will function. One option would be having Evans or Gordon function as the sixth man. Evans does have the size needed to play the three, but has never shown in his Kings’ days that he has any interest in team defense. If Anthony Davis carries his preseason performance into the regular season campaign, that might not matter. Davis looks fully prepared to continue his journey of becoming the next Kevin Garnett. In a year where New Orleans needs to win in order to ensure that the draft pick they traded to Philadelphia for the rights to Jrue Holiday doesn’t end up in the lottery, we predict that they will come up just short of that goal.

17. New York Knicks

Franchise Players = SF Carmelo Anthony
Fringe Stars = C Tyson Chandler, PF Amar’e Stoudemire, SG J.R. Smith, PG Raymond Felton
Supporting Cast = PF Andrea Bargnani, SF Metta World Peace, SG Iman Shumpert, PF Kenyon Martin, PG Beno Udrih
First Round Rookies = SG Tim Hardaway Jr. (1-24, Michigan)
Outlook = You’ll have to look real hard to find an odder assortment of front court players than what the New York Knicks have thrown together. Carmelo Anthony thrived when he played the 4 in a small-ball lineup, but this is a team that employs three capable power forwards already. The Andrea Bargnani trade adds floor spacing, but if he’s playing center when Tyson Chandler is on the bench, there is going to be a lay-up line at the other end of the court. Metta World Peace can guard larger wings, and Iman Shumpert is an emerging defensive stopper of either guard position, so perhaps the lack of rim protection can be mitigated. Tyson Chandler, J.R. Smith, and Raymond Felton all either wore down or fell apart mentally by the end of there second round series against Indian. Chandler in particular was a mess, and had the look of a player in serious physical decline. Kenyon Martin does bring some toughness if Chandler is unable to play to his full potential, but lacks the size to dominate the boards. New York should treat anything Amar’e Stoudemire offers this season as a bonus. The Knicks have a bunch of parts, but on paper we just don’t see them gelling this year in a deeper Eastern Conference.
 

Wildcards

16. Cleveland Cavaliers

Franchise Players = PG Kyrie Irving, C Andrew Bynum
Fringe Stars = PF Anderson Varejao, PF Tristan Thompson, PG Jarrett Jack
Supporting Cast = SG Dion Waiters, SG Alonzo Gee, SF Earl Clark, SG C.J. Miles
First Round Rookies = PF Anthony Bennett (1-1, UNLV), SG Sergey Karasev (1-19, Russia)
Outlook = If you could guarantee that Kyrie Irving and Andrew Bynum would be healthy for the majority of the year, you could make the case that Cleveland would have enough firepower to make an Eastern Conference Finals run. Unfortunately, it’s more likely that snow will fall in Hawaii. Kyrie Irving has missed significant time in both of his two NBA seasons (and for that matter, his only year at Duke), but when he’s on the court he’s arguably a top-5 scorer in THE NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION. Bynum’s injury woes are even more problematic. It’s easy to forget that when he’s healthy, he’s among the top-5 centers in the league. Surrounding these two is a slew of talented role players. Anderson Varejao is another oft-injured commodity that is a stat stuffer when on the court. If Bynum shows some reliability, it wouldn’t be shocking to see Varejao shipped out of town. Tristan Thompson really came into his own after Varejao went down last year, and Cleveland just extended him through the 2015 season. He’s a dreadful free-throw shooter but has the talent to post 10+ boards every night. Dion Waiters is a streaky shooter who would be best served filling a sixth man role. Jarrett Jack is an interesting addition, as he gives Cleveland the ability to play Irving off the ball if need be. It’s hard to see where Anthony Bennett fits into the picture this year, but long term he has the talent to be a star. Many league experts think there’s a chance Lebron James returns to the Cavaliers next summer, and if he does, he’ll have plenty of talent around him. Even if Cleveland is in playoff contention, don’t be shocked to see them swing deals at the trade deadline that set them up with more cap space for next year.

15. Washington Wizards

Franchise Players = PG John Wall
Fringe Stars = SG Bradley Beal, PF Nene Hilario, C Marcin Gortat
Supporting Cast = SF Trevor Ariza, PF Al Harrington, SG Martell Webster, SF Jan Vesely, SF Josh Childress
First Round Rookies = SF Otto Porter Jr. (1-3, Georgetown)
Outlook = At first glance, having Washington ranked this high seems pretty ridiculous, but we’re putting a ton of stock into how the Wizards played the final two months of last season. John Wall was one of the top point guards during the league during that stretch (he directly impacted the championship in the No Credentials Fantasy Basketball League last year), and Washington reaching their potential hinges largely on him. Bradley Beal is also a piece of the puzzle. He looked lost to start his rookie year, but really turned it on after the All-Star break. It isn’t much of a stretch to predict he will end up as a top-10 shooting guard in the league by the end of the year. Hilario and Gortat form a formidable defensive pair down low. Washington’s acquisition of Gortat from Phoenix also allows Nene to move to his more natural spot at power forward.  There are a slew of solid bench players here that on any given night can give the Wizards’ offense a jolt. It wouldn’t be fair to expect too much out of Otto Porter Jr., as it looks like he will have a similar rookie season to what Michael Kidd-Gilchrist had last season.

14. Detroit Pistons

Franchise Players = SF Josh Smith
Fringe Stars = PF Greg Monroe, PG Brandon Jennings, C Andre Drummond
Supporting Cast = PG Rodney Stuckey, SG Kyle Singler, PF Charlie Villanueva, PG Chauncey Billups
First Round Rookies = SG Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (1-8, Georgia)
Outlook = Detroit has been so bad the last few years that it’s hard to believe that they were one of the elite clubs in the Eastern Conference during the middle part of the ‘00s. It’s fitting that Chauncey Billups has returned to Detroit in a reserve role, as the Pistons finally look to return to competitive form this season. The additions of Josh Smith and Brandon Jennings are massive upgrades. Smith is an elite defender who can guard players on the wing or in the post. Jennings isn’t the most efficient player on Earth, but when he gets on a run he can carry an offense. It’s unclear how a frontcourt of Smith-Monroe-Drummond will function (there could be some major floor spacing issues), but the Pistons do have some shooters they can mix in and out of the lineup to help alleviate that. Smith’s flexibility also gives Detroit the freedom to play small if necessary. Drummond is on the short list of players who could make the leap to “Franchise Player” status before the season is done.

13. Minnesota Timberwolves

Franchise Players = PF Kevin Love
Fringe Stars = PG Ricky Rubio, C Nikola Pekovic, SG Kevin Martin
Supporting Cast = PG J.J. Barea, SF Corey Brewer, SG Alexey Shved, PF Dante Cunningham, SF Chase Budinger, PF Derrick Williams
First Round Rookies = SF Shabazz Muhammad (1-14, UCLA, traded from Jazz)
Outlook = Ravaged by injuries a year ago, Minnesota will finally have the Love-Rubio duo on the court at the same time. Kevin Love should be in a much happier place now that ex-general manager David Kahn has finally been kicked out the door. Rubio was woefully rusty when he first returned last season, but his final month stretch showed what he’s capable of when healthy. Kevin Martin was much maligned after he no-showed the second round of the playoffs for the Thunder last season, but he’s still a deadly three-point shooter when he can be your third option. Look for Rubio to get him plenty of open looks. Pekovic was given a healthy contract extension, and is the ideal rim protector to pair with Kevin Love. Out of their supporting cast, someone needs to emerge as a sixth man who can score. Derrick Williams has the most upside, but has shown nothing in his first couple of years in the league to validate being the second player taken in the draft. Corey Brewer provides exceptional perimeter defense that the Timberwolves lost when Andrei Kirilenko bolted for the Nets. Health permitting, Minnesota should be in the thick of the Western Conference playoff race.

12. Portland Trail Blazers
Franchise Players = PF LaMarcus Aldridge
Fringe Stars = SF Nicolas Batum, PG Damian Lilliard, SG Wesley Matthews
Supporting Cast = C Robin Lopez, PG Mo Williams, SF Dorell Wright, PF Thomas Robinson
First Round Rookies = PG C.J. McCollum (1-10, Lehigh)
Outlook = Last season, Portland trotted out one of the most efficient starting fives in the NBA, but was undone by one of the worst benches in the league. While the starting core remains intact, Portland aggressively moved to fix their bench issues. Mo Williams and Dorell Wright are both capable of producing sixth man of the year numbers. Robin Lopez might not post the huge rebound totals J.J. Hickson did last year, but he’s a better rim protector who will improve Portland’s overall team defense. LaMarcus Aldridge is one of the top-5 scoring power forwards in the league, but it will take another step in production from Nicolas Batum to lift this team into championship contention. Portland isn’t one of the favorites, but consider them a dark horse to make noise come playoff time.

11. Dallas Mavericks

Franchise Players = PF Dirk Nowitzki
Fringe Stars = SG Monta Ellis, PG Jose Calderon
Supporting Cast = SF Shawn Marion, SG Vince Carter, C Samuel Dalembert, C Brandon Wright, PG Devin Harris, C DeJuan Blair
First Round Rookies = PG Shane Larkin (1-18, Miami, traded from Hawks)
Outlook = We’ll say this for the Mavericks…at least they actually tried to put competent NBA players around Dirk Nowitzki. Unfortunately, unless Shawn Marion or Samuel Dalembert is on the floor, none of them will want to play defense. Nowitzki looks poised for a massive bounce back year, as he was slowly rounding into shape by the end of last season. How the backcourt gels will ultimately determine the ceiling of Dallas. Monta Ellis is among the most relentless guards in the NBA, but he’s also among the most inefficient. Coach Rick Carlisle might be the right coach that can get the most out of him. Jose Calderon couldn’t ask to have been placed in a better situation, as his game is similar to a poor man’s Steve Nash (circa 2007). Dallas hasn’t had a point guard presence like this since Nash left after the 2003-04 season. Shawn Marion and Vince Carter are steady veterans out on the wing who still provide more value than you would think. In the end, expect a top-5 scoring team, along with a bottom-five defensive unit, with the chance of maybe sneaking into the second round.

10. Golden State Warriors

Franchise Players = PG Stephen Curry
Fringe Stars = SG Klay Thompson, SF Andre Iguodala, C Andrew Bogut, PF David Lee
Supporting Cast = SF Harrison Barnes, SF Draymond Green
Rookies = None
Outlook = Miami might have been crowned the NBA champions, but there wasn’t a more entertaining team in last year’s playoffs than the Golden State Warriors. Most of that can be credited to their three-point shooting blitz, led by the dynamic duo of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. Curry has dealt with ankle issues throughout his NBA career, but there is no doubt that when healthy he can be the centerpiece of a championship team. Thompson showed tremendous versatility in the playoffs, and another leap by him would give the Warriors the best backcourt in basketball. Andre Iguodala provides much-needed defense on the wing, and has the passing ability to facilitate three-point shooting. Golden State really took off once David Lee went down, so it will be interesting to see how he’s utilized this season. The Warriors have rarely had both him and Andrew Bogut healthy at the same time. Bogut is the key to any championship aspirations the Warriors might have. He provides much needed rim-protection. Harrison Barnes will likely be relegated to a sixth man role, which isn’t a bad thing. He often performed at his best when he was forced to be the lead scoring option last season. Golden State doesn’t appear to be very deep, but with good health and reasonable player development, they are again a dark horse in the Western Conference.

9. Memphis Grizzlies

Franchise Players = C Marc Gasol, PF Zach Randolph
Fringe Stars = PG Mike Conley
Supporting Cast = SG Tony Allen, C Kosta Koufos, PG Jerryd Bayless, SF Tayshaun Prince, SF Mike Miller, PF Ed Davis, PF Jon Leuer
Rookies = None
Outlook = There isn’t another team in the league more likely to play in more games where neither team scores 90 points than the Memphis Grizzlies. Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph make a very formidable pair down low, but there isn’t enough floor spacing around them to take advantage of it. Tony Allen is one of the top-5 wing defenders in the league, but his atrocious shooting makes it difficult for him to be on the court in crunch time. It will likely take another leap from Mike Conley (who is a very solid point guard, but you don’t always want your offense being initiated by him) for Memphis to have all the ingredients for a championship basketball team. At this point in his career, that would seem unlikely. The Grizzlies will be the most physical team in the league to match up with on a nightly basis, but there isn’t enough firepower here to get them out of the Western Conference.
 

Title Contenders

8. Indiana Pacers

Franchise Players = SG Paul George, C Roy Hibbert
Fringe Stars = PF David West, SF Danny Granger, PG George Hill
Supporting Cast = SG Lance Stephenson, PF Luis Scola, PG C.J. Watson
First Round Rookies = SF Solomon Hill (1-23, Arizona)
Outlook = Indiana employed one of the most devastating five-man units in all of basketball last year when they had Hill-Stephenson-George-West-Hibbert on the court. The problem was, the bench was atrocious. There wasn’t one viable bench option that could be relied upon on a nightly basis. The Pacers partially patched their bench issues with the acquisitions of Luis Scola and C.J. Watson. Scola is a plus post scorer who can give quality minutes when David West or Roy Hibbert is on the bench. Watson isn’t spectacular, but at least he isn’t D.J. Augustin. The great equalizer for the Pacers could be the expiring contract of Danny Granger. How they use this valuable trade chip could put Indiana over the top.

7. Brooklyn Nets

Franchise Players = PG Deron Williams, C Brook Lopez
Fringe Stars = SF Paul Pierce, SG Joe Johnson, PF Kevin Garnett, SF Andrei Kirilenko
Supporting Cast = PF Andray Blatche, SG Jason Terry, PF Reggie Evans, SG Alan Anderson
First Round Rookies = PF Mason Plumlee (1-22, Duke)
Outlook = What happens when the Russian Mafia decides to fund a basketball team? This conglomerate of talent, which is unlike any we’ve ever seen before. Not in the history of modern man have so many overpriced commodities been put together on one team. At least the team should be competitive. This is really a put up or shut up year for Deron Williams, who has no excuses with all the talent around him. Depending on how he handles it, Brook Lopez will benefit the most from getting to spend time with Garnett. Joe Johnson’s play also stands to gain, as he can revert more to his style of play from his Phoenix Suns days. There is plenty of depth here, which assures that Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett will not have to be overextended during the regular season. Anything short of an appearance in the second round of the playoffs would be a disappointment.

6. Oklahoma City Thunder

Franchise Players = SF Kevin Durant, PG Russell Westbrook
Fringe Stars = PF Serge Ibaka
Supporting Cast = SG Thabo Sefolosha, PF Nick Collison, PG Reggie Jackson, C Kendrick Perkins, SF Ryan Gomes
First Round Rookies = C Steven Adams (1-12, Pittsburgh)
            No team’s front office has done more harm to its roster over the past year than the Oklahoma City Thunder. The now infamous James Harden trade (which by my count, needs a breakout year from Jeremy Lamb to be remotely justifiable) coupled with the stubborn loyalty to Kendrick Perkins has done irrevocable harm to what was once the best young group in the NBA. Kevin Durant is still the second best player in the NBA, but he’ll have to do it the first month without Russell Westbrook. Serge Ibaka did nothing in the playoffs to try to ease the blow of losing Westbrook (in fact, he posted virtually identical stats after Westbrook got hurt as he did before the injury), and a leap from him is desperately needed. He has the talent, but last year didn’t show the appropriate level of assertiveness. Thabo Sefolosha is a defensive specialist who also has 3-point shooting ability. With Kevin Martin in Minnesota, he’ll see more playing time. Reggie Jackson is a streaky shooter who should be able to fill in sufficiently while Westbrook is out. Oklahoma City isn’t the prohibitive favorite in the West like they were last season, but maybe that isn’t a bad thing.

5. Los Angeles Clippers

Franchise Players = PG Chris Paul, PF Blake Griffin
Fringe Stars = SG J.J. Redick, SG Jamal Crawford, C DeAndre Jordan
Supporting Cast = SG J.J. Redick, SF Matt Barnes, PG Darren Collison, SG Jared Dudley, C Byron Mullens
First Round Rookies = SG Reggie Bullock (1-25, North Carolina)
Outlook = Will the hiring of Doc Rivers be the final piece that lifts the Clippers into true championship contention? We know it can’t hurt now that Vinny Del Negro is no longer involved. After taking a step back last season, we expect Doc to get the most out of Blake Griffin. Blake needs to develop a consistent 15-footer to truly reach superstar status. Chris Paul will do his usual Chris Paul things, and he has plenty of great shooters to work with. J.J. Redick couldn’t of picked a better spot to land in free agency, as he is an ideal floor spacer. Resigning Matt Barnes was an unexpected bonus, as he brought much needed perimeter defense to the table. Darren Collison has been a disappointment ever since his breakout run subbing for an injured Chris Paul in 2010 for the Hornets, but he may be better suited for a bench role. Jared Dudley is also an underrated edition that brings plenty of versatility to the table. They may not be the favorite, but the Clippers will be a force to be reckoned with come playoff time.

4. Houston Rockets

Franchise Players = SG James Harden, C Dwight Howard
Fringe Stars = SF Chandler Parsons, PG Jeremy Lin, C Omer Asik
Supporting Cast = PG Patrick Beverly, SG Reggie Williams, SF Omri Casspi, SG Francisco Garcia
Rookies = None
Outlook = The unquestioned winner of the past two off-seasons, Houston finally has all the parts needed to make a serious title run. Reaching their ceiling depends entirely on whether or not they get the 2008-09 version of Dwight Howard. If they do, this is a more athletic version of the Orlando Magic squad D-12 dragged to the NBA Finals. James Harden is the perfect compliment to him, as he is more than qualified to carry the offensive load in crunch time. Chandler Parsons will benefit from sliding down to the third option offensively, and should be a more efficient player because of it. There’s some healthy competition at the point guard spot with Patrick Beverly nipping at the heels of Jeremy Lin. Beverly is the more complete defensive player, so don’t be shocked if he has the gig locked up by New Year’s. Either way, Lin will be a valuable offensive asset, with hitting the bench perhaps being in the best interest of the team. Omer Asik doesn’t project to be able to share the floor with Howard, and likely will have to be moved. He’s a great rebounder so don’t be shocked if Houston makes a mutually beneficial swap with an Eastern Conference club. If they can have chemistry established before the playoffs, the Rockets could be the team to knock off Miami in the Finals.

3. San Antonio Spurs

Franchise Players = PG Tony Parker, PF Tim Duncan
Fringe Stars = SF Kawhi Leonard, SG Manu Ginobili
Supporting Cast = C Tiago Splitter, SG Danny Green, SG Marco Belinelli, PF Boris Diaw, PF Matt Bonner
Rookies = None
Outlook = Normally, we worry about how a team will react to a devastating championship loss, but the Spurs are a different animal. We expect Greg Popovich (who sort of acted like he had money on the Heat during last year’s Finals, but we can save that conversation for another day) to have his group refocused. Duncan and Ginobili are another year older (which especially in Manu’s case, isn’t a good thing), but that might not matter much if Kawhi Leonard can translate his play from last season’s Finals into a full regular season. It could be argued that at times he was the second best player on the court against the Heat. An expanded role for Leonard will take a ton of heat off of the aging core of the team. Tony Parker is still in the prime of his career, and will maintain his place as the engine of the offense. Tiago Splitter was resigned, and may see some more low-post looks. Danny Green and Marco Belinelli in the fold, and each have the 3-point ability to swing games on their own. The road to the Finals will be tougher, but the Spurs still have the talent to get there.

2. Chicago Bulls

Franchise Players = PG Derrick Rose, C Joakim Noah
Fringe Stars = SF Luol Deng, PF Carlos Boozer, SG Jimmy Butler
Supporting Cast = PF Taj Gibson, PG Kirk Hinrich, SG Mike Dunleavy
First Round Rookies = SF Tony Snell (1-20, New Mexico)
Outlook = Has anyone’s preseason performance ever been more scrutinized than Derrick Rose? I’d say no, but it’s with good reason. After sitting out all of last year, Rose looks to be very close to his MVP form of 2010-11. Rose returns to a more talented team that also has the flexibility to make a blockbuster trade if it chooses too. Luol Deng and Carlos Boozer are both on expiring contracts that could be used to bring in a quality asset (Boogie Cousins? Al Horford? Pau Gasol?). For the first time in his career, Rose has an emerging shooting guard alongside him in Jimmy Butler. Butler is a stat stuffer who does everything Coach Thibodeau asks him to do. Joakim Noah took a leap while Rose was out last year, putting the Bulls on his back on several occasions. Gibson, Hinrich, and Mike Dunleavy form a solid bench that gives Chicago a reliable top-8 come playoff time. They aren’t the best bet to win the title right now, but the right trade could push them over the edge.
 



The Favorite

1. Miami Heat

Franchise Players = SF Lebron James, SG Dwyane Wade
Fringe Stars = PF Chris Bosh, SG Ray Allen
Supporting Cast = PF Chris Anderson, PG Mario Chalmers, PF Udonis Haslem, PG Norris Cole, SF Shane Battier, SF Michael Beasley, C Greg Oden
Rookies = None
Outlook = It would be irresponsible to rank the two-time defending champs any lower than first. Dwyane Wade is getting older, and Chris Bosh was a shell of his former self in the NBA Finals against the Spurs (with the exception of the clutch offensive rebound and pass to Ray Allen in Game 6), but Lebron James masks any warts this team has. Lebron is at the peak of his powers, even adding 40% shooting on threes last season. Ray Allen has embraced his role with the Heat, stepping up when his name is called. Miami has the deepest bench in basketball, with a plethora of guys who can get hot and swing a game on any given night. If a medical miracle occurs and Greg Oden can somehow be healthy, you can cancel the 2014 Finals right now and give the trophy to the Heat.