3 Takeaways From The NBA Season

 The NBA season is a little over 2 weeks in and there have been some surprising things. In this article I will discuss my 3 takeaways so far from the season.

1. Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Lakers

The Nets and Lakers are both off to less than ideal starts this season with both teams being 3-3 to start the season. Both teams will be just fine and will be near the top of their respective conferences when the season ends. It will take both teams sometime to gel due to a variety of reasons. For the Nets they have to learn how to play without Kyrie Irving specifically when both Kevin Durant and James Harden are on the bench. As far as the Lakers are concerned it is getting all the new pieces to fit. My suggestion for the Lakers is that Russell Westbrook starts and finishes the game but spends most of the game with the second unit so he can play with the ball in his hands, and also he will be able to play with his usual aggression without being hesitant and hindering the flow of the offense. No need to worry both teams will get it together and by their Christmas Day matchup both teams will be clicking. 

2. Dallas Mavericks may have the wrong coach

The Mavericks hired Jason Kidd this offseason to be their next Head Coach.

Under Kidd the Mavericks Offense looks disjointed with a lack of ball movement and seeming to be to the definition of Luka or nothing. In the teams 3 wins Luka scored at least 25 points. These 3 games came against teams that will not be in the playoff picture, in the Toronto Raptors, San Antonio Spurs and the Houston Rockets. In the 2 games against playoff contenders they have scored 100 points. They are ranked 29th in points and last in assist per game unless Kidd changes his coaching scheme of essentially giving the ball to Luka and telling him to make magic happen this will be a team watching the playoffs from this season.

3. Cleveland Cavaliers Making the Play in Tournament

Yes, the Cavaliers will make the Play in Tournament  this year. They have an exciting young core with Darius Garland, Collin Sexton, Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley. The Cavaliers have built their team in an unique way with skillful big men who  have the ability to play both on the perimeter and inside. For the Cavaliers to definitely make the Play-in they may have to trade Sexton , or Garland for a veteran perimeter player. I would trade Sexton due to him being more of just a score as opposed to Garland who has a better all around game. Either way if they keep the core together they will still be in the Play in Tournament.

Dwight Howard Snubbed

 The NBA started back this week and with it being the 75th season the top 75 players throughout NBA history were revealed.  There were some noteable names left off of the list. The one individual that was left off the list should be on there is Dwight Howard. Dwight Howard had a great first 8 years of his career including taking the Orlando Magic to the NBA Finals in 2009.  Howard was selected to the All NBA Team 8 times, including 7 first team selections. He also was selected to 5 All Defensive teams. In addition he won 3 straight Defensive Player of the year awards.  With a resume like this Dwight deserves a spot the top 75 list. 

With Dwight not being included on the list  some speculate that it may have to do with the idea that Dwight is not well liked and also many people felt as though he did not take the game as serious as many thought he should. Those notions should not be taken into account if you look at his number Dwight should have been included on the top 75 list. 

Many ask if you put Dwight on who would you take off and I would take off Paul Pierce. If you look at Pierce’s career it does not compare to Dwight’s accolades. Pierce only made the All NBA team 3 times and all those times he was member of the 3rd team All NBA. In addition Pierce was never considered the best player at his position at any point in his career, which is the complete opposite to Howard. Howard is a top 75 Player player in NBA history.

2022 NBA Season Preview

 The season gets under on Tuesday with the reigning Champions the Milwaukee Bucks take on the Brooklyn Nets in an Eastern Conference Finals rematch. Also, the Los Angeles Lakers take on the Golden State Warriors in the night cap of opening night. With that being said it’s time to look at some preseason awards and the championship predictions.

Most Valuable Player (MVP) - Kevin Durant

The MVP award is a highly narrative driven award as much as it is an award for who had the best season. As one of the best players in the league Kevin Durant will certainly put up the numbers needed to put him in the MVP conversation. I believe the current saga going on with his teammate Kyrie Irving and weather or not Irving will get vaccinated so he can play this season, wil help to bolster the narrative component of overcoming distractions and missing one of your best players from the beginning of the season and still carrying your team to a top seed in the Eastern Conference.  

Defensive Player of the Year - Jrue Holiday

The Defensive Player of the Year award  the past decade has been seen as mainly a big man award. I think with game changing and being more perimeter oriented that voters will look at more second level statistics as opposed to relying on just blocks, rebounds and a player’s plus minus to help determine the defensive player of the year. There are very few on ball defenders that can do what Holiday does from his ability to switch and guard multiple positions at an extremely high level. In addition I could see voter fatigue for Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz and also just the fact perimeter impact the game just as much as Center but their impact may not be able to be seen in the stat line. This is the year Jrue Holiday wins the Defensive Player of the Year. 

Sixth Man of the Year- Tyler Herro

Tyler Herro will have a bounce back season from last year. His 2nd he experienced a sophomore slump which some him regress from the consistent player many saw in the NBA Bubble when the Heat went to the NBA Finals in 2019. With Victor Oladipo expected to miss some time at the beginning of the season while he recovers from injury; this will give Herro the ultimate green light as he will be looked to score. Herro will look to also live up to the statement in which he should be mentioned in the same conversations as some of the best young players in the game.

Most Improved Player- Michael Porter Jr.

Michael Porter will be looked at to take a bigger role with the Denver Nuggets.

Jamal Murray will miss most of the season as he recovers from his torn ACL and this will invite Michael Porter Jr to take that next step in his game this season. Porter Jr will likely average around 23 points a game and if he improves his individual defense then this award will be his for the taking.

NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers

I predict the Los Angeles Lakers will meet the Brooklyn Nets in the Finals.

It will be a hard fought series that will ultimate go 6 games with the Lakers prevailing.

Anthony Davis will win his first NBA Finals MVP.

CHAMPIONSHIP CONTENDERS!!!!

 The NBA season begins in 11 days and it is time to figure out who the top contenders from each conference are going into the historic 75th season. In the NBA there are about 3 teams that are legit title contenders above the rest of the NBA and in this article I will give a reason as to why each of those teams can win the NBA Championship this year.

Eastern Conference

Milwaukee Bucks

The defending NBA Champions are the top contender in the Eastern Conference. They are led by Finals MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo who just continues to grow his game. With the team bringing back most of the CHampionship team with a few additions including sharp shooter Grayson Allen. They have a very good opportunity to compete with anyone in the NBA. Giannis will make sure his team is ready to play every night. This will help the defending champs come playoff time and elevate their play when it truly matters.  The Bucks will likely win close to 58 games and finish with a top 2 seed in the East.

Brooklyn Nets

The Brooklyn Nets have possibly the most talented roster in the NBA with Kevin Durant , James Harden and Kyrie Irving. Due to Irving’s uncertain status to play in home games due to New York CIty’s Vaccination mandate for indoor events. WIth or without Irving the Nets are the favorite to come out of the East with both Harden and Durant healthy. The Nets are possibly going to win close to 56 games this season. The Nets are out to prove when healthy no team can beat them. In order for Durant and Harden to deliver the Nets a championship they both have to play at the MVP levels they are capable of.

Western Conference

Los Angeles Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers  added a number of veterans to their roster in an attempt to win the NBA Championship this season. Among the veterans added it includes Russell Westbrook, and Carmelo Anthony. Westbrook and Anthony are expected to be solid contributors this season while playing alongside Anthony Davis and Lebron James. The fit has some question marks but eventually the talent should gel together. This seems very familiar to 2004 when the Lakers tried a similar thing with Hall of Famers, Gary Payton and Karl Malone. This time around the Lakers hope to seal the  deal. With James’ leadership this team should win close to 57 games this season and gel together despite the notion the pieces do not fit perfectly.

This will be a great NBA season with tones of storylines to watch for. Next week I’ll give you my predictions for award winners and also the team I see winning the NBA Finals!!!

BEN SIMMONS WANTS HIS OWN TEAM!!!!

 The Ben Simmons trade saga continues with the latest being that he wants to be the number 1 option on a team. With reports coming out that Simmons believes the time with playing with Joel Embiid has run its course; Simmons thinks that the Philadelphia 76ers have catered to Joel Embiid when it came to him being the  preferred option and also roster makeup.  On Thursday Embiid spoke about these reports to the media after training camp practice and essentially debunked that notion and even gave examples such as the signing of Al Horford in 2019 with the fact that Horford is a stretch forward which allows Simmons room to drive to the basket. Embiid even mentioned choosing to let go of Jimmy Butler that same summer so Ben can have the ball more was a mistake.

With these comments it further acknowledged that Simmons likely will not play another game for the 76ers. The question becomes what does a team around Simmons look and also would it be a good team. Operating under the assumption he does not improve his willingness to shoot the ball but insist that the ball is in his hands, he will need shooters around him. There are issues with that usually with many knockdown shooters such as limited playmaking and defensive liabilities.  

If you do trade for Ben Simmons and you try to build the team around him that team likely will not be elite. With his talent they can likely be middle of the road team but will likely struggle to be against contenders, which would mean less national tv time for Simmons. I believe Simmons will get his own team but soon realize he cannot be the number 1 option on a championship team which he may be satisfied with as long as he is top dog.