NBA Tipoff 2016

NBA Predictions

The NBA season is upon us with plenty of action in store from now up until mid-April. There is a lot to be excited about with an influx of rookies, players in new cities, and coaches on new teams. Front offices, coaches, players, and fans get a fresh start, as everyone believes it is their year. All of the hard work in the offseason, talk, and acquisitions are put to the test. The hardwood on all 30 courts has been thoroughly waxed as players hit the court in their new kicks. The arena starts to get loud as fans pile into the stadium and the arena music is pumping through everyone's veins. As a matter of fact, adrenaline is pumping through everyone's veins because they believe its their time to shine. One team is having a ring ceremony while the other 29 teams look on enviously. The players on those other 29 teams are doggedly determined on getting a ring of their own. Until then, there are 82 stories to be told. Today, we will take a look at my predictions for the 2016-17 NBA season. 

Impact Rookies

The 2016 draft class is really talented as a lot of players could end up being good in about two or three years. Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid are the kind of players Philadelphia needed because they are smart, good locker room players, and want to be great. Simmons will be sidelined to start the season, but his all around play could be something Sixers fans can hang their hats on. Embiid is the kind of two-way player they need to impact games. Buddy Hield is in a good position to succeed right away in New Orleans. It has been really unfortunate with what has happened to Jrue Holiday and Tyreke Evans in the offseason, but it gives the former Sooner a shot at an early Rookie of the Year case. Jaylen Brown, Denzel Valentine, Taurean Prince, Dragan Bender, and Marquese Chriss will all likely come off the bench, but they are the kind of players to provide good production in spurts. They all bring energy and hustle to the table, which is all a coach can ask from a rookie.

Rookie of the Year

The Rookie of the Year award is Ingram's to lose plain and simple. There is a reason Kevin Durant is reminded of himself when he looks at the Duke product. He is one of the most versatile scorers in the draft only being rivaled by Hield. Ingram is not great at one of way of scoring, but he is good at all levels. He can shoot the three as he shot 41 percent at Duke. He can get to the rack and shoot mid-range jumpers. Ingram has to improve his free throw shooting because 68 percent is dismal for a player with his touch. His 7'3 wingspan gives the notion of his ability to be an elite rebounder at his position and hold his own on defense. Ingram has a knack for blocking shots, but he needs to gain weight. All in all Ingram should cement his worth as the number two selection.

Building Blocks

Minnesota, Philly, Los Angeles, and Phoenix boast hotbeds for the league's youth movement. The Wolves are at the point where they need to put it all together and make a playoff push under head coach Tom Thibodeau. Karl Anthony-Towns, Andrew Wiggins, Zach LaVine, and Kris Dunn are extremely athletic and nightmares defensively. Simmons, Embiid, and Dario Saric have the potential to be good pros. Simmons and Embiid can change the culture of that team with their work ethic. Simmons will make guys better with his elite passing. Embiid has the personality to bring his teammates close with his vibrant personality. Jordan Clarkson, Julius Randle, and D'Angelo Russell know what it takes to be a pro and prepare like one after learning from Kobe Bryant or Pau Gasol. Along with Ingram, two of these guys have to turn into All-Stars caliber players. Lakers fans will only be patient for so long. The Suns have quite the young group in Devin Booker, Chriss, Bender, Alex Len, and Tyler Ulis. They each have someone at their position who is littered with NBA wisdom. It will be up to them to soak up that knowledge and develop good habits. Luke Walton and Earl Watson are in ideal positions in LA and Phoenix as young coaches with young teams. 

50-Win East Teams

The Cavaliers should win 55 games or more to the surprise of no one. They have Lebron James, Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love, and everyone else you already know about. They are by far the best and most complete team in the East and will be ultimately judged on how they do in the playoffs as anything less than making it to NBA Finals is considered failure. The Raptors won 56 games last season as they came one game shy of the one seed. Nevertheless, those 56 wins were a franchise record for Toronto. It is hard to see them top that mark this season, but they should still win 50 games this year. The Team USA backcourt of Kyle Lowry and DeMar Derozan will be the engine of this team. The Celtics and Pacers should also top the 50-win mark. It is not as crazy as it sounds to think four teams from the East could win that many games. The C's willed their way to 48 wins a year ago and the addition of Al Horford should figure to make 50 wins feasible. Meanwhile, Paul George led Indiana to 45 and the additions of Jeff Teague, Al Jefferson, and Thad Young make 50 a possibility.

Coach of the Year

If Boston can win 50 games and finish as the two or three seed, it will be hard to deny Brad Stevens the Coach of the Year award. You can make the argument that he should have won it last year as the Celtics overachieved with 48 wins and were in a four-way tie for the third seed. Stevens is one of the best in the league at masking his players’ flaws and maximizing their strengths. IT is a perfect example of this statement as he is considered a liability on defense and scorer on offense. When you watch Celtics games, Thomas is hardly caught out of position on defense while tearing up opposing defenses. His ATOs, after timeout plays, are second to none. Stevens has the respect of his players and coaches around the league.

Old Faces New Cities

Dwight Howard could be in for a monster season in Atlanta. The Hawks like to spread it out on offense and Paul Millsap stretches the floor. Howard could find himself operating more one on one down low or finding easier putbacks on missed shots. When a big man is scoring, he will play defense at a high level. Howard should look nimble on both ends in his hometown as he returns to All-Star status. The place where Howard left, Houston, is happy with the acquisitions of Eric Gordon and Ryan Anderson. The former Pelicans are both three-point snipers and fit into Mike D'Antoni's spread system. They should get plenty of open looks playing with a superstar like James Harden. Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah look to bring a winning mindset to New York as they depart from Chicago. Both guys should play with a chip on their shoulders after rocky departures from the Windy City that will only help the Knicks playoff surge.

Sixth Man of the Year

The system Gordon will be playing in will be one of the best he has played in yet. He is tailor made for D'Antoni's system as a good ball handler, slasher, and premiere shooter. When Harden heads to the bench, it will be Gordon's show to run. Remember a few years back with the Clippers, he averaged over 20 points per game. Injuries and unclear roles have hindered his growth as a player. Gordon should average 16-20 points per game with a few assists. I think we would all be fine with anyone as long as Jamal Crawford is not the winner.

First Time All-Stars

KAT, CJ McCollum, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Derrick Favors should make it to the All-Star Game as first timers. KAT had the statistics to make the team a year ago and with the same production and more wins, he should get his first All-Star nod. The fans might vote him in. McCollum should be able to make the ASG due to Portland's success this season. All he has to do is mirror the production he had a year ago and the coaches will get him in. The Greek Freak could be in for a big year after cashing in for 100 million dollars in the offseason. After the 2016 All-Star Break, he averaged 18.8 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 7.2 assists. His numbers this season should look remarkably similar through a full season. Favors is a walking double double for the Utah Jazz and is underrated due to their lack of success. He should get more love with the improved success of the team and, with Gordon Hayward sidelined, he could earn his first All-Star selection. 

Most Improved Player

Antetokounmpo is a no brainer for this award as he has came a long way since being drafted a few years back. Many around the league believed he needed to improve his handle, body, and jumper. If you have not noticed, The Greek Freak has an exceptional handle for a player of his size and has added the mass that was necessary. His jumper is still a work in progress, but he is still only 21-years old. Antetokounmpo can pass, rebound, score, defend, and even crack a joke or two. He is viewed as the Bucks star as he was paid handsomely in he offseason. I still think Milwaukee is a year away from a playoff push.

Denver Trade City

When you look at the Nuggets roster, you start to see a bunch of players with the same skill set. On the perimeter, they have a bunch of slashers and scorers. The big men are energy players with elite rebounding ability. This makes a lot of their players expendable as they look to gear up for an opportunity to sign Blake Griffin or a tier two star in the offseason. This is the first team contenders should call for players that could make them better. You have to believe anybody not named Emmanuel Mudiay, Nikola Jokic, and Jamal Murray are available. Even those guys are expendable for the right offer.

Defensive Player of the Year

The Defensive Player of the Year award race could be as good as the MVP race because a lot of players will be hungry for this award. KAT or Gorgui Dieng have the ability to compete for this award with their quick hands and shot blocking talent. Thibs will push his young big men to become vocal leaders and defensive anchors like he did with Kevin Garnett. Lebron James, if motivated, could make a run for this award because Michael Jordan won it during his heyday. James will downplay the idea of chasing MJ, but part of me believes he wants this award. Anthony Davis and Rudy Gobert are elite shot blockers and will look to stake their claim. Kawhi Leonard will continue to make his case as he locks players up on the wing. Former winners like Noah and Howard will have bounce back years and look worthy of the award. Tony Allen, Paul George, and Mason Plumlee will have strong seasons on defense as well. However, I think Draymond Green finally gets the hardware. With Andrew Bogut gone, Green will have to defend more bigs as well as the perimeter. It only helps his case as the supreme defensive player in the association.

Portland Reaches WCF

I think the Trail Blazers are in for a big year as they take that next step with their young nucleus. We know Damian Lillard and McCollum are one of the best backcourts behind only Steph Curry and Klay Thompson. I love the signing of Evan Turner as he provides another ball handler and allows the two guards to play off the ball. This will add new sets and plays in Terry Stotts offense. The front office did a good job of maintaining that bench by bringing back Allen Crabbe and Moe Harkless. It is imperative to have at least four guys on the bench that can contribute. This team should win over 50 games and secure a top three seed in the West. Depending on how the standings shake up, Portland should be the surprise of the West as they make it to the conference finals. This is a team that thinks they can beat Golden State and could turn into a rivalry. 

Most Valuable Player

The Most Valuable Player in the NBA this season will be Russell Westbrook. He is a force of nature and will not be denied this season. I think he finally earns the respect of the media, players, and coaches around the league as one of the NBA's best. The passion that he has for the game is gratifying and it makes his performances that much special. He is the leader of Oklahoma City and they will only go as far as he takes them. It will be interesting to see how he leads the team as the pulse of the locker room. It could be a fun year for the NBA as Westbrook could provide one of the best seasons by a player. I expect a bunch of triple doubles as well. He should average 24 points, 7 rebounds, 10 assists, and 2 steals. The Thunder have to win 45 games for Russ to secure the award.

Cookin' With DeVaughn Townes

The Evolution of Giannis Antetokounmpo 

With the 15th pick of the 2013 NBA Draft, the Milwaukee Bucks selected 18-year old Giannis Antetokounmpo by way of Filathlitikos in Greece. He was considered a raw, long-rangy athlete with oodles of potential at 6'10 with a 7'3 wingspan. He was still new to the game of basketball because he started in 2007 and entered the professional ranks in 2009. Antetokounmpo was labeled “The Greek Freak” because of his fluidity and athleticism for his size, but mainly due to the fact that people could not say his name. One could offer someone a briefcase of cash for if they said his name right and they would still get it wrong. When his name was announced, the crowd seemed a bit stunned. Some were probably looking around saying "WHO" while others proceeded to boo. However, the Bucks selection was looked at as a safe pick around the league. They were coming off a solid season in which they made the playoffs led by scorers Monta Ellis, Brandon Jennings, and J.J. Redick. Many thought Antetokounmpo would be someone left overseas to develop and come back to the league to be a star. He was compared to Nicolas Batum and some thought he had the upside of Kevin Durant.

The Greek Freak saw consistent playing time from the beginning of his rookie season and saw his minutes pick up as the season moved forward. He played in 77 games with 23 starts averaging 6.8 points, 4.4 boards, 1.9 assists, and .8 blocks and steals per game. The flashes of brilliance were there as he showed off his defensive prowess, ability to attack the basket, handle the rock, and even showed good form on his shot beyond the arc. Antetokounmpo was Milwaukee's diamond during a rough year and was selected to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. The team only won 15 games and lacked a franchise player with players like Brandon Knight, Khris Middleton, and Ersan Ilyasova on the roster. Following the season, the Bucks were heading in a new direction with the arrival of Jason Kidd as their new head coach. They drafted Jabari Parker with the second pick in the 2014 NBA Draft out of Duke. Milwaukee's front office hoped that Giannis and Parker could become a dynamic duo and make teams "Fear the Deer" in the coming years.

Parker, Antetokounmpo, Middleton, and Brandon Knight led a resurgent Bucks team with solid play well through early January of 2015. That month Parker tore his ACL and would be forced to miss the season. At the time, many believed the Bucks would fall out of playoff contention. On the contrary, The Greek Freak upped his production all the way across the board statistically. He averaged 12.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1 block, and .9 steals a night. He took a step back in shooting beyond the arc as he went from shooting 34 percent his rookie year to an abysmal 15 percent. Teams dared him to take more jumpers and with each miss it shattered his confidence. However, Giannis looked confident on the court as we saw more ferocious dunks with velocity. He put on more bulk, which allowed him to bully players in the paint. His dribble looked as fluid as a professional yo-yoer looked with a yo-yo as he had the ball on a string seemingly. Antetokounmpo even developed some swag as he would mean mug and talk trash to a few players. Kidd even allowed him to be more innovative and create for players around him. Antetokounmpo helped lead the Bucks back into the playoffs as a sixth seed with a 41-41 record. He averaged 11 points, 7 rebounds, and 2.7 assists in the playoffs as he struggled with his shooting against All-Star Jimmy Butler. Butler would often step back a few feet and dare Antetokounmpo to shoot. Antetokounmpo would hesitate to shoot the shot or pass to a teammate and it hurt the Bucks offense. He made up for it in other ways as he would go coast to coast after a rebound, block shots emphatically, and have the occasional hustle play. He epitomized the team's toughness and was the reason why the Bulls were pushed to six games. In fact, many expected the Bucks to get swept. 

The 2015-2016 season for Milwaukee went as bad as a Thanksgiving without macaroni and cheese made from scratch. They were coming off a great year and had just signed double double machine Greg Monroe. People had them scripted as a top four seed in the East and possibly facing Cleveland in the Eastern Conference Finals. Heck, they threw out their old green and red uniforms for these new gold and green ones. Instead, this team flopped harder than a soccer player. They finished 33-49 with many questions about their lineups. The constants were Antetokounmpo, Parker, and Middleton as Michael Carter-Williams, John Henson, and Monroe did not play up to their potential. One of the problems the Bucks had during the end of the 2014-2015 season was that they traded Knight for Carter-Williams. Giannis is a player that is reliant upon having the ball in his hands. Actually, the Bucks are reliant upon Giannis having the ball. If he does not have the ball, this team is not as good with him off the ball. In a way, the injury MCW suffered helped shape the future for The Greek Freak. He averaged 16.9 points, 7.7 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.4 blocks, and 1.2 steals. He was a monster and a fantasy nightmare post All-Star Break.

Antetokounmpo has the makeup of a star. He can do just about anything on the court except shoot and that should improve with time, as he is only 21. The Greek Freak is really charismatic and always has a big smile on his face off the court. He likes to make jokes too like he did on media day. Yes, they are a bit forced, but he gets an A for effort. He is a great locker room guy and very team-oriented. The scary thing about him as that he is not even at the apex of his career. Kidd said that he wants to play Antetokounmpo more at point guard because of his anticipation and size as a passer. I think it could bode well for the Bucks with the right personnel on the court. Kidd has to find a way to play him with shooters like Jason Terry, Matthew Dellavedova, and Mirza Teletovic. The loss of Middleton at the beginning of the year hurts Giannis as it could shrink the floor. If Antetokounmpo wants to cement himself as a star, he will find a way to lead his team to the playoffs anyway. The Bucks organization believes in this guy as they signed him to a four-year contract worth 100 million. Antetokounmpo is a guy that wants to be a player that can make a difference in Milwaukee on the court. He once said, "I want to keep playing for the Milwaukee Bucks for the next 20 years!" That is the type of attitude and energy they need to turn around their misfortunes.

Antetokounmpo is starting to realize his potential and the effect he has on the game of basketball. He carries the torch for Greece as well as Nigerians. Being as good as he is, this gives the NBA another gateway to push their brand internationally. One of the things that helped him realize how great he could be is when his childhood idol, Kobe Bryant, labeled him "the next big thing" in the NBA. The Black Mamba does not just throw around that phrase nonchalantly. He calculates his statements and this is one that adds up. Antetokounmpo did not even think Kobe knew his name. It was not until a few months later he revealed what Kobe said to him after his final game in Milwaukee. Bryant gave Antetokounmpo a hug and patted him on his chest. That same chest pat that probably feels like a Ric Flair chop because he does it so hard. He leaned in to tell The Greek Freak how he used to work for eight hours a day and would get up over a thousand shots per day. Kobe went on to tell Giannis that he needs to work hard during the summer and exhaust himself in a way that will make the regular season easier. Antetokounmpo reflected saying, "You could feel that it wasn't him saying bulls**t just to impress you."

Looking back at the 2013 NBA Draft Class, Antetokounmpo could very easily go number one in a redraft. He has shown the ability and consistency of a player that is the focal point of his team's offense. Antetokounmpo is a game changer on both ends of the court. In addition, he is still very young and has the opportunity to become a perennial All-Star and a top 15 player in the association. He has to put the work in to improve his game and continue to add bulk to his frame. Antetokounmpo has the vote of confidence from Kidd and his teammates. The only thing stopping Giannis is Giannis. Many people do not know about Antetokounmpo because of the Bucks lack of success and playing in a small market.  Having a player like Antetokounmpo is something Milwaukee deserves as most stars ignore them like players did before the Lebron James era. They have not had a player with star potential since the heyday of Michael Redd or even Ray Allen. Antetokounmpo can turn that around with continuous growth and success in the league. It is a matter of time before people wake up and smell the bacon.

Chicago Bulls

 Status Quo of Chicago

Gar Forman and John Paxson decided to stray away from their dormant tendencies as they blew up the team that Tom Thibodeau built. Joakim Noah and Derrick Rose were shipped to New York for Robin Lopez, Jose Calderon, and Jerian Grant. They traded Calderon and cut Mike Dunleavy to create the cap space to sign Rajon Rondo, Isaiah Canaan, and Dwyane Wade. In addition, they drafted Denzel Valentine and Paul Zipser. The direction of the team is a bit cloudy and the scheme Fred Hoiberg wants to run does not necessarily have the personnel fit to run it. With the Eastern Conference improving, can this Bulls team make it to the playoffs?

The Starting Five

The starting five should end up being Rondo, Wade, Jimmy Butler, Nikola Mirotic, and Robin Lopez at center. On paper, this is a quality lineup because of the year-to-year production these players have put up in previous years. In reality, this group will definitely look like the California's 405 Interstate with all the traffic in the paint. Rondo, Wade, and Butler are not knockdown three point shooters they use that shot to keep defenders honest. Rondo and Wade shoot 28 percent from three and Butler shoots 32 percent. Mirotic shoots 35 percent, but he is a streaky shooter. He has been working on his shot this offseason and has tried to get stronger. Defenders have wised up to his propensity to pump fake and look for contact so it will be interesting to see if he has adjusted. Lopez has an efficient hook shots and it is underrated. RoLo will look to get his points on lobs from Rondo and put backs. On defense, this unit could be one of the best in the league. Rondo, Wade, Butler, and Lopez will get after it on defense and take one on one match-ups personally. This mindset should rub off on Mirotic and make him want to compete on that end. These guys will cause a lot of deflections, steals, blocks, and technical fouls because they are annoying. In transition, Rondo will push the pace so Chicago should take advantage with Wade, Butler, and Mirotic. After all, baskets will be hard to come by in the half court.

The Reserves

Taj Gibson, Doug McDermott, Bobby Portis, Valentine, Canaan, and Cristiano Felicio should see steady play during the course of the season. Gibson, Portis, and Felicio will give good effort, energy, and intensity on defense. These guys were unheralded and overlooked coming into the league so they give it their all every time they hit the floor. Portis might be asked to shoot more threes and he has the touch to do so as he hit 30 percent of his attempts beyond the arc. Valentine, McBuckets, and Canaan will be asked to provide instant offense off the bench. McBuckets and Canaan have never seen a shot they have not liked. It may take Valentine some time to adjust, but he can contribute in every statistical category. Some think he is the perimeter version of former Michigan State teammate Draymond Green. McDermott has already caught the eye of Wade as he thinks the third year player out of Creighton is poised for a big year.

Wade and Rondo's Impact

Wade and Rondo are champions and that is something they will bring to Chicago on a night-to-night basis. They did not come to the Windy City to miss the playoffs and tank. Wade has already asked players what happened last season and vows that it will not happen this season. They can teach the young players how to be a pro, make it through a long season, and give them valuable life lessons. The most important thing they can do is help re-establish a winning culture in Chicago. Rondo told reporters he has not been this excited to play basketball since he left Boston. Wade can help speed up the progression of Butler believe it or not. Butler is recognized as one of the best shooting guards and is considered by some as a top ten player in the NBA. Wade can help him expand his game, become a leader, and extend his prime. With the type of player Butler is, he is ready to take on that challenge.

Hoiberg's Imprint

Hoiberg is not the kind of coach that gets in his player's face or even yell. There is a reason Rondo and Wade were brought in so they could help keep players accountable. Hoiberg's job is to figure out a way to maximize his team's potential. Yes, we know he has a system that emphasizes three point shooting and innovation. Yes, we know this current roster lacks elite shooters. However, the great coaches across sports adjust their system to maximize their team's strengths and mask weaknesses. Bill Belichick, Mike Tomlin, Pete Carroll, Gregg Popovich, Erik Spoelstra, and Thibs all make adjustments to their schemes in order to win games and have a shot at winning it all in the playoffs. Hoiberg has to come up with a game plan that maximizes the innovative players he has and masks their lack of shooters. Otherwise, the Chicago fan base and media will be saying it is time for a change. No pun intended.

Season Predictions

Chicago should compete and get into the playoffs with 45 wins. In this new NBA, I understand three point shooting and spreading the floor is key, but I think their defensive potential will overshadow that flaw. Wade and Butler should be the All-Stars for this team. Mirotic, McDermott, and Portis should see big jumps in their scoring and impact on games. Rondo and Lopez could average double doubles and provide solid play on both ends. The key for this organization is for the front office, coaches, and players to be in one accord. If there is dysfunction at any level, this team will miss the playoffs and be on the cusp of becoming a year-to-year lottery team.