NBA Quick Takes 2.28.24
Quick breakdown/outlook of each team based in order of standings
With the dead era of sports upon us where there is not much going on outside of college basketball gearing up for conference tournaments & the NBA over 75% of the way through their regular season, I wanted to share my thoughts on each team and where they stand right now.
Eastern Conference
Boston Celtics
If this team does not win the east with ease I will surely be disappointed. NO PRESSURE but their 1-6 and even 7-9 players are the best in the league as a unit. Tatum & Brown are a match made in heaven and add KP as JB’s new good friend this team is a powerhouse. Also, they have two of the best all around guards in the league that play winning basketball. Add in a coach who’s psychotic about winning and it’s a Boston dream what we have in front of us right now. Championship or bust.
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Donovan Mitchell risk is paying off and I would do everything you can to keep him. If they don’t, they will most likely become a middling team of great talent but not enough to get out of the first/second round for years to come. Well balanced roster that reminds me of the Celtics like 2-3 years ago. IF they can develop Cooper, Bates, and the other Mobley off the bench they could become a threat to the C’s in 1-2 years.
Milwaukee Bucks
Jumped the gun on Dame, firing Griffin, and now they are seriously at risk of burning Giannis’s prime years. If they were smart they’d consider some type of S&T for Mitchell when he’s up for contract or another young star guard for Dame after this season as he’s 33. Also, “Celtics Killer” Khris Middleton has not been healthy and it will hurt this team come playoffs. Do not see them getting to ECF with this roster as it’s defensively weak and not equipped for a deep run in my opinion.
New York Knicks
The perfect Eastern Conference Finals Cinderella story here. Gritty team of guys who seem to enjoy playing together and for each other. Thibs will burn their legs out though as their starters average far too many minutes this late in the season. I fear the OG trade was great for the short term but giving up on Barrett and Quickley may come back to haunt them. Albeit, they did not fit this team perfectly but Quickley has some Maxey to him and Barrett plays like Bam but in guard form.
Miami Heat
Brad Stevens said it best “if you’re not improving other teams will catch up to you”. This has happened in Miami after not getting Dame and making a too little too late move for Scary Terry. While that is a good culture fit they do not have enough with an aging Butler and very good Bam to keep the train rolling. Caleb Martin is not going to shoot that historically well again in the playoffs to carry them and there’s not enough fire power everywhere else to get out of maybe the first or second round. Herro and Robinson are not shooting you to the Finals either as they both suck on defense. Expect Bam to be a Celtic after his tenure in Miami is done and Al Horford retires.
Philadelphia 76ers
The most bungled process of all time. Maxey is budding star and trading for Hield is a good move to remain afloat but he is a rental. Embiid’s health will determine if they even make it to the second round and if they draw the Knicks with him at less than 80% it will be a first round exit. They will remain here for awhile in this limbo like the 90’s Knicks with Ewing but worse in my opinion.
Indiana Pacers
Really do not understand the Hield trade when he was a good veteran presence to help these guys make a deep run. Love the Siakim addition though and maybe Nesmith and Mathurin really shine with the added minutes and shots. This team will be good in the future. They owe Phoenix a massive thank you for matching DeAndre Ayton’s deal.
Orlando Magic
They are a force to be reckon with, Paolo is a young, bigger Bron and if you don’t see it then you don’t know ball. They have a plethora of guards to figure out who should remain for the future but very promising. They could win their first round if they survive a play-in scenario and don’t face Boston in the first round. Most likely lose in 6 or 7 in the first round but build a foundation for the future.
Chicago Bulls
Man this team with Lonzo and Lavine healthy was cool to watch for those like twenty games. For now they will be a middling team of meh but Coby White has been fun to watch. Demar will miss another buzzer beater in their lone play in game and that will be just about how I expect this to go.
Atlanta Hawks
They legit have been .500 for like 4 years straight. Send Trae to San Antonio or something and build heavy around Dejounte. It was a bad move in my opinion to build around a roster of two smaller guards in a forward league. They also focused on the wrong role players in letting guys like Huerter walk, and holding on to John Collins for too long while not developing any forwards around your stars. They really have been relying on Capela and Okongwu to develop as heavy scorers when that is not their game necessarily.
Brooklyn Nets
Well this team is about to be mid for a long time. I was a big fan of the Nets when they had that D-Lo 8 seed run but seem to have imploded after going for broke on stars. Ben Simmons is playing himself out of the league or at least out of a contract that is not the minimum going forward. Cam Thomas, Bridges, Johnson and Claxton are fun to watch regardless though. Maybe they can get back to that 8 seed type mentality with disregarded players in the league coming together in 1-3 years.
Toronto Raptors
Do not sleep on what they are building up north. Masai is a master mind and getting Barrett and Quickley was a great move to pair with a developing defensive monster like Barnes. They will be relevant shortly again, Champagne Papi will be happy on the floor again soon.
Charlotte Hornets
Grant Williams might be the annoying spark plug this team needs. LaMelo needs to actually play in order for us to have an idea if they can ever be good but Brandon Miller is going to be a problem. If LaMelo continues to have his brother’s health then I’d ask to go somewhere else if I’m Brandon Miller. Also, Bridges needs to be S&T’d this summer as he does not fit this mold. Maybe trade him and LaMelo to get something better back or picks or both. Also, Bridges is not a good rapper - I do not care what any of you say I’d take AI, Shaq, fuck it even Lonzo, Kobe, & Dame Dolla over him rapping any day.
Washington Wizards
Holy what a shit show this has been, Poole trade looking absolutely terrible as he’s now a $128 million dollar bench player. Kuzma is a #3 or #4 at best and there is no future. Bilal has some upside and Deni looks solid but I fear they will end up being better players for a different roster sooner rather than later. Also, get Bagley out of there and somewhere he can actually help.
Detroit Pistons
This is an (insanely) long term project but I like their promise here a lot more than in Washington. Their team needs time to develop together. They should look to keep Fournier as a veteran presence and someone who can teach the young bucks how to shoot cause that’s all he’s good at in the NBA.
Western Conference
Minnesota Timberwolves
Really like this team but this year might be their only window to win the conference. Simply because of the contracts it is not sustainable to keep KAT, Gobert, and Naz Reid who is a one helluva player - he’d start most other places. If they can find a way to maintain the roster it has a good looking future but I fear it’s going to go through and massive changeover this off-season. Let’s just pray they don’t waste Edwards prime like they did with KG (unless it lands Edwards in Boston with Tatum and Brown in an unstoppable super team lol).
Oklahoma City Thunder
Get ready because this team is about to be a force for years to come. Really well balanced and as I have been tweeting about all year Cason Wallace is going to emerge come playoff time. I think in the off-season you look to move Giddey for someone to really take you next level. Like most people I have been saying Lauri would be a great fit here. They have so many picks they can should be able to get that star to get them over the next hump this off season. Expect a good second round appearance maybe WCF run if the balls fall their way.
Denver Nuggets
Great team, WCF appearance is what is expected but I feel as though they might be too predictable for the playoffs this time around. They have a great roster and truly well constructed but teams know how to play them and Jokic in this very deep western conference. Let’s see if Jamal can be playoff Jamal and carry them to the promise land.
LA Clippers
This team has potential to make the finals. They have four seasoned veterans who can really take over, but it comes down to health. Bench is a little weak but don’t sleep on Ty Lue getting PJ Tucker to have game Grant Williams one game playoff type corner 3 only shooting performance.
Phoenix Suns
Another team where health will determine if they lose in round 1 or 2 or make a WCF run. KD is playing like an MVP over there and Bradley Beal literally is just never there. He’s played 30 of 68 games so far and the fact they’re not play-in right now is a testament to the load KD and Book are carrying. Also, watch for Bol Bol - I have been saying this for years but he can be a good bench player in the right situation and I think playing behind KD is about to let that show.
New Orleans Pelicans
What an interesting team. They’re not good but they’re not that bad either. Zion does not knock your socks off but he plays so damn efficiently getting his own rebounds as put back points. CJ and BI are good pieces around him and they have a good bench. Expect a good first maybe second round series out of these guys.
Sacramento Kings
The underdogs we all root to win. Love this team but know that Sabonis is just not big enough defensively to get them deep into the playoffs. Would love to be wrong but they will need 115+ PPG to win in the playoffs and I don’t see that happening unless they draw OKC and expose their inexperience in the first round. They will also need sniper shooting from Keegan Murray and microwave scoring from Monk down those stretches. Fox is a fox though, let him be a dawg.
Dallas Mavericks
They are one key player away from being truly legit. Luka and Kyrie are unstoppable forces and they have good players around them. Their deadline moves were great and I truly underestimated Derek Lively at the beginning of the year. Hardaway is a great sixth man to have but you need that great third option in your starting line up that they just do not have there. Hardaway to me is a poor man’s Jaylen Brown off the bench which while good just won’t be enough to get Luka to the WCF this year even if they survive the play-in. Also, mind you the play-in is very much up for grabs at this point with who will be where so these are all very much subject to change.
LA Lakers
Health (or lack thereof) has put this team here. It was never going to be a title contender in my eyes but they would have been out of the play-in if they had Reddish and Vanderbilt all season as formidable wings. This team is perpetually fucked based on how it’s currently constructed and expect some big off season moves to remain relevant.
Golden State Warriors
Do not sleep on these little fuckers (Tim Robinson voice). They have us in the sweet spot of bullshit where we think Klay is washed and they have nobody to support Steph. They might emerge out of play-in status and get a young first round team not ready for the big lights. Then, hit you with a shocking second round (if they get the Kings again this league might be rigged). I am not rooting for this mind you, the writing is on the wall. Chris Paul is going to come back and I expect Wiggins, Kuminga, and that handsome bastard Klay to surge because of it low key.
Utah Jazz
Danny Ainge is about to Ainge the fuck outta this town. Get ready in the next 1-3 years for them to find their players and become legit again. I am talking like Deron Williams, Boozer, AK-47 type legit again. He is building his team like a lego set that takes weeks to assemble but when it’s done he will feel like Palpatine defeating the Jedi by turning Anakin. Just sit back and enjoy them being not that good right now.
Houston Rockets
If KPJ wasn’t a deplorable human being this team could have made the play-in this year. Sengun is nice, Green needs to find consistency and those two weird contracts they signed this summer will pane out nicely in the long run as role players. They just need another year under Udoka and they could be relevant.
Memphis Grizzlies
Truly shocking how bad they are without Ja Morant considering how they used to play before but with Smart out basically all year it checks out. This team had a promising future but recent moves have me questioning the future. Expect them to make moves this off season again for another big (maybe Claxton) and some wing help.
Portland Trailblazers
This team has minimal direction and is not going to be good for quite sometime. Simons and Scoot will literally be a poorer CJ & Dame, Ayton does not look promising unless maybe he can shine with Rob Williams alongside him. They really should have traded Brogdon and Grant for assets instead of holding onto them. Shaedon Sharpe will be really good when he leaves Portland.
San Antonio Spurs
Fellas - let’s go all in this summer and get Wemby a star next to him. Could be Trae, honestly I would consider going after Maxey if you can. Has to be a young star. Also, I would consider adding a guy like Markelle Fultz next to him to have as a legit PG instead of Sochan who is a great wing to have next to Wemby for the future. Bring in a couple vets and god I just like watching Wemby so let’s make these fellas relevant again!