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Overall Win/Loss Record : 59-23, first place Northwest Division
2014/2015 Projection: 50-32, second place Northwest Division, fifth
place Western Conference
Projected 2014/2015 Finish
9
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Last season’s Team Statistics and
League Rank
|
Returning Individual Statistical
Leaders
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Projected Opening Day Starters Based on Past Performances and Potential Impact:
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Key Reserves Rank Based on Past Performances and Potential Impact::
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Three years ago, it looked as if it would be just a matter of time until the Oklahoma City Thunder won the NBA championship and have a dynasty of their own; however, after two straight disappointing post seasons, not only does it seem like the Thunder's window of opportunity for championship glory has closed, but it also looks as if this team is running on borrowed time. Both the team's two key figures--reigning MVP Kevin Durant and his back court sidekick Russell Westbrook--will have two years left on their contracts and if the post season fortunes of the Thunder do not improve, they might find themselves in different uniforms by then. Numerous big market teams such a the +New York Knicks, +Chicago Bulls, +Los Angeles Lakers, +Houston Rockets and +Miami HEAT will be looking to snag either one or both Durant and Westbrook and will have the cap space to certainly make a play for them. Surprisingly, another team that also seemed as unlikely location has also been added as another potential location is the +Washington Wizards, who will not only have the cap space, but also the hometown edge with Kevin Durant hailing from Baltimore, Maryland. Nevertheless, time is running out for the Thunder and the last thing they need is a major setback such as having one of their Dynamic Duo out for a great portion of the season which may lead to disaster, especially in an already tight Western Conference.
Sadly for Thunder, such a tragedy has already happened with the news that Kevin Durant will not be available for the first couple of months of the regular season due to breaking his foot; nonetheless, such news does not phase Oklahoma City fans as they know that as long as they have Westbrook at the helm, their playoff expectations will remain intact. The problem will be if ever the Thunder lose both Westbrook and Durant at the start of the regular season which will leave the Thunder virtually unarmed and powerless; however, the chances of such a disastrous event to occur can be measured between slim and none. If such an unlikely moment were to occur, though, the results would be disastrous as the Thunder has virtually no one to pick up the slack since the team's virtual identity has revolved around those two players for the past five or so years. Even if both managed to return by mid season, the damage would have already been done with the Thunder falling behind in the standings that they may not be able to recover thanks to the rather oppressive hold of the Western Conference by the very few along with the emergence of young teams such as the +Phoenix Suns, +Sacramento Kings and +New Orleans Pelicans. Just one slip up and the Thunder will find themselves completely losing their current and rather strong foothold in the West to middle of the range teams such as the +Dallas Mavericks, +Memphis Grizzlies, and +Denver Nuggets will be there to quickly snatch OKC's long standing place in the Western Conference. The team's front office did not help itself during the off season as it wasted its first draft picks taking two players that were not even in many analyst's draft board and created a rather noticeable logjam in the front court causing even more trouble for the team in the future. In a draft that still had big name talented and athletic prospects such as +Cleanthony Early, +Thanasis Antetokounmpo, +KJ McDaniels, Glen Robinson III, Kyle Anderson and +Melvin Ejim still available, the Thunder used the draft pick they had claimed from the infamous +James Harden trade to select Mitch McGary--a player in which they did not need whatsoever. McGary, a 7 foot center out of the +University of Michigan, was expected to fall to the mid to late second round, but the Thunder picked him thus increasing logjam of centers on its roster to five total. That resulted in OKC having to trade away +Hasheem Thabeet and waiving the player they received in exchange to free up a roster spot for McGary; however, even with the departure of Thabeet, McGary still remains way down the team's totem pole playing behind Kendrick Perkins, Serge Ibaka, Nick Collison, and Steven Adams thus resulting in him possibly not wearing a Thunder uniform for the entire season. To make matters worse, save for Ibaka who led the team in rebounds and blocked shots per game last season, McGary joins a sad group of big men that have produces very little thus far and who the team are virtually stuck with for better or worse. Kendrick Perkins has been an absolute embarrassment for the Thunder after the team signed him to a very lucrative contract deal and for the past three years his production has dwindled from 5.1 points 6.6 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 26.8 minutes per game to 3.4 points, 4.9 boards and 0.6 blocks in 19.5 minutes per game. What's worse about Perkins is not just his declining production on the court or his extremely bad contract which thankfully expires once the seasons ends, but the sad fact that he is right now the best option at center for the Thunder. Although he had a moderately decent rookie campaign which earned him All Rookie Second Team Honors, nothing much else is expected from second year center Steven Adams as he has been projected to have as much upside as Perkins thus making him not that much of an alternative. Nick Collison has been a mainstay of the Thunder since the team was once called the Seattle Supersonics and at the advanced age of 34, he will no likely do any better than the 4.2 points and 3.6 rebounds in 16.7 minutes per game as his basketball career comes to a close. As for McGary, he did not necessarily set the +NCAA on fire as he did not have a standout career in his two years in Michigan and only entered the draft because he would not have been able to play the following year due to being suspended for marijuana use. As if the McGary selection at number 21 was bad enough, the Thunder's front office still had a chance to right their wrong as they still had the twenty ninth pick of the draft and with the likes of the aforementioned Early, Daniels, Antetokounmpo, Ejim, and Robinson among others. Unfortunately, instead of adding any one of those players who certainly would not have only been an excellent steal, but a great fall back plan if Kevin Durant got hurt or choose to sign elsewhere, the Thunder's decided to waste that pick again. This time they choose some nobody from Stanford, whose last name when say very quickly sounds like "who's this"--something that many OKC fans asked themselves when their team selected him in the draft. Like McGary, Josh Huestis certainly did not set the NCAA on fire with his career stats of just 7.2 points and 6.2 boards per game for +Stanford University; in addition to his less than stellar collegiate career, Huestis probably would have been available for the Thunder in the second round as he probably would have never been drafted, period. So in summation, the Thunder could have had selected a much needed swing-man who could have been great option to fall back on especially with the injury to Durant, but instead selected two players who will most likely not even play this season due to the severe logjam of already mediocre players in the paint. Now with Durant out of the picture until at least January, the Thunder are left with no real option at the small forward position and will have no other choice but to use a far smaller player such as Jeremy Lamb or Anthony Morrow--both of whom are talented for their positions at shooting guard, but simply do not have the size or ability to keep up with NBA small forwards. Unfortunately, like Durant, Lamb will also be riding the pine as he has yet to heal from a tweaked back injury during the preseason thus limiting the Thunder's options even more, so if a tragedy were to happen--let's say that Russell Westbrook were to be lost early in the season due to injury--this season certainly will not start off on the right foot. In fact, such a loss can prove so damaging that it might prove fatal as OKC has the misfortune to reside in the most ruthlessly competitive of the two NBA conferences where even the slightest setback can drop a team from being among the top teams in the West to falling completely out of the playoff picture. Hopefully Westbrook will remain healthy as he remains as the sole source of not only scoring, but leadership in this very vulnerable Thunder team and can at least tread water in the rather deep Western Conference until Durant returns to the court; however, even with him projected to start on opening tip off, it feels as if something bad is going to happen and everything that OKC fans have long feared might just happen. It does not help that Durant's injury has occurred at the worst time: where the Thunder are virtually on the clock and are literally running out of time as their window for championship glory seems to slowly close with each passing game. Perhaps losing Durant and Westbrook for an undetermined time will probably be good for the Thunder as the team as well as its fans will have to soon deal with the reality that neither of them may return once their contracts expire. Fortunately for OKC, there are some bright spots in an otherwise bleak future thanks to Jeremy Lamb and Reggie Jackson who not only both posted breakout performances last season, but also have the upside to just possibly become the future faces of the franchise if ever Durant and Westbrook decide to part ways with the Thunder; however, all of that is just speculation right now. What should be focused on is the present and so far it does not have an bumps on the road, even with Durant sitting out the first couple months of the regular season; however, there still remains a trembling "what if," scenario if the Thunder's second franchise pillar sudden takes a fall once the season starts. |
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Saturday, November 29, 2014
SDH's 2014/2015 NBA Worst to First Previews and Predictions: 9. Oklahoma City Thunder
SDH Presents NBA Recap: Bulls vs. Celtics, November 28th
+Derrick Rose (21 points, 4 assists) led the +Chicago Bulls to a 109-104 win in Boston on Friday. Visit nba.com/video for more highlights and always keep up with all 30+NBA teams right here on +Slap Dog Hoops. Also, please be kind enough to share this post by simply clicking the Facebook, Twitter, G+, and Pinterest buttons below. It would be greatly appreciated; Thanks!
SDH Presents NBA Recap: Pelicans vs. Hawks, November 28th
Jeff Teague scored 26 points to lead the +Atlanta Hawks past the +New Orleans Pelicans 100-91. Visit nba.com/video for more highlights and always keep up with all 30+NBA teams right here on +Slap Dog Hoops. Also, please be kind enough to share this post by simply clicking the Facebook, Twitter, G+, and Pinterest buttons below. It would be greatly appreciated; Thanks!
SDH Presents Russell Westbrook's Return to Action
+Russell Westbrook scored 32 points and dished out eight assists in the +Oklahoma City Thunder 105-78 win over the +New York Knicks. Visit nba.com/video for more highlights and always keep up with all 30+NBA teams right here on +Slap Dog Hoops. Also, please be kind enough to share this post by simply clicking the Facebook, Twitter, G+, and Pinterest buttons below. It would be greatly appreciated; Thanks!
SDH Presents NBA Recap: Bucks vs. Pistons, November 28th
+Ersan Ilyasova scored 22 points as the +Milwaukee Bucks beat the slumping +Detroit Pistons 104-88 Friday night. Visit nba.com/video for more highlights and always keep up with all 30+NBA teams right here on +Slap Dog Hoops. Also, please be kind enough to share this post by simply clicking the Facebook, Twitter, G+, and Pinterest buttons below. It would be greatly appreciated; Thanks!
SDH Presents NBA Recap: Mavericks vs. Raptors, November 28th
+Monta Ellis scored 30 points in the +Dallas Mavericks 106-102 win over the +Toronto Raptors. Visit nba.com/video for more highlights and always keep up with all 30+NBA teams right here on +Slap Dog Hoops. Also, please be kind enough to share this post by simply clicking the Facebook, Twitter, G+, and Pinterest buttons below. It would be greatly appreciated; Thanks!
SDH Presents NBA Recap: Clippers vs. Rockets, November 28th
+Blake Griffin exploded for 30 points and 10 rebounds as the +Los Angeles Clippers pounded the +Houston Rockets. Visit nba.com/video for more highlights and always keep up with all 30+NBA teams right here on +Slap Dog Hoops. Also, please be kind enough to share this post by simply clicking the Facebook, Twitter, G+, and Pinterest buttons below. It would be greatly appreciated; Thanks!
SDH Presents Zach LaVine's Career-High 28 Points vs. the Lakers
+Zach Lavine returned to Los Angeles and put on a show, leading the +Minnesota Timberwolves over the +Los Angeles Lakers. Visit nba.com/video for more highlights and always keep up with all 30+NBA teams right here on +Slap Dog Hoops. Also, please be kind enough to share this post by simply clicking the Facebook, Twitter, G+, and Pinterest buttons below. It would be greatly appreciated; Thanks!
SDH Presents NBA Recap: Magic vs. Pacers, November 28th
+Rodney Stuckey scored 24 points and David West added 18 as the +Indiana Pacers topped the +Orlando Magic 98-83. Visit nba.com/video for more highlights and always keep up with all 30+NBA teams right here on +Slap Dog Hoops. Also, please be kind enough to share this post by simply clicking the Facebook, Twitter, G+, and Pinterest buttons below. It would be greatly appreciated; Thanks!
SDH Presents NBA Recap: Suns vs. Nuggets, November 28th
+Arron Afflalo scored 22 points while Ty Lawson and +Kenneth Faried added 11 a piece, as the +Denver Nuggets manhandled the +Phoenix Suns 122-97. Visit nba.com/video for more highlights and always keep up with all 30+NBA teams right here on +Slap Dog Hoops. Also, please be kind enough to share this post by simply clicking the Facebook, Twitter, G+, and Pinterest buttons below. It would be greatly appreciated; Thanks!
SDH Presents NBA Recap: Grizzlies vs. Trail Blazers, November 28th
+Marc Gasol scored 26 points, dished out 9 assists, and grabbed 7 rebounds to power the +Memphis Grizzlies past the +Portland Trail Blazers 112-99. Visit nba.com/video for more highlights and always keep up with all 30+NBA teams right here on +Slap Dog Hoops. Also, please be kind enough to share this post by simply clicking the Facebook, Twitter, G+, and Pinterest buttons below. It would be greatly appreciated; Thanks!
Friday, November 28, 2014
SDH's 2014/2015 NBA Worst to First Previews and Predictions: 10. Memphis Grizzlies
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Overall Win/Loss Record : 50-32 ,
third place Southwest Division
2014/2015 Projection: 49-33, third place Southwest Division, sixth
place Western Conference
Preseason Rank
10
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Last season’s Team Statistics and
League Rank
|
Returning Individual Statistical
Leaders
|
Projected Opening Day Starters Based on Past Performances and Potential Impacts:
|
Key Reserves Rank Based on Past Performances and Potential Impacts:
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Out of the 15 teams of the Western Conference, nobody gets as little respect or recognition than the Memphis Grizzlies despite their four straight playoff appearances with one in the Conference Semifinals in 2011 and another in the Conference Finals 2013. Barely anyone talks about them or gives the team any attention whatsoever; instead most of the attention is paid towards their division rivals such as the +Dallas Mavericks, +Houston Rockets and +San Antonio Spurs due to their huge television markets as well as their marquee players. Even teams that have thus far struggled and have yet to make the playoffs such as the +New Orleans Pelicans and +Sacramento Kings get more press time than the Grizzlies and even they have even more recognizable faces on their rosters than Memphis does. Nonetheless, the Grizzlies, in spite of their lack of attention and respect, still remains one of the league's most dangerous teams and can possibly come out on top of the conference even though most people would not be able to spot a Memphis player in a police lineup, let alone recognize them while walking the street. And that what makes this team so special: even without the possession of big name marquee players and are barely noticed in sports media, the Grizzlies always find a way to come out of the shadows and strike an unsuspecting league so viciously that it leaves both their opponents and fans in awe.
With just one look at the team's current roster, no one can really see how a team such as Memphis that does not have a superstar franchise player and few really recognizable players has been able to keep at par with teams who not just have one, but sometimes two or three All Star players in their roster. Last season, the Grizzlies took an +Oklahoma City Thunder team that had both league MVP +Kevin Durant and his All Star sidekick +Russell Westbrook to seven games before eventually losing the series and getting eliminated. The season prior, not only did they shock the +Los Angeles Clippers led by +Chris Paul and +Blake Griffin, but they made short work of the same OKC team mentioned before in the second round, only to be handily swept by the Spurs in the Conference Finals. That is why Memphis, above all the teams in the west, should be considered as not only the dark horse favorite to win the regular season tile, but also further shock the world by knocking out the clear cut post season favorites in the playoffs and reach to its first NBA Finals. Unfortunately, regardless of whatever they do, it is doubtful that anybody will give this team its just due because as mentioned before, the team simply does not have that "it" factor that makes them a team that need to stand up and finally be accounted for. They were certainly not even considered a major player in the off season free agent market despite having plenty of salary cap space to spare as the best they were capable of signing was a way over the hill Vince Carter to a minuscule veteran minimum contract. And despite winning 50 games and reaching the playoffs last season, the Grizzlies have been considered as absolutely one of the worst teams to watch in the league as they ranked near bottom in scoring while at the same time held their opponents to even lower scoring. One can go as far to say that everything on this team, from its bland logo to their even more bland style of play, can be classified as absolutely dreary to say the least thus making it even harder for fans, whether they reside in Memphis or not, to strongly support this team because their team is simply not worth the time and effort to watch. With all of tthose factors going against them, it is little wonder how a team such as Memphis were completely unable to woo the likes of a +LeBron James, +Carmelo Anthony, and could not even get themselves in the running for restricted free agents such as +Eric Bledsoe, who had later signed back with the +Phoenix Suns. Perhaps the other reason for an off season so silent that one can hear a pin drop was not that no one even bothered to acknowledge their overtures and advances, but the simple fact that they never made such inquiries in the first place. You never hear about Memphis actively engaging with agents encouraging them to convince the clients that they represent to take in the sights of the Grizzlies' fair city and work hard at seducing him into signing a long term deal thus making him the new face of the franchise. The Grizzlies seem happy enough counting on their beefy front court duo of a 33 year old Zach Randolph and a near 30 Marc Gasol to remain as not only a the faces of the franchise, but also as its primary foundation; however, the recent emergence of point guard Mike Conley as a prime time scorer has also given the Grizzlies a third option on the offensive end. Unfortunately, save for those three, there is absolutely no one else who has the either the ability or desire to step up their games and become a strong offensive presence which can be seen in last season's statistics where the vast majority of the roster averaged in single digits in points per game. Courtney Lee did show some promise as a scorer averaging 11 points per game in the 49 games he had played upon being transferred from the +Boston Celtics; however, looking at his past performances, it is doubtful to predict that last season's performance will translate into him being that scorer that the Grizzlies desperately need. So it seems that until further notice, much of the offensive load will be taken up by Gasol, Randolph and Conley while the rest of the scoring will be by committee as the rest of the team would rather lurk in the shadows and be background supporting players rather than make a major impact. Nevertheless, in spite of the flawed recipe, the Memphis Grizzlies still remain a strong cohesive unit that is capable of tearing down such titans as the Clippers, Spurs, Thunder, and Rockets to claim the top seed of the Western Conference. In fact, they could not only just crack into the West's top five teams, but also shatter the conference's caste system where essentially six teams have playoff spots already spoken for while the rest battle tooth and nail for what little scraps are left; however, despite the numerous times they have proven their capabilities, many still remain unconvinced. Many analysts and commentators still have disregarded the Memphis Grizzlies as a mere afterthought favoring instead to shine their spotlights on the league's sexier teams with the marquee players and huge box office amd television draws rather than give a grind it out team such as the Grizz a fair shake. So once again Memphis has been swept under the rug by both the league and its media partners and once again, they will have to prove not only to themselves, but to the basketball world that a team does not need to be in a big market or have marquee names in order to make it far in the NBA. In fact, maybe history will repeat itself as the league's dark horse will once again rise out from the shadows and upset the balance of power as it has done before. |
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Thursday, November 27, 2014
SDH Presents NBA Recap: Wizards vs. Cavaliers, November 26th
+LeBron James (29 points, 10 rebounds) led the +Cleveland Cavaliers to a 113-87 win over the +Washington Wizards. Visit nba.com/video for more highlights and always keep up with all 30+NBA teams right here on +Slap Dog Hoops. Also, please be kind enough to share this post by simply clicking the Facebook, Twitter, G+, and Pinterest buttons below. It would be greatly appreciated; Thanks!
SDH Presents NBA Recap: Warriors vs. Magic, November 26th
+Stephen Curry scored 28 points and grabbed five rebounds as the +Golden State Warriors dropped the +Orlando Magic in Orlando. Visit nba.com/video for more highlights and always keep up with all 30+NBA teams right here on +Slap Dog Hoops. Also, please be kind enough to share this post by simply clicking the Facebook, Twitter, G+, and Pinterest buttons below. It would be greatly appreciated; Thanks!
SDH Presents NBA Recap: Nets vs. 76ers, November 26th
Joe Johnson scored 21 points as the +Brooklyn Nets held off the +Philadelphia 76ers 99-91. Visit nba.com/video for more highlights and always keep up with all 30+NBA teams right here on +Slap Dog Hoops. Also, please be kind enough to share this post by simply clicking the Facebook, Twitter, G+, and Pinterest buttons below. It would be greatly appreciated; Thanks!
SDH Presents The Starters – November 26th
The guys give you tips on how to school that family member who knows nothing about sports, bring you the “Top 10 Blocks” of the season, and Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas answers questions on "The Hot Seat." Visit nba.com/video for more highlights and always keep up with all 30+NBA teams right here on +Slap Dog Hoops. Also, please be kind enough to share this post by simply clicking the Facebook, Twitter, G+, and Pinterest buttons below. It would be greatly appreciated; Thanks!
SDH Presents NBA Recap: Bucks vs. Timberwolves, November 26th
Larry Sanders scores 15 points, grabs seven rebounds and adds five blocks to help the +Milwaukee Bucks to a 103-86 victory over the +Minnesota Timberwolves. Visit nba.com/video for more highlights and always keep up with all 30+NBA teams right here on +Slap Dog Hoops. Also, please be kind enough to share this post by simply clicking the Facebook, Twitter, G+, and Pinterest buttons below. It would be greatly appreciated; Thanks!
SDH Presents NBA Recap: Jazz vs. Thunder, November 26th
Reggie Jackson (22 points, 8 assists) led the +Oklahoma City Thunder to a 97-82 victory over the +Utah Jazz. Visit nba.com/video for more highlights and always keep up with all 30+NBA teams right here on +Slap Dog Hoops. Also, please be kind enough to share this post by simply clicking the Facebook, Twitter, G+, and Pinterest buttons below. It would be greatly appreciated; Thanks!
SDH Presents NBA Recap: Pacers vs. Spurs, November 26th
+Manu Ginobli scored 28 points in the +San Antonio Spurs 106-100 win over the +Indiana Pacers. Visit nba.com/video for more highlights and always keep up with all 30+NBA teams right here on +Slap Dog Hoops. Also, please be kind enough to share this post by simply clicking the Facebook, Twitter, G+, and Pinterest buttons below. It would be greatly appreciated; Thanks!
SDH Presents NBA Recap: Nuggets vs. Suns, November 26th
Gerald Green scored 24 points in the +Phoenix Suns' 120-112 win over the +Denver Nuggets. Visit nba.com/video for more highlights and always keep up with all 30+NBA teams right here on +Slap Dog Hoops. Also, please be kind enough to share this post by simply clicking the Facebook, Twitter, G+, and Pinterest buttons below. It would be greatly appreciated; Thanks!
SDH Presents NBA Recap: Grizzlies vs. Lakers, November 26th
+Marc Gasol (19 points, 11 rebounds) led the +Memphis Grizzlies to a 99-93 victory over the +Los Angeles Lakers. Visit nba.com/video for more highlights and always keep up with all 30+NBA teams right here on +Slap Dog Hoops. Also, please be kind enough to share this post by simply clicking the Facebook, Twitter, G+, and Pinterest buttons below. It would be greatly appreciated; Thanks!
SDH Presents NBA Recap: Kings vs. Rockets, November 26th
+James Harden scored 26 points and added 8 assists as the +Houston Rockets dethroned the +Sacramento Kings 102-89. Visit nba.com/video for more highlights and always keep up with all 30+NBA teams right here on +Slap Dog Hoops. Also, please be kind enough to share this post by simply clicking the Facebook, Twitter, G+, and Pinterest buttons below. It would be greatly appreciated; Thanks!
SDH Presents NBA Recap: Clippers vs. Pistons, November 26th
+Chris Paul scored 23 points and dished out seven assists in the +Los Angeles Clippers 104-98 win over the +Detroit Pistons. Visit nba.com/video for more highlights and always keep up with all 30+NBA teams right here on +Slap Dog Hoops. Also, please be kind enough to share this post by simply clicking the Facebook, Twitter, G+, and Pinterest buttons below. It would be greatly appreciated; Thanks!
SDH Presents NBA Recap: Raptors vs Hawks, November 26th
+Demar Derozan scored 27 points and Lou Williams added 22 as the +Toronto Raptors beat the +Atlanta Hawks 126-115. Visit nba.com/video for more highlights and always keep up with all 30+NBA teams right here on +Slap Dog Hoops. Also, please be kind enough to share this post by simply clicking the Facebook, Twitter, G+, and Pinterest buttons below. It would be greatly appreciated; Thanks!
SDH Presents NBA Recap: Knicks vs. Mavericks, November 26th
The +Dallas Mavericks dropped +New York Knicks in overtime on Wednesday, 109-102. Visit nba.com/video for more highlights and always keep up with all 30+NBA teams right here on +Slap Dog Hoops. Also, please be kind enough to share this post by simply clicking the Facebook, Twitter, G+, and Pinterest buttons below. It would be greatly appreciated; Thanks!
SDH Presents NBA Recap: Trail Blazers vs. Hornets, November 26th
+LaMarcus Aldridge scores nine points and grabs 14 rebounds as the +Portland Trail Blazers beat the +Charlotte Hornets in Charlotte. Visit nba.com/video for more highlights and always keep up with all 30+NBA teams right here on +Slap Dog Hoops. Also, please be kind enough to share this post by simply clicking the Facebook, Twitter, G+, and Pinterest buttons below. It would be greatly appreciated; Thanks!
SDH Presents Wiggins and Parker Facing Off for First Time
+Jabari Parker and +Andrew Wiggins, the two top picks in the 2014 NBA Draft, faced one another for the first time in the regular season. Visit nba.com/video for more highlights and always keep up with all 30+NBA teams right here on +Slap Dog Hoops. Also, please be kind enough to share this post by simply clicking the Facebook, Twitter, G+, and Pinterest buttons below. It would be greatly appreciated; Thanks!
SDH Presents Dirk Scoring Season High in OT Win
+Dirk Nowitzki had a season-high 30 points for the +Dallas Mavericks in Wednesday's win. Visit nba.com/video for more highlights and always keep up with all 30+NBA teams right here on +Slap Dog Hoops. Also, please be kind enough to share this post by simply clicking the Facebook, Twitter, G+, and Pinterest buttons below. It would be greatly appreciated; Thanks!
SDH's 2014/2015 NBA Worst to First Previews and Predictions: 11. Golden State Warriors
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Overall Win/Loss Record : 51-31 second place Pacific Division
2014/2015 Projection: 48-34, second place Pacific Division, seventh
place Western Conference
Projected 2014/2015 Finish
11
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Last season’s Team Statistics and
League Rank
|
Returning Individual Statistical
Leaders
|
Projected Opening Day Starters Based on Past Performances and Potential Impact:
|
Key Reserves Rank Based on Past Performances and Potential Impact::
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After years of futility, Warriors fans can now celebrate that their team will no longer be a perennial cellar dweller in the NBA after two straight playoff appearances as well as its first 50+ win season in twenty years. Unlike most Warrior teams who would simply make the playoffs once in a blue moon, this one looks as it is here to stay thanks to a solid and competent front office which is completely in sync with the coaching staff and the players on the court--something that the team has not had in eons. For the first time in its history, Golden State finally has built a winning culture based on the continual pursuit of excellence where simply just making the playoffs and losing in the first round--something that the organization would have been satisfied with just a few years ago. What the Warriors organization want now is a championship and even though it enjoyed one of its best winning stretches in its history, that was simply not enough in their eyes, especially since they following such an excellent regular season run with a first round elimination by the +Los Angeles Clippers. That is why they parted ways with the previous coach, Mark Jackson, the man who had actually brought the Warriors to where they are in the first place replacing him with rookie head coach Steve Kerr because sticking with Jackson would have meant remaining at the status quot.
Unfortunately, despite their best intentions, simply changing the coaching staff is simply not enough for this Golden State team to take the next level earning that elusive championship dream and Kerr might just find himself in the same situation as Jackson. The problem with the Warriors is that save for their dynamic back court duo of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, there is virtually nothing else on that roster that can maintain a consistent presence on the court long enough for it to reach its potential. Come playoff time last season, Golden State had already lost two of their starters, Andrew Bogut and David Lee, to season ending injuries thus making them completely unavailable for the entire post season thus leaving the team severely shorthanded upon its arrival in the post season. When they are on the court together, no one can argue that both Lee and Bogut make one of the league's most imposing front courts with Bogut's ability to crash the boards, block shot and protect the rim while Lee balance them out with his effective and efficient scoring in the paint; however over the past couple season that has not been the case. Neither have been able to play a full season, let alone be ready to carry themselves and their team through to the playoffs and with them being owed nearly 40$ million for the next three years, the Warriors are essentially stuck with them unless they can find a sucker to take at least one of them of their hands. Add both Lee's and Bogut's contracts to that of the Curry's (30$ million over the next three years) and the fellow "spalsh brother" Klay Thompson's 70$ million extension that will begin next season and will last for the next four years, the Warriors are pretty much capped out. Even with the salary cap looking to encroach to nearly 80$ million next season thanks to the NBA's next new television deal, Golden State will basically have its hands tied for the next two or three years. Curry's, Klays, Bogie's, and Lee's contracts will take up approximately 60$ million of the Warriors' cap space for the next three years which is not too bad since in theory; however, add the nearly 13$ million the Warrior's invested this season and the approximate 27$ to 30$ for the next two in an underwhelming Andre Iguodola, that pushes the cap number to about 73$ million. Last, but certainly not the least, let us not forget the recently signed Shaun Livingston, whose comeback season with the +Brooklyn Nets earned him a three year deal at around 6$ million per year, the Warriors have essentially locked themselves to 79$ million of salary essentially tying its hands for the next three years for players that are either not reliable enough to play through a season without being struck with a season ending injury, or simply is vastly overrated to be deserving of the money they got signed to. Andre Iguodala can be considered as the perfect example of a player who has had both the perception of his value as well as his ego over inflated for his entire career and despite all his accolades has failed to live up to them each and every time. After an amazing four year stint where he produced a amazing 18 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, and two steals per game, Iguodala's offensive production dropped significantly to 14 points and has consistently dropped for the next three years. Unfortunately, despite his significant statistical drops, he still carries the undeserved moniker of an "All Star" and major impact player as well as the huge price tag that comes with the recognition even though he has not played up to that level in four years. In his Warriors' debut, Andre got paid an All Star's salary of 12$ million, but on the court, he produced a measly nine points, five rebounds and five assists per game in 32 minutes of playing time thus making him potentially one of the biggest free agent blunders in NBA history. What is worse about this situation is that he is still on the hook for another 36 million for three year and if last season was a sign of what to expect, then Iguodala will look to become the most expensive role player to ever play in the league. Iguodala's presence has not hurt the Warriors' flexibility for the next two or three years, but it also has hampered the development of Harrison Barnes, who followed a promising rookie season with a less than stellar sophomore appearance as he come off the bench in favor for Iguodala. It will be interesting to see what Golden State does once Barnes becomes eligible for a contract extension since they have essentially reached the limit on their salary cap and once they sign Barnes the will likely reach the luxury tax threshold and will be forced to pay twice for every dollar paid over the cap. As for Lee, even though his contract expires at the end of next season, that has not garnered enough interest of any teams to facilitate a trade and with him being a regular on the injured list, the Warriors' depth in the front court is severely hampered as there is virtually no one that has shown capable to cover for him once he returns to wearing street clothes come mid season. The only real option for the Warriors once Lee falls is an undersized Draymond Green who prides himself on his supposed versatility, yet neither has the size to matchup with the league other bigs or the speed and athleticism to play at the small forward. The other option is an enigmatic Mareese Speights who has the size, skills and talent to take on any opposing big man in the league; however, neither his coaches, teammates or fans know what type of player will arrive come opening tip off as his ability to play at a consistent level game in and game out has been severly questioned. Shaun Livingston was brought in to strengthen what can be considered as a rather weak second unit and will probably be a great asset with his size, athleticism and abilities as he can be inserted in either guard position as well as the small forward spot; however, he is no way a game changing player. At best he will provide solid backup minutes behind Stephen Curry at the point guard position, plus may be also inserted alongside the Splash Brothers allowing both Curry and Klay to play off the ball instead of having to facilitate the offense themselves. Altogether, as a team, the Warriors are a little to be desired with its roster that consists of dead weight contracts, less than spectacular bench, and very shallow front court depth leaving both Curry and Klay to be the sole consistent offensive producers. If either one or both of them fall to injury during the season, then the team will be in plenty of trouble as there is virtually no one else who has the ability to pick up the slack on both the offensive and defensive ends of the floor; plus, with their rather dire salary cap situation, the situation will not be changing anytime soon--or at least the next three or four years. Fortunately for the Warriors, their new head coach has experience when it comes to teams that boast two superstar players followed by a hodgepodge of average role players to support them; in fact, he has played for such a team. As a member of the 1996-98 +Chicago Bulls Championship team, Steve Kerr essentially came off the bench as the team's resident three point shooter playing off the greatness and riding on the coattails of +Michael Jordan and +Scottie Pippen. So in terms of organizing an offense, he can probably utilize the same Triangle Offense in which his former coach and current mentor, Phil Jackson, using both Curry and Klay as the team's two key focal points on offense and have the rest of the team ride off their greatness. He will certain not have implementing the strong defensive discipline which is often associated with team's that Jackson coached since his predecessor, Mark Jackson already set that mentality in stone; plus, being one of the top teams in the league in turnovers committed last season, Kerr's squad seems smart and disciplined enough to execute the Triangle to perfection. The only problem he has, as with the case of his experience as a player, was the fact that if either Jordan or Pippen were to fall to injury, then the Bulls would have not been capable of making the post season, let alone the championship dynasty it has ascended to at the end of the 20th century. Plus, Steve Kerr has another problem which may lead him to same result that caused the departure of his predecessor and that is even though he has two superstar caliber players in Thompson and Curry, there is no way that they can ever hold a candle to two of the greatest players to have ever played the game in Jordan and Pippen. So overall the Warriors still have the ability to remain as one of the top tier Western Conference teams falling shortly behind as such powerhouses as the +San Antonio Spurs, +Los Angeles Clippers, +Portland Trail Blazers and +Oklahoma City Thunder; however, they are in no ways able to surpass any of these teams thus remaining as first round fodder for not only this seasons, but those that follow. Golden State simply does not have the size nor roster depth to overcome any one of these teams in a seven game playoff series and those are most likely the teams the Warriors will have to go through in order to have a chance to reach its first NBA Finals since 1975. They simply are not good enough with just Curry and Klay leading the charge, and with the way the salary cap situation looks for Golden State, it seems as if that situation will not change anytime soon. That's not a very good omen as two or three years from now, both Curry and Klay's contracts will expire making them unrestricted free agent and the Warriors will be hard pressed trying to convince those two to return to a team that has gone nowhere fast. Short of a natural disaster such an earthquake swallowing up the entire Bay Area during a Warriors home game, expect much of the same with the Warrior being among the top five finishers in the West only to see them get eliminated for either the first or second rounds of the playoffs. |
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