Yes, folks. It's that time of the year that we all start thinking about the game with the orange ball and hoop. It's that time of the year where all 30 of basketball's highest teams think they have a shot at glory. It's a joyful time of prediction making, and so forth. So, Ben On Sports has decided, of course, to join in on the action in a 3 part series. There never is any point to making the predictions and previews, as they always turn out to be false. However, it certainly is a blast. Today, we will look at the bottom 3 of the league. Soon, part 2 will showcase the TOP 3 in the league, and part 3 will show the ones in the middle.
#30 Philadelphia 76ers:
Oh my. Where do I start on this one? 1: Philly just traded their best player, Jrue Holliday, to the New Orleans Pelicans, for, for the most part, nothing. 2: Their highest draft pick, Nerlens Noel, is out for the season with an injury he sustained while playing with the Kentucky Wildcats. 3: The 76ers organization waited until the last minute to hire their head coach, losing out on some of the best coaching prospects in the league. 4: They have a boatload of very mediocre players to piddle around with in the starting lineup, the top 3 being small forwards Thaddeus Young and Evan Turner, and center Spencer Hawes. Young and Turner are both good, young players, but sadly with the weak talent around them, things could be quite ugly for them this year. 5: They will be starting a very inexperienced rookie at point guard this year in Michael Carter-Williams to replace Holliday. Carter-Williams has a lot of potential, but there is no question he will struggle as a starter in this league at his age. Finally, 6: They picked up the drama show of Royce White during this offseason (Yikes). If you don't know his story, you need to look it up.
#29 Utah Jazz
A youth movement has struck Salt Lake City hard this go around, and it will sting. Although, in the long run, it was probably the best possible move, Utah parted ways with their top two players in Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap to make room for the younger talent on the team to take over. Watch for their corp of Gordon Hayward, Derrick Favors, Enes Kanter, and Trey Burke (who is nursing a broken finger) to surprise some people. Favors led the team in blocks last year, and he'll only get better in SLC, as he was just locked up for a 4 year contract extension. Hayward, the former Butler Bulldogs star, can be a little goofy with turnovers sometimes, but his shooting prowess is continuing to fly upwards. Kanter and Burker really have the most to prove right now, but they'll have time to gel. I say by February this could be a team to be a spoiler in the west every night, but due to the strength of their division as a whole, and the fact that they haven't had enough time to become acclimated to all the changes, they will be the worst in the west this year.
#28 Orlando Magic
Patience is the word relayed by the Magic organization. With talent that, in a few years (noticed I underlined that) could be a playoff contender, coach Jacques Vaughn will have 'fun' tinkering around with this lineup this year. It really starts with how center Nikola Vucevic plays. No one seems to understand how this kid could become the best center in the league in a few years, as he averaged a double-double last year, at 23 years old, unbeknownst to everyone. He is one of my favorite players to watch in this league, and the most underrated. But after him, things get cloudy. Victor Oladipo, Orlando's top draft pick, has potential through the roof, but he hasn't played an NBA game yet. I need to see that before I can make seriously say he'll be good this year. What about Moe Harkless? I like the kid, but I think he left the St. Johns Red Storm too early in his college career. Once again, potential through the roof, but it will be a while before he blossoms. Finally, I say the long time Orlando player Jameer Nelson will be traded mid-season, further letting the team get younger. This team could be much higher than #28, but until they prove it, they're here.
For tonight, so long. We will see you for Part 2 soon!
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