Head-scratchers
Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2016 10:00 pm
Every team has questions facing them heading into the season. This article looks at some of the trickier questions around the league.
To Compete or Not to Compete
Boston Celtics - Conroy definitely hasn’t gone into full blown tank mode and he made some decent free agent offers but he also isn’t actively seeking the playoffs. It seems that he likes his core of Wall, Asik, and Dudley and will be content with another late lottery pick.
New York Knicks - After landing mostly picks in the fire sale and still having some quality pieces left on the roster, it seems they are opting for a strategy of signing guys they hope they can sell off to contenders later on.
Washington Wizards - This GM was not a fan of sending Hinrich back West. That is really all I have to say about this penny pinching middling move.
VanMemphis Grizzlies - I honestly have no clue what is going on here.
Seattle Supersonics - They had a fire sale but brought in two second contract studs with those deals and signed Yao. It seems Darth will still be winning some games this year.
More Holes than a Block of Swiss Cheese
New Jersey Nets - They have three really great players, two OLD superstars, and a whole bunch of question marks.
Philadelphi 76ers - Another team that made some nice moves. D-Wade, Chandler, and Amare make a nice combo but will Conley and Carrol be ready to fill in the gaps?
Indiana Pacers - They made some nice deals for Moz and Gortat but seem to have swung a missed in free agency. Or was that on purpose because Moz isn’t ready yet? Maybe I put them in the wrong category. . .
New Orleans Hornets - Two super stars, two role players, and the usual Nick Malone squad.
Los Angeles Lakers - This team only has one hole. The problem is that they always have one hole and they just keep moving it around the boat. Can they survive with a 32 year-old 6’7” power forward with a 34 jump rating? I have my doubts.
Portland Trailblazers - Can the young guards step up to the challenge and deliver with a solid 3,4,5? Can a rag tag bench put in quality minutes. Unfortunately, training camp will probably have a lot to say about that and that is never a good thing.
Double vision
Miami Heat - They have three really talented big men. Any one of them could easily be turned into a quality point guard with the right trade. Will the ever-conservative GM make his big move this year?
Orlando Magic - The Magic made some nice deals to bring in two great players in Melo and Rashard Lewis. The problem? They are the same player. Aging Rashard and a younger poorer man’s Rashard. How will that play out?
Chicago Bulls - 6 of their 7 best players are wings. That’s going to cause some problems.
Cleveland Cavaliers - They employ five starting quality SFs. This sounds familiar. . .
Phoenix Suns - I know they are set at the 3,4,5 but 7 guards over the age of 30 and zero younger than 30 spell trouble for the reigning champs.
Sacramento Kings - They picked up 3 great PFs this offseason. The only problem is they also have 5 combo guards The good news is that if they really want to compete now they have the pieces and the flexibility to bring in a great wing.
Too young? Too old?
Atlanta Hawks - WIth Duncan, Finley, and Battier looking past their primes, do the Hawks still have enough to win it all?
Detroit Pistons - Is this the year Aldridge take the leap? Is this the year we say RIP to Rip? Can Lin contribute now?
Toronto Raptors - The Raptors have some nice pieces in place but is it still too early to expect DeRozan and Bynum to lead? Parker should at least be able to spoil their pick for whoever has it.
Dallas Mavericks - The Mavs did a nice job in free agency, landing Butler and Prince and picked up S-Jax in a trade but should they have? Whiteside and Holiday are still too young, right? Time will tell.
Houston Rockets - Pretty much the same story as the Mavs. They did a nice job landing Wells, Dunleavy, and Okur but with so many young guys, should they have waited?
Utah Jazz - These three teams have been running together lately and I’m not sure why. They bring in Booth and Jefferson but George and Rubio still have a ways to go.
Minnesota Timberwolves - They have a bunch of guys in their primes with a few guys that might be a little young but honestly this team looks good.
San Antonio Spurs - They have a bunch of guys in their primes with a few guys that might be a little young but honestly this team looks good. Wait a second. . .
Golden State Warriors - The future is so unbelievably bright for this team the only question is could the future be now?
Los Angeles Clippers - With Durant still developing and Dirk on the decline is there trouble ahead for the Clips this year?
How long will this last?
Milwaukee Bucks - The Bucks seem settled in for a long rebuild offering long term contracts to project guys and taking a lot of picks in their fire sale.
Denver Nuggets - Rondo is back under contract but will the Nuggets be able to recover before his four years are up?
To Compete or Not to Compete
Boston Celtics - Conroy definitely hasn’t gone into full blown tank mode and he made some decent free agent offers but he also isn’t actively seeking the playoffs. It seems that he likes his core of Wall, Asik, and Dudley and will be content with another late lottery pick.
New York Knicks - After landing mostly picks in the fire sale and still having some quality pieces left on the roster, it seems they are opting for a strategy of signing guys they hope they can sell off to contenders later on.
Washington Wizards - This GM was not a fan of sending Hinrich back West. That is really all I have to say about this penny pinching middling move.
VanMemphis Grizzlies - I honestly have no clue what is going on here.
Seattle Supersonics - They had a fire sale but brought in two second contract studs with those deals and signed Yao. It seems Darth will still be winning some games this year.
More Holes than a Block of Swiss Cheese
New Jersey Nets - They have three really great players, two OLD superstars, and a whole bunch of question marks.
Philadelphi 76ers - Another team that made some nice moves. D-Wade, Chandler, and Amare make a nice combo but will Conley and Carrol be ready to fill in the gaps?
Indiana Pacers - They made some nice deals for Moz and Gortat but seem to have swung a missed in free agency. Or was that on purpose because Moz isn’t ready yet? Maybe I put them in the wrong category. . .
New Orleans Hornets - Two super stars, two role players, and the usual Nick Malone squad.
Los Angeles Lakers - This team only has one hole. The problem is that they always have one hole and they just keep moving it around the boat. Can they survive with a 32 year-old 6’7” power forward with a 34 jump rating? I have my doubts.
Portland Trailblazers - Can the young guards step up to the challenge and deliver with a solid 3,4,5? Can a rag tag bench put in quality minutes. Unfortunately, training camp will probably have a lot to say about that and that is never a good thing.
Double vision
Miami Heat - They have three really talented big men. Any one of them could easily be turned into a quality point guard with the right trade. Will the ever-conservative GM make his big move this year?
Orlando Magic - The Magic made some nice deals to bring in two great players in Melo and Rashard Lewis. The problem? They are the same player. Aging Rashard and a younger poorer man’s Rashard. How will that play out?
Chicago Bulls - 6 of their 7 best players are wings. That’s going to cause some problems.
Cleveland Cavaliers - They employ five starting quality SFs. This sounds familiar. . .
Phoenix Suns - I know they are set at the 3,4,5 but 7 guards over the age of 30 and zero younger than 30 spell trouble for the reigning champs.
Sacramento Kings - They picked up 3 great PFs this offseason. The only problem is they also have 5 combo guards The good news is that if they really want to compete now they have the pieces and the flexibility to bring in a great wing.
Too young? Too old?
Atlanta Hawks - WIth Duncan, Finley, and Battier looking past their primes, do the Hawks still have enough to win it all?
Detroit Pistons - Is this the year Aldridge take the leap? Is this the year we say RIP to Rip? Can Lin contribute now?
Toronto Raptors - The Raptors have some nice pieces in place but is it still too early to expect DeRozan and Bynum to lead? Parker should at least be able to spoil their pick for whoever has it.
Dallas Mavericks - The Mavs did a nice job in free agency, landing Butler and Prince and picked up S-Jax in a trade but should they have? Whiteside and Holiday are still too young, right? Time will tell.
Houston Rockets - Pretty much the same story as the Mavs. They did a nice job landing Wells, Dunleavy, and Okur but with so many young guys, should they have waited?
Utah Jazz - These three teams have been running together lately and I’m not sure why. They bring in Booth and Jefferson but George and Rubio still have a ways to go.
Minnesota Timberwolves - They have a bunch of guys in their primes with a few guys that might be a little young but honestly this team looks good.
San Antonio Spurs - They have a bunch of guys in their primes with a few guys that might be a little young but honestly this team looks good. Wait a second. . .
Golden State Warriors - The future is so unbelievably bright for this team the only question is could the future be now?
Los Angeles Clippers - With Durant still developing and Dirk on the decline is there trouble ahead for the Clips this year?
How long will this last?
Milwaukee Bucks - The Bucks seem settled in for a long rebuild offering long term contracts to project guys and taking a lot of picks in their fire sale.
Denver Nuggets - Rondo is back under contract but will the Nuggets be able to recover before his four years are up?
