By: Lucas Kochevar
The Boston Celtics had one of the biggest off seasons in the last couple of years. They made very big acquisitions that started by drafting SF Jayson Tatum. They also drafted a couple of other good role players. They went out and then traded expiring contract Avery Bradley for a good player in Marcus Morris. Then they had a huge splash in free agency and signed Gordon Hayward. Hayward was an all star last year and was one of the most attractive free agents. The most impactful move that they made was trade Isiah Thomas to the Cavs for Kyrie, which I have reported on in the 'Let Me Explain...' section. This gave the Celtics a lineup of Kyrie, Jaylen Brown, Hayward, Morris, and Al Horford and then tragedy struck when Hayward broke his ankle in the first game. This is what their starting lineup right now. PG: Kyrie Irving SG: Jaylen Brown SF: Jayson Tatum PF: Al Horford C: Aaron Baynes 6th Man: Marcus Morris Kyrie starts at the one and he has lead the Celtics in a spectacular way. He is still one of the most dangerous offensive superstars and he has even started playing defense with Brad Stevens. The SG is sophomore guard Jaylen Brown. He is quite large for a SG, but him and Tatum/Hayward are all interchangeable. Brown is great defender and a superb athlete that flies around the court. SF is Tatum and he is perhaps the best rookie in his draft class. Tatum is a very smart player that has a beautiful shooting stroke and he can drive very effectively. Al Horford is one of the smartest players in the league and has been the glue for this Celtics team. He has provided good scoring, spacing, and good rim protecting, despite being undersized at his position. Baynes is a filler player as he rebounds well and can play defense. The Celtics look like they can compete with anyone and they have a legit shot at the championship.
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By: Lucas Kochevar
The Minnesota Timberwolves made some very nice moves this off season and they look like a truly dangerous team. The Twolves are a couple months into the season now and they are really clicking as Jimmy Butler has established his role as the leader and Karl-Anthony Towns has done a great job backing him up. The Timberwolves are currently one of the few teams that I believe has a shot at Golden State if they are healthy and follow Jimmy Butler. This is their projected starting lineup. PG: Jeff Teague SG: Jimmy Butler SF: Andrew Wiggins PF: Taj Gibson C: Karl-Anthony 6th Man: Jamal Crawford Minnesota made a great move by getting a sold starting PG that can score pretty regularly. Teague provides a stability at PG that they have been lacking for a couple of years. SG is Jimmy Butler, who they traded for. Butler should provide the right amount of scoring and defense that makes the Wolves very hard to guard. Andrew Wiggins is at SF. Wiggins still has a ways to go defensively, but he is very good scorer. His three pointer needs work as it is inconsistent, but he is a decent starter for them. PF is Taj Gibson. Gibson has been one of the best rebounding PF for a couple of years and he is a consistent player as you know what you are getting from him night in and night out. Center is KAT. KAT is a stud, young center. He can do basically anything you ask him and some. He is the total package and should be great for years to come. By: Lucas Kochevar
The Oklahoma City Thunder are insanely good on paper and they should be a dominant force in the league. As of right now, they are out of the playoff picture. They have been terrible on offense and they have blown several games. In most of their wins they have held fourth quarter leads. The Thunder have the talent of a championship contender. They have an MVP PG, an all star SG, a lockdown SF, an all time great scorer, and a great all around center. The Thunder have the tools, they just need to put it together. This is their projected starting lineup PG: Russell Westbrook SG: Paul George SF: Andre Roberson PF: Carmelo Anthony C: Steven Adams 6th Man: Patrick Patterson The Thunder PG spot is easily Westbrook. Westbrook was the MVP last season as he is a triple double machine. Westbrook will have to learn to share with his new ball dominant teammates. Paul George is the SG as he shifts from SF. He will be a defensive force since he does not have to carry an offense like he did in Indiana. SF is Andre Roberson. Roberson is a dud on offense, but he is a first team defense talent. Carmelo Anthony also moves from SF to PF. He is a mismatch for nearly every PF as he can space the floor among other things. He can be a problem, however, if he takes too many shots. The center spot is Steven Adams. Adams is one of the better true centers in the league. Adams is a great post defender and he is very good in the post on offense, as well. The bench is full of solid players, but most of the time the bench will have one of the big three with them, like Westbrook, George, or Anthony. The Thunder should make the playoffs, but I do not know how far they will make it if they do not improve. By: Lucas Kochevar
The Washington Wizards are one of the more lethal teams in the East. They also have one of the best back courts in the NBA. John Wall is arguably a top three PG and he is paired with Bradley Beal. Beal is a great SG that has the ability to score at will. The Wizards should really give the Cavs or Celtics trouble. Here is their projected starting line up PG: John Wall SG: Bradley Beal SF: Otto Porter Jr. PF: Markieff Morris C: Marcin Gortrat 6th Man: Kelly Oubre Jr. The Wizards PG spot is easily lead by Wall. Wall is a dynamic playmaker that makes his team better. Beal is the SG that pairs with Wall. Beal has a deadly three pointer and he has a chance to go off for 30 every night. The SF spot is Otto Porter Jr., who might have one of the sneakiest seasons. He is a player that is slept on because he never has big numbers. Consistently he does his job and will continue to do it this year. Oubre is his back up and will provide fire and slashing off the bench. The PF is Markieff Morris, who is a reliable option as well. he will provide some much needed floor spacing along with good defense. The center is Gortrat and he will surely provide solid offense, which includes his deadly screens, and average defense. He is getting older, which will be a concern going forward. Another sleeper off the bench will be former Hawks forward Mike Scott. Scott should provide great scoring off the bench if he is healthy. Watch out for the Wiz as they will try to make the ECF. By: Lucas Kochevar
The Clippers lost their starting point guard in Chris Paul and people do not think they will rebound. But I do. I actually really like this team and its depth. They managed to swindle the Rockets out of an All-Team Defense player in Patrick Beverly and very strong bench pieces. They brought back Blake Griffin on a mega deal and they brought in wing scorer Danilo Gallinari. The Clippers are one of the most underrated teams this year and will be solid. This is their projected starting lineup. PG: Patrick Beverly SG: Austin Rivers SF: Danilo Gallinari PF: Blake Griffin C: Deandre Jordan 6th Man: Lou WIlliams The PG spot is held by Patrick Beverly and Milos Tedosic, when he is healthy. Beverly is an elite defender and will get in everyone's face. He does not back down from anyone as he is very tenacious. The SG is Austin Rivers since J.J. Redick left. Rivers is a solid option, but he is the weak spot in the starting lineup. The advantage for them is that their backup SG is former sixth man Lou Williams. SF is Gallinari and he is a huge dynamic scorer. He is 6'10, but he can score from any spot on the floor. Blake Griffin will be the rock for this team as he is the lonely superstar now. Griffin has expanded his game and we will get to see what he is like on his own. Jordan is not one of the best centers when it comes to overall talent but he is a perfect rebounder and defender. The Clippers are a very capable playoff team and should be in the playoff race. |
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