Southwest Preview

There was a lot of turnover in the bottom of the Southwest this summer. Most notably, the Hornets drafted Anthony Davis first overall and then took Austin Rivers tenth, giving them a promising core for the future. The Rockets signed Jeremy Lin, then used their three first-round picks on guys who will play for them right away. The Mavericks, after an awful title defense, signed O.J. Mayo and Darren Collison as backcourt upgrades. The two top dogs, San Antonio and Memphis, stood pat this offseason, as they believe they already have the talent to compete for a championship.

1. San Antonio Spurs
After two surprising runs as the West's regular season champions, the task is more difficult this year. The ageless trio of Duncan-Ginobli-Parker will win games this year with their chemistry, continuity and coaching. Their Big Three will be helped by the youth of Danny Green and Kawhi Leonard as well as the experience of Boris Diaw and Stephen Jackson. Dejaun Blair, Gary Neal and Matt Bonner will also see minutes as the Spurs need to have a deep team to rest their aging stars. They may not be the most fun team to watch (even though they were second in scoring last year), but Gregg Popovich will get the most out of every player and with him the Spurs are always a contender.

2. Memphis Grizzlies
After losing a heart-breaking series in the first round last season, the Grizzlies will be hungry to prove themselves as a top-four seed out West. Rudy Gay has only gotten better as the go-to-scorer in Memphis. Zach Randolph was never fully healthy last season. He will be needed for his scoring, rebounding and toughness. Point guard Mike Conley is another guy who keeps improving, he is capable of running the floor for this team. Shooting guard Tony Allen is valuable as he can shut down the opposing team's best scorer. But center Marc Gasol is the guy it starts with. He anchors the interior defense and his skilled passing and mid-range game allows Memphis to run the offense through him.The Grizzlies are a very solid team, but may be one player away from becoming a serious competitor in the West.

3. Dallas Mavericks
Mark Cuban could not have been happy with his beloved Mavs last year. They looked sluggish from the start and were promptly swept in the first round of the playoffs. Dirk Nowitzki is immortalized in Dallas, but last season he looked like a guy out of his prime. The Mavs got younger this summer. Replacing Jason Kidd and Jason Terry with Darren Collison and O.J. Mayo. But these Mavericks still don't' look like the perennial contenders of 2011 and before. They are old and build around an aging superstar. Rick Carlisle is one of the best coaches around, but there's not enough talent on the Mavs for them to be a serious contender.

 4. New Orleans Hornets
After "winning" the lottery and getting future star Anthony Davis, the Hornets have as bright a future as anybody this side of OKC. Austin Rivers and Eric Gordon are two talented scorers that will be fun to watch when on the court at the same time. Ryan Anderson was a nice pick-up. He is a three-point marksman who will also provide good rebounding. Expect Davis to be among the leaders in blocks this season. He is the most complete big man to enter the league since Duncan. Who knows where he will lead the Hornets this year and beyond?

5. Houston Rockets
They Rockets had an eventful offseason making a lot of moves that may have no real impact this year. They failed to get Dwight Howard and also let go of point guard Kyle Lowry. They did sign Jeremy Lin, but it's uncertain if he can sustain his play from Linsanity. With their three first-round picks, Houston drafted Jeremy Lamb, Terrence Jones and Royce White. Lamb was the best player available and he will score in the NBA. White can do a lot of things, but the Rockets will have to work around his fear of flying. Kevin Martin is still there. He's lead the Rockets in scoring for the past few years and will likely do so again. Chandler Parsons showed good things as a rookie last year. But with a frontcourt lead by Omer Asik, the Rockets could be cellar dwelling in the West.

We finish the divisional previews with the Northwest. Stay posted.


 

Pacific Preview

The Pacific was ruled by L.A. last year, and this will be the case this year. The Lakers and Clippers both made moves that will allow them to compete in the deep Western Conference. The Warriors, coming off a good draft, have hope if their star Stephen Curry can stay healthy. The Suns will be rebuilding now that longtime point guard Steve Nash left for greener (or yellower) pastures. The Kings have been perennially bad and are hoping to see good things from rookie Thomas Robinson. As usual, teams are ranked in order of projected divisional finish. 

1. Los Angeles Lakers 

After pulling off a shrewd deal to get Dwight Howard, the Lakers also traded for Steve Nash. This makes them the favorite in the West. Of course it all starts with Kobe Bryant. He is 34, but still finished second in scoring last year. Pau Gasol will have less pressure this year, as teams will have their attention on Howard. Rounding out the starting five is Metta World Peace. He will bring perimeter D and toughness every game. The versatile Antawn Jamison will make an impact off the bench in his first year as a Laker. On paper, the starting five for the Lakers is a fantasy team. Kobe and Howard will be the focus of opponents and the media, but Nash is the key. His ability to run the pick and roll will get the most out of Howard, something Orlando could never do. In close games, Kobe will have the ball, and fans may be worried about him forcing shots. But with a team this talented, there won't be many close games. 

2. Los Angeles Clippers

Lob City had a nice playoff series win last year and Clipper fans are wanting more. The Clips had nice pick-ups this summer in getting Lamar Odom, Grant Hill and Jamal Crawford. Hopefully at least two of those guys (especially Odom) can play at a high level this year. As we all know, this is Chris Paul's team. He's the best point guard in the league and third on most preseason MVP ballots. The Clippers are also counting on continued improvement from Blake Griffin. Sure he will have great dunks, but there are gaping holes in his game (mid-range/free-throw shooting). Best case for the Clippers will be a 3-seed in the West. A good playoff run will only elevate Paul's greatness and will also quiet some of those Griffin critics. 

3. Golden State Warriors

A tormented fan base was treated to a nice draft with Harrison Barnes and Draymond Green becoming the newest Warriors. After trading for Andrew Bogut last year, the Warriors will have the very capable lineup of Curry, Klay Thompson, Barnes, David Lee, and Bogut. Of course, they need Curry to play all season, which he failed to do last year. Assuming that his ankles are not paper mache, Curry is a good scorer and elite shooter. Thompson had a great rookie season. He and Barnes will form a lethal wing duo. David Lee is consistent scorer and rebounder at power forward and Bogut is an above-average center when in form. Green and Carl Landry will come off the bench. This team will score points and if things go right for Golden State, the Warriors could see their first playoff-berth since 2007.  

4. Phoenix Suns

The Nash-less Suns look like a team of randoms this year. Their core consists of three imports, Luis Scola, Martin Gortat and Goran Dragic. Also the Suns have high-picks that have washed with former teams such as Michael Beasley and Wesley Johnson. Last year's first-rounder Markieff Morris showed promise and Phoenix hopes rookie Kendall Marshall will be able to fill the void at point guard. Typically players produce more on the Suns than they did for previous teams. Phoenix hopes this will be the case for Scola, Beasley and Johnson. There are some nice players in the desert, but without a star talent, Phoenix has little chance of a playoff appearance. 

5. Sacramento Kings 

The Kings are pretty used to losing by now. They haven't made the playoffs since 2006. There's just so much that is unstable in Sacramento. Between the coaching carousel and uncertainty with their location, the Kings only hope is for their young talent to mesh together...soon. Tyreke Evans was rookie of the year in 2009, but has actually regressed since then. Demarcus Cousins has all the talent you could want in a center, but is volatile and at times uncoachable. Last year's first-round pick Jimmer Fredette really struggled, but second-rounder Isaiah Thomas showed he can play point at an NBA level, despite his 5'9" frame. The Kings chose Thomas Robinson fifth overall in this year's draft. He was the best player available and has the size and athleticism to be a good power forward. Marcus Thornton and Aaron Brooks fill out the rotation. The Kings need to show a marked improvement or else Sac-town may not have a team in the near future.  

Stay posted as we preview the Southwest next. 

  

Central Preview

The Central has been dominated by Chicago these last two years, but without Derrick Rose, the division is up for grabs. Indiana will enter as the favorite. They finished third in the East last year and bring back their starting five. Milwaukee barely missed the playoffs last year and look like they will be on the fringe once again. Cleveland and Detroit are rebuilding, hoping their young talent will pan out.

1. Indiana Pacers
Indiana surprised last year. They finished with the fifth-best record in the league and took Miami to six games in the second round of the playoffs. The Pacers play great defense, with center Roy Hibbert guarding the paint and the 6'10" Paul George using his athleticism to guard the perimeter. Indiana's offense starts with Danny Granger. He is a consistent 20-point scorer who can slash as well as shoot. Power forward David West and point guard George Hill round out the starting lineup. D.J. Augustin will be a key contributor off the bench. He is the new backup point guard following the departure of Darren Collison.

2. Chicago Bulls
Hearts across the Windy City were ripped out last spring when Rose went down with a severe knee injury in the first game of the playoffs. Bulls fans cannot wait to see their star on the court. Until then it's up to Luol Deng, Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah to carry the load. Point guard will be by committee with Kirk Hinrich, Nate Robinson and rookie Marquis Teague all chipping in. Chicago needs Rip Hamilton to produce this year after being hurt most of last season. Taj Gibson will a key off the bench. He is a defensive upgrade and his play will determine if the Bulls amnesty Boozer after this season. Expect Chicago to finish in the 4-6 range in the East. Tom Thibodeau is a great coach and the Bulls play too good of defense to miss the playoffs.

3. Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks begin their first full season of the Brandon Jennings-Monta Ellis experiment. After trading Andrew Bogut last year, the Bucks will play a slew of big men including Samuel Dalembert, Drew Gooden, and rookie John Henson. Doron Lamb is another rookie that will give Milwaukee some scoring and shooting. And Ersan Ilyasova is a nice small forward who was among their leaders in scoring and rebounding last season. Back to Jennings and Ellis. Both these guys need to have the ball and both take a lot of shots. How is that going to work? It's up to coach Scott Skiles to figure that out.

4. Detroit Pistons
After missing the playoffs the last three years, the Pistons drafted another talented player in Andre Drummond. He is a raw center that will struggle to score right away, but has all the size and athleticism you could ask for. The Pistons have had success with their last two first-rounders. Greg Monroe is a nice big man who can score and excels at passing. Brandon Knight had a nice rookie year in 2012 and will be a solid point guard to build around. Veterans Tayshaun Prince and Corey Maggette will also provide some scoring, but it will be a long year in Detroit unless their young players can really improve.

5. Cleveland Cavaliers
After Dan Gilbert ate his words about his Cavs winning a championship before the King, he went out and drafted Dion Waiters fourth overall. While not a terrible pick, there were better players on the board. The Cavs love their point guard, Kyrie Irving, who is a rising star in the league. Cleveland will also rely on their two young big men, Tristan Thompson and Tyler Zeller. Thompson was drafted fourth overall last year and was likely the reason the Cavs didn't choose Thomas Robinson in the draft this year. Zeller is a nice center who has a high basketball IQ and can run the floor with ease. This Cavs team will go as far as Irving takes them, which is why it's important for him to stay healthy.

Stay posted as we preview the West, starting with the Pacific.         

Atlantic Preview

Things get tougher in the Atlantic this year. The newly located Nets added star shooting guard Joe Johnson. The Sixers lost, their best player, Andre Iguodala. However they added Andrew Bynum, who is now the best center in the East. The Celtics and Knicks made smaller additions that will keep their franchises firmly in the playoffs. And even the Raptors added point guard Kyle Lowry, who will be a good fit for their defensive scheme. All in all, the Atlantic is the toughest division in the East and maybe in all of the NBA. Like last time, teams are ranked in order of predicted divisional finish.

1. Boston Celtics
Four was a crowd in Boston as shooting guard Ray Allen skipped town this summer. It's back to the Big Three again as Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo are in position to make another run in the now sixth year of this Celtics era. They added two great shooters in Jason Terry and Courtney Lee. The Celtics get back Jeff Green after missing all of last season with a heart condition. They also had a solid draft, grabbing Jared Sullinger, Fab Melo and Kris Joseph. Boston's starting five won't begin the season together as guard Avery Bradley will be out until December after shoulder surgery. The pressure is on Rondo this year. Pierce and Garnett aren't getting any younger, but Boston should have enough to finish second in the East.

2. Philadelphia 76ers  
The Sixers took a huge step forward last postseason, knocking off the (shorthanded) Bulls and taking the Celtics to 7 games in the following round. Bynum changes the makeup of this team. No longer are the Sixers just a bunch of guards after losing Iguodala and Lou Williams. They are building around Bynum, on the hope he stays healthy and can maintain his All-Star form from last season. They key for Philly will be the play of Jrue Holiday and Evan Turner. Both (especially Holiday) played well in the playoffs last year. Doug Collins is a great coach and he will develop a winning formula around his new center.

3. New York Knicks
After last a roller coaster ride last season, Mike Woodson will begin his first full year as Knicks head coach. His isolation offense is built for a player like Carmelo Anthony, but will that translate to success? The Knicks need Amar'e Stoudemire to stay on the court and play like he did in 2010. Tyson Chandler will provide a solid defensive presence. Consistent guard play will be needed from J.R. Smith and Raymond Felton. Jason Kidd will come off the bench and play with whatever he has left in the tank. At the end of the day, it's Carmelo's team. He has the ability to lead the league in scoring and lead the Knicks to a top-four seed.

4. Brooklyn Nets
As the Knicks new in-city rival, the Nets have brought basketball to Brooklyn and fans are excited. The addition of Johnson has given the Nets a good starting lineup of Deron Williams, Johnson, Gerald Wallace, Kris Humphries, and Brook Lopez. Second year guard MarShon Brooks will be a good bench scorer, and acquisitions Andray Blatche and Reggie Evans will provide frontcourt help. The Nets enter this year with a louder buzz than almost every team in the NBA. The new city, new arena and new uniforms will give the Nets plenty of attention this season. It's all up to Williams. He is a great point guard and this is the best team he's ever had. A great year for Williams will make him a Brooklyn legend.

5. Toronto Raptors
The Raptors have made improvements after the first two years post-Bosh. Kyle Lowry is a well-rounded point guard who will raise the games of Andrea Bargnani, DeMar DeRozan and Landry Fields. The Raptors hope their two highly-drafted rookies show promise. 2011 first-round pick Jonas Valanciunas and 2012 first-rounder Terrence Ross will be part of a new wave that will hopefully get the Raptors out of obscurity. Toronto will play good defense and should have the goal of finishing around .500. A decent year for the Raptors will show Canadians that basketball isn't a bad sport.  
                  

Southeast Preview

We start with the Southeast division because the champs reside there. Miami will be the favorite and will almost certainly steamroll their divisional competition. With Charlotte and Washington on the rebuild, and big departures in Atlanta and Orlando, Miami is primed to dominate this season. Teams are ranked in order of their projected divisional finish.

1. Miami Heat 
The rich got richer in South Beach this summer. The champs added two key free agents in Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis. This will only build on their winning formula of 2012. LeBron James is coming off as good a year as one can have on a basketball court. He is the centerpiece of everything the Heat do. The most athletic and unstoppable player on Earth is also playing his most confident basketball yet. Uh-oh. Of course, the dominant slasher Dwyane Wade can never be forgotten. He and center Chris Bosh will be well rested after skipping the Olympics. Bosh will begin the year as the full-time center. His improved defense and rebounding will make the Heat more formidable. Look for the Heat starting lineup to be Mario Chalmers, Wade, James, Lewis, and Bosh. Ray Allen and Shane Battier will be the two main contributors off the bench. There's no secret in Miami. They will use LeBron to set up open threes with Wade and Bosh also getting many good scoring looks. Everyone is out to beat the Heat.

2. Atlanta Hawks
The huge drop off in the Southeast leaves the Hawks at number two. They will be fighting for a playoff spot in the East after trading star Joe Johnson. The Hawks did get two nice players in Lou Williams and Kyle Korver. They will get Al Horford back for the full season after he missed most of last year with a torn pectoral. The Hawks will need continued improvement in Josh Smith to make the playoffs. He was close to an All-Star last season. Better mid-range shooting will be the answer for Smith. Atlanta will have rookie guard John Jenkins coming off the bench. He is a great shooter who can be an explosive scorer when hot. If Atlanta can beat up on lesser divisional opponents, they should sneak into the playoffs in the East.

3. Washington Wizards
The third year of the John Wall era is one of promise. However, injuries to Wall and Nene have given the Wizards an inauspicious start. Rookie Bradley Beal will step in as shooting guard. He and Wall form one of the good young backcourts in the league. Trevor Ariza will be the small forward. He will get open looks from the penetration of Wall. Kevin Seraphin and Emeka Okafor join Nene in the frontcourt. The spotlight will be on Beal for the first few weeks, and rightly so. He was the third overall pick in the most talented draft since 2008. But once Wall returns, he will be under pressure. The top player taken in 2010 needs to step his game up big time. His shooting must improve, especially from three. Everyone knows Wall has All-Star talent, it's up to him to show it consistently.

4. Orlando Magic
After losing Dwight Howard for Aaron Afflalo and some cap relief, the Magic are absolutely in rebuilding mode. It will be a long year for the Magic. Afflalo will be their best player, with Glen Davis and Jameer Nelson helping carry the load. With many new faces after losing Howard, Ryan Anderson and Jason Richardson, little is known about the Magic besides an 0-4 preseason record. The Magic enter this season without their bad karma (Howard), their bad GM (Otis Smith) and their good coach (Stan Van Gundy) who they panic-fired. We all know this: Orlando will have a rough year and are firmly a lottery team. Silver lining: The last two teams to lose a superstar (Cavs and Hornets) both received the number one pick the following year. There's your hope Magic fans.

5. Charlotte Bobcats
While I think the Bobcats will finish better than the Magic. Don't you have to project a team last after having the worst season in NBA history? The MJ era in Charlotte has been miserable, and losing the lottery doesn't help. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist was the right pick, but he's not the game changer that Anthony Davis is. Kidd-Gilchrist will be asked to do a lot as a 19-year-old rookie. He will be the best player in a lineup that features Kemba Walker, Gerald Henderson, Byron Mullens, and of course Bismack Biyombo. Every team shoots for improvement after a legendarily bad season. The Bobcats will be improved, even if it is by default.

Stay tuned for the Atlantic preview within the next few days.

Divisional Previews

While divisions don't matter in the NBA as much as other sports, they still exist. For the next couple of weeks, NBA Underground will be releasing forecasts for the six divisions. Each post will focus on a single division with an in-depth look at each team. Whether you want offseason analysis or predictions, we will have it. Stay tuned for our first preview of the Southeast.

P.S. Two weeks until regular season!

 

Watch Out Floppers!

The NBA will penalize floppers this season. David Stern is implementing a policy starting this year that will fine repeat floppers. A $5,000 fine will be given to repeat offenders each time they flop. Players who reach a fifth offense will be fined $30,000 and after that suspensions will be given. This is a strong move by Stern. Flopping is a problem for referees and this policy will restore integrity to the game. But for a few guys, this rule will put them at a disadvantage.

Manu Ginobli
The crafty Argentine is known for his versatility and clutch play, but also for his flopping. Ginobli often has to guard the opponents best scorer, so he resorts to flopping. As a disciplined Spur, it's unlikely that he will be fined for excessive flopping. But a veteran like him knows how to get away with it.

Anderson Varejao
Like Ginobli, Varejao is a South American import who is known for his flopping. A maximum effort player, he often looks uncoordinated when grabbing rebounds. The NBA players actually voted him the biggest flopper last year. Worst of all, he may be the reason LeBron joined Dwyane Wade in Miami.

Chris Paul
The final and biggest name on the list, Chris Paul may come as a bit of a surprise. Paul's strategy is all about getting under the opposition's skin. He's a chippy player who gets others to retaliate. That's when the flopping happens. I expect Paul to go too far one game and be made an example of by being the first superstar to get a flopping fine.