Western Conference
1. Golden State Warriors
Hirsch: Contender
I don't expect this season to be filled with rainbows, roses, and unicorns like it was a year ago. Mostly because Golden State had so much working in their favor at that time. The previous season offered no roadblocks as the coaching staff gelled with the team from day one, there was only one notable injury, and they faced four injured teams in the playoffs. In fact, the injury that I'm referring to happened to David Lee, and it actually helped the Warriors better utilize Draymond Green's talents. Steve Kerr's intelligent minute management scheme makes me want to believe that the Warriors can stay healthy for another season, but Andrew Bogut's past makes me think otherwise. If that were to happen though, I believe Ezeli fills in nicely, in spite of him not getting any recognition. It's hard for me to see the season go as smoothly as it did last year, but that shouldn't discount what these group of guys accomplished. This team did win 67 games in the regular season and brought home the title last year, so it'd be crazy for me to call them anything but a contender.
Pranav: Contender
The Warriors are coming off a historic season, and there's no reason to think they are about to slow down. Look for reigning league MVP Steph Curry to continue his dominance at the point guard position, while a stellar supporting cast picks up right where it left off in June. Of course, the Warriors are unlikely to be as fortunate this year when it comes to avoiding injury and getting favorable playoff match-ups; nevertheless, with their depth and overall skill, this team is a force to be reckoned with in the West.
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| They are only a year removed from winning the title. There's no reason to disrespect the team and say they're pretenders. |
2. Houston Rockets
Hirsch: Pretender
The Rockets had a successful off-season. Acquiring Ty Lawson is the obvious one as he looks like he'll thrive in this fast-paced system, but I liked their other moves too. K.J. McDaniels looks like he'll fit in nicely, and they got excellent value in the draft when they selected Sam Dekker. The two reasons that cause me to doubt this team for serious title contention are 1. Head Coach Kevin McHale and 2. Center Dwight Howard. I don't understand the hype to McHale. Sure he was a great player back in his hay-day, but he contributes next-to-nothing as a coach. In regard to Dwight Howard, I have always doubted him ever since my cousin* opened my eyes to something back in 2012. It started with me complaining about NBA players who couldn't make shots from the charity stripe count, to which he replied that if Dwight was able to covert just 70% of his free throws, Howard would be the scoring champ. This fact speaks volumes to his character. The center has all the talent in the world, but simple things like giving questionable effort, committing too many turnovers + fouls, and being unable to hit free throws all hold him back. This team is still damn good and will win a lot of games, just not the championship.
* My cousin has one of the brighter basketball minds and is a huge Orlando Magic fan, so he always paid attention to Dwight.
Pranav: Contender
The Rockets are perennially unpredictable, their success largely hinged on the health of Dwight Howard. Sam Dekker, Ty Lawson, and KJ McDaniels are all solid additions, and James Harden (who many argued deserved the MVP award last season) will put up his usual numbers, no doubt. However, make no mistake -- the Rockets need their All-Star center to produce All-Star numbers, and more importantly, stay healthy through the season. If Howard avoids injury, expect the Rockets to be in championship contention come May.
3. Los Angeles Clippers
Hirsch: Fringe contender
The additions of Josh Smith, Paul Pierce, and Lance Stephenson will all be greatly valued. The Pierce-Rivers reunion is reason enough to cause intrigue, but I severely doubt the talents of the head coach. In fact, I think he's grossly overrated. What kind of coach allows his team to collapse the way the Clippers did last year? Honestly, I'm only calling them "fringe contenders" because they have all the talent necessary to compete, but they are lacking when it comes to the Warriors in terms of depth, and coaching prowess when compared to the Spurs.
Pranav: Contender
Paul Pierce and Doc Rivers round 2? I'll tentatively buy into it. Truth is, on paper the Clips should be the first team on anyone's championship radar. They boast an excellent balance of offensive firepower (CP3, Blake Griffin, JJ Redick, Jamal Crawford); defensive prowess (DeAndre "Sorry Not Sorry, Dallas" Jordan, Paul Pierce, Lance Stephenson); and enough of a bench presence (Josh Smith, Austin Rivers, Glen Davis) to be legitimate title contenders. So why tentative? The way they capitulated to the Rockets in last year's conference semi's not only caused many to question their execution and leadership, but also exposed a frightening inability to put games away. Look for Doc Rivers to lean heavily on Paul Pierce's experience and wisdom when it comes to fixing those issues this season.
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| Paul Pierce and Doc Rivers won a championship before in Boston. |
4. Portland Trailblazers
Hirsch: Pretender
I doubt this team even makes the playoffs because of all the losses they went through this offseason. Damian Lillard remains the only starter from last year's dynamic team. The ownership really mismanaged the contract lengths of their players to allow this to happen. It's a real shame because this team was on the rise, and if were given some more time, they probably could've made a serious title run.
Pranav: Pretender
"Are you kidding me, Blazers?" was a phrase I heard on a daily basis this offseason as my friends from Portland watched their championship caliber team essentially crumble into dust. Damien Lillard is the only remaining starter from a team that was expected to make a championship run just a year ago. Unfortunately, no matter how amazing Lillard plays, he cannot singlehandedly take his team to the NBA Finals. Sorry, Portland fans.
5. Memphis Grizzlies
Hirsch: Pretender...?
To be honest, I always pull for this team as they're often the underdogs come playoff time. I'm really surprised Marc Gasol designed to re-sign, as all fingers pointed towards him leaving. I also question what exactly the front office was thinking when they got rid of Lionel Hollins. He was a really good head coach and none of the philosophies have changed since he's left. If you're not going to alter anything, why get rid of him? I believe this team will get aid from some internal improvement as Courtney Lee and Jeff Green should grow more comfortable with their role as they gain experience. Despite that, and the fact that I want to call them contenders, they haven't done anything to prove that.
Pranav: Pretender
For some reason the Grizzlies surprise me every year. Their defense is always solid and they have a nasty pick and roll game with Mike Conley and Marc Gasol, but they never strike me as being the team to beat. Maybe this is due to the dynamic of the NBA these days, with teams unable to compete unless they have a "superstar" player. Or maybe its the fact that they've been to the playoffs for five straight seasons, only making it to the Conference Finals once in that span (a brutal 4-0 loss to the Spurs in 2013). Expect the Griz to continue to be in the middle of the pack.
6. San Antonio Spurs
Hirsch: Contender
This one is obvious. They're always contenders, and this time they added Lamarcus Aldridge. The few doubts that are there though are noteworthy:
1. Tony Parker and Manu Ginobli are really losing their touch. Fortunately for them, Patty Mills and Danny Green are making up for the older players' decline with their own improvement. Last year I was caught saying that the Spurs looked better with Patty Mills on the floor when doing a podcast with Ben, now I'm believing in that testament even more.
2. The team lost a lot of depth in order to acquire Aldridge.
3. San Antonio will likely have deficiencies in regard to defending the paint-which resulted in their downfall last year. It could be argued that the Spurs are even weaker in that department than they were a year ago.
Pranav: Contender
What do you get when you take an All-Star power forward in the prime of his career and put him on one of the most consistent franchises in recent memory? An absolute powerhouse of a team. LaMarcus Aldridge's move to the Spurs pretty much makes them title contenders from the moment they tip off their season. A scary good team even without Aldridge, the Spurs will count on impactful minutes from their old guard (Duncan, Parker, and Ginobili) while they slowly allow the younger generation to take over. Pop would love nothing more than to go out on top with one more ring.
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| The San Antonio Spurs did something uncharacteristic and sought a high-profile free agent. This move alone made them title favorites according to many NBA analysts. |
7. Dallas Mavericks
Hirsch: Pretender
First off, the Mavericks got completely shafted this year by DeAndre Jordan's immature and selfish actions. The absolute worst part of this whole debacle is that the Mavericks couldn't chase any other free agents because their money was strapped to the center that cheated out of his agreement. The team ended up losing more key players instead of being buyers in the offseason, something they've grown accustomed to with Mark Cuban in charge. Rick Carlisle is one of the best coaches in the league, but it'll be hard to get much out of this roster. I doubt these guys make the playoffs either. Maybe if this team outplays the expectations placed on them, and they partake in a blockbuster trade, they can change my opinion.
Pranav: Pretender
Let's not mince words here -- the Mavs got screwed in the whole DeAndre Jordan fiasco. Unable to sign other big name free agents due to their commitment to DeAndre, the Mavs were forced to settle for a second rate, past-his-prime point guard in Deron Williams (who, by the way, is replacing another second rate, past-his-prime point guard in Rajon Rondo). Throw in an aging Dirk Nowitzki, and you have a team that desperately wants to compete but unfortunately just doesn't have the depth or skill. I'll be surprised if the Mavs manage to squeeze into the 8th spot this year, especially with young, hungry teams like the Suns and Timberwolves in the mix.
8. New Orleans Pelicans
Hirsch: Pretender
This unit is only a pretender because of their lack of experience. Give them time and they'll be deadly. The injury-bug plagued this team throughout the course of the season last year, yet they still managed to make the playoffs in the tightly contested Western Conference. If this team is healthy, they have the necessary pieces to scare some teams come playoff time. On top of all this, there is a lot of reason to be optimistic for this team. I liked what Monty Williams brought to the table as a head coach, but I believe Alvin Gentry to be an upgrade. Jrue Holiday actually has a lot of talent but had some really bad luck in terms of health last year. Having him back to his usual self will be a huge boost, as he is the team's top playmaker and could be their second best scorer, depending on if Eric Gordon is at full strength or not.
Pranav: Pretender
This was incredibly tough. I really like the Pelicans, and I think that in a couple years time this team will be poised to make a championship run. Unfortunately, I just don't see the necessary depth and prowess on this roster at the moment. Anthony Davis is an absolute beast, overshadowing a talented guard rotation led by Eric Gordon and Jrue Holiday. However, beyond their starting five, the Pelicans are thin on experience, and will rely heavily on new coach Alvin Gentry to make an immediate impact following a successful season as an assistant with Golden State. Expect the Pelicans to compete for the 6th or 7th playoff spot in the West, with another first round exit likely.
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