The best team in the NBA (perhaps ever) lost Matt Barnes, Ian Clark, and James Michael McAdoo over the off-season. Translation – they lost nothing. Barnes is now better known for his off-the-court antics than on-the-court production, and the other two are below-average role players.
Golden State brought in Omri Casspi and Nick Young which will automatically improve their depth. They also added serviceable players in Chris Boucher, Georges Niang, and Jordan Bell. If any of those five turn into 8-point players per night, another NBA title is all but guaranteed.
The starting lineup unless you’ve forgotten is Curry and Klay in the backcourt, with Durant and Draymond at forward and Zaza Pachulia at center. Four of the starting five are Top 1, 2, or 3 at their respective positions. That’s a jaw-dropping statistic and something we’ve never seen before – ever. When Draymond needs a rest, insert David West. If Klay needs a breather, in comes Andre Iguodala. Curry needs a Gatorade, no worries, Shaun Livingston can handle the point.
The options are endless here. Kudos to the Warriors for keeping this train running and off to another title.
Here’s a fun stat when you’re at the bars – the Wolves last made the playoffs when Karl-Anthony Towns was 8 years old. Don’t expect the ladies to trip over themselves to pass you their numbers, however. This is your ice-breaker. If the conversation goes further you can add that offseason additions of Jeff Teague and Jimmy Butler should make this Minnesota squad better off than their 2016/17 campaign. That should close the deal.
Butler alone provides a focal point on offense and only Golden State will enter this season with three players that averaged 20 points plus per game. Not bad, but if the Wolves are going to win their defense needs to step up. Minnesota ranked number 27 last season (yikes) after giving up 112 points per 100 possessions. Towns needs to come up bigger and Anthony Wiggins (the former No. 1 pick in 2014) needs to start playing like a former number 1 pick.
Taj Gibson was a savvy pick-up and ex-Bull’s head coach Tom Thibodeau is getting his guys in place to make another run at it. All signs point due north for this crew.
We’re hitting rough waters now. This might be the most unwatchable team of the 2017/18 campaign. In all honesty, we can think of a couple more, because once Zach LaVine returns to form, seeing him dunk on top of someone’s ears is a sight to behold. Plus, Dwayne Wade isn’t chopped liver quite yet. But outside of these two, good gracious, this team is a mess.
Jimmy Butler and Rajon Rondo are both out, and Chicago picked up a very controversial pick in the draft in Arizona big man, Lauri Markkanen. The former Wildcat will likely play the four spot, but a lackluster summer league showing has many Bulls fans groaning.
It’s a wasteland of a bench, with folks like Cameron Payne, Bobby Portis, and Justin Holiday floating about. Nikola Mirotic is a proven, potential double-double guy and Robin Lopez is steady at center, but the Bulls have officially hit rock bottom, and Wade is the only player capable of selling tickets here. A season to forget. We’ve already forgotten.
It’s Bama folks. What more can we say other than Saban is as close to a deity as sports has and 2017 will be no different. The defense is dominant once again, with safety Minkah Fitzpatrick the clear centerpiece. Defensive end Da’Shawn Hand and linebacker Rashaan Evans will be NFL bound as well, but by far the key to this season lies on the offensive line, specifically the right side.
Jonah Williams will more than likely be shifted to the left, into departing star Cam Robinson’s spot. This leaves work for Matt Womack, a 326-pound sophomore who will be tasked with protecting the right. Protect the right and Bama will be back in the final four.
Quarterback Jalen Hurts is at the helm, despite grumblings that star recruit Tua Tagovailoa should get a shot. Hurts was so good that Blake Barnett, David Cornwell, and Cooper Bateman all moved on to other teams, and while he struggled in playoff games, this is Hurts’ job to lose.
September 2nd - mark it, highlight it, circle it, post it on the fridge, your kid’s forehead, your dog’s back, wherever. Florida State/Alabama, this is going to be epic. For the Noles, anything less than the championship game will be a failure. Getting through Miami, Clemson, and Louisville will be no walk in the park, but Bama is going to be key.
Wide receiver Nyqwan Murray could be one of the best to land in Tallahassee. He has the speed, skills, and ability to be a true game-changer, and if he takes it a notch up, watch out. Quarterback Deondre Francois had a great freshman season, and now is the time to get on the same page with the likes of Murray and running back Cam Akers. Safety Derwin James could be as good as Deion Sanders, and he’ll be in the running for the Thorpe Award.
The secondary is vicious with cornerback Tavarus McFadden and fellow safety Nate Andrews accompanying him. This could be a special season for Florida State … September 2nd.
My grandmother could run through the Cal defense. No seriously, my grandmother is spry and Cal’s run D last year was the second-worst in the nation. She would shred it and then whip up a killer tuna casserole.
If this team has any hopes of going bowling this year tackling people in helmets with the opposite uniform on coming at them needs to improve. Four of the top five tacklers are back, but that doesn’t necessarily bode well for a team that was the second-worst in the country.
Experience usually helps, so the D will improve. On offense, the Golden Bears need to run the rock for extended periods of time. Keep the D off the field, and let Tre Watson and Vic Enwere pound the potato. Wide receiver Demetris Robertson by the way is a gamer. The track team leases this dude. DeSean Jackson anyone?
