HOOPSAHOLIC

Last offseason when the Houston Rockets signed Dwight Howard in free agency, Daryl Morey and the front office staff believed that he was the missing piece for a championship in H-Town. They fought their way through a tough Western Conference, but were ultimately knocked out by the Trail Blazers in the first round after a Damien Lillard buzzer-beater. With a new season ahead of the Rockets, there has been rumors that head coach Kevin McHale is on the hot seat, and he will need to make a long playoff run in order to keep his job. Strap in Rockets fans, this 2014-15 season could be a bumpy ride. 

James Harden is one of the best scorers in the entire NBA, but if the Rockets want to make any type of run at a championship, he must learn how to play defense. Harden averaged 25 points per game last season to go along with five rebounds and five assists, but his defense was laughable. It was almost as if he wasn't trying at all (see video). He's made the all-star team both years that he's been in Houston, but to be considered an elite player in this league you need to be well-rounded.His lack of defense was somewhat surprising to me. When he was playing in OKC, Harden was constantly given the responsibility of guarding players such as Kobe Bryant and Dwayne Wade. I don't know if he decreased effort is due to his increase in role on his team, but regardless he needs to figure it out if the Rockets have any type of legitimate shot at a title. 

With Harden's less than stellar defense, and the departure of Chandler Parsons in the off season, the Rockets signed Trevor Ariza to a four-year deal worth about eight million annually. Last year in Washington, Ariza averaged 14 points and six rebounds per game and was a key part to the success of the Wizards. I think he will fit well in Houston with the players they will have around him. This is actually his second stint with the Rockets. He signed in Houston as a free agent after a great year he had with the Lakers in 2009, but the difference with then and now is that the Rockets were bringing Ariza in to be the best player then, now he will be a nice role player with less responsibility. 

Dwight Howard has widely been considered the best center in the NBA for sometime now, but after a few average seasons (for Howard's standards) people are beginning to question what kind of teammate Howard is. In his one-year stint with the Lakers, Howard burned a lot of bridges and jetted to Houston right when he got the opportunity. Last year with the Rockets he averaged 18 points and 12 rebounds per night, but he didn't seem to be the dominating force we're all used to seeing. Howard had his flashes, but ultimately last season was looked at as a disappointment after the expectations were set so high before the season. I still believe Howard is a beast, so look out for a monster year from the seven footer. 

As a Thunder fan, it's safe to say that I strongly dislike Patrick Beverley. Despite that, I have to say he is one of the scrappier defenders in all of the NBA. He finally has gotten his chance in Houston, and he's taken full advantage of that opportunity. He took Jeremy Lin's spot in the starting lineup last season, and now he's the point guard for one of the top teams in the league. Last year he averaged 10 points and three assists, but if he wants to make the next step in his career, Beverley must figure out how to set up his teammates better and improve his assist numbers. BTW.. I can't wait to see another match up between him and Russell Westbrook. 

Terrence Jones had a breakout season last year when he solidified his spot at the power forward position in Houston. Jones averaged 12 points and seven rebounds while displaying his rare athleticism for a player his size. I expect him to continue to improve and contribute for this Houston team. Another key piece to this team will be Jason Terry, who was acquired over the summer. He was bogged down by injuries last year with the Nets and Kings, but if Terry can stay healthy then he will be the scoring punch the Rockets desperately needed off the bench last season. 

The Rockets have the talent to compete with anyone, plain and simple. I have them finishing fifth in the Western Conference, but they could easily prove me wrong and end up with home-court advantage come playoff time. The West will be a battlefield in the playoffs, so if the Rockets are in a rhythm when May rolls around, they're a team I wouldn't want to run into. 

Where are the fans....? This was the question asked by many people anytime they turned on the start of a Miami Heat game over the last four years. Miami sports fans are notorious for showing up to games fashionably late, and even though this maybe an obvious statement, I'll go ahead and muster it out anyways.. There's a lot of fun stuff to do in Miami (duh bro), and the Heat WITH LeBron James wasn't very high up on the totem pole of priorities for the people of South Beach. So now that The King has headed home to Cleveland, how far will the Heat fall on the city's level of importance? I guess we shall soon have that answer, but brace for impact because this could be a hard fall.  

With LBJ out, the Heat will turn to 33 year-old Dwayne Wade (insert sad face emoji) to lead the franchise once again. The aging shooting guard only played in 54 games last season and sat out most back to backs in order to rest his ailing knees. Many people think LBJ got tired of not having his sidekick on a nightly basis, adding one more thing to the list of why he skipped the warmth of Miami for the blistering cold of Cleveland. Wade still believes he's an elite player in this league, so it'll be interesting to see how much of the responsibility he will put on his own shoulders to carry the weight of this Heat organization in the post-LeBron era. 

I personally believe that Chris Bosh will be the go-to guy for the Heat this season and moving forward. Miami signed him to a five-year max contract, outbidding the Houston Rockets for the rights to keep the 7-foot power forward. Bosh is actually from Texas, so it wasn't far-fetched to think he would team up with Harden and Howard in Houston. Luckily for the Heat they were able to hold onto Bosh, and last year he averaged 16 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. Over the last couple of seasons, Bosh has expanded his range to the three-point line and beyond, shooting the money ball at a 34% clip. I've heard some experts say they believe that Bosh could be a potential MVP candidate, and I couldn't disagree with them more. I mean, c'mon man! Let's be realistic. I do however believe he will make the all-star team and increase his scoring average to over 20 points per game. 

The Heat had to go out and try to find a suitable replacement for The King, and I think they did a pretty good job by signing Luol Deng to a two-year contract, paying him a little less than 20 million dollars. Deng has been an all-star in his career and he virtually carried the Bulls to the playoffs two seasons ago after the injury to Derrick Rose. Yes, he's aging quickly just like most everyone else on the Heat roster, but you could do worse than Deng when it comes to small-forwards. Last year while playing for the Bulls and Cavs, Deng averaged 16 points and six rebounds per contest. If Wade continues to sit out on the second night of back to back games, I expect Deng to see an increased work-load.

The point guard position will be an interesting dynamic to this Heat team. Mario Chalmers has been the starter the last four seasons in Miami, but last year Chalmers really struggled to get it going in the postseason. For the season Chalmers averaged ten points and five assists per game, but I believe Norris Cole is a more dynamic option for the Heat. Coming off of the bench, Cole averaged only six points and three assists, but he wasn't given much of an opportunity to create. I don't love Cole or Chalmers as starters in this league, but I think as the season goes on, we could see Cole as the main distributor for Miami. The Heat also drafted Shabazz Napier out of UCONN in this year's draft. They mostly took him as a piece to lure LeBron to resign in Miami after The King was very vocal that Napier was his favorite player in the draft. We saw Napier's play making ability all throughout the NCAA tournament last year when he was on his way to winning his second national championship. I don't know what his immediate role will be, but Napier will have a chance to take the point-guard position in Miami and run with it. 

Miami also acquired Josh McRoberts and Danny Granger over the summer. McRoberts had his best year as a professional last year in Charlotte averaging eight point and five rebounds. I think he will be a solid contributor in the post for this Heat team. Granger, on the other hand, I don't see fitting in well in Miami or quite honestly anywhere else in the NBA. He's a shell of his former all-star self, and last season Granger only played in 41 games averaging eight points. Every time I see him running down the court I think he could get injured. The most he will bring is veteran leadership, which is somewhat under-rated. When Granger was traded away from the Pacers, Indiana seemingly fell apart the rest of the way. 

I predict that the Heat will finish fifth in an improved Eastern Conference. They have enough talent to compete in this league and I expect to see big things out of Bosh going forward. Erik Spoelstra will have a tough test now that he doesn't have the best player in the world to lean on. This season we'll see how good of a coach Spoelstra really is. 

The Dallas Mavericks and head coach Rick Carlisle head into the 2014-15 season with a roster loaded with talent. Team owner Mark Cuban isn't afraid to spend money to get what he wants and after a couple of down years after winning the Championship in 2011, Cuban added some pieces to the puzzle this offseason that might just fit. 

You can't talk about the Mavs, without first bringing up their German power-forward Dirk Nowitzki. He's been a staple as the Mavs best player since he came into the league in 1998. He's getting older, but last season he still managed to average 21 points and six rebounds per game. He's a finesse player who can knock it down from anywhere he pleases, and with a solid roster around him this year, I expect him to excel even more if he can stay healthy. After the Mavs won the title in 2011, they seemingly tore up their championship roster. It'll be interesting to see if Dirk has another playoff run left in him. 

When the Houston Rockets took a gamble at signing Chris Bosh in the offseason, they missed on an opportunity to keep Chandler Parsons on their roster for less than a million per year in what was the biggest bargain in basketball. So instead of waiting around in Houston, Parsons went ahead and signed with Dallas for 15 million per season, making him the highest payed player on the team. After falling to the second round in the draft out of Florida, Parsons has become one of the better two-way small forwards in the league. Last year he averaged nearly 17 points and six rebounds per game. He's also a very good defender with good length. I think this was a great addition for this Mavericks squad that will pay off over time. 

Tyson Chandler was apart of the Mavericks championship team in 2011, but he left the team the following summer to join the Knicks. So after three years in New York, Chandler is back in Dallas to serve as their rim protector. Just two seasons ago Chandler was the defensive player of the year, and he also started for Team USA in the 2012 Summer games. He can play, plain and simple and the Mavs are lucky to have him back. Last year he averaged nine points and ten rebounds per game, but now that he's be back in Carlisle's system, I expect his scoring numbers to increase. 

Dallas returns Monta Ellis from last years team, and the streaky scorer has fit in perfectly since he's been a member of the Mavericks. Last year he averaged 19 points and six assister per contest while starting at the shooting guard position. Ellis can light it up on any given night, and the opposing teams will have a hard time covering him and Parsons out on the wings. 

The Mavericks will have plenty of options when it comes to the point guard position. They acquired both Jameer Nelson and Raymond Felton in the offseason to go along with Devin Harris who was on the team last year. Nelson has had a stellar career in Orlando, but most people think he's on the decline after averaging only 12 points per game last season. Felton is coming off a rocky season in which he was in trouble with the law after supposedly pointing a gun at his girlfriend. He's struggled with weight issues in the past as well, so I'm not sure what role he will play on this team. Harris is a guy that's on his second stint with the Mavericks after being traded for Jason Kidd back in the day. He knows the system, and Carlisle is comfortable with him so it'll be interesting to see who plays and who doesn't. 

I expect the Mavericks to make the playoffs despite playing in a stacked Western Conference. I doubt they will be able to finish with home-court advantage, but I do think they will at least finish as a sixth or seventh seed. One thing's for sure, I wouldn't want to face this team in the first round of the playoffs. 

The Phoenix Suns will be a squad to look out for in 2014 after surprising everyone last year by almost making the playoffs in the stacked Western Conference. No one really gave the Suns a chance this time last year, so it’ll be interesting to see how they perform now that people are expecting them to be good. 

Their point guard Goran Dragic who averaged 20 points and six assists last year will lead them going into this season. Dragic made play after play last year for the Suns despite being without his wing man Eric Bledsoe for some of the season due to injury. Dragic reminds people of Steve Nash with his playmaking ability and his craftiness when it comes to scoring. He can shoot, pass and dribble with his only weakness coming on the defensive end of the floor. The Suns run the two point guard offense to perfection with Dragic and Bledsoe both excelling. Last year Bledsoe averaged 18 points, five rebounds and five assists, and was signed to a max contract extension in the summer. He now will have extra confidence and that swagger should translate to the court. The success of the Suns will solely depend on the play of their two point guards.

Not only do the Suns have two good point guards, they technically have three. They signed Isaiah Thomas in the offseason to be the team’s sixth man after averaging 20 points last year with the Kings. He’s a pure scorer who knows how to get the ball in the basket. He will be a nice addition to this improving Suns team and it’ll be interesting to see if we will ever see Dragic, Bledsoe and Thomas all on the floor at the same time. 

Two surprises from last season were the play of both Gerald Green and PJ Tucker. Green averaged 16 points per game and he showed off his extreme athleticism on a nightly basis. The former dunk champion has finally found a home in Phoenix after bouncing around from team to team once he got into the NBA straight out of high school. Tucker started most games for the Suns at the small forward position and averaged 9.4 points to go along with seven rebounds per game. He also held the responsibility of guarding the other teams best wing player on a nightly basis, which was something he did well. He’s one of those players that fits well in they system he’s in and Phoenix seems happy to have him. 

The Morris brothers both had solid seasons last year now that they're able to pair up together on the same team. They obviously have great chemistry because they’re twins.. duh. Markieff really had a great year last season averaging 14 points and six rebounds. Marcus played well too averaging ten points and four rebounds. They both will be big contributors to the Suns’ rotation and I expect them to continue to live up to the hype they had surrounding them coming out of Kansas. 

The Suns have a lot of talent but don’t really have that superstar player. Everyone will need to contribute and play their role in order for them to make playoff push. I really like how this team is constructed from the ground up and I can’t wait to watch them play. 

This the second season that the NBA team out of New Orleans will be called the Pelicans, and don't be surprised to see them make their first playoff appearance since they traded Chris Paul. Head coach Monty Williams has a solid squad to work with and I project them to be the eighth seed in the West, just barely making it to the postseason.

The Pelicans will be led by potential MVP candidate Anthony Davis. The former number one overall pick is entering his third season in the league after averaging 21 points and ten rebounds per game last year. Davis brings so much to the table. His length and athleticism is virtually unmatchable by opposing defenders, and he's one of the best shot blockers in the league. Players such as Kevin Durant have already tagged Davis as the "next superstar" in the NBA and I think KD is right on target with his statement. If the Pelicans do make the playoffs, don't be surprised to see Davis reaping the benefits with postseason awards. 

The Pelicans will also have former all-star Jrue Holiday running the point this season, and if he can stay healthy I expect another all-star selection this season. Last year Holiday averaged 14 points and eight assists with an injury riddled team around him. If his role players can stay healthy and consistent then Holiday will shine as the floor general on a really good team. He may not be as good as the guy he's replacing at that position (CP3), but he's one heck of an alternative.  

The addition of Omer Asik in the offseason will go down as one of the more under-rated acquisitions of the summer. After wasting away behind Dwight Howard in Houston last season, I think people forgot what Asik is capable of. He's a double-double guy that has good size at the center position. He will fill in nicely in Monty Williams system in New Orleans and you can expect him to get back to his double-double ways since he's the number one center once again. 

The wing positions for the Pelicans will be the main thing to keep an eye on. Eric Gordon was acquired in the deal for CP3 and he's yet to really pan out after signing a max contract. He's been bothered by injuries throughout his time in New Orleans, but if he can stay healthy he's definitely a playmaker that can make a difference. After coming off the bench last season, Monty Williams has said Tyreke Evans will most likely start at the small forward position. Evans will be an undersized forward, but his athleticism will cause problems for bigger defenders. Last year Evans averaged 14.5 points per game to go along with five rebounds and five assists. 

The Pelicans will have a few scoring threats coming off of the bench. Ryan Anderson will be returning from a devastating injury last season, and we all know that he can fill it up on any given night. New Orleans also signed Jimmer Fredete in the offseason, even though he's yet to pan out as a pro player. At BYU he could hit a shot from anywhere, so we know he can score. The question is if he'll ever be able to learn how defend at the professional level. Then there's Austin Rivers, who also has had a slow start to his career. Last season he averaged eight points, but he must improve on that if he wants to find any minutes on this much improved team. 

The Memphis Grizzlies ended last season with an epic playoff output. They fought hard as the seventh seed and pushed the second seed Thunder to seven games before ultimately coming up too short. Head coach Dave Joeger will try and improve that playoff push as he enters his second season as head coach. 

The first thing to talk about when discussing the Grizzlies is there big center, Marc Gasol. Last season Gasol averaged 17 points and nearly eight rebounds as the best player on this team. He’s one of the more skilled centers in the league, and he really knows how to get the ball in the basket. He can knock down the mid-range jumper and plays great defense as well. I expect him to make the all-star team once again he could even increase his scoring average.

In game seven of the playoffs last year the Grizzlies had to play without their power-forward Zach Randolph. He was suspended for the game after punching Steven Adams in game six of the series. Z-BO knows how to bang around down low and last season he averaged 18 points and nine rebounds per game. The duo of Randolph and Gasol is one of the better low post tandems this league has, and if the Grizzlies plan on making any type of run, it will go through them. 

Coming out of Ohio State, people were unsure on what type of player Mike Conley would be. Throughout his career he’s become one of the great facilitators in the NBA, averaging 16 point and eight assists last season. He’s the floor general for Memphis and he does a great job getting the ball to his big guys. He truly is the perfect fit at point guard for this Grit, Grind and Grizz Memphis team. 

If you don’t remember how Tony Allen played in the playoffs, just ask KD. Allen was in Durant’s grill the entire series, forcing the leagues MVP to look flustered throughout and getting inside his head. Plain and simple, Allen is one of the fiercest defenders in the NBA, and the Grizzlies know what they’re going to get out of him on any given night. Memphis acquired Vince Carter in the offseason, which should sure up one of the wing positions. Carter of course isn’t what he used to be back in his prime, but he’s still a valuable asset for any NBA team. He brings veteran savvy while still being able to score at a consistent pace. Carter along with Allen and forward Tayshaun Prince should make up a solid wing rotation for Memphis. 

Since the Grizzlies fall victim of playing in a very good Western Conference, I have them just missing out on the playoffs. It was hard to decide where they would finish because they’re loaded with talent, but ultimately I feel that other teams in the West improved more than they did in the offseason. If the Grizzles can stay healthy they will have a chance to prove many others and myself wrong. 

The Charlotte Hornets enter the 2014 NBA season with new hope and a new name. After making the switch from the Bobcats to the Hornets, Charlotte believes they have a roster that can compete with anybody. Steve Clifford's squad made a step last season by making the playoffs, so it'll be interesting to see if they make another step in the right direction this year. 

They will be led by their big center Al Jefferson who's entering his second year in Charlotte after coming over from the Jazz. Last year, Jefferson was the key piece to their playoff return averaging 21.8 points and eleven rebounds. He's widely considered one of the best centers in the league especially on the offensive end. He's no rim protector, but he gets the job done on defense. With a more experienced team around him, I expect Big Al to improve on his already stellar numbers from last year and make an all-star appearance. 

The addition of Lance Stephenson will definitely be a positive for the Hornets since they lacked a true wing scorer last season. Supposedly MJ himself went to greet Lance in person during free agency, which ultimately made the decision easy for him. I mean, who wouldn't be sold if the GOAT made a house call to try and sign you? Even though Lance makes some suspect decisions, he does plenty of good to make up for it. If you remember correctly, it was Lance, not Paul George who was guarding LeBron in the Eastern Conference Championship last season. His wing defense will be crucial to go along with his flashes of greatness on the offensive end. I truly believe he was the perfect fit to the puzzle on this team, and his energy alone will ultimately result in more wins for the Hornets. 

Kemba Walker has improved every season he's been in the league, and I expect the same to happen this year. He's an undersized point guard but an overachieving playmaker. Need I remind you the NCAA Tournament run UCONN went on in Walker's final year on campus? He made big shot after big shot in college, and has developed into a very good pro player. Last season he averaged nearly 18 points to go along with six assists and four rebounds. It's safe to say he's not a one-dimensional player. His assists should increase this season with the addition of Stephenson, and Walker is just another piece of the puzzle to the much improved Charlotte team.  

The Hornets will be starting Michael Kidd-Gilchrist at the small forward position again, and he will try to shed the BUST label he's been given after a disappointing begin to his NBA career. Charlotte took him with the second pick in the draft a couple of seasons ago, and he's yet to figure out how to shoot/score. Last season he only averaged seven points and five rebounds. One thing that he does have going for him is that he's an elite wing defender. MKG and Stephenson will cause some havoc for opposing wing scorers on a nightly basis this season. Supposedly MKG has been working with legend, Mark Price over the offseason to improve his shooting stroke, but he must figure things out on the offensive end if he wants to prove he was worth the number two pick. 

The bench for the Hornets will be an interesting thing to keep an eye on. Gerald Henderson will be making the move from starter to sixth man with the addition of Stephenson. Henderson will be able to come in off the bench and make some noise especially if MKG continues to be offensively inept. The Hornets also brought in Brian Roberts during the offseason to bring some depth to the point guard position. 

The Brooklyn Nets enter the 2014-15 season with a lot less promise than they did entering last season. Lot’s of people thought the Nets could compete with the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference after the acquisition of Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce, but boy were those people wrong. The Nets were a mess last season despite making the playoffs, and now with another new head coach and one more year of aging on their star players, the Nets will once again have to fight to make the playoffs.

Lionell Hollins is on board as the coach now that Jason Kidd left for the Bucks job. He will try and implement his flex/motion offensive system on a roster filled with aging stars. Let’s start first with Deron Williams. Williams at one time was the best point guard in the NBA in the eyes of some experts, but after a disappointing last couple of seasons he may not be in the top ten anymore. Last year he averaged 15 points and six assists, which are both down from his career averages. He battled through ankle injuries, and failed to facilitate at the pace we were so used to seeing Williams perform. He will need to find the Deron Williams of old if this team has any chance of making a deep playoff run. 

The best thing that happened to this team this offseason is the return of Brook Lopez from injury. He missed all of last season and the Nets desperately missed his inside presence. He’s one of the better big men this league has with career averages of 18 points and seven rebounds. I think he will fit in nicely with Hollins as the new head coach because of his previous coaching experiences with players like Marc Gasol. Gasol thrived in Hollins offense so we can expect similar things out of Lopez this season. 

I get sad every time I watch Kevin Garnett play. I miss the days when he was the league MVP and racked up double-doubles like they were something on the value meal at McDonalds. Now that KG is 38, his age is showing in a big way. Last season he averaged seven points and six rebounds which were both career lows. He will serve as a valuable leader on this year’s team, but I wouldn’t expect too much more from THE BIG TICKET. 

Joe Johnson was the Nets leading scorer last season despite his inconsistent play to start the year. He averaged 21 points per clip and made humongous shots for the Nets throughout the year. Anytime a big shot is needed in Brooklyn, Johnson’s the guy they go to. His scoring average may decrease this season with the return of Lopez, but I still expect him to take the last possession shots for the Nets. Andrei Kirilenko will also return this year and I expect him to start at the small-forward spot. Last season he under achieved averaging only 2.5 points and 2.3 rebounds per game. The former all-star will still contribute on the defensive end of the floor for the nets due to his lanky frame and experience. 

The bench play for the Nets will be an interesting thing to keep an eye on this season. Mason Plumlee is returning from a fabulous summer where he surprised everyone by making the Team USA roster for the FIBA World Cup in Spain. He will need to be an energy player this season for Brooklyn and build off of his positive play from the summer. The Nets also traded for Jarrett Jack in the offseason, which will bring automatic scoring from the bench. He didn’t mesh well in Cleveland last year, but I expect him to improve on a more veteran-savvy team. The Nets will rely on shooters Bojan Bogdonovic and Mirza Teletevic to knock down the three-ball consistently off the bench. Brooklyn also drafted Markel Brown out of Oklahoma State after his promising senior campaign. He was an iron man for the Cowoys last season, at one point averaging over 40 minutes per game over a five game stretch.

The Detroit Pistons will enter this season with a brand new coach running the team. The funny thing is… the Pistons went into last season with a new coach as well, but they fired Mo Cheeks just a couple of months into the season. It seemed like an extremely sketchy thing to do to a guy who has a great reputation around the league. 

Last year the Pistons showed us that no matter how many big name players you put on a team, they must have team chemistry to actually play well together. In the Pistons case, the players they added had just as big egos as they did names (Brandon Jennings, Josh Smith). So after a disappointing season in which they only won 29 games, the Pistons have hired Stan Van Gundy to not only coach, but to be the VP of basketball operations as well. 

But anyways, now that Brandon Jennings and Josh Smith have had a year to play with blossoming superstars in Andre Drummond and Greg Monroe, the Pistons should be a lot better. We all know the type of player Jennings is, he can score when he wants. As a rookie he took the league by storm with his crafty way of getting the ball in the basket. Last year, the Oak Hill product only averaged 15 points a game, so I feel that if he raised that number and distributed to his big men a little bit more, the Pistons are bound for success. The Pistons should also improve their three-point shooting with the addition of Caron Butler who should help spread out the floor a little bit.

I don’t think it would be a stretch to say that Drummond will be the best player on this team. Plain and simple, this dude can ball. Last year he averaged 13 points and 13 rebounds per game and was a handful for opposing post players to deal with. If Van Gundy can find a way for Drummond to get more than nine shots a night, then lookout for Drummond to potentially make his first all-star appearance. 

Now to the piece of the puzzle which doesn’t make sense to me: Josh Smith. Smith has been an above average NBA player throughout his career, but when the Pistons signed him last offseason I was a bit confused. I didn’t really think he fit in with the other pieces the Pistons had (and I was right) mostly because he plays best when he’s at the power forward position. But in Detroit he plays the small forward, which gives him an opportunity to do what all of his fantasy hoops owners hated to see him do: shoot more threes. Josh Smith is kind of like that guy you hate playing with at the YMCA that thinks he can pull up from anywhere, but really shouldn’t. Yes, Josh Smith can score. Last year he averaged 16 points per game and he averaged even more during his time in Atlanta, but if he’s shooting from behind the arc all of the time, he’s devaluing his game and wasting possessions for his team. 

Monroe was virtually another double double guy for the Pistons last year averaging 15 points and nine rebounds, which raises the question: With two legit post players, how were the Pistons so freaking bad? Monroe will eventually be a max contract player in this league, so if the Pistons want to keep him around, they better start winning and quick. 

I like the addition of Jodie Meeks for the Pistons. He is a proven shooter, and as we all saw against the Thunder last season that he can score too. They also added DJ Augustine as well which should give some depth to a bench that really struggled last season. I think the Pistons will be better this year, but how much better is still up in the air.

The Denver Nuggets come into the 2014 NBA season with a lot of hope and optimism that they can return to the playoffs after missing out last season, in Brian Shaw's first year as head coach. They play in one of the hardest divisions in the NBA which features teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Portland Trailblazers, so returning to the postseason won't be an easy task. 

The success of the Nuggets this season will rest on the shoulders of their point guard Ty Lawson. Last season he averaged 17.6 points and eight assists per clip, but if the Nuggets want to make it out alive in the Western Conference, Lawson must increase both of those averages. He will go against point guards such as Westbrook, Paul, Curry and Lillard on a nightly basis, and he will need to match their production. As the best player on the team, and the person who handles the ball, Lawson will need to improve on his consistency which is something he lacked last season especially early on. If the Nuggets end up making some noise early in the season, don't be surprised if Lawson makes the all-star team. 

After signing a contract extension in the offseason, the Nuggets will depend on Kenneth Faried to take his game to the next level. The "Manimal" is one of the more athletic post-players in the league, and he averaged nearly 14 points and nine rebounds per game last season. Faried also played on Team USA this summer when they competed in the FIBA World Cup. That experience will surely pay off this season, since he was able to go against some of the league's elite players everyday in practice. If Faried could somehow develop a mid-range shot, then he could increase his scoring by a lot and be considered one of the better power forwards in basketball. 

The acquisition of Aaron Afflalo should really help this Nuggets team out. Last season with the Magic, Afflalo averaged 18 points per game. He could be the consistent wing scorer that the Nuggets so desperately needed last season. Afflalo is known to have his up and down years, but he will have a good nucleus of teammates in Denver which will benefit his game even more. The return of Danilo Gallinari will also be big for the wing scoring. Gallinari had to sit out all of last season for the Nuggets because he was recovering from an ACL injury. He's been a sharp shooter in his career so I expect that to continue this season. 

At center, the Nuggets will have the option of starting either Timofey Mozgov or Javale McGee. Last year Mozgov averaged nine points per game and six rebounds while McGee was out nearly the entire year due to injury. Mozgov's name has surfaced in trade rumors recently, so it'll be interesting to see if he finishes the year in Denver. The also have J.J. Hickson who will bring added depth to the post. Hickson almost averaged a double double last season. This could be one of the strong points for the Nuggets. 

Last year, the Atlanta Hawks finished the season with a 38-44 record and were somehow able to make it to the playoffs as the 8th seed in Mike Budenholzer's first year as head coach. Once they got to the playoffs they even put up a fight, pushing the struggling Pacers to seven games before eventually losing. A new year under Budenholzer's system brings promise to this Hawks team moving forward. Budenholzer was formerly an assistant for the Spurs, and he's brought a lot of that Spurs "winning mentality" with him to Atlanta. You could see last season with their ball movement that they were improving, and they will look to continue those strides into this season. 

The best thing going for the Hawks is that their big man, Al Horford is returning from injury and should be ready for the start of the season. Through his career, Horford has averaged 14 points and nine rebounds and has been one of the best centers the league has to offer. It was a drastic blow for the team to lose him last season, and it'll be interesting to see how improved the team is with his post presence and defensive prowess. 

Teaming up with Horford in the post will be power forward Paul Millsap. Millsap is one of the more under-rated players in the entire NBA, and last season he really stepped up in Horford's absence. He averaged nearly 20 points and eleven rebounds per contest, while raising eyebrows along the way. He's a stable post player, who gives you a double double almost on a nightly basis. It's safe to say the Hawks have one of the best big-man duos in the entire league. For this team to be successful it will need to work the ball into the post and let the big boys do the work. 

Jeff Teague will be running the point for this Hawks squad, and I'm excited to see if he can put out another stellar season. He was very consistent for the Hawks last year, and he really thrived in the postseason. If he can average 19 points again on a nightly basis then the Hawks will be better than I'm projecting them to be. He will need to get his assist numbers up, and become more of a defensive presence in a point guard heavy league. I really like the way Teague plays! 

This roster has a nice combo of wing players that will each bring something different to the table. The most notable one is sharpshooter, Kyle Korver. Korver has been one of the league's best three point shooters since coming out of Creighton and the Hawks can count on him to continue that this season. I expect him to start at the shooting guard spot and build on his 13 points per game scoring he had last season. The Hawks also have defensive stopper Demarre Carrol to lead the way on that end of the court. Carrol is consistently matched up with the opposing teams best wing scorer, and he does a pretty good job. Now with the addition of Thabo Sefolosha in the offseason, the Hawks look to have a plethora of capable wing defenders. Playing in the East against players such as Melo, LeBron and Dwayne Wade, defensive stoppers will come in handy. 

I wouldn't be surprised if the Hawks made the playoffs, but I'm not banking on it. They were the 8th seed last year, but I think other teams in the East improved more than the Hawks did in the  offseason. They will make things competitive, but I don't see them making too much of a splash. 

Oklahoma City Thunder fans had a rough start to their Sundays when the Thunder released news that reigning NBA MVP Kevin Durant would be out 6-8 weeks with a Jones fracture in his foot. That time frame would leave him out until sometime around December, and leaves people wondering how the Thunder will respond in the season’s opening months.

Obviously people’s first thought is that most of the weight will be on the shoulders of KD’s sidekick, Russell Westbrook. There’s no question the duo of Westbrook and Durant is the best tandem the NBA has to offer, and many believe Westbrook is a top five NBA player. The Thunder should be able to keep their head above water in Durant’s absence. One of the concerns people will have will be the shot selection of of the all star point guard. In 41 game minutes without Durant on the floor, Westbrook took a whopping 35 shots. Yes, Westbrook will have to take a high volume of shots, but he will need to make sure he’s getting role players such as Serge Ibaka and Reggie Jackson involved as well. There’s no doubt in my mind that Westbrook is up for this challenge.. he’s simply the most athletic point guard this league has ever seen. Don’t be surprised to see him average near 30 points a contest while Durant is out.

Now I will present my worst case scenario…..

The New York Knicks will be an interesting team to keep an eye on this season because they truly have an unlimited amount of story lines. It makes sense, because any team that has Carmelo Anthony on it is made for that type of stuff. Tie that in with first year head coach Derek Fisher joining the squad, and you have the soap opera that is the New York Knicks. 

Let’s get back to the whole Fisher story before we delve into these players. Phil Jackson took over as the president of basketball operations half way through last season, and that gave everyone in the Big Apple some hope moving forward. Plain and simple, the Knicks had a terrible season. They couldn’t make the playoffs in the weakest Eastern Conference that we’ve probably ever seen. So they fired Mike Woodson, and the rumors started flowing about who would be the next coach of the Knicks. Of course Phil wanted “his” guy so he went mostly after his former players. For awhile, we all though Steve Kerr would take the job, but that was until he got the offer from the Golden State Warriors to come coach, and he ran towards that opportunity like Forrest Gump all jacked up on chocolates. Then there were other rumors that coaches like Tom Thibedeau and Brian Shaw would leave their respected teams to come coach the Knicks, but ultimately Phil ended up with his last option, which was Fisher (LOL). It was somewhat of a strange hire since D-Fish was playing for the Thunder just last season, but it was made possible by the Nets hiring Jason Kidd last offseason, just months after his retirement. It worked out okay for the Nets last year since they made the playoffs, but ultimately Kidd’s lack of coaching experience got the best of him and he made lots of bonehead moves from the sidelines. I think Fisher has a better basketball coaching mind than Kidd, despite Kidd being the better player in his prime, so ultimately I think this move will benefit the Knicks more than it did the Nets. The question is this: Will the Knick’s superstar player, Melo, take orders from a coach who he was playing against just a couple months ago? I’m sure we will hear all about it if he doesn’t… 

Melo is fresh off a summer in which that young man got PAID. He signed a 124 million dollar contract that ties him down in New York for the rest of his career. In a recent interview Melo told reporters that he believed he was “the most under-rated super star in the NBA”… um… no you’re not bro. In my opinion he could be the most over HYPED. Since he’s been in the league after his one year at Syracuse, he’s been a one-dimensional player who hasn’t made a long playoff run. Don’t get me wrong, Melo can play. He’s been one of the biggest scoring threats in the league for the last eight years, but the most underrated? C’mon man!!  For the Knicks to make any type of run this season they will need Melo to completely buy into Fisher’s new system and he will need to find a way to get his teammates involved.... for once. 

Anther big question for Knicks is their most controversial player, JR Smith. To be honest, I love this guy. I even have his signed Hornets jersey hanging in my old room at my parent’s house. The only problem with Smith is that he needs to grow up. Last season he took some heat for untying player's shoes while waiting on free throws to be shot. He also has been accused of pulling player’s pants down and doing childish things of that nature. Is he doing those things with ill intentions? There’s no way. But JR is a professional and people want to see him act like that. He is an above average scorer in this league, and the Knicks could really use his scoring punch off of the bench this season. When “JR Swish” is on, he’s almost unstoppable, but when he’s off…. Well…. You could probably throw me out there and have just as good of a chance of hitting the shot. 

Newly acquired point guard Jose Calderon should be a player that makes a humongous difference for this squad. I believe he’s an upgrade from Raymond Felton, who’s now with the Mavericks. Calderon is a pro’s pro that thrives on getting his teammates involved. Seeing that he now plays for the Knicks, he has no other choice but to distribute. With shot heavy players like Melo and JR Smith, he’s the type of point guard that will mesh well in this system. Supposedly Fisher is thrilled the Knicks got him via trade because Fisher claims he always hated playing against Calderon. The Spanish point guard also is keen to getting triple doubles occasionally which shows his versatility as an all-around player. 

I haven’t mentioned Amare Stoudemire yet because I think that shows how relevant he is at this point in his career. Amare was a baaaaad man early in his career, and at one point was one of the most explosive players in the league. But ever since he made the move to the Knicks from the Suns via free agency, he hasn’t been the same player. He’s been riddled by injuries and inconsistent teammates. Many people believe that Melo plays best at the power forward position, therefore leaving Amare without anywhere to play since that's the position he played his whole career. Amare had to get used to a bench role last season and he had some bright spots, but I’m not expecting too much from him going forward. 

I think Tim Hardaway Jr. and rookie Cleanthony Early should both help this team this season. Hardaway Jr. showed us last season he knows how to light it up, and Early had a great college career at Wichita State. I was actually very surprised that Early dropped into the second round in this year’s draft, because he was certainly a first round talent. Seeing that he was the only draft pick the Knicks had in the draft, he will get his chance to shine. I think the Knicks will compete to make the playoffs this year, but I have them just missing out… They’re the hardest team to judge because they have the talent, but no one knows how it will all come together in 2014-15. 

The Sacramento Kings enter the 2014 season with a roster that looks to have a decent amount of talent on it. They have big name players such as Demarcus Cousins and Rudy Gay along with an assortment of young players that should fill in nicely. This is a year in which the Kings themselves have higher expectations than they did in year’s past, and they hope to break the playoff barrier in the Mike Malone’s second season as head coach. 

The biggest key to this team is clearly Cousins. First off, Cousins is one of the best power forwards in the game. The man can score, rebound, block shots and get technical fouls like no one else. Last season Cousins averaged 23 points per game to go along with nearly 12 boards. Simply put, Cousins isn’t just good, he’s ELITE. His talent has never been in question. His attitude, on the other hand, has. Ever since he was at Kentucky in the confines of Big Blue Nation, Cousins has had an enormous attitude problem. He’s constantly getting technical fouls and skirmishing with other players. His maturity has been lacking in the past, but supposedly this season his goal is to only get five technical fouls, which would be a major decrease from years past. If Cousins can someday can get his head right, we’re talking about a guy who could potentially be the league’s MVP. 

Rudy Gay will look to improve this year, in his first full season as a member of the Kings. We all know that Gay has never been afraid to shoot the ball, Kings fans and upper management just hope that it goes in a little bit more this year. Last season he averaged 20 points per game to go along with six rebounds. He’s always been a tough cover for opposing players due to his lanky frame, and if he can mesh well with Cousins, then they could team up to be a tandem to be reckoned with. Both players played in the FIBA World Cup this summer for Team USA, so that was added opportunity for them to develop chemistry and to be mentored by some of the top players in the league. 

The addition of Darren Collison in the offseason should sure up the point guard position in Sacramento. Collison has been a starter in this league before, but last year he backed up Chris Paul on the Clippers. Now that he’s been handed the keys to the Kings offense, we shall see what he can really do. Last year he averaged eleven points and three assists in a limited role. I definitely expect those numbers to increase this season. The Kings also acquired veteran guard Ramon Sessions which should bring depth to the backcourt. Sessions is an experienced player who will be good in bringing stability to the second unit as well as the locker room.  

Youngins like Ben McLemore and Nik Stauskus will also be interesting to watch this upcoming season. McLemore is entering his second season, after a so-so rookie campaign. He averaged nine points per contest last season, but struggled to create his own shot. He was a knock down shooter during his time at Kansas so hopefully his 32% shooting from long distance will improve. The Kings drafted Stauskas in the lottery of the last draft, and they expect big things out of the guard from Michigan. Last season he was the go to guy for the Wolverines and he played a vital role on the team that went to the National Championship game two seasons ago. 

I wouldn’t be surprised to see this team make a push for the playoffs, but in a loaded Western Conference, don’t get your hopes up, Kings fans. They have the talent, but we will see how it all fits together. I do think Cousins will finally make his first all-star game this season, after a long drought due to his immaturity. I expect a .500 record out of this squad, but they could definitely prove me wrong. 

These last six months haven’t been the best for the Indiana Pacers. After having the best record in the NBA at the all-star break, they proceeded to throw up all over themselves, looking like a shell of themselves during the second half of the NBA season. They eventually lasted six games in the Eastern Conference Finals before losing to the Heat, but that was in a lowly Eastern Conference in which they were almost bounced out of the first round against the Hawks. To make matters worse, their best player and perennial NBA all-star Paul George suffered a sickening injury competing in a Team USA scrimmage in August (see video). So instead of ranking them as a playoff team going into the 2014 season, I have them finishing near the bottom of the Eastern Conference. 

Last season, George along with swingman Lance Stephenson took 35% of the Pacers' shots. Now that George is out because of injury, and Stephenson took his talents to Charlotte, the Pacers will have to find a way to produce on the offensive end on a nightly basis. The number one candidate for that role is 34 year old David West. Last year he was probably the most consistent player on the team, averaging 15 points and seven rebounds per game. He’s also known as the leader on this less than stable Pacers ball club. He will be relied on to be the team’s leading scorer and rebounder… a heavy load for a guy who is on the downhill slope of his career. 

If the Pacers are lucky, they will get the old Roy Hibbert back this season. Halfway through the year it seemed as if Hibbert completely forgot how to play the game of basketball. The Georgetown product would have games where he literally wouldn’t score a point and not grab a rebound. Seems hard to do when you’re over 7 feet tall. There were rumors that his bad play resulted from off the court issues, but who will ever know. Last year he averaged nine points and five rebounds, which isn’t half of what he’s expected produce. The Pacers will need him to return to his all-star form if they have any chance of making noise this season. 

George Hill is another player who struggled to get it going last year. This season will be his fourth to be a permanent starter since coming from the Spurs, and in his career he’s never averaged more than five assists. He will need to become a better distributer at the point guard position. Backing him up this year will be CJ Watson. Watson has shown his bright spots in the past, so it’ll be interesting if he can expand on the five points he averaged last year. 

Since George is out for likely the season, the Pacers will need to find someone that will fill the position of small forward. That person will likely be CJ Miles, who’s been with the Cavaliers these last few seasons. Last season he averaged almost ten points per game in only twenty minutes of action a night. With an expanded role, I expect him to produce at a higher rate. The Pacers also acquired Rodney Stuckey in the offseason so if he can become a more consistent scorer he could find himself as a permanent starter. 

Luis Scola and Chris Copeland will both be solid contributors off the bench. Last season was rough for both players, but if they can find a way to perform like they were expected to last season, then the Pacers bench will likely be improved. I just don’t see too much promise with this roster. Frank Vogel just signed a longterm extension, which relieves some pressure off him not having his best player healthy this season. He will have to coach his way out of a tough situation this year, and if he can do it don’t be surprised if he wins coach of the year.