NBA Preview pt. 4

Between a Rock and a Hardplace 

17. Golden State Warriors

Last year, the question was whether or not Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry could play together, sharing the points and point guard responsibilities.

Well, that question was answered, but Golden State was still one of the worst teams in the league. The Warriors were capable of running the score up on teams last year, but were vastly undersized, which kept them from closing the deal to the tune of 56 losses last year.

In the offseason, Warriors management hit the free agent market hard grabbing 20-and-10 guy David Lee from the Knicks. Lee gives them more size down low along with some much-needed defensive aggressiveness. Even with the addition of Lee and the newly-acquired Dorell Wright, the Warriors are still undersized. This team will be high octane and capable of putting large amounts of points on the board. But they will need to make some moves to entertain any thoughts of the playoffs.

18.Memphis Grizzlies

The Grizzlies fell just short of making the playoffs last year. The team is young and competitive. Marc Gasol and a new attitude Zach Randolph are consistent producers on both sides of the ball. Rudy Gay is always consistent and looking to become an All-Star. O.J. Mayo has yet to meet a shot he didn’t like, and Mike Conley Jr. just signed an extension to be in Memphis for another five years. But that’s all the Grizzlies have going for them at the moment.

To make the playoffs, Memphis will need to improve their bench scoring. Expect Memphis to eek into the playoffs when Denver falls apart.

19. New York Knicks

The Knicks are a tough read. They seem to be cleaning up the mess Isaiah Thomas created and are looking to build a team capable of competing with the rest of the NBA elite.

Acquiring Amare Stoudemire was a step in the right direction. His previous connection to coach Mike D'Antoni in Phoenix gives him a leg up in the system, allowing him to hit the ground running. Stoudemire means instant offense and will bring consistency in the rebounding category. But he isn’t a true center, and Eddy Curry isn’t built for D'Antoni's system.

Danilo Gallinari is in his third year, and the 6-foot-10 shooting forward should start to establish himself as a legitimate threat on a nightly basis. The point guard position was in question last year, but James Dolan went after fifth-year point guard Raymond Felton in the offseason as well.

Felton is a good PG, and should plug the gap the Knicks have had in D'Antoni's system. But he isn't the type of guard the coach loves. The question I keep asking myself: Why not wait another year? With players like Chris Paul (who asked to be traded to the Knicks in the offseason) up for free agency next year, isn’t the wait worth it? Coupled with Carmelo Anthony's desire to play for the Knicks, you are looking at a potent team suited precisely for Mike DiAntoni's run and gun system.

The Knicks' major problem will be their defense. Stoudemire has always lacked a defensive tenacity when guarding elite forwards and centers. With no one to set the tone for defense, this team might actually play none at all.

I don't know if this team will be good or not, but they will be competitive on a night-to-night basis, something you couldn’t say about last year's Knicks. Acquiring Carmelo Anthony would go a long way in putting the Knicks back in the playoffs, and if Dolan can somehow highjack Chris Paul from New Orleans, this team could be dangerous.

Look for a midseason trade for Anthony, and possibly a shooting guard if Toney Douglas doesn't emerge as a scorer. The Knicks probably won't make the playoff, but they're just a few pieces away.

20.Charlotte Bobcats

Since Bob's Cats are no longer employed by Bob after His Airness (Jordan) purchased them last year, can we please change the team's horrific color scheme? Craig Sager wouldn't wear those uniforms, and neither should they.

The team has been a borderline playoff team the past two years, just eeking in each time. Well-coached by Larry Brown, this team will scratch and grind every game out, every night. They are long, athletic and love to run the fast break. Brown loves his point guards, and D.J. Augustine fits the mold exactly, looking to facilitate first and score last.

Stephen Jackson and Boris Diaw will help round out a balanced scoring attack. Tyrus Thomas and Gerald Wallace will crash the boards and continue to be the defensive anchors. Charlotte's bench isn't particularly deep, but the addition of Kwame Brown should … should … uhm, yeah, I got nothing.

The Bobcats have barely made it to the playoffs in the past, and this year will not be one of those years. The Eastern Conference has gotten too big and fast, and the Bobcats didn’t bother to keep up with the Jones. Maybe Jordan will make some midseason moves and revitalize this team before it passes on. Then again, anything that puts the racing jersey to rest is OK with me.

21.Los Angeles Clippers

It's easy to dismiss this team. After all, they were put together by Donald Sterling and the logical ineptitude of Mike Dunleavy. But this team is loaded with talent, and that talent is hungry.

Eric Gordon has one of the most beautiful shots in the league, plus the range and accuracy to back it up. The addition of Eric Bledsoe should ensure there is always a solid guard play on this team. And speaking of additions, Bledsoe and Randy Foye kind of guarantee Davis will be shipped out before the year is done. Right?

The big plus this season will be getting rookie Blake Griffin back. After a season-ending injury last year, Griffin has been anxiously waiting to make his mark in the league. It will be no surprise at season's end if Griffin leads this team in three or more major statistical categories.

The Clippers' bench is sizable enough to contend with most in the league. If Baron Davis can get the competitive fires burning to lead LA's red-headed stepchild, they will prove to be in contention for the playoffs, and no longer the running joke of the NBA. … Just kidding, they will still be the running joke of the NBA. Speaking of which, Baron Davis and Chris Kaman walk into a bar ...

22.Indiana Pacers

The Pacers are one of my tweeners, meaning they can go either way. They have been in the rebuilding stage for a few years now, and have assimilated a good amount of talent.

Tyler Hansbrough will do the same blue collar work he was known for at UNC. Danny Granger is on the verge of being a star; question is, does he know? And is he capable of playing up to his potential? Mike Dunlevy Jr. will be productive on both sides of the ball, and the acquisition of firecracker Darren Collison will give them speed and efficiency at the point guard spot.

Where are they lacking? Their bench play is spotty, and they don’t have a dominate center. Although this could be a breakout year for Roy Hibbert. Here is the thing though -- if Hibbert can have a breakout year, the bench becomes more productive. Then, if the team as a whole can develop some defensive grit, they will be able to improve greatly on last year's 32-50 record. If not well, 30 wins isn't so bad. Apparently it's the new 20. Errrr, wait … bad analogy?

23. Sacramento Kings

When the Maloof brothers started dumping productive players like Kevin Martin, Andres Nocioni, John Salmons and Drew Gooden on other teams for little in return, there was no questioning the motives.

The Maloofs made it apparent they want out of Sacramento for the sandier, well-lit pastures of Las Vegas. Dumping good players and keeping a fan base disinterested is a sure way to do that. The problem? That plan may blow up in their face.

In the process of the player dump, they have actually formed a team who can play together. No one expected second-year man Tyreke Evans to perform so well, so soon (20.1 ppg, 5.8 apg). But the 6-foot-6, 220-pound Evans proved his unique combination of size and extreme speed (see: Brandon Jennings) will be a force to reckon with for years to come.

Demarcus Cousins' talent is undeniable. He will be a consistent double-double guy and the concerns with his maturity should be put on the backburner until we see something at the pro level to cause alarm. Players like Omri Casspi, Francisco Garcia, Beno Udrih and Carl Landry are consistent contributors in the points column and can prove to be a pesky group, though it's more of a pick-your-allergy situation as opposed to pick-your-poison.

Second-year coach Paul Westphal should get this team posed to improve, but the playoffs are a long way off. If this team can prove itself competitive (and it should), they may get their fan base back, which is the reason you can expect little in the way of player transactions until the season is over and the Maloofs have secured the teams move to Vegas.

24. Washington Wizards

Former Agent Zero has been causing mayhem for three years now. Though he is supposed to inflict it on the rest of the league ... not the city he plays for.

Weapons charges, suspensions, real injuries, fake injuries and a weird history of strange rants on his blog have fans wishing the Wizards had disavowed him when he was a free agent. Now, with all his crazy behavior, the Wizards will find it hard to trade him and his enormous cap-eating salary. But make no mistake, they do want to trade him. The last thing the Wiz wants is a quirky, egocentric, all-eyes-on-me Arenas taking an already-quirky rookie point guard in John Wall under his wing.

Wall will bring his blazing speed and court vision to the Wizards reclamation project. Kirk Hinrich will bring shooting and consistent guard play to the Wizards as well as show Wall the professional ropes.

The Wizards have 11 players with five years or less experience. Their youth and size will keep them in games with good teams, and great teams will look to pad their stats with them. The question mark is Arenas. If he decides to give a little bit of his thunder and let Wall thrive, this team could make strides and even the playoffs. If Arenas decides he want to keep acting like an idiot and needs to be The Man, this team will stall out. If Arenas can't get along, expect him to be traded by late December.