Roundball Wrap-Up: Thursday March 13th

Your favorite inconsistent NBA post is back from last year!  I never really had a full grasp on how to do this blog, but I think I have figured it out. There will be similar elements from Bucks Buzz, but in reality, it will be its own post on Wednesday (Or Thursday). I do not really have a time for when it will be up but there will be all sorts of random shit I happen to come across on the Internet plus some thoughts about the week that was.

Players of the Week 
Al Jefferson - It is really nice to see Jefferson is getting credit for the season he has having this season for Charlotte. Remember when he took this contract, people expected him to just cash a check on a biweekly basis and move on. That did not happen. Jefferson had another big week for Charlotte as the Bobcats have won four of their last five games. In the last five games, Big Al is averaging five points above his average with 26 points a game. He also pulled down two double-doubles this week maintaining with his average of 10 per game. Jefferson is probably a second or third team All-Pro this season. Maybe second is a little rash, but third seems like a given.


Blake Griffin - Pretty good week for Blake. He pissed a couple people off with P.J. Tucker throwing a chicken wing at him on Monday night and Jermaine O'Neal wanting to fight him after the game. Griffin had some gaudy stat lines in the past week. He dropped 37 points against Phoenix, and then he scored 30 last night against Golden State with 15 rebounds. Are people ready to give Blake's credit? He is a top ten player in the NBA. No question about it and he may be pushing towards the top five. Doc Rivers did wonders with Griffin along with him maturing into a better player.

This week in Kevin Durant and LeBron James 
Despite two losses, KD had another big week with a 42 point performance against Houston where they needed a victory and got one. Durant also had a triple-double against Los Angeles with 27 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists. For LeBron, Miami lost four of their last five with not many great games from LBJ in the process and the best one came in the only win against Washington with James having 23 points, eight assists and seven rebounds.

'I am not mad, I am disappointed' Rapper of the Week 
Lil' B - I have no idea what Kevin Durant to get himself into a diss song, but it happened as Lil B created     '---- KD' and actually it is extremely catchy as they use "Brown Paper Bag"'s beat and hook. But why do you want these problems Lil B? I hope Durant gets him at Rucker Park or Drew League and just torches him.

Team of the Week
Los Angeles Clippers - This team is truly rounding into form with a month left in the season. They are only two games back in third place in the Western Conference chasing the Thunder and Spurs but they are red hot right now winning nine of their last 10 games. In this winning streak, Los Angeles dumped Phoenix twice, Golden State, Oklahoma City and Houston. That's a pretty impressive list for a nine-game winning streak. Western Conference has four or five teams I think can truly find themselves in the NBA Finals.

Team of the Weak
Miami and Indiana - Both are still on top of Eastern Conference mountain, but what I found interesting is how both teams have lost four of their last fives. If Miami were to get hot during that point, they are back on the one seed and if Indiana had been winning games, this team is farther away from Miami than just a two game lead. They will be obviously find, but the question is will they both get hot after this or will one flounder?

Sportandfashion-news Medical Injury Report  
Anthony Bennett - He has been a little better in the last couple months, but he is now bothered by a knee injury that could put him out until April. Once again, this is another bad mark on Bennett's rookie season. If he is truly hurt and Cleveland is not set up to make a push to the playoffs, just shut down Bennett for the season.

NBA's week in Images, GIFS, Instagram, Vine, Links, anything else.
Joakim Noah as a high school girl is excellent



James Harden is a cowboy.

oh wow. RT @jennydialcreech James Harden showed up in a hat and boots after his trip to rodeo yesterday. pic.twitter.com/n4zLJ4F51z
— Holly MacKenzie (@stackmack) March 8, 2014

In other Noah news, Yannick Noah waving a finger in Chicago's win was fantastic.

Blake Griffin being a complete boss with post moves, not dunks.

Chipotle should be 24 hours
— Maurice Harkless (@moe_harkless) March 11, 2014

Truuuuu Moe Harkless.

Charlie.

The Last Leg: Western Conference

When I was in middle school I became obsessed with Led Zeppelin. They were the cock of the walk, the bee’s knees and the hands down best band of all time. I started buying their albums, I created a really shitty clay sculpture of them (I’m talking really shitty), I read the book, “Stairway to Heaven: Uncensored” (which I probably shouldn’t have read because there was juts a ton of drug and sex references littered throughout the book) and ultimately, through my obsessions with Zeppelin, I found out “How the West was won.”

40 years later in the NBA, we have no clue who is going to win the West, but there are a couple things I have been thinking about the hotly contested conference. Let’ talk final quarter people, and if you missed my final quarter thoughts on the Eastern Conference, click here.

1. KD and Russ.
I put this topic first, so before you get worn out from reading anything else I put in the body of this post, I want you to realize that Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook will be fine. They actually need each other.

Thunder dropped their first three games after Westbrook’s return, one of the games coming against Cleveland, and people just started flying off the handle. “He takes away from Durant”, “Doesn’t know his place”, “Stupid gunner” yada, yada, yada. Let us remember a few things about the NBA:

1. For Finals Contenders, regular season losses rarely matter. The season is a grind. It is six months long, and packed with 82 games before the playoffs start. Every once in a while a bad loss happens. Thunder lost three straight games, and it did not change the fact they are still indeed the one seed. However, in those three games, what happened? They let Russell work out his kinks, and they won the following three games. Let us not get hung up on February losses, thanks.

2. Kevin Durant didn’t get “worse” since Russell has gotten back. I have seen waaaayyyy too many people talking about how Russell takes away from Durant. And that ladies and gentleman, is bullshit. Let’s take a look a Kevin’s season averages and then compare them to the last 6 games since Russell has been back:

	PPG	RPG	APG	Shot Attempts
Season Averages	31.6	7.7	6.7	19.2
Averages from last 6 gms w/ Russ	34.1	7.0	6.1	22.6

So what do you see there? I see a dude that has shot and scored more, while keeping his distributing and rebounding numbers constant, since his teammate and top 10 player, Westbrook has been back. Also, in the six games, Durant scored 42 points twice and 37 points another time. His offensive numbers have not taken a “hit”. 

To me, the explanation is simple, an athlete as dynamic as Russell does nothing but take pressure off everyone else on offense. Durant got more shots, and more easy shots, since the return of his buddy Russ. Defenses can’t just 100% key in on KD anymore, because the athletic prowess of Westbrook will torch them if they turn a blind eye. A balance that is crucial for their playoff success, as documented last year when they were easily disposed by Memphis Grizzlies. Russ makes KD better. I don’t care what anyone says otherwise.

3. Take a gander back up at Durant’s stats up there. They are beautiful. To this point, they are his career’s masterpiece, and because of Durant, Thunder are the one seed. However, with the return of Russell, and the closing of the season, I would suggest Durant takes a passenger’s seat to Westbrook for the closing month and a half. Durant proved to be unstoppable this season. We all know this, and as of now, he is locked neck-and-neck in a heated MVP race. TO me though, I think it is time to choose whether he wants the MVP or playoff success.

Thunder will need Russell Westbrook to be rolling on all cylinders come May. He only played in a month or so worth of games this year and his shot is already a streaky one. At this point, while he seems to be getting acclimated just fine, I don’t think it would hurt to give him more of the reigns and really start to feel himself going into the playoffs with knowledge that Kevin Durant needs no warm up.

Westbrook was a little shaky in the first few games back, but in the last three, has looked more like himself. He averaged 21.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 8.3 assists per game, over the last three and managed to post a triple-double in his last effort. They will still win games with this strategy, albeit giving Russ the main stage would easily derail Durant’s MVP campaign.

Whatever the matter, people just need to stop hating on Russell. KD and him get along, and I think with that duo healthy, this is your Western Conference team to beat.

2. Hot in Houston
Rockets are probably the league’s hottest team right now, and on Tuesday night, beat Miami Heat en route to the their 12th victory in 14 tries. 

“Yeah, ahh, Houston, we have lift off.”

Before they beat Miami on Tuesday, I had compiled stats from the previous last 13 games and what I found was a very efficient Dwight Howard. The man has been a monster, and seems to have found his old ways. In the aforementioned stretch, he scored 22.2 points per game, pulled down 12.1 rebounds per game as well as swatting an average of two shots as well.

The 22.3 points is three above his season average of 19.0, and his muscular shoulders don’t appear to be getting weaker. To help aid him, has been who else, but the Beard also known as James Harden.

And take it from me, beards are in.

Harden has been a monster in that same stretch, and last week, he took home Western Conference Player of the Week. Over the last 14 games he averaged 27.1 points to go along with 5.9 assists per game and shot 40% from downtown. He also has shot 113 free throws, and made 99 of them.

Behind Harden and Howard, the Rockets are now the West’s three seed, and in the last month, they have beaten the Spurs, Suns, Mavericks, Wizards, and now Heat over the course of their last 14 games. They are rolling, and if Patrick Beverly and Jeremy Lin can somehow not completely fall apart in the playoffs, this could be a team that is competing into June.

3. Blinded by the Light!!
What a story in Phoenix. Before the season, the media labeled this team as a rebuilding project, a team that would not compete for years. Instead, the Suns are extremely efficient, pick-n-rolling, offensive masters. It has been fun to watch.

First credit has to be given to Jeff Hornacek, for coming into a challenging role as a rookie head coach, and getting his talent in situations where they can succeed. The Morris twins had been all but written off, but this year they have been fantastic hustle players. Same goes to Channing Frye and PJ Tucker, neither are incredible individual players, but they are specialists (Frye 3-point, Tucker hustle), and Hornacek used them that way.

Gerald Green has literally flown back on to the radar. Getting his first opportunity to start ever, and Green impressed in a major way. Averaging 15 points per game and shooting a steady 38% from downtown, Green fought his way off the bench. He had never started more then 28 games in his career, and this year he already started 42. It has been a long and rocky road for Green. So to see him achieve success serves as a great reminder that if you stick around and keep working hard, good things happen.

However, the main difference in the Desert has been the additions of Eric Bledsoe, and the emergence of Goran Dragic. Bledsoe, unfortunately had a meniscus injury and missed significant time, but the rumor is he has been practicing a little and could be something like two weeks away from a return. We should learn not to rush these guys, but I will be keeping an eye on this situation moving forward. For the season, he averaged 18 points 5.8 assists and 4.3 rebounds per game. With long arms and being as athletic as he is, he quickly became a matchup problem for his NBA foes. Hopefully he can bounce back quickly.

Meanwhile, Dragic has been an absolute monster. Averaging 20.6 points per contest, while shooting 51% and doling over six assists to boot. He has been the battery pack for the Suns, and it seems everything he is setting a new career high in something. He also expanded his three point shooting, and for the season is hitting from range at a 41% clip. Easily a career high, and the first time he has topped 40% from deep. He has been a real firecracker.

What is funny is before the season, Phoenix prepared for a very long season. And had been stock-piling draft picks for the upcoming draft. Aside from their own picks, they also have Minnesota, Washington, and Indiana’s first round pick. As well as, the Lakers 2015 first round pick.

While a lot of the picks are protected, so they might not get them this year, all of them will be filtered to Phoenix at some point in time. The Lakers one is particularly hilarious because they are a team that needs all the help they can get, and they gave away three first round picks to get Steve Nash’s old body.

Basically, Suns are a competitive team, with a lot of draft day assets, and a good coach. Moving forward, this is a team worth watching.

4. The Unfair West.
In the Eastern Conference blog, I talked a little bit on tanking, and why it is a problem. Something needs to be changed, we know that, and Bill Simmons just posted a column that goes a little more in-depth if you are interested. Today, I have another suggestion that could make the NBA a better product.

Looking at the standings, it is an understatement in saying that the Western Conference is just superior to the East. The West is a fucking war zone compared to the East, aka “The Land of Patty Cakes”.

Only Indiana Pacers and Miami Heat would be good enough record wise to make the playoffs in the vaunted Western Conference. Toronto Raptors and Chicago Bulls would both be in the hunt for the post season, but they also would also be on the outside looking in.

Take a look at the current NBA standing by Conference. 

Eastern Conference

1. Indiana Pacers 46-15
2. Miami Heat 43-15
3. Toronto Raptors 33-26
4. Chicago Bulls 34-27
5. Washington Wizards 32-29
6. Brooklyn Nets 30-29
7. Charlotte Bobcats 28-33
8. Atlanta Hawks 26-33
9. Detroit Pistons 24-37
10. Cleveland Cavaliers 24-38
Absolute Shambles: New York Knicks 

Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder 45-15
2. San Antonio Spurs 44-16
3. Houston Rockets 42-19
4. Portland Trail Blazers 42-19
5. Los Angeles Clippers 42-20
6. Golden State Warriors 38-24
7. Phoenix Suns 35-24
8. Dallas Mavericks 36-26
9. Memphis Grizzlies 34-26
10. Minnesota Timberwolves 30-30
11. Denver Nuggets 26-34
12. New Orleans 24-37

As you can see basically the entire Western Conference would be in the hunt for an Eastern Conference playoff seed. Meanwhile, teams like Minnesota and Memphis would be three to six seeds in the East are regulated to 82-game seasons, while the Heat pounds a weak franchise like the Charlotte Bobcats in the post season.

So what can be done? Logistically, only one move really makes since, and that would be moving a team like…gulp… Milwaukee, to Seattle, allowing them join the West, while simultaneously letting at least one of the eastern Western Conference teams (Minnesota, Memphis or New Orleans) move into the Eastern Conference.

Unfortunately, that moves really only satisfies one franchise, and devastates all Milwaukee Bucks fans. So my other suggestion would be, why not play out the regular season, but just take the best 16 teams record wise for the playoffs, instead of the best eight from each conference and set up an NCAA tournament style seeding and bracket.

Using this system the playoff seedings would end up looking like this:

1. Oklahoma City 46-15
2. Indiana 46-15
3. Miami 43-15
4. San Antonio 44-16
5. Houston 42-19
6. Portland 42-19
7. LA Clippers 40-20
8. Golden State 38-24
9. Phoenix 35-25
10. Dallas 36-26
11. Memphis 34-26
12. Toronto 33-26
13. Chicago 34-27
14. Washington 32-29
15. Brooklyn 30-29
16. Minnesota 30-30

With this format, just eliminated slums like Atlanta and Charlotte from the playoffs. Added good teams like Memphis and Minnesota, and created the possibility for entertaining cross conference playoff rivalries.

Houston could be battling Miami in an unprecedented second round match up. We could watch a first round coaching battle of Pop vs Thibs. In future years, you could possibly watch the Heat play the Pacers in the finals or Harden going back to OKC to try and beat his old cronies for the title.

I think that this format could be fun. And who says no to simply letting all the best regular season teams (instead of just some of them) get a chance to play for a championship? This is something that needs to be thought about in great depth, because I don’t really feel like watching the Hawks vs. Pacers first round matchup, and honestly, I would love for K Love to finally get in the playoffs.

He deserves to get in there once during his time in Minnesota.

You reach, I teach,

~Andrew 

Roundball Wrap-Up: Wednesday February 26th

Your favorite inconsistent NBA post is back from last year!  I never really had a full grasp on how to do this blog, but I think I have figured it out. There will be similar elements from Bucks Buzz, but in reality, it will be its own post on Wednesday (Or Thursday). I do not really have a time for when it will be up but there will be all sorts of random shit I happen to come across on the Internet plus some thoughts about the week that was.

Players of the Week 
James Harden - We had Houston take the Team of the Week before the All-Star game, but Harden is right now playing like a top five player in the NBA. Sure, he cannot play defense, but it is the perfect recipe for him as he can let guys go in the lane and see Dwight Howard whom has reverted back to 'Good Dwight.' Harden been impressive in the last couple games including his 43 point performance last night where 40 of his points came before the five minute mark in the third quarter. Since the All-Star Break, Harden is averaging 33.5 points per game and shooting 50.6 from the field. If Houston finds themselves to be the one seed in the Western Conference, Harden deserves some consideration for MVP. I do not think he deserves it, but man, he had quite the year with the Rockets. This is a dangerous team.

Carmelo Anthony - If you listen to The Solid Verbal, they had a thing going with Nick Foles when he played in college called 'Nick Foles in a losing effort.' I think it is time we need to create 'Carmelo Anthony in a losing effort.' The Knicks are putrid, but Melo is anything, but. In the last four games, Carmelo is averaging 41.5 points a game. FORTY POINTS A GAME. The man is out of his mind right now and also 53.1 percent from the field. In two of those games, Carmelo made six or more threes as well along with grabbing multiple rebounds. People are forgetting how good Melo has been this season because the Knicks are so goddamn bad. If New York was a three seed and Carmelo put up these numbers, I think there is a discussion for MVP.

This week in Kevin Durant
Not really much to report about KD as he only played two games since the All-Star Break and Oklahoma City lost both games. Durant had gaudy numbers against Los Angeles Clippers in a shootout going for 42 points and 10 assists, but that's about it. KD's assist numbers are definitely something to keep an eye on.

'I am not mad, I am disappointed' Player of the Week
Raymond Felton - New York is a complete mess as noted in the Melo graph, but Ray Felton made it worse with getting arrested for waving his gun around at his probable ex-wife. I guess despite New York City's tough gun laws, Felton will not be seriously charged like Plaxico Burress or Lil Wayne, but still this is yet another stain for New York. To make matters worse, Felton will start tonight for New York. I do not really think I am putting Felton in the lineup after catching a gun charge, might want to wait a couple days, see how things play out.

Team of the Week
Charlotte Bobcats - HERE COMES THE CATS. Charlotte has won five of their last six games and found themselves in the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference with four games under .500. They are only a half game out of the sixth seed. Bobcats beat Memphis in an impressive victory last night being led by Al Jefferson and Kemba Walker. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist has become one of the better defenders in the league, and this team could at least frustrate a team in the first round. Although poor Charlotte as their next four games is a three-game road trip against San Antonio, Oklahoma City and Miami with coming home to face Indiana.

Team of the Weak
Atlanta Hawks - I do not think people are realizing how bad Atlanta has been for the month of February. They began the month with a win and a 25-21 record. Since then, they have won a single game and now four games under .500 being the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference right now. They are giving a ton of points right now. In five of their losses, Atlanta gave up 105 points or more which is not good whatsoever. In Atlanta's defense, they have played Indiana twice, Chicago twice and Toronto once which they lost all those games. It could be Atlanta just is not very good.

Sportandfashion-news Medical Injury Report  
Iman Shumpert - There was some talk that Shump would have been on the move to Oklahoma City but New York did not want to give him up for a first-round pick which is bizarre, but okay. Shumpert turned around and hurt his knee putting him out until early March. Somehow the Knicks found a way to dominate a Roundball Wrap-up with being 10 games under .500. I am sorry folks, not a ton of injuries, Felton being a dumbass and Melo playing well. I do not make the rules here.

NBA's week in Images, GIFS, Instagram, Vine, Links, anything else. 

Honestly, I do not like to encourage Heat fans, but I found this kid hilarious.



Thomas Robinson had the block of the year.



Brad Stevens get the most calm ejection of all-time. Honestly, I have no idea what he did wrong there.



DIRKUS CIRCUS STRIKES AGAIN.  

RT @HoustonRockets: @JHarden13 addresses media wearing the latest in a recent series of amazing shirts. #FlowerPower pic.twitter.com/BnAQJTTYdG
— Chris Herring (@HerringWSJ) February 24, 2014

It appears James Harden has stole my Grandma's couch.

Charlie. 

Trade Value by Position: Shooting Guards

Being that I love the NBA, I'm going to break down, position by position, the players with the most trade value at this point in time.

The shooting guard position, though not as dominant as the point guard position is right now, is very important position on the basketball court. There aren't a ton of stars that are true shooting guards and, in fact, the position is pretty lackluster overall.

This will probably be just as hard as ranking point guards by trade value but not because there are so many good ones. There are a ton of albatross contracts at the 2-spot. 

Here goes:

1. James Harden, 24 years old, Houston Rockets - Contract: (First year) 5 years, $78.7 million -

Harden is undoubtedly the most valuable shooting guard in the NBA. His production/scoring has been constant since taking over an expanded role after being traded to Houston last year. His Player Efficiency Rating is a whopping 21.8 (league average is 15) and he's averaging 24.6 points per game. Harden and Dwight Howard should be a dynamic duo in the Western Conference for some time.

2. Dwyane Wade, 31 years old, Miami Heat - Contract: (Fourth year) 6 years, $107 million; has early termination clause after this season - 

The fact that D-Wade is now in his early 30s and is oft-injured drops him out of the top spot. However, when he's healthy, he's still one of the most dominant and explosive players in the Association. If LeBron is 1A of the "Big 3" in South Beach, Wade is 1B. He's shooting 54 percent from the floor this season, a career high, and is continuing to make a huge impact on the defensive end of the floor.

3. Lance Stephenson, 23 years old, Indiana Pacers - Contract: (Final year rookie deal; only 930K this year) - 

Stephenson has emerged as a legitimate starting shooting guard in the NBA. He's done a good job of improving his decision making and is a strong defender with his length. Scoring-wise he might not do as much as other guys in the list but he's surrounded by a good supporting cast in Indiana. Don't look now, but Stephenson will likely end up in New Orleans next month for the All-Star game. It'll be interesting to see what he can garner in free agency this offseason.

4. Klay Thompson, 23 years old, Golden State Warriors - Contract: (Third year of rookie deal) - 

Thompson has been a straight knockdown three point shooter since day one of his NBA career. He and Warriors' PG Steph Curry (know as the Splash Bros.) have formed arguably the best backcourt tandem in the league. Thompson's true shooting percentage is 56.4 percent this year up from 53.3 last year. He's hitting on 41 percent of the whopping 290 three point attempts so far this season. I fear that he's a little one-dimensional but he'll probably make the All-Star team either way. Remember, you can't say "shooting guard" without saying "shoot."

5. Wesley Matthews, 27 years old, Portland Trail Blazers - Contract: (Fourth year) 5 years, $26 million) -

Another shooting guard from Marquette makes the list. Matthews has gone from an undrafted free agent to one of the best two guards in the NBA. He's third among NBA shooting guards in true shooting at 62.4 percent (Charlotte's Chris Douglas-Roberts is second but has only played in 14 games this year). Matthews has also been a key part in the Blazers being as good as they have been this season. His reasonable contract makes him very moveable.

6. Bradley Beal, 20 years old, Washington Wizards - Contract: (Second year of rookie deal) - 

Bradley "Real Deal" Beal has stepped his game up a notch in his sophomore season, numbers-wise. His usage has gone up, thus his efficiency has gone down some. If his efficiency would have gone up significantly he'd probably be much higher on this list. This is essentially based on what Beal could be. He's been banged up this year but he's been compared to Ray Allen coming out of Florida. That's fairly unreasonable but if he can become a poor man's Ray Allen, that's a damn good ball player.

7. Eric Gordon, 25 years old, New Orleans Pelicans - Contract: (Second year) 4 years, $58 million 

Gordon hit restricted free agency after the '11-'12 season and the Phoenix Suns signed him to this huge offer sheet that New Orleans ultimately matched, against Gordon's better wishes. If it weren't for this contract and his nearly chronic injury issues leading up to this season, Gordon would have much higher trade value. He's fairly undersized for an NBA shooting guard but still shoots just over 45 percent from the floor and his TS% his is up significantly from last year (55.8 percent). He's apparently being actively shopped by the Pelicans, so we may know exactly what his league-wide trade value is very soon.

8. Jimmy Butler, 24 years old, Chicago Bulls - Contract: (Third year of rookie deal) -

It's hard to say whether the Bulls like Butler at the 2 or 3 spot but he can probably play either. For the most part this year, he's been a shooting guard so that's why he's here. Butler has shown, since last year, that he can/will be a lockdown defender in the Association. Offensively, Butler hasn't really built on the great efficiency he showed last year. I'd directly attribute that to Butler playing 34 minutes per game this year versus just 26 per game last year and also that he's been essentially biggest offensive threat for the Bulls when he's on the floor. Still, his defense and athleticism is intriguing.

9. Victor Oladipo, 21 years old, Orlando Magic - Contract: Rookie year -

Speaking of defense and athleticism, look no further than the Magic's Victor Oladipo. I think it's safe to say that Oladipo has lived up to the hype of being the number two overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft thus far. He scored 35 points last night against the Bulls and also handed out eight assists. He did have eight turnovers, basically canceling out the eight assists still it was a great performance. 'Dipo should be a main stay in the core the Magic have developing. Once they get a point guard to go along with Victor in the backcourt, the Magic should be ready to make the next step.

10. Giannis Antetokounmpo, 19 years old, Milwaukee Bucks - Contract: Rookie year - 

Call me a homer, but you know I had to include a Buck in one of these pieces. Giannis is another one where we're not sure what position he is exactly but ideally, he can play in the backcourt so I thought it to be fair to include him with the shooting guards. Giannis has been a bright spot in an otherwise horrible year for the Bucks. He hasn't been perfect every night but that's to be expected for a relatively unknown, 19 year old prospect. He had a good game against Kevin Durant and the Thunder last Saturday. This was nice to see considering Durant is the guy that many basketball minds are comparing Giannis to. He's shooting 45.7 percent from the floor with a true shooting of 54.3 percent. His impact has been felt one way or another most games. It's always nice to see a guy that can impact a game in ways other than scoring. He needs to work on his jumper but there's no reason to believe he can't become a good shooter.

NBA Future Power Rankings: 4.) - 1.)

by Adam Hatlak, edited by Charlie Tritschler.  

Late December/early January is generally when the NBA starts to heat up. For this NBA season, this is especially true. With all of the injuries to major stars and one of the most anticipated draft classes in recent memory coming up, the landscape of the NBA is in store for a major shakeup. Due to all the changes, now is a good time to look at what the NBA will look like for the next 3-5 years. These Power Rankings were made from a fan’s perspective including many different variables: probability of future success, likeability of organization, trust in front office, and ability to acquire/retain quality players. All of the criteria are applied for the next 3-5 years, as anything further into the future is increasingly more difficult to predict.

Teams ranked from 30.) - 25.) 
Teams ranked from 24) - 20.)
Teams ranked from 19.) -15.) 
Teams ranked from 14.) - 10.) 

Teams ranked from   9.) - 5.)  

4.) Houston Rockets
Key Assets: James Harden, Dwight Howard, Chandler Parsons, Omer Asik, Jeremy Lin, Daryl Morey.

Reason for Hope: Daryl Morey built this team through acquiring quality assets and turning them into superstars, only Houston only acquired Parsons through the draft. Harden and Howard both have top-10 potential as individuals and capable of being one of the most deadly pick’n’roll combinations in the league. Parsons fits in very well with this team, as he is not asked to do more than he is capable of due to the abilities of his teammates. The Rockets are guaranteed to get extra value on the court before or at the trade deadline, whether they are finally able to turn Asik into a new player, or if they convince him to man the second unit inside like he did in Chicago. If this team figures it out, they could be extremely dominant in the West.

Reason for Concern: Despite Houston’s ability to build this team without very little homegrown talent, there are significant concerns about their top stars. Harden has admittedly not given his all on defense at times and may lack the ability to shut down opponents top scorers. There will always be concerns about Howard’s maturity, and his main advantage over his peers is his athleticism, something that will fade as he ages. Asik and Lin are very nice role players, but their salary skyrockets in the future, making them difficult pieces to trade. A move with Lin or Asik that may be necessary in the future, as Parsons will not always be available for a dirt cheap deal. This team still has a few more roster moves to make before being a legitimate title contender.

Key Decision Looming: What do they get back for Asik? There have been multiple times where it seems like Houston had a plan in place to deal Asik, and both parties certainly need to move on from each other. As time passes, his trade value decreases greatly, due to not being on the court and his contract next year. The Rockets stated they wanted two first round picks for Asik, but when this is all said and done, it seems likely they’ll move him for a heavily protected first rounder.

3.) Indiana Pacers
Key Assets: Paul George, Roy Hibbert, Lance Stephenson, David West, Danny Granger, Frank Vogel.

Reason for Hope: A year after winning the Most Improved Player award, George made another leap, becoming one of the top five players in the game. Hibbert maintained his high level of play from the playoffs last year, and as a whole, Pacers are getting more respect from the rest of the league, refs included. Stephenson is improving as a player as well, and has become the type of player the Pacers need to lock up to a long-term deal this offseason. Perhaps most importantly, no team in the NBA looks hungrier this year than the Pacers, and it seems like nothing but defeating Miami Heat in the playoffs will satisfy that hunger. This team seems stable enough to go to battle with the same core for the next few seasons.

Reason for Concern: It has not been an issue yet this season, but decisions regarding Granger are looming. Granger was the leader and soul of this team prior to George’s rise to stardom, and dealing with his return or departure could prove problematic to team chemistry, a true strength for the Pacers. George and Stephenson both came into the season with very small contracts that were very team friendly. George has already been extended, but Stephenson is next and will require a significant raise. West has been great for the team, but is old and has an injury history; will he be able to stay healthy when the Pacers need him most? It also feels like the team gets overrated slightly due to their ability to match up well against the Heat. They are still an elite team, but look better to casual fans, as they can dominate Miami inside.

Key Decision Looming: Is Danny Granger move valuable on the court or in a trade? Granger's deal is expiring and is likely to move on next season so the Pacers can extend Stephenson, this is leading to multiple trade rumors surrounding Granger. The truth is he is most valuable on the court for Indiana. It is clear they are gunning for the title this year, and Granger coming off the bench, assuming he is willing to accept that role giving the best chance to do win a championship. Allowing Granger to rack up points with the second unit lets the Pacers play the hot hand between him and Stephenson in crunch time. Even though Granger once had star status, he would be a great veteran leader while they make a run at the Heat. The team should allow Granger to contribute to a potential title team in Indiana and let him walk after the season if they cannot afford him.

2.) Miami Heat
Key Assets: LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Pat Riley, Erik Spoelstra.

Reason for Hope: Any time you have James, the outlook is good. Unless something changes, he will be the best player in the NBA for at least the next three years, potentially more. The best part about James is that he works to make other players better therefore the ability to attract mid-level free agents is increased, and Riley showed a great ability to do so. With Wade’s new schedule keeping him fresher, it seems like he will be more of a force in the playoffs, when Miami will need him most. Spoelstra is one of the more underrated coaches in the league, as he does have great talent, but also does a good job of putting them in position to succeed. Bosh’s demeanor and lack of physicality at times makes him an easy scapegoat for this team when things are going wrong, but he is the second most valuable player behind James, as he is Miami’s one quality big, and his playing style works well for what the Heat are trying to do.

Reason for Concern: Age is starting to catch up to this team with Wade being affected the most. While it seems like this team came together relatively recently, they all have the ability to opt out of their contracts soon, something that James and Bosh seem likely to do. Their veteran role players are also getting older and closer to retirement and Miami might have some issues replacing them. They consistently do not have enough quality depth inside with no true resolution in sight. Bosh is more likely to leave than James, although it seems likely both will stay, but either way the team will run out of ways to make constant improvements due to age and salaries, while their chief rivals will be able to catch up.

Key Decision Looming: When is the right time to end the Big Three era? Heat created their identity based on Bosh, James, and Wade, but a day will come when those three cannot lead their team to a NBA Title anymore. Wade seems to be the first one to potentially decline out of the situation, but he would also likely be the most difficult for the Heat franchise to move on from. James and Bosh also seem likely to opt out of their deals this offseason, in hopes of getting more long term money, or potentially leaving for greener pastures. Both should stay in Miami to see how many titles they can win together, but the salary associated with Wade will make it difficult to bring in more help as time goes. The new CBA will make it difficult on the Heat to continue to add to the team, but they should stick with the Big Three and allow veterans to take small deals to chase a championship.

1. Oklahoma City Thunder
Key Assets: Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Serge Ibaka, Reggie Jackson, Steven Adams, Jeremy Lamb.

Reason for Hope: They have the best young core in the NBA as Durant, Westbrook, and Ibaka are all still 25 and under. Durant is the likely heir to the best player in the NBA throne, for when LeBron begins to fade. Westbrook, when healthy, is also a top 10 player. Each of these players is still showing signs of improvement.. Thunder have also done a great job continuing to add young talent to their rotation. While Jackson, Adams, and Lamb are no James Harden, they are providing solid bench production. If they are able to bring it when it matters most, this team will continue to contend. Perry Jones III still has enough raw potential to possibly develop into a scary player off the bench, but he is a player nobody discusses.

Reason for Concern: Westbrook’s knee has been operated on three times in the last eight months. For a player that has overwhelming athletic ability, it will be interesting to see if this causes him to dramatically alter his game, and if it will affect his ability to dominate. The team is still oddly committed to Kendrick Perkins, and due to the handling of James Harden, the upcoming contract for Jackson has people wondering how the Thunder will handle it. The Thunder benefited by dominating the draft for three straight years, but now they will have to retain their stars for their full careers while having an ownership that seems unwilling to pay the luxury tax, something that could eventually cause key players to move on willingly or not be retained.

Key Decision Looming: Can they afford Jackson? Until they win a title, the Thunder will always be haunted by the handling of the Harden trade. It is not as bad as most have made it seem, as they were able to acquire Lamb and Adams, whom are not likely to ever equal Harden’s superstardom, but will be able to contribute on this team. They do have a similar situation coming up with Jackson’s contract. He proved to be a great bench player behind Westbrook, and even held his own when called upon to start with Westbrook down with injury. Luckily Perkins will eventually see his contract expire and Thunder will have to decide between paying Jackson or trading him for a pile of assets. With Westbrook’s injury concerns, having Jackson lead the bench or the starters is a must, even though it may cost the team.