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One of the best things about sports is the drama that surrounds it all. It's always fun to speculate about certain things. To talk about rumors, a team's play, how things appear to be in the locker room, etc. But, personally, for me, the best part other than the sport itself is making predictions.
From this month onwards, I'll be making a list of predictions for the current NBA season and beyond including the 2018 Free Agency frenzy. After analyzing the performances of teams each month, I'll be making these predictions. For the set of predictions in November, I'll be talking about things happening in October because through 2 weeks into the season you can't really make meaningful predictions ( hello Orlando Magic and your 8-2 start).This will carry on for the rest of the season and will be made at the end of each month. So, let's start:
#5 Lonzo Ball will not be a bust
I know what you're thinking right now. Whatever we've seen from Lonzo this season has suggested he'll be a bust. However, we are forgetting something. Lonzo Ball was never a scorer. He was billed as a guy who makes his teammates better. He was a guy who'd create a shot for the other guy, go chase a rebound, someone who'd steal the ball and lead a fast-break and someone who could chip in with 12 to 15 points a night.
So far, he has done everything expected bar the scoring and I believe his shot will come around. Even if it doesn't I won't be that disappointed with him. He'll still be a great asset to his team. As it looks like his ceiling is peak Rajon Rondo and peak Rajon Rondo was a great player. He was the best player on a team which almost beat LeBron James and the Miami Heat in the 2012 Eastern Conference Finals.
So, there's a reason for optimism for Lonzo Ball. It's just because his father has put a huge spotlight on him that whatever he does is exaggerated. He just needs to be a bit more aggressive and not lose confidence. He needs to remember he's the youngest player to have 2 triple doubles. As they say, "It's something difficult, but in the end is right."
#4 Doc Rivers should be fired
A look at Doc Rivers' record as a coach and you'll think he's a great coach. 2 NBA Finals and 1 Eastern Conference Finals to go with multiple playoff appearances. But, you gotta look closer. The 2 NBA Finals and 1 Eastern Conference Finals were more due to the work of Danny Ainge rather than him.
That team was LOADED. Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and a peak Rajon Rondo. Now, it feels that the Celtics should've won at least 2 titles. And I blame their failure to do so on Doc Rivers. The second season KG got injured but you still had Pierce, Allen, Rondo and a lot of valuable vets. You should at least make the Conference Finals with that team. They went out in the 2nd round (and almost lost in the 1st round).
Look at his record with the Clippers.He couldn't lead a team with a core of Blake Griffin, Chris Paul and DeAndre Jordan past the Western Conference Semi-Finals. Many will say the Clippers have been unlucky due to injury and I agree with that point as well. However, even when fully fit, they didn't perform like a great team either. They were annihilated by the Warriors by over 10+ points in their last 6 meetings and have also lost 11 straight against them.
This season the story has been worse. Many believed that if Doc could only focus on coaching, then he'll be back to his best. So, the Clippers removed Doc as the Head of Basketball Operations (rightfully so too. The Austin Rivers trade comes to mind). Other than a hot start, the Clippers have been AWFUL. Injuries hit them again but still. You gotta inspire the players to rise up to the occasion but he hasn't been able to do so. That's the difference between someone like a Greg Popovich and Doc Rivers.
Pop hasn't been with KAWhi Leonard (a top 3 player and the only player on the Spurs squad who was an All-Star last season) for the whole season and the San Antonio Spurs have had a 14-7 start. The Clippers lost Chris Paul (a top 10 player) and still had 2 All-Stars from last season in their squad.
What's happened? The Clippers have gone on to an 8-12 start. If you can't lead a team with 2 All-Stars who have been playing together for the last 8 years then there is something wrong with the coaching.
#3 The Memphis Grizzlies will miss the playoffs
The Memphis Grizzlies have imploded. The transition from the Grit n Grind era hasn't been great, to say the least. The Grizzlies, once a lock to make the playoffs every year in a loaded Western Conference seem to be headed in a downward trajectory. After a great start to the season in which they won 5 of their first 6 games, they appear to have cooled off. They have lost 9 straight and they are due to face San Antonio, Cleveland, Minnesota, New York, Toronto, OKC, Miami, Washington, Boston and Golden State in 10 of their next 11 games.
To add to their misery, they are without their best player, Mike Conley. The team hasn't been performing great and they also have a history of cooling down in the latter half of the season. They have also fired their coach David Fizdale who is believed to be one of the best young coaches in the league.
The production of everyone barring Chandler Parsons and Tyreke Evans has been woeful. So, I believe, they won't recover from their start and will finally be out of the playoff picture in the loaded Western Conference and will be in the lottery for the first time in 8 seasons.
#2 The Warriors will be seeded 2nd in the Western Conference
Call me crazy for thinking this but I believe there's a 55% chance of this happening. Houston has been playing great this year and I really can't see them falling off the pace. It'll be a neck and neck fight to the finish but I believe the Rockets will edge them to that race.
Now it also feels like seeding doesn't really matter to the Golden State Warriors. They'll probably take the LeBron route and rest themselves properly during the regular season and then go all guns blazing in the playoffs. In all probability, they'll still be the champions this year but I just don't see them valuing the regular season as much as someone like a Rockets team would.
Even Steve Kerr, after their Overtime win over the Lakers said he's not currently concerned about the team's occasionally passive play: "I think going to the Finals three years in a row and then trying to do it again a fourth time, you're just naturally not going to have quite as much of that killer instinct. It's just human nature. I know it's in there, so I'm not worried. It's still November. If this were happening in March, I'd be pretty concerned. But I understand what we're dealing with and going through. I went through this as a player in Chicago and understand it's a long race."
#1 Andre Drummond is a Franchise Cornerstone
There is only one major difference from the Detroit Pistons' squad from last year. Avery Bradley came in place of Marcus Morris and Kentavious Caldwell Pope. That's not a major change and before the season began, many felt that the Pistons would regress. But that hasn't been the case this season. With a quarter of the season gone, they are currently 2nd in the Eastern Conference with a 14-6 record and the major reason for that has been the improved play of Andre Drummond.
Last season he was awarded a max contract on the back of a season in which he became an All-Star. Many things were expected of him. To be the franchise cornerstone and lead the team back to the heights reached in the Motor City Bad Boys era and Goin' to Work era, But boy did he fail. He was a liability late in games as teams used to use the Hack a Shaq' technique to make the Pistons squander crucial possessions down the stretch. The Pistons were also much better when he was off the floor. He wouldn't attack the basket with the fear of getting fouled, opting to post up instead. He was also a minus defender for the Pistons. All this culminated in him being put on the trading block but his market was so bad that the market for him was next to nothing.
So, Drummond stayed put. In the offseason, he put his head down and went to work. He completely revamped his game and now he has reached a new level altogether. He is attacking the basket with a renewed aggression, hitting free throws, making his teammates better and defending the rim which has led to a 14-6 record so far. Drummond is now averaging 14.3 Points Per Game, 15.3 Rebounds Per Game, 3.7 Assists Per Game, 1.5 Steals Per Game and 1.2 Blocks Per Game on 54.8% shooting from the field and 63% from the Free Throw line. Most of these numbers are career highs.
Drummond is showing why he was given the max contract. He is proving that last season was a blip on the radar and that he is a franchise cornerstone.
Guess the Lakers players!
