If you thought last year was bizarre for the NBA with the fans whining about the way the game is played, then you better hold your bottle of Gatorade! Scoring records are about to be shattered a year after the records they broke were shattered. Four separate 60+ point games in a week. The most combined points scored on a single night by a slate of games in league history. And the highest scoring game in All Star Game History. All of it adds up to the fact that no one plays defense in the regular season, and the NBA is starting to take on an AAU approach. (How long until Adam Silver gets booed everywhere he goes?) Enough talking let’s go over the East. And my goodness that conference has been a gongshow since Day 1.
Atlanta Hawks (Crossroads The Franchise): If you take out their run to the ECF in 2021, the Hawks have been dealing with one term over the last decade. Mediocrity. Even if Trae Young has been the most gifted player that they’ve had since Dominique Wilkins and is a perennial All Star, it cannot save the ATL from being stuck in no man’s land. AGAIN. (Josh Smith, and Al Horford learned this lesson the hard way) Why’s that, no defense. They are on pace to shatter the franchise record for points allowed in a season. Who cares if you have Jalen Johnson taking the much anticipated next step, or Dejounte Murray averaging over 20 a game, you can’t win games if you give up 130 on most nights. And this is even with a defensive minded coach like Quin Snider. However I do think the game has kinda passed him by. I know the narrative is to say they shouldn’t have traded John Collins, but he wasn’t their defensive anchor. Speaking of defensive anchors, Clint Capela is literally a walking injury. This guy just can’t stay healthy for an entire season. Once again the typical Atlanta Sports luck.
Boston Celtics (Beantown’s Revenge): So explain this. The Celtics like their TD Garden brothers in the Bruins lay a massive egg in a home Game 7 against a team from Miami, they lose both of their defensive anchors in trades to retool the roster, they lose the 6th Man of the Year in free agency, and one of their top bench scorers gets thrown a boatload of money by Dallas, and yet they aren’t damaged by it one bit. The two Jays are both in their primes and are near the top of the MVP race plus Derrick White has become a two way dynamo. That part isn’t surprising. It’s that they’re doing this without the depth they had a year ago. Well it makes sense since the Unicorn is finally playing to his full potential after years of promise in Dallas, New York, and DC. There’s also Jrue Holiday who is still a solid player even if he isn’t what he was in 2021. Did I mention that they have Sam Houser and Payton Pritchard in case the big guns get contained. However I’m not taking this team seriously until they get over the hump and if Tatum proves that he isn’t the definition of an inconsistent superstar come playoff time. (The media really wants him to become the next Larry Bird don’t they?) It’s one of the bigger reasons why they haven’t won it all with this core. That and this team’s habits of playing down to their competition will be the elephants in the room. (How are they 22-1 against teams below 500? Turns out they really are turning a corner)
Brooklyn Nets (Once Again 2nd Fiddle): It’s been well known that the Brooklyn Nets can’t escape their own fate. Not even after a promising stretch despite trading away their Big 3, they must be relegated from a dark horse playoff contender to the clutches of mediocrity. Even if Mikal Bridges and Cam Thomas are having solid seasons the rest of the team has fallen hard. Ben Simmons is a shell of himself which is no surprise, Cam Johnson has been inconsistent, and Nic Claxton despite being his usual self on defense has been ok offensively. I expected a lot more out of him after how well he played in 2023. After starting 15-15, the Nets have plummeted to the point of losing 18 of 24. Sedra may be gone but his good buddy Sean Marks is still there. And he’ll let everyone know who’s in charge. Jacque Vaughn was fired at midseason which is ironic since this has happened two years in a row. (Just like Nash, he was carried by KD and Kyrie. I kinda wanted them to hire Udoka to tick Bucks and Celtics fans off) Sean is falling into the same traps his brother Bobby did when he was the GM a decade ago. Sometimes these organizations never learn from past mistakes. Especially one that squanders 3 superteam rosters in a 20 year period.
Charlotte Hornets (Colorado Rockies of Basketball): This has been the perfect Charlotte Hornets season. A year where the organization does just enough to get the fans interested in coming down to the Spectrum Center. Heck the unbiased Eric Collins called his shot after the 1st game saying that perfection is a possibility. (BOOM!) My goodness was he wrong. Try losing 41 of 53 after that declaration. (It’s not as bad as I’m Fine in the West, but still, don’t count your eggs!) Brandon Miller has been better than I thought he’d be, but then again he was a #2 overall pick. The team is still terrible defensively so you’re guaranteed to see a 132-130 loss more often than not. The only good news for the Hornets is that they aren’t even the most pathetic team in their own city. If David Tepper wasn’t kneejerk, this team would be getting much more attention. Isn’t Michael Jordan no longer the majority owner? I think so. (I could be wrong, but he and his staff dug this team a big hole)
Chicago Bulls (One Hit Wonders): This is the kind of team that is so frustrating to watch at times. DeMar DeRozan is still producing at a solid level, Coby White has taken that long awaited next step, Zach LaVine is still in his prime, and they have 7 players averaging 10 points a game. That kind of production should be competing for an Eastern Conference Title. But here’s the catch. They are such a streaky team. Start 5-14, then win 8 of 10, then lose 6 in a row, then win 5 straight. PICK A FORM CHICAGO! Did I mention that they did nothing at the trade deadline since they drank the stupid juice in believing that they could make noise down the road with the current roster. Let’s put it this way. They haven’t been the same team since Grayson Allen broke Alex Caruso’s wrist. Which is funny because the Bulls only did that offseason spending spree in 2021 because they were jealous of Milwaukee winning a championship. And yes the Bucks have been a bigger gongshow this season, but they still are better than you. “BUT WE HAVE 6 RINGS!” Yes, but what have you done for me lately? NOTHING! Never change Reinsdorf.
Cleveland Cavaliers (You’re Awake): It was looking ugly at first. The Cavs come mid December were stuck around 500, and hadn’t really meshed as a unit. What happened next? (BOOM!) That’s more like it. Try winning 23 of the next 28 games thanks to a relentless defense, and Donavan Mitchell being a wrecking machine. Speaking of that defense, Evan Mobley is not only healthy, but he’s finally starting to round into his full potential. He’s not there yet, but he might be soon. Same with Max Strus, he struggled early on, but now you see why Cleveland gave him a nice contract this summer. The rest of the team is rallying around those three, and they are darlings when it comes to analytics. The grace period will still be around for another year, so I won’t put too much pressure on them to go far just yet. Although the core is getting close to extension time just saying.
Detroit Pistons (2021 Arizona Diamondbacks): Not even the hiring of one of the most talented coaches in basketball can save the Pistons from becoming the biggest joke in the league once again. When you lose 28 straight games and 38 of 40, you are a special breed of pathetic. The worst part about this is that this was supposed to be the year that the Pistons at least got out of the basement. All it’s done is set the franchise back even further than it already has been. The only sounds I’m hearing right now are simple to the naked eye. THOUSANDS AMONG THOUSANDS OF TANKS! Welcome to Hell Detroit, someone had to replace the Lions as the sad sack of Motown. I’m glad it’s you. “TAKE HIM TO DETROIT! NO! NO NOT DETROIT! NO PLEASE!” (That’s what’ll happen to whomever gets picked by them in the upcoming draft)
Indiana Pacers (A Throwback to the Days of Reggie): A squad full of High End Talent on offense with a physicality rivaling their 90s heyday. This is the kind of team that the Hoosier State can easily fall in love with. Tyrese Haliburton is a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses, especially with how well he played during the In-Season Tournament. The thing that surprises me is that the supporting cast around him features a super young crew that has become adept almost overnight. Bennedict Mathurin has backed up his sky high expectations going into the season, Aaron Nesmith has become a deadly two way player, and Jalen Smith has given Myles Turner some breathing room if he ever gets in foul trouble. The Pacers saw how much upside they had with this squad and decided to add on. Think making a big trade for Pascal Siakum to add another defensive cornerstone who has the ability to score 20 a game. And he doesn’t have to be an undersized Center like he was in Toronto the last couple of years. Did I mention they’ve become this year’s whipping boys of Milwaukee like the Nets, Bulls, and Celtics were the last three years. Especially with how much fighting and cheapshots there’ve been. (The NBA needs one of those kinds of rivalries, but I fear this won’t last long)
Miami Heat (Hiding in the Shadows): I’ve been wondering this thought for some time. Have the Heat taken a step back from last year’s Finals run, or are they just lurking around and waiting for the right time to strike. Although the reason why they are trying to get out of the play-in segment of the East is because of injuries. Jimmy Butler and the newly acquired Terry Rozier have been banged up the last two weeks. Butler obviously is the tone setter. When he’s not out there, the team usually struggles. Which we’re seeing here. But then again, we saw this movie a year ago. While Kyle Lowry might be gone, they found another gem in Jaime Jaquez who has enjoyed his coming out party as a rookie. (He was someone that I wanted the Warriors to draft) That and Tyler Herro has fully recovered from his wrist injury. He and Bam can’t do this alone while Butler is out. And once he comes back, they’re going to be pushing hard towards another deep run. I wouldn’t count the Heat out if I were you just yet. (They’ve won 8 of their last 10 games. Just what everyone outside of the 305 didn’t want to hear)
Milwaukee Bucks (The Jimmy Haslam Experience): How am I not surprised that the Bucks would become a gongshow not even a year after Marc Lasry sold the team? Don’t let their 37-21 record fool you, most of those wins have been at Fiserv Forum or against bad opponents. This team has suffered a decline outside of Giannis and Dame, and considering that they have no picks for the next 5 years, it’s going to take a miracle to get out of this. Let’s put it this way, you don’t fire the best coach your franchise has ever had only to sack the guy that replaced him not even a year into his tenure. Coach Bud’s specialty was having a top defensive unit every year. They don’t have that this year, mostly because Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez are at long last past their primes. It’s bad enough now but it gets worse. Guess who they replaced Adrian Griffin with? DOC RIVERS! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Haslam better be thankful for David Tepper or else he’d be the worst owner in sports. Think about it this way, Giannis has had to overcome coaching drama often if you exclude a certain coach who was just fired. If things go south, Jon Horst is probably next to get the guillotine. But then again the Bucks as long as #34 is there do thrive with their backs against the wall regardless of ownership or coach. (His Reporter BFF: How would you assess the season? Giannis: A+, Great.)
New York Knicks (The Heart of NovaNation): Go New York! Go New York! Go! That song has been heard quite often over the last 2 months. And for good reason. The Knicks have taken that next step from playoff to dark horse championship contender. I did throw shade at them for trading away RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley, but who needs them when OG Anunoby has so far lived up to the hype. There’s also Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle establishing themselves as one of the best 1-2 punches in the league. (If only Randle could stay healthy for a whole season) And in addition they’ll add Bojan Bogdonovic who finally gets to be on a real team after being stuck in the hell that is Detroit. The only concern they have is their depth situation, but with how talented their starting five is, it doesn’t matter. At least for now. Although I will say this, knowing the NBA they would love to see MSG be showcased in May and June long term. They need all the money they can find. (They’ll never one up the Taylor Swift saga, but Adam Silver at least is going to try, MSG would be the big ticket)
Orlando Magic (New Life): It’s very odd to see the daily parades in the Magic Kingdom not being invested with massive tanks. That’s what happens when you fire the GM who’s one of the worst of the last decade, and replace him with a talented young prospect. Did I mention all of those draft picks they’ve had over the past few years are finally kicking in. Paolo Banchero has become the undisputed face of the franchise, the Wagner Brothers aren’t too far behind, and Jalen Suggs is enjoying a breakout campaign. At one point Orlando had the 2nd best record in the East come January 1. They’ve slipped since then, but still it has been an outstanding season for them just because they finally have a bright future for the first time in about 15 years. They probably will get their asses kicked come playoff time, but right now if I’m a Magic fan I’m savoring this. With how much nonsense that fanbase had to deal with it’s about time that they start to get fresh air.
Philadelphia 76ers (Don’t Mess With Billy Penn): A franchise that has dealt with nothing but hard luck and agony for the last 40 years. To no one’s surprise the 76ers once again are snakebitten by the Basketball Gods. They traded the whipping boy of Philly in James Harden, holy cow their December and early January is one of the great regular season stretch runs in franchise history. (CRACK!) Then they must deal with the straw that breaks their back. Joel Embiid is out long term, and who knows when he’ll come back. At least they have Tyrese Maxey and the revival of Kelly Oubre to help them ease the pain while their former MVP is out of the lineup. They even got a consistently good scoring option in Buddy Hield who has fit in nicely. Did I mention they’re finally getting to witness Kyle Lowry play for his hometown team, about 3 years too late. (But still nostalgia) The fate of the Sixers like most years will come down to the durability of Embiid plus coaching. Nick Nurse is going to have all the pressure in the world put on him come playoff time thanks to how harsh the Philly Media is. If he can’t get this team past the 2nd Round, they’re gonna want his head badly!
Toronto Raptors (Begin the Construction Efforts): This is kind of what I expected. A team that was dragging the last bit of magic they had only for it to eventually go away. The Raptors started ok, but then lost 13 of 19 and now they must say a word that they haven’t said in a long time. Rebuilding. OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakum, the last two players from their 2019 championship team were shipped off at the deadline. They may have gotten great returns for both of them, but the truth right now is this. An era is finally over. And all that’s left are the memories that the fans can cherish for a long time. Even though it may take them a few years to retool everything, Toronto will be back sooner rather than later, especially with how good their front office is. That and they have an All Star in Scottie Barnes to get them through it. If not, they at least have hockey.
Washington Wizards (Capital Punishment): What you’re hearing right now is the sound of a vehicle that is often familiar to people in the Nations’ Capital. TANKS! And lots of tanks. It’s about time the Wizards committed to doing this after years of mediocrity once John Wall and Bradley Beal became injured liabilities. When Kyle Kuzma and Jordan Poole are considered your headliners, that’s a near literal white flag on a season. (“We tried warning you!” -Warriors fans) Wes Unseld Jr was sacked back in January, but I’m more surprised that Washington even hired him. The only reason why I could see him in that spot is because his late father was a legend for the organization in the 1970s and they wanted butts in seats. Now that they’re gone as well as Unseld, all they can say right now is that they at least have gobs of draft picks. But there’s one problem. Most of those picks will be in 2025 and 26. Even if you do win the lottery, there’s still a long way to go before the Wizards are competitive. Where’s the next Kwame Brown for them to draft? (At least they got a good return for Daniel Galford)
Bragging Rights Sports 