Wednesday Windmill: The Atlanta Hawks need to get Trae Young some help

                                         (Credit: Getty Images) 

Hawks point guard Trae Young is in his second year in the NBA, averaging 28.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, 8.4 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. Yet despite his amazing season, the Hawks are 9-32, possessing the worst record in the Eastern Conference and only half a game up on the 9-33 Golden State Warriors. The Hawks are bad and it's not Young's fault.

The only player who the Hawks can have confidence in being a quality piece to build around Young is third year power forward John Collins (17.0 points & 9.7 rebounds). Collins was suspended for the first 25 games of the season due to failing a drug test, but now is back, helping to take some of the pressure off of Young.

As for the rest of the team, it's a bunch of unknowns. Jabari Parker (15.0 points & 6.0 rebounds) is playing well, but it's unclear if he'll be able to stay healthy and be a part of their long-term plans. Second year shooting guard Kevin Huerter (11.2 points) is looking like a promising player, but I'm not sure what his ceiling is. As for rookie forward Cam Reddish (8.3 points & 3.8 rebounds), he had a ton of hype coming out of Duke, but so far, it's too early to tell whether or not he'll be a reliable building block.

Perhaps the best path to getting Young some help is through the 2020 NBA draft. If the Hawks could add Anthony Edwards or James Wiseman to the fold, maybe that will do the trick. At the same time, you don't want to put all your eggs in the basket of the draft. Especially when you want to build a competitive team in the near future.

The good news for the Hawks is they have some time to think this through. Young doesn't hit restricted free agency until the summer of 2022 and by that time, they should have better pieces around him. At the same time, they can't procrastinate. They need to actively be thinking through all their options whether it's making a move at the trade deadline, clearing cap space for free agency, or going through the draft.

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Saturday Slam: The Chicago Bulls are a disaster

If the 6-23 Chicago Bulls thought firing Fred Hoiberg was going to solve their problems, they're in for a rude awakening. Since relieving Hoiberg of his head coaching duties and promoting Jim Boylen to head coach on December 3rd, the Bulls have already had their worst loss in franchise history, losing to the Boston Celtics by a final score of 133-77. To make matters even worse, their $40M man Jabari Parker, a Chicago native, is being shown the door as he has been put on the trading block and dropped from the rotation.

Given how things are going, it wouldn't be surprising to see Bulls players spontaneously combust on the court. Everything else appears to have gone wrong, so why not? They're clearly heading in the wrong direction and it's tough to envision things getting better for them anytime soon.

The only thing that the Bulls can take some comfort in is the return of second year power forward Lauri Markkanen and the stellar play of combo guard Zach LaVine, who is averaging 23.8 points per game. Both Markkanen and LaVine look like a legitimate duo to build around for the future, but it's the rest of the team that's a mess.

Personally, I'm puzzled of as to why they're already giving up on Parker. He's averaging 15.2 points per game and is one of the few guys they have that can create his own shot. I understand he's not the best defender in the world, but that said, he's still a very solid player. Even more puzzling is the way they've gone about handling this whole thing. Wanting to trade him in and of itself isn't necessarily a bad thing. What's bad is to drop him from the rotation, lower his trade value, and then seek a trading partner for him. If they were smart, which they clearly aren't, they would showcase his skills and try to up his value to get as much back for him as possible. Instead, they're potentially stuck with a two-year, $40M contract that they desperately want to get off their books.

The bottom line is that this Bulls team is a disaster and there's no easy solution to turning them around. Their general manager Gar Forman has his work cut out for him and if he doesn't figure out how to right the ship, he'll soon be looking for a new job. Sit tight Bulls fans, I'm afraid the bumpy ride has only begun.

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Saturday Slam: The Milwaukee Bucks are exhibiting true character without Jabari Parker

With the loss of Jabari Parker, one would think that the Milwaukee Bucks would be heading towards another chance to win the NBA Draft lottery. Parker was averaging 20.1 points and 6.1 rebounds per game before he went down with a season-ending ACL injury and was the #2 scoring option on the team behind Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is averaging 23.1 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. Parker's injury looked like a blow to the Bucks' playoff chances, but instead they have found a way to win 11 of their last 13 games and improve to 37-35 overall, which has them as the #6 seed in the Eastern Conference standings. 

What's really enabled the Bucks to catch fire over this stretch has been Khris Middleton, rookie Malcolm Brogdon, and Tony Snell stepping up at the wing position. They've all been able to consistently score in double figures ,which has really taken the pressure off of Antetokounmpo. Middleton wasn't available to play until the middle of the season as he was recovering from a hamstring injury, so he's steadily gotten better as he's approached full strength. As for Brogdon, he's continued to make a strong case for winning rookie of the year honors while Snell has been a very pleasant surprise, looking like a wash out after his days with the Bulls. 

Whether you want to admit it or not, injuries are a part of the game and good teams know how to overcome them. Granted, some injuries are more devastating than others, but regardless, teams have to have the depth needed to stay afloat provided they lose one of their star guys. The Bucks are showing they have such depth and it has really paid off for them this season. 

In terms of how much damage this Bucks team can do in the playoffs, one has to like their chances of winning a first round series provided they hang on to the #6 spot or improve to the #5 spot. The Washington Wizards are #3 and the Toronto Raptors are #4. Both teams are really good, but haven't been in able to get it done in the playoffs during these past few seasons. If the Bucks can stay where the are at or move up to the #5 spot, I think they have a good shot at getting to the second round of the playoffs. Should they slip down to the #7 or #8 spot, I think they are destined for a first round exit, judging by how good the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics have been. 

Even if the Bucks were to have a first round playoff exit, making the playoffs in and of itself would be a remarkable achievement considering the adversity that they have faced. When Parker went down, the Bucks could have mailed in the rest of the season and given up. Instead, they have dug deep and found ways to have role players step up. They have truly exhibited the character of a championship team. 

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Saturday Slam: The loss of Jabari Parker dashes the Milwaukee Bucks’ playoffs hopes

                                          (Credit: Keith Allison. Click here for source) 

Earlier in the week, the Milwaukee Bucks received the awful news that Jabari Parker suffered a torn ACL in his left knee and that he’ll be out for at least 12 months. Parker, in his 3^rd year out of Duke, was having the best season of his young career, averaging 20.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.8 assists. He was playing like a borderline all-star and along with Giannis Antetokounmpo had the Bucks knocking on the door for a playoff spot.

With Parker now done for the season, it will be really tough for this Bucks team to find a way to make the playoffs. They are already on the outside looking in in the Eastern Conference playoff picture, a full two games back of the 25-29 Detroit Pistons, who are in current possession of the 8^th seed. With Parker now out, they’ll have to find a way to play even better without their #2 scoring option.

If there is anybody who can be expected to take the pressure off of Antetokounmpo, Greg Monroe, Michael Beasley, and rookie guard Malcolm Brogdon are probably the best options the Bucks have right now. Monroe is averaging 11 points and 6.7 rebounds per game while Beasley is averaging 8.7 points per game with the capability of going off every time he steps on the floor.  As for Brogdon, he’s averaging 9.2 points per game, putting together one of the best rookie seasons in the NBA. With Parker out, Brogdon should get a lot more touches and see his scoring average enter double digits.

On paper, Khris Middleton would be the guy for the Bucks to look to with Parker out as he averaged 18.2 points per game last season. However, he is just returning from a torn hamstring that he suffered back in October and so it’s not clear when he’ll be back to full strength. Odds are good he may not be 100% until next season, which is why it’s really on Monroe, Beasley, and Brogdon to step up.

What’s sad is that this Bucks team was trending upwards until Jabari Parker went down. With Khris Middleton returning, the Bucks were hoping to give their lineup a nice boost but with Parker going down, those hopes are gone. More importantly, their playoff hopes appear to be dashed.

The Bucks did make a trade recently that sent Miles Plumlee packing for Charlotte in exchange for Roy Hibbert and Spencer Hawes, but I don’t see that trade really helping them out as far as making up for Jabari Parker’s production. That trade is much more about adding some front court depth and giving them another big guy to bang down low in the post as opposed to giving them more scoring, which is what Parker gave them.

The Bucks are a team that I root for and so I really hate to see them catch a bad break like this. Jabari Parker is a really good guy and has already had his share of injuries to start his career. Hopefully Jabari Parker is able to come back stronger than before and that the Bucks will somehow find a way to remain competitive this season. I wish them good luck and I wish Jabari Parker all the best as he goes about an arduous 12-month rehab process. 

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Saturday Slam: Giannis Antetokounmpo is turning into a legitimate superstar

                                              (Credit: Keith Allison. Click here for source)

In his fourth season, Milwaukee Bucks small forward Giannis Antetokounmpo is turning into a legitimate superstar right before our very eyes. The 6'11", 225 pound small forward, better known as "The Greek Freak", is having the best season of his young career averaging 23.2 points, 8.7 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.2 steals, and 2.0 blocks per game on 53.3% shooting from the field and 77.9% shooting from the foul line.

What's most scary about Giannis isn't his stat line. It's the fact that he appears to be able to do whatever he wants to do on a basketball court. Due to his freakish combination of size, speed, and skill, Giannis is able to beat opponents both inside and out. He is developing some nice moves in the post that allow him to score over big men, he's developing a really nice outside jumper, and due to his ball handling ability, defenders never can be sure if he's looking to score or dish the ball. He's probably the most multi-dimensional player to come into the NBA since LeBron James and that is really saying something.

As far as what he needs to work on the most, I would say that Giannis Antetokounmpo needs to improve his three-point shooting. Giannis is shooting just 29.5% from three-point range, which isn't nearly as good as he needs it to be. During his rookie year, he shot 34.7% from three-point range on 1.5 attempts per game. This season, he is attempting 2.4 three-point shots per game, which means he only makes .7 three-point shots per game as opposed to .5 three-point shots per game during his rookie season.

While it is good that Giannis Antetokounmpo is shooting more threes and is becoming more comfortable from that range, he needs to make sure he is still taking good shots. Shot selection is as important as it is making more threes. In many ways, improving three-point shooting doesn't necessarily have to mean taking more threes or even making more threes. It should more revolve around efficiency and making sure that the shots that are taken are good shoots.

For Giannis, more than anything, he needs to figure out how to utilize his three-point shot properly within the larger context of his overall game. Because he has so many weapons and is so talented, he doesn't necessarily have to be a guy that relies on his three-point shot. He just needs to know when to use it and use it effectively.

Outside of his three-point shooting, there really isn't much to complain about Giannis Antetokounmpo. He's averaging more points per game, he's becoming more confident on the floor, and as a whole he is a much more developed and well-rounded player. What's scary to think about is the fact that he's only in his fourth year in the NBA and will only get better.

As far as the Milwaukee Bucks are concerned, I've been saying for a while now that they are a team to keep an eye on and Giannis Antetokounmpo is a big reason why. In addition to Giannis, the Bucks also have another budding star in Jabari Parker, who is starting to make a name for himself, averaging 20.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game in his third NBA season. At the moment, the Bucks are 20-18 overall and are 5th place in the Eastern Conference. So long as "The Greek Freak" and Jabari Parker stay in Milwaukee, the Bucks are going to be an exciting and dangerous team.

Note: Saturday Slam is a weekly blog post that focuses on a major story or star player of the week. 

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Friday Fresh NBA Power Rankings: November 7

     Welcome to my first power rankings of the 2014-15 NBA season! Make sure to read this every week if you want to get a bird's eye view of what's happening across the NBA.

#1. Houston Rockets (6-0): So far this team isn't missing Chandler Parsons one bit. Trevor Ariza has filled in nicely at the small forward position, averaging 15.8 points and 5.0 rebounds per contest. In addition, James Harden is putting up 26 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 7.2 assists per game, making him an early MVP candidate.
#2. Memphis Grizzlies (5-0): When the Grizzlies are knocking down the three ball, they are a really scary team. Courtney Lee scored 22 points on Wednesday on 4/5 shooting from 3-point range and as a result the Grizzlies got an easy win in Phoenix. Their upcoming schedule is relatively light with games against the Thunder, Bucks, Lakers, Kings, and Pistons over the next week. Expect them to be in my top five again next week.
#3. Golden State Warriors (4-0): If there is anything to silence the critics of the Mark Jackson firing, it's the fantastic 4-0 start that the Warriors have had. Two of their wins are against the Clippers and Trail Blazers, so they have beaten good teams. Look for Saturday's tilt against the Rockets to be a good one.
#4. Chicago Bulls (4-1): Any time Derrick Rose goes down, even when it's just a minor ankle injury, there has to be concern in the Bulls' front office and locker room. Thankfully, Rose has returned and appears to be doing ok. As for the team itself, Pau Gasol appears to be a fantastic offseason acquisition. He is averaging 18.8 points and 10.6 rebounds per game this season.
#5. San Antonio Spurs (2-2): The Spurs are doing what they do in the early season, which is chill out and let everybody else get off to an early head start. They are still the best team in the NBA in my opinion, but at the moment,  I cannot be justified to put them any higher than #5 on my list.
#6. Washington Wizards (4-1): After losing their season opener at Miami, the Wizards have rallied off four straight wins against the Magic, Bucks, Knicks, and Pacers. None of these wins is all that impressive, but if you are going to be a contending team, you have to win the games you are supposed to win.
#7. Toronto Raptors (4-1): The Raptors get power forward Amir Johnson back tonight from an ankle injury. He's been averaging 15 points and 7.5 rebounds per game.
#8. Portland Trail Blazers (3-2):  After a puzzling loss to the Kings and going absolutely brain dead against the Warriors, the Trail Blazers have bounced back, throttling the Cavaliers and Mavericks. These guys are looking prime to run away with the Northwest Division.
#9. Sacramento Kings (4-1): It's always really hard to figure where to rank teams who are projected to stink but put up a solid record early in the season. I think I have the Kings ranked appropriately here at #9. Not to take away from their early success, but two of their wins have been against the Denver Nuggets. Tonight's game in Phoenix will give us a better sense of where they are at.
#10. Dallas Mavericks (3-2): Getting thumped in Portland after two days of rest was rather embarrassing.
#11. Los Angeles Clippers (3-2):  This team really needed the time to regroup after getting waxed 121-104 by the Warriors on Wednesday. They better bounce back on Saturday when the Trail Blazers come to town.
#12. Miami Heat (3-2): Chris Bosh is turning back the clock to his Toronto days, averaging 24.2 points and 11.0 rebounds per contest. If he keeps playing like this, the Heat will be hanging around all year in a wide open Eastern Conference.
#13. Phoenix Suns (3-2): Getting slaughtered in Utah was surprising even though it was a back-to-back. However, the biggest surprise has to be the way Isaiah Thomas has taken over as the team's number one player, averaging 18.6 points, and 4.0 assists per game.
#14. Minnesota Timberwolves (2-2): So far, the Timberwolves look like they're going to be a fun team to watch all season. All the young talent they've acquired, including Anthony Bennett, appear to be quite promising.
#15. Cleveland Cavaliers (1-3): All I'll say is that they're a work in progress. LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Love are too talented of a trio to not become a contender by May and June. However, one does have to wonder whether or not their head coach David Blatt is the right man for the job.
#16. New Orleans Pelicans (2-2): Anthony Davis is averaging 23.8 points, 13.3 rebounds, 1.8 steals, and 4.0 blocks per game. That's an MVP candidate if I ever saw one. He alone makes them a dangerous team every night.
#17. Brooklyn Nets (2-2): This team desperately needs Brook Lopez healthy if they are going to make any sort of dent in the Eastern Conference playoff picture.
#18. Charlotte Hornets (2-3): Lance Stephenson is still adjusting to his new role in Charlotte, averaging just 6.6 points per game. They need to get more scoring production out of him, though he is still doing his part in other areas, averaging 10 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game.
#19. Utah Jazz (2-3): Gordon Hayward's game winning shot to beat the Cavaliers is just what the doctor ordered in terms of boosting Hayward's confidence and validating the max contract he signed this summer.
#20. Milwaukee Bucks (2-3): Since you are probably looking for a Jabari Parker update, here it is: He's averaging 10 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game. His season/career high is 13 points on the road against the Wizards.
#21. New York Knicks (2-3): I just found out that Amar'e Stoudemire is the #2 highest paid player in the NBA. That kinda sums it up about where this team is.  
#22. Atlanta Hawks (1-2): Not a whole lot of data on this team yet with just three games, but so far, Al Horford and Paul Millsap are under performing. The good news of course is that they are healthy and able to play together. So long as that continues they should be fine.
#23. Boston Celtics (1-3): With Marcus Smart waiting in the wing to be the next point guard of this franchise to go along with their poor start, this team has to seriously be looking at what offers they can get for Rajon Rondo.
#24. Denver Nuggets (1-3): Once JaVale McGee and Danilo Gallinari get back up to full speed, this team should be much improved.
#25. Detroit Pistons (1-3): I told you they would stink in my Central Division preview. So far I have no reason to change my mind.  
#26. Indiana Pacers (1-4): After a really strong outing to start the season (22 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 blocks), Roy Hibbert has fallen back to earth. He's averaging 12.4 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 4.2 blocks per game. Not bad numbers defensively, but offensively he has to be doing a lot more. The fact of the matter is that with Lance Stephenson in Charlotte and Paul George out for the year, this team is going to struggle.  
#27. Oklahoma City Thunder (1-4): It feels like a meteor has hit this team. Kevin Durant is out for a while, Russell Westbrook is out for a while, Perry Jones III is out indefinitely with a knee injury, etc. As a result, they are where they are.  
#28. Orlando Magic (1-4): This team's only win is against the 76ers and it came via buzzer beater by Tobias Harris. This team really is struggling without Victor Oladipo and will continue to do so until he comes back.  
#29. Los Angeles Lakers (0-5): Kobe Bryant is averaging 27.6 points per game, but has no help around him. Ironically enough a lot of that is his own fault. If he wasn't so selfish he may have attracted higher quality free agents.
#30. Philadelphia 76ers (0-5): Knowing them, they'll keep Michael Carter-Williams out for as long as possible. It's November, and yes, they are already eying the 2015 NBA draft.

---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord 

2014-15 Central Division Preview

   
     I conclude my previews of the Eastern Conference with my preview of the Central Division, home to the Chicago Bulls, Milwaukee Bucks, Indiana Pacers, Detroit Pistons, and Cleveland Cavaliers. Like my other previews I will list the teams in order of where I think they'll finish with their projected win total in parentheses.

                                           

                                                        

                                                           Cleveland Cavaliers (57) 

     The Cleveland Cavaliers have gone from being cellar dwellers in the Eastern Conference to being favorites to win the Central Division. That kind of transformation can happen when LeBron James and Kevin Love get added to your team. There is no doubt that the Cavaliers will be good, but we still don't know how good. 

     Will they win the Eastern Conference title? Will they win the NBA championship? These are the questions that are on the minds of NBA fans everywhere and ultimately only time will answer these questions for us. However, it is my responsibility on here to give you my honest opinion and answers to both questions. 

     In response to the first question, I think the odds are around 75% that they win the Eastern Conference title. I give 20% to the Bulls and 5% to the rest of the conference. With the way that this Cavaliers team is built, one has to put them as the odds on favorite to win the Eastern Conference even though this group as a unit remains unproven. As for winning the NBA championship, I give them 35% odds. The Spurs are still my pick to win the NBA championship, and after them you have the Thunder and the Clippers who I also think could threaten to win the title as well. 

     But with that all being said, this Cavaliers team looks ready to compete with those kind of teams right away. LeBron James is the best player in the NBA, Kevin Love is the best power forward in the NBA, and Kyrie Irving is a top-five point guard.Those three alone make them the favorite to win the East, but when you look at the rest of the team, it becomes really hard to figure that they won't win the Eastern Conference crown. In addition to the three superstars I mentioned, they also have Shawn Marion, Mike Miller, Dion Waiters, Anderson Varejao, and Tristan Thompson. Those five players form a really nice supporting cast for the Cavaliers' "Big Three" and should provide the additional help needed to get the team over the top. 

     Marion provides veteran leadership and scoring, Miller provides a three-point threat, Waiters provides an additional scoring punch that should produce around 13-14 points per game, and both Varejao and Thompson will grab rebounds and do all the dirty work. This team is very nicely constructed to win right away, and so I expect them to do just that. I'm just not sure it will all come together so nicely that they win the entire NBA championship in just one season together. 

                                                         

                                                 Chicago Bulls (52)

     

     The Chicago Bulls are a really tough nut to crack. On paper the team looks fantastic. They have Derrick Rose healthy, they added Pau Gasol, and they got some nice rookies in Doug McDermott and Nikola Mirotic. There really isn't a weakness on this team. They can score, they can defend, and they can rebound. The only question mark surrounding this team is health (primarily the health of Derrick Rose). If this team stays healthy, they will prove to be the biggest obstacle for the Cleveland Cavaliers to hurdle in the Eastern Conference. If they don't stay healthy (i.e. if Derrick Rose gets hurt again), they will have a hard time getting out of the first round of the playoffs. 

     With so much hinging on the health of Derrick Rose, this team will have to find ways to keep Rose healthy and limit the number of minutes he plays throughout the regular season. In my opinion, Rose shouldn't play more than 36 minutes on any given night. I.e. He should get at least one full quarter of rest each night. Doing this would cost them wins in the regular season, but it would also likely ensure them a championship caliber team in the playoffs. Rose seems healthy enough to play 36 minutes per game, but beyond that I wouldn't push him. 

     In addition to the health of Derrick Rose, I think a lot of this team's success hinges on the coaching mind of Tom Thibodeau, a defensive guru who is allergic to offense. At some point, the Bulls' front office has to wonder whether or not Thibodeau is too defensive minded. I said above that they have no weaknesses, but I was only referring to their player personnel. The players they have can score just fine, rebound just fine, and defend just fine. 

     But Thibodeau for whatever reason has the tendency to try to win off defense and rebounding alone, which might come back to haunt the Bulls. So far Thibodeau has gotten a hall pass for his shortcomings due to Rose being injured, but if Rose is healthy and the Bulls don't come close to winning the Eastern Conference, odds are good Thibodeau gets fired after the season. 

     Overall, I really like this Chicago Bulls team. They have the pieces to contend and win the NBA championship this season. It will be especially interesting to see what Pau Gasol brings to the table and what kind of role he plays in the development of their rookie European big man Nikola Mirotic. If Gasol produces at a high level and if Mirotic starts to show signs of being a key piece for the future, the Bulls will likely have higher than 20% odds of winning the Eastern Conference. 

                                                 

                                                 

                                                  Indiana Pacers (43) 

     With Paul George likely missing the entire season, this team will have a hard time making the playoffs. The only way this team can make the playoffs is if Roy Hibbert comes out of hiding and actually plays like a big man who isn't allergic to rebounds. Hibbert has to step up and prove his worth this season. If he struggles and can't lead out, this team should try to trade him at all costs and possibly cut him. You can't have your team relying on the mentally weak and that's what Roy Hibbert was last season. If he proves to still be a mental midget, the Pacers will have no choice but to part ways with him. 

     As for the rest of the team, only David West seems to be a guy who this team can rely on for any sort of stable and consistent production. You know that he'll put up solid numbers around 13-14 points per game with around 7 or 8 rebounds, but that kind of production won't be enough for this team to make a dent in the Eastern Conference playoff picture.

      You might be thinking "What about George Hill?". George Hill is a disappointment in my book. He averaged 10.3 points and 3.5 assists per game last season. That is nothing close to the kind of production that the team needs from him and I don't see any reason to think he'll be any better than last season. Of course, if he could step up and average around 15 points per game in George's absence, that would be huge. 

     With Paul George going down, the loss of Lance Stephenson will loom large this season. He is a guy who could have given David West real help. He'll be a great fit in Charlotte and will be sorely missed this season. Had he been on the team, I would say that the Pacers make the playoffs for sure. But without him, it's gonna be dicey. 

     Overall, this team is going to struggle without Paul George. Frank Vogel is going to get a hall pass this year if the team misses the playoffs as he should. He's a fantastic coach who held the team together as if they were a wooden house made out of Popsicle sticks. He did the best he could, but his guys let him down. This year, he just doesn't have the horses. This will be a lost season for the Pacers, but perhaps Vogel can learn more about the rest of the guys he has on the team and find out who he wants for the future. Especially Hibbert and Hill. 

               

                                               Milwaukee Bucks (32) 

     The Bucks are entering a new era with new ownership, a new coach, and a new face for the franchise. There is reason to be hopeful for the future, but as for this season, this Bucks team is going to struggle. I have full faith in Jabari Parker and Giannis Antetokounmpo being a dynamic duo in five years, but right now they'll have to go through some growing pains. A successful season for the Bucks will be if Jabari Parker is in the running for rookie of the year and if Giannis Antetokounmpo continues to show why he should have been the #1 overall pick in the 2013 NBA draft. 

     Their head coach Jason Kidd will be heavily scrutinized this season. He left Brooklyn in a rather bizarre and unusual way amid whispers of him wanting more power in the organization. If he doesn't do a good job coaching these guys, he'll look like a real clown. Of course, if the team plays well under him, then due to his age, Milwaukee may feel confident that they have a coach for the future. 

    The last real important thing to look for in this team is how Larry Sanders plays. The team is paying him a ton of money and he better prove that he is worth it. He has the potential to be a fantastic big man in the NBA, but he regressed last season. Some felt it was due to Larry Drew's poor coaching, but no matter how you slice it, Sanders needs to bounce back. 

     In conclusion, don't expect the Bucks to do anything big this year. They'll be exciting to watch, but they won't produce a lot of wins. Check back on this team in five years and see where they are at. 

                                            

           

                                               Detroit Pistons (30)

     The Pistons are a weird combination of talent and confusion. They have some talented pieces with Andre Drummond, Greg Monroe, Brandon Jennings, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and Josh Smith, and yet the team doesn't know how it all fits together. Their formula for success seems to be "lets throw talent on the court and see what happens". It's like a weird science experiment involving baking powder, sulfuric acid, salt, water, and a wire. It could produce something cool, but more likely it will produce a disaster of some kind but you just don't know what. 

     Greg Monroe got retained in restricted free agency for this season, but next season he'll be an unrestricted free agent. This has to worry the Pistons since he is likely the best piece they have and he isn't likely to stay on a team that is so dysfunctional. Andre Drummond is also promising, but like Monroe he isn't likely to stay once he can leave, either. He hits free agency in 2016, so the Pistons have a little more time to convince him to stay but not much more. 

    The real problem with this team is Brandon Jennings and Josh Smith. Both guys are what Seinfeld calls "chuckers". They just chuck the ball at the rim and see what happens. They play basketball like they are playing a game of craps which usually doesn't work out so good. 

    Ultimately, the Pistons need to get rid of Brandon Jennings and Josh Smith in order to be successful. Sadly, both guys have massive contracts that nobody will want to take on which means that the Pistons will stink again this year and will be lucky to get more than 30 wins. 

---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord 

11 must see games of the 2014-15 NBA season

If you are a die hard NBA fan like me, you are pumped that the 2014-15 NBA regular season schedule is out and you are also probably eying that Pelicans/Magic game on October 28th to tip off the season. If you are more of a casual fan who enjoys the playoffs and only a handful of regular season games that have big stories like LeBron going back to Miami, you have come to the right place! I will list eleven games you must watch during the 2014-15 NBA regular season because unlike most lists, my lists go to eleven! (Note: this is taking the place of my Wednesday Windmill for the week)

1.  Tuesday, October 28, 2014---Dallas Mavericks @ San Antonio Spurs (8:00 PM ET on TNT) 
As is fitting, opening night of the 2014-15 NBA season will feature the defending NBA champion San Antonio Spurs with a championship ring ceremony! The Spurs deserve to be slotted as the feature game on opening night and they have a quality opponent in the Mavericks to face them. Last season, Dirk Nowitzki and the Mavericks took the Spurs to a Game 7 in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs, and I'm sure they will be eager to spoil the Spurs' opening night as some form of revenge. If you are looking for a fun and competitive game early on in the NBA season, this will be a game to watch.

2. Thursday, October 30, 2014--- New York Knicks @ Cleveland Cavaliers ( 8:00 PM ET on TNT)  If you follow the NBA at all, you know that LeBron James left the Miami Heat to return home to play for the Cleveland Cavaliers. If you want to see LeBron's first game back in Cleveland as a Cavalier, then you will not want to miss this game.

3. Wednesday, November 5, 2014--- Los Angeles Clippers @ Golden State Warriors (10:30 PM ET on ESPN)  You should watch all four Clippers-Warriors games this year because all of them are sure to be intense and filled with high drama. Expect Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan to throw down 100 dunks and also expect Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson to knock down 100 threes during these four games. Since this is the first of those four, this makes the list as one of the eleven games to watch this year (Note: Clippers and Warriors also will play on Christmas Day) .

4. Friday, November 14, 2014---San Antonio Spurs @ Los Angeles Lakers (10:00 PM ET on ESPN).  If you want an early read on how good the Lakers should be, this will be a good game to watch. If they have any chance of being relevant, they will at least play the Spurs close at home on ESPN.

5. Monday, November 17,  2014---Chicago Bulls @ Los Angeles Clippers (10:30 PM ET on NBA TV)
If you want an early look at the Bulls with Derrick Rose back while also watching them face a fun team, then it can't get much better than watching the Bulls take on the Clippers. Also, Pau Gasol will be making a return to Staples Center as a member of the Bulls.

6. Wednesday, November 19, 2014 --- San Antonio Spurs @ Cleveland Cavaliers (7:00 PM ET on ESPN) This is a must see game because it is LeBron's first game of the year against the Spurs who knocked him out in the NBA Finals last season. Also, this game will be an early test for the Cavaliers who are favored by many to win the Eastern Conference thanks to the addition of Kevin Love as well as LeBron James.

7.  Christmas Day---Watch all of the games, but if you have to pick one, don't miss Cleveland Cavaliers @ Miami Heat (5:00 PM ET on ABC) When I say watch all of the games on Christmas Day, I'm being completely serious. The NBA has hijacked Christmas, and I'm totally fine with that. All the games on Christmas will be wonderful presents for me, but Cavaliers @ Heat is the most interesting game because it is LeBron James' return to Miami.

8. Wednesday, January 7, 2015--- Phoenix Suns @ Minnesota Timberwolves (9:30 PM ET on ESPN). The Suns are a fun team to watch, but all eyes will be on the Timberwolves with their franchise centerpiece Andrew Wiggins, who went #1 in the 2014 NBA draft. If you want to see how Wiggins looks now that he'll have had several NBA games under his belt, turn this game on.

9. Thursday,  January 15, 2015--- New York Knicks @ Milwaukee Bucks (3:00 PM ET on NBA TV). If you want to watch the #2 overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft Jabari Parker and the Bucks play on national television, there aren't many options. This is the best option because it is against the Knicks who will be an interesting team to follow this season. If you are out at work, DVR this one. It should be fun.

10. Wednesday, April 1, 2015--- Brooklyn Nets @ New York Knicks (7:30 PM ET on NBA TV).  February is the most boring month of NBA basketball with the exception of All-Star Weekend due to none of the games having any real meaning. As for March, everybody is rightfully tuned in to the NCAA Tournament. But once April comes around, the NBA regains momentum with the playoffs in sight. The Knicks and Nets are creating a fun rivalry out in New York and this game could have some playoff implications.

11. Wednesday, April 8, 2015---  Toronto Raptors @ Charlotte Hornets (7:00 PM ET on ESPN).  This one I know seems like an odd game to make the list, but hear me out. At this time of year, you want to see games that mean something and are entertaining. This game should provide both of those needs for you. The Hornets and Raptors will be in the middle of a playoff chase at this time of year and they are both fun teams to watch. Plus, watching this game ensures that you will have seen the new look Charlotte Hornets.

---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord 

The Future Is Bright In Milwaukee

            It’s crazy how quickly fortunes can change for an NBA franchise on draft night. A team can go from being a laughing stock of the league to suddenly being a team that warrants respect and fear from their opponents. Such is the case with the Milwaukee Bucks, who have greatly changed the face and image of their franchise upon drafting Duke star Jabari Parker, who many think has the potential to be a championship caliber centerpiece. In addition to Jabari, the Bucks also have Giannis Antetokounmpo, a 6’11 220 lb small forward from Greece who is known as “The Greek Freak”.

Many think that if the 2013 draft were done over again, Giannis would have gone #1 overall in the draft after seeing how quickly he matured and developed over the course of the season. He was thought to be really talented, but still very raw and in need of a lot of development. But as it turned out, he was much more NBA ready than people thought, which was great news for the Bucks as they were heading into another losing season in which they might land a potential superstar like Jabari Parker in the draft.

Now that they have both Giannis and Jabari, the future in Milwaukee is sky high, and teams in the Eastern Conference have to view them as a team capable of doing serious damage in the near future. If Jabari Parker and Giannis Antetokounmpo both reach their full potential, they could form a scary duo like Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook in Oklahoma City. I’m not saying they will be as good as that duo, but what I am saying is that the potential to be that good or nearly that good is definitely there. If this potential is reached, the Bucks will have a team that is capable of competing for the NBA championship.

The key thing for the Bucks’ front office to do at this point is to be patient with both of these guys and start thinking about what complementary pieces these guys need to succeed. Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant didn’t become a championship caliber duo over night and the Thunder still are looking for the right complementary pieces to put around them to get over the hump. The Bucks realistically are looking at probably a 5 year process to become a championship threat and probably a 6-9 year process to morph from a threat into a viable contender. It all depends on several factors such as future free agency periods, future drafts, and the ability for their other quality assets like Brandon Knight, O.J. Mayo, and Larry Sanders to fit in with the team. 

But regardless of those factors, the fact that the Bucks have Jabari Parker and Giannis Antetokounmpo makes them a potential contender by default and now it’s just a matter of time before the two of them flower into the stars that they have inside of them. There will be growing pains, frustration, and moments of doubt, but if the Bucks stay the course and continue to have patience and faith in these two guys, the Bucks should see their dream of forming a championship caliber team in the East realized. 
---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord