Tomahawk Tuesday: Could the Los Angeles Lakers miss the playoffs?

After failing to acquire Anthony Davis at the trade deadline, the Los Angeles Lakers find themselves in a bit of a rough spot, sitting 10th in the Western Conference with a 28-29 record and a full three games back of the 8th seeded Los Angeles Clippers. At the beginning of the season, the expectation was the Lakers would for sure make the playoffs. How far they would go was the only question. But now, the discussion has shifted to whether or not this team will even make the playoffs, making this season more disappointing than people expected.

While I think all teams like the All-Star break because of the rest and days off, the timing of it is better for some teams than others. As winners of 3 of their last 10 games, the All-Star break couldn't have come at a better time for the Lakers, who lost badly to the 76ers in Philadelphia and narrowly lost to the Hawks in Atlanta following their dramatic one-point win in Boston. The hope is that with some time off and a chance to regroup, they'll be able to get back on the winning track.

Given that they have LeBron James, it seems like a foregone conclusion that they will make the playoffs. I mean, he's carried teams on his back before so why should we expect anything different come March and April when that final playoff push comes? The answer is health. James has already missed some time due to a strained left groin and there's concern that it may bother him for the rest of the season. On top of that, Rajon Rondo has missed some time with a hand injury while Josh Hart (left knee) and Lonzo Ball (left ankle) are currently on the shelf. When you're a young team that is still trying to gel, such injuries can prove to be very costly.

                                         (Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports) 

If the Lakers are able to get healthy down the stretch of the season, I have little doubt that they'll find a way to sneak into the top 8 of the Western Conference. However, if they're unable to stay healthy and the injury bug continues to plague them for the rest of the season, then odds are good they'll be on the outside looking in come playoff time. While James expected a rebuild when he came to Los Angeles, I don't think missing the playoffs was supposed to be part of the plan. It'll be interesting to see how things shake out in the second half of the season.

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Saturday Slam: Can LeBron James deliver a title to Los Angeles?

Like every summer, NBA free agency has been wild. Lots of unexpected moves have happened and I aim to address many of these moves in the coming weeks. If there's one move that I need to first address, it's LeBron James' decision to leave the Cleveland Cavaliers for the Los Angeles Lakers on a four-year, $154M deal. Joining James in Los Angeles will be former adversary Lance Stephenson and journeyman point guard Rajon Rondo, who both agreed to free agent deals with the Lakers shortly after James.

James' decision to leave Cleveland for Los Angeles could produce the most interesting chapter of his career, but only if he wins a championship. James cannot finish his career in Los Angeles without winning a ring if he wants any hope of improving his legacy. He knows this and seems up to the challenge.

The biggest hurdle standing in James' way is the Golden State Warriors, who appear poised to win the NBA championship for the next three years. The Warriors have a proven championship formula in place while the Lakers have a lot of question marks outside of James. Rajon Rondo and Lance Stephenson are both curious additions to say the least. While both guys are talented, I could easily see them not producing the desired results that James hopes they will. They both have a history of creating some friction in NBA locker rooms and have only really found success in one environment, Rondo in Boston and Stephenson in Indiana. While adding both Rondo and Stephenson, the Lakers lost Julius Randle to the New Orleans Pelicans, a guy who many felt had the chance to be a key piece for the franchise going forward.

                                          (David Richard-USA TODAY Sports) 

Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram are both talented pieces who should promise to get better over the coming seasons. While there are rumors of the Lakers possibly moving Ingram and/or Ball in order to get Kawhi Leonard, I personally think it would be wise for them to keep both of those guys around. They shouldn't make the mistake the Cleveland Cavaliers made, which was to trade a young promising player (Andrew Wiggins) for a more established veteran (Kevin Love). With those two guys learning from James, the Lakers can be assured that they'll be in good hands after his departure.

While there are still a lot of pieces that need to fall into place, I personally believe LeBron James can deliver a title to Los Angeles. As we saw in Cleveland, he doesn't need much around him to make things competitive and with a better cast around him, it would be foolish to rule out his chances. He's too talented to dismiss and given that he has four years to make it happen, I think there are good odds he'll strike it rich at least once.

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Saturday Slam: What exactly are the New Orleans Pelicans becoming?

The New Orleans Pelicans are becoming something, but what is it, exactly? In an effort to build around Anthony Davis, they've traded for DeMarcus Cousins, re-signed Jrue Holiday to a 5-year, $126M deal, and now added Rajon Rondo on a one-year deal. The combination of Davis, Cousins, Holiday, and Rondo is certainly interesting, but will it produce the results the Pelicans want?

Before I dive into the concerns that I have with what the Pelicans are doing, let me quickly say why this could work. First, Anthony Davis is the best big man in the NBA. He averaged 28.0 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game last season. The dude is a beast. When you got him as your franchise centerpiece, you got a shot to be really good.

Second, DeMarcus Cousins is arguably the second best big man in the NBA. He's been in need of a change of scenery and paring him with a guy like Davis could be what he needs to reach his full potential. When you got two of the best big men in the NBA, there's good reason to think you'll succeed.

As for Holiday and Rondo, both have proven their value as elite level point guards. Rondo has tailed off since his best days in Boston, but he's still a very good pass-first point guard. As for Holiday, he averaged 15.4 points and 7.3 assists per game last season, which are very solid numbers.

The concerns I have with the Pelicans has nothing to do with the individual talent they are adding. It has to do with the blend of talent that they are adding, specifically putting DeMarcus Cousins and Rajon Rondo together. The very best of teams can handle one head case if they have a strong leader and know what they are doing. The Pelicans have added two head cases in Cousins and Rondo without having the pedigree of a championship level team. That alone raises serious concerns.

As far as what these guys bring to the court from a pure basketball standpoint, it's unclear how Holiday and Rondo will play together as pass-first point guards. As for Davis and Cousins, there are legitimate concerns about their ability to matchup against smaller and quicker teams, especially in a league that is moving towards positionless basketball.  Such a frontcourt may find better success in an era with more traditional big men.

The bottom line with the Pelicans is that while they are adding talented players to their roster, it's unclear whether or not they are the right fit for each other. If they can find a way to work together and get the most out of each other's talents, the Pelicans could be a really good team. When you consider the upside and also potential for failure, this really is the ultimate example of a "boom or bust" team. I smell bust, but I'm willing to withhold my judgment and see where they are at come playoff time.

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Saturday Slam: The Chicago Bulls need to either fire Fred Holberg or make a trade

Earlier this week, Marc Stein of ESPN reported that there is talk of Chicago Bulls head coach Fred Hoiberg being in the hot seat due to his team's underwhelming start to the season. In addition to that, Rajon Rondo is unhappy with his role with the team, telling the Chicago Sun-Times earlier today that he would "Absolutely" look to get traded if he continues to see his minutes decline. The Bulls lost to the Bucks today by a final score of 116-96 at home in the United Center, falling to 16-18 on the season and 10th in the Eastern Conference.

The biggest problem the Chicago Bulls have right now is that outside of Jimmy Butler (24.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.3 assists) and Dwyane Wade (18.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 3.7 assists), they are getting virtually no production from anyone else. Rajon Rondo, Jerian Grant, and Michael Carter-Williams might as well go out for a Coke and a hot dog instead of spend time playing in the backcourt while Robin Lopez, Taj Gibson, Nikola Mirotic, and Doug McDermott are playing solid in the frontcourt but not really shining either.

It is my opinion that the Chicago Bulls should be much better than 16-18. If you are an avid reader of my blog, you would know that I picked the Bulls to reach the Eastern Conference Finals this season and at the moment, they are far from getting there. When you have a guy like Jimmy Butler on your team you should be an above .500 team and then when you add a guy like Dwyane Wade who is still good for 18-20 points per game, you should absolutely be a top four team in the Eastern Conference.

The Bulls have one of three options: They can stay the course and hope things get better, they can make a trade, or they can fire Fred Hoiberg. I will take a look at each of these options.

Stay the course: When it comes to staying the course, I really don't see much benefit to this path. Through 34 games, this team is not playing anywhere close to the level they were expecting to and neither Dwyane Wade or Jimmy Butler are part of the problem. Both of them are producing at a high level. The issue is that the rest of the supporting cast is letting them down and not giving Wade and Butler the support they need. Thus, it stands to reason a move has to be made.

Make a trade: Making a trade makes a lot of sense for the Bulls because as I said, the supporting cast around Dwyane Wade and Jimmy Butler isn't stepping up. Plus, what helps is that they have some attractive pieces that might fit better elsewhere. Rajon Rondo is a talented enough guy that someone would certainly be willing to take a gamble on him and Michael Carter-Williams is another guy who could benefit from a change of scenery. If the Bulls could find a team willing to offer something that fits better with Dwyane Wade and Jimmy Butler, they should absolutely pull the trigger.

Fire Fred Hoiberg: The benefit of firing Fred Hoiberg is it's the easiest thing to do and also sends a message to the team that things need to change. It's not always easy to find a willing trade partner, but firing a coach is always an easy thing to do since you don't need two teams to make it happen. Plus, when looking at this roster, it really is hard to believe that this is a sub .500 team in the Eastern Conference. This smells like a situation where the the coach isn't getting the most out of his players, which makes firing him justifiable.

Of course, the Bulls could do a combination of options two and three, which is to make a trade and fire Fred Hoiberg, but breaking down that situation gets messy since you either need to assume that the players are the problem (letting the coach off the hook) or the coach is the problem (assuming the players just need a coach that can get them to gel).

The bottom line is that the Chicago Bulls are at a crossroads and need to make a change fast since the season is starting to slip away from them. I personally think trading Rajon Rondo would be a good first step since he's got the reputation of being a locker room killer and he's not putting up big numbers, so it makes a lot of sense to send him packing.

Firing Fred Hoiberg has pros and cons. If the Bulls really believe he's not getting the most out of his guys, firing him makes sense. However, firing a coach mid-season is really a desperate move that few teams recover from during the season. If the Bulls have any hopes of actually making some noise in the playoffs, keeping Fred Hoiberg for the season actually makes sense. Either way, the Bulls have to do something. Things aren't going well the way they are and unless they make some sort of change, things are guaranteed to not get much better.

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Wednesday Windmill: The Chicago Bulls are shaping up to be pretty interesting

     While the Golden State Warriors have made the biggest free agency splash in the Western Conference by landing Kevin Durant, the Chicago Bulls are the ones who have made the biggest splash in the Eastern Conference, landing Dwyane Wade and Rajon Rondo. With a trio of Jimmy Butler, Dwyane Wade, and Rajon Rondo, the Bulls certainly have one of the most interesting rosters in the NBA. But, do they have a roster that can threaten the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference? That's the big question.

    If one is going to put forth an argument for why the Bulls can threaten the Cavaliers, the argument has to revolve around the fact that Jimmy Butler is becoming one of the elite wings of the NBA and Dwyane Wade, while getting older, is still capable of putting up around 20 points per game. The way that you can spin this is if you say that the Bulls have their franchise player in Jimmy Butler and all he needs is a sidekick to take the edge off. Dwyane Wade certainly appears capable of being such a sidekick since he can still put up 20 points per game and command a two-year, $47M contract.

     Then, as a kicker, if you add a quality pass-first point guard like Rajon Rondo to the mix, you suddenly have your ball movement problem solved and somebody who can set up Dwyane Wade and Jimmy Butler for easy shots. Michael Wilbon said on PTI this week that Rajon Rondo would average 14 assists per game with the Bulls due to having guys like Wade and Butler around him. Considering that he averaged 11.7 assists per game on the lowly Sacramento Kings last season, it's not at all unreasonable to figure his assist totals will be somewhere in the neighborhood of 14 per game.
   
     To help round out their roster, the Bulls have decided to part ways with Derrick Rose, sending him to the New York Knicks in exchange for Robin Lopez,  Jerian Grant, and Jose Calderon. Calderon has since been traded to the Lakers to free up space for Dwyane Wade, but both Lopez and Grant remain, promising to be solid role players off the bench. In the draft, the Bulls added a quality shooter in Denzel Valentine from Michigan State to help stretch the floor. Plus, Taj Gibson and Nikola Mitotic still remain.

     The only real significant loss to their team is Joakim Noah, who is joining Derrick Rose as a member of the New York Knicks. The Bulls will definitely miss Noah's defense and rebounding, but with Robin Lopez, Taj Gibson, and Nikola Mitotic, their front court should remain relatively formidable. I don't think the loss of Joakim Noah is a big one in terms of his on court production, though I do think it is a big loss in terms of what he meant to the city, community, and locker room.

     The bottom line with the Chicago Bulls is that while they are unlikely to actually win the Eastern Conference, they are certain to reach the playoffs and expected to win a series or two. The ceiling for this team is the Eastern Conference Finals if they play their cards right and get a good draw in the playoffs. Outside of Cleveland, the Eastern Conference is wide open and I think the Chicago Bulls recognize this.

     If the Bulls can put themselves within one series of reaching the NBA Finals for the next two years, then these recent moves will have certainly paid off. Hell, it could theoretically result in a championship. All you can do in the NBA is position yourself as best you can and positioning yourself for a possible run to the conference finals is as good of a position as you can ask for.

     The Bulls are definitely doing the right thing by getting Dwyane Wade and Rajon Rondo. The alternative would be to start from scratch and build through the draft, which we know from watching the Philadelphia 76ers is a very risky proposition. If you are faced with rebuilding or setting yourself up to be one of the last four teams standing in the NBA, you roll with being one of the last four teams every time. It's a no brainer.

Saturday Slam: The Sacramento Kings don't know what they are doing

     The Sacramento Kings are the most dysfunctional team in the NBA right now. The head coach George Karl hates the star player DeMarcus Cousins, the general manager Vlade Divac and owner Vivek Ranadive are trying to make both guys happy, and as a result, they have made a series of puzzling moves. The first of these moves was drafting Willie Cauley-Stein, the second was trading three players to the 76ers to clear cap space, and the third was signing Rajon Rondo. None of these moves make any sense whatsoever and truly are indicators that this franchise has no idea what they are doing.

     The biggest problem the Kings have at the moment is that it doesn't look like George Karl and DeMarcus Cousins can coexist. Karl has made it known that he wants Cousins gone and Cousins has made it known that he isn't happy with the way Karl has treated him.

     The problem with getting rid of the coach is that if they get rid of George Karl, it isn't at all clear what direction they go in terms of finding his replacement. There aren't any big name coaches available to hire and the only guys willing to take the Kings' job would be guys who are willing to be an NBA head coach purely because it pays well.

     As for getting rid of DeMarcus Cousins, doing so is even more problematic because he has been the piece that the franchise has tried to build around for the past few seasons. Getting rid of him would truly be an indicator that they are back to square one, which would be really hard to sell fans since they really never left square one to begin with.

     Probably the best way to resolve the DeMarcus Cousins/George Karl fiasco will be for both men to find a way to get along. As hard as that may be, the alternatives are much uglier for the Kings. The reality is that on paper, having both guys should be a plus for the Kings: Cousins is a budding superstar and Karl is a coach likely heading to the hall of fame. Usually that's a winning combination and the Kings have to hope that with time, both guys can work out their differences and have success on the basketball court.

     Regarding the decision to draft Willie Cauley-Stein, this was truly a bizarre move. Cauley-Stein has the potential to be a nice rim protector and defender in the paint, but offensively he is quite limited. Usually the best two way players get drafted first and then the more one-dimensional guys follow. For the Kings to take Willie Cauley-Stein with both Justise Winslow and Emmanuel Mudiay on the board is truly a head scratcher.

      Either the Kings see something in him that we don't see, or they see something in him that really isn't there. Given their recent pattern of behavior, I would say that they see something in him that really isn't there. Don't get me wrong, Willie Cauley-Stein could turn out to be a nice player, but taking him over a small forward with great two-way potential (Winslow) and a potential star point guard (Mudiay) is just insane.

     As for the deal with the 76ers, this too was a weird move. The Kings unloaded Nik Stauskas, the 8th overall pick in last year's draft, Carl Landry, Jason Thompson, a future top-10 protected first round pick, and the right to swap two future first round picks to the 76ers for the rights to Arturas Gudaitis, Luka Mitrovic, and a future second round pick. All three of the players who the Kings gave up are solid players who could have been nice pieces to put around DeMarcus Cousins. Instead, they got rid of them so that they could clear cap space for the purpose of signing a big-name free agent.

     Had they landed LaMarcus Aldridge as a result of clearing all this cap space, the Kings would have certainly done the right thing. But what they ended up doing instead was sign Rajon Rondo to a one year deal worth $9.5M. Rondo was known for having issues with Rick Carlisle in Dallas and he has always been somewhat of a diva and head case.

     While there is no denying his talent, his attitude and mentality should have made him a non-option for the Kings given that they already have to deal with DeMarcus Cousins' ego and a coach who wants him gone. The combination of Karl, Cousins, and Rondo could result in a fatal explosion that wipes out the whole team by Christmas.

     All in all, there is nothing good to say about this Kings team. It appears as though they are randomly adding pieces that don't fit purely because they don't have anything better to do. It almost seems as though their plan is to add as many big names as possible and pray that it all works out. Such a strategy is certainly doomed. If the Kings really want to get better, they'll need to start drafting better and get some talented young players to build around for the future.

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

Daily Dunks: 6/1-6/7

                                                   (Credit: Andy Melton. Click here for source)

Here is my Daily Dunks page for June 1 through June 7, 2015.  Throughout the week this page will be updated with all the latest news from the NBA with highlights and scores included until a new Daily Dunks page is created for the following week.

Monday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. The Bulls hired Fred Hoiberg as head coach. His deal is worth 5 years, $25M (Click here for details).

#2. Warriors shooting guard Klay Thompson practiced today and expects to pass concussions tests in time for Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday (Click here for details).

#3. The Clippers are interested in Paul Pierce and ready to offer DeAndre Jordan max money (Click here for details).

#4. Dwyane Wade will opt out of his $16.1M contract with the Heat this summer in hopes of a more lucrative three-year deal (Click here for details).

#5. Pistons forward Cartier Martin exercised his $1.27M player option (Click here for details).

#6. Cavaliers center Anderson Varejao won't play in the NBA Finals (Click here for details).

#7. Andre Kirilenko is retiring (Click here for details).

#8. Jeff Van Gundy doesn't like the way the Bulls handled the Tom Thibodeau situation (Click here for details).

#9. Lakers shooting guard Nick Young and Iggy Azaelea are engaged (Click here for details).

#10. The Hawks have a new logo. It's still the "Pac Man" look (Click here for details).

Tuesday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. Monty Williams is joining the Thunder as Billy Donovan's top assistant (Click here for details).

#2. Kings forward Carl Landry underwent wrist surgery. He is expected to take 4-5 months to recover (Click here for details).

#3. Latvian big man Kristaps Porzingis hopes the Knicks draft him (Click here for details).

#4. Dwyane Wade is aiming for around $20M per year (Click here for details).

#5. Andrei Kirilenko says he hasn't yet retired (Click here for details).

#6. Warriors power forward Marreese Speights has been cleared to return for the NBA Finals (Click here for details).

#7. The NBA's players union is hiring a neurologist to examine their concussion protocol (Click here for details).

#8. Report: The Timberwolves are willing to trade Ricky Rubio (Click here for details).

#9. Darren Erman, a defensive coach, is leaving the Celtics to join the Pelicans (Click here for details).

#10. Danilo Gallinari hopes Melvin Hunt remains as the Nuggets head coach (Click here for details).

Wednesday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. The Celtics will play a preseason game in Milan, Italy (Click here for details).

#2. The NBA is opening up the "NBA Experience" at Disney World (Click here for details).

#3. Adam Silver wants more data before making a decision on the "Hack-A-Shaq" rule (Click here for details).

#4. The Nuggets have interviewed Mike D'Antoni for their head coaching job (Click here for details).

#5. The Bucks will announce the plans for a new arena on Thursday (Click here for details).

#6. The Nets intend to keep Deron Williams, Thaddeus Young, and Brook Lopez (Click here for details).

#7. Rumor: The Timberwolves may draft D'Angelo Russell #1 and trade Ricky Rubio (Click here for details).

#8. Suns head coach Jeff Hornacek turned down an interview with Iowa State (Click here for details).

#9. Wesley Matthews is back on a basketball court (Click here for details).

#10. Earl Watson is joining Jeff Hornacek's staff on the Suns (Click here for details).

Thursday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving injured his left knee and will undergo an MRI on Friday. He was walking out of the arena wearing crutches (Click here for details).

#2. Adam Silver may change the playoffs by not giving division winners an automatic top four seed (Click here for details).

#3. The sale of the Atlanta Hawks is scheduled to be done June 24 (Click here for details).

#4. The Nuggets have interviewed former Kings head coach Mike Malone for their head coaching vacancy (Click here for details).

#5. David Lee expects the Warriors to trade him this offseason or at least try to (Click here for details).

#6. Chandler Parsons hopes the Mavericks can get Patrick Beverley from the Rockets (Click here for details).

#7. Nuggets point guard Jameer Nelson plans to opt out of his $2.85M option and enter free agency this summer (Click here for details).

#8. Wizards assistant coach Don Newman is in the mix for the Nuggets' head coaching job (Click here for details).

#9. LaMarcus Aldridge's house is for sale in Portland. He'll be a free agent this summer (Click here for details).

#10. LeBron James had a huge game in the Cavaliers' Game 1 loss in the NBA Finals: 44 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists.

NBA Finals Game 1: Warriors 108 Cavaliers 100: Final/OT (Warriors lead series 1-0). Warriors point guard Stephen Curry had 26 points, 4 rebounds, and 8 assists.

Friday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. Kyrie Irving has a fractured left knee cap and will be out 3-4 months (Click here for details).

#2. The Pistons hired Arn Tellem, a former agent, as Vice Chairman of Palace Sports and Entertainment (Click here for details).

#3. Kevin Love reiterates that he wants to return to the Cavaliers next season (Click here for details).

#4. Grizzlies guard Beno Udrih underwent successful ankle surgery (Click here for details).

#5. Mavericks shooting guard Monta Ellis is expected to opt out of his contract and become an unrestricted free agent (Click here for details).

#6. Pacers forward Paul George plans to play some power forward next season (Click here for details).

#7. Hawks point guard Shelvin Mack's shoulder surgery was successful and he is expected to be fully recovered in 3-4 months (Click here for details).

#8. Mavericks forward Chandler Parsons is trying to recruit Rockets guard Patrick Beverley to join him in Dallas (Click here for details).

#9. Paul Pierce will decide on is future in the next couple of weeks (Click here for details).

#10. Royce White is close to a deal with the Clippers for Summer League (Click here for details).

Friday's WNBA Final Scores: 

Mystics 73 Sun 68. Liberty 82 Dream 73. Lynx 83 Shock 75. Sky 95 Fever 72. Mercury 76 Stars 71. Sky forward Elena Delle Donne had 31 points and 8 rebounds.

Saturday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving underwent successful surgery to repair his fractured knee cap. He should be ready for training camp after a 3-4 month recovery. (Click here for details).

#2. Kentucky forward Willie Cauley-Stein will workout for the Knicks (Click here for details).

#3. The Bucks have unveiled new uniforms (Click here to see the new uniforms).

#4. Cavaliers head coach David Blatt is saying that Kyrie Irving's fractured knee cap was caused by contact (Click here for details).

#5. Duke small forward Justise Winslow will workout for the Knicks (Click here for details).

#6. The Warriors and small forward Harrison Barnes have mutual interest in a contract extension (Click here for details).

#7. Kentucky big man Dakari Johnson has worked out for the Grizzlies (Click here for details).

#8. Should the Memphis Grizzlies go after DeMarre Carroll (Click here for a good article on the subject).

#9. Adam Silver plans to discuss the CBA with Michele Roberts this summer (Click here for details).

#10. The NBA plans to readdress lottery reform in 2016 (Click here for details).

Saturday's WNBA Final Scores: 

Mystics 67 Liberty 62. Lynx 78 Fever 69. Shock 101 Sky 93. Storm 86 Sparks 61. Storm forward/center Crystal Langhorne had 18 points and 9 rebounds.

Sunday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. Ricky Rubio has told Sportando.com that he wants to stay in Minnesota (Click here for details).

#2. Willie Cauley-Stein will workout for the Nuggets on Monday (Click here for details).

#3. There are rumors that the Kings may be in play for Rajon Rondo (Click here for details).

#4. Mike Malone has had a second interview with the Nuggets for their head coaching job (Click here for details).

#5. Report:  Cavaliers center Anderson Varejao is "very unlikely" to return for the NBA Finals (Click here for details).

#6. Kevin Garnett is a part of the Timberwolves' draft process (Click here for details).

#7. Dwyane Wade has indicated that he'll opt out of his contract in July (Click here for details).

#8. LeBron James is averaging 41.5 points, 12.0 rebounds, and 8.5 assists per game in the NBA Finals.

#9. Marreese Speights missed a wide open dunk in Game 2 of the NBA Finals (Click here to watch).

#10.  For the first time in NBA Finals history, Games 1 & 2 went to overtime.

Sunday's NBA Finals Results: 

Cavaliers 95 Warriors 93: Final/OT. Series is tied 1-1. Cavaliers small forward LeBron James had 39 points, 16 rebounds, and 11 assists (Click here to watch highlights from his Game 2 performance).

Sundays' WNBA results: 

Sun 75 Dream 70. Sun guard Alex Bentley had 17 points.


---Ben Parker: Follow me on twitter @nba_lord for NBA news 

Daily Dunks: 3/9-3/15

                                                   (Credit: Andy Melton. Click here for source). 

Here is the Daily Dunks page for Monday, March 9 through Sunday, March 15, 2015. Throughout the week this page will be updated with all the latest news and scores from around the NBA until a new Daily Dunks page is created for the following week.

     Monday's Daily Dunks: 

     #1. The Knicks are interested in re-signing forward Andrea Bargnani (Click here for details).

     #2. 76ers center Joel Embiid (foot) is experiencing setbacks, so he is in a walking boot (Click here for details).

     #3. The Hawks made a franchise record 20 three-point shots against the Kings.

     #4. Hornets point guard Mo Williams and Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook won player of the week honors (Click here for details).

     #5. Thunder center Steven Adams (hand) returned (Click here for details).

     #6. Clippers guard Dahntay Jones bumped Warriors forward Draymond Green on Sunday while Green was doing his post-game interview. Jones got fined $10K (Click here for details).

     #7. Cavaliers small forward Shawn Marion (hip) returned to practice and could be back by the end of the road trip (Click here for details).

     #8. Kobe Bryant wants Rajon Rondo to join the Lakers (Click here for details).

     #9. Warriors point guard Stephen Curry had 36 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists.

     #10. Pelicans power forward Anthony Davis had 43 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 blocks.

     Monday's NBA Final Scores: 

     Grizzlies 101 Bulls 91. Warriors 98 Suns 80. Clippers 89 Timberwolves 76. Wizards 95 Hornets 69. Hawks 130 Kings 105. Celtics 100 Heat 90. Pelicans 114 Bucks 103. Nuggets 106 Knicks 78.

Tuesday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. Heat center Hassan Whiteside has been suspended 1 game for elbowing Celtics center Kelly Olynyk (Click here for details).

#2. The Lakers signed guard Jabari Brown to a 10-day contract (Click here for details).

#3. Suns point guard Brandon Knight is dealing with an ankle injury. He'll miss at least one game (Click here for details).

#4. The Suns signed guard Seth Curry to a 10-day contract (Click here for details).

#5. Trail Blazers forward Nicolas Batum will play for France's national team this summer (Click here for details).

#6. Rumor: Russell Westbrook's play is upping the odds of the Thunder trading Kevin Durant next season (Click here for details).

#7.  Lou Williams wants to stay with the Raptors (Click here for details).

#8. Clippers power forward Glen Davis has been warned for flopping (Click here for details).

#9. Hornets point guard Kemba Walker will return on Wednesday (Click here for details).

#10. Clippers power forward Blake Griffin could return on Sunday from the staph infection in his elbow (Click here for details).

Tuesday's NBA Final Scores: 

Jazz 87 Knicks 82. Pacers 118 Magic 86. Pelicans 111 Nets 91. Cavaliers 127 Mavericks 94. Spurs 117 Raptors 107. Lakers 93 Pistons 85.

Wednesday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. Kevin Durant (foot) has been re-evaluated and is expected to be back in 1-2 weeks (Click here for details).

#2. Pacers small forward Paul George is still "a ways away" from playing (Click here for details).

#3. Mikhail Prokhorov may no longer be selling the Nets (Click here for details).

#4. Rockets center Dwight Howard is expects to be back stronger than he has ever been this season (Click here for details).

#5. The Wizards signed guard Toure' Murry to a 10-day contract due to guard Garrett Temple going down with a hamstring injury (Click here for details).

#6. The Mavericks have assigned Dwight Powell to the D-League to join the Texas Legends, but he should be back with the team on Friday (Click here for details).

#7. Nets small forward Sergey Karasev is done for the season with a torn MCL (Click here for details).

#8. LeBron James is now the Cavaliers' all-time assist leader.

#9. Celtics point guard Isaiah Thomas (back) didn't play on Wednesday. He could be out Friday and Saturday as well (Click here for details). As for  Celtics guard Avery Bradley, he returned after a three-game absence from an elbow injury.

#10. Hawks power forward Pero Antic (ankle) has returned from a two game absence (Click here for details).

Wednesday's NBA Final Scores: 

Celtics 95 Grizzlies 92. Suns 106 Timberwolves 97. Warriors 105 Pistons 98. Bulls 104 76ers 95 (OT).
Kings 113 Hornets 106. Heat 104 Nets 98. Bucks 97 Magic 91. Clippers 120 Thunder 108.
Nuggets 115 Hawks 102. Trail Blazers 105 Rockets 100.

Thursday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. Forward Quincy Miller signed a 2 year deal to stay with the Pistons (Click here for details).

#2. Shaquille O'Neal will be inducted into the Orlando Magic Hall of Fame (Click here for details).

#3. The Heat signed forward Henry Walker for the rest of the season (Click here for details).

#4.  The Suns signed center Earl Barron for the rest of the season (Click here for details).

#5. Rockets center Dwight Howard expects to be back in two weeks (Click here for details).

#6. A Clippers spokesman says a return is "possible" for Blake Griffin on Sunday (Click here for details).

#7. The Raptors sent center Lucas Nogueira to the D-League (Click here for details).

#8. The Warriors recalled forward James Michael McAdoo from the D-League (Click here for details).

#9. Phil Jackson calls the Knicks season a "project gone awry" (Click here for details).

#10. Pero Antic hopes to stay with the Hawks (Click here for details).

Thursday's NBA Final Scores: 

Wizards 107 Grizzlies 87. Jazz 109 Rockets 91. Pacers 109 Bucks 103 (OT). Cavaliers 128 Spurs 125 (OT). Knicks 101 Lakers 94.

Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving had 57 points. Jazz center Rudy Gobert had 19 points, 22 rebounds, and 4 blocks.

Friday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. The Hawks signed forward Austin Daye to a 10-day contract and released Jarell Eddie. Also, Hawks forward Mike Scott is out indefinitely with a broken toe (Click here for details).

#2. Hornets center Al Jefferson remains out indefinitely, but good news is MRI showed no structural damage to his knee (Click here for details).

#3. Paul George is "on the fence" about returning this season (Click here for details).

#4. Clippers center DeAndre Jordan hit a three against the Mavericks (Click here to watch).

#5. Henry Walker's contract with the Heat is guaranteed for the rest of the season and includes an option for next season (Click here for details).

#6. Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook has been warned for flopping (Click here for details).

#7. Blake Griffin should be back for the Clippers on Sunday or Tuesday (Click here for details).

#8. Warriors center Mareese Speights didn't play Friday because he was suspended one game for reckless driving (Click here for details).

#9. Nets forward Sergey Karasev has undergone successful surgery on his knee. His season is over (Click here for details).

#10. Rodney Stuckey hopes to remain with the Pacers (Click here for details).

Friday's NBA Final Scores: 

Thunder 113 Timberwolves 99. Nuggets 114 Warriors 103. 76ers 114 Kings 107. Hornets 101 Bulls 91. Celtics 95 Magic 88. Raptors 102 Heat 92. Mavericks 129 Clippers 99. Hawks 96 Suns 87. Trail Blazers 118 Pistons 99.

Friday's Top Performers: Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook had 29 points, 10 rebounds, and 12 assists. Thunder center Enes Kanter had 23 points and 15 rebounds. Kings center DeMarcus Cousins had 39 points and 24 rebounds.

Saturday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. The Bucks signed small forward Chris Johnson to a second 10-day contract (Click here for details).

#2. Joel Freeland of the Trail Blazers and Shawne Williams of the Pistons got suspended one game for head butting each other (Click here for details).

#3. The Pelicans signed guard Elliot Williams to a second 10-day deal (Click here for details).

#4. Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley (ankle) didn't play Thursday or Saturday (Click here for details).

#5. Phil Jackson says he's planning to build the Knicks via free agency (Click here for details).

#6. Jazz center Rudy Gobert had 10 points and 19 rebounds.

#7. Wizards point guard John Wall had 31 points and 12 assists.

#8. Grizzlies shooting guard Courtney Lee had 17 points.

#9. Warriors shooting guard Klay Thompson had 27 points.

#10. Nets forward Thaddeus Young had 21 points and 9 rebounds.

Saturday's NBA Final Scores: 

Grizzlies 96 Bucks 83. Jazz 88 Pistons 85. Warriors 125 Knicks 94. Celtics 93 Pacers 89. Wizards 113 Kings 97. Nets 94 76ers 87.

Sunday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. The NCAA Tournament bracket got revealed. Click here in case you haven't yet seen it.

#2. Pistons center Andre Drummond has a concussion (Click here for details).

#3. The Knicks are unsure if guard Jose Calderon (Achilles) will play again this season (Click here for details).

#4. Clippers power forward Blake Griffin returned from his elbow injury. He played 41 minutes, scored 11 points, and grabbed 11 rebounds (Click here for details).

#5. Cavaliers power forward Kevin Love (rest) did not play (Click here for details).

#6. Hawks small forward Kyle Korver broke his nose (Click here for details).

#7. Spurs shooting guard Manu Ginobili sprained his ankle and is out 7-10 days (Click here for details).

#8. Pelicans power forward Anthony Davis had 36 points, 14 rebounds, and 7 assists in a double overtime loss to the Nuggets.

#9. Lakers head coach Byron Scott plans to start Jeremy Lin at point guard down the stretch (Click here for details).

#10. Bulls center Joakim Noah is still facing a 32 minute playing time restriction (Click here for details).

Sunday's NBA Final Scores: 

Spurs 123 Timberwolves 97. Thunder 109 Bulls 100. Rockets 100 Clippers 98. Nuggets 118 Pelicans 111 (2OT). Cavaliers 123 Magic 108. Trail Blazers 113 Raptors 97. Suns 102 Knicks 89. Hawks 91 Lakers 86.
---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord for NBA news. 

Daily Dunks: 2/23-3/1

                                                   (Credit: Andy Melton. Click here for source and full image)

Here are my Daily Dunks for February 23-March 1, 2015. Throughout the week this page will be updated with NBA news and scores until a new Daily Dunks page is created for the following week.

Monday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. The Utah Jazz signed point guard Bryce Cotton and forward Jack Cooley to 10-day contracts (Click here for details).

#2. The Nets plan to sign power forward Thomas Robinson to a 10-day contract (Click here for details).

#3. The Kings hired Vance Walberg as an assistant coach (Click here for details).

#4. Carlos Boozer won't pursue a buyout from the Lakers (Click here for details).

#5. Bulls power forward Taj Gibson is dealing with a hand injury (Click here for details).

#6. Knicks small forward Carmelo Anthony played most of the season with a partial tear in his knee (Click here for details).

#7. Erik Spoelstra says Chris Bosh should be released from the hospital soon (Click here for details).

#8. Phil Jackson criticized the Knicks on  twitter (Click here for details).

#9. Rajon Rondo is working with the same shooting coach that works with Dirk Nowitzki (Click here for details).

#10. JaVale McGee hopes to remain with the 76ers (Click here for details).

Monday's NBA Final Scores: 

Rockets 113 Timberwolves 102. Jazz 90 Spurs 81. Grizzlies 90 Clippers 87. Heat 119 76ers 108. Pelicans 100 Raptors 97. Bulls 87 Bucks 71. Nuggets 110 Nets 82. Celtics 115 Spurs 110.

Tuesday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. Bulls point guard Derrick Rose will undergo surgery on his right knee for another meniscus tear. He is out indefinitely (Click here for details).

#2. Thomas Robinson won't go to the Nets. The 76ers scooped him up on waivers (Click here for details).

#3. Thunder small forward Steve Novak is out indefinitely due to an appendectomy (Click here for details).

#4. Report: The 76ers were willing to trade anybody at the deadline including Joel Embiid (Click here for details).

#5. A mansion in Los Angeles was robbed by four masked bandits. The owner was Earl Watson (Click here for details).

#6. Anthony Mason's condition is improving (Click here for details).

#7. Cavaliers small forward Shawn Marion is out two weeks due to a left hip strain (Click here for details).

#8. Kendrick Perkins has officially signed with the Cavaliers (Click here for details).

#9. The Pistons claimed small forward Shawne Williams off waivers from the Pelicans (Click here for details).

#10. Lakers point guard Ronnie Price will undergo an elbow operation on Wednesday. His season is over (Click here for details).

Tuesday's NBA Final Scores: 
Warriors 114 Wizards 107. Cavaliers 102 Pistons 93. Thunder 105 Pacers 92. Mavericks 99 Raptors 92.

Wednesday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. Larry Sanders has no plans to return to basketball in the near future (Click here for details).

#2. The Bulls have been talking to Nate Robinson (Click here for details).

#3. Derrick Rose's injury isn't initially believed to be as serious as his injury last season (Click here for details).

#4. Steve Blake plans to exercise his $2.1M player option next summer to stay with the Trail Blazers (Click here for details).

#5. The Pistons signed point guard John Lucas III for the rest of the season (Click here for details).

#6. Wizards small forward Paul Pierce (bruised knee) was a DNP. He is day-to-day (Click here for details).

#7. Mavericks point guard Rajon Rondo was suspended one game for conduct detrimental to the team (Click here for details).

#8. In his first game back with the Timberwolves, Kevin Garnett had 5 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 blocks in 19 minutes.

#9. Craig Sager will return to the sidelines on March 5 (Click here for details).

#10. In his debut with the Bucks, Michael Carter-Williams had 7 points, 8 assists, and 2 steals.

Wednesday's NBA Final Scores: 

Timberwolves 97 Wizards 77. Lakers 100 Jazz 97. Kings 102 Grizzlies 90. Heat 93 Magic 90. Hawks 104 Mavericks 87. Celtics 115 Knicks 94. Pelicans 102 Nets 96. Hornets 98 Bulls 86. Rockets 110 Clippers 105. Bucks 104 76ers 88. Suns 110 Nuggets 96. Trail Blazers 111 Spurs 95.

Thursday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. The Heat signed Michael Beasley to a 10-day contract (Click here for details).

#2. Andre Miller is interested in re-signing with the Kings (Click here for details).

#3. Phil Jackson is going to be fined for tampering (Click here for details).

#4. Pacers small forward Paul George has returned to practice. He could be back in a couple of weeks (Click here for details).

#5. Richard "Rip" Hamilton officially retired (Click here for details).

#6. Bulls point guard Derrick Rose has undergone surgery on his knee. Part of the meniscus was removed. He should be back in 4-6 weeks (Click here for details).

#7. Kings guard Darren Collison needs surgery to repair a core muscle injury. He'll be reevaluated in 4-6 weeks (Click here for details).

#8. Report: George Karl has full control over the Kings' personnel. He wants Ty Lawson and is willing to trade DeMarcus Cousins (Click here for details).

#9. Cavaliers small forward LeBron James had 42 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists against the Warriors.

#10. Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook had a triple-double: 39 points, 14 rebounds, and 11 assists.

Thursday's NBA Final Scores: 

Cavaliers 110 Warriors 99. Suns 117 Thunder 113.

Friday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. Report: If Ray Allen returns to the NBA this season, it won't be to the Cavaliers (Click here for details).

#2. The highest bid for the Hawks is around $800M (Click here for details).

#3. The NBA will release reports of officials for the last two minutes of each game (Click here for details).

#4. Cavaliers small forward LeBron James (rest) didn't play.

#5. Baron Davis is plotting an NBA comeback (Click here for details).

#6. Kings center Demarcus Cousins (ankle/hip) didn't play (Click here for details).

#7. Mavericks small forward Chandler Parsons is still dealing with an ankle injury and won't play on Saturday (Click here for details).

#8. Thunder guard Russell Westbrook had a triple-double: 40 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists.

#9. Rockets forward Terrence Jones had 26 points and 12 rebounds.

#10. Celtics point guard Isaiah Thomas had 28 points and 7 assists.

Friday's NBA Final Scores: 

Warriors 113 Raptors 89. Bulls 96 Timberwolves 89. Clippers 97 Grizzlies 79. Jazz 104 Nuggets 82. Pacers 93 Cavaliers 86. 76ers 89 Wizards 81. Hawks 95 Magic 88. Celtics 106 Hornest 98. Knicks 121 Pistons 115 (2OT). Pelicans 104 Heat 102. Rockets 102 Nets 98. Spurs 107 Kings 96. Lakers 101 Bucks 93. Trail Blazers 115 Thunder 112.

Saturday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. Anthony Mason passed away at the age of 48. May he rest in peace (Click here for details).

#2. Early Lloyd, the NBA's first black player, passed away at the age of 86 (Click here for details).

#3. Warriors center Festus Ezeli was suspended 1 game for grabbing the throat of Raptors power forward Tyler Hansbrough (Click here for details).

#4. Chris Bosh has been released from the hospital and is progressing towards a recovery (Click here for details).

#5. Wesley Johnson says he hopes to re-sign with the Lakers (Click here for details).

#6. Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (ankle/hip) is unlikely to play on Sunday (Click here for details).

#7. Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving (shoulder) won't play on Sunday (Click here for details).

#8. Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook underwent a procedure to repair a fractured cheekbone. He won't play Sunday and is out indefinitely (Click here for details).

#9. Trey Burke had 23 points off the bench for the Utah Jazz.

#10. Marc Gasol led the Grizzlies with 27 points and 11 rebounds.

Saturday's NBA Final Scores: 

Grizzlies 101 Timberwolves 97. Jazz 82 Bucks 75. Wizards 99 Pistons 95. Hawks 93 Heat 91. Knicks 103 Raptors 98. Nets 104 Mavericks 94. Spurs 101 Suns 74.

Sunday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. The 76ers waived center JaVale McGee (Click here for details).

#2. Kevin  Garnett bought 1,000 tickets for fans to an upcoming Timberwolves home game (Click here for details).

#3. Rockets GM Daryl Morey has made some proposals to change the trade rules of the NBA (Click here for details).

#4. Warriors point guard Stephen Curry had 37 points against the Celtics.

#5. Cavaliers small forward LeBron James had 37 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists against the Rockets.

#6. Rockets shooting guard James Harden had 33 points 8 rebounds, and 5 assists against the Cavaliers.

#7. Clippers center DeAndre Jordan scored 9 points and grabbed 26 rebounds against the Bulls.

#8. Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard had 31 points against the Kings.

#9.  Hornets point guard Mo Williams had 23 points and 11 assists against the Magic.

#10. Thunder center Enes Kanter had 16 points and 15 rebounds against the Lakers.

Sunday's NBA Final Scores: 

Warriors 106 Celtics 101. Clippers 96 Bulls 86. Rockets 105 Cavaliers 103 (OT). Pacers 94 76ers 74. Hornets 98 Magic 93. Trail Blazers 110 Kings 99. Thunder 108 Lakers 101. Pelicans 99 Nuggets 92.

---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord for NBA news 

2014-15 Atlantic Division Preview

The NBA season is just around the corner, which means that it's time for me to start doing my previews for each division. I am starting with the Atlantic Division, home to the Toronto Raptors, Brooklyn Nets, Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, and Philadelphia 76ers. I will preview each team in order of where I think they will finish in the division with their projected win total in brackets.

                                         
                                              Toronto Raptors (53)

Under the guidance of their brilliant general manager Masai Ujiri, the Raptors had one of the best seasons in franchise history last year with a 48-34 record. Losing in 7 games to the Nets in the first round of the playoffs was a tough way to go out, but the Raptors established themselves as a team that is going to be competitive for many seasons to come.

Their major offseason move was re-signing their start point guard Kyle Lowry to a 4 year, $48M deal. This move is key because it greatly ups the odds of DeMar DeRozan and Jonas Valanciunas staying with the Raptors for the long-term. DeRozan made his first all-star team last season, averaging 22.7 points and 4.0 assists per game, establishing himself as one of the best young swingmen in the NBA.

As for Jonas Valanciunas, he is entering his third NBA season after averaging 11.3 points and 8.8 rebounds per game last season. He still has a lot of work to do, but he too is emerging into one of the best young players at his position. If the Raptors can keep Lowry, DeRozan, and Valanciunas together, they could be contending for championships in the near future.

Their most surprising move of the offseason was drafting Bruno Caboclo in the first round of this year's draft. This move shocked everybody and created quite a stir on draft night. Caboclo is a small forward out of Brazil who has tremendous upside but is considered to be very raw in his development. He might be the most important piece the Raptors have in that he could be what puts them over the top in a few seasons. If he develops into an elite small forward in the NBA, the Raptors will really be cooking with gas. Watching how Caboclo develops in his first NBA season will definitely be an interesting thing to monitor throughout the season since he still remains largely a mystery and an enigma.

Overall, the Raptors have a really talented squad that should once again win the Atlantic Division. The trio of Lowry, DeRozan, and Valanciunas will continue to get better and perhaps Caboclo surprises people and ends up being a solid contributor in his rookie season. They still don't have enough to contend for a championship, but that doesn't mean they aren't worth keeping an eye on. With the Eastern Conference so wide open, the Raptors could possibly find themselves in the Eastern Conference Finals.

                                             
                                                Brooklyn Nets (47)

The Brooklyn Nets are one of the most bizarre teams in the NBA. They have some fantastically talented players, but they can't seem to figure out how to make it all fit. Deron Williams is showing signs of age with all the injuries he's had, but he still remains one of the better point guards in the NBA; Joe Johnson is one of the most offensively potent shooting guards in the NBA; and Brook Lopez might be the best center in the NBA when healthy. Yet despite having those talented players on their team, the Nets still find ways to fall short.

Losing Brook Lopez for the season definitely hurt them last year, but even with him I doubt they would have gotten past the Miami Heat. The Nets almost seem to have an identity crisis in that they really aren't super good at anything. They just range from being "ok" to "good" at everything. That's a problem that Lionel Hollins, their new head coach will have to fix. He'll have to find a way to get his team an identity. In order for a team to be successful they need to have an identity or something to pride themselves on. E.g. Defense, rebounding, or scoring.

More specifically, the Nets need to figure out whose team it is. Is it Deron Williams' team? Is it Joe Johnson's team? Is it Brook Lopez's team? I personally think it should be Brook Lopez's team with him as the focal point of the offense. He's their best overall player and the player who is most valuable to them because so few teams have quality big men.

Before going down for the season, Lopez was having a career year, averaging 20.7 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. The team had to reformulate their identity with him out of the picture for the vast bulk of the season and I think that really hurt the development of the team since Lopez has to be their guy. If the Nets want to be successful this season, they have to make sure that Brook Lopez is the featured player. Otherwise, they'll continue to stay where they are at, which is a mid-pack Eastern Conference team that goes nowhere.

                                                 

                                                      New York Knicks (41) 

Let me cut to the chase: This team sucks. I think Carmelo Anthony is fantastic, but the rest of the team is garbage. Amar'e Stoudemire is washed up and merely a shell of his former self, Andrea Bargnani is a decent offensive player who can't play any defense, J.R. Smith just screws around and takes wild threes, and Iman Shumpert has regressed each season he's played in the NBA.

As for Phil Jackson and his puppet head coach Derek Fisher, nothing can smell more like manufactured hype than this duo. These guys won rings in Los Angeles, but that was over five years ago in a city that is more than 2,000 miles away. This time around there is no Kobe Bryant or Shaquille O'Neal to save them, which is why they aren't going to ever win another championship together. They seem to only be interested in reuniting with each other and having a jolly good time in the Big Apple at the expense of the Knicks and their fans.

Tim Hardaway, Jr. is the only other guy on this team that I like. He's a talented 6'6 shooting guard who could be a star for them in the future, but as for this season he'll still be going through growing pains. He's really the only guy worth paying attention to in that he might be a piece the Knicks can use in the future to help them win games. As for the rest of team outside of Carmelo Anthony, they can all go play in the Chinese Basketball Association for all I care.

.

                                                    
                                                       Boston Celtics (32) 

The Celtics are in full-blown rebuilding mode right now. Rajon Rondo, who is their star point guard appears to be on his way out, which leaves small forward Jeff Green as the only other viable weapon on the team. Green averaged 16.9 points and 4.6 rebounds per game last season, which was his best season to date. He'll continue to get better and might even become an all-star one day. But beyond that, the team has nobody to help them win games this season.

Their rookie point guard Marcus Smart, third year power forward Jared Sullinger, and second year center Kelly Olynyk might form a nice trio to go around Jeff Green in a few years, but for right now they have a lot of growing pains to go through.The one good thing that I will say about the Celtics is that they have a quality head coach in Brad Stevens and management that can be trusted. Unlike the Knicks, who are run by a bunch of baboons, the Celtics have quality guys in their front office, which is why I like them to be better than the Knicks down the road.

However, at the present moment, the Celtics have a team that will struggle to win games. Even if Rajon Rondo hangs around the whole year, they still will only have Rondo and Green as viable go-to options. Everybody else is either past their prime like Gerald Wallace or still in the very early stages of their NBA development.

                                                    Philadelphia 76ers (25)

The Philadelphia 76ers are garbage, but they are garbage with a game plan. The plan is to be bad right now so that they can be good in the future. The 76ers so far have tanked really well, drafting talented players who can't help them win games right away. Probably the most important thing to look for when watching the 76ers this season is how their point guard Michael Carter-Williams does in his second season and also how their rookie center Nerlens Noel does after sitting out all of last season with a torn ACL.

If Carter-Williams and Noel can prove to be an effective duo, then the 76ers should feel good about their tanking strategy. I personally expect both of those guys to play really well, but that doesn't mean the 76ers will win a lot of games. It'll be another long year in Philly, but hopefully one in which they feel like progress is being made towards building a team that can be a force in the East.

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