Who is your surprise team this year?

This topic contains 23 replies, has 18 voices, and was last updated by OhCanada- 6 years, 8 months ago.

Author

Posts
Posted on: Wed, 10/02/2019 - 11:32am #599628

high floor
Participant

I won’t pick the Magic since they’re my home team, but I will stay in the same division.

I think the Hawks are going to be pretty good next year. Currently Vegas has their Over / Under at 36 games. Some view that as high.

I’m actually pretty confident taking the over in that bet.

John Collins missed a good chunk of time, and if he plays 75+ games & Trae Young builds on his impressive 2nd half…. they could be in the playoff mix as a 7-8 seed.

Also, the coaching staff has been raving about De’Andre Hunter. If it’s sincere, he’s one of the most NBA ready rookies from an age & experience perspective…. and could really help their defense on the wing this year. Plus Alex Len was really playing well as a Brook Lopez, spread the floor, Center the 2nd half. Minus Brook’s defensive ability….. of course.

I think the Hawks could have a top 6-7 ranked offense, and if they can manage to just have a mediocre defense they can get to the low 40’s in wins.

0
Posted on: Wed, 10/02/2019 - 1:12pm #1137823

khaled_a_d
Participant

Kings.
Honestly, I don’t think they should be surprise. It should be the expected leap but it seems no one is considering to put them in their play-off picture.
If Luke Walton is a good coach -as many believes- I think this team will make it to play-offs finally. They are young, talented and hungry.

0
Posted on: Wed, 10/02/2019 - 2:35pm #1137824

Memphis Madness
Participant

I think the Grizzlies will be slightly-less-than-mediocre instead of downright awful.

0
Posted on: Wed, 10/02/2019 - 3:10pm #1137825

Robb_C
Participant

Phoenix Suns

0
Posted on: Wed, 10/02/2019 - 5:01pm #1137829

llperez

not sure what qualifies as a surprise but I have the Raptors finishing 4th in east. Not sure if people think they fall off big or not. I also think the Pelicans can make the playoffs. Currently Im going back and forth between them and the warriors for the 8th/9th spots in west.

0
Posted on: Wed, 10/02/2019 - 7:47pm #1137830

Scrooge McDuck
Participant

The warriors an 8 seed? Delusional. I think the warriors will be a top 4 seed. A few years ago they were an 8 seed and knocked off the Mavericks who were a 1 seed, without Durant or Steve Kerr. They’re better now. Curry is the best player in the NBA.

Magic- I think they’ll be a 6 seed. When you make Augustine look like a quality starter you’re headed in the right direction. Fournier, and the front court should improve.

portland- they should be better than last year. They’re a top 4 seed. McCollum is hitting his prime.

0
- Posted on: Wed, 10/02/2019 - 9:55pm #1137834
  
  llperez
  
  My concern is the frontcourt and depth. Even if you consider curry the best player in the league(hes not), hell have to be amazing to carry them all year until klay gets back. I know they have russell who is very good and dray who is an all-star. But I was looking at the projected starting lineups and it currently has mckinnie at the sf spot and looney at the c spot without much off the bench to help those guys. Dray has been allowed to be a very passive offensive player becasue he is surrounded by scorers. But if you think he is suddenly gonna turn it on offensively, teams will gladly welcome that. So the offense comes down to curry and russell having to work non stop. And I dont even want to think about what might happen if either of those guys miss some games.
  
  Last year the warriors won 57 games, but both KD and Klay played 78 games each. Take those 2 off the squad, lose some qulaity bench pieces like cousins, iggy and quin cook. Put pressure on dray to keep defnses honest and I dont think the warriors are a lock to make playoffs at all and as of righ tnow I have them out. My only hesitation is that if they are even close and klay comes back for the homestretch, then they improve dramatically and no question are still one of the best teams in league. Thats how tough the west is though. Ive seen people predict the wolves, kings and mavs to all make playoffs and I dont have any of those teams in either. No nights off and that lack of depth and an entire frontcourt with no offensive pop will weigh on the backcourt to do everything.
  
  0
  - Posted on: Thu, 10/03/2019 - 2:31am #1137837
    
    OhCanada-
    Participant
    
    Raptors and Warriors will comfortably be home seeds in the playoffs as long as they stay healthy. I personally dont see this as a surprise.
    
    Out East I see the Heat as the team that will be the most improved this year. Jimmy Butler improves every team he goes to. Hes a really good player that can compete with the best of the best. I wouldnt be surprised if he has a Paul George lite season.
    
    In the West I think the Mavs will be the team to improve the most. Doncic is an extrordinary player and his rookie season he already looked like one of the most unstoppable offensive players in the league. Porzingis will be on a minutes restriction but Carlisle is one of the best I’ve ever seen at creating a working rotation. They also picked up some nice rotation players like Seth Curry and Delon Wright.
    
    0
    - Posted on: Fri, 10/04/2019 - 1:30pm #1137860
      
      xJumpManx
      Participant
      
      I could see that happening but the first time they face a star in the playoffs they are toast. Lowry will be his choke artist self come playoffs when the pressure hits him.
      
      0
    - Posted on: Fri, 10/25/2019 - 6:32am #1138627
      
      llperez
      
      so you still feeling warriors are "comfortably" a top 4 team in the west? because they looked bad in preseason and just got blown out. I stand by them not making playoffs. They certainly can make the playoffs, but to say they will comfortably be one of the 4 best didnt make sense when you said it becasue the west is so tough.
      
      0
      - Posted on: Sun, 10/27/2019 - 12:43pm #1138651
        
        OhCanada-
        Participant
        
        Nope. After preseason I put them to top 6 in the West. After todays game I dont know what to think. Gotta see how they play with Willie Caulie Stein in the lineup he might really help. Things look bad though.
        
        Still think the Raptors, Heat and Mavs are gonna do well this year though.
        
        0
- Posted on: Thu, 10/03/2019 - 5:17am #1137844
  
  Andrew1984
  Participant
  
  By a few years ago, you mean 12 years ago, with zero players from that team on the current roster, zero coaches on the staff, a different GM, and a different owner.
  
  The only holdover is Mike Dunleavy Jr., who was on the ’07 roster but now works in scouting.
  
  0
Posted on: Wed, 10/02/2019 - 8:44pm #1137831

BlueRivers25
Participant

I got Dallas making the playoffs.

Clippers

Rockets

Lakers

Warriors

Blazers

Pelicans

Spurs

Mavs.

0
- Posted on: Wed, 10/02/2019 - 8:53pm #1137832
  
  BlueRivers25
  Participant
  
  Whoops forgot about the Nuggets hahahaa. Mavs miss the playoffs
  
  0
  - Posted on: Wed, 10/02/2019 - 9:37pm #1137833
    
    Zouldiers
    Participant
    
    Don’t worry, you’re not the only one
    
    0
Posted on: Thu, 10/03/2019 - 2:19am #1137836

sweaterflex
Participant

In the East, I think the Heat will take a mini-leap and grab the 5 seed. They had a lot of flukey injury issues last year and I think they have a trade to make with their strong depth. If they can package Dragic and some other assets for Chris Paul they will be able to push for a spot in the conference finals.

In the West, I really like the Pelicans. While the team is a little light on shooting, they have a strong amount of athleticism and playmaking that I think can make them more than the sum of their parts and grab the 8 seed. They can put out very strong defensive lineups like Ball-Holiday-Ingram-Zion-Favors and very strong offensive lineups like Holiday-Redick-Hart-Ingram-Zion. If they grab a proven stretch big they could be even better.

0
Posted on: Thu, 10/03/2019 - 3:08am #1137839

LOFTY
Participant

Lol @ the guy saying mavs and pelicans ahead of the jazz and nuggets! Keep your day job buddy

0
Posted on: Thu, 10/03/2019 - 3:29am #1137840

Dazzling Dunks and Basketball Bloopers
Participant

I’m looking at Chicago. I think this could be a playoff team in the east. I know they are relying on some young, unproven players, but Porter, Thaddeus young, and Tomas satoransky are all solid veteran additions who should make this a more cohesive unit than it’s been in the past. Carter and markannen have the potential to develop into a pretty formidable front line. Lavine can score with anyone but hopefully can develop into a more complete player. Otherwise, he might ultimately be better in a smaller, off the bench, instant offense type role. I know that a lot of things would have to go right, but I at least think the talent is there to at least make some noise.

0
Posted on: Thu, 10/03/2019 - 3:53am #1137842

HobbyOG
Participant

My Hawks! They’ll get the 7th or 8th seed.

0
Posted on: Thu, 10/03/2019 - 9:14am #1137846

XYRYX
Participant

There are a few teams who could make some noise, quite a lot who could really jump higher then expected. Chicago might be one of those. LaVine and Lauri might be one of the highest scoring duos next season.

Orlando and the Hawks might also make a jump but the Hawks might be a little bit limited defensively to be honestly making a true impact.

Miami is a team no one is talking about but in the end might be top 3 team in the east when they click and if Jimmy Butlers decides that he should push himself a little bit harder then he did the last two years. If Butler is really balling and the Heat might really enter the top 3 in the east, he might be in the MVP conversation if he averages around 25/6/5 and playing all NBA defense which is possible.

Denver seems like everyone is forgetting was the best team in the west last year and only got better. They got Jerami Grant for only a pick and finally have MPJ. Jokic is going to be a serious MVP candidate and is still so frickin young. They might be the best team in the NBA and everybody is talking about how good the dubs still are or the LA teams.

Dallas has added the unicorn and Delon Wright might be the most underrated offseason signing in the league. If they add one more piece like Steven Adams or someone like Beal or even Gary Harris or Will Barton, they will be very fun to watch.

The Kings seem to be on the right track in over a decade and might sneak into the playoffs.

The Spurs are being labeled that this will finally be the year where they don’t make the playoffs but Murray is back, Walker ready and it would really surprise me, barring any major injuries, if they don’t fight for homecourt advantage.

I might get bashed here but both LA teams are one serious injury away from being desperate to even make the playoffs and all the big names on both teams have either a long history (Davis, Kawhi), are injured right now (PG won’t be back before mid November without any chemistry and being rusty), Kuz is injured and will miss preseason, LeBron missed the most games of his career and will be 35 in December.

I believe that the Lakers season will be a full time rollercoaster and drama all day long. While Kuzma is a nice player offensively and should complement Davis and LeBron pretty well, I don’t really see the hype about him. He is terrible defensively and might be a little bit distracted by the whole LA circus but we’ll see. I think he is pretty overrated right for what he does but he might prove me wrong.

The Pelicans are hard to predict to me to be honest. They don’t have any major holes, Jrue is in his prime and seems motivated, Ingram is still All NBA Material is healthy, Favors and JJ are fantastic veterans to balance out the young pieces. While Zion might have a solid season, he might not take over the league by storm, I’m a little sceptical if his game translates so well but this team will run, he is a freak in the open court and can also make plays just like Jrue or Ingram and even if they won’t be in playoff contention, they will be very very fun to watch.

0
Posted on: Thu, 10/03/2019 - 9:27am #1137847

@MoneyBall_AP
Participant

Surprise team?

The Pheonix Suns. Folks counting them out, but they have some really good pieces. Should be good defensively with great versatility. Offensivley they can play just about any style needed…easily one of the better shooting teams in the league. Monte Williams will make sure guys are locked in and moving on a string defensively.

I think the Suns barely miss the post season!

0
- Posted on: Thu, 10/03/2019 - 9:54am #1137848
  
  XYRYX
  Participant
  
  I also toyed with the idea of naming the Suns as a surprise team but overall they are just not very good. I have to admit that the signing of Rubio might really by underrated after they were bashed hardly for this. Ricky is a man now and was just named MVP of the World Cup. But Bookers stats are kind of empty and he hasn’t been a leader yet, his shot has actually regressed and his defense is terrible. Ayton stated in the offseason that he sees himself as a power forward and I’m very interested to see how they are going forward with his role. Bridges is a nice talent but I don’t see him as a difference maker the next season.
  Saric and Oubre are very Good pieces and if both have a nice season the suns might win a few more games then expected but this could also be said about any other team in the west like the Grizz, Mavs, Kings or the Thunder so while they might have some firepower, they won’t be any good defensively imo and the competition is challenging to say the least.
  
  0
Posted on: Fri, 10/04/2019 - 1:31pm #1137861

xJumpManx
Participant

I agree with Hawks as well. They were showing signs last year and they shoudl be even better this year.

0
Posted on: Sat, 10/05/2019 - 1:42pm #1137872

airguyton
Participant

Lots of depth this year and solid big man rotation. Also with victor set to come back some time this year. They will be a tough out for any team this upcoming year.

0
Author

Posts