SneakerReporter NBA Top 30 Teams: #16 Dallas Mavericks

SneakerReporter NBA Top 30 Teams: #16 Dallas Mavericks

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by | Oct 7, 2019 | Featured, NBA

We’ve approached the Sweet 16 of the SneakerReporter NBA Top 30, and with that we’re 16 days out from the NBA season. Today we’ve witnessed the Los Angeles Clippers face off against the Shanghai Sharks, in a convincing 40-point win by the Clippers. Without going too into those teams however. we’d like to focus on today’s topic of discussion, coming in at number 16, the Dallas Mavericks.

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16. Dallas Mavericks: With the Mavs be able to trample the competition with their new core?

The Dallas Mavericks have turned the page on the Dirk Nowitzki era (this, like Dwayne Wade, still hurts me too), and have found their new core in 2nd year player Luka Doncic and the previous 4th pick in 2015, the Unicorn himself, Kristaps Porzingis. The organization has made small (for lack of a better word) changes in the roster by adding players such as the two 7 foot 3 inch bigs in Porzingis and Boban Marjanovic. The Mavericks went 33-49 last season as the 14th seed in the Western Conference during what became to be the Dirk Nowitzki Farewell Tour. There were no real hopes to make the Playoffs for the organization last season but are hoping for that to change as they’re shifting focus to their young European duo.

Looking at the Mavericks roster, they have a very strong core with solid role players that surround them. Tim Hardaway Jr. has seemed to find a place for himself after leaving New York, alongside other notable guards J.J. Barea and Seth Curry. It goes without saying that this team should have no issues on the offensive end, and are hoping to make themselves more sound defensively from this point on. This is where Boban Marjanovic comes in. Marjanovic has bounced around the league during his 5 year stint so far, and is hoping to make an impact for the Mavericks roster in the paint. Boban has been one of the more physically imposing players we’ve seen in this league for quite some time now, and is hoping to let that be known this upcoming season, crashing the boards and running to the rim off screens. The game plan for this roster can and may just be as simply as letting the guards and wings shoot and have your two bigs, whether it be those stated or Kleber and Powell, crash the boards. Doncic and Porzingis both seem to be very excited to get the season started, as they should be. The two are expected to great things together, and with the pieces that they have surrounding them, they might just be able to do so.

Like most teams that are ranked in the middle of our list, I see the Mavericks in the Playoff race this upcoming season, fighting for position until the very last game. The main thing that keeps them from making the Playoffs, however, is the quality of play the Mavericks will have when the starters are not on the floor, which will only be known over the course of the season. Although Mavericks fans surely feel a void within themselves by not seeing #41 on the floor every night, they have much to look forward to come October 22nd.

Oct 7, 2019 No Comments
SneakerReporter NBA Top 30 Teams: #17 New Orleans Pelicans

SneakerReporter NBA Top 30 Teams: #17 New Orleans Pelicans

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by | Oct 6, 2019 | Featured, NBA

We’ve almost reached the halfway point for our SneakerReporter NBA Top 30 at Day 17. With that in mind we present to you our pick for our 17th team, a group in which me personally and probably all NBA fans are excited to watch this season, the New Orleans Pelicans.

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17. New Orleans Pelicans: Can the new roster for New Orleans prove themselves?

I know what you’re thinking, because I’m thinking the same thing, “This video isn’t even the same team as it is now!”, and you’d be completely right, it isn’t. And frankly, there are so many good and bad reasons that associate with it. The Pelicans finished with a record of 48-34, placing 6th in the Western Conference. They unfortunately exited the NBA Playoffs in the Second Round to the Golden State Warriors. Despite the success that the team had last season, it was nothing short of tragic. The Pelicans moved on from their, what they thought to be, perennial Superstar in Anthony Davis, choosing to rebuild their entire roster. During that point of the season last year regarding the Davis drama, the Pelicans seemed to be in a dire situation.

From that point to now, the Pelicans organization has made moves in ways that we as fans were caught by surprise. In a situation where we most of us believed that the Pelicans were down for the count, they’ve put their heads down and gathered a roster of players that in the long-term will be a terrifying team to face. This is without saying that their roster now isn’t a force to be reckoned with, but the amount of youth on this team can be a make or break factor for them throughout the course of the season.

Looking into the this Pelicans squad, the names on this roster are players that we as NBA fans are excited to watch play together. From the young (previous) Lakers core in Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart, and Brandon Ingram, to the more seasoned veterans in Jahlil Okafor, J.J. Reddick, and Jrue Holidae. It also goes without saying that one of the biggest names in the NBA or even sports overall in this day in age is the first-round pick of this year’s NBA Draft in Zion Williamson. Like I said already, if given a couple of years to iron out the issues that a young, new team will face, the Pelicans will more than likely find themselves contending in the Playoffs consistently. Despite the excitement that a roster like this would bring upon the NBA, there is no need to raise the white flag if they have some bumps along the road. Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart, and Brandon Ingram were really coming into their own last season with the Lakers, and they now have the opportunity to really showcase themselves on this new team. With veteran leadership under the likes of J.J. Reddick and Jrue Holidae, the development of this team should be interesting throughout the course of the season.

I’d like to take some time to focus on 6’7 rookie forward Zion Williamson. We all know him to be an absolutely electrifying player on the floor, and I personally believe that everyone wants to see him do well in the league. But fans should also remember that the kid is exactly that, a kid. He’s going to go through the ups and downs throughout the course of the season, in fact, the entire team most likely will. This is exactly why, despite having loads of potential and talent that goes through the roof, I believe that this Pelicans team will definitely be apart of the Playoff race. The only thing that really stops them from making the Playoffs is themselves, however. If they managed to play their style of basketball and do so effectively, I don’t see why they can’t make the Playoffs as one of the lower seeds.

Oct 6, 2019 No Comments
SneakerReporter Top 30 NBA Teams: #18 Miami Heat

SneakerReporter Top 30 NBA Teams: #18 Miami Heat

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by | Oct 5, 2019 | Featured, NBA

We get closer and closer by the day to the beginning of the NBA Season, and the anticipation grows as time passes. Officially 18 days out, we’re discussing our spot for 18th on the SneakerReporter Top 30, the Miami Heat.

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18. Miami Heat: Can the Heat get back on a hot streak?

The Miami Heat are officially passed the Dwayne Wade Farewell Tour (it still hurts for me too), and have potentially found their new franchise player in Jimmy Butler. The organization went 39-43 last season, just barely out of the playoff picture. They’re no strangers to the Playoffs in recent history however, making an early first round exit to the 76ers in the 2017-2018 season. Additionally of course, the organization has in fact won the championship in recent years, winning back-to-back championships in 2012 and 2013, with the original Big 3 of the 2010 decade in Dwayne Wade, Lebron James, and Chris Bosh.

The roster has shifted around a bit for the season to come, with Center Hassan Whiteside out of the picture and Meyers Leonard coming into the fray. The team overall is solid, with a talented and exciting roster with names such as Bam Adebayo and Derrick Jones Jr. This fairly young roster will be looking to develop some more this coming season and with the years to come, and there only seems to be a whole lot of upside for this squad. On the topic of exciting names coming into this Miami roster, rookie Tyler Herro will be a name to watch this season. Herro, during this year’s NBA Summer League, proved to be an effective scorer from almost anywhere on the floor. Alongside the already solid group of guards that the Heat have already in Goran Dragic, Dion Waiters, and Justise Winslow last year officially becoming listed as a point guard, it will be interesting to watch the Heat and how they operate with their guards in terms of rotation. One thing is for sure when looking at this roster, and that is they have an array of scoring options to exercise whenever needed.

The main thing regarding this Heat roster however is the newly acquired superstar talent in Jimmy Butler. Butler has proved time and time again that he’s a player to be reckoned with on both sides of the floor. He, at this point in his career, is around his peak at the age of 30, and hopes that he has the necessary components to compete. Jimmy saw some downturn in terms of scoring last season with the 76ers, but was mostly due in part by the amount of depth the team had in terms of scoring. With his current situation in Miami, however, he is more than likely, if not fully the first option in terms of scoring the ball on this Heat roster.

This team, like all teams in the league, will be interesting to watch this season. They have shifted their focus on Jimmy Butler and filling the rest of their roster with solid players. But also, like with all teams, there is always the underlying question of how this team will mesh together and if the roster can execute successfully. This question is typically asked more with teams that have essentially had to switch their rosters up, with the Miami Heat being one of them. Meyers Leonard coming to the Heat for Hassan Whiteside will be particularly interesting, for Whiteside was the backbone of the defense for this team, and also an essential rebounder, something where Leonard averages 3.7 rebounds for his career.

Despite all that, the Heat have decent chances in making the playoffs this season (probably a lower seed, of course, but the playoffs nonetheless). In the grand scheme of things, the Eastern Conference is not at its strongest at this time, which is a blessing for a lot of teams. There really are only 4-5 teams that will definitely make the playoffs in the East, which means there’s quite a fight for some spots in the ladder half of the seeds. We will see in time who will be able to show out in the East and prove themselves worthy of playoff contention.

Oct 5, 2019 No Comments
SneakerReporter NBA Top 30 Teams: #19 Sacramento Kings

SneakerReporter NBA Top 30 Teams: #19 Sacramento Kings

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by | Oct 4, 2019 | Featured, NBA

Another day passes, and we’re officially 19 days out from the NBA Season beginning. Fans worldwide are ecstatic to watch their respective teams face off once again for the chance at the NBA title. Until then, we’re going to discuss the number 19 spot on our list, holding a previous record of 39-43 last season, the Sacramento Kings.

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19. Sacramento Kings: Will the Kings prove they truly are royalty?

The Kings have historically struggled in regards to post-season success ever since their move from New York as the Rochester Royals. Their best success as of late was back in the late-90’s to early 2000’s, but unfortunately not being able to get to the NBA Finals in any particular instance. Last season the Kings were the epitome of outside looking into the NBA Playoffs, placing as the 9th seed (if there were one) right behind the LA Clippers.

Looking at this year’s Kings’ squad, the organization has filled its roster with a lot of youth, with the team’s oldest player being 34-year old veteran wing Trevor Ariza. Similarly to the previous Pistons, this team has loads of potential and is just another game of “what-if”? The Kings organization has fully put their belief in the core of De’Aaron Fox, Buddy Hield, and Marvin Bagley III. In a matter of two years, De’Aaron Fox has proved he has what it takes to play at an elite level in the NBA, and with the slight revamp of their roster, they’re hoping they have brought upon the correct pieces to make the Playoff push for the end of this season. They also hope to the say the same for Bagley, he had a solid season as a rookie and I’m sure that he and the rest of the organization wishes to expand upon it. Other than the core that they’ve grown to hold so dear, we also as fans hope to see other players on the Kings roster do well. For example, former NBA Champion Harrison Barnes sought out to hold a bigger role for a team, leaving the Warriors in 2015. From then to present day, Barnes hasn’t necessarily become a go-to type of player, but has reverted back to a important role off the bench for the Kings (also the Mavericks before he moved to Sacramento), similarly to as he was on the Warriors.

Although there are many upsides to the Kings roster, it’s only fair to discuss the potential issues that they may have throughout the course of the season. Without the presence of the bigs that the Kings once had in Zach Randolph and Willie Cauley-Stein, it’s up to the younger players such as Dewayne Dedmon and Harry Giles to pick up the pieces and build upon it.

Ultimately, I believe that this Kings core is only going to get better throughout the course of the upcoming season. And the more games they have under their belt together the better this team will become. I have this team potentially making the playoffs, perhaps as the 8th seed, having a 40-win season. But of course this is only speculation, and the Kings will face many challenges this season in a very stacked Western Conference and Pacific Division.

Oct 4, 2019 No Comments
SneakerReporter NBA Top 30 Teams: #20 Detroit Pistons

SneakerReporter NBA Top 30 Teams: #20 Detroit Pistons

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by | Oct 3, 2019 | Featured, NBA

 

We are now 20 days and counting until the NBA season kicks off, and the NBA Preseason is in full swing with the Sacramento Kings and Indiana Pacers preparing to square off for NBA India Games 2019 tomorrow, October 3rd. Everyday we grow closer to the highly anticipated start of the NBA Season, but now we continue the NBA Countdown with #20, the 41-41 Detroit Pistons.

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 20. Detroit Pistons (41-41) – When will Motor City find themselves back in the driver’s seat?

If we’re being real, the Detroit Pistons haven’t been a team in the conversation of great NBA teams since they won the NBA Championship back in 2003. 16 Years later, with the recent acquisition of Blake Griffin, fans actually had some form of hope in terms of contention. This however was very short-lived, after a swift exit in the NBA Playoffs.

Looking at the roster this upcoming season, Pistons’ fans have even more to be excited about, with a multitude of additions to the roster with Piston’s Senior Adviser, Ed Stefanski, stating that the team is “deeper and grittier” after off-season moves were made. The Pistons have been trying to establish their identity within the league, which potentially becomes easier with stronger depth with skilled players. Names like Derrick Rose, Tony Snell, and Joe Johnson being added to the team can only mean good things for this team on top of having Blake Griffin, Langston Galloway, Andre Drummond, and Reggie Jackson at the teams’ core.

The Piston’s should be very proud of their off-season moves, but just how far can they go with 8 new additions to the team, all the while trying to establish themselves as a basketball team. It only seems like there should be an upswing from the organization, but there are many questions to be asked, such as can Joe Johnson be same threat as he was in the Big 3 League? Or just how well will all the new additions buy-in to Dwayne Casey? Pistons fans should be excited, but at the same time be cautious considering anything can happen in this league, for good or bad.

Back to the discussion of the depth of this team, is an area that had to be a priority for the Pistons this past season. Their bench seasons prior were mediocre at best, but making changes such as Derrick Rose coming off the bench, taking Ish Smith’s spot, is a legitimate upgrade for this team. Smith and Rose both played about 50 games last season, but Rose statistically outperformed Smith in all facets. Additionally, having Tony Snell, a genuine 3 and D wing player, and Joe Johnson, a walking bucket, is exactly what a team that comprises of post-up bigs need.

Regardless of what happens this season however, I’m personally excited to watch the Pistons this season. There is a ridiculous amount of potential for this team, and if Dwayne Casey can rally these guys together, the Pistons will definitely be a team to be reckoned with. They also have the potential to contend for the second place in their division against the Pacers( because lets face it, the Central Division currently belongs to the Milwaukee Bucks).

Facing all the facts, I got the Pistons making it to the Playoffs again this year, somewhere probably towards the bottom of the playoff picture again. The Eastern Conference took some hits this season (again), and realistically the only things stopping the Pistons is a lack of cohesion, or other teams in the Eastern Conference having breakout years.

Oct 3, 2019 No Comments