FOURTH QUARTER
A trilogy isn’t enough for Warriors and Cavs, but Durant, Curry & Co. have the upper hand on LeBron
SPOILER alert: The Warriors will win the NBA title again.
Double spoiler alert: The Cavaliers and LeBron James will reach the Finals again. And they’ll lose to the Warriors. Again.
Basically, that’s what you need to know about the NBA 2017-18 season. There will be a Warriors-Cavs Four-peat. And then the Warriors will beat Cleveland the third time in four years. You are dismissed.
Coach Steve Kerr claimed this Warriors gang is “probably the deepest team we’ll ever have here.” The rest of the NBA was just thrilled hearing that.
What makes the Warriors such a good bet is the logic from one veteran NBA scout.
“Anybody can beat anybody but in a seven-game series it would be hard to beat them. For them to go 3-4 over a sevengame stretch is tough. Especially with four of those games being at home,” the scout said.
So when 2017-18 ends, the team left standing over the other 29 will be the Warriors. Again. Here’s a look at all 30 teams with last year’s record:
1GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS 67-15
They’re talking dynasty. Not just another title. Lots of titles, like Michael Jordan’s Bulls. “What’s that, six championships in eight years?” Klay Thompson said. “We’re what, only a third of the way there?” Last year they added Kevin Durant. This time they tinkered with the bench, but the title core of Durant, Ste
phen Curry, Thompson and Draymond Green remained intact.
2CLEVELAND CAVALIERS 51-31
They went to the Finals for a third straight season with the best player on the planet, LeBron James. So naturally Kyrie Irving wanted out and they changed GMs. During the tempest they added Derrick
Rose and Dwyane Wade. They got defensive stud Jae Crowder, All-Star Isaiah Thomas and the Nets’ pick for Irving. They’d like to play Kevin Love at the five, move Tristan Thompson to the bench and drive everyone matchup nuts. Jeff Green strengthens the bench.
3OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER 47-35
There are three legit All-Stars starting with reigning MVP Russell Westbrook, trade-acquisition Paul George and Phil Jackson non-fave
Carmelo Anthony. Many ask if Westbrook will give up the ball. Just as many say yes. Steven
Adams is a tough, solid center, but get past those guys and the Thunder don’t blow you away. Forward Patrick Patterson will help defensively.
4HOUSTON ROCKETS 55-27
The normal questions should be how will they play together and who will they defend? The Rockets don’t care. They’re just going to try to outscore you. Chris Paul is the biggest addition joining James
Harden in a two-stud, one-ball backcourt. But Luc Mbah a
Moute and P.J. Tucker were added, and with Trevor Ariza, there are three defenders. They still have Sixth Man winner
Eric Gordon. They broke every 3-point record known to man and calculator last year, but the 3s should be down for Paul’s mid-range game. They’ll be fun to watch then lose in the second round.
5SAN ANTONIO SPURS 61-21
The last time the Spurs won fewer than 50 games in a full season was 1996-97. Dismiss them at your own peril.
Tony Parker is out to start the season follow
ing last spring’s quad surgery. Kawhi
Leonard remains the best twoway player in the game. The Spurs always manage to resurrect someone and Rudy Gay may be that guy. LaMarcus Aldridge has been good but not the star they thought. Patty Mills is a sound backup one and Danny
Green reigns at two. They have versatility across the front, some nice young guards and maybe more experience than the rest of the league combined with Manu
Ginobili, who began playing when the U.S. flag had 19 stars.
6BOSTON CELTICS 53-29
The Celtics retooled, to put it mildly. They have four guys back but added real quality, starting with Kyrie Irving. Gordon Hayward is flat out good with a simple, unselfish game. They’ll miss Avery Bradley’s defense but hope Jaylen Brown compensates. Rookie Jayson Tatum is really good. Marcus Morris will help inside and Al Horford is a typical NBA stretch 5. Terry Rozier and Marcus Smart form a good bench backcourt. They may struggle early with the new guys.
7WASHINGTON WIZARDS 49-33
Well, you can save money on scorecards. Washington has pretty much the same gang that finished 2016-17. It all starts with human jetpack John Wall and off-guard Bradley Beal, maybe the best backcourt in the East. But there were no major additions so the Wizards hope for impact by some like solid forward Mike Scott, who was hurt in Atlanta then traded to Phoenix. Jodie Meeks brings 3-point depth. Tim Frazier looks like a competent point-guard backup. The Wiz matched the Nets’ attempt to pry Otto Porter with an offer sheet. Kelly
Oubre’s defense matters.
8DENVER NUGGETS 40-42
Maybe they should just bring back George Karl. The Nuggets haven’t even seen the playoffs since 2013 under Karl. This is the year, they say. They signed PF Paul Millsap for toughness and professionalism. What to do with rebound monster Kenneth Faried? He’ll come off the bench and be on the trading block. There are big question marks at point where Emmanuel Mudiay was supposed to be the 2015 answer.
Jameer Nelson supplies stability. C Nikola Jokic is a rising, high energy star who can play the four. Will Barton is a pre
mier sixth man.
9MINNESOTA T’WOLVES 31-51
Last year the T-Wolves couldn’t finish: they were 7-13 in games decided by four points or less, included an 0-11 start in such games. They are a year more experienced and added legit closer Jimmy Butler. Andrew Wiggins is stud quality. Coach/ prez Tom Thibodeau also brought in F Taj Gibson, SG Jamal Crawford and PGs Jeff Teague and Aaron Brooks. And there is center Karl-Anthony Towns, still the most important piece on the roster.
10TORONTO RAPTORS 51-31
Familiarity rules, The Raptors return a great backcourt in Kyle Lowry and DeMar
DeRozan and a competent center in Jonas Valanciunas. The Raptors went for it with deadline acquisitions Serge
Ibaka (re-signed) and PJ Tucker (signed with Houston) but were derailed by a Lowry injury. Guard Norman Powell has stepped up and is a highlight of a questionable bench. They signed FA wing CJ Miles for 3-point shooting.
11UTAH JAZZ 51-31
The Jazz took hits, including the defection of Gordon Hayward, their franchise go-to guy. The point-guard carousel continues: George Hill is gone, replaced by Ricky Rubio. But they still have center Rudy Gobert, a great coach in Quin Snyder and a solid but unspectacular roster that plays traditional NBA basketball. They will (gasp!) defend and (gasp again!) use the shot clock. Donovan Mitchell is All-Rookie team caliber. PF Derrick Favors is solid and reliable.
12LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS 51-31
Chris Paul is gone. But Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan remain. So when two All-Stars start, playoffs usually follow. Patrick Beverley starts in Paul’s spot and brings a different dynamic — he defends. They added Danilo Gallinari, who brings versatility up-front.
Lou Williams is the offense-offthe-bench guy with Jamal Crawford gone. Doc Rivers will coach only as Lawrence Frank takes over the front-office operations.
13MILWAUKEE BUCKS 42-40
You don’t even need a scorecard. A spell checker, maybe. They’re bringing everybody back plus rookie PF D.J. Wilson who has shown upside. All conversations start with Giannis
Antetokounmpo and that’s easier said than spelled. He does everything. If John Henson stays healthy, they’ll have frontcourt depth. PG Malcolm Brogdon, under Jason Kidd’s direction, was the Rookie of the Year.
Jabari Parker is, essentially, an addition as two of his three seasons were wrecked by knee injuries. He should return by February. The Bucks feel if Parker and Khris Middleton are healthy they can make noise.
14PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS 41-41
The Blazers have a downright terrific backcourt in Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum who combined for 50 points a game last year. Unfortunately, they had a roster that combined for 108.5 points allowed. At the deadline, they landed C Jusuf Nurkic from Denver and made the playoffs, but he fractured his leg. Having F/C Ed Davis and F Al-Farouq Aminu healthy helps. Rookie C/F Zach Collins looks like a find.
15MIAMI HEAT 41- 41
If ever there were a .500 team that wasn’t a .500 team. The Heat finished with a 30-11 flourish after starting with an 11-30 rash. A good pickup was stretch PF Kelly Olynyk, bounced from Boston for finances after Irving arrived. Otherwise, they stayed intact with a roster of good, solid players absent a superstar, though C Hassan
Whiteside is All-Star quality. Goran Dragic won a Euro title, Justise Winslow seems adept defensively, forward James Johnson had a breakout season and 6-foot-10 Bam Adebayo seems like a draft steal.
16CHARLOTTE HORNETS 36-46
The Hornets hope Dwight Howard resurrects some of the magic from his Orlando days. They lost Nicolas Batum to an elbow injury and he’s at least 4-6 weeks away. The Hornets did well in the draft grabbing Malik Monk for energy and creativity. They have star power with Kemba Walker, their best player, and Howard. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist brings defense, Marvin Williams has experience and versatility.
17DETROIT PISTONS 37-45
Detroit looked ready to make a leap after a strong 2015-16. And they leaped off a cliff. There were injuries, lack of advancement by individuals. It’s next year and the Pistons upgraded and hope a healthy Reggie Jackson returns to prefunk form. Andre Drummond has lost weight and underwent surgery for sleep apnea. Avery Bradley and his terrific perimeter defense replaces Kentavious Caldwell-Pope who left for the Lakers.
18NEW ORLEANS PELICANS 34-48
There are two stars up front in Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins. There still is only one ball. PG Jrue Holiday was a must re-sign. The Pelicans then added Rajon Rondo who quickly got hurt. If they play together, the ball comes out of Holiday’s hands. The hype says they will battle for a playoff spot but the total roster doesn’t blow anyone away.
19PHILADELPHIA 76ERS 28-54
GM Bryan Colangelo is not so much preaching patience as reality. Joel Embiid does everything but must stay healthy. Health issues already have hit No. 1 pick Markelle Fultz who will come off the bench at the outset. The 2016 No. 1, Ben Simmons, missed all last season yet wowed in preseason. His passing is jaw-drop good but he can’t shoot a lick. Vets such as JJ Redick and Amir Johnson will help. Enough trusting the process. Now the Sixers want to make noise.
20MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES 43-39
The Grizzlies are talking about pace of play. That’s like the Yankees talking bunt and run. Losing Zach Randolph hurts because he was a reliable scorer and a good complement to inside force Marc Gasol for Grit and Grind. PG Mike Conley returns from a career best scoring year. F JaMychal Green was re-signed and he gives some energy and athleticism.
21BROOKLYN NETS 20-62
The Nets should be the best team — in New York. As they recover from the worst trade since Manhattan went for $24 in trinkets, they are woefully guard/wing heavy. They’ll miss Brook Lopez’s 20 points. Health is huge: they had ONE game last year with a healthy roster. Here’s D’Angelo Russell’s opportunity. They landed some key vets, notably DeMarre Carroll. They have a great teaching coach in Kenny Atkinson.
22ORLANDO MAGIC 29-53
There is talent here. Getting the pieces to blend? Not all the answers are here. A new front office drafted athletic forward Jonathan Isaac. Forward Aaron Gordon is legit as is double-double center Nikola Vucevic. PG Elfrid Peyton needs to take a BIG step, along with backcourt mate Evan Fournier.
23LOS ANGELES LAKERS 26-56
The Lakers will be better than last year and not nearly as good as next year when everyone expects an influx of free agents. For now, there is No. 2 pick Lonzo Ball, who simply is Kidd-ish as he makes players better. Brook Lopez will bring a different look at center in the final year of his contract. Julius
Randle will be a good rotation player, especially when they’re good. Brandon Ingram showed growth last year with good skills. Forward Kyle Kuzma may prove to be THE steal of the draft.
24SACRAMENTO KINGS 32-50
The Kings made interesting additions: some old, including Vince Carter and Zach
Randolph, still a competent lowpost scorer. But mainly they’re new, including guard De’Aaron
Fox who scouts say is destined for stardom as is another newbie, point guard Frank Mason. He can ease into the position because of another addition, George Hill.
25NEW YORK KNICKS 31-51
Many Knicks fans rejoiced at the departure of Carmelo Anthony. Now the team belongs to Kristaps Porzingis. Well, so do the double-teams. The Knicks are going with youth, but still will have seven guys aged 28 or older opening night.
Enes Kanter, part of the Anthony return, can put up numbers. But at whose expense? Willy Hernangomez? The new front office has a plan as it shovels out of the rubble of Phil Jackson.
26INDIANA PACERS 42-40
Paul George did everything but wear an “I’m Outta Here” T-shirt. So he proactively was dealt. Led by talented big Myles Turner, the Pacers have seven or so good, solid pros, then seven or so huge question marks. Any hope of competing for the playoffs must come from backcourt residents Victor Oladipo, Darren Collison, Cory Joseph and Lance Stephenson plus frontcourt guys and ex-Nets Thaddeus Young and Bojan Bogdanovic.
27DALLAS MAVERICKS 33-49
The Mavs are not a playoff team but will be highly competitive because they have a great coach in Rick Carlisle. But it’s never a good thing when the coach is the first guy named.
Dirk Nowitzki is back collecting paychecks and Medicare benefits. Dennis Smith Jr. is viewed by many as the potential Rookie of the Year. Harrison Barnes is good up front and Nerlens Noel is at center after a messy restricted free agency.
28PHOENIX SUNS 24-58
Welcome to Philly West. There’s lots of “Trust the Process” talk from up top, lots of reaching for motion-sickness bags below. There is terrific young talent but it’s well, young. The Suns are athletic and will play wide open. Draft-pick Josh Jackson is a stud-in-waiting. Add him to Devin Booker, Marquese Chriss and Dragan Bender and you say, “Wow, they’re good. But soooo young.”
29ATLANTA HAWKS 43-39
Remember when the Hawks won 60 games and had four All-Stars? Remember when gas was 25 cents a gallon? Mike Budenholzer is a terrific coach but he doesn’t have a terrific team. Dennis Schroder doesn’t need to be just a pass-first point but a pass-sometimes point. Second-year SF Taurean Prince looks like a rebuild piece.
30CHICAGO BULLS 41-41
OK, all those who know what the Bulls are doing, raise your hand. Liars. The Bulls are kind of young and it’s not an impressive roster. Unimpressive youth is rarely a sought-after commodity. Kris Dunn, part of the return for All-Star Jimmy Butler, is out for the start with injury. So there’s Jerian Grant and Dunn at point. Ex-Knick Justin Holiday is at two until Zach LaVine gets healthy. Robin Lopez handles the middle and they hope draft-pick Lauri Markkanen is a viable stretch PF.