NBA Preseason 2014: The Biggest Storyline for All 30 Teams
It's been a long, eventful summer for NBA fans, but with the regular season nearing, training camp and the preseason are all that stand in the way of 2014-15 officially tipping off.
At this point, every team has at least one storyline worth following. For example, the Cleveland Cavaliers have the league's newest Big Three, the Miami Heat have life without LeBron James and the Los Angeles Clippers have a chance at their best season in franchise history.
With the preseason set to begin Oct. 4, consider the dog days of summer officially over. Real basketball is about to commence, and even those far from contention can get excited about the prospect of competition returning at its highest level.
While we know not every team is a contender at this juncture, we do know every organization plays the game for a reason. Some have immediate success on their minds, while some have tunnel vision for the future.
Regardless of where your team stands, we can rejoice that a new year is on the horizon.
Basketball is back, and there's plenty to talk about.
Atlanta Hawks
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Return to Basketball
At its most fundamental level, this is the preseason theme for every organization. For the Atlanta Hawks, however, it's about forgetting a summer filled with controversy.
Although we won't go into the dirty details of the offseason that was, you can find all the latest updates on Bruce Levenson, courtesy of B/R's Timothy Rapp, and the latest updates on Danny Ferry, courtesy of B/R's Scott Polacek.
Instead, what we'll focus on is how this team can forget about what's taken place, starting with the return of Al Horford.
The big man "has made good progress," according to head coach Mike Budenholzer in an interview with Chris Vivlamore of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "He’ll progress through and get to where he’s got full clearance in everything, but at the start of camp there will be some limitations."
Getting Horford back on the court is the first step toward returning to contention. The East is seemingly wide open after the Cleveland Cavaliers and Chicago Bulls, and with a healthy roster, the Hawks can contend for home-court advantage while forgetting about the drama of the summer.
Boston Celtics
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Rondo's Future
In a recent edition of "Fact or Fiction," B/R's Howard Beck and Ric Bucher had differing opinions on what the Boston Celtics should do with Rajon Rondo. In Beck's opinion:
"I would absolutely consider and look to try to trade him now because it's very clear at this point, they have been angling, Rondo's camp, for a while for at least a year and a half two years—I think pre-dating that injury—angling for a max deal. I don't think the Celtics have any interest in going there. I think that if everybody sticks to their stances, next summer there's probably a parting of the ways anyway. It's not as easy to do a sign-and-trade in this league and get value as it once was. You're better off dangling him now, as soon as his value is back up.
"
Conversely, when asked if the Celtics should build around Rondo moving forward, Bucher said:
"I'm gonna say that's a fact. That is assuming, of course, that he comes back and he doesn't have any extenuating issues with that knee. But let's face it: The fact of the matter is Rajon Rondo was the point guard of a team that won a championship. He's demonstrated that he can run a team; he can defend. He is a special, elite player. You won't get anyone in the league who will debate that, as far as being a point guard.
"
Bucher goes on to defend his position by emphasizing the importance of having a floor general of Rondo's caliber, but if one thing is clear it's that there's no one right answer. This will be a story until a contract is signed or the point guard is moved.
Brooklyn Nets
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Is There a Face of the Franchise?
The Brooklyn Nets aren't lacking storylines. Consider the following:
- Jason Kidd out, Lionel Hollins in
- Kevin Garnett's final hurrah
- Brook Lopez's health
- Deron Williams' production
There are plenty of options when it comes to the Nets, but we'll combine all of them into one with the regular season approaching.
Despite attempting something of a "superstar by committee" approach in 2013-14, Brooklyn lacks a true face of the franchise. It's clear that Garnett is staring down the light at the end of his NBA tunnel, Williams' stardom appears to be behind him and while Joe Johnson certainly can be productive, he's not the player he once was.
The logical piece to build around, assuming you don't consider head coach a franchise piece, is Lopez. At 26, he has youth and athleticism the team can only hope will help prevent further injuries down the road. But with so much uncertainty on the roster, it's tough to name anyone as an elite player right now.
Chicago Bulls
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Can Derrick Rose Return to MVP Status?
Derrick Rose has become synonymous with a few concepts throughout the years. While the terms "elite point guard" and "insane athleticism" are certainly some of them, "injury-prone" is one that sticks out after two straight season-ending injuries.
The question here isn't necessarily about Rose's health, but about how good he can be. We saw him display his athleticism and production in FIBA competition, but you have to wonder if he'll be a top-level point guard to the extent that he was in 2010-11 (his MVP season).
While this may sound blasphemous to Chicago natives, it's fair to ask. Two significant knee injuries are no joke, and while his showing this summer was nice to see, it was against inferior competition virtually every step of the way.
When you think about today's MVP candidates, the pack is a small one led by Kevin Durant and LeBron James. We won't know in the preseason whether Rose belongs in the conversation, but if he's truly back to his old form, he'll look to cement himself as a top-tier floor general on one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference.
Charlotte Hornets
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Continued Evolution
The Charlotte Hornets have turned things around as quickly as any team across the Association. In 2012-13, they were 21-61 (coming off an embarrassing 7-59 lockout-shortened campaign), and in 2013-14, they improved to 43-39.
That record was good enough to make the postseason for just the second time since their expansion days began as the Bobcats.
Entering 2014-15, the Hornets have a chance to improve yet again. Not only is the team out East, but it has signed Lance Stephenson to come help boost an already-elite defense.
Combine that with the fact that Kemba Walker is improving and Al Jefferson has proved doubters wrong (as in: doubters who felt he was overpaid), and you've got a franchise that has converted itself from laughable to imposing in a very short span.
Cleveland Cavaliers
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Chemistry
There are two questions to ask when it comes to the Cleveland Cavaliers superstars. The first is: How will they play together?
LeBron James is arguably the best player on the planet, Kevin Love is an established big man who puts up video game numbers and Kyrie Irving is an ultra-talented point guard still coming into his own.
Put the trio together and you have the league's newest Big Three, but as we've seen in the past, chemistry can take a while to develop.
The second question to ask, even if the three-headed monster of James, Love and Irving clicks from day one, is: How will they play with the rest of the roster? Dion Waiters and Tristan Thompson are both young players, while newcomers Mike Miller and Shawn Marion add a veteran presence.
In a perfect world (at least for Cavs fans), these will be non-issues. No team has ever won a championship in the preseason, but this will be the perfect opportunity for an eclectic group of players to establish roles and get to know each other's tendencies.
Cleveland will be a favorite for a title in the eyes of many, but as we saw with the 2011 Miami Heat, nothing is guaranteed. The Cavs must create a cohesive unit, and that starts now.
Dallas Mavericks
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Home-Court Advantage Is the Goal
Despite making visible improvements last offseason, the goal entering 2013-14 for the Dallas Mavericks was simply to make the playoffs. The Mavs accomplished that goal with a 49-33 record (sneaking in as a No. 8 seed), but 2014-15 presents a whole new opportunity.
Following the acquisitions of Chandler Parsons, Tyson Chandler and Jameer Nelson, Dallas has taken a step forward from last year. That's two successful offseasons in a row (despite failing to procure a true superstar), and the team should compete for home-court advantage as a result.
The competition is fierce out West, but ESPN projects the team to go 50-32 while earning the fifth seed. B/R's Josh Martin has projected the same record but has given the team a No. 6 seed in the process.
A fifth- or sixth-place finish would be an improvement for this group, but no one in Dallas is looking to settle. Home-court advantage is now the goal, and in a brutal Western Conference, that might be exactly what it takes to reach the second round.
Denver Nuggets
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Health
The Denver Nuggets have faced the same question for years now: Who is going to step up as the star of the franchise?
While we could keep the debate going, there's a bigger concern in the Mile High City.
Last season, the Nuggets finished 11th out West with 36 wins. Even worse, they finished second in the NBA in games missed because of injury with 264 total contests lost.
That stat comes courtesy of ManGamesLost.com, and it epitomizes just how rough a year it was for this group. Getting everyone healthy is going to be crucial when it comes to making the playoffs, as this roster is talented enough (and certainly deep enough) to surprise some people when the 2015 postseason comes around.
Detroit Pistons
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The Growth of Andre Drummond
Andre Drummond is a freak, and I mean that in the most complimentary way possible.
Two years into his career, the former UConn product has successfully proved his doubters wrong. His motor has never been in question, he's been disciplined on offense and he's been as effective on the boards as anyone would have hoped.
The best part about it? He's still just 21 years old.
Not only does Drummond have age on his side, but he's coming off a summer when he spent time with the best players in the world. He played against international competition at the FIBA Basketball World Cup, and he practiced alongside the likes of Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins under the guidance of coach Mike Krzyzewski.
When looking for storylines here, the Detroit Pistons have plenty to choose from. Stan Van Gundy is the new man running the sidelines, Greg Monroe is once again in a contract season and the team has the difficult task of creating cohesion on a relatively muddled roster.
All that said, Drummond is the future, and his development is crucial for this franchise.
Golden State Warriors
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Maintain Defense While Improving Offense
In 2013-14, the Golden State Warriors were 10th in points per game scored and 10th in points per game allowed. Not bad, right?
However, according to ESPN.com, they were just 12th in offensive efficiency while claiming the spot as the third-most efficient team on defense.
According to the new head coach, Steve Kerr himself, via Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News (h/t Kurt Helin of ProBasketballTalk.com):
"I think we’re going to emphasize throwing the ball ahead to our wings and trying to attack from the wings and get some easy baskets in transition. And when you do throw it ahead it puts a lot of pressure on the defense in transition and makes it easy to run some sort of secondary offense. You throw it ahead, you cut throw, you swing it, you swing it and all of a sudden Steph’s got the ball again but now the defense has had to move. Those will be the things to look for, I think.
"
Kerr's plan of attack will help prevent stagnation from plaguing an otherwise talented offense, but as they say, defense wins championships. Improvements on one end can't simply sacrifice production on the other, or else this team will be nowhere closer to a championship than it was this past season.
Houston Rockets
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Overcoming Adversity
Less than one second (0.9 seconds to be exact).
That's how long it took Damian Lillard to hit his walk-off three-pointer in Round 1 of the 2014 postseason, and that's how long it took to shake the foundation of the Houston Rockets.
Although it's a bit unfair to put the entire state of the Rockets into a box that small, it's not unreasonable. Think about it: Lillard misses the shot, and Houston plays a Game 7 at home. Even if it had won, the team would have drawn a matchup with the eventual-champion San Antonio Spurs. But a second-round showing might have been enough to lure a superstar to play alongside (or in place of) Chandler Parsons.
Speculation aside, these are all things Houston has to leave in the past. Overcoming adversity isn't easy, but with James Harden and Dwight Howard leading the way, home-court advantage should still be the goal.
Although ESPN and B/R's Josh Martin have both projected the Rockets to finish eighth out West in 2015, this team (and this fanbase) isn't ready to concede to "playoffs or bust" status. This is a championship-or-bust team, and leaving memories of an underwhelming offseason in the past is crucial for immediate success.
Indiana Pacers
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Who Will Step Up?
The Indiana Pacers have a sudden identity crisis on their hands. Their offense is different with Paul George and Lance Stephenson out of the lineup, their defense will suffer as well and the question must be asked: Who will step up in 2014-15?
Now Roy Hibbert has to become a leader. He can't disappear the way he did in the postseason, and he needs to establish himself as a tougher, more volatile presence against opponents on both ends of the floor.
As important as it is that Hibbert steps up, he can't be the only one. You can expect to get a solid offensive showing out of David West, but players such as George Hill, Rodney Stuckey and Ian Mahinmi need to make an impact as well.
As ominous as the outlook is for Indiana in the eyes of detractors, Frank Vogel has remained optimistic. In a recent interview with B/R's Zach Buckley, the head coach said, "We still have a lot of great reasons to be confident in our abilities this year. We’ve got a winning culture, a proven system. We’ve got much of our rotation intact."
Vogel continued, "We have always been a team of balance, where no one player is greater than the team."
The hope is that his statement rings true when it counts this season.
Los Angeles Clippers
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Is This the Year?
When it comes to the Los Angeles Clippers' ceiling, you have to believe a championship is within the realm of possibility. In fact, B/R's Ric Bucher and Howard Beck both agree that if the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder fail to meet expectations, the Clips are next in line out West.
The problem is, as both Bucher and Beck point out, they're still a notch below the two aforementioned favorites in the Western Conference. As Bucher said, "So the ceiling is that they get there and they win it all. I just think that that is a ceiling made of paper mache."
For Los Angeles to finally break through and become more than just a championship hopeful, it will require consistent play from everyone on the roster. Blake Griffin must continue to show offensive improvements, DeAndre Jordan needs to build upon his defensive development and the role players need to establish themselves as more than just placeholders on the roster (although that hasn't been a problem the past few seasons).
With one year officially under Doc Rivers' belt as head coach, this group can look forward to high expectations in 2014-15. Whether or not those expectations are met is the question, but if they are, it will be the best year in franchise history.
Los Angeles Lakers
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Mamba's Last Stand
Kobe Bryant's playing days are coming to a close. For those who have admired him over the last 18 years, that's a tough fact to swallow, but the fact remains: The Mamba is officially on the last leg of his NBA career.
As nostalgic as Los Angeles Lakers fans get thinking about what Bryant has brought to the franchise, you can't ignore that he has a final stretch left in him. With two years remaining on his new deal, the hope is that he can ride off into the sunset as the rare breed of player who calls it quits while still on top.
The problem, of course, is that Bryant is attempting his second comeback in a row following back-to-back season-ending injuries. The first comeback lasted six games, and, unfortunately, it featured a former All-Star who was a shell of the superstar he'd become throughout the years.
Can Bryant be a top-tier player in 2014-15? Doubting him has never gotten anyone anywhere, but there's virtually no precedent that supports the idea he'll play at the level he did for nearly two decades.
With a new head coach roaming the sidelines and Pau Gasol having moved on, there are numerous storylines to keep track of in Tinseltown. But when it comes to the Lakers, Bryant's last stand trumps them all.
Memphis Grizzlies
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Position Battle: Small Forward
The Memphis Grizzlies have been missing two things from their offense. First and foremost, three-point shooting.
Last year, Memphis was tied for 19th in three-point percentage. Even worse, the team was 30th in three-pointers made and 30th in three-pointers attempted.
Beside three-point shooting, the Grizzlies lacked a stone-cold killer on the offensive end of the floor. Although Vince Carter is past his go-to-option days, he's still the kind of player who wants to make his presence felt, and he's the kind of player who's not afraid to take the big shot in big moments.
The question for Memphis is whether it wants that kind of player, who can also knock down three-pointers, in the starting lineup or off the bench. Carter became an excellent reserve with the Dallas Mavericks, but his game would seemingly complement the starters nicely with the Grizzlies.
If Memphis chooses starting lineup, that means Tayshaun Prince plays a new role. Prince is the better defender, but it all depends on what the Grizzlies are looking for with both players approaching the end of their respective careers.
Miami Heat
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Life After LeBron
The Miami Heat are going to be a respectable basketball team in 2014-15. Although there's no LeBron James leading the way, players such as Mario Chalmers, Josh McRoberts and Danny Granger will complement the star trio of Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and Luol Deng nicely.
And if we're being frank, playing out East doesn't hurt either.
The problem is, as Wade bluntly put it at the Heat's media day, via Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel, "We can't replace LeBron; it's going to be a different team."
Life after LeBron will be different, and it will feature numerous storylines. Chris Bosh's max contract has pushed him from No. 3 to No. 1, and Wade's health is always worth following.
But in a conference that features no clear-cut favorites outside of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Chicago Bulls, Miami has a chance to bounce back nicely. A championship appearance is no longer considered a given, but a top-four or -five seed could very well be within reach.
Milwaukee Bucks
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Development of Young Talent
Although the 2014 preseason won't tell us which young prospects will eventually become stars, the Milwaukee Bucks are one team worth keeping an eye on with that theme in mind.
Entering the year, Milwaukee has an abundance of unproven players with (seemingly) high ceilings. Giannis Antetokounmpo, 19, has already become a fan favorite, and Jabari Parker, 19, is an early-season contender for Rookie of the Year.
Don't forget, either, that guys such as Larry Sanders, Brandon Knight and John Henson are also starting to come into their own as productive players.
Jason Kidd, the newly hired head coach, is also a youngster in his own right, and he's trying to prove he belongs the same way his players are. The 2014-15 season should be filled with plenty of growing pains for all involved, but the potential should show throughout the year.
Minnesota Timberwolves
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Life After Love
The Minnesota Timberwolves had to trade Kevin Love.
Let me say it again: They absolutely, 100 percent had to trade their star player.
The odds of Love re-signing in free agency appeared to be slim to none, and as a result, they held out and got the best deal they could have gotten.
Now begins the next stage in what has already been a very long rebuild. Love is out, and players such as Andrew Wiggins, Zach LaVine, Thaddeus Young and Andrew Bennett are officially in.
Of the young players on the roster, Wiggins is the most intriguing. He's going to be a favorite for Rookie of the Year if he can match anywhere close to the hype he's received, and he's likely going to do it while affecting both sides of the floor.
Don't forget, though, that the impact of Ricky Rubio and Nikola Pekovic should be as strong as it's ever been with Love officially gone. Nobody expects this team to compete right away, but 2014-15 will be the start of a new era for Timberwolves basketball.
New Orleans Pelicans
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Push for the Playoffs
This conversation may be a bit premature, but the New Orleans Pelicans have a shot at a late seed in the playoffs if everything goes according to plan.
For starters, health is crucial. The team finished 12th out West last season, but injuries plagued the team all year.
Ryan Anderson missed 60 games. Anthony Davis missed 15. Eric Gordon missed 18, and Tyreke Evans missed 10.
If 2014-15 goes differently, this team has a chance to pass squads like the Phoenix Suns, Denver Nuggets and certainly the Minnesota Timberwolves in the rankings. Davis should establish himself as an MVP candidate if the team is winning, and with Omer Asik on board to defend the middle, there's a chance we see New Orleans turn into a sleeper by the end of the regular season.
New York Knicks
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Who Will Help Melo?
When it comes to certain preseason storylines, we know going in that we won't have an answer early. For example: Can the San Antonio Spurs repeat as champions? Or: Can LeBron James bring a title to the Cleveland Cavaliers?
For those types of question, we'll have to wait and see. For the New York Knicks, the hope is that they can answer this one as quickly as possible.
So far, nobody on New York's roster stands out as an undisputed No. 2 option. J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert will surely strive for that recognition, but neither is a lock considering past production.
The good news for new head coach Derek Fisher is that he has options. Along with the two aforementioned guards, Jose Calderon and Tim Hardaway Jr. could be potential solutions.
The bad news is that none of these four choices has done much to give Fisher confidence heading into the preseason. This is a time to test different combinations, and that's what the new lead man should do before the games begin to count.
Oklahoma City Thunder
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Getting Over the Hump
The Oklahoma City Thunder have been an elite team since the 2010-11 season. They've won four straight division titles, made at least the Western Conference Finals three times and have appeared in one Finals series.
The problem is that they've yet to win a championship, and they've yet to return to the Finals since their 1-4 series loss to Miami in 2012.
The hope in OKC is that the team will be marginally better following a quiet offseason. Thabo Sefolosha is out, but Caron Butler is in, and the emergence of Steven Adams and Reggie Jackson should be key toward making improvements.
Just as important, the San Antonio Spurs are aging and Russell Westbrook is presumably healthy. Nobody is claiming this is OKC's last shot at a title, but you have to wonder if it can take the next step toward greatness.
Orlando Magic
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Development of Youth
The Orlando Magic brought in Channing Frye, Ben Gordon and Luke Ridnour to provide a veteran presence on a young roster. It's a smart choice but not one designed to get this team to the playoffs in 2015.
The move to bring in veterans was simply to help develop the youth on the roster. Players such as Victor Oladipo, Elfrid Payton and Aaron Gordon would be fun to watch in any setting (not to mention, Evan Fournier, Nikola Vucevic, Kyle O'Quinn, Andrew Nicholson, Maurice Harkless and Tobias Harris), but unless they have guidance, the chances of them reaching their potential decrease.
In the preseason, look for the Magic to establish a clear-cut rotation. This could involve playing Oladipo and Payton side-by-side in the backcourt, and it should also focus on figuring out which bigs play best alongside each other.
As B/R's Grant Hughes has said, "There's no guarantee every member of Orlando's young core will ripen fully, but no team will get more bites at the apple."
Don't count on this team being a sleeper in 2015, but look for it to be one of the most entertaining squads to watch develop as the year progresses.
Philadelphia 76ers
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Much of the Same
The Philadelphia 76ers are not going to be good in 2014-15. They're not going to compete for a spot in the playoffs, but that's a result of tanking by design for a better future.
With Nerlens Noel back, much of the focus will be on his de facto rookie year. He'll try to bring Philly its second Rookie of the Year award in as many seasons, and he'll do it hopefully by establishing himself as a true defensive presence from day one.
While the Sixers want to see players such as Noel, Michael Carter-Williams and Tony Wroten develop throughout the season, they have no interest in winning. They made that fact clear when they drafted Joel Embiid knowing he may not play at all this year, and the goal is now on developing the youth.
As B/R's Howard Beck put it:
"I think the real question is: What can you see in terms of that growth? Forget the win total, forget anything about standings. You're going back to the lottery. The important thing is watching Michael Carter-Williams take the next step; watching him start to form that chemistry with Nerlens Noel. Watching some of these other young guys start to find themselves as NBA players. And then, in a couple of years, this could be, seriously, a very exciting team to watch.
"
Don't expect much from the Sixers at this juncture, as it appears management wouldn't have it any other way.
Phoenix Suns
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Building Upon 2013-14
The Phoenix Suns have one goal this season: Prove last year was a starting point—not a high point.
Last season, the Suns shocked everyone by going 48-34. For a while, they looked like dark horses to earn one of the final spots in the playoffs, but they ultimately finished ninth, which was a mere one game behind the eighth-seeded Dallas Mavericks.
In 2014-15, the Suns don't just want to be the best team to miss the playoffs; they want to be in the mix when postseason play begins.
As the competition out West continues to increase, Phoenix must avoid a hangover from its recent success. Making the playoffs will be tough, but it's not an unreasonable goal after re-signing Eric Bledsoe to play alongside Goran Dragic.
Portland Trail Blazers
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Bench Production
Terry Stotts doesn't trust his bench. Or at least that's how it seemed last season when the second unit played the fewest minutes of any squad in the NBA, according to HoopsStats.com.
Although Stotts' decision to play his starters such hefty minutes was justified with a second-round appearance, the main theme surrounding Portland Trail Blazers training camp should be growth and production off the bench. There's talent to be found in the form of C.J. McCollum and Thomas Robinson (not to mention newcomers Chris Kaman and Steve Blake), but we need to see evidence that they can play before we bump Portland into the upper-echelon category of contenders.
So the question here becomes: Does Stotts wait until players have truly earned their minutes before putting them in the rotation, or does he throw them to the wolves? There's no easy answer to that question, but in preseason, the solution is simple: Rest the starters.
Knowing LaMarcus Aldridge and Damian Lillard will be key cogs late in the year, give Robinson and McCollum time to show what they can do. Stotts shouldn't be afraid to throw guys such as Meyers Leonard and Will Barton into the mix as well, as this is the first chance to see what they can do entering their third seasons.
Sacramento Kings
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The Evolution of DeMarcus Cousins
From a statistical standpoint, DeMarcus Cousins is already one of the best centers in the NBA. He averaged 22.7 points, 11.7 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game last season, and his player efficiency rating (PER) of 26.18 put him at fifth league wide (among qualified players) and first among centers.
The question has never been about his potential, but rather would he reach that potential through maturation and becoming a leader. According to James Ham of CowbellKingdom.com, fans have reason for optimism:
"DeMarcus Cousins is in the best shape of his career. The 24-year-old center is fresh off a gold medal performance with Team USA at the World Cup in Spain and he looks ready to take another huge step this season. “I did make a lot of strides,” Cousins said of his experience in Spain. “I felt I added a lot to my game, especially defensively. I have the confidence to know that I really can do it on the defensive end, as well as the offensive end. I learned a lot from it and it was an incredible experience.”
"
All of that is fine and will be welcomed by the organization and the fanbase, but where Cousins needs to improve the most is through maturation. For the Sacramento Kings to succeed, they need leadership, and for Cousins to be that leader, he needs to keep a cool head through times of adversity.
*PER statistic provided by ESPN.com.
San Antonio Spurs
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Back-to-Back Titles in Sight
Gregg Popovich insists that the back-to-back aspect of winning a championship isn't on the San Antonio Spurs' minds. According to NBA.com's Fran Blinebury, the head coach has said, "We’ll talk about it a little bit,” he said. “You guys will write articles. It’s all the same every year. ‘Why haven’t we repeated?’ Because we haven’t.
"If we do, it would be great. If we don’t, life will go on, everything’s cool."
Popovich then took his statement one step further:
"Just to be clear, we’ve never had any goals whatsoever in a sense of winning X number of games or this year is our year to win a championship. We’ve never talked about it. We’ve never known what’s gonna happen at the end of the year or said this is what we want to happen.
All we’ve said is that we want to be the best team that we can be at playoff time and that starts with the very first practice. It’s a building block sort of thing and then we hope that we can be healthy and fresh at playoff time. Those are the only goals we’ve had every single year, including last year and it will be no different this year.
"
Popovich is saying all the right things, but that won't stop fans from talking. Despite what the head coach said, the goal in San Antonio is to win a championship, and if the team can do it, it will be its second title in as many years.
Toronto Raptors
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Building Upon 2013-14
The Toronto Raptors have the same goal as the Phoenix Suns entering 2014-15: They have to prove to detractors that last season was no fluke, and they have to do it by elevating their game.
What general manager Masai Ujiri has done since arriving up north has been miraculous. He's brought in the right pieces and shipped out the wrong ones, and he's certainly worthy of some credit when it comes to last year's run.
The problem for Ujiri is that he must now rely on internal growth. Retaining Kyle Lowry was step one when it came to finding future success, but players such as Jonas Valanciunas, DeMar Derozan and Terrence Ross need to prove they can help boost this team without any significant moves being made.
Like the Suns, Toronto must prove that 2013-14 was a starting point and not a high point. The Eastern Conference is open behind the Cleveland Cavaliers and Chicago Bulls, and the Raptors are as set up as anyone to take the third seed in the postseason.
A dip in the standings won't be catastrophic, but it would surely be a step in the wrong direction.
Utah Jazz
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Building for the Future
The Utah Jazz are not a playoff team. They're too young and too inexperienced to fall into that category, but their potential should give this fanbase hope for a turnaround in the not-so-distant future.
In a recent write-up from B/R's Grant Hughes, the Jazz are ranked as the No. 2 team in the NBA in terms of best young talent. Players such as Gordon Hayward, Derrick Favors and Trey Burke are the reasons why, but you can't forget about Dante Exum, Rudy Gobert and Enes Kanter either.
With the Jazz procuring young prospects left and right, the hope is that someday soon they can sneak back into the playoffs—something they haven't done since 2012. That seems like a long shot for this group as is, but give them a few seasons, and you'll have a much more experienced group of talented players.
Finding that kind of success immediately is unlikely (at best), but that's what rebuilding is all about. The preseason will give us a chance to see Exum alongside Burke for the first time—not to mention Burke and Gobert with an entire season under their belts—and it will be a time for the coaching staff to put together an effective rotation right out of the gate.
Washington Wizards
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Continued Growth
The Washington Wizards saw a substantial jump between 2013 and 2014. In 2012-13, the team went just 20-46, and in 2014-15, it improved to 44-28, winning a playoff series for the first time in nine years.
Now the goal has to be building upon that success. If you ask B/R's Ric Bucher and B/R's Howard Beck, that shouldn't be a problem.
In a recent breakdown of the Wizards' upcoming season (linked above), both analysts identified the team's ceiling as the Eastern Conference Finals. Bucher said, "I have them as the second seed overall [out East]," while Beck said, "This team quietly had one of the better offseasons in the league."
Since last season, Washington has added both Kris Humphries and DeJuan Blair on the block, as well as Paul Pierce on the perimeter. The team also re-signed Marcin Gortat to play alongside Nene, and you can assume that players such as John Wall and Bradley Beal have grown as players entering a new year.
Unfortunately for the Wizards, neither Bucher nor Beck sees this team as a championship contender. Chances are, it will take growth in the backcourt to reach that status, but luckily for fans in the nation's capital, this core is seemingly as close as it comes to entering the top tier in the Eastern Conference.
