NBA Preseason 2014: Key Games on Schedule and Predictions for Top Rookies
The beginning of October brings with it the start of a new NBA season. The real games are still a few weeks away, but preseason is the opportunity to evaluate what teams are going to look like and how new additions will make an impact.
Since this year's draft was touted as one of the deepest in recent memory, it only makes sense that our main focus will take a look at some of the top rookies and what we can realistically expect to see from them in the exhibition season.
In addition to looking at rookies, we are going to list off the five preseason games that we are most excited to see. These matchups don't mean much in the scheme of things, but there are storylines anytime two teams step on the court.
| Date, Time (ET) | Matchup |
| October 6, 10 p.m. | Denver Nuggets at Los Angeles Lakers |
| October 11, 5 p.m. | Cleveland Cavaliers at Miami Heat |
| October 14, 8 p.m. | Memphis Grizzlies at Oklahoma City Thunder |
| October 18, 8:30 p.m. | Miami Heat at San Antonio Spurs |
| October 20, 7 p.m. | Chicago Bulls at Cleveland Cavaliers |
Full schedule can be found at CBS Sports
Key Rookie Predictions
Andrew Wiggins, Minnesota Timberwolves
Even though the situation wasn't ideal for the No. 1 overall pick in June's draft, Andrew Wiggins finally found a home when he was dealt from Cleveland to Minnesota. He's in a situation where all eyes will be on him, though that doesn't necessarily do him any favors.
Wiggins is a player whose immediate skills aren't going to be seen in a box score. If you are expecting to see plays like this alley-oop from Ricky Rubio embedded below, you will be let down:
Instead, expect to see shooting performances more in line with what Wiggins had during the summer league. He shot 17-for-42 in four games, averaging a solid 15.5 points per game but needing a high volume of attempts to get there.
The top pick's greatest strength that will play right away is on defense. Jack Winter of Dime Magazine profiled Wiggins and noted that his defensive acumen was already starting to show:
"In a modern NBA that places more reliance than ever on space and versatility, a defensive beast that can guard multiple positions and knock down open shots is of immense value. Combine those measured means of progress with Wiggins’ ability in the open court, and it’s just hard to imagine him failing the way other rookies could.
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Give Wiggins time to find his shooting touch—remember that he's only 19—because he will be a star when that comes around. In the interim, sit back and appreciate a young player who puts a premium on playing strong defense and getting his team easy, open shots.
Jabari Parker, Milwaukee Bucks
It's funny to look at Andrew Wiggins and Jabari Parker, the top-two picks in this year's draft, because their styles are so different. Where Wiggins is a stellar defender with work to do as a shooter, Parker is a pure scorer who's got work to do before being considered adequate defensively.
However, for a Bucks team that finished 26th in field-goal percentage and 28th in points, they will happily accept a little something on the other end if it gives them so explosiveness with the ball.
Even though it was just a preseason scrimmage, Parker did score a team-high 10 points on 5-for-9 shooting on October 4. Andrew Gruman of Fox Sports Wisconsin noted that the former Duke star got better as the game went on:
"All eyes were on Parker from the start Saturday," Gruman wrote, "as the rookie received a huge ovation when he was introduced to the crowd. Parker missed his first two shots but got on track with an impressive finish off a lob pass from Knight."
Parker was quoted in Gruman's recap as saying that he's feeling more confident now after feeling "a little lost" at the beginning of camp. There are going to be rough patches for the forward, as there are for virtually every rookie, but with growing confidence and a strong shooter's touch, the slumps won't last long.
Don't be shocked to see Parker average between 12-15 points per game in the preseason, depending on how much new head coach Jason Kidd uses him, and carry that over into the regular season. He's got to be the focal point of this offense for the Bucks to return to respectability.
Julius Randle, Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are as irrelevant to the NBA title race as they have ever been, yet somehow that almost makes them more fascinating to look at because this roster is constructed as if the team is built to win now.
Kobe Bryant obviously isn't going to say that he's part of a rebuilding effort, but the most exciting thing the Lakers have done in a long time is add Julius Randle through the draft. He was taken seventh overall and immediately becomes the best rookie this franchise has had since Andrew Bynum in 2005. That was also the last time they picked in the top 10.
Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak told reporters at a news conference that Randle's spot in the team's starting lineup will be earned, via Eric Pincus of The Los Angeles Times:
"Julius is still 19 years old. You wouldn’t know that by looking at him, because he’s really a well-developed, big, strong, athletic kid. Over the years, I've never looked at a rookie and said, 'Hey, this guy's gonna bring us to the top.' It doesn't do any good to have high expectations.
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We didn't decide, 'Well, [Randle isn't] going to help us this year, let's get a veteran. We got [Boozer] to help us win games this year. Whatever Julius gets, he's going to have to earn.
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Kupchak brought in a lot of help at power forward this year with Carlos Boozer, Ryan Kelly and Ed Davis joining Randle in the frontcourt, but at some point, head coach Byron Scott has to let the young stud show his stuff among the starting five.
For now, though, expectations have to be tempered. Kupchak is playing the conservative role, so who are we to suggest otherwise? Randle is already the most athletic player on the Lakers roster because Bryant isn't the same guy anymore.
When you are an athletic big man, points are easier to come by. Randle is a work-in progress offensively, as we saw in the summer league with a .419 shooting percentage, but he did average 4.3 rebounds in 23.5 minutes per game.
Don't expect huge numbers out of the gate. Randle will average around 6-8 points per game and a handful of rebounds while showing the freakish athleticism that made him a steal as the seventh overall pick.
Note: Summer League stats via NBA.com
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