Ty Ranks the 2023 - 2024 NBA Teams - Aging Rockstars Playing Some of Their New Music Division

Welcome to day two of my NBA countdown leading up to the new season. The teams still aren't great, but they are getting better and the teams today have some players I am excited to watch this upcoming season.

At number 25 I have the Houston Rockets. I don't think any team this offseason went for it harder than the Rockets did. They are clearly trying to do some things to win games and compete right now. That is good. It is also good that they did not give James Harden a max contract. That was the right move. Who they got instead at point guard was Fred VanVleet. They may have given him too much money and he may be past his prime but he brings a veteran leadership this team hasn't had in years. He is going to be an excellent role model for their young core. They also went out and signed Dillon Brooks. They gave him too much money also, and too many years, but he is a solid defender. He also had a good FIBA showing. If he can stay humbled on the court he will give opposing stars headaches. Then we have the young core. Jalen Green has all the tools in the world to be a big time NBA scorer. He just has to give it 100 percent all the time. I think Jabari Smith Jr is going to be a legit all star. He is big, can defend and rebound and his shot is coming along. Tari Eason is dope. That kid can really play and he brings massive energy. I like the Amen Thompson pick. He was the better twin and he could flourish with a big role. Alperen Sengun is a wizard with the ball, but a total zero on defense. Cam Whitmore fell to them in the draft and he could play the role of the revenge rookie. They also acquired Jeff Green in a trade and he wins almost everywhere he goes. The Rockets will be better this year, but they are not a playoff team yet. Hell, they aren't even a play in team yet. But they are making some interesting moves.

At number 24 I have the Indiana Pacers. I really like what this team is becoming. They have some really good and young talent. They have a solid coach. And they made some excellent moves in the offseason. Tyrese Haliburton is awesome. He is an all star. He was one of the better FIBA players for the US. He can pass with the best of them and his shooting gets better every year. Myles Turner is still here and they gave him an extension. He is still one of the better rim defenders in the league. He can also stretch the floor. Ben Mathurin had a solid rookie year. I expect him to be their sixth man and feast on opposing second team defenses. I love the Bruce Brown signing. The season will tell if he is ready for a bigger role, but that guy has only gotten better every year he has been in the league. I love them acquiring Obi Toppin. He is going to thrive with additional playing time. Drafting Jarace Walker looks like a home run for their defense. TJ McConnell is a solid backup point guard. Andrew Nembhard had some big moments last season and will build on that. Jalen Smith and Aaron Nesmith continue to be decent second team options. And I love that they signed Oscar Tshiebewe as an undrafted rookie. He is going to be a rebounding beast. The Pacers could threaten for a play in spot this year. And next year they should slide into being a solid playoff lock.

At 23 I have the Utah Jazz. Who could have foreseen this team playing as well as they did last season? Not me. And they could be better this year. Lauri Markkanen had a career year last season and looks like the real deal. I was wrong about him. Jordan Clarkson became a better passer last year while keeping up his scoring pace. Walker Kessler had a very good rookie year and looks like a possible lock down center on defense. Collin Sexton got out of Cleveland and looked good in the minutes he got last year. Ochai Agbaji is going to play a bigger role this year and I am curious to see how he does. Keyonte George looks like a very good incoming rookie. They traded for John Collins and he sounds like he wants to wreck the league this year. Kris Dunn is around, and he is as good a perimeter defender as there is in the league. The Jazz are a good team that may fight for a playoff or play in spot. If they were in the East I might pick them to make it. But they are in the West and the West is loaded.

At 22 I have the Brooklyn Nets. The Nets actually did a good job in the Kyrie, KD and James Harden aftermath. They recouped quite well. The prize of that trade was Mikail Bridges, and he is awesome. He blew up last season. He was excellent in FIBA. He seems to like being the first option. Bridges is great. Cam Johnson got a big deal and he seems to enjoy playing in Brooklyn. He has an edge to his game now that I really like as well. I have zero faith in Ben Simmons. I'm over all of the offseason stuff with him. Cam Thomas is a great bench scorer and nothing else. Nic Claxton is a good pick and roll and defense first guy, but he cannot shoot. I like the addition of Lonnie Walker IV. He had a good year last year and could be better with more minutes. Dennis Smith Jr had a great comeback year in Charlotte and the Nets are going to give him another shot. Dorian Finney-Smith can defend, but he hasn't been able to recreate his success from two years ago. The Nets are a weird team with one player, Bridges, that I love. But they will not be as good as they were last season.

The final team for the day, a team I really thought hard about putting into my playoff mix, at 21 I have the Orlando Magic. This team is ready to take a leap and become a true playoff threat. I just think it may take one more season. Paolo Banchero is legit. The kid has all the tools to be the number one option and a perennial all star. He got better as the year went along and he is going to be a star in this league. Franz Wagner is their jack of all trades. He can do a little of everything really well. He was a steal for them in the draft. Markelle Fultz has reignited his career. He is never going to be the star some thought, but he is a solid point guard in the NBA. Anthony Black may be their point guard of the future. He looked excellent in summer league. Cole Antony can also play. He has been a solid starter for the past two years. Jalen Suggs can't shoot, but he can defend. Jett Howard will bring bench scoring. Wendell Carter Jr has been a great big man for them and looks like he could make another leap. Chuma Okeke can play too. The Magic have a good, young team that will win more games than some think. They are going to make a playoff push and may even win a play in game. I love what they are doing over there. They have a decent team.

That is it for today. Come back tomorrow for the next five teams. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

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Ty's 2022-2023 NBA Season Preview - Thunder, Spurs, Jazz

The NBA season is just over a week away, and you know what that means. It is time for my preseason NBA countdown. I remember how wrong I was last year when I picked the Nets to win it all. I will try to not make that mistake again. As always I will go from 30-1, pick the playoffs, award winners and do a men's NCAA basketball preview in a few weeks. Without further ado, let's get to the countdown.

At 30 I have the OKC Thunder. This team is in full rebuild mode. They have made that quite clear with the moves they have made the past few seasons. It also helps the tank job they will do that Chet Holmgren is already done for the season. This foot injury is one of the many reasons why I was so down on Holmgren coming into the draft last year. He is too skinny for his frame. He is going to get bullied by all of the vets that play center. He needs to get thicker and get tougher. But we won't even know what kind of player he is until next season. I adore Shai Gilgeous Alexander. He is awesome. That was a tremendous trade pickup by the Thunder. SGA could be an all star this season, as long as he plays a good amount of games. Lu Dort got paid, he is a good defender and he is getting better at his jumper. He is going to be very good for a long while. Then the roster just kind of falls off. Josh Giddey is fine, but he feels like a role player at best to me. I'm sick of hearing about Aleksej Pokusesvki. He has "been on the cusp" for too long now. He is what he is. Aaron Wiggins is a deep bench guy. Jaylin Williams could be solid, but he is a rookie. Darius Bazley is long and athletic, but hasn't put it together yet. Derrick Favors needs a trade. Kenrich Williams is good, but I want him to play for a good squad. And this has to be Trey Burke and Marquese Chriss' last shot to stay in the league. The Thunder are bad. But, they are bad on purpose. SGA and Dort will be fun to watch, but this team is not going to win more than 25 games this season.

At 29 I have the San Antonio Spurs. I adore Greg Poppovich. I think he is the best coach to ever coach the game of basketball. He is a genius. And the fact that he told people to not bet on the Spurs this season makes me appreciate him that much more. They are going to do everything they can to get the 7'4 French kid. I do like the Jeremy Sochan pick. He is a modern Dennis Rodman who can shoot the ball. But he is very, very young. Keldon Johnson is a solid player, but he is not the guy you want to be your top guy. Jakob Poeltl is slow and plodding and an okay rim protector. I would not be shocked if he gets traded during the season. Joshua Primo is very talented, but again, he is so young. Tre Jones is very average. Josh Richardson is washed. Devin Vassell is a fine player, but he should be coming off the bench. Romeo Langford has not lived up to the hype he had coming out of high school. Doug McDermott is just a shooter, nothing more. Malaki Branham was a homerun pick in my opinion, but he needs time to develop. Zach Collins cannot stay healthy. The true fact is, this team is not trying to win. They want the French kid, and with this roster, that may very well happen.

The final team for the day, at 28 I have the Utah Jazz. The moment they got beat by the Mavs in the first round you knew this team was going to rebuild. Quin Snyder bounced. They traded Rudy Gobert as quickly as they could. They got a great deal for Donovan Mitchell. Bogan Bogdanovic is now in Detroit. Mike Conley will soon be traded. As will Jordan Clarkson. That leaves this team with lots of unproven young guys, or guys trying to revitalize their careers. Colin Sexton will get a shot to lead a team. I really like Sexton, but he has to really show up this year. He got paid and he will be a first option. This is exactly what he wanted. Walker Kesseler is a rookie who will get abused in the post. Malik Beasely is a fine scorer, but he will be asked to do too much on this team. Rudy Gay should get traded relatively soon to a contender. Udoka Azubuike will probably start, and that should be fascinating to watch. Nickeil Alexander Walker should get a real chance to prove he can play in the league. Jared Vanderbilt and Jared Butler will be fun to watch shoot a ton. Lauri Markkanen is definitely washed. Talen Horton Tucker is probably relishing the fact that he will be the second option. And the jury is out on rookie Ochai Agbaji. I loved his game in college, let's see if it translates. The Jazz are going to be very, very bad this year. They know that and are going to run out a bunch of dudes who will be trying to prove things. Anything more than 25 wins would shock me.

That is it for today. Come back tomorrow for the next three teams.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

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I Love This Donovan Mitchell Trade

Donovan Mitchell was finally traded. And it wasn't to the Knicks or Lakers or the Warriors. He is going to the Cavs.

This is shocking to me. I love it, but it is wild. Donovan Mitchell got what he wanted, the Cavs got instantly better and the Jazz got a young guy trying to repair his game and a bunch of more picks. Now Utah just has to find a trade partner for Mike Conley and they can go into full rebuild mode. But let's look at this trade primarily.

I love, love, love this deal for the Cavs. I was, and still am, a Collin Sexton fan. But his time in Cleveland was over the moment Darius Garland became an all star last season. The backcourt was going to be Garland's from here on out. They are going to build the backcourt around him. Adding Donovan Mitchell makes them an immediate threat. He and Garland can both handle the ball, score at will, find scoring lanes where there may not be any and are a matchup nightmare for other teams. This instantly props the Cavs as a playoff contender. Hell, I'd say you could write it in pen. They will be a playoff team and could be a top four seed. This puts them on par with Miami, Toronto, Chicago and Atlanta, all playoff teams last season. I'd only put the Bucks, 76ers and Celtics ahead of them now with the addition of Mitchell. What makes it even better is they got to keep their core guys. I mentioned Garland, but they also kept Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley. They still have Cedi Osman and Caris Levert coming off the bench. They only had to give up Sexton and three unprotected picks, which will most likely be later first round picks since the Cavs should be good for awhile now.

This is the best the Cavs have looked since LeBron James was there. I love that the Cavs are going for it and trying to be relevant again. They have this great group of young guys, a great frontcourt and, now, one of the best backcourts in the East, hell, maybe even the NBA. This is an absolute homerun.

As for the Jazz, they traded a disgruntled all star, got more picks and got a reclamation project in Sexton. Sexton will get all the shots and touches he could ever want. He should, and most likely will, be their number one guy. He will be the focal point of the offense. He will get every single chance to redeem himself and show everyone why he was such a prize draft pick. I love that for him. But the Jazz also got more picks, which I think is what they wanted even more. With these three unprotected picks, the Jazz now have thirteen picks through 2029. That is a goldmine of picks that only the Thunder can match right now. The Jazz want to start over and build through the draft. They get to do just that. And I wonder how many picks they can get for Conley at some point. After trading Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell, I cannot imagine a world where they keep Conley around. That would be a nightmare for him, and a mistake by the Jazz. They can definitely get more picks and maybe another young player.

This trade is a win-win for both squads. Both teams got what they wanted. And if I were Mitchell I would be absolutely stoked to go play for this up and coming Cavs team. They are going to be one fun team to watch next season. I love this so very much and it makes me even more excited to watch the NBA this year. What a deal. Wow.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

Ty's 2021-2022 NBA Preview: Celtics, Suns, Jazz, Lakers

Welcome to day seven of my 2021 NBA countdown. This is it. These are the best of the best. These are the teams that can truly win it all. They are not at the level of my top two teams, which get a full blog tomorrow, but they have the goods to win it all.

At number 6 I have the Boston Celtics. I do not like the Celtics, I never have, and their offseason was weird, but they have a very good team. This team was in the East Finals in the Bubble. Jayson Tatum is on the verge of becoming a super star. He has it all, and he is still very young. He has had COVID, I think he is now vaxxed and that will only help him stay on the floor. He is great. Marcus Smart, who was just suspended for some unknown reason, is one of the best perimeter defenders in the league. He is also becoming a better, not reliable, but better three point shooter. Jaylen Brown is coming off an injury, but he was an all star before he got hurt. He is a very, very good basketball player. And watching the playoffs last year, seeing him so nervous and angry that he couldn't play, that made me like him even more as a player. I like the Dennis Schroeder signing. He messed up by not taking the deal with LA early in the season, but now he is on a one year "prove it" deal, and he is a very skilled player. Al Horford is back, and while he is older, he is still a solid defender and can stretch the defense. I loathe Payton Pritchard, I have since he was at Oregon, but the dude is a good role player. Robert Williams has the talent to be a very good center, he just has to stay on the floor. I like the toughness of the bench that Bruno Fernando brings. Enes Kanter is still a top level offensive center. Jabari Parker played well in spurts. Grant Williams took a little step back, but he is still a rock solid defender. And Romeo Langford and Aaron Nesmith bring youth and athleticism to this squad. I actively root against the Celtics, but they have the talent to make a deep run. Last season was definitely an anomaly.

At 5 I have the Phoenix Suns. They were in the Finals last year. They had a 2-0 lead. They looked really good in getting that lead. And they return pretty much the exact same roster. Chris Paul is back, and he just continues to be one of the best point guards the NBA has ever seen. He is so good at running an offense and making a young team grow up real fast. Devin Booker is an elite shooter, he is starting to get super star calls and his offensive game is lethal. The way he cuts and hits that mid range jumper is impressive. He even got a little better on D last season. Deandre Ayton needs to be more assertive, but he is a highly skilled big and is going to be a double double machine. I wish he had a bit more anger to his game, but maybe that will come with time. Mikail Bridges is like Spiderman on defense, and he hit some big shots in the playoffs. Cam Johnson is great off the bench. Jae Crowder is not afraid of any moment or any player. He is a perfect fit next to CP3. Cam Payne looked better than he ever has in the league as a backup. I like the addition of Javale McGee for defense. I like the acquisition of Landry Shamet. He is a good shooter off of the pick and roll. Elfrid Payton doesn't bring much to their offense, but he is a solid perimeter defender. Dario Saric fits in nice there. And Frank Kaminsky flashed a few times in the Finals. The Suns are a very good team, and if this core can stay together, they are going to be a problem in the West for the next decade.

At number 4 I have the Utah Jazz. The Jazz are the NBA's version of the Seattle Mariners with more success. They were the one seed in the West last year. They dominated the regular season. And then they blew a 2-0 to the Kawhi less Clippers. Donovan Mitchell is awesome. He is a budding MVP candidate. He is a scoring machine. He is better than Luka Doncic and Trae Young. He is legit. Rudy Gobert is the best defensive center in the league. He swallows up drivers and makes it next to impossible for centers to score on him. They should use him more in the pick and roll on offense. Joe Ingles is an ass, but the dude can stroke it. He is a very good shooter. Jordan Clarkson is an electric bench scorer. He is amazing on offense. I really like the additions of Eric Paschall and Rudy Gay. Gay adds a veteran with real postseason experience and Paschall is a very skilled post player. Royce O'Neal is their second best defender, and he takes on the perimeter's opposition best player every night. Udoka Azubuike should get a few more minutes, and I think he will add a nice little bench element at center. And their rookie Jared Butler shot lights out at Baylor last season. The Jazz will be a top 3 seed again, they just have to make a real playoff run for me to take them real seriously.

The final team for today, at number 3 I have the LA Lakers. They have LeBron James. He is the second best player to ever play in the NBA. He is an amazing basketball player, an even better person and he seems as locked in as he has been since the Bubble. He is awesome and I will never count a team out that he plays on. They also have Anthony Davis. The dude simply cannot stay healthy, but when he is on the floor he is amazing. At both ends of the floor. AD could be one of the top 5 players in the league if he could not get hurt. Then the roster gets real weird. They have Russell Westbrook. He is as athletic a player as I have ever seen, but he is older. He is coming off injuries. He got COVID. He is a turnover machine and he shoots way too much for a guy that isn't a great shooter. I love Russ, I am a big fan, always have been, but he is on the other side of the cliff in his career. They also have Carmelo Anthony. Melo looked fine in Portland, but he got to play how he wanted. In LA he is going to have to buy in on defense, which he has never done, and he is going to have to come off the bench, which we all know he doesn't like. Dwight Howard and Deandre Jordan are their picks for center. Howard looked pretty bad last season in Philly, but he looked great in the Bubble with the Lakers. Deandre Jordan didn't see the floor in games that mattered in Brooklyn last year, and he doesn't have the lift he used to while with the Clippers. I like that they got Malik Monk and Kendrick Nunn for the mid level exception. Monk has never been as good a shooter in the NBA as he was his one year at Kentucky, and Nunn lost a ton of minutes last season in Miami. Time will tell with those two. Rajon Rondo is back, and unless he returns to playoff Rondo, I do not see him taking real minutes from Russ. Kent Bazemore was a good addition as a shooter, but he is also older and on the back end of his career. Talen Horton Tucker is young and skilled. He'll need minutes, but he also just got injured and will miss some weeks. Trevor Ariza is also older and hurt. Wayne Ellington used to be good, we will see here. The Lakers have the names. They have former MVP's and all stars on this team. They have LeBron and AD. But they are old, not too rich at shooting guard and will have a tougher time on defense. They will still be a very good team. But when the rubber meets the road, when they need a big three or a defensive stop, I'd be reluctant to say that they have the guys to do it. The playoffs will be the true test of this roster construct.

That is it for today. Come back tomorrow for my top two teams.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty's 2020-2021 NBA Preview: The Almost Contenders

Today we enter the top 10 of my NBA countdown. My next five teams have aspirations, and the talent, to be title contenders, but a few minute things stand in their way. They are on the cusp, but they need absolutely everything to fall perfectly for them.

At number 10 I have the Utah Jazz. People are so quick to forget that they were a spin away from beating Denver in the playoffs last season. If Conley's jumper had gone in, we could have had a totally different outcome. It didn't, and the Jazz were left to pick up the pieces after another first round exit. Donovan Mitchell is a star. That dude is awesome, he is hyper athletic, his jumper continues to improve and his defense is getting there. He is one of my favorite younger stars in the league. He is a beast also. He goes hard every night. Getting Mike Conley last year was supposed to be the thing that put them over the top, but he needed far much more time to adjust to their roster. When he figured it out though, this team was pretty darn good. Conley is still an elite point guard, and I think he will show everyone this year who may have forgotten. Rudy Gobert is going to be burdened with the fact that he will forever be the poster child of what not to do when you have the CoronaVirus. He did all that nonsense, then infected Mitchell, and now he will forever be the guy who caused the league to shut down for three months. But he is a very good basketball player. Don't forget that. He is great in the low post. He is a dominant rim protector, and he is very solid in the pick and roll. He is also in a contract year, so I wouldn't be surprised if he went out and dominated other big men this season. Bojan Bogdanovic is back after suffering a season ending injury prior to the bubble. He will add spacing and knock down shooting. Joe Ingles isn't much of a defender, but the dude is a solid trash talker and a decent shot creator. Jordan Clarkson is instant offense off the bench. He could be their Lou Williams. Derrick Favors iis a solid backup to Gobert, and he is a good defender. I love the Udoka Azubuike pick. He will get to learn, and wait before he has to see meaningful minutes, and that is major. Outside that though, the one thing that holds them back for me, is their lack of depth. It gets pretty iffy after Favors and Clarkson come off the bench, and that is why they aren't a Finals contender just yet. The Jazz are a playoff team, but they have to get out of the first round before I take them super seriously.

At number 9 I have the Toronto Raptors. I know the Raptors lost Kawhi a year ago, and they lost Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka this off season, but I just cannot quit this team. They may be the new Spurs. They are so well coached, and every player does their job to perfection. They may have lost a good core of the championship team they had, but they pushed Boston, and I wouldn't be surprised to see them back in the playoffs. Kyle Lowry is still there, and he is still awesome. He is a great defender, one of the smartest players I have ever watched, and I love the grit he plays with. I'm never going to second guess him ever again. They re-signed Fred Van Vleet, and to me, he is worth every penny. He is their point guard of the future. OG Anounoby is really becoming a very good player. He is switchable on defense, he is becoming a better shot maker and he is figuring it out. He just needs to stay healthy. Pascal Siakim showed some great flashes last season, and he could be one of the better up and coming faces of the league. He is so long and good at basketball. Norm Powell proved his worth last season. They need a knock down shooter, and he feels like that guy. Aron Baynes adds toughness. Chris Boucher is raw, but he can be good. They took a flyer on Stanley Johnson last season, and he was okay coming off the bench. The Raptors are always going to play tough and play good defense. Are they the title team they were a few years ago? No. But they are a playoff team, and they will be a tough out. You can count on that.

At number 8 I have the Philadelphia 76ers. They got rid of Brett Brown. They finally traded for some shooters. And if Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid can coexist and stay healthy, could this finally be the year? I am not so sure, and that is why I have them here. They are loaded with talent. Embiid is like a modern Hakeem Olajuwon. He is not Hakeem, no one will ever be Hakeem, but he is like a modern version. Ben Simmons may not be able to shoot, or maybe not willing, but he is amazing. He is a solid ball handler, he is a great passer, he can get to the rim. But the best thing about his game is his defense. He can lock almost anyone down. The 76ers missed him greatly in the playoffs last year, and it showed. Tobias Harris is a fine player, I just don't think he is a max guy. He can score, but he is not great on the other end, and he kind of fell off a bit last year. What the 76ers needed was shooting, and they looked to try and address that this offseason. They traded for Danny Green, Terrance Ferguson and Seth Curry. While not the greatest shooters in the world, Green brings championship pedigree, Ferguson is young and willing to learn, and Curry is a flat out shooter. Those are good guys to have around Embiid and Simmons. They signed Dwight Howard, and if he plays like he did last year, he is going to feast on second units in the East. Matisse Thybulle is one of the best young defenders in the league, he just needs to work on offense. And I like them taking Tyrese Maxey. He could be a solid point guard for them. I also think getting rid of Brett Brown and hiring Doc Rivers was a smart move. The 76ers have all the potential in the world, they just have to find a way to put it all together. They haven't yet, and that is what worries me.

At number 7 I have the Denver Nuggets. The Nuggets were in the West Finals last year. They took a game from the Lakers. They came back down 3-1 to the Clippers in the previous round. This team is underrated, even by me, but they need to be taken seriously. Nikola Jokic is awesome, full stop. He may not be the fastest, or the best leaper or even a good defender, but he more than makes up for those shortcomings with his basketball IQ. The dude is also an incredible passer. He is like the Patrick Mahomes of the NBA. I am still blown away by how good he is. Jamaal Murray more than found himself in the bubble, and he vaulted to being one of the better offensive players in the league. He can score from anywhere, and he is a very good ball handler. It is nice to have a guy that can get you a bucket when you need one. They re-signed Paul Milsap, and while he is not the all star he was in Atlanta, he is still a great vet to have on your team, and he can still have good nights. Gary Harris kind of slipped last year, but that was due to injuries and a full league stoppage. I think he bounces back. Michael Porter Jr, while I don't agree with his views on CoronaVirus, that dude can flat out score too. Denver is going to get to a point where they have to start him, and having him, Jokic and Murray is going to be absolutely lethal. I like Will Barton, he just needs to see the floor more. I would love to see Bol Bol play more. He was so dope in the seeding games, barely saw the floor if at all in the playoffs, but I just want to watch him play. He is so big, and he can stretch the floor. He can shoot threes. Monte Morris is a very solid bench/role player. The rest of the roster is kind of meh, but when you have Jokic and Murray, and been far in the playoffs, you get the benefit of the doubt. Denver is a perennial deep run playoff team now. I just wonder when they will take that next step. Hopefully for their fans it is soon.

The final team for the day, at number 6 I have the Brooklyn Nets. I have them this high for two reasons. One, they are in the East. Two, they get KD and Kyrie Irving back at full health this year. For as much as those two may rub people the wrong way, they are both champs, they have both hit humongous shots, one is an MVP winner and the other has MVP potential, and they are both amazing at basketball. Now they just have to coexist and stay healthy. The rest of the roster is solid too. I love Caris Levert. He is a Michigan kid, he has proven me very wrong about his career and he is a scorer. He is a creator too. Levert is a very, very good player. Joe Harris is a three and D specialist. He also plays very hard every night. Jarrett Allen has some of the coolest hair in the league, and he is not afraid to contest anyone. Go back and look at some of his blocks last season. Deandre Jordan is older, but he was handpicked by KD and Kyrie to be on this team, and he is still a very good pick and roll guy. Spencer Dinwiddie is a great microwave off the bench. He can light up first units, but I would have him as my star second unit guy. Landry Shamet was traded there, and I think he will fit in nice with Kyrie and KD. They're giving Jeff Green another chance, but hey, the guy wouldn't still be in the league if he didn't have immense talent. And I still like Taurean Prince. The fate of the Nets season rests on two guys. If they play well and it works, they could be a real contender. If not, they will not make the playoffs. I'm very interested in watching them play this season.

That's it for the day, and the week. Come back on Monday for my final 5 teams, and Tuesday I will have full predictions.

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

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Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

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The NBA Did Not Disappoint

Last night was absolutely amazing. I watched every second of both NBA games that were on, and boy did both of them deliver. The games both started kind of slow, but other than that, they had some great moments, some big dunks, great defense, exceptional passing and it was the first time in four months that I felt somewhat normal. I was watching professional basketball that counted and it was simply wonderful.

This pandemic is just getting started, we are still a ways off from any kind of answers, other sports, mainly the MLB and football, seemed doomed to be postponed or out and out canceled, but the NBA, they seem to be doing it right. They seem to have figured something out. They are, much like other pro soccer leagues overseas, doing the right things, and it is working. And last night was the first big punctuation to their plan. This was the NBA putting their flag in the ground and showing how this could work right now. It was awesome. Outside of the basketball on the court, I'll get to that in a minute, all the prior to the game stuff was done very well. The introductions felt real. The announcers were there, but they were separated by Plexiglass. Everyone who was with the team, but wasn't a player or coach, they were all masked up, and most were gloved. The players that they let come watch the games, they were spread out, they had masks and they seemed to be enjoying themselves and their teammates' company. The kneeling before the game during the anthem was perfect. Every player and coach on both teams knelt before both games. It was tremendous. The social issues that some players chose to wear on the back of their jersey's was very tastefully done, and I loved reading all the different sayings, and seeing which player wore what saying.

Then we have the actual basketball. As I said, it started a bit slow, you'd expect that after an emergency four month stoppage. But as the games wore on, the play became better and better, and more competitive. It seemed like the players were feeling each other out at first, but then they simply switched into game mode. Brandon Ingram, in the Jazz-Pelicans game, was out there cooking for a while. Once he got going, the rest of the Pelicans started to buy in. Zion threw down an alley oop that was spectacular, JJ Redick provided some nice moments off the bench, Jrue Holiday was playing lock down defense and hitting shots, and the Pelicans started to get up and down the floor. The Jazz came out hot, with Rudy Gobert running things, but kind of cooled off for a minute. Then they started to chip away at the Pelicans lead. Mike Conley hit tough shots, Joe Ingles was a pest, Royce O'Neal was hitting threes and Donovan Mitchell started to feel it in the second half. The game came down to the end, with Brandon Ingram just missing a three that would have won the game at the buzzer. It was a great appetizer to the main course.

That main course was a scintillating Clippers-Lakers game. I know the Clippers were without Montrezl Harrell and Lou Williams, but hey, they are still a solid team without those guys. The Lakers though, man did they come to play. Anthony Davis was doing it all, including hitting an inordinate amount of free throws. JaVale McGee was rolling and dropping hooks everywhere. Dwight Howard provided solid rebounding off the bench. Danny Green made shots. But LeBron showed why he is still the best player in the world. He had a rough shooting night, but he made great passes, played some solid defense, and when he needed to, he made shots. The Clippers looked pretty good too. No Harrell meant more time for Zubac and Joakim Noah. Both guys had solid defensive games. Reggie Jackson got the start since Patrick Beverly just cleared protocol prior to the game, and he played like he did while in OKC. Beverly was no slouch either when he got in. He didn't shoot well, but he was that bulldog on defense. Paul George looked fully healthy for the first time in two years. He was making jumpers, asserting himself to get to the rim and playing his usual stout defense. Kawhi had some short jumpers, tired legs, but he ratched it up when he needed to like LeBron, coming on real strong in the second half. LeBron ended up hitting what was essentially a game winner, and the Lakers got a win on opening night in a game that was better than the first.

This couldn't have worked out better for the NBA. They had two great games, all the stars that were there played, made some plays and were all over highlights this morning. The lack of a crowd was nullified for me watching from home. Honestly, I couldn't tell the difference. The fact that these guys played as hard, and as well as they did, it made the fact that there were no fans moot. I liked the big TV screens that showed people, and the pumped in noise, but again, it didn't really affect my watching at all.

I'm so happy that the NBA is back and started off with a bang like it did. I hope they continue to have success, as far as people staying healthy and good games, and they are able to let this thing run its course. But, for at least one night, I felt normal again, watching real basketball games. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

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Ty Watches "The Last Dance" Parts 9 and 10

"The Last Dance" ended last night, and it may be the single greatest documentary series that has ever existed. I don't feel like I am being a prisoner of the moment. I don't think it has anything to do with the lack of sports, although that definitely helps. I think this is the greatest documentary series ever because it is about the greatest basketball player ever, and it is directed by one the best sports story tellers of all time. "The Last Dance" has every single ingredient to make it as perfect as it was.

Now, spoiler alert out there for listeners to out podcast, but I will give my feelings on the documentary as a whole on the next pod. Today, I want to continue with my review of the most recent episodes. Last night finished it off with 9 and 10, and they were magnificent. The series continued to get better, and last night was no exception. Episode 9 went straight away into the 98 East Finals against the Pacers. This was one of two series that went to 7 games during the Bulls double three peat. This was also, probably, the toughest series for any Jordan led team, prior to the Pistons. The Pacers had the style of team that could compete with this Bulls squad. They had big, nasty guys. They had a veteran point guard. They had quickness and electricity off the bench. They had an old sharp shooter. They had size. And they had Reggie Miller. They could have won this series. They could've ended the dynasty one series early. But they didn't. Too may mistakes, miscues and poor rebounding and free throw shooting doomed them. Also, the jump ball between Rik Smits and Jordan was a play I never, ever thought about, but was played out to show how important that one moment was in this series, and I will never look at it the same ever again.

They shifted from that series to the 97 Finals against the Jazz. They showed a lot of stuff from there. We got some great back story on Steve Kerr. His story was very, very in depth, heartbreaking and showed his character. It made me like him even more. We also got the real truth behind the infamous "flu game". As I suspected, and a ton of others did, it wasn't a stomach flu, it was food poisoning. To hear Jordan confirm so quickly and assuredly made it hit home even more. And to see the way he came out and played, after going through something as awful as food poisoning, the guy is not human. That was cool. I also liked getting to see Jordan's kids and hearing them talk about their dislike for Utah and why their mom wouldn't let them go to games there. It was nice to finally hear from someone in his family.

They shifted back to the Pacers series and we got all the intel that I mentioned, and so, so much more. Reggie Miller is underrated, Scottie Pippen is one of the best defenders ever, Larry Bird could coach, Steve Kerr was a sharp shooter and Jordan was an absolute killer. It was awesome to see them break down the series the way they did. We also got to hear about his close relationship with one member of his security detail, and that was a nice story to see how that gentleman took on the fatherly role for Jordan after his dad was killed. It was all great.

Episode 10 was all about the 98 Finals and the aftermath. This was a tremendous episode. To see them talk about how they went about winning, how tired mentally and physically they were, how they laid it all out, it was amazing. Also, big props to Scottie Pippen for playing through that horrible back injury. He really showed his mental toughness, and to do what he did with that injury is astounding. Also, props to Dennis Rodman. Sure, he is an asshole, he skipped out on practice to go wrestle, he wouldn't talk to anyone, but the dude laid it out on the court every game night, and he was the best pest and rebounder that the Bulls have ever had. He also hit four straight free throws in a critical moment for the Bulls, and that is just amazing.

But this was all about MJ and his willingness to put this team on his back and carry them to their 6th title. The things he did in game 6 of the 98 Finals was spectacular, especially the last minute of that game. The Bulls were down 3, and he goes and gets a quick layup. I mean, guys tried to stop him, but he is Michael god damn Jordan. If he wanted to get to the basket he got there. Then, to get the strip on Karl Malone, and bring the ball up and hit that jumper, I mean, there is no better way to go out than that. I know he came back to play for Washington, and some may say he pushed off Byron Russell, but I will always look at that jumper as his last moment. That personified his greatness. That sequence proves for the billionth time that he is the greatest to ever play basketball. I have a piece tomorrow about current players calling him out, Channing Frye I'm talking particularly to you, and they are all full of nonsense. But I will save all that for tomorrow. Jordan proved time and again, when he wanted to win, he was going to find a way to win.

Then the aftermath of that, what followed after the 98 title was wild. Everyone wanted this team back, they wanted to see if they could go for four straight, to win seven in nine years. And I think they would have. If they were able to pull it off, they could have done it. And to see Jordan's reaction to Jerry Reinsdorf's explanation as to why they had to split this team up was something else. Jordan said he didn't agree, and laid out a scenario where they could have done it all again. We were left thinking, what if, but what we got from the 90's Bulls, and Jordan himself was witnessing greatness that we may never see again.

This, and I will keep saying this, is the great documentary series that has ever existed. It is, by far the best sports doc ever, and dare I say, the best documentary ever made. "The Last Dance" is a rare achievement we don't see that much today, and that is being a perfect movie being perfectly told. I love this and I cannot recommend it enough. I will rewatch this maybe a billion times. It's the best. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

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SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing. 

A Few Thoughts on Rudy Gobert's NBA Future

Even though there is currently no basketball, and if I'm being honest, I do not think it is coming back this year, I do have a few stories about basketball for you all the next couple of days. The one I want to focus on today is the rumors, which I fully believe, that are flying around right now about the fractured relationship between Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell.

So, all of the basketball world, and most of the rest of the world for that matter, can pinpoint the Gobert incident as the starting point of shutting down sports across America. Gobert was infected, he acted nonchalant, he infected his teammate and the NBA was suspended immediately. They actually suspended it right after he was confirmed to have COVID-19 that night. For the rest of time, Gobert's name will be infamous with who was the catalyst for major pro sports leagues to shut everything down. That is a fact. And the way he treated the situation at first was wrong on every single level. To be on the court for warm ups was wrong, to touch all the microphones during his interview was wrong, to toy and mess around with teammates was wrong. The fact that he went out and thought it was okay to conduct himself in the manner he did was foolish, arrogant and, quite frankly, life threatening. With all that being said, he has tried to make up for his mistakes. He has donated a good amount of money to research. He has, I believe, let his blood get tested. He has adhered to all the guidelines since his infection. He has gone on in interviews and apologized for his actions and has said he is trying to reignite his relationship with his teammates, specifically Mitchell. But, if I were Mitchell, I would be very wary of him. I fully understand why he is pissed off, why he doesn't, or is hesitant, to try and repair their relationship. It all makes sense from Mitchell's stand point. Also, he is much more important to the Jazz franchise than Gobert is, full stop.

Which leads me to my point today. With all these rumors swirling, talk of trading Gobert, or Mitchell for that matter, but more so Gobert, have heated up big time. I get it, and it makes sense. The only real problem is the contract stuff. Gobert makes a ton of money, and he isn't a free agent until 2022. So the team that takes him on, if he gets traded, has to pay him a lot, and may not get him back.

With that being said, I have been racking my brain thinking of a team where Gobert would fit. Before I fully get into it, I am not going to match the money or contract or anything like that. I am just going to go off what I think fits, and where I think it would be best for him to repair his reputation. Therein lies another problem with this. Gobert may not be wanted by a good amount of teams. His actions were rough, and players and coaches and GM's everywhere saw that. That will forever be on their minds. So taking all of that in account I thought of two teams that would fit, that can compete and where he would make sense and the Jazz could get a solid return.

The first team is Boston. In Boston they don't care if you murdered multiple people, they will still wear your jersey and say you are innocent if you bring them titles. He could go there, play his suffocating rim protecting defense and help the Celtics become instant title contenders. The only thing they are really missing is a true rim protector. They don't have a guy that can do that at as high a level right now, and they wouldn't have to give up much of their super young, super talented wing guys. Mitchell is already a great wing player, so Tatum and Jaylen Brown, they could stay in Boston. In actuality I feel like the Celtics wouldn't have to give up much. They would have to part with picks for sure, and of they had to send a few players over there, they could send a guy like Semi Ojeleye or Robert Williams, or a return of Gordon Hayward to Utah. That is who actually makes the most sense to me. Boston could give Utah Hayward because the contracts are similar in money and time, and they would have to send picks, which I think they would do quick to get a guy like Gobert. And if he instantly turns them into a contender, the fans and players and coaches in Boston would easily forget about what he did.

As for the other team, the one I think makes almost too much sense, is the San Antonio Spurs. San Antonio is quiet, they have their own culture and they protect their players. People didn't blame San Antonio when Kawhi wanted out, they blamed Kawhi's uncle. They have helped a guy like Rudy Gay restore his career. It's not like he had a rough career, he was always looked at as a guy teams were better without. That is not the case now. Nobody ever talks about Tony Parker cheating on his wife while in the league. I fully believe that San Antonio protected him, kept him out of the news and media buildings and made sure he never brought it up. San Antonio is like the New England Patriots of the NBA. If you can't restore yourself there, that means you are done. I feel like Gobert could land there and be totally out of the news, which would be the absolute best thing for him. They would have to trade some young assets, maybe a guy like Bynn Forbes or Dejounte Murray or Lonnie Walker. But I feel like the Spurs would be okay with letting one or 2 of those guys go to clear up playing time for whoever they keep. If they give up Forbes and Walker, that leaves Murray to run point. If they have to give up Murray. Forbes can return to a bench role and Walker can finally get his shine. They would make it work. And before I hear the backlash of having too many big contract guys, LMA, DeMar DeRozan and Gobert, they wouldn't be on the books for too long. LMA has a few years left, but DeRozan is a free agent this off season and Gobert would be off the books the next year. It also works for me because Greg Poppovich is not going to coach much longer. He only has a few seasons left, and getting a front court duo of Gobert and LMA could work. They are both big. LMA can score and rebound with some of the better bigs in the league. Gobert is the rim protector and rim runner that could work with Murray or Walker, whichever one they keep. The team is also filled with vets that could help take the heat off Gobert. It would also put this team back in the playoff picture. They could slow down some other teams that have bigger guys that crush them now.

Time will tell with this, but if I were the Jazz, and I wanted to rid myself of this whole thing, these are the 2 teams I would call first to test the waters. We will see. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

Ty's NBA 2019 - 2020 NBA Preview: Jazz, Nuggets, Rockets, Bucks

Moving on to day 7 of my NBA countdown, we are getting to the cream of the crop. I like all these teams, and they all have certain qualities that put them this high on the list.

At number 6 I have the Utah Jazz. I have stated how gross their fans are, but their roster is good enough to push this team to the West, and dare I say, NBA finals. Donovan Mitchell is a star. He is an electric scorer, plays hard and is getting better on defense. He continues to work on his game every year, and that will only benefit him. I love watching Mitchell play basketball. Rudy Gobert is the best big man defender in the league. He is the epitome of a rim protector, and he is a great rebounder. His game has also rounded out on the low post, and he dominated the US in FIBA this summer. Joe Ingles is one of those guys you hate to play, but love when he is on your team, and he can shoot the ball. Getting Mike Conley was a humongous upgrade over Ricky Rubio. Conley has proven himself one hell of a team leader, can create his own shot, finds the open guy and is awesome on defense. He is also at the stage in his career where he just wants to win. Bojan Bogdanovic is the quintessential scorching shooter off the bench. He is the type of player that could score 18 points in 10 minutes. Tony Bradley is a great defender. Ed Davis was a solid pickup. When healthy, Dante Exum is an excellent backup point guard. And Emmanuel Mudiay, while not the player I thought he could be, should fit in nice here. Utah has always played great defense, but now, they have a true point guard, and they have shooters. The Jazz, with this roster construct, should be good for awhile. They are true Western Conference threats.

At number 5 I have the Denver Nuggets. Nikola Jokic is a true MVP candidate. He is also an anomaly. He looks out of shape, can barely jump and eats awfully, but the dude is amazing with a basketball in his hands. He is the best passing big, and one of the best overall passers in the NBA. He also has those old man moves under the basket, and he makes them work better than anyone else. The dude is legit. Jamal Murray got his big time extension this offseason, and if he can become a consistent scorer, he will be one of the better offensive players in the league. He is hot and cold, but hot more often. Paul Milsap is the perfect veteran for this squad. His play has slightly declined, but his leadership is crucial. Malik Beasley has proven that he deserves good bench minutes because of his scoring ability. Garry Harris is a solid creator and passer and a good defender. Will Barton and Monte Morris can provide instant offense. Hopefully we will finally get to see Michael Porter Jr play, because if he is half as good as advertised, he could play a huge part on this already good team. I also love that they took Bol Bol when he fell to them in the second round. If he hits, that would be a cherry on top for this team. The Nuggets are not a fluke, and Jokic is the real deal. I like this team a lot.

At number 4 I have the Houston Rockets. Boy oh boy did their GM make a mistake. But, looking at this team from strictly a roster construct standpoint, they could be very, very prolific offensively. James Harden, as boring and frustrating as he is to watch play, is a great, great scorer. He has crazy moves that no one can guard, he shoots a million free throws and, when he passes, he is always on the mark. They traded Chris Paul for a younger, more athletic and harder playing version in Russell Westbrook. I do not know how this will work, a Harden and Westbrook backcourt, but if it hits, it will be deadly. Those 2 were awesome in OKC, and now they are older and have each won a MVP. Clint Capela took a slight step back, but he is the best pick and roll center in the NBA. The way he moves to the rim, it is beautiful. He is also a good defender. PJ Tucker brings the toughness this team craves, and the defense. It also helps that he is a great corner three shooter. Tucker is underrated. Eric Gordon is as well. He finally got paid, and without him last year, they would have lost much earlier in the playoffs. Nene and Tyson Chandler are both pretty old, but they know how to play, they play hard and know how to win. Austin Rivers, much to my surprise, hasn't been a total disaster since he signed with the Rockets. He actually plays good D, and with guys like Harden getting him open looks, he can knock down the three. Danuel House is a G League legend, and in limited minutes last year, he was the perfect Rocket. Only efficient shots and threes. The Rockets, if Westbrook lets Harden run the team, can score 120 to 125 points a game. No bullshit. They won't be as good defensively, but they will outscore a ton of teams. They just better hope that the new backcourt meshes.

My final team for the day, at number 3, I have the Milwaukee Bucks. With KD out and LeBron being older and Anthony Davis getting hurt all the time, Giannis Antentokoumpo is the best player in the NBA, even better than Kawhi Leonard. Giannis is unstoppable on offense. He is like a nimble Shaq. And the fact that he is working on a three point shot, that should scare the rest of the NBA. He is also so long, that alone makes him a good rebounder and defender. Khris Middleton had a real solid year, and earned his new contract. He is a great sidekick next to Giannis. He is also a really solid defender. Eric Bledsoe kind of lost it in the playoffs last year, but I still think he is a good point guard for this team. He also just so happens to be one of the best defensive point guards in the NBA. Brook Lopez totally morphed his game, and is now a lethal three point shooter. He really stretches a defense. And they now have his brother Robin on the team, and he will bring toughness and an inside presence that this team can use. Kyle Korver is still around, and he can still shoot the three. He will find lots of open looks playing with Giannis. Wes Matthews has never been the same since his ACL injury, but he cans till provide solid spot minutes here and there. DJ Wilson, in a very limited role, showed he can shoot and play a little D. He was also a clutch rebounder. The Bucks are a very good team that fell a bit short last year. That only made Giannis hungrier, and that could push the Bucks to the Finals. I know they lost Malcolm Brogdon, and that is a bummer, but this team has the goods, and Giannis, to still be one of the top teams, by a wide margin, in the East.

That does it for today. Come back tomorrow for my top 2 teams. We are nearing the end of the countdown.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet. 

Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

The Utah Jazz Have a Fan Problem

What in the hell is happening in Utah.

In the past week the fans of the basketball team, that go to games, for them banned for life for racial epitaphs spewed in Russell Westbrook's direction. This is highly disturbing to me, and a whole lot of other people. I mean, I am a rabid fan of all things University of Michigan, but I have never wished harm or said unthinkable things to their rivals. I have never been driven to racism because of an outcome of a game. I have never acted so egregiously that I have had to remove myself, or been removed from a stadium, or even watching in the comfort of my own home. So, why do these 2 assholes in the recent news think it was okay to do what they did.

The first incident I heard about was all stemmed around Westbrook being filmed saying that he would mess up the dude and his wife. I was taken aback, but then I heard the whole story. All I knew at first was what Westbrook said, and the interview with this racist ass where he played the victim. Only after reading the full story did I know that this moron was hurling racial epitaphs and that he told Westbrook to "get on your knees like you're used to". That is appalling. That is unsettling. It is frightening to hear that some people think it is okay to say something like that. It is simply wrong. No one deserves to be talked to in that manner, especially in the 21st century. After reading this, then hearing it for myself, I was fully on Westbrook's side. I have zero problem with what he said to this man and his wife, or whoever that lady was with him. In fact, I wish he took it further. Had this turned into a "Malice at the Palace" type situation, I would have fully understood. Just because Westbrook is a pro, who's team happened to be handing it to the Jazz that night, that doesn't give you the right to say whatever pops into your tiny little head. To sit that close to the players is a privilege, and this jerk totally deserves his lifetime ban for what he said.

The NBA really needs to look into player safety a bit more. I say that because after this story came out, more reports came out of fans doing similar things, or putting their hands on players. That is not cool at all. That is dangerous. Players have come out in big time support of Westbrook since the incident, as expected. And they have all said pretty much the same thing I am saying today. They stand with Westbrook. They want more protection. They want the fans that sit courtside, right next to the opposition's bench, to follow some kind of rules or conduct code. Even Donovan Mitchell, a Jazz player, has come out and said how wrong this whole thing is, and how it doesn't, or at the very least, shouldn't, portray the entire fan base.

Well, I just saw today that another Jazz fan got a lifetime ban, calling Russell Westbrook "boy", in last year's  playoffs. Two things, why do they hate Westbrook so much, and maybe this is what the majority of Utah's fan base is. Maybe they are a bunch of racist assholes. Maybe they don't care at all about a human being's feelings, and they think they are entitled to say whatever they want because they have fancy seats. The fact that is has happened twice in the past calendar year is not a one time thing, it is a trend, and a trend that might have been started in the early 90's. And to aim it at Westbrook, I just don't get it. Sure, he can be a divisive player, but the dude plays with so much heart and grit and gives it all he can every night, I respect the hell out of him. While you may not like him, you should at least respect him. You shouldn't be yelling racist nonsense at him.

I was so high on the Jazz before the season started. But, after hearing all this stuff recently about their fans has made me happy that they aren't as good as I thought they might be. And I know that the players have nothing to do with the fans. I do not wish them ill will. I'm just happy that their punk ass fans are going to see their beloved team get beat in the first round of the playoffs. The asshole fans deserve this. They stink, and I hope more of these racist idiots get lifelong bans. This is disgusting and disturbing. I totally side with Westbrook on this. He is right, the Jazz fans are very, very wrong.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet. 

Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

Ty's 2018-2019 NBA Preview: Postseason and Awards

Now that we are officially in the NBA season, it tipped off last night, I come with you today with my post season and awards predictions. This is all subject to change, and I will do a mid season report, just like I do with the NFL, and NCAA football and basketball, which I will have a monster NCAA men's basketball preview tomorrow, but for now, this is what I think will happen.

The one thing that will 99 percent stay the same, the Warriors will win the title. Unless something catastrophic happens, like all 4 of their main starters would need to go down for me to change my mind. The Warriors are so far ahead of everyone else, and until they lose some key guys, they will continue to be the best.

Anyway, I may have a few surprises in there, and I have a sort of left field prediction for my rookie of the year. Okay, lets get to the postseason.

As far as the 8 teams from the East, in descending order from 8-1 I have the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, Washington Wizards, Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks, Toronto Raptors, Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers. I know the Celtics destroyed the 76ers last night, but it was the first of 82 games. People need to calm down. Also, I think the Cavs will sneak in to the playoffs, this year. The teams around them, the Pistons, Knicks and maybe Nets have far too many question marks. As far as the East Finals go, I have the 76ers playing the Raptors, and I am going to go with the Raptors. Everyone else seems to be picking the Celtics, so I want to zig. I also think the Bucks have a real shot, especially with how much better Giannis keeps getting, to make it all the way to the Finals from the 4 seed. I wouldn't be shocked if they made a run. But, the Raptors had the second best record in the NBA last season, they unfortunately ran into the LeBron buzz saw and got swept. They then acquired Kawhi, and he is, as much as I like DeMar DeRozan, a much better overall player, and he is out to prove that he is still a top 3-5 player in the league. They also lost no one else except for DeRozan and Jakob Poeltl, which, so what. The Raptors will finally break though and own the East for one year, and then Kawhi will leave.

As far as the West, and the West is much, much, much better than the East, so much so I feel like the 8 seed could have as many as 45-47 wins. And from what I have seen other writers do, I have no caveat with the Timberwolves. I think they miss out with or without Jimmy Butler. That whole thing is a total mess. So, from 8-1 I have, the San Antonio Spurs, Denver Nuggets, LA Lakers, New Orleans Pelicans, OKC Thunder, Utah Jazz, Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors. That means I am leaving out former main stays like the Trail Blazers and Clippers. I think the Blazers season will go one of 2 ways. They will win 45 games and miss out, or they will break up that back court and rebuild. I don't buy the Clippers at all as a playoff team. Tobias Harris, while he is a very good basketball player, he is not a star. And after that they have young guys or brittle vets. They might be .500, but they will not be in the playoffs. In fact I think, with 2 exceptions in the West, the Kings and my newfound favorite team, the Suns, will all have anywhere from 35- 60 wins. I think teams like the Mavericks and Grizzlies, 2 non playoff teams, can get to 38 wins. The West is loaded. And as long as Greg Poppovich is coaching the Spurs, I will forever put them in the playoffs. I flirted with leaving the Lakers out, but LeBron is the second greatest player ever, Brandon Ingram is going to make a huge leap and I think Luke Walton is a good coach. They will find their way to 47-50 wins and a 6 seed. But, in the end, the Warriors will beat whoever they face in the West Finals. I think they have a real shot at going undefeated in the playoffs, especially of Boogie is back and he buys in. I do not think it will be a rematch of last year's West Finals though. I LOVE the Jazz, and I think they are going to make the biggest jump. I have them as the 3, but I wouldn't be surprised if they get the 2, or if the Warriors play loose all regular season, the 1. Donovan Mitchell is a star, Rudy Gobert is the defensive anchor they need, and, I'm still shocked every time I write this, Quinn Snyder is a hell of an NBA coach. They have the goods. But it won't matter. The Warriors will sweep them in the West Finals.

That means we will have one new team, the Raptors, facing the Warriors, who will be in their 4th straight finals. And as great a defensive player Kawhi is, he can only guard one guy, and that will lead to another Warriors sweep and another Warriors title. The Warriors are just too god damn good. They are the Death Star.

As far as awards and other weird stuff I want to point out, lets start small. I said I'd have a surprise at Rookie of the Year, a minor surprise, and that pick for me is Collin Sexton. It is no secret that I love this kid. I know that Luka Doncic gets most of the love, and many GM's and players voted Deandre Ayton as the winner. But, I think Collin Sexton, once he supplants George Hill as the starting point guard, will be the main reason the Cavs make the playoffs. It won't be because of Kevin Love or JR Smith or anyone else on that roster, it will be Collin Sexton. That dude is built for greatness.

Defensive Player of the Year is Rudy Gobert. I know it is boring to pick the same guy over and over again, but I think he has surpassed Kawhi as the best overall defender in the league. He is an amazing rim protector, and he can switch onto guards. He is awesome.

Sixth Man of the Year is always a guess for me. I never really know who is going to be a 6th man on the good teams, so again, I'm going to go with an old staple and pick Lou Williams. He will find his way on a playoff team, he will be their best option off the bench and he will fill up the stat sheet. He is this generation's Jamal Crawford.

My Coach of the Year, and I think this might finally happen after picking him 2 years in a row, especially if his team makes the jump I think they will, I have Quinn Snyder. He has proven he can coach the hell out of an NBA team.

And for MVP I'm going with Giannis. It was between him and Anthony Davis for me, and I think Giannis will push him team a bit further in the playoffs, he will have the city of Milwaukee praising him, he will put up monster stats and I think he will lead the league in scoring. Giannis is the man.

As far as some off the wall stuff, first off, I think my pick of the Jazz playing in the West Finals is kind of out there. I also think that Steph will finally win a much deserved Finals MVP. I think the Suns will be a horrible team, but they will be one of the most fun teams to watch. They have so much young talent and they will try to put on a show. I think the Blazers will be the biggest disappointment in the NBA, which will lead to Damian Lillard being traded. I think people are very much overrating the Lakers right now. I heard someone say they would be a 55 win team and I laughed out loud. I also think their roster will look drastically different after 40 games. I wouldn't be shocked if both Lonzo Ball and Kyle Kuzma are on different teams after the All Star break. This whole Jimmy Butler thing is going to blow up in his face and Tom Thibodeau's face. Butler is on the other side of his prime, and he is oft injured. If I were a perennial playoff team I would not give him a max deal. That's what he wants, but I wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole. If he wants that he will end up on a team like the Knicks, Nets or Clippers. I also do not think Thibs will be the coach after Butler gets traded. He has been a disaster since he took that job, especially as a GM, and they will cut ties. I hope Kristaps Porzingis does not come back until he is 100 percent healthy because the NBA needs him in a big market. I think this rookie class is going to be a ton of fun to watch. And I think the faces of the league will start to shift to younger guys. Right now this is LeBron and Steph and KD's league, as it should be. But, I think people will start talking about Anthony Davis, Giannis and Donovan Mitchell as the new guys that will take over the league.

Okay, that does it for my 2018-19 NBA season preview. Please leave comments as to why I was wrong in my countdown, or why I was wrong with my post season picks. Or, let me know if you agree with me. The NBA is back. Time to celebrate and them watch the Warriors win again.

Ty

Ty's 2018-2019 NBA Preview: Pacers, Trailblazers, Jazz

As move to day 8 of my countdown we are in the cream of the crop. It kind of started yesterday, with the Nuggets starting out the top 10. But from here on out, all these teams have a shot to play the Warriors in the Finals. And by all these teams, I mean the teams in the East. The West teams are still good, possibly great, but lets not get it twisted, the Warriors are still the leaders. Lets get to it.

At number 9 I have the Indiana Pacers. Some writers have asked if last year was an anomaly, or if this is the new norm. I feel like this is the new norm for the Pacers. They have a star. They have a top 20, maybe even top 10 guy, in Victor Oladipo. He can create his own shot. He has a solid jumper. He is one of the best defenders in the league. He really came into his own last year, and all I see is his growth from here on out. He is a really, really good basketball player. He has some weapons around him too. I still think Myles Turner is going to break out. He is a true modern big man. He can protect the rim, he can rebound, he is enormous, and his jump shot is starting to fall. If he stays healthy, I feel like, second only to Brandon Ingram, he will have the biggest breakthrough. Domantas Sabonis showed those flashes that made him a lottery pick 2 years ago. While he doesn't pass like his dad, he is still a solid passer. He can also shoot the three. And, according to offseason reports, he has really bulked up, in a good way. He looks like a real threat as the third option on a perennial playoff team. I love that they got Tyreke Evans. He finally seemed to figure it out last year, and he became an instant offense guy. That is exactly what the Pacers need. Oh, and he actually tried on defense last year and he was okay. Evans was a low key great signing. They have Thad Young, and he is a perfectly capable backup big. Bojan Bogdanovic is another outside shooting threat. Darren Collison is a true point guard, and he is in a great situation for him as a player. Corey Joseph is a good backup at point guard. He has also played in many an important game. Doug McDermott is there, but he has been very blah as a pro. He has stuck around, but he has a real Jimmer Fredette feel to me. I really like Aaron Holiday as the point guard of the future. He is quick, shifty and is pass first. I loved that pick. I think this current iteration of the Pacers is going to be a headache for the East, and they will build on their success from last year. The Pacers are back.

At number 8 I have the Portland Trailblazers. This is, most likely, the last go round with Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum. They are a lethal, lethal back court scoring duo. They can put up tons and tons of points. Lillard is a legit super star. McCollum is a legit Robin. But, as the playoffs showed us last year, they are horrific defenders. They got owned by Jrue Holiday in the first round. They really need to work on that. But, both guys are good enough to outscore opponents, even in the West, and I think they will hover right around 50 wins. The rest of the roster is solid enough to work around their 2 stars. Evan Turner has never been the player many projected when he left college, but he is okay. He has a bit of a too high opinion of himself, and if he passed a bit more, that would be great. Meyers Leonard keeps getting in better and better shape, but he is still soft and cannot really stay on the court. He also doesn't have much of a jumper. I really like Al Faroq Aminu. He is a do it all player and I don't think he gets the credit he deserves. He is very important to this team. I'm still on the fence with Jusuf Nurkic. At times he looks great, then he looks slow and disinterested. They need him to fully engage. There was a time that he was considered more important than Nikola Jokic to the Nuggets. That guy needs to show up. Zach Collins looked like a possible bust early, but then he started to really play quality basketball. He is still super young, but he is talented, and I think he will only get better. They drafted Anfernee Simons, and while he is a project, I think a year or 2 playing behind and learning from Lillard will do him wonders. They signed both Seth Curry and Nik Stauskas for some outside shooting. Stauskas is a bust, I hate saying it because of Michigan, but he has not been a good pro. Curry is fine, but he is so often injured, you just cannot count on him. These signings were odd. And Mo Harkless is solid. The Trailblazers know what they have to do to win, and as long as Lillard and McCollum are cooking, which they are a lot, they will win 50 games as I said before.

My final team for the day, coming in at number 7, I have the Utah Jazz. I almost, almost put this team in my top 5. I love this team. I never thought that I would say that about the Jazz, but they are fun to watch. Donovan Mitchell is tremendous. He is already, very early in his career, a top 15 player, and he will soon be a top 10 guy. He is hyper athletic, can shoot, can create, plays defense and always wants to get better. He is an amazing basketball player. The Jazz got a gift when he fell to them at 13 in the draft last year. Rudy Gobert is the best defensive player in the NBA. He is nearly impossible to score on. He does pretty decent at switching. He is a tremendous rebounder. He is a great finisher. He can't shoot, but he doesn't have to. I hope he stays healthy all year. Ricky Rubio has finally found a great place to play. He isn't needed to score, he can spread the ball out and he can get under other point guard's skin. It is nice to see him having fun and playing free and loose. I didn't think Joe Ingles would be able to sustain his solid play, but he proved me very wrong. He is a great three point shooter and a very solid defender. Jae Crowder got away from Cleveland, and landing in Utah was exactly what he needed. Guys like Rubio can find him for the open three, Gobert opens the paint for him and Mitchell takes the defense's focus away from him. Thabo Sefolosha is there for his defense, and that is a good thing. Derrick Favors can still get buckets. Dante Exum, while never living up to the hype, is a serviceable back up point guard, if healthy. Alec Burks is a pure scorer. The only thing I dislike about this team is Grayson freaking Allen. That kid is a punk, and I am so mad that a team I enjoy watching drafted him. He won't play any meaning minutes, but that won't stop ESPN from talking about him. This is Donovan Mitchell's team, and that is so wonderful. The Jazz are a good and fun team to watch, and the West should be afraid of this team. They are coming and they are young and they are good.

That's it for today. Come back next week. That is the best of the best.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet. 

Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

Why in the Hell Did the Utah Jazz Pick the All Hype, No Talent, Grayson Allen

Why Utah? Why?

A new week, but I still have some basketball stuff I want to get off my chest. As I said, after my draft recap last week, I have a big time problem with Grayson Allen being a first round pick, and with the team that chose him.

First of all, Allen never got better while at Duke. In fact, he got much worse as his career went on. Now, if all you do is watch ESPN, you probably think that I am just a "hater", or misinformed. But, I am one of the very few people out here that still watch, and pay close attention to, NCAA basketball. And when it comes to Duke, I hate watch them. I have talked about hate watching before on the site. I watch them with hopes that they will, not only get beat, but get crushed. I watch them to root against them. I do not care who they are playing, I root against them no matter what. So, I have been very, very aware of Grayson Allen since he was a freshman. I feel as if he played his best game as a freshman, and it just so happened in the title game. Allen kind of burst onto the scene on a team that featured pros like Jahlil Okafor, Justice Winslow and Tyus Jones. I know none of those guys have been great in the pros, but they were all first round picks, lottery picks in Okafor and Winslow's case, and they are all still in the league. Well, Allen played right up to their level in that game. And, from the moment he stepped on the floor, with his stupid, smug face, I immediately despised him. He just had that look, He looked like a Duke player. If you watch college basketball, you know exactly what I am talking about. He had this look of superiority, like he was better than everyone else. He looks like a kid born with a golden spoon in his mouth, who was never told no. I just despised him.

Then, when all those freshman at Duke left for the pros, I had to hear ESPN shout to the mountains that Grayson Allen was going to be the second coming of JJ Redick, or dare they say, Christian Laetenner. This made me dislike him even more. But, I still paid attention. I wanted to see if this kid was the real deal, or if he was a flash in the pan. And, while he showed flashes, he was always overshadowed by some other incoming freshman on Duke it seemed. He would go into each year, his sophomore, junior and senior year, and he was always the preseason ACC, preseason All American and preseason consensus player of the year. He won all the preseason awards. But, when it came to actual games, he was more known for his antics than his play. He was also, as I said before, overshadowed by incoming recruits. Where Allen didn't grow as a player, he grew as a joke. He was the guy that tripped and kicked players. He was who opposing crowds booed the most. He was a third and fourth and fifth option. He was just a guy that was around. And had it not been for ESPN, he would have just faded into the background. Guys that he played with, guys like all their stud freshman when they won the title, then players like Marvin Bagley, Trevon Duvall, Wendell Carter, Jayson Tatum, Luke Kennard, Harry Giles and Brandon Ingram, just to name a few, where all better than him in college. Allen became a joke, like I stated. He never, ever lived up to the hype. He never won player of the year, or even ACC player of the year. He was never the top player on his own team. He never took the last shot. He was never trusted. He just never really did anything of note, besides trying to inflict bodily harm on players that were besting him. That, and his constant temper tantrums on the Duke sideline.

It all should have stopped there. But no, the freaking Utah Jazz, who I was just starting to like, decided he was worthy of a first round pick. I despised both the Jazz and the Bulls in the 90's. I was, and always will be, a Supersonics fan. I didn't like the Bulls because I didn't appreciate their greatness. I now understand, and very much appreciate, what the Bulls did. And, MJ is the GOAT. Fight me on this. I also despised the Jazz because I did not like John Stockton or Karl Malone. Malone shrunk when the lights were the brightest, and Stockton is most definitely the dirtiest player ever. I CANNOT stand either of those guys. Yes, they are well deserved hall of fame players, but I still loathe them both. Then, the Jazz kind of had this mini renaissance with guys like Gordon Hayward, Derrick Favors, Rudy Gobert, Alec Burks and Trey Burke. I kind of enjoyed this team. I also like Rodney Hood on this team. And even last year, when Hayward left, I loved that they went out and got Ricky Rubio, and they drafted my new favorite player, Donovan Mitchell, and it all worked. Hell, I am even rooting for Mitchell to win ROY tonight, and Snyder to win COY. But, they had to go and screw all of this good will I built up for them by taking this overrated, no more than a bench player that will never average double figures in what I'm most assured will be a very short NBA career. And to watch him put that hat on, and see that stupid smug smile again brought back all that dislike I had for him.

Grayson Allen is a scrub. Grayson Allen is a poor man's Jimmer Fredette. Grayson Allen will not even be a viable G League player. I hate this pick so much, and I hope that it will not mess with all the good that Donovan Mitchell did last year. Mitchell is the star of that team and that is the only major player they should cover on all sports networks. Him, and Rudy Gobert too, and a little Ricky Rubio coverage is fine too. But, I swear, if ESPN tries to shoehorn Grayson Allen as a reason why the Jazz are a playoff contender, I will lose my shit. This pick really pisses me off to no end. What a dumb choice, that will bite them inn the ass sooner rather than later.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on all the internet.

Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

The Utah Jazz's Donovan Mitchell Does Not Look Like a Rookie

I know that I have talked about my 2 favorite football teams the past 2 days, but today I'm going to talk basketball. And no, I am not going to talk about a team, I'm going to talk about a player.

What Donovan Mitchell has done in his first 2 NBA playoff games is beyond impressive. I was already a fan of this kid, but man has he won me aboard with his last 2 games. He has, pretty much all season, been the Jazz only hope on offense. For a team to give the keys over to a rookie, and trust him like they have is very impressive. And, the way Mitchell has responded is incredible.

Mitchell will not win Rookie of the Year, Ben Simmons sewed that up, but he has been, by far, the best rookie in the first 2 playoff games, and his year end stretch is second to none, literally. With his 28 point performance last night, he officially surpassed Michael Jordan, the GOAT, for most points in a player's first 2 playoff games ever. He single handily won that game last night. Hell, if not for Paul George going bonkers in game one, and if he didn't hurt his foot, Mitchell could have won game one too. He did put up 27 in that game. He is doing it all on offense for the Jazz, and he is doing it at as high a level as anyone playing right now, with LeBron being the lone exception.

Along with Mitchell, the Jazz have a very, very good defense. Rudy Gobert is awesome. Ricky Rubio is a thorn in opponent point guards side. Derrick Favors can do some stuff. Jae Crowder, while not as good as he once was, can still pressure players. But, their offense would be dreadful if not for Mitchell. I love Gobert, but he is an old school center. His 2 main objectives when he is on the floor is to block shots and rebound. Every now and then he will throw down an alley oop or get a put back dunk, but he is most known for defense. Ricky Rubio may be shooting more this year, but he has never been an offensive threat his entire career. He may be trying to get better, but he is what he is, a wonderful passer and a headache. Joe Ingles can shoot the three, but that is it. He is not great for pretty much anything else. Derrick Favors was, at one time, a good offensive player, but he is getting older and his game is not what it once was.

This all means that the Jazz have to lean on Mitchell, and he is answering the bell. He is being guarded by all of the Thunder's best defensive players, except Andre Roberson since he is hurt, and he is doing things that a 9 year All Star does, not a rookie. He is making shots. He is getting to the rim. He is getting to the foul line. He is making life miserable for the Thunder, and he is a rookie. That is insane. I don't think people realize that what he is doing is truly impressive. The Thunder have the 2 best guys on the floor at any time in this series, Russ and PG, but Mitchell is outplaying them both right now if you ask me. He is also being talked about much more than either of those guys too. If George didn't have that 36 point game in game 1, the story would have all been all about Mitchell. He crushed it in game 1, then came out and played even better in game 2.

I looked around at the other rookies in the playoffs, and the only one that even comes close is Simmons. Jayson Tatum has been fine for the Celtics, but he is just doing what he has to do for them. That is what has made him so good in his rookie campaign. Simmons is going off, almost getting a triple double in their game one win, but he was kind of neutralized in game 2. Then as you go down the line, the rookies getting real time gets real thin. Semi Ojeley is doing some things for Boston, but nothing to write home about. OG Anounoby has been good, but much like Tatum, he is doing what is asked of him, nothing more. Jordan Bell, who was playing a ton early in the season, has seen his minutes drop in the playoffs.

When you really break it down, Mitchell is outplaying all of his rookie peers, and dare I say, he may be the second best player in all of the playoffs right now, behind only LeBron James. He is killing it out on the floor. He is the reason the Jazz were picked by many to win this series, and he is living up to the hype. I'm sure the awards have already been decided, but he is doing some things that would have made it more difficult to pick between him and Simmons.

The Jazz go as Donovan Mitchell goes, and right now, that is a good thing. Right now, they don't miss Gordon Hayward, Rodney Hood or George Hill because they have Mitchell to lean on. I'm so excited to watch this kid play, and I cannot wait to see him rise to superstardom very soon. He is going to be a multiple All Star, and I wouldn't be shocked if he starts getting mentioned as the future of the NBA right along with Joel Embiid, Lonzo Ball and Ben Simmons.

Donovan Mitchell is awesome, and he makes me excited for the future of the NBA. This kid is amazing. Watch him if you haven't yet. It is so worth it.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on all the internet.

Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

Ty's 2017-2018 NBA Preview: Hornets, Jazz, Nuggets

Again, I have a another quick hot take I need to get off my chest before I get back to my NBA countdown. Jerry Jones and the other NFL owners that are saying that players have to stand for the anthem or they will be punished need to shut their god damn mouths. These grown men can do whatever the hell they want. Kneeling for the anthem is them expressing their right to free speech. I'd love to see some big time players, especially guys like Dak Prescott, Ezekial Elliot and Dez Bryant all sit for the anthem, and see how that dickhead Jerry Jones and these other racist, selfish, asshole owners react. It needs to be an important player that is willing to take a stand against these monsters. I have lost any respect I may have gained for these holier than thou owners that basically used the mass protests as a photo op after this news came out. You guys do not own these players. This isn't the 19th century. Screw you selfish, maniacal, stupid racist owners. You are the worst.

Okay, back to the countdown.

At number 15 I have the Charlotte Hornets. They were number 13 until the other day when I heard about Nic Batum's injury. He is massively important to this team, and if he misses as much time as some are saying, it may be tough sledding. Luckily for the Hornets, they have Kemba Walker and they play in the East. Walker is awesome. He is a quieter version of Russell Westbrook. He plays extremely hard every night. He makes big shots all the time. He plays solid defense. I love that he made the All Star team last year. I love Kemba Walker. The rest of the roster is just solid enough for this team to win between 40-42 games. Michael Kidd Gilchrist hasn't really been any threat on offense, and he does get hurt a lot, but when he is out there, he plays some good defense, which is what the Hornets hang their hat on. Cody Zeller is the better Zeller brother. He can kind of score in the low post, and he knows what type of player he is. Frank Kaminsky, while not great, isn't the bust I assumed he'd be. He does little things that help this team out, and he can kind of shoot from the outside if he is open. Marvin Williams has quietly had a decent NBA career after being labeled a bust. He is decent on offense, and long on defense. I love the pick of Mailk Monk even if Monk isn't thrilled to be there. If/when he gets over not being picked by the Knicks, he can be great instant offense off the bench. I'd love to see him and Walker play together. Jeremy Lamb and Michael Carter Williams are just not that good. Carter Williams cannot shoot, and Lamb just doesn't look engaged at all. The Hornets traded for Dwight Howard. I don't know what will happen, but if he fully commits, he can help this team. He is more likely done, but maybe, just maybe, he can play hard enough to help this team make the playoffs. The Hornets will play solid defense and be involved in a bunch of games with scores like 80-78 and 76-73. They will do enough to make the playoffs, but the Batum injury is a brutal blow.

At number 14 I have the Utah Jazz. I am very aware that they lost George Hill, and more importantly, Gordon Hayward. I've never really understood the hype around Hayward. He is a fine player, but a top 20 NBA guy? No way. I don't think losing him will be that big of a deal. I actually think Rodney Hood will step in his spot nicely. He can shoot and attack the rim. I love Rudy Gobert. He dominated the Clippers in the first round last year, especially when he got back from his injury. He is one of the best rim protectors in the NBA, and he is only getting better on offense. Ricky Rubio is a nice fit to take over for George Hill. He can't shoot, but he can run an offense. He is also underrated as a defender. I do think that Donovan Mitchell will eventually be taking over the point guard duties. Mitchell was awesome in college, and I think he will be awesome in the pros. He is wildly athletic, and, once he figures out the NBA, he is going to be great for a long time. Joe Ingles got big money from this team, and while I think they paid him too much, the Jazz like him and what he brings to this team. Joe Johnson is still hanging around, and he is still a very efficient scorer. He was their best player in the playoffs last year, by far. Dante Exum is out for the year, and I think it is time to close the door on this kid being a prime time player. He can't stay healthy, and when he is on the floor, he is kind of meh. Alec Burks can still score and play a little defense. Hopefully Derrick Favors is fully recovered from his injury because I think he is still a very competent player. They signed Jonas Jerebko and Thabo Sefolosha this offseason. Both guys should excite Jazz fans. Jerebko can stretch the floor and Sefolosha is still one of the best defenders in the league. He can hit open shots too. They're also giving Ekpe Udoh a second chance, and he was crushing it overseas. I hope he brings that game with him back to the NBA. The Jazz lost a "big" name, but I think they will be just fine. They are a tenacious defensive oriented team, and while RD may not agree, Quinn Snyder has proven to be a hell of an NBA coach. This team will be back in the playoffs this year.

At number 13 I have the Denver Nuggets. I'm high on this team, but not as high as some other people are. But, I love the roster construct, they just need to find a true point guard. I thought Emmanuel Mudiay was the answer, but he hasn't been very good his first couple seasons in the NBA, and I do not think the Nuggets trust him. Jamal Murray is more of a 2 guard, but the Nuggets have flirted with playing him at the point. That is not his game. And Jameer Nelson may as well be 100 years old in basketball age. He is a fine player still, but he has played a ton of minutes and he is only getting older. What the Nuggets have is a good to possibly great front court. I love Kenneth Faried. I know some people don't think that highly of him, but he is such a hustler. That dude can rebound and run the floor with the best of them. He never stops going and attacking the basket for rebounds and put back dunks. Nikola Jokic is the real deal. He is an incredible passer and spreads the floor perfectly in the modern NBA. He is so god damn good. Getting Paul Milsap was enormous for this team. He is an older version of Jokic. I cannot wait to see the 2 of them play together and run this offense. It will be pure joy for the eyes. Wilson Chandler, while always in trade rumors, can still score in bunches. Gary Harris has turned himself into quite the NBA player. He just got a massive extension, but it was well deserved. Juan Hernangomez has the potential to break out this year. He showed some flashes last year, and this year, he should take the next step. Malik Beasley is also, quietly, a very good scorer. The Nuggets will return to the playoffs this season based on the abilities of their front court players. This team would be near the top of the West if they had a real point guard. But for now, they will be somewhere in the 5-8 range for seeding. The Nuggets are coming.

That is it for today, come back tomorrow for the next three teams.

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet. 

Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

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Gordon Hayward Joining the Celtics Does Not Change A Thing in the NBA

Gordon Hayward officially signed with the Boston Celtics yesterday for 4 years and around 120 million dollars. This surprised me, as many of you may have already read, I thought he was going back to Utah, but I guess it shouldn't have. He was rumored to be going there all season, they had the most money outside of Utah to offer and his college coach, who he has known since 9th grade, is the coach of the Celtics now. And after a whole day of back and forth, it was nice to get a final decision from him before I went to bed.

As I watched some talking heads sports shows, many people were very happy with the signing and talked about how it made the Celtics so much better, and a real threat to the Cavs, or whatever team LeBron ends up on if he stays in the East. People also praised his decision to head out East since it seems all the good free agents signed with Western Conference teams. They claimed that playing for Boston will give him deeper playoff runs than anything he could have done had he stayed in Utah. No matter the fact that the Jazz were/are an up and coming team, he now, at least on paper, has a much easier path to a conference finals, and perhaps one day, the NBA Finals.

The initial reactions I heard and watched and read the more I disagreed with what most of what these people were saying. I was watching Summer League basketball because I'm a hoops junkie, and during halftime of a Jazz-Spurs game, the commentators were talking about the signing and how it shapes up going into next season for Boston. They continually showed their starting 5, with some key reserves. The 5 presumable starters were Isiah Thomas at guard, Avery Bradley at guard, Gordon Hayward and Jae Crowder as the 3 and 4, and Al Horford as their center. The key reserves were Marcus Smart, Jaylen Brown, Kelly Olynk and rookie Jayson Tatum. That was another thing people praised, Danny Ainge didn't have to give up any "assets" to acquire Hayward.

The more NBA TV showed this roster the more I just kind of shrugged. Sure, it looks okay, but they were still the one seed last year with Amir Johnson, Olynk and Brown in Hayward's place. Yes, Hayward does give them an additional threat alongside Thomas, but is that good enough to beat the true title contending teams? I don't think so. Hayward made the right choice, since he left, to go to a team filled with role players, but I just do not see this current Celtics roster as any real threat. I already mentioned how they were the one seed in the East this most recent playoffs, but that didn't matter. The Cavs still destroyed them in five games. You may read that and say, but they didn't have Thomas. Okay, add Hayward and maybe they win one more game. There is no way that they will beat the Cavs as long as LeBron and Kyrie are there.

Also, Thomas, who I love, is coming off of hip surgery, he is getting older and he is listed generously at 5'9. Adding Hayward may take some pressure off Thomas, as far as needing to go to the rim, but he is not the greatest outside shooter. He is a decent outside shooter, but he makes his living hitting floaters and going to the basket to either draw contact or make circus layups. Hayward is a better outside shooter, but not as much a threat as some sports media would have you believe. Outside of those 2 guys, the only other outside threat they have is Avery Bradley, and I say that very loosely. Marcus Smart can't shoot. Jaylen Brown could be good, but he seems more like an explosive player. I know people are fawning over Tatum's early summer league performances, but remember when D'Angelo Russell was the star of summer league last year? How'd that work out for him and the Lakers? He is also a 19 year old rookie. Teams won't take him seriously, at least not the important teams.

It is a nice story that Hayword is going back to play for his college coach, but I had heard that he and Quinn Snyder had gotten real close, so why leave him now, one season after winning 51 games? I don't deny that he wants to play for Brad Stevens due to knowing him since he was 15, but I think his decision was much more based on the competition level in the East compared to the West. The West got so much better this offseason, while the East, well, it is like the JV version of the NBA, with the Cavs being the lone exception. Hell, if everyone can stay healthy for 65 games, the 76ers could push for an 8 seed. The only real decent teams in the East not named the Cavs are, the Celtics, Wizards, Bucks and Raptors. Every other team is a toss up. That means that of the 11 teams left in the East, if they can win anywhere between 38-41 games, they could get into the playoffs. We will have some West teams with 45 or more wins that may not make the playoffs. So don't tell me the decision was almost solely based on playing for your college coach.

Anyway, I do not think this signing tips the scales in any meaningful way for the Celtics. They were already a playoff ready team, who made the East Finals last year. But I don't think Gordon Hayward is ever going to be the answer to who can you get to beat LeBron. And lets just say that they somehow beat the Cavs and the Celtics make the Finals. I'd still take the Warriors, obviously, but I'd also take the Rockets, Spurs and Thunder to beat them in 6 games or less. I believe in my NBA preseason preview for this most recent season I had the Celtics somewhere in the top ten, maybe 7th or 8th (ed note - it was 4th best in the league). I will not be putting them any higher when I do my preseason preview for this upcoming season. Just off the top of my head, I know the Cavs, Warriors and Spurs are better than them. I also think the Rockets, Thunder, Wizards and maybe even the Raptors might be better than them too, which puts them as my 8th best team right now.

I'm sure Celtics fans will call me a "hater" or something stupid like that, but Gordon Hayward does not move the needle like a Jimmy Butler or Paul George would have for this team. Those 2 guys are far superior players. We will have to wait and see.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet. 

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The Insane NBA Off-Season is Looking for it's Dramatic Gordon Hayward Conclusion

We are now firmly entrenched in NBA free agency, and it has been wild.

First off, more things happened before midnight eastern time on July 1st, the "official" start of free agency. In fact, most of the big stuff happened before free agency started. It all began on draft night when the Bulls inexplicably traded Jimmy Butler to the Timberwolves for nothing. The Bulls got fleeced, and I thought it wasn't going to get any crazier from there. And, for awhile, that was the case. Nothing too major happened prior to July 1st. Small things like Ricky Rubio being traded to the Jazz, which I think is a very good move by the Jazz, Rajon Rondo and Gerald Henderson being released, John Wall got offered a mega extension, he has yet to sign and Blake Griffin got the max from the Clippers after they traded Chris Paul, the other big move.

Then at about 8:30pm on June 30th my phone blew up. I thought the Chris Paul and Jimmy Butler trades were going to be the biggest deals, but the Thunder, you read that right, acquired Paul George for Victor Oladipo and Domantos Sabonis. I mean, WOW! The Thunder got Paul George for a second year player and a guy that hasn't lived up to the hype yet. They didn't even have to trade any future picks for Paul George! I don't care if it is just a one year thing, this is crazy.

I like this trade so much more than the Chris Paul to the Rockets trade. This is a much, much better pairing than Paul and Harden. Paul George is an excellent sidekick to Russell Westbrook. He plays excellent defense, can hit the open shot and he will take a ton of offensive pressure off Westbrook for one season. This could catapult the Thunder to the same level as the Spurs and Rockets. This doesn't make them a true threat to the Warriors, but no one in the NBA is a threat to them. I love this trade for the Thunder so very much. This makes them instantly better. I'm pretty sure it will only be for one season, I think that both George and Westbrook may bolt for LA next season, but for one year, they will make OKC almost as good as they were with KD. This trade shocked me. Especially for what Indiana got in return. They had to have had better offers, but they pulled the trigger on the trade to the Thunder. I'm sure Boston, Philadelphia or even the Rockets could have made a better offer, but we may never know. The fact that the Celtics, once again, did not do anything keeps me thinking that Danny Ainge is the boy who cried wolf, and he will continue to sit on assets forever. I'll get to more of that later.

After the shockwave of the Paul George trade, I did not know what to expect next. I woke up the next day and saw that Steph Curry got the super max from Golden State. This was well deserved and he is finally being paid like the super star that he is. The Warriors also got Shaun Livingston on a cheaper deal. David West resigned for the veterans minimum for his last season and after "flirting" with free agency, Andre Iguodala signed a three year deal to stay with the Warriors. The Warriors pretty much stayed put, as they should. They are the best team in all of basketball, and as soon as KD re signs, they are set.

I have a few thoughts on some "minor" moves. I was a little surprised to see Patty Mills re up with San Antonio, but then I saw the deal pays him almost 15 million a year for the next 4 years, and he will be a much bigger part of that team next season. Jeff Teague left Indiana after one disastrous season, and he is now a Timberwolf. The T'Wolves are making some really good moves, and I think they are preparing to be a playoff team next year. They also went out and got a veteran leader, who previously played for Thibodeau, in Taj Gibson. That is another solid signing. Taj Gibson was the only guy that helped Westbrook in the playoffs for the Thunder last year. He is not afraid of big time games. Some smaller named guys like Tony Snell, Cristiano Felicio, Nene and Kyle Korver all re signed with their current teams for average deals. Jrue Holiday signed an enormous deal to stay with the Pelicans, but I was not a fan of the move. The Pelicans need so much more help. I know they were much better with him on the floor last year, but is he really going to put this team over teams like the Spurs, Thunder, Rockets, Timberwolves and Warriors? No way. I don't even think this move makes them a lock playoff team. They are fringe at best, even with Holiday. Langston Galloway got overpaid by Detroit. They must have serious buyers remorse in the deal they gave Reggie Jackson last year, because of they are giving Galloway 7 million dollars a year to back him up, yeesh. That shows no faith in their point guard if you ask me. JJ Redick joined "The Process" on a 1 year 23 million dollar deal. That is an insane amount of money for one year for a guy that only shoots threes. I do not think JJ Redick puts the 76ers over the top. Sure, it will be nice for the young guys to have a vet around, but I'd rather have Taj Gibson than JJ Redick. Especially at the deal each was given. Amir Johnson also signed a one year deal with Philly. Ho hum. Michael Carter-Williams is on the move again. This dude can't seem to get it right after winning rookie of the year awhile back. He was a disaster in Milwaukee, and he was even worse in Chicago. He seems to be the 8th or 9th guy off the bench for Charlotte as long as he is there. Joe Ingles got overpaid by Utah, but they seem to keep doing anything they can to keep Gordon Hayward. Ingles had a decent playoff run, but almost 9 million a year is way too much money for him. Houston did get a good, tough vet to team up with Nene in the front court in PJ Tucker. I like what Tucker brings to this team as far as toughness goes, but I don't know how he will fit into their offensive scheme. He's a good rebounder and defender, but he may not have the skill set to run like the Rockets, and Harden, like to.

One of the biggest surprises, especially when I saw the deals, was when Serge Ibaka and Kyle Lowry both re upped with Toronto. Both signed three year deals, and the contracts seem to be easy to get rid of if it doesn't work out for Toronto. I thought that Lowry was going to go to Philly, but they drafted Fultz, so then I thought Minnesota was his next stop, but they signed Teague. No one else really needed a point guard, so he chose to stay. He got a great big contract, which was deserved, now lets see if he can help put the Raptors over the top. Ibaka got the same years but 35 million dollars less. I think the market was very thin for him and he took the best deal he got. This is perfect for him and the Raptors. He needs to be surrounded by great offensive guys, which he has in Lowry and DeRozan, and he can flourish. I watched him do it for about 4 years in OKC. Serge Ibaka will be just fine in Toronto.

A hidden gem of a move is the Ben McLemore deal. McLemore is finally out of the hell hole that is Sacramento, and he is now a member of the Grizzlies. I love this fit. He gives them much needed scoring from the perimeter, and it always seems when a high draft pick leaves Sacramento lately, they do much better on their new teams.

The biggest news of today, July 3rd, so far, is Paul Milsap signing with Denver for 90 million over 3 years, with a team option for the third year. That means, to the layman, that Denver can release him after the second year there if they don't like what they have seen out of him. This deal is great for both Milsap and Denver. Milsap and Nikola Jokic will make a very good front court, and Denver has basically nothing at stake. This is a win win.

The only big names really left on the market are Rondo, if you still think he is a big name, George Hill, who I hope goes to San Antonio and finally get to play for the team that drafted him, Leandro Barbosa, who is 35, and Gordon Hayward, the white whale. I personally think, and hope, that he will stay in Utah. That is a very good, up and coming team. They won a playoff series last year, they have a great young, modern NBA center in Rudy Gobert, they traded for a pass first point guard and they have a very good bench and a very good coach.

Take Utah out of the Hayward picture, there are only two other teams that seem like viable options. Does he go to Miami or Boston? If he goes to Miami, he will be "the man", and I don't think Hayward is ready for that. He is a good basketball player, but he doesn't seem like the kind of player you build around. Also, I like what the Heat are doing with youth, and taking on guys like Dion Waiters and letting them play as freely as they want. Gordon Hayward should not be the focal point of a team, and I do not think he will ever be the best player on a title contender. He needs to be part of a group of great players. He can't be THE player.

This brings up to Boston. The Celtics, and Danny Ainge, seem to think he is coming to them wrapped in a bow. His college coach is the coach there now. They have a good group of role players that are all very good at their specific set of skills. They have a good amount of money/assets to throw around. They were the one seed in the East in the most recent playoffs. Everything seems to be written in stone.

But, this is where I go back to Danny Ainge being the boy who cried wolf. Every year the Celtics are going to get some big time player. Every year they are just on the precipice of signing one of the hot free agents. Every year is the year they get guy or guys that will help them dethrone whatever team LeBron is on. And every year, they do nothing. I cannot take that team seriously anymore. This year they were going to get either Paul George, he is on the Thunder now, Jimmy Butler, he's a T'Wolve and Blake Griffin, who chose to stay in LA. So why now would they get Hayward? Nothing they have done the past three years proves to me that they can sign a big time free agent. I also think that Hayward would be better off staying put in Utah. I will believe it when I see it with Boston, but for now, I do not see Boston signing Hayward. They keep saying they are going to do things like this, they had "deals" for George, Butler and Griffin and nothing happened. They had deals in place for Kevin Love and others before him and nothing happened. So why would anything happen now?

Now that free agency has officially started,Gordon Hayward is the last big name left. Unfortunately for Boston and their fans, I think he will stay put in Utah. Now lets get a decision Mr. Hayward.

Oh, and keep on bringing the surprises NBA off-season.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet. 

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It is Long Past Time to Blow Up the LA Clippers

The best cure for the current Clippers roster sheet

Something incredible happened yesterday. And by incredible, I mean that it was such a great sight to see the Los Angeles Clippers, once again, bow out very early in the NBA playoffs. They got beat, handily I might add, by the Jazz in the seventh game of their first round matchup.

The Clippers had everything, minus one Blake Griffin injury, in their favor to easily win this series and advance to face the Warriors. They had the home court. They had the best overall player in the series, Chris Paul. They had what many presumed was the better back court and front court. They won a pivotal game 6 on the Jazz home floor. They should have won. Instead, they played some of the most uninspired basketball that I have ever seen. They looked defeated from the get go. Chris Paul looked tired. DeAndre Jordan was a complete non factor. Austin Rivers horrific offense was on full display. JJ Redick cannot shoot the three with any real consistency anymore, and he has become a total liability on defense. Jamal Crawford never found a rhythm in this series ever. Luc Mbah A Moute is a horrific offensive player, and his defense is not much better. Wesley Johnson could not get on the floor due to several matchup problems. Paul Pierce, as much as I love him as a basketball player, looked done in game 41 this year. The Clippers just stunk up the court last night.

I was happy by this, but I at least thought the Clippers would put up some kind of fight. The Jazz controlled everything about that game yesterday. Rudy Gobert was an absolute beast in the post. Gordon Hayward was doing what he has done all season long. George Hill was running their offense to near perfection. Joe Johnson looked so much better than any Clipper, save for Chris Paul. Derrick Favors looked awesome yesterday too. Hell, even Quinn Snyder outcoached Doc Rivers yesterday. It was so crazy. Doc Rivers is a NBA champion, and he got outcoached by a guy that got fired by the University of Missouri once upon a time. Now, Quinn Snyder is a much better coach now than he was back then, but still, for him to have a much better game plan than Doc Rivers was baffling.

I've said it way more than once on the site and I will say it once again, time to blow this shit up LA Clippers. This team is going nowhere, and they will continue to go nowhere as long as they keep this core group together. First off, Chris Paul is their best player, far and away, and one of the best point guards to ever play in the NBA, but he is old and getting to the point in his career where he cannot be the unequivocal leader of a title contender. He would be better suited going to a team like San Antonio or Miami this offseason, but I'm sure he will resign with the Clippers because they can offer him the most money. This summer will prove to us what he cares about more, money or titles. Resigning with the Clippers is a clear sign because they are not going to be a contender, especially in the West. Blake Griffin is an unrestricted free agent, and many teams will want him to come play for them, but he is oft injured, and I think his best days are behind him. Go back and read my piece from last Monday to get my full thoughts on Blake Griffin. He's done. DeAndre Jordan is who he will always be in the NBA. He is a decent pick and roll guy that can dunk the ball, but that is it. He is not a great rebounder, he is a subpar rim protector, an awful free throw shooter, cannot shoot outside the lane and seems disinterested in big time games. He is very big and strong, but he plays very small. JJ Redick is a free agent, just like Blake Griffin, but if Griffin is washed up, where does that put JJ Redick? He used to be a reliable three point shooter, but he doesn't even have that anymore. He is also a horrid defender. Good luck to whatever sub .500 team gives him 15 million a year. Paul Pierce, thankfully and mercifully, is retired now. He was so great once, but since he left Boston, save for one season in Washington, he has looked like a shell of himself. He looked completely washed up when I watched him play yesterday. I love you Paul Pierce, but that was painful.

Other than that, who do the Clippers have that will scare the Warriors, Rockets, Spurs, hell even the Thunder and Jazz now? All those teams are better, and I think that Portland is going to surpass them next season as well. So, if they stay pat with their "big three" of Paul, Jordan and Griffin, I still think, at the very best, they will be a 7 seed in the West. They cannot compete with those other teams, plain and simple. I know that Steve Ballmer, who I loathe, and the front office and Doc Rivers the GM wants to resign all these guys, just don't. It is an exercise in futility. As the saying goes, if you keep doing the same thing and expect a different outcome, that's the sign that you're a crazy person, or something like that. As I already stated, Chris Paul would be better suited going to a team in the East, or to a Western Conference team like the Spurs or Rockets. Blake Griffin needs a change of scenery something fierce. He doesn't have the drive that a guy like Chris Paul demands from his teammates and he has always seemed to clash with him. They need to breakup. DeAndre Jordan will stick around most likely, but he will never be the star that some thought he would be. I don't see Jamal Crawford, JJ Redick, Mbah A Moute or Wesley Johnson coming back or making any contribution of note if they do. Austin Rivers is, unfortunately for Clippers fans, probably the "future" at point guard. That is a scary thought. The Clippers also have no real depth or young guys that they have helped to get better.

The LA CLippers are a team begging for a tear down. I thought they should have done it after they blew a 3-1 lead to the Rockets 3 seasons ago, but after seeing them play yesterday, I am more than certain that they need a full rebuild. We will see what the offseason brings, but I do not want to hear anymore sports writers proclaim that next year is the Clippers year. They are so far behind, at the very least, 5 teams in their own conference. They are also never going to beat a team like Cleveland, Boston or even Washington or Toronto from the East. They are a middle of the pack team at best right now, so why bring this group back? It makes no sense, and I say, blow it the hell up. That is the best thing for the future of this team, in my opinion. Chris Paul deserves better, Blake Griffin needs a change of scenery, and I think Doc Rivers does too. I say RIP to the Clippers "big three", and their "shot at a title". It is done. They are finished.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. He takes joy in three things, his family, his food, and being right about the LA CLippers.

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Ty Tells You How each NBA Team Can Win the Title: Rockets, Trailblazers, and the Jazz

Day 7 of my NBA countdown has us finally getting to the top 10. It will be team number 10, but we are on our way to the elite. The best of the best. What separates the teams from being elite today are any number of things. Some don't think defense is important. Others are a bit too young, and don't have the necessary experience to go any further than round 2. Some are just one or two players away from being truly competitive. These teams are good, and may make some noise, but none will go any further than round 2 of the playoffs this year. Here we go.

At number 12, I have the Houston Rockets. Man, did this team underachieve last year. They were a year removed from the West finals, and they went out of the playoffs last year with barely a whimper. They did finally get rid of Dwight Howard, but I don't think he was the sole problem. This team does not care about defense at all, and it all starts with their star player, James Harden. Harden is one of the best scorers in the league right now. He can make shots from anywhere. He is deadly from down town. He gets to the free throw line regularly and he will always have the ball in his hands. The problem, he simply thinks that defense is optional. Harden is a horrendous defender. He doesn't even try, which makes it worse. Sure, he can go for 30 any given night, but the guy he is guarding is just as capable of putting up 30. The hiring of Mike Dantoni won't help out his, or the team's defense for that matter. Dantoni is an offensive wizard, but he, much like Harden, thinks defense is optional. This team will score a ton, but they will give up a ton of points too. There are some other decent pieces on this roster. Patrick Beverly is a pesky defender and okay point guard. He may be the only guy on this team that tries on the defensive end. But, when you have Harden as your point guard, having Beverly is kind of pointless. He won't do all that much for the Rockets this year, except annoy their opponents. The Donatas Montejunas hype is over. He is never healthy. He can't score like projected, and he, like most of the roster, could care less about stopping his man. Montejunas is kind of a waste. They signed Ryan Anderson and Eric Gordon this offseason. Both are good offensive players. Anderson is a great shooter, but he is just as bad on defense as Harden is. Gordon, when healthy, is a very good, all star caliber player, but he can't stay healthy, and he too thinks defense is optional. They signed Nene, who will bring some toughness to this team, but he looked a step slow in the Olympics. Montrez Harrell will try and take the Nene slack, but he is very inconsistent. Trevor Ariza is a good shooter, but he has lost a step or two, and he doesn't attack like the rim like he used to. He also plays no defense. Clint Capela is the new big man, with Howard gone, but I don't think he is ready to be a starter in the NBA just yet. This team is going to score a ton of points. They may average between 115 and 120 points per game. But, they will give up 110 to 115 points a game. That will net them 43 or 44 wins, but no more. Unfortunately for the Rockets, defense is a very important thing in the NBA.

So Ty, how will the Rockets win the title? The Rockets could win the title if they average about 140 points per game. The only way they can win is if they outscore every other team. That will not happen.

At number 11, I have the Portland Trailblazers. This team surprised everyone last year, including me. They were supposed to be rebuilding, yet they made the second round last year. Damien Lillard is one of the 10 best players in the league. He is clutch, can score from anywhere and is the man on this team. He could be a little better on defense, but man oh man is he elite on offense. CJ McCollum is about to become a perennial all star. He is a great, clutch shooter as well. He also has a very calming demeanor. He is never flustered and plays well within his limitations. This is one of the better backcourts in all the NBA. Allen Crabbe proved to be a decent shooter and a good defender last year. Who knew. Meyers Leonard has been a waste. He is too big and talented to be this mediocre, but he is just average. He also gets hurt way too often. I did not like the Evan Turner signing, but I don't think it will hurt them. He is an okay player, but when you have Lillard and McCollum, I see no reason for Turner. Al Faroq-Aminnu has proven that he is a good enough scorer and defender. He stretches the floor and plays heady defense. Maurice Harkless seemingly came out of nowhere to be a pretty reliable player last year. He doesn't do one thing exceptional, but he seems to do everything pretty well. He's a good basketball player. Mason Plumlee is an average big man, They have a big discrepancy when it comes to big men. Noah Vonleh has also been relegated to bench duties. The lack of a true big will hurt them. This team is so much better than anyone thought they would be. They will continue to win between 44 and 47 games because they have an excellent back court. I love Damien Lillard and CJ McCollum.

So Ty, how will the Blazers win the title? The Blazers will win the title if, much like their first round series last year, every team they run into in the playoffs has a star player get injured. They won't get lucky like that again, but this team is good. Don't sleep on the Trailblazers.

At number 10, I have the Utah Jazz. I know that I have them in my top ten, but I'm not as high as some other people are on them. I think they will be good, but they will go no further than the first round this year. But, they do play some incredibly good defense. I love teams that play good defense. Gordon Hayward is a good NBA player, but I don't think he is as good as others. Some people seem to think he is all star caliber, I don't. I think he is a fine NBA player. He can get you 16 points a night, and he will play some good defense. I do however love Rudy Gobert. He is an excellent big man. His offensive game is coming along quite nicely and he is already a great rim protector and rebounder. Gobert is an all star caliber player. I also really like Derrick Favors. He doesn't jump off the page, but he is consistent and reliable. He is a good low post player. Getting George Hill will be huge for this team. He is a solid point guard and he does everything the right way. This was a great pick up. I also like the addition of Boris Diaw. Sure, he is older and looks a bit out of shape, but he will make open shots and he will find the open man. He is an excellent passer. Joe Johnson was a fine addition too. He doesn't play much defense, but he will be instant offense for a team that needs some instant offense. Alec Burks is a good young player, he is just a but inconsistent. He can fix that. Trey Lyles seems to be coming along just fine. He is a big that can go inside and out. He needs some more time, he is very young, but he looks like he will be a solid NBA player. Rodney Hood has gotten better every year, and I think now is his chance to break through. He's a good shooter and a good defender. This Jazz team is good, and they are on their way back to being a regular in the playoffs. They will win 46 or 47 games this year, about good enough for the 5 or 6 seed.

So Ty, how will the Jazz win the title? The Jazz can win the title if they, much like the Blazers, strike injury luck with their opponents and a star gets hurt on every team they face. They also need Hayward to be more assertive and Gobert's offensive game to drastically improve. They aren't there yet, but they are going to be good for awhile if they all stick together.

That's it for today, come back next week when it is all elite teams that all have a legitimate shot at the title.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. The Head Editor can not get behind the Jazz and Quinn Snyder's pass the ball thirty times and miss a three type of offense. Hey, Ty knows more about these things. Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

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Jerry Sloan is One of the All Time Greatest NBA Coaches

With the news yesterday that former player and coach, Jerry Sloan, is now suffering from Parkinson's disease and early on set dementia, I found myself profoundly upset. I didn't expect this reaction to come from me. When he was coaching the Utah Jazz in the early to mid nineties, I disliked everything about that team. The Jazz were the only team that I disliked more than the Bulls back then.

To give you a point of reference as to where I was in my life at that time, I was a middle school aged child that was a Seattle Supersonics fan. So, naturally, I really, for lack of a better word, hated the Jazz because the Sonics couldn't beat them and I hated the Bulls because, when the Sonics finally beat the Jazz, they ran into the vaunted Bulls teams of the mid nineties. The Jazz and the Bulls exemplified two great, but two very irritating teams to a younger me. In fact, looking back at that time in my life, I think I disliked the Jazz even more than the Bulls.

The Jazz were led by Karl Malone and John Stockton. These two were world class butt heads in my opinion. I still believe that Stockton is the dirtiest player of all time in the NBA and Malone was so arrogant, it drove me nuts. They were coached by Jerry Sloan. As a young kid, he was the leader of this horrible dictatorship that they had going on in Utah. He put those guys out there and he coached them to play dirty, in my opinion at that time. Now, this blog isn't just to bust on the Jazz, but all this is needed to get to the main point. I'm not here to rip apart a guy that is very ill. I promise, I'll get to the good stuff soon, but this preamble is very necessary.

As I keep saying, I did not like this team or their coach when I was a child. I guess a better way to put it would be, I didn't appreciate or understand the game of basketball back then as much as I do now. Looking back at it now, the coaching and the ability to get the best out of the players you have on your roster was done masterfully by Jerry Sloan. Look, all of us, when we were pre teens, hated these teams that our team couldn't beat. We didn't understand the nuance and the spectacular coaching it took to get players that weren't as athletic or as gifted to play better and to game plan better. That all goes back to coaching.

I still, in my 30's, don't care for John Stockton or Karl Malone, but, damn, do I respect the hell out of Jerry Sloan. This didn't just come up yesterday when the news was announced, I've been on the Jerry Sloan bandwagon ever since he led a Jazz team led by Deron Williams to multiple payoff appearances. Those teams, in the early 2000's, had no business even being relevant, but, once again, Jerry Sloan got the best out of a mostly mediocre roster. I mean, look at what happened to Deron Williams when he left the Jazz for a max contract in New Jersey, his career imploded. I feel like a lot of that has to do with coaching. Williams left a great coach to get paid and to play for an inferior coach.

A couple of years after Williams left, Sloan retired. When he retired, much like I felt yesterday, I was stunned and a bit upset. I was sad that an all time great coach was leaving the NBA. There were, and still are, so few great coaches left and when Sloan retired, there was one less great coach. As I started to gain more knowledge of the game and the wit and will it takes to be a coach, that's when I earned respect for Sloan. Granted, this all came after he retired, but looking back, he was a great motivator and a great coach. To will teams with guys like Byron Russell, Jeff Hornacek, Tom Chambers and Mark Eaton to 50 plus win seasons and two finals appearances is incredible. Sure, he had two hall of famers in Stockton and Malone, but basketball is a 5 player team sport and no matter if you have two hall of famers, you have to get the other three starters and the bench players to be equally invested and Sloan excelled at that. He drew up some of the greatest pick and roll plays when he had Stockton and Malone. Those plays were deadly. Teams knew they were coming, but they still couldn't stop it because it was so well run and drawn up. Coaches still use his pick and roll philosophy today. It has lasted decades.

Jerry Sloan's best teams were the Stockton and Malone teams, but as I said before, he also led teams with players like the aforementioned Deron Williams, Carlos Boozer and Andrei Kirilenko to 50 win seasons and multiple playoff appearances. They still ran the pick and roll, with Williams and Boozer, and while it may not have been as devastating, it still worked. It was a thing of beauty to watch when the Jazz would run their pick and roll. Go back and watch some footage of the play, it's wonderful. He continued to coach all the way until 2011 and he was still as fiery and competitive as he was when he was a player and very early in his coaching career. That's another thing that I respected later on about Sloan. He was so competitive and fiery, he would run up and down the court and constantly argue with the officials to stick up for his players. He'd get so fired up at times, it looked like he wanted to be on the court. I didn't like it as a child, but I love it as an adult. So, when he left in 2011, I was shocked, as I said earlier, and he left to little fanfare. He just resigned and was gone. Rumors would pop up occasionally that he may come back and coach again, but they never materialized. I feel like that's a good thing. He did such a good job and stuck with one team his whole career. I like that he left and didn't try to get back in the game, a la Phil Jackson and his current deconstruction of the Knicks.

This news yesterday though, it stinks. Sloan is an all time great, a hall of famer, and now he is suffering from not one, but two horrible, life threatening diseases. I've seen, first hand, what dementia can do to someone and it's not pretty. To throw Parkinson's on top of that, that is a bummer. I hate that an all time great like Sloan has to suffer like this. His body and his mind will soon deteriorate and he won't remember his great career, but fans of the NBA will always remember how great he was. Sloan is a once in a lifetime coach. He was Gregg Poppovich before Gregg Poppovich. He was the surly genius that all other coaches feared. I hope Sloan can somehow get better and live some sort of a normal life, but I just don't see that happening. It's unfortunate. I don't want to lose another NBA legend. We've already lost Daryl Dawkins and Moses Malone, please don't take another NBA legend from us way too soon.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. Follow him on twitter @tykulik.