Full Court Press: 2017-18 NBA Preview

By Randall Groce, @Brownsareaweful


A lot has changed since the season ended last June. Six all stars from last year are now on different teams. Paul George went to the OKC Thunder. Paul Millsap went to Denver. Jimmy Butler is in Minnesota. Gordon Hayward moved on to Boston. Kyrie Irving joined him about a month later, which caused Isaiah Thomas to go to Cleveland. Did you get all of that?

After the Golden State Warriors defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers to claim their second title in three years, many wondered what impact that might have on the direction teams would go about in building teams this past offseason with so many big name free agents available. In the East, the question is do you build to win immediately to try and take down the Cavaliers, or slowly put together a roster that will be ready to win once LeBron finally retires. A team that seems to have done both are the Boston Celtics.

In August, the Celtics acquired Kyrie Irving in a trade with the Cavaliers in exchange for fellow all-star Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic, and one of Boston's 2018 first round picks, by way of Brooklyn. The Cavs also added Dwyane Wade, Derrick Rose, Jeff Green, and Jose Calderon. Good luck trying to dethrone them.

Three teams that seem to be waiting on LeBron to move on are the Washington Wizards, Toronto Raptors, and Milwaukee Bucks. They basically stood pat this offseason. The Philadelphia 76ers are hoping for good health. Everyone else in the East got worse. I'm not using hyperbole. Literally every team other than the six listed above got worse. Charlotte picked up Dwight Howard, so yea...they got worse too.

Now the Western conference is a completely different story. The fall of the Warriors empire doesn't seem likely to fall anytime soon, so waiting them out would not seem like the smart move. Instead, most of the teams in the West made moves this off season that will make the Warriors' path to the Finals a lot more difficult than it has been the last three seasons.

Carmelo Anthony and Paul George are now teammates with reigning MVP Russell Westbrook in OKC. On paper they pose the greatest threat to the Warriors. Again, on paper. Chris Paul was traded to the Rockets, which will allow the runner up in last year's MVP race, James Harden to go back to his natural position of shooting guard. The Spurs didn't gain a new all-star, but they have Kawhi Leonard and Greg Popovich. They'll be around when it matters.

Denver, Minnesota, Utah, and Portland will probably round out the rest of the playoff teams in the West but Sacramento, Phoenix, and the Lakers have pieces that'll be fun to watch while Dallas, New Orleans, and the Clippers try to sneak into the final playoff spot.

I must admit, when the 2017 Finals ended I was convinced there was really no reason to even pay attention to the upcoming season. What's the point? Cavs-Warriors part 4 was basically written in stone. While I still think that will be the match up next June, fans will on a nightly basis have exciting games to pay attention to. If you don't follow any team in particular the crop of young guys that just came in this season will be fun to watch as well. Dennis Smith Jr. in Dallas will probably win the Slam Dunk competition next February. De'Aaron Fox running the show in Sacramento on a team that features vets Vince Carter and Zach Randolph. Lonzo Ball dealing with the hype and pressure of playing in LA. Jayson Tatum will try to fit in with Kyrie and Gordon Hayward, and Josh Jackson will be the all-around player Phoenix is missing.

This season is going to be FUN. This is going to be a eight month journey. All that I am asking is that the regular season and the playoffs are just as entertaining as the off season was.

Full Court Press: 2016-17 NBA Season Preview

By Randy Groce, @ImissWiggins

This upcoming NBA season comes with a lot more intrigue than the last few. Superstars have left. Sidekicks turned superstars are now asked to lead. A third year rookie finally making his debut. A Miami legend going to Chicago, and a hometown Chicago kid going to New York. Hell, the defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers, who return every single important piece to their championship team, aren't even the favorites going in the season. Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Joel Embiid, Dwyane Wade, Derrick Rose, and the possibility of Cavs-Warriors III are just a handful of players and storylines that will make the 2016/17 season one of the most interesting in a long time. 

I like to break down NBA teams the same way I do NFL quarterbacks, by tiers: Elite, Championship contenders, Playoff hopefuls, and the Los Angeles Lakers. The Cavaliers, Warriors, and Spurs are who I would consider elite. The Raptors, Clippers, and Celtics would fall into championship contenders. The Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks, Orlando Magic and Utah Jazz would fall into the category of playoff hopefuls. The Sacramento Kings, Denver Nuggets, and Philadelphia 76ers fall into the dreaded Los Angeles Lakers category. More teams fall into each category, but I chose to give you the most obvious.

It seemed as though we were going to get our first look at seeing if the process that the Philadelphia 76ers told us to trust was going to work, but a broken foot by Ben Simmons will force us to wait until January at the earliest. Joel Embiid has looked good during the preseason, but the biggest question concerning him will be health. Between Embiid, Nerlens Noel and Jahlil Okafor I expect Philly to only have one of them on their roster when the season ends. This young teams has pieces, but they'll need a little more luck before fans start believing. 

The statement of "do or die season" was meant for this year's Los Angeles Clippers team. They are loaded with veterans. They have two of the top 20 players in the world on their roster. They have an excellent coach, and a high payroll. Too bad they can't make it to the Conference Finals. With Chris Paul and Blake Griffin approaching free agency, I tend to believe this could be their final run together unless they somehow make a trip to the NBA Finals. 

I'm a Laker fan and I plan on closely watching the relationship between new head coach Luke Walton and the young core of Deangelo Russell, Brandon Ingram, Julius Randle, Larry Nance Jr., and Jordan Clarkson. Can Walton convince these guys to run a real half court offense and play defense? Will he help a young guy like Nance Jr. reach his potential?  I think I'll be equally interested in seeing the new duo of Anthony Davis and Buddy Hield. A couple of years ago it was suggested that Davis would be the "face of the NBA" by now, but injuries have yet to allow that to happen. Every big man needs a good perimeter guy. Hield might finally serve that role for Davis. 

The team that a lot of people have their eyes on is the Minnesota Timberwolves. Some have suggested that Karl Anthony Towns is the best big man in the game. Add in Andrew Wiggins, rookie Kris Dunn, Ricky Rubio, and new head coach Tom Thibodeau and you would have to wonder how this team doesn't make the playoffs. 

Earlier I mentioned the Toronto Raptors, Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, and the New York Knicks. Honorable mention is all they deserve. ESPN, FS1, and every other outlet will drool over these non-factors all season for absolutely no reason. I'll pass.

The departure of Kevin Durant to the Golden State Warriors and the retirement of Tim Duncan has caused the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs to drop off a bit. Both teams will still make the playoffs, but how far they go depends on how well they are led by their stars, Russell Westbrook and Kawhi Leonard. Westbrook undoubtedly has the talent and teammates to at least make it to the Conference Finals, the question is does he trust his teammates and coaching staff enough to try not to do it all on his own. Leonard has LaMarcus Aldridge and coach Popovich, their issue is how much does Tony Parker have left in the tank?

You ever watch a romantic comedy and the guy tries to get the girl for the entire movie? A lot of different things happen good and bad, but when the movie is over and the credits roll they have ended up together? That is how this season is going to play out. Some teams will surprise you and some will disappoint, but when the first week of June rolls around we'll get the ending we felt we'd get as soon as training camp started...

Cavaliers vs. Warriors in the 2017 NBA Finals.

Enjoy the show!

Leadoff with Lee 4.16.16

By Chris Lee, @TripleThreatLee

- Johnny Manziel rented a West Hollywood home for two days last week, trashed it, and caused $32,000 worth of damage, according to property owner Nicholas Goodwin. A man who identified himself as Josh Gordon was with Manziel over the two day party. Goodwin has demanded pay for the damages and says that he went to the house two hours after the checkout time and found Manziel on the sofa passed out, with cocaine and mushrooms lying out on tables, and booze and broken glass everywhere, and cigarette burns on the carpet.

Manziel's agent Drew Rosenhaus spoke with Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk Live Friday morning and says,

"Unfortunately there hasn't been any movement toward getting help that I'm aware of. I'm trying diligently to recommend this to Johnny. I'm not the first one, certainly not the only one. There are a lot of friends, family and people that want the best for this young man. He's got a plan, it's just different from than the one I talked about and what I would recommend to him."

This comes on the heels of Rosenhaus stating Johnny has five days to seek treatment or he will terminate the representation of Johnny Manziel. 

- The Cleveland Browns claimed outside linebacker Jackson Jeffcoat waivers from Washington on Friday. The 25 year old Jeffcoat stands 6'3", 253-pounds and spent two seasons with Washington, appearing in nine games with one start. He recorded nine tackles, including a sack, to go along with one forced fumble and an interception.

- During the 2017-2018 season, NBA players will sport corporate logos on their uniforms, according to an announcement from the NBA on Friday. The patches will appear on the left shoulder of players’ uniforms — where the NBA logo used to be. The league’s logo was moved to the back of jerseys two years ago. Each team will have to sell its own ad space to sponsors. Teams will reportedly net half of the sponsorship money from the jersey ads, while the rest will go to the league’s revenue-sharing pool. The NBA is the first of the four major professional sports leagues to approve ads on jerseys.

- LeBron James has been named Eastern Conference Player of the Month for April, marking the 3rd straight month he's won the award. James averaged 28.8 ppg on 66% shooting, 8.4 rebounds & 7.8 assists in April.

- Don't look for any Dwayne Wade to Chris Bosh alley-oops in the playoffs this year. Bosh informed his teammates of his current status on Friday, and the Miami Heat are ready to play without Bosh for the NBA playoffs due to his ongoing battle with a blood clot condition that he has dealt with since the All-Star Break. It’s the second-straight year that he has dealt with a blood clot issue. It has not been confirmed by Bosh or the Heat that he has developed blood clots as he did last year, but the situation is considered serious.

- NBA Commissioner Adam Silver calls North Carolina's "Public Facilities Privary & Security" law problematic but no decision to keep or move the 2017 All-Star game in Charlotte.  The Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act passed a bill last month that requires transgender people to use the bathroom that aligns with the gender on their birth certificate, rather than that with which they identify. The new law also prohibits local governments from adopting or enforcing anti-discrimination policies not already contained in the state's anti-discrimination laws. Both the NBA and Hornets issued statements condemning the bill. This is the statement released by the NBA:

- Un-employed head coach Tom Thibodeau and ESPN broadcaster Jeff Van Gundy are the Timberwolves' top targets for vacant head coach. Minnesota owner Glen Taylor will be a part of the interviews that will include the executive firm Korn Ferry, which has been coordinating the search.

The Korn Ferry firm assisted Jimmy and Dee Haslem in the Browns coaching search which landed Hue Jackson.

Leadoff with Lee 7.31.14

-Corey Kluber needed just 85 pitches in his complete game shutout of the Seattle Mariners and lead the Tribe with a 2-0 win yesterday in Cleveland. Kluber improved to 11-6 on the season while recording 8 strikeouts and giving up only 3 hits. The Indians only had 4 hits on the night, with the biggest hit coming from catcher Yan Gomes with his 2 run single in the bottom of the 6th inning. The 3 game series comes to a end tonight, as Zack Mcallister getting the start for the Tribe and Chris Young for the Mariners.

-Justin Masterson was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals for outfield prospect James Ramsey yesterday. The trade deadline is over today at 4 PM. The Indians dodged a bullet by not signing Masterson to a $43 million dollar extension prior to the beginning of 2014 season, and did get a top prospect in return. Masterson will become a free agent at the end of the season. Masterson will join his new team on Friday and is scheduled to make his first start on Saturday. The right hander was 4-6 on the season with a 5.51 era in 19 starts with the Indians this year. James Ramsey is a former first round draft choice and will report to Triple-A Columbus. Ramsey, 24, was considered one of the top prospects in the Cardinals organization. Ramsey was the 23rd pick in 2012 draft out of Florida State. He is hitting .300 with 13 homeruns and 36 RBI.

-Trade talks are heating up between the Timberwolves and Cavs in a deal that would send Kevin Love to Cleveland. The Cavs have emerged as the front runner to land Love as Chicago has backed out of trying to acquire Love. As it stands, it looks like the Cavs will need to part ways with lasts years first round pick Anthony Bennett, this years number one overall pick Andrew Wiggins and a first round pick in 2015. A third team, possibly the Philadelphia 76ers, may also be apart of the deal to make this trade more appealing and to make all the salaries meet NBA requirements for trades. Neither Minnesota or Cleveland can comment on any trade until August 23rd when Andrew Wiggins' 30 day no trade clause expires for signed NBA rookies. Wiggins was signed last Thursday and may not don a wine and gold jersey when the regular season starts. Anthony Bennett was pulled from Team Canada by his agent fearing he may get injured and to protect his client from any trade that maybe in the pipeline.

-74 year old NBA official Dick Bavetta will be retiring. Bavetta's first game as an NBA ref was December 2, 1975 at Madison Square Garden in a game between the Knicks and Celtics. In April 2014, Bavetta worked his 2,633rd consecutive regular season game. By comparison, legendary Baltimore Orioles shortstop Cal Ripken's "ironman streak" was 2,632 straight games.

-The Browns had a much needed day off yesterday and resume training camp today in Berea. All the live action will begin as the Browns will actually be tackling.