These are teams that will win some games, probably even make the playoffs. But let's be honest, they're not gonna scare anybody in June. If you are a fan of any of these teams and truly believe that they have championship ability in the 2010-2011 season, may I suggest you lay off the pipe.
This illustrious list of semi-watchable teams includes:
Portland Trailblazers
Milwaukee Bucks
Houston Rockets
Denver Nuggets
Atlanta Hawks
New Orleans Hornets
Phoenix Suns
Memphis Grizzlies
THE TRAILBLAZERS
Is there a more injury-riddled team? It's not just injuries, but injuries to key guys. If this team has any championship aspirations, both Brandon Roy and Greg Oden need to be healthy. Brandon Roy, Andre Miller, LaMarcus Aldridge, and potentially Greg Oden can all be starters on a championship team. Just not sure if they can be starters on the same championship team.
The Andre Miller/Brandon Roy experiment did not work. Both players need to dominate the ball to be effective. Brandon Roy is already insisting on the ball and the season hasn't even started yet. I would give it to him because he can be the #1 player on a championship team. So this means that Miller will need to be traded - likely for a point guard who can hit threes and play defense.
To add further fuel to the lack-of-chemistry fire, Rudy Fernandez wants to go home. He is a talented player who can really help this team, but he doesn't feel like Portland will give him the playing time he desires. And he probably won't get it now that they have signed Wesley Matthews away from Utah.
This team might make the playoffs, but I don't see them getting past the first round. A second round appearance would be a major feat for this group.
STRENGTH: Great coaching by Nate MacMillan. Talented roster with Roy, Aldridge, Miller, Oden, Camby, and Matthews. When healthy, they have lots of size in the front court with Pryzbilla, Oden, Camby and Aldridge
WEAKNESS: This team has never been completely healthy. There is no reason to think that will magically change, unfortunately. That is too bad because, as a basketball fan, you want to see Greg Oden and Brandon Roy to be healthy and let their games do the talking.
Also, this team has major chemistry issues. Andre Miller is a sensational point guard, but a horrible fit next to Roy. And Rudy Fernandez hasn't helped matters.
THE BUCKS
This team has Scott Skiles written all over it. Hard-nosed, no nonsense team that almost pimp slapped the Hawks, even with Andrew Bogut, their best player, out. The team made some interesting moves this summer - overpaying Drew Gooden, letting Luke Ridnour go, and bringing in Corey Maggette, Keyon Dooling, and Jon Brockman. Brockman is an afterthought to most fans, but he will definitely help this team rebound. Maggette is a magician at getting to the line - something this team desperately needs. Letting Ridnour go may have been a mistake, but haven't Dooling be the back up point won't hurt them much.
The big key is the health of Andrew Bogut. If he is healthy and can stay that way through the playoffs, this team can make it to the second round (where they will likely get thrashed by Boston, Miami, Chicago, or Orlando). I am also very curious to see if Brandon Jennings improves and takes the next step in his career. Tough to say who is better - Bogut or Jennings. I am going to side with Bogut because I believe he can be a starter on a championship team right now. Of course, he would be the 4th or 5th best player on that team.
STRENGTH: Good mojo after last year's playoff appearance. Improved in areas that were weak last year.
WEAKNESS: Is Michael Redd still alive?
THE ROCKETS
Yao is back. And Houston holds its collective breath. Kudos to the Rockets for insisting that Yao plays no more than 24 minutes a game. He can still be very active in that time, and it will help save him from injuries. Signing Brad Miller, another big dude, to man the middle while Yao sits will help this team tremendously.
My question is when will Rick Adelman finally get the credit he deserves as a coach? He did a great job in Portland, Sacramento, and here. The guy knows how to get the best from his players.
He also has some nice talent on this roster. Aaron Brooks is a speedy, athletic point guard, and has an excellent back up in Kyle Lowry. Kevin Martin, shooter extraordinaire, is like a recessive gene Reggie Miller. If he can do it in the playoffs, then we can start talking about what a stud he is. Speaking of studs, Scola is going to bring it at the power forward position night in and night out, and is the perfect compliment to the Yao/Miller center combination. And don't underestimate how valuable Battier can be to a winning team.
The best player on this team is probably Kevin Martin at this point. Could he start on a championship team? Probably. But he would be the third or fourth best player on that team.
STRENGTHS: Coach Rick Adelman. He will have this team playing the right way. The team also has beef up front to compete with the Lakers/Celtics/Mavs. Martin's shooting will keep collapsing defenses honest and Scola is a definite difference maker.
WEAKNESSES: The biggest is obviously Yao's health. Without Yao, they are a lottery team. They also don't have a lot of athleticism, especially with Ariza gone. There is also not enough depth on this team. The bench looks pretty thin.
THE NUGGETS
Basketball-wise, this is a very sad team and a sad situation. Last year, they certainly had the talent and ability to be a legitimate contender for the NBA championship. Then they lost Kenyon to more knee problems. They could not afford to lose him and still compete for the title. And sadly, George Karl spent all season battling cancer.
This year has not gotten any better with Carmelo's trade request. Carmelo can definitely be the #1 player on a championship team, but he really needs a guy like Chauncey Billup in order for that to happen. I have no idea why he would want to be traded to New York. That team is going not going to win a title, even with him and Amare. If Carmelo is really serious about winning a title (which he is not), then he would play out this year and sign with the Chicago Bulls.
STRENGTHS: Karl is healthy and this roster is very talented. They have Chauncey, Melo, Nene, JR, the Birdman, Ty Lawson, Kenyon, and Al Harrington. That's a lot of talent to throw out on the floor.
WEAKNESSES: Shelden Williams? Really? How is that guy still in the league? He was on the Celtics roster last year and it seemed every time he was on the floor, he significantly reduced their chances of winning.
Also, this is a team of headcases. Melo wants out, Kenyon is barking about his contract, and JR Smith is...JR Smith.
If Melo signs an extension and tells his teammates that he definitely wants to stay, and if Kenyon's knees cooperate, and if George Karl can coach all season, this team can make some serious noise - probably get to the Western Conference Finals. But I wouldn't bet on all three of those things happening.
THE HAWKS
In the summer of Lebron, Chris Bosh, and the rest of the heavyweight free agents, Joe Johnson quietly landed the largest contract of all of them. That's nuts. He is good, but not good enough to cripple the franchise with a contract like that. He can start on a championship team, but would be the 3rd best player on that team.
This team got really exposed last year in the playoffs. They did little more than run isolation plays for JJ and Crawford. Maybe the coach felt that was his only option, given the lack of options.
There are a lot of people playing out of position on this team. Horford wants to play power forward instead of center, but Josh Smith is there. Smith plays okay at that position, but is built like a small forward. They will manage through the season just fine, but the second round is about the max to expect from this team.
STRENGTHS: Joe Johnson, Al Horford, Josh Smith, and Jamal Crawford can really get this team going. I love Smith's athleticism and Horford's competitiveness.
WEAKNESS: There is no legitimate size on this team. When you're playing against the Gasol/Bynum duo, who on this team is going into the post to get a basket?
Also, have you ever seen Mike Bibby play defense? Me neither.
THE HORNETS
Chris Paul is healthy and they got someone for him to alley oop with in Trevor Ariza. That alone should be enough to get this team to the playoffs. Chris Paul really is that good - good enough to be the best player on a championship team. But then what? Peja probably leads the league in airballs shot during the playoffs, and Okafor leads the league in having his shot blocked.
David West and Emeka Okafor are both good but undersized players. It will be interesting to see if either of them are dangled as trade bait as the season progresses.
STRENGTHS: Chris Paul is awesome. Ariza has championship experience. West and Okafor are solid.
WEAKNESS: This roster is crap. Nuff said.
THE SUNS
Poor Steve Nash. All he does is keep this franchise is exciting, watchable, and winning, and how is he rewarded? They keep getting rid of the talent that makes this team go. Instead of retaining Stoudemire, they traded for the uber-crappy contract of Hedo Turkoglu. At least he Nash still has Jason Richardson and Grant Hill. Robin Lopez also looked promising as an enforcer in the paint. He would look great next to Stoudemire.
Nash deserves better than this. He can potentially be the #1 or #2 player on a championship team. His skill set has not eroded with time. Of course, his defense has never been great, so any loss in quickness and athleticism will not showS up on that end. He's still probably good enough to get this team to the playoffs. League-wide injuries will determine how far they can go after that.
STRENGTH: Mister Phoenix himself - Steve Nash
WEAKNESSES: Exchanged Stoudemire for Turkoglu? HAHAHAHAHA!!!!
THE GRIZZLIES
They had a heck of a season last year (for them). Not exactly sure who the best player on this team is. I think most would say Rudy Gay, but we really can't discount what Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol bring to this team. Any of them could be a starter on a championship team, but they would be ther 4th or 5th best player on that team.
Who knows? If Zach Randolph can keep from getting arrested this season, this team has the potential to make the playoffs. Not sure they have enough bench to make it happen.
STRENGTHS: If Zach Randolph plays nice, he is all-star caliber. Marc Gasol brings toughness, size, and a high basketball IQ, and Gay & Mayo are solid perimeter players.
WEAKNESSES: Weak bench. No shooting. Mike Conley will not take a team very far. And how is Acie Law still in the league?
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