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. 

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