Ty's 2017-2018 NBA Preview: Lakers, Knicks, Suns

Day 3 of my NBA countdown begins with one of the most overrated teams coming into this season. People are expecting way, way too much from this team just because of who they drafted number 2 overall in the most recent draft. Need I remind fans of this team, they just traded away a point guard that they drafted second overall 2 years ago, so maybe they should temper their expectations.

The team I am talking about is my number 24 team, the Los Angeles Lakers. Now first I have to say, I do like the direction they are headed in. I love the hiring of Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka. These may be the 2 guys that can lure stars back to the Lakers. But, for people expecting a possible playoff push from this team, calm the hell down. This team is way too young and way too inconsistent. People seem to love the pick of Lonzo Ball. As I mentioned before, people also loved the pick of D'Angelo Russell. Now, from what I have seen so far, Ball is a better passer than Russell, but that is it. Ball has one of the most awkward jump shooting forms I have ever seen. That shot is going to get blocked so much by real NBA defenders. He isn't much of a defender himself yet either. People need to calm the hell down on the Lonzo Ball talk. He could be good, but he will have a TON of rough patches. He is a teenager and a rookie after all. He is not the savior that the Lakers faithful are expecting. Brandon Ingram looks like he has put on some weight, but the comparisons to KD need to stop. Just because he is long and can kind of shoot doesn't mean he is going to be KD. There is only one KD. I feel like if he played for any other team, he would be compared to a third or fourth option type player, or even a bench player. But, since he is in a Lakers uniform, he will forever get unfairly compared to KD. Julius Randle comes and goes. One night he looks great, the next, he looks like he doesn't care. He could be really good, but he needs to fully commit. I do think Kyle Kouzma could be good, but again, people need to calm down. He is not the next Steph or Dirk just because he has been filling it up in Summer League and preseason. I want to see him do it against the best of the best before I give him my full attention. Some people think the Kentavious Caldwell Pope signing is a big deal. I see it more as a ho hum deal. He was not that great in Detroit, so why would he all of the sudden be a great shooter for the Lakers? Doesn't add up. I do like Jordan Clarkson. He is a proven scorer and he could be pretty good for awhile. They got Brook Lopez in a trade, and while he is good, he is not a modern day NBA center. Again, I do not get the joy and all the big time talk by acquiring a player like Lopez. Who cares? Same with Andrew Bogut. How long until he gets hurt and misses the whole year. 10 games? Maybe 20? And while Larry Nance Jr is a great dunker, what else does he do, and how much playing time will he get? I can't answer that. People need to chill out on the Lakers. If they do get LeBron next year, then hype them up as much as you want. But with this current roster, I'd be shocked if they win 30 games this year.

At number 23 I have the New York Knicks. The Knicks finally, mercifully, traded Carmelo Anthony. What they got in return is not that big a deal though. Enes Kanter can score, but he is horrendous on defense, and Doug McDermott is worse than mediocre. His game has not translated. They gave Tim Hardaway Jr a ridiculous contract only 2 years after trading him. This deal was bizarre, but this is the same team that signed both Joakim Noah and Derrick Rose last year, so nothing they do should surprise me anymore. I like the French point guard they drafted, Frank Nkilitina, but I have never seen him play, so who knows how he will perform. I do love his cockiness and confidence though. Derrick Rose is gone, but unfortunately, they still have Noah and his outrageous contract. He is done as a player. Michael Beasley has been talking out of his ass this offseason, and he will be lucky if he gets 15 minutes a game on this horrid team. Courtney Lee deserves better than this. He could be a great 3 and D guy for a title contender, but he is in NBA purgatory. At least he will get a ton of minutes. Some people think that Guillermo Hernangomez is going to take a leap. I say, what gives you that impression? He hasn't really shown any flashes yet. Kyle O'Quinn is of no real consequence in the NBA anymore. And the rest of the roster is blah. What the Knicks do have is Kristaps Porzingis. He is one of the most unique players in the game right now. He can score, rebound and rim protect. What he can't do, stay healthy. He has gotten hurt every year he has been in the league. Also, I'll be interested to see how he handles being the top guy for an NBA team. Very interested. For the time being though, the Knicks will continue to struggle mightily.

The final team for today, coming in at number 22, the Phoenix Suns. The Suns are going to lose a ton of games this year, but they will also be a ton of fun to watch. I love the young players on this roster. Devin Booker is a born scorer. He scored 70 in a game last year, and he is only getting more and more confident. I love Tyler Ulis, who should take over for Eric Bledsoe at point guard. That is no slight to Bledsoe, I think he should be traded to a contender that needs a real point guard, but the time is now for Ulis to start, especially if the Suns are going to go the youth movement. Ulis is also lightning fast and a great passer. I LOVE Josh Jackson. He might be my favorite rookie this year. He can already defend. He can get to the rim. I know people are worried about his jump shot, but he can learn to shoot. You can't teach some of the gifts he already has. He is so long and so athletic. He is going to be a very good NBA player, and a multiple All NBA defender. Dragan Bender was awful last year, but maybe with an offseason of some work, he can be better. He is also super young. Marquess Chriss came into camp overweight, but he can play himself into shape, and when he is out there, he can rebound and score in the post. Alex Len is done. That dude is a bust. He has done ZERO in the NBA. Brandon Knight is still there, but he always gets hurt, and he should be traded so the Suns can go all youth. I'm a bit confused by the contract TJ Warren got, but the dude can play, and the Suns seem to like him. Derrick Jones Jr is electrifying, and with more playing time, he could become a real player. Tyson Chandler, who I love, needs to retire. I'm sure he likes being the veteran on a young team, but he just cannot get it done anymore. Look, the Suns will be awful, but when you get a chance, watch them because they will be a ton of fun. They will run up and down the court, and they will definitely get some highlight plays throughout the season.

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. 

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