Ty's 2018-2019 NBA Preview: Bucks, Lakers, Nuggets
/We are on day 7 of my NBA countdown. We will finally break into the top 10 today. The three teams today, if something horrible happens to the Warriors, could find themselves in the Finals. In fact, one of the teams today, the one from the East, has such a big super star, I wouldn't be shocked if they make the East Finals this year. Anyway, lets get to it.
At number 12 I have the team I mentioned before that I think can already make the East Finals, the Milwaukee Bucks. They are the East's version of the Pelicans, except they have a better coach now, Mike Budenholzer, and the supporting cast around their star is much, much better equipped to make a run, especially in the East. Lets start with their star. Giannis Antentekoumpo is a legit MVP candidate. He is an amazing player to watch. He is graceful yet powerful while on the floor. He doesn't have much of a jumper yet, but he is working on it, and when he gets that down, watch out. He is so long, athletic, can handle the ball and plays solid defense. He just needs that shot. Giannis is one of my favorite players to watch, and he is the future of this league. I think, this may be my hottest take throughout this whole countdown, he is the best player in the NBA. He is unguardable and is a very good to great defender. And, he has some pieces surrounding him. Khris Middleton is the classic three and D guy. He can light it up and frustrate people on defense. He just needs to stay healthy. I feel like Thon Maker will have a break out year this year. He has been waiting, and with him and Giannis in that front court, whoo boy, that will be intimidating. Malcom Brogdon is a rookie of the year winner, a solid scorer and a bull dog defender. He is a very good, very underrated NBA player. I love the addition of Brook Lopez. The fact that the Lakers let him go was a surprise to me, but the fit with the Bucks seems so natural. He will pair up nice with Maker and Giannis, and he can force bigger, plodding centers to leave the paint due to his outside shot. That will leave the lane wide open for Giannis. While I'm not crazy that they took Donte DiVencinzo in the teens, the kid has proven that he can play if his preseason is any indication of how he will adjust to the NBA. He is also an added shooter they so sorely need. Ersan Illiyasova was a solid signing. He can score and play defense. He's an underrated player. Eric Bledsoe is fully in now, and when you get a fully engaged Bledsoe, you are getting a solid NBA player. He is a great point guard to compliment Giannis. The bench is rounded out by guys like Tony Snell, who can shoot, Tyler Zeller, who is another big body and DJ Wilson, who can score from range, and is long and lanky. I like the Bucks. I like that they hired Budenholzer. And I love Giannis. The Bucks are going to be good, possibly great, this year. They will make noise in the playoffs.
At number 11 I have the LA Lakers. So, we all know the big news. They signed Rajon Rondo, Lance Stephenson, Michael Beasley and Javale McGee. Did I miss someone? These were the big singings, right? Wait, they also signed the best player in the NBA right now, LeBron James. He instantly makes them a playoff team, but I do not think, not this year, that they will be as high as some are projecting. LeBron is great, and he will get them in as a 5 or 6 seed, but no higher, not in the West. LeBron is amazing, and he will do things with this team that they haven't seen in years, but they are not winning their division, they are not going to the West Finals and they are not winning titles. People need to chill. And the guys I mentioned before LeBron, those signings are so bizarre to me. Rondo is a ball stopper, just like LeBron, and he cannot shoot. McGee played great for the Warriors, but now he will be counted on to be a mentor to the young guys on this team. That isn't his thing. Lance Stephenson and LeBron have a bad history, and he is much too over confident in his game. And Michael Beasley is Michael Beasley. He is fine, but not the player they thought when he was the number 2 overall pick. What I do like though is the youth. Lonzo Ball still has a broken jumper, but he still has great court vision. He will also benefit from playing with LeBron. He just needs his dad to shut the hell up. Kyle Kuzma will get more open looks than he could ever imagine with LeBron and Rondo finding him. But, Kuzma has no slashing game and isn't a very good defender. He also struggled at the end of last year. You can count me in as one of the people that think Brandon Ingram will make a huge leap, will benefit the most playing with LeBron, and now is his time to shine. He is the perfect Robin to LeBron's Batman. He is bigger, stronger and has worked on his game. He is an All Star in the making. Josh Hart is an all around solid player. Mo Wagner, once he gets healthy, could be the energy guy off the bench, and he can stretch a defense. But, he will get pounded into the ground by bigger guys on defense. Svi Myhkalik could be a steal. He can shoot and get to the rim, but he doesn't play a lot of defense either. And Kentavious Caldwell Pope is no more than a trade chip for this team. Luke Walton now has LeBron. He just has to properly coach him now. He also has to figure out how to deal with the weird roster construction. I do not think this team will look the same mid way through the season, but time will tell. I do think the Lakers are relevant again, and they will return to the playoffs, but people need to temper their expectations. They are not going very far, maybe not even past the first round this year.
My final team for the day, breaking us into the top 10 at number 10, I have the Denver Nuggets. The Nuggets have a star and a soon to be star. Nikola Jokic is the star. The dude can rebound, score, play D and is the best passing big man in the game. He is a joy to watch. He plays like a, at their best, Spurs player. He has the vision of a point guard, but the size of a power forward. He is a fantasy basketball player's dream. He puts up stats. The budding star is Gary Harris. He is becoming an exceptional scorer, and he could always play D, now he is an upper echelon defensive player. Harris looked like a possible bust, but he has figured it out, and boy oh boy is he good. Jamal Murray is starting to figure it out too. This kid has a great stroke and can get to the basket. He has finally moved past his Kentucky days, and that is only made him a better basketball player. Apparently the Nuggets like him so much, he was considered untradeable this offseason. Paul Milsap is back, and he is healthy. Next to Jokic, he may be the second best passing big man. He can also score. He can also rebound. He can also play D. And, what separates him, he has been on multiple playoff teams. Milsap is so under appreciated, but I love his game. Michael Porter Jr fell to them in the draft. While I do not think that he is as good as he thinks he is, this slip in the draft should light a fire under him. He is still dealing with injury concerns, but if he stays healthy, he was projected to be a top 3 pick. He is talented. They signed Isaish Thomas to a one year minimum deal, and if anyone in the league has something to prove, it is him. He wants to be that go to guy. He wants to be the fourth quarter star. The Cavs and Lakers were bad situations. I feel like the Nuggets are much better suited for his game. Will Barton is a solid role player. Malik Beasley has a chance to become a break out bench scorer. And Trey Lyles, after the trade, started to come on real strong for them last season. The Nuggets just missed out on the playoffs last year. I do not think that will happen again. Guys like Jokic, Milsap, Harris and Murray are too talented to miss out on the playoffs again. The Nuggets are on the right track, and they are a fun team to watch.
That's 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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