Can this roster bring the HEAT back to the NBA Finals?

After the Heat made a run to the NBA Finals, losing to the Lakers after losing Goran Dragic for the series, Bam Adebayo for a couple of games, and with Jimmy Butler and Jae Crowder playing on injuries, they come into this 2020-2021 NBA season with questions on if they can make it back. They lost Jae Crowder and Derrick Jones Jr in free agency, not having been willing to offer either more than 1 guaranteed season. They were able to grab one of the better available options for them, of those that were doable financially, grabbing Moe Harkless. They also kept Meyers Leonard, and signed Avery Bradley to give them help defending the guard positions. Bradley has struggled for most of the last 3+ seasons, with exception of one half season a couple of years ago, but we do know that he brings disruptiveness defensively, and that should still fit in the right lineups, as that was an issue at times last season. 

I think the biggest questions are the front court rotations, and how they decide to use their wing players, and it could be argued that they're relying even more on younger pieces than they did even last season. It should be interesting to see how that effects them, with other teams improving, and the Heat still potentially having issues with size in certain matchups. That being said, those younger players should theoretically show their own improvement, with Tyler Herro, Kendrick Nunn, and Duncan Robinson entering their 2nd full seasons, all of them continuing to improve their playmaking, and looking to be more consistent defensively; essentially first year player KZ Okpala, having changed his body and improved his skills offensively, around star big Bam Adebayo, who should continue to show his playmaking skills, as well as an improved jump shot, and the addition of rookie big Precious Achiuwa to go with them.. 

Bradley, Robinson, Butler, Harkless, Bam

Dragic, Iguodala, Olynyk, Herro, Achiuwa/Okpala, Nunn primary bench rotation

Okpala, Leonard/Silva depending on matchups

Achiuwa reminds me of a currently lesser version of James Johnson, so if they can help him develop some of his raw areas, that would help them in what has been an area of need, with size at the 4, for the last couple of years, and if Okpala can show what he is theoretically capable of, that would also be a huge boost at that spot.

Chris Silva is actually really good. He can do a little bit of everything, not necessarily like Bam, but he has some similarities to UD as well. He just has to cut down on the bad fouls, and make slightly better decisions a little more consistently. I think there should be minutes for him because he works hard.

Having kept Meyers Leonard, and signing Avery Bradley, as well as drafting Precious Achiuwa makes me wonder if Kelly Olynyk and Kendrick Nunn might be the most obvious potential trade pieces, or potentially, all of them could be, if it comes after February 6. Not sure if the Heat will want to disrupt their roster at that point of the season, but that is always on the table, especially when you have a team that is close to a potential championship. I would keep an eye on the addition of Max Strus as a 2 way player, and the potential the Heat could have to include a shooter in some type of trade. I could see Duncan Robinson making significant money next season, especially with some of the deals we saw this offseason, so that could end up being an unfortunate factor to consider, depending on what might be on the table at some point during this season; obviously you would think he would only be included in very extreme circumstances that likely wont actually happen.

I think the Heat will likely fight for those 2-5 spots in the East, and that gives them a chance to make another run towards the NBA Finals in the East, depending on their matchups in the playoffs. I think their matchup with the Celtics probably isnt as good as it was previously, and Philly's size still worries me. I do think they probably can still beat Milwaukee though. Will they be able to stay healthy enough to make another run?

Can Detroit make the playoffs in the East?

With Detroit selecting 3 players in the first round of the draft this season, last year's pick Sekou Doumbouya coming in at 19 years old, trading Luke Kennard, and Blake Griffin and Derrick Rose coming off injuries, you would probably think a playoff spot would be out of reach this season, and they would be better off focusing on developing Killian Hayes (the 7th overall pick in this year's draft), with the aforementioned Doumbouya, wing Saddiq Bey, and big Isaiah Stewart. I actually think that if they can stay healthy, they may be able to develop those players while also making the playoffs, as I think their rookies can complement what they have on their roster, and be rotation players. 

Detroit put together an interesting roster, adding multiple versatile defenders and wing shooters, if they can stay healthy…which is potentially an issue when 2 of your better players are Blake Griffin and Derrick Rose

Josh Jackson
Wayne Ellington
Saddiq Bey
Jerami Grant
Blake Griffin

Derrick Rose, Delon Wright, Sekou Doumbouya, Svi Mykhailiuk, Isaiah Stewart/Okafor/Mason Plumlee, Killian Hayes

There have been conflicting reports on if they’re keeping McGruder, but if they do, he should obviously be in that rotation, giving them another multi-positional defender that can be disruptive, and make plays on that end of the floor

Josh Jackson is on the verge of a breakout, once he is finally used correctly. I thought several teams should have been in on him as a defender/2nd or 3rd playmaking guard/combo forward. Detroit has grabbed a few guys that fit some of those teams that badly need defense at those positions, and surrounding them with shooters should be interesting to see. I think Jackson could end up playing several different spots, and I'm interested to see how he fits with Jerami Grant and Delon Wright, with all of them being really strong, to potentially elite defenders. I think Jackson should start at the PG spot, allowing Derrick Rose to be a scorer off the bench. Jackson wouldnt be the primary playmaker in that lineup, but he would play well off Blake Griffin as a secondary playmaker, and I think Ellington and Bey would be great fits next to them and Grant as shooters on the wing. Ellington would be great coming off handoffs from Griffin, and screens from Jackson and Grant, and I think Bey could contribute on both ends of the floor, even early on, in a lineup like this. He gives them much needed spacing at those spots. Jackson should also move around the 1-4 spots in different lineups, allowing them to potentially use multiple variations of 3 guard lineups.

Delon Wright is a big addition defensively next to Derrick Rose, or their other guards, and I think he should be valuable in his minutes, if he starts, or they go to a rotation more like this, which I think would give them more balance and spacing on the floor. Mykhailiuk could end up being a big shot maker for them this year, and they dont have to necessarily worry about him defensively as much, with what should be around him. I think they probably should rotate the big spot, depending on matchups, which should allow for all of them to see viable minutes, including their rookie, Isaiah Stewart, who plays hard, and can help them win games now. All of these guys takes pressure off Killian Hayes, who should see minutes off the bench, likely in multi-guard lineups. Having veterans around, as well as just being a good fit on the floor with the guys around you, is a big deal in developing young players, and giving them the best chance to succeed. I think being thrown into a situation where there isnt a fit on the floor can put players in position to fail their draft position or fall out of the league, so it was really important that Detroit made the moves they made in the offseason. 

Can they make the backend of the playoffs in the East? If they play the way I think they should, and they stay healthy, I have them in those 6-9 spots, and I could see them getting a 7th seed.

Is this the best team Damian Lillard has played on?

I'm not just saying it because they started the preseason destroying Sacramento by 25, before losing to them a couple of nights later, but besides Dallas, I think Portland might be one of the most improved teams, and might be more of a true contender than they've been previously, although there are a lot of really good teams. I think they should be bunched up with Denver, Dallas, and the Clippers, possibly Utah; they should fight for those 2-5 seeds, and have a chance to get home court advantage in the West. This is the first time they've had this level of more consistent 2 way talent on the wings, and though I think they could use someone at the guard spot that can defend guards, I think they should be significantly improved defensively as well. They also should arguably be a dangerous playoff team because they should be much improved in the half court offense, with multiple options to get them easier baskets, playing through their bigs or Melo in post up situations (in different spots), as well as the ability to throw out multiple pick and roll combinations with their guards, who might have more space than ever this season, and I think this could be Damian Lillard's chance to potentially be an MVP candidate, if LeBron, Luka, or Joel Embiid dont win it. I'm interested to see if they can use the correct rotations, and play the way they need to, but I think it should work itself out. 

Lillard, CJ, Covington, Melo, Collins

Derrick Jones jr, Trent, Nurkic, Hood, Little, Simons, Giles

With Collins missing the start of the season, Giles might make sense as a starter, so Nurkic gets used to what should be his role off the bench behind Collins once he comes back. Ideally, I also like the idea of splitting Melo and Nurkic. There is no need to start DJJ and Covington together, when they can go to those lineups for their runs, and you arguably want at least one of them on the floor for you in general. They might prefer Nurkic starts, but they should consider rotating bigs for specific matchups, like Toronto did a couple of years ago with Gasol and Ibaka, and Valanciunas and Ibaka before their Gasol trade

This is Derrick Jones' chance to be a big contributor to a winning team, and bring some of that Heat culture with him, and show how good he actually is on both ends of the floor. He should also help them with their rebounding issue. Robert Covington is obviously a massive pickup, and I think both will work well together, and as defensive anchors on the floor at all times. Harry Giles is also a great fit, as a big that can defend pick and roll, besides Zach Collins, and he can also shoot, playmake, and rebound, as well as defend multiple positions, so I'm interested to see if he comes out of the rotation, if he gets a chance early.  

This could be the best team Damian Lillard has played on, and that could give Portland a chance as a contender in the West, possibly with home court advantage. It could just come down to if they can stay healthy.

2020/2021 Pre-Training Camp NBA Predictions

East	West
1. Boston Celtics	1. Los Angeles Lakers
2. Philadelphia 76ers	2. Dallas Mavericks
3. Milwaukee Bucks	3. Los Angeles Clippers
4. Miami Heat	4. Denver Nuggets
5. Toronto Raptors	5. Portland Trail Blazers
6. Brooklyn Nets	6. Utah Jazz
7. Detroit Pistons	7. Phoenix Suns
8. Indiana Pacers	8. San Antonio Spurs
9. Charlotte Hornets	9. Houston Rockets
10. Orlando Magic	10. Memphis Grizzlies
11. Atlanta Hawks	11. New Orleans Pelicans
12. Washington Wizards	12. Golden State Warriors
13. Cleveland Cavaliers	13. Minnesota Timberwolves
14. Chicago Bulls	14. Sacramento Kings
15. New York Knicks	15. Oklahoma City Thunder

Eastern Finals  

Boston over Heat/Bucks

West Finals

 Lakers over Dallas/Clippers/Denver

NBA Finals

I'll just go with LeBron again for now. Multiple possibilities still there. Let's see how the preseason goes.

2020-2021 NBA Champions

LeBron James and Anthony Davis (Los Angeles Lakers)

Will this be Luka's true breakout season?

The uniquely brief 2020 NBA offseason has seen significant changes throughout the league, but in my opinion, no team stands out, in terms of significant improvement, more than the Dallas Mavericks. In the 2019 - 2020 season, Dallas weaponized one of the most efficient offensive seasons of all time, but as great as they were on that end, they were equally terrible on defense. 

Now, they have taken significant steps to change that. 

They added several lengthy, athletic, versatile options on the wing, and at the 4 positions, which was an area of significant need for them, especially next to Luka Doncic, as well as their other more undersized scoring guards, and shooters. 

• Josh Richardson is the most prominent addition, and should be expected to start, and guard multiple positions, as a do-it-all complementary piece to Luka. He provides elite defense on the wing, and at the guard spots, and as well as being a great catch and shoot option for Luka on the perimeter, he can also handle playmaking situations with, or without, Luka on the floor. 
• They also added his former Miami Heat teammate, James Johnson, by moving another versatile, defensive guard, that was more redundant on their roster, Delon Wright. Johnson should provide toughness in the front court, alongside Richardson, and the still remaining Dorian Finney-Smith, which was severely lacking the last couple of seasons, and especially in the bubble. 
• Another lowkey addition, Wesley Iwundu, should also provide them with length, athleticism, and disruptiveness at those wing positions. 
• The return of Dwight Powell, who gave Luka Doncic an historical pick and roll efficiency partner, should also help them on both sides of the floor. Powell gives them much needed pick and roll defense out of the big position that they're lacking, especially with Kristaps Porzingis slated to miss the start of the regular season.
• They also added multiple players in the draft that should give them help at those wing positions: Josh Green felt like the perfect fit, in my opinion, as someone that can score on the wing at multiple levels of the offense, and still provide value guarding well enough, and Tyler Bey, who surprisingly is only signed to a two way deal, should also provide them with exciting defensive playmaking, as well as above the rim athleticism, and that toughness that was previously mentioned. 

I personally feel that all of this should lead to Luka Doncic potentially being an MVP candidate as early as this season, and Dallas may find themselves in position to secure home court in the Western Conference Playoffs....

Reaction to Phil Jackson's Troll Tweet at Steve Kerr

Have to feel for Knicks fans. Phil Jackson obviously doesnt know anything about today's NBA. If he really thinks that 3 point shots are bad, and doesnt see the importance of spacing the floor, I can now 100% believe the reports of them being interested in players that play essentially the same position as Melo (such as Greg Monroe). Now, players at the combine have mentioned being asked about their knowledge of the triangle in interviews with the Knicks. That means they really are committed to running that as their primary offense, in a league that is dominated by athletes, pace, and spacing the floor. You have to play with pace unless you have an elite defensive team, and even then, you still want to get out and run.

By the way Phil, the Knicks led the league in 3 point attempts the year they won 54 games a couple of years ago. They dropped to 21st in attempts this past season, and Oh, look at that! Worst record in franchise history....And to answer his question, teams that shoot a lot of 3s have won more than 60% of their games in the playoffs so far

Quick Reaction to end of Wizards-Hawks series

Even more incredible finish to this Hawks-Wizards game, after a crazy end to Game 5. I dont think I can remember ever seeing a team get eliminated on something like that, but thats just off the top of my head. I think that not having Sefolosha will hurt Atlanta in their series with the Cavs. I'm curious to see if Mike Scott can finally see more time, now that he is back from injury. I think he gives them some defensive versatility at the 3/4 spots. I have no doubt that Atlanta can beat the Cavs, and I think they would definitely beat them with Sefolosha. I think LeBron can still win this series though. Atlanta needs to use their depth, and if they can stay in the rebounding battle, they'll have every chance to win the series. If LeBron makes the type of effort to get the ball in better spots, like he did in the last couple of games of the Bulls series, he'll give himself a chance to get back to the Finals