2016-2017 NBA Preview: Weight Of The World

It’s been a busy summer for the NBA to say the very least. Many trades, signings, and great draft picks were made. For a select few heading into this upcoming season it’s now or never. Once you look beyond the Warriors picking up Kevin Durant it’s a few narratives that are very interesting. Let’s start in New York….

Derrick Rose came into the NBA like a supernova full of promise as the number 1 pick in the 2008 draft. He went on to win Rookie Of The Year, MVP in 2011, and 3 all-star game appearances. After his left ACL tear in the 1st round of the 2012 playoffs Rose missed the entire following season. When he finally returned in 2013 he only played 10 games before tearing his right meniscus vs the Blazers. An abundance of injuries followed totaling 201 missed games. That’s over 2 seasons of games missed. Now the 28 year old point guard that should be entering his prime has a new squad, new number, and a new problem. D Rose is currently fighting a gang rape charge. As a fan that wants this brother to get back to being as great as he once was on the path of becoming I have realistic doubts. It’s up to him to trust his body and still have that same determination that made many of us fans. Will he defy the odds?

Joel Embiid was drafted 3rd in 2014 and is days away from playing in his 1st NBA game. The Cameroonian 22 year old center was the Big 12 Defensive Player Of The Year after 1 season with the Kansas Jayhawks. He didn’t even play basketball till he was 15 and instantly became a 5 star recruit. I used to love watching him and Wiggins play together (minus the night they beat Duke). His post game is even better than his defense. The Sixers drafted him while recovering from a stress fracture in his back and a foot surgery so he was expected to miss time from day one. He foot didn’t heal correctly so he had to go through the “Process” again missing all of last season. So far in the preseason he looks as impressive as I expected him to. He’s my pick for Rookie Of The Year. He’s criticized often for his playful demeanor, but on that court he’s all business. There’s people that can’t wait to label him a bust but I got faith that JoJo will be great as long as he remains healthy.

ClipSet….where do I start? Steve Ballmer bought this poor ass team for 2 billion after the whole Donald Sterling saga and really haven’t accomplished much since. From the 2011 lockout to now the Clippers have been a top 5 team in the West and won over 60% of their games each season. The playoffs have been brutal for this this team and as a Laker fan I’ve enjoyed EVERY SINGLE SECOND of their postseason meltdowns. The routine is starting to get a little old now. Personally I think they should have blew it up and went with a new formula because what they have at this very moment still isn’t enough to get the job done. It’s time we put the spotlight Doc Rivers for not doing anything more than what Vinny Del Negro was fired for with the same core. His whole coaching reputation is built around the success of a loaded Celtics team and that’s about it. Right now he has Jamal Crawford pulling some of the worst shots you could imagine in hopes of saving the team in the clutch and can’t teach Deandre Jordan a post move he can do twice. I’m not impressed. Next we have Chris Paul who I think is the most overrated leader in the league. You can’t be the “best leader in the game” and can’t get out of the 2nd round. We’ve seen him go from debatable top point guard to possibly not even top 5. At 31 the champion window is closing and like clockwork I can depend on Chris Paul to fold in the big moments. Blake Griffin has developed parts to his game that can add years to his career but injuries have taken some of that added time back. As an upcoming free agent next summer he could possibly leave if this team doesn’t move beyond this point they’re stuck at. You look down the roster and see JJ Redick will be a free agent as well. Scary! Make a miracle happen or it’s back to being the irrelevant team in the western conference.

Kyle Lowry has put himself in position to be the best point guard in the eastern conference. Sports Illustrated has him ranked as the 14th best player in the entire league. It’s easy for a casual fan to overlook him because the Raptors don’t play many national games, but his playoff run last season increased his stock. He led Toronto to the 2nd best record in the East and the 3rd round of the playoffs. More eyes will be on him than ever before. There will be no better time for him than this season to flip the switch and go into a zone he’s never seen before in order to make a NBA Finals run. He was 2 wins away from making it there last season and I’m sure he’s ready to fight his way back.