Friday, January 31, 2014

Super Bowl Preview

The last day of the work week is here and according to the latest statistics, 50% of the country will leave work today and go home and have a normal, unspectacular weekend. The other 50% of the country, who claim to be NFL fans, will go home for the last weekend of football for the 2013-2014 season. There will be parties, food, friends, laughs and lots of meaningless talk by people who are too drunk or too ignorant to know any better.  Super Bowl weekend is here!

Prop bets will be at an all time high and are expected to be somewhere in the $5 billion dollar range worldwide. That's billion, with a B! Super Bowl weekend has come to be a huge cultural event spanning large groups of people with vast interests who come together for one weekend to watch a single game together. That's really what we're interested in... the game.

Greg

It is very rare in a season that you get to the end and the two teams playing are the two teams who have been, in their respective conferences, the two most dominant teams. Denver has been one of the most historically great offenses ever this season and are led by arguably the greatest QB of all time. Seattle fits into a different mold, with a run first offense and smash-mouth defense.

Ironically with all the storylines going on I believe the key to the game will be Seattle's offense vs. Denver's defense. Russell Wilson will not be able to have a mediocre game and win. I believe that Denver's defense will play it's best game of the season and force Wilson to beat them with his arm. Their run defense is stout enough to do so. Wilson is capable of doing it, and I do not believe he will play a bad game. But, I don't think it will be enough though and this is why:

In the only game that Seattle's defense has played this season against a QB that you could argue is even close to being "Elite", Andrew Luck and the Colts offense scored 34 points against them. Peyton Manning is better than that. The game is on the East Coast, which has been historically unkind to West Coast teams, and the Broncos defense will play better than the Colts defense because it is, as a whole, better. I'm not sure the Seahawks defense, as great as it is, will be capable of stopping Peyton Manning and the Broncos offense enough for them to win the game.

Broncos 30, Seahawks 24

Overall, it is a game of contrasts... #1 offense vs #1 defense. Poised vs Brash. Cocky vs Humble. Relatively old vs relatively young. Midwest vs West Coast. We are in for a treat. Enjoy the time with your friends and family, but most of all enjoy the game. It should be a great one.

Andrew

Greg hit on all the contrasts between the two teams. In fact, they are polar opposites, with opposite strengths. We obviously know it's offense vs. defense, but for Denver specifically it's their passing offense that is historically great. For Seattle, it's their passing defense that is specifically their strength. Denver's top offensive weapons are WR's, and Seattle's top playmakers play CB (that's you Dick... Sherman). It's amazing how it really will be strength vs. strength.

On the other side of the ball, we see the same thing. Denver's defense is considered their weakness and Seattle's offense is their achilles heel. But even within those matchups, strengths take on strengths. Seattle does excel in running the ball (Lynch is a "beast"), but Denver's defense is best at stopping the run. The Championship games may help preview this game for us...

New England was coming off a great game vs. the Colts in which they ran it down their throats. Then Denver straight up stopped their rushing attack. I think that happens this weekend. For Seattle, they played well but the game was still San Francisco's to lose. It took a terrible decision for Kaep at the end (and all 4th quarter) to keep San Fran from winning. Peyton Manning won't let Seattle off the hook that easy.

These two were the top two teams in my Power Rankings nearly the whole season. But I've said all year which team I thought was the best, so I too am picking the Broncos. The offense is too strong even for Seattle, and the defense will be able to contain the run decent enough. Manning will win ring #2 and become know as the greatest of all-time. I think the game will play out like we saw two weeks ago... Denver grabs a lead so Seattle is trailing. It will get tight in the fourth quarter, but Manning's efficiency, particularly on third down will be the difference and Denver will hold on.

Broncos 31, Seahawks 27

On a personal note, my wife and I are due with our second child tomorrow. I may be at the hospital watching this game, or may not be able to watch it at all. I am rooting for Denver, and am a big Manning fan. I hope everyone enjoys it too!

By: The Sports Guys

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Semi-Realistic Dream Scenarios, Part 2

This past Friday night, I was watching NBA basketball. I thought about how there are plenty of contenders this year, especially in the West, but there are some intriguing young teams too with plenty of assets. It got me thinking about what my dream scenario would be as a fan of each team heading into next season. So... below is a Mock Draft/Free Agent Period/Trade Deadline Moves... Basically, I'll sift through each team below, and dream up what I'd love to see happen between now and next season as a fan of each team. I'll try to keep it somewhat realistic and on budget, but remember, it's quite fun to dream. I'll go in alphabetically order, and focus basically on the starters:

NOTE: Part 1 was posted on Friday. This is Part 2.

Miami Heat

PG - Mario Chalmers
SG - Dwayne Wade
SF - Lebron James
PF - Chris Bosh
C - Chris Kaman

After Miami loses this year to Indiana in the playoffs (wink), they'll go into re-signing mode. The best case scenario for them is to keep the team together (primarily the Big 3). I think they should also consider signing a veteran big man to contend with Hibbert. I still don't trust Oden (or Bynum if they reached out to him), but Chris Kaman would be a vet worth signing. Plus, if their bench is the same they could go small when Kaman rests.

Milwaukee Bucks

PG - Rajon Rondo
SG - Giannis Antetokounmpo
SF - Jabari Parker
PF - John Henson/Larry Sanders/Ersan Ilyasova
C - Greg Monroe

This was fun to think about. I'm not sold on Brandon Knight as a point guard, so they should try and trade Knight and OJ Mayo (and/or one of their big men) to Boston for Rondo. Jeff Teague is another option in terms of a player to trade for, plus they wouldn't have to give up as much for Teague. Giannis has been one of the better rookies in the league so he stays put. With the first overall pick in the draft, they choose Jabari Parker, who will be a big time scorer immediately and a future star. In free agency, they'll have plenty to spend with Butler, Ridnour, and Udoh coming off the books, so they should go after Greg Monroe, who is a very good, young big man. Then, they can start one of their own young assets at the other "big" position (Henson, Sanders, or Ilyasova), and even be able to part with one in a possible trade (as I mentioned above in the Rondo deal).

Minnesota Timberwolves

PG - Ricky Rubio
SG - Kevin Martin
SF - Dario Saric/Rodney Hood/James Young
PF - Kevin Love
C - Nikola Pekovic

With all their top players locked in already for next year, their only decision would be to try and upgrade their SF position (currently Brewer is top on depth chart). Best case scenario in the draft would be to draft a good SF, but they only keep this pick if they draft in the top 13. Any of the guys listed above could work, Saric though may be the best fit with this team.

New Orleans Pelicans

PG - Jrue Holiday
SG - Eric Gordon
SF - Tyreke Evans
PF - Ryan Evans
C - Anthony Davis

The offseason wildcard here will be the lottery and trade options. If they win the lottery and get a Top 3 pick, they will keep their pick instead of giving it to 76ers. This likely won't happen though. But drafting Joel Embiid would give Davis a legit big man next to him. Parker/Wiggins would give them even more incentive to trade Gordon, who they are trying to unload already. I'm not predicting a trade to happen either though, as most teams are scared off by Gordon's contract due to his injury history. The lineup above, when healthy (unlike this season), would lead them to the playoffs.

New York Knicks

PG - Raymond Felton
SG - Iman Shumpert
SF - Carmelo Anthony
PF - Chris Bosh/Carlos Boozer
C - Tyson Chandler

The Knicks won't have a first round draft pick, so they will have to improve through free agency or via trade. A lot of their team are free agents however. If they can re-sign Carmelo, that keeps a good core of Felton, Iman, Carmelo, and Chandler together. I think they should find a traditional power forward though. Bargnani and Amar'e have huge contracts that could be coming off the books. If so, they could get whomever they wanted. Chris Bosh could end up being the odd man left out in Miami, so pursuing him would be smart. Boozer may be released from Chicago, so he's another option. They could also trade these players to rebuilding teams if all else fails (expiring contracts possibly). But overall, the key is use free agency on smart contracts, creating a better cohesiveness on the court, and eliminating negative attitudes like JR Smith.

Oklahoma City Thunder

PG - Russell Westbrook
SG - Jeremy Lamb
SF - Kevin Durant
PF - Serge Ibaka
C - Omer Asik

Thankfully, the core of this team remains intact. Lamb and Jackson have picked up the bench scoring that was lost when Martin/Harden left. The only concern now is Kendrick Perkins, who is terrible. What if they traded him (expiring contract next season) and one of their first round picks (they have two this summer) for Asik. Houston is looking to trade him and maybe they won't be able to this season. This deal could happen then during the summer, even on draft night. Potentially, they'd have to part with a young player such as Perry Jones or Steven Adams, but Asik would give them a lineup that nobody could score on (with Ibaka still there). Or they could look for a similar deal but add add another weapon at shooting guard or small forward and play Durant at the 4, Ibaka at the 5. Really doesn't matter cause they will still win regardless with Durant playing at a career level.

Orlando Magic

PG - Dante Exum
SG - Victor Oladipo
SF - Jabari Parker
PF - Tobias Harris
C - Nikola Vucevic

That lineup is young and exciting right? Here is how it happens: The easy part is keeping Oladipo, Harris, and Vucevic, all of whom have contracts set next year. Vucevic is averaging a double-double this season, Harris is putting up 14 and 8 at the power forward spot now, and Oladipo is a rookie of the year candidate and plays his best at the off guard position. Jabari Parker is a good sized SF that can score and shoot from the perimeter, which is what they need with Oladipo more skilled in other areas. Parker would be their draft choice in the Top 3, which is where they are likely headed. Dante Exum would be gotten via summer or draft night trade. The Magic would give up Jameer Nelson (2014-15 expiring contract), Arron Afflalo, and another piece (draft pick since they own another, another young player like Harkless, or another expiring contract like Glen Davis) all for another Top 5 pick (Boston, Utah, Sacramento, etc). I'm a dreamer right?

Philadelphia 76ers

PG - Michael Carter-Williams
SG - Evan Turner
SF - Jabari Parker/Andrew Wiggins
PF - Julius Randle/Noah Vonleh
C - Nerlens Noel

We all know they are building around MCW, Noel, and the 2014 draft. With their own pick, they will target Parker or Wiggins in the Top 3. They also own the Pelicans first round pick assuming it falls outside the Top 5. It could end up 6-10 very easy. Randle and or Vonleh would be available in that range which gives them another young stud to pair with Noel inside. Evan Turner will be a restricted free agent this summer so bringing him back could be an option for them very easy.

Phoenix Suns

Guards - Eric Bledsoe, Goran Dragic, Gerald Green, Zack LaVine, Gary Harris
Forwards - Aaron Gordon, Rodney Hood, Dario Saric, Kyle Anderson, Jerami Grant, Glenn Robinson III, Doug McDermott
Center - Miles Plumlee/Alex Len

The Suns have a ton of options. First off, do they bring back Eric Bledsoe who is a restricted free agent? Secondly, who do they draft with potentially four first round picks? Third, what should they do with over 20 million coming off the books just with Frye and Okafor? All the names listed above are young players they could draft or already have. I think they'll build around a young team, but it's tough to know who. They also could invest in some young free agents if needed.

Portland Trailblazers

No changes from this year. They have their starters locked in and there isn't a need to change it with so much success this season. They can get better through player development, which is key since they don't have much money to spend and they don't own a first round pick this season (unless it's Top 12, which is highly unlikely).

Sacramento Kings

PG - Isaiah Thomas
SG - Ben McLemore
SG - Rudy Gay
PF - Julius Randle
C - DeMarcus Cousins

The way Thomas has played, he deserves to be signed again so he can continue starting at PG. McLemore was drafted last year to be their shooting guard for years to come. Gay will need to be re-signed, but would give them another stud with Cousins inside. Randle could be selected in the draft with their pick (likely around 5th). And Cousins is their future.

San Antonio Spurs

PG - Tony Parker
SG - Danny Green
SF - Kawhi Leanard
PF - Tim Duncan
C - Chris Kaman

Duncan need to be re-signed, but the rest of the core is intact next year. I say they go for it one last time. Kaman could get a veteran deal and he would allow Duncan to play PF again. They could still have Bonner/Diaw on the bench to give different looks. Everything else remains the same.

Toronto Raptors

PG - Kyle Lowry
SG - Terrance Ross
SF - DeMar DeRozan
PF - Amir Johnson
C - Jonas Valanciunas

Yes, this is the current lineup. But they have played very good since the Gay trade. This is a young lineup that is bound the get better (similar to Pacers a few years ago). I'd let them grow and be sure to keep a strong bench together. Re-signing Lowry is top priority this summer. Upgrades could be made to add another wing and power forward.

Utah Jazz

PG - Trey Burke
SG - Andrew Wiggins/Jabari Parker
SF - Gordon Hayward
PF - Derrick Favors
C - Enes Kanter

This is very simple. They want another wing with their high draft pick, and they'd be happy with Wiggins or Parker. They must re-sign Hayward this summer, and then spend the rest of their money on a strong bench behind this young and very promising starting five.

Washington Wizards

PG - John Wall
SG - Bradley Beal
SF - Rodney Hood/Dario Saric
PF - Nene Hilario
C - Marcin Gortat

Gortat needs re-signed this summer unless they decide to go another route. They key will be upgrading the SF spot long-term since Otto Porter isn't doing anything. If they miss the playoffs and land a Top 12 pick this summer, they keep it. Then they could take the best SF available like Hood or Saric. Like other teams, the key will be improvement of their young players such as Wall and Beal.

By: The Sports Guys

Monday, January 27, 2014

NCAA Top 25 (7)


As I said last time, conference play has showcased some teams and exposed others. Due to the fact I do a poll every other week, there is lots of movement. I also included 26 teams (tie for 25th) because many are deserving at this stage. Take a look:

NCAA Top 25 – 1/27/14

NOTE: Previous ranking in first parenthesis.

1. (1) Arizona Wildcats (20-0, 7-0)

It’s the Wildcats once again on top. Honestly, I don’t see it changing anytime soon. They have a decent chance of finishing the regular season unbeaten, which would be extremely impressive.

2. (2) Syracuse Orangemen (19-0, 6-0)

Syracuse is making mincemeat of their new conference; the ACC. Of course, they haven’t played Duke yet, which they will on Saturday. Boy, that’s going to be fun.

3. (6) Florida Gators (17-2, 6-0)

Florida continues to gel as a team and is now rolling through the SEC. Can’t wait until their matchup with Kentucky, but it’s still weeks away.

4. (5) Wichita State Shockers (21-0, 8-0)

The Shockers are the third unbeaten team in the country and they too could finish the regular season unbeaten. For them, the key is focus; as they are the only team in the conference capable of beat them (i.e.: beating themselves).

5. (11) Kansas Jayhawks (15-4, 6-0)

I’m fully on board with Kansas now. They’ve gotten past their non-conference struggles and now look great. They’ve beaten the best Big 12 teams already, and they will still just get better and better. They are a lock for the Final Four in my opinion right now.

6. (NR) Michigan Wolverines (15-4, 7-0)

This is an example of how two weeks can change things. Last rankings I had them just out of the rankings. But in the last two weeks they’ve gone 4-0, which included wins at Wisconsin and Michigan State, along with a home win against Iowa. They are for real and deserving of a high ranking. They haven’t lost since losing McGary.

7. (4) Michigan State Spartans (18-2, 7-1)

MSU is this low for one reason only: injuries! Payne and Dawson are now both out, which hurts short term. But they’ve remained fairly consistent, even without them. If both are fully healthy in the NCAA Tourney, a Final Four is well within reach. Oh, and Gary Harris is a stud.

8. (10) San Diego State Aztecs (18-1, 7-0)

Still haven’t lost since that Arizona game. The question is now, will they lose again before the tourney?

9. (7) Villanova Wildcats (17-2, 6-1)

They lost to Creighton, but who could have beaten them with 21 made 3’s? So I won’t penalize them too much. They still have a great resume and are a threat moving forward.

10. (14) Iowa Hawkeyes (16-4, 5-2)

The last two weeks have brought two nice wins vs. one loss. The loss was at Michigan in a very close game, so that’s why I’m not penalizing them at all for it. They have a terrific offense and are so deep. I really think this team is built for the tourney.

11. (18) Duke Blue Devils (16-4, 5-2)

They are back. Four nice wins over the last two weeks and they have that swagger in them again. Will it help at Syracuse on Saturday? We’ll see.

12. (13) Oklahoma State Cowboys (16-3, 4-2)

Nearly took out Kansas (lost by two), but handled their other two games recently. It seems they are making due without Cobbins inside, but they have a tough stretch upcoming (at Oklahoma, Baylor, Iowa State). How good are they now?

13. (3) Wisconsin Badgers (17-3, 4-3)

Three straight losses occurred before getting back on track. A bad stretch is bound to happen in the Big Ten, but it’s still shocking to see a Bo Ryan team do that. They need to pick it up on defense, which again is odd for a Badger team.

14. (19) Louisville Cardinals (17-3, 6-1)

The Cardinals finally won a big game (at UCONN) and seem to be starting to click. They did have some new pieces this year, so it makes sense that they started the season iffy. They are chasing Cincinnati still in the AAC however.

15. (24) Creighton Bluejays (17-3, 7-1)

Currently in first place in the Big East, despite a weird loss to Providence. Their blowout win at Villanova was one of the most impressive performance of any team to date.

16. (12) Kentucky Wildcats (15-4, 5-1)

The SEC doesn’t offer too many marquee matchups, so they get dinged for losing to Arkansas despite three other wins. Really I can’t judge this team again until the Florida game, as they are the only great teams in the conference.

17. (8) Ohio State Buckeyes (16-4, 3-4)

Their losing streak went to four games before righting the ship vs. Illinois. Coming up in the next two weeks are games at Wisconsin and Iowa. It’s rough in the Big Ten. Offense needs to pick it up.

18. (9) Iowa State Cyclones (15-3, 3-3)

The losing streak for ISU was three games before getting past Kansas State. They too face a tough stretch though with Kansas, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State (two on the road). Will they even be ranked in two weeks?

19. (15) Memphis Tigers (15-4, 5-2)

The Tigers are two losses behind the AAC leader (Cincy), but I still ranked them ahead of Cincy. They simply have better wins.

20. (21) Virginia Cavaliers (15-5, 6-1)

So close to winning at Duke, but they’ve rolled since then. Virginia is playing some great basketball and I think is a threat to Syracuse in the ACC. This is what I expected from them at the start of the year.

21. (22) Cincinnati Bearcats (19-2, 8-0)

Four more wins, but they were against nobodies. They’ll get tested this week at Louisville. If they win this, I’ll rank them much higher than I currently do.

22. (23) Pittsburgh Panthers (18-2, 6-1)

Pitt is looking good in their new conference. They lost a close game to Syracuse, but have won every other game in the ACC. Should be fun to see how they fair against the other top teams.

23. (17) Massachusetts Minutemen (17-2, 4-1)

As good as they’ve been this season, they are trailing St. Louis in the A-10. I still have them ranked higher however because of the total body of work.

24. (25) St. Louis Billikens (18-2, 5-0)

Only time they play UMASS this season is the last game of the year. Interesting how that works out. Will they lose before then?

25. (NR) Texas Longhorns and (NR) Oklahoma Sooners (Both 16-4, 5-2)

Starting with Texas, they proved to me how legit they are. Last four games were wins at WVU, home vs. ISU, home vs. KSU, and at Baylor. That got them in the rankings for sure. Oklahoma has been in this area of the rankings for a while. I am impressed watching them with their versatile players like Clark and Hield.

Dropped from Previous Top 25: Baylor Bears, Colorado Buffaloes

Also Considered: UCLA, Kansas State, George Washington, Connecticut, New Mexico, VCU, Ole Miss, Missouri, Providence, Xavier, SMU, Minnesota

By: The Sports Guys

Friday, January 24, 2014

Semi-Realistic Dream Scenarios, Part 1

It's Friday night and I'm watching NBA basketball. There are plenty of contenders this year, especially in the West, but there are some intriguing young teams too with plenty of assets. It got me thinking about next year, and what my dream scenario would be as a fan of each team heading into next season. So... below is a Mock Draft/Free Agent Period/Trade Deadline Moves... Basically, I'll sift through each team below, and dream up what I'd love to see happen between now and next season as a fan of each team. I'll try to keep it somewhat realistic and on budget, but remember, it's quite fun to dream. I'll go in alphabetically order, and focus basically on the starters:

Atlanta Hawks

PG - Jeff Teague
SG - Gary Harris
SF - Danny Granger (or Luol Deng)
PF - Paul Millsap
C - Al Horford

Teague, Millsap, and Horford are already under contract for next season. Then, they also need to root against Brooklyn for the rest of this season. They have the right to swap picks with Brooklyn in the draft, so they could end up with a Top Ten pick if the Nets miss the playoffs. If that happens, Gary Harris would be a great pick for them as a mid lottery selection. Due to striking out in free agency last summer, they have money to add a nice free agent. I listed Granger and Deng as possibilities here to round out their starting five. This would be a playoff team in the East easy, and a much improved team from the one that currently sits in third place in the East.

Boston Celtics

PG - Rajon Rondo
SG - Avery Bradley
SF - Jeff Green
PF - Jared Sullinger
C - Joel Embiid

Rondo, Green, and Sullinger are locked in already (unless they are traded) so that part was easy. Bradley is a restricted free agent that I am sure they'll resign. He is a young player I think they'll continue to try and develop. They are also going to likely end up with a Top 6 pick, and could easily win the lottery. Embiid would be great for them as Sullinger and Olynyk are both better suited at power forward, and Embiid could be a major star for years to come at the 5. This isn't a fancy starting five, but it is fairly young and has upside. They would also have a deep bench (Olynyk, another first rounder in the 2014 draft, Bayless, Pressey, and vets such as Gerald Wallace and Brandon Bass).

Brooklyn Nets

PG - Deron Williams
SG - Joe Johnson
SF - Andrei Kirilenko
PF - Kevin Garnett
C - Brook Lopez

The Nets don't own a first rounder this summer, nor do they have cap space to bring in any new big time players. Of course, management in Brooklyn doesn't mind ignoring that... Kirilenko is a free agent but has a player option. If he stays, he'll keep the core of this team together (although Pierce very likely won't be re-signed). If they can stay healthy, they'd be a playoff team no doubt.

Charlotte Hornets

PG - Kemba Walker
SG - Gerald Henderson
SF - Michael Kidd-Gilchrist
PF - Julius Randle
C - Al Jefferson

Charlotte could be much improved next season. Theoretically, they could end up with three first round picks in this summer's draft, including their own pick which may easily be in the Top Ten. In fact, things are looking grimmer this season for them, which could land them a pick even higher. That means they could draft Randle to play alongside Jefferson inside. The other four starters are the same as this year, so that's realistic. The other major improvement for them would be their bench: two other first rounders (possibly another lottery pick), a better developed Zeller and Biyombo, and Jeff Taylor. If they end up with a second lottery pick (from Detroit), they could have two rookie starters. Now, the other thing to note is they will have a lot of money to spend this summer with Ben Gordon coming off the books. They could easily add to this team with a marquee free agent. Kyle Lowry would be a nice fit and would allow Kemba to move to a bench/sixth man role. Shooting is another area of need.

Chicago Bulls

PG - Derrick Rose
SG - Jimmy Butler
SF - Rodney Hood
PF - Chris Bosh
C - Joakim Noah

This team would be dangerous. Rose, Butler, Noah are locked in. If Chicago starts losing as you'd expect looking at their current roster, they could easily land a Top Ten pick. Hood would give them shooting and scoring they need on the wing, particularly with Deng gone. The key is what they do with Boozer. If they amnesty him to remove him from the books, they'll have money to play with. Miami likely can't bring back everyone, so Bosh may end up being the odd man out. He'd be perfect with Chicago, and would make this team a serious threat once again.

Cleveland Cavaliers

PG - Kyrie Irving
SG - Dion Waiters
SF - Lebron James
PF - Tristan Thompson
C - Joel Embiid

This is another team that would covet Embiid. He would be the center that Bynum wasn't. Irving, Waiters, and Thompson have been their young core for the last couple seasons. The big name here though is Lebron. It's no secret that Cleveland wants him back, and James has hinted he'd consider coming home again. For the record, I doubt he returns, but this is a dream blog right? This team would be a serious contenders to win it all.

Dallas Mavericks

PG - Jose Calderon
SG - Monta Ellis
SF - Shawn Marion
PF - Dirk Nowitzki
C - Greg Monroe

Calderon and Ellis were signed last year, but Marion and Dirk would need new contracts. Greg Monroe is the newbie here, but he seems to be falling out of favor in Detroit. He's a restricted free agent this summer, but Dallas will have money to pry him away. Depending on how much Cuban wants to spend, he could upgrade the SF spot also, especially with the vast number of free agents available at that spot this summer. Like I said with Atlanta, Deng/Granger would be somewhat affordable (compared to Lebron, Carmelo, etc.). Paul Pierce may be looking around for a contender too depending on what transpires in Brooklyn.

Denver Nuggets

PG - Ty Lawson
SG - Rudy Gay
SF - Danilo Gallinari
PF - Noah Vonleh
C - McGee/Hickson

This team is lacking a "go-to" player. They are filled with role players, but haven's had a star since they traded Carmelo. They should do what Golden State did last year... dump contracts to create room for a free agent, unless they could trade for one. Rudy Gay is the big time scorer that could succeed in Denver. If they can acquire him, it would provide a big boost. Gallinari should be back from injury, along with McGee. Hickson and Lawson and whoever remains from the contract dumping will round out a playoff ready team.

Detroit Pistons

PG - Brandon Jennings
SG - Evan Turner
SF - Lance Stephenson
PF - Josh Smith
C - Andre Drummond

As I stated earlier when discussing Dallas, Monroe seems to be unwanted in Detroit. Stuckey and Villanueva are also free agents this summer, and both of them hold decent sized contracts. Since Detroit is likely losing their draft pick this summer to Charlotte, free agency is how they can improve, especially with all this money now. Turner and Stephenson would be two great wings for them to pair with the other stars on the team that are already locked in. Both are restricted free agents so it may be hard to pull off, but again, this is all about dreaming.

Golden State Warriors

No changes needed. This team created their dream scenario last summer by clearing room for Iguodala. And all their starters are signed through at least next year also. As the young guys develop, they will continue to get better over time. The only thought could be to improve inside, especially Bogut. But honestly, they don't have resources or draft picks to do it.

Houston Rockets

PG - Jeremy Lin
SG - James Hardin
SF - Chandler Parsons
PF - Terrance Jones
C - Dwight Howard

The only work here is re-signing Parsons, who will be a restricted free agent this summer. But like GS, they did their work in 2013 by getting Howard. Asik needs to be traded, but they should simply look to beef up the bench and add some better defensive players. They'll get better with chemistry.

Indiana Pacers

PG - George Hill
SG - Lance Stephenson
SF - Paul George
PF - David West
C - Roy Hibbert

Just like Houston, only work is re-signing a restricted free agent: Lance Stephenson. They'll have money to do it too since Granger's contract is up. Keeping some scoring on the bench will be important to do next summer also.

Los Angeles Clippers

No changes needed. This is just like GS... all starters locked in next year also. Doc in his second year will make this lineup deadly.

Los Angeles Lakers

PG - Marcus Smart
SG - Kobe Bryant
SF - Carmelo Anthony
PF - Pau Gasol
C - Spencer Hawes

As I've said all season, anything can happen this summer with the Lakers, as nearly everybody is a free agent. Kobe is locked in however so we'll put him down at SG. They have talked about adding another star to pair with Kobe, and to "replace him" longterm as the face of the franchise. That would be Carmelo. Gasol will likely return at a reduced rate. Hawes will be an unrestricted free agent coming off a great season with Philly. Smart would be a great leader for this team, and could be drafted if they continue to struggle and land a decently high pick. Lakers fans would have to be happy with this team.

Memphis Grizzlies

PG - Mike Conley
SG - Courtney Lee
SF - Luol Deng (or another)
PF - Doug McDermott
C - Marc Gasol

Gasol and Conley are locks for the lineup next year. The question for them is if they try and get younger. Randolph is a free agent (along with Mike Miller), but even guys like Prince need to be replaced despite being under contract. McDermott would compliment Gasol inside well and would be able to spread the floor as a "Stretch-4". Deng could be signed by using Randolph's old money (or another marquee guy I've mentioned before). And I think they'll be stuck with Lee, although he is averaging 15 points per game with Memphis this year. Overall, this could be a good lineup, and great depending on how Doug does as a rookie.

Part 2 another time...

By: The Sports Guys