Greetings my peeps and welcome to the all things basketball podcast with your boy GD.
In this episode it's time for the NBA season to begin so I will be breaking down the western
conference guys.
I'll give you how everyone finishes and we'll talk about playoff teams and so forth.
So just sit back relax and enjoy the show.
Ok guys so it's your boy GD back once again with the all things basketball with GD podcast
and you know what guys it's fall season the leaves are falling starting to get those jackets
back on pretty soon the heavy coats but that's a story for another day so that means we're
already in the throes of football but basketball season is upon us guys and we have reached
that point October 24th the start of NBA season exciting time of the year especially for the
all things basketball with GD podcast and each season I've given you my season preview
so that's what we'll be doing right about now so without any further delay let's get
right into it guys.
So I'm going to start with the western conference first reason why they're the first ones playing
you got the first night with a double header in the NBA so you have the Lakers facing Denver
followed by Phoenix facing the GOAT state Warriors so let's get right into it I'm going
to start with the Southwest division here's how I'm going to do it guys we will first
go alphabetical and then once we're done with going alphabetical then I'll give you
my order of finish let's do it guys so we'll start with the Dallas Mavericks Dallas Mavericks
oh let me just say also here's what I'll do I'll give you this starting five I'll talk
about the pluses for them I'll talk about minuses more like strengths weakness and then
I'll have the question that we pose to each and every team so that's how we'll do it
and we'll take it from there the Dallas Mavericks like I said of course starting always with
Luca Donkage their perennial all-star and all-world player along with Kyrie Irving look like Tim
Hardaway Jr. is going to be in the starting lineup from all early returns Grant Williams
who they got in free agency coming from the Boston Celtics and guys to go on with the
rookie Derek Lively the second will be the starter at center very interesting move there
by Jason Kidd but hey the kid is looking good in preseason so Jason Kidd said I will give
the kid a shot so he'll be your starter at center and of course you got your bench there
you got guys like Seth Curry you got Rashard Holmes who many thought would end up being
the starting center but that wasn't to be and Dante Exum actually makes his return to
the NBA he was away for a few years Dwight Powell who's been there forever Max C. Clever
he's there as well Josh Green as well the pluses for them you got that Mercurial back
court of Kyrie and Luca and then your weaknesses you're going with rookie center Lively so
we'll see how the kid does when he's being thrown early into the fire and probably rebounding
as a whole for this team but the question we pose how will Kyrie and Luca look with
a training camp in a full season under their belts together because we saw a small sample
size last year when Kyrie got traded at trade deadline didn't work out so well for them
but nonetheless we'll see what happens with the Mavericks let's move on to the next team
the Houston Rockets under what major changes guys you now have M.A. Duca as your coach
your starters over there will be Fred Van Vleet who you got from the Toronto Raptors via
free agency Jalen Green the young shooting guard over there you also have Dylan Brooks
another person you got via free agency this time from Memphis Jabari Smith Jr. and then
Alperin Sungoon so that is your starters over there the strengths for them the acquisitions
they made in free agency such as Fred Van Vleet Dylan Brooks also got Jeff Green from the
world champion Denver Nuggets so you got some experience there and then Jock Landon who
you got from the Phoenix Suns also you drafted Eamon Thompson who can play multiple positions
so it'll be interesting to see where Duca places him within the lineups on the floor
also Terry Easing you have you still have Jay Sean Tate there another rookie Cam Whitmore
who kind of fell in the draft but he could be a sleeper as well so that was your strengths
your minuses is you pretty much over saturated at the small forward position you got a lot
of small forwards there so we'll see how things shake out now the question is with M.A. Duca
as coach how will this team perform because you have all these different pieces you have
to blend together will they be able to pull things together to possibly make a playoff
run so that's the question we pose for them the Memphis Grizzlies the next team on the
list of course you have John Moran who as we know faces the 25 game suspension so we
won't see him until mid December so I'll talk about that in a minute Jaren Jackson
Jr. coming off of a fine season for him one in which he ended up winning defensive player
of the year Desmond Bain you lost Stephen Adams for the year he tore up his knee so
you're probably gonna end up starting Santi Aldama the Spanish sensation from last year
you'll probably end up starting him and then Marcus Smart who you got via trade from the
Boston Celtics in that multi-team deal that netted them Chris Dapportzing is the Celtics
so that's your starting lineup guys you also have guys like Luke Conard you got Derrick
Rose from the Knicks so Derrick Rose comes back to a place where you play college ball
in the city of Memphis also have Xavier Tillman Brandon Clark he should be healthy he's rounding
into shape Memaheeq tore up his ACL last year Zaire Williams and also David Ruddy your
upside you have the very much important acquisition of Marcus Smart who you definitely need it
guys especially with job missing those 25 games that's definitely a upside for you downside
job missing those 25 games and also the loss of Adams that's gonna well it didn't hurt
you too bad last year but it's still a significant loss nonetheless you talk about guy that could
go in there give you double digit rebounds defend the pain and the question for them
is can they stay in the mix in those first 25 games can they do that that is the big
question for them New Orleans Pelicans you're starting line up there CJ McCullum of course
you start with him Zion Williamson who looks healthy guys made it through the preseason
unscathed of course they treated him with kid gloves obviously given the injury history
you also have Brandon Ingram Herbert Jones who's a solid defensive player and your center
Yannis Valachunas and of course your bench you start with Grand Theft Alvarado Jose Alvarado
you also have on the bench there Dyson Daniels want to see how he does in his sophomore campaign
trade Murphy who's gonna be out the first month or so he's out with an injury so we'll
see what he brings when he comes back he really turned it on towards the end of last year
guys so I'll be interested to see what he brings once he's healthy and back in the lineup
Najee Morris and Cody Zella who they picked up fire free agency plus for this squad a
healthy squad that could be playoff bound and the downside you need Zion for at least 60 games
I say if you could get 60 games from Zion I really like their chances that leads to the question
can coach Willie Green get them up into that top six and out of like the playing situation
the San Antonio Spurs right now your starting lineup there of course your franchise player
Victor Wimboy Giamma also Jeremy Sochan who oh by the way pop has named him the starting
point guard it'll be interesting to see he's a forward normally but he's gonna man the point
guard position so he'll be like a point forward per se well this is Greg Popovich he knows more
basketball than we could ever imagine so maybe he's on or something here but we will see Devin
Vassil who you just gave him that extension signed him to the big money so he's gonna be a vital piece
there Kelden Johnson who led them in scoring last year so it'll be interesting to see where he
fits in all of this and then Zach Collins who will be the center as Wimby plays the power forward
your upside here you have a guy who's a franchise changer guys so we'll see how
Wimboy Giamma performs in this first season in the NBA all signs from preseason looks pretty good
in your bench by the way Trey Jones who I thought would end up being the starter at point guard but
that wasn't to be Davante Graham also Malachi Bram, Romeo Langford and Charles Bassie your downside
you got youth everywhere so that's going to be where Greg Popovich is going to have to coach
up these guys and get them to compete out there which leads to the question how long will pop
hold on until this team turns into a playoff power again got a young squad here so you know
they're going to take their bumps and bruises along the way but we'll see what happens there
with that being said here's how I see the order going in this division it'll probably be Memphis
Grizzly winning this division followed by the Houston Rockets I think they take a big leap in
the standings here with those additions that they made followed by New Orleans Peligans and that'll
be followed by the Dallas Mavericks I understand I get it you got Luca there you got Kyrie there
you still there guys that's going to miss games guys I think there's no other way to slice that
and when they miss games I'm not sold on the depth that's there so I see them finishing
fourth in this division and then you have San Antonio ending up being the last place team
in that division so let us move on guys to the Northwestern division where we start with the
world champions the Denver Nuggets all their starters intact the Joker of course Nikolai Yokek
followed by Jamal Murray who was phenomenal in the playoffs Aaron Gorton also had a strong
playoff performance Michael Porter Jr. I'll be interested to see how his health looks this is
probably the first training camp in the good while where he's coming in healthy so can he give you
what he once gave you maybe a couple of years back where he was like killing it in scoring
we'll see what happens there and then Cotavia's called well Pope the solid shooting guard there
their 3 and D guy on your bench ready Jackson who will be spelling Jamal Murray probably get some
spot starts there because they still want to be careful with Murray also Christian Braun who had a
nice playoffs for a rookie so be interested to see what he does in this sophomore year here
Deandre Jordan of course there to be the elder statesmen also the spell the Joker as well
and Perry Watson also the upside is the defending champs they're back again and they have their
top flight players the downside you did lose some key pieces that being Bruce Brown who was
like your Swiss Army knife over there and also Jeff Green who was valuable as well
and the question for them can they sit atop of the Western Conference again then we'll move on to
the Minnesota Timberwolves have of course the Ant-Man Anthony Edwards Carl Anthony Towns Rudy
Goldberg the veteran floor general Mike Connolly and Jaten McDaniels who many are saying guys
he's like a mckel bridges which means he's a guy who's probably like a guy who'll give you defense
for sure but his offense is coming around as well much like mckel bridges did when he was in Phoenix
it'll be course interesting to see his maturation and then from your business you got guys like
Kyle Anderson shake Milton who you got from the Sixers Nakeel Alexander Walker and Nas Reid
your upside a full season with the Twin Towers dead that being towns and go bare
there and your downside health is always an issue over there especially with Mike Connolly
seems like every year he pulls that hamstring it has to miss time and then Carl Anthony Towns
he missed a lot of time last year hopefully this year you get bitter for full season from him
and also guys something to take note of they did go undefeated in preseason for what that's worth
with that said can this team ever live up to its potential hmm the Oklahoma City Thunder
they being coached by Mark Dignalt right now you have shy Gilchis Alexander who had a fantastic
year guys also you have Josh Giddy also Chet Holmgren who missed all of last year when he tore
up his knee in preseason then you have Jalen Williams who had a nice season guys he had a
pretty nice season and then your fifth starter it could fluctuate but I'm penciling in Lou Dort
it could also be Alex say Pokhasevsky could be him as well terms of your bench even one of those
guys will be one of your bench guys along with Fossilius Michik a European import coming to your
team also you have Trey Mann as well your upside this is a young team that's brimming with talent
guys your downside the health of Chet Holmgren holds the key to this season ahead and the question
for them will they be the surprise team of the league hmm we will answer that question shortly
Portland Trail Blazers now that the Dame trade has been made Chancy Billups now has to
remold this team now but your starters are DeAndre Aten who you got in the multiple well the
three team trade that sent Dame to Milwaukee and brought in Aten also Anthony Simons now he's the
guy at the guard position also Jeremy Grant who you just re-signed gave him that big money
Scoot Henderson the rookie who will now take the spot of Damian Lillard and then Shaten Sharp I think
rounds out that starting five your bench Malcolm Brogdon who you got in another deal when you
brought Drew Holiday in and then you ended up shipping him out so you got Malcolm Brogdon back
you also guided that trade Robert Williams the third it'll be interesting to see how Chancy uses him
especially alongside DeAndre Aten probably getting center minutes as well also you have Matisse Tybal
Nazir Little as well your upside the acquisition of a franchise center in DeAndre Aten your downside
of course most obviously life without Dane which leads to the question how quickly can Scoot mature
as the now floor general for the lasers Scoot Henderson who many say was probably the second
most NBA ready player in that draft he's getting the opportunity guys so again it's going to be
very interesting to see how this rookie now gets to play and also his game has been compared to a
Russell Westbrook so that kind of tells you something you're getting an athletic point guard that can
dish and then who can be a high riser as well the Utah Jazz their starters it looks like it's going
to be Laurie marketing who had an all-star campaign and a fabulous year it's looking like Colin Sexton
guys also Jordan Clarkson Walker Kessler the fine rookie for them at center and then John Collins
who you got in a trade from the Atlanta Hawks on their bench Chris Dunn a guy who pretty much
dusted off and played well for them down the stretch Ochi Abadji and also Kelly Olnick you
still have him and Talon Horton Tucker and the upside is Laurie marketing and his most improved
player season which pretty much stunned a lot of folks and also you added a John Collins who
gets a bit of a rebirth over here with the Utah Jazz question for them can they make a move towards
play all contention or even play in contention so with that said this is how I see the finish going
in that division guys Denver will be number one followed by a throwing my hat in the ring for
okc guys I think they're going to be the surprise team of the entire league I like what Mark Dagonal
is doing over there and you get a guy like Chet Holmgren who I think could be a difference maker
so I think they'll surprise a lot of people end up finishing second followed by the Minnesota
Timberwolves and they'll be followed by the Utah Jazz and then fifth I think even with everything
said and done I think the trailblazers end up being the last place team in that division
let us move on to Pacific Division this division was really hard to judge guys
guys you got three coaches there in that division that has won an NBA championship and one coach who
was a assistant on a NBA championship winning team very tough division to gauge but we'll get into it
let's start with the golden state warriors and they will have their usual big three there
Deft Curry, Clay Thompson, Drey Mon Green, also you add Andrew Wiggins who had some personal
issues to deal with off the court concerning his father's health which took him away from the game
now he's back and Chris Paul who you got fired trade from the Washington Wizards
on your bench Kevon Looney who of course you can always shift him into your lineup as well
Jonathan Kaminga who had a fantastic preseason so it's going to be interesting to see how Steve
Kerr incorporates him into the roster of players that he uses also Moses Moody it's time to see a
little flash from him Dario Saarich who you got via free agency and Gary Payton the second is still
there and then the rookie you drafted Brandon Posetski as well upside for this team you got a
veteran team that knows how to win that's a couple of years removed from a championship
the downsides they got to be better on the road guys they were horrendous last year on the road so
if they can at least be 500 on the road you know what they're going to do at home they're going to
be solid at home that definitely gives them a shot to be amongst the upper echelon teams
with that being said let's turn to the LA Clippers you're starting line up there Kawaii Leonard
along with Paul George Russell Westbrook Ivica Zubat and Marcus Morris your bench
Norman Powell Bones Highland Terrence Mann Nicholas Batum Robert Covington and Mason Plumlee as well
the upside is as long as Kawaii and Paul George is healthy their chances are good
the downside no chance if any of those guys miss over 20 games guys that's the threshold I'm putting
on it and then the question is will they continue to pursue heart and that has been the story for
them as well not sure how that shakes out the whole heart and story I'll probably cover more of that
when I do the Eastern Conference but they're supposed to be heavy suitors for him so we'll see
how that goes so Tyron Lou pretty much has his hands full here with this squad a talented squad but
the whole load managing thing has kind of hung a cloud over this franchise so we'll see what happens
there with that said let's move to the LA Lakers of course you have LeBron James Anthony Davis
Austin Reeve DeAngelo Russell and Jared Vanderbilt your bench gave Vincent Roy Hachimura
Christian Wood who you got in what I thought was a steal Jackson Hayes Tashon Prince also
Kam Reddish trying to reinvent himself and be a valuable member on the NBA team your upside
you have the dynamic duo of LeBron and AD and also you have bench step oh you got plenty of bench
step guys and then your downside of course it's the health of both Anthony Davis and LeBron James
that's going to be a factor guys if those guys have to mix huge chunks of games that will not be
good for them and the question that lies for Darwin Ham in that organization can they put it all
together for a title run hmm the Phoenix Suns coached by Frank Vogel now out is Monty Williams
in comes Frank Vogel your starters there of course Kevin Durant Devin Booker the newly acquired
Bradley Beale who you got from the Wizards Joseph Nurkic who you got in that three player deal
the Dame deal and then your fifth starter looks like it's going to be Josh Akoji your bench Damian
Lee Eric Gordon who you acquired from the Clippers also Utah Wontonabi who you got from Brooklyn
Drew Eubanks another free agent and Bobo that you got from the Orlando Magic and also Grayson
Allen as well of course your upside the big three of KD Devin and Bradley Beale and you have some
pretty good depth and the downside is the health of the big three that's definitely a factor although
lesser on Booker he only played 53 games but normally he gives you 60 plus games so I
I'll mark last year's aberration for him and then the question for them can they stay healthy
enough to be among the top tier teams and then the Sacramento Kings a team that used to be the
doormat of this division that is no longer the case guys Mike Brown has turned that program around
and with that said the starters are DeMontes Sabonis DeAaron Fox Murray Harrison Barnes
and Kevin Herter your bench Malik Monk who's had a pretty good year DeVion Mitchell Chris Duarte
who you got from the Pacers also a European player you got Sasha Fazenkov who was a European
MVP overseas and then also Kessler Edwards your upside they were the surprise team of the league
guys and I think they're gonna get better I just think that and then the downside of the division
actually got better so take that for what it's worth and the question is after last year what do
they do for an encore so with that said my breakdown of this division this was tough guys I gotta
admit I went through several iterations I looked up and down at this division and this how I see
it shaking out I'm saying the lake is gonna take this division I think they got the requisite skills
I think they solidified themselves in many areas if LeBron or AD were to go down for long periods
I think they'll be able to manage it I think they'll be able to survive and I think this is a year
that I'm rolling with Shannon Sharpe on this one I think this is a year where you're gonna get AD
for a lot of games guys I don't think this is gonna be a year where he missed I'd be stunned if he played
less than 60 games this year I'd be stunned by that I'm even going as far as saying you're gonna get
65 games just like Shannon Sharpe said I think you're gonna get 65 from him and if you do look out
guys because this guy will put up huge numbers if that's the case so I'm going with the Lakers as
the number one team in that division the second place team again I wrestled guys but Sacramento
Kings I don't think last year was a fluke whatsoever I understand I get it a few of the teams were
down last year because of injuries and so forth but Sacramento to me if I were to look at all the
rest of those teams in the vacuum this is the one team that is relatively healthy all of the time
and they got a taste of the playoffs and I'm sure the way their playoff ended I'm sure they weren't
too thrilled about that going down to the hands of the Gold State Warriors I think they're gonna be
hungry guys so I'm picking them to be in second place third again I wrestled but I kept coming
away with this the third place team is going to be the Gold State Warriors Gold State Warriors have
a huge home court advantage and again if they're able to shore things up on the road I can see their
record being much better than it was last year so with that said I think they're using Clay the
right way they're managing him properly and you got guys there that can step in in a moment's notice
coming up really looks good guys Kevon Lune is solid as always right now you're dealing with little
injury issues with Dre Montbaugh I think they'll come and go but this is a team that's been there
done that so I'm gonna say they're finished third which means Phoenix Suns will finish fourth I know
this goes against the green in fact I saw Stephen A's top five listen they were fourth here's what
I'm gonna say guys this team you have your big three there Kevin Durant played 47 games last year
since tearing up his ACL the most games he's played in the season has been 55 I really think
that's an issue for him going forward I really do also too Bradley Beal he played in just 50
games last season and the most games he's played the last three years is 56 Joseph Nierke he played
52 games last year and within the past four years I don't think he's approached I think he's
approached 60 once so you're talking about three of your five starters that has played less than
55 games three of your starters that does a bowl well guys I understand too I get it they do have
depth but you don't have KD depth you don't have a guy that can produce like KD or even near that
on your bench Bradley Beal yeah you got some guys that can probably but you don't have a Bradley
Beal type on your bench if you're saying Eric Gorton okay but he himself deals with injuries so
yeah I'm picking them forth guys I mean I know they're the nice shiny object you look at it on
paper but you got to deal with the facts they're injury written I'm gonna say they're the fourth
place team which leads us to the last place team the LA Clippers I know that's sacrilege guys
you think their injury situation is something the Clippers is just as bad when you're talking about
Kawhi Leonard and Paul George this is going to be a tough division guys really tough and then you
also have the specter of James Hart and Looming in the air so I don't think these guys are going to
be all that confident knowing that in a moment's notice that deal can go forth and you end up bringing
Hart in and who's to say who will be leaving in process so if that's the case I'm not confident
in poor Tyloo he's got to deal with this situation but maybe this is the way of him getting out of
there I don't know but I'm picking them as the fifth place team guys that's the way the West
shakes out in my purview I'll give you the playoff teams that I see right now I see it
lining up like this I think the Lakers could end up having the best overall record in the West
followed by Denver followed by Sacramento I think Sacramento will have the third best record
the Memphis Grizzlies I can't count them out even with the jaw suspension I would never pick this high
if it weren't for them getting Marcus smart I think Marcus smart is the type of player that can
hold them accountable and they don't miss too much of a beat without Jaa Moran now when Jaa returns
it'll be interesting how Taylor Jenkins handles that situation where more likely than not you'll
probably end up starting both Jaa and Marcus smart which means you'll probably have to move Bane to
the small forward but like I said fourth place I think that's where they'll end up fifth place
will be Golden State again like I said they show up that road record they'll be right up in there
so I'm picking them fifth six I'm gonna say Phoenix Suns I think somehow they'll end up being the
sixth place team in that conference followed by OKC and then I follow that with the Houston rockets
being the eighth place team which mean your playing teams will probably be Pelicans again
and Minnesota I understand you'll have the Twin Towers back but this West is so loaded man oh
I think they'll end up being the playoff team it could flip one way or the other but I think
that's the way it shakes out all right guys so that is the way I'm seeing that listen things are
gonna be interesting in the league so why not start with a little controversy all right guys so
that is it for me I thank you for listening as always much appreciated coming up it'll be the
Eastern Conference I'll be breaking that down as well I'll probably do an episode on my postseason
awards my predictions in that regard I'll give you my top three as far as those awards go I still
want to talk about the WNBA and put a nice bow on that season there with their finals which was
pretty exciting and a few other news items here and there all right guys so that is it for me I
thank you as always for listening you know where to go all things basketball with GD.com that's
the website that sportsdudegd.com that's the email address all the podcast platforms I'm there
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not existent forget about threads we was just talking about that today so anyhow that's it for
me thank you for listening and we will be talking soon take care. So my peeps if you like what you
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