Grind City Media’s Lang Whitaker and Kelcey Wright Johnson weigh in on the most pertinent news from around the NBA. What’s lit? What’s lame? Find out each week right here.
From: Lang Whitaker
Sent: Monday, December 7, 2020 10:02 AM
To: Kelcey Wright Johnson
Subject: IMHO
Kelcey!
Guess what? Santa Claus is coming to town, and he’s brought with him NBA training camps and some NBA basketball! That’s right, teams are back in their facilities (well, except for James Harden), and everyone is getting ready to get back at it over the next few weeks. And actually, by the time Christmas rolls around, we will have already started opening our presents and finding out if Santa brought toys or a lump of coal.
So let’s start today in the West and take a preview lap through the Western Conference. There were eight teams that ended up making the playoffs last year (Lakers, Clippers, Nuggets, Rockets, Thunder, Jazz, Mavericks, Blazers). Let’s figure out who is going to be naughty and who will be nice. Which of those teams do you think will not qualify for the postseason this season?
From: Kelcey Wright Johnson
Sent: Monday, December 7, 2020 9:16 PM
To: Lang Whitaker
Subject: Re: IMHO
Wow – it’s been a while since I made a naughty and nice list but let’s get to it.
As if the West wasn’t strong enough last year — it just keeps getting better and better. There’s essentially like 11 teams fighting for eight playoff spots.
So, I’ll keep the Lakers, Clippers, Nuggets, Rockets and Blazers on the nice list. I think they all made big improvements to their rosters in the off-season. I will also add the Grizzlies, Warriors and Suns to my nice list. (wow – that was hard to do… there are too many strong teams in the west).
I guess that means my naughty list is:
- Thunder: they only got picks this off-season
- Jazz: Mitchell is good, but I had to choose someone to not make it
- Mavs: Urgh, how could I cut Luka?
- Timberwolves: I cut KAT too? Wow
- Kings: they’re still rebuilding
- Pelicans: I’m just not sold on them – big question mark on Zion’s health
- Spurs: even with the addition of Tre Jones, I think DeMar carries too much of the scoring load on his back
Honestly, as I go through the list a second time, I really have no clue. I think all 11 or 12 teams could make the playoffs and no one would be shocked. That kinda makes this season extra exciting in my eyes.
It may be a bit easier, but can you give me your naughty/nice list for the Eastern Conference?
From: Lang Whitaker
Sent: Tuesday, December 8, 2020 9:36 AM
To: Kelcey Wright Johnson
Subject: RE: IMHO
Well, I’ve got a kid who still believes in Santa, so I am CONSTANTLY using the “don’t forget that Santa is watching!” warning around this time of year. And I gotta say, it really works! I wonder if it would work on James Harden right now?
BTW, that reminds me that of the teams on your nice list, I wouldn’t be surprised if Houston drops out, considering the way things seem to be going right now with their relationship with Harden. I wouldn’t be shocked if they decided to just move him and focus on rebuilding. I’m also with you on the Jazz – I know they just paid Mitchell big money, but Conley is in the final year of his deal, and Gobert is near the end of his contract, and with a new owner taking over, I wouldn’t be shocked if they took a step back to completely re-tool around Spida Man.
ON TO THE EAST! I think there are a few teams that are locks: Miami, Milwaukee, Boston, Toronto, Brooklyn, Philly. And… wow, we are already at six teams. If I had to pick two more teams, I’d probably pick Washington, because I think Russell Westbrook is gonna run wild in the East, and then…I guess Atlanta? Although I’m not as bullish on them as some people are. Maybe Orlando? There’s gotta be one team that surprises everyone – perhaps Charlotte? Cleveland? Indiana? As tight as things look in the West, I think you can make a case that the East might be nearly as competitive.
OK Kelcey, continuing our holiday theme, which team’s fans do you think should get a surprise in their stocking this year? Is there a particular long-suffering fanbase that deserves a little gift from the man in the flying sleigh?
From: Kelcey Wright Johnson
Sent: Tuesday, December 8, 2020 6:50 PM
To: Lang Whitaker
Subject: Re: IMHO
Maybe I should have put Phoenix on the naughty list because I think they snuck down to the tree in the middle of the night and ripped open their present earlier this year.
This is a team that hasn’t made the playoffs since 2009 and now they’re legit playoff contenders in the Western Conference. The addition of Chris Paul to compliment Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton, in my humble opinion, may be a franchise-changing move.
A team that needs to open up their stocking and find some gold though? The Kings. They haven’t been anywhere near the playoffs since 2005. Oh my god, I was a little baby back then! Has anybody checked on them?! Jokes aside, they have a pretty solid young core with Fox, Hield, Bagley, Whiteside and rookie Haliburton – they will be pretty tough in a few years. That surprise in their stocking may not be this year, but it’s not too far off!
And a team on the East? The Pistons. I know they made the playoffs in 2019, but they got swept in the first round. In fact, they’ve gotten swept in every playoff appearance they’ve seen since 2009. And to be completely blunt, I’m not sure I really understand the vision for that team this year, so I can’t imagine a playoff push in their new future (but we never know what Santa will bring!).
And because, well why not, which player in the NBA do you think is most like Rudolph? You know what I mean; underrated, great leadership skills… and may have a little breakout year when they bring their team through the fog.
From: Lang Whitaker
Sent: Tuesday, December 8, 2020 9:36 AM
To: Kelcey Wright Johnson
Subject: RE: IMHO
Well, the easy answer would be Rudy Gobert. (I just looked it up, and his first name is actually Rudy, not Rudolph. And the same is true for Rudy Gay.)
When I think of leaders, of the guys who can basically will their team to success, the first person I think of (other than LeBron, because duh) is Chris Paul. To me, CP3 epitomizes what a point guard should be—he’s a leader, he’s a scorer, he understands pace and tempo, and he makes winning plays when it matters. I think the aforementioned Suns are going to be great this year, and I think it’s because of Chris Paul.
Another player who seems to get what it means to be a leader is Damian Lillard. He has worked his way into the upmost echelon of point guards, and it’s largely because of Lillard that the Blazers are as tough as they are.
Lastly, it’s still early in his career, but I’d also include Ja Morant in this conversation. Maybe Ja isn’t the most vocal player in the League, but he epitomizes what it means to lead by example, and his play energizes his Grizzlies teammates in a way no halftime speech or inspirational video can ever get them going. Like I said, it’s early, but I’m excited to have a front row seat to watch Ja grow over the years. I can’t wait to see what he’s got in his bag.