Although there is a lot of hope and enthusiasm surrounding the start of each NBA season, it also falls during the Halloween season.
We’re going to enter the world of nightmares and put on a pair of devil ears.
Although we wish for every team’s best case scenario, we are aware that this is not always the case. Thus, rather than just stating, “Team’s best player gets injured,” we’re laying out the worst-case scenario for each club and concurrently banging on as many doors to ensure that these worst-case situations never come to pass.
Trae Young, a 6’1″, 164-pound player who has physical obstacles in nearly every defensive matchup, continues to be the Hawks’ leader. Atlanta has put a lot of resources into trying to reduce its liabilities, with the hopes of doing so.
The Hawks have made numerous moves with the defensive end in mind, including the trade for Dejounte Murray last summer, the hiring of Quin Snyder in February, and the prior draft-night arrivals of De’Andre Hunter and Onyeka Okongwu.
But what if that’s insufficient? What if Young is on the court and the Hawks just aren’t able to put together a championship-caliber defense? Atlanta’s defensive efficiency ranks have been 28, 28, 18, 26, and 22 since his debut in 2018. The team will need to give Young a lot more thought if a top-half, let alone top-10, finish is out of the question. Young is an undersized floor general.
With Al Horford, Robert Williams III, and Grant Williams, Boston boasted one of the finest three-big rotations in the NBA the previous season. Even though head coach Joe Mazzulla occasionally handled Grant Williams in a way that bewildered observers, the Celtics undoubtedly had the best talent at the 4 and 5 spots in the NBA.
But as we move forward to the present, Boston finds itself faced with a more shredded and possibly less trustworthy squad. The Williamses have left, and Oshae Brissett and Kristaps PorziņĎis have taken their place.
Although PorziŇģis is the most skilled big man Boston has had on the roster in a long time, his 7’3″ and 240 pounds make him a walking injury risk. It had been his first season since 2016–17 that he has played in more than 60 games. Brissett is a hustle-first role player who hasn’t played in a postseason game in the last two seasons despite just being a regular in the rotation. Al Horford, who turned 37 in June, completes the trio. He just averaged the fewest points of his career (9.8).
Mikal Bridges, a two-way star for the Nets, was always a standout defender who appeared to have reached new heights offensively following his trade deadline acquisition to Brooklyn. Even though he only played in 27 games during that run, his average of 26.1 points on 47.5/37.6/89.4 shooting was still about as good as it gets for a sample that size.
He appears to be a remarkable player, but as historians of hoops are aware, an exceptional season requires more than one special player. So, not just now, but throughout the 27-year-old’s heyday, where will he get that support?
If you’re not overly optimistic about Cam Thomas or completely sure that Ben Simmons can break out of a two-year slump, the Nets don’t appear to have any apparent star players on their roster. Though it didn’t use them in the Damian Lillard sweepstakes, Brooklyn at least has some appealing trade chips. It’s also unclear when (or if) the front management intends to seek an impact deal.
LaMelo Ball is a difference-maker for the Hornets, but that’s about the only thing they know for sure in Charlotte. Although Buzz City has been lacking in blue-chip quality for some time, it is hoped that Brandon Miller, this year’s No. 2 choice, can provide just that.
“Even in our league, it’s difficult to find a player with his combination of size, skill, and IQ,” Hornets coach Steve Clifford said to Steve Aschburner of NBA.com. “Almost 6’9″ . Excellent decision-maker. Excellent set of skills.”
Although Miller wasn’t exactly considered the second-best prospect in this selection, he could be a terrific pick. Miller only came in at number five on B/R’s Andy Bailey’s ranking of the 2023 class’s highest ceilings, behind Victor Wembanyama, Scoot Henderson, Ausar Thompson, and Amen Thompson. If Charlotte is unable to make the most of its position as the second overall pick, things will become much more difficult for them in the future.
