NBA Teams On The Rise
- The New York Knicks definitely qualify as one of teams on the rise. Old time basketball fans might begin comparing this team to the 68 Knicks. The Knicks were improving and then on December 19, 1968 they swung the big trade for Dave DeBusschere. That year the Knicks lost a tough Conference Finals to the future champion Boston Celtics in Bill Russell‘s last year. The next year they won the title beating the LA Lakers in seven games. That was when Willis Reed came out of the tunnel in game seven after suffering a serious injury. This year the Knicks traded for OG Anunoby on December thirtieth. Anunoby in no way compares with DeBusschere, a Hall of Famer, but the parallels are there. Tom Thibodeau has a team that plays the way he coaches gritty and tough.
- Another one of our teams on the rise is the Indiana Pacers. The Pacers are led by Tyrese Halliburton, an outstanding point guard. They have built a team with depth that can all run the floor and put pressure on defenses. They will be dangerous in the playoffs.
- The Oklahoma City Thunder are another one of our teams on the rise. They are competing for the best record in the West and have an emerging superstar in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Outstanding rookie Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams round out their big three that are young and will only get better. The Thunder need some size and have the assets to acquire it.
- The Minnesota Timberwolves fit our teams on the rise description. Though they lack maturity as I mentioned last week, but deserve mention for their immaturity, you can’t question their talent. Anthony Edwards is a rising star and Karl Anthony Towns looks much better as a number two player. If they mature look out NBA.
- The last of our five teams on the rise is the Orlando Magic. They are further away than the other four teams but with Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner young and already exhibiting great upside they are a team that will soon be one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference.
Defense?
- As I’ve said numerous times the Milwaukee Bucks just don’t defend. Anybody that follows the NBA knew that losing Jrue Holiday and gaining Damian Lillard would hurt their defense. The Bucks can’t stop the dribble drive because there just aren’t any good on the ball ball defenders on their roster. The numbers tell the story here. Last year the Bucks were fourth in the league in defensive rating this year they are twenty-first.
Rookie On The Rise
- Cam Whitmore is becoming the steal of the draft. The Houston Rockets took him with the twentieth pick in last year’s draft. He was supposed to be a top ten selection but for some reason he dropped. In the last ten games he’s averaged 21.6 minutes a game and scored 15.0 points per game. In the last five games he’s averaged 19.8 minutes per games and averaged 18.4 points per game.
