Five NBA teams that could surprise
Subtle things can lead to significant moves in the standings. An impact free agent or fast-adapting rookie. A new coach or a change in philosophy. Adding a few unflashy yet dependable new players. All of the above might be tickets for five teams to surprise and finish substantially better than they did last season.
1. DETROIT PISTONS
Coach Stan Van Gundy learned something disturbing when he joined the Pistons last season after two years away from the NBA: The defensive schemes he used in Orlando weren’t good enough anymore. The Pistons finished 20th in the league in defensive efficiency, 21st in three-point percentage defense and 22nd in field goal percentage defense.
So the Pistons are emphasizing defending the three-point line and fighting through screens to prevent the kind of open looks they surrendered so often last year. Van Gundy also wants his centers nearer to the basket instead of up high to defend pick-and-rolls.
“We’ve really worked with our guards on getting over picks and getting back in front of the ball,” Van Gundy told the Detroit Free Press. “We’ve made substantial adjustments there. We’ve made some minor adjustments in terms of guarding shooters coming off screens. It’s pretty substantial stuff.”
Improving your defense is one reliable way to get better quickly. If the changes take, look for a big move up from the Pistons.
2. MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES
The Timberwolves will play this season with a dark cloud over their heads after the death of coach Flip Saunders, who lost his battle with Hodgkin's lymphoma. Saunders had started the rebuilding process of the team in 2014 and after getting Andrew Wiggins from the Cleveland Cavaliers last year in a trade for Kevin Love and drafting former Kentucky star Karl-Anthony Towns this year, it looks like the team is headed in the right direction.
All the smart guys said the same thing last year about this team, that they could be a surprise. Then injuries hit. The Wolves lost 21 of 22 between Nov. 30 and Jan. 10 and finished a league-worst 16-66, behind even the Philadelphia 76ers and New York Knicks, and missed the playoffs for the 11th consecutive season.
“We had a lot of injuries even before I got here,” said Kevin Garnett, acquired late in the season for his second stint in Minnesota. “You can’t find chemistry with guys in and out of the lineup.”
Towns, the overall No. 1 pick, arrived at camp vowing there would not be a 12th consecutive miss. “The way this team looks, not only do I see us making the playoffs, we’re trying to make it past the first round also,” he said. “That’s just confidence. That’s how we feel. I’ve been thinking that since I got drafted.”
Interim coach Sam Mitchell appreciated Towns’ enthusiasm but isn’t ready to go that far.
“Karl hasn’t played an NBA game yet,” he said. “The reality will set in when you play that first of 82. But that’s the mind-set you’ve got to have. Whether it happens or not this year, I don’t know because we haven’t started playing games. But I want them thinking about that.”
The Wolves will open without center Nikola Pekovic (right ankle surgery) and perhaps Ricky Rubio (left ankle surgery), so they will rely heavily on Towns and rookie of the year Andrew Wiggins. Garnett, 39, is expected to keep everyone in line.
3. NEW YORK KNICKS
After watching the Knicks stumble through the worst season in franchise history at 17-65, team President Phil Jackson beefed up Carmelo Anthony’s supporting cast by adding veterans Derrick Williams, Kyle O’Quinn and Robin Lopez. None was a blockbuster signing, but the Knicks had to start somewhere.
Anthony’s return to health after battling left knee problems last year will go a long way toward improving the won-lost record. It still might not be enough to gain the Knicks a playoff berth; it would take a 21-game improvement to match the 38-44 mark that gained the Brooklyn Nets the eighth seed in the East. But in New York, the Knicks were a late-night punch line by the end of the season, and anything better than that qualifies as progress.
4. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER
How can a team with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook be a surprise? When it misses the playoffs for the first time since 2009, fires coach Scott Brooks and hires Billy Donovan away from Florida.
Durant, Westbrook and Serge Ibaka missed 88 games combined, and Durant’s early absence contributed to A 4-12 start that doomed the season. The return of Durant (broken right foot) will take some of the offensive load off All-Star Game MVP Westbrook, only the fourth point guard to lead the NBA in scoring.
There will be an adjustment period with Donovan as he learns his personnel and the league. He’ll lean on Durant, who can leave in free agency after this season. It’s hard to imagine a team with this much talent falling short if Durant and Westbrook stay healthy.
5. LOS ANGELES LAKERS
Like the Knicks, the Lakers bottomed out with a franchise-record 61 losses, six more than the previous record set the year before. Their players missed 339 games because of injuries, and by the last night of the season the Lakers had only eight healthy players.
But Kobe Bryant appeared healthy and energetic in the early days of camp. If Brazilian point guard Marcelo Huertas and overall No. 2 pick D’Angelo Russell get Bryant the ball, the Lakers can’t help but be better.