Who to Watch For?

You want us to make career predictions off of the first game of the season?

You want us to make career predictions off of the first game of the season?

Some players that impressed:
Francisco Garcia of all ppl goes 7-13 for 19 points in a Rockets win.
MCW’s obviously ridiculous 22/12/7/9…
Cousins 30/14 to push the Kings to the win.
K Love with 31/17/4 for the OT victory.
Vucevic with his 22/16/3/3/3
Paul George with 32/6/5

I’m getting tired of listing the stats but Monta, Durant, Afflalo, Dragic, Plumlee, Bledsoe, Lillard, Klay, and a few others had a good night as well.

Some players that impressed:
Francisco Garcia of all ppl goes 7-13 for 19 points in a Rockets win.
MCW’s obviously ridiculous 22/12/7/9…
Cousins 30/14 to push the Kings to the win.
K Love with 31/17/4 for the OT victory.
Vucevic with his 22/16/3/3/3
Paul George with 32/6/5

I’m getting tired of listing the stats but Monta, Durant, Afflalo, Dragic, Plumlee, Bledsoe, Lillard, Klay, and a few others had a good night as well.

Gotta shout my boys out:

Jeff Teague 24pts, 9ast/ Lost to Mavs
Eric Bledsoe 22pts,8boards,7ast/ Beat Trailblazers

Gotta shout my boys out:

Jeff Teague 24pts, 9ast/ Lost to Mavs
Eric Bledsoe 22pts,8boards,7ast/ Beat Trailblazers

Monroe, Dwight

Monroe, Dwight

Lance Stephenson has looked great in his first two games this season…..

Lance Stephenson has looked great in his first two games this season…..

Norris Cole looked more confident and hit a few pull up jumpers which are hard to count on long term but he also attacked the basket and finished a few times. Tristan Thompson looked a little tentative against KG but overall looked good with both hands. Alan Anderson fits in with the nets very well. Earl Clark looked comfortable at SF with his careful handle and surprise pull up game, just a little slower than one would like.
I’ve only seen two games and while others may have seen a few more it is still a bit to early to talk about break out year.

Norris Cole looked more confident and hit a few pull up jumpers which are hard to count on long term but he also attacked the basket and finished a few times. Tristan Thompson looked a little tentative against KG but overall looked good with both hands. Alan Anderson fits in with the nets very well. Earl Clark looked comfortable at SF with his careful handle and surprise pull up game, just a little slower than one would like.
I’ve only seen two games and while others may have seen a few more it is still a bit to early to talk about break out year.

Breakout Candidates-

1. Goran Dragic- He is the 1st option on this Suns team IMO and will get as many shots as he wants. He has a good chance to average over 20 ppg this year. Who’s to say he can’t take the next step after averaging 15 and 7 last season? Much respect to Eric Bledsoe, but I think Dragic is the man on this team.

2. Jeff Green- Another player who just happens to be the best scorer on a team devoid of talent. He put up 16.5 ppg during his 2nd season in OKC and I wouldn’t be surprised if he eclipses that with the Celtics. “If” Rondo comes back he could be even more effective.

3. Evan Turner- He still can’t shoot, but he knows that and generally will take high-quality shots. He needs to get to the free throw line more in order to maximize his potential as a scorer.

4. Anthony Davis- If he remains healthy, he will average 20 and 10 and make an all-star appearance.

5. Demarcus Cousins- His biggest issue besides all of the maturity is staying on the floor. If he can cut his fouls and stay on the floor longer than I also expect him to average 20 and 10 or better. His per 36 numbers have been monstrous and he is the clear cut first option on this team with a pass-first point guard who will actually feed the post now in Greivis Vasquez.

Breakout Candidates-

1. Goran Dragic- He is the 1st option on this Suns team IMO and will get as many shots as he wants. He has a good chance to average over 20 ppg this year. Who’s to say he can’t take the next step after averaging 15 and 7 last season? Much respect to Eric Bledsoe, but I think Dragic is the man on this team.

2. Jeff Green- Another player who just happens to be the best scorer on a team devoid of talent. He put up 16.5 ppg during his 2nd season in OKC and I wouldn’t be surprised if he eclipses that with the Celtics. “If” Rondo comes back he could be even more effective.

3. Evan Turner- He still can’t shoot, but he knows that and generally will take high-quality shots. He needs to get to the free throw line more in order to maximize his potential as a scorer.

4. Anthony Davis- If he remains healthy, he will average 20 and 10 and make an all-star appearance.

5. Demarcus Cousins- His biggest issue besides all of the maturity is staying on the floor. If he can cut his fouls and stay on the floor longer than I also expect him to average 20 and 10 or better. His per 36 numbers have been monstrous and he is the clear cut first option on this team with a pass-first point guard who will actually feed the post now in Greivis Vasquez.

PG: Clearly, MCW stole the opening day show at PG throwing up a historical stat line against the defending champs. I don’t think last night will be a consistent performance, but I definitely expect MCW to find efficient offensive production as the year carries on, and of course excel setting up teammates and picking pockets. Another area I’d like to see him continue to improve is TO, as that was a problem during his time at Cuse.

12 PPG 6 AST 4 REB 2 STLS 3 TO

SG: Could Monta be returning to his Golden State years of putting up big efficient points? 32 points on 64% shooting isn’t too bad for a proclaimed chucker. I’d like to see him continue to produce with a high FG% and maybe bring Dallas back into the playoff light (even though I’m not much of a Dallas fan, I do like Monta). Of course, title contention doesn’t seem to be in the books for these guys.

25 PPG 6.5 AST 47% FG 35% 3PT

SF: Paul George is a man on a mission. For some reason I had this feeling that PG24 was going to level out and settle in around 18-22 PPG, and he still may, but after the first two games of the season my mind has changed. George will continue his yearly ascent to the elite status. I think a lot of it has to do with the rap the Pacers are getting as a “good but not great” team, even though they have been right there with the Heat in both of their previous post-season bouts. PG is feeling the pressure to carry his team to the next level and he’s handling it well.

26 PPG 7 REBS 5 AST

PF: I’m going to be a little bias for this answer because I can. I held belief in Tristan Thompson from the day he was picked by the Cavs. He struggled in his rookie campaign as he was thrown into the firing range as a C for most of the season. People picked him apart as Kenneth Faried shined. Last year he took a step forward and nearly averaged a double-double with 11 PTS 9 REBS. His growth has been tremendous and an absolute joy for me to watch. He went from a 5 second gather under the basket who got blocked like pr0n on a school computer, to all out energy guy with a nice little hook around the basket. Now he looks poised to become a legitimate offensive threat as he switched to his right hand in the off season and is hitting jumpers like he’s been doing it his entire life as well as hauling in the rebounds and playing good defense. The big question is whether or not TT could continue to thrive with Andy playing along side of him, and I believe he can.

16 PPG 9 REBS 51% FG

C: Going into this season, I felt confident that DMC would make some noise. I was just hoping it would be in the form of ridiculous numbers and not on-court and locker room antics. Everyone knows he has potential through the roof, the question has always been will he utilize it and when will he grow up? I think he genuinely wants to improve his attitude and be all that he can be for his team. I think DeMarcus is on the verge of a breakout season to prove he’s not just a f*** up.

23 PPG 11 REBS 1.5 BLKS 48% FG

PG: Clearly, MCW stole the opening day show at PG throwing up a historical stat line against the defending champs. I don’t think last night will be a consistent performance, but I definitely expect MCW to find efficient offensive production as the year carries on, and of course excel setting up teammates and picking pockets. Another area I’d like to see him continue to improve is TO, as that was a problem during his time at Cuse.

12 PPG 6 AST 4 REB 2 STLS 3 TO

SG: Could Monta be returning to his Golden State years of putting up big efficient points? 32 points on 64% shooting isn’t too bad for a proclaimed chucker. I’d like to see him continue to produce with a high FG% and maybe bring Dallas back into the playoff light (even though I’m not much of a Dallas fan, I do like Monta). Of course, title contention doesn’t seem to be in the books for these guys.

25 PPG 6.5 AST 47% FG 35% 3PT

SF: Paul George is a man on a mission. For some reason I had this feeling that PG24 was going to level out and settle in around 18-22 PPG, and he still may, but after the first two games of the season my mind has changed. George will continue his yearly ascent to the elite status. I think a lot of it has to do with the rap the Pacers are getting as a “good but not great” team, even though they have been right there with the Heat in both of their previous post-season bouts. PG is feeling the pressure to carry his team to the next level and he’s handling it well.

26 PPG 7 REBS 5 AST

PF: I’m going to be a little bias for this answer because I can. I held belief in Tristan Thompson from the day he was picked by the Cavs. He struggled in his rookie campaign as he was thrown into the firing range as a C for most of the season. People picked him apart as Kenneth Faried shined. Last year he took a step forward and nearly averaged a double-double with 11 PTS 9 REBS. His growth has been tremendous and an absolute joy for me to watch. He went from a 5 second gather under the basket who got blocked like pr0n on a school computer, to all out energy guy with a nice little hook around the basket. Now he looks poised to become a legitimate offensive threat as he switched to his right hand in the off season and is hitting jumpers like he’s been doing it his entire life as well as hauling in the rebounds and playing good defense. The big question is whether or not TT could continue to thrive with Andy playing along side of him, and I believe he can.

16 PPG 9 REBS 51% FG

C: Going into this season, I felt confident that DMC would make some noise. I was just hoping it would be in the form of ridiculous numbers and not on-court and locker room antics. Everyone knows he has potential through the roof, the question has always been will he utilize it and when will he grow up? I think he genuinely wants to improve his attitude and be all that he can be for his team. I think DeMarcus is on the verge of a breakout season to prove he’s not just a f*** up.

23 PPG 11 REBS 1.5 BLKS 48% FG

Dirk has been leading scorer in Dallas for last 13 years. Is Ellis about to dethrone him from that honor?

Bledsoe and Goran are both going to have career years but look for them to have growing pains along the way and struggle from the perimeter.

Hate to say it but Cousins is going to be an all-star. I think Vasquez was an underrated pick-up and Demarcus will benefit greatly from his passing ability and keep him in line.

Dirk has been leading scorer in Dallas for last 13 years. Is Ellis about to dethrone him from that honor?

Bledsoe and Goran are both going to have career years but look for them to have growing pains along the way and struggle from the perimeter.

Hate to say it but Cousins is going to be an all-star. I think Vasquez was an underrated pick-up and Demarcus will benefit greatly from his passing ability and keep him in line.

Tony Wroten should be a huge spark plug off the bench for the Sixers

Tony Wroten should be a huge spark plug off the bench for the Sixers

I only saw the Bulls-Heat game but I think Mario Chalmers is criminally underrated. He can get from the three point line to the basket as fast as anyone in the league and has an extremely god feel for the game. I don’t know how well he’d do running his own team but I consider he and Wade dual shooting guards, with LeBron at point, and he’s a top ten shooting guard.

I only saw the Bulls-Heat game but I think Mario Chalmers is criminally underrated. He can get from the three point line to the basket as fast as anyone in the league and has an extremely god feel for the game. I don’t know how well he’d do running his own team but I consider he and Wade dual shooting guards, with LeBron at point, and he’s a top ten shooting guard.