Basketball Heart vs. Basketball Head
Last season I highlighted my top ten favourite players heading into the season and broke down my personal best and worst case scenario for each player. Since most of the list from last season didn't change I will be explaining my mindset for each player heading into the season in regards to what my head thinks and my heart feels. And one prediction from each organ.
10. Kobe Bryant
Head: Here is a list of shooting guards off the top of my head I’d want starting for my team in 2014 before Kobe Bean Bryant: James Harden, Klay Thompson, Aaron Affalo, Bradley Beal, Danny Green, Demar DeRozan, Lance Stephenson, Manu Ginobli, and Vince Carter. I’d pick Vince over Kobe? Has my head exploded? So how does Kobe stay on this list, I’ll let my basketball heart explain.
Heart: I might take all of the players mentioned above Kobe but the fact remains he still is a Top 8 player of all time, he’s stubborn as ever, and saying the most ridiculous things. Bottom line the NBA is more interesting when Kobe is involved, remember I said this in February and the Lakers are 15–37 and the national media won’t let them go.
Head says: The Lakers will be the fourth best team in the state of California this season. Except they still won’t make it into the lottery and lose their pick in this year’s draft to the Phoenix Suns.
Heart wants: The Lakers don’t do anything but stay relevant because Kobe refuses to be irrelevant. To be honest I’d rather see Kobe keep chucking as his career winds down because he deserves to go down fighting even if he’ll be the last person to admit that they’re headed to the lottery.
9. Kevin Love
Head: Wait, Love gets traded from basketball hell to playing with the best player on the planet and he drops two spots? I’m not sure the casual basketball fan world is prepared to watching him and Lebron run a pick and pop and ruin NBA defenses. Sorry Kevin these are the things that happen when the best player on the planet goes home. (More on that later).
Heart: My initial reaction to the Kevin Love trade, “I’d hate to see Andrew Wiggins go to Minnesota but Kevin Love with Lebron James?!?! Who cares about defense let’s unleash this offensive juggernaut.” Besides 2011 Dwyane Wade, Kevin Love is the best teammate Lebron’s ever had. Love is the best rebounder, outlet passer, and pick and pop partner Lebron’s ever had. I can’t wait to watch them play.
Head says: Before we anoint the Cavs champions we have to remember Kevin Love has played a total of zero playoff games. However, they are in the East so they’ll probably end up making the Eastern Conference finals by default.
Heart wants: This is the team to watch in 2014/2015.
8. Kyle Lowry
It’s my only addition to the list, Kyle Lowry bumps the beard off the list. Let’s take a quick stock to why he’s here.
Why I Care About Them: Here’s what Lowry had to say from Jonathan Abram’s profile on him on Grantland:
“Why not us?” Lowry asks. “Why not go out there and play your butt off every night? Just give it your all. You can’t worry if you look cool playing basketball. A cool basketball player is a garbage basketball player. Tony [Parker] ain’t the coolest, smoothest guy, but Tony gets it done. Timmy [Duncan] ain’t. Manu [Ginobili] is pretty cool. But he plays hard as hell by being cool. He ain’t being cool on purpose. He just got a cool game.”
Lowry is a bull. He finally has found a home and it happens to be the only team in Canada. Lowry might not be the coolest player on this list but he doesn’t care and sometimes that’s all that matters. #WeTheNorth
Head says: Kyle makes his first All-Star team. Leads the Raptors to another Atlantic division title and their first playoff series win since Vince was a Raptor.
Heart wants: What my basketball head said and more of Masai telling others teams to fuck off, which means more lint rolling Drake.
7. Lebron James
Head: Here’s what we know: Lebron is the best basketball player on the planet right now. The best basketball player since Jordan. The most powerful man in the NBA not named Adam Silver. He left South Beach and told the world he’s coming home. He’s got the best rebounder/outlet passer/pick and pop partner he’s ever played with. He’s playing with a point guard who can walk and chew gum for the first time ever. His new coach isn't scared to try a bunch of new things to maximize Lebron’s talents. And he’s already tried to temper expectations since his best two teammates have never made the playoffs ever which doesn't matter because the Cavs are in the East and have maybe 1.5 teams they’re worried about.
Heart: Lebron went home and I haven’t stopped smiling since.
Head says: David Blatt is going to be a joy to watch this season. Lebron running pick and pops with Kevin Love and pick and rolls with Kyrie with Lebron as the screener is going to destroy opposing defences. Since Kyrie can act as the primary ball handler Lebron can play off the ball for the first time ever, it’s going to be fun to watch.
That being said, the Cavs still don’t have a reliable big man, no rim protection, weak on the wing in terms of defense and it still might not matter since they’re in the East.
Heart wants: No matter what happens this season the Cavs already won the season.
6. Kawhi Leonard
5. Tim Duncan
Head: The Champs are here. What else needs to be said? The cornerstone and the future of the best organization in all of sports. However, last season was so perfect can they do it again? They avenged one of the most brutal losses in NBA Finals history. Murdered professional basketball in Miami and Timmy D won an NBA championship fifteen years apart. And the gang is back together to do it again. Will they? I’m not sure but I do know the West isn't any easier but there is a clear cut top three: the Spurs, Clippers, and Thunder.
Heart: Father time ain't got nothing on Timmy D because the future is here, The Kingslayer has arrived. They still have the best coach in the NBA and Pop won’t let this team lose sight of their goal.
Head says: Last year’s run was too perfect, the West is too tough, and I still don’t feel good about doubting Timmy D, Pop, and the gang. However, maybe that’s exactly the way they want it. While everyone talks about the Cavs, Clippers, and everyone else the Spurs will always be the Spurs. But there has to be a year the Spurs aren’t the Spurs anymore, right? Right? Here’s hoping this year isn't it.
Heart wants: The Spurs repeat. Timmy D and Pop get number six. Kawhi wins his second Finals MVP. And Father Time is held off one more year.
4. Kyrie Irving
Head: Kyrie won the summer. The Cavs won the draft lottery and ended up with the biggest free agent signing of the year. He won gold in the FIBA World Cup and was named MVP for the tournament and he gets to come home to a new coach and the best player in the world. However, can he adjust to not being the top dog, which I’m sure he’ll be fine with because he’s never been to the playoffs before and because it’s Lebron James.
Heart: I can’t wait to see the number of pick and rolls/pops he runs with Lebron and Love. Every time he brings the ball up it’s going to feel like Christmas, unless he passes it to Dion, then it’ll be the opposite of Christmas.
Head says: Makes another All-Star team. Makes an All-NBA team, no small feat considering he’s plays the league’s deepest position, the Cavs go deep in the playoffs but can’t see them winning everything.
Heart wants: Lebron comes home and takes young Kyrie under his win and shows him how to win. Cavs win their first title ever.
3. Derrick Rose
Head: We’re sure he’s back right? No more aborted seasons right? Because that’d be the worst thing ever. He might not ever be back to his MVP form but the Bulls don’t need him to do that. They need 80% of that form. They’re set everywhere else they just need him to create and get into the teeth of the defense. He has Noah, Pau, Taj, Doug McBuckets, Nikola, and Jimmy. This Bulls team is built to win now, they just Rose to help them get over the top.
Heart: Derrick Rose is back. Derrick Rose is back. Derrick Rose is back and he’s playing basketball and all is right in the world.
Head says: If Rose can get to 80% of his MVP season the Bulls are going to the Finals.
Heart wants: The season’s of redemption continue. Last year it was the Spurs avenging their Final’s lost, this year is going to be the return of Rose and the rising of banner number seven.
2. Kevin Durant
Head: So KD pulls out of the FIBA World Cup because he doesn't want to get injured and to rest his body and they discover an injury caused by playing too much basketball. Not cool basketball gods. Hopefully KD misses 20–40 games? The Thunder should be able to survive that stretch and keep afloat because of their nice off season additions…wait they didn't sign anyone? Anthony Morrow was their only signing? He’s hurt too? Great. Umm, draft picks? Mitch McGary is injured too and they didn't even bother signing their other draft pick and just let him go to the D-League? Fantastic. Are we sure the Thunder are interested in winning the championship? Oh, we figured that out they weren't after the James Harden trade, cool.
Heart: Read that paragraph again and try not to bang your head against a wall. If anyone needs me I’ll be in the corner crying because they’re wasting KD’s prime.
Head says: They’re the only team with the athleticism to bother the Spurs but they keep handicapping themselves by refusing to sign anyone of consequence. I mean they were playing Derek Fisher and Caron Butler in crunch time in the playoffs last year. Derek Fisher is the coach of the Knicks right now. They could make the Finals if everything broke their way and that’s a big if.
Heart wants: If I’m KD I’m bolting this team in 2016 if things don’t change around me quick. Get well soon. #KDisnotnice
- Chris Paul
Head: Here’s what we know about the best point guard in the game today: CP3 is entering his tenth season. He had a collapse of epic proportions against the Thunder last season. He has had great playoff performances but they tend to be on the losing side. He has never advanced past the second round of the playoffs. I hate to admit it but the clock is ticking.
Heart: It’d be great if CP3 finally did something substantial in the playoffs. Lucky for him this looks like the best team he’s ever played for. The Clippers are head and shoulders above any team in the West save for the Spurs and Thunder. If he’s going to win a championship this is the year.
Head says: No matter what happens this season it can’t be worse than how last season unfolded right?
Heart wants: This is the Clippers season. The Spurs are too old. The Thunder have enough holes. No team in the West is ready to take them down yet. Blake’s jump shot improves even more, their off season additions give them enough depth to be fresh for a deep run, and everything clicks. They have a new owner who’s willing to spend and they have one of the top five coaches in the league.
Tomorrow can’t come fast enough.
