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Showing posts with label Paul George. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Paul George. Show all posts

Tuesday, August 16, 2016

The Indiana Pacers: Putting Together The Pieces Of The Puzzle

Paul George Pacers.jpg
By File:Anthony Tolliver defending Paul George.jpg: joshuak8 derivative work: Chrishmt0423 - → This file has been extracted from another file: Anthony Tolliver defending Paul George.jpg , CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=31545591

While a lot of the attention in the offseason has been switched on to the Warriors and the Knick this offseason, the Pacers have been building a masterpiece under the radar. Let's take a look at the significance of the roster they've been putting together.

Jeff Teague- This point guard comes from the 2014-15 coach of the year, Mike Budenholzer who transformed the whole Hawks team. This was a team that was second in defensive rating in the league last season, only falling behind the Spurs. However, as good as this team was, they didn't have a superstar which hurt their chances dearly of scoring when it came to the playoffs. Now Jeff Teague is a guy that likes to get the offense going. He is a fast paced guard. One of the biggest things Teague brings to the floor though, is his shooting. Last year, Monta Ellis had a rough year. The paint was very tight and his offense didn't thrive. Now that Teague, a 40% 3-point shooter and a great player off the dribble, is on the team, this will open up the paint for the rest of the team.

Myles Turner- This guy made his mark in the playoffs last year. He's proven he has a place in the league. His toughness mentality is amazing and you know he'll be learning a lot from big Al Jefferson on toughness. This just might be Myles Turner's break out season as he didn't really have a chance last season to do so. Expect big things from him defensively.

Paul George: He is star of the team. Of course with Paul George, you will know what you're getting out of him, a lot of offense and a lot of defense. With a small forward that can guard guys like KD and LeBron James you know that Pacers are going to have an easier time winning against these elite teams.

Thaddeus Young: This is probably one of the most underrated acquisitions that have happened this off-season. Thaddeus Young is known to be a good solid defender. He is one of the leading power forwards in steals for a few years now. Young has a pretty good post game and can somewhat stretch the floor. But the ability to put the ball on the deck and rebound efficiently from the power forward sport is what stands out. Young is an athletic power forward. He can drive better than most of them. And to top that off, he can rebound. This left handed big men is a big piece since the Pacers lacked good big men last season. Young brings a lot to the table that a lot f power forwards don't have. He cuts and runs the floor. You know him and Teague are going to be having a great time in transition.


Monta Ellis: This year is the year that Monta Ellis has a comeback year. It was rough for him, but for two reason. Number 1, he didn't have many big men to play pick and roll/pop with. This year he has Jefferson and Young. Number 2, with more shooters the paint will be open more. I have a good feeling about Ellis this year.

The Bench: Al Jefferson is going to be the guy to come off the bench to destroy the other team. They are going to ask him to score and rebound. He will be used constantly in pick and roll with Paul George, Monta Ellis, and Jeff Teague a ton.

Aaron Brooks is the guy that I'm so happy they grabbed, besides D.J. Augstine, I think Aaron Brooks is one of the best bench players you could have. This is a guy that is know to be able to shoot and score. But not only can he score, he has a big effect on his teammates. His ability to pass is amazing. The acquisition of Brooks is very important to the success of the Pacers success.

The other players they have, guys like Rodney Stuckey and and C.J. Miles can just flat out score. Glenn Robinson III might be a guy that can really provide a lift offensively as well as Joe Young. They also have a good defensive center in Rakeem Christmas if someone were to go down. Their bench is something that they can count on.

As you can see, the Pacers are on track to win this season. If they can stay healthy, their limit is unknown.  They are going to be a very fast paced team that is going to push tempo. To me, they have a roster that has a chance at taking down the Cavs. I can't wait to see this team in action!

Saturday, April 30, 2016

Raptors VS Pacers (Game 6)


Series Tied 3-3

We're going to game 7 baby! This has been an up and down series for both teams, but it looks like the Pacers are ready to pull ahead.

The Pacers were up and running. Their offense was amazing. It all started from Paul George. He ended the night with 21 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block. Once the defense started to surround him, he could kick it out to the open player. This lead to all 5 of the Pacers starters reaching double figures in scoring.

The Pacers offense was in transition a lot. The team had 21 fastbreak points, and it really started at the defensive end for them. They forced 16 turnovers from the Raptors, which really just started the break for the Pacers. Guys were making the right play defensively. This lead to the Raptors shooting just 36.7% from the field. The Pacers just thrived off of this.

For the Raptors, Jonas Valanciunas and Corey Joseph were the only guy producing at and efficient rate for the Raptors. Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan really played poorly. Both of them shot under 30% from the field and neither of them had over 10 points. The Raptors had 83 points. They need these guys to produce. They just can't win without at least one player having a good night. Imagine the Thunder having Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook shoot less than 30% and have 10 points or less. They wouldn't be that good of a team at all! Lowry and DeRozan need to play like stars.

The Pacers are on a roll now, and the Raptors need their guy to produce for them to have a chance. Lowry and DeRozan have had 6 games to find their rhythm, and it needs to show in game 7!

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

NBA Inside The Player Of The Week (Nov. 26-30)



Paul George is your player of the week. If you are wondering why, well, here are the facts. George helped his team get a 3-0 record this week while contributing a great amount of production, not only from the offensive, but also defensive end.

Last week, George averaged 37.3 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 2.3 APG, and 1.3 steals. Not only that, but his shooting numbers were through the roof as he made 54.7% of his shots from the field and 57.1% of his shots from beyond the arc.

Not only did George help his team win, he helped them win on the road. 2 of the 3 games for the Pacers last week were road games and George really provided in those 2 games. He averaged 39.5 PPG, 6 RPG, 2.5 APG, and 2 steals on the road this week. He shot 60% from the field and 66.7% from the 3-point line. And George took a lot of 3's in those two games. He shot 18 of them and made 12 in those road games.

While George played really well, he does need to watch his turnovers. He averaged 4.3 of them last week. It didn't seem to matter though as the Pacers did win all of their games last week including 2 road games. Not only did George help his team get victories, but he did it while averaging astounding numbers. So congratulations to Paul George for winning this weeks NBA Inside The Player Of The Week Award. Also a big thanks to Patel Production who gave you the highlights above.

Friday, October 23, 2015

Fantasy Friday: Preseason Pickers


The Preseason has been great. It has given us a preview of some great players and has given us a picture of what they will be like in the regular season. Take a look at the guys you need to pick up.

10. Nikola Vucevic: Well, this man can play basketball. We know he can rebound and we know he can score. But one thing Vucevic has shown us in the preseason is his passing and defense has improved. He had a great 5 blocks total so far and 4 steals. He also has 10 assists in 6 games. He is looking pretty snazzy, and improved. His recent 24 points and 14 rebounds game makes it seem like you need Vooch on your fantasy team.

9. Kyle Lowry: He doesn't look much better from last season, but the reason why he is on here is because people were very concerned when he played very poorly in the playoffs, but I can assure you Lowry is just fine. And if 40 points in 1 preseason game isn't enough, I don't know what is.

8. Nicolas Batum: Batum looks better than he ever has. This fantasy stats filler looks great in a lot of categories. He has had 2 double-doubles so far and he has passed the ball well. He will be a key player for the Hornets and looks like he will be filling the stat sheet.

7. Paul George: Nobody was really sure how Paul George was going to do, but I can assure you PG-13 is looking great. He has shown us a double-double and a 35 point night. He has scored and passed the ball, and is looking mighty fine on the court.

6. Andre Drummond: There was some questioning whether Andre Drummond would get more offensive opportunities when Greg Monroe went to the Bucks, and it seems like he is getting more opportunities. So far, in 7 games, Drummond has not scored less than 12 points in a game. He also had a 21 point night and is looking very strong offensively. Of course, Drummond's best area is his defense and his rebounding. He has 6 blocks and 6 steals total along with 88 rebounds. All of this being in just 7 games, where Drummond isn't playing many minutes. Expect him to be very strong offensively and defensively when the season comes along.

5. C.J. McCollum: This man is going to be in the running for 6th man of the year and most improved player. He has been doing a great job of scoring, rebounding, and passing the basketball, and he has been doing it at a high rate. How is 18.3 PPG, 4.4 APG, 2.6 RPG, and shooting 40.5% from the 3-point line not impressive.

4. Jeremy Lin: Surprise, Surprise, Jeremy Lin is coming back, but this time he is more of a role player. He might just be the best role player out there, and he is going to be a steal in the draft, mainly because he has been going undrafted. While he didn't look so great with the Lakers, he has averaged 15.3 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 3.8 APG, and 47.1% from the 3-point line in 6 games with the Charlotte Hornets. Great job Jeremy!

3. Derrick Williams: Honestly, I don't even know how I can put this man at number 3 and not in a higher position because this mans preseason performance has been absolutely spectacular. This man is going to be on the free agents list for your league most likely, so pick him up. He has averaged 16.2 PPG, and 3.8 RPG. I'm asking myself, do I even know this player? Derrick Williams will give you points. Derrick Williams, didn't see that coming.

2. Gerald Green: Nobody could foresee a guy who just got a finger amputated, averaging 16.9 PPG, and shooting 41.2% from deep. But he has done it and Gerald Green is looking better than ever as we are seeing him hit some clutch shots lately. Good for Green!

1. John Jenkins: Who? The man who is averaging 20.8 PPG, 3.7 RPG, and 1.5 APG, that is who. John Jenkins is averaging stats nobody who even dream of him averaging. He has done the impossible and hopefully it carries over to the regular season. Pick him up now, before someone else does.

Saturday, October 17, 2015

PG-13 Is Putting Up Some Great Numbers

When Paul George went down, it shocked the NBA community. Everybody said that George would be out for the next season, and nobody expected him to return. But when Paul George returned, people didn't see the same Paul George. They saw a Paul George who didn't lead a team. Everyone thought that Paul George might never be the same. Then came the 2015 preseason, and George exceeded everyone's expectations.

So far, PG-13 has played 5 preseason games, and he has been anything but disappointing. His first game of the 2015 preseason was against the New Orleans Pelicans where he scored 18 points. It should be noted that Paul George played a lot of the PF position in that game. However, it didn't seem like that best match-up for him as he had to guard super-star, Anthony Davis. Despite the sub-par defense, Paul George's offense look great as he attacked the rim with power and finesse.




In his second game, which was his most impressive, George scored 32 points total against the Detroit Pistons. It was obvious that at that point, everybody knew that Paul George was back. He controlled the offense and dominated in that game as they grabbed the win. One thing worth pointing out is that he shot 5-9 from 3 point land. That seems to be something that George has improved. While 32 points isn't that big of a deal, George scored those points in 24 minutes. He seemed to be knocking down every shot in that game as he shot over 55% from the field and the 3 point line.




In the third game, George had a bad shooting night, but all players have those kind of nights. He shot 4-14 from the field and 1-8 from the 3-point line. Not the best but it could have been worse. The bright side is that he had 7 rebounds to go along with his 13 points. Despite putting up not-so-great numbers, the Pacers still won the game.

The fourth game was not the best night, but there was reason behind it. PG-13 only played 12 minutes in the game. It was obvious to see that he did play pretty good though since he had 13 points in those 12 minutes, which played a big part in the win against the Pistons. Paul George did show us his athleticism is still there when he finished an amazing alley-oop dunk. He also did great in isolation, which he showed a little bit of in this game.

In the most recent game, Paul George had a great 17 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 assists in the win against the Cleveland Cavaliers. George was showing off his passing skills in this game as he found his teammates beautifully. He did a little bit of everything in the game, showing us his outside, and inside game, as well as showing us his ball handling skills. This was probably his bet all-around game PG-13 has had.




So far Paul George seem to be improved and so does his team. He has shown that he can run the offense and he can find teammates. He has also shown a balance in scoring as 35.5 % of his points come from the 3 point line, but 25.8% come from the paint and 23.7% come from the FT line. He looks well improved in his shot and I think this will be one of Paul George's best seasons. With PG-13 on the team, developing player Glenn Robinson III, and new additions, Monta Ellis and Chase Budinger, I don't see a reason why the Pacers wouldn't make it to the playoffs.

Thursday, September 3, 2015

Fantasy Friday: Shooting Guards



A good shooting guard is a good thing to have on your team. The only problem is that they are kind of few and far between. When you read this realize that some sucker will probably pick up Kobe Bryant and you will be laughing and pick one of these guys, because Kobe Bryant will most likely get injured or not be that efficient. Then Kobe Bryant will lead the league in scoring, make about three 3's per game, average a near triple-double, and win defensive player of the year. You will place all the blame on me and say "but Aaron, you said, 'When you read this realize that some sucker will probably pick up Kobe Bryant and you will be laughing and pick one of these guys, because Kobe Bryant will most likely get injured or not be that efficient.'!" And I will reply, hey man, no one said you had to listen to me. Then you will most likely be so mad that you will take your laptop and throw it out the window and your house will burn down. You will place all the blame on me and I will have to pay for the damages. So in advance, I say, take Kobe Bryant if you want to. If you want to take the risk fine, but don't blame me if it doesn't work. If you trust me though, you're best off taking these SGs.

10. Wesley Matthews: He is a risk. We don't know how he will respond. You may want to take K-Mart instead. Will Wes do great in Dallas, or will he be traded mid-season for Festus Ezeli because he is playing so bad. Well, if you take him, let's hope he will do great in Dallas. Wesley Matthews is a great defensive player and is deadly from deep. Watch out for him because he will shoot the lights out.

9. J.J. Redick: He will give you three pointers. He will give them to you. I am a bit worried that he is not doing so well since the playoffs and I fear it could be his down fall. Let's hope he can keep his numbers going up as Chris Paul gets less and less productive. Producing 16.4 PPG last season and 2.6 three pointers per game, he doesn't have much else to offer. Don't forget about Redick though, because chances are, most people will.

8. Victor Oladipo: This man looks like he will be the best player going into his 3rd season. He averaged over 17 PPG last season and contributed in other areas as he averaged 4.2 RPG, 4.1 APG, and 1.7 steals. He is looking good, we just don't know if he will be an all-star and we don't know how much he will improve. Hopefully, he will do great.

7. Paul George: He is in the risk category. So buyer beware. This man is coming off from a severe injury but if Paul George goes back to being regular Paul George, then the results will be amazing. The season before Paul got his injury, he was considered the best fantasy player in the league as he averaged 21.7 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 3.5 APG, and 1.9 Steals per game. Great right? And he only averaged 2.8 turnovers. So if you want to take the risk, grab George.

6. Monta Ellis: Another Pacers player whose season is unclear. Monta could again produce a near 19 PPG and 4.1 Assists or his numbers could plummet. He is a great defender averaging a good 1.9 steals but we are unsure how this change of scenery will be for him.

5. Dwayne Wade: He has the skills and is most likely a future Hall of Famer, but  with Dragic, Bosh, Deng, and Whiteside, will his numbers drop? Probably. That's why he is down here. His great fantasy numbers he has been averaging for the last multiple year will most likely go down and Wade hasn't has a season where he played at least 70 games in 5 years. So take the old man if you want. You just better hope for a healthy season.

4. DeMar DeRozan: This boy is still averaging quite numbers in Toronto. 20.1 PPG and 4.6 RPG along with the steals and assists. He will most likely continue to increase his numbers but he doesn't have a lot to offer besides scoring. He is not a shooter if that is what you are looking for. So don't take him for that. But there aren't many players that average over 20 PPG and average just 2.3 turnovers per game.

3. Klay Thompson: He is a young player rising. Younger than Stephen Curry still. He still has a lot of potential. I would take him in a heartbeat because I see major improvement in Thompson this upcoming season. While he shoots many threes, I can see his 21.7 PPG from last year rising. He made over three 3 pointers per game last year. Not to mention he averaged a little less than 2 turnovers per game last year! This is why Klay is at number 3.

2. Bradley Beal: As Beal enters his 4th season in the NBA, he could very well become an all-star. In the playoffs he had shown that he could lead the team when John Wall went down. This 3 point sharp shooter can score, rebound, and assist and we all know it. He is expected to have his stats increase by a big margin here. We'll see if it happens.

1. James Harden: Of course he is number one. He is going to give you scoring. He will give you rebounds and assists. He will make 3s. And he will give you plenty of free throws. Not to mention he was really healthy last year. James Harden was probably the best player to have in fantasy last year. If you have him this year your team could be the best. The only downside is that James Harden commits turnovers. Oh well. You will obviously have to put up with that but it will be the same with LeBron and Kevin Durant. The way I figure it, he will be either the best or the second best fantasy player this year. Pick him up if you have the chance!

Well, there are your shooting guards. Some notable mentions that weren't on here are Kyle Korver and Kevin Martin so keep them in mind if these guys aren't available (or you just don't trust me). Again, remember that no one is telling you that you have to pick these guys up. So if you place a bunch of money and lose, it's not my fault. But it would be wise to draft these great players. 

Friday, August 21, 2015

Fantasy Friday: Riskies


This week on Fantasy Friday, we are going to talk about all you people that like to take risks. Because if you like to take risks, these are the guys you need to take. With these players, there will be risk, but the rewards could be high. So let's count 'em down!

10. Karl-Anthony Towns: This guy is a big risk. He will probably be one of the best fantasy players alongside Anthony Davis in the future, but we have no idea how his rookie season will be.We know that he can play great defense, shoot the ball, rebound, and pass. But we don't know how he will be.

9. Otto Porter: Going into his 3rd season in the NBA, Otto Porter is looking for major improvement. After averaging 10 PPG, 8 RPG, 1.8 APG, and 1.2 SPG and shooting 37% from the 3 point line in the playoffs, he could defiantly be a great addition to your team, but he could also just end up averaging 6 PPG.

8. Tristan Thompson: This man could be your guy to get your rebounds, blocks, assists, and hopefully some points. If he plays enough. The Cavs have such a big roster for PF and Centers including Kevin Love, Varejao, and Mozgov, that Thompson might not get much playing time.

7. Wesly Matthews: Coming off an injury is tough, and not to mention, he is on a completely different team. The question is can Matthews do it. I mean this guy could average 20 PPG this year, and he could average 11PPG this year. We don't know so buyer beware.

6. Tim Duncan: Timmy could be a great addition to your team. But let's face it, Ol' Timmy's gettin' old. It might not be long before he gets a severe injury or his numbers drop drastically due to his age. Last year he averaged about 14 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 3 APG, and 2 Blocks per game, so he could average those numbers again, or he could go "it's time to hang 'em up". So take him if you want, but you could end up with a retiree by the end of the season.

5. Joe Johnson: Johnson averaged 14 PPG last season, but now his fellow overpaid player, Deron Williams, is gone. Which could open up the for Johnson to get into the offense. You can't forget just how great Joe Johnson is, but you also can't forget how he looks nothing like his old self. Are you willing to take the chance with Joe?

4. Deron Williams: Deron Williams hasn't averaged this low of point since his rookie year and his assist numbers are way down too. But maybe all Deron Williams needed was a change of scenery right back to his hometown to get him going again. He could be averaging 18 PPG and 10 APG again, or be even lower. So go ahead and get him, just don't say I didn't warn you.

3. Brook Lopez: This could be Brook Lopez's healthy season, or it could be another one where he has another foot injury. Chances are it's the foot injury. But, if he is healthy, you could be getting 20 points and 20 rebounds along with 5 blocks a night. Wouldn't that be nice? Yeah, it would! Brook Lopez is a BIG risk, but the rewards are so valuable.

2. Kevin Martin: This man always seems to average about 20 PPG. Snubbed as an all-star about 3 times, this guy will just score and score and score, that is, if he can stay healthy. He had a broken wrist last season and didn't know. He scored 37 points right after he broke it in a game. He was out for a while. While he did get a broken wrist, most of Martin's injuries have been minor. But another problem facing Martin is that he may need to step it down on the scoring as many other scorers such as Wiggins, LaVine, Shabazz, and Towns step into the mix. This could mean that Martin would have to step down on the scoring, but he could end up averaging 20 PPG again.

1. Paul George: After that freak of nature incident with Team USA, Paul George has came back averaging 8.8 PPG in 6 games, but we all know that if he is back to his old self next season, you need him on your team. Paul George is entering his 6th season. In the 2013-14 season (the year before his injury) George averaged 21.7 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 3.5 APG, and 1.9 Steals per game while only giving up 2.5 turnovers per game. Paul Goerge would be one of the best players to have on your fantasy roster if he were to average those numbers again. So go ahead and take him, because he is worth the risk.

So if your feeling lucky, go ahead and take some of these guys, but if you aren't just stay away from them. These guys are high risk high reward. So go head and take them, if you dare!

Sunday, April 12, 2015

Danilo Gallinari needs to play somewhere else


Danilo Gallinari scored 47 points in the loss against the Mavericks. The guy was knocking down threes, perfect from the free throw line, and shot 65% from the field. He is underrated and placed behind teammates Ty Lawson and Kenneth Faried. I honestly think Gallinari needs to request a trade. He is on one more year with this Nuggets team after this season. This is a guy who could do great on some teams. I will list them below.

3. The Pacers: With Paul George back, this team has a star. George Hill will be looking to pass and score. This team obviously is different now with Lance Stephenson gone though. They would really benefit from a three point shooter like Gallinari who could spread the floor.

2. The Hornets: This team didn't benefit with Stephenson but they would benefit with Gallinari. I honetly think a trade of Stephenson for Gallinari would be great. The Hornets could use some one coming off off-ball screens sizing up and spreading the floor. This would get guy like Kemba cutting and he could set screens to get people open.

1. Phoenix Suns: This could be the guy to get this team into the playoffs. He would help guys like Eric Bledsoe get off good shots and would work well with Brandon Knight. Gallinari would be able to knock down big threes. The Phoenix Suns struggle with end of game which they could use him for. He would come off curl screens from Markiff Morris to get open shots. This would be a great team for him.

Gallinari is averaging 12.3 PPG this season and I don't think that the Nuggets are using him properly with an immature PG, Ty Lawson. Gallinari would do better somewhere else. You can see he is being improperly used in the video as he is being isolated and not coming off screens. This is a prime example on why Gallinari would do better somewhere else. You think this is good, imagine what he could do somewhere else.

Thursday, April 9, 2015

Welcome back Paul George

"Paul George Pacers" by File:Anthony Tolliver defending Paul George.jpg: joshuak8derivative work: Chrishmt0423 - →This file has been extracted from another file: Anthony Tolliver defending Paul George.jpg.. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Paul_George_Pacers.jpg#/media/File:Paul_George_Pacers.jpg

Paul George is back. We have waited a long time for this moment. Pacers fans have had a hard time without him. I don't care if he is on a minutes restriction. Although, this is a Paul George we have never seen before. PG-13. Wearing his #13 jersey for the first time in a Pacers uniform. Of course, we haven't seen the best of PG-13 yet, but expect him to improve through out the rest of the year. Imagine if Paul George wasn't injured this year. He would most likely be an MVP candidate. But then again, imagine if Kevin Durant wasn't injured. He would also be an MVP candidate. Yet, I think we all forget just how skilled Paul George was. Last year he averaged 21.7 PPG, 1.9 Steals per game, 3.5 APG, 6.8 RPG. Not only that, but he was a star player that only averaged 1.9 Turnovers. That's less than Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant, and LeBron James. The Pacers are on the outside of the playoffs, and I don't expect them to make it, so this is great encouragement for next year. All I got left to say is, Welcome back Paul George, welcome back.

Sunday, April 5, 2015

Injured Teams

This year has been struck by injury for many team. Many teams were hoping for playoffs and more but then injury got in the way. Lets take a look at the worst

5.Oklahoma City Thunder: Durant and Westbrook went down. But Westbrook came back with fire in his eyes. After Ibaka went down and Durant was out for the rest of the season, it's really hard to see this team making much noise in the playoffs. But you never know with Westbrook.

4. Minnesota Timberwolves: This is a team that suffered way too many injuries this season. They were looking at the possibility of the 8th seed in the West. All of a sudden, Rubio went down on their 5th game against the Magic. Kevin Martin played against the Knicks and broke his wrist at the beginning of the game. After he broke it, he scored 37 points that night. Nikola Pekovic went down (as usual) Shabazz Muhammad went down for the season after averaging about 13 points per game. And this is just to start with.

3. Miami Heat: It's bad enough that LeBron James left their team. Now Chris Bosh is out with blood clots on his lungs. This team thought they could do some great things in the playoffs. Dwayne Wade and Shabazz Napier are out. How does this team expect to beat anyone with two of their stars out. It's going to be a bumpy ride for this Heat team. Someone needs to send them a sympathy card.

2. Los Angeles Lakers: Julius Randel goes down before the season even starts. So does Steve Nash. Kobe goes down of course. Nick Young is injured. The playoff hopes that this team had pretty much flew away. They had to start players like Wayne Ellington who was supposed to be a bench player this year. No playoff for this team. And no more Steve Nash.

1. Indiana Pacers: This team was coming back from the loss in the Eastern Conference Finals looking toward next season. Then Paul George goes down ruining all their hopes of a title run for next season. Minor injuries occurred along the way like George Hill going down. They still await the return of Paul George. We all miss him. But I'm pretty sure the Pacers miss him most.