Tobias Harris – INDIANA PACERS
Tobias Harris has been given the keys to the sputtering Pacers, and will have a big load to carry until Blake Griffen returns from injury – and possibly when he gets back, too. Sheed has thrown the baby and the bathwater out and he has ended up with Tobias Harris as his shiny new toy.
As it stands, the Pacers are three games back from the eighth seed in the East but are still in the hunt. Sheed has shown in previous seasons that he has a ferocious thirst for clinging to hope and figuring things out and Pacers fans will be hoping that Sheed has put his faith in the right player.
Harris, who was semi-invisible on a loaded Brooklyn Nets team, has the attributes of a terrific 2k player. Possessing all-around offensive ability and great size and athleticism, Harris has never had a better chance to prove his ability. He has averaged 20 points per game so far as a Pacer, and he is in for a big 2017.
Serge Ibaka – CLEVELAND CAVALIERS
Three weeks ago, LeBron James was on the shelf, and the Cavs were on the canvas. Step up Serge Ibaka; the catalyst of the ‘awakening’. Along with some really savvy settings and rotation moves by coach pistolpk, Serge Ibaka put the team on his back and this efficient Cleveland team began climbing the ranks. The immense teamwork and effectiveness even prompted media in Cleveland to question whether or not they even needed LeBron James!
Ibaka was able to put up 20 point per game and show how effective a stretch four is in the NLL, especially one who can also play D. Ibaka’s awesome long range stroke it key for this Cavs team moving forward. He is very aware of where he is effective and makes sure he gets open in his spots.
Cleveland fans are used to the highs, with previous absentee GM alejandro steering (somewhat asleep-at-the-wheel-like) to multiple championships behind LeBron James. With pistolpk’s newly found settings swagger, the Cavs are looking every bit the contender they have been for as long as I can remember. Expect the cerebral and efficient efforts to continue into 2017 for the Cavs.
DeMarcus Cousins – BROOKLYN NETS
How do you make a tissue dance? Put a little boogie in it!
Now that you have finished dry-retching, let’s appreciate the awakening of Boogie. Like a fine wine, his game is maturing with age, even if his attitude and temperament aren’t. The Cuz is a man amongst boys and is a legitimate MVP candidate and leader of the Nets. For goodness sakes, the guy is putting up video game numbers – 27 points, 13 rebounds and over 3 steals/blocks/threes combined. What. A. Beast.
Due to shrewd dealing this past six months, man-genius Wizkid has his nets improving exponentially by the week. Aside from the personal and strategy tweaks, they have brought in Eric Bledsoe and Goran Dragic in the last few months. The Nets future, and now, has never been as close to as bright as it currently is. With Boogie crushing souls in the paint every second night of the week, and one of the best looking rosters in the league, the Nets could arguably be the team of the 2017 portion of the season.
LaMarcus Aldridge – UTAH JAZZ
So you don’t want to trade ‘Player A’ for a first, three second rounders, a briefcase of cash, a used library card, a massage voucher and a back rub?
The Jazz made a massive splash, getting the impact big they were after in LaMarcus Aldridge, in a deal with the 76ers. They must have been dancing on the ceiling, as this was the deal they’d been looking for for what seemed like eons. This isn’t to slight the 76ers… when you’re as deep as a sheik’s pockets, you can afford to diversify.
The Jazz were one of the big surprises to start the season, and not in a good way. To say they stumbled out of the gates would be putting it nicely. They started the season in a huge hole and are slowly crawling out of it. LA is hopefully the guy to bring them to contender status. He is a star, and adds to the star power the Jazz already have. They now, have to figure out how all the pieces fit.
So far, Aldridge has been solid for the Jazz, averaging 18 and 8 through three weeks of play. That stat line isn’t what they are paying him the big bucks for, and I think the 2017 version of LaMarcus, and the Jazz, will be much improved, pushing for a solid playoff seed.
Anthony Davis – SAN ANTONIO SPURS
MVP, MVP, MVP – BROW DOWN TO AD!
A year ago, much like the aforementioned Nets, the Spurs were a team you wouldn’t fret about playing. They’d stated intentions to clear house and rebuild somewhat, and were a few years off peaking.
Fast forward to the present, the Spurs are one of the scariest teams in the NLL, 2017-through-2027. There’s a chance that Davis, down the line, isn’t even the best big ON THE TEAM – and folks, to be frank, is f****** terrifying…
Davis can’t play much better than he is, or can he? So far this season, the run away current MVP favourite has shown he can do it all. 28 points, 11 rebounds, 2 blocks, 1+ steals, 1+ threes and wrap it all up with tantalising efficiency and lots of free throws made.
He could be the best player in the league already.
To say we expect big things from Anthony Davis and the Spurs in 2017 is like saying we expect Clippers or Hornets to trade for a first rounder.
Jabari Parker – PHILADELPHIA 76ERS
The highly touted Parker missed almost his entire rookie season with a serious knee injury, but he has exploded onto the scene this season as many thought he was able to. His re-awakening has come at a great time for the 76ers, as they try to keep up with the evolution of the professional game of basketball, and run Parker as their starting power forward.
LaMarcus Aldridge, the face of the 76ers for a time, was shipped out to Utah Jazz, showing what tremendous faith the 76ers organisation has in young Parker. He is athletic, physical and has the potential to put on a lot of muscle and remain quick. He has a nose for scoring, in particularly in close and mid range. Since he has been starting, Jabari has averaged a very respectable 15 and 10, especially considering the company he shares on the Phili roster.
Jabari is the future and he is now the present. I expect him to get even better as the season progresses, and it’s not news to anyone that the 76ers will likely be around in the final stages of the NLL season.
Ben Simmons – DETROIT PISTONS
I just have to mention, how bloody good a job Laddas has done with the Pistons. They were a basket-case trainwreck for the best part of the last few seasons and in just over a few months time, he has turned them into a team that’s contending for playoffs. Jrue Holiday, Bradley Beal and DeAndre Jordan is a helluva core for any team, but the real key to the puzzle is the Aussie rookie Ben Simmons – and was the lure to get Laddas away from his then Orlando Magic.
He is coming off a major injury, sure. But the 2K gods have blessed him with an all-around ability that sees him come in about 80 overall – that’s the real good stuff. Not a huge amount of players over that 80 threshold, and this one hasn’t even played a game.
Laddas is carefully (but hastily) crafting a team around the injured rookie, hoping that when he returns to the team, they will be ready to maximise his abilities.
Don’t look now, but the Pistons are in reach of the playoffs. With plenty of time to go, I see Simmons returning and helping lead the Pistons out of the abyss and into the 2017 playoffs as a dangerous 7th or 8th seed. Bravo, Laddas.
Stephen Curry – CHICAGO BULLS
The Bulls are right in the mix for a top six playoff seed… yep.
I don’t even think Daz could say that his team hasn’t been one of the bigger surprises of the season thus far. Besides the savvy period of management Daz has put forward, the other big reason for the steep climb in performance is the chef himself, Stephen Curry. And boy, does Daz love Curry. I once offered him four first round picks and two second round picks for the man. He said, ‘maybe next time’. Cold.
He, and his abilities, are well documented, and he could well be the best shooter that ever did live. This season he has been able to be much more effective, shooting at a scintillating 49/45/89, with 26 points, 4 rebounds and 8.1 asssits. Stellar impact from the chef. Every rotation of transaction Daz makes is precluded with a ‘What Would Steph Do?’ question to himself.
The Bulls sit at a very impressive 17-11 and currently occupy the fifth seed. They are three games above the ninth team and have as good of a shot as they have had in a very long time to clinch a playoff berth.
This team goes where Curry goes, so expect Daz to give Curry, and his Bulls, every chance to continue their gritty play in 2017.
