Written by James Herbert at CBSSports.com
Some thought the Portland Trail Blazers would be one of the very worst teams in the NBA last season. Few predicted they would win more than 40 games and make the playoffs. No one thought they would advance to the second round. For all the hand-wringing about the league being predictable, there’s a team or two like this every year. Here are seven to watch for next season:
Utah Jazz
Why they’ll be better: The Jazz should have been a playoff team last year, but injuries and poor point guard play kept them (barely) out. Now, not only are they likely to be healthier, they are more equipped to handle injuries if they do occur. CBS Sports’ NBA writers collectively ranked Utah’s starting lineup fifth in the league andranked its bench first.
This team should be a powerhouse. Most opponents will not have the big men to deal with a frontcourt duo like Derrick Favors and Rudy Gobert. Most will not have two top-notch perimeter defenders to match up with Gordon Hayward and Rodney Hood, either. George Hill is the perfect low-maintenance, defense-first, floor-spacing point guard for this group, and Utah’s bench depth means that few teams will be as versatile on both ends. Imagine if Dante Exum has a breakout season.
After four years of missing the playoffs and drafting wisely, the front office decided that it is winning time. With Hill, Joe Johnson and Boris Diaw in the fold, inexperience will not be an excuse.
What could go wrong: Honestly? Nothing, really, outside of the normal concerns about health. My biggest qualm with the Jazz under Quin Snyder is that they have a tendency to over-pass, and that’s not a big deal.
Minnesota Timberwolves
Why they’ll be better: Their most important players are 21 years old and younger. Even if the Timberwolves made no changes to the coaching staff or roster this summer, you could expect Karl-Anthony Towns, Andrew Wiggins and Zach LaVine to develop. All three of them were much better at the end of last season than they were at the beginning. Outside of the cast of Stranger Things, you’d be hard-pressed to find an equally impressive collection of young talent.
As well as the individual players’ improvement, the Wolves collectively showed signs of figuring stuff out late in the year. That’s when they started shooting 3-pointers more regularly and upsetting teams like the Warriors and Thunder. Now, if they could just play a little bit of defense, they might be able to compete with upper-echelon teams all the time.
And that’s where Tom Thibodeau comes in. Minnesota now has the most respected defensive mind in all of basketball running the show. This seems perfect.
What could go wrong: Unlike the Jazz, the Wolves do not have great depth or experience. It’s not clear whether or not Kevin Garnett will be back, and he was important as a leader and a teacher. They could struggle with spacing, especially if they don’t get more out of Nemanja Bjelica. It could take Towns a couple more years to become a true defensive anchor, and the team as a whole could take a while to adjust to Thibodeau.
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