Utah Jazz: 2015-16 NBA Predictions And Staff Picks
By Ryan Aston
Oct 23, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) against the Miami Heat during the second half of a game at the Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans defeated the Heat 93-90. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Surprise Team(s)
Tyson Newman: Good surprise–I’m going with the Sacramento Kings. George Karl is a great coach and will get them in shape. The bad surprise will be the Indiana Pacers. Go look at that roster and tell me how they’re going to win more games than the Jazz. Also—Paul George is overrated.
Karthik Narayanan: The Boston Celtics. The addition of David Lee is going to make them a very good team in the east.
Greg Foster: The Minnesota Timberwolves. They won’t make the playoffs and will make plenty of silly mistakes. However, Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns are both centerpieces and future perennial All-Stars. And the Wolves have a lot more talent than just the last two number one picks. Throw in Zach LaVine, Ricky Rubio and Kevin Garnett as the seasoned veteran/mentor and you have the makings of a team on the rise.
I’m also hoping that this team can band together and play some inspired basketball as a tribute to their late head coach, Flip Saunders. His passing has to be a devastating blow to the organization, but it can also be a point of extreme motivation. Hell, look what Rocky did after Mick passed.
Give the Wolves two to three years and they’re going to be a serious problem.
Richard Lu: This question is a difficult one, mainly because a lot of teams that would have previously been slept on (Utah, Boston, Milwaukee, etc.) have a lot of hype surrounding them. Even a team like the Sacramento Kings have a certain degree of hype. I’m more inclined to go with the New Orleans Pelicans. They’re expected to get into the playoffs, but I’m really high on them as a team.
If healthy, Alvin Gentry’s squad should really enjoy and thrive playing the style of basketball he will bring. Every core player except for Omer Asik should benefit, and Anthony Davis is an MVP-type player. I like them as a top five seed, which is saying a lot as they’ll have to beat one of LAC, HOU, SAS, OKC, or GSW out.
Ryan Aston: The Washington Wizards. Although ESPN’s #NBARank puts him at No. 11, John Wall is a top 10 player in the NBA. Also, Bradley Beal is in a contract year, the front line is strong and the team’s coaching staff, led by Randy Wittman and former Jazzman Howard Eisley is one of the more underrated staffs in the league.
Also–Wall is cutting gummy bears from his diet. That has to count for something, right?
Blake Draper: New Orleans Pelicans. Let me start by saying that people are expecting the Pelicans to improve on the basis of the amazing Anthony Davis continuing to get better and the hiring Alvin Gentry as head coach. Nonetheless, the Pelicans will still manage to exceed the raised expectations.
There are injury issues already, with Jrue Holiday starting the season on a strict minutes limit and Tyreke Evans undergoing knee surgery, but this team is poised to make more noise in the west than many people are expecting.
Next: Most Valuable Player