Top NBA Western Conference teams heading into the 2019-20 season

NBA Western Conference Team Rankings James DeVellis

With Golden State’s sweet and dynastic run of the past five years essentially over after Durant and Thompson’s Achilles injuries (which would sideline both for most if not all of next season), it’s time to think about which team in the West will take the opportunity to rise to the top. Hereunder is our list.

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Houston Rockets

Assuming that the team manages to bring back its core of Chris Paul, James Harden, Clint Capela, Eric Gordon, and P.J. Tucker, this coming season may just be the opportunity the Rockets are waiting for to get that coveted title.

Portland Trailblazers

This past year’s other Western Conference finalist were lacking the services of Jusuf Nurkic when it battled the Warriors, which proved to be its downfall, as nobody could contain Green, Looney, and Cousins in the middle. A healthy lineup next season will make the Blazers the team a favorite.

Denver Nuggets

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Having finally had solid playoffs experience, the only way is up for the young Nuggets team. Expect Nikola Jokic to further improve his game, dominate, and possibly even win the MVP this 2019-2o season.
OKC Thunder
As with the other teams above, an intact roster should get Westbrook and George back as playoffs favorites. Adding one or two solid two-way players this free agency should take the team over the top.

L.A. Lakers

The Lakers are committed to taking it all this season despite missing the playoffs last year. The tandem of LeBron James and Anthony Davis certainly is a winning formula. The team just needs to find a way to surround them with the right players.

L.A. Clippers

If the Clippers manage to snatch Kawhi Leonard away from Toronto this offseason, then it will instantly be a contender. After all, it already has a solid, playoffs-tested roster to complement him.

Dallas Mavericks

We also cannot take for granted the Mavs, which will be bringing the European duo of Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis this coming season. It will surely be an exciting time for Mavs fans, even with the retirement of Nowitzki.

The drama surrounding the Warriors-Rockets playoffs match

The ongoing Western Conference Semifinal match between the Houston Rockets and the defending champ Golden State Warriors is being dictated more by the officiating that it should, says sports enthusiast James DeVellis. On the eve of the second game, the Rockets issued a statement on their audited tape of 2018’s battle with the Warriors, claiming that the officials had made 81 missed calls.

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Game One already featured a variety of non-calls and hotly debated ones, with the NBA saying
afterward that there were two missed calls on Warriors star Steph Curry in the last two minutes, and with the final possession in which the Rockets’ James Harden had thought he had been fouled being a correct non-call. That game had also seen Chris Paul getting thrown out.

Harden has made public announcements that his Rockets team is not getting its fair share of calls. And in past games, Harden and Paul called out veteran referee Scott Foster as someone who should not even be allowed by the league to officiate Rockets games. Ironically, it is Scott Foster refereeing the second game of the Warriors-Rockets match.

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NBA fans lament these developments, as games should be placed in the hands of the players, not the officials. After all, this match is already seen by many as a preview of who gets to the NBA Finals.

Then again, it could all just be in the mind. Both Golden State and Houston are clearly being affected by the officiating, preventing them from fully focusing on their games. Let’s hope the bad blood both teams have been harboring get more directed to each other instead, offers James DeVellis.

James DeVellis is a sports business major from Arizona. A voracious reader, the twenty-something student hopes to become a writer someday. To bring his two interests together, he is doing blogs and discussing the latest happenings in sports. For related posts, visit this blog.

Getting to know the wonderful Wendell Carter, Jr.

I’m James DeVellis, sports writer. For this blog, I’d like to put the spotlight on one of the rookies who I believe deserves some recognition – the Bulls’ Wendell Carter, Jr.

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There are a few things for Chicago Bulls fans to rejoice about from such a dismal season. There’s Zach Levine coming into his own (although he still needs to improve his D). There’s also the fact that the Bulls have a high pick in the draft. And then there’s Wendell Carter, Jr.

Carter is one of the cornerstones of this young Bulls team. Chosen seventh overall in the 2018 draft, he wasn’t as talked about as Luka Doncic, Trae Young, DeAndre Ayton, or Collin Sexton. But Carter did prove to be worthy of the seventh pick – at least before his unfortunate injury.

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In the 44 games he played, Carter displayed his offensive prowess, passing game, and defense capability. He didn’t put up superstar numbers, but he got the job done, scoring 10 PPG, taking in 7 RPG, dishing 2 APG, with 1 BPG for good measure. He also had seven triple doubles which was astounding for a rookie.

I, James DeVellis believe that this kid has a bright future ahead of him. And if he decides to stay in the Windy City for the haul, so do the Bulls.

Hello, my name’s James DeVellis, a sports business student from Arizona. I’m hoping to be a successful writer someday, and I’m starting the journey by writing about sports. More of my writings here.

Quo Vadis, Anthony Davis? Will AD get to join forces with LeBron?

The hot topic nearing the NBA’s trade deadline this early February is the trade request of Pelicans superstar Anthony Davis. It’s easily a development that the entire league is interested in, as Davis is one of top five NBA players on many experts’ lists. Where he eventually goes will greatly affect that franchise’s future, says sports enthusiast and blogger James DeVellis.

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The move seems to make it clear that Davis is intent on playing with LeBron James in Lakerland. This is because Davis shares the same manager as James in Rich Paul. As of this writing, Lakers management is scampering to find a workable deal with New Orleans, with many thinking that this would involve unloading all the Lakers’ young stars which include Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart, and even center Ivica Zubac.

But NBA pundits are one in saying that Boston may be the better destination for Davis, as it has a better roster of talents in the likes of Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Terry Rozier, along with a ton of first-round picks. However, because of an existing NBA rule, the Celtics cannot make an offer for Davis until free agency in July. In other words, if Pelicans management cave in to the Lakers’ offer, a Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis pairing up is not going to happen.

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In any case, whether Davis ends up with Los Angeles or Boston (the top two markets with the salary cap space and talent to accommodate Davis) remains to be seen. But it would surely make that team an instant contender. And Lakers president for basketball operations Magic Johnson knows that he is given a small window as leverage. It doesn’t matter if this trade depletes the Lakers’ current lineup as a LeBron-AD tandem is definitely formidable and worth rebuilding the team around, adds James DeVellis.


James DeVellisis a college student from Arizona, majoring in Sports Business. He wants to be a writer someday, so in the meantime, he is starting his own blog and social media platform focused on sports. More NBA-related reads here.

Why the Milwaukee Bucks is the dark horse in the East

This early in the new NBA season, we’ve already been witness to the rise of several Eastern Conference teams.  While the success of the arguably top-seeded Celtics does not come as a surprise, as well as the near-flawless start of the new-look, Kawhi-led Raptors, many NBA analysts haven’t really paid much attention to the Milwaukee Bucks.

It makes sense, too; whereas significant roster changes have taken place in Toronto, Boston, and even Philadelphia (which, as of this writing, has just acquired Jimmy Butler), the Bucks team—even with the loss of the waived Jason Terry and the signing of Ersan Ilyasova and hot-shooting rookie Donte DiVincenzo—is largely the same.  Even the Bucks’ superstar, the “Greek Freak” Giannis Antetokounmpo is not posting as much numbers as he did last season.  So, what goes? 

The answer is continuity.  The players are now very familiar with one another and trust everyone on the floor, both on offense and defense.  There’s also the commitment to not stay reliant on Antetokounmpo.  This year the Bucks play like a well-oiled machine, with point guards Eric Bledsoe and Malcolm Brogdon facilitating well and finding guys for open shots.  The team has also been benefiting much from the improved play and hustle of its lengthy forwards Khris Middleton, and John Henson. 

Antetokounmpo is, of course, still the heart of the Bucks’ play.  But since more guys are now comfortable being spot-up outside shooters, it has opened the floor more for Giannis’ highlight dunks and layups.  That this Milwaukee team will reach the playoffs is almost a given, even this early in the regular season.  And the team has already displayed that it’s the true dark horse of the East with a recent, 134-111 drubbing of the defending champs Golden State Warriors in the latter’s own home court 

Hey, there. James DeVellis here, a sports business student, voracious reader, and newbie writer from Arizona. More on my hobbies and interests here..

Why trading Luka Doncic was a huge mistake by the Hawks

Celebrated basketball commentator Bill Simmons argued it well: Atlanta trading Euro League sensation and MVP Luka Doncic for point guard Trae Young is a decision the Hawks will quickly regret.  The case is simple— Doncic is the most experienced professional basketball player in the recent NBA draft.

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To be fair with Atlanta, trading the draft right for Young made sense if they were hoping to land a player in the mold of Steph Curry.  The pesky point guard can make huge treys both in transition and coming off picks.  Young is explosive toward the rim and has high basketball IQ.  He is already a complete point guard.

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But the few glimpses of the 6’8” Slovenian sensation Doncic in the preseason games have already shown NBA fans that he fits well with the Mavericks’ system.  Not only is he a great passer for a big man, he can also drain long three-pointers and play multiple positions, from point to power forward.  

It’s not even a case of physicality, as obviously Trae Young is the smaller player.  Doncic is still prone to turnover when guarded upfront or swarmed, but his exquisite passing skill should compensate for that.  He will adjust sooner than most people think and quickly silence the skeptics.  In fact, without even a single game of the new NBA season played, Doncic is already the odds favorite to take the Rookie of the Year title.

Yes, his impact remains to be seen, but experience does go a long way.  The 19-year-old Doncic not only has perhaps the biggest upside among the rookies, but already has the veteran smarts to compete on the biggest stage of pro basketball.

Hi, there. I’m James DeVellis, a student from Arizona studying sports business. I’ve decided to start my own blog and write about sports early. For more insights on the NBA, follow me on Facebook.

College Ball Vs Nba: a Fan’s Perspective

While nobody can argue that the talent in the NBA is unlike any other on the planet, many other leagues can rival its excitement. One league is the NCAA. We’ve seen a lot of NCAA games. College teams aren’t as organized on offense (or defense) as the pros, but they more than make up for it in different ways.

                                Image source:Youtube.com

As ardent fans of our teams, we can say that cheering for our college takes on a different aura than cheering for our city’s franchise. For one, school spirit plays a major role and the fact that the players we have on our team are only there for a limited amount of time (four years at most) creates a sentimental atmosphere with every game.

Also, it can be argued that with NBA’s grueling schedule, the best players only give it their all come playoffs. Notice how teams sit their best players near the end of regular season to avoid injury. The NCAA is different. Every game counts, and every great player gets to play. They seldom relax, leaving it all on the floor.

There is also the factor of age since the majority of college fans are college students with a percentage of alumni. This allows for a rowdier time, and it helps that many of them know each other. NBA fans watching in arenas can’t say the same.

Hi there! My name’s James DeVellis. I’m a college student from Arizona, taking up sports administration. I am gunning for a career in the sports industry as a writer. Follow me on Twitter for the hottest sports news.

How will Dwyane Wade’s arrival help the Cavaliers?

It came as pleasant surprise to many that Dwyane Wade ultimately decided in favor of a reunion with former Miami co-star Lebron James, hightailing it to Cleveland. It’s no secret that the two are close; Wade held no grudge when James came back to Ohio. The more pressing question now is: How will this player movement help the Cavaliers in their quest for a second title in three years? 

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More depth is the quick answer. Particularly in the guard position, where the Cavs already have the services of Derrick Rose, Jose Calderon, and J.R. Smith. Wade’s presence will equate to more rest for King James throughout the season, letting him run amok during the playoffs. LBJ loves to carry the ball down the court especially during fast breaks, but this was hampered in the previous year’s campaign with Kyrie Irving’s tendency to kill the shot clock with hero ball and less passing. This should be addressed by Wade’s arrival, alongside other key roster changes. 

Cleveland’s other acquisition is star guard Isaiah Thomas, who should have an instant impact on the Cleveland offense when he gets back from injury during the second half of the season. This all-star new guard cast should be more open to passing, leading to more threes from veterans Kyle Korver, Richard Jefferson, and Channing Frye. 

Ball movement will likewise lead to better inside plays from Kevin Love, Jae Crowder, and Tristan Thompson. Hustle should be upgraded, too, with Jeff Green and Iman Shumpert (who will be taking fewer threes this year) taking care of loose balls. Finally, Ante Zizic should be a huge boost at the center position (which was formerly the Cavs’ waterloo) since Tavares, Perkins, and Frye are not bulky nor strong enough to compete with other Eastern Conference bigs. 

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Arizona-based James DeVellis is a college student majoring in sports business. He wants to be a full-fledged sports writer someday. For more sports updates, visit this blog.

NBA G.O.A.T. talk

Since Lebron James passed Michael Jordan in playoff points a few weeks ago, the buzz of him threatening Jordan’s G.O.A.T. status has been getting louder. But that’s all it is. Noise. For James to really pass MJ as basketball’s G.O.A.T., he’d need more people recognizing him as the G.O.A.T., which is again, an impossibility. 

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Sure, some basketball experts and players say LBJ can do more on the floor. Some might even throw stats into the conversation. However, it still won’t be enough. 

One of the telling factors in the MJ-LBJ comparison is the fact that when MJ attained an aura of invincibility, he was indeed, invincible. He couldn’t be beaten. Of course, he had a great team, and an awesome number two in Scottie Pippen, but LBJ had amazing super teams as well with Miami and the current Cavs roster. But LBJ never really attained the aura of invincibility MJ did. 

Another huge part in deciding the MJ-LBJ debate is the fact that LBJ is just not likable. He may have legions of fans, but that number is dwarfed by MJ fans, who up to today, are still loyal beyond any shadow of a doubt. Think 20 years from now, when some new player is dominating the league, how many will insist that LBJ is that G.O.A.T.? How many will still root for MJ? 

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Hello there! I’m James DeVellis, and I’ve always been fascinated with the world of sports. Subscribe to my blog to read more on the stuff I love.