Over the years, the favorites to win the NBA playoffs have been fought by strong teams led by superstars such as James, Curry, Durant, Harden, etc., but there have also been teams dominated by highly talented young players to enter the division finals, and even the Finals, such as the Thunder three young people that year, the Green Army double scout, etc.;
This summer's draft is over, the early stage of the trade market is over, many teams have basically decided on the player roster for next season, now to predict what the youth army, mainly young players, can achieve next season.
1. Memphis Grizzlies
The Grizzlies are the fastest youth army to complete the reconstruction in recent years, since the 2019 draft selected Jia Morant, he has used him as the cornerstone of the team to create a playoff lineup, and has now entered the playoffs for 3 consecutive seasons, among which the core star Jarn Morant is 23 years old, Jaren Jackson Jr. is 23 years old, Desmond Bane is 25 years old, the oldest in the main lineup is center Adams and new signing Marcus Smart, both 29 years old, the team's potential rookies in the past 2 seasons also include Zaire Smart. Williams, Kenneth Lofton Jr., Jack Laravia, etc.;
The Grizzlies were 51-31 in the regular season last season, ranking second in the West, and although they were eliminated by the Lakers in the first round of the playoffs, the strength of this youth army is still obvious to all, averaging 116.9 points per game in the regular season, 8th in the league, 11th in the league in offensive efficiency, and 3rd in the league in defensive efficiency because they have DPOY and Jaren Jr., the core pillar of the first defense, although Dillon Brooks left the team this season, but the experienced Smart can help the outside defense. The team's only hidden danger is the star Morant, who has been in trouble off the court and will be suspended for 25 games next season, but as long as the "gun king" can play honestly, the Grizzlies can still compete with the big teams in the West;
It is predicted that the Grizzlies can reach the Western Conference semifinals next season, and if they play well, they may have reached the Western Conference Finals;
2. Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder are a talented youth team, their star SG Alexander improved quickly last season, averaging 31.4 points per game and was named to the All-Star and All-Star First Team, now only 25 years old, Josh Giddy is a tall all-round guard, the No. 6 pick in the 21st class is only 20 years old, and other key players such as Dort, Bokushewski, and Jaylen Williams are all energetic young people under the age of 25. Moreover, they also hold 35 draft picks in the next 7 years, and Chet Holmgren, the 22nd draft, has also returned from injury, and his performance in the summer league is very eye-catching;
The Thunder were 40-42 in the regular season last season, ranked tenth in the West, missed the playoffs, averaging 117.5 points per game, ranking 5th in the league, but offensive efficiency and defensive efficiency are in the middle of the league, with the growth of this group of excellent rookies, I believe that the Thunder will not be rotten next season, their defensive ability is not outstanding, but the offensive firepower is fierce, if Holmgren can stay healthy, it may be possible to improve some defensive intensity for the inside, but how far this team can go, it still depends on the performance of SG Alexander;
It is predicted that next season can enter the playoffs, but it is difficult to go too far in the playoffs;
3. Houston Rockets
The Rockets are the winner of this summer, first selecting No. 4 pick Amen Thompson in the draft, then picking up Cam Whitmore with the 20th pick, signing former All-Star guard VanVleet in free agency, and bringing in Dillon Brooks, overall the roster depth is a lot stronger, star Jaylen Green is only 21 years old, averaging 22 points per game last season, Kevin Porter Jr. is 23, Alperon Shenkyung is 20, Jabari Smith Jr. is 20, and Tarry Eason is 22, are young people with full potential;
The Rockets were 22-60 in the regular season last season, only ranked 14th in the West, missed the playoffs, and averaged only 110.7 points per game, 28th in the league, both offensive and defensive efficiency is the lowest in the league, but this is related to the Rockets' deliberate swing last season, next season's main problem is whether Green can calm the team, Kevin Porter Jr. is also a restless factor in the locker room, but rookie Amen Thompson is a ball carrier who is very good at passing and defending, plus the introduction of coach Amy Uduka, I believe that the Rockets, a youth army, can make some achievements;
Predicting that next season can enter the play-offs, and reaching the playoffs is not a dream;
4. San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs have been rotten for several seasons in the post-Duncan era, and this season finally ushered in the third champion in team history, Victor Venbanyama, the 19-year-old Ligue 1 MVP, in addition, the team also has Devin Vassell 22 years old, Kelden Johnson 23 years old, Jeremy Sohan 20 years old, Trey Jones 23 years old, Romeo Langford 23 years old, Zach Collins 25 years old and other potential young players;
The Spurs were crazy last season, 22-60 ranked fifteenth in the West, all game statistics are the bottom of the league, even if this season has the champion Wen Banyama, I don't think the record will change much next season, the team except Keldon Johnson does not have particularly good players, all need time to hone, and Ventanyama in addition to excellent defensive ability, there are many other things that need to be improved, such as projection efficiency, many ball-holding errors, poor confrontation shortcomings, Popovich needs to design tactics for him, he himself also needs to improve more, which takes time, at least a season of leveling;
Predict that next season will not qualify for the play-offs;
5. Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cavaliers improved a lot last season, the team traded star Donovan Mitchell, Mitchell who played for 6 seasons is only 26 years old, plus the original all-star Darrius Garland is 23 years old, the 21st prospect Evan Mobley is 22 years old, Garrett Allen is 25 years old, Ithaca Okoro is 22 years old, and LeVert is 28 years old and Osman is 28 years old at peak age, this roster is still competitive in the East;
The Cavaliers were 51-31 last season, ranked fourth in the East, averaging 112.3 points per game, ranking 25th in the league, offensive efficiency 115.5, 7th in the league, 109.9 defensive efficiency, ranking 1st in the league, after all, there are two All-Star level players in the team, as well as Allen, Mobley, the all-star-level twin tower combination, the basic set is not weak, but the ceiling will not be too high, the team's roster depth is not enough, and it is difficult to say whether the record next season can surpass this season;
Predict that next season's Eastern Conference 6-8 will inevitably escape the fate of being out of the first round of the playoffs;
Other teams: Orlando Magic, Charlotte Hornets, Detroit Pistons
These three teams I predict that next season will not improve much, let's put it together, the Magic new star players are indeed many, champion Paul Bankero, Franz Wagner, 17-time champion Fultz, 21st 5th pick Jaylen Suggs, Cole Anthony, etc., but the Magic team has many problems, the regular season win rate in the past 10 years has exceeded 50% only 1 time, the last glory goes back to Howard's star-studded era, the Magic is really difficult to make people optimistic;
The Hornets have LaMelo Ball, this year's list Brandon Miller, and Miles Bridges, who has returned to the NBA, but as a traditional weak team, the team has many injuries, and it will be difficult to improve next season;
The Pistons also have a lot of young people with high picks, 21-time top Cade Cunningham, 20-time list James Wiseman, 18-time list Marvin Bagley, 22 years 5th pick Jayden Ivey, and 20 years 16 pick, Isaiah Stewart, who just renewed his big contract, and this year's 5th pick rookie Osal Thompson, has a lot of potential, but no core, Cunningham was plagued by injuries last season, didn't play a few games in a season, Wiseman can't even understand the summer league now, Bagley is talented, Unfortunately, it is a glass man, and the only leader in the team is the 34-year-old veteran Bojan Bogdanovic, such a team will not achieve much next season.
——The original article is not easy, if you like it, please like and follow, thank you for your support!
——Focus on NBA on-field and off-court information, game evaluation, Internet entrepreneurship field exchanges!
#头条创作挑战赛#