NBA Summer Forecast: 2014-15 Western Conference Standings

1.   Oklahoma City Thunder

Additions: Anthony Morrow, Sebastian Telfair, Mitch McGary (R)

Subtractions: Thabo Sefolosha (Hawks), Caron Butler (Pistons)

2.   San Antonio Spurs

Additions: Kyle Anderson (R)

Subtractions: None

3.   Los Angeles Clippers

Additions: Spencer Hawes, Jordan Farmer, C.J. Wilcox (R)

Subtractions: Darren Collison (Kings), Danny Granger (Heat), Willie Green (Magic), Ryan Hollins

4.   Dallas Mavericks

Additions: Chandler Parsons, Jameer Nelson, Richard Jefferson, Al-Farouq Aminu, Tyson Chandler & Raymond Felton (Via Trade with Knicks)

Subtractions: Vince Carter (Grizzlies), Jose Calderon, Shane Larkin & Samuel Dalembert (Via Trade with Knicks), Shawn Marion (Cavs)

5.   Memphis Grizzlies

Additions: Vince Carter, Jordan Adams (R)

Departures: James Johnson (Raptors), Mike Miller (Cavaliers), Ed Davis (Lakers)

6.   Golden State Warriors

Additions: Shaun Livingston, Brandon Rush

Subtractions: Steve Blake (Trail Blazers), Jordan Crawford

7.   Portland Trail Blazers

Additions: Chris Kaman, Steve Blake

Subtractions: Mo Williams (Timberwolves)

8.   Houston Rockets

Additions: Trevor Ariza, Jeff Adrien, Clint Capela (R)

Subtractions: Chandler Parsons (Mavericks), Jeremy Lin (Via Trade with Lakers), Omer Asik (Via Trade with Pelicans)

9.   Phoenix Suns

Additions: Isaiah Thomas (Via Sign & Trade with Kings), Anthony Tolliver, T.J. Warren (R), Tyler Ennis (R)

Subtractions: Channing Frye (Magic), Emeka Okafor

10. Denver Nuggets

Additions: Aaron Afflalo (Via Trade with Magic), Gary Harris (R), Jusuf Nurkić (R)

Subtractions: Evan Fournier (Via Trade with Magic), Aaron Brooks (Bulls)

11. New Orleans Pelicans

Additions: Omer Asik (Via Trade with Rockets), Jimmer Fredette

Subtractions: Anthony Morrow (Thunder), Brian Roberts (Hornets), Jason Smith (Knicks), Al-Farouq Aminu (Mavs)

12. Los Angeles Lakers

Additions: Carlos Boozer, Ed Davis, Julius Randle (R), Jeremy Lin (Via Trade with Rockets)

Subtractions: Pau Gasol (Bulls), Jodie Meeks (Pistons), Chris Kaman (Blazers), Jordan Farmar (Clippers), Kent Bazemore (Hawks), Kendall Marshall (Bucks)

13. Sacramento Kings

Additions: Darren Collison, Nik Stauskas (R), Jeremy Tyler & Wayne Ellington (Via Trade with Knicks)

Subtractions: Isaiah Thomas (Suns), Aaron Gray (Pistons), Travis Outlaw & Quincy Acy (Via Trade with Knicks)

14. Minnesota Timberwolves

Additions: Mo Williams, Zach LaVine (R), Andrew Wiggins (R), Anthony Bennett and Thaddeus Young (Via 3-Way Trade with Cavs & 76ers)

Subtractions: Kevin Love, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute & Alexey Shved (Via 3-Way Trade with Cavs and 76ers)

15. Utah Jazz

Additions: Dante Exum (R), Trevor Booker, Rodney Hood (R), Steve Novak (Via Trade with Raptors)

Subtractions: Marvin Williams (Hornets), Richard Jefferson (Mavericks), Brandon Rush (Warriors)

NBA Summer Forecast: 2014-15 Eastern Conference Standings

      With LeBron James returning home to the Cleveland Cavaliers, the balance of power has shifted dramatically in the Eastern Conference. The Cavs, who missed the playoffs in each of the four years James spent in Miami, will be the favorites to seize the East in the regular season--especially after acquiring Kevin Love in a blockbuster trade.
         The 25-year-old widely regarded as the NBA's top 'stretch four', Love is coming off a career-year, in which he averaged 26.1 points, 12.5 rebounds and 4.4 assists. Adding Love to a team already with Kyrie Irving and the best player in the NBA in James, the Cavs undoubtedly boast the most talented star trio in the league.

        Could a Central Division foe--specifically the Chicago Bulls--prevent the Cavs from landing the top spot in the conference? Will the Bulls' signing of Pau Gasol be enough to snatch the top-seed? 

        Don't forget about the Washington Wizards, who are now the favorites to win the Southeast--a division the Heat dominated the past four seasons. The Wizards signed future Hall of Famer Paul Pierce, who delivered in the clutch for the Brooklyn Nets in their first-round playoff series victory over the Toronto Raptors. The Wizards also bolstered their bench by adding DeJuan Blair and Kris Humphries via free agency. 

          You can't sleep on the Raptors, either, after the club retained all of its core players from last year's Atlantic Division-champion roster. 

            So, how will the East stack up 1-15 in the upcoming year? I forecast the 2014-2015 standings below. 

1.     Cleveland Cavaliers

Key additions: LeBron James, Kevin Love (Via 3-Way Trade with Timberwolves & 76ers), Mike Miller, Joe Harris (R), James Jones, Brendan Haywood, Shawn Marion

Subtractions: Spencer Hawes (Clippers), Luol Deng (Heat), C.J. Miles (Pacers), Jarrett Jack & Tyler Zeller (Via 3-Way Trade with Celtics & Nets), Anthony Bennett (Via 3-Way Trade with Timberwolves & 76ers) 

2.     Chicago Bulls 

 Key additions: Pau Gasol, Doug McDermott (R), Nikola Mirotic (R-Spain), Aaron Brooks, E'Twaun Moore

Subtractions: Carlos Boozer (Via Amnesty clause--signed with Lakers), D.J. Augustin (Pistons), Jimmer Fredette (Pelicans)

3.     Washington Wizards 

 Key additions: Paul Pierce, Kris Humphries, DeJuan Blair

Subtractions: Trevor Ariza (Rockets), Trevor Booker (Jazz)

4.     Toronto Raptors 

 Key additions: James Johnson, Bruno Caboclo (R), Lou Williams (Via Trade with Hawks)

Subtractions: John Salmons (Via Trade with Hawks), Steve Novak (Via Trade with Jazz)

5.     Miami Heat

 Key additions: Luol Deng, Danny Granger, Josh McRoberts, Shabazz Napier (R)

Subtractions: LeBron James (Cavaliers), James Jones (Cavaliers), Ray Allen

6.     Charlotte Hornets 

 Key additions: Lance Stephenson, Marvin Williams, P.J. Hairston (R), Brian Roberts

Subtractions: Josh McRoberts (Heat), Anthony Tolliver (Suns), Luke Ridnour (Magic), Brendan Haywood (Cavs)

7.     New York Knicks

 Key Additions: Jose Calderon, Shane Larkin & Samuel Dalembert (Via Trade with Mavs), Travis Outlaw & Quincy Acy (Via Trade with Kings), Jason Smith

Subtractions: Tyson Chandler & Raymond Felton (Via Trade with Mavs), Jeremy Tyler & Wayne Ellington (Via Trade with Kings)

8.     Atlanta Hawks 

 Key additions: Thabo Sefolosha, Kent Bazemore, Adreian Payne (R)

Subtractions: Lou Williams (Via Trade with Raptors), Cartier Martin (Pistons), Gustavo Ayon, Elton Brand

9.   Brooklyn Nets

 Key additions: Jarrett Jack (Via 3-Way Trade with Celtics & Cavs)

 Subtractions: Paul Pierce (Wizards), Shaun Livingston (Warriors), Andray Blatche, Marcus Thornton (Via 3-Way Trade with Celtics & Cavs) 

10.     Indiana Pacers

Key additions: C.J. Miles, Damjan Rudez (R- Europe), Rodney Stuckey

Subtractions: Lance Stephenson (Hornets), Evan Turner (Celtics)

*Paul George likely out for season after breaking leg during USA Basketball Showcase

11.   Detroit Pistons

 Key additions: Jodie Meeks, Cartier Martin, D.J. Augustin, Caron Butler

 Subtractions: Chauncey Billups, Rodney Stuckey (Pacers)

12.   Boston Celtics

 Key additions: Marcus Smart (R), James Young (R), Evan Turner, Marcus Thornton & Tyler Zeller (Via 3-Way Trade with Nets and Cavs)

 Subtractions: Kris Humphries (Wizards), Jerryd Bayless (Bucks)

13.   Milwaukee Bucks 

 Key additions: Jabari Parker (R), Jerryd Bayless, Kendall Marshall

 Subtractions: Jeff Adrien (Rockets), Ramon Sessions

14.   Orlando Magic

 Key additions: Aaron Gordon (R), Elfrid Payton (R), Luke Ridnour, Ben Gordon, Channing Frye, Evan Fournier (Via Trade with Nuggets)

Subtractions: Jameer Nelson (Mavs), Aaron Afflalo (Via Trade with Nuggets), E'Twaun Moore (Bulls)

15.   Philadelphia 76ers

 Key additions: Joel Embiid (R), Dario Saric (R), Luc Richard Mbah a Moute & Alexey Shved (Via 3-Way Trade with Cavs and Timberwolves)

 Subtractions: Thaddeus Young (Via 3-Way Trade with Cavs and Timberwolves)

Count These Red Sox Out

It’s tough to lose hope in the ever-so-mediocre 2014 American League East. The division-leading Toronto Blue Jays stand at 47-39—well above expectations—yet fending incessant doubts for a franchise that has missed the playoffs every year since the legendary Joe Carter hit a walk-off home run to clinch the club’s consecutive World Series title in 1993. But this year’s Boston Red Sox, yes the defending champion Sox, managed to write their obituary before Independence Day.

The Red Sox got pummeled on a nationally televised ESPN broadcast on Wednesday night by the rebuilding Chicago Cubs, who completed a three-game sweep at Fenway Park with an emphatic 16-9 victory. After scoring just two runs in the first two loses of the series, the Red Sox surrendered a whopping 16 runs in Wednesday’s disaster versus the Cubs, who rank 13th in the National League in batting.

After narrowly avoiding Jake Arrieta’s no hit-bid in the opener, the Sox mustered just one run in Tuesday’s defeat. The loss on Tuesday was especially appalling, given that the overpaid and disappointing Edwin Jackson (4.98 ERA) held the Sox to a single run over six innings of work.

Wednesday’s debacle came next, a contest that saw the Sox suffer a humiliating defeat in front of their home crowd versus a Cubs team that is thrilled to be sitting nine games under .500 (37-46). The Cubs are in complete rebuilding mode, stocking up on assets in Triple-A to build for the future that may come sooner than most outsiders thought. They should be happy with this year’s progress. The Red Sox are the defending champions—believed to have a realistic chance of repeating after bringing back the core of last year’s World Series team—yet steadily creeping to the basement of the American League East. The Cubs have the 23rd ranked payroll—the Red Sox post the league’s fourth-highest payroll. But it was the Cubs making a statement in an early July series, showing that their future is bright after all. The Red Sox, meanwhile, continue to fuel the qualms of their loyal fans, who are witnessing their champions turn into the dreaded 'has-beens' label before their eyes.

The Red Sox trail the Blue Jays by 8 ½ games in the AL East. The Sox are just a game ahead of the last-place Tampa Bay Rays, who are fresh off a road sweep over the scuffling New York Yankees.

Gaining less than nine games of ground with roughly 70 to play seems attainable for the defending champs. But these Red Sox have no resemblance of last’s year’s heart-warming title club.

These Red Sox can’t get out of their own way, most evident by their decision to sign weak hitting Stephen Drew to a dubious $10 million midseason-contract at the cost of Xander Bogaerts’ mentality (who freely admitted he was disappointed that he had to move back to third base after Drew signed), whose average has dipped below .250 after his hitting tirade in the month of May.

Bogaerts extended his hitless streak to 23 at-bats. He has yet to record a hit in July after a woeful .135 June (13 for 96, 27 K's). 

It may seem premature to discard the defending champions from the wide open AL East race. But the Red Sox are champions no more. These punchless Red Sox are finished. 

You Got to Be Kidd-ing

Jason Kidd will no longer be on the Nets' sidelines... Is the former point guard headed to Milwaukee? (David Butler II USA TODAY Sports)

Jason Kidd is one of the greatest point guards in NBA history. Kidd, who ranks No. 2 on the league’s all-time assists list, is the best player to wear a Nets uniform since the franchise merged from the ABA to the NBA in 1976.

A former human highlight reel, Kidd reformed the culture of the hapless Nets in his playing days. The future Hall of Famer led the franchise to consecutive Finals appearances in 2002-2003.

Within weeks of calling it quits on his prolific 19-year career, Kidd was hired to coach the Brooklyn Nets (despite zero coaching experience) last summer on a four-year, $10.5 million contract.

The Nets entrusted Kidd to spearhead a roster with the highest payroll in NBA history – $100 million, plus $90 million more in luxury tax—that featured Hall of Famers’ Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett, as well as All-Stars’ Deron Williams, Brook Lopez and Joe Johnson.  

The star-studded roster got off to an abysmal start to the season though, posting a 10-21 record as the 2013 calendar year commenced. Kidd and the Nets eventually turned things around, despite a season-ending foot injury to Lopez, registering 34 wins versus 17 losses to end the season with a 44-38 record.

Entering the postseason as the No. 6 seed in the historically weak Eastern Conference, the Nets were able to defeat the upstart Toronto Raptors in seven games, thanks to the clutch heroics of the age-defying Pierce.  With the series victory, the Nets advanced to the second-round for the first time since the franchise moved to Brooklyn. The team would go no further in the postseason, though, after being dispatched in five games in the Conference Semifinals by the Miami Heat.

The general consensus was that Kidd’s first season was mediocre. Sure, he made a brilliant decision to insert Shaun Livingston into the starting lineup following Lopez’s injury. This shifted Pierce into the power forward position and Garnett to center, creating a highly effective unit that created matchups nightmares for the opposition. In particular, teams struggled to guard Pierce, who used his speed (diminishing, albeit) to drive past the power forwards guarding him.

The lineup switch, however, was the lone adjustment Kidd successfully made. His coaching deficiencies were exposed in the series against Miami. The Nets collapsed down the stretch in Games 2, 4 and most notably Game 5 of the series. Erik Spoelstra coached circles around Kidd, who was unable to put his team in proper position to execute in late-game situations. Kidd’s out-of-timeout plays often resulted in one-on-one situations that Joe Johnson failed to deliver. 


A decent NBA coach would have at least pushed the Nets-Heat series to six games. A great coach may have helped the Nets push the Heat to seven games, or even win the series. But the Heat, coming off consecutive championships, exposed the Nets’ biggest flaw—the inexperienced Kidd.

Handed a win-now roster, Kidd failed to make the most off his team. Kidd never got the best out of point guard Deron Williams, who was a no-show in the 2014 playoffs. He barely let Garnett surpass the 20-minute mark in playing time throughout the postseason, despite management basically trading away the club’s future to acquire him and Pierce last offseason.

With just a year of head coaching under his belt, Kidd had the nerve to demand a promotion from ownership. In addition to coaching, Kidd wanted to become the overseer of basketball operations, placing him a title above current GM Billy King. The Nets’ ownership scoffed at Kidd’s ludicrous request, denying him the chance to supplant King.

The Nets did everything they could to keep Kidd happy this season, yet he still wanted more this offseason.

"Nothing was ever good enough for Jason," said one league source close to the situation, according to ESPN New York. "He always had to be appeased on personnel, and he would play Monday morning quarterback if it didn't work out. It was like a kid constantly asking for new toys to stay happy. ... If he doesn't get what he wants he sits in the corner and sucks his thumb and pouts until he gets it, and he doesn't care about the consequences."

The Nets appeased Kidd last offseason with the hire of Lawrence Frank as assistant head coach. King and owner Mikhail Prokhorov agreed to make Frank the league's highest-paid assistant, yet within weeks of the season were asked by Kidd to dump Frank. Kidd felt Frank overstepped his boundaries. He told management he would pay off the remainder of his Frank’s lucrative contract if the assistant was demoted. Kidd failed to deliver on that promise, forcing ownership to eat Frank’s contract before it was essentially even signed.

Turning a blind-eye on the soda-spilling incident (dubbed “sodagate”), the Nets’ brass was more than accommodating to Kidd. Yet Kidd could not how handle how former players’ Steve Kerr and Derek Fisher, neither of whom had any coaching experience, were handed hefty five-year, $25 million deals to coach the Golden State Warriors and New York Knicks, respectively.

After seeing Kerr and Fisher get paid much more than he did, Kidd thought it was fair to ask for general management duties.

"He wanted it all," one league source said, according to ESPN New York.

Kidd’s aggressive plea infuriated the Nets’ ownership.

"The Russians are done with Kidd," one high-ranking league source told Yahoo Sports.

Following Kidd’s failed power play with the Nets, he asked for—and was granted—permission to interview with the Milwaukee Bucks.

New Bucks co-owner Marc Lasry is reportedly close with Kidd after stints as a Nets minority owner and as Kidd’s financial adviser. The Bucks currently have a head coach in Larry Drew and a GM in John Hammond. However, the Bucks ownership seems willing to give Kidd the power he is looking for (which all but spells the end for Drew and Hammond).

The Bucks have already begun discussing compensation with the Nets so that they can release Kidd of his current contract. It is expected that the Bucks will surrender multiple second-round draft picks to the Nets in exchange for Kidd.

Taking on the Bucks head coaching job seems like a steep challenge for Kidd. If he could not get the best of Williams, Johnson, Pierce and Garnett, how will he handle the mess that is the Bucks roster? Outside of first-round pick Jabari Parker and the “Greek Freek” Giannis Antetokounmpo, there is nothing appealing about the Bucks, who finished with a league-worst 15-67 a season ago.

There is speculation that Kidd may begin his Bucks’ tenure as just the GM/team president.

“I can see Jason waiting until the Bucks are good enough, and then coaching them," said a league source, according to ESPN New York.

The Bucks’ ownership is taking a severe risk if they decide to implement Kidd into general managing duties. The Nets took a gamble on Kidd and now look where they are—cap-strapped and facing the impending free agency of Pierce, the emotional leader of last year’s team.

Kidd left the Nets, a team that will in all likelihood reach the playoffs next season, after refusing to get his way. How long will it take for him to leave Milwaukee when his excessive demands are not met by the Bucks’ ownership? Time will only tell for Kidd, who has little chance of rebuilding the struggling Bucks franchise. 

David Ortiz, Mike Napoli Belt Back-to-Back HRs as Sox Sweep Twins

David Ortiz and Mike Napoli launched back-to-back home runs in the bottom of the 10th to give the Boston Red Sox a dramatic, come-from-behind 2-1 win and a three-game sweep over the visiting Minnesota Twins.

The Red Sox mustered one hit through the first nine innings—a fifth-inning double by Daniel Nava—before the extra innings heroics from their two sluggers. Ortiz wrapped his solo shot just inside the Pesky Pole in right. Napoli belted his homer to the center-field bleachers to give the Red Sox a walk-off win.

The Twins’ Kyle Gibson and the Red Sox’s John Lackey each had impeccable outings. Gibson, who retired the first 14 batters he faced, struck out eight in seven innings of scoreless work. Lackey tossed nine innings of no-run baseball, striking out nine and surrendering just three hits. Lackey has allowed three or fewer runs in six straight starts.

Entering the 10th of a no-score contest, the Red Sox sent closer Koji Uehara to the hill. Uehara, who entered the day with a 0.57 ERA, gave up a two-out solo home run to Chris Parmelee. The homer snapped Uehara's scoreless streak at 21 2/3 innings.

Parmelee, who hit a walk-off home run off Andrew Miller in Minnesota on May 13, appeared to be the hero again for the Twins. But, Casey Fien was not able to seal the deal, allowing solo homers against Ortiz and Napoli as the reeling Twins lost their fifth consecutive game

The Red Sox managed to sweep the Twins, despite scoring just five runs all series. The Twins mustered just two runs in the three-game set, losing each contest by one run. 

Burke Badenhop: Unsung Hero of Boston Red Sox Bullpen

               

               Burke Badenhop has been one of the most reliable relievers for the Boston 
Red Sox this season. The 31-year-old right-hander owns a 1.64 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP in 32 appearances out of the bullpen.

                The efforts of Badenhop have at times gone under the radar because of the impressive work of Junichi Tazawa (2.40 ERA) and Andrew Miller (2.48 ERA), two relievers that were integral parts of Boston’s World Series title run in 2013. Badenhop, who signed with the Red Sox in the offseason, is largely overshadowed because of closer Koji Uehara, the 2013 ALCS MVP and the current holder of an otherworldly 0.57 ERA.

                Badenhop maneuvered through a shaky eighth inning in the Red Sox’s 1-0 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Monday night, loading the bases before striking out the Twins’ Brian Dozier to end the threat.

                “Just made some big pitches, got a righty back up there (in Dozier),” Badenhop said, per MassLive.com. “I wasn’t going to miss over the plate to [Danny] Santana, end up hitting him knowing I’ve got a base open there, and getting to Dozier and kind of going toe-to-toe with him there and getting a good slider.”

                With 2/3 inning of no-run work in Monday’s win, Badenhop extended his streak to 30 innings without allowing an earned run. The 30-inning stretch is the third-longest relief streak without an earned run in Red Sox history — trailing only and Dick Radatz (33 innings in 1963) and Uehara (33 2/3 innings in 2013) — for the franchise record.

                "With where we were, Hop (Badenhop) has gained an awful lot of trust as the year has gone on," said Red Sox manager John Farrell, via MassLive.com. "We know he's got to be careful to left-handers and he makes a key pitch with a slider to punch out (Brian) Dozier to end a bases-loaded threat."

                Badenhop’s historical run is remarkable, given his abysmal start to the year that saw the reliever give up six earned runs in six innings in his first four appearances of the season.  Badenhop, who leads all MLB relievers with 10 ground-ball double plays, has a legitimate shot to make the American League All-Star team.

                Badenhop has emerged as a critical cog in a Red Sox bullpen that ranks fourth in the big leagues with a 2.80 ERA.

De La Rosa's Gem Pushes Red Sox Past Twins

Rubby De La Rosa is congratulated by David Ross after a stellar outing. (Jim Davis/Globe Staff)

Rubby De La Rosa tossed seven scoreless innings as the Boston Red Sox slipped past the Minnesota Twins 1-0 in the first of a three-game set at Fenway Park.

Making his fourth start of the year, De La Rosa (2-2) surrendered just one hit as he retired the final 13 Twins’ batters he faced. Overall, the 25-year-old right-hander set down 21 of 23 hitters in a dominant outing.

A sacrifice fly in the fifth inning off the bat of A.J. Pierzynski scored Daniel Nava from third and provided the only offense in a pitchers duel.

Kevin Correia (3-8) was the hard-luck loser for the Twins, allowing just one run off five hits in six innings of work.

Red Sox reliever Andrew Miller struck out Oswaldo Arcia to lead off the eighth inning, the only batter the southpaw faced. Burke Badenhop finished the eighth inning off for the Red Sox, but not before the Twins put a scare into the sold-out crowd in Boston. Badenhop loaded the bases, but got Brian Dozier to strike out swinging to get out of the jam.

Koji Uehara remained perfect in 15 save chances this season, shutting the Twins down in order in the ninth to secure the victory. Uehara, who lowered his ERA to 0.57, extended his streak to 31 straight saves over the past two regular seasons.

De La Rosa has yet to give up a run in 14 innings pitched at home this season. In his other Fenway start, De La Rosa also pitched seven shutout innings, holding Tampa Bay to four hits in win.

Tuesday night will feature the Twins’ Phil Hughes (7-2, 3.17) going up against Jon Lester (7-7, 3.33) for Boston.