NBA JAM Season Preview

Frank Whalen

Anonymous PrideTime Contributor

When Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett were traded to the Celtics in 2007, the balance of power in the NBA changed from a singular superstar with a sidekick to multiple superstars playing together to win a championship. Allen, Garnett, and Pierce were on the backside of their careers and all without a championship--the lone mark against each of their stellar careers.

​That championship came that season as the Celtics coalesced behind the “Ubuntu” mantra as they went 66-16, beating a frustrated and alone LeBron James and eventually the Kobe Bryant-Pau Gasol-led Lakers in a triumphant Game 6 beatdown in Boston.  Those Celtics truly realized that anything is possible.

Despite winning multiple MVPs during his time in Cleveland, LeBron’s shift to Miami to join Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami was the clearest clue that the “Big Threes” would take over in the NBA.  The Spurs had their own Big Three of Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobli, and Tony Parker, supplemented with a rising star in Kawhi Leornard; the young Thunder boasted THREE future MVPs in Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Russell Westbrook; the Warriors stumbled into their own of Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green.  

​After Durant’s move to Golden State cemented what would become THE dynasty in the NBA, the NBA landscape has changed massively over the past two years.  The past few offseasons have seen 10 (!!!) All-Stars change teams including the reigning NBA Finals MVP in Kawhi, the presumptive best player on the planet in LeBron, the best scorer on the planet in KD, a human supernova in Russell Westbrook, and more than one unicorn (Anthony Davis and Kristaps Porzingis) change teams.  This shift to a more player-centric league has left the era of the Big Three behind and has ushered in a retro-age of NBA Jam style team-building. With two superstars supported with depth, numerous teams have taken on a new look and have given parity to the NBA we haven’t seen in over a decade.

Without further, your NBA JAM Season preview:

​(All Stats are from the 2018-2019 season and courtesy of Basketball-Reference.com)

The Contenders

The Potential GOATS
​Los Angeles Lakers

LeBron James:     27.4 PPG     8.5 RPG     8.3 APG     51 % FG
Anthony Davis:     25.9 PPG     12.0 RPG     3.9 APG    51 % FG

After LeBron chose the Lakers in free agency, Anthony Davis (who shares an agent with James) requested a trade to the Lakers.  The Lakers relented and sent a haul of young players and picks to the Pelicans to secure The Brow. This duo is easily the overall most talented and complimentary of the NBA Jam duos. With LeBron’s otherworldly passing and Davis setting a new career high in assists, the two could form one of the most potent pick and roll tandems in NBA history while unlocking another level to the Lakers offense.  Both AD and LeBron hold All-NBA defensive potential as well, so if they both engaged on that end this Lakers team could be scary.
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Their Question: Can they stay healthy?

LeBron missed his first significant chunk of time in his career last year and currently sits 17th all time in minutes played (not including the over 10000 minutes he’s played in the playoffs which ranks first all time).  Davis has only played 75 games twice in his career and has only made the playoffs twice, bringing into question what his body will feel like over an extended season.

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The Defensive Destroyers
​Los Angeles Clippers

Kawhi Leonard:     26.6 PPG     7.3 RPG    3.3 APG     1.8 STLs    49 % FG
Paul George:         28 PPG    8.2 RPG    4.1 APG    2.2 STLs     48 % FG

In a similar fashion to their Staples Center counterpart, the LA-born Kawhi chose the notoriously snake-bitten franchise in free agency while the Clippers traded a host of future picks to the OKC Thunder for the rights to Paul George.  The two will combine to create one of the most destructive duos in NBA history. George is coming of a First Team All-Defense selection while Leonard managed a Second Team nod (without the Raptors Load Management, Leonard likely would have been named First Team). George holds a 6’11” wingspan while Leonard boasts an absurd 7’3” allowing the two to swallow opponents whole while snatching not just basketballs but souls.

Their Question: What does load management look like in Clipperland?

After forcing a trade from the San Antonio Spurs, Kawhi and the Raptors agreed to manage his minutes per game as well as not play him in a number of games to prevent injury or late-season fatigue.  Paul George is already forecasted to miss the first ten games of the season with shoulder surgery. With the depth the Clippers have, how will Doc Rivers start and sit his superstars so they are fresh for the long playoff run?


The Grecian Tundra
Milwaukee Bucks

Giannis Antetokounmpo:     27.7 PPG     12.5 RPG    5.9 APG     1.3 STL     1.5 BPG        57% FG
Khris Middleton:         18.3 PPG     6 AP         4.3 APG     44 % FG

At this point, Giannis and any NBA player could be a contender in an NBA Jam series; he is just that good.  He is putting up numbers (and percentages) that haven’t been seen in The League since Prime Shaq...and for those who haven’t seen Prime Shaq {shivers}.  Only Giannis is Shaq at a faster speed with a potentially better jumpshot.  Giannis is darn near unstoppable basically. Add in Middleton--coming off his first All-Star appearance--who adds a secondary playmaker and solid defender to the mix and the Bucks position themselves as a top contender in the East.  

Their Question: How much better can Giannis actually get?

Giannis has already fully blossomed into a superstar and at 24 years of age(!!!), there is still SO MUCH room for growth.  He is still only shooting three pointers at a 25 % clip; if he weren’t going scorched-earth everywhere else, this would be a bigger deal, but he has time to correct and refine his jumper to become a mega-star (A Monstar?).  Add in his all-world defensive ability and you have what combines to be one of the most mind-bogglingly unique basketball players of all time already.

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​The Insiders
Philadelphia 76ers

Joel Embiid:     27.5 PPG     7.8 RPG    3.7 APG    1.9 BLKs    48 % FG
Ben Simmons: 16.9 PPG    8.8 RPG    7.7 APG     1.4 STLs     56 % FG

If LeBron and AD are the supernovas, these two are the black matter of the NBA.  While many of the duos complement each other perfectly, Simmons and Embiid have created an antithesis of how the NBA is trending.  Simmons has (famously) yet to make a three pointer; he has attempted 17 TOTAL in two years (and most were last second heaves). Embiid can shoot threes (30 % 3PFG), but prefers to bully shorter or less athletic big men off the dribble.  This basket-centric offense means they NEED their supporting cast to hit three pointers to give them space.

Their Question: How good can this defense really be?

​Simmons and Embiid are just the beginning.  Add in long-armed Al Horford, Josh Richardson, and Tobias Harris and this team is MASSIVE.  They are more or less matchup-proof, meaning they can switch every screen and not have to worry about a huge mismatch at any point.  If the 76ers make it to the NBA finals this season, it will be on the strength of their defense, not their offense.  

The Charity Cases (Need Some Help)

The Jokers
​Denver Nuggets

Nikola Jokic:     20.1 PPG    10.8 RPG    7.3 APG    1.4 STLs    51 % FG
Jamal Murray:    18.2 PPG    4.2 RPG    4.8 APG            44 % FG

The Joker is in the same boat at Giannis in that he is completely and utterly unique.  He is a 7-footer who uses his height and acuity to drop passes most of the human race cannot even begin to imagine (I could write a novel about how much I love numbers 3 and 4 in that video).  Riding the surge of Jokic’s own charity, the Nuggets came in second in the Western conference last year mostly because of the amazing depth of talent beyond Nikola.  All those passes have to go to someone and Jokic’s supporting cast is deep and talented, but without another superstar.

Their Question: Who can make a leap?
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Jamal Murray is the most likely candidate to make a leap and become the second fiddle the Nuggets need, and--at 22--could be poised too.  Beyond Murray, there are seven regular rotation players who are under 25, including Gary Harris, Malik Beasley, and a potential landscape-changer in Michael Porter Jr.  If these young players progress and gel into a full-blown team, they could form a formidable presence in the Western Conference.

The Stats
Houston Rockets

James Harden:     36.1 PPG    6.6 RPG    7.5 APG    2.0 STL         5 TOs         44 %FG        
Russell Westbrook:    22.9 PPG    11.1RPG    10.7RPG    1.9 STL         4.5 TOs 43 % FG
The only team to currently employ two NBA MVPs, the Rockets have put together two cheat codes and are hoping it will work.  After breaking every rule the NBA has known about shooting three-pointers and falling tantalizingly short of the NBA Finals, the Rockets traded Chris Paul for Harden’s former teammate and friend Russell Westbroook.  Both have set statistical records in the past few seasons, but neither have any championship jewelry to show for it. The Rockets hope these two ball-centric stars can find a way to co-exist to supplement their own swag with a Finals ring.
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Their Question: How does this work?

It’s a simple question with an unsimple answer.  Two men who have won the highest of individual accolades must now forgo some of that Ego to create something more.  It is difficult to ask established stars to sacrifice (ask Kobe) for the betterment of the team, but the Rockets are going to.  Each play best with the ball in their hands, so who takes the final shot of a close game in May and June?

The Jazz
Utah Jazz

Donovan Mitchell:    23.8 PPG    4.1 RPG    4.2 APG    1.4 STL    43% FG
Rudy Gobert:        15.9 PPG    12.9 RPG    2.3 BLK    66 % FG
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A blistering scorer and a defensive stalwart are the anchors of this Jazz team.  This is the most traditional of NBA Jam duos, but that does not make it any less impressive.  Gobert alone forces opposing teams to alter gameplans because of his ability to affect shots at the rim. Add in Mitchell’s explosiveness and the Jazz are not short on talent, especially with the addition of steadfast Mike Conley and  a host of three point shooters beside them.  

Their Question: Can Gobert guard the three point line?

While Gobert acts as a wall in front of the rim, his lateral speed leaves him a mismatch problem.  In the playoffs last year against the Rockets, Gobert was basically run off the floor because of his inability to guard the three.  In an increasingly mismatch driven league, Gobert’s struggles to stay on the floor in the most important games of the season have left the Jazz trying to maneuver a landscape of the positional less NBA and how to fit Gobert into it.