What if... the Utah Jazz had a New Year's Resolution, what would it be?

by Kevin Jairaj, USA TODAY Sports from http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2013/12/06/nba-a-to-z-gordon-hayward-jason-kidd-lawrence-frank-nets-pau-gasol-rockets/3891835/

          The Utah Jazz are a young team that's mostly built through the draft. They were exciting and fun to watch at the beginning of the season. The starters were Trey Burke, Alec Burks, Gordon Hayward, Derrick Favors, and Enes Kanter. We knew from the start of the season, they're not a playoff team but they're a team that plays hard every night. Gordon Hayward has really stepped it up for the Jazz this season averaging 19.4 points per game.This goes to show a max-contract can motivate a player to step up their game. He is capable of taking over games but like most good players, he needs to show consistency and more importantly, leadership. Hayward has to make sure his team is communicating and playing defense every possession. Derrick Favors has also shown signs of improvement and has been the teams interior defense along with Rudy Gobert. Like Hassan Whiteside from the Miami Heat, Gobert is a shot blocker who can rebound and is capable of learning the team's offense. Along with Rudy Gobert, Derrick Favors and Enes Kanter can be the next three-headed monster in the paint. They remind me of bigs from the Chicago Bulls who have Pau Gasol, Joakim Noah, Taj Gibson, and newcomer, Nikola Mirotic. The Utah Jazz team is raw and they are developing playing who can play next to Gordon Hayward. With one franchise player, they must generate chemistry if they want to produce wins.

          Alec Burks was such an important piece for the Indiana Pacers because his play style is very similar to Paul George. They can both attack the paint and make the mid-range jumper. However, he went down with a season-ending shoulder injury. They are currently 17-31 and have a young core with a high motor. Their resolution to the new year is improving upon their bench. Other than Trey Burke and Rudy Gobert, they need help in their secondary unit. The number one reason why the Golden State Warriors are so good is because of their deep bench. They have David Lee, Andre Iguodala, and Shaun Livingston who can come in anytime and for the team to not be worried. The Utah Jazz can learn from them and build from experience. With time, the Utah Jazz might be able to be the same time of team when they had John Stockton and Karl Malone. The fans missed those years in the playoffs and how anxious they are for the team to return. Question is... when will they be ready?

What if... the Philadelphia 76ers had a New Year's Resolution, what would it be?

by Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports from http://www.usatoday.com/sports/services/photos/USATSI-186772/

          The fans were joyous when Andrew Bynum joined the 76ers. Unfortunately, he played no games and they were in the bottom of the East. Jrue Holiday made the All-Star team when Evan Turner and Thaddeus Young were with the team but the organization decided to head towards another direction and draft Michael-Carter Williams. Last year, it was bad luck of Nerlens Noel  missing the whole season due to ACL injury. Now this year, young prospect Joel Embiid, is injured and will miss the whole season as well. With what we know so far, it's not looking good for Embiid. Rumors has it, he gained extra pounds and hasn't participated in mandatory workouts. The 76ers need a veteran player who brings leadership like Andre Iguodala when he was with the team. They are building through the draft like Oklahoma City Thunder. Imagine where the Thunder would be if they still had James Harden along with Serge Ibaka, Russell Westbrook, and Kevin Durant as their core roster. Be sure to check out my other blogpost, "What If... Oklahoma City Thunder still had James Harden?" for more information.

          The Philadelphia 76ers are trying to solidify their team and have a foundation of young players with high draft picks every year. In time, Nerlens Noel will be in chase for Defensive Player of the Year and develop an offense game with post up moves. He is a high motor guy much like Kenneth Faried who has years to improve. So far he is averaging 1.6 blocks as well as 1.6 steals. He can give these goodies and they are great for your fantasy league team but his free throws are an issue. Like Blake Griffin, I can see him work on it in the gym and gradually improve to a 70% free throw shooter. Until they make a trade for a superstar, the 76ers are not ready for the playoffs. Fans will have to wait a few more years until big things happen in Philly.

What if... the Memphis Grizzles had a New Year's Resolution, what would it be?

by Carter Johnson from http://isportsweb.com/2014/10/20/memphis-grizzlies-season-preview-player-projections/

                                 
          The Memphis Grizzles have an inside game and an outside game. They also have an identity preaching defense first. Their New Year's resolution? Why not the NBA championship? The Grizzles have all the tools to win a seven game series against any team in the league. Newly acquired Jeff Green from the Boston Celtics is a great upgrade over Tayshaun Prince. He is younger than Prince but won't be asked to be part of the offense for the Memphis Grizzles. Green is the 4th option after Marc Gasol, Zach Randolph, and Mike Conley Jr. His role will be adjusted as he can focus more on defense. Head coach, David Joerger, is using Green as part of a great secondary unit the Memphis Grizzles has. With Green part of the bench, the depth of their roster is key to their success because they have so many weapons.

          Despite having 27 wins, they are still the third seed of the West. The West is so stacked, if you go on a three game losing streak, they might end up as the fifth seed. Between the first seed and eighth seed of the West, there is just a difference of eight games. But the Memphis Grizzles have an established objective coming into each game where defense always comes first. The team is still young and they will have many more years contending for a title if Marc Gasol stays. There are not many centers like him who can run the pick-and-roll, make a hook shot, pass the ball, and make the mid-range shot. It would be nice to have Jeff Green play a similar role like Andre Iguodala. His role from the bench is defense and leadership. Green was never known for his defense and the team doesn't need to rely on his scoring. Green might need to sacrifice playing time for team to succeed. Limited minutes might equal to more wins. Instead of scoring, he could be setting better screens or taking charges. These small changes can be two or three more wins which is critical if they want to maintain home-court advantage. They have a really good chance this year getting to the NBA Finals.

What if... the Houston Rockets had a New Year's Resolution, what would it be?

by Kevin C. Cox/ Getty Images from http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/12004016/nba-truth-james-harden-defense

         
          2013 playoffs. First round elimination. 2014 playoffs. First round elimination. 2015 playoffs? Make it pass the first round. Since the trade for James Harden, they have made it to the playoffs both years. Exciting as it sounds, they should be doing more damage with Dwight Howard in the paint. Last year was tough to swallow. The Houston Rockets were ready for a game 7 with the Portland Trailblazers when all of a sudden, Damian Lillard made a clutch three pointer that sent them to the second round and the Rockets back to the drawing board. They were 54-28 on the season, enough to clinch home court advantage.

          James Harden is only 25 years old and have just entered his prime. He is considered as one of the top shooting guards in the league, right behind future Hall of Famer, Kobe Bryant and Miami Heat's Dwyane Wade. With the addition of Josh Smith from the Detroit Pistons, they have a deeper bench who can create their own offense along with Corey Brewer. Josh Smith needs to sacrifice his game and become more like Andre Iguodala who plays an important role for the 29-5 Golden State Warriors. Steve Kerr knows he's a great player and he needs someone who can lead their bench. Kerr has a lot of trust in Iguodala which is one of the many reasons why the Warriors are among the top in the West. Once Terrence Jones is back in the rotation, he will provide more interior defense the Rockets need alongside Dwight Howard. If they don't make it pass the first round, their will be changes made to the team.

What If... you had to make a starting line-up with only bench players?

by Jamie McDonald/ Getty Images Europe from http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/7vQu9Mimnp-/Oklahoma+City+Thunder+v+Philadelphia+76ers/pIDqJ1M6Zjy/Reggie+Jackson

          For my backcourt, it would have to be Isaiah Thomas and Reggie Jackson. In order to have a good team, you need point guards. Thomas and Jackson has toughness and quickness at their position. At the small forward spot, I would take Andre Iguodala because he is versatile and can guard every position. As the manager, I would make him play this position because he can lock down great forwards and guards with the exception of a few players who are just unstoppable like Anthony Davis. For my forward spot, I like Taj Gibson because he's always aggressive on the defensive end and when Pau Gasol and Joakim Noah are out on nights, he can get 20 point 10 rebound game if needed. Brandon Wright would have to me my center because his field goal percentage is high and takes reasonable shots. He is able to protect the paint and plays help defense which is key to having a long career in the NBA. Draymond Green is an asterisk because he is currently replaced as a starter for David Lee who hasn't played in the season yet. Otherwise, I would pick him because he can fill the stat sheet up with assists, rebounds, blocks, and steals. Another honorable mention would be Ryan Anderson who can is a stretch four who can spread the floor for his teammates. What are your five picks?