League’s Worst Teams: 2009-10 Edition

Posted by Jared Conger on September 05, 2009

Every year the guru’s get their caps on and come up with lists where teams will land by seasons end, and are they ever right? No. Here is a more healthy version of the season to come, through the eyes of a regular joe.

Teams that will surprise us with futility:
Houston- they will be lucky to win 30 games this year. One has to wonder if TMac will want to step onto the floor with a Rockets jersey on when/if he does come back this year. Who is going to score for this team? Aaron Brooks? Battier? Landry? None of these guys are built to handle a load over the course of a full NBA schedule. Do they have the look of a 2003-04 Jazz team that was labeled to be “the worst team in the league” over the preseason? Or do they fulfill this prediction? 25-30 wins… solid.
LA Clippers- Well, they shouldn’t come as a surprise, but they have been this year’s “sexy pick” to comeback and make some noise – I’m just not pickin up what their selling. There is too much tension between the team “leaders” and the coaching staff for them to truly move forward. Can Blake Griffin bring the team together, maybe, but he’s a rookie, when do vet’s listen to rooks? 30-35 wins.

Surprise, we’re here to party in the Playoffs (?):
OKC Thunder – this team is young, and can gun. They are going to steal wins from teams that are supposed to be on the rise, why ? Because they will be overlooked; I can already see Durant’s chip on his shoulder growing as he gets overlooked again and again during the year. 35-40 wins.
Golden State- Everybody likes to try to predict the future based on principles often too small, and during periods that are inconsequential; see the Summer League for Golden State where one Anthony Randolph destroyed competition that was clearly full of zero to less experience than himself. I’m sure that if I was offered to buy stock in Anthony Randolph I would, but he doesn’t make the team a contender. It’s the team around him that needs to step up; Stephen Jackson wants out, and beyond him they only seem to have Turiaf with that “punch you in jaw” toughness. They will likely reproduce last year’s results but still miss the playoffs – a strong 9/10 seed. 35-40 wins.

The Usual Suspects:
Sacramento Kings- The addition of Tyreke Evans won’t get them out the mud just yet, and while I like Jason Thompson, Garcia and Martin, it looks like another year of about 25 wins. I feel for the Kings, they owned it in the late 90’s, and Sac-town is like another Salt Lake City so with that… here’s to you folks gettin back on the horse soon.
Memphis Grizzlies- I have a soft spot for the Grizzlies as well, I could see them pulling 28-34 wins this year, and next year, with a couple moves they will be (gulp) dangerous. Look at their core: Hasheem (yet to be tested), Mayo, Marc Gasol, Rudy Gay. Add some experienced veterans, and they won’t be in this list.
New York – they truly have an awful roster. Looking at it, I have no idea how they beat us in New York last year. In fact, if we wanted to, we could trade Boozer to them at mid-season and that would maybe help them limp to 25 wins. New York will wait until next year to truly be relevant; too bad they are in the East…
New Jersey- I like many aspects of the Nets roster – Devin Harris, Lopez, and CDR (whom I wish we drafted…); if TWill blossoms into a rotation player this team could hurt some of the others vying for those last two playoff spots in the East.
Minnesota – Youth will be their major downfall again this year. They really seem to be lacking those 6th, and 7th men off the bench that can help instead of hurt the team. Should the rumored signing of Ramon Sessions come to fruition, then they may have done just that (let’s hope he’s not another Bobby Simmons…).

NEXT: The NBA Elite 2009-10 (the surprises!)

7 Comments

tman11 on September 06, 2009 said:

i honestly think houston wont be the bad Brooks proved to be a solid player for them They also have scolia thatI believe can step it up. Not to mention older guys to give that team some leadership like Shane. Now they wont be the best in the league but, I still think solid team. OKC and LAC to me are the two worst teams with NYK after that and, that’s scaret if those teams are the worst in the league. Because they have a bunch of talent that can go off on you every night. I would also put mephis, minasota, and sacramento into the mix of teams that are not that great Like I sadi though any one of those teams have a chance to beat u any given night

JoeUtah on September 07, 2009 said:

So how is our NYK draft pick? What players are we looking at in the top 5 of the draft next year?

tman11 on September 07, 2009 said:

i think we might be 3rd or 4th to tell ta the truth. as far as record goes any how. I feel the only teams thatcould have worse records is OKC and the Kings. So as far as records go i say a top 3 pick but, they don’t call it a lotery for any thing so there has to be a few things that happen before i go saying we have a top 3 pick in are hands.

Loud City on September 08, 2009 said:

OKC will dominate! adios Houston!

Players? on September 08, 2009 said:

hey, you can always check out top prospects on http://www.draftexpress.com – I would say our NYK draft pick is safe to be in the top 5.

Rody on September 09, 2009 said:

I bet the Grizziles will be in a similar class as the Thunder, I think they have alot of potential to breakout.

Players? on September 10, 2009 said:

will allen iverson make or break the Grizzlies hopes?

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