August and the NBA don’t together.
News is typically slow this time of year, leaving fans and scribes to look for topics of interest and note. When the Kevin Love rumors aren’t flowing and the San Antonio Spurs offense isn’t running like a well-oiled, time-tested machine, that’s a ridiculously hard task.
Benny Kriefall of Minnesota caught my attention, though, when he sent me this potential division realignment:
https://twitter.com/BenKriefall/status/500036452970156035
Let’s blow it up a bit for maximum visibility, because I know some of you have bad eyesight and/or have lost your trusty monocles:
Via Benny Kriefall.
You’ll notice there aren’t a lot of tweaks, but there are enough to switch things up a bit and create some nice division rivalries. Just imagine if this is how divisions were structured heading into 2014-15.
No, seriously, imagine.
Because we’re about to.
Atlantic Division: Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets, Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks, Toronto Raptors
This instantly becomes my favorite division ever. There’s just something about LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony in the same division, battling one another for seeding more than usual, that really gets my juices flowing. LeBron’s Cavs would win all the time, of course, but still…
Everything else is the same—except the Nets. They’re worse than last year.
Predicted Winner: Cavs
Central Division: Chicago Bulls, Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves
Would Love want to stay with the Timberwolves if they played in the Central Divison? Maaaaaybe.
OK, no, he wouldn’t. But the Wolves, even without Love, become a playoff contender by moving to the Eastern Conference. Shit, they’re probably the second best team in this division without Love. In part because Ricky Rubio and Andrew Wiggins and Zach LaVine will run ALL the fast breaks; mostly because Paul George is likely out for the year and I’m not convinced the Pistons still aren’t built to suck something awful.
Here’s to another last-place finish for the Bucks.
Predicted Winner: Bulls
Southeast Division: Charlotte Bobcats, Miami Heat, Orlando Magic, Philadelphia 76ers, Washington Wizards
The Magic owe Benny a thank you here. By replacing the Hawks with the Sixers, they’re no longer the worst team in the division.
We owe Benny a thank you for not breaking up the Miami-Charlotte-Washington troika. Those three figure to duke it out for the top spot next season now that LeBron is in Cleveland, Paul Pierce is in Washington and Lance Stephenson is in Charlotte.
Predicted Winner: Wizards
Southwest Division: Atlanta Hawks, Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, New Orleans Pelicans, San Antonio Spurs
Tough luck, Atlanta.
The Hawks go from a playoff and division-leading contender within the Southeast squadron, to getting manhandled in the Southwest Corridor.
Not only are they stuck in this division, they’re forced to battle so many other Western Conference teams four times. This wouldn’t end well for them
Predicted Winner: Spurs
Northwest Division: Denver Nuggets, Memphis Grizzlies, Oklahoma City Thunder, Phoenix Suns, Utah Jazz
No one is touching the Thunder in this division, but assuming health, the Nuggets, Suns and Grizzlies would presumably wage a nice little battle for second best.
As for the Jazz, well, they still blow.
Predicted Winner: Thunder
Pacific Division: Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings
Looking for the division that would, without question, yield three playoff teams?
Look no further.
Predicted Winner: Clippers
What did you think of this divisional restructure? Love it? Hate it? Indifferent to it? Only click on this page by accident because the tips of your fingers have crusty, hour-old cheese-doodle residue on them that got between your keyboard and trackpad or mouse? Let us know!
Have suggestions of your own? Let us know about those, too!
Dan Favale is a firm believer in the three-pointer as well as the notion that defense doesn’t always win championships. His musings can be found at Bleacherreport.com in addition to TheHoopDoctors.com.
