Brooklyn Nets: Underrated

As another entry to my sports analysis blog, I will be unraveling the reasons why the Brooklyn Nets are the most underrated team in the NBA. The main reasons I make for this claim is they're underrated superstars, and consistency. Even though the Brooklyn Nets are 4th in the Eastern Conference, they are clearly a stronger team and could make for some huge upsets this year. 

The Brooklyn Nets have many huge superstars that just aren't talked about due to bigger stars in the league such as Lebron James, Kevin Durant, and Dwayne Wade. Deron Williams and Joe Johnson are two stars on the Nets that can command the floor, and both are in the top 20 in the NBA, they just aren't as well known. With these two stars both averaging over 15 points per game, the Brooklyn Nets could be in for a long playoff run.

The Brooklyn Nets are one of the most consistent teams in the NBA. This year, they have failed to fall out of playoff contention, and have stayed in the top half of their conference. Unlike many other teams, they have failed to burn out to large losing streaks, thus the team has been playing at a consistently high intensity. With the superstars that the Nets have acquired this year, and their undeniable consistency, the team that is 4th in the East is surely underrated.

5 reasons the LA Lakers won't win the title

Continuing with my sports team analysts, the next team on the block is the LA Lakers. Los Angeles is currently in 8th in the western conference of the NBA, and they will surely not win the NBA title. Why one may ask? Well, I will give you the top 5 reasons.

1.) Kobe Bryant is as selfish of a player as they come. Yes, he is a 5 time NBA champion, and yes he is an all-star, but he is just way to selfish. With acquisition of Steve Nash, Kobe should be letting Nash dish out the ball to the open players, rather than Kobe trying to do everything himself.

2.) The LA Lakers have had far to many injuries. With key players such as Pau Gasol and Dwight Howard missing many games, it is hard to be consistent on the court.

3.) Dwight Howard not living up to his potential is another reason the Lakers won't win. In Orlando, he was an all-star, however since coming to LA he is mediocre at best. And his free throws... terrible!

4.) The Lakers bench is far too weak to reach the depth in the playoffs that is needed to reach the finals.

5.) The LA Lakers are a slow paced, aging team. Most of their starting line-up, for example, is over the age of 30! The Lakers need to acquire some new, young talent.

Even though the Lakers do have a playoff spot, it would be safe to say that they will be extremely lucky to even make it past the first round of playoffs in the NBA.

Oklahoma City Thunder

If the Miami Heat don't win the NBA championship this year, OKC will. Being the first in the league in total point differentiation, as well as offensive rating, they are definitely a force to be reckoned with. The reason that they are so good is their amazing, young lineup, however the one thing that may be preventing them from a championship? A terrible trade of James Harden may have effected the teams overall ability to win. Overall the could be championship team in OKC Thunder are going to struggle if they keep making drastic errors.

For a team who in the early 2000's was consistently in the bottom of the league, the OKC, currently sitting at 2nd in the West, is one of the top competitors in the NBA. All of their success can be attributed to their all stars in Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. The two all-stars were drafted by the team, and developed in to their current lead roles. The duo are currently averaging 52.5 ppg together, and are leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to a top seed in the playoffs.

James Harden, who has won 6th man of the year, was traded to the Houston Rockets for next to nothing in return. It just so happens that with more playing time, he bloomed into the current 7th leading scorer in the NBA. Had this trade not have happened, the OKC Thunder would certainly be at an even more elite status in the NBA. All in all, the trades OKC made this season have effected their ability to win a championship, but with the progression of their two superstars, they may be able to win a championship in the near future.

Minnesota Timberwolves

Continuing along on the best sports analysis blog on the web, I will not be analyzing the Minnesota Timberwolves of the NBA. Even though they are not playoff bound, they have one of the strongest rosters in the NBA. The reason so many good players can't pull it together to make the playoffs? Injuries. The should be leading scorers of this team have been on the injured list nearly all season. Ricky Rubio and Kevin love are both NBA All-Stars who have been injured for a majority to this year. However this team does have potential, and in this blog I will be in-depth analyzing the best players off of the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Sporting the title of one of the most tricky players in the NBA, Ricky Rubio is on of the main building blocks that Minnesota has. Gone professional at 14 in the Spanish ACB league, Ricky Rubio is regarded as one of the best European guard prospects ever. Ricky Rubio was 5th overall pick in the 2009 entry draft, and is extremely talented. He has amazing control with the ball, very tricky moves, and fluent movement. Rubio is also a pass first point guard, creating many chances for his teammates. Overall Rubio has the ability to see the floor and make his team better.

Kevin Love is one of the most feared big men in the NBA, with his ability to play down low and from outside the arc. Love is a great scorer and rebounder, holding the record for most double-doubles in a row since the NBA merger. Love is a 1 time All-Star in the NBA as well, showing his dominance on the boards. Surely if Kevin Love and Ricky Rubio would not have been injured, they would have been able to show their dominance. There is always next year, if there are no more injuries that it.