The Definitive 2014/15 NBA League Pass Ratings (Part III) – With Help From Giannis Antetokounmpo!

You know the drill by now; with the product officially available, I’m rating each team in the NBA on their League Pass watchability for the upcoming season. Back in the Atlantic Division Edition, I laid out how I (extremely subjectively) determine the ratings, and explained the Giannis score system. Yesterday I covered the Central Division – featuring the preseason League Pass Team of the Year. Today, as I round out the Eastern Conference, we visit the Southeast, home to some of the most apathetic fan bases across the league. This year however, at least a couple of home crowds should be genuinely excited to watch their teams put in work, at least according to these scores – it’s The Definitive 2014/15 NBA League Pass Ratings: Southeast Division edition.

• Atlanta Hawks – In somewhat of an annual tradition at this point, the Hawks quietly flew under the radar with yet another solid, but unspectacular campaign in 2013/14. Despite losing star power forward Al Horford to a torn pectoral muscle midway through the season for a second consecutive year, Atlanta impressively mustered up enough around Paul Millsap to sneak into the Eastern playoffs as a no. 8 seed, before scaring the crap out of the Pacers in an eventual 4-3 first round loss. That enthralling series was a skewed representation of Atlanta’s style however; throughout the rest of the season, they played at an average pace (94.6 possessions per game, 13th in the league), with a blah offense (105.9 points per 100 possessions, 18th best, though with the 2nd highest 3 point attempt rate), and a mediocre defense (106.4 points allowed per 100 possessions, 17th), good for a distinctly forgettable season. Under second-year coach Mike Budenholzer, expect similarly middling results going forward. Though Horford should be back healthy, their only significant offseason addition was draftee Adreian Payne, whose range as a shooter will likely push out one of the few interesting rotation pieces from last year – Macedonia’s greatest basketball export, Pero Antic. The “screech” sound effect and Harry the Hawk give Atlanta a few favorable points, but as the fans that sparsely attend the Philips Arena know already, there’s a reason the Hawks reside on NBA TV every Spring. 

• Charlotte Hornets – If they had fully re-embraced the Hornets identity, and gone back to these natty threads, I’d have a hard time awarding Charlotte anything less than four Antetokounmpos. Alas… In the meantime, I’ll happily settle with their slick new court design, and the fact that they might actually be good this season – at least by Eastern Conference standards. Most notably, the Bugs flat-out stole Lance Stephenson away from the Pacers this past summer, simultaneously landing the gritty backcourt complement to Kemba Walker they so badly needed while significantly upgrading their League Pass attraction potential. Though it’s undeniable that under Steve Clifford Charlotte are a team focused on solid defense (at 103.8, they had the 5th best points allowed per 100 possessions mark last year) rather than explosive offense, in my eyes the Hornets figure to be surprisingly captivating watch this upcoming year. Consider the following; Al Jefferson‘s footwork will once again be a treat to watch on the left block, while the aforementioned Kemba is always reliable for some lively (if slightly pint-sized) entertainment at the PG spot. Per custom, Lance will make them dance, besides whom PJ Hairston and Noah Vonleh, an intriguing rookie duo, can provide the lyrics. Now if only Michael Kidd-Gilchrist could shoot… Ah screw it, they’re getting four! Bring back the starter jackets!

• Miami Heat – After 3 straight trips to the finals, the Heat entered the 2013/14 season running on the fumes of fumes, and boy was it obvious. For a third consecutive year, despite having the most transcendent athlete of his generation, as well as Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, Miami’s pace declined relative to the rest of the league (they ranked 27th last year after being 16th and 23rd the two seasons prior). Additionally, though they still forced turnovers at a league-leading rate, Miami’ s defense slipped to its lowest point in the LeBron era, surrendering 105.8 points per 100 possessions, while their fast break points stagnated at 12.5 per game. But for playing in the East, their advanced age (Miami were the oldest team in the league with an average age of 30.6) and lack of roster depth might have been exposed even earlier than it eventually was. Then came the hammer. LeBron is now gone, leaving behind Wade and his gimpy knees, Bosh and his increased proclivity to settle for long jumpers, the insufferable Seven Nation Army chant, and the newly signed Luol Deng – who was run into the ground by Tom Thibodeau in Chicago before being unjustly dumped in Cleveland last season. And please, don’t tell me that the signings of Josh McRoberts and Danny Granger are making things better; this is a team on the decline, with little hope on the immediate horizon, and few potential sources of League Pass joy. No wonder James left. Watch at your peril. 

• Orlando Magic – Two seasons removed from the Dwight Howard trade, and the Magic have nicely turned the assets directly gained – in addition to the high draft picks accrued from being so lousy – into a flotilla of exciting young players. Victor Oladipo, Aaron Gordon, Elfriid Payton, Tobias Harris, Nikola Vucevic, everywhere you look there’s a player under the age of 25 with considerable upside. At present though, how they all fit together into something resembling a coherent future plan remains unclear, a mystery unlikely to be solved by the insipid coaching of Jacque Vaughn. On that less than inspiring note, can anyone explain why GM Rob Hennigan saw fit to sign 31-year-olds Channing Frye (4 years, $32 million) and Ben Gordon (2 years, $9 million) to multiyear deals? Aside from being odd decisions, both are damaging additions to Orlando’s watchability this year – with apathetic home attendance levels and ordinary uniforms (the throwbacks are delicious mind you), why not make the best of a bad situation by throwing the ball out and letting the young guys run? You might even stumble into something vaguely exciting. 

• Washington Wizards – All aboard, this is the last call for passengers on the Washington Professional Basketball Team bandwagon! It’s getting full! There’s not much left to say after Grantland‘s resident ‘zards fan Andrew Sharp covered darn near everything about their impressive offseason, but just quickly, think about this when firing up the ol’ LP browser window; John Wall and Bradley Beal should be one of the most exciting backcourt duos in the league. Nene and the newly re-signed Marcin Gortat are surprisingly adept passers for big men, and give Washington enviable quality up front. Young wings Otto Porter and Glen Rice Jr. tore up the Summer League, and won’t even be pressured to contribute given the addition of Paul ‘Freakin Pierce. Combine Pierce’s documented bad-assery with the Polish Hammer’s strong Twitter presence, and throw in the occasional presence of President Barry O, and this is a very cool team all of a sudden. If (and considering their coach is Randy Wittman, it’s a big if) Washington can simply clean up their offense a tad, they should be one of the best teams in the East, the prospective leaders of the pack behind Cleveland and Chicago atop the conference. Personally, I can’t wait to watch them; it’s time for a Wizard Party!