The Dunkyard continues its look at each teams champs & chumps – those who played above expectations as well as those who struggled to make an impact. We continue with the casualties from the first round of the playoffs:

Washington (43-39, lost 4-2 to Toronto)

Champs: With John Wall (19.4-3.7-9.6-1.4-1.1, 42.0% FG, 37.1% 3FG, 19.1 PER) missing 41 games due to injury the Wizards limped their way into the 8-seed and a first round playoff exit. First time All-Star Bradley Beal (22.6-4.4-4.5-1.2, 46.0% FG, 37.5% 3FG, 18.4 PER) and the still improving Otto Porter Jr. (14.7-6.4-2.0-1.5, 50.3% FG, 44.1% 3FG, 18.3 PER) did their best to carry the team during Wall’s absence but the Wizards need all of their star players healthy if they expect to make any noise come playoff time.

A bright spot for Washington was the performance of backup PG Tomas Satoransky (7.2-3.2-3.9, 22.5mpg, 52.3% FG, 46.5% 3FG, 15.4 PER) who started 30 games in place of Wall and showed that he can be a very capable reserve for the Wizards.

Chumps: 34-year old Marcin Gortat (8.4-7.6-1.8, 51.8% FG, 14.7 PER) is not the same player he once was and should probably be relegated to a bench role going forward. “The Polish Hammer” is becoming “The Polish Dumpling” very quickly.

Not only did Jodie Meeks (6.3-1.6, 39.9% FG, 34.3% 3FG, 12.4 PER) have a horrible regular season he then received a 25-game suspension for violating the NBA Drug Policy and missed the playoffs. If Washington want to pay someone $3.5m to sit on the bench and get high then I’m definitely available.

2018-19 Outlook: Washington will be over the salary cap again this season so the Wizards will need to get creative in order to improve its roster. They hold the No. 15 pick in the draft, however don’t be surprised if Washington pulls a draft day trade in order to select one of the prized big men towards the top of the draft. There’s also a unhappy big man that looks to be on his way out in Miami that could be the answer to the Wizards prayers….

Miami (44-38, lost 4-1 to Philadelphia)

Champs: After the heartbreak of missing the playoffs on the final day in 2017 I was really happy to see Miami clinch the 6-seed this season. The Heat get an even spread of contributors with Goran Dragic (17.3-4.1-4.8, 45.0% FG, 37.0% 3FG, 16.6 PER), Kelly Olynyk (11.5-5.7-2.7, 49.7% FG, 37.9% 3FG, 17.8 PER) and James Johnson (10.8-4.9-3.8, 50.3% FG, 30.8% 3FG, 15.8 PER) among the most effective.

Rookie center Bam Adebayo (6.9-5.5-1.5, 19.8mpg, 51.2% FG, 15.7 PER) has developed quicker than expected and looks ready for increased responsibility, which is very good timing….

Chumps: What’s eating Hassan Whiteside? While his regular season (14.0-11.4, 1.7bpg, 54.0% FG, 24.1 PER) was up to his usual high standards he suffered a complete Mel Gibson meltdown in the playoffs (5.2-6.0, 1.2bpg, 45.0% FG, 6.9 PER). If he wasn’t getting dominated by Joel Embiid he was sat on the bench looking like he just left Harvey Weinstein’s hotel room.

It’s probably for the best that Dion Waiters (14.3-2.6-3.8, 39.8% FG, 30.6% 3FG, 10.5 PER) only managed 30 games. Had he been healthy I’m not sure Miami would have been playoff bound.

2018-19 Outlook: The Heat operate on a “Strength in Numbers” philosophy by playing 10 players between 20-32mpg, though I think this needs to change if Miami wants to take the next step. Play your best players more minutes. With no draft picks this year the decision on what the team does with Whiteside this off-season is huge and I think listening to trade offers and moving Adebayo into the starting five is the move that needs to be made.

Milwaukee (44-38, lost 4-3 to Boston)

Champs: Despite the mid-season sacking of coach Jason Kidd the Bucks still found themselves in the playoffs and battling the 2-seed Celtics for 7 games. When you hear ‘Milwaukee’ you think Giannis Antetokounmpo (26.9-10.0-4.8-1.5-1.4, 52.9% FG, 30.7% 3FG, 27.3 PER). “The Greek Freak” is now one of the top-5 players in the game and I’m not sure he’s reached his peak. If he ever develops a consistent three-point shot then we may as well hand him the MVP trophy during pre-season.

Khris Middleton (20.1-5.2-4.0-1.5, 46.6% FG, 35.9% 3FG, 17.4 PER) and Eric Bledsoe (17.8-3.9-5.1-2.0, 47.6% FG, 34.9% 3FG, 20.0 PER) are the Kelly & Michelle to Giannis’ Beyoncé. They’re integral to the overall show but nobody is paying their money to watch them.

Chumps: Milwaukee’s success will be limited if they continue to get next to nothing from their role players. Matthew Dellavedova (4.3-1.7-3.8, 36.2% FG, 37.2% 3FG, 8.6 PER) was so ineffective the Bucks decided they would be better off not playing him more than 38 games. Thon Maker (4.8-3.0, 41.1% FG, 29.8% 3FG, 10.2 PER) couldn’t hit the backside of a barn. The two Aussies were decidedly un-Australian all season while Tony Snell (6.9-1.9-1.3, 43.5% FG, 40.3% 3FG, 8.5 PER) actually looked scared of the basketball at times.

2018-19 Outlook: With new coach Mike Budenholzer on board the Bucks will enter the season with fresh hope. If he could get a 60-win season out of Atlanta there’s no reason he can’t start to build something similar in Milwaukee. The Bucks have a decision to make with restricted free agent Jabari Parker. Considering his injury history Milwaukee may be wise to let him leave instead of matching any extravagant offers from other teams.

Minnesota (47-35, lost 4-1 to Houston)

Champs: A final day 112-106 win over Denver clinched Minnesota the 8-seed and their first playoff appearance in 14 years. The off season signing of Jimmy Butler (22.2-5.3-4.9-2.0, 47.4% FG, 35.0% 3FG, 23.7 PER) was the catalyst for the Timberwolves improvement and after a slow start was the defensive beast this team had been crying out for.

While Karl-Anthony Towns (21.3-12.3-2.4, 1.4bpg, 54.5% FG, 42.1% 3FG, 24.9 PER) sacrificed some of his shots to incorporate Butler into the offense he still remains one of the top offensive bigs in the game. If it ever clicks for him on the defensive end the rest of the league will be helpless to stop him.

Chumps: The curious case of Andrew Wiggins (17.7-4.4-2.0-1.1, 36.3mpg, 43.8% FG, 33.1% 3FG, 13.0 PER) continues. The former No. 1 overall pick shows no sign of improvement in any facet of the game, disappears for long stretches and shows little appetite to get his hands dirty on the defensive end. Unfortunately for Minnesota his 5-year $146m max extension kicks in next season and looks untradeable to any team that doesn’t have Ted Stepien level management.

2018-19 Outlook: Despite Jamal Crawford opting out of his contract Minnesota have little financial flexibility and could face luxury tax implications. Coach Tom Thibodeau’s reluctance to use his bench players is a horrible selling point for any prospective free agent thinking of joining the Timberwolves. They may need to rely on finding a hidden gem with the No. 20 pick to add anything meaningful to their roster.

San Antonio (47-35, lost 4-1 to Golden State)

Champs: Considering Kawhi Leonard missed all but 9 games with “injuries” it’s quite remarkable that the Spurs managed to win 47 games and pinch a game off Golden State. All plaudits should be given to LaMarcus Aldridge (23.1-8.5-2.0, 1.2bpg, 51.0% FG, 25.0 PER) who played career-best basketball as he carried the team on his back. His frontcourt pals Paul Gasol (10.1-8.0-3.1, 23.5mpg, 45.8% FG, 18.9 PER) and Rudy Gay (11.5-5.1-1.3, 21.6mpg, 47.1% FG, 18.0 PER) helped shoulder some of the load.

While he’s no All-NBA or DPOY Kyle Anderson (7.9-5.4-2.7-1.6, 52.7% FG, 15.9 PER) was an effective band-aid solution in Leonard’s absence.

Chumps: It’s been 4 years since San Antonio claimed their last title and the final remnants of those teams are starting to go stale. Danny Green (8.6-3.6-1.1, 38.7% FG, 36.3% 3FG, 11.4 PER) and especially Tony Parker (7.7-1.7-3.5, 45.9% FG, 12.7 PER) look shadows of their former selves while any attempts to give Patty Mills (10.0-1.9-2.8, 41.1% FG, 37.2% 3FG, 11.8 PER) an increased role aren’t working. Things aren’t so easy when you’re not playing with a Hall of Famer.

2018-19 Outlook: The Spurs are currently in panic mode after reports that Kawhi Leonard has demanded a trade. How this gets resolved will shape the future of this organisation. Will they convince him to stay? Will we have a blockbuster draft night trade? Nobody knows at this point.

Indiana (48-34, lost 4-3 to Cleveland)

Champs: Was there a better feelgood story this past season than the Indiana Pacers? After being maligned for their return on the Paul George trade this team was expected to sink to the bottom of the Eastern Conference. Instead Victor Oladipo (23.1-5.2-4.3-2.4, 47.7% FG, 37.1% 3FG, 23.1 PER) and Domantas Sabonis (11.6-7.7-2.0, 51.4% FG, 17.5 PER) arrived from Oklahoma and led this team to the 5-seed and a Game 7 in Cleveland. Oladipo is almost a lock for “Most Improved”.

In addition to George the Pacers also lost a very good PG in Jeff Teague. His replacement was journeyman Darren Collison (12.4-2.6-5.3-1.3, 49.5% FG, 46.8% 3FG, 18.8 PER) who led the league in three-point shooting and provided stability all season.

Chumps: There wasn’t much to not like about Indiana this year and they’re the first team that made picking ‘Chumps’ difficult. Maybe Myles Turner (12.7-6.4-1.3, 1.8bpg, 47.9% FG, 35.7% 3FG, 16.6 PER) didn’t have the breakout season we all expected? He’s only 22, struggled with injuries early and still had a pretty good year. Maybe Lance Stephenson (9.2-5.2-2.9, 42.7% FG, 28.9% 3FG, 12.4 PER) still takes too many ill-advised shots? The guy is all energy, a Pacers cult hero and improved as the season progressed. It’s all coming up Indiana at the moment.

2018-19 Outlook: My concern with Indiana is that last season is the best it will get. Was Oladipo’s breakout a fluke or is this who he is now? Do Turner and Sabonis take the next step or will we always talk about their “potential”? Will Stephenson become a distraction and disrupt team chemistry? I’m hoping for the best but I think Indiana is at risk of sliding down the standings next season.

Oklahoma (48-34, lost 4-2 to Utah)

Champs: Lost in the Melo-drama (see what I did there) of the season was the fact that Russell Westbrook (25.4-10.1-10.3-1.8, 44.9% FG, 29.8% 3FG, 24.7 PER) averaged a triple double for the second straight year. No matter how you feel about him give the guy credit for accomplishing a feat that not even Oscar Robertson achieved.

Paul George (21.9-5.7-3.3-2.0, 43.0% FG, 40.1% 3FG, 18.7 PER) provided a pretty good Robin to Westbrook’s Superman and, despite the playoff failure, should be considered a success. Steven Adams (13.9-9.0-1.2-1.2-1.0, 62.9% FG, 20.6) continues to be one of the toughest competitors in the league. Oklahoma would have been pleased with the improved play of Jerami Grant (8.4-3.9, 1.0bpg, 20.3mpg, 53.5% FG, 16.2 PER) and the unexpected production from late season pickup Corey Brewer (10.1-3.4-1.3-2.1, 44.4% FG, 34.3% 3FG, 14.2 PER)

Chumps: The attitude of Carmelo Anthony (16.2-5.8-1.3, 40.4% FG, 35.7% 3FG, 12.7 PER) this season was reprehensible. His best days are clearly behind him and he shows no interest in modifying his game or role for the betterment of the team. His refusal to even discuss the subject of coming off the bench is laughable. He may be the most selfish player in the NBA.

2018-19 Outlook: The Oklahoma Front Office really pisses me off. They traded James Harden because they didn’t want to enter luxury tax implications on a team that had Durant, Westbrook and Ibaka but apparently it’s fine for a team of Westbrook, George & Melo? What the fuck? I hope George decides to leave and I hope they decide against buying out Melo’s last year. I’m starting to agree with my Dunkyard colleague that this city doesn’t deserve an NBA team.

Portland (49-33, lost 4-0 to New Orleans)

Champs: In good news for Damien Lillard (26.9-4.5-6.6-1.1, 43.9% FG, 36.1% 3FG, 25.2 PER) he is no longer my least favourite “Superstar” thanks to Kemba Walker. He had another great statistical regular season however his 9.5 PER in the 4-0 sweep to New Orleans reaffirms my opinion.

Lillard is well supported by C.J. McCollum (21.4-4.0-3.4-1.0, 44.3% FG, 39.7% 3FG, 17.0 PER) and Jusuf Nurkic (14.3-9.0-1.8, 1.4bpg, 50.5% FG, 19.2 PER) who are both important pieces in this teams future.

Chumps: The rest of the roster is decidedly average with players like Mo Harkless (6.5-2.7, 49.5% FG, 41.5% 3FG, 12.3 PER), Al-Farouq Aminu (9.3-7.6-1.2-1.1, 39.5% FG, 36.9% 3FG, 12.0 PER) and Evan Turner (8.2-3.1-2.2, 44.7% FG, 31.8% 3FG, 9.9 PER) not up to standard for an organisation trying to contend in the Western Conference. This trio started 36, 67 and 40 games respectively, entirely too many for any chance of extended success.

2018-19 Outlook: Don’t get caught up in the hoopla of Portland’s 3rd place finish in the regular season.  In the previous five seasons their 49-33 record would have been good enough to finish 6th, 5th, 8th, 8th and 6th.

Portland got little production out of last years first round picks Zach Collins and Caleb Swanigan who are both considered as “projects”. With little cap room to play with during free agency the Blazers will need to identify a more mature, ready-to-contribute player with this years No. 24 pick if they hope to add anything to their roster.