30 Teams in 30 Days: Charlotte Hornets

Our "30 Teams in 30 Days" series concludes today with a preview of the Charlotte Hornets, as they look to pick up where they left off from last season's 43-win year as the then-Bobcats, and are looking forward to reclaiming the Buzz as they officially bring back the Hornets moniker back home to the Carolinas after a long 12-year absence.

Last season's record: 43-39(3rd in Southeast Division and 7th in Eastern Conference; Lost to MIA 4-0 in Eastern Conference First Round)

Head Coach: Steve Clifford(2nd season, 43-39 overall)

Arena: Time Warner Cable Arena(19,077)

Website: Hornets.com

Entering the 2013-14 season, the then-Charlotte Bobcats were looking for a way to get back to the playoffs for the first time since 2010 after 3 straight losing seasons, and the only way that they did so was bringing in a defensive-minded coach in Steve Clifford and landing Al Jefferson. Charlotte would be one of the young teams on the rise last season, and many thought that the then-Bobcats would be a threat in the Eastern Conference.  We were all right, as Charlotte finished up the season with a 43-39 record, good enough to give them the 7th seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs, setting up a first-round showdown with the Miami Heat.

The first round was somewhat dominated by Miami, as the Heat not only swept Charlotte in 4 straight games, but it would signal the end of the "Bobcats" moniker in Charlotte as we know it after 10 seasons.

Emerging in it's waif...the return of one of the most iconic brands in all of sports, as the franchise officially evolved into the Charlotte Hornets, as they would give the fans what they wanted and officially "Bringing Back the Buzz" to Charlotte and the Carolinas after a long 12-year absence.

Besides the return of Purple and Teal and Hugo the Hornet, they made a big splash in Free Agency this past off-season, and landing in Lance Stephenson to help the team become a even more dangerous threat in the East and together with Al Jefferson and Kemba Walker, many of the so-called "Experts" out there could possibly pick Charlotte as the "Dark Horse" of the Eastern Conference, and some could have them winning their first division title in the franchise's 25 year history in Charlotte(since 1988).

If you were a fan of the original Hornets during their 14 year run, you've heard of all the great names that donned the iconic uniform such as Muggsy Bogues, Dell Curry, Larry Johnson, and Alonzo Mourning, and with the season approaching, the newly-reborn Charlotte Hornets hope to capture that same excitement and passion once again in "Buzz City", and they are ready to take that next big step in the storied history of Charlotte NBA Basketball.

30 Teams in 30 Days: Washington Wizards

We are hitting up the "Nation's Capital" on Day 29 of our "30 Teams in 30 Days" series of previewing all 30 NBA teams leading up to the start of the 2014-15 NBA season tomorrow, and we'll be taking a look at a team that many thought wasn't good enough last season, the Washington Wizards, who is looking to build upon last year's playoff appearance with another good year this upcoming season in Washington.

Last season's record: 44-38(2nd in Southeast Division and 5th in Eastern Conference; Def. CHI 4-1 in Eastern Conference First Round; Lost to IND 4-2 in Eastern Conference Semi-finals)

Head Coach: Randy Wittman(9th season, 191-329 overall; 4th season with Washington)

Arena: Verizon Center(20,308)

Website: WashingtonWizards.com

The Washington Wizards were coming off a tough 2012-13 season, which saw them finish the year with a 29-53 mark, and many of the fans in D.C. were wondering what the Wizards were going to do entering the 2013-14 season with a new outlook and agenda for a franchise that was looking to get back to the playoffs for the first time since 2008.

If you thought Washington was going to struggle during the season, then, you didn't pay attention to the surprising season the team was about to embark on, with the play of Bradley Beal and John Wall, Washington came out of nowhere to finish the year with a astonishing 44-38 record, and that elusive trip to the Playoffs for the first time since 2008, where they knocked out the Chicago Bulls in 5 games, before bowing out in the Eastern Conference Semi-finals to the Indiana Pacers 4-2.

Now, can the Wizards build upon last year's surprise run and turn it into another strong season this year?  It depends on how well they play each night, and to have Wall and Beal continue to have good ball control and good scoring capability, while the rest of the Wizards have to step up their game and to play 110% night in and night out.  Washington is indeed a team on the rise, and they want to pick up where they left off with a good 2014-15 campaign this season.

Upcoming team previews in the "30 Teams in 30 Days" series:

• Tuesday: Charlotte Hornets

30 Teams in 30 Days: Philadelphia 76ers

As we near the end of the "30 Teams in 30 Days" NBA team preview series, we make a stop in Philadelphia to check in with a young 76ers team that is ready and determined to make it work in the 2014-15 season.

Last season's record: 19-63(Last in Atlantic Division and 14th in Eastern Conference

Head Coach: Brett Brown(2nd season, 19-63 overall)

Arena: Wells Fargo Center(20,328)

Website: Sixers.com

The summary of the 2013-14 edition of the Philadelphia 76ers can be summed up in some interesting words: dismal and disappointing.  The downfall of it was a long 26-game losing streak, in which many thought would be the end of the Brett Brown era, and of course, a lack of an identity for the team, which ultimately led to them finishing in last place in the Atlantic Division, and a guaranteed lock in the NBA Draft Lottery.  Philly wound up with the third overall pick in the NBA Draft, and they would use it to get Joel Embid, and they also added in several more players in the draft, including K.J. McDaniels.

After the disappointing 2013-14 season the Sixers had, the team brought in Sam Hinkie as General Manager back in May as part of the team's rebuilding phase.  This season's edition of the 76ers is ready to make it work, with Michael Carter-Williams, or as the fans in Philly would like to call him "MCW", leading the way with a fresh outlook the team has in mind for the 2014-15 campaign, and things are indeed hoping to be much better for the team this season in Philadelphia.

Upcoming team previews in the "30 Teams in 30 Days" series:

• Monday: Washington Wizards
• Tuesday: Charlotte Hornets

30 Teams in 30 Days: Brooklyn Nets

Our "30 Teams in 30 Days" series of previewing all 30 NBA teams continues as we make the trek across NYC into Brooklyn, where we will take a look at a Brooklyn Nets team that is hoping that last year's playoff appearance can mark the start of a exciting time for the team entering the 2014-15 season.

Last season's record: 44-38(2nd in Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference; Def. TOR 4-3 in Eastern Conference First Round; Lost to MIA 4-1 in Eastern Conference Semi-finals)

Head Coach: Lionel Hollins(7th season, 214-201 overall, 1st season as BKN head coach)

Arena: Barclays Center(17,732)

Website: BrooklynNets.com

The 2013-14 season for the Brooklyn Nets was somewhat surprising for a team that has been trying to find it's identity since moving from their long-time home in New Jersey to Brooklyn back in 2012, and it was a good thing that the 2013-14 campaign turned out to be a good one for Brooklyn, as Jason Kidd would take over as it's head coach in the season, and behind the strong play of Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce, who signed with them last off-season after spending the bulk of their careers in Boston, Brooklyn notched a successful winning campaign with a 44-38 mark, and preserving the second overall seed in the 2014 Eastern Conference Playoffs.

The first-round series between Brooklyn and the Toronto Raptors turned out to be a battle royale, as Brooklyn would take Toronto to the limit and won the series in 7 games, but in the Eastern Conference Semi-finals, they were outplayed by the Miami Heat 4-1, and it would unexpectedly come to a bizarre off-season for Brooklyn, as Jason Kidd unexpectedly was traded to Milwaukee to become their head coach in exchange for several draft picks.

After that went down, the Nets decided to bring in Lionel Hollins, who had a successful run in Memphis for several season with the Grizzlies, to take over a Brooklyn team that has a mixture of veterans and young guns that is ready to take the next step entering the 2014-15 campaign with Hollins at the helm in Brooklyn, and the Nets will be indeed a team that we will keep our eye on this season in the Eastern Conference.

Upcoming team previews in the "30 Teams in 30 Days" series:

• Sunday: Philadelphia 76ers
• Monday: Washington Wizards
• Tuesday: Charlotte Hornets

30 Teams in 30 Days: New York Knicks

In this installment of our continuing "30 Teams in 30 Days" series of NBA team previews leading up to the start of the 2014-15 NBA season, we will begin our 2-day stay in New York by kicking things off with the New York Knicks, a team that is desperately looking to return to glory with a new coach and a new direction this upcoming season.

Last season's record: 37-45(3rd in Atlantic Division/9th in Eastern Conference

Head Coach: Derek Fisher(1st Season)

Arena: Madison Square Garden(19,812)

Website: nyknicks.com

Last season turned out to be a fork in the road for a New York Knicks team that was struggling to find it's identity along the way.  Injuries would doom the team, and after finishing the year with a 37-45 mark, it would ultimately mark the end of the era for Mike Woodson in New York in just his lone year as Knicks head coach.

After the season came to it's conclusion, owner James Dolan decided to clean house, and look ahead to 2014-15 with a clean slate.  The first thing he did was to bring in Phil Jackson as President of Basketball Operations for the Knicks, and he had a long, hard task of looking for a coach to restore it to the days of Walt "Clyde" Frazier, Patrick Ewing, and John Starks.  He found it in Derek Fisher, who retired at the end of last season, and decided to let him take the wheel in the process of rebuilding the Knicks dynasty.

But the main reason why the Knicks want to rebuild and reload was of course, trying to keep Carmelo Anthony in the "Big Apple", and they got their wish, as they signed him to a contract extension, in the efforts and quest to make the New York Knicks a contender once again.  Now the real work starts.  New York is ready to make a statement that they don't want to be bottom-feeders anymore, they want to be at the top this season and in the years to come with hard word, dedication, and a commitment to do one thing: winning.  If the Knicks can put all that to good use, maybe they could be good this year and that may be a good lesson for Derek Fisher to learn in his first year on the sidelines in New York this season.

Upcoming team previews in the "30 Teams in 30 Days" series:

• Saturday: Brooklyn Nets
• Sunday: Philadelphia 76ers
• Monday: Washington Wizards
• Tuesday: Charlotte Hornets

30 Teams in 30 Days: Boston Celtics

In this chapter of our "30 Teams in 30 Days" series leading up to the start of the 2014-15 NBA season, we'll take a closer look at the Boston Celtics, who is still in a rebuilding phase after losing some of the familiar names that many fans loves watching for a good number of years, but one face is still there and hoping to turn things around in "Beantown" this season.

Last season's record: 25-57(4th in Atlantic Division/12th in Eastern Conference)

Head Coach: Brad Stevens(2nd season, 25-57 overall)

Arena: TD Garden(18,624)

Website: Celtics.com

When you think of the Boston Celtics, you think about tradition and a legacy of great players that ever donned the Celtic uniform, such as Bill Russell, Larry Bird, Robert Parish, and Kevin McHale.  In more recent years, many of the fans saw the presence of "The Big 3" in Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen.  Fast forward to last season, when Brad Stevens took over the reigns in Boston, and his first season was a learning curve for Boston, who of course finished the season with a dismal 25-57 season, but many were concerned about the future of Rajon Rondo, who has somewhat taken over as the face of the organization.

When the season starts for Boston, things could either be on the rise, or on the way down for the Celtics as Stevens enters his second year at the helm in Boston, and with Rondo returning to the lineup, along with a lot of fresh, new faces and familiar names, the Celtics may have a breakout, if not a surprise year in the 2014-15 campaign, which may get fans excited again in Boston, as they look to get back to the playoffs and to hopefully bring home their 18th title in franchise history this season.

Upcoming team previews in the "30 Teams in 30 Days" series:

• Friday: New York Knicks
• Saturday: Brooklyn Nets
• Sunday: Philadelphia 76ers
• Monday: Washington Wizards
• Tuesday: Charlotte Hornets

30 Teams in 30 Days: Toronto Raptors

Today's installment of our "30 Teams in 30 Days" series of previewing all 30 NBA teams takes us "North of the Border" to Toronto, where we will take a look at a young, talented Raptors team that is looking forward to pick up where they left off last season.

Last season's record: 48-34(1st in Atlantic Division/3rd in Eastern Conference; Lost to BKN 4-3 in Eastern Conference First Round)

Head Coach: Dwane Casey(6th season, 158-194 overall; 4th season with TOR)

Arena: Air Canada Centre(19,800)

Website: Raptors.com

When Dwane Casey arrived in Toronto a couple of seasons back, he had the task of taking over a struggling team and to turn them into a competitive team in the Eastern Conference down the road, and last season was no exception for a Raptors team that many thought wasn't good enough to make it into the playoffs this season.  Casey proved the critics wrong during his 3rd year in Toronto, guiding them to an Atlantic Division crown and locking down the third seed in the 2014 Eastern Conference playoffs thanks to a 48-34 mark.

The Raptors had a tough hill to climb in their first round match-up against the Brooklyn Nets, as Brooklyn would eventually knock out Toronto in the first round by winning the series 4-3, ending the Raptors surprising season.

The question that the Raptors are facing this season is: Can they pick up where they left off?  It is in the hands of a up and coming roster with DeMar DeRozan, Landry Fields, and Kyle Lowry, and other key acquisitions that would eventually give the Raptors a chance to somewhat have a better year in the 2014-15 campaign, if they want to finish what last season's team started and to take it one step further this year in Toronto.

Upcoming team previews in the "30 Teams in 30 Days" series:

Thursday: Boston Celtics
Friday: New York Knicks
Saturday: Brooklyn Nets
Sunday: Philadelphia 76ers
Monday: Washington Wizards
Tuesday: Charlotte Hornets

30 Teams in 30 Days: Cleveland Cavaliers

Our continuing series of previewing all 30 NBA team in 30 Days is nearing the homestretch, as we are less than one week away from the start of the 2014-15 NBA regular season, and we continue the series in Cleveland, where we will preview the Cleveland Cavaliers, a team that could possibly contend for a NBA title with the return of "The King" and a new arsenal behind him.

Last season's record: 33-49(3rd in Central Division/10th in Eastern Conference)

Head Coach: David Blatt(1st season)

Arena: Quicken Loans Arena(20,562)

Website: Cavs.com

Here's a brief summary of the 2013-14 season for the Cleveland Cavaliers: It was somewhat a season of questions and answers in Cleveland, but the lone bright spot Cleveland had in last season's lineup was Kyrie Irving.  His performance was absolutely stellar for the Cavs to have a bright spot, but it was not good enough for Cleveland, as they would miss the playoffs again, finishing up with a 33-49 mark and ending up third in the Central Division standings, as the makeover would start with the firing of Mike Brown as head coach, and of course, winning the NBA Draft Lottery, securing the number one pick, which was used to get Andrew Wiggins.

Later in the off-season, a major cloud of white smoke came from the chimney of "The Q", as many of the Cavalier faithful were anxiously waiting to hear from one of the biggest names in the NBA today if he would return home or not. And in the end, LeBron James decided that the time was indeed right for him to return home to Cleveland, and to hopefully finish his career there in a Cavaliers uniform.  Another key part to the makeover was hiring David Blatt as it's new head coach, before wrapping it up with a trade that would send Wiggins to Minnesota in exchange for Kevin Love.

The expectations have never been higher for the Cleveland Cavaliers in this upcoming season, now that LeBron has decided to come back into the fold wearing the Wine and Gold, and some may think the Cavaliers could go all the way, while others are saying that the return of Mr. James could give Cleveland something to talk about down the road, and we'll see it come together in action this season.

Upcoming team previews in the "30 Teams in 30 Days" series:

• Wednesday: Toronto Raptors
• Thursday: Boston Celtics
• Friday: New York Knicks
• Saturday: Brooklyn Nets
• Sunday: Philadelphia 76ers
• Monday: Washington Wizards
• Next Tuesday: Charlotte Hornets

30 Teams in 30 Days: Detroit Pistons

Today in our "30 Teams in 30 Days" series of NBA team previews leading up to the start of the 2014-15 NBA season next Tuesday, we will be going in-depth and taking an inside look at the Detroit Pistons, a team that is in the midst of a rebuilding phase, but is determined to turn things around this season in "The Motor City".

Last season's record: 29-53(4th in Central Division/11th in Eastern Conference)

Head Coach: Stan Van Gundy(9th season, 371-208 overall, 2nd season with Detroit)

Arena: The Palace of Auburn Hills(21,231)

Website: Pistons.com

In the 2013-14 season, Stan Van Gundy's first as Detroit's head coach, he wanted to see what his players would give in to his system, as the Pistons were in the midst of their rebuilding phase, a phase that was started when Tom Gores bought the team from the family of the late Bill Davidson, the team's longtime owner in 2011.  Despite finishing the season with a 29-53 record, Detroit did have some bright spots in the lineup, and a possible key to the future in Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and Andre Drummond, but the main player that would be the key to whether Detroit gets to the playoffs again or not is Josh Smith, who led the team with a 16.4 points per game average in last season's campaign.

Detroit is indeed continuing their rebuilding phase and it could take a lot of time for it to come into fruition, but a young, talented lineup and a veteran coach in Stan Van Gundy could turn things around for a struggling Pistons team that is hoping that a surprising run may happen this season, and it could give them the confidence they need down the road.

Upcoming team previews in the "30 Teams in 30 Days" series

• Tuesday: Cleveland Cavaliers
• Wednesday: Toronto Raptors
• Thursday: Boston Celtics
• Friday: New York Knicks
• Saturday: Brooklyn Nets
• Sunday: Philadelphia 76ers
• Next Monday: Washington Wizards
• Next Tuesday: Charlotte Hornets 

30 Teams in 30 Days: Milwaukee Bucks

Today installment of our "30 Teams in 30 Days" NBA season preview series takes us up to Milwaukee, where we will take a look at a rebuilding Milwaukee Bucks team that is hoping to have a solid year after a rough go of it back in the 2013-14 campaign.

Last season's record: 15-67(5th in Central Division and Eastern Conference)

Head Coach: Jason Kidd(2nd season, 44-38 overall; 1st season with Milwaukee)

Arena: BMO Harris Bradley Center(18,717)

Website: Bucks.com

When Larry Drew arrived in Milwaukee, his main objective was to make a team a contender, just like he did in his 3 years as the head coach in Atlanta with the Hawks, and his expectations didn't go the way it would meant to be for the Bucks, as he only lasted just one season with a 15-67 mark, ending not only his tenure, but the era of longtime Bucks owner Herb Kohl, who sold the team to Wesley Edens and Marc Lasry.

Then, the team would pull off an unusual trade: they would acquire the coaching rights to Jason Kidd from the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for two second-round picks in the NBA Draft in 2015 and in 2019.  Milwaukee would later add on to its rebuilding blueprint by drafting Jabari Parker out of Duke University with the second overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft.

Now, the Bucks are well determined to have somewhat of a learning curve if they want to get back to their competitive ways again, with Jason Kidd at the helm, the Bucks could have a little bit of struggles in them this season, but they are more looking forward to building a brighter future down the road in Milwaukee, now and in the years to come.

Upcoming team previews in the "30 Teams in 30 Days" series:

• Monday: Detroit Pistons
• Tuesday: Cleveland Cavaliers
• Wednesday: Toronto Raptors
• Thursday: Boston Celtics
• Friday: New York Knicks
• Saturday: Brooklyn Nets
• Next Sunday: Philadelphia 76ers
• Next Monday: Washington Wizards
• Next Tuesday: Charlotte Hornets

30 Teams in 30 Days: Chicago Bulls

Today's installment of our "30 Teams in 30 Days" series of NBA team previews leading up to the start of the 2014-15 season, now takes us to Chicago, where we will go in-depth and break down the always tough Chicago Bulls, a team that looks to keep the playoff tradition going into this season.

Last season's record: 48-34(2nd in Central Division/4th in Eastern Conference; Lost to WAS 4-1 in Eastern Conference 1st Round)

Head Coach: Tom Thibodeau(5th season, 205-107)

Arena: United Center(23,129)

Website: Bulls.com

When you think of the Chicago Bulls, you obviously think of history, tradition, and championships, and not to mention the team's glory days with Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, and Phil Jackson.  Over the last couple of seasons, Chicago has added on to that legacy when Tom Thibodeau arrived in 2010 to take over a Bulls squad that is determined to get back to elite status in the NBA.

Ultimately, the team lost one of it's biggest stars in Derrick Rose during the season, but they did manage to rally around each other to wrap up the 2013-14 campaign with a 48-34 record and making the playoffs once again, before bowing out in 5 games to an upstart Washington Wizards team that surprised everyone last season.

Fast forward to this upcoming season, we all know that Derrick Rose is back, and he is determined to stay healthy and lead Chicago to possibly another playoff appearance, and even further if they want to bring home their 7th NBA title, their first since 1998.  Many of the fans in Chicago are all hoping that the Bulls can go above their expectations and to have a strong year, and it will all depend on how will they play together as a team this year.

Upcoming team previews in the "30 Teams in 30 Days" series:

• Sunday: Milwaukee Bucks
• Monday: Detroit Pistons
• Tuesday: Cleveland Cavaliers
• Wednesday: Toronto Raptors
• Thursday: Boston Celtics
• Friday: New York Knicks
• Next Saturday: Brooklyn Nets

30 Teams in 30 Days: Indiana Pacers

Our ongoing "30 Teams in 30 Days" series brings us back into the Eastern Conference after a long stay in the Western Conference over the last couple of days.  We resume the Eastern Conference portion of this series with a look at one of the teams that is always a contender in the Eastern Conference, the Indiana Pacers, a team that could give the league a run for their money in the 2014-15 season.

Last season's record: 56-26(1st in Central Division and Eastern Conference; Def. ATL 4-3 in Eastern Conference 1st Round; Def. WAS 4-2 in Eastern Conference Semi-finals; Lost to MIA 4-2 in Eastern Conference Finals)

Head Coach: Frank Vogel(5th season, 167-100 overall with IND)

Arena: Bankers Life Fieldhouse(18,165)

Website: Pacers.com

If you had the Indiana Pacers taking the Central Division on paper, then you knew that they were a team with depth and size, but we all know that games aren't played on paper, they play it on hardwood, and many Pacers fans knew this.  Behind the solid play of Lance Stephenson, who was the center of attention of what would happen to him in the off-season, and of course, the supporting cast behind him, Indiana did indeed capture the Central Division crown, and landing the number one overall seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs last year, finishing up with a 56-26 mark.

Indiana did this without Paul George, who was out for the season, and the postseason, and after getting past the Atlanta Hawks in the 1st round, and Washington in the Eastern Conference Semi-finals, Indiana was staring down at it's final hurdle: The Miami Heat.  It was an epic series for both teams, but Miami got the best of Indiana in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Then, this past off-season, Lance Stephenson decided to leave the Pacers and sign with the Hornets to bolster their lineup this season down in Charlotte, but that didn't stop Indiana from getting Paul George back after an extended period of time, and just recently, they signed Frank Vogel to an extension, after all he has done in his short time as the head man in Indiana.

Things are looking up for the Pacers this upcoming season, and they will always be one of the prime teams in the league, and in their own division, with rivals in the Milwaukee Bucks, Chicago Bulls, and yes, the Cleveland Cavaliers again, now that LeBron has decided to rejoin the team again, and this team could be a dangerous threat to win it all, but we shall watch and see how they'll do this upcoming season.

Upcoming team previews in the "30 Teams in 30 Days" series:

• Saturday: Chicago Bulls
• Sunday: Milwaukee Bucks
• Monday: Detroit Pistons
• Tuesday: Cleveland Cavaliers
• Wednesday: Toronto Raptors
• Thursday: Boston Celtics
• Next Friday: New York Knicks

30 Teams in 30 Days: Memphis Grizzlies

Our "30 Teams in 30 Days" series previewing all 30 NBA teams in 30 Days, takes us to Memphis, where we will wrap up our extensive look at the Western Conference by breaking down the Memphis Grizzlies, who are always contending in the Western Conference each year, and last year was no exception.

Last season's record: 50-32(3rd in Southwest Division/7th in Western Conference; Lost to OKC 4-3 in Western Conference 1st Round)

Head Coach: Dave Joerger(2nd season, 50-32 overall)

Arena: FedExForum(18,119)

Website: Grizzlies.com

When Dave Joerger was hired as the head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies last year, many thought he wasn't going to be good enough to be a NBA head coach in his first year in Memphis, replacing Lionel Hollins.  But he proved them wrong, big time.  Memphis has started to come into their own over the last couple of seasons, with playoff appearances and a strong roster led by "Z-Bo" himself, Zach Randolph.

The end result in Joerger's first full year as Memphis head coach: 50-32, and a playoff match-up against Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and the Oklahoma City Thunder, and the two would duke it out until Game 7, when Oklahoma City eliminated the Grizzlies, but on and all, many say that Joerger had a good first year under the belt in Memphis, and he is ready to do it again.

Memphis is totally determined to pick up where they left off last season, with some new additions and returning faces, the Grizzlies are always one of the teams to watch in the Western Conference, and that is one of the reasons why many of the fans there often flock to FedExForum, or as they would call it "The Grindhouse" to watch some good basketball night in and night out, as the Grizzlies are ready to contend once again in the upcoming 2014-15 season.

Upcoming team previews in the "30 Teams in 30 Days" series:

• Friday: Indiana Pacers
• Saturday: Chicago Bulls
• Sunday: Milwaukee Bucks
• Monday: Detroit Pistons
• Tuesday: Cleveland Cavailers
• Wednesday: Toronto Raptors
• Next Thursday: Boston Celtics

30 Teams in 30 Days: Minnesota Timberwolves

In this edition of our "30 Teams in 30 Days" NBA season preview series, we'll make a visit to Minneapolis, where we'll preview a Minnesota Timberwolves team that had a huge makeover in the off-season, but will it capitalize into wins during the regular season?

Last season's record: 40-42(3rd in Northwest Division/10th in Western Conference)

Head Coach: Flip Saunders(17th season, 638-526 overall; 11th season with MIN)

Arena: Target Center(19,356)

Website: Timberwolves.com

Last season, Flip Saunders made his much anticipated return to the Timberwolves sidelines, and in return, his team did put up a strong fight in not only the Northwest Division, but in the Western Conference as well, vying for a playoff spot down the stretch.  But their 40-42 mark was not good enough for Minnesota, as they would miss the playoffs, and the big question that Minnesota had to answer was this: What would the future hold for Kevin Love?

The answer was solved, when they traded him to Cleveland for Andrew Wiggins, Anthony Bennett, and Thaddeus Young.  Now, with a fresh slate of players, and returning favorites such as Corey Brewer, and Kevin Martin, the Timberwolves are well determined to get back into the playoffs for the first time since 2005, and hopefully, this adjustment could benefit the organization as a whole down the road.

Upcoming team previews in the "30 Teams in 30 Days" series:

• Thursday: Memphis Grizzlies
• Friday: Indiana Pacers
• Saturday: Chicago Bulls
• Sunday: Milwaukee Bucks
• Monday Detroit Pistons
• Tuesday: Cleveland Cavaliers
• Next Wednesday: Toronto Raptors

30 Teams in 30 Days: Portland Trail Blazers

We resume our "30 Teams in 30 Days" series of all 30 NBA teams by making the trek north to Portland, where we'll talk an inside look at the Trail Blazers and their plans to pick up where they left off from last season's playoff run.

Last season's record: 54-28(2nd in Northwest Division/5th in Western Conference; Def. HOU 4-2 in First Round; Lost to SA 4-1 in Western Conference Semi-finals)

Head Coach: Terry Stotts(7th season, 202-245 overall; 87-77 in 3 seasons with POR)

Arena: Moda Center(19,980)

Website: trailblazers.com

In only his second season as Blazers head coach, Terry Stotts knew that he wanted to get his team to be a strong, young, yet competitive team in the Northwest Division last season, and he would count on Dame Lillard to lead the way for Portland in their quest to get back into playoff mode.  The Blazers would battle it out with Oklahoma City back and forth to see who will claim the Northwest Division crown, and when it came to the end, OKC captured the title, but Portland did get the 2nd spot in the division, finishing with a 54-28 record, and landing the 5th overall seed in the Western Conference playoffs.

The first round turned out to be an entertaining one, as Portland squared off against the Houston Rockets, coming down to a decisive Game 6 at the Moda Center, which saw Lillard's buzzer beater lifting them into Round 2 against the San Antonio Spurs, who in turn, eliminated Portland in 5 games, as San Antonio would eventually go on to win it all in last year's NBA Finals.

It's a new season in "Rip City", and the Blazers are ready to make another deep run this season, so look out for Portland to once again be a tough team to beat in the Northwest Division this season.

Upcoming team previews in the "30 Teams in 30 Days" series:

• Wednesday: Minnesota Timberwolves
• Thursday: Memphis Grizzlies
• Friday: Indiana Pacers
• Saturday: Chicago Bulls
• Sunday: Milwaukee Bucks
• Monday: Detroit Pistons
• Next Tuesday: Cleveland Cavaliers

30 Teams in 30 Days: Sacramento Kings

We wrap up the California trek of our "30 Teams in 30 Days" series by visiting Sacramento, where we'll preview the Kings as they look ahead to a brighter future to restore a winning tradition in Sacramento.

Last season's record: 28-54(4th in Pacific Division/13th in Western Conference)

Head Coach: Michael Malone(2nd season, 28-54 overall)

Arena: Sleep Train Arena(17,317)

Website: kings.com

The 2013-14 season was a season of figuring things out for the Sacramento Kings as Michael Malone entered his first season as an NBA head coach.  The team had struggles throughout the way, as they wound up finishing last season with a 28-54 record.  Off the court, Vivek Ranadive's first year as Kings owner was a good one, as he and the City of Sacramento were hard at work finalizing plans for a new downtown arena, and despite the struggles this past season, Ranadive and his group are well determined to make this season a solid one for the franchise, which will celebrate its 30th year in Sacramento this season.

One good part: overhauling the roster, with the additions of Darren Collison, Ramon Sessions, and Ryan Hollins, not to mention rookie Nik Stauskas from Michigan, and the return of fan favorites DeMarcus Cousins and Omri Casspi, the Kings are ready to make a huge statement that they want to get back to a playoff-level team like the great teams of the early 2000's and to make the people of Sacramento get excited about their hometown basketball team again this season.

Upcoming team previews in the "30 Teams in 30 Days" series:

• Tuesday: Portland Trail Blazers
• Wednesday: Minnesota Timberwolves
• Thursday: Memphis Grizzlies
• Friday: Indiana Pacers
• Saturday: Chicago Bulls
• Sunday: Milwaukee Bucks
• Next Monday: Detroit Pistons

30 Teams in 30 Days: Golden State Warriors

The California trek continues for our "30 Teams in 30 Days" 2014-15 NBA season preview series, as we head up Interstate 5 to visit Oakland, where we will take a look at the always hungry and competitive Golden State Warriors, a team that is an entertaining one to watch, with some great shooters that can play well.

Last season's record: 51-31(2nd in Pacific Division/6th in Western Conference; Lost to LAC 4-3 in Western Conference First Round)

Head Coach: Steve Kerr(1st season as NBA coach)

Arena: Oracle Arena(19,596)

Website: warriors.com

The 2013-14 season for the Golden State Warriors proved to be somewhat a success, with the big time play of two of the team's top shooters leading the way, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson.  The duo was known for shooting lights out from three-point range, and they both carried the load for Golden State to finish the season with a 51-31 mark and landing the 6th seed in last year's Western Conference playoffs.  In that series, they had to try stopping the "Lob City Mafia", consisting of Blake Griffin, Chris Paul, and the Los Angeles Clippers, but the Clippers would end their season, by winning the series in 7 games, and ending the Mark Jackson era in Golden State, as he finished with a 121-109 mark.

On May 19, 2014, the Warriors made Steve Kerr, a former NBA analyst for TNT, as it's new head coach, and upon arriving in Golden State, his goal was simple: win games more often.  Now with a new coach in place, expect Golden State to make a lot of noise again this season, just like they did under Mark Jackson's tenure, and in my opinion, I believe that the Warriors could be one of the top 5 "Teams to Watch" in the NBA this season, and other may have them as a team to contend for a title, but they have to go through a challenging season first in order to get back into playoff contention this year in the Bay Area.

Upcoming team previews in the "30 Teams in 30 Days" series:

• Monday: Sacramento Kings
• Tuesday: Portland Trail Blazers
• Wednesday: Minnesota Timberwolves
• Thursday: Memphis Grizzlies
• Friday: Indiana Pacers
• Saturday: Chicago Bulls
• Next Sunday: Milwaukee Bucks

30 Teams in 30 Days: Los Angeles Lakers

Our ongoing "30 Teams in 30 Days" series, previewing all 30 NBA teams, continues from Los Angeles once again, where this time around, we'll preview the Lakers, as they look to bounce back from a disappointing season without their biggest star and look to get back into contender mode in the Western Conference entering the upcoming 2014-15 season.

Last season's record: 27-55(Last in Pacific Division and 15th in Western Conference)

Head Coach: Byron Scott(15th season overall, 443-576)

Arena: Staples Center(19,060)

Website: Lakers.com

If you are a Lakers fan, and were hoping that last season could be a breakout year for the team, then it was a whole different story, especially for Byron Scott, who returned to Los Angeles as their new head coach, and the end result was a disappointing one, as the Lakers finished campaign minus their captain, Kobe Bryant, and that would hurt the team big time, finishing with a dismal 27-55 mark, and many felt that it would be time for some changes.

The biggest change came when Pau Gasol opted out of his deal with the Lakers to sign with the Chicago Bulls, and that would be another key reason with the Lakers wanted to rebuild entering this season, and they did added some new faces to the equation, including Wayne Ellington and Carlos Boozer to join a healthy Kobe Bryant, who hopes to stay that way this season, and as for head coach Byron Scott, he is determined to turn things around, just like he did in his previous coaching stops in Cleveland, and New Orleans.

It may be a season of rebuilding for the 2014-15 edition of the Los Angeles Lakers, but expect them to bounce back into contender mode to possibly bring home another NBA title to "Tinseltown" this season.

Upcoming team previews in the "30 Teams in 30 Days" series

• Sunday: Golden State Warriors
• Monday: Sacramento Kings
• Tuesday: Portland Trail Blazers
• Wednesday: Minnesota Timberwolves
• Thursday: Memphis Grizzlies
• Friday: Indiana Pacers
• Next Saturday: Chicago Bulls

30 Teams in 30 Days: Los Angeles Clippers

We continue our "30 Teams in 30 Days" preview series of each of the 30 NBA teams for the 2014-15 season by spending the next 2 days in sunny Los Angeles, where we'll first preview the Los Angeles Clippers, a team that has gone under a major makeover with a new owner that is willing to restore order, and a team that is determined to put controversy behind them.

Last season's record: 57-25(1st in Pacific Division/3rd in Western Conference; Def. GS 4-3 in Western Conference 1st Round; Lost to OKC 4-2 in Western Conference Semi-finals)

Head Coach: Doc Rivers(16th season, 644-498 overall; 57-25 with LAC)

Arena: Staples Center(19,060)

Website: Clippers.com

In their 2013-14 campaign, the Los Angeles Clippers wanted to prove themselves worthy that they can contend in the Western Conference, and in their own division, which is the Pacific Division, and as usual, "Lob City" was in full effect with Blake Griffin and Chris Paul running the show, and that did a lot of work for Los Angeles in the regular season, finishing as Pacific Division Champions with a 57-25 record, and a 3rd place finish in the Western Conference standings. 

But a dark cloud was looming over the clouds, as Donald Sterling made some controversial comments that eventually led to his banishment from the NBA forever, but that did not stop the Clippers to roll past their in-state rivals, the Golden State Warriors, led by Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, 4-3, before being eliminated in the Western Conference semi-finals by a tough Oklahoma City Thunder team 4-2.

Then, a major change took place in the ownership department, as former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer stepped in to purchase the franchise, marking what could be the start of a new chapter in the Clippers 30 year history in Los Angeles.

Many are expecting the Clippers to be a strong, but yet, major threat in the league and in the Western Conference this season in Doc Rivers' second year as Clippers head coach, as he is coming off a successful first season guiding them to a 57-25 record, and he totally wants his team to achieve the ultimate goal: an NBA championship.  Watch out folks, the Clippers are indeed a tough team, and they'll prove it to you when the season starts in a couple of weeks from now.

Upcoming team previews in the "30 Teams in 30 Days" series:

• Saturday: Los Angeles Lakers
• Sunday: Golden State Warriors
• Monday: Sacramento Kings
• Tuesday: Portland Trail Blazers
• Wednesday: Minnesota Timberwolves
• Thursday: Memphis Grizzlies
• Next Friday: Indiana Pacers

30 Teams in 30 Days: Phoenix Suns

Today's edition of our "30 Teams in 30 Days" 2014-15 NBA season preview takes us to the "Valley of the Sun", where we'll talk about the Phoenix Suns, and their approach to getting back on the winning track this season.

Last season's record: 48-34(3rd in Pacific Division/9th in Western Conference)

Head Coach: Jeff Hornacek(2nd season, 48-34 overall)

Arena: US Airways Center(18,422)

Website: suns.com

Despite not making the playoffs, it was a good learning experience for Jeff Hornacek in his first season as head coach of the Phoenix Suns last season, and what a season it was, finishing with a 48-34 mark, with some good playing from Goran Dragic, leading the way with a 20.3 points per game average in 76 starts for Phoenix, while Eric Bledsoe had a good showing with the Suns with 17.7 points per game, and the franchise rewarded him with a 5-year extension after a great year last year for a Suns team that almost crashed the post-season party.

This season, Phoenix is well determined to make last season's missed trip to the playoffs a different outcome, as the team is hungry and ready for a solid, but yet tough run in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference, but don't expect things to fall off the table for the Suns this season, because they know how to make a lot of noise in Phoenix this upcoming season.

Upcoming team previews in the "30 Teams in 30 Days" series:

• Friday: Los Angeles Clippers
• Saturday: Los Angeles Lakers
• Sunday: Golden State Warriors
• Monday: Sacramento Kings
• Tuesday: Portland Trail Blazers
• Wednesday: Minnesota Timberwolves
• Next Thursday: Memphis Grizzlies