West
1) Spurs (never count out the Spurs, especially following Leonard and Green's finals performances)
1) Spurs (never count out the Spurs, especially following Leonard and Green's finals performances)
2)
Warriors (assuming Curry, Lee, and Bogut are all healthy + Iggy will
make them much better both on both sides of the floor - think
Gasol/Allen on D)
3)
Clippers (Doc Rivers will finally discipline the raw talent of this
team)
4) Rockets (chemistry and D12 - willingness to be P&R man or cries to play more post, but the Dream may help, Asik + D12 can either be scary good or scary bad, Lin + Harden need to figure out how to play next to each other)
5) Thunder (Westbrook returning from injury and searching for a reliable third option)
6) Grizzlies (fired Hollins and were embarrassed in the WCF - we'll see if they can bounce back)
7) Wolves (very solid team and will be better with the addition of KMart - injuries will play a factor)
8) Trail Blazers (with the Lakers and Nuggets falling out, Trail Blazers have a very good chance of making the playoffs with this roster - Lillard + Robinson + Aldridge + Batum)
Just missing the cut:
Nuggets (I looked at their roster at the beginning of the 2012 - 2013 season and knew they were going to be a very good team. I look at this year's team and off-season moves - losing Karl, Iggy, Ujiri will result in them barely missing the playoffs this season, but I see Brian Shaw developing the young talent and returning the franchise to the playoffs the following season)
Lakers (depends if Kobe can overcome his injury and will his team back to the playoffs - I don't see building around a 39 year old Steve Nash with Gasol/Kaman as their bigs taking them very far)
Pelicans (another year of experience for Anthony Davis + Gordon will suck it up and finally play + Holiday/Evans are good additions)
East
1) Bulls (we all know how good the Bulls are with DRose)
2) Heat (Wade slowing down and saving him for the off-season)
3) Nets (chemistry, rookie coach, stacked team and depth)
4) Rockets (chemistry and D12 - willingness to be P&R man or cries to play more post, but the Dream may help, Asik + D12 can either be scary good or scary bad, Lin + Harden need to figure out how to play next to each other)
5) Thunder (Westbrook returning from injury and searching for a reliable third option)
6) Grizzlies (fired Hollins and were embarrassed in the WCF - we'll see if they can bounce back)
7) Wolves (very solid team and will be better with the addition of KMart - injuries will play a factor)
8) Trail Blazers (with the Lakers and Nuggets falling out, Trail Blazers have a very good chance of making the playoffs with this roster - Lillard + Robinson + Aldridge + Batum)
Just missing the cut:
Nuggets (I looked at their roster at the beginning of the 2012 - 2013 season and knew they were going to be a very good team. I look at this year's team and off-season moves - losing Karl, Iggy, Ujiri will result in them barely missing the playoffs this season, but I see Brian Shaw developing the young talent and returning the franchise to the playoffs the following season)
Lakers (depends if Kobe can overcome his injury and will his team back to the playoffs - I don't see building around a 39 year old Steve Nash with Gasol/Kaman as their bigs taking them very far)
Pelicans (another year of experience for Anthony Davis + Gordon will suck it up and finally play + Holiday/Evans are good additions)
East
1) Bulls (we all know how good the Bulls are with DRose)
2) Heat (Wade slowing down and saving him for the off-season)
3) Nets (chemistry, rookie coach, stacked team and depth)
4)
Pacers (blue collar grind, returning Granger, and signing of
Copeland)
5) Knicks (solid team, biggest issue is D)
6) Wizards (drafted Porter, healthy Wall and Nene, lots of upside)
7) Cavaliers (lots of talent in Irving, Waiters, Bennett, Thompson + young vets JJack, Clark + returning Varejao + wildcard Bynum)
8) Pistons (depends on the development of talented bigs Drummond + Monroe, JSmoove will definitely have an immediate impact)
Just missing the cut:
Raptors (Ujiri working his magic + Valciunas looking good so far)
Bobcats (Cody Zeller not looking like a bust + signing of Jefferson - lots of upside for Bobcats)
Hawks (no improvements in the roster, lost JSmoove for nothing, about time the more talented and younger teams in East surpassed them)
5) Knicks (solid team, biggest issue is D)
6) Wizards (drafted Porter, healthy Wall and Nene, lots of upside)
7) Cavaliers (lots of talent in Irving, Waiters, Bennett, Thompson + young vets JJack, Clark + returning Varejao + wildcard Bynum)
8) Pistons (depends on the development of talented bigs Drummond + Monroe, JSmoove will definitely have an immediate impact)
Just missing the cut:
Raptors (Ujiri working his magic + Valciunas looking good so far)
Bobcats (Cody Zeller not looking like a bust + signing of Jefferson - lots of upside for Bobcats)
Hawks (no improvements in the roster, lost JSmoove for nothing, about time the more talented and younger teams in East surpassed them)
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