Bulls - Obviously risky. Will Rose finally be healthy for a whole year? How will Pau play? Pau looked awful defensively last season, couldn't move at all laterally.Playing with Noah will help though and he can't be any worse than Boozer on that end. I think with Pau it's been so many niggling injuries the last few years, he needs to come back in good shape.
Cavs - Think it's totally laughable to suggest they will struggle. LeBron will be super motivated and having a shit team has never stopped him from winning in the past and that will continue. If one guy can get Kyrie to get his head out of his ass and play properly, it's LeBron. Kyrie is a very talented shooter who could thrive off the ball if he embraced it, and having LeBron on your team, he surely will. Add Love and this is the best team in the east.
Wizards - Honestly I rate the raptors very slightly above them, but I'm going to randomly put the Wizards here anyway because I like being negative. If Beal and Wall come back significantly better then they will be scary, though.
Raptors - I am beginning to be very upbeat about the prospect of JV and Ross really stepping up this season, and if they do then why won't this team be top 4 with the chance to be even better? Can't see them not winning the Atlantic at worst which puts them at 4 by default right? (sorry if that is off the mark). The bench with Patman, Greivis, Williams etc looks quite strong and usually a strong bench means lots of regular season wins.
Heat- No LeBron...but still Wade, Bosh and Deng seems pretty solid to me, could even be higher. They added some decent role players as well. Do they have enough three point shooting though?
Pacers( I mean it's possible they could be top 3, but Stephenson was such a talented playmaker for them, as well as rebounder. West is another year older. Which George will show up? the one who was playing like a top 5 player for the first few months, or the one who although still very good, labored to the finish line a bit. Hibbert? Will he register a rebound all year?
Hawks ( Obviously with Horford back they look pretty solid, but strangely so does the East.)
Hornets ( Also somewhat intriguing, especially with Lance.)
Nets (meh)
Knicks ( Should be awful, but we'll see. Could possibly make a playoff run. Defensively it does look appauling, though )
Detroit ( SVG is good, but nope.)
rest= tank and cant be bothered listing them.
1.Clippers (Not saying they'll win it all, but that they'll have a very strong regular season)
2.Spurs (Would love to see them repeat, something they've never done. Still should win a lot of games)
3.Thunder (With them they have the two great players to get them to win, as well as some handy role players but can they play better basketball. Scott Brooks I'm looking at you. Will the young players improve? They can definitely win it all, maybe it'll be their year.)
4. Warriors (I'm hopeful a coaching change will help a seriously talented offensive team become something more than mediocre on that end. Jackson really was that bad.)
5. Blazers (I really dislike them for no logical reason, so I'd be happy if they were worse)
6 .Rockets (See above)
7. Memphis (They're really good and Gasol is a phenomenal player. But this is the west.
8. Phoenix (Partially because I like them so I'm a bit biased (could've put them higher ) . They need to get Bledsoe back, or else i'd put them lower. Dragic is awesome, Isaiah Thomas should be a perfect sixth man for them I think)
9 .Dallas (Added Parsons and Chandler which looks good on paper, I mean they could make it, and i could totally see it happening...but it's the west and someone has to miss.)
Rest- IDGAF.
Cavs - Think it's totally laughable to suggest they will struggle. LeBron will be super motivated and having a shit team has never stopped him from winning in the past and that will continue. If one guy can get Kyrie to get his head out of his ass and play properly, it's LeBron. Kyrie is a very talented shooter who could thrive off the ball if he embraced it, and having LeBron on your team, he surely will. Add Love and this is the best team in the east.
Wizards - Honestly I rate the raptors very slightly above them, but I'm going to randomly put the Wizards here anyway because I like being negative. If Beal and Wall come back significantly better then they will be scary, though.
Raptors - I am beginning to be very upbeat about the prospect of JV and Ross really stepping up this season, and if they do then why won't this team be top 4 with the chance to be even better? Can't see them not winning the Atlantic at worst which puts them at 4 by default right? (sorry if that is off the mark). The bench with Patman, Greivis, Williams etc looks quite strong and usually a strong bench means lots of regular season wins.
Heat- No LeBron...but still Wade, Bosh and Deng seems pretty solid to me, could even be higher. They added some decent role players as well. Do they have enough three point shooting though?
Pacers( I mean it's possible they could be top 3, but Stephenson was such a talented playmaker for them, as well as rebounder. West is another year older. Which George will show up? the one who was playing like a top 5 player for the first few months, or the one who although still very good, labored to the finish line a bit. Hibbert? Will he register a rebound all year?
Hawks ( Obviously with Horford back they look pretty solid, but strangely so does the East.)
Hornets ( Also somewhat intriguing, especially with Lance.)
Nets (meh)
Knicks ( Should be awful, but we'll see. Could possibly make a playoff run. Defensively it does look appauling, though )
Detroit ( SVG is good, but nope.)
rest= tank and cant be bothered listing them.
1.Clippers (Not saying they'll win it all, but that they'll have a very strong regular season)
2.Spurs (Would love to see them repeat, something they've never done. Still should win a lot of games)
3.Thunder (With them they have the two great players to get them to win, as well as some handy role players but can they play better basketball. Scott Brooks I'm looking at you. Will the young players improve? They can definitely win it all, maybe it'll be their year.)
4. Warriors (I'm hopeful a coaching change will help a seriously talented offensive team become something more than mediocre on that end. Jackson really was that bad.)
5. Blazers (I really dislike them for no logical reason, so I'd be happy if they were worse)
6 .Rockets (See above)
7. Memphis (They're really good and Gasol is a phenomenal player. But this is the west.
8. Phoenix (Partially because I like them so I'm a bit biased (could've put them higher ) . They need to get Bledsoe back, or else i'd put them lower. Dragic is awesome, Isaiah Thomas should be a perfect sixth man for them I think)
9 .Dallas (Added Parsons and Chandler which looks good on paper, I mean they could make it, and i could totally see it happening...but it's the west and someone has to miss.)
Rest- IDGAF.
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