2014-15 NBA Division Preview: Southeast Division

Southeast Division

1.   Washington Wizards

When talking about the best backcourts in the NBA, John Wall & Bradley Beal have put themselves in the center of the conversation. Which is why it’ll be interesting to see how he’ll fit in when he comes back from injury to a team that lost Trevor Ariza and brought in Paul Pierce, re-signed Marcin Gortat to hold down the paint alongside Nene, and may boast one of the better benches in the Eastern Conference (Andre Miller, Drew Gooden, Kevin Seraphin, Martell Webster, Garrett Temple). And if Otto Porter & Glen Rice Jr. Become contributors on a regular basis, this just gives them more weapons to utilize. Surprisingly, they lost in the conference Semis in 6 to a Pacers team who didn’t look like the Finals contender they made themselves to be in the 1^st half of the season. Having a proven leader, Finals MVP & future 1^st ballot Hall Of Famer coulda helped them out last year. Now that they have one, they have a bonafide closer to go to down the stretch to take pressure off of Wall & Beal. They’ll be a tough out come playoff time.

Over/Under: 47 wins

2.   Charlotte Hornets

The Hornets are back & it coincides with the emergence of this young team looking to take the next step & build on the season they had last year. Despite being swept by the eventual Eastern Conference champions, Charlotte are in position to get another shot (a more legit shot) at getting out of the 1^st round this season. The addition of Lance Stephenson is the determining x-factor in the success of the reincarnated Hornets. If he works out, along with vet Marvin Williams, Kemba Walker & Al Jefferson will lead a balanced attack on both ends of the floor. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist will be a borderline All-Star once he fixes that jumpshot. Gerald Henderson will be a capable 6^th Man. Cody Zeller & Noah Vonleh have an opportunity to earn minutes & contribute. The Buzz is rightfully back, and look for them to leave teams with their fair share of stings.

Over/Under: 45 wins

3.    Atlanta Hawks

The Hawks actually have an entertaining team; one I might say can be worth the League Pass subscription for the basketball junkie that likes ball movement, floor spacing & three All-Star caliber guys complimenting each other on the court (Al Horford, Paul Millsap, and Jeff Teague). Taking a half-assed Pacer team to seven games in the first round last year without Horford showed all of us how dangerous this team really can be if Al is manning the middle. Then the whole Bruce Levenson/Danny Ferry situation comes to light, with Sterlingate still on the minds of NBA fans, as well as the sports world. The players still gotta play regardless of how they feel about it. It doesn't take away from the long term damage that they may possibly face as far as attracting free agents & getting guys to commit long-term to playing in Atlanta

Over/Under: 45 wins

4.    Miami Heat

Life after LeBron James won’t be the same. However, the Heat are still going to be able to keep their heads above water in a much-improved Eastern Conference. The success of this post-LeBron Miami squad fall squarely on the shoulders of Chris Bosh & Dwyane Wade. If the former can transition back to being the focal point of the offense like he was in Toronto, and the latter can remain healthy enough to keep offenses from zeroing on Bosh, they’ll be fine. Luol Deng isn’t LeBron, but has shown he can play effective ball at both ends. Mario Chalmers gon’ be Mario. Look for Norris Cole to show more of his scoring side, the scoring he displayed on a nightly basis at Cleveland State. First rounder Shabazz Napier has the pedigree & skills to make an impact with ample playing time. One has to ask what is Danny Granger gonna give them. Chris Andersen & Josh McRoberts, along with Udonis Haslem should provide them with serviceable work alongside Bosh. In a open Eastern Conference that’s stronger than it’s been in recent years, they have enough experience to be in the thick of things, if they stay healthy & get productive minutes from the role players. A healthy Wade (as healthy as he can be at this point) can put them in a position to play beyond April.

Over/Under: 44 wins

5.    Orlando Magic

Without batting an eyelash, I can say that the Magic are better than Milwaukee & Philadelphia (Definitely Philadelphia). I see what they are trying to build for the long term & the way I see it, they’re one major piece away. If it’s Victor Oladipo taking a major step in his development by becoming the main guy, or him leading a well-balanced attack that does it by committee, Tobias Harris showing us why he’s an up & coming high-level wing, Nikola Vucevic consistently posting double-doubles, Evan Fournier being a steady presence at the 2, and the rest of the young guns (led by 1^st rounders Elfrid Payton & Aaron Gordon, Mo Harkless, Andrew Nicholson), combining with the vets (Ben Gordon, Luke Ridnour, Channing Frye), the Magic will be a tough out for plenty of teams in the East. They’re not playoff-ready yet, but don’t be surprised if they stay competitive throughout the year & end up playing the role of spoiler when he postseason race picks up steam after the All-Star break.

Over/Under: 33 wins

2014-15 NBA Division Preview: Northwest Division

Northwest Division

1.   Oklahoma City Thunder

Before Kevin Duran’t toe injury & Russell Westbrook’s fractured hand, the Thunder were primed to be a Top 3 team in the West, top5 in the league overall, as they looked to get past the injury bug that derailed them from getting back to the Finals in the last two years. Reggie Jackson being out doesn’t help things either. Jeremy Lamb is out with a bad back. Rookie 1^st rounder Mitch McGary is out with a broken foot. New acquisition Anthony Morrow is also sidelined with an injury. The injury bug has made himself comfortable in Oklahoma City, and it’ll be up to Serge Ibaka & the young reserves to hold down the fort until KD& Westbrook come back. In the unforgiving Western Conference, OKC will be laying catch up for the rest of the season when they get the whole team intact. It may or may not cost them home court advantage in the playoffs, it remains to bee seen. Scott Brooks has his biggest challenge as a coach thus far. He has his work cut out for him. OKC may be the most dangerous below 4 seed we’ve seen out the West in some time. Getting back to the Conference Finals should get Brooks Coach Of The Year.

Over/Under: 53 wins

2.   Portland Trailblazers

LaMarcus Aldridge is a free agent after this season. Rip City shouldn’t worry much about that, because he’s re-signing with them. Why wouldn’t he? Leave all that big market talk out of this & look at what he comes back to. Damien Lillard, who made his 1^st All-Star game in his sophomore campaign after winning Rookie Of The Year. Nic Batum, a do-everything SF who’s STILL getting better. Solid as a rock Wes Matthews. Defensive stalwart Robin Lopez. Dorrell Wright & Thomas Robinson, along with picking up Chris Kaman & Steve Blake to provide them additional depth. CJ McCollum & Myles Leanord may or may not come around this year, we’ll see. Terry Stotts has a full ouse to play with, and Portland is looking to become a Top 10 team defensively in order to get to the next level. Scoring isn’t a problem with these guys, they’re more than capable of sustaining their offensive production. It’s on the defensive end for them, if they want to get to the next level.

Over/Under: 53 wins

3.   Denver Nuggets

Injuries a re the main reason the Nuggets looked so mediocre last season. Missing key players for most of the season, the team never had a chance to gel. They have depth, athleticism, defense, and just enough shooting to make teams play them honest every night. Ty Lawson is the engine that makes them go. Kenneth Faried showed out this summer playing for the US Men’s National Team in Spain. He’s been improving since he got into the league, so expect him to continue that trend heading into his 4^th season Danilo Galinari is 100% coming back from an ACL. JaVele McGee, Nate Robinson & JJ Hickson are all coming back from season ending injuries. All this means is that Denver will be at full strength, being able to push the ball in transition, have a balanced attack, Play solid defense, and boast one of the league’s better second units. I got Wilson Chandler being a Sixth Man Of The Year candidate early out the gate. They won 36 games despite being shorthanded. They will definetly be better this year, IF they can stay health.

Over/Under: 46 wins

4.   Utah Jazz

The Jazz are basically a blank slate. They’ve been rebuilding via the draft & trades these last several season, and one should give them props for compiling such a good group of young players to build a contending team with. Dream scenario for 1^st year coach Quinn Synder, who gets to use this balnk slate to implement his system & change the culture in Utah. Pushing the ball, spreading the floor, moving the ball & playing hard on both ends makes perfect sense with the youth on their roster. Gordon Hayward is th ealpha dog of this group, thanks in large part to the extension he signed during the summer. He’s going to be asked to take on a leadership role& bring it every night. Derrick Favors & Enes Kanter gotta find a way to give each other space to operate. Once they figure that out, they’ll be fun to watch. Alec Burks, Trey Burke & Dante Exum are gonna be a fun, tough, athletic 3-guard rotation (though we may see plenty of turnovers). Rudy Gobert has alot of spectators curious after showing flashes in international play this summer. Overall, the growing pains will be present, but if they buy in, play hard & compete, the kids will be alright.

Over/Under: 34 wins

5.   Minnesota Timberwolves

You couldn’t ask more of Kevin Love in his time in Minnesota. His gaudy numbers wasn’t enough to get the Timberwolves in the playoffs in the Wild West. Now that he’s moved on to Cleveland, everything is on Ricky Rubio to lead this squad out of the doldrums they’ve been in for the last 10 seasons. New acquisition Thaddeus Young joins a team that has a blend of youth, athleticism, and veterans like Kevin Martin, Chase Budinger, Nikola Pekovic, JJ Barea & Corey Brewer. Getting Andrew Wiggins & Antony Bennett in the Love trade to go along with their lottery pick Zach LaVine & their second rounder Glenn Robinson III. Gorgui Dieng & Shabazz Muhammed may also push for more minutes this year, as they showed signs of being nightly contributors, especially Dieng. Flip Saunders has to figure out how to stay competitive, while developing the younger guys. Wiggins is the future, so his development will play into how Minnesota move going forward.

Over/Under: 30 wins

2014-15 NBA Division Preview: Central Division

Central Division

1.   Cleveland Cavaliers

LeBron James is home. He’s looking to lead the city of Cleveland to it’s first sports championship in 50 years. Very noble gesture, and legacy defining move. He comes home to a better team than he left in 2010, as well as a better team he just left in Miami. He went to South Beach to major in winning & being a leader. He had some great mentors in Dwyane Wade & Pat Riley, and a helluva a coach in Erik Spoelstra (who I think doesn't get enough props) to win, getting 2 rings out of 4 consecutive Finals appearances. Not bad at all. Now, he’s gonna take these lessons, join forces with emerging point god Kyrie Irving & double double machine Kevin Love to bring the Cavs back to contention status. Anderson Varejao, the only holdover from LeBron’s first tenure, will no doubt be starting at center. The young guys (Tristan Thompson, Dion Waiters) will fall in line. Mike Miller & James Jones already know what it is, as well as Shawn Marion, so they’ll be a big factor on the court spreading the floor, as well as in the locker room. He really has no choice but to play his position, because if you stir up shit on a team like that, you pretty much solidify your reputation in a negative way & there may be no coming back from that. New coach David Blatt is up to this challenge. He’s been a winner everywhere he’s coached & it looks like he got the chess pieces to be a big layer on the board. Conference Finals, most definitely. Finals, a strong possibility. Championship? Let’s wait & see.

Over/Under: 58 wins

2.   Chicago Bulls

Derrick Rose looks like he’s finally back to form. Picking his spots more effectively & with a deadlier jumpshot, he’s joining possibly the best team he’s ever had around him, thanks primarily to the addition of Pau Gasol. Putting him in the frontcourt with Joakim Noah gives the Bulls two of the best passing big men in the game today, and takes much needed pressure off Rose to initiate the offense. Add Taj Gibson & Nikola Mirotic to that, and you got frontcourt depth with multiple lineups to utilize them in. Jimmy Butler is progressing into a reliable two-way player, which is the main reason why they were able to part ways with Luol Deng. Scrappy Kirk Hinrich & Mike Dunleavy Jr. are back for another year of solid contributions. Aaron Brooks can be the spark plug backup point that Chicago has had over the last few seasons, the role previous played successfully by C.J. Watson, Nate Robinson, John Lucas III & DJ Augustin respectfully. Doug McDermott is gonna spread the floor & compete.The big concern for this squad is staying healthy & Coach Thibs not running them into the ground by the ALL-Star break. They stay healthy & fresh, they could possibly meet their division rival in the Conference Finals.

Over/Under: 55 wins

3.    Detroit Pistons

Josh Smith, as talented as he is, shouldn't be hoisting up 3s from the perimeter. I’m certain I’m not the only one who feels this way. Stats show he’s actually better playing the 4, but with Greg Monroe & Andre Drummond, by default, he’s playing small forward. Can him coming off the bench be the answer, while a player like Kyle Singler or Caron Butler starts at the 3? Josh, along with Jonas Jerebko, could potentially give the Pistons strong frontcourt bench flexibility. Brandon Jennings has to take better care of the ball, make better decisions & balance out getting guys involved with being able to get his own shot. Oh, and that defense has to improve. DJ Augustin brings some PG stability. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope may or may not breakout this year, but he should be better than he was last season. When Jodie Meeks get back from his injury his 3-ball will fit in with what Stan Van is running. Overall, they can surprise some folks. Stan Van Gundy is gonna change the culture of this team, but it ain’t gonna happen this year.

Over/Under: 37 wins

4.    Indiana Pacers

I wish Paul George the speediest of recoveries. And so does the entire state of Indianapolis. Him being out for the year automatically takes the Pacers out of contention. With a healthy Paul George, they would've been able to survive the departure of Lance Stephenson. Now, it’s up to Roy Hibbert & David West to stabilize the troops & lead them. Can they hold down the fort until PG is 100%, whether that be this year or next? Only time will tell. Luis Scola, George Hill & C.J. Watson will provide whatever offense they have, as will newcomers Rodney Stuckey & C.J. Miles. They’ll compete on both ends, cause Frank Vogel is a no-excuses coach. They’ll end up with a lottery pick to add to the return of Paul George, and will be back in contention by this time ext year. This year is basically a wash for them.

Over/Under: 35 wins

5.    Milwaukee Bucks

If this is what Jason Kidd wanted, then by all means, I hope he’s happy. Maybe he wanted a squad he can grow as a coach with. Maybe he wanted more power & say so with the front office. He has both now, so let’s see what he’s made of. He has two studs in Giannis Antetokounmpo & Jabari Parker to build around. Larry Sanders, John Henson & Ersan Ilyasova are capable bigs who should give them quality minutes. Brandon Knight can benefit from having one of the greatest point guards ever as his coach. OJ Mayo needs to have a redemptive year. He has the tools to be Milwaukee’s go-to scorer, and needs to look for his shot, as well as play with the confidence that got him to this level. Adding Jerryd Bayless should give them some backcourt depth. With the eyes torward the future, expectations are low for the Bucks. It’s all about effort & learning how to be professionals & win.

Over/Under: 25 Wins

2014-15 NBA Division Preview: Pacific Division

Pacific Division

1.    Los Angeles Clippers

It was only a matter of time before Donald Sterling got exposed for the racist bigot that he is. This was a well known fact in close NBA circles, as well as among die hard hoop lifers. Banning him for life from the game, even though he gets to cash out, is bittersweet justice. There’s no place for racism & discrimination in the NBA or in the game of basketball. I’m happy to see the Clippers move on & focus on strictly basketball. For the first time in the history of their franchise, they’re legitimate championship contenders, and for the first time since they moved to California, they’re the best basketball team in the state. Blake Griffin & Chris Paul are hungry to get out of the semifinals. The supporting cast are capable vets who are battle-tested (J.J. Reddick, Matt Barnes, Hedo Turkolou, Big Baby Davis, Jordan Farmer). They’re not scared to step up, make big shots, cross your soul into the next dimension (Jamal Crawford) & dunk on you so hard, your ancestors pour libations for the victims (DeAndre Jordan). Chris Douglas-Roberts fill the eccentric quota for the team. And they have the best coach in the NBA not named Greg Popovich (Doc Rivers). Their window of opportunity isn't gonna get any wider, so the time is now for these guys to win.

Over/Under: 55 wins

2.   Golden State Warriors

Steph Curry is the best shooter in the league. No question. He’s so good, opposing players who are assigned to guard him go right to his doorstep as soon as they get off the plane. They tell their teammate “Make sure his mans (Klay Thompson) don’t get off. I’ma meet Steph by his mailbox.” That won't help much, because both are willing passers. It opens up the floor for Andre Iguodala, Harrison Barnes & Draymond Green. A healthy Andrew Bogut complementing David Lee & Marreese Speights goes a long way Though, I don’t agree with the firing of Mark Jackson (front office drama, according to sources), nobody can deny that he did an amazing job at getting the Warriors to contender status, leaving Steve Kerr to take what he built to the next level. Kerr, even with his lack of coaching experience, understands the game, and I think he’s capable enough to get these guys in a position to play well into May.

Over/Under: 52 wins

3.    Phoenix Suns

They surprised everybody. I expected them to have an identical record as the 76ers, off the strength they played in the West. Move them East, they’re tied for third with Chicago, with home court advantage in the first two rounds. Instead, they satyed in the playoff hunt all season & stomped a mudhole into the low expectations everybody had for them last season. Their offense was dynamic, they gave an honest effort on the defensive end, and they were such a joy to watch. Goran Dragic & Eric Bledsoe were just out there ballin’. The Morris twins (Markis & Markeiff) made huge contributions. Gerald Green looked impressive & should be the starting 3 for the foreseeable future. P.J. Tucker emerged as a relaible glue guy. Miles Plumlee fits in perfectly with these uptempo Suns at center. Now add IsaiahThomas to that Dragic/Bledsoe? Matchup nightmare that should keep Jeff Hornacek’s offense in high gear for 48 minutes. They play with a good balance, but like with the Raptors out East, they won’t be sneaking up on anyone, so they’ll have to compete on a much higher level if they want to crack into the top 8 in the talent-heavy West. Alex Len can help them out so much if he can manage to get healthy.

Over/Under: 45 wins

4.    Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers, throughout their history, have been known for reloading quickly. They haven’t missed the playoffs for no more than 5 years in a row & that’s also the same amount of time between superstars to build around. Kobe Bryant is 36 & his championship window looks closed, so it’s about the future for these Lakers. Julius Randle’s broken leg isn’t what they need now, as well as Steve Nash being out for the whole year. Kobe shouldn’t be expected to average 35 again, but expect him to everything in his power to make the Lakers competitive this year, with help from outcasts like Jeremy Lin, Ed Davis & amnestied Carlos Boozer. Nick Young maight be more under control this year, thanks to the Kobe Death Stare being in closer proximity. Wesley Johnson has all the tools to be a capable wing defender. Jordan Hill is another servicable big for them. After that, who knows? If Byron Scott can turn this into a .500 team by the end of the season, I’d put him in the running for Coach Of The Year.

Over/Under: 42 wins

5.    Sacramento Kings

I can easily go on record and say without hesitation that DeMarcus Cousins is the best center in the league not named Dwight Howard (when he’s motivated & engaged). Besides questions about his attitude , it’s more or less the pieces around him that result in the losses piling up. They’ve had alot of individual talent in Sac-Town over the years, but it hasn’t translated into wins. The Sacramentio Kings of the early ‘00s were a fun brand of basketball, moving the ball unselfishly, playing for each other & were a few suspect call against them away from an NBA Finals apperance. Can Mike Malone get them to play as a cohesive unit? He’ll have to rely on Cousins & Rudy Gay to carry the scoring load. Newcomers Darren Colison & Ramon Sessions gives them stability at the point. Ben McLemore & Nik Stauskas will be duking it out for the starting SG spot, which right now, might be the best position battle in the league (my humble opinion). CJ McCallum should get some looks as well. If all works out for them, they might have a shot….at winning 40 games.

Over/Under: 32 wins

2014-15 NBA Preview: Atlantic Division

Atlantic Division

1.    New York Knicks

So many questions heading into the season when it comes down to the Knicks. Will Melo be able to adapt his game to the Triangle? How’s Amare’s health going to hold up in a contract year? Is JR Smith gonna get back to the level of play that won him 6^th Man Of The Year? Will Iman Shumpert make a jumpshot? Who’s gonna start at center? Is James Dolan going to be able to stay out of Phil Jackson’s way? What kinda coach is Derk Fisher going to be? The answers are yet to be determined, but with Phil Jackson at the helm, I don’t see why things can’t look better than they did last season. Look for the Knicks to be more balanced on offense, raise  the defensive intensity & get back into the playoffs. Everybody's still learning the Triangle, so by mid-January-February, we'll get a better look of how the offense will unfold.

Over/Under: 50 Wins

2.   Toronto Raptors

No more suprises up North. This season will be tougher on them, since everybody knows who they are now. For the 1^st time in almost a decade, you can’t take a night off when you see Toronto on the schedule. Demar DeRozan is The Goods, and he got Louie Buckets backing him up. Terrence Ross, who may start at SF full time, went off for 51 aginst the Clippers last year. He can benefit from more open looks this year, but he has to take advantage of them. Kyle Lowry, who's one of the league’s underrated point guards, gets lost when we talk about quality impact players from the PG position. Jonas Valanciunas had a great showing at the FIBA World Cup this summer, and should be able to take the next step in his development. Their bench is solid, they finished top 10 in offense & defensive efficiency, and they’re bringing back most of the roster who made that possible. I expect more of the same this season. With the Atlantic Division crown on their head, the Knicks & Nets have to go thru them for a shot at it. Bet the Raptors don’t hand it over without a fight.

Over/Under: 47 Wins

3.   Brooklyn Nets

After what went down with the Jason Kidd experiment & fallout, the Nets brought in veteran coach Lionel Hollins to steer the ship towards the upper echelon of the Eastern Conference. He was my favorite candidate for the vacancy two years ago,but I couldn’t front on Kidd. Besides not having any coaching experience, he’s one of the greatest basketball minds of his generation & has numerous Hall Of Fame coaches he could call mentors. Since that didn’t work out, bringing Hollins in made so much sense. Many ifs coming out the gate; Brook Lopez stays healthy, Deron Willams returns to being one of the league’s elite floor generals, Joe Johnson continues being Mr. Reliable in clutch situations, Mason Plumless takes the next step, as well as the role players doing their jobs, Expect Brooklyn to be in the hunt.

Over/ Under: 47 Wins

4.    Boston Celtics

Rajon Rondo is the last man standing from the Celtics team that made it into the Eastern Conference Finals 3 times, made 2 Finals apperances, one bringing them their 17^th NBA championship in 2008. Not bad for a six-year run. We all knew it would come to an end, eventually. And here we are, in the post Paul Pierce/Big 3 Era. Danny Ainge has many talented assets to juggle & a coach in Brad Stevens who looks like he can take 5 players from off the street & make them competitive. The biggest question coming in is the status of Rajon. He’s gonna miss the 1^st month, so when he gets back, you have to wonder how long he’s gonna be a Celtic. Maybe this is why Ainge drafted Marcus Smart. Avery Bradley is back with his stingy D. Jeff Green is in a contract year, so we’ll see if he’ll finally bring it consistently every night. Jared Sullinger has the tools to be a reliable stretch 4. Marcus Thorton will let the scatty fly. Evan Turner is looking to rebrand himself.The center position is a committee cause. Who know’s what’s gonna happen, but hey: at least they’re not Philadelphia.

Over/Under: 35 wins

5.    Philadelphia 76ers

Everything about the Sixers point to the future. I don’t look at it as tanking; more like taking your punches, paying your dues & analyzing the talent on your roster in order to determine who’s gonna be the pieces to put around Michael Carter-Willams, Nerlens Noel, Joel Embiid & Darko Saric. I’ve said this numerous times this summer, they’re a few years away from being a few years away. I just feel sorry for Philly fans, who are some of the most passionate fans in sports. They’re going to have their patience tested for the next several years in order to build a contender. As a Knicks fan who endured a decade of darkness & a Nets fan who grew up watching the post Drazen/DC/Chibbs era, I wish you all the best. Keep the whiskey on deck. Y’all gonna need it.

Over/Under: 15 wins

2014-15 NBA Preview: Southwest Division

Southwest Division

1.       San Antonio

They’re the champs. And whoever wants to hold the Larry O’Brien trophy, they have to go thru the Spurs. While all their conference foes retweaked their rosters with new players, the Spurs stood pat this summer, bringing back the entire championship team from last year. Duncan & Manu are back along with Tony Parker, Kawai Leonard is gonna be a stud, and the role players will contribute & compete regardless of who’s on the floor & who they’re playing against. With the way they move the ball & hit the 3, along with their defensive consistency, it’s hard to see them finishing below No. 3 in the West & No. 5 overall in the league. Mind you, Popovich & Co. Have never repeated, so this can be a motivating factor once they get to the home stretch & realize they’re in the top 3 out West.

Over/Under: 55 wins

2.       Houston

So, the Harden & Howard experiment is past the trial stage. Last year, they were kinda feeling each other out & not trying to step on each other’s toes. Despite losing to a Portland squad led by LaMarcus Aldridge & Damien Lillard, and losing Chandler Parsons, Jeremy Lin & Omer Asik means the young guys like Terrence Jones, Donatas Motiejunas & Isaiah Canaan will have to grow up quick & contribute. Trevor Ariza & Jason Terry should provide them with some veteran savvy, while all eyes are on Patrick Beverly to see if he is capable of playing major minutes as a starting point guard. Hakeem Olajuwon has came out & said that Dwight Howard will have an MVP-caliber year, and from what I've seen from Dwight in the pre-season, he looks ready to carry his weight along with Harden to take this team deep into the postseason.

Over/Under: 50 wins

3.       Dallas

On paper, they don’t look too far off from the team that won the championship in 2011. I’ll even say that they may be better than that 2011 squad. They got Tyson back in the middle; they still got Dirk Nowitzki, who still has plenty left in the tank & doesn't have to worry about carrying the offensive burden, thanks to Monta Ellis being able to get a shot anytime he feels like it. Ever since arriving in Dallas, Monta has shot a higher percentage,complementing that with better shot selection, which creates a next-level dimension on offense for the Mavs. Chandler Parson will get the same amount of good looks he got in Houston because the offense is THAT good. Their depth at point guard & forward gives them the flexibility to make adjustments to any style they encounter. They play in the deepest division in the most competitive conference in sports, yet they still can win 50 games & make a run if all goes smoothly.

Over/Under: 50 wins

4.       Memphis

In the Eastern Conference, they’re a legit 2 seed, 3 at worst. But they’re in the Southwest Division, where the division runs thru Texas. And with Anthony Davis & an ever-improving supporting cast down in New Orleans looking to make a playoff push this year, the Memphis Grizzlies are in a position to continue the run they had last year after coming out the gate sputtering. If Zach Randolph doesn’t get suspended for Game 7 vs OKC, the series could go either way. Not having Quincy Pondexter at full strength hurt them as well. He should return to his old form this year, and the addition of Vince Cater should offset the loss of Mike Miller & Jerryd Bayless. They have backcourt depth, to go with Mark Gasol & Z-Bo upfront. They will be competitive & make the playoffs, without a doubt. They just have to put themselves in a position where they can get a favorable matchup heading into the 1^st round. With the depth of the West, any team from 1 thru 8 can beat each other in a playoff series, so we’ll see what happens.

Over/Under: 50 wins

5.       New Orleans

SLAM Magazine ranked Anthony Davis as the 4^th best player in the NBA heading into the 2014-15 season. If you seen his progress from his rookie year to his sophomore campaign, this wouldn’t be a hard sell. If he continues to improve at this rate, he’ll have the Pelicans in the mix for a playoff spot. They have Jrue Holiday, Eric Gorden & Tyreke Evans to take pressure off him, so he doesn’t have to carry the scoring load every night. He has Omer Asik up front with him, so he’ll be able to flex more on defense, as well as have more space to operate on offense. With Ryan Anderson’s ability to stretch the floor, New Orleans can be a matchup nightmare for opposing teams. The only things that can set them back (barring injuries to any of the guys I named) is their lack of a bench & playing in the deepest cdivision in the deepest conference in sports. If all goes right, they can push for an 8^th seed & get it.

Over/Under: 45 wins

2014-15 Preseason NBA Rankings

The season starts in less than 7 days. While we're waiting for the opening tip, I've analyzed the off-season moves & personnel changes for all 30 teams. This right here is where I rank them coming out the gate. Some teams may fall, some teams may rise, depending on the ebb & tide of the season. The East is wide open, thanks to LeBron James shifting the power of the conference once again by heading back home to Cleveland. Expecting the Cavs to win it all in their first year might be a stretch, but it wouldn't surprise me much if they did. Because it's their 1st year together, it opens up the door in the East for teams like the Bulls, Wizards, Knicks, Nets, Raptors, Hornets & Hawks to make a push to challenge for the East crown. I expect Cleveland & Chicago to fight for the top seed all year long, while 3-8 will be the street fight it usually tends to be in the Eastern Conference. 

Meanwhile, In the Western Conference,  the key word is depth. The Suns won 48 games last season and still missed the playoffs. I expect the same thing this year, with all 8 playoff teams having enough talent & star power to win 50 games during the regular season. It's going to come down to 7 teams fighting for two spots as the regular season winds down. Kevin Durant being out for the 1st month of the season puts Oklahoma City in a position where they can get behind early in the standings, which gives teams like the Clippers, the Rockets, Blazers, Grizzles, Mavs & Warriors an opportunity to stake claim to one of the top two seeds in the conference (The other one goes to the Spurs, who I think will fall no lower than 3rd in the West this year).

No matter your preference, there's gonna be plenty of exciting basketball this season. Many teams will be competitive this year, which only makes me hyped to get the season underway...

Let me make it clear by saying that THESE ARE NOT PREDICTIONS ON WHERE THEY'LL FINISH IN THEIR CONFERENCE. THIS IS THEIR RANK HEADING INTO THE SEASON.

1. Cleveland

2. Chicago

3. New York

4. Brooklyn

5. Toronto

6. Charlotte

7. Washington

8. Atlanta

9. Miami

10. Detroit

11. Indiana

12. Milwaukee

13. Boston

14. Orlando

15. Philadelphia

1. San Antonio 

2. LA Clippers

3. Oklahoma City

4. Houston

5. Portland

6. Dallas

7. Golden State

8. Memphis

9. New Orleans

10. LA Lakers

11. Denver

12. Phoenix

13. Sacramento

14. Utah

15. Minnesota