2024-2025 NBA Preseason Grades (Southwest Division)

DALLAS MAVERICKS: C

It was cool seeing the Mavs make it to the big dance last season because when they're up against most squads, they're were the most-entertaining team in the league.  That shit didn't work against Boston tho.  So they were certain issues that Dallas needed to mitigate to take themselves to that next level.

At the top of the list was finding a solution Doncic's endurance issues, how, during the Finals for instance, he eventually ran out of steam against a team that actually knows how to play effective perimeter defense over extended periods.  And I'm not overly confident that the addition of Klay or the re-addition of Dinwiddie is going to solve that problem.  

I may be wrong.  If Dinwiddie is doing his thing, the coaching staff could then use the opportunity to give Doncic longer rests.  Someone like Thompson, if his shot was on, would have definitely helped Dallas in the Finals, but not likely to the point where they could have beat the Celtics.

It's also painful, from a Mavs' fan perspective, to watch Jones Jr. go.  When Dallas was able to play above the rim (i.e. against their conference rivals in the playoffs) they were virtually unbeatable, and Derrick was a big part of that dynamic.  It's always hurtful when the pairing of a superstar PG who is an exceptional passer coupled with an amazing dunker is broken up.  But maybe Jones will be able to build up a similar rapport with the Beard.

During this offseason Dallas, by the looks of things, failed to upgrade in a manner that could potentially topple Boston.  The Celtics specialty is perimeter defense, and the Mavericks, in their wisdom, most notably decided to go out and add perimeter players.  With Lively gone and basically being replaced with a couple of Gs, good ones though not allstars, there's no way Dallas can be as entertaining as they were last season.

HOUSTON ROCKETS: C

The Rockets have sorta developed this losing culture, but at least a couple of seasons ago they were a good watch, regardless of who they played against.  Nowadays?  Like I don't even know.  It's sorta like, in a way, the air of excitement got sucked out of this team in a way.

From a competitive standpoint, Fred VanVleet was a fine addition.  I wouldn't be surprised if Houston missing the playoffs was some sort of higher-up decision.  But the thing is that - this is my argument.  If you have a team that's young and exciting, even if they lose, keep it like that.  F*ck is a timeline anyway?  'We're going to play it smart, devalue some of our young assets and rather prioritize the addition of quality veterans who can help us win now.'  Help you win what, Houston?

The last thing any braintrust wants is having to decide whether to play vets or developing players.  If you have young players with allstar potential, then ideally they're playing behind veterans who are maybe on the verge of winning a championship.  All things considered, such does not appear to be the case with the Rockets.

Going back to last offseason, Brooks was a good addition for what they were trying to build.  Defensive players like him, who can galvanize an entire team, are priceless.  But as for Fred, he may have to go - and not in exchange for a present player(s) unless he fits the timeline of the rest of the roster, someone to make up for the departure of KPJ.

MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES: F

What really broke my heart with the Grizzlies wasn't so much that Ja Morant-gun shit but him getting seriously injured like immediately upon returning.  I hope said "injury" was just an excuse for the braintrust to shut him down during what they already perceived as a lost season.  But if not, smh.

Just a couple seasons ago, Memphis was poised to be the next big thing in the Western Conference, nah, the entire NBA.  Instead, OKC managed to steal their thunder.  And I'm not overly confident that the Grizzlies are going to be able to reclaim it, with their most-noteworthy transaction this offseason actually being the loss of Ziaire Williams.  This is after they already lost Xavier Tillman, who went on to immediately win a championship, earlier in the season.

Aging + lack of roster retention usually does not equal progression.  I still believe that Morant may be a second coming of Jordan.  But maybe he needs to work harder in terms of not putting the organization in a position whereas, I don't even know how to put it.

NEW ORLEANS PELICANS: B-

Entering into this season, if Brandon Ingram sticks around, I think it's safe to say that on paper the Pelicans have the best starting five in the league.  But of course, us mature NBA analysts know that talent doesn't always equal success.  And that's esp true on a team like NOP, where you have star players with overlapping skillsets, coupled with a style of play that is more or less positionless.

I don't necessary see why the Pelicans - or even the Hawks before them - would, given their rosters, bother to acquire the services of Dejounte Murray, unless they intend to actually use him as a (starting) PG.  It's the same like when ATL acquired him a couple of offseasons ago - okay, now how is the roster going to be structured?  Where does Murray fit in alongside the other team's scorers - two, if not all three of whom are iso-oriented?

And then, who are they planning to take back for Ingram anyway?  I'm not in favor of breaking up this roster, but it's going to take a helluva coach to make it work.

If this were a team during the 1990s, when players knew how to stay in their lane so to speak, it would be like yeah, they're contenders.  But in today's NBA, when most coaches are more or tokens, I mean I don't even know off the top of my head who's coaching NOP.  But I don't remember it being a name like, you know what I'm saying?

SAN ANTONIO SPURS: A

I was really impressed with the Spurs' offseason because first of all, they were able to make their moves quickly.  Secondly, they're staying in their lane.  Wemby is already one of the best players in NBA, but it's not like 'hey, let's go overboard and try to win now'.  But at the same time, it isn't like 'let's surround our star with a team that doesn't know how to win'.  You know what I mean?  Like moderation type shit, going out and getting a couple of older players that makes the team more, not less, must watch.

If I could give out a "Offseason Player of the Year" award, that'd go to CP3.  I've been saying for years that how some older star players need to learn how to team up with their younger counterparts, playing for up-and-coming teams instead of chasing instant championships - a strategy that doesn't work most of the time anyway.

I also approve of the addition of Harrison Barnes, the type of player who not only contributes but also seems to bring a sense of stability and order to any system.  This should be more exciting than last season, so long as the Spurs don't suffer any major injuries.  And who knows?  With another star or two and a well-rounded bench, there you go, contender time.  Maybe "the Neck" will walk away with a ring after all.

CONCLUSION

If not for the Spurs and Pelicans, the Southwest would have a had a painfully boring offseason.  This current Spurs' roster, under Popovich, could prove viably competitive, playoff-worthy even.  As for New Orleans, even though they have a helluva roster, the excitement isn't quite there because it'll take a basketball mastermind, the type of which isn't like readily available, to make all those high-grade pieces work in tandem.

New Year Analytical Reflections (Eastern Conference)

For the few readers who may have been following this blog even during this current period of relative non-activity and it being devoid of an independent URL, I apologize for not staying on top of it.  I've been following the NBA for a long time, and after awhile it becomes sorta redundant and boring.  You have veteran players who spend the entire season looking forward to the playoffs, and you have veteran fans who feel the same.

But we have about reached the midway point, and this is the start of a new year.  So I want to use the opportunity to look back at the predictions I made at the beginning of the season for each respective team and analyzing if those foretellings, from a self-proclaimed guru, have thus far proving true or not.

ATLANTA HAWKS 

Previous Prediction: Given their trajectory over the past couple of seasons, the Hawks are once again on the verge of sliding into obscurity.

Current Standing (17-23, 2-game winning streak): That prediction has proven to be more or less true.  The way the Young + Murray experiment didn't work last season, the Hawks should've have expeditiously moved on from it.  Instead, they got rid of John Collins for some reason.

The problem with teams such as this one is that sometimes the best or most-popular player can be, in the grand scheme of things, the most non-compatible.  I've always been critical of Trae Young's lack of defensive prowess and chucking.  He's an amazing and electrifying scorer who can put on a show like few others in the NBA, but he can't pull off miracles with the same type of consistency as, say, Steph Curry.

Currently, ATL is supposed to be trending towards trading Dejounte.  Another problem with this type of predicament is that Murray is arguably better than Young.  Or let's say, which one you prefer would depend on the makeup or direction of the overall roster.

It isn't likely that trading Dejounte is really change anything, unless the Hawks gets back an above-average player or two whose style is really compatible with Trae's brand of on-court leadership.  And they can't trade Young, even if they wanted to, because as a mediocre team, the last thing you need to be thinking about is getting rid of the one player on your roster who sells tickets.  

The one player I personally hopes gets traded next is Clint Capela, because he deserves better than this.  I can picture him on a team like the Thunder, if they don't have to give up any key personnel to get him.  The Hawks procuring Murray awhile back was a masterful move, from the perspective that at the time he was an all-star.  But overall, their braintrust haven't proven themselves to be gurus.

BOSTON CELTICS

Previous Prediciton: I doubted the fit of Jrue Holiday with this squad, and I also doubted the pairing of Porzingis + Horford from a defensive perspective.

Current standing (32-9, 3-game winning streak) I more or less knew that the Celtics would remain contenders, as they have been for about a decade now.  But boy was I wrong in terms of how good they actually are.  They have the best record in the NBA, though you can't really take that for granted in the East with the Sixers and Bucks lurking around.

I'm still finding it hard to imagine though that Boston will win a championship this year.  Obviously, it can happen.  But for some reason I can't explain, I'm having a difficult time picturing it.

BROOKLYN NETS

Previous Prediction: For some reason that perhaps only they could truly understand, coming into this season it was like the Nets were still expecting Ben Simmons to make a difference.  I think that his NBA days are just about over.  Actually, I was arguing that he should've just retire after bouncing on the Sixers.  Having him on the roster feels more like a burden than a gift.

That said, I still thought the Nets had a better roster than their record, 16 and 24 with a 4-game losing streak, would indicate.  I guess now, the days of dickriding Jacque Vaughn are also over.  There's even been talk of Brooklyn trading Mikal Bridges who, to my knowledge, is their best player.  So, they're looking like a team with no clear direction at the moment.  I guess KD, Kyrie and them really did have the last laugh.

CHARLOTTE HORNETS

Previous Prediction: The Hornets would be the worst team in the NBA.

Current Standing (8-30, 6-game losing streak) LaMelo Ball has health issues of course, but it could be worse.  Miles Bridges is back, having picked up statistically where he left off, even if his brand has suffered.  Brandon Miller is more or less living up to expectation.  Terry Rozier, at this point, can probably be considered the most-underrated player in the league, and even the aged Gordon Hayward is chipping in 15ppg.

Yet, the Hornets still suck.  So even though they don't technically have the worst record in the NBA, they are arguably the worst team as, with their talent, they shouldn't be in the same tier with the Spurs and Pistons.

 CHICAGO BULLS

Previous Prediction: They were going to once again underachieve due to injury and inconsistency.

Current Standing (19-23, 1-game losing streak) I feel bad for Zach LaVine, because now the media has caught on to what I've been saying for the longest - that he's not a viable franchise player - and it's like people are starting to diss or devalue him.  But what I always like to point out in these types of situations is that you can't fault a player if a braintrust concludes that he's better than he actually is and puts the onus on him accordingly.  LaVine is an amazing athlete with a pretty face who can score 20+ points at will, but he isn't good enough to lead a team to a championship.

That said, it's kinda hard to diss the Bulls, because they probably would have been contenders for the past couple of seasons if Lonzo Ball weren't injured.  Like who would've thought that he would end up being such an ex-factor?

But once it did become blatantly obvious that you can't count on Lonzo's health, you know, like two or three years ago, then the Bulls should have been thinking about dismantling this core since then.  And it isn't all about capability issues between LaVine, DeRozan and Vucevic but also, like who's even the role players on this team?

Two or three seasons ago, Chicago did well assembling a formidable team of players all collected from other squads.  But it's been years, like 30 of them, since they've shown any type of exceptional genius when it comes to drafting players.  So when they finally get around to dismantling this roster, might as well let the braintrust go also.

But that said, I do agree with Zach that the Lakers would be an ideal destination for him, and LAL also has a few players who together could be more beneficial to this current iteration of the Bulls than LaVine is.

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS

Previous prediction: The Cavs are a good team but are not the recipients to necessary amounts of favoritism.

These days, I never hear anything about the Cavaliers besides for an occasional injury report.  That's despite the fact that they're currently 24 and 15 and, more notably, on a six-game winning streak.  But that reality can be considered both a good and bad thing.  

It's good because, that means they're more or less winning as to be expected, you know, like some no-news-is-good-news type shit.  But it ain't so good because that means they're remaining amongst the less-popular teams.  And yes, as I've been saying for years and now even laymen and coaches are starting to realize, popularity does matter when it comes to being successful in the NBA.  The Cavs have a couple of studs, most notably Donovan Mitchell, but for whatever reasons he's never achieved super-duper star status, even going back to his days with the Jazz.

So I wouldn't be surprised, considering how competitive the East has become, if Cleveland, as deep as they may be, once again end up getting bounced in the First Round.  Sometimes in the world of professional sports, a team's championship window only opens for a season or two.  And I still believe that the Cavs more or less blew their chance when they traded Ricky Rubio a couple of seasons ago, even if they did eventually get him back.

DETROIT PISTONS

Previous prediction: They should focus more on acquiring quality vets, because the youth movement isn't working.

Current Standing (4-37, worst in the NBA, with a 1-game losing streak) I knew the Pistons were going to be bad, but I didn't think they would be historically so.  It's kinda confusing because their roster is pretty talented and also a bit deep.

I see that Cade is currently averaging 23 pts and 8 assists, which would be all-star worthy numbers if Detroit were winning.  He didn't turn out to be the kind of bust his dismal and exaggerated rookie season implied.  But at the same time, I think it's safe to say that he may not be a viable team leader neither.

INDIANA PACERS

Previous Prediction: The Pacers may be on cusp of once again being recognized as a great team, but they need to like actually do something first before getting there.

Some people believe that something may have been the acquisition of Pascal Siakim, who they just traded for like yesterday.  I don't doubt, but at the same time, I'm not necessarily convinced either.

Tyrese Haliburton has developed to into an unexpected (to everyone expect Indiana's braintrust) perennial all-star, and the team is solidly entrenched within the second tier of the Eastern Conference.  So maybe, the better strategy would have been to ride it out and try to improve with what they had.

But after what they've done with Haliburton, who I was previously thinking was along the lines of a scrub, I have to believe that the Pacers know what they're doing.  And therefore, getting Pascal should move them into the elite category.

MIAMI HEAT

Previous Prediction: Coming into this season, their roster didn't look as formidable as it did a few months prior.  But if any brainstrust can pull off a miracle, it's the Heat.

Current Standing (24-17, 1-game losing streak) And they did that by drafting this dude Jaime Jaquez that nobody was talking about before the draft yet is currently considered to be the third-best rookie of his class.

The Heat have sorta this blue-collar image to them, like they don't have the starpower of some other teams, but they'll beat you with their doggedness and intelligence.  Their most-popular player is Jimmy Butler, who also has that type of reputation.  And as illustrated with last season's playoffs, the NBA doesn't mind supporting Miami.  So this is definitely a team that you can't sleep on.

MILWAUKEE BUCKS

Previous Prediction: Their roster is deep enough defensively to mitigate, to some degree, the loss of Jrue Holiday.

Current Standing (28-13, 1-game losing streak) That was always a risky prediction, in part because Brook Lopez plays an all-important role in the Bucks' defense, and he's really big, and those big Cs like that tend to age faster, in NBA terms, than leaner ones.  And verily, I can't remember the last time I heard anything positive about Lopez, in terms of him contributing to the team's success, despite the fact that he's still starting and averaging 3 blocks per game.

And I'm not singling him out but just using that as an example to point out the fact that Milwaukee doesn't feel as potent defensively as they have been in the past - not in my words but in those of Giannis, and not due to the absence of Jrue per se but lack of effort, which may in part be attributed to the presence of Damian Lillard, who has never been known as a defender.

But one of the reasons I espoused the pairing of Lillard + Giannis, months before it happened, is because most teams would lose to that type of diverse firepower by default.  Who knows when or if the new-look Bucks will ever quote/unquote 'click'.  But even now, as they aren't, they have the record of a contender, which says a lot.

NEW YORK KNICKS

Previous Prediction: The Knicks offseason didn't impress me, conjuring up feelings of old when their braintrust was dumb AF.

But getting OG Anunoby, based on early returns, once again has NYK's braintrust looking as if they are a lot more intelligent than times past.  In fact, I would say this is the one team without a superstar who's in the best position to win a championship.

ORLANDO MAGIC

Previous Prediction: With Pancho Banchero being sort of an ideal bigman for today's playing style, they may just make the playoffs.

And the Magic have looked like one of the more consistent teams in the NBA.  The Jonathan Isaac experiment never panned out, and Markelle is once again on ice.  But Orlando looks like their just one star player away, i.e. a compatible one, from really being formidable.

PHILADELPHIA 76ERS

Previous Prediction: The Sixers will continue to be contenders even without James Harden.

Current Standing (26-13, 3-game winning streak) That's one prediction that proved spot-on.  Maybe this season, fortune and forces will even favor Philly, and they'll make it to the Finals and maybe even win a championship, which has been a long time coming.

I also foresaw that now that the Sixers have finally decided to let Tyrese Maxey be their primary guard (something they should've done since Simmons decided to bounce, imo), he would be all-star.  Tyrese isn't as popular as some of the other Gs in the east, but it looks like that may also come true, even if he's not an all-star starter, which he probably deserves to be (alongside Haliburton).

TORONTO RAPTORS

Previous Prediction: The Raptors aren't contenders but perhaps could be, with their current roster, if they figured things out.

Current Standing (16-25, 1-game winning streak) But figures things out they have not, not with the roster they began the season with.

The early returns indicate that the Raptors did take a step in the right direction by acquiring Quickley and Barrett.  Trading Pascal Siakim may also work better than expected, since Bruce Brown is underrated but now may finally be in a position where he can really let it all hang out.  

WASHINGTON WIZARDS

Previous Prediction: The Wizards would suck, as usual, but Jordan Poole would be an all-star.

Current Standing (7-32, 1-game losing streak) Well, I got one half of that prediction right.  I'm not writing off Poole's all-star potential just yet, but if he does ever reach that level, it doesn't really look like it's going to happen anytime soon.

In my defense, I've stated in the past, more than once, that dudes tend to shoot better when they're playing with (or sometimes even against) Steph.  The mistake I made is thinking that Poole had spent enough time alongside Curry to have honed his own talent into a comparable level of lethalness.  Obviously, I was wrong.  But it should also be blatantly obvious to everyone by this point that the Warriors made a mistake by letting him go.  It's sorta like both teams lost in that transaction - Washington for overestimating Jordan, and Golden State for underestimating him.

2023 Eastern Conference Play-in Predictions

Now that the 2023 Playoffs brackets are starting to settle in, I can also began my predictions in terms of who I believe will emerge victorious.  I do believe that sometimes, the better team may not emerge victorious because the NBA powers-that-be deem otherwise.  So I'm going to split each series prediction into two categories, "Fair and Share" and "What Will the NBA Do".  The first centers on who I think will win the series, barring (additional) major injuries.  And that second category is just in case I also feel that the NBA may favor a particular squad, even if they aren't better.  And to note, a higher bracket positioning doesn't actually mean that a team is superior to another.  For instance in some cases, such as has been recently pointed out with the Bucks and Celtics, the former may have a better record, but the latter matches up against them particularly well.

HAWKS (41-40) vs HEAT (43-38)

If you would have told me at the beginning of this season that the Hawks would have finished 8th in the East, I would've had a hard time believing it.  I rather thought they would be contenders, contingent on Trae Young and Dejounte Murray, two alpha PGs, working things out in the backcourt.  But not only aren't they contenders, but also, you would have to believe looking at their record, were never able to incorporate Murray as idealized, even if he is averaging over 20ppg.  In fact what it rather looks like his presence is negatively affecting John Collins' game.

FAIR & SQUARE

Tbh, I haven't seen the Hawks play enough this season to really pin down what their problem is.  But logic would dictate that if they haven't gotten their shit together by now, it's not suddenly going to happen against the Heat, a team who, despite disappointing this season also, at least know their identity.

WHAT WILL THE NBA DO?

I don't see any reason why the NBA would interfere in this one.  But I would presume they'd want Miami to prevail over Atlanta for a number of reasons, such as the Heat being more popular and also EC playoffs' fixtures.

RAPTORS (40-41) VS. BULLS (39-42)

Two more teams that disappointed this season.  Well, at least the Raptors are a disappointment to me, because I thought after getting a quality bigman (Jakob Poeltl) they were going to prove themselves contenders.  Instead, it's as if his presence fukedup their chemistry.  Oh well, no one was really expecting them to do anything this season anyway, I guess except the owners themselves, since they're reportedly on the verge of sacking Nick Nurse.

FAIR & SQUARE

I have to give this one to the Bulls, because their stars, and especially DeRozan, are known to be more clutch than those of the Raptors.  Imagine that, DeMar knocking his old squad out of the playoffs.

WHAT WILL THE NBA DO?

I also believe the NBA wants the Bulls to win.  Would they go as far as to rig for them?  In their eyes I don't think they'd be much of a difference between Chicago or Toronto potentially making the playoffs.  But what should be remembered is that the Bulls got all but decimated by the Bucks - who they would once again go to face in the First Round if they make it past the play-ins - during the 2022 Playoffs.

CONCLUSION

Miami also convincingly handled the Hawks the last year, which is presumably why they went out in got Dejounte in the first place.  So if nothing else, this play-in should act as a litmus test as to whether that experiment has been successful.  In other words, if they beat the Heat it may be considered a success and something to build further on.  But if not, well, don't blame the shit on John Collins.

NBA Offseason Power Stinkings (Northeast Division)

The Miami Heat are the only team in the Northeast Division who are considered to be contenders, which may be true, but I'd watch out for those Hawks.  They staged one of biggest coups of the offseason in grabbing Dejounte Murray out of nowhere, like no one saw that coming.  And there is perhaps no single transaction that occurred this summer that will prove as significant.

But since this is the Power Stinkings, I'm not going to start off with the likes of the Heat or Hawks.  Instead, let's not forget that there's also teams out there such as:

1.  CHARLOTTE HORNETS

The NBA season, at a grueling 82 games, is largely a test of endurance where, along the line, teams that are weak one way or another eventually get exposed.  So at the beginning of last season, the Hornets were one of the feel-good stories of the NBA.  Like you look at LaMelo Ball and just want him to win.  But by the time all was said and done, it's like they just vanished from competititveness.

Now Miles Bridges, who is arguably their best player, like who knows when or if he'll suit up again.  Then for whatever reason, the Hornets aren't making any effort to re-sign Montrezl Harris nor chase any quality free agents.  So now, it looks like they're going to run it back with Ball + Oubre + Rozier Hayward (!) + Plumlee, which may not be the worst starting lineup in the NBA but has to be pretty darn close.

2.  ORLANDO MAGIC

Paolo Banchero may look "NBA ready" or however they call it, but I live by a pretty unwavering philosophy of never putting too much hope in a rookie during his first year, because it's very rare that a rookie has any type of major impact to begin with.  And even then, they need to drafted onto a roster that's already moderately good.

And maybe you can say the Magic are in that position.  For instance Jonathan Isaac, who awhile back was being touted as their franchise player or whatever, I guess is supposed to be playing soon.  And I'm still a Markelle Fultz fan, I suppose.  I also kinda like Mo Bamba, and this dude Franz Wagner is supposed to be hot or whatever.  Cole Anthony is also supposed to be some type of revelation, but honestly I can't remember the last time I saw the Magic play like a full game.  This is a team that could really benefit from the presence of a bonafide superstar, which maybe Banchero will be after a season or two.

3.  WASHINGTON WIZARDS

Bradley Beal is my type of NBA player.  When you're getting paid gazillions of dollars to play basketball, as taxing as the NBA may be, you don't sit around crying about rings and legacy and all that bullshit.  That is your legacy - that you're actually getting paid tens of millions of dollars to play fukin basketball.  Just ask Antoine Walker.  You know what I mean?  Like get your priorities straight already.

That said, you have to admire this guy's level of commitment, though perhaps what he's actually committed to is money, i.e. the Wizards being able to pay him more than any other team, because it's like these guys never really improve.  Well actually at this time last year, I thought that the Wiz, along with the Bulls, had the best offseason of 2021.  But what seems to have happened to Washington, even though they finally put together a good roster post-Wall, was that they lacked unity or something and got exposed as the season wore on.

And their current roster is also, in reality, moderately impressive.  Barton and Morris, I would imagine, should fit nicely next to Beal.  Also a frontline of Kuzma and Porzingis (esp if he's healthy) is nothing to sneeze at.  But speaking of legacy, let's not forget that this is the Washington Wizards, so no one should expect them to overachieve.

2.  ATLANTA HAWKS

I'm really feeling the Hawks right now for a couple of reasons.  One is that they didn't rush out and trade John Collins when he got into it with Trae Young.  This is professional athletics, so you aren't supposed to overreact everytime coworkers aren't getting along with each other, even if one of them is a franchise player.

Secondly, they went out and got Dejounte Murray, which was like some guru shit.  Their roster actually wasn't that bad last season, and his presence may end up solving most of their shortcomings.  Like no one is really talking the Hawks, but they have, when you also take age into consideration, perhaps the most well-rounded starting 5 in the NBA.  And they also now have two Holiday brothers coming off the bench.  Their one weakness though may be frontline depth, esp since both Capela and Collins are known to have injury issues.

1.  MIAMI HEAT

I'm tired of dickridin the Heat already.  These teams, like the Suns who do exceptionally well during the season but falter in the playoffs, it always hurts when I predict them to win big, but then they fall short.  Also, PJ Tucker leaving is supposed to have some type of adverse affect on them or whatever.  I personally think Tucker tends to be overrated.  But it ain't like they actually got anybody for him in return.

The Heat are one of the best-coached teams in the NBA for like ages now, but maybe they need to try something new, like maybe starting Tyler Herro alongside Duncan Robinson.  I mean, why not?  They have one of the deeper rosters in the league but obviously need to devise a new strategy to take things to the next level.  And I'm not really sure how much Kyle Lowry has left in the tank, which makes me wonder why perhaps they didn't go after an additional starting level PG this offseason.

CONCLUSION

The Heat lost a couple of role players this offseason, didn't get anybody back to match their talent level, but are still the team to beat in the Northeast.  That says alot about how wise this organization actually is.  But speaking of injury issues, that begs the question of how much they can truly rely not only on Lowry but also Butler and Adebayo this coming season.

Meanwhile, the Hawks may not be models of health themselves, but they are going to be a fun watch, even more than they've already been the past couple of years.  And the acquisition of Murray is such that the sky's really the limit for them at the moment, and they may have the best backcourt in the NBA (taking nothing away from the Splash Bros).

I feel sorry for the Hornets in more ways than one.  Who knows if they would have made the effort to retain Bridges anyway, but damn, is he catching a bad one.

And as for the Magic and Wizards, I mean the East ain't as formidable as it may seem at times.  And maybe, just maybe they'll make the playoffs.