Post by jupee on Jul 2, 2023 14:46:49 GMT -6
EAST
1. Toronto Raptors
2. New York Knicks
Well, well, well, you just put champions to the first place, such an easy guess. Actually, it is easy and not at the same time. Not easy, cause last few regular seasons were dominated by Knicks and their long rage artillery. Easy, cause NYK just lost 48 PPG of it this off-season. Not easy, cause snatching Wicks and Seals in FA was for sure big win for Knicks and will bring more versatility to the team. All in all, I do believe that this team would not be that dominant in the regular season, but have even more chances than before to finally go all the way in the play-offs.
Apologies to Raptors for spending less words about them, but they kept all main players, Earl Williams will fill for Walt Frazier, Dewayne Dedmon will strengthen their post area, so they are serious about their repeat.
3. Miami Heat
For quite some time Heat was this most serious threat to the best Eastern teams, and they will remain in this role. Raptors and NYK slip or get some big troubles with injuries, and Miami might find themselves winning East. But otherwise they are just an opponent to beat in the 2nd round if you fail to win top spot in East during the regular season.
4. Washington Wizards
5. Chicago Bulls
Acquiring Dwight Jones for sure will be huge to Washington. Same could be said about Bulls and Sam Lacey. However, to be contenders in the East, Wizards are lacking some star power, while Bulls currently have no depth in perimeter.
6. Boston Celtics
Swen Nater might be getting old, but for me his duo with Jerry Stackhouse is the most intriguing this upcoming season. Let’s also do not overlook signing of Jalen Smith. Celtics are the dark horse of this conference, with clear abilities to shake things up and provide some surprises, even in play-offs. If Marcus Smart is ready to bring the best of his team.
And that is it really, we have 6 good teams in East...
7. Detroit Pistons
8. Orlando Magic
9. Brooklyn Nets
10. Cleveland Cavaliers
...and then we have a pack of boring and dull squads. But this is understandable, those teams are not being managed actively, so they are either dying former contenders or some random mashes of rookies and veterans.
Out of them, I want to believe in Pistons the most. Although KG and DJ both had lazy training camps and came back kind-of worse, but maybe Stephon Marbury will fit better than Rondo did. John Drew and Maurice Lucas can actually make playoffs due to lack of strong opposition. Nets will continue to play their slow defense-minded, inside-oriented basketball – I place them 9th only because someone had to be placed there. Cavs will go as far as LaMarcus Aldridge take them, this could actually be 7th or 8th place too.
11. Charlotte Hornets
12. Philadelphia 76ers
13. Atlanta Hawks
14. Indiana Pacers
15. Milwaukee Bucks
Hornets actually has some nice bigs, and Devin Booker is a stud, but I feel that the team is still a bit too young, still need development. Philly blew up their team, only few players survived. Hawks fans should be intrigued by two things: how good will Ben Wallace be, and if their GM would be able to trade McGiannis. Pacers might not have a clear plan, but neither they have good players (ok, with exception of Moses and Mashburn). Bucks GM promised to surprise us with his approach and building via draft. Well, I have faith in him!
WEST
1. San Antonio Spurs
Let me tell you this, while I believe that championship will stay in East, in the regular season, West will be much more interesting and exciting to follow. Trading for Bargnani and Bogdanovic, signing Travis Best after his magnificent season in Dallas and finally adding some serious inside scoring in trade with Kings. Spurs turned from bottom team to contender in one off-season. In my opinion – the most suited to win West in regular season.
2. Minnesota Timberwolves
Similar to Toronto, kept the core and had a calm off-season. This means they will have another shot at the title.
3. Kings
4. Lakers
Following, we have two exciting young teams. Sacramento has crazy backcourt (Kobe, Edwards, Walker&Watts) and huge scoring machine Kareem in the post. However, trade for Jermaine shows that Kings are still more future-oriented. I can see this team truly dominating ITP league in the future.
Lakers already showed some nice results last year, but now they acquired Damon Stoudamire, Caldwell Jones and have a lot of talent in their wing positions. Los Angeles are ready to compete!
5. Los Angeles Clippers
6. Utah Jazz
7. Dallas Mavericks
Then I see three solid, but limited squads. Former champions LAC will continue to possess a threat, but for now they might be lacking versatility. However, their new GM seems to be active trader, so I feel that we do not see the final version of these Clippers yet.
Window for Jazz is slowly closing and once second-best team in conference will continue to drop, but their roster is still good enough to make it to the playoffs, who knows, maybe even to win a series against some inexperienced squad.
Deni Avdija got himself a huge deal and finally some firepower next to him in Dallas, so improved results are expected. But it feels that the ceiling is not too high here.
8. Phoenix Suns
9. Memphis Grizzlies
I see these two in the battle for the final play-off spot. Suns is a nice combination of rookies and veterans, I expect them to have some roller coaster results this season. Meanwhile Memphis lost Pete Maravich and desperately need some wing players. They been a play-off team for last 4 seasons, but now it looks like necessity for a reboot is coming in a season or two.
10. Golden State Warriors
11. Houston Rockets
Then I have two teams, who might not participate in play-offs this year, but there is some light in the tunnel – finally! GSW is quite similar to hornets in East - talented, but not there yet. Houston can expect to have more meaningful season, but this one is mostly due to personnel change.
12. Denver Nuggets
13. Seattle Sonics
Eventually, we meet two bland teams in West too. Giannis better get ready to put some empty stats, and Denver… they actually have few decent players, but Nuggets fans have 0 reasons to be excited about upcoming season.
15. Portland Trail Blazers
Just yesterday they seemed like a powerhouse in West, but now they only have 4 veterans in their roster – all placed on trading block too. New GM seems to be serious about tanking, and I expect him to succeed – at least in getting worst record in the league.
1. Toronto Raptors
2. New York Knicks
Well, well, well, you just put champions to the first place, such an easy guess. Actually, it is easy and not at the same time. Not easy, cause last few regular seasons were dominated by Knicks and their long rage artillery. Easy, cause NYK just lost 48 PPG of it this off-season. Not easy, cause snatching Wicks and Seals in FA was for sure big win for Knicks and will bring more versatility to the team. All in all, I do believe that this team would not be that dominant in the regular season, but have even more chances than before to finally go all the way in the play-offs.
Apologies to Raptors for spending less words about them, but they kept all main players, Earl Williams will fill for Walt Frazier, Dewayne Dedmon will strengthen their post area, so they are serious about their repeat.
3. Miami Heat
For quite some time Heat was this most serious threat to the best Eastern teams, and they will remain in this role. Raptors and NYK slip or get some big troubles with injuries, and Miami might find themselves winning East. But otherwise they are just an opponent to beat in the 2nd round if you fail to win top spot in East during the regular season.
4. Washington Wizards
5. Chicago Bulls
Acquiring Dwight Jones for sure will be huge to Washington. Same could be said about Bulls and Sam Lacey. However, to be contenders in the East, Wizards are lacking some star power, while Bulls currently have no depth in perimeter.
6. Boston Celtics
Swen Nater might be getting old, but for me his duo with Jerry Stackhouse is the most intriguing this upcoming season. Let’s also do not overlook signing of Jalen Smith. Celtics are the dark horse of this conference, with clear abilities to shake things up and provide some surprises, even in play-offs. If Marcus Smart is ready to bring the best of his team.
And that is it really, we have 6 good teams in East...
7. Detroit Pistons
8. Orlando Magic
9. Brooklyn Nets
10. Cleveland Cavaliers
...and then we have a pack of boring and dull squads. But this is understandable, those teams are not being managed actively, so they are either dying former contenders or some random mashes of rookies and veterans.
Out of them, I want to believe in Pistons the most. Although KG and DJ both had lazy training camps and came back kind-of worse, but maybe Stephon Marbury will fit better than Rondo did. John Drew and Maurice Lucas can actually make playoffs due to lack of strong opposition. Nets will continue to play their slow defense-minded, inside-oriented basketball – I place them 9th only because someone had to be placed there. Cavs will go as far as LaMarcus Aldridge take them, this could actually be 7th or 8th place too.
11. Charlotte Hornets
12. Philadelphia 76ers
13. Atlanta Hawks
14. Indiana Pacers
15. Milwaukee Bucks
Hornets actually has some nice bigs, and Devin Booker is a stud, but I feel that the team is still a bit too young, still need development. Philly blew up their team, only few players survived. Hawks fans should be intrigued by two things: how good will Ben Wallace be, and if their GM would be able to trade McGiannis. Pacers might not have a clear plan, but neither they have good players (ok, with exception of Moses and Mashburn). Bucks GM promised to surprise us with his approach and building via draft. Well, I have faith in him!
WEST
1. San Antonio Spurs
Let me tell you this, while I believe that championship will stay in East, in the regular season, West will be much more interesting and exciting to follow. Trading for Bargnani and Bogdanovic, signing Travis Best after his magnificent season in Dallas and finally adding some serious inside scoring in trade with Kings. Spurs turned from bottom team to contender in one off-season. In my opinion – the most suited to win West in regular season.
2. Minnesota Timberwolves
Similar to Toronto, kept the core and had a calm off-season. This means they will have another shot at the title.
3. Kings
4. Lakers
Following, we have two exciting young teams. Sacramento has crazy backcourt (Kobe, Edwards, Walker&Watts) and huge scoring machine Kareem in the post. However, trade for Jermaine shows that Kings are still more future-oriented. I can see this team truly dominating ITP league in the future.
Lakers already showed some nice results last year, but now they acquired Damon Stoudamire, Caldwell Jones and have a lot of talent in their wing positions. Los Angeles are ready to compete!
5. Los Angeles Clippers
6. Utah Jazz
7. Dallas Mavericks
Then I see three solid, but limited squads. Former champions LAC will continue to possess a threat, but for now they might be lacking versatility. However, their new GM seems to be active trader, so I feel that we do not see the final version of these Clippers yet.
Window for Jazz is slowly closing and once second-best team in conference will continue to drop, but their roster is still good enough to make it to the playoffs, who knows, maybe even to win a series against some inexperienced squad.
Deni Avdija got himself a huge deal and finally some firepower next to him in Dallas, so improved results are expected. But it feels that the ceiling is not too high here.
8. Phoenix Suns
9. Memphis Grizzlies
I see these two in the battle for the final play-off spot. Suns is a nice combination of rookies and veterans, I expect them to have some roller coaster results this season. Meanwhile Memphis lost Pete Maravich and desperately need some wing players. They been a play-off team for last 4 seasons, but now it looks like necessity for a reboot is coming in a season or two.
10. Golden State Warriors
11. Houston Rockets
Then I have two teams, who might not participate in play-offs this year, but there is some light in the tunnel – finally! GSW is quite similar to hornets in East - talented, but not there yet. Houston can expect to have more meaningful season, but this one is mostly due to personnel change.
12. Denver Nuggets
13. Seattle Sonics
Eventually, we meet two bland teams in West too. Giannis better get ready to put some empty stats, and Denver… they actually have few decent players, but Nuggets fans have 0 reasons to be excited about upcoming season.
15. Portland Trail Blazers
Just yesterday they seemed like a powerhouse in West, but now they only have 4 veterans in their roster – all placed on trading block too. New GM seems to be serious about tanking, and I expect him to succeed – at least in getting worst record in the league.