Oh, and by the way... Do you really think Kevin Durant is going to leave Golden State? I don't. Do you really think that LeBron will get enough help by next season that the Lakers will be able to finally unseat the Warriors? I don't. It's the greatest sport on earth with the most entertaining sideshows (The Knicks! The Kings! Look at Tom Thibodeau!) but, the end result seems super bleak for a third consecutive season.
Here is a run-down on every NBA team's best players... (Rosters as of October 14th, 2018)
+ = injured for a potentially significant amount of the season.
* = rookie.
Atlanta Hawks
Head Coach: Lloyd Pierce
They're still tanking but, don't be surprised when Collins and Prince develop early and keep this team from being unwatchable.
Boston Celtics
Head Coach: Brad Stevens
The Eastern Conference favorites should have Irving and Hayward at 100% health while Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum begin to deliver on their early lottery pick hype.
Brooklyn Nets
Head Coach: Kenny Atkinson
Year four of the rebuild does not look different enough from year one of the rebuild unless Jarrett Allen becomes an overnight sensation.
Charlotte Hornets
Head Coach: James Borrego
Somebody save Kemba Walker from this nonsense roster. Also, Tony Parker deserves better. I doubt James Borrego is enough of a revolutionary NBA mind to save this team from a 7-10 seed finish.
Chicago Bulls
Head Coach: Fred Hoiberg
Adding the NBA's most overrated player (Jabari Parker) won't help the Bulls eclipse 40 wins anytime soon.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Head Coach: Tyronn Lue
Nothing is impossible in the east but, a fifth consecutive finals appearance seems highly improbable for Cleveland.
Detroit Pistons
Head Coach: Dwane Casey
The Pistons are now trying to build around Blake Griffin, a task that is so difficult with how often he gets injured that the Clippers gave up on the idea of it all together.
Indiana Pacers
Head Coach: Nate McMillan
Repaying Nate McMillan for rebuilding Victor Oladipo may end up being a regretful decision in the future.
Miami Heat
Head Coach: Erik Spoelstra
Before they target big names in the 2019 free agency pool, the Heat must host the Dwyane Wade farewell tour.
Milwaukee Bucks
Head Coach: Mike Budenholzer
New coach Mike Budenholzer is already drawing rave reviews. If he can turn Giannis into a shooter and Eric Bledsoe into a consistently good player, he'll get Coach of the Year consideration.
New York Knicks
Head Coach: David Fizdale
Buying a bunch of former lottery picks for cheap is a good way to land a surprising playoff spot and with names like Burke, Hezonja, Mudiay and Vonleh, I'd expect at least one person to rebuild their career under new head coach David Fizdale.
Orlando Magic
Head Coach: Steve Clifford
Mo Bamba is more than just a breakthrough single for rapper Sheck Wes. Bamba should be the next big man to take Orlando to the postseason (even if that's a few years away).
Philadelphia 76ers
Head Coach: Brett Brown
Getting Markelle Fultz back in NBA shape is the key to besting Boston in the postseason but, might not be enough to counteract the return of Gordon Hayward in the eastern arms race.
Toronto Raptors
Head Coach: Nick Nurse
The youth on this team is worth getting excited over but, can Kawhi and Lowry stay healthy? Can they coexist? Are Greg Monroe and Danny Green on their final stops of their careers? Too many questions can result in a disaster.
Washington Wizards
Head Coach: Scott Brooks
Dwight Howard is injured already so, don't expect this team to be any better than they have been so far in the Wall-Beal era.
Dallas Mavericks
Head Coach: Rick Carlisle
Adding DeAndre Jordan and everyone's favorite rookie Luka Doncic has the Mavs back in playoff contention but, that bench is still weak.
Denver Nuggets
Head Coach: Mike Malone
I still don't understand how Denver missed the playoffs last season but, keeping Paul Millsap on the court and one of the injured Isaiah Thomas/Porter Jr. duo showing flashes will be enough for them to lock that postseason position down easily.
Your defending NBA Champion Golden State Warriors
Head Coach: Steve Kerr
The development of Damian Jones while Cousins is out is the only thing about this team that intrigues me in any way at the moment.
Houston Rockets
Head Coach: Mike D'Antoni
Carmelo is the obvious focus of fascination with the 2018-19 Rockets but give me that Marquese Chriss bounce-back potential and add in a dash of improving Clint Capela and inject into my veins.
Los Angeles Clippers
Head Coach: Doc Rivers
Tobias Harris finally gets his own NBA team and who knew that the Rivers' family wasn't a package deal? Doc outlasted Austin and the roster honestly looks much better for that.
Los Angeles Lakers
Head Coach: Luke Walton
I will watch every Laker game that I can. They could win anywhere between 34 and 62 games and this is the truest test on LeBron's leadership if he can keep this locker room's possible drama from escalating into the public atmosphere.
Memphis Grizzlies
Head Coach: J.B. Bickerstaff
A much lesser team with a nice ceiling and extremely low floor. Chandler Parsons' contract is still keeping this team from any notable achievements.
Minnesota Timberwolves
Head Coach: Tom Thibodeau
Now that we've seen coach Thibs get a second chance at running a team, he has eliminated any shot at a third opportunity next year when he's back at ESPN.
New Orleans Pelicans
Head Coach: Alvin Gentry
I've always liked Julius Randle and now, he'll get a chance to excel in a more under-the-radar environment alongside the league's best big man.
Oklahoma City Thunder
Head Coach: Billy Donovan
The Thunder FINALLY have some depth for the first time since Kevin Durant left town. Let's see if Billy Donovan can do anything surprising with Dennis Schroder, Nerlens Noel and company.
Phoenix Suns
Head Coach: Igor Kokoskov
Deandre Ayton is the surest soon-to-be star prospect the Suns have had in this era of constant rebuild. Hopefully, Dragan Bender is not a lost cause or at the very least, Josh Jackson can show some sort of promise around the corner.
Portland Trailblazers
Head Coach: Terry Stotts
They better have some type of bounce-back planned after a first-round upset sweep last year. Replacing Shabazz Napier and Ed Davis with Seth Curry and Nik Stauskas does not move the needle.
Sacramento Kings
Head Coach: Dave Joerger
They might be awful but, at least they'll be top ten in entertainment value! I'm very intrigued by the young talent on this squad, especially Harry Giles coming off an injury that cost him his true rookie season.
San Antonio Spurs
Head Coach: Gregg Popovich
The injury bug has already chewed up and spit out this team so, any hope of them being the #2 team in the West seems to have disappeared. Luckily, they still have two players that could fit in a championship big three (DeRozan and Aldridge).
Utah Jazz
Head Coach: Quin Snyder
This is essentially the same team that got bounced in the second round last season only, now they have Duke hothead Grayson Allen contributing even more defense if needed.
2018-19 Predictions
Western Conference
1. Golden State Warriors
2. Oklahoma City Thunder
3. Houston Rockets
4. San Antonio Spurs
5. Los Angeles Lakers
6. Utah Jazz
7. Denver Nuggets
8. Portland Trailblazers
9. New Orleans Pelicans
10. Dallas Mavericks
11. Minnesota Timberwolves
12. Los Angeles Clippers
13. Memphis Grizzlies
14. Phoenix Suns
15. Sacramento Kings
Eastern Conference
1. Boston Celtics
2. Philadelphia 76ers
3. Toronto Raptors
4. Milwaukee Bucks
5. Washington Wizards
6. Indiana Pacers
7. Charlotte Hornets
8. Miami Heat
9. New York Knicks
10. Detroit Pistons
11. Orlando Magic
12. Chicago Bulls
13. Brooklyn Nets
14. Cleveland Cavaliers
15. Atlanta Hawks
MVP: LeBron James
2. Oklahoma City Thunder
3. Houston Rockets
4. San Antonio Spurs
5. Los Angeles Lakers
6. Utah Jazz
7. Denver Nuggets
8. Portland Trailblazers
9. New Orleans Pelicans
10. Dallas Mavericks
11. Minnesota Timberwolves
12. Los Angeles Clippers
13. Memphis Grizzlies
14. Phoenix Suns
15. Sacramento Kings
Eastern Conference
1. Boston Celtics
2. Philadelphia 76ers
3. Toronto Raptors
4. Milwaukee Bucks
5. Washington Wizards
6. Indiana Pacers
7. Charlotte Hornets
8. Miami Heat
9. New York Knicks
10. Detroit Pistons
11. Orlando Magic
12. Chicago Bulls
13. Brooklyn Nets
14. Cleveland Cavaliers
15. Atlanta Hawks
 |
| USA TODAY Sports If Kyrie Irving can stay healthy for a full season, Boston is a lock for the #1 seed and Kyrie's an MVP candidate. |
ROTY: Deandre Ayton
DPOTY: Giannis Antetokounmpo
6th Man: Lou Williams
Coach of the Year: Luke Walton
Most Improved: Jayson Tatum
Western Playoffs
1st Round
GSW 4 - POR 1
OKC 4 - DEN 3
UTAH 4 - HOU 2
LAL 4 - SAS 3
2nd Round
GSW 4 - LAL 0
UTAH 4 - OKC 3
Western Conference Finals
GSW 4 - UTAH 1
Eastern Playoffs
1st Round
BOS 4 - MIA 0
PHI 4 - CHA 0
TOR 4 - IND 3
MIL 4 - WAS 1
2nd Round
BOS 4 - MIL 2
PHI 4 - TOR 1
Eastern Conference Finals
BOS 4 - PHI 3
Finals Prediction - Warriors over Celtics in 6.
Finals MVP - Kevin Durant. Again. For some reason.
Sorry for the predictability. It's not my fault.
1st Round
GSW 4 - POR 1
OKC 4 - DEN 3
UTAH 4 - HOU 2
LAL 4 - SAS 3
2nd Round
GSW 4 - LAL 0
UTAH 4 - OKC 3
Western Conference Finals
GSW 4 - UTAH 1
Eastern Playoffs
1st Round
BOS 4 - MIA 0
PHI 4 - CHA 0
TOR 4 - IND 3
MIL 4 - WAS 1
2nd Round
BOS 4 - MIL 2
PHI 4 - TOR 1
Eastern Conference Finals
BOS 4 - PHI 3
Finals Prediction - Warriors over Celtics in 6.
Finals MVP - Kevin Durant. Again. For some reason.
Sorry for the predictability. It's not my fault.
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