SOUTHWEST DIVISION
DALLAS MAVERICKS
The Mavs said goodbye to a Euro legend in Dirk Nowitzki and hello to a budding Euro legend in Luka Doncic. Doncic lived up to his enormous hype, claiming the Rookie of the Year honor. With the team trading for and extending Kristaps Porzingis, Dallas has a foundation ready to lead them in the future. Now they just need to add talent in other areas.
HOUSTON ROCKETS
The Rockets had one goal going into last season: beating the Warriors. That was their goal. They met in the playoffs, then the Rockets oddly decided to audit Game 7 of last year's Western Conference Finals to prove a point. They were eliminated by said Warriors team.....again. The trade for Russell Westbrook gives them a two-headed monster along with James Harden, who has recently complained about not winning the MVP award last season. Oh, Houston.
MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES
It has ended. The success of the Grizzlies and many playoff appearances are in the past. Marc Gasol and Mike Conley are gone, technically replaced by Jaren Jackson Jr. and #2 overall pick Ja Morant. There is a new GM (Zachary Kleiman) and new coach (Taylor Jenkins). Memphis is now back to square one as they build for hopefully more playoff appearances in the future.
NEW ORLEANS PELICANS
The Pels underachieved to the point that AD wanted a trade (and eventually got one). GM Dell Demps was axed, replaced by David Griffin. The Pels acquired Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball and a slew of draft picks for AD. Then the cherry on the top. In Adam Silver's pipe dream coming true, New Orleans snagged the #1 pick and the generational talent wrecking ball known as Zion Williamson. It's safe to say the Pelicans' future looks bright.
SAN ANTONIO SPURS
As much as everyone tries to write this team off, the Spurs find a way to succeed. Gregg Popovich has a young core and vets in DeMar DeRozan, LaMarcus Aldridge and Rudy Gay that makes the Spurs a confident playoff contender. Yet I feel that the end is coming for their long playoff streak. Then again, they will prove me wrong again.
NORTHWEST DIVISION
DENVER NUGGETS
The Nuggets have the most rounded team in the NBA. On paper. Second best record in the West last season and put up a fight against Portland in the second round of the playoffs, only to fall short. After locking Nikola Jokic to an extension last off-season, Denver did the same for Jamal Murray this season. With Michael Porter Jr. and Bol Bol in the mix, Denver has the talent to succeed in the West. Can they do it?
MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES
The Wolves had a season to forget. Other than D-Rose's 50 point game, Minnesota had a downer of a campaign that saw Tom Thibodeau being.....Tom Thibodeau, which led to his firing in the middle of the season. KAT is a 20/10 machine, while we still can't figure out the disappearing act of Andrew Wiggins. They are a piece away from being a playoff team, since the Jimmy Butler trade didn't work.
OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER
After his series clinching three-pointer went through the net, Damien Lillard waved good-bye to the Thunder. It was an omen of things to come. Paul George wanting a trade, and getting one for a sack full of picks. One week later, Russell Westbrook wanted a trade and getting one for Chris Paul and a sack full of picks. The Thunder are in FULL-BLOWN rebuild mode. Somewhere, a slew of Sonics fans can sleep well now.
PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS
The Blazers are that team who can wreck havoc at any time. In a season in which their owner, Paul Allen passed away and their center, Jusef Nurkic suffered a gruesome injury, Portland played their most inspired ball in the playoffs, eventually getting swept by the Warriors in the Conference Finals. Locking up Lillard and C.J. McCollum to extensions and receiving Hassan Whiteside in a trade makes Portland a very scary team.
UTAH JAZZ
Utah continues to be a terror in the West, due to Psycho Q's use of his rotation, Donovan Mitchell's uncanny knack of scoring and the stonewall defense of Rudy Gobert. They added Mike Conley in a trade before the draft and signed Bojan Bogdanovic to give the Jazz not only a playoff contender, but maybe a title contender. Sounds crazy. Not from a team with a coach dubbed "Psycho Q".
PACIFIC DIVISION
GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS
The Warriors made the Finals for the fifth straight season, then the injury bug bit them hard. KD, Boogie, Kevon Looney, Andre Iguodala and finally Klay Thompson all succumbed to injuries, causing them to fall short of a three-peat. This season, now in San Francisco, the Warriors are gung-ho on returning to the Finals, minus KD and adding DeAngelo Russell. Could they have another run in them?
LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS
The Clippers overachieved last season, making the playoffs despite trading Tobias Harris before the deadline. They gave the Warriors all they could handle before many believing that the Clips will quietly go into the off-season and get some pieces. They did. Kawhi Leonard and Paul George have turned the team into a title contender. Literally, overnight.
LOS ANGELES LAKERS
Aye, we all know what happened to the Lakers since every news outlet has broadcasted their drama all last season: Magic leaves, they trade half their team for AD, their new "president" is Kurt Rambis and spouse, they "parted ways" with Luke Walton, they settled for Frank Vogel as coach; I know, right. They are a playoff team and LeBron apparently loves Taco Tuesday.
PHOENIX SUNS
I already vented on this team, so I'm going to be calmer this time around: 39 wins in two seasons, not exactly progressing. They got rid of Josh Jackson, which they should have done. Unlike everyone else, I like the Ricky Rubio signing. He fills a need at PG and is a playmaker for Booker and Ayton. They still have a lot of work cut out for them.
SACRAMENTO KINGS
I was fortunate to watch 7 games last season. Here's the deal: they are an up-and-coming team. De'Aaron Fox and MBIII are a foundation they can build on. Luke Walton is in a position to take this team to the playoffs......if management can let him coach. Dave Joerger learned the hard way. The Kings are a playoff contender-in-waiting. This year could be that year.
PREDICTIONS
EASTERN PLAYOFF TEAMS: Boston, Philadelphia, Milwaukee, Brooklyn, Indiana, Orlando, Detroit, Toronto
WESTERN PLAYOFF TEAMS: Golden State, Denver, Houston, LA Clippers, LA Lakers, Portland, Utah, San Antonio
EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS: Philadelphia, Milwaukee
WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS: Golden State, Utah
NBA FINALS: Philadelphia, Golden State
NBA CHAMPION: PHILADELPHIA 76ERS
They get their revenge......if Embiid stays healthy and Simmons finds a jump shot.
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