EASTERN CONFERENCE
1) Milwaukee Bucks - Over/Under 57.5 - OVER- 60-22 - While the Bucks did lose a couple of their core pieces including Malcolm Brogdon and Nikola Mirotic, I think that Giannis will be even better this season especially from the perimeter. I am looking forward to see if Donte DiVincenzo an step in as a reliable contributor especially in Coach Bud's offense where role players can thrive.
2) Philadelphia 76ers - O/U 54.5 - OVER - 56-26 - You can certainly argue that the 76ers have more talent than any team in the Eastern Conference. I just think that it will take time for the pieces to fit together especially Al Horford playing with Joel Embiid. That being said, the 76ers finally have a backup center that can spell Embiid. Ben Simmons will be a force to reckon with in the regular season. And Tobias Harris may get more volume with Jimmy Butler out of the lineup.
3) Toronto Raptors - O/U 45 - OVER - 49-33 (LOCK) - The Raptors did lose Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green but all they seem to do is win in the regular season anyways even when Leonard was saving himself in the regular season. Kyle Lowry's age is concerning but then Fred Van Vleet Sr. will get his chance to take over reigns. Siakim, Marc Gasol, and Ibaka will anchor a terrific Raptors defense under Nick Nurse.
4) Boston Celtics - O/U 49.5 - UNDER - 48-34 - The Celtics may be better from a lockerroom standpoint without Kyrie Irving but still have to add Kemba Walker into the offense. Walker was great with the Hornets. That being said, the Celtics are losing a lot with Al Horford's departure in the short term. I do like some of the young pieces the Celtics acquired including Carsen Edwards.
5) Miami Heat - O/U 43 - OVER - 44-38 - The Heat finally have an all star caliber player in Jimmy Butler. While Wade has retired, Miami still has a high energy core that will give it all on the defensive end. Plus the Heat may have gotten better without having to deal with Hassan Whiteside.
6) Brooklyn Nets - O/U 45- UNDER - 43-39 - The Nets may have slightly improved by acquiring Kyrie Irving but there will be growing pains especially since this core may not fit as well around him as the Celtics and even they struggled. It is unlikely that Durant plays but if they do, they will be a team that could make a deep run in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
7) Indiana - O/U 47.5 - UNDER - 43-39 - Victor Oladipo will eventually return and I suspect Nate McMillan will keep the Pacers afloat with Malcolm Brogdon. Still, their may be growing pains especially if the Pacers start a two big lineup with Turner and Sabonis.
8) Orlando Magic - O/U 41.5 - UNDER- 40-42 - Orlando has a lot of interesting young pieces that made the playoffs. It will be interesting to see if Markelle Fultz becomes a viable player but if he doesn't, the Magic could be in danger of missing the playoffs.
9) Detroit Pistons - O/U 37.5 - OVER - 39-43 - Perhaps when fully healthy the Pistons are a playoff team. However, Griffin has been injury prone in his career and the Pistons depth may be below average unless their first rounder Sekou plays well.
10) Chicago Bulls - O/U 32.5- OVER- 37-45 (LOCK) - Chicago pieces seem to fit well together. Zach Lavine has a complimentary guard in Tomas Satoransky. Otto Porter made the Bulls significantly better when he was in the lineup for the Bulls after the NBA trade deadline. Plus Lauri Markenan could be an interesting young player. Coby White out of North Carolina could take the Bulls to another level if he lives up to his billing as a team leader.
11) Atlanta Hawks - O/U 34.5 - UNDER - 32-50 - The Hawks have made significant strides with Trae Young and John Collins. For now, they may be slightly worse as a win now team when they acquired two top 10 draft picks in DeAndre Hunter and Cam Reddish. They will be fun to watch.
12) Washington Wizards - O/U 27.5 - OVER- 28-54 - Washington did manage to sign Bradley Beal to an extension which was praised around the league. As a Wizards fans I could see Beal pursuing an All-NBA team. The downside of course is that the Wizards did lose a lot of their free agents including Tomas Satoransky and Jabari Parker and are still without John Wall. Isiah Thomas could swing the Wizards into the playoff mix
13) New York Knicks - O/U 28 - UNDER - 25-57 (LOCK) - The Knicks did get lock in the draft lottery with RJ Barrett. Unfortunately, while talented the Knicks pieces do not fit well together unless they plan to play four power forwards at the same time. There is a chance that David Fizdale makes it competitive but may also be a good chance he's on the hotseat if the Knicks are still a bottom dwelling team.
14) Cleveland Cavaliers - O/U- 24.5 - UNDER- 23-59 - The Cavaliers seem to be a work in progress that has little incentive to win. Darius Garland is certainly an interesting piece. But the Cavs could be moving on from Kevin Love at the trade deadline which lowers my expectations for them.
15) Charlotte Hornets - O/U- UNDER - 21-61 (LOCK) - Terry Rozier is currently the best player of the Hornets. While I was on the Scary Terry bandwagon as a role player, I'm not certain I can support the case for him as effective player as a lead dog.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
1) Denver Nuggets - O/U 53 - OVER - 55-27 - Nikola Jokic could be even more unstoppable in the regular season especially with Denver's homecourt.
2) LA Clippers - O/U 53 - OVER - 54-28 - The Clippers certainly won big in the offseason with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. Paul George is injured to begin the season but certainly could have another all-NBA season.
3) Utah Jazz - O/U 53- OVER - 54-38 - With the addition of Mike Conley and Bojan Bogdanovic, the Jazz addressed their biggest needs in the offseason for a scoring point guard and an effective 3rd option. Look for Rudy Gobert to repeat his case for defensive player of the year.
4) Houston Rockets O/U 54- UNDER - 53-39 - Overall, the Rockets may be a slightly worse team with Russell Westbrook if he can't up his 3 point percentage. He still has one of the worst 3 point percentages of all time. James Harden could still do enough to make the Rockets great. Still, you have to wonder if Mike D'Antoni can't solve this problem especially since he is not under contract after this season.
5) Golden State Warriors - O/U 48- OVER- 50-32 - The Warriors lost arguably the best player in the league in Durant, a top shooting guard in Klay Thompson, and the best defender on the team in Andre Iguodala. That being said, I still think the Warriors are going to win 50 games this season because we finally get to see Curry in a high usage that could be similar to Harden. Steve Kerr's offense will also help spread the offense around in the regular season. The Warriors also acquired two players from the Villanova 2018 NCAA championship team in, Paschall and Spellman,
6) LA Lakers - O/U - 48 - UNDER - 48-34 - LeBron and Anthony Davis are great players. Still the supporting cast is a little bit suspect in today's NBA that means the Lakers could struggle if either LeBron or Davis miss time. That being said, I am buying stock in Dwight Howard making a difference with the caveat that he can stay healthy. But I don't trust the front office to surround LeBron and Davis with effective players to be a top 4 seed in the regular season.
7) Portland Trail Blazers - O/U 46.5- UNDER - 46-36 - Portland did make it to the Western Conference Finals but looked fairly ordinary against the Durant'less Warriors. Perhaps the Blazers can find a way to integrate Whiteside effectively but it may take some time.
8) San Antonio Spurs - O/U 45.5 - UNDER - 45-37 - The Spursalways seem to just do enough to make the playoffs. Murray returns which means the Spurs will have a viable point guard again. Still, the upside of DeRozan and Aldridge are much lower than most teams in the Western Conference especially with their inability to hit 3s.
9) Dallas Mavericks - O/U 40.5 - UNDER - 40-42 - Luka Doncic will look to continue to ascend his way up towards the NBA elite. This team can become really scary if Porzingis is healthy. Jalen Brunson could make a transition as a good NBA starter this season.
10) Sacramento Kings - O/U 38 - UNDER - 37-45 - The Kings will have some small problems to work out with Luke Walton as the head coach. Fox and Bagley anchor the young talented core but the Kings did struggle in the 2nd half of the season. While the Kings were competitive for a playoff spot last season, they will certainly be tested in what may be an even deeper Western Conference.
11) OKC Thunder - O/U 32 - OVER - 36-46 (LOCK) - The Thunder's starting five can remain competitive as long as they hold onto Chris Paul. While they probably will not make the playoffs, they will not be a bottom feeder either.
12) New Orleans Pelicans - 39 O/U - UNDER - 34-48 - If Zion is out for an extended period, I find it hard to imagine the Pelicans will be that competitive. I do think the Pelicans can win some games if Lonzo can knock down shots from the perimeter.
13) Minnesota Timberwolves - O/U - 35.5 - UNDER 32-50 - Karl Anthony Towns will be a great offensive player but it looks like he has little help around him. Robert Covington cannot make up for all of the defensive shortcomings by himself. Andrew Wiggins has been bad over the last two seasons.
14) Memphis Grizzlies - O/U - 27 - OVER - 29-53 - The young duo of Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. could do enough to win some games in the Western Conference. Although there is a possibility they could tank.
15) Phoenix Suns - O/U - 29.5- UNDER - 27-52 (LOCK) - The Suns young pieces are interesting but their organization is a mess. This is certainly a season where Booker could break out. Some of their moves in the draft may have been poor such as taking Cameron Johnson at #11.
