Lots to get to in this breakdown. So lets get right into it with some of the new rule changes. These changes include shortening the game clock from the typical 24 seconds to 14 seconds during offensive rebounds, simplifying the clear path foul rule, and expanding the definition of a "hostile act" to invoke instant replays on certain events more easily. We also have some new sponsorships for both arenas and now jerseys. This will the Golden State Warriors' final season at Oracle Arena in Oakland, before moving to the new Chase Center in San Francisco. The Warriors will play their final regular season game there on April 7, 2019, against the Los Angeles Clippers. The Atlanta Hawks are playing in the newly renamed State Farm Arena. This year, the Milwaukee Bucks are playing first season at the new Fiserv Forum.
We got some new faces in new places around the Association. Starting with the coaches, New York (David Fizdale), Atlanta (Lloyd Pierce), Charlotte (James Borrego), Detroit (Dwane Casey), Milwaukee (Mike Budenholzer), Orlando (Steve Clifford), Phoenix (Igor Kokoškov) and Toronto (Nick Nurse) all have new head coaches. While we have new bench bosses, we also got some familiar faces in new places. Jeremy Lin (traded to HAtlanta), Jahlil Okafor (signed with New Orleans), Vince Carter (Atlanta), Tony Parker (Charlotte), Jabari Parker (Bulls), LeBroin James (Lakers), DeAndre Jordan (Dallas), Isaiah Thomas (Denver), DeMarcus Cousins (Golden State), Carmelo Anthony (Houston), Rajon Rondo (Lakers), Lance Stephenson (Lakers), and Brook Lopez (Milwaukee) all have new homes this season.
So now that you're caught up on some of the offseason happenings, let's get right into it. Here's how the 2018-19 NBA Season goes down!
Western Conference:
Northwest Division:
1. Oklahoma City Thunder (52-30)*
They're coming off a 2nd place finish in the division last year and got bounced by the Jazz in the first round. It's safe to say that there's unfinished business for the Thunder this year. Paul George came back this season, despite the huge rumors he was going to head to the Lakers over the summer. He wants another shot with this Thunder team. They've got a little mroe room to work with on the floor this year. Oklahoma City is going to be a tougher team to play against on defense after jettisoning Carmelo Anthony, bringing back Jerami Grant and adding Nerlens Noel. Paul George will get more help on the offensive side of things when Russell Westbrook comes back from his injury. Also with Melo gone, the Thunder are going to need somebody to step in and fill Melo's role with George and Westbrook. Jerami Grant is a viable option, as is Andre Roberson, who's also going to need to step up and pitch in on the offense for the Thunder. Dennis Schroder can perk up and pick up some of the slack on both ends of the floor. There might not be enough shooting for the Thunder to be a great, elite team, but they can be really good. This team is good enough to win a division title.
2. Utah Jazz (51-31)*
Utah could be one of those teams that could be a slow developing power in the Western Conference. They did finish 3rd in the division a season ago, and the core of the Jazz are still in tact. Rudy Gobert and his health are going to have a big spotlight on them this year. He's coming off a year in which he missed 26 games due to injury, so he's going to have to prove that he can stay healthy and produce. Another guy to keep an eye on in this Jazz lineup is Donovan Mitchell. it took him a little while to get comfortable as the top scorer last year. It's worth noting the record that the Jazz had when he was scoring. Utah went 31-15 when Mitchell dropped 20 or more points, while they went 17-18 when he didn’t. See the trend here. Quin Snyder has high expectations for this team from deep as well, as he's looking for Mitchell to have the year he had from deep last year, plus get guys like Ricky Rubio and Jae Crowder hitting from deep once in a while too. With the system that Snyder has in place and with a fully healthy and reiable Gobert and Mitchell stepping up, Utah could make quite a lot of noise in the West this season.
3. Denver Nuggets (50-32)*
Denver is one of those teams that seems to be poised for a breakout season for a while now but haven't hit that stride just yet. They seem right there and are very, very close. They missed out on the playoffs by a game last year. This could be the year for Denver to get into the playoffs. With Nikola Jokic starting to play up to the level you'd expect of a star and Paul Millsap enjoying a clean bill of health, Denver already has a solid one-two punch right there. They've got a good mix of veteran and young stud players in this lineup, they are on the cusp of being great. Isaiah Thomas still has plenty left to prove that he can be a stud player in this league, and with Will Barton looking to step up and take on a larger role in Denver, the Nuggets have plenty to try and build off of. One thing that Denver is going to have to focus on is its team defense, which was fifth from the bottom in the NBA a season ago. If that can shape up, and with the offensive talent in this lineup, who's to say that 50 wins and a playoff spot aren't out of the question.
4. Minnesota Timberwolves (47-35)
Minnesota snuck in by the skin of their teeth last season. This year, they take a step backwards. They have two young talents that they can really build around in Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins, two guys who have a very bright future ahead of them in this sport. But there's plenty of question marks with the Wolves, Jimmy Butler being one of them. Butler missed 23 games last year dealing with injuries, an issue he still battling. He missed camp and all the Wolves preseason games, so who knows in what kind of shape he's going to be in. Minnesota didn't do much to improve this summer to try and improve their defense (22nd) or their bench (20th). That said, this talented offense will have the benefits of adding young talent like Anthony Tolliver and could get lifts from rookies Josh Okogie and Keita Bates-Diop. It won't be enough though to get them into the playoffs.
5. Portland Trail Blazers (42-40)
This could be a long season for basketball fans in Portland. They had a disappointing year last year and they didn't do much of anything to build on this team over the summer. Sure, they have something to work with in the backcourt in Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum, and they get more three point shooting depth from free agent addition Seth Curry. Only problem with this Portland team is that, while they are a decent team, they didn't really go out and make any splash moves to improve. The rest of the division, and hell the rest of the Western Conference for that matter, has matured and/or gotten better. Portland could be a solid team, but they are going to fall short of the playoffs
Pacific Division:
1. Golden State Warriors (60-22)*
For the 2nd year in a row and 3rd time in four years, the Warriors are champions of the basketball world. As if they weren't a good team as is, they seemed to get better in the offseason. JaVale McGee, Zaza Pachulia and David West are all gone. Kevin Durant came back on a two year deal and Boogie Cousins was brought in via the free agent market. Seems like just another day at the office for the Warriors. Of course, Boggie is out with an injury and is hoping to be back in time for around the holidays, but when he actually returns is anybody's guess. Same thing with dealing with Steph Curry. He missed time int he regular season and playoffs with various injuries last year, so the Champs are going to have to keep an eye on him this year. But on the whole, the core of this team is deep. Once healthy, who knows how much this team can achieve. Nobody has done it since the Kobe and Shaq lead Lakers, but if everything goes according to the master plan of Steve Kerr, the Warriors have a pretty good shot at becoming three peat NBA Champions.
2. Los Angeles Lakers (48-35)*
No surprise that the Lakers were the biggest winners in the offseason, snagging the biggest fish in the pond in LeBron James. And the Lakers didn't stop there. They went out and added Lance Stephenson, Rajon Rondo and JaVale McGee. It might be more of a feeling out process then anything with the Lakers this year. LeBron is here for four years. This team doesn't really have the strongest shooters in the game, which is going to make it tough on the King to really work with. This season should be a feeling-out process for James and another chance for the Lakers' youth to mature, and the growing pains from both will keep the wins column from climbing too high. Having LeBRon in the lineup will advance those win totals, he isn't the best player in the game for nothing. It will be advantages for the Lakers and might just be good enough to get them into a low flying playoff spot.
3. Los Angeles Clippers (36-46)
The other team that plays in Los Angeles are going to have a lot tougher time of it this year. Doc Rivers got a new toy to play with when the Clippers got Miles Bridges at the draft. Los Angeles did make moves this offseason, making significant commitments to Danilo Gallinari, Lou Williams and Avery Bradley, plus traded for Tobias Harris and Marcin Gortat. Still there isn't much of a ceiling for the Clippers, who are in the process of trying to become a reloading basketball team. They get a bit of a break in that they get to fly under the radar because of the spotlight that the Lakers are going to take. If the Clippers can recapture form from a few years ago and bust the records goals, then Doc Rivers will get his praise that he deserves. But that might not happen this year, not with what little talent Rivers has to work with.
4. Sacramento Kings (30-52)
Giving the Kings 30 wins this season maybe a kind move. This Kings team is still in a rebuild mode, but the missing piece here is that they don't really have to build around. Some are speculating that it might be the guy they snagged with the 2nd overall pick in Marvin Bagley III. Bogdan Bogdanović has the possibility of providing some help and support for the young kid, but he's really the only decent star in this Kings lineup. Buddy Heild can be something too if given a bigger role with this Kings club. Sacramento needs some kind of star. And a No. 1 scorer. And better defenders. They might be one of the few teams in the Western Conference without much of a chance at punching a playoff ticket.
5. Phoenix Suns (27-55)
Deandre Ayton and Mikal Bridges were both taken in the top ten by the Suns this year in the draft, two guys that they're hoping to really build their basketball team around. Trevor Ariza was brought in during the offseason to help bring those guys up to speed on how to play at this level. New coach Igor Kokoskov's high marks in creativity and player development make him strong fits with this roster. Look the Suns won just 21 games last season, by far the worst record in all of the league. They aren't going to hit that level of a low this year, and they are going to be a slightly improved team. Still its going to be a tough season in the desert.
Southwest Division:
1. Houston Rockets (55-27)*
Houston is once again expected to be near the top of the Western Conferece this season. This is a club that's known for being a high scoring team, but they got better on the defensive side of the rock last year. It's going to take a slight step backward this year with the departure of both Trevor Ariza and Luc Mbah a Moute. Still, this Rockets team is a very loaded basketball team. Chris Paul and James Harden are still leading the charge, with nice support from guys like Nene, Clint Capela and newest member of the Rockets Carmelo Anthony. Houston may not have the exactness of depth that they had a season ago, but they are still a good basketball team, one that is capable of being in the NBA Finals. Paul is going to have to step up the Harden's level and beyond if the Rockets really want to get over the hump. They're good enough to win this division without much challenge this year.
2. New Orleans Pelicans (48-34)*
Looks like the Pelicans are going to stay in the exact same spot they did a season ago. Rajon Rondo and Boogie Cousins both moved on to other teams in the conference. So New Orleans is going to have to try and find guys to replace them in the lineup. Anthony Davis is going to have to get used to a new supporting cast around him in the form of Julius Randle and Elfrid Payton to replace the two guys they lost. Jrue Holiday is also going to be another guy that's expected to step up and take a big role on this basketball club. What has to leave one wondering is who is going to be the guy to step up and play the Robin to Davis's Batman? if they can find somebody to really play a solid running buddy with Davis, then the sky could be the limit for New Orleans this season. Won't be a deep run with how loaded the rest of the conference is but hey you never know.
3. San Antonio Spurs (47-35)*
This is a Spurs team that managed to win 47 games a year ago, a performance good enough for 7th place in the West. Oh and they did it without the services of Kawhi Leonard, who's now in Toronto. He's not the only one in this lineup who's departed. Tony Parker's now with the Hornets and Manu Ginóbili has retired. So now the question lies, who's going to take over and lead this team to a promise land come spring time? DeMar DeRozan was brought in from Toronto in the Leonard deal. There is an off chance that the Spurs could fall out of the top five defensively in the league, but knowing Gregg Popovich, he will find a way to make this team competitive on that end of the floor. At the other end, its going to be interesting to see the dynamic between DeRozan and LaMarcus Aldridge and how well those two guys are going to play together. This team is getting older and might not be as good, but they will be good enough to keep their playoff streak alive and reach the postseason by the skin of their teeth in this tough conference.
4. Dallas Mavericks (36-46)
Dallas made a jump from last season and in a big way this summer. Drafting Luka Doncic was a nice move on draft day. Then they brought back DeAndre Jordan in a nice reunion move. Here's the thing with Doncic, he's got the potential to be a big star in the making. They need somebody to eventually replace Dirk down the line and this kid looks like he could be the guy to eventually do it in Dallas. They also have high expectations for Dennis Smith Jr, who they took 9th overall last year. If he can come along at the pace that's expected of hum,. then Dallas can possibly turn a few more heads. They can get a nice mix of offense from Jordan Dirk and Doncic. Again playing in a tough and loaded Western Conference makes it tough to really compete. Dallas is in the right place though and can only really go up from here.
5. Memphis Grizzlies (32-50)
J. B. Bickerstaff had the interim title removed over the summer, giving him full command of this club this year. He will hopefully have a fully healthy Mike Conley, which is something that this club has been lacking for a while now. He should get some help in the form of Dillion Brooks, a guy who fell to them in the second round and is somebody that's been projected to be really good this year. Then there's still a question mark with Marc Gasol as to how consistent they can get from play from him this year. It going to be a long season in Memphis, they don't have a lot of expectations to build around.
Eastern Conference
Atlantic Division:
1. Boston Celtics (61-21)*
Biggest difference between last year's Celtics team and this one is the health of Gordon Heyward. He missed all but a few minutes of last season, getting injured early in the first Celtics game. Now he's back and healthy. This is a team that has a chance, with guys like Heyward, Kyrie Irving, Al Horford, Marcus Smart and Terry Rozier just to name a few, to dominate the East. So much so that they could be to the East what the Warriors and Rockets are out West. One of the things that was highlighted in Boston was how much better defensively this team got, something which will again be a strength this year. Brad Stevens has had a good finger on the pulse of this team, leading it to an increase in wins each year he's been head coach. Boston is a very deep and very talented team, one which is most likely to come out of the East and challenge the Warriors for the NBA crown this year.
2. Toronto Raptors (58-24)*
A year ago, the Raptors set a franchise record with 59 wins, which was the most in the Eastern Conference. This year, they may have taken another step in the right direction. It started early with trading away DeMar DeRozan to the Spurs in a package deal to get some guy named Kawhi Leonard, who's kinda good. The biggest question mark with Leonard is his health, having missed a ton of time last year with an injured leg. If he can stay healthy, and return to his form from a couple of years ago, the sky is the limit for him and the Raptors. Throw him into a lineup that already has talent like Jonas Valančiūnas, Kyle Lowry, Serge Ibaka, and Danny Green, it's going to be a very tough draw getting the Raptors every single night. Oh and let's not forget about the bench the Raptors have, which was the best in the regular season a year ago. It's a five-man unit that outscored its opponents by 17 points per 100 possessions. It's going to be a tough battle all season long between them and Boston for the Atlantic Division title.
3. Philadelphia 76ers (56-26)*
Sky is the limit for this Sixers team, who finished 3rd in the East last year with 52 wins and is only going to get better. And why not, when you've got two young superstars in the form of Joel Embiid and Ben Simmonds. They added more talent around them getting a good three point shooter in JJ Reddick and a guy the skills of Markelle Fultz coming off the bench, there's a lot to get excited about in the City of Brotherly Love. Sure, they missed out on trying to grab a big free agent over the summer and take that leap to the elite level in this league. Still this team has enough talent ot hang around with some of the heavy hitters in the East. Philadelphia has a good team and can keep it going in the right direction.
4. Brooklyn Nets (29-53)
It's getting close for the Nets, just one more season before Brooklyn can have both cap space and their own first round picks. Gotta give credit where it's due to General Manager Sean Marks, for he has done an impressive job of improving his club with what they've had to work with. This summer, Ed Davis, Treveon Graham and Shabazz Napier all came on board to Brooklyn on moderately priced deals. Kenneth Faried came in a salary dump. European scorers Dzanan Musa and Rodions Kurucs both landed on draft night. Oh and they still have Joe Harris, DeMarre Carroll, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and D'Angelo Russell. So there is something to leave a little bit of hope with in the city of Brooklyn. Still could be a long season, but the Nets could be starting to move in the right direction.
5. New York Knicks (28-54)
There's a lot of pressure on the shoulders of head coach David Fizdale and General manager Scott Perry. There's a lot of pressure to try and win in New York, which should come as no surprise to anybody who follows basketball, or sports for that matter. Kevin Knox was drafted in the first round by New York and they're hoping that he and Frank Ntilikina can hold it down at the top of this lineup until franchise player Kristaps Porzingis can come back from his ACL injury. Bottom line is, there isn;t enough real depth on this team. Sure they got some good players with Enes Kanter, Tim Hardaway Jr and Emmanuel Mudiay, but that's really about it for the Blue and Orange. It's going to be a rough year at MSG and depending on what happens with Porzingis will tell how far this team can truly go.
Central Division:
1. Indiana Pacers (50-32)*
This could be a very good year for the Pacers. Sure, its stings a little losing Lance Stevenson. They want to try and go out this year and prove to the rest of the basketball world that last year's playoff run was no fluke. They get that chance now. Victor Oladipo is coming off a year in which he took his game to another level. Same thing with Domantas Sabonis, who's another guy in this lineup that's got big expectations in the development of his game. With those two guys leading the charge and new additions such as Doug McDermott and Tyreke Evans, this team will be even deeper than some expect. On paper, with the talent that's in Indiana, they have a dangerous bench unit with McDermott and Evans and still remain as an underrated team. They may not have the look and overall talent of the top teams in the Atlantic, but they are still a good enough basketball team to win a lot of games and make a lot of noise in the playoffs.
2. Milwaukee Bucks (49-33)*
Last year was a bit of an interesting year for the Bucks. Considering the fact that Milwaukee was one of the favorites, they underachieved and snuck in as a seven seed with 44 wins last year, it was a bit of a disappointment. This year, there was a little bit of a change to the lineup. Jabari Parker, who had been one of the faces of this team was free to leave, and that's what he did, heading for Chicago. Mike Budenholzer now takes over as head coach and has to work to build his team around his best player Giannis Antetokounmpo. Brook Lopez was signed in the offseason to help take a little pressure off Giannis and give him a running buddy to work with. They also have a supporting staff with Khris Middleton and Eric Bledsoe. It's something to build off of with Antetokoummpo, who is an MVP type player. With the talent that the Bucks have, they can be a middle of the pack in the conference team that is on the verge of great things. Its a starting point and they are going to be a tough team to play against. Not quite an elite level club just yet, but they are good.
3. Detroit Pistons (41-41)*
Dwayne Casey, a former coach of the year in this league, comes into a situation in Detroit where he has to try and get a team back on track and into playoff contention. He's got some good talent to work with in the Motor City. Blake Griffin was brought in last year at the trade deadline, and he's teaming up for a full year with Andre Drummond. The two of them are going to make an impressive one two punch, while guys like Zaza Pachulia and Jose Calderon will do a decent job coming off the bench. They most likely won’t be a contender in the Eastern Conference, but they can definitely give some trouble to the top teams in East due to their amount of size and physicality in the paint. Clarly they won't be contending with the big clubs in the conference, but with the fact that the best player in the game has gone off to the other conference, it allows for some new blood to come and rise up in the East and Detroit might be that very team to do it.
4. Cleveland Cavaliers (30-52)
It's going to be a tough adjusting period for the City of Cleveland. They've made it to four straight NBA finals and now are going to be taking a step backwards to where they were before the King came home. LeBron is no longer here, leaving for the bright lights of Los Angeles. Kyrie Irving isn't here either, he's now in Boston. So Tyronn Lue is going to have to try and get the most out of what he's got. Cleveland wants to remain competitive, but its roster may demand something different. Kevin Love, Rodney Hood and Channing Frye are going to be counted on to try and lead this basketball team, with support from guys like JR Smith and Tristian Thompson. Most of this Cavs roster was mainly support pieces for LeBron whule he was here. Now, they have to try and figure it out and win on their own. If they start to struggle badly enough, don't be surprised if there's an influx of a lot of young talent that will be coming into this team.
5. Chicago Bulls (28-54)
Chicago took a pretty big risk this summer, signing Zach LeVine to a huge contract extension. The only problem is, he's had injury problems in the past and some question signing him long term, which could cost them in the long run if he can't play up to the new deal. Chicago did manage to get some young talent to play around him, in the form of guys like Kris Dunn, Wendell Carter Jr., and Jabari Parker. It's a nice mix and it's something to build off of in Chicago. There's no way possible that they're going to be a contending team this year, but this is a starting point. It's about getting the right pieces in here to help build around the club that's now in place. Chicago could be a team to watch in a few years, but you just have to deal with the growing pains with this team.
Southeast Division:
1. Washington Wizards (46-36)*
Washington was a team that was expected to go deep into the playoffs, but underachieved, winning 44 games. A lot of that had to do with the fact that star John Wall missed a good chunk of playing time was indeed a factor. Bradley Beal did all that he could and now he's got a healthy Wall back to play along side of him. What has some scratching their heads was the decision by Washington management to go out and get Dwight Howard, there’s a lot of speculation whether or not that will be a good move for the team. If Howard can remain healthy and not become a locker-room issue, it’s possible that the Wizards can be a big time noise maker. Oh yeah, and they also got in depth players with the likes of Austin Rivers and Jeff Green. This Eastern Conference is top heavy like the West, but the Wizards can make a lot of noise as a contending team if all the chips fall into place.
2. Miami Heat (45-37)*
A lot of work had to be done in house this summer to keep the team in tact. Dwyane Wade came back for his final season in the NBA, so he's looking to try and go out on a high note. To help out Wade in his final season, Miami did bring back Wayne Ellington, who proved to be a key piece in last year’s run to the playoffs. Miami is really going to have to have other guys like Udonis Haslem, Hassan Whiteside, and Goran Dragic. It should also get a healthy Dion Waiters back, plus benefit from having Bam Adebayo and Kelly Olynyk get more acclimated in head coach Erik Spoelstra's system. The fact that this team has stayed almost entirely in tact from last season is a huge benefit for the Heat. It means that they won't have to get new players caught up to speed with this system. The players all know each other and they know there game and its going to be of great help to the Panthers team.
3. Charlotte Hornets (32-50)
Kemba Walker is going to be a free agent at the end of the season and it seems like the Hornets may waste him and possibly be even worse when/if he leaves via free agency at the end of the year. Should he decide to leave at the end of the year, the Hornets are going to be in a worst situation then they are now. It didn't help the situation in trading Dwight Howard, who put up 16.6 points and 12.5 rebounds per game. He could’ve been a locker-room issue once again but it doesn’t change the fact that he had his best season since his Orlando days. Tony Parker was brought on board to try and balance things out with this team. They also have Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Nicolas Batum to try and help out with Walker on this club. Biggest problem that is noted with this team is depth, or lack their of. That's what's going to hurt the Hornets chances and they won't go very far this season. Don't be surprised if things go south, the start trying to shop Walker and see if they can get something for him before he leaves.
4. Orlando Magic (29-53)
New coach Steve Clifford has been handed the task of trying to change the losing culture in Orlando the last few years. it's been a very rough going with all the losing in Florida. He's going to have to rely on three of his young guns, new addition Aaron Gordon, Jonathan Isaac and recently drafted Mohamed Bamba are going to be counted on a lot in Orlando to try and help pull the team back to promise. Gordon got a big contract extension, so now there's more pressure on him to produce. There's a new system with Clifford now coming in and its going to take a little time for the front office to figure out what players are going to try and fit this system. Its going to take time in Orlando for the pieces to fall into plays but they could be headed in the right direction. Going to be a long season in Orlando/
5. Atlanta Hawks (21-61)
If you're looking for the team that's going to be the bottom of the barrel this year in the NBA, its going to be Atlanta. New head coach Lloyd Pierce is coming into a situation with young pieces and try and take those pieces and turn them into wins. The Hawks drafted a wild-card player in Trae Young, who has the potential to be a superstar or a bust. Along with Young is Kevin Huerter and Omari Spellman, who were also first rounders this year The Hawks are playing the long and rebuilding game which means that they won’t have too many wins. They’ll most likely be playing for the future as they can stack up on multiple first-round picks.
NBA Finals: Golden State Warriors vs Boston Celtics!
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