#West

1. Thunder (61-21): They were already 1st and improved their weakest spots.
2. Mavericks (57-25): They were on pace to win 60 after the PJ/Gafford trades and upgraded THJ to Klay.
3. Timberwolves (55-27): Still are a very deep team after the trade and will still have an elite defense.
4. Nuggets (50-32): Jokic is still amazing, but the team’s depth is shot, so they will regress a little.
5. Kings (49-33): DeRozan is a very underrated pickup IMO. He will mesh great with this Kings team.
6. Grizzlies (48-34): They are still good, but the West has gotten stronger since they were 2nd, and I don’t think their depth is on the same level as then.
7. Suns (47-35): The bench is still pretty barren and their stars have been unreliable.
8. Pelicans (46-36): Normally I would be high on the Pelicans, but they really need a better center than Theis.
9. Rockets (44-38): I expect them to continue improving, though playoffs will be tough without a superstar leap from someone.
10. Lakers (43-39): LeBron and AD had anomalously healthy seasons last year and the Lakers only barely made the 'yoffs.
11. Clippers (42-40): Still a good team, but just not good enough to make the play-in in a conference like this.
12. Spurs (40-42): Watch out.
13. Warriors (38-44): They are done without an absolutely bonkers season from Steph. If the Warriors could get Olympic Steph for 82 games…
14. Jazz (24-58): Tanking, but still have Lauri so they won’t bottom out.
15. Trail Blazers (19-63): Just tanking.

#East

1. Celtics (62-20): They will take it easy compared to last year.
2. Knicks (58-24): The Knicks are ready to contend for a championship.
3. 76ers (55-27): The 76ers are ready to contend for the conference finals.
4. Magic (50-32): They will continue improving, but will need Paolo to become a legit top 10-15 guy to contend.
5. Pacers (49-33): Good team but probably shouldn’t have made the ECF last year.
6. Cavaliers (48-34): I think they make a trade. Allen and Garland are probably gone at the deadline IMO.
7. Bucks (46-36): Giannis’ supporting cast is rapidly aging. With young teams on the come-up, I think the Bucks finally slip out of home court this year.
8. Heat (40-42): They are done.
9. Hawks (35-47): They are still painfully mid, and with talent up overall in the league, they are sub-mid.
10. Hornets (33-49): If they are healthy, they will be back in the play-in. LaMelo and BM24 are legit. The rest of the team… eh.
11. Bulls (28-54): Without DeRozan, they are cooked. Vuc and LaVine will be shut down by ASB.
12. Pistons (23-59): They can’t be THAT bad again, right?
13. Raptors (21-61): When Masai tanks, he tanks. The memo is already out there.
14. Nets (19-63): Ben Simmons will put this team on his back.
15. Wizards (16-66)