EASTERN CONFERENCE
(Teams appear by projected order of finish)
- Cleveland
2014-15 FINISH 53-29
PROJECTED STARTERS LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love, Timofey Mozgov, J.R. Smith.
TOP RESERVES Matthew Dellavedova, Tristan Thompson, Anderson Varejao, Mo Williams, Iman Shumpert.
James, the self-proclaimed best player in the world, won’t have to do it alone this time, assuming the injuries that hit the Cavaliers in the playoffs finally subside. Love and Irving are both expected back to help James try to fulfill his dream of bringing a title to his home state. Thompson will come along as well now that he has agreed to a new contract.
- Toronto
2014-15 FINISH 49-33
PROJECTED STARTERS Kyle Lowry, DeMar DeRozan, DeMarre Carroll, Jonas Valanciunas, Patrick Patterson.
TOP RESERVES Terrence Ross, Luis Scola, Cory Joseph, Bismack Biyombo.
The Raptors last season were one of the biggest surprises (a 37-17 start) and disappointments (a 12-16 finish followed by first-round playoff sweep by Washington). One of the league’s worst ball-movement teams should be helped that Lowry appeared in playoff form in preseason and newcomer Joseph spent four seasons in pass-heavy San Antonio.
- Atlanta
2014-15 FINISH 60-22
PROJECTED STARTERS Al Horford, Jeff Teague, Paul Millsap, Kyle Korver, Kent Bazemore.
TOP RESERVES Tiago Splitter, Tim Hardaway Jr., Thabo Sefalosha, Dennis Schroder.
As if he needed help imparting The Spurs’ Way, Coach Mike Budenholzer imported someone intimately familiar with the system in Splitter. The Hawks have become an enviable brand themselves after finishing with the best record in the East last season and Atlanta made the conference finals for the first time. Is that the ceiling for a team with talent but no stars?
- Chicago
2014-15 FINISH 50-32
PROJECTED STARTERS Pau Gasol, Nikola Mirotic, Jimmy Butler, Derrick Rose, Tony Snell
TOP RESERVES Taj Gibson, Joakim Noah, Doug McDermott, Kirk Hinrich, Bobby Portis
Hmm … Iowa State prodigy replaces widely beloved Bulls coach. What could go wrong? A lot, if Fred Hoiberg’s time in Chicago is anything like that of Tim Floyd, who took over for Phil Jackson and went 49-190. Good thing for Hoiberg that his starters don’t include Floyd’s crew of Dickey Simpkins, Mark Bryant and Randy Brown. These Bulls should be fine if Rose’s body cooperates.
- Milwaukee
2014-15 FINISH 41-41
PROJECTED STARTERS Jabari Parker, Michael Carter-Williams, Greg Monroe, Khris Middleton, Rashad Vaughn.
TOP RESERVES Giannis Antetokounmpo, O.J. Mayo, John Henson, Greivis Vasquez.
The Bucks are adding two major pieces in newcomer Monroe and Parker, who returns after a torn knee ligament ended his rookie season after 25 games. If Middleton can sustain his impressive all-around play from after the All-Star break last season, Milwaukee should contend for home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
- Washington
2014-15 FINISH 46-36
PROJECTED STARTERS John Wall, Bradley Beal, Marcin Gortat, Otto Porter, Kris Humphries
TOP RESERVES Gary Neal, Ramon Sessions, Nene, Kelly Oubre, Jared Dudley
The small-ball approach that worked so well in the playoffs is back, with one exception: Paul Pierce is no longer around to make game-winning shots. But that shouldn’t derail a team that largely relies on its backcourt of Wall and Beal. Gortat should be one of the primary beneficiaries of an offensive system that provides better spacing than its predecessor.
- Charlotte
2014-15 FINISH 33-49
PROJECTED STARTERS Al Jefferson, Kemba Walker, Nicolas Batum, Marvin Williams, Jeremy Lamb.
TOP RESERVES Jeremy Lin, Spencer Hawes, Cody Zeller, P.J. Hairston, Frank Kaminsky.
These Hornets could produce a playoff buzz thanks to an infusion of complementary players intended to take pressure off Jefferson and Walker. Batum should be an adequate replacement — and an upgrade offensively — for Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, lost for the season after shoulder surgery. Leaving Los Angeles should be a good thing for Lin and Hawes, who seek bounce-back seasons.
- Miami
2014-15 FINISH 37-45
PROJECTED STARTERS Chris Bosh, Goran Dragic, Dwyane Wade, Hassan Whiteside, Luol Deng.
TOP RESERVES Gerald Green, Justise Winslow, Josh McRoberts, Mario Chalmers, Amare Stoudemire.
The Heat finally have the starting lineup they have wanted since February, when the team acquired Dragic but Bosh’s blood clots sidelined him for the rest of the season. The big question is how often Wade will be in it after missing 20 games last season and needing a maintenance plan to remain fresh for a playoff push. Green should thrill and baffle off the bench with his high-volume shooting.
- Boston
2014-15 FINISH 40-42
PROJECTED STARTERS Marcus Smart, Avery Bradley, Jae Crowder, David Lee, Tyler Zeller
TOP RESERVES Isaiah Thomas, Evan Turner, Kelly Olynyk, Amir Johnson, Jonas Jerebko
The Celtics are way ahead of the Lakers in their rebuilding efforts, so there’s that. They made the playoffs last season in Coach Brad Stevens’ second season but still have a long way to go to recapture the recent glory that left town alongside Doc Rivers. Having good depth isn’t going to be enough for much of a playoff run until Boston finds a couple of stars.
- Indiana
2014-15 FINISH 38-44
PROJECTED STARTERS Paul George, Monta Ellis, George Hill, C.J. Miles, Ian Mahinmi.
TOP RESERVES Rodney Stuckey, Joseph Young, Chase Budinger, Lavoy Allen, Jordan Hill.
If George doesn’t seem the same after his yearlong injury layoff, it might be because he’s not. He’s expected to play power forward whenever the Pacers switch to a smaller, quicker lineup as part of the team’s efforts to maximize its remaining talent. Ellis gives Indiana another proven scorer, but there’s little quality depth, particularly in the frontcourt.
- Brooklyn
2014-15 FINISH 38-44
PROJECTED STARTERS Joe Johnson, Brook Lopez, Jarrett Jack, Thaddeus Young, Wayne Ellington.
TOP RESERVES Shane Larkin, Bojan Bogdanovic, Andrea Bargnani, Thomas Robinson.
Nobody could blame Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov for wanting out based on his roster. The star power is waning, not to mention aging (Johnson is 34) and injury-prone (Lopez’s feet are a constant worry). Prokhorov insists he’s not selling the team that failed to fulfill his guarantee to win a championship within his first five seasons. The only title possibility is biggest disappointment.
- Detroit
2014-15 FINISH 32-50
PROJECTED STARTERS Andre Drummond, Reggie Jackson, Marcus Morris, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Stanley Johnson.
TOP RESERVES Brandon Jennings, Jodie Meeks, Ersan Ilyasova, Joel Anthony, Reggie Bullock.
Drummond is the last (big) man standing from the failed colossal front line experiment, now that Greg Monroe and Josh Smith have departed. Jackson will probably cede the starting point guard spot to Jennings once the latter returns from a ruptured left Achilles’. Things will have to go just right for the Pistons to contend … for .500.
- New York
2014-15 FINISH 17-65
PROJECTED STARTERS Carmelo Anthony, Jose Calderon, Arron Afflalo, Robin Lopez, Kristaps Porzingis.
TOP RESERVES Derrick Williams, Kevin Seraphin, Kyle O’Quinn, Jerian Grant, Sasha Vujacic.
The Phil Jackson-Derek Fisher pairing worked about as well as red wine and peanut butter in their first year together as the Knicks set a franchise record for losses. Jackson then prompted boos by drafting Porzingis, the widely unknown 7-footer from Latvia. Now he’s hoping castoffs Williams and Vujacic can help revive an overhauled roster. It might be time for some more red wine.
- Orlando
2014-15 FINISH 25-57
PROJECTED STARTERS Tobias Harris, Nikola Vucevic, Victor Oladipo, Elfrid Payton, Channing Frye.
TOP RESERVES Mario Hezonja, Evan Fournier, C.J. Watson, Aaron Gordon, Dewayne Dedmon.
Magic players say they are no longer going to use their youth as an excuse. That doesn’t mean it won’t be a hindrance. A starting lineup with an average age of 24 needs to lose a few more baby teeth and develop an All-Star before it can be taken seriously as a playoff contender. New Coach Scott Skiles, a noted taskmaster, might have to utilize the timeout corner.
- Philadelphia
2014-15 FINISH 18-64
PROJECTED STARTERS Nerlens Noel, Jahlil Okafor, Robert Covington, Isaiah Canaan, JaKarr Sampson
TOP RESERVES Nik Stauskas, Hollis Thompson, Kendall Marshall, Tony Wroten Jr., Christian Wood.
Even notoriously nasty 76ers fans have to feel a bit sorry for their franchise. Center Joel Embiid is expected to miss a second consecutive season after another foot surgery and Marshall and Wroten won’t return until well into the season because of their recovery from torn knee ligaments. The only hope is that Noel and Okafor can develop amid the losses.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
(Teams aligned by projected order of finish)
- Golden State
2014-15 FINISH 67-15
PROJECTED STARTERS Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Andrew Bogut, Draymond Green, Harrison Barnes.
TOP RESERVES Andre Iguodala, Shaun Livingston, Leandro Barbosa, Festus Ezeli, Marreese Speights.
Steve Kerr provided the only drama of his cheery existence as Warriors coach when he recently took a leave of absence to recover from two back surgeries. Interim Coach Luke Walton won’t try to change a thing, of course, after a season in which the team won its first NBA title since 1975. Every starter and key backup returns to help what should be a strong repeat bid.
- Clippers
2014-15 FINISH 56-26
PROJECTED STARTERS Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan, Paul Pierce, J.J. Redick.
TOP RESERVES Jamal Crawford, Lance Stephenson, Josh Smith, Austin Rivers, Wesley Johnson.
As if to underscore the opportunity presented by Jordan’s return and addition of an actual NBA-caliber bench, the Clippers might want to adopt a slogan: Now or never. They seemingly have everything needed to make it past the second round of the playoffs so long as Pierce, 38, doesn’t endure a Steve Nash-like decline and a bench with overlapping pieces doesn’t implode.
- Oklahoma City
2014-15 FINISH 45-37
PROJECTED STARTERS Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Serge Ibaka, Andre Roberson, Steven Adams.
TOP RESERVES D.J. Augustin, Enes Kanter, Nick Collison, Dion Waiters, Anthony Morrow.
Remember the Thunder? Three years ago the franchise made the Finals, with many happy returns expected. Then James Harden was traded, body parts of Durant and Westbrook broke down and it was see-ya-playoffs last spring. Oklahoma City should return under new Coach Billy Donovan, assuming its stars stay off the injury list and Durant’s looming free agency doesn’t become a season-long distraction.
- San Antonio
2014-15 FINISH 55-27
PROJECTED STARTERS Tim Duncan, LaMarcus Aldridge, Tony Parker, Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green.
TOP RESERVES David West, Boris Diaw, Patty Mills, Manu Ginobili.
Projecting the Spurs’ finish in the standings can be hard for reasons that have nothing to do with talent. Coach Gregg Popovich likes to rest his aging stars, leading to a handful of losses that push his team lower than it should be based on personnel. Adding Aldridge and West figures to give San Antonio its deepest frontcourt since David Robinson teamed with Duncan.
- Houston
2014-15 FINISH 56-26
PROJECTED STARTERS James Harden, Dwight Howard, Ty Lawson, Trevor Ariza, Terrence Jones.
TOP RESERVES Corey Brewer, Patrick Beverley, Donatas Motiejunas, Clint Capela.
Lawson gives the Rockets the playmaker they wanted to complement Harden, who often tried to carry the team’s entire offensive burden himself. Of course, there’s a catch: Lawson must overcome the personal issues that led to another arrest for driving under the influence of alcohol. If he’s successful, the Rockets could be contenders even in the loaded West.
- Memphis
2014-15 FINISH 55-27
PROJECTED STARTERS Marc Gasol, Zach Randolph, Mike Conley, Jeff Green, Courtney Lee.
TOP RESERVES Tony Allen, Brandan Wright, Matt Barnes, Beno Udrih, Vince Carter.
The Grizzlies are like a car company that rolls out the same model year after year, updating only the stereo system and temperature controls. Fortunately, it’s been a fairly successful model. The vocal Barnes should add acoustics and Wright highlights off the bench, but this will again be a team that largely goes as far as Gasol, Randolph and Conley take it.
- New Orleans
2014-15 FINISH 45-37
PROJECTED STARTERS Anthony Davis, Eric Gordon, Jrue Holiday, Omer Asik, Dante Cunningham.
TOP RESERVES Ryan Anderson, Tyreke Evans, Alexis Ajinca, Norris Cole.
The Pelicans should no longer plod along, instead adapting to the style of new Coach Alvin Gentry, architect of supercharged offenses with Clippers and Golden State. Gentry will have plenty of talent to mold to his liking, starting with the league’s most dynamic young center in Davis. It also helps that the roster has remained essentially intact from last season.
- Phoenix
2014-15 FINISH 39-43
PROJECTED STARTERS Eric Bledsoe, Brandon Knight, Tyson Chandler, Markieff Morris, P.J. Tucker.
TOP RESERVES T.J. Warren, Mirza Teletovic, Alex Len, Ronnie Price, Sonny Weems.
Fortunes figure to be volatile until the felony aggravated assault case involving Morris and his brother Marcus is resolved. Markieff Morris also has some making up to do with fans after criticizing the volume level inside US Airways Center and asking to be traded. Newcomer Chandler figures to bring a steadying presence on defense and in the locker room.
- Utah
2014-15 FINISH 38-44
PROJECTED STARTERS Gordon Hayward, Trey Burke, Alec Burks, Derrick Favors, Rudy Gobert.
TOP RESERVES Rodney Hood, Trey Lyles, Elijah Milsap, Raul Neto, Joe Ingles.
If only making the playoffs were as simple as getting Burks back from the shoulder injury that limited him to 27 games last season and picking up where the Jazz left off, when they won 21 of their last 32 games. It isn’t. Plenty of emerging talent but enough youthful hiccups make Jazz a borderline postseason pick. Here’s guessing they miss.
- Dallas
2014-15 FINISH 50-32
PROJECTED STARTERS Dirk Nowitzki, Wesley Matthews, Chandler Parsons, Deron Williams, JaVale McGee.
TOP RESERVES John Jenkins, J.J. Barea, Charlie Villanueva, Zaza Pachulia, Devin Harris.
Dallas’ season went kerplunk on a summer’s day in Houston, of all places, when DeAndre Jordan backed out of a commitment to the Mavericks to re-sign with the Clippers. Matthews (Achilles’ injury) might return earlier than expected.
- Sacramento
2014-15 FINISH 29-53
PROJECTED STARTERS DeMarcus Cousins, Rajon Rondo, Rudy Gay, Ben McLemore, Kosta Koufos.
TOP RESERVES Darren Collison, Marco Belinelli, Omri Casspi, Willie Cauley-Stein.
The “Jersey Shore” creators couldn’t have conjured a crazier cast. There’s a hot-headed point guard (Rondo), an intrusive owner (Vivek Ranadive) and a coach (George Karl) who had to apologize to Cousins after some careless wording about his biggest star being tradable. Combustion point could be reached at any moment.
- Minnesota
2014-15 FINISH 16-66
PROJECTED STARTERS Andrew Wiggins, Zach LaVine, Karl Anthony-Towns, Ricky Rubio, Kevin Garnett.
TOP RESERVES Kevin Martin, Tyus Jones, Gorgui Dieng, Shabazz Muhammad, Nikola Pekovic.
Interim Coach Sam Mitchell recently revealed team’s mantra: It’s not losing, it’s developing. Don’t expect that as part of any season-ticket renewal campaign at midseason when losses double victory total. Upside will be watching development of No. 1 overall draft picks Wiggins and Anthony-Towns.
- Lakers
2014-15 FINISH 21-61
PROJECTED STARTERS D’Angelo Russell, Jordan Clarkson, Kobe Bryant, Julius Randle, Roy Hibbert.
TOP RESERVES Nick Young, Lou Williams, Brandon Bass, Tarik Black.
What is likely Bryant’s final season won’t be much different than the two immediately preceding it. He’ll have to fight fatigue and his aging limbs while trying to avoid another season-ending injury. The talent around him is better with some young and promising players alongside a few serviceable veterans. But the Lakers probably will miss the playoffs for a third consecutive season, something this franchise has never experienced.
- Denver
2014-15 FINISH 30-52
PROJECTED STARTERS Emmanuel Mudiay, Danilo Gallinari, Kenneth Faried, Joffrey Lauvergne, Randy Foye.
TOP RESERVES Wilson Chandler, Jameer Nelson, Darrell Arthur, Gary Harris, Nikola Jokic.
Coach Mike Malone no longer has to worry about a meddlesome owner. His roster could be another matter. The coach who was unceremoniously dumped despite showing promise with Sacramento gets a do-over with a hodgepodge of leftovers from the George Karl and Brian Shaw eras, plus rookie point guard Mudiay. It’s likely to result in another Rocky Mountain low.
- Portland
2014-15 FINISH 51-31
PROJECTED STARTERS Damian Lillard, C.J. McCollum, Al-Farouq Aminu, Meyers Leonard, Mason Plumlee.
TOP RESERVES Noah Vonleh, Ed Davis, Mo Harkless, Allen Crabbe, Gerald Henderson.
It’s R.I.P. City after the Trail Blazers were left to replace 4 of 5 starters, not to mention Kim Hughes after the overly blunt assistant coach was fired for conceding free agent LaMarcus Aldridge was headed out of town. The team is spinning its rebuilding efforts as going young, which is little more than code for not having any better options beyond Lillard.