2018-19 NBA Season Preview

Fans of the NBA endure one of the shorter off-seasons in professional sports, yet it  seems like the longest. But the final cuts have been made, the rosters are set (for now) and the 2018-19 NBA season is here. As usual, the number of real championship contenders can be counted on one hand (some think one finger), while the majority of fan bases are just looking for signs of improvement with their young players or the creation of an environment that might be attractive to the top free agents in the summer of 2019. So here is the midrangehoops.com 2018-19 NBA Season Preview:

EASTERN CONFERENCE (In Predicted Order Of Finish; Top 8 Qualify For Playoffs)

1. Boston Celtics – Celts advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2018 without Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward, while the kids gained valuable experience. And they play defense. The Celtics appear ready to take the next step, and have one of the game’s top coaches.
2. Toronto Raptors– They had some Lebron-related confidence issues, but they didn’t need to tear the whole thing down and didn’t. New coach and now have one of the game’s best players in Kawhi Leonard along with an underrated bench.
3. Philadelphia 76ers – Joel Embiid’s health is always a concern, but Ben Simmons has a year  of experience under his belt, and now Markell Fultz wants to play, too. That Covington guy from Tennessee State University remains the glue for now. Deep squad and dangerous.
4. Milwaukee Bucks – A new, experienced coach with structure, focused on getting Giannis Antetokounmpo the ball in space, makes the Bucks dangerous and a tough post-season out.
5. Indiana Pacers – Some guys just need an opportunity, and the Pacers had a couple of guys — specifically Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis — who took full advantage. Myles Turner is still emerging as well.
6. Washington Wizards – Dwight Howard still has some game, but his touches won’t increase on this squad. If he’s OK with that, the Wizards can make some noise.
7. Miami Heat – If they could ever keep Justise Winslow on the court, they could slip into the top five in the East.
8. Brooklyn Nets – The Nets will qualify for the post-season if D’Angelo Russell, Caris Levert AND Jarrett Allen show measurable improvement. Rebounding should be better, but turnovers and defensive lapses could sink them.
9. Detroit Pistons – If new  defensive-minded coach Dwayne Casey can get these guys to defend, they could sneak into the playoffs. Unfortunately, the strength of their team (interior) is opposite of the league trend.
10. Charlotte Hornets – Rookie Miles Bridges brings much-needed energy to a squad not getting nearly enough bang for the buck. Kemba Walker is steady, but Nic Batum is needed on the court.
11. Cleveland Cavaliers – With Lebron gone to LA, Tyronn Lue becomes a rookie head coach in his fourth year as head coach (which includes a championship). The Cavs will likely end up dealing some vets for young players and draft picks to run with Collin Sexton.
12. Chicago Bulls– Nice backcourt developing with Kris Dunn finding his game and Zach Lavine healthy. Laurie Markkenen looks like a keeper but frontcourt help is needed.
13. Atlanta Hawks – Rookie PG, rookie coach, and Vince Carter. Nice young players but not quite ready. Trae Young will have the ball in his hands a lot; Hawks fans will have to endure the ups-and-downs for now. Give me five like John Collins.
14. New York Knicks – Trey Burke, Ron Baker, Emanuel Mudiay present. Kristaps Porzingis absent. If the Knicks are serious about a rebuild, Kevin Knox and Frank Ntilikina should be near the team lead in minutes played.
15. Orlando Magic – Forever young and young doesn’t win in the NBA, nor does it defend. Jonathan Isaac’s energy could help change the culture.

WESTERN CONFERENCE (In Predicted Order Of Finish; Top 8 Qualify For Playoffs)

1. Golden State Warriors– They had the best players and the best team before adding Demarcus Cousins. If recent history is an indicator, it’s probably  just someone else’s turn. They looked bored at times last season.
2. Houston Rockets– The Rockets will be strong during the regular season, but two of their top-three players can’t get through the playoffs healthy and their perimeter defense will take a hit. Not crazy about their off-season moves, but they’re a threat.
3. Oklahoma City Thunder – They’ll be better off not having to worry about three guys getting “their” shots, but they need Andre Roberson back and that may take awhile.
4. Utah Jazz – Difficult team to play against, especially at altitude. Still need more for true contender status. Rudy Gobert still makes a huge impact without being a “stretch” guy; Donovan Mitchell is nice.
5. Los Angeles Lakers – I’d pick them higher but Lebron is finally talking about sitting out some games to rest. Dude is tired. They can’t shoot, but with this collection of talented youngsters and “interesting” vets, they’ll be a problem in April. Purchase those “Lebron is coming to town” tickets at your own risk.
6. Denver Nuggets – Almost got a party invite in 2017-18 with Millsap missing much of the season; they are ready to rock. Nikola Jokic is underappreciated for now.
7. San Antonio Spurs – It almost happened last season, but it’s difficult to pick against the Spurs making the post-season. They didn’t have Kawhi Leonard anyway, and now they’ve added DeMar DeRozan. They’ll be OK.
8. Minnesota Timberwolves – The Wolves are mismatched. Defensive-minded coach, two-way veteran star, offensive-minded youngsters. Once they figure out which way they’re going, they’ll be fine.
9. New Orleans Pelicans – The Pelicans still have Anthony Davis but will miss the unleashed version of Rajon Rondo, and will have to fight for a playoff spot once again. The good news: Elfrid Payton got a haircut and can now see the basket; shooting percentages go up.
10. Dallas Mavericks – Young, dynamic backcourt in Dennis Smith, Jr. and Luca Doncic, the Mavs have enough veteran experience, including center DeAndre Jordan, to make some noise. Even if they don’t, they’ll be fun to watch.
11. Portland Trailblazers – They lost a lot of rebounding with Ed Davis and Noah Vonleh gone, but their high-scoring guard combo will keep them in the playoff hunt.
12. Los Angeles Clippers – Doc Rivers does better with teams that aren’t expected to go anywhere. This will be one of his best coaching jobs, especially if Danilo Gallinari plays more than 60 games and their defensive backcourt (Patrick Beverly and Avery Bradley) stays intact.
13. Phoenix Suns – The Suns, though talented, were TOO young last season. They added some veterans worth a few wins, but the climb is still steep. Deandre Ayton looks like a legitimate Rookie Of The Year candidate.
14. Memphis Grizzlies – As long as Marc Gasol and Mike Conley are around we can’t ignore these guys. Kyle Anderson will lend some versatility, but the Grizzlies are likely to get swallowed up in the still formidable Western Conference.
15. Sacramento Kings – The Kings are young and like many teams in the NBA, the bigs cant get the ball from the guards, who can’t shoot. Harry Giles looks like a player. Zach Randolph provides the veteran leadership, but another developmental year.

Finals Prediction: Boston Celtics over Golden State Warriors in 7.