NBA 2019: New Year, New League, New Threats
Updated: Oct 20, 2019
Oh, NBA, how we’ve missed you so much!
After one of the most entertaining off-seasons of the past decade, fans all around the world are ready to see the new-look NBA in action. Almost none of last year's top contenders retained the entirety of their cores. We saw some of the biggest names switch teams and form a new era of superteams. In this preview, we will look at each team and what to expect from them, playoffs and awards predictions, and a few bold predictions. So sit back, take a seat, and get ready for one of the most entertaining NBA seasons we have had in a while.
Standings Predictions
Eastern Conference
1. Milwaukee Bucks
2. Philadelphia 76ers
3. Brooklyn Nets
4. Indiana Pacers
5. Toronto Raptors
6. Boston Celtics
7. Detroit Pistons
8. Miami Heat
9. Orlando Magic
10. Atlanta Hawks
11. Chicago Bulls
12. New York Knicks
13. Cleveland Cavaliers
14. Washington Wizards
15. Charlotte Hornets
Western Conference
1. Los Angeles Clippers
2. Houston Rockets
3. Denver Nuggets
4. Los Angeles Lakers
5. Utah Jazz
6. Portland Trail Blazers
7. Golden State Warriors
8. San Antonio Spurs
9. New Orleans Pelicans
10. Minnesota Timberwolves
11. Dallas Mavericks
12. Sacramento Kings
13. Oklahoma City Thunder
14. Memphis Grizzlies
15. Phoenix Suns
EASTERN CONFERENCE
1. Milwaukee Bucks
Projected Starting Lineup:
PG: Eric Bledsoe
SG: Wesley Matthews
SF: Khris Middleton
PF: Giannis Antetokounmpo
C: Brook Lopez
When you have the reigning MVP and the best player in the conference, you’re going to be the favorite in what is a weak east. Throw in the supporting cast Giannis has, and opponents should be terrified of this team. Bledsoe looks to build on last year, and even though he is not a top PG, he is a quality guard who will get the job done. In a league where three-point shooting is vital for success, retaining Khris Middleton was a necessity for Milwaukee. The Bucks added Robin Lopez, Wes Matthews and sharpshooter Kyle Korver to a team that lost some of its depth with Malcolm Brogdon’s departure. The Bucks now have one of the most reliable benches in basketball, which is extremely important for a deep playoff run. Giannis will control the paint and be the most feared player in the east for a second straight year. If the Bucks stay healthy, and their new acquisitions play their part, they will end up right where they left off. The east is a cakewalk; the big question is whether this team will be able to compete with the powerhouses out west.
2. Philadelphia 76ers
Projected Starting Lineup:
PG: Ben Simmons
SG: Josh Richardson
SF: Tobias Harris
PF: Al Horford
C: Joel Embiid
Last year, Philadelphia tried to build a superteam by acquiring both Harris and Jimmy Butler during the season, but fell short of a deep playoff run after losing in a crushing game 7 versus the to-be champs, Toronto. After trading away Butler and losing sharpshooter JJ Redick in free agency, the 76ers look to fix their issues and make a run for the title. Al Horford will be a major help on both sides of the court, and Josh Richardson is about to enter his prime, so we haven’t even seen the best of him yet. Look for the Sixers to be a possible trade deadline destination for many players, as their lack of depth may present an issue as the season progresses. At the end of the day, this team runs through Embiid and Simmons. If Embiid can stay healthy, we’re looking at one of the most gifted big men the sport has ever seen. Simmons, on the other hand, needs to fix his shooting issue right now. There has been some off-season footage which shows that he has improved his shooting game, which is a good sign, but it means nothing if he cannot shoot like that in an NBA game. The path in the east is an easy one, so expect this Sixers squad to be one of the last teams fighting for the title.
3. Brooklyn Nets
Projected Starting Lineup:
PG: Kyrie Irving
SG: Caris LeVert
SF: Taurean Prince
PF: Rodions Kurucs
C: DeAndre Jordan
Injured: Kevin Durant
This Brooklyn team looks nothing like their team from last year. This off-season they added two superstars in Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant, and landed DeAndre Jordan and Taurean Prince as well. The Nets’ core young players stay the same, with LeVert, Jarrett Allen, Kurucs and Spencer Dinwiddie still on the team, but their playmakers will look completely different. Despite being sidelined for at least the majority of the 2019-20 season (and perhaps even the whole season), Kevin Durant was a massive signing for the Nets franchise and gives fans a lot to look forward to for years to come. Expect the Nets to still be around in May due to a weak east, but this team is not at their peak yet. In addition, chemistry could be a major issue with this team, as we’ve seen it take Kyrie some time to adjust to being in a new city. Being consistent championship contenders is on the horizon, but they aren’t yet.
4. Indiana Pacers
Projected Starting Lineup:
PG: Malcolm Brogdon
SG: Victor Oladipo
SF: T.J. Warren
PF: Domantas Sabonis
C: Myles Turner
After losing star Victor Oladipo early in the 2018-19 season, a lot of people thought the Indiana Pacers were going to fall down the eastern standings. But the whole team picked up the slack and played hard for the rest of the year. Despite being swept by the Celtics in the first round, I think that given the circumstances it was a good season for the Pacers. Young frontcourt duo Domantas Sabonis and Myles Turner is one of the best in the league, and will be giving teams problems on both ends of the court. As a whole, the Pacers are one of the best defensive teams in the league, and getting former rookie of the year Malcolm Brogdon will only help them be elite in that department. With all of this said, make sure to watch out for Oladipo. He may be a little rusty when he comes back, which may not even be at the beginning of the season, but once he returns to what he was, the Pacers could be a legitimate threat to the top teams in the east. But, for now, they are a dark horse candidate.
5. Toronto Raptors
Projected Starting Lineup:
PG: Kyle Lowry
SG: Norman Powell
SF: OG Anunoby
PF: Pascal Siakam
C: Marc Gasol
The Raptors did not have a fun time this off-season. After winning their first championship in franchise history, the Raptors thought they had done enough to keep Kawhi in Canada in the long run. But they were wrong, and he left for sunny Los Angeles. As every team in the east went to stock up on more weapons for the upcoming year, the Raptors did not do much to fill the gaps left by Leonard and Danny Green. However, they still have a good roster mixed with potential and experience. Veterans Kyle Lowry, Marc Gasol, and Serge Ibaka look to lead the group this year. Pascal Siakam will be a force to be reckoned with, as he will be getting even more offensive attention this year. Even without Leonard, teams will get extra motivation from beating the defending champs, so expect this to be a rough season for “The North”. We will see them in the playoffs again, but I don’t expect them to make much noise come April.
6. Boston Celtics
Projected Starting Lineup
PG: Kemba Walker
SG: Jaylen Brown
SF: Gordon Hayward
PF: Jayson Tatum
C: Enes Kanter
The Celtics went into last season with very high expectations, being picked by many to win the NBA finals after going to game 7 of the ECF the year before without Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward. However, they lacked chemistry, and lost in the second round to Milwaukee. In the off-season, they lost two of their top players in Kyrie and Al Horford, as well as important role players in Terry Rozier and Aron Baynes. Their young core is still intact with budding superstar Jayson Tatum, Marcus Smart, and Jaylen Brown all under contract. Instead of Irving, the Celtics will have newly-signed Kemba Walker running the point, with Enes Kanter playing down low in the post. They have a lot of young prospects who can turn into highly effective players, but they won’t be a contender this year. Brad Stevens is an absolutely incredible head coach, and he will make the most of the squad he has right now. Therefore, due to their ample talent and playoff experience, any team they face in the playoffs should be on upset watch.
7. Detroit Pistons
Projected Starting Lineup:
PG: Reggie Jackson
SG: Bruce Brown
SF: Tony Snell
PF: Blake Griffin
C: Andre Drummond
The Detroit Pistons made the playoffs last year for the first time since the 2015-16 season, thanks to the All-Pro caliber play from Blake Griffin. He is one of the most underrated and underappreciated players in the NBA. His evolution from just another member of “Lob City” to the point-forward for the Pistons has reached complete transformation. It doesn’t hurt that he is paired with one of the best rebounders in NBA history; Andre Drummond has led the NBA in rebounding in three of the past four seasons. But they need more than those two All-Star caliber players to make a playoff push. Signing former-MVP Derrick Rose to help Reggie Jackson at point guard is a good place to start. Bruce Brown was thrown into the starting lineup last year, and thrived defensively, but was a complete liability on offense. Tony Snell was acquired this off-season, and will be an important piece for the Pistons, who needed to fill their small forward void. Watch out for Luke Kennard, as he may be on the verge of a breakout shooting season. At the end of the day, I think the Pistons have an underrated roster, but also a lot of injury-prone players. Griffin, Jackson, and Rose have all had their fair share of lengthy injuries. If they can stay healthy, maybe they can get to the second round, but I don’t see that happening. This team needs at least another year before even being considered a dark horse candidate.
8. Miami Heat
Projected Starting Lineup:
PG: Goran Dragic
SG: Dion Waiters
SF: Jimmy Butler
PF: James Johnson
C: Bam Adebayo
The Miami Heat enter a new era. All-time great Dwyane Wade has retired, and Jimmy Butler has come to South Beach to become the new alpha dog. The Heat also cut ties with center Hassan Whiteside by shipping him off to Portland. Besides for these moves, this team looks mostly the same. Dragic and Waiters will try to stay healthy, and form a backcourt that can score at ease. James Johnson will just be an average power-forward. I think that Bam Adebayo is going to be a breakout player this year; look for him to be a force on both sides of the court. At the end of the day, this Heat roster is not very impressive. Jimmy Butler is still a top player in the league, but he does not have the best track record of being a leader. I think that Miami will sneak into the playoffs, but many things can go wrong and force this squad to be watching the playoffs from their couches.
9. Orlando Magic
Projected Starting Lineup:
PG: D.J. Augustin
SG: Evan Fournier
SF: Jonathan Isaac
PF: Aaron Gordon
C: Nikola Vucevic
The Orlando Magic made the playoffs last year for the first time since the 2011-12 campaign. Led by All-Star Nikola Vucevic, this team does not have any full-blown superstars, but has a very solid starting lineup and bench. Aaron Gordon has become a player known for more than just his jaw-dropping dunks. Evan Fournier has become a consistent scorer for this team, while D.J. Augustin is an underrated and overlooked point guard. Former No. 1 overall draft pick Markelle Fultz looks to redeem himself, and will join Terrence Ross and Mo Bamba in the second rotation. There is a very thin line in the east between the 8th, 9th, and 10th seed, but as of now I give Miami the edge to make the playoffs, due to Jimmy Butler’s ability to score at will. That said, watch out for the Magic, as they have a very high chance of taking over that spot.
10. Atlanta Hawks
Projected Starting Lineup:
PG: Trae Young
SG: Kevin Huerter
SF: De’Andre Hunter
PF: John Collins
C: Alex Len
