I was taking a look at some rosters, and damn, I was impressed. Some juggernauts there.
Elite NBA teams - there are 4 of them, and it will all come to health. IMO matchups are a toss between them:
Cavs------------Warriors---------Thunder-------------Spurs
Kyrie------------Curry------------Westbrook----------Parker
Shump----------Klay-------------Roberson------------Green
LBJ-------------Barnes-----------Durant---------------Leonard
Love------------Draymond-------Ibaka----------------Aldridge
Mozgov---------Bogut------------Adams---------------Duncan
Mo Williams-----Livingston------Morrow----------------Mills
JR---------------Iguodala--------Waiters---------------Ginobili
Thompson-------Ezeli------------McGary---------------Diaw
-----------------------------------Kanter----------------West
Delly------------Barbosa---------Payne-----------------McCollum
Cunningham----Rush-------------Augustin--------------Kyle Anderson
RJ--------------McAdoo-----------Singler----------------Marjanovic
AV--------------Jason Thompson--Collison
Kaun------------Speights
Wow, these teams are stacked. Ezeli is overlooked and will soon become a premier NBA backup C, and probably actually become a starter with Bogut going to the bench. McGary is also overlooked, he's a great great young backup PF/C. Cameron Payne should become a very good PG. Spurs is deep and experienced as fuck.
It's really all coming to health IMO. A healthy Cavs is not a guarantee, and not even a favourite to beat any of these teams, if healthy. It's 50-50.
In the 2nd tier there are other 5 teams:
Clippers--------Rockets-------Grizzlies----------Hawks---------Bulls
Paul------------Lawson-------Conley------------Teague---------Rose
JJ Redick-------Harden-------Lee----------------Korver---------Butler
Stephenson----Ariza----------Jeff Green---------Bazemore-----Snell
Griffin----------Motiejunas----Randolph----------Millsap--------Mirotic
Jordan---------Howard--------Marc Gasol--------Horford-------Pau Gasol
Crawford-------Beverley-------Udrih-------------Schroder------Aaron Brooks
Paul Pierce-----Terry----------Vince Carter------Sefolosha-----Hinrich
Josh Smith-----Brewer--------Tony Allen--------Mike Scott----McDermott
-----------------Jones----------Matt Barnes------Muscala------Taj Gibson
---------------------------------Brandan Wright---Splitter-------Noah
Prigioni---------Thornton---------------------------------------E'Twaun Moore
Rivers----------KJ McDaniels
Cole Aldrich----Dekker
-----------------Harrell------------------------------------------Bobby Portis
-----------------Capela
About these teams, Rockets are very very impressive with their depth. It seems like they have 14 guys capable of being real contributors in a rotation in the NBA. Clippers very good but a bit too disfuncional to me. Hawks have a complete and deep roster, Splitter brings a different alternative to them, and Bazemore completely makes up for Carroll. Muscala is a guy that if given minutes, will produce. Bulls look pretty good too, this Portis kid may be a steal and contribute right away. Their team will improve a lot with Noah out of the starting lineup.
All 5 are pretty good teams, but the only one that actually become elite this season and be part of a top5 in the NBA is the Hawks IMO.
On the 3rd tier there are good teams like Washington, Indiana, Milwaukee, Toronto, Heat, Utah, Lakers, Sacramento.
I think 2 of these teams will jump to the 2nd tier to become great teams, but none will be a true elite contender. I'm betting mainly on Milwaukee and Heat.
I'm beting on these standings at the end:
Atlanta--------------------------Warriors
Cavs-----------------------------OKC
Bulls------------------------------Spurs
Washington-----------------------Rockets
Milwaukee------------------------Grizzlies
Miami-----------------------------Clippers
Indiana---------------------------Sacramento
Toronto----------------------------Lakers
Finals: Cavs vs Warriors/OKC/Spurs
Finally 8 good teams at the playoffs in the East, should be a much better playoffs this year. Top 3 in the West are true contenders, top 6 overall is scary and there's an ocean between them and the rest of the teams in Conference. Kings, Lakers and Utah to fight for 2 remaining playoffs spots and to get kicked out in the 1st round.
Overall I'm very impressed with how well the 5 top teams in the West are constructed, their roster is really great, along with Cavs and Hawks.
Should be a fun season and injuries allowing, better than last season.
