Can the Celtics and Rockets threaten the Warriors?

2. Boston Celtics – Finally, it's Boston time. Gordon Hayward and Kyrie Irving are in good health. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have another summer to their credit. LeBron James is out of the East. The Celtics, who had only two victories to qualify for last year's NBA finals despite the absence of their top two players (Irving and Hayward), should be part of the conference for the first time since 2010.

3. Houston Rockets – The Rockets, who were oh-so-close defeating the Warriors in the Western Final last year, got worse this summer. Losing Trevor Ariza and Luc Mbah a Moute may seem like little, but they were two of Houston's best defenders, and their absence creates a void because Carmelo Anthony can not, and will not fill. That said, Houston still enters the season as the second best team in the West and as a legitimate title contender.

4. Toronto Raptors – See you soon, DeMar DeRozan. Hello, Kawhi Leonard. On paper, the Raptors replaced a star with a superstar. But it is not that simple. Leonard arrives with all sorts of luggage, including the fact that he played only nine games last season in one of the weirdest injury sagas in league history. . If he can become the top 5 talent he's ever been, the Raptors will be a strength.

5. Utah Jazz – After a season in which they exceeded all expectations, the Jazz, which remained relatively quiet this summer, is poised to take another step forward. If the defensive player of the year in title, Rudy Gobert, can stay healthy and Donovan Mitchell continues to develop to become a star in his own right, it is likely that the top 4 will be at home. Where is.

6. Philadelphia 76ers – Years of reconstruction paid off last season for the Sixers, who qualified for the semi-finals of the East behind the two-headed monsters Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid – while another selection among the top three, Markelle Fultz watched her from afar. If Fultz regains the jumper – and the confidence – that made him the No. 1 2017 pick, beware. The Sixers have the talent to fight for a place in the final.

7. Thunder from Oklahoma City – A second consecutive exit in the first round and Paul George's impending free agency left OKC looking dark. But on July 1, George pledged his loyalty in the form of a four-year contract and, ultimately, an unhappy and fiery Carmelo Anthony was sent to pack his bags. Suddenly, the Thunder looks like pretenders again.

8. Indiana Pacers – The Pacers are entering the season in an extremely different place from last year: with expectations. It's essentially the same team that almost knocked out LeBron James in the first round of the series, but maybe even better. The big guys, Myles Turner and Domantas Sabonis, are both ready for the playoff seasons, and the most improved player, Victor Oladipo, is still on the rise.

9. Denver Nuggets – Not to participate in the playoffs because of a defeat on the last night of the season has left the Nuggets wanting more, rightly so. But do not expect a similar result this year. What do you get when you combine Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Gary Harris, Paul Millsap, Will Barton and two very promising additions like Isaiah Thomas and Michael Porter Jr.? One of the best teams in the West with a potential of 50 wins.

10. San Antonio Spurs – With Kawhi Leonard's saga of injuries in the back, it's time for the NBA's model franchise to resume operations. They do not exactly match what the league covets nowadays, with DeMar DeRozan and LaMarcus Aldridge as wonders midway. However, we are not about to count the Spurs, even though injuries are raging in the backcourt.

11. Milwaukee Bucks – Is this the year when everything is going well for the Bucks, who have underperformed in recent seasons despite the meteoric rise of Giannis Antetokounmpo? It looks good. Mike Budenholzer, the former coach of the year, has been huge, and it is hoped that he will ensure that this group exploits the potential that Jason Kidd could not exploit. Do not sleep on Khris Middleton, who could win the title of star player this year. The Bucks should finish among the top 5 teams in the East.

12. New Orleans Pelicans – Anthony Davis says he's "the best player in the game", and we do not blame him. He is not, of course, but getting closer and closer and it's him alone that allows the playoff contenders for the Pelicans. With Jrue Holiday and Julius Randle on the picture, the Pelicans could have one of the best big-3 in the league.

13. Portland Trail Blazers – Bleh. The Blazers will be good – better than those in New Orleans in the first round sweep – but that's it. We know what to expect from the back duo of Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum, and the addition of Seth Curry has been solid. But they will miss Ed Davis, who went on a free mission to Brooklyn.

14. Los Angeles Lakers – The best basketball player on the planet is in town, and while it's not sunny, rainbow and championship in Laker Land, it's all in the right direction. James' additions, Lance Stephenson, Rajon Rondo, JaVale McGee and Michael Beasley, combined with the anticipated rushes of Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball and Kyle Kuzma make this team as intriguing as any other.

* 15. Minnesota Timberwolves – The drama of Jimmy Butler has not yet reached, it is difficult to really evaluate this team of T'Wolves. Butler is expected to play the season's first game of Minnesota on Wednesday, but regardless of the All-Star's four-time standings, it's an unfortunate situation for a team that has just come to an end. to its playoff drought that lasted 13 seasons.

16. Washington Wizards – One of the most disappointing teams of last season, Washington must recover quickly. This is the seventh year of training for John Wall and Bradley Beal. Although they both became individual stars, they did not do much else. While Otto Porter is ready to take another step forward and Dwight Howard, Austin Rivers and Jeff Green are now in the fold, the problem in Washington is not the amount of talent on the list.

17. Miami Heat – It's a league led by stars and the Heat has no stars. Their ceiling, unless a significant change? A trip to the playoffs and a first round out, just like last year.

18. Detroit Pistons – Other than Blake Griffin and Andre Drummond starting their first full season together and reigning head coach of the year, Dwane Casey, there is not much enthusiasm in Detroit. Can Casey do what Stan Van Gundy did once in four seasons on the sidelines and steer those Pistons into the playoffs?

PLUS NBA:

19. Los Angeles Clippers – While the Clippers may be on the outside looking for a second consecutive year, they are turning to next summer. They could again become a power of the Western Conference as soon as possible.

20. Charlotte Hornets – Kemba Walker says he wants to "create something special" in Charlotte, but he'd better not hold his breath. The Hornets are stuck in a no-man's land, and with few young players to build, they could stay there for a while.

21. Dallas Mavericks – All in all, an alignment consisting of Luka Doncic, Dennis Smith Jr., Harrison Barnes and DeAndre Jordan, No. 3 overall, should be enough to allow the Mavs to win their 24th victory.

22. Memphis Grizzlies – The Grizzlies will not be good, but they will not be the sinking they were last season. Mike Conley is not only back after playing 12 games before the end of the heel season, but rookie Jaren Jackson Jr. has arguably the highest cap in this year's draft class and Kyle Anderson, who the Grizzlies signed free investment, was a radar difference maker last season in San Antonio.

23. Cleveland Cavaliers – Of course, Tristan Thompson, the Cavs are technically the "four Eastern Conference Champions of the East". But without LeBron James, they are nothing more than games in the lottery.

24. Chicago Bulls – The Bulls must take a collective step forward this season, and it starts with an individual step forward for Zach LaVine and Kris Dunn. Injuries have blocked the rise of the two guards, but if they can stay healthy, the Bulls could well prepare.

25. Brooklyn nets – This is the year that D'Angelo Russell becomes a star. The second pick in the 2015 selection is still just 22 and he showed a lot of promise in his first injury season in Brooklyn. Things improve for the nets.

26. New York Knicks – Can new coach David Fizdale put an end to decades of disgust for Knick fans? No, not this season, at least. What he can do, however, is direct the team in the right direction, and that is a start.

27. Orlando Magic – The good news? The Magic have a handful of young players to build, such as the lottery choices Aaron Gordon, Jonathan Isaac and Mo Bamba. The bad? They are still in the process of reconstruction. Another year of loss is coming.

28. Phoenix Suns – Of course, they are again destined for the lottery and do not have a starting point guard. But this Suns team has a good mix of young talents and seasoned veterans. They will not be as bad as they did last year, but they will not be "the most improved team in the league," said general manager Ryan McDonough, who has since been sacked.

29. Kings of Sacramento – It's 12 seasons and it's been counting since the last appearance of the Kings (the longest active league in the league), and you can bet it'll be 13 before the month of April.

30. Atlanta Hawks – There's a good chance the Hawks will finish the season with the worst ever record in the East, and that's good. This season only concerns internal development and internal development. It starts with choice # 5, Trae Young, but do not forget the young strikers John Collins and Taurean Prince.

Voters: Jeff Zillgitt of the United States Today, Sports, AJ Neuharth-Keusch, Martin Rogers and Matt Eppers