NBA forecasts and thoughts for each team to start the 2018-2019 season

I've spent all summer picking the Celtics to win the championship. It has become a fashionable choice, and it is not so exaggerated. With Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward alongside defenseman Al Horford, as well as another year of development for Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, the C's are full of talent.

They are so deep. Terry Rozier and Marcus Smart could both compete for the sixth man of the year, while salty veterinarians like Marcus Morris and Aron Baynes are perfect plug – and – play rotation players depending on the game. We know that they will be well supervised and prepared.

The Celtics have the kind of talent that should win the Eastern Conference now that LeBron James is in the West. Even taking into account a transition phase when all the pieces merge, nothing less than a trip to the final would be a disappointment.

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They also have the kind of talent that could beat the Warriors at their own game with long, unstable and athletic guys at every post. Anyway, that's the theory and it almost convinced me, except for one thing. Well, two things.

Kevin Durant and Steph Curry still play for the Warriors. Choosing the Celtics is a hedge that KD or Steph will be hit, beaten or otherwise worn out by an arduous trekking through the post-season Western Conference. As long as these two are reasonably healthy and strong, the championship stays in Oakland for one more season.

There are a dozen different things that could go wrong for the Warriors this season. The injuries inflicted on Draymond Green and Klay Thompson would upset their balance even more than losing one of their two superstars. Andre Iguodala and Shaun Livingston are a year older and it is unclear how Cousins ​​DeMarcus will fit once he is able to play. There are also rumors of the imminent departure of KD throughout the league.

It is this last part that solidifies this choice. If warriors know in their hearts that it is the end of an era, all this disaster potential becomes a perverse motivation. It could even push Durant to put together his most complete season as a pro.

Since they've won 73 wins, the Warriors are playing for the story. Three consecutive championships and four in five years would put them in the company of elites no matter how they were built. It's really theirs. As strong as the Western Conference is, there is only one team that has legitimately pushed the Warriors last season.

It's too easy to sell low on the market. rockets. It's true that Chris Paul is one year older, that his depth has been successful in the offseason and that Carmelo Anthony's endless battle against his own mortality is threatening to be a recurring scenario.

Some of these concerns are exaggerated. The CP3 is perhaps the most snakebit player in the league, but he must pause. Under Daryl Morey, the Rockets regularly built complementary alignments on the fly. In the vast scheme of things, Melo just needs to be a better Ryan Anderson.

As always, the key remains James Harden. With an MVP finally on the shelves, now is the time for Harden to remind him a bit keeping the spirit to stay strong throughout the playoffs. A Home Court advantage and another MVP pursuit are deserving goals, but Harden and the Rockets have nothing to prove in the regular season.

It is the post-season that will define them and their style of iso-heavy game that is so unique that they are a matchup nightmare in a long series. Few teams can score with them, let alone can keep their big men on the ground against them.

That's what makes me feel uncomfortable for Utah. Rudy Gobert is Utah's best player and we have seen in the playoffs what happens when teams like Houston drive him out of the field. This is unfortunate, because it would not be a shock if Utah was legitimately able to climb the top of the list in the West.

The Coins – Ricky Rubio and Donovan Mitchell behind the scenes at Joe Ingles, Jae Crowder and Derrick Favors in the foreground – agree so well around Gobert that the 29-6 race of last year to end at the regular season does not look like an aberration. The post-season no longer.

the Raptors and Kawhi Leonard are the X factor of the league. The most likely scenario is a top-two seed in the East and a solid playoff series. When did things go as planned in Toronto? No result would really surprise anyone, not even a trip to the finals.

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It takes a lot of things to make it happen and everyone knows the list, from Kawhi Leonard's future to Kyle Lowry's mentality to Nick Nurse's debut as a coach. From a basketball standpoint, most of all, the Raps are a team of 60 wins to wait. A championship series of the Eastern Conference with the Celtics would be delightful.

You can argue for a handful of other teams, but starting in mid-October, it's the group of consensus candidates.

LAKER EXCEPTIONALISM GETS OWN SECTION

The most convincing team in the West is the Lakers. That's what you get when you add LeBron James. Get into the promise of youth development with a quirky collection of eccentric veterans and the Lakers are coming back to an appointment. The way this talent mixes around LeBron is enough for people in eastern New Zealand to get lost beyond their bedtime.

It's also a fascinating place for James. He will put on a show every night in the most important showplace of the league without the burden of the expectations of the championship. Talking about missing the playoffs gives the impression of reaching. Have not we learned not to underestimate LeBron now?

The trio of candidates may be in the East

Honestly, I do not really know what to do with Sixers. With Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid, they should belong to Boston or Toronto in the group of candidates. More than one league player thinks he's getting closer to Indiana and Milwaukee in the next group of teams from the East. Although Embiid and Simmons can still become so, Markelle Fultz's development will depend a lot for them to take the next step.

Everyone likes it Pacersand I love them more than most. If Victor Oladipo can rely on his season, he has the tools to win 50 games. It all depends on the development of the great man Myles Turner. Now in his fourth season and just 22 years old, Turner needs to turn lightning bolts into periods of prolonged success. (I'll never give up the ghost on Turner.)

The question for the Milwaukee Bucks As they enter the first year with Mike Budenholzer, how much do you believe in coaching? Bud's coaching team in Atlanta was known for their looks, their space and the realization of this great game. Milwaukee does not have four stars, but Giannis Antetokounmpo. It's a huge year for everyone involved. The Bucks are not out of the first round after three attempts in four years and time is running out.

THE GREATEST PLAYHOFF CHASE OF THE WEST

Speaking of time clocks, Anthony Davis is finally a center. With that comes a season of MVP. (In order: AD, LeBron, KD, Giannis, Kawhi). Is it enough to push the Pels further into the playoffs and convince AD ​​that a future in NOLA is worth pursuing for the rest of its best years? The whole league is waiting for a resolution of this eternal question.

I would much prefer Oklahoma City with an irreproachable healthbut too many people sleep on thunder. They will be good, maybe even excellent, if Russell Westbrook's knee injury does not go down and if Andre Roberson can again make a defensive hit. We've seen glimpses of this past season, but consistency was a problem. Now that Westbrook and Paul George have consolidated their partnership, OKC will be a difficult exit.

Like everyone else, I'm optimistic about the nuggets. Stay healthy, listen to Paul Millsap, play some defense and everything will be fine. We need Jokic Playoff in our lives.

I think the Blazers will miss the playoffs when Damian Lillard is playing for another team, and I do not think that will ever happen. I will believe the Spurs will miss the series when Gregg Popovich is no longer a coach. One of the teams will likely be out of playoffs and my confidence in humanity will be shaken.

I will assume that Jimmy Butler do not play for Minnesota this season. Even with a lot of veterinarians willing to play in exchange for Jimmy Buckets, the young Wolves did not inspire much optimism. The potential for implosion is high.

the Mowers can totally do the seriesbut they will have to jump over several teams on their way. the Mavericks can not do the seriesbut they will be in the race and Luka Doncic will be worth the price of admission.

THE CHASE PLAYOFF NOT SO GREAT IN THE EAST

the Heat will play hard and be strong defensive. Give them Jimmy Butler and they will give six good teams to the Eastern Conference. (That's the only way to stop that, by the way – Butler was born to play for Pat Riley.)

the magicians are a walking experience of chemistry. When you add Dwight Howard, you recognize that you have run out of ideas.

You could make a case for Detroit, Charlotte or Cleveland sneak into this last playoff spot and nobody would really argue. Give me the Pistons, with a chance to sneak up the ladder if Andre Drummond is unleashed for real under Dwane Casey and Blake Griffin regains his pace.

Kemba Walker and Kevin Love would do a couple of dynamite. Solo, they are enough to keep their teams in contention.

IN CONSTRUCTION

If the Knicks stay the course throughout their reconstructionit could be one of those fun seasons where low expectations are offset by promising development opportunities. I can not believe I'm going to say that, but I'm optimistic about the future of New York. With plenty of space, another lottery choice associated with rookie Kevin Knox and a (hopefully) healthy Kristaps Porzingis, the Knicks are in a position to be propelled by an independent agency.

Exceeding low expectations with a promising development was a good start for the bulls last year. Now comes the difficult part of identifying the real core and determining where everyone fits. Do not grow too fast, guys. There is another lottery choice to pursue.

With their length, their youth and their athleticism, the Magic are weird hold my attention for a few months. Good luck to the falcons and netting and have a good trip to Lloyd Pierce and Kenny Atkinson. the kings and Suns stay kings and suns.