The Grizzlies begin their season tomorrow night in Los Angeles, but the NBA proper tips off tonight with a three-game slate.
We’ll get back into the Grizzlies specifically tomorrow, but for now it’s once again time to go on the record with how I see the whole league shaking out this season.
I did over-under predictions on all 30 teams last week on The Chris Vernon Show, alongside Verno, producer Jon Roser, and Grizzlies radio play-by-play man Eric Hasseltine. Even though circumstances have changed for a few teams and my opinions have shifted on a few others, I’m including those over-under picks here as is for the sake of posterity.
On with the predictions, conference picks separated into tiers:
EASTERN CONFERENCE
1. Miami Heat (61.5 — OVER)
After the breakthrough comes the victory lap. I think Lebron James is about to run wild over the whole league.
2. Boston Celtics (50.5 — OVER)
I know, they were a 48-win equivalent team last season and now Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett are another year older. And they’re totally focused on a post-season rematch with Miami. But I think they got younger and deeper around a still-elite three-man core and the best coach in the conference. And I think they’re hungry. A 55-win team.
3. Indiana Pacers (50.5 — UNDER)
4. Atlanta Hawks (43 — OVER)
5. Brooklyn Nets (46 — UNDER)
I see all these teams in the 44-50 win range. The Pacers were unusually healthy last season and are already seeing warning signs on that front from top scorer Danny Granger. I think their offseason moves to shake up their bench were lateral at best. “Lateral at best” is how I see their season.
The Hawks are my Eastern sleeper team. They lost Joe Johnson and Marvin Williams — which will hurt their wing defense more than anything — but made up for it by loading up on ballhandlers (Jeff Teague, Devin Harris, Lou Williams) and shooters (Anthony Morrow, Kyle Korver, Williams) to surround the dynamic frontcourt duo of Josh Smith and a returning-from-injury Al Horford. This should be a fun and surprisingly good team.
In Brooklyn, I love the Deron Williams-Joe Johnson backcourt, but don’t love the defense and depth. But they’ll win the All-City title and fight for homecourt in the first round. This was one of the tougher over/under calls for me.
