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Atlantic Division

BOSTON CELTICS

2014-15: 40-42, Lost 4-0 to CLE in First Round

Key Player: Isaiah Thomas is the real deal.

What to Watch For: A fun team on the way back up after some tough times, helmed by a great young coach and slowly building towards competitiveness. They were a pleasant surprise in making the playoffs (albeit with a losing record, cheers Eastern Conference…) last season, though it might still be a year early for them. If only they’d bagged Kevin Love, then they’d be up there. Amir Johnson is a nice addition, Marcus Smart is a prodigy. Ooh, and let’s see what David Lee can still offer.

Key Question: The Celtics are still in the market, so… who are they eying up? Boogie Cousins, perhaps?

2015-16 Prediction: 39-43

BROOKLYN NETS

2014-15: 38-44, Lost 4-2 to ATL in First Round

Key Player: Brook Lopez has been name-dropped in more trade rumours than he can count but he opted to re-sign with the Nets this offseason and the big fella now assumes the role of franchise leader. Based on how he finished last season (averaging 19 & 9 after the ASG), he’s good for it too.

What to Watch For: The Nets are busy ripping it all up, they were so desperate to get rid of Deron Williams that they’ll pay him more than the Mavericks will this season and he’s playing for Dallas! Joe Johnson, in the last year of his contract, is the only big name left from the cash splashing of a few years ago that gave Boston most of their draft picks for the next half century. They went WIN NOW and only managed a single playoff series victory for it. This is a team in limbo.

Key Question: On the positive side, they will have almost $40m in cap space for next season. You keen, Mr Durant? No? How about you Al Horford? Bradley Beal? Someone? Anyone?

2015-16 Prediction: 25-57

TORONTO RAPTORS

2014-15: 49-33, Lost 4-0 to WAS in First Round

Key Player: DeMar DeRozan. He’s a three-point shot away from being one of the premier shooting guards around, though playing in Toronto nobody would notice anyway.

What to Watch For: One of many teams that looks to have gotten weaker in their roster but might actually get better. Losing Amir Johnson to the Celtics hurts, Lou Williams to the Lakers too, but they replaced them with Corey Joseph and DeMarre Carroll. They’ve relied on stability over the past couple seasons, this time they’re a bit unknown. But get Jonas Valanciunas playing better defence and Kyle Lowry back at his 2013-14 form and they’ll roll into the Eastern playoffs. Lowry’s been slaying in pre-season.

Key Question: 48 wins in 2013-14, 49 wins in 2014-15… must be due to crack fiddy for the first time in franchise history now, right? To be honest, second place in the East is a realistic target. They need that playoff win this time, though. Haven’t been past the first round since 2001 and this is the best chance they’ll get.

2015-16 Prediction: 51-31

PHILDELPHIA 76ERS

2014-15: 18-64

Key Player: Once again, probably GM Sam Hinkie. The city of Philadelphia’s waiting for Hinkie’s nod of approval before moving forward with Project 76.

What to Watch For: No team made more steals last season than the 76ers. No team shot the ball at a worse percentage. They’re still tanking, don’t worry, but at least this time we’ll get to see a glimpse of the end game with the likes of Jahlil Okafor and Nerlens Noel both good to go. There’s even a small hint of NBA-standard depth, this could be a stunning 20 win season!

Key Question: Joel Embiid has the tools to be the best centre project in a generation (counting Anthony Davis strictly as a PF here) but after the news that he’ll miss this entire season after the surgery that cost him last season didn’t do the job… is this gonna be another tragic Greg Oden situation? Fingers crossed for the fella.

2015-16 Prediction: 20-62

NEW YORK KNICKS

2014-15: 17-65

Key Player: Quite obviously it’s Carmelo Anthony. If he’s fit then there are points in this team. Points, if you didn’t realise, are how games are won.

What to Watch For: The Knicks didn’t hook the big fish they were after in free agency and the drafting of Kristaps Porzingis was a controversial one but they still went about their business in a pretty commendable manner, signing a bunch of proven vets (like Arron Afflalo and Robin Lopez) and giving themselves the opportunity to make significant improvements. After finishing with the second worst record in the NBA last season, they’d better do so.

Key Question: What the hell, Derek Fisher? That triangle offence is for on-court use only.

2015-16 Prediction: 34-48

Central Division

DETROIT PISTONS

2014-15: 32-50

Key Player: Based on last season, it might be Coach Stan Van Gundy. But they definitely need some hitherto unseen quality from Reggie Jackson.

What to Watch For: Until further notice it might be best not to watch them, though they’re certainly more watchable now than a year ago when Josh Smith and Greg Monroe clogged the hell outta things along with Andre Drummond. Those two are gone now and Drummy remains, maybe to flourish. We’ll have to wait and see.

Key Question: Have you seen this Stanley Johnson kid play yet? Eighth overall pick this year, lad’s got plenty of game.

2015-16 Prediction: 35-47

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS

2014-15: 53-29, Lost 4-2 to GSW in NBA Finals

Key Player: I mean… LeBron James anyone?

What to Watch For: LeBron looking to bring that championship back to his home state. This is a team that feels that they were robbed by fate a bit last season. Injuries to Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving during the playoffs. But both of them are back as well as a typically fascinating select group of LeBron’s boys as depth guys. At their best, the Cavs can outscore anyone.

Key Question: Tristan Thompson, what you up to, bro? Just sign that paper son. (UPDATE: Within 24 hours of publication, he did. You're welcome Cavs fans.)

2015-16 Prediction: 61-21

INDIANA PACERS

2014-15: 38-44

Key Player: Paul George will have to prove he’s the same player he was before his broken leg. If you ask him, he reckons he’s better. PG will have a bit of a different role this season too.

What to Watch For: Monta Ellis being Monta Ellis, the goodwill factor of Paul George’s recovery, and a faster, more fluent offence without Roy Hibbert and David West down low. This could be a drastically different looking team to the last few years.

Key Question: No more Roy Hibbert, does that mean addition by subtraction, a la Josh Smith in Detroit?

2015-16 Prediction: 40-42

MILWAUKEE BUCKS

2014-15: 41-41, Lost 4-2 to CHI in First Round

Key Player: Picking a name out of a group of superbly talented young players is tough. Let’s go with Greg Monroe, whose addition either puts this team right up there or it messes things up. For now let’s go with the former.

What to Watch For: No team exceeded expectations as much as the Bucks did last time out. They should have been awful but Jason Kidd came in and fashioned a team that could play some very solid defence, prioritising length at every position. With Giannis Antetokounmpo in your team, length is not a problem. But going from 15 to 41 wins in a year hasn’t stopped them making moves. They flipped their best player, Brandon Knight (expiring), at the deadline and replaced him with Michael Carter-Williams. They let Zaza Pachulia and Jared Dudley go and brought in Greg Monroe. Maybe this works and they keep going upwards, maybe they stall. Keep an eye on Jabari Parker too, he’s got a point to prove after his injury.

Key Question: Will the second most efficient defence of 2014-15 be able to find more balance? And might that mean a playoff series win?

2015-16 Prediction: 45-37

CHICAGO BULLS

2014-15: 50-32, Lost 4-2 to CLE in Conf. Semis

Key Player: Jimmy Butler is now the King of Chicago.

What to Watch For: It’s gonna be strange seeing the Bulls without Tom Thibodeau on the sidelines after five seasons, a 64.7% winning record and having made the playoffs every year. But he was a grit and grind kinda coach and his stubbornness didn’t make friends in the front office. Fred Hoiberg gets the gig now, curious how he goes with a team that’s already having issues with health.

Key Question: At 27 years old and looking like he’ll never be healthy enough to be the player he once was… is trading Derrick Rose an option they’re looking at?

2015-16 Prediction: 45-37

Southeast Division

MIAMI HEAT

2014-15: 37-45

Key Player: Hassan Whiteside, because if he can consolidate what he did last season then this team can go deep. If he’s only a flash in the pan then they’re going nowhere at all.

What to Watch For: We (fingers crossed) finally get to see the vaunted starting five that was teased at the last trade deadline of Dragic/Wade/Whiteside/Deng/Bosh. Plus a pretty interesting bench that includes 2015 draft steal Justice Winslow. Health is gonna be a big factor here. Still, they’re one of the few teams in the East with a chance of stopping the Cavs.

Key Question: Given that the tendons in his knees are held together by paperclips and bluetack, how much does Dwyane Wade have left to offer? 50 games and playoffs?

2015-16 Prediction: 46-36

ATLANTA HAWKS

2014-15: 60-22, Lost 4-0 to CLE in Conf. Finals

Key Player: Al Horford will never get the respect he deserves. One of the great underappreciated talents of our times.

What to Watch For: Pacing and spacing, man. This is where it lives. We’re talking about a team whose entire starting five won player of the month for January. They’ve lost DeMarre Carroll but only DeMarre Carroll of that quintet, and they added Tiago Splitter so there’s not too much panic - even if they didn’t get better, they’re still not much worse. Teams will be much better prepared for them this season. Having said that, the Hawks are cruising into the playoffs all the same, probably with home court.

Key Question: Was last season a best case scenario or can ATL go further?

2015-16 Prediction: 50-32

CHARLOTTE HORNETS

2014-15: 33-49

Key Player: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, the lynchpin defender to tie it all together after they made moves to up an offence that was outscored by every team but the Knicks and 76ers last season. Except that MKG is out for six months with a shoulder injury. Guts. We’ll say Kemba Walker instead then.

What to Watch For: Al Jefferson is in a contract year and he’s apparently lost a bunch of weight. Big Al plays the paint like no one else, a guilty NBA pleasure. The Hornets were close to making big strides last season but whiffed awfully on Lance Stephenson as the final piece. Oh, and Frank “The Tank” Kaminsky.

Key Question: Who can hit a jump shot? No team in the league shot worse from 3pt than the Hornets (31.8%) last season.

2015-16 Prediction: 31-51

ORLANDO MAGIC

2014-15: 25-57

Key Player: Gotta love a bit of Nikola Vucevic.

What to Watch For: Lots of young players running around without all that much direction. But there’s promise here if they can find a couple defenders. Since Dwight Howard left the Magic have lost more games than any other franchise. They’re probably another year away from making it count, still they’ll be a fun team if they can hit a few threes and get to the line a little more.

Key Question: How about this dude?

2015-16 Prediction: 28-54

WASHINGTON WIZARDS

2014-15: 46-36, Lost 4-2 to ATL in Conf. Semis

Key Player: John Wall, the best point guard in the NBA that doesn’t get counted amongst the best point guards in the NBA even though he should be.

What to Watch For: Mate, John Wall and Bradley Beal, together. That combo’s plenty enough already even without chucking in the post-thrust of The Polish Hammer Marcin Gortat. Not always the most imaginative team but they’re a good one.

Key Question: Were the playoffs proof that Coach Randy Wittman is ready to switch things up or was that just playoff fever doing strange things?

2015-16 Prediction: 51-31