EASTERN CONFERENCE

Atlantic Division

BOSTON CELTICS

Last Season: 48-34, Lost 4-2 to ATL in First Round

Key Dude: How about Avery Bradley? His injury in the series against the Hawks last playoffs swung that thing firmly in the way of Atlanta. He has it in him to score 18+ ppg and he’s already an all-NBA defensive player.

Wildcard’s Wildcard: I love me some Jae Crowder but the Celtics are probably more dependent Marcus Smart taking another step forward. He’s already a really good defender but the kid can’t shoot yet. Perhaps this season.

What to Watch For: Jaylen Brown has looked decent in pre-season, he’s a watcher. Plus they grabbed Al Horford so an already impressive team-mentality is added to with the Dominican Republic’s finest. They’re a great team full of role players and above-weight punchers. Evan Turner might be a tough loss though.

The Big Question: Do they need a superstar player to take things to the next level? (The answer is yes, they do. Name me one contending team without one. Hell, the Warriors have like four.) Follow up… is Al Horford that dude?

BROOKLYN NETS

Last Season: 21-61

Key Dude: The kiwi in me wants to say Sean Marks. If anyone’s gonna turn this team around then it’ll have to be him – working on rebuilding a team with bugger all tradeable talent and zero draft picks. Good luck with that one, bro.

Wildcard’s Wildcard: The Nets are skint as far as the valuable prospect jar goes but Rondae Hollis-Jefferson has some potential. Second year dude, he’s been working hard on his jumper and if that comes good then he has the athletic and mental tools to become a really good player. Missed most of his rookie season with an ankle injury so he’s a blank slate.

What to Watch For: Look, these aren’t the Nets you’re used to. Kenny Atkinson is a highly rated fresh coach and between him and Marksy Mark they’ve begun a complete cultural shift within the franchise. Jeremy Lin and Brook Lopez are the leaders. It’s a shame they got trumped on Allen Crabbe and Tyler Johnson (Crabbe especially) but so it goes. They’ll be crap but they’re no longer leaking money and hype.

The Big Question: Will the Nets be able, with all their cap space, to get involved in any dramatic mid-season trades? What have they got to offer though?

NEW YORK KNICKS

Last Season: 32-50

Key Dude: It depends. You’re either looking back with Melo or forward with Porzingis. Either way they’re unlikely to be making the playoffs. I know the Garden-Faithful won’t agree with that but them’s what I see.

Wildcard’s Wildcard: Joakim Noah. Specifically, the health of Joakim Noah. At his best he was one of the finest defenders in the league but that feels like a long time ago now. Derrick Rose gets no consideration as a wildcard because it’s too hard to imagine him being good again. Hey this would be a great team if it were 2011 (except for Porzingis probably still being in high school).

What to Watch For: A textbook demonstration on the triangle offence and why it either doesn’t work anymore or why these players won’t be able to execute it. Whatever happens, it’ll be worthy of headlines. Too many injury-prone blokes to inspire much confidence. Porzingis is a champ though, definitely give him some time. And Jeff Hornacek took a very unfavoured Suns team to 48 wins in his first season there, which is nothing to sleep on either.

The Big Question: Are we all (myself included) forgetting what a great scorer Carmelo Anthony is and can be? Because that’s my lingering doubt here, that I’m doing exactly that.

PHILDELPHIA 76ERS

Last Season: 10-72

Key Dude: Ah Christ, look. These are the 76ers, they’ve spent the last few years cultivating a legacy as the worst team in the history of the NBA, though these days it seems the process is ramping up. So Ben Simmons is now the key player. He’s injured, but he’s the key player.

Wildcard’s Wildcard: They’ve been talking up Dario Saric for a few years while he’s been stashed in Europe. Now it’s time to see what they’ve got there. Honestly, this could go anywhere from Nowitzki to Bennett.

What to Watch For: Joel Embiid’s twitter account is pretty great. He might even play some basketball this season too. The depth is scarce and there aren’t enough veterans but the top end prospects they do have are fascinating. This is a project like no other in the NBA, that’s worth a cursory glance in the least.

The Big Question: Is the future worth the futility? We can look at the cold-hearted way they tanked and say sure it makes business sense but I’d be pissed if it happened to my team (although my team has a semi-recent championship, so ha!).

TORONTO RAPTORS

Last Season: 56-26, Lost 4-2 to CLE in Conf. Finals

Key Dude: Kyle Lowry had his struggles in the playoffs last season but at his best he’s now amongst the premier point guards in the NBA. Wonderful player to watch.

Wildcard’s Wildcard: Jonas Valanciunas is having to bat away claims he needs to play a bigger role on offence but that might not be the worst thing for Dwane Casey to consider. If the playoffs taught them two things in 2016 it’s that they’re very reliant on Kyle Lowry & DeMar DeRozan and that their Lithuanian centre is very good.

What to Watch For: Apparently Lowry, DeRozan, Carroll, Patterson and Valanciunas only played 16 minutes as a lineup last season. That’s what this team has to look forward to this time with a clean bill of health. Probably the most likely team to challenge the Cavs (inasmuch as anyone can). Come supplied with plenty of north of the border cheer and progressiveness. 

The Big Question: Do Canadians even want anything to do with America anymore these days? Will that affect crowd numbers?

Central Division

CHICAGO BULLS

Last Season: 42-40

Key Dude: There is no more power struggle in Chicago. This is Jimmy Butler’s team. He might have to split a few bills with Dwyane Wade but if Wade only cared about being the top dawg then he’d still be in Miami.

Wildcard’s Wildcard: Ah, Rajon Rondo. It’s one thing balancing Butler with Wade, though the Rondo signing doesn’t make any sense. Not for spacing, not for playmaking and not for winning games either, really. I happen to think that Rondo’s been passed by as the times have changed, then again I’ve been wrong about many things before.

What to Watch For: A new-look Bulls team focussed around Butler. Nikola Mirotic and Doug McDermott are more than decent. Robin Lopez was an alright pickup too. Fred Hoiberg has a few tools to work with here, maybe not the ideal ones but ones that aren’t accustomed to the Thibodeau Bulls. Should be a solid playoff team, somewhere in the mid-seeds unless things go really awry.

The Big Question: Were the signings of Rondo and Wade made with the genuine interest of improving the team or were they star names to cover for losing Pau, Derrick and Joakim?

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS

Last Season: 57-25, Won 4-3 vs GSW in NBA Finals

Key Dude: I mean, there is this one guy. LeBron James is his name. Coming off one of the great NBA Finals performances the world has ever seen.

Wildcard’s Wildcard: J.R. Smith has gotten paid so he can afford a shirt to wear next time he needs to celebrate, he’s always been a bit of a loose cannon. In the best and worst ways. Keep an eye on Kevin Love seeming more at home in Cleveland than he ever has before… that’s suspicious.

What to Watch For: It’s all about the hangover from the first ever title in franchise history, an exorcising moment in Cleveland sports that came via a legendary Finals series, fighting back from 3-1 down to the Wozzas. But ah… the Cavs may not have dropped off too much if at all, though the Warriors have gotten better. Still the best team in the East, still have one of the greatest players of all time leading the show. Always worth watching.

The Big Question: Who the hell can possibly catch them in the Eastern Conference?

DETROIT PISTONS

Last Season: 44-38, Lost 4-0 to CLE in First Round

Key Dude: Andre Drummond. Can’t shoot free throws which sucks, yet he does most other things a centre is supposed to do. Easy to forget he’s only 23 as well.

Wildcard’s Wildcard: Whoever turns out to be able to shoot three pointers. With Reggie Jackson missing time to start, they lose one of their better perimeter shooters (and he’s not even that good) which is dangerous for their balance. I’m gonna chuck a buck on Tobias Harris coming through as more of an offensive threat. I really like that dude.

What to Watch For: Stan Van Gundy has already turned this team into a playoff team, though they benefited from a slightly weak East. That might not be any different this time, so if progress continues they’ll be looking at a middle seed. It might be hard to improve given they didn’t really do anything to get better, although they did re-sign Drummond so that’s nice. Detroit’s a team that always play hard, they make themselves tough to beat.

The Big Question: BIG BOBAN’S GETTING PAID. How funny’s the Ish Smith/Boban Marjanovic pick and roll gonna look?

INDIANA PACERS

Last Season: 45-37, Lost 4-3 to TOR in First Round

Key Dude: Considering he broke his leg in half a couple years ago, Paul George’s season in 2015-16 was almost unbelievable. 23.1 PTS, 7.0 REB, 4.1 AST and some All-NBA defence. You want a guy to lead your team, there’s nothing at all wrong with PG13… except for his nickname.

Wildcard’s Wildcard: A lot could depend on second-year guy Myles Turner, who is expected to move up to the five spot after playing PF in his (impressive) rookie season. He’ll need to get more physical but he’s young so that’s a given. Turner had 23 blocks in seven games in the playoff series against Toronto.

What to Watch For: These are not the grinding Pacers of old. They play up-tempo and they plan on scoring plenty more points than they did on those Eastern Conference Finals days of years past. Lost a couple blokes they might have liked to keep but they’re more than happy with the acquisitions of Jeff Teague and Thad Young – Al Jefferson too if he’s fit. Damn, that’s exciting, you know. And Paul George at his best is like nothing else.

The Big Question: I know it was kinda the intention here… but are they big enough?

MILWAUKEE BUCKS

Last Season: 33-49

Key Dude: The Greek Freak, mate. He goes brilliantly. Giannis Antetokounmpo, who might even have a shot at the All Star game this season. With his size, his length and his athleticism he can play almost any position, though you wanna see him with the ball in his hand.

Wildcard’s Wildcard: Well it was gonna be Khris Middleton but it turns out he's injured, stink. So instead Thon Maker gets the gig. Hard to know what to expect of the 19 year old Aussie-Sudanese prospect. Super raw but with a very high ceiling, the Bucks are very keen on what he can do... though they'll have to ease him into it for sure.

What to Watch For: Lots of youngsters trying to find their way. The potential is there. Matty Dellavedova offers… whatever he is that he offers but he brings a ring with him. They need him to bring stability to the point guard position after giving up on Michael Carter-Williams. Defence is an issue, as are turnovers. Again, they’re a young side and you’ve gotta take that trade-off.

The Big Question: How’s Jason Kidd travelling in the coach’s chair these days?

Southeast Division

ATLANTA HAWKS

Last Season: 48-34, Lost 4-0 to CLE in Conf. Semis

Key Dude: Once upon a time their entire starting five won player of the month. Now Jeff Teague and Al Horford are gone, that leaves Paul Millsap as their superhero. Not too much wrong with that, Millsap is outstanding.

Wildcard’s Wildcard: Dwight Howard has fallen a long way in the past few years but arguably not as far as some would say. If the Hawks are willing to curb some of the style that they thrived with having Howard’s predecessor Al Horford at the five (because the two are pretty different players) then we might see a resurgent Howard in 2016-17. If not, he’ll be the scapegoat.

What to Watch For: It’s gonna be hard for the Hawks to be as good as they’ve been the last few seasons. There’s pressure on Dennis Schroeder to produce as a starter, his emergence allowed for Teague to be flipped. Schroeder’s legit, and Kyle Korver sinks ‘em from anywhere. Kent Bazemore’s earned himself a payday too. Still plenty of greatness on the Hawks roster, enough to cruise into the playoffs.

The Big Question: What’s left on the bench? And is there room for all Dwight’s pet snakes?

CHARLOTTE HORNETS

Last Season: 48-34, Lost 4-3 to MIA in First Round

Key Dude: Kemba Walker is now finally the player they hoped he’d be, a rough-house point guard who shoots best in the final few minutes of games. They lost Al Jefferson, Jeremy Lin and Courtney Lee in the summer so Kemba’s more important now than ever.

Wildcard’s Wildcard: Opinions were split over whether Michael Kidd-Gilchrist would have made the difference last season, had he been fit. I’m undecided on that myself, he’s probably their best defender but he’s also an inconsistent scorer – though in the few games he played last time he was drilling them from all over. And he’s fully fit now.

What to Watch For: It’s hard to see Roy Hibbert having a standout season but then the Hornets have revived a few careers before (Jeremy Lin is one, while Marvin Williams just had the best season of his career). The task here is to repeat what they did last time. A tough task, but Nic Batum re-signed so that helps.

The Big Question: What’s the deal with that Frank Kaminsky guy? Seems like a bit of a weirdo.

MIAMI HEAT

Last Season: 48-34, Lost 4-3 to TOR in Conf. Semis

Key Dude: Hassan Whiteside put his name on the dotted line though he might not have realised that Dwyane Wade wasn’t gonna do the same thing. So congrats, Hassan. You’re the best player on this team now. You and Goran Dragic.

Wildcard’s Wildcard: Tyler Johnson should be a good one. The Nets gave him a sexy offer sheet but the Heat weren’t about to lose another dude they kinda liked so they matched. After going undrafted in 2014, he’s done well to carve out a role for himself and now he’ll be thrust into an even bigger one. The shooting’s slowly coming around and they reckon he might get tasked with marking point guards – given the standard of those guys in 2016, that’s a big vote of confidence.

What to Watch For: Yeah, see… Whiteside is a fella that inhales rebounds and exhales blocks and Dragic has more than a little flair about him – and should be a lot better now that he won’t be competing for shots with Wade. But there really isn’t much else around them. Justise Winslow and Josh Richardson can do some things. Oh and Dion Waiters! That’s it, Dion Waiters. He’s the reason right there.

The Big Question: Can we all take a second to pour one out for Chris Bosh? He never deserved all this. Regardless of whether he plays again let’s just hope he’s all good.

ORLANDO MAGIC

Last Season: 35-47

Key Dude: Aaron Gordon can do a couple things, don’t worry about that.

Wildcard’s Wildcard: There’s a lot of pressure on Elfrid Payton as the point guard, especially now with his SG Victor Oladipo gone. Those two were never a perfect pairing so one was gonna have to concede and Payton got the upvote in the office. Can’t shoot, makes some silly decisions. Plenty of tenacity though.

What to Watch For: Frank Vogel has turned up to coach them, he was unlucky to lose his job with the Pacers – more a factor of changing times than anything poisonous he was adding. He brings some defensive nous to the Magic, who have a big man rotation to rival what Indiana had in their Vogel-led heyday. Ibaka, Biyombo and Vucevic, not bad at all. Really heavy on defence and scoring, which’ll please the coach.

The Big Question: How did things go so wrong after Dwight Howard left? Six straight seasons in the playoffs including a Finals appearance in 2009 has become 103 wins in four seasons. That’s a shade under 26 on average.

WASHINGTON WIZARDS

Last Season: 41-41

Key Dude: John Wall is superb. One of the best passers in the game, a supremely intelligent point guard and a player worth building a franchise around. So… they should start doing that. They are? Well try harder then.

Wildcard’s Wildcard: Bradley Beal and not specifically his combo with Wall but just whether or not he can stay fit. In his four seasons so far he’s always been a reliable scorer but he’s missed 26, 9, 19 and 27 games in those seasons.

What to Watch For: One of several teams with a new coach with something to prove: Scott Brooks. This Wiz team has a lot to prove as well, falling out of the playoffs last time and for good reason. Markieff Morris is the crazy brother, that’s worth something. They didn’t sign KD but they did get his old coach and it’s easy to forget that 12 months ago there was a lot of optimism about this lot.

The Big Question: So was Randy Wittman the problem or not?