Key Teams
Golden State Warriors - $1.60
Key ins: DeMarcus Cousins
Key outs: Zaza Pachulia
It looked like it was going to be difficult for the Warriors to get better over the off-season, but then DeMarcus Cousins happened.
The four-time All-Star moved to the Warriors during the free agency period on a one-year deal worth just $US5.3 million.
However, when Cousins actually makes his debut for the Warriors is still unknown, given he tore his Achillies in late January.
It looks as though he might not play until at least the new year, but really, as long as he’s right by late May, the Warriors will be happy.
Golden State could rock a line-up of Cousins, Draymond Green, Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson and Steph Curry in the NBA Finals. Sheesh.
With Zaza Pachulia heading out the door, the Warriors need someone to replace his 14.1 minutes per game, and it looks like they’ll be sharing minutes between Jordan Bell, Kevin Looney and Damian Jones until Cousins returns.
If any side can deal with playing centres of that quality for the first half of the season, it’s the Warriors.
They’ll be the favourites all season long and rightly so, and if they can seal home court for the entire playoffs, they’ll be the team to beat once again.
Boston Celtics - $7.50
Key ins: Gordon Hayward
Key outs: Nil
Okay. Technically Gordon Hayward was acquired last summer, but given he played a total of five minutes before suffering a season-ending foot injury on the opening day last season, it’ll certainly feel like a new signing to Brad Stevens.
The Eastern Conference has opened up big time for the Celtics, and they’re now the favourites to win the conference and make their first Finals appearance since 2010.
With LeBron James heading west, the Cavs are now out of the race, and it leaves the Celtics, Philadelphia and Toronto as the top three sides, although Boston seem a level above.
Kyrie Irving seems ready to commit his future in Boston, and with the new wave of talent in Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, the duo alongside Irving and Hayward can definitely be a side of the future.
They were so close to knocking off the Cavs last season, and despite now being the hunted, they should have enough talent to not only take the Eastern Conference title, but push their Western Conference counterparts in the Finals.
in.
Houston Rockets - $10
Key ins: Carmelo Anthony
Key outs: Ryan Anderson, Trevor Ariza, Luc Mbah a Moute
The addition of Carmelo Anthony is an interesting one for the Rockets, as they look to close the gap between themselves and the Warriors at the top of the Western Conference.
If things go well it could work wonders, with Anthony now playing next to two of the top six assisting players in the league (James Harden, Chris Paul).
While his role is currently undecided, the Rockets will need to cover the minutes (at the very least) of the three main outgoing players, as Anderson, Ariza and Mbah a Moute all played over 25 minutes per game last season.
They were close to overcoming the Warriors last season, but an injury to Chris Paul during the Conference Finals saw them fall to Golden State, in what might have been their best chance to defeat them.
They’ll likely meet the Warriors in the WCF once again, but with Golden State improving, it looks tough to see the Rockets being able to overcome them in seven games and without home court.
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Enjoy the NBA Season!
