Crystal ball shows Lakers on the outside
Crowded playoff field next spring probably won’t include Coach Luke Walton’s team.
Lakers fans might be hoping their team can work its way into the playoffs next season, but finishing among the top eight in the talented Western Conference seems too tall a task.
Elsewhere, the Golden State Warriors have the entire NBA in an uproar after forming the latest “super team.”
The Warriors were once the lovable, three-point shot-launching team of Stephen Curry and his merry band of teammates who won the 2015 championship before losing to LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in an NBA Finals rematch last spring.
But the addition of free agent Kevin Durant has brought out the haters in force because the Warriors look almost unbeatable. Westgate Las Vegas Super-Book has made them 2-3 favorites to win another NBA title next June.
Maybe the San Antonio Spurs and Clippers can push the Warriors out of the way, but reaching the top will be a formidable chore for anybody else in the West.
Meanwhile, James has reached the NBA Finals in six consecutive seasons, the first four with the Miami Heat. And the expectation is that James will make it seven in a row by again winning the Eastern Conference title with the Cavaliers.
Here’s a look at the most likely playoff teams in each conference next season, in predicted order of finish, starting with the West:
1. Golden State — 73-9 record last season. Coming: Durant, ZaZa
Pachulia, David West, Damian Jones, Patrick McCaw.
Durant is now regarded as a villain after joining a Warriors team that defeated his former team, the Oklahoma City Thunder, by overcoming a 3-1 deficit in the Western Conference finals.
Two-time most valuable player Stephen Curry, who averaged 30.1 points last season to lead the league in scoring, teams with Durant (who averaged 28.2 points) and three-point bomber Klay Thompson in an even more lethal lineup.
2. San Antonio — 67-15.
Coming: Pau Gasol, Dejounte Murray, Dewayne Dedmon.
After 19 years, Tim Duncan turned in his sneakers this summer. But even without maybe the best power forward of all time, the Spurs won’t be buried.
They still have talented bookend forwards in Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge, added a championship-winning veteran in Gasol and still have Coach Gregg Popovich in charge. Tony Parker, 34, and Manu Ginobili, 39, are getting long in the tooth, however.
3. Clippers — 53-29.
Coming: Brice Johnson, Raymond Felton, Marreese Speights, Diamond Stone.
When will the Clippers get past the second round?
Coach Doc Rivers has a team that remains a championship contender.
Chris Paul, DeAndre Jordan and Blake Griffin form the core of a team that also features such weapons as J.J. Redick, sixth-man extraordinaire Jamal Crawford and Austin Rivers.
4. Portland — 44-38.
Coming: Evan Turner, Festus Ezeli, Shabazz Napier, Jake Layman.
Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum might be the NBA’s second-best guard duo behind Curry and Thompson.
Turner gives the Trail Blazers another versatile player who will allow Lillard and McCollum to play more off the ball.
5. Memphis — 42-40.
Coming: Coach David Fizdale, Chandler Parsons, Deyonta Davis, Wade Baldwin IV, Troy Daniels.
The Grizzlies limped into the playoffs despite playing much of the season without center Marc Gasol (broken right foot) and guard Mike Conley (left Achilles’ tendon).
They signed Parsons, a small forward, to improve their outside shooting.
Conley will be under pressure to live up to his new five-year, $153-million contract. Parsons, who signed a four-year, $94-million deal, also will try to show he is worthy.
Gasol’s availability will be the biggest key.
6. Utah — 40-42.
Coming: George Hill, Boris Diaw, Joe Johnson.
The Jazz had enough talent to make the playoffs last season but faltered down the stretch.
They have a talented young core in Gordon Hayward, Derrick Favors, Rudy Gobert and Rodney Hood. With the addition of veterans Hill, Diaw and Johnson, there’s no reason to believe that the Jazz will be shut out again next spring.
7. Houston — 41-41. Coming: Coach Mike D’Antoni, Ryan Anderson, Eric Gordon, Nene, Pablo Prigioni.
Everything will evolve around James Harden, who averaged 29 points last season. But critics say that he dribbles too much, doesn’t pass enough and plays no defense.
Now, Harden has talented shooters in Anderson and Gordon to surround him.
The Rockets gave up more points than all but five other NBA teams last season — 106.4 a game — and D’Antoni’s teams aren’t known for their defense.
8. Dallas — 42-40.
Coming: Harrison Barnes, Andrew Bogut.
The Mavericks always manage to make the playoffs.
Dirk Nowitzki turned 38 in June, but the Mavericks gave the face of their franchise a two-year, $50-million extension.
Barnes struggled with the Warriors in the NBA Finals but the small forward says he’s ready for a bigger role after signing a four-year, $94-million contract.
The eight Eastern Conference playoff teams, in predicted order of finish:
1. Cleveland — 57-25.
Coming: Chris Anderson, Mike Dunleavy.
Kyrie Irving, who hit the dagger three-pointer in Game 7 of the Finals, is playing with the U.S. Olympic team, hoping he can add a gold medal to his summer haul.
But when Irving, Kevin Love, J.R. Smith and the rest of the Cavaliers turn their attention to defending their title, James will be the one leading them.
2. Toronto — 56-26.
Coming: Jakob Poeltl, Jared Sullinger, Pascal Siakam.
The backcourt of DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry drives the Raptors. DeRozan, a free agent, signed a five-year, $139-million deal to remain in Toronto.
Center Jonas Valanciunas, 24, will play a big role for the Raptors.
3. Boston — 48-34.
Coming: Al Horford, Gerald Green, Jaylen Brown, Guerschon Yabusele, Ben Bentil, Ante Zizic.
Signing Horford gives the Celtics another All-Star to pair with point guard Isaiah Thomas.
Thomas, 5 feet 9 and 185 pounds, averaged 22.2 points and 6.2 assists last season. With Avery Bradley, named to the NBA’s All-Defensive team, the Celtics are a guard-oriented team.
Horford gives the Celtics a big man who can score down low and on the perimeter.
4. Indiana — 45-37.
Coming: Jeff Teague, Al Jefferson, Thaddeus Young, Aaron Brooks, Coach Nate McMillan.
Forward Paul George is one of the best two-way players in the NBA.
Center-forward Myles Turner developed enough last season as a rookie that he can take on a bigger role. Teague, Young and Jefferson give the Pacers more versatility and depth.
5. Detroit — 44-38.
Coming: Henry Ellenson, Michael Gbinije, Jon Leuer, Ish Smith.
The Pistons pushed the Cavaliers despite being swept in a first-round playoff series last spring.
The physical and brash Pistons, with five starters averaging double figures last season, hope to make greater strides next season.
All-Star center Andre Drummond led the NBA with 66 double-doubles and averaged a league-high 14.8 rebounds a game but made only 36% of his free throws.
6. Atlanta — 48-34.
Coming: Dwight Howard, Jarrett Jack, Taurean Prince, DeAndre Bembry.
Atlanta signed Howard knowing he’d like to get more touches down low. It’ll be interesting to see if Howard, who turns 31 in December, can still deliver big numbers.
The Hawks still have AllStar forward Paul Millsap. Young point guard Dennis Schroder runs the show.
7. New York — 32-50.
Coming: Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, Courtney Lee, Brandon Jennings, Coach Jeff Hornacek.
The Knicks will have to ride with forwards Carmelo Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis.
Rose has to stay injuryfree and at least approach the form that made him the league’s 2011 MVP. Noah also must avoid injuries.
8. Chicago — 42-40.
Coming: Dwyane Wade, Rajon Rondo, Denzel Valentine, Robin Lopez, Isaiah Canaan, Jerian Grant.
With Wade, Rondo and holdover Jimmy Butler, the Bulls have three Alpha males, as Rondo acknowledged after signing with the team this summer.
Wade and Rondo, however, aren’t the players they once were before injuries took their toll.