CONFERENCE PICKS
IN PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
PLAYOFF-BOUND
1. GOLDEN STATE
2015–16 finish: 73-9
Coming: Kevin Durant, David West, Zaza Pachulia, Damian Jones (rookie). Going: Harrison Barnes, Andrew Bogut, Festus Ezeli, Marreese Speights, Leandro Barbosa, Brandon Rush.
The Warriors signed Durant, and could very well threaten the NBA record for regular-season wins of 73, set by Golden State last season. Durant joins All-Stars Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green. It will be considered a Titanic-like failure if all this talent doesn’t lead to a championship.
2. SAN ANTONIO
2015–16 finish: 67-15
Coming: Pau Gasol, Joel Anthony, David Lee, Dejounte Murray (rookie). Going: Tim Duncan, Boris Diaw, David West, Matt Bonner, Boban Marjanovic, Kevin Martin.
Life after Duncan begins. Kawhi Leonard is an unquestioned top player in the league, LaMarcus Aldrige a tier below. Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili have plenty of miles on their legs and will be relied on again. And their new teammate, Gasol, at 36, will feel the heat to help make up for Duncan’s absence.
3. CLIPPERS
2015–16 finish: 53-29
Coming: Marreese Speights, Brandon Bass, Alan Anderson, Raymond Felton, Brice Johnson (rookie). Going: Jeff Green, Pablo Prigioni, Cole Aldrich.
The Clippers are among a small group of teams that can actually challenge Golden State “on a given night.” The Clippers’ veteran core returns healthy — Blake Griffin and Chris Paul were injured in last spring’s first-round playoff exit — and DeAndre Jordan looked strong during Team USA’s gold-medal Olympic run.
4. PORTLAND
2015–16 finish: 44-38 Coming: Festus Ezeli, Shabazz Napier, Evan Turner. Going: Gerald Henderson. Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum can catch fire at any time, and the Trail Blazers made solid moves to build around their talented backcourt. Ezeli’s defensive presence at center was a big part of the Warriors’ 73-win season, and Turner provides a big ballhandler who can free Lillard to play more off the ball.
5. MEMPHIS
2015–16 finish: 42-40
Coming: Coach David Fizdale, Chandler Parsons, Wade Baldwin IV (rookie), Troy Daniels. Going: Lance Stephenson, Matt Barnes, Beno Udrih, Jordan Farmar.
It all depends on how Marc Gasol (broken foot) and Mike Conley Jr. (Achilles’ tendon) recover from last season’s injuries. Free-agent addition Parsons also missed the preseason after knee surgery. Fizdale has moved veteran Zach Randolph to the second unit to let him work against inferior post defenders.
6. OKLAHOMA CITY
2015–16 finish: 55-27
Coming: Victor Oladipo, Ersan Ilyasova, Domantas Sabonis (rookie), Ronnie Price. Going: Kevin Durant, Serge Ibaka, Dion Waiters, Randy Foye.
Russell Westbrook can say that this isn’t a big revenge season for him and the Thunder, but Durant left them for a team Oklahoma City nearly beat in the West finals last season. Westbrook welcomes Oladipo, 24, as his new backcourt mate, and the rookie Sabonis as a sound pick-and-roll option, for the retooled Thunder.
7. UTAH
2015–16 finish: 40-42
Coming: George Hill, Joe Johnson, Boris Diaw. Going: Trevor Booker, Trey Burke.
Gordon Hayward is out indefinitely with an injury to his left ring finger, but the Jazz’s initial timetable for his return was four to six weeks. Center Rudy Gobert, aptly nicknamed the “Stifle Tower,” will continue to defend the rim. Hill finally gives Utah a stable point guard, and Johnson and Diaw add experience.
8. HOUSTON
2015–16 finish: 41-41
Coming: Coach Mike D’Antoni, Ryan Anderson, Eric Gordon, Pablo Prigioni, Nene, Tyler Ennis. Going: Dwight Howard, Terrence Jones, Jason Terry, Josh Smith, Michael Beasley.
D’Antoni moved James Harden to point guard, and who knows what this offense will be capable of. It’s possible the Rockets will set the all-time record for three-point attempts in a season. With Howard gone, though, any thought of rim defense will be a dim memory.