First off Thabo was/is our best defender on the perimeter. Difference was Junkyard found a jump shot but our system created him. You failed to mention how G/F Tim Hardaway Jr was added for depth or how C Tiago Splitter was acquired to help us get bigger in the front court. Look for new addition G Justin Holiday to make an impact off the bench as well.
As for the teams you out ahead of us, the Heat had a hard time staying healthy and even with their additions do you really trust a Deng/Wade/Bosh core to stay healthy together for a whole season?
The Bulls are banged up already (Rose & Dunleavy)...what does Noah have left?
Even the Cavs have their issues with TT as a holdout and no Kyrie until Dec/Jan...not sure why any of those teams are ahead of ATL except for the fact you're a Heat fanboy who really doesn't watch games.
My predictions:
East
1. Hawks (added championship level depth with Splitter & THJR, can they replace the loss of DMC?)
2. Cavs (presumptive favorites, will TT holdout linger over the team? How long will Kyrie be out?)
3. Bulls (new coach Fred Hoiberg will push pace on offense, how good can Jimmy butler, Niko & Pau be in this system?)
4. Wiz (loss of Pierce is huge, look for Otto Porter and Bradley Beal to continue to grow)
5. Heat (lot of splashy new moves, but can they all stay healthy?)
6. Bucks (still a very young team, can MCW cut down the turnovers and Giannis take the next step? Still seems like they're missing a difference maker on offense even with the addition of C Greg Monroe
7. Celtics (Coach Brad Stephens will be a COY candidate with this team, C's have depth, but what will their starting 5 look like?
8. Raptors (added DeMarre Carroll in an effort to get tougher, Derozan & Lowry is a solid All Star backcourt, faded down the stretch after a hot start)
West
1. Warriors (Losing Kerr is a huge blow but still a tremendously talented team)
2. Spurs (LMA & TP PnR will be a thing of beauty to watch. Probably Ginoboli's last run)
3. LAC (ridiculous depth, their second unit's athleticism will allow them to push pace)
4. OKC (can KD & Russ stay healthy?)
5. HOU (Beverly & Ty Lawson are good depth at PG...one of the games best closers in Harden so they'll be a tough out in the playoffs)
6. MEM (added Brandon Wright for front court depth & Matt Barnes at SF, but do they have enough shooting to win an uptempo playoff series? IDK)
7. Pelicans (The Brow will have another MVP season and lead NO to the playoffs)
8. Utah (strong finish to last season bodes well for Gordon Hayward, Derrick Favors & Co to make the playoffs this yr)
:philha:
) but they could be still the third best team in the division. Northwest Division is gonna be unwatchable outside of the Jazz
