[high floorParticipant]

Every year there is a surprise team (or 2) that was destined for the top of the draft lottery that ultimately outperformed expectations by a significant margin. Examples of those teams include, but are not limited to:

• 2013-2014 Phoenix Suns (48 wins, projected to win 19-22 games)
• 2014-2015 Milwaukee Bucks (41 wins, projected to win 23-25 games)
• 2015-2016 Portland Trail Blazers (44 wins, projected to win 32-34 games)

This year I have my eye on a couple of teams, in particular the New York Knicks. The stars have to align with them health-wise, but they could be one of those teams that win 15+ more games than they’re projected. Rose is in a contract year, I like the fit of Joakim Noah next to Kristaps, and Carmelo should put up numbers in Hornacek’s revamped offense. 

A lot of things have to go right for this to happen, but today they are my pick to outperform expectations by the widest margin. Now time to double down on them in Vegas.. haha

[HobbyOGParticipant]

 I’m going with the T-Wolves. I think they can make the 7th or 8th seed in the west. 

[juves4783Participant]

i really like the utah jazz’s roster.  they got a lot of depth but are still pretty young.  i think they could be this year’s trailblazers.  get that 4-5 spot.  they’ll be fun with watch this year if everyone can stay healthy.

[JordoParticipant]

 if we’re talking about lottery teams who could outperform expectations, than the East is a big question mark. A lot of the teams are so borderline, health, or another team dropping off away from being a playoff team. West is a little different but I do agree with the Timberwolves. That 7-8 seed could be all theirs. GS, SA, OKC, HOU, POR, LAL, (__?, __?). They could grab a spot for sure. They got 2 guys under 21-22 that could avg 20+ ppg next year and have size, length, and a defensive coach. They could do it.

[Captain LParticipant]

 I can’t believe you have the Lakers as 6th in the west , let alone making the playoffs, no way they make the playoffs. I think OKC will make the playoffs but not as a 3 seed,  Not sure Houston has improved and they were lucky to have made the playoffs last year, not sur they make it this year. Utah IMO wil make the biggest jump, I see them as a 4 or 5 seed, young improving and added needed veterans. 

[JordoParticipant]

 that was suppose to be Clippers. Lakers are  clearly far away still from contention. and it was in no order those were just the teams I expect to make the playoffs.

[ZouldiersParticipant]

 I may be biased but I say the Heat. The team right now is projected to be a high lottery team in the East next season but I think they can surprise a lot of people this year after losing Wade, Deng and Johnson. With Wade gone, Dragic can play to its full potential, Whiteside is still a beast and we could see Winslow, Richardson, Waiters and others raise their game up now they are playing with chips on their shoulders. The team is set up to play fast pace which suits Dragic really well. 7th or 8th seed at best when everything goes right with this team.

[ChoppyParticipant]

Heat matched Brooklyn’s offer sheet on Tyler Johnson.

[ZouldiersParticipant]

 I was talking about Joe Johnson not Tyler 🙂

[ChoppyParticipant]

 Oops, my bad… 😉

[ChoppyParticipant]

 West – I see the Timberwolves making a bit of a jump this year. Whether it is a jump all the way to the playoffs remains to be seen. At the very least they will be challenging for the 8th seed.

East – I can see Milwaukee making the playoffs this year. One big proviso is they need to get rid of Monroe to optimise their potential. They are extremely long and if the Antetokounmpo experiment proves to be more than just a flash in the pan, I can see Milwaukee as either the 7th or 8th seed out east. 

[417basketballfanParticipant]

I know boogie is hard to deal with, and the kings organization sucks. But I think theres a change joerger and cousins could work out.

[he_gets_bucketsParticipant]

 I think Dallas manage to erk out another playoff birth despite the competitive West.. Rick Carlisle is the master of getting something out of nothing and I think the loss of Chandler Parsons might be addition by subtraction for us, especially defensively, as it gives more opportunity to our only young prospect in Justin Anderson who I think can become a prototypical 3 and D player with more minutes. 

[OhCanada-Participant]

 Joerger is a good Coach wherever he goes. Coach Karl was an amazing Coach but once he left Denver he left the organization he built and the resources within. At the end of the day. The man lost his sauce. #Lostinthesauce

Let’s see what Cousins has in him. There’s an opening right now out West and nothing is promised from 4-8 in the standings. I’ve routed for him since he was playing HS ball and defended his antics but now its about Playoffs. Just get to the playoffs.

 

 

 

[Tap892Participant]

I think Denver has a chance to sneak into the playoffs. Talent and depth at every position, and a good mix of young and veteran players. A lot will just depend on young players stepping up and vets staying healthy

 

[BogDon_KryptParticipant]

 I think the nets might surprise everyone and go 0 and 82

[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

Phoenix was terrible last season but that was mostly due to injuries. Most people are probably expecting them to be awful again but I think there is enough talent on that team to possibly make a playoff run. Provided, that is, that they don’t trade their veteran players and look to completely rebuild, which is entirely possible.

My other possible surprise team is the sixers. Before you laugh, consider that I don’t actually consider the sixers to be anywhere near playoff contention with the roster they have in place now. However, if they are able to trade one or two of their bigs and land a veteran pg (say Eric bledsoe for instance) things could suddenly look a whole lot different. Maybe Simmons turns out to be a stud faster than expected, embiid stays healthy and can make a significant contribution and the rest of their young guys all make a leap forward. It’s a longshot but we’re talking about surprises here. 

[TheWhiteLionParticipant]

Im gonna pick the grizzlies. I feel like they will b the 4-5 seed this year. Last year they managed to finish 7th in the west which is actually very good and that was with having a starter out almost every game of the year. Last year conley played only 56 games. Marc gasol played only 52 games. Randolph played 68. Allen played 64. And to still b the 7th seed? Thats insane. And now u add in the signing of chandler parsons which can help spread the floor which opens up everything from a low post game for randolph, a high post game for gasol, and driving and pick and rolls with/for conley. Plus parsons is a pretty solid defender. I think memphis will b a very good team this year if they can stay healthy

[HitsterParticipant]

T-Wolves improved by 13 wins from 2014-15 to 2015-16 and were much nearer to .500 from around All Star break. The Thunder started 2008-09 3-29 but then went 20-30 to end up 29-53 before exploding into the play offs next season. So I think the T-Wolves might be on a similar path and we should perhaps regard them as more advanced than last seasons overall record suggested.

I could see them having a winning season or getting very close to it on upside alone before we factor in the Thibs effect and draft signings.

[OaktownWarriorsParticipant]

They may not make the playoffs, however I think they will improve their overall play and their record from last season. Another words, they will be tougher to beat!

[circumlocution75Participant]

 of More Wins.

I don’t know about Playoffs — but in terms of more wins than last year I like the 76ers & T-Wolves

Sixers Lost a lot of close games last year & that was mainly b/c they had the worst Guard rotation in NBA history. If Ish Smith was not brought  on Board after Christmas, that Sixers team might have finished 5 – 77.

So adding 3 Veteran guards & they have alot of Young talent w/ Size & Athleticism  — I could see the 76ers winning 25 games for a +15

I already Luv’d the T-Wolves but adding Kris Dunn who is a Stud gives the T-Wolves a young "Big 3" — the T-Wolves are going to Punish teams w/ their Raw athleticism, Length & Defensive potential. Teams are going to Hate playing this T-Wolves team. I can see Minnesota reaching a +.500 record at 42-40 for a +13 

 

 

 

 

[TRC1991Participant]

Detroit will be a top 4 finisher in the east 

[OllstarParticipant]

The Bulls look great on paper. The obvious knock on them is their 3 point shooting or lack thereof. It’s true Wade and Rondo are not great 3pt shooters but are improved from seasons past, especially Rondo. Like the Knicks the Bulls are full of guys on the wrong side of 25. And also like the Knicks the Bulls have already been written off by a lot of stats guys. I’ll take Wade, Rondo and Butler on any team, what they do on the court doesn’t always show up on the statsheet. With 3 ball dominant guards it will probably take awhile for them to figure out how to coexist but when they do I expect Hoiberg’s offense to be perfect for these guys. Rondo and Wade should call JKidd up and ask him for his shooting coachs number.

[markfitz14Participant]

I think with that Great Guard rotation they will flurish. Knight, Bledsoe then Booker. 2 Rookies at PF so that could not be good. But Jared Dudley could play PF for Small Ball. 

[BiggysmallsParticipant]

 I don’t know if it would shock a lot of people on here but I feel like Indiana is getting slept on quite a bit from a national perspective in the East. I could see them getting the No. 2 seed in the East. 

George is an MVP candidate – though I doubt he has a chance at actually getting the media votes. 

Teague, Young, Jefferson should help balance out their scoring options and if Turner takes the leap many think he’s capable of taking, he becomes a nice No. 2 type guy to run behind PG. 

only question I’ve got really is how good is McMillan on the sidelines? Liked him back in the day but he almost always wore out his welcome after a while and he’s always had teams that played at a slow pace – which is opposite of what Bird wants them to play.  

 

 

 

[The GoatParticipant]

 I think Utah and Charlotte could both crack the top 4 in their respective conferences. Utah’s depth and the return of Exum – even if he only gives them defensively what he gave as a rookie – is enough to get them in the playoffs for sure. With Charlotte, MKG coming back is key. They are a perfect example of a team that adds up to more than what each player’s is worth individually. Team numbers with MKG on the floor go thru the roof. I like the Christian Wood pickup too.

[ZachAttackParticipant]

 No love for the Jazz? cbssports just barely had them ranked as the top bench in the league and the 5th best starters in the league. That should average out to them being the third best team in the league!

I don’t really believe that they’ll be the third best team in the league, but third best team in the west is a complete possibility. Don’t count them out of the playoffs like many of you above are… Another surprise team for me is the Nets as in how surprisingly bad they will be. Although 0-82 is unlikely… Emphasis on unlikely, I doubt they win more than 8 games.

 

[OhCanada-Participant]

 I think the Jazz already had their breakout season to an extent, they just were riddled with injuries. This year with a proven starting PG and some health luck they should definitely be above .500 team. Too easy of a choice though.

[BiggysmallsParticipant]

 Everybody loves the Jazz. The OP said pick a surprise team. 

[BennyLogParticipant]

 I see gordan and hezonja both making a big leap this year and they will have a top 5 defense.all i hear is they have no offense which i agree with to a point.they will be a fast break team scoring off steals and blocks fournier will be the playmaker vucavic will be the steady scorer on their half court offense hezonja and fournier will be the guys down the stretch. Aaron gordon will develop a respectable 3 point shot. They will be a 6 seed. This might go better under a bold prediction post but this is what i believe as a fan.

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