5. Miami Heat
The Heat are one of the tougher teams to predict this year. It feels like they could finish anywhere between third and eighth.
But the addition of Jimmy Butler gives them some much-needed star power and bucket-getting.
Bam Adebayo seems set for a breakout season and they have enough other guys and supporting pieces like Justise Winslow Goran Dragic to make it work and who knows, they may also pull off a Chris Paul trade during the season which would certainly lift their immediate upside.
We know they’re going to be well-coached and we expect them to play hard which should be enough in the Eastern Conference.
6. Indiana Pacers
Until Victor Oladipo gets back to 100 percent, we really won’t know how good this Indiana team can be. Bringing in guys like T.J. Warren and Malcolm Brogdon will help them stay afloat in the playoff race with Oladipo sidelined and if one of either Myles Turner or Domantas Sabonis can take another leap, then that’s just a bonus.
With a healthy Oladipo, the Pacers are a 3-seed who could at least compete with the Bucks and Sixers. Without, they’re just going to be a middle of the pack, slightly above average squad.
So the quicker he can come back, the better.