Who's the best team in the NBA after Miami?

[NumberSix]

1. Miami Heat

2. Indiana Pacers






3. OKC/LAC

[AussieG]

I don't think there is any clear answer. Could be a number of teams.

[jimmy77x]

1. Miami Heat

2. Indiana Pacers






3. OKC/LAC

no

[Hoopz2332]

1. Miami Heat

2. Indiana Pacers






3. OKC/LAC

this

[poido123]

It's really dependant on matchups?

But on face value I have:

Heat
Bulls/Pacers/Spurs
Golden State/Clippers
OKC

[Pointguard]

I believe the Heat will go for the 33 game win streak in the beginning or near the beginning of the season and lose some games afterwards. They don't want to do that near the end of the season as they lost focus and had trouble regaining it later on.

I think for the best record its going to be
Miami,
Bulls
Clippers

In that order but very close. They know the value of winning early in the season and playing defense.


A second cluster of (health will predict the order).
SA
Indiana
Houston
Nets

OKC with a healthy Westbrook is in the first cluster. If he misses a month they just miss the second cluster.

[aj1987]

It's really dependant on matchups?

But on face value I have:

Heat
Bulls/Pacers/Spurs
Golden State/Clippers
OKC

Why does everyone think that the Pacers are going to be the 2nd best team next season? They don't have enough offense. Even with Granger back they'd win ~52.

[dunksby]

Easily the Thunder, best PG in the league second best player in the world who's gonna be able to stop them other than the Heat?

[SilkkTheShocker]

The team that loses to Miami in the ECF or Finals.

Flip a coin.

[TheReturn]

I don't see how all you guys can pick OKC without knowing who their third option is going to be, or who's starting at the C position this year. There's a lot of uncertainties for OKC this year. Is Westbrook coming back soon? Are Lamb and Ibaka going to be consistent on offense this year?

To me, the Spurs, Bulls and Pacers are safer picks.

[Flash31]

OKC if healthy
SA Spurs
Chi Bulls
Pacers
Warriors
Nets/Clippers
Grizzlies

OKC cant beat Miami due to their frontline getting abused and Durant not able to play d,Bulls give them a hard fought grind it out contest and have Miamis weakness a good pg,c,rebounding but have no reliable 2nd option and Boozer gets abused by Bosh,and Noah cant control himslef,and if Rose is locked up
theyll struggle with playmaking and scoring
The Bulls are basically AIs 76ers 2.0 improved

SA can give them a great matchup
Wade was injured and so was Bosh
but SA has Miamis weakness,and they have what the Bulls dont
3 pt shooting,efficiency the only problem was Ginobli got abused and if TP gets locked up they have to rely on Duncan to create something which he can fo but not for 48 min

IND has Miamis main weakness
great frontcourt,Rebounding,length
Now though IND doesnt have a reliable playmaker,Hill gets abused
Ind basically is the polar opposite of MIami
they have great frontline,but bad backcourt
but they give them trouble due to their length,size up front


Those 4 are Biggest Miami threats and otger main contenders for Championship fav

Nets/Warriors/Clippers are wildhorse
Grizz can also be up there if they can somehow NOT face the Clippers

Grizz can beat most West teams due to their eastern style play
but against the east tough

[Flash31]

The team that loses to Miami in the ECF or Finals.

Flip a coin.

Chi,IND,BKN or OKC,SA,maybe GS,LAC,Mem

Miamis done better vs the Western Conference top teams then the east
even last yr in the regular season
vs playoff teams tgey did better against the west than east

OKC cant beat Miami,its like Mem vs LAC
The Best hardest matchup fir Miami out west
is either SA,LAC,MEM,GS
out east
Chi,IND,BKN,NY

Okc doesnt have the defense ir the frontcourt necessary to really challenge Miami
theyre like Miami only Miamis better which wont work,

Miami has a harder time getting out the east due to eastern style play,hard nosed d,
OKC has a problem with eastern style play as weve seen with the Grizz

Over east NY plays like a west team,up temo offense,raining 3s,fast,not much d compared to rest
over West the Grizz play like an east team
hard nosed d,slow,grind it out,frontcourt battles,not much offense

If OKC are healthy though theyre best team out west,tied with SA
but the Grizz,GS,LAC,SA can trouble them and beat them
Grizz especially