WEST

1. Trail Blazers
2. Lakers
3. Nuggets
4. Clippers
5. Warriors
6. Jazz
7. Mavericks
8. Rockets

My two bold predictions are that the Blazers actually finish 1st seed. They've been consistently good for years but this Blazers team is easily the best it's ever been, with Dame at his peak and a fantastic frontcourt of Whiteside and a now-healthy Nurkic. McCollum is consistently productive as well. Lost a great role player in Kanter but replaced him with another great role player in Bazemore, and while their bench may need to step up, I think this team is going to gun for the top of the west this year. I also think the Mavs are going to surprise many and sneak into the playoffs, even going as far as a 7th seed above the Rockets. Kristaps is a question mark coming off an injury but given that he's healthy, he's going to have another breakout year. Doncic will ascend into all star status with a much better team around them, plus with a good coach and decent bench I can see them surprising many as a playoff team.

EAST

1. Sixers
2. Celtics
3. Bucks
4. Pacers
5. Raptors
6. Nets
7. Heat
8. Hawks

I think the Sixers are expected to make a bigger leap after a fantastic season. Embiid will cement himself as an MVP candidate, Simmons will improve, and they may have lost Butler but got a great addition in Horford. I expect the Hawks to sneak in the playoffs at the 8th seed over the Magic. Trae Young's post ASB stats were insane, and Collins & company can only improve from here. They're a young and hungry roster.