2014-15 NBA Season Preview: Team breakdowns, roundtable posts, betting preview, and more
Welcome to theScore's 2014-15 NBA season preview hub, where you'll find links to detailed team previews as we round up the offseason and break down the coming campaign for all 30 teams in the Association.
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You'll also find a detailed betting preview below, with staff picks, predictions, and recommended wagers, as well as links to other season preview content: sleeper teams to watch, roundtable posts, candidates for MVP not named Kevin Durant, interesting rookies to watch, analysis posts, an exclusive interview with Sacramento Kings rookie Nik Stauskas, and more.
Season Preview
5 things to know about the 2014-15 NBA season
- One of the most exciting offseasons in recent memory is all but officially over, meaning we're in store for one of the most anticipated NBA seasons in years. From LeBron's return to Cleveland, to the Durant-less Thunder, to Rose and Kobe's returns, to a new Clippers era in Los Angeles, and coming CBA uncertainty, read about the five things you need to know about the 2014-15 NBA season.
5 bold predictions for the 2014-15 NBA season
- From the Cavaliers' seemingly unstoppable offense to the Lakers' completely stoppable everything, from Derrick Rose to Blake Griffin to the trade deadline and everything in between, here's what to expect this season.
Power Rankings
The 140: NBA Power Rankings, Season-Opening Edition
- The team that won last year's title is back in its entirety. We're not betting against the Spurs until we have reason to do so.
Team Previews
Eastern Conference
76ers Bucks Hawks
Celtics Bulls Heat
Knicks Cavaliers Hornets
Nets Pacers Magic
Raptors Pistons Wizards
Western Conference
Jazz Clippers Grizzlies
Nuggets Lakers Mavericks
Thunder Kings Pelicans
T-Wolves Suns Rockets
Trail Blazers Warriors Spurs
Fact or Fiction
- There's a lot more to the NBA preseason than wins and losses. The games happen, though, and while the end result isn't necessarily important, there's a great deal of information contained within those seven or eight exhibitions. There's also a great deal of misinformation. Read about 10 findings from October, some of which appear to portend changes, others which are red herrings.
Roundtable: Garbage Time
Garbage Time: Lowered Expectations
- In the first edition of "Garbage Time," theScore's new NBA roundtable series, Joseph Casciaro, Blake Murphy, and Joe Wolfond discuss season expectations for the Heat, Lakers, and Thunder.
- In the second edition of "Garbage Time," Casciaro, Murphy, and William Lou predict the award winners for the hardware that matter: MVP, Rookie of the Year, Coach of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Sixth Man of the Year, and Most Improved Player.
Betting Preview
Picks, Predictions, and Recommended Wagers
- In our 2014-15 season betting preview, you'll find divisional, championship, and win total odds from various sportsbooks, along with MVP and Rookie of the Year odds. theScore's Gino Bottero, Joseph Casciaro, and Blake Murphy break down the bets that offer you the most bang for your buck.
Other Preview Content
- 5 MVP candidates not named Kevin Durant
- 5 sleeper teams to watch in 2014-15
- 5 interesting rookies to watch this season
- 5 players to go out of your way to see
- Why Steve Nash deserves a better send off
- Thunder will look for Westbrook to carry load with Durant sidelined
- The impossible task of defending a Love-LeBron pick-and-roll
- A strategy that won't work: Byron Scott wants the Lakers to shoot only 10-15 threes a game
- Assessing the Wizards' options in Bradley Beal's absence
- Analysis: Nuggets find a fair price for tough-to-value Kenneth Faried
- Fantasy: Top-heavy NBA requires auction format for best experience
- Analysis: Surviving without Swaggy P
Why Kawhi Leonard deserves a max contract, and why the Spurs may not give him one yet