The 2022-23 NBA season is upon us!

It’s time for our annual tradition of previewing the season — division by division — asking two very important questions for each team:

What’s the case for the Over?
What’s the case for the Under?

5. Indiana Pacers — 23.5 wins

What’s the case for the Over?

With Malcolm Brogdon out of the kitchen, Tyrese Haliburton has all the room to cook.

Haliburton averaged just shy of 10 assists per game in a Pacers uniform last season. He had two games of 15+ assists and zero turnovers. Hali is a true League Pass marvel and passing wizard.

A backcourt trio of Haliburton, Chris Duarte and No. 6 overall pick Ben Mathurin will be running and gunning and and then running and gunning some more. As Pesky as ever.
Myles Turner doesn’t have to worry about sharing his position with Sabonis any more, flip-flopping between the 4 and the 5. Turner is in a contract year, so he will be out there playing for his next paycheck.
T.J. McConnell only played 27 games last season, and it will be nice for the Pacers to have a professional backup point guard around.
Isaiah Jackson had a strong end to last season, averaging 11 and 6 with two blocks a night after the All-Star break.
The Pacers have taken two flyers on previous lottery talent castaways in Jalen Smith and Aaron Nesmith. One or both of them could pop with less pressure and more opportunity.
James Johnson is currently on the Pacers roster. Johnson is a 13-year vet that automatically adds toughness to this group just by his presence.

Rick Carlisle has generally never been known to tank. And the Pacers owner, Herb Simon, is 87 years old.

What’s the case for the Under?

Kevin Pritchard has lasted quite a while so far, but there is the possibility that he eventually can’t resist the enticing Lakers first-round picks in 2027 and 2029. Hield and Turner would be shipped to La La Land for Russell Westbrook, and Westbrook’s $47-million contract could be bought out, immediately initiating the full-blown tank.

Turner is always hurt, playing 47 and 42 games the last two seasons. He’s also been on the trading block for five straight years.
Does Rick Carlisle seem like the best fit for this super young group? (No, no he does not.)
There is a reason why the Suns and Celtics were so quick to give up on their previous lottery selections of Smith and Nesmith.

This team is lacking proven wing defenders. Kind of important in today’s NBA.

Final Prediction: This team should be a lot more fun than they are good. Under 23.5 wins.

4. Detroit Pistons — 29.5 wins

What’s the case for the Over?

The Pistons closed last season with a fury, saving their best ball for after the All-Star Break.

Cade Cunningham led the way, averaging 21-7-6 as the Pistons put together two 3-game winning streaks while rocking a top-15 defense.

Before he injured his ankle at Summer League, Jaden Ivey was electric in the open court with a level of quickness that has a history of excelling in this league. He replicated that in the preseason.
Saddiq Bey is Detroit’s rock-solid Iron Man. Bey has missed just two games in his first two years in the league, playing all 82 last season. On offense, he is going to get more looks with Jerami Grant 2,385 miles away in Portland.
Trading for Bojan Bogdanovic signals that Detroit believes in what they currently have. Bogdanovic is a professional floor-spacing vet, automatically raising the Pistons floor and ceiling.
They are Knicks castaways, yes, but Nerlens Noel and Alec Burks played a big part on the 2020-21 Knicks Young Surprise Team of two years ago. Both were top 7 on the team in Win Shares that season.
Relegated to even more of a role off the bench, perhaps that is the perfect spot for Killian Hayes to shine his brightest. (Wait, is he still starting!?)
Isaiah Livers shot 42 percent from 3 last season. It was a small sample size of 19 games, but Livers can clearly stroke.

Free from the chains of Sacramento, Marvin Bagley definitely played the best basketball of his injury-riddled career in the second half of last season for Detroit. Update: Bagley got injured once again in preseason. Thankfully, it was not as bad as it looked.

Detroit currently has a strong foundation, so there is less of an incentive to tank.

What’s the case for the Under?

Jerami Grant was a key contributor for the Pistons late-season success a year ago. Grant is now in RIP City with Dame.

Ivey already got banged up this summer, and Marvin Bagley probably got injured reading this sentence. (Damn, that was penned before he got hurt in preseason and now we feel bad.)
Killian Hayes has been such a bust that even KOC started to give up hope.
Isaiah Stewart’s most notable NBA moment was him bloodied and crazed, on a rampage trying to fight everybody in his path.
Is there enough shooting here? The Pistons were 29th last season in 3-point percentage.
Is Duren going to get minutes with Beef Stew, Bagley and Noel all ahead of him?

Will there be enough clarity with the rotations? Having 14 guys who will want minutes is about 4-5 too many guys.

The Pistons have hit the Under on their preseason win total in four out of the last five seasons.

Final Prediction: Thought the Over was the move initially but have since switched it up. (That means Detroit will probably be this year’s Young Surprise Team.) Under 29.5 wins.

3. Chicago Bulls — 42.5 wins

What’s the case for the Over?

Despite all of the many injuries the Bulls endured last season, this team was in 1st place in the Eastern Conference on Feb. 24.

The mid-range God and King of the Fourth still resides in Chicago. What if DeRozan does repeat last season?
Zach LaVine has turned into a legit 3-point marksmen, one who can also fly up and down the court with the best of them.
Vooch is certainly capable of playing much better than he did a season ago, only 31 percent from 3 and he uncharacteristically missed all of those bunnies.
Ayo Dosunmu could keep getting better, something he did last season as a second team All-Rookie selection. A second-round pick in the draft, Ayo came out of nowhere and contributed right away.
Pat Williams could finally stay healthy for an entire season and unlock the potential that he’s flashed at times.
Caruso missed 41 games last season and the Bulls record with him was 24-17, a 48-win pace.
Andre Drummond is a totally serviceable backup big (in the regular season). And apparently Big Drumm is stroking 3s now!?
Jevonte Green is instant energy. Looks like he’s worked on his shot over the summer

Billy D always seems to get the most out of his teams.

What’s the case for the Under?

Another knee surgery for Lonzo Ball is already an ominous sign for this Bulls season. We know the Bulls cannot reach their highest potential without Lonzo.

If DeMar was unable to pull off his unreal late-game heroics from last season, the Bulls automatically win way less games.
Vooch could be over-the-hill at this point. He’s 31 and sometimes when bigs decline in the NBA, there is no coming back.
The Bulls struggled mightily against the best teams in the league last year, and there are more really good teams this season. From the All-Star Break until the end of the season, the Bulls went 8-15 with the #25 offense and #25 defense, and Chicago’s net rating of -7.1 was third-worst in the NBA, ahead of only the tanking Thunder and Blazers.
Other teams made significant improvements and upgrades over the summer, but the Bulls only added Drummond and Dragic.

Final Prediction: Really hope the Bulls are fun again, but just can’t take their Over in the loaded East. Under 42.5 wins.

2. Cleveland Cavaliers — 47.5 wins

What’s the case for the Over?

The Cavs won 44 games last year despite being the most injury-riddled team in the league.

Darius Garland had to be the Cavs main facilitator and scorer on a nightly basis and now Donovan Mitchell is around to add 20+ points per game and a dynamic element to the offense that they didn’t have.
The Block Brothers will continue to offer 48 minutes of rim-protecting terror and run-running pizzazz.
Evan Mobley could just be getting started. He has a knack for always being where he’s needed on the court.
Cleveland has a full training camp and preseason with Caris LeVert.
Ricky Rubio will be back at some point.
Isaac Okoro was taking and making 3s in the preseason!

Cavalanches are momentum shifters of the highest caliber.

What’s the case for the Under?

Young Surprise Teams have a history of hitting the Under the next season. It’s difficult for lightning to strike twice.

Adding Don Mitch to the mix could take some time to iron out. He’s been used to being the guy for his entire career. But this isn’t his team.
Evan Mobley missed a chunk of preseason dealing with an ankle injury.
With LeVert in the starting lineup, is there enough perimeter wing defense?
A lot of pressure on Okoro’s 3-point shot.
Rubio might not be the same guy. He was having a career year before his torn ACL last year.
If they move on from Kevin Love’s expiring contract, it could affect the locker room and togetherness.

Prior to last season, the Cavs had hit the Under in five straight seasons, a JB Bickerstaff specialty.

Final Prediction: This is one of the most exciting teams in the league, but the number just feels too high. Under 47.5 wins.

1. Milwaukee Bucks — 52.5 wins

What’s the case for the Over?

His name is Giannis Antetounkumpo, and he is known to pulverize the regular season to smithereens.

The Bucks were no beacon of health last year. They did not have Splash Mountain for the majority of the season. Milwaukee’s defense is totally different with him around.
The Bucks record with their Big 3 last season was a sparkling 37-11. Middleton will be back soon enough.
Jrue Holiday, the thief in the night, is still one of the game’s most underrated players.
Bobby Portis, t-shirt All-Star — the crazy-eyed People’s Champ!
Don’t sleep on Jordan Nwora. He can shoot the lights out.
The Bucks have a rookie that’s garnered some hype, too. MarJon Beauchamp.
Mamu put his name out there at Summer League.
The Bucks will get jinglin’ Joe back at some point.
Jevon Carter might get some real PT. (Still wish he had played over George Hill in the playoffs.)
Jae Crowder would fit nicely here. Not sure what all the Bucks would have to give up, though.

The Bucks might realize how nice it would have been to have Game 7 at home vs. the Celtics.

What’s the case for the Under?

The Bucks and Coach Bud have grown to take the regular season with a grain of salt, knowing it is best to tinker and experiment with the long game in mind. They are focused on another long postseason run and Championship. Not necessarily regular-season wins.

Middleton is expected to miss the first few weeks of the season, so that’s not the best start.
Grayson Allen was exposed in the playoffs. Teams might key in on him early.
George Hill is still here. He’s been extremely washed. Serge Ibaka, too.
The bench and depth have some unproven-ness for a Championship contender.
Brook Lopez is getting up there in age, 34 going on 35.

If Giannis were to ever miss time due to an injury, like any team missing their superstar, the Bucks would be royally screwed.

Final Prediction: Feels like another season that Giannis will destroy. Over 52.5 wins.

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2022-23 Division Season Previews

TUESDAY NIGHT is officially OPENING NIGHT!

Philadelphia 76ers at Boston Celtics - 7:30pm

Lakers at Warriors - 10:00pm - (TNT)

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