With less than 50 days until the start of upcoming NBA season, let’s divide 30 teams into five tiers. In parentheses, you will find the line for their win total over/under. At the end, you will find our prediction and whether to fade(stay away) or play.
Contenders — Assuming health, these teams appear poised for a conference finals run
Borderline — These teams can become contenders with a trade and/or internal improvement
Playoff Locks — These teams should make the playoffs but may not have a high enough ceiling to make a long playoff run
Play-Off/Play In Bubble — These teams could reach the 6th seed but will realistically be amongst a group of teams competing for a place in the play-in tournament
Lottery Teams — These teams have already begun scouting the 2022 draft class