The East:

1. Chicago Bulls
2. Miami Heat
3. Brooklyn Nets
4. Indiana Pacers
5. NY Knicks
6. Cleveland Cavaliers
7. Detroit Pistons
8. Washington Wizards

The east is so much better, but there is still a wide gulf between the Bulls and Heat and everyone else. Not to mention those bottom three playoff teams aren't anything to get excited about. Atlanta is the one team in the east I have the most questions about.

The West:

1. San Antonio Spurs
2. LA Clippers
3. Houston Rockets
4. OKC Thunder
5. Golden State Warriors
6. Memphis Grizzlies
7. Minnesota T-Wolves.
8. Denver Nuggets

The team most likely to be in the playoffs that I did not mention is the New Orleans Pelicans. I couldn't bring myself to leave out my hometown Nuggets, despite my ambivalence about them. The team I am most excited about is Houston. I really think they could be the No. 1 team, but seeing how the Clippers improved on an already solid squad and brought in a top-tier coach it seems foolish to gamble. As far as the Spurs, I'm done betting against them. I'm a believer in their coaching, their scouting, everything. Even the knock on their age rings hallow, as the old guys limit their minutes and play amazingly effective ball and the Spurs have a new set of stars to ease the path.