Atlanta:
Like: The all-new Motion Offence replacing their stagnant 1-on-1 Iso rubbish.
Dislike: That they ignore it at every possible opportunity.
Boston:
Like: That they have a legit chance to dethrone both the Lakers and Heat.
Dislike: More undeserved exposure for Shaquille O'Neal. You're a 18min a night guy now, Shaq.
Charlotte:
Like: A Tyrus Thomas breakout year finally benches fat Frenchman Boris Diaw for good.
Dislike: Point guards that Larry Brown loves: ie. none of 'em.
Chicago:
Like: The effort that a frontline of Noah, Boozer and Gibson brings night in, night out.
Dislike: First year head coach Tom Thibodeau has gotten a very easy ride so far.
Cleveland:
Like: A squad full of championship-level depth. Maybe. If you squint a bit and tilt your head to the side.
Dislike: No star to go with that depth. Their best player is Anderson Varejao.
Dallas:
Like: A really big team. Built to dethrone the Lakers.
Dislike: Pity about everyone else. Not enough playing time for Roddy Buckets.
Denver:
Like: A hopefully-healthy coach George Karl (who's a major upgrade over Adrian Dantley).
Dislike: No Melo = a gutted Nuggets squad. Chauncey Billups shouldn't be your main guy. Ever.
Detroit:
Like: Multi-skilled big fellas Greg Monroe and Charlie Villanueva.
Dislike: Multi-skilled except for rebounding, that is. A three-guard monster who can't/won't pass.
Golden State:
Like: Stephen Curry. That is all.
Dislike: If David Lee's your frontline enforcer for six years, you've got major troubles. Especially without Nellie-Ball.
Houston:
Like: A GM that most franchises would kill for (are you hearing me, Paul Allen?)
Dislike: That the franchise is shackled to Yao and his marketability, no matter what anyone says.
Indiana:
Like: Roy Hibbert's development could mean another true franchise centre.
Dislike: There's been no adequate 2-guard since Reggie. Brandon Rush? Please no.
LA Clippers:
Like: A good young core of Blake Griffin, Eric Gordon and Eric Bledsoe.
Dislike: What else? They're the Clippers. We, like they, hate Donald T. Sterling.
LA Lakers:
Like: Steve Blake's acquisition. Sasha Vujacic's fiancee.
Dislike: Kobe's arrogance. Pau Gasol's beard. Sasha Vujacic's very existence.
Memphis:
Like: The re-emergence of the Z-Bo we all know and love.
Dislike: Michael Heisley. Hopefully he sells up to a Seattle-based consortium. Viva La Supersonics!!
Miami:
Like: Undeniable cricket-score potential against squads like Golden State, Phoenix & New York.
Dislike: Doesn't Chris Bosh's head seem about 50% too small for his body? It's extremely creepy.
Milwaukee:
Like: A team with no real weaknesses - they have scoring, defense & depth.
Dislike: A remarkable resemblance to the early '80s Bucks - quality, but probably not enough to win big.
Minnesota:
Like: Kevin Love will emerge as both a real-life and fantasy stud.
Dislike: (click here)
New Jersey:
Like: Avery Johnson's return to the coaching ranks. A goofy owner we can laugh with/at.
Dislike: Total & complete reliance on moving to Brooklyn and Prokhorov's billions as a franchise's good points.
New York:
Like: They finally have the horses to run D'Antoni's fast-paced offense well.
Dislike: The horses aren't exactly world-beaters.
New Orleans:
Like: Chris Paul is back, healthy and has players to pass to.
Dislike: Peja Stojakovic & Emeka Okafor are still on the books.
Oklahoma City:
Like: The Durant/Westbrook/Ibaka troika could rule the world in two years.
Dislike: They won't be ruling the world from Seattle.
Orlando:
Like: Dwight Howard actually worked on his post game (with The Dream, no less) during the summer.
Dislike: They should be able to beat the Heat. Maybe the Lakers as well. Not the Celtics.
Philadelphia:
Like: If they run, the Sixers can paper over myriad squad deficiencies.
Dislike: Bigs like Spencer Hawes and Elton Brand aren't exactly made for running.
Phoenix:
Like: Steve Nash combines likeable, hardworking and horrible hair with ease.
Dislike: Hedo and "Fear the Fro" instead of Amar'e and Louis Amundson. Doesn't spell "grunt", does it?
Portland:
Like: Almost nonpareil depth - Przybilla, Camby, Babbitt, Bayless, Matthews etc.
Dislike: Patty Mills very unlikely to be amongst that depth.
Sacramento:
Like: DaMarcus Cousins could be the best player out of his draft class.
Dislike: They have no intent in providing him with discipline he and last year's top pick Tyreke Evans so obviously need.
San Antonio:
Like:Duncan + Ginobili + Parker + Hill + Blair = Playoffs.
Dislike: Duncan + Ginobili + Parker + Hill + Blair = Major Injury worries.
Toronto:
Like: They could legitimately field a starting lineup with five different nationalities, none of whom are American (Andersen, Bargnani, Kleiza, Barbosa & Calderon).
Dislike: The team will stink this year. And perhaps for ever. Take it to the bank.
Utah:
Like: Al Jefferson should average 20/10 with Deron passing him the ball.
Dislike: Opposing bigs will average the same (or better) against him.
Washington:
Like: Only four more years of Gilbert Arenas' contract millstone around their necks.
Dislike: John Wall will have been eligible for free agency by then and left.
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