The NBA season begins Oct. Ray Nitschke Super Bowl Jersey . 25! Weve got Insider forecasts, Ultimate Standings from The Mag, and keys for each team from our group of TrueHoop podcasters. Check out our analysis, projections and more!GO TO: WestWin Total Projections RPM: 54.1 | Las Vegas: 57 | ESPN Forecast: 57-25REST LEBRON, FEATURE LOVE, SEE YOU IN JUNETom Haberstroh: Are you OK with Kevin Love averaging 14 points per game -- he has scored just over 16 per game in Cleveland after averaging 26 in his last season in Minnesota -- or do you think the Cavs will feature him more? Dave McMenamin: Ive spoken to people within the team who feel its the best course of action if LeBron plays 60 games. That planned rest could be where you feature Love more. Ethan Sherwood Strauss: My question is, what is Clevelands motivation? Lets say LeBron takes off half the season and the Cavs are the eighth seed. Are you picking any other team to come out of the Eastern Conference? DM: Nope. Central Division PodcastWill the Cavs repeat as champs?Ultimate Mag StandingsWin Total Projections RPM: 49.2 | Las Vegas: 52 | ESPN Forecast: 51-31AL HORFORDS NICE, BUT CS STILL NEED A STAROhm Youngmisuk: Bottom line: Horford is not the guy whos going to get the Celtics past the Cavs. I love his passing and his perimeter shooting, but I was disturbed by his playoff production for the Hawks. He grabbed 14 rebounds against the Cavs. Not in a game -- in the series! Hes a great signing, but hes not going to win Boston 10 more games. Amin Elhassan: And if Isaiah Thomas is your best player, youre good enough to win 48 games in the East -- but you are not a champion. Am I wrong to think of Thomas as the most readily disposable All-Star in the league? OY: No. Hes going to get traded in the next couple of years. Atlantic Division PodcastIs Boston Clevelands biggest threat in the East?Ultimate Mag StandingsWin Total Projections RPM: 48.3 | Las Vegas: 50.5 | ESPN Forecast: 51-31DEROZAN CANT SHOOT HIS WAY OUT OF THISEthan Sherwood Strauss: Lets just say it: Toronto likely got worse. With Bismack Biyombos departure, the Raptors lose a guy who was big for them in the playoffs last season. He averaged 8.8/13.3 with almost two blocks per 36 minutes.?Amin Elhassan: Can I be frank about Biyombo? He played over his head a little bit in the playoffs. Ohm Youngmisuk: As long as they rely on DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry, they need an energy guy. Biyombo was that guy for them. The dude snagged 26 rebounds in Game 3 against the Cavs! Dwight Howard and Hakeem Olajuwon -- those are the only other guys to do that in the playoffs since 1984. Its a big loss. Atlantic Division PodcastWill the Raptors make the East finals again?Ultimate Mag StandingsWin Total Projections RPM: 46.6 | Las Vegas: 44.5 | ESPN Forecast: 45-37TO SAVE ANDRE DRUMMOND, GET A POINT GUARDTom Haberstroh: A big key for the Pistons going forward is Drummond improving his free throw shooting. Last season he shot 35.5 percent. If he shoots 50 percent, that adds two wins to the Pistons bottom line. Kevin Pelton: Yeah, the average relationship is 2.7 wins for 1.0 point per game. Amin Elhassan: If they have any hope of maximizing the talent of Drummond and the rest of this roster, Reggie Jackson cant be the point guard of the future. Theyve got to get a real one. Jackson is good enough -- maybe -- for a first-round playoff win, but no further. Hes not Mr. Right. Hes Mr. Right Now. Central Division PodcastHow big a blow is the injury to Reggie Jackson?Ultimate Mag StandingsWin Total Projections RPM: 39.1 | Las Vegas: 45.5 | ESPN Forecast: 45-37INDY WANTS TO RUN; INDY IS NOT BUILT TO RUNTom Haberstroh: The Pacers have a huge identity crisis. They want to play fast, but then they sign Al Jefferson. Amin Elhassan: And if they want to go up-tempo, thats fine, but then dont hire Nate McMillan, who doesnt coach that way even if he says hes going to. My question is: Should Larry Bird be worried about his job, or is he safe because hes in Indiana and the organization will never admit that hes bad for business? Ethan Sherwood Strauss: Probably the latter. Central Division PodcastIs Jeff Teague an upgrade over George Hill?Ultimate Mag StandingsWin Total Projections RPM: 39.7 | Las Vegas: 43.5 | ESPN Forecast: 44-38IS DWIGHT HOWARD OLD? OR IS HE TOO OLD?Kevin Pelton: Im curious how Al Horfords departure will affect Paul Millsap. He wont be defended by the centers that teams had to cross-match because they couldnt deal with the Horford pick-and-pop. That gave Millsap the quickness advantage. Also, defensively, Atlanta took advantage of its mobile bigs with traps and perimeter switches. Thats not really Howard anymore. Tom Haberstroh: What is Dwight now? What does he have left? That, to me, is the question. Southeast Division PodcastWhat can be expected of Dennis Schroder?Ultimate Mag StandingsWin Total Projections RPM: 41.6 | Las Vegas: 41.5 | ESPN Forecast: 43-39ROLE PLAYERS ARE FINE -- STEPH ... WOULD BE BETTERBrian Windhorst: Somehow the Hornets stay in the hunt every season without a star. And they will have to do that again after bringing in Roy Hibbert and Marco Belinelli. David Thorpe: Belinelli was awful on the Kings in 2015-16. Tom Haberstroh: Bigger question, guys: Can they bring Steph home in 2017? DT: Its on their mind. I think people around Steph are talking about a one-year experiment thing. Im hearing Charlotte as a potential destination. Southeast Division PodcastWhat trade makes the most sense for the Hornets?Ultimate Mag StandingsWin Total Projections RPM: 41.5 | Las Vegas: 43 | ESPN Forecast: 41-41MAKE A CHOICE: GET A THIRD STAR -- OR START OVERTom Haberstroh: You have two young stars in the backcourt in John Wall and Bradley Beal who dont play well together, outscoring opponents by less than one point per 100 possessions last season. With Wall and Garrett Temple? Its plus-2.2. That cant happen. Kevin Pelton: True, and you cant count on Beal to play all 82 games. Best-case scenario, if everyone is healthy? This could be the one team in the Southeast to contend for home-court advantage in the playoffs. Best case. Southeast Division PodcastPlayer projections and analysisUltimate Mag StandingsWin Total Projections RPM: 38.8 | Las Vegas: 40.5 | ESPN Forecast: 40-42JUST ADMIT YOU SCREWED UP AND START AGAINAmin Elhassan: The Bulls are this years Team Turmoil. Kevin Pelton: Oh, yeah. Youve got Dwyane Wade, Rajon Rondo and Jimmy Butler on the perimeter -- three guys who want the ball in their hands. And they were poor defensively after Joakim Noah got hurt last season. Rondo is maybe the worst point guard defender, and Wade does not put forth energy defensively. AE: Theyve got the worst combination of talent around Butler. Its gonna be a train wreck. Central Division PodcastPlayer projections and analysisUltimate Mag StandingsWin Total Projections RPM: 34.8 | Las Vegas: 40.5 | ESPN Forecast: 40-42MEMO TO PHIL: KRISTAPS IS THE FUTURE -- STOP GETTING IN HIS WAYOhm Youngmisuk: How do the ball-dominant Carmelo Anthony and Derrick Rose coexist? How can Kristaps Porzingis improve with them? Amin Elhassan: Good questions, but the issue is health. Ethan Sherwood Strauss: Yeah, Rose and Joakim Noah wont play 82 games -- and depth is poor. Also, those two have been really bad at basketball. Rose was 75th in real plus-minus last season among point guards. In the past two seasons, Noahs PER was worse than in his rookie year. Atlantic Division PodcastPlayer projections and analysisUltimate Mag StandingsWin Total Projections RPM: 33.4 | Las Vegas: 36 | ESPN Forecast: 39-43THE BUCKS NEED SOMEONE WHO CAN THROW THE BALL IN THE OCEANDave McMenamin: Our panel has the Bucks adding six wins? But that was before we knew Khris Middleton was out for six months. The Bucks didnt address their 3-point shooting, which was ninth worst last season at 34.5 percent. Amin Elhassan: You cant have eight dudes who cant shoot. Ethan Sherwood Strauss: Like the Sixers, the Bucks got a bunch of length together and assumed they could teach shooting. Thats not so easy. Central Division PodcastPlayer projections and analysisUltimate Mag StandingsWin Total Projections RPM: 35.4 | Las Vegas: 34.5 | ESPN Forecast: 36-46CAPITALIZE ON ADDITION BY DWYANE WADE SUBTRACTIONBrian Windhorst: The Heat held firm on Wade but spent $20 million on Derrick Williams, Dion Waiters, James Johnson and Wayne Ellington? Tom Haberstroh: Parting with Wade made Miami better long-term. Once Pat Riley ended the Chris Bosh era, the rebuild began. Goran Dragic and Hassan Whiteside work well together -- and had a plus-9.2 net rating without Wade -- but that was with Luol Deng and Joe Johnson. Can Josh Richardson and Justise Winslow replace them? Not yet. Southeast Division PodcastTime for the Heat to tank?Ultimate Mag StandingsWin Total Projections RPM: 36.8 | Las Vegas: 36.5 | ESPN Forecast: 35-47LOSE A FEW MORE NOW, WIN A LOT MORE LATERDavid Thorpe: OK, so the Magics under-25 talent -- Mario Hezonja, Aaron Gordon, Elfrid Payton and Evan Fournier -- is strong. Tom Haberstroh: Agreed, but their moves (trading for Serge Ibaka, signing Bismack Biyombo and Jeff Green) suggest they dont believe in them. I mean, Green could get minutes ahead of Gordon or Hezonja. Kevin Pelton: They just havent found an anchor. As much as we like Gordon, can he be the best player on a contender? DT: Not this season. Southeast Division PodcastPlayer projections and analysisUltimate Mag StandingsWin Total Projections RPM: 25.9 | Las Vegas: 24.5 | ESPN Forecast: 20-62CAN BEN SIMMONS BE MORE THAN A FLASHY PASSER WHEN HE RETURNS?Ethan Sherwood Strauss: Before Simmons broke his foot, Jared Dudley predicted Hall of Fame success for him. Others said he reminded them of a 6-foot-10 Rajon Rondo. Kevin Pelton: Is 6-10 Rondo an insult? ESS: Well, at summer league he was playing to make those passes, as opposed to trying to win. Thats the Rondo comparison. Amin Elhassan: Look, at least Joel Embiid is back -- and hes the most talented dude on the roster. Atlantic Division PodcastBen Simmons injury a big deal?Ultimate Mag StandingsWin Total Projections RPM: 29.3 | Las Vegas: 22.5 | ESPN Forecast: 20-62WE WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE TO BE EXCLUDED FROM THIS NARRATIVEAmin Elhassan: I feel no inclination to ever watch the Nets play. Why should I care about them? Ohm Youngmisuk: Youre hoping that Jeremy Lin and Brook Lopez play the pick-and-roll to perfection. You hope Linsanity 2 will happen. AE: Yeah, Lins a good vet for the young guys, and hes an upgrade over what they were doing last season, but thats not saying much. OY: Oh, and they dont control their first-round pick until 2019. Its bleak. Atlantic Division PodcastWhich NYC point guard has the better season: Jeremy Lin or Derrick Rose?Ultimate Mag StandingsZach Lowes NBA Tiers | FiveThirtyEight ProjectionsWin Total Projections RPM: 66.7 | Las Vegas: 66.5 | ESPN Forecast: 67-15CAN THE NEW MANU BE MOLDED OUT OF KLAY?David Thorpe: This might sound crazy, but Klay Thompson, who was 12th in the NBA in scoring last season, should come off the bench. With the signing of Kevin Durant, theres only one ball to go around. Ethan Sherwood Strauss: Klay actually brought up Manu Ginobili at Team USA practice. He said Manu has all these championships and could have chosen to score 25 every night instead. Klays game isnt the same, but hes looking to Manu as a model. DT: And Klay could finish games with the starters. ESS: You couldnt bench Draymond Green -- hes too important and wouldnt like it. Klay could probably be sold, though. He would accept it and be the good soldier. Pacific Division PodcastSteph or KD for MVP?Ultimate Mag StandingsWin Total Projections RPM: 54.4 | Las Vegas: 56.5 | ESPN Forecast: 57-25TIMMYS DONE. POPS SAD. NEW FACES ... SAME RESULT?Ethan Sherwood Strauss: With no Tim Duncan -- who was second in the NBA in defensive real plus-minus last season -- no Boris Diaw, and whatever is left of Pau Gasol, I wouldnt be shocked if this is where the wheels come off for the Spurs. Amin Elhassan: Yeah, Rome didnt fall overnight. But it fell! And if it happens now, is the loss of Duncan a part of that? I question whether its part of a bigger thing; how over time the Tiago Splitters, the Aron Bayneses -- all the guys who were Spurs guys -- are gone, and now its LaMarcus Aldridge, David Lee, Pau -- all these dudes who are not part of the culture San Antonio spent two decades building. Southwest Division PodcastAre the Spurs still title contenders?Ultimate Mag StandingsWin Total Projections RPM: 46.8 | Las Vegas: 53.5 | ESPN Forecast: 52-30BREAK ON OUT OR BREAK IT UPEthan Sherwood Strauss: The Clippers might be the second-best team in the West. In fact, if theyre healthy, I think they are. If I had to choose a main threat to the Warriors, it would be the Clippers. There, I said it. David Thorpe: Yep. If it was 4-on-4, as good as Golden States best four is, Id love the Clippers top four in Chris Paul, JJ Redick, DeAndre Jordan and Blake Griffin -- which, by the way, had the fifth-best net rating among four-man lineups in 2015-16. ESS: Of course, I did bring this up to some people who work in the Warriors organization and they laughed at me. They just openly laughed at me. It might have been what I was wearing. Pacific Division PodcastWill the Clippers show signs of age?Ultimate Mag StandingsWin Total Projections RPM: 44.9 | Las Vegas: 45.5 | ESPN Forecast: 46-36$350M TO MAINTAIN THE STATUS QUO? GUHKevin Arnovitz: Teams that make a big one-year jump or have surprise success -- like the Trail Blazers did last season after losing four starters -- often come back to earth. Portland signed Evan Turner, a real NBA curio, for four years and $70 million, along with Festus Ezeli, a health question mark, for two years and $15.1 million. And the Blazers kept their young core: Allen Crabbe, four years, $75 million; Meyers Leonard, four years, $41 million; Maurice Harkless, four years, $42 million; C.J. McCollum, four years, $106 million. Brian Windhorst: That sounds like, Wow, huge upgrades to the team. But in reality, they really only added Turner and Ezeli. Pacific Division PodcastWhat needs to happen for the Blazers to become a power in the West?Ultimate Mag StandingsWin Total Projections RPM: 47.4 | Las Vegas: 48 | ESPN Forecast: 45-37THE BANDWAGON IS FULL, BUT IS IT GOING ANYWHERE?Kevin Arnovitz: If healthy, this is a top-eight defense. And if the Jazz are 11th in offense, where they project, I mean, thats a 50-win team. Kevin Pelton: Well, if you go by point differential, they would have been the best West team without home court in the playoffs. Brian Windhorst: Sorry, Im not sold. The Jazz have been the budding team now for three years. Gordon Hayward can opt out after this season. Rudy Gobert is up for extension. And we still dont know what Dante Exum is. Northwest Division PodcastAre the Jazz ready to rise?Ultimate Mag StandingsWin Total Projections RPM: 45.7 | Las Vegas: 45.5 | ESPN Forecast: 44-38IS A SOLO WESTBROOK THE BEST WESTBROOK?Royce Young: I think were all quick to draw the parallel here to 2014-15, when KD missed 55 games and Russell Westbrook put up patently absurd numbers. What people forget, though, is that OKC was effectively a .500 team during that stretch. So will Russ embrace his inner Kobe and shoot 26 times a game? Kevin Pelton: The answer might lie with Victor Oladipo, because when Russ was the man in 2014-15, he didnt have a partner who could create his own shot. Oladipo can. Northwest Division PodcastShould Westbrook be the MVP favorite?Ultimate Mag StandingsWin Total Projections RPM: 39.9 | Las Vegas: 42.5 | ESPN Forecast: 43-39THEYRE GONNA GRIT N GRIND RIGHT INTO THE GRAVEEthan Sherwood Strauss: The Tony Allen issue is a problem the Grizzlies cant bring themselves to fix. Kevin Pelton: Hes 34, he cant shoot and his backups are Vince Carter and Troy Daniels. ESS: And youve got Marc Gasol, who signed for five years in 2015, then suffered a fractured navicular. Mike Conley gets the biggest contract in NBA history coming off Achilles tendinitis. And youve still got Zach Randolph, whos 35. Amin Elhassan: All true. This team is decaying before our eyes. Northwest Division PodcastWill the Grizzlies make the playoffs?Ultimate Mag StandingsWin Total Projections RPM: 46.9 | Las Vegas: 44.5 | ESPN Forecast: 41-41ITS TIME TO MEND DEFENSEEthan Sherwood Strauss: I had a scout tell me hes convinced James Harden would intentionally botch assists that wouldve gone to Dwight Howard. Amin Elhassan: Howard would botch rotations, too. Tim MacMahon: It was toxic, but on defense, how will this team fare? AE: Listen, if a team scores 140 points but allows 120, is that worse than a team that scores 100 but allows 80? Kevin Pelton: What about a team that scores 120 but allows 120? Sorthwest Division PodcastPlayer projections and analysisUltimate Mag StandingsWin Total Projections RPM: 35 | Las Vegas: 39 | ESPN Forecast: 40-42STOP JOGGING ON THE TREADMILLTim MacMahon: The Mavs are masters at failing at Plan As and then recovering nicely. Theyre in that spot again. Amin Elhassan: What I cant reconcile is giving Harrison Barnes max money. TM: Well, theyre hoping he can blossom into at least a second option, if not a go-to guy. But there is a lot of evidence that says thats very optimistic. Would it have been better if they had given Chandler Parsons the max instead? I think so. Southwest Division PodcastWhat to make of the Harrison Barnes deal?Ultimate Mag StandingsWin Total Projections RPM: 38.1 | Las Vegas: 42 | ESPN Forecast: 39-43BE PATIENT, LET TOWNS DEVELOP, RINSE, REPEATBrian Windhorst: What is the Warriors biggest weakness? David Thorpe: The center position? BW: Right. You want to know the biggest threat to their dynasty? His name is Karl-Anthony Towns. Ethan Sherwood Strauss: Yeah, Towns completely worked Draymond Green last season. BW: Listen, Golden State had better hope the Timberwolves have a slow progression because I think theyre going to be a serious challenger in two seasons. Northwest Division PodcastPlayer projections and analysisUltimate Mag StandingsWin Total Projections RPM: 37.1 | Las Vegas: 35.5 | ESPN Forecast: 35-47UM, SOMEBODY HELP ANTHONY DAVIS, SERIOUSLYTim MacMahon: Davis is one of the NBAs best players. He averaged a 24/10/2-block line twice before age 22. Shaq did it twice. Bob McAdoo did it. Thats it. This should be a 50-win team. Kevin Pelton: When the game was iso-oriented, one star could drag you to 50 wins, but Davis has had historically poor support. Status quo wouldve made no sense for them. Ethan Sherwood Strauss: Well, I dont hate the Solomon Hill signing. Southwest Division PodcastWill Anthony Davis return to All-NBA, MVP-contender status this season?Ultimate Mag StandingsWin Total Projections RPM: 41.8 | Las Vegas: 37.5 | ESPN Forecast: 34-48THERES A FORK IN THIS ROAD -- TAKE ITRoyce Young: Denver has good youth with Nikola Jokic, Jusuf Nurkic and Emmanuel Mudiay. But then it has some of these older guys, Darrell Arthur, Wilson Chandler -- even Kenneth Faried, whos actually 26 but seems older. Kevin Pelton: To me, its two things: One is health. If Danilo Gallinari plays 70 games versus 50, its a big difference. And two, whether to start trading vets midseason, which the Nuggets record will determine. Faried is likely to get traded. Northwest Division PodcastHow many future stars do the Nuggets have?Ultimate Mag StandingsWin Total Projections RPM: 37.6 | Las Vegas: 33 | ESPN Forecast: 30-52WELCOME TO THE ASYLUMBrian Windhorst: The Kings have been trying to make a trade for a while. General manager Vlade Divac has an itchy trigger finger, and Rudy Gay is still there. David Thorpe: If coach Dave Joerger cant reach him, DeMarcus Cousins needs to be moved. Nothing against the guy, but hes the biggest name in the room, and that has really enabled him. One day hell grow up, but maybe not with this team. Id love to see him in a situation where hes just another guy. Pacific Division PodcastIs it time to trade Cousins?Ultimate Mag StandingsWin Total Projections RPM: 28.9 | Las Vegas: 30 | ESPN Forecast: 26-56GIVE THE KEYS TO THE KIDS AND LET THEM CRASHKevin Pelton: After years of trying to win faster than the team was set up to do, the focus, finally, is on development. Brian Windhorst: Right. And Devin Booker, who had a surprisingly great rookie year and still isnt even 20, is the Suns main guy. David Thorpe: And Marquese Chriss and Dragan Bender are super talented. Alex Len, too. I think T.J. Warren can be a scorer off the bench. This teams going to be bad. But theres young talent. No question. Pacific Division PodcastAre the Suns moving in the right direction?Ultimate Mag StandingsWin Total Projections RPM: 24.3 | Las Vegas: 26 | ESPN Forecast: 25-57THEY STUNK REAL BAD WITH KOBE -- THEYLL STINK SLIGHTLY LESS NOWEthan Sherwood Strauss: I dont like the young core they have. David Thorpe: Id like to quote Jack Black from High Fidelity: You can be -- and are -- wrong. Those guys are super talented. ESS: I dont see the elite skills. DT:?DAngelo Russell needs a kick in the rear. Brandon Ingram needs to be challenged and grow into his body, which is painfully thin. These, as much as anything, are going to be the tasks for management and new coach Luke Walton. Pacific Division PodcastHow many future stars do the Lakers have?Ultimate Mag Standings Brett Favre Super Bowl Jersey .2 billion agreement with Rogers Communications for the leagues broadcast and multimedia rights. Montravius Adams Super Bowl Jersey . -- There were so many positives from the Orlando Magics first victory of the season that it was hard for coach Jacque Vaughn to stop praising his players. http://www.officialgreenbaypackerspro.co...packers-jersey/ . Both players have lower body injuries that will keep them out of the lineup until at least January 31, which is the first game they can be activated from IR. Coach Don Pyke says his belief in Adelaides game plan hasnt been dented by a shock last-round AFL loss.The Crows blew a chance to finish in the top four and gain a coveted double chance in the finals when downed by West Coast in the last minor round game,But Pyke says hes firmly believes the Crows attacking style can flourish in their finals campaign, which opens with an elimination bout against North Melbourne at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night.We are not about to jump at shadows and change things, Pyke told reporters on Tuesday.We have got to this position because we have played a particular way, the players have played true to their trademark on the way through.(There is) the temptation to think you have got to reach for something substantially different.We think that were capable of producing good footy which will stand up in finals and thats the challenge, without trying to create something unique or extra special.Its often just doing what you do, doing it better, and doing it for longer against quality oppposition. Elgton Jenkins Super Bowl Jersey. Pyke will summon vice-captain Rory Sloane (suspension) and rebounding defender Brodie Smith (concussion) for the knockout final against the Kangaroos.And he hoped lingering concern over backmen Kyle Cheney (groin) and Luke Brown (soreness) would be extinguished at Adelaides main training session on Wednesday.Adelaide enter the elimination final as overwhelming favourites against a North side which limped into the finals - the Roos won just two of their past 11 games.But Pyke said his focus would be on the North Melbourne that won nine consecutive matches to start their season.They havent had the best back-end of the season. But they won nine games in a row to start the year so we know what theyre very capable of, Pyke said.They have got some high-quality individuals and they have got some really proud individuals who have got great history at their footy club. ' ' '