Predict the Teams that will Disappoint and Surprise in each conference

[Pharaoh]

Here's mine

Surprise:
East: Charlotte Hornets - Kemba is getting better
West: New Orleans Pelicans - AD will have a monster season

Disappoint
East: Detroit Pistons - they do not have offensive depth
West: Utah Jazz - they will make the playoffs but not top 6

Pistons don't have offensive depth?

All 5 starters are capable of scoring 20+ on any given night.

Bench was improved this summer with the additions of Jonny Boy, Boban & Ish.

Add to that Stanley Johnson entering his 2nd season and "offensive depth" is the least of the Pistons problems

[BNelley24]

Surprise:
Default 76ers. Adding 2 generational talents in Embiid & Simmons (how many teams in NBA history can say that). Along with a "tough" "hustle-type" in Dario Saric who has greatly improved each season since 76ers drafted him. Along with that we are adding 2 solid Vets in Gerald Henderson & Jerryd Bayless. Also, probably the biggest sleeper addition could be Sergio Rodriguez. He was the 2014 Euroleague MVP averaging 14 points, 4.9 assists and 2 rebounds over 31 games, despite not starting in any game. That is 5 very talented players on top of a more developed Jahlil Okafor, a contract year Nerlens Noel.

I know it takes time for young players to come together. Hell Westbrook & Durant won what 21 games together early on? I know Curr - Klay Warriors struggled big time early on. So I'm going out on slight a limb, but I would NOT be shocked if the 76ers were in a playoff race during the last month of the season.

As for my non-homer surprise/disappointments:

SURPRISE

Eastern Conference
Detroit Pistons tied with Indiana Pacers (I think Indiana will be in ECF)

Western Conference
Utah Jazz

DISAPPOINTMENT

Eastern Conference
Washington Wizards

Western Conference
GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS: YES, I said it. This isn't to say that they are going to win like 50 games or something. They will be a disappointment in the sense that they won't be as good as last season and won't live up to expectations this year. It always seems dream teams take time to come together, we shall see.

[Chuck Everett]

Pelicans and Magic will both be picking in the top 8 in the lottery. Pelicans could be top 3 bad.

[PackAttack9]

Disappoint:
East ->
Miami Heat. W/o veterans Bosh, Wade, Joe Johnson, Luol Deng, could easily see them fall from the playoffs into a lottery team.

West ->
Oklahoma City Thunder. Westbrook and Oladipo don't mesh, they miss KD's guaranteed 28ppg. Fall behind in the standings early and run out of gas 1 month after the all-star break, with 15 games to go.

Surprise:
East ->
Milwaukee Bucks. High hopes for my team but excited to see Giannis and Jabari start climbing the ladder to All-Star and possibly All-NBA.

West ->
Utah Jazz. The addition of Joe Johnson, Boris Diaw helps the 2nd unit and they stay healthy enough to finally make the playoffs and underdog upset who else but the Clippers.

[zimpy27]

Surprise:
Mavericks - Vegas thinks 39 wins but I predict will be around 48 wins.
Knicks - Vegas thinks 38 wins but I predict will be around 45 wins.

Disappoint:
Blazers - Vegas thinks 46 wins but I predict will be around 42 wins.
Heat - Vegas thinks 36 wins but I predict will be around 32 wins.

[gratia333]

Pelicans and Magic will both be picking in the top 8 in the lottery. Pelicans could be top 3 bad.

Please, How can the Magic be worse than last year when their division got so much weaker? They will be much improved on defense and they have more 3pt shooting. 41-41 is worst case for them.