NBA Schedule 2012-13: Team-by-Team Record Predictions and Playoff Odds

With the 2012-13 NBA Schedule officially released, we can begin to make some predictions about each team's fate.

Free agents with the biggest names are off the market, and we know where all the premium draft prospects will begin their careers. We've even seen a few noteworthy trades shake the league up still further.

Opening-day rosters will look more or less just as they do right now.

So the only questions that remain are how those rosters will perform. What will the standings look like, and who will make it to the postseason in 2013? What are the defining matchups that will determine each club's fate?

The answers are all right here—or, at least, one guy's best guesses about what those answers will be.

Atlanta Hawks

Top 3 Matchups

Saturday, January 5 vs. Boston Celtics: The Atlanta Hawks will have an opportunity to avenge their postseason loss to the Celtics at home, and it should be a strong indicator of just how prepared this team is to make noise in the playoffs.

Wednesday, January 16 vs. Brooklyn Nets: Welcome back, Joe Johnson. After new general manager Danny Ferry bid the overpriced All-Star adieu, he'll have his chance to make them regret it. On the other hand, the Hawks will have the chance to prove they don't miss him one bit.

Wednesday, April 17 @ New York Knicks: The last game of the season could be pretty important for these two teams. The Knicks may well be battling for seeding, and the Hawks could be battling just to make the playoffs

Predicted Record: 42-20

The Hawks may be making the best of life without Joe Johnson, but don't be surprised if they look pretty good in the process. They still have a dangerous frontcourt compromised of Al Horford and Josh Smith, and the backcourt additions of Lou Williams and Devin Harris will give the team some dangerous scoring options to help offset the loss of Johnson.

This team has always been prone to overachieving, and that won't change without Johnson around.

Playoff Odds: Not half-bad.

Boston Celtics

Top 3 Matchups

Tuesday, October 30 @ Miami Heat: The Celtics will be looking to avenge their seven-game defeat at the hands of the Heat in this year's Eastern Conference Finals. They'll also be looking to let Ray Allen know he made a mistake switching sides.

Thursday, February 7 vs. Los Angeles Lakers: As long as these two teams have a shot at winning a title, this will be a big-time rivalry. They'll both in the mix once again this season, so expect to see plenty of grit between these two.

Sunday, March 31 @ New York Knicks: With the Eastern Conference elite gearing up for the playoffs in late March, this will be an opportunity for these two clubs to prove they're in the best position to challenge the Miami Heat.

Predicted Record: 55-27

The Boston Celtics could be even better than they were last year. Jason Terry and Courtney Lee should do a fine job of replacing Ray Allen, and Avery Bradley should make even more of an impact than he did last season.

Their record could certainly be better, but you have to assume Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce will sit out with an injury or two, and it could take some time for some of the new pieces to fit in and develop some chemistry.

Playoff Odds: Don't worry, they'll be back and almost certainly a top-four seed.

Brooklyn Nets

Top 3 Matchups

Thursday, November 1 vs. New York Knicks: The first game of the season will mark the beginning of what should be a compelling New York rivalry. With Deron Williams facing off against Carmelo Anthony, there will be plenty of star power to match the occasion.

Wednesday, January 30 vs. Miami Heat: The Nets probably won't stand much of a chance in their earlier matchups against the Miami Heat, but they should be hitting their stride by this point in the season and learning to best utilize Joe Johnson. The Heat will provide a test of just how much a contender these new-look Nets actually are.

Thursday, April 4 vs. Chicago Bulls: There's a good chance former MVP Derrick Rose will be back in time for this game, and it could be a nice warm-up for the postseason. If the Nets want to be taken seriously, they'll have to start by taking care of the Bulls.

Predicted Record: 50-32

Yes, the Nets are better. But, they won't be dominant. Expect them to establish themselves in the upper echelon of Eastern Conference teams and take a huge step forward after years of struggling. If they remain healthy, this starting lineup will beat up on a number of average teams.

How they hold up against NBA elite is another story altogether.

Playoff Odds: They'll be there, likely as the fourth or fifth seed.

Charlotte Bobcats

Top 3 Matchups

Tuesday, November 30 vs. Washington Wizards: This could be an early preview of who the worst team in the Eastern Conference will be this time around. Given Washington's acquisition of some veteran help, chances are the unwanted honors will still belong to Charlotte.

Wednesday, December 26 vs. Miami Heat: The Heat will have to wait an extra day for Christmas to come, but the Bobcats will show up soon enough. This will be a good test for the Bobcats. If they can keep the margin or defeat under 20 points, fans in Charlotte should throw a parade.

Wednesday, April 17 vs. Cleveland Cavaliers: What better way to finish off the season than with a face-off between two clubs deep into the rebuilding process. Both teams have some promising youth, but both are a long way from being able to do anything meaningful with it.

Predicted Record: 20-62

The Bobcats will improve, but not by much. They'll have to fight for everything they get, but with Michael Kidd-Gilchrist around, there's a chance they'll get more than you might think. If new head coach Mike Dunlap can get this team 25 wins, it would be a significant accomplishment. Charlotte fans should adjust their expectations and their definitions of "success" while they're at it.

Playoff Odds: Seriously?

Chicago Bulls

Top 3 Matchups

Saturday, March 23 vs. Indiana Pacers: Assuming Derrick Rose is back by this point (a fairly safe assumption), this will be a good postseason warmup for the Bulls. The Pacers should once again be in the mix and challenge for a top-four seed, and that's the kind of team Chicago will need to beat to build some confidence entering the playoffs.

Thursday, April 11 vs. New York Knicks: Like the Pacers, the Knicks will be a telling indication of just how ready Chicago is to make noise in the postseason. If the Bulls come out on top, they may once again establish themselves at the team with the best chance in the East of dethroning the Miami Heat.

Sunday, April 14 @ Miami Heat: Chicago's next-to-last game of the season won't be easy. Unless these teams are resting their starters, this could be a fight to the death between two clubs vying for status as the best in the East.

Predicted Record: 48-34

The regular-season record won't be pretty, but such is life without a guy like Derrick Rose. It should still be good enough for Chicago to make it into the postseason without stressing over the issue too much. All that matters, though, is that Rose gets healthy and this team makes it to the playoffs. From there, anything can happen.

Playoff Odds: They'll be there, but likely no higher than as the sixth seed.

Cleveland Cavaliers

Top 3 Matchups

Tuesday, October 30 vs. Washington Wizards: Now, that's how you start the season off. These two clubs weren't very good last season, and they won't be very good this time around. Let's see who looks worse.

Wednesday, March 20 vs. Miami Heat: It's always a party when LeBron James comes to town, and this will be the first of two such instances next season. Get those angry signs ready, Cleveland!

Wednesday, April 10 vs. Detroit Pistons: Who would possibly care about this game? That's a fair question. Nevertheless, this is a good measure of which rebuilding club is making bigger strides in the East. Each has some young pieces to build around, and each still looks at least a couple of seasons away from reaching the postseason.

Predicted Record: 30-52

Sure, the Cavaliers will make some progress, but not much. Dion Waiters will be a work-in-progress, and the club hasn't made any other significant additions to speak of. Kyrie Irving can only accomplish so much on his own. This season will be more about watching his spectacular development than paying attention to the rest of the team.

Playoff Odds: Not yet. Be patient.

Dallas Mavericks

Top 3 Matchups

Tuesday, October 30 @ Los Angeles Lakers: There's no better way to kick the season off than with a throwdown against one of the Western Conference's teams-to-beat. The Lakers will have the edge, but the Mavericks will make a compelling statement if they can just make a contest out of this one.

Sunday, December 23 @ San Antonio Spurs: This is one of the most unheralded rivalries in the NBA, but anyone in Texas knows better. It might be a bit much to say there's bad blood between these two teams, but there's a history to be sure. More importantly, this game will kick off a stretch in which the Mavs then have to face the Oklahoma City Thunder, Denver Nuggets and the Spurs once again. That won't be pleasant.

Sunday, March 17 vs. Oklahoma City Thunder: The Mavericks could struggle early in the season given just how much turnover this roster has seen. By mid March, we'll have a much better sense of what Dallas can do. There's no better benchmark against which to measure their progress than the Thunder.

Predicted Record: 49-33

So long as Rick Carlisle is coaching this team, the Mavericks will be better than you think. The club also did an outstanding job of compensating for missing out on Deron Williams by bringing in Darren Collison, Chris Kaman, O.J. Mayo and Elton Brand. This version of the Mavericks may be even better than last year's. Just give them some time to figure things out.

Playoff Odds: They'll get in one way or the other.

Denver Nuggets

Top 3 Matchups

Saturday, November 3 @ Miami Heat: This will be Denver's first test of the season and, correspondingly, the first opportunity to really make a statement. The Nuggets will be outmatched to be sure, but they're the kind of up-tempo team perfectly crafted to pull upsets.

Wednesday, December 26 vs. Los Angeles Lakers: This won't be the first time these two clubs pick up where they left off in the 2012 playoffs, but it will be the first time the Lakers head to Denver. The Nuggets made a close series of it last time around, and they'll be looking to prove it was no fluke—this time against an even more fearsome Lakers roster.

Friday, April 12 @ Dallas Mavericks: This will be one of the Nuggets' best last-season opportunities to measure themselves against another playoff team. If Denver stumbles in this one, it will be a bad sign for what's to come.

Predicted Record: 52-30

As dangerous as this team is on any given night, it's hard to see them making huge strides in the Western Conference just yet. They're still behind the Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers. They could definitely pull ahead of the Memphis Grizzlies, but otherwise expect more of the same from the Nuggets this year.

Playoff Odds: There's no question they'll be there, likely as the fifth or sixth seed.

Detroit Pistons

Top 3 Matchups

Wednesday, November 14 @ Philadelphia 76ers: A random game? Yes. But, this is also the kind of team Detroit will have to consistently beat before it can find its way into the postseason. 

Monday, April 1 @ Toronto Raptors: By this point in the year, chances are these two teams will either be battling for an eighth seed or, more likely, tanking in order to get a better draft pick. Still, the most interesting thing about this game may be that it's on April Fool's Day.

Sunday, April 7 vs. Chicago Bulls: If the Pistons have any shot at the postseason, this late-season test will be an important game. Detroit will probably get crushed, but it'd be somewhat of a story if they don't.

Predicted Record: 32-50

The Pistons are one of the most slowly improving teams in recent memory. For all the young talent they've acquired (e.g. Greg Monroe, Brandon Knight and Andre Drummond), the roster at large is painfully mediocre.

Playoff Odds: There's an outside chance. A really, really outside chance.

Golden State Warriors

Top 3 Matchups

Wednesday, October 31 @ Phoenix Suns: The Warriors' opening game should be a fairly evenly-matched affair. Both of these clubs have a shot at vying for the eighth seed this season, and this game could be an early indicator of which one has the better shot.

Friday, November 9 @ Los Angeles Lakers: This will be Golden State's first truly significant test of the season. The Warriors are a young team, but they could be one of the bigger surprises this year. Knocking off the Lakers in November would be quite the surprise.

Monday, April 15 vs. San Antonio Spurs: In the two games prior to this, the Warriors will have to play the Oklahoma City Thunder and Los Angeles Lakers. If Golden State is anywhere close to a playoff berth, they'll be hoping those three contenders are resting their starters at this point in the season. If not, what a rough stretch.

Predicted Record: 40-42

The Warriors will be better with Andrew Bogut around, and their young talent is deceptively good. It probably won't be good enough to scare anyone this year, but that could change relatively quickly. This is a transition year, and you'd have to be pretty happy with an average record.

Playoff Odds: Maybe, but probably not.

Houston Rockets

Top 3 Matchups

Wednesday, November 7 vs. Denver Nuggets: There's nothing especially momentous about this game, but it will be a good early measure of where the Rockets stand in the Western Conference. As currently constituted, the Rockets have the kind of young depth that eventually turned into something special in Denver.  

Monday, December 17 @ New York Knicks: This will be Jeremy Lin's first return to New York. That's all you need to know.

Tuesday, December 25 @ Chicago Bulls: It won't be quite as eventful as Lin's return to New York, but this game will mark Omer Asik's first return to Chicago. Get excited.

Predicted Record: 36-48

The Rockets' future is bright, but this team will have to take a step backwards before it makes any real progress. There's plenty to like about this young roster, but win-loss records don't take upside into account.

Playoff Odds: Very unlikely. Jeremy Lin would have to do something magical.

Indiana Pacers

Top 3 Matchups

Monday, November 5 @ San Antonio Spurs: This will be Indiana's first big test of the season, and it will come against a contender that doesn't lose many games at home. With former Spur George Hill likely to take on an increased role with the Pacers this year, he'll be in position to make his old team regret moving him.

Tuesday, January 8 vs. Miami Heat: There's no love lost between these two clubs, and the Pacers will no doubt be itching to send a message Miami's way. They'll have the opportunity to do so at home, and Pacers fans should expect their team to come out with plenty of energy. They shouldn't, however, expect to see too much of Dexter Pittman.

Saturday, March 23 @ Chicago Bulls: This will be an outstanding late-season barometer for the Pacers. They could find themselves vying with the Bulls for seeding, and these teams will certainly be competing to prove they're the next best things to the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics.

Predicted Record: 52-30

The Pacers may not be quite as dominant as they were last season given the improvements made by Eastern Conference clubs like the New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets. Still, they'll be in the mix. They're a young team poised to get better.

Playoff Odds: They'll be in the mix, but they probably won't be a third seed again.

Los Angeles Clippers

Top 3 Matchups

Friday, November 2 @ Los Angeles Lakers: It's always a party when these two get together. The Lakers got better, but the Clippers should be better too. If the Clippers pull this one out, it could challenge the prevailing narrative that the Lakers are once again the team-to-beat in the West.

Wednesday, November 7 vs. San Antonio Spurs: It didn't take the Spurs long to put Los Angeles' 2012 playoff hopes to rest. This will be the Clippers' first opportunity to get some revenge and prove this time will be different.

Monday, January 14 @ Memphis Grizzlies: The Clippers prevailed in a thrilling, seven-game first-round series this year, but they could once again have their hands full against the Grizzlies. Both of these teams will spend the season attempting to prove they're the next big thing in the Western Conference.

Predicted Record: 54-28

The Clippers may be somewhat improved, but they probably aren't any closer to winning a championship than they were last season. They'll probably be just good enough to once again make a second-round appearance in the postseason, but they probably won't be good enough to ensure Chris Paul sticks around.

Playoff Odds: You can count on it.

Los Angeles Lakers

Top 3 Matchups

Tuesday, November 13 vs. San Antonio Spurs: This will be Los Angeles' first big test of the year, and it's only fitting that it comes against the other team that's dominated the Western Conference for the last decade. A convincing win against the Spurs could establish the Lakers as the West's team to beat.

Tuesday, December 25 vs. New York Knicks: The Knicks will be attempting to prove they're for real this time, and the Lakers will do their best to keep all that East Coast hype at bay. Best yet, it'll all go down on Christmas Day, and everyone will be watching.

Tuesday, March 5 @ Oklahoma City Thunder: By this point in the season, both of these clubs should be hitting their strides and rounding into playoff form. This could be an important sign of which one has the better title odds come May.

Predicted Record: 59-23

The Lakers will be a top-three seed in the West, but it's hard to say they're in any better position to defeat the Thunder and Spurs. Los Angeles' defense will remain average at best, and it's doubtful Antawn Jamison will single-handedly rectify the second unit's deficiencies. Nevertheless, the Lakers will remain big-time contenders.

Playoff Odds: Is it even a question?

Memphis Grizzlies

Top 3 Matchups

Wednesday, October 31 @ Los Angeles Clippers: There's no better way for Memphis to start its season than by facing off against the team that edged them out in seven games in 2012's first round of the playoffs. 

Saturday, December 1 @ San Antonio Spurs: Memphis truly began to make a name for itself when it upset the Spurs in the first round of the 2011 playoffs. The Grizzlies will have an opportunity to establish themselves at Western Conference elite with games like this. Or, they could prove they're still in the middle of the postseason pack.

Wednesday, February 27 vs. Dallas Mavericks: This game will certainly mean something to O.J. Mayo given how willing the Grizzlies were to part ways with the four-year veteran. It could also mean something to the Western Conference playoff race if these two teams are close in the standings.

Predicted Record: 48-34

The Grizzlies may well take a step back without O.J. Mayo coming off the bench. They may find themselves regretting such heavy investments in Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph. Still, the Grizzlies will be a dangerous team with solid interior size and a potent defense.

Playoff Odds: Memphis will make it, but they could slip to the seventh or eighth seed this time around.

Miami Heat

Top 3 Matchups

Tuesday, October 30 vs. Boston Celtics: There's no secret why this will be a game to watch. The Celtics narrowly missed out on a trip to the NBA Finals, and the Heat are the reason why. It was a close series, and Boston fans will be eager to welcome their new rivals to a chorus of very, very angry boos.

Tuesday, December 25 vs. Oklahoma City Thunder: It may not involve the animosity that a return to Boston will involve, but the Thunder will be primed to turn the tables on Miami this season. Christmas Day will give them the opportunity to begin doing just that.

Wednesday, March 27 @ Chicago Bulls: Assuming Derrick Rose is around for this one, watch out. The Bulls will be eager to reassert themselves as the best team in the Eastern Conference, and they'll be looking to prove that the 2012 postseason would have turned out differently if former MVP Derrick Rose were around.

Predicted Record: 60-22

Will the same passion and drive still be there? Will Dwyane Wade remain healthy? Will Chris Bosh tire of being an afterthought? And how will all those aging role players hold up?

There are more questions surrounding the Miami Heat than you might think, but they'll still win at least 60 games and look unbeatable at times. There's no question about that.

Playoff Odds: This one goes without saying.

Milwaukee Bucks

Top 3 Matchups

Friday, November 2 @ Boston Celtics: Milwaukee's first game of the season won't be an easy one, but it will be a fine test for a club looking to prove it belongs in the playoff discussion. The Bucks have been solid for the last couple of years, but they need to start beating teams like Boston to prove they're something more

Saturday, January 26 vs. Golden State Warriors: Andrew Bogut will return home and hope to prove the Bucks made a mistake giving up on the oft-injured center. Monta Ellis will of course seek to return to the favor.

Friday, April 12 @ Atlanta Hawks: This might not strike anyone as an especially crucial game, but it's the kind of late-season game Milwaukee absolutely must win if it's to join the playoff mix.

Predicted Record: 42-42

The Bucks have long epitomized mediocrity, and that probably won't change any time soon. They could take a slight step back or get a bit better, but don't expect an especially dramatic change in either direction.

Playoff Odds: Once again, the Bucks will have a decent chance at sneaking into the playoffs as a low seed. It's still no guarantee, though.

Minnesota Timberwolves

Top 3 Matchups

Monday, November 12 @ Dallas Mavericks: This will be an early opportunity for the Timberwolves to prove they have a legitimate shot at the playoffs. The Mavericks aren't a lock to make it this year, so Minnesota will look to establish themselves as a team that could replace Dallas as a perennial invitee to the postseason. 

Friday, November 23 @ Portland Trail Blazers: Minnesota surely isn't pleased about Portland opting to match the sizable offer sheet the Timberwolves offered to restricted free agent Nic Batum. Meanwhile, Portland won't be happy about former star Brandon Roy signing on with Minnesota after retiring for medical reasons. The two sides won't be hugging this one out.

Monday, April 15 vs. Utah Jazz: Games against Utah are rarely described as important, but this one could have important playoff implications given how likely both of these teams are to being right on the edge.

Predicted Record: 44-38

Minnesota should be good enough to put together a winning season, but they won't be much better than above-average. This is a young roster with a bright future, but it just doesn't have the weapons or experience to hang with the top dogs in the West.

Playoff Odds: There's a pretty good chance, but don't be surprised if they come up just short.

New Orleans Hornets

Top 3 Matchups

Wednesday, October 31 vs. San Antonio Spurs: What a welcome to the NBA for Anthony Davis and Austin Rivers! The Spurs will be licking their chops, and the Hornets will be fighting for an upset.

Saturday, December 29 @ Charlotte Bobcats: Bobcats fans will have a chance to see Anthony Davis in the flesh and imagine what might have been. They'll be pleased with what they have in Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, but it won't be easy to watch the guy they lost to the randomness of some ping-pong balls.

Wedneday, April 10 @ Sacramento Kings: As the season comes to an end, this should be an interesting look at how two of the youngest teams in the West are coming along. It might not be pretty, but it will definitely be interesting.

Predicted Record: 34-48

With a healthy Eric Gordon and a cast of young talent, the Hornets will be much improved. But they won't be anywhere close to where they hope to be down the road. New Orleans will be a tough out for teams, but they probably won't get many wins.

Playoff Odds: Highly unlikely.

New York Knicks

Top 3 Matchups

Thursday, November 1 @ Brooklyn Nets: The Knicks will attempt to prove they're still the best team in New York, while Deron Williams and company will have other things in mind. Both teams will be integrating some new pieces, so there's no telling how this one ends up.

Friday, November 2 vs. Miami Heat: The Knicks won't rest until they overtake the Heat as the best team in the East. They'll have their first chance in just their second game of the season.

Tuesday, April 2 @ Miami Heat: If New York struggles with putting the Heat away early on in the season, they may have a better chance with the playoffs around the corner. The difference between the two meetings will be a good measure of this club's progress.

Predicted Record: 54-28

The Knicks will be good this year, but don't expect anything too crazy from them. They'll miss Jeremy Lin, and there's absolutely no telling what to expect from Amar'e Stoudemire. The good news is that the team's depth is a bit better, and there's no question that a full season under head coach Mike Woodson's watch could do wonders.

Playoff Odds: Of course they'll make it. New York City would revolt otherwise.

Oklahoma City Thunder

Top 3 Matchups

Thursday, November 1 @ San Antonio Spurs: The Thunder's first game of the season will come against the team that appeared poised to stop OKC's NBA Finals hopes short this year. Things didn't work out that way for the Spurs, so they'll be looking for some revenge.

Tuesday, December 25 @ Miami Heat: This one is pretty self-explanatory, and there's a reason it will go down on Christmas Day. The Thunder are sure to have a present for Heat fans, but they might not want to open it.

Thursday, April 4 vs. San Antonio Spurs: The November meeting between these two clubs won't say much about where they'll stand come the playoffs, but this game certainly will.

Predicted Record: 62-20

OKC won't lose many games this season. It's easy to forget how young this team's core is. That means it's also easy to forget they're set to get even better. And, they will.

Playoff Odds: Without a doubt, almost certainly as the first or second seed.

Orlando Magic

Top 3 Matchups

Friday, November 9 vs. Brooklyn Nets: Dwight Howard will have a long look at the Nets and think what might have been. There's still a chance he could be traded to the team prior to the trade deadline, but that chance is somewhat slim by this point.

Sunday, November 11 @ Brooklyn Nets: Hey, why not? Let's rub Dwight's face in it with a back-to-back against the team he longed to join.

Sunday, December 2 @ Los Angeles Lakers: And yes, the Lakers are the other team to which Howard has so often been linked. He might even be playing for the Lakers by the time this game rolls around.

Predicted Record: 38-44

There's really no telling how Orlando will perform until the Dwightmare is over. They'll either be in the midst of rebuilding after a significant trade or struggling through the constant distraction this guy has inflicted upon the organization. Either way, things won't be pretty.

Playoff Odds: There's a chance, but I wouldn't bet on it.

Philadelphia 76ers

Top 3 Matchups

Friday, December 7 vs. Boston Celtics: The Celtics put an end to Philly's dream this year, and the 76ers will be longing to even things up. This will be the second meeting between the two teams, and head coach Doug Collins' young club will have to work hard to prove they've made the improvements they need to make to contend in the East.

Saturday, December 8 @ Boston Celtics: What's better than a rematch of the Eastern Conference Semifinals? A back-to-back rematch.

Wednesday, April 17 @ Indiana Pacers: Philly's last game of the season will come against a team with whom the 76ers have a lot in common. Both are young clubs who've broken out on to the playoff scene. The only question is which one takes the next big step.

Predicted Record: 44-38

Don't expect the 76ers to make any major improvements. The roster hasn't changed all that much, and it's still a youthful work-in-progress. They're getting there, and they should certainly stay the course. They just aren't there yet.

Playoff Odds: The 76ers will be there, likely a low seed once again.

Phoenix Suns

Top 3 Matchups

Wednesday, January 30 vs. Los Angeles Lakers: Welcome home, Steve Nash. Suns fans are likely to have nothing but fond sentiments for the icon that spent 10 years in the desert. 

Saturday, April 13 @ Minnesota Timberwolves: This could be an important game given that both of these teams should have a chance of sneaking into the playoffs. It will also be a chance for the Timberwolves to get one more look at Michael Beasley, the promising but inconsistent forward the team let go via free agency.

Wednesday, April 17 @ Denver Nuggets: If the race for the eighth seed is as close at it was last year, the last game of the season might mean a lot. There's a good chance the Suns will be in the mix.

Predicted Record: 40-42

The Suns are on the right track, but this is a massively overhauled roster that needs some time to gel and develop. This probably won't be the year we see a major turnaround, but we'll see some signs of good things to come.

Playoff Odds: Close call. They might make it by just a hair, but teams like the Utah Jazz and Minnesota Timberwolves will probably have a better chance.

Portland Trail Blazers

Top 3 Matchups

Wednesday, October 31 vs. Los Angeles Lakers: Remember when these two teams dominated the Western Conference? Well, things have changed. Portland's first game of the season will get them off to a rough start.

Friday, November 2 @ Oklahoma City Thunder: As if a home opener against the Lakers weren't harsh enough, Portland's next game will be against the Thunder. It's sort of like a northwestern throw-down, at least if you still think of the Thunder as the Seattle Sonics.

Wednesday, January 23 vs. Indiana Pacers: Portland won't get its hands on Roy Hibbert after all, but they'll get a look at what might have been in this one.

Predicted Record: 38-44

Portland's best years are definitely ahead of them, but they'll need some time to work youngsters like Damian Lillard and Meyers Leonard into the mix. Don't expect big things this season, but that could all change in another year or two.

Playoff Odds: Not especially likely, but stranger things have happened.

Sacramento Kings

Top 3 Matchups

Monday, November 5 vs. Golden State Warriors: Yes, there are a couple of teams in California that don't play at the Staples Center. Check them out. They might be pretty good in a couple of years.

Sunday, November 11 @ Los Angeles Lakers: The Kings will be heavily outmatched against the Lakers, but this is one of those early-season games where teams like Sacramento can pull a shocking upset. 

Saturday, March 23 @ Denver Nuggets: These two teams know how to score at a ridiculous tempo. Forget about who wins or loses, and just enjoy the obscene absence of defense.

Predicted Record: 24-58

The Kings haven't gotten any older, and they haven't gotten any better on the defensive end. It's probably wise for this club to keep its young talent together and see where it goes, but it will take some time for it to look at all polished.

Playoff Odds: Not happening.

San Antonio Spurs

Top 3 Matchups

Thursday, November 1 vs. Oklahoma City Thunder: The Spurs can't get their hands on the Thunder soon enough. This will be a season spent making up for a disappointing collapse in the Western Conference Finals at the hands of OKC.

Sunday, March 31 vs. Miami Heat: The Spurs never got the opportunity to test themselves against the best in the East during the 2012 playoffs, but they'll look to change that. This late-season meeting could be a telling preview.

Sunday, April 14 @ Los Angeles Lakers: Though both of these teams are somewhat past their primes, they remain two of the very best in the league. They've also put together an impressive rivalry over the years could very well renew it in the postseason.

Predicted Record: 61-21

The Spurs may not have made it to the NBA Finals, but they looked absolutely amazing for the better part of the regular season and continued to do so through most of the playoffs. Nothing has changed on this roster, and that should scare the rest of the league.

Playoff Odds: They'll spend the entire regular season waiting for the real season to start.

Toronto Raptors

Top 3 Matchups

Tuesday, November 27 @ Houston Rockets: It won't quite match Jeremy Lin's return to New York, but Kyle Lowry heading back to Houston will give Rockets fans something to think about. The guy wanted out, and he got his wish—although it's hard to imagine Toronto is what he had in mind.

Wednesday, December 26 @ San Antonio Spurs: It's not a Christmas Day game, but it's close. Perhaps the two most internationally flavored teams in the league will face off, so expect much of the world to be watching–even if most of the United States isn't.

Wednesday, April 3 vs. Washington Wizards: Who cares about this game? Anyone taking stock of how the teams rebuilding in the Eastern Conference are making progress. This one will be a good barometer of how far the Wizards and Raptors have (or haven't) come.

Predicted Record: 32-50

The Raptors got better, but so did most of the league. This team is still missing interior defense, and it will be relying on a lot of young guys at just about every position other than the point. It will be another year or two before Toronto sees better days.

Playoff Odds: Very, very slight.

Utah Jazz

Top 3 Matchups

Wednesday, October 31 vs. Dallas Mavericks: Utah's first game of the season will be a good indication of where it stacks up against other teams looking to make the playoffs. Neither the Mavericks nor the Jazz are a lock to do so, so they both have much to prove from day one.

Wednesday, November 7 vs. Los Angeles Lakers: Who doesn't want a chance to upset the Lakers in front of their home crowd? Utah's best chance may be to do so before Steve Nash and Antawn Jamison get used to their new surroundings.

Wednesday, April 17 @ Memphis Grizzlies: Utah's last game of the season could have playoff implications given how close this race always manages to be. One way or another, this game will probably be really important.

Predicted Record: 41-41

The Jazz were decent last year, and they'll be decent again this year. No better, no worse. 

Playoff Odds: Flip a coin on this one.

Washington Wizards

Top 3 Matchups

Tuesday, October 30 @ Cleveland Cavaliers: The Wizards' season opener will be a game they can actually win. It may be one of the few.

Tuesday, December 11 @ New Orleans Hornets: Trevor Ariza and Emeka Okafor will return to New Orleans as these two rebuilding teams face off. The trade bringing them to Washington made pretty good sense for both size, but the Wizards will probably look better off at the moment.

Wednesday, April 10 vs. Miami Heat: The most exciting thing Wizards fans may have to look forward to is the Miami Heat coming to town. It's not at all unlike the Washington Generals hosting the Harlem Globe Trotters.

Predicted Record: 36-46

The Wizards will be better, but they'll need to wait for Bradley Beal to develop before they can make a run at the playoffs. This year will get them a little closer to where they want to be, especially with a full year of Nene and the additions of Okafor and Ariza. Give these guys a year to mesh, and they should be quite a bit better in 2013-14.

Playoff Odds: Unlikely, but this team could be a bit of a dark horse.