Every NBA Team Summed Up in 140 Characters
Now that the NBA preseason has finally kicked off, it's time to take a good, hard look at where each team stands.
It's starting to feel like the 2013-14 season could be wide open. Sure, there are definitely a few favorites, but at least 20 teams have legitimate playoff aspirations, and at least half of those teams could realistically take the title.
Needless to say, there's a lot to talk about. But to save some time, I won't go on and on about each team and instead will assess them with nothing more than the 140 characters that take up a single tweet. Here we go.
Atlanta Hawks
1 of 30
Not enough top talent to be a contender, but they'll be competitive. They stole Paul Millsap, and Dennis Schroeder is a star in the making.
Boston Celtics
2 of 30
It's a tanking season even if Jeff Green and Rajon Rondo put together a few wins. This team can defend, but scoring is out of the question.
Brooklyn Nets
3 of 30
NBA's most intriguing team. One-year window. Can they mesh in time, and can Kevin Garnett lift the defense to a championship level?
Charlotte Bobcats
4 of 30
Al Jefferson was a good pickup—now it's about internal improvement. MKG needs a jumper. Kemba Walker needs to build upon his last campaign.
Chicago Bulls
5 of 30
Derrick Rose is back, Derrick Rose is back, Derrick Rose is back, Derrick Rose is back, Derrick Rose is back, Derrick Rose is back.
Cleveland Cavaliers
6 of 30
Crazy ceiling if Andrew Bynum is healthy. But they'll have to figure out a pretty whacky bigs rotation, and Waiters is still a wild card.
Dallas Mavericks
7 of 30
Dallas will entertain, but anything beyond an eighth seed is unlikely. Long-term deals for its new guards leave little future flexibility.
Denver Nuggets
8 of 30
A new coach and front office means uncertainty in Denver. It'll still score in bunches, but none of its bigs are consistent defenders.
Detroit Pistons
9 of 30
They'll be much better, but they have some very real spacing issues. The whole season (and beyond) comes down to Drummond making a leap.
Golden State Warriors
10 of 30
Poised to be very dangerous if Curry and Bogut stay healthy. Iguodala is a great fit, but Barnes' growth is the real X-factor this season.
Houston Rockets
11 of 30
Unclear how the Asik situation will shake out, but Howard and Harden are a dream couple. They'll compete for the league's top offense.
Indiana Pacers
12 of 30
The favorites to knock off Miami in the East. They've added shooting, and Danny Granger could give them a massive boost if all goes well.
Los Angeles Clippers
13 of 30
The roster's revamped, and they've got a great coach in Doc Rivers. No excuses. Anything short of the Western Finals will be a failure.
Los Angeles Lakers
14 of 30
The defense will be a mess, so they'd better score. If Kobe comes back strong and Gasol keeps it up, they have an outside playoff shot.
Memphis Grizzlies
15 of 30
Miller was a great addition, and Koufos and Davis will contribute nicely. They'll play great defense, but can they score on elite teams?
Miami Heat
16 of 30
Still the kings. There are real concerns about some players wearing down, but they've made smart additions and have LeBron James.
Milwaukee Bucks
17 of 30
The Sanders-Henson duo could be fun, and they've upped their shooting. But anything better than average on either end would be a surprise.
Minnesota Timberwolves
18 of 30
This team can flat-out score, but defense is an issue. Budinger's injury hurts, but if everyone else is healthy, they'll make the playoffs.
New Orleans Pelicans
19 of 30
Plenty of talent here, but it'll take time for New Orleans to gel. They're banking on Davis being a top-five player someday—not a bad bet.
New York Knicks
20 of 30
The Knicks should be even better offensively with Bargnani, but Chandler needs more help defensively. They'll be a tough out regardless.
Oklahoma City Thunder
21 of 30
They're still a top-five team and should stay afloat without Westbrook. But they need one of Jackson, Lamb or Adams to step up big time.
Orlando Magic
22 of 30
The Magic won't win much, but they have young talent and have rebuilt nicely. Is Oladipo their future point, or will he play more at the 2?
Philadelphia 76ers
23 of 30
The 76ers aren't even trying to win. Noel and Carter-Williams are nice pieces, but Philly's future lies in the star-studded 2014 draft.
Phoenix Suns
24 of 30
Bledsoe and Dragic could be a nice backcourt, but Phoenix is looking to move its best assets. It'll be another rough season for Suns fans.
Portland Trail Blazers
25 of 30
McCollum's injury stings, but Portland still has a much-improved bench. They'll struggle to defend, but the postseason is a realistic goal.
Sacramento Kings
26 of 30
The Cousins extension was questionable, but they added some real talent. Like many teams, they can't defend, but this is a top-10 offense.
San Antonio Spurs
27 of 30
Another year, another playoff run. They reloaded over the summer, and Leonard is becoming something special. The team to beat in the West.
Toronto Raptors
28 of 30
The Raptors' post-Bargnani starting lineup was awesome, and they'll contend for the playoffs this year. Valanciunas' development is key.
Note: Have to include something about the Raptors' mascot, who tore his Achilles and is out for the season, according to the Toronto Sun's Ryan Wolstat. The Raptor is one of the best mascots in the league and never fails to get a laugh. Hopefully he heals up and comes back next season. He'll be missed.
Utah Jazz
29 of 30
The offense will be ugly, but the defense won't, and there's young talent here. Kanter and Favors could be particularly awesome someday.
Washington Wizards
30 of 30
Okafor or not, this is a very strong defensive team. If Nene stays healthy and Wall keeps it up, they're a sure playoff squad.
