The 2024-25 NBA season is still a long way off, but with the way the rosters have shaped up over the summer, we’re starting to get a little clearer idea of the landscape and the ambitions of each team. Today, we’ve chosen to nominate five teams that, in our opinion, will finish higher than most people imagine.
Les Houston Rockets
Houston finished 11th, after a nice little run (without Alperen Sengun) last season, but is not yet really seen as a threat in the West. Too many questions around the hierarchy in the team, the players to really bet on for the next few years, etc… However, with Ime Udoka at their head, the presence of veterans, the progress already seen last season among less experienced players, something tells us that the Rockets can be a nice surprise. Playing the play-in will be the main objective for the franchise and that is generally what is expected of the Texans, but with the identity of play and the character that Udoka brought in his first months there, there is a path where Houston climbs significantly, while taking advantage of the wanderings of one or two more referenced teams.
Expected ranking: between 8th and 11th place
What we imagine them doing: why not top 6?
Les Memphis Grizzlies
Many believe that the Grizzlies missed their window of opportunity, which went up in smoke with Ja Morant’s missteps and injuries. Regaining some standing in the West won’t be easy given the density of strong teams, but not everything could have disappeared overnight in this franchise. Morant has an opportunity to prove that he can become a must-have franchise player again, Taylor Jenkins a top coach, Desmond Bane, Marcus Smart and Jaren Jackson Jr. elite lieutenants and Memphis a basketball city.
Expected ranking: between the 9th and the 12th
What we imagine them doing: why not top 7?
Kobe Bryant was never a rookie, proof with this crazy anecdote
Le Miami Heat
Last season, the Heat were cooled and stopped by Jimmy Butler’s injury, after being a finalist. Pat Riley failed to bring back the second star he dreamed of in his last years and it is with a roughly similar roster that Erik Spoelstra will have to deal with to try to do better than a first-round elimination. Spoiler: Miami is never as dangerous as when the team is underestimated or when there are no longer any real expectations about it. This is somewhat the case a few weeks before the restart. Except that normally, the Floridians will be able to be at full strength from the restart, with the Butler-Adebayo tandem supported by Tyler Herro, Terry Rozier freed from his worries and the possibility of relying on the foundations that allowed the Heat to participate in two NBA Finals in 5 years. Be careful, if the Eastern franchises face Miami with flowers in their guns, Butler and his gang can perfectly play the party poopers and win home-field advantage…
Expected ranking: top 8
What we imagine them doing: why not top 4?
The Atlanta Hawks
Disappointing last season for the Young-Murray tandem’s last hurrah, the Hawks have started a form of reconstruction, but are not in tanking mode. They still have an elite coach, a franchise player who has already taken his team to the Conference finals and a few younger players with big teeth, like Jalen Johnson or the No. 1 pick in the last Draft, Zaccharie Risacher. The East being a little less intransigent than the West, Atlanta just needs to find a good cruising speed quickly, while taking advantage of the difficulties of one or two other teams and we could quickly have one of the surprises of the Conference.
Expected ranking: between 10th and 12th
What we imagine them doing: between 6th and 9th grade
