HoopsHabit’s complete 2017-18 NBA season preview
Odds and ends
Finally, we arrive at the playoff ramifications. For the top contenders in each conference — Golden State Warriors, San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder in the West, Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics and Washington Wizards in the East — we took a look at the various keys and potential obstacles to contending for a championship this year.
For the teams closer to the fringe of the playoff picture, we examined the keys to beating out their competition for a postseason berth, along with the various reasons teams on the outside of playoff contention would/would not make the cut when all is said and done:
- Boston Celtics: 5 keys to contending in 2017-18
- Cleveland Cavaliers: 5 keys to contending in 2017-18
- Golden State Warriors: 5 keys to repeating in 2017-18
- Houston Rockets: 5 keys to contending in 2017-18
- Oklahoma City Thunder: 5 keys to contending in 2017-18
- San Antonio Spurs: 5 keys to contending in 2017-18
- Washington Wizards: 5 keys to contending in 2017-18
- Boston Celtics: 5 obstacles to contending in 2017-18
- Cleveland Cavaliers: 5 obstacles to contending in 2017-18
- Houston Rockets: 5 obstacles to contending in 2017-18
- Oklahoma City Thunder: 5 obstacles to contending in 2017-18
- San Antonio Spurs: 5 obstacles to contending in 2017-18
- Washington Wizards: 5 obstacles to contending in 2017-18
- Charlotte Hornets: 5 keys to making the playoffs in 2017-18
- Denver Nuggets: 5 keys to making the playoffs in 2017-18
- Los Angeles Clippers: 5 keys to making the playoffs in 2017-18
- Memphis Grizzlies: 5 keys to making the playoffs in 2017-18
- Philadelphia 76ers: 5 keys to making the playoffs in 2017-18
- Portland Trail Blazers: 5 keys to making the playoffs in 2017-18
- Atlanta Hawks: 5 reasons they won’t make the playoffs in 2017-18
- Denver Nuggets: 5 reasons they will make the playoffs in 2017-18
- Indiana Pacers: 5 reasons they won’t make the playoffs in 2017-18
- Los Angeles Lakers: 5 reasons they will make the playoffs in 2017-18
- Los Angeles Lakers: 5 reasons they won’t make the playoffs in 2017-18
- Miami Heat: 5 reasons they will make the playoffs in 2017-18
- Milwaukee Bucks: 5 reasons they will make the playoffs in 2017-18
- Minnesota Timberwolves: 5 reasons they will make the playoffs in 2017-18
- Philadelphia 76ers: 5 reasons they will make the playoffs in 2017-18
- Phoenix Suns: 5 reasons they won’t make the playoffs in 2017-18
- Portland Trail Blazers: 5 reasons they will make the playoffs in 2017-18
- Portland Trail Blazers: 5 reasons they won’t make the playoffs in 2017-18
Next: The 50 greatest NBA players of all time (updated, 2016-17)
Enjoy all the predictions, rankings and goals for the upcoming 2017-18 NBA season!