The NBA can be a cruel world. One year you’re in the NBA playoffs, the next year you’re near the bottom of the league. Just ask Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers. And this year, there should be more teams to ask. With the Oklahoma City Thunder healthy and back in the playoff mix, the Western Conference especially could see a team or two slip out of the playoff picture. The same goes for the East, here the Miami Heat should rise from the ashes and could play a hand in sending one or more teams crashing back down to earth.

Who are the teams destined to drop out of playoff contention? That’s anyone’s guess, but if you ask us, it’s quite clear:

Portland Trail Blazers

Portland went through quite the roster overhaul this summer. Not only did big man LaMarcus Aldridge opt to chase a title with the San Antonio Spurs, but the team also said goodbye to Wesley Matthews, Robin Lopez, Arron Afflalo and Nicolas Batum thanks to trades or free agency. Portland isn’t completely without talent, as star point guard Damian Lillard still leads a team that boasts Gerald Henderson, Mason Plumlee and Al-Farouq Aminu. The talent is a serious downgrade across the board, though, and may no longer be good enough to lock up a playoff seed.

Brooklyn Nets

The Nets are certain to regress this year, as they did well to re-sign big men Brook Lopez and Thaddeus Young, but didn’t do much else. They even let point guard Deron Williams leave, which crushed their point guard depth. With no real answer beyond Joe Johnson on the wings, the Nets could starve for offense. Last year’s eight seed has teams like the Heat, Indiana Pacers, Orlando Magic and even New York Knicks breathing down their necks. They’ll need to surprise to make the playoffs again.

Boston Celtics

Boston snagged the seventh seed a year ago thanks to terrific coaching and a team-first mentality. They actually did a solid job bringing in a defensive big man in Amir Johnson, as well as a solid scoring big in David Lee. The team drafted solid depth pieces and intends to build from within, as Marcus Smart’s improvement could help them in their efforts. Of course, there are better built teams behind them and sneaking into the playoffs won’t be nearly as easy this time around. It may take a huge jump from Smart or a big trade to upgrade this roster for Boston to make it back-to-back stops in post-season play.

Dallas Mavericks

Last, but absolutely not least, are the Dallas Mavericks. Mark Cuban’s crew was soooo close to becoming a top shelf force out West, but DeAndre Jordan opted to go back to L.A. at the last second in free agency. Instead of steadily working their way up the ranks, Dallas is at best looking at a 7th or 8th seed placement in the playoffs. With the Oklahoma City Thunder sending the Blazers out, the Mavs will have to hold off the likes of the Jazz, Suns and other rising Western Conference teams trying to squirm into the bottom seeds. Dallas definitely still has the pieces to be a solid, competitive team, as adding Deron Williams, Wesley Matthews and Zaza Pachulia shouldn’t go unnoticed. But Dirk Nowitzki is aging and Monta Ellis and Tyson Chandler are both gone. It shouldn’t shock anyone if the Mavs don’t make the playoffs this year.

Got another team that’s destined to slide out of the playoff race? Hate one of the teams we have on our list? Tell us in the comments below!

The Cleveland Cavaliers got all the way to the 204-15 NBA Finals last year and had things broken the right way, they may have won. They got there without Kevin Love and even won two games without Kyrie Irving, which would have the casual observer thinking they’re as close to winning a title right now as a team can get.

Of course, before any NBA team can go out and win a championship, they need to lie their foundation for success in place. They need a starting lineup they can fall back on in the toughest moments and a set of role players they know can come through when needed. For the most part, the pieces you’re thinking of are the exact pieces that will matter most for the Cavaliers this year. But if they want to win it all, conducting their lineup in a certain order may be advised.

Here’s our take on how the Cavs should run their roster this year if they’re serious about winning it all:

Suggested Starting 5: Kyrie Irving (PG), Iman Shumpert (SG), LeBron James (SF), Kevin Love (PF), Timofey Mozgov (C)

The Cleveland Cavaliers were a well oiled machine when healthy. J.R. Smith is absent from this team and correctly so, as he ultimately doesn’t fit in with a team that wants to both play great team defense and also run offensively. Smith would be a fine component off the bench, but Shumpert at his best can provide outside shooting, but is a better creator and a far better defender. Shumpert is a terrific fit at the two spot, and his only issue at all is being able to consistently knock down the three. He should be fine there, while not much needs to be said about star players like Irving or James.

Kevin Love is an offensive beast that simply didn’t get into a groove as the third guy in the pecking order in his first year with the Cavs. He seems to have fully bought into just being the third star on this team like Chris Bosh did by his second season with the Miami Heat, though, and that’s precisely why he’ll end up working out at the four spot. Love’s defense leaves a lot to be desired but he is an elite offensive presence that stretches the floor, can work inside and also hits the boards at an extremely high level.

There was chatter about Tristan Thompson starting over him, but Thompson has little offensive game. He’s best served as a rotational piece when the Cavs need defense, and he can play both the four or five as needed. Mozgov is the prototypical center and fits in perfectly with this team. He’s athletic enough to run with the Cavs, rebounds, can defend and even blocks shots. He’s a little inconsistent, but seemed to really hit his stride in the playoffs last year.

This is a deadly starting five with Shumpert being the only real weakness. If he hits outside shots consistently, though, he’ll be exactly what the Cavs need at shooting guard.

Key Rotation: Mo Williams (PG), Joe Harris (SG), Richard Jefferson (SF), Tristan Thompson (F/C), Anderson Varejao (C)

The key for the Cavs is going to be their bench. We saw LeBron beast out in the NBA Finals, but him trying to carry the team didn’t work out. He was inefficient and eventually he ran out of gas. He also didn’t have any star power around him and his bench was pretty weak. That should change this year, as Mo Williams proved last year that he’s an absolute menace. Mo can start at the point in a pinch and is a fantastic backup that can hit the three all day and also help run the offense. He’s a defensive liability, but he’ll be on the floor with Shump and James usually so it shouldn’t be a big deal.

I’m vouching for Joe Harris over James Jones. Harris is an elite shooting specialist that to me has major potential as that classic floor spacer the Heat had for James and the Cavs obviously need if they want to win a title. Jones was so absent on the floor when he wasn’t getting or hitting looks and it’s time Cleveland transitioned to someone with a little more upside. I think that’s Harris, who has the size and length to potentially improve as a defender, too. For now, having a strict shooting role off the bench will work just fine. Richard Jefferson can be a spacer, too, but he’s largely here for veteran leadership.

Having Tristan Thompson (who has yet to be officially signed) coming off the bench is amazing. He can hit the boards, score inside and man up on defense. He can start at the four or five or fill in at both spots as needed. He’s going to be pretty overpaid, but he’s a huge part of Cleveland’s team and should play a lot this coming season. Varejao is a total bonus, as he’s a major health risk every year. Anything the Cavs can get out of him is great, as he’d be amazing depth behind Mozzy. A healthy, effective Andy V can clean the glass, block shots and help defend the paint.

There is also chatter about Jamal Crawford coming to the Cavs. If that happens, I’d bump Harris down along with Jones and obviously use Crawford off the bench as the J.R. Smith replacement. Overall, though, Cleveland had the best trio in the league at this point, a very strong starting five and a healthy, balanced bench to work with. They’re favorites to win it all this year, and for very good reason.

The Charlotte Hornets were supposed to be a playoff team during the 2014-15 NBA season. Instead, they suffered through injuries to stars Al Jefferson and Kemba Walker, as well as defensive ace, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. Instead of competing at a high level and making the playoffs in the weak Eastern Conference, the Hornets were exposed as an offensively-inept bunch that needed to play elite defense and be 100% healthy in order to compete.

While the latter two points are two the Hornets will gladly live up to for the upcoming 2015-16 NBA season, they have high hopes that their offensive woes could be eradicated this year. With solid new additions and some minor changes, Charlotte could be right back where they were two years ago: in the playoffs.

They just have to let the right players play. Let’s look over their roster and find the perfect starting five and roles for their main rotation to help the Hornets build a winner:

Ideal Starting 5: Kemba Walker (PG), Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (SG), Nicolas Batum (SF), Frank Kaminsky (PF) and Al Jefferson (C)

Walker is probably the most inefficient top shelf starting point guard in the league, but he’s a clutch gamer who can ball. He’s also a solid passing point guard and gives you a complete leader at the lead guard spot. He could be a little more consistent and he could be a stronger defender, but the Hornets could do a lot worse.

MKG is a stud defender and a very athletic, reliable slasher and finisher. He improved as a shooter last year but badly needs to add a three-point shot to his game. I’d prefer him to man the shooting guard slot and bring more offense to the table, but it’s hard to know his full potential given how much he was banged up last year. He’s still just 21 years old and the sky appears to be the limit, so if he can drastically improve this summer, Charlotte could be a lot better for it.

Batum is what he is, which is a solid, long defender who can rebound and hit the outside shot. He is not a star player, but he is a very strong role player who knows how to pick his spots. He really is inconsistent but a lot of that can have to do with his health at times. He’s a much more natural fit than Lance Stephenson was a year ago, a she doesn’t need the ball in his hands to kill you.

Frank the Tank has the potential to be a special big man, as he can already hit the NBA three and he’ll be able to rebound and score down low at this level. His toughness and defensive ability are absolutely in question, while he’s a nimble but not explosive big man. I think he’ll be just fine defensively in time, but the Hornets will have to work to help him out as a rookie. I like him starting right away, though, because his offensive game is his best asset and that’s what Charlotte needs the most.

Big Al is still a beast down low and can hit the mid-range jumper in his sleep. He’s also a fairly underrated defender that can clean the glass quite well. Jefferson is aging but he still has the goods to get it done at a high level. With Kaminsky hypothetically taking some pressure off of him and luring that extra defender out, Jefferson could find scoring to be an easier task this year.

Main Rotation: Jeremy Lin (PG), Jeremy Lamb (SG), P.J. Hairston (SF), Marvin Williams (PF), Tyler Hansbrough (PF), Cody Zeller (PF) and Spencer Hawes (C)

Linsanity is a very nice addition as a backup point guard and instant offense off the bench. Charlotte had that last year with Mo Williams and it worked out beautifully. Lin is a minor downgrade, but he can hit outside shots, get to the lane and create. He’s a very strong backup point guard and can also play off the ball at the two spot when needed. Lamb at his best is a decent starter, as he has a nice offensive game and some untapped upside. He’s a streaky shooter and inconsistent performer, overall, however, so hopefully he can just carve out a nice bench role where he comes in and fills it up with some scoring. The same goes for Hairston, who is a very explosive scorer but lacks defensive ability and is just not a polished player yet.

The Hornets have some serious depth and versatility on their bench when it comes to their bigs. Williams is a combo forward who can do pretty much everything, although he may not have a true position. He can start in a pinch, but for the betterment of this team, he’s the first forward off the bench instead. Psycho T is just a tough hustle guy who probably shouldn’t have a big role. I’d rather roll with Zeller’s athleticism and upside, as Zeller just needs to knock shots down consistently and continue to develop. He shouldn’t be given up on just yet. Hawes is a toss up, depending on which version of him shows up. If it’s the Hawes of two years ago, he might even start and give you a nice stretch four. If it’s the Hawes of last year, the Hornets might just want to cut him now.

Overall, Charlotte has a very solid starting five that is going to hit some bumps but has elite defensive potential and should get a boost offensively from Batum and Kaminsky. The bench is pretty strong, too, as it has some shooting/scoring, as well as some very nice depth for the paint. Ultimately, this probably isn’t a playoff team, but they sniffed success just two years ago and if they run this starting five and play their guys in the right spots, they’ll at least have a shot in the East.

Got a different take on the Hornets? Let us hear it in the comments below!

The Chicago Bulls were a title contender last season, as Derrick Rose returned to the court and the team added big man Pau Gasol. Rose wasn’t able to consistently stay on the court, unfortunately, while the Bulls battled nagging injuries to Taj Gibson, Jimmy Butler and Joakim Noah for almost the entire year.

Despite dealing with health and chemistry issues all season, Chicago still locked up the Eastern Conference’s third overall seed and won a playoff series. Had they been able to find that consistency, it’s possible they may have made it past the Cleveland Cavaliers, and from there, it’s anyone’s guess what they could have done.

Going into the 2015-16 season, the Bulls again have a shot at being a special team. Rookie head coach Fred Hoiberg will open them up and release what binds them offensively, and in turn they will hopefully be less tense and more productive, overall. They’ll also need to use the right starting five and get the most they possibly can out of their main rotation. Let’s take a look at their starting unit and key rotation pieces and see what the future may hold for them this upcoming season:

Ideal Starting Lineup: Derrick Rose (PG), Jimmy Butler (SG), Nikola Mirotic (SF), Taj Gibson (PF), Joakim Noah (C)

Derrick Rose showed flashes of his former MVP self last year and when he did, the Bulls were pretty tough to stop. Unfortunately, he either wasn’t that version of himself or simply not on the court due to injury, far too much of the time. A healthy, effective Rose goes a long way for Chicago, and if they get that they’re absolutely a title contender. Without that, Chicago will be fine but won’t be able to make a deep playoff run, regardless of what everyone else can give them.

Let’s continue on assuming Rose’s horrendous bad luck with injuries is over. Great, now all Bulls fans can sleep at night and actually hold out some hope for next season. The next key part to this team is obviously Jimmy Butler, who has turned into a fantastic scorer and creator. He can do both of those things, but the Bulls really need to get back to the basics with Butler, who just a season ago seemed to be an elite defender. He really wasn’t all that elite defensively last year, as he was either battling an injury or too worried about scoring. If he can balance his game back out and be that elite defender again, opposing star players like Paul George, LeBron James and Kevin Durant are going to be very tired at the end of any night they face Chicago.

Here comes the kicker. I’m a huge fan of Nikola Mirotic. He’s a bit of a ‘tweener, so you absolutely can argue against or for him playing either the three or the four. He’s not not an amazing defender (yet). But he is such a terrific offensive player already that I don’t care about any of that. He needs to be on the court pretty much at all times if you can help it, and it also could give the Bulls an upgrade at small forward over the very average Dunleavy. Mirotic’s game best suits the three spot, but it remains to be determined if he can roll there full-time at both ends. For now, I like the upside.

The same story here with Taj at the four. Pau Gasol is the superior offensive player, but in terms of efficiency that gap is a lot closer than you’d think and what Gibson offers defensively makes him the better overall play. If Gasol can at all be open to coming off the bench, this could work beautifully. Gibson has been held back a ton in Chicago and has the size and athleticism to be a great two-way option. The Bulls just need to make it happen.

Keeping this whole thing together is a healthy Joakim Noah. I’ve heard the rumors of Noah being benched for Gasol and that’s one idea, but you’re losing a ton of defense if you do that. Noah needs to not be totally absent from the offense like he was last year, for one, a she clearly showed two years ago that he’s an amazing passer with the ball in his hands. He also wasn’t healthy at all last year, and a healthy and focused Noah can block shots, rebound and shutdown offensive studs. He’s a huge piece of the puzzle, provided Chicago doesn’t give up on him after one down year.

Main Rotation: Aaron Brooks (PG), Kirk Hinrich (SG), Mike Dunleavy (SF), Pau Gasol (PF), Bobby Portis (PF)

If the Bulls worked with the starting lineup I’ve given them, they could potentially have a very balanced first team that can both light it up offensively and also defend at an elite level. This would also give them a disgusting bench with Pau Gasol carrying much of the heavy lifting offensively and Brooks and Hinrich picking up the rest of the scoring and play-making responsibility. Portis has a ton of upside but might be in the same boat as Doug McDermott and simply not be ready to contribute just yet. Dunleavy is a fine starter who can hit open shots and defend, but I’d like him better with the second unit. Overall, this is a very solid bench that is top-heavy with an elite mid-range scorer in Gasol helping the team balance out quite well.

The problem here is that Gasol doesn’t want to come off the bench. Part of finding a way to win is sucking it up where need be, and I think Chicago’s best team would have both Gasol and Dunleavy coming off the bench. They’d keep fairly big roles and play a good amount, but I like their crunch time unit without these guys.

Overall, the Bulls have a ton of talent and if healthy and coached right, they could be a very dangerous team next season. Agree or disagree with my take? Let me hear it in the comments below!