Through about ten games of the regular season, we can already start to see what teams have a positive outlook for the season and which have negative.  Let’s start with the negatives.

Negative

Philadelphia 76ers:

This should come as no surprise.  After a measly thirty-four win season last year, they’re starting exactly where they left off.  This team does have some very good, young talent including point guard Michael Carter-Williams and Power Forward Nerlens Noel.  It’s not a lack of talent that is holding the 76ers back, It’s poor coaching and lack of execution on behalf of the players.  This includes failed screens and passing to the wrong spots.  Hopefully for this team, first round pick Joel Embid out of Kansas can help this team once he recovers from having Knee surgery in June. But I would be incredibly surprised if this team finished over .500.

Los Angeles Lakers:

Pau Gasol took his talents to Chicago, Steve Nash is out for the year with a back injury, and this is their first year with a new head coach.  That spells disaster.  Kobe Bryant is back this year after missing the majority of last year due to injury.  However, with the lack of talent around him, Kobe is going to have a hard time leading this team.  To make matters worse, their first round pick, Julius Randle, broke his leg at the beginning of the season and will not return this year.  A team whose best players are Nick Young and Jeremy Lin is going to have trouble winning basketball games.  Kobe can’t score all of the points.  Though, I’m sure he will try to.

Positive:

Chicago Bulls:

This team has consistently been a top contender for years past and nothing is going to change about that this year.  Despite losing Derrick Rose to Injury last year, The Bulls were still able to compete with and beat the NBA’s top teams.  Now that the explosive Rose is back, this team has the potential to win it all.  They have two of the best big men in Pau Gasol and Joakim Noah.  This will cause Defenses to crowd the paint and leave open space for these shifty guards to work their magic.  I believe this team can beat anyone who stands in their way.

Golden State Warriors:

This team, led by super star shooting point guard Stephen Curry, is the western conference equivalent of the Chicago Bulls.  The Warriors consistently win their division but cannot take that extra step to compete in the NBA Championship.  This could be the year that changes.  Shooting guard Klay Thompson is playing like a man possessed and Steph Curry is playing the best Basketball of his career.  Their ability to shoot from beyond the arc is the best in the NBA and their great team chemistry gives them that extra edge.  It would not surprise me one bit to see this squad go all the way this year.