It looked like it was going to be difficult for the Warriors to get better over the off-season, but then DeMarcus Cousins happened.
\nThe four-time All-Star moved to the Warriors during the free agency period on a one-year deal worth just $US5.3 million.
\nHowever, when Cousins actually makes his debut for the Warriors is still unknown, given he tore his Achillies in late January.
\nIt looks as though he might not play until at least the new year, but really, as long as he\u2019s right by late May, the Warriors will be happy.
\nGolden State could rock a line-up of Cousins, Draymond Green, Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson and Steph Curry in the NBA Finals. Sheesh.
\nWith Zaza Pachulia heading out the door, the Warriors need someone to replace his 14.1 minutes per game, and it looks like they\u2019ll be sharing minutes between Jordan Bell, Kevin Looney and Damian Jones until Cousins returns.
\nIf any side can deal with playing centres of that quality for the first half of the season, it\u2019s the Warriors.
\nThey\u2019ll be the favourites all season long and rightly so, and if they can seal home court for the entire playoffs, they\u2019ll be the team to beat once again.<\/p>\n
Okay. Technically Gordon Hayward was acquired last summer, but given he played a total of five minutes before suffering a season-ending foot injury on the opening day last season, it\u2019ll certainly feel like a new signing to Brad Stevens.
\nThe Eastern Conference has opened up big time for the Celtics, and they\u2019re now the favourites to win the conference and make their first Finals appearance since 2010.
\nWith LeBron James heading west, the Cavs are now out of the race, and it leaves the Celtics, Philadelphia and Toronto as the top three sides, although Boston seem a level above.
\nKyrie Irving seems ready to commit his future in Boston, and with the new wave of talent in Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, the duo alongside Irving and Hayward can definitely be a side of the future.
\nThey were so close to knocking off the Cavs last season, and despite now being the hunted, they should have enough talent to not only take the Eastern Conference title, but push their Western Conference counterparts in the Finals.
\nin.<\/p>\n
The addition of Carmelo Anthony is an interesting one for the Rockets, as they look to close the gap between themselves and the Warriors at the top of the Western Conference.
\nIf things go well it could work wonders, with Anthony now playing next to two of the top six assisting players in the league (James Harden, Chris Paul).
\nWhile his role is currently undecided, the Rockets will need to cover the minutes (at the very least) of the three main outgoing players, as Anderson, Ariza and Mbah a Moute all played over 25 minutes per game last season.
\nThey were close to overcoming the Warriors last season, but an injury to Chris Paul during the Conference Finals saw them fall to Golden State, in what might have been their best chance to defeat them.
\nThey\u2019ll likely meet the Warriors in the WCF once again, but with Golden State improving, it looks tough to see the Rockets being able to overcome them in seven games and without home court.<\/p>\n