The 2025-26 NBA season is upon us!

That means it’s time for our annual tradition of previewing the season, division by division, by asking two very important questions for each team:

What’s the case for the Over?
What’s the case for the Under?

LET’S GET IT.

5. Chicago Bulls — 32.5

The Bulls had a really fun stretch at the end of last season looking like a post All-Star Break Young Surprise Team. But was it real or a mirage?

What’s the Case for the Over?

The Bulls have been over this number five years in a row.

Free from the chains of Zach LaVine, Coby White exploded as the team’s No. 1 scoring option. A full season of no LaVine gives White the greenest of lights.
Giddey ran the offense here with relative ease, comfortable after being given the keys. Giddey tallied five triple-doubles over the last five weeks of the season and averaged 20.6 points, 10.7 rebounds and 9.7 assists in his last 13 games played.
Matas Buzelis emerged as a lanky and lethal Lithuanian — a.k.a. Lil Buzi Vert. There is a lot of untapped potential that could give this team a lot more pizzazz than they currently show on paper.
Vooch is somehow still here for reasons unknown. But Vooch will be a professional as always.
No agendas, just sound team ball. We know they don’t believe in tanking!

Head coach Billy Donovan is one to always respect the Over in the regular season.

What’s the Case for the Under?

This number seems awfully low for a team that won 39 games last year…

Coby White is currently dealing with a calf injury and is expected to miss at least two more weeks.
The only thing better than one consistently inconsistent Pat Williams is having a second one in Isaac Okoro.
The end of last season could have been a mirage. You never really know for sure with ball in March and April.

The Bulls seem destined to once again land in an East Play-In game with the Heat.

Bulls Final Prediction: In the East, this number is just too low! Over 32.5 wins.

4. Indiana Pacers — 37.5

After their scintillating run all the way to The Finals, life without Tyrese Haliburton begins for the Pacers.

What’s the Case for the Over?

IT’S THE PESKY PACERS. This is what they do.

The system is in place and you’re crazy if you don’t think this organization is out to prove they can continue.
Pascal Siakam is a very good two-way basketball player who can handle an increased roll.
Benedict Mathurin is salivating at the opportunity to be more consistently involved.
Perhaps Andrew Nembhard’s postseason success (and in particular his shooting) can carry over to this regular season.
Speaking of, Aaron Nesmith has to have a newfound confidence after his rise in the playoffs.

Rick Carlisle has long been known to maximize the talent of his teams.

What’s the Case for the Under?

No Haliburton and no Myles Turner, two of the biggest players to the Pacers identity the last few seasons.

TJ McConnell is currently injured as well.
The big man situation is uneasy.
Too much Mathurin could be bad for stopping the ball in this normally free-flowing offense.

The Eastern Conference will be out for revenge after what the Pacers did to everyone last spring.

Pacers Final Prediction: Thought for sure this was an Over, but with the number dropping and how many other Overs we like, this has to be Under 37.5 wins.

3. Milwaukee Bucks — 43.5

The Bucks are giving it another go, hoping they can be competitive enough to keep Giannis in Milwaukee for the duration of his contract and career.

What’s the Case for the Over?

His name is Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Giannis is still in Milwaukee and he continues to excel with insane MVP-level numbers every year. So long as he steps onto the court, the Bucks have a solid chance to win.
The surprising offseason splash of acquiring Myles Turner gives Giannis his Brook Lopez replacement. Those two had a good thing going for seven years, but Lopez had actually fallen off pretty hard last year.
Some new veteran guard depth is here to help: Cole Anthony and Gary Harris are in from Orlando. Two players that contributed to winning ball with the Magic.
Kuzma can’t be as bad as he was last year once he got to Milwaukee. (Right? Right.)
The last time was saw Gary Trent Jr. (besides dropping that ball between his legs) he had a serious flamethrower going in Game 5, hitting all those 3’s in the 4th quarter and OT.

Despite all the rumors of Giannis to the Knicks, an in-season deal would be very difficult to pull off given the complexity of the massive salary involved.

What’s the Case for the Under?

If it goes south early and Giannis asks to be traded…

That’s obviously the worst case scenario, but with the recent reports that Giannis could have his eyes set on the Knicks, you can’t help but wonder what happens if the Bucks come out flat again.
If Giannis misses any time due to any injury, this team will be toast. He’s played at least 61 games in every season, but you just never know.
The ball handling and shot creation is still a question behind Giannis. A lot of Kevin Porter Jr. could be on the table.

Last time we checked, Doc is still the head coach…

Bucks Final Prediction: We still believe too much in the Greek Freak. Over 43.5 wins.

2. Detroit Pistons — 46.5

Fresh off a turnaround season for the ages and breaking free from the chains of losing, the Stones look to continue what they’ve started.

What’s the Case for the Over?

Last year’s Young Surprise Team That Was Promised, the Pistons became the first team in NBA history to triple their win total from the previous season.

Cade Cunningham made the leap. A giant one that not only catapulted him to being an All-Star and 3rd Team All-NBA but also transformed this team seemingly overnight.
Surrounding Cade with shooters was the recipe for success. Although Malik Beasley isn’t here (or THJ), Duncan Robinson has arrived to Mo-Town with his career 39.7 percent from 3.
Jalen Duren is an imposing force on the interior. He can be prone to foul trouble but improved in that regard as last season progressed. Duren averaged a double-double and racked up 41 total, ninth-most in the NBA this season.
Prior to breaking his leg on New Year’s Day, Jaden Ivey was having a very good third season. People forget he was shooting 40 percent from 3 and hit several clutch buckets to win games for the Stones. (Also important to remember Detroit went on their run without Ivey.)
Ausar Thompson is healthy to start this season. Ausar still doesn’t have the 3-ball, but he can do just about everything else.

Remember that battle royale of a first round series with the Knicks? This team announced that DETROIT BASKETBALL IS BACK.

What’s the Case for the Under?

It’s hard to repeat as a Young Surprise Team when teams are now ready for you. History says that regression is likely.

Does everyone realize that Malik Beasley a.k.a Malik Threesley made 319 of them thangs, shimmying his way to the second-most made 3s in the NBA last season, only one 3-pointer behind Anthony Edwards for No. 1?? Beasley was also an Iron Man, playing all 82 games this season. And now he’s just gone.
Jaden Ivey will miss the next month after undergoing right knee surgery. Not exactly what you wanna hear right before the season is about to start.
Will the Pistons have the same hunger as last regular season after getting a taste of the playoffs?

Simply put: the Pistons haven’t hit this number since 2007-08.

Pistons Final Prediction: We are so excited for this team, but we have to trust the numbers. Under 46.5 wins.

1. Cleveland Cavaliers — 56.5

The Cavs are running it back with a team that steamrolled last regular season but flamed out of the playoffs.

What’s the Case for the Over?

The Cavs won 64 games last season, rolling up the Eastern Conference and SMOKING IT.

The regular season isn’t the problem for the Cavs, it’s the playoffs. They appear to have a winning formula to stockpile wins in the JV East.
Donovan Mitchell runs the show on offense (especially with Garland out) and he probably hasn’t been given enough credit for being the best scorer on multiple regular season juggernauts now.
The Twin Towers of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen down low, forever protecting the paint and rim running in transition. Mobley is fresh off being the Defensive Player of the Year and the Cavs last year unlocked so much more of his passing.
Lonzo Ball is in Cleveland now with DeAndre Hunter taking Okoro’s full-time spot. Lonzo can help facilitate while Garland misses some time.
In his first year calling the shots, Kenny Atkinson changed the Cavs play style and preparation and the results were profound.

If there is a team motivated to put last season’s exit behind them, it’s the Cavs.

What’s the Case for the Under?

Perhaps the Cavs will take the regular season with more of a grain of salt to be more prepared for the playoffs.

Darius Garland missing the beginning of the season is already an ominous start. The same can be said for Max Strus.
The Cavs are LOCKED into this roster as a 2nd apron team. They literally can’t make any moves.
How many games will Lonzo actually play? How much will Ty Jerome be missed?

It’s a high number that teams historically have a difficult time getting back to. They were also an excellent team in the clutch which doesn’t always translate.

Cavs Final Prediction: The Cavs have the regular season formula for success that we trust. Over 56.5 wins.

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Season Preview Division by Division

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