Is 4 weeks away too early? 
if so and @Reaper of Threads or @YaThreadFloppedB! can come claim another soul and/or I'll bump the thread closer to Opening Night.
But my body is ready
mad fukkery ensued in the offseason so we can imagine the upcoming season's energy 
I'll start with the seedings and then general thoughts.
East:
1. Cleveland (61-21); East as a whole stayed stagnant while Cleveland got a littler deeper. They still haven't addressed what I feel is their biggest issue but they're still the clear King of the East.
2. Washington Wizards (53-29); I think the Wizkids, particularly Wall, ramps it up a little.
3. Boston Celtics (51-31); they look better on paper with a couple of bigger names but I think youth/experience combined with lack of defense and rebounding will see them regress slightly.
4. Toronto Raptors (49-33); they are what they are
they've peaked
5. Milwaukee Bucks (47-35); they've been "coming" for like 3 years now so a top 5 seed makes enough sense.
6. Miami Heat (46-36); South Beach Gang back in the offs Whiteside boutta average 25 & 20 on Boston in April...upset alert? 
7. Charlotte Hornets (44-38); okay team but I'm not sure what they've done to improve. I can see Dwight being lazy/sulking at being in a smaller market.
8. Detroit Pistons (42-40); with Atlanta, Indiana and Chicago out of the way they're no reason SVG can't take them into the spring. If he can't one of his jobs is on the chopping block (or did he relinquish the GM title already?)
9. Philadelphia 76ers (40-42); they make an improvement but not quite enough. Embiid plays probably 65 games and the 17 missed will cost them.
10. New York Knicks (39-43); Knicks gon Knick
11. Chicago Bulls (36-46); Levine is gonna come back and I think may be the classic fringe All-Star guard on a bad team. Mirotic will have a 2-3 hot streak, probably in December/January and will be "in" the top 8 for a time but post ASG they'll level out and fall out.
West
1. Golden State Warriors (64-18); I think somebody will miss some games this year, about 8-10 and drop them from 67 wins. Obviously will still look dominant overall.
2. Houston Rockets (58-24); the offense will win them a lot of games. I particularly think they tie Golden State for best record against the Eastern Conference for some reason. Chemistry/ball-handling can (not necessarily will) get a rocky start.
3. San Antonio Spurs (57-25); unless Parker and Ginobili has some voodoo done or Pat Mills takes a leap, Pop's Black & Silver Machine take a step back in the season W-L column. I defended LMA for not putting up big numbers in the 2015-16 regular season but last season he was underwhelming. In the run and gun league it is now he's gotta average around 19/20 and 10 as the #2. Kawhi's next evolutionary step is playmaking and if he does will he keep his defensive work rate?
4. OKC Thunder (54-28); will be interesting to see Westbrook-Oladipo-PG13's chemistry. This team has a chance to be special defensively. On an inividual note, 25 triple-doubles for the Tasmanian Devil he doesn't need 42 of them to win with George there. George is gonna shoot well over 40% from deep this year.
5. Portland Trail Blazers (52-30); a full of season of Nurkic next to Dame and CJ will have them eating. Feel like Dame coming for blood this year.
6. Los Angeles Clippers (49-33); If he isn't busy punching physical therapists Blake has no reason to not average 25 a game. Finally addressed the SF position with Gallinari but too late. Can't name their starting SG though. But they get to push the pace more and I can't see them falling THAT hard.
7. Minnesota Timberwolves (46-36); FINALLY
this is too much talent to not get into the offs. If I'm wrong Thibodeau is in trouble. Shooting is a concern.
8. New Orleans Pelicans (43-39); the Cousins-AD tandem is too good not too. I think this team will be something great defensively but they'll also struggle to score.
9. Memphis Grizzlies (41-41); Conley is Conley. Marc is Marc. No Zach or Tony though.
10. Denver Nuggets (39-43); entertaining team but Millsap isn't taking them to the playoffs.
11. Los Angeles Lakers (36-46); gonna be very entertaining but everybody counted on is 24 and under with no definitive star. Unless Lonzo is averaging at least 18 & 8 on efficient percentage out the gate, entertainment is all that's coming
General:
Melo comes out looking good, KP will look stronger and more polished than ever but will defer a lot. I think Melo gets his deal done by Christmas. Either the Houston deal is figured out, OR Melo opens up the shortlist and the Aldridge rumor draw traction and a trade to the Spurs gets done. KP will shine post-Melo despite the team losing.
Westbrook repeats as scoring champ but it'll be under 30 PPG.
I think Cleveland pulls the ghost of Larry Sanders for the minimum post ASG. They've got a real 3&D wing now in Crowder but rim protection is crucial and lacking. It would also be good if they got a 3&D SG for the backcourt but he isn't really out there.
IT will average 23 & 7. I think we see a lot more Bron+Love at 4 & 5 with Crowder at the 3 now. Cleveland needs to shed Thompson's contract (for that backcourt player), his production =/= his salary but that probably won't happen in the season.
West absolutely TROUNCES the East in the All-Star Game. First 200-point team 202-137.
MVP: LeBron James; with the Spurs taking a step back in wins-losses and and the Cavs moving up, Bron gets #5. Still don't think folks will be ready to give it to one of Curry/KD (depending on who is healthier that player will be #2) and I think Harden/CP3 will pretty much experience the same thing.
Bron
KD/Curry
Westbrook
Kawhi
Harden
Curry/KD the final order of the race
DPOY: Draymond Green, unless he's the player in my Golden State hunch, then Kawhi threepeats.
6MOY: Eric Gordon repeats.
COTY: Pringles.
Finals: We Know Who vs We Know Who. If Cavs get Sanders but no 3&D SG (most likely), Golden State in 7. If not, 6. If Cavs do get both pieces via some magic spell, it's a toss-up.
Discuss the forthcoming 8 months of beautiful sorcery, brehs
if so and @Reaper of Threads or @YaThreadFloppedB! can come claim another soul and/or I'll bump the thread closer to Opening Night.But my body is ready
mad fukkery ensued in the offseason so we can imagine the upcoming season's energy I'll start with the seedings and then general thoughts.East:
1. Cleveland (61-21); East as a whole stayed stagnant while Cleveland got a littler deeper. They still haven't addressed what I feel is their biggest issue but they're still the clear King of the East.
2. Washington Wizards (53-29); I think the Wizkids, particularly Wall, ramps it up a little.
3. Boston Celtics (51-31); they look better on paper with a couple of bigger names but I think youth/experience combined with lack of defense and rebounding will see them regress slightly.
4. Toronto Raptors (49-33); they are what they are
they've peaked 5. Milwaukee Bucks (47-35); they've been "coming" for like 3 years now so a top 5 seed makes enough sense.
6. Miami Heat (46-36); South Beach Gang back in the offs
Whiteside boutta average 25 & 20 on Boston in April...upset alert? 7. Charlotte Hornets (44-38); okay team but I'm not sure what they've done to improve. I can see Dwight being lazy/sulking at being in a smaller market.
8. Detroit Pistons (42-40); with Atlanta, Indiana and Chicago out of the way they're no reason SVG can't take them into the spring. If he can't one of his jobs is on the chopping block (or did he relinquish the GM title already?)
9. Philadelphia 76ers (40-42); they make an improvement but not quite enough. Embiid plays probably 65 games and the 17 missed will cost them.
10. New York Knicks (39-43); Knicks gon Knick
11. Chicago Bulls (36-46); Levine is gonna come back and I think may be the classic fringe All-Star guard on a bad team. Mirotic will have a 2-3 hot streak, probably in December/January and will be "in" the top 8 for a time but post ASG they'll level out and fall out.
West
1. Golden State Warriors (64-18); I think somebody will miss some games this year, about 8-10 and drop them from 67 wins. Obviously will still look dominant overall.
2. Houston Rockets (58-24); the offense will win them a lot of games. I particularly think they tie Golden State for best record against the Eastern Conference for some reason. Chemistry/ball-handling can (not necessarily will) get a rocky start.
3. San Antonio Spurs (57-25); unless Parker and Ginobili has some voodoo done or Pat Mills takes a leap, Pop's Black & Silver Machine take a step back in the season W-L column. I defended LMA for not putting up big numbers in the 2015-16 regular season but last season he was underwhelming. In the run and gun league it is now he's gotta average around 19/20 and 10 as the #2. Kawhi's next evolutionary step is playmaking and if he does will he keep his defensive work rate?
4. OKC Thunder (54-28); will be interesting to see Westbrook-Oladipo-PG13's chemistry. This team has a chance to be special defensively. On an inividual note, 25 triple-doubles for the Tasmanian Devil he doesn't need 42 of them to win with George there. George is gonna shoot well over 40% from deep this year.
5. Portland Trail Blazers (52-30); a full of season of Nurkic next to Dame and CJ will have them eating. Feel like Dame coming for blood this year.
6. Los Angeles Clippers (49-33); If he isn't busy punching physical therapists Blake has no reason to not average 25 a game. Finally addressed the SF position with Gallinari but too late. Can't name their starting SG though. But they get to push the pace more and I can't see them falling THAT hard.
7. Minnesota Timberwolves (46-36); FINALLY
this is too much talent to not get into the offs. If I'm wrong Thibodeau is in trouble. Shooting is a concern.8. New Orleans Pelicans (43-39); the Cousins-AD tandem is too good not too. I think this team will be something great defensively but they'll also struggle to score.
9. Memphis Grizzlies (41-41); Conley is Conley. Marc is Marc. No Zach or Tony though.
10. Denver Nuggets (39-43); entertaining team but Millsap isn't taking them to the playoffs.
11. Los Angeles Lakers (36-46); gonna be very entertaining but everybody counted on is 24 and under with no definitive star. Unless Lonzo is averaging at least 18 & 8 on efficient percentage out the gate, entertainment is all that's coming
General:
Melo comes out looking good, KP will look stronger and more polished than ever but will defer a lot. I think Melo gets his deal done by Christmas. Either the Houston deal is figured out, OR Melo opens up the shortlist and the Aldridge rumor draw traction and a trade to the Spurs gets done. KP will shine post-Melo despite the team losing.
Westbrook repeats as scoring champ but it'll be under 30 PPG.
I think Cleveland pulls the ghost of Larry Sanders for the minimum post ASG. They've got a real 3&D wing now in Crowder but rim protection is crucial and lacking. It would also be good if they got a 3&D SG for the backcourt but he isn't really out there.
IT will average 23 & 7. I think we see a lot more Bron+Love at 4 & 5 with Crowder at the 3 now. Cleveland needs to shed Thompson's contract (for that backcourt player), his production =/= his salary but that probably won't happen in the season.
West absolutely TROUNCES the East in the All-Star Game. First 200-point team
202-137.MVP: LeBron James; with the Spurs taking a step back in wins-losses and and the Cavs moving up, Bron gets #5. Still don't think folks will be ready to give it to one of Curry/KD (depending on who is healthier that player will be #2) and I think Harden/CP3 will pretty much experience the same thing.
Bron
KD/Curry
Westbrook
Kawhi
Harden
Curry/KD the final order of the race
DPOY: Draymond Green, unless he's the player in my Golden State hunch, then Kawhi threepeats.
6MOY: Eric Gordon repeats.
COTY: Pringles.
Finals: We Know Who vs We Know Who. If Cavs get Sanders but no 3&D SG (most likely), Golden State in 7. If not, 6. If Cavs do get both pieces via some magic spell, it's a toss-up.
Discuss the forthcoming 8 months of beautiful sorcery, brehs
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expound brethren
Oladipo isn't on the Thunder, breh.