Advanced statistics are important and there are certainly plenty of metrics out there that help NBA teams measure where they stand in comparison to the rest of the league. But when it comes down to it, the most important measure of a team’s ability is incredibly simple: win total. Teams can be judged in so many different ways throughout the season but at the end of the year, the most important number is still the overall win total.
The Milwaukee Bucks posted the biggest improvement last year when they won 26 more games (41) than the year before and the result was a playoff appearance and the team continuing to build in the offseason. Who will lead the way in that department this year? Here is a look at the four teams most likely to show the biggest improvement in overall win total this season.
New York Knicks
2014-15 Win Total: 17
Projected 2015-16 Win Total: 40
The Knicks finished at the bottom of the Eastern Conference with just 17 wins last season but Carmelo Anthony missed most of the year, Phil Jackson traded away most of the supporting cast and it was clear the team bottomed out to get a high draft pick in what can be chalked up as a lost year. That won’t be the case this season as New York welcomes back Anthony along with free agent signings Robin Lopez, Arron Afflalo and Kyle O’Quinn as well as rookie first-round picks Kristaps Porzingis and Jerian Grant. The Knicks had a top 10 offense when Anthony was on the floor last season and that was without Lopez, Afflalo, O’Quinn, Porzingis and Grant all bringing something to the mix this season. New York will be a much better team overall in 2015-16 and it won’t be a surprise at all if they get to 40 wins and challenge for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
Miami Heat
2014-15 Win Total: 37
Projected 2015-16 Win Total: 46
Miami lost LeBron James heading in to last year but the real tragedy came when Chris Bosh went down with a health issue that forced him to miss most of the season. Fast forward one year later and Bosh is back, Goran Dragic is signed to a long-term deal, Dwyane Wade and Luol Deng are both back too and the Heat managed to steal a potential top-five pick when they drafted rookie Justise Winslow with the 10th overall pick. Pat Riley also somehow managed to sign Amar’e Stoudamire and Gerald Green on the cheap as another boost to Miami’s second unit that already features Hassan Whiteside, Shabazz Napier and Mario Chalmers. Suddenly the Heat look like they can be legitimate contenders in the Eastern Conference once again.
[related_post_one]
Oklahoma City Thunder
2014-15 Win Total: 45
Projected 2015-16 Win Total: 54
The Thunder could very well be the league’s most improved team simply by getting 2014 NBA MVP Kevin Durant back healthy for an entire season. It will be interesting to see what Durant, Russell Westbrook, Serge Ibaka, Enes Kanter and Dion Waiters have in store with a full season to earn some redemption after injuries ravaged their team last season. Kanter was excellent at the offensive end of the floor last season and with Durant back in the fold, there is no doubt Oklahoma City should be able to improve on the 45 wins they had.
Detroit Pistons
2014-15 Win Total: 32
Projected 2015-16 Win Total: 39
It has taken time for Stan Van Gundy to turn the Pistons around but it looks like he finally has enough talent for Detroit to be a legitimate playoff contender in 2015-16. Andre Drummond has another year of experience under his belt and is clearly the man now that Greg Monroe is gone. Meanwhile, Reggie Jackson was a revelation after arriving with the Pistons and tearing it up down the stretch for them. Drummond, Jackson, Brandon Jennings, Marcus Morris and rookie first-round pick Stanley Johnson is a good enough starting five to expect an improvement in the team’s win total this season. Detroit also has some pretty good depth pieces including Jodie Meeks, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Ersan Ilyasova and Danny Granger.
