The Mavericks’ frontcourt is among the league’s best, particularly at the 4-5 spots: Anthony Davis with his new goggles, the supersized version of Dereck Lively II, Daniel Gafford, and P.J. Washington form a quartet that checks nearly every box, on both ends. Notably absent from that list is Cooper Flagg, and that’s not by accident. Davis’s preference to play power forward complicates the rotation and could threaten offensive spacing if Flagg fails to replicate his 38 percent three-point shooting from college range.

The backcourt picture is even more complicated. With a fully healthy Kyrie Irving over the course of a season, Dallas belongs in the tier just below Oklahoma City and Denver atop the West. But in Irving’s absence, D’Angelo Russell takes the reins - and he quietly shot the ball miserably during his half-season stint in Brooklyn (a drop in true shooting percentage from 50.5% with the Lakers to 45.4% with the Nets, the worst of his career). The shooting consistency of 35-year-old Klay Thompson and the continued growth of Max Christie, who has shown encouraging flashes since arriving from the Lakers, will be critical in keeping Dallas afloat until Irving returns.

A first-round sweep at the hands of the Cavaliers - four losses by an average margin of 30.5 points - was a humbling experience for the so-called “Heat Culture.” Jimmy Butler’s departure stripped Miami of anything resembling a true superstar, and while Bam Adebayo remains a two-way force, he simply can’t carry an offense by himself.

Norman Powell’s addition may help soften the blow of Tyler Herro’s extended injury absence, and a bounce-back year from Jaime Jaquez Jr. after last season’s regression would be welcome. Nikola Jović had a solid EuroBasket, and Kel’el Ware should continue developing - but as last season proved, Erik Spoelstra can’t conjure miracles. With this roster, Miami’s ceiling is relatively low.

As head coach, Joe Mazzulla has grown accustomed to leading rosters filled with talent. His trademark system has been a five-out spacing approach and a focus on threes. Last season, the Celtics led the NBA with 48.2 attempts from deep per game.

This year will demand something different. Without the injured Jayson Tatum (unless his recovery timeline keeps defying expectations) and without Kristaps Porziņģis’ floor-stretching at the five, Boston’s offensive identity must evolve. Neemias Queta, one of the team’s main centers, has never attempted a three in his career. Chris Boucher, another member of the center-by-committee, hit 36.3% from three last year but in just 17.2 minutes per game for one of the league’s weaker teams. One way to make up for the lost points due to injury and departures is to increase the pace, per a report in The Athletic from the Celtics training camp.

Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, and Payton Pritchard form a solid core, while Anfernee Simons could thrive with more spacing when he’s not the primary option. Beyond them, this roster screams “just avoid the second apron,” with playoff qualification the realistic ceiling. Even that modest goal depends on Mazzulla’s ability to adapt and grow as a coach.

Last season, observers mistakenly credited the Grizzlies’ new offensive approach to assistant coach Tuomas Iisalo, a European hire with a reputation as a tactical innovator. In reality, under Taylor Jenkins, Memphis’ offense emphasized drive-and-kick actions, moving without the ball, cutting, and relatively little pick-and-roll. Iisalo’s contribution was speeding up the pace - the Grizzlies led the league with 103.3 possessions per 48 minutes - but unlike Jenkins, the Finnish coach builds his offense around the pick-and-roll.

In Europe, Iisalo relied on simple drag-screen actions, early attacks at the rim within half a second of receiving the ball, and layering more pick-and-rolls if the initial action stalled. On paper, it’s the ideal scheme for Ja Morant, who thrives in the open floor and grew frustrated with Jenkins’ system.

Fast basketball could also help Ty Jerome, who thrived with a similar system in Cleveland, and needs to step into Desmond Bane’s shoes. The problem: Morant has never played more than 67 games in a season (just 50 last year), Brandon Clarke has suffered another serious injury, and both Jaren Jackson Jr. and Zach Edey are dealing with injuries to begin training camp. Iisalo’s offense might intrigue X-and-O enthusiasts, but as always, Memphis’ fate will come down to health.

On paper, the Sixers are a contender - the most talented roster in the East. Joel Embiid remains the best center in the conference, Tyrese Maxey is a rising young point guard who improves every season, and Paul George, while aging, is more than legitimate as a third option. Around them, rookies Jared McCain and V.J. Edgecombe, plus Quentin Grimes and Justin Edwards, assemble a deep supporting cast.

But that’s only in theory. In practice, Embiid has played a combined 58 games over the last two years. He and George are both still rehabbing from surgeries. McCain has already re-injured himself after a rookie season limited to just 23 appearances. Several other players are also working their way back from various injuries.

So the questions pile up: Can Philadelphia still be a playoff team with limited Embiid minutes? How much can Nick Nurse squeeze from this uncertain group? And at what point will VP of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey admit the experiment has failed? If he does, what real options remain, given the inflexible long-term contracts tied to Embiid and George?