When you lose the best player walking the face of the earth, your team gets worse.
Which is why when Jenna Corrado and I discussed teams I expect to take a step back this season, Miami is right at the top of the list. The Heat will still be good, they are still a playoff team in the East, but they are no longer the contenders they once were.
Another team obviously taking a step back is Indiana, a team that struggled on offense and now is without Lance Stephenson (left via free agency) and Paul George (injury). Going to be a rough season in Indy.
Finally, we talk Rockets. They are still a 50-win team, but they lost so much depth that it will cost them some games. And in the brutally deep West, that drops you fast down the standings.
