NSL Insider: Rise, fall or stay in 2022

Rise, fall or stay - these are your options. We will deal in absolutes in this NSL Insider piece. And, of course, through the lens of win totals. Any conclusions drawn aren't representative or organisation value (young talent, draft picks etc) and as mentioned before, are simply a prediction on increasing, decreasing or consistent win totals for 21-22 when considering season 2021.

There are a lot of great teams and plenty of good teams, too. I think wins will be harder to come by in 21-22 and more widespread.

Atlanta Hawks - Rise
2021 win total: 14

Ben has been candid with his thoughts on why he tore it down and shipped Embiid away. His team last year was seriously stanking, going months without winning. The plan to lose was obvious. However, looking at the roster now, lots of intriguing young players reside, most notably, Jalen Green. Ben’s latest: ‘We want to make playoffs’.

Boston Celtics - Stay

2021 win total: 15

Toby and the Celtics are just letting it simmer much like Nona’s famous bolognese that the family loves. It’s made with care, careful ingredients and can’t be rushed. I’m not saying the Celtics will want to lose for the third season straight, but it seems in everyone’s interests, to let the beef simmer a little longer.

Brooklyn Nets - Fall

2021 win total: 27

Brooklyn seems to have a rhythm now - burst out of the gates, pile some wins, suffer some hardship, never have a consistent lineup and fizzle out as the season draws to a close. Murray might be back for the home stretch, but will Brooklyn be close to the playoff hunt, or too far away? 

Charlotte Hornets - Fall

2021 win total: 64

64 wins is extremely impressive by Craig and his Hornets, and a slight regression in win total won’t mean anything for the trajectory of his team or overall success. All major players will be back, and Luka will have levelled up in 2k. They will be thereabouts for the East crown.

Chicago Bulls - Rise

2021 win total: 48

The Bulls have one of the best rosters in the league and one of the best trios of players, and the 48 wins from last season were due mainly to injuries and a lack of rhythm and chemistry when they got healthy. Merencio is as competitive as they come, and he will scheme and claw and outwork his way to wins in the high 50s.

Cleveland Cavaliers - Stay

2021 win total: 24

24 wins is more than I remember for Cleveland, but I do recall being told they had an almost-elite defense. Mitchell will add to that, for sure. It’s a gritty roster that will probably perform similarly to last season. I just can’t see where the scoring will come from, outside from some hot shooting from Bogdanovic. Thereabouts.

Dallas Mavericks - Stay

2021 win total: 54

The Mavericks did well to take 54 games with Kevin Durant missing significant time. I expect with the Reaper they will win a similar amount of games, with the overall improvement of the league making a win tougher to come by. Also, does Porzingis keep regressing, or bounce back?

Denver Nuggets - Rise

2021 win total: 49

Two long years. That’s how long Digga has waited and persisted with Klay Thompson on the shelf. Finally, he will get to see what the Splash Family, as he so coined, can do. 49 wins for the best shooting team of all time, in a game where shooting was stupidly easy to do for some, looks way unders. Dark-horse for the title.

Detroit Pistons - Fall
2021 win total: 69

The Pistons were valiant in defeat in the Finals and had an incredible season. Winning 70 games, or one shy, is an incredible feat and one that is very difficult to replicate. They have as much claim to the East crown as any team, but a betting man would take the under on under/over their ’21 win total. What effect does no Lowry have?

Golden State Warriors - Stay

2021 win total: 39

The Warriors continue to two things consistently - talk a lot about Zach Lavine and hover around that 7/8 seed, with no real threat of pushing higher, further. Does that change next season? I don’t believe so. I see the play-in zone. However, an incoming player, and Lavine fresh off a terrific Olympics, could prove me wrong. Mike Lowwwry.

Houston Rockets - Fall
2021 win total: 43

Vitt continues to be a breath of fresh air amongst the guys who don’t call you back, the guys who call to often and the guys who you just don’t really want to hear from. He admires his team like a garden, happy to water, prune, organise, and kick back and watch the Jokic grow. Wins seem to be an afterthought to the growth.

Indiana Pacers - Stay

2021 win total: 49

I banged on all season about how good Embiid was and how he had a legitimate claim to the MVP award. He’s a fucking monster. And if the Pacers want to make 50 wins again, he will need to continue to be. If Embiid misses time, the Pacers have a team full of small forwards like Warren, Bogdanovic, Kuzma and Levert to fight over shots and not play D.

Los Angeles Clippers - Stay

2021 win total: 53

You don’t hear much from Andrew. Almost nothing. But, he continues to re-invest in his team, stockpile picks, make picks, and let the team grow organically from within. Giannis is still the best player in the game, so sooner or later, the body will cash the checks Giannis’ has been writing.

Los Angeles Lakers - Stay

2021 win total: 12

Awful team, and to this point, a poorly run, shit-show of a franchise. Your reward? Cade! Third GM Justin will hopefully have better luck. Cade might get them a few wins, but they have a really bad team. Slow and steady. Just make participation, Justin, and the Lakers fans will love you.

Memphis Grizzlies - Stay

2021 win total: 46

Did Memphis underachieve last year? Despite some sputtering at times, is 46 wins about right? They remind me teams that have the ability to create a product much greater than the sum of the parts. The younger players continue to grow, and a healthy JJJ might make my call of ‘stay’ look foolish.

Miami Heat - Rise

2021 win total: 38

Pete, our NSL saviour and friendly architect (Matrix reference), and beloved GM of the Miami Heat. I just don’t know what to make of this roster… They suffered serious injuries to their key players; Isaac didn’t even play. When healthy, and paired with Pete’s legendary 2k-ability, they look to have the right mix to be a truly menacing

Milwaukee Bucks - Stay

2021 win total: 19

I said this in 2020 - We will start seeing more of Badwolf in about 2024-25, when the grapes are ripe and in season and there’s wine to be made. I don’t underestimate Badwolfs ability to be an all-time roster builder. But… if he wants to lose games, he will lose games. Zion and SGA might have something else to say. Could easily rise.

Minnesota Timberwolves - Rise

2021 win total: 12

The biggest riser in the NSL for mine. Ethan has made some shrewd moves to cash in for some draft picks, keep the past one, and cash the other ones out, along with Levert and Kuzma for some serious wing upgrades. Any team that adds Middleton, Siakam and Covington is going to steeply improve. Play-in?

New Orleans Pelicans - Stay

2021 win total: 55

The Pelicans seem to have one of the most stable, lucrative cores in the league. The young Pels clocked 55 wins last season and the only way is up, when you take into account their talent, youth, salary space and assets. It’s tough at the top, but Pels fly high. Top four in the West is likely.

New York Knicks - Fall

2021 win total: 57

57 wins for the Knicks, who never quite seemed to be going all in for the playoffs, is a mighty feat. Smokey took a small step back with his young core, adding Capela and Nance but losing Middleton and Valancuinas. One step back, two steps forward in 2022? But regression in wins is very likely.

Oklahoma City Thunder - Rise

2021 win total: 34

OKC just had a weird season, had a weird roster and never gained traction or any real momentum. It turns out Edwards is pretty fucking good and was a worthy pick at 1. Wiz has great talents, good vets, great young prospects and depth. Does he have a winning team? They will win more than 34 wins, but they need some redecorating.

Orlando Magic - Rise

2021 win total: 32

If Klemm has my heart, Gavin rents it off of him on the weekends. He has got it all. I said, much to the chagrin or Gav, that he was a season away. Fast forward a year, the future is now. He has made some savvy moves to add talented, capable veterans to complement Trae Young with shooting and defense. Playoffs beckon.

Philadelphia 76ers - Stay
2021 win total:  45

LeBron out, Finals MVP Damian Lillard, in. I’ve never had LeBron. I would have loved to take him for a spin. Maybe in another life. The 76ers, however, saw the writing on the wall with their lack of offensive talent and ball handing. Lillard, and Hayward, should alleviate that issue and bring balance. If the game doesn’t change, flame on, Dame.

Phoenix Suns - Stay
2021 win total: 36

Another season, another brand new Suns team. However, it’s not laddas lack of patience this time, it was those pesky sign and trades. I like the trajectory he is planning and taking, I like the vibes of organic growth and youthful upside. He has a deep roster of prospects, but if it remains the same, ‘stay’ might be generous, in terms of wins

Portland Trail Blazers - Fall
2021 win total: 78

This one is an absolute no-brainer. Not only did they lose Kawhi Leonard for next season, but there’s also the gravity of the situation - the only way for the wins total to go, is down. Harden, Westbrook will win a lot of games, but even on the bright side, it will be closer to 55-60.

Sacramento Kings - Stay

2021 win total: 38

Is there anyone who doesn’t love Klemm and his Kings?! Doubtful. The people’s team and the effervescent Klemmelo will put on their hard hat again and ride each play of every game with the pride and emotion of a diehard fan. Always believes in his team, sometimes to the disagreement of 2k. Play-in tournament, likely.

San Antonio Spurs - Fall

2021 win total: 71

The Champions will go into next season as favourites to repeat, but they would be unlikely to hit their personal high watermark of 71. It’s no 78, but it’s easily the second highest win total ever put together in NSL history. LeBron is in town, and he hates to lose. They should cruise to 65+ wins.

Toronto Raptors - Rise
2021 win total: 42

Toronto couldn’t escape the annoying injury bug, with one missed game in the NBA leading to missed weeks for their key players. Jesse will be as happy as anyone to see the injury rule reviewed. They definitely unearthed something during that controversial Pistons series, and this team will push their wins into the 50s.

Utah Jazz - Stay

2021 win total: 13

Another one of these teams where wins are like the rain in the desert - inconsistent. And when they do come, they don’t do much for the landscape. The Jazz are taking the long road and are happy to suffer for the short-term. Their team is not good. Is every Jazz fan and his two wives as happy as GM Jase, though?

Washington Wizards - Stay

2021 win total: 54

It’s easy to forget that the Wizards, again, were a real nice team in 2021. Upstart success in 2020, sustained success in 2021. They continued to grow their core nicely, that is, after trading the Finals MVP away. Bounced unceremoniously out of the playoffs, they will be seething with that showing and want to impress.


Good luck to all teams for the 2021-22 season!