Every team -- even the Memphis Grizzlies -- has great expectations entering the new NBA season. Off-season acquisitions still have that fresh new smell, and with more than half of the league?s thirty teams headed for the postseason, a majority have a shot at playing deep into the spring.

By now you know what faces changed places and what teams appear to have the best chances at reaching the NBA Finals just eight quick months from now. Not every team is foolish enough to believe that they can win it all, so for some, their goals are as simple as winning more games than they did last season.

With more than eighty games left on the schedule for each team, let?s take a look at what each franchise will need in order to improve over the next few months.

Atlanta Hawks
Expectation: Qualify For The Playoffs

It won?t be easy, but after pushing the eventual NBA champs to seven games in the first round, the Hawks have to feel as though a playoff spot is theirs for the taking. As bad as the East has been lately, Atlanta will have to be in the hunt come February, or Mike Bibby and his expiring contract could be sent packing.

How They Can Reach Expectations: Marvin Williams has to play like a No. 2 pick

Boston Celtics
Expectation: Championship

Repeating as NBA champions won?t be easy for the Celtics, especially with a depleted bench and the continuing age of Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Kevin Garnett. I?m not sold on Bill Walker and Patrick O?Bryant as replacements for James Posey and P.J. Brown just yet.

How They Can Reach Expectations: Good health for ?Big Three?

Charlotte Bobcats
Expectation: Challenge For A Playoff Berth

Larry Brown should immediately make the Bobcats a better team, but they?ll need more than just the best out of their coach to make their first playoff appearance. If rookie D.J. Augustin creates motivation for Raymond Felton, and Adam Morrison returns healthy and regains his college aim, they could best their franchise-record of 33 wins.

How They Can Reach Expectations: Their young guns mature into NBA veterans

Chicago Bulls
Expectation: Challenge For A Playoff Berth

The Bulls are as talented as any team in the Eastern Conference, but they played poorly together last season and have a coach (Vinny Del Negro) who is still learning the ropes. Derrick Rose, Kirk Hinrich, and Ben Gordon could be one of the best backcourt trios in the league by year?s end, which Chicago will need in order to qualify for the postseason.

How They Can Reach Expectations: Rose plays like a No. 1 overall pick

Cleveland Cavaliers
Expectation: NBA Finals

LeBron James, whether he?s with the Cavaliers or not, will be looking to get back to the NBA Finals and get another taste of the league?s biggest stage for the rest of his career. The diminishing play of Ben Wallace and Zydrunas Ilgauskas could leave a hole in the paint, and we still don?t know how well the Mo Williams' experiment will pan out.

How They Can Reach Expectations: The maturation of Anderson Varejao

Dallas Mavericks
Expectation: Deep Playoff Run

It will be interesting to see what Jason Kidd brings to Dallas over the course of a full season. He could help push Dirk Nowitzki back into MVP consideration, but it?ll be more important that he make Josh Howard excel on the court in order to overshadow the negativity surrounding his off-season.

How They Can Reach Expectations: If Rick Carlisle improves the defense while letting Kidd run the offense

Denver Nuggets
Expectation: Qualify For Playoffs

Anthony Carter isn?t bad, but I really don?t look at him as a starter. They would have actually been better off had they traded for Jamaal Tinsley, but nothing is out of the question just yet.  I also have doubts about Nene, but Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony can combine for a few victories by themselves when needed.

How They Can Reach Expectations: Linas Kleiza, J.R. Smith and Renaldo Balkman have to produce

Detroit Pistons
Expectation: NBA Finals

Depending on how the season starts, this could be a transition year of sorts for the Pistons. Rasheed Wallace could be sent packing prior to the trade deadline if things don?t look promising in the first half. However, if Amir Johnson and Jason Maxiell play well, Joe Dumars might be able to trade ?Sheed for help in another area en route to a deep playoff run.

How They Can Reach Expectations: Sustained level of play by starters

Golden State Warriors
Expectation: Challenge For A Playoff Berth

If the Warriors are going to contend for a postseason berth they will have to weather an early storm without Monta Ellis on the floor. Don Nelson must find a way to survive with DeMarcus Nelson, Marcus Williams, or C.J. Watson at point. The addition of Al Harrington?s trade request into the mix could make for a rough fall in Oakland.

How They Can Reach Expectations: Ellis comes back 100%

Houston Rockets
Expectation: Deep Playoff Run

A sane Ron Artest immediately makes Houston a strong contender on the tough Western Conference, but as always, health will be a question for both Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming. You have to think they?ll remain healthy at some point, but with their history nothing is certain. I don?t see how they wouldn?t at least make it past the first round (finally, T-Mac), if Artest, McGrady, and Yao play at least 70 games apiece.

How They Can Reach Expectations: H-E-A-L-T-H!

Indiana Pacers
Expectation: Challenge For A Playoff Berth

The Pacers are hoping for two things heading into the season ? that Danny Granger can continue to improve while handling the additional stress of being the face of the franchise and that T.J. Ford can handle an 82-game load as a starting point guard. If healthy, Indiana could sneak into the playoffs, but an injury to Granger or Ford could derail things quickly.

How They Can Reach Expectations: Ford plays more than 70 games

Los Angeles Clippers
Expectation: Challenge For A Playoff Berth

Baron Davis and Marcus Camby will make the Clippers a better team than they have been a quite a while, and a playoff berth isn?t out of the question. Camby should help make Chris Kaman even better, but Al Thornton will be the key for L.A.?s other team this season.

How They Can Reach Expectations: Davis and Camby must be healthy

Los Angeles Lakers
Expectation: Championship

With Andrew Bynum added to a team that already has a Finals' berth under their belt, not much will be needed for the Lakers to advance deep into the postseason once again. Their bench is deep, and they could probably sustain a high level of play even without Bynum, Lamar Odom, or Pau Gasol for a significant period of time.

How They Can Reach Expectations: Bynum has to mature; Kobe Bryant might either be healthy or play through pain

Memphis Grizzlies
Expectation: Win More Games

I?m not as down on the Grizzlies as some, but winning thirty games would be a huge surprise out of Memphis. We don?t know exactly how Marc Gasol will do in a significant role, and their bench is very thin. They?ll be relatively exciting, but like most poor teams, they can?t stop anyone.

How They Reach Expectations: Mike Conley shows huge improvement

Miami Heat
Expectation: Win More Games

I have a feeling that the Heat will actually challenge for a playoff spot, but after a 15-win season, simply winning more gam,es should be their goal. Dwyane Wade, Shawn Marion and Michael Beasley could become a dynamic trio in South Beach, but Marion?s contract situation could make the excitement short-lived.

How They Can Reach Expectations: D-Wade must avoid injury; Beasley must avoid hitting the rookie wall

Milwaukee Bucks
Expectation: Win More Games

The Bucks have a wealth of new talent,but downgraded at point guard from Mo Williams to Luke Ridnour. Michael Redd and Richard Jefferson will form a nice offensive duo, but Charlie Villanueva will have to help Andrew Bogut in the paint to intimidate teams on the defensive end.

How They Can Reach Expectations: Buy into what Scott Skiles preaches

Minnesota Timberwolves
Expectation: Win More Games

There is excitement in Minnesota after a dismal post-Garnett Era season last year. I like how they turned O.J. Mayo into a pair of starters in Mike Miller and Kevin Love. The acquisition of Rodney Carney could end up being an underrated one as well. They won?t challenge for a playoff spot, but they will build towards a run in 2010.

How They Can Reach Expectations: Al Jefferson remains a 20/10 guy

New Jersey Nets
Expectation: Win More Games

I expect the Nets to deal Vince Carter at some point this season, because he isn?t going to remain happy on a losing team like this for very long. Devin Harris should blossom in New Jersey, but there isn?t enough talent on the team for him to push them into the postseason. Brook Lopez will need to be strong right off the bat; otherwise teams will pound the ball inside against Yi Jianlian.

How They Can Reach Expectations: If Carter somehow buys into the rebuild

New Orleans Hornets
Expectation: Conference Finals

Even without James Posey, the Hornets looked like strong contenders to advance to the Western Conference Finals. It?s obvious that Chris Paul makes everyone around him better, but I think it?s just as important that David West, Tyson Chandler and Co. have allowed CP3 to take the lead. If Byron Scott?s bench can improve ? Posey will help that ? New Orleans should cruise.

How They Can Reach Expectations: A rerun of last season

New York Knicks
Expectation: Win More Games

It?s hard to say how this team will respond to Mike D?Antoni?s run-and-gun offense, but at the very least they?ll be more entertaining. I?m not sold on Chris Duhon as their starter, but he shouldn?t lose games for them. I?d like to see a season in which the drama in New York plays second fiddle to the basketball that?s played there.

How They Can Reach Expectations: Take care of Stephen Marbury and Eddy Curry early

Oklahoma City Thunder
Expectation: Win More Games

I really like Kevin Durant, on offense, and both Chris Wilcox and Nick Collison in the paint. Russell Westbrook, Joe Smith and Desmond Mason make for a nice eight-man rotation, but a number of things will prevent Oklahoma City from winning often this season. Their lack of defense will be the biggest factor.

How They Can Reach Expectations: Make ?Thunder? a legitimate moniker

Orlando Magic
Expectation: Conference Finals

The Magic feel they are ready to contend for the title, but I prefer baby steps and a goal of reaching the Eastern Conference Finals first. I think the addition of Mickael Pietrus was an underrated one, but the bench doesn?t impress me. A lot will hinge on how well rookie Courtney Lee adapts to the professional game.

How They Can Reach Expectations: Hedo Turkoglu maintains torrid play; bench surprises

Philadelphia 76ers
Expectation: Deep Playoff Run

Elton Brand brings great expectations to the 76ers, who showed flashes of their growth and maturity against the Pistons in last year?s playoffs. I could see Andre Iguodala thriving with Brand taking the leadership role off his back, and a successful playoff run could be a certainty if Thaddeus Young thrives as a starter.

How They Can Reach Expectations: Brand adapts well into offense

Phoenix Suns
Expectation: Deep Playoff Run

More teams in the West feel as though there are more title contenders than there is room for, and the Suns might be on the outside looking in again. Shaquille O?Neal will have to average a double-double, and Amare Stoudemire will have to remain healthy. I?d also like to see more from Raja Bell this season.

How They Can Reach Expectations: Luck and cohesion

Portland Trail Blazers
Expectation: Qualify For The Playoffs

With a year of experience under their young belts, the Blazers were good enough to challenge for a playoff spot even without the additions of Greg Oden, Rudy Fernandez, and rookie Jerryd Bayless. If Bayless is as good as some claim, Portland could have one of the best starting-fives in the game by the end of the season.

How They Can Reach Expectations: Slight improvement over last season

Sacramento Kings
Expectation: Win More Games

The Kings are going to struggle this season with Kevin Martin as their lone offensive threat, and they could have the most unimpressive starting-five in the league after dealing both Mike Bibby and Ron Artest earlier this year. In order to have a ?successful? season, they?ll need young guys like Spencer Hawes, Quincy Douby, Shelden Williams, and Jason Thompson to play huge roles.

How They Can Reach Expectations: The young guns

San Antonio Spurs
Expectation: Conference Finals

I?m not comfortable counting the Spurs out until Tim Duncan has retired. Even with Manu Ginobili on the sidelines to begin the season, the Spurs have enough talent and veteran savvy to keep themselves in the race. They could have gotten a little younger, but Tony Parker has enough energy to keep the older guys on the ball.

How They Can Reach Expectations: Bruce Bowen and Michael Finley must produce more than last season

Toronto Raptors
Expectation: Deep Playoff Run

Jermaine O?Neal and Chris Bosh have been put together to form one of, if not the, best interior tandems in the league. As important as the addition of O?Neal is, the health of Jose Calderon (their only NBA-level point guard) is key to their success. It would be nice to see Andrea Bargnani progress, as well.

How They Can Reach Expectations: Calderon and O?Neal?s ability to remain on the court

Utah Jazz
Expectation: Deep Playoff Run

Utah has as solid a roster as anyone in the league, but only Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer jump off the page. The key for the Jazz will be managing Deron?s sprained ankle with care right off the bat. If it bothers him over the course of the season, Utah could slide down in the West.

How They Can Reach Expectations: Andrei Kirilenko adapts to bench role; Mehmet Okur improves his defense

Washington Wizards
Expectation: Deep Playoff Run

The Wizards appear to play better as a team without Gilbert Arenas, but they will need his athleticism in the second half of the season. If he?s able to return relatively early, Eddie Jordan will have enough time to work his magic on the team?s rotation and philosophy. They should be fine until then; we saw last season how good they can be sans Agent Zero.

How They Reach Expectations: An identity with Arenas healthy


Andrew Perna is a Senior Writer for RealGM.com. Please feel free to contact him with comments or questions via e-mail ? [email protected].