Zach Kram identifies one key number for every NBA team entering the 2026-27 season. Last year, this exercise foreshadowed Jalen Johnson's breakout, the Milwaukee Bucks' struggles in Giannis Antetokounmpo's final season, and the Portland Trail Blazers' league-worst turnover rate.

Atlanta Hawks: 108.6. The Hawks allowed just 108.6 points per 100 possessions after the All-Star break, ranking second behind only the Oklahoma City Thunder. That was before adding Luguentz Dort, one of the NBA's most ferocious perimeter defenders. A duo of Dort and Dyson Daniels could form one of the league's stingiest units.

Boston Celtics: 4. In all four of Joe Mazzulla's seasons, Boston has finished top-five in offensive and defensive rating. Only three other squads have accomplished that: the 2023-24 Thunder, 2024-25 Thunder, and 2025-26 San Antonio Spurs. Despite offseason turmoil, the Celtics should remain contenders on both sides.

Brooklyn Nets: 72%. Egor Demin took 72% of his shots from 3-point range last season, the 16th-highest rate among 279 players with 1,000+ minutes. As a 6-foot-8 point guard, Demin should become more multidimensional. With Mikel Brown Jr. and Julius Randle added, the Nets hope he expands his repertoire.

Charlotte Hornets: 11.6. The Hornets scored 125.0 points per 100 possessions with LaMelo Ball on the floor, but just 113.4 without him. That 11.6-point gap was the second largest among rotation players, behind only Nikola Jokic (15.2) and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (11.0).