The NBA returns on Tuesday and WE ARE SOOOOOO BACK. So just like last year here are my predictions for regular season standings, regular season awards, conference finals, and a championship pick.
West Standings
Clippers
They are back and ready for battle. There is not a clear cut number 1 seed in the conference so I am going with the Clippers, who get Kawhi Leonard back and hopefully have Paul George for an entire season to go along with the elite depth they have, which got better this summer when they added John Wall. I am so excited to watch this team.
Timberwolves
The Wolves are going to win a lot of regular season games and will surprise people during the regular season. They had a top 10 offense last season and Rudy Gobert is walking top 10 defense by himself. Teams with top 10 offenses and top 10 defenses win championships and lots of regular season games. I am not saying this team is going to win the whole thing come June but I am saying they are going to win a lot of games.
Nuggets
Denver gets Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. back to play with the back to back reigning MVP in Nikola Jokic. They also added Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Bruce Brown, and Christain Braun in the offseason to go with Aaron Gordon, Bones Hyland, Jeff Green, and Zeke Nnaji behind their elite big 3. The roster is loaded, healthy, and seemingly ready to win a championship.
Warriors
The champs come into this season with questions. They lost a lot of depth and are betting on younger players to fill those voids left by Gary Payton II, Otto Porter Jr., Nemanja Bjelica, and Damion Lee. Draymond Green is a free agent to be, is looking for a new big contract, not to mention he just punched Jordan Poole in the face in practice (who also needs to be paid). However, these are the champs and Steph Curry is still on the roster and betting against them has never gone well.
Grizzlies
Memphis took the league by storm last season, winning 56 games and being the 2nd seed in the Western Conference. They aren’t surprising anyone this season and with Jaren Jackson Jr., missing the first few months of the season, Memphis should take a step back in the regular season this season.
Pelicans
I absolutely love the Pelicans. I’d go to war if Willie Green was the leader, he is one heck of a coach. They get Zion back after he missed all of last season, CJ McCollum is on the roster for an entire season after being acquired last season's trade deadline, and Brandon Ingram is still a Pelican, that is a really good big 3. They also have Jonas Valanciunas still holding down the center spot, Herb Jones and Jose Jose Alvarado messing things up for offenses, and plenty of others. I am so excited for this Pels team.
Mavericks
There are so many good teams in the West that Dallas ends up falling down to 7th in the conference. Luka needs to have an MVP season to give Dallas a shot to make noise in the West this season because after losing Jalen Brunson to the Knicks, Dallas is worse than they were last year even with the additions of Christan Wood and JaVale McGee.
Suns
The vibes are bad in the desert, just like they were bad in Utah last season. The West is better than last year and the Suns did not get better. Deandre Ayton clearly has an issue with the way his contract situation was handled as well. I think the Suns may have a mess of a season.
Lakers
The Lakers are better than they were last season. However, why would I bet on Russell Westbrook changing, Anthony Davis staying healthy, and another roster that lacks shooting to make enough 3 pointers? So I am not making that bet and predicting the Lakers finish 9th, if they make the Myler Turner/Buddy Hield trade that conversation is different, however.
Trail Blazers
Damian Lillard is still there so I think they finish in the play-in but not further. Portland continues to remain boring so let’s move on.
Kings
I like Sacramento. Fox and Sabonis are a really good pick and roll duo, Keegan Murray will get Rookie of the Year buzz, and Kevin Huerter and Harrison Barnes should round out a fun and watchable starting 5 and overall team.
Jazz
The Jazz are supposed to be tanking but while the top of the West is so good the bottom is so bad. They have enough veterans on the roster to squeak out enough wins that they are not as bad as the worst the West has to offer.
Rockets
This seems like the year before they start trying to win games. Thus, another tank job is on but with strides from Jalen Green and other young players to go along with rookie Jabari Smith Jr. and Eric Gordon (who somehow is still in Houston), the Rockets are going to be fun.
Thunder
Chet being out for the season sucks but SGA returns, Lu Dort got paid, and Josh Giddy is a lot of fun. However, the Thunder are still tanking and I assume SGA gets shut down due to some fake injury at some point.
Spurs
As Gregg Popovich said “Nobody here should go to Vegas with the thought of betting on us to win the championship…probably not going to happen, but that’s not the point.” However, Keldon Johnson is fun.
East
Bucks
I think this is the year of Giannis. After losing in the second round last season, a series Khris Middleton did not play in, the Bucks are hungry. Jrue Holiday is still the running point, Brook Lopez is manning the middle, Bobby Portis, Pat Connaughton, and others make up a deep roster that is led by the best player in the league.
Celtics
The Celtics are so good. I know Ime Udoka is gone, I know Robert Williams is out for the first month or two of the season, and I know they did not take care of the Heat or Bucks quick enough, though I think this is a weird complaint. However, Tatum, Brown, and Smart are all there, healthy, and playing so they will win games and should be a threat to win a championship.
Sixers
I think Philly is good. Joel Embiid is an MVP candidate and Tyrese Maxey is really good, he is quick and is a really talented scorer. However, why would I bet on James Harden at 33 years old to become a big time playoff performer, Tobais Harris to turn back the clock to 2019 when he signed a huge contract, or P.J. Tucker too, at 38 years old, be assigned the likes of Jayson Tatum, Jimmy Butler, or Giannis Antetokounmpo and shut them down?
Raptors
Scottie Barnes is so good, he can dribble, pass, and shoot while being an elite defensive player. Pascal Siakam is back to playing at an elite level, probably even better than he was before the bubble. They have Fred VanVleet at point, though they need another guy behind him, OG Anunoby should continue to take strides in the future, and they have so many wings who are long and athletic, Precious Achiuwa, Gary Trent Jr., Thaddeus Young, Chris Boucher, Otto Porter Jr., and others that can switch on defense and shoot on offense which help Toronto win games.
Heat
Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo have proven they can be a duo that can win in the regular season and the postseason. Betting against them usually does not go well, however, they do not have a guy who can play the 4 position the way Jae Crowder and P.J. Tucker did and I think that is a big deal, just like it was in 2021. Tyler Herro needs to have a big year and Duncan Robinson needs to bounce back but I think the Heat will be solid.
Nets
Kevin Durant plays for the Nets (for now), Kyrie Irving is still in Brooklyn, and Ben Simmons will make his Nets debut so the talent is there to be really good. I am not betting on it though. Last season was a mess, Kevin Durant clearly does not want to be there, Kyrie does not want to be there, I think the season is going to be better than last year but this team is unlikely to win a championship.
Cavaliers
Cleveland is a year away. They are loaded but Evan Mobley is not quite at the point they need him to be at when they are going to start seriously competing in the East. They are not deep enough on the wing either. Isaac Okoro, Cedi Osman, and Caris LeVert are at that spot, and they are fine but not needle movers. Mitchell and Garland are an elite backcourt so they should be fun and good but not yet a contender.
Hawks
The Hawks went all-in on Dejounte Murray, sending a bunch of first round draft capital to the Spurs to make this trade. I don’t love it, I just am not sure Atlanta is close enough or Murray gets them close enough to compete with Boston, Milwaukee, or Philadelphia. Trae Young is obviously an excellent player and he and Murray should click, I just do not think they have the roster to compete with the best the East has to offer.
Bulls
Lonzo Ball being out for an extended period of time is a huge deal for the Bulls, he is their best defender and losing him derailed their season last year. I think DeMar DeRozan takes a step back from his career highs of last season and Nikola Vucevic is just not a good defensive player. Zach LaVine is still really good and I like the young guys they have but the Bulls are just not a very good team.
Knicks
Signing Jalen Brunson is a good move, he is really good. RJ Barrett needs to continue to progress as a player as he did last year, Julius Randle has got to have a bounce back season, and Thibs has to play the young guys like Quentin Grimes, Deuce McBride, and Obi Toppin more. The Knicks are okay but nothing special and will likely be fighting for a play-in spot this season.
Wizards
The Bradley Beal contract is disastrous, they should have traded him when they could have and Daniel Gafford should start over Kristaps Porzingis. Other than that I don’t want to talk about the Wizards.
Pistons
Cade Cunningham is going to be a superstar and Jaden Ivey looks like he is really fun. I liked their offseason too, the Bojan Bogdanovic trade was a great one and so was the deal to acquire Jalen Duren’s draft rights. The Pistons are headed in the right direction but I don’t think that translates into a postseason appearance yet.
Magic
I absolutely LOVE Paolo Banchero and I think he and Franz Wagner are going to be an awesome duo. Jonathan Issac is still nowhere to be found, but I like Wendell Carter Jr. a lot (the Bulls could use a player like him), and somehow Terrence Ross is still in Orlando. The Magic should be a fun watch this season.
Hornets
I do not want to talk about the Hornets. The Miles Bridges situation is a catastrophe and LaMelo is going to miss the beginning of the season. They are not going to be a good team this year.
Pacers
Tyrese Haliburton is going to be a star one day but this season the Pacers will not be good. However, with a lot of the East teams not fully committing to the tank and with a Buddy Hield and Myler Turner to the Lakers trade, the Pacers could give themselves a 14% chance to get the first pick in the draft this year.
Regular Season Awards
MVP: Giannis Antetokounmpo
The year of Giannis. The best player in the sport is on a mission, leading to a monster season and an MVP award. Not much else to say.
Rookie of the Year: Paolo Banchero
The number one pick is a star, already an elite passer, scorer, and good defensive player. I think Banchero is in for a big year surrounded by solid players who will help him throughout the season.
Sixth Man of the Year: Jordan Poole
Poole had a breakout year last season and while he reverts to the bench this season, it gives him a great chance to take home this award. He is also looking to get paid so if he does not sign a new deal, that could play a factor into how he plays.
Defensive Player of the Year: Bam Adebayo
Adebayo is one of the best defensive players in the sport. He is the anchor of a team that is elite defensively every season and a player that should win one of these one day, so why now?
Most Improved Player: Tyrese Maxey
Tyrese Maxey is really good and should take another leap this season. One thing I have noticed on NBA Twitter is that every time Maxey plays well, people go crazy like it has never happened before. Maxey should take another leap this season leading to this award.
Coach of the Year: Chris Finch
I picked the Wolves to finish second in the West, if that happened Chris Finch would likely be the runaway Coach of the Year.
Playoff picks
West Finals
Clippers over Nuggets in 6
Before the Draymond incident I thought Golden State would be here but that coupled with contract issues worry me, so Denver takes on the Clippers in a 2020 2nd round rematch from the bubble. I think the Clippers get revenge, they are the better team, with the duo I am more confident in, and the depth that I trust more.
East Finals
Bucks over Celtics in 7
Giannis’ dominant year continues, see a trend? This is a pick that hurts my soul I won’t lie but this is an unbiased blog and though I think Boston is ready for this series again, I think a healthy Bucks team, with home court advantage, and with Giannis Antetokounmpo on their team takes an epic series in 7.
NBA Finals
Bucks over Clippers in 6
We have seen Giannis vs Kawhi before in the 2019 Eastern Conference Finals. Leonard, then with Toronto, dominated the final 4 games after the Bucks took the first 2, leading the Raptors to a Finals berth and a championship. However, that was then, and this is 4 years later and Antetokounmpo is now a champion, the Bucks are better than they were back then, and though I think this could be an awesome season for the Clippers, it’s Giannis who grabs the crown in 2023.
The NBA returns Tuesday and for that we are all very excited. So let’s all sit back and enjoy these next 8 months because basketball is finally back.
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