The regular season is winding down and I thought it would be cool to look back at my preseason regular season standing predictions. Some are wrong, some are so wrong I am embarrassed, and very few are right. So let’s dive in and look back.
West
Jazz
I picked the Jazz to win the West. I said Utah’s season would go one of two ways… “the playoff disaster of last season could lead them down 2 paths, it could completely derail them or make them come together.” My guess was they would come together… they have not and are currently 6th in the West staring down a first round exit and some big changes.
Suns
The Suns have the best record in the NBA and I said they would be really good again, got that one right… I also picked them to lose before the West Finals so that is still in the air but for now I think I am safe for now.
Warriors
The Warriors are back and though there have been plenty of ups and downs throughout the season they are currently in 3rd and that’s where I told you they would be.
Lakers
“I think the Lakers are overhyped.” I did not expect the Lakers to be this bad but I also told you they were not a serious title contender like many others did so for that I deserve some credit. I don’t think anyone wants to talk about the Lakers any further, so we move on.
Mavericks
I told you that Jason Kidd needed to fix his defensive schemes and he has, leading a good Mavericks team. I also said that Kristaps Porzingis needed to be a key factor on this team and they traded him so I give myself some credit.
Clippers
Paul George got hurt and if he didn’t the Clippers could possibly be in 6th but he did get hurt so my prediction that LA could avoid the play-in was wrong, credit to me for owning up to it. Please note: I do not think the Clippers would be in 6th if George had been healthy all season.
Nuggets
Nikola Jokic has been incredible, so incredible the Nuggets have been better than I expected even after losing Michael Porter Jr. Denver has also had guys like Jeff Green, Monte Morris, and Aaron Gordon play well in bigger roles then expected. “Jokic is really good and I am probably silly to pick against him even without Jamal Murray.” I was in fact silly to pick against him.
Trail Blazers
Honestly I am just happy Portland decided to try and move out of the middle of the NBA. What they had was great but it was becoming stale and they needed to try and shake things up around Damian Lillard.
Timberwolves
Minnesota has been a very fun story this season, moving up to 7th in the West behind big years from Karl-Anthony Towns, Anthony Edwards, and D’Angelo Russell.
Pelicans
I was worried about this one when the Pels started 1-12 but alas this pick is just about right even with Zion Williamson missing the whole season to this point.
Grizzlies
No comments at this time but I do have a quote that makes me look even worse… “I think they will disappoint.”
Kings
I can’t believe they traded Tyrese Haliburton just for my prediction of a 12 seed to be right.
Rockets
I am still confused why John Wall has not played but I am still excited about the Rockets future.
Spurs
In my defense, I did not expect the Lakers to fail the way they did. Behind a Dejounte Murray breakout and a really bad West the Spurs find themselves in 10th place and in the play-in tournament.
Thunder
I bet Sam Presti wishes I got this one right but is there really much of a difference between 14th and 15th place?
East
Bucks
The defending champs are not in first but they are still awesome and should be the favorites to win the Eastern Conference. The Big 3 is healthy and Giannis looks ready to defend his crown.
Nets
No one expected the Nets season to turn into the mess it has. It started when Kyrie would not get vaccinated and the Nets were not going to let him play, then Kevin Durant got hurt and missed 20 straight games, then James Harden bullied his way out of Brooklyn to Philly. As a result of all of this the Nets are in 8th place in the Eastern Conference.
Celtics
The Celtics had a rough start to the season when they started 18-21 after an RJ Barrett buzzer beater ripped their hearts out on January 6th. They have since turned their season around going 31-9 since January 7th and are now 3rd in the East.
Hawks
It has been a frustrating season in Atlanta. Some guys have taken a step back since last year’s run to the East Finals, and entering a season where there were real expectations, they have fallen short. There could be a roster shake up in Atlanta coming this summer.
Heat
What a season Miami has had. Sitting at the one seed with only a week left, the Heat look like a real threat to win the East. Their downfall, if they have one, will be due to their half court offense. They struggle to score in the half court often and in the playoffs where the game slows down, that worries me.
76ers
Joel Embiid has remained healthy and they traded Ben Simmons for James Harden. Philly certainly looks like a threat to make a deep playoff run. Can they make their first Conference Finals since ‘The Process’ started?
Knicks
Many guys, like Julius Randle and Alec Burks, have taken steps back and to go along with offseason additions Evan Fournier and Kemba Walker having disappointing seasons, the Knicks sit on the outside looking in of the play-in tournament. However, the young guys they have look good, so that is a positive.
Raptors
Toronto has had a good season, currently sitting 5th in the East and having clinched a playoff spot. A big bounce back year from Pascal Siakam and a very good rookie year from Scottie Barnes have added to a Fred VanVleet All-Star campaign and has Toronto back in the playoffs.
Bulls
The Bulls made this look silly for a lot of the season but as of late, it has not looked so silly. Lonzo Ball has been hurt so that has definitely hurt the Bulls and to go along with Alex Caruso and Patrick Williams, who have both since returned, missing an extended period of time, the Bulls have slid in the standings.
Wizards
I don’t want to talk about the Wizards. Although I still really like Kyle Kuzma and had really enjoyed his aggressiveness before his injury.
Hornets
The Hornets have been mediocre for years. LaMelo Ball is supposed to help lead them out of the constant mediocrity but one guy is not going to do that all by himself. Here is what I said about the Hornets in the preseason: “they are gonna struggle to win those close games.” The Hornets are 0-7 in overtime games this season… nailed it.
Pacers
The Pacers were stale and no fun. Then they traded for Tyrese Haliburton who is so good and a real building block for the Pacers to build around. They have a lot of options as we head into the offseason
Pistons
Cade Cunningham is awesome and it looks like the Pistons could be frisky next year and find themselves in play-in contention. Here is what is said about the Pistons in the predictions blog: “Cade is gonna be awesome, and I think they find ways to scrape out wins under Dwane Casey.” Nailed that one too.
Cavaliers
I was wrong about the Cavs, they are good. The issue has been health. Collin Sexton has missed basically the entire season, while both Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley have missed an extended period of time in the recent weeks. I, for one, am rooting for Cleveland to make the playoffs.
Magic
Franz Wagner is awesome and I got this one right so give me my credit.
The regular season has just a few days left before we head into postseason basketball. It was a lot of fun to go back and see what I got right and what I didn’t get right. I am so excited for the play-in tournament to start and for us to get the NBA playoffs rolling!
Comments