Not a lot of change happened in the offseason, but sparks did fly in July, and it will affect the NBA next season. LeBron made a move west to the Lakers, Kahwi to the Raptors while DeRozen to the Spurs can affect what the Eastern and Western Conference could look like. With these changes, and internal growth and development of individual teams will provide an entirely different landscape in the NBA. This article will provide my record and standing predictions while also outline who I think will win the major awards next season.
Records and Playoffs
15. Sacramento Kings 22-60
14. Phoenix Suns 26-56
13. Memphis Grizzlies 34-48
12. Dallas Mavericks 36-46
11. Los Angeles Clippers 37-45
10. San Antonio Spurs 42-40
9. Minnesota Timberwolves 43-39
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8. Portland Trail Blazers 44-38
The Blazers are an intriguing team, but I don't have faith in the health of CJ and Dame for an entire 82 game season. Also, the Blazers only have the two guards on the roster while the rest of the roster is solid role players. Aminu isn't that good anymore while Evan Turner and Mo Harkless are middle of the pack wings. They are going to regress this season, and I believe they fall further than most people believe.
7. Los Angeles Lakers 48-34
I don't believe in the Lakers at times, then at other times, I have enormous faith in them. Rondo was excellent for the Pelicans last season and was a huge factor in beating the Blazers in the playoffs last season. With the growth of Lonzo, Ingram, and Kuzma this team expects to be much better with LeBron. The area of concern I have is McGee, Kuzma at backup center, and the lack of shooting around LeBron. The defense is also not going to be great because McGee, LeBron has not done well on the defensive end the last couple of seasons.
6. Oklahoma City Thunder 50-32
This will come to a surprise to many people, but here is my reasoning; Westbrook just had surgery on his knee and will barely be ready for the start of the season, while Roberson had a set back in his rehab. The Thunder depth is very volatile, and the Thunder will have to rely on Abrenis and Scherder to have the Thunder stay afloat. I also am not the biggest fan of Westbrook in the first place, so this isn't the most exceptional situation for the Thunder, and I see their season-ending up worse than you think.
5. New Orleans Pelicans 51-31
Anthony Davis, Jrue Holiday, Nikola Mirotic, Julius Randle, and Elfrid Peyton is a solid core who can really make some noise in the western conference. The only problem I have with the Pelicans is the forwards/bigs in Mirotic, Davis, and Randle. All three can't play on the court at the same time, and they are three of the best five players for the Pelicans. We are going to see another great season from Davis, and the Pelicans will make another step in the western conference hierarchy.
4. Denver Nuggets 52-30
One of the biggest Jokic fans is here everybody. I love this team, they will flat out score on everybody and won't feel bad about it at all. Mason Plumlee is an excellent backup center while if Isiah Thomas can provide a modicum of value off the bench this Nuggets team can be extremely dangerous. Jamal Murray and Gary Harris will take another step and will push this Nuggets team in the top four of the western conference.
3. Utah Jazz 54-28
The most significant advantage this Jazz team will have is the ability to beat bad teams every single night just like the Spurs have done for so many years. Then, they will be good enough to beat the better teams in both the eastern and western conference. For example, the Jazz should be favored against teams like Denver, New Orleans, and the Indiana Pacers, while beating up teams like the Orlando Magic, and Pheonix Suns. A year of improvement from Donovan Mitchell and a year with Ricky Rubio adjusted to Quin Snyder's system will do wonders for the Jazz while Thabo Sefolosha and Jae Crowder provide valuable wing depth on the bench.
2. Houston Rockets 57-26
Chris Paul, James Harden, and still a solid cast around them including the incredible Clint Capela and a stud in Eric Gordon, the Rockets will still be really great. The fall in wins includes the loss of Trevor Ariza and Mbah Mute and the lackluster additions of Micheal Carter Williams, Carmelo Anthony, and James Ennis. They moved closer to the middle of the pack of the western conference and further away from the Warriors, but the Rockets team will be all right.
1. Golden State Warriors 61-21
Like the past four years, the Warriors have been the best team in the NBA and this season will be no different. If the Warriors can have a healthier season of Steph, they could be even better. But, they will be lazy, and they will lack effort, which is why this record isn't higher, and I feel as though the Celtics will push this Warriors team to have a better record, so they aren't at a disadvantage in the NBA finals.
Eastern Conference
15. Atlanta Hawks 19-63
14. New York Knicks 24-58
13. Chicago Bulls 26-56
12. Orlando Magic 28-54
11. Brooklyn Nets 31-51
10. Clevland Cavaliers 35-47
9. Charlotte Hornets 39-43
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8. Detroit Pistons 41-41
I don't really like this team, but they have enough talent to make it in the Eastern Conference playoffs with Andre Drummond and Blake Griffin. If Reggie Jackson can stay healthy, this team can be a .500 team. Another issue this Pistons team will see is a lack of shooting, and the health of Blake Griffin, who I don't think will ever be able to play an 82 game season.
7. Washington Wizards 43-39
This team will have significant chemistry issues, and with Dwight Howard dealing with a ton of injury issues, they may have to rely on Ian Mahinmi at the center who is not very good. I thought the addition of Austin Rivers was solid and will help with the guard depth, but nothing about this team screams success to me.
6. Miami Heat 44-38
I enjoy this team for what it is and what each player does on the court. With Justice Winslow, Josh Richardson and Goron Dragic, this Miami team can have another solid season under Erik Spoelstra. I don't expect this team to make the finals or make it far in the playoffs, but they are a solid team with a great coach.
5. Indiana Pacers 46-36
With the addition of Tyreke Evans, the Pacers will have the ability to give the other guards on the Pacers rest and another scoring threat. If the improvement of Myles Turner is genuine, the Pacers can make a huge leap, but for the most part, I believe they fall back to normalize, and they will be a little worse than they were last season.
4. Philadelphia 76ers 49-33
Another solid season is in store for the 76ers, and they will be a tough team to play night in and out, but my concern lies with the loss of Ersan Ilyasova and Marco Belinelli, this team will struggle with outside shooting and depth. Wilson Chandler isn't perfect as well, and this team got worse than they were last season.
3. Milwaukee Bucks 50-32
Each year I am super high on the Bucks, and each year they let me down. But, this year will be different, and the bucks will be fantastic. Giannias will take a huge step forward with a spaced floor created by Brook Lopez and coach Bud. Khris Middleton is a top 35 player in this league, and if he stays healthy, this Bucks team will win 50 games and be a force to be reckoned with.
2. Toronto Raptors 56-26
If Kawhi Lenord is healthy and mentally engaged, the Raptors will be a fantastic team. With the versatile, flexible rotations that the Raptors have, they can do many different lineups and rotations that will create an advantage against the other team. Play small with Lowry, Green, Leanord, Miles, and Ibaka, or play big with Lowry, Ananoby, Leanord, Ibaka, and Valancunis. In any way, this team will be a force in the east.
1. Boston Celtics 62-20
Only concern is Hayward and how he is going to play this year after a horrific injury, other than that, this Celtic team is ridiculously good. Another year of development for Tatum and Brown, while having both Hayward and Irving back for the season, this team is deep, versatile, and can play against any team in the NBA. The last season they were the best defense in the NBA, and if they can improve their offensive and move into the top 15 in offensive rating, a lot of wins will add up for the Celtics.
Awards and All-NBA teams
MVP: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Miluakee Bucks
Rookie of the Year: Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks
Defensive Player of the Year: Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz
Most Improved Player: Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets
Sixth Man of the Year: J.J Redick, Philadelphia 76ers
Coach of the Year: Brad Stevens, Boston Celtics
Executive of the Year: Rob Pelinka, Los Angeles Lakers
All-Rookie first team:
G Colin Sexton, Clevland Cavaliers
F Miles Bridges, Charlotte Hornets
F Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks
F Jaren Jackson Jr. Memphis Grizzlies
C Deandre Ayton, Pheonix Suns
All-Rookie second team:
G Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks
G Shai Gilgous Alexander, Los Angeles Clippers
F Mikal Bridges, Pheonix Suns
F Kevin Knox, New York Knicks
C Wendel Carter Jr. Chicago Bulls
All-NBA Defensive first team:
G Jrue Holiday, New Orleans Pelicans
G Josh Richardson, Miami Heat
F Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors
F Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans
C Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz
All-NBA Defensive second team:
G Chris Paul, Houston Rockets
G Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics
F Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee, Bucks
F Paul George, Oklahoma City
C Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers
All-NBA first team:
G James Harden, Houston Rockets
G Steph Curry, Golden State Warriors
F Giannis Antetokounmpo, Miluakee Bucks
F LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers
C Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers
All-NBA second team:
G Kyrie Irving, Boston Celtics
G Damian Lillard, Portland Trailblazers
F Kawhi Leanord, Toronto Raptors
F Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans
C Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz
All-NBA third team:
G Victor Olidipo, Indiana Pacers
G Donovan Mitchell, Utah Jazz
F Ben Simmons, Philadelphia 76ers
F Paul George, Oklahoma City Thunder
C Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
