The NBA championship currently belongs to Canada.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images.)
The NBA season is about to start! You know what that means! That means the NBA season is about to start!
Seriously, it’s time to make my last-minute win-loss and playoff predictions. The reason why I wait this late is because you JUST never know what might happen in the closing days of the preseason.
This is the most wide open NBA season in, well, ever? The NBA is no longer about the superteams and the “Big Three.” They’re all about the duo stars now. Basically, we’re in the NBA Jam season.
Welcome to NBA Jam!
(PHOTO CREDIT: Bryce Wood/Sports Illustrated.)
Let me preface that I KNOW I’m going to be extremely wrong about everything here, just as I have in the past.
I never claim to be an expert even though I tune into the NBA like it’s my religion. So here we go! If you have any complaints, words of disdain, or love confessions, you can always tweet me at @TheNoLookPass.
ROLL CALL.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
The reigning MVP. The peak of the Greek Freak.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Dylan Buell/Getty Images.)
1) MILWAUKEE BUCKS (58-24): The Bucks seemed poised to take it all last season but they ran into a team that seemed destined to win it all in the Raptors. Now reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo is ready to run it back with his stampede. They were able to keep most of the team but they will miss Malcolm Brogdon‘s consistency. That may or may not matter.
2) PHILADELPHIA 76ERS (56-26): If a few bounces went their way (we all know what I’m talking about), we might be talking defending Eastern Conference champs at the minimum. They did lose Jimmy Butler to Miami but they got Josh Richardson in the trade and Al Horford through free agency.
They’re nearly a sure thing to the East Finals. But remember that nothing in the history of anything outside of death and taxes is guaranteed.
3) BOSTON CELTICS (50-32): So Kyrie Irving and Horford bolted for the door. Terry Rozier also left. But Kemba Walker is in as the new centerpiece of the team.
It doesn’t matter how talented the team is if the environment is as pleasant as being surrounded by your ex-significant others. But the room should improve a little more with Kyrie out (he admitted that he didn’t handle it well). Kemba is as squeaky-clean as anyone can be. There are no more contract distractions.
Now all the roster has to worry about are basketball and Starcraft II.
4) TORONTO RAPTORS (50-32): Make no mistake about it. They ARE the defending champions. They’ll probably be one of the more disrespected defending champions because Kawhi Leonard went back home to Los Angeles. But I don’t think they’re going to be easy pushovers this year.
Obviously, the one to watch out for is Pascal Siakam, who has been essentially handed the keys to the team. The reigning Most Improved Player might need another jump like last season to prove that he IS the franchise, boy, he shinin’ now.
Sure, the Raptors went 17-5 without Kawhi. But they also lost Danny Green, who is a deadly three-point shooter and a suffocating perimeter defender. If they can replace him with similar (or even more) production, then the Raptors might still be looked at as a championship contender.
I’m not saying they are right now. But it would be wise not to count them out. This is still a REALLY good team.
5) INDIANA PACERS (47-35): As recently as 2014, they were one of the last teams to win with a “traditional NBA team.” Now it looks like they’re going to double down on that with Myles Turner and Domantas Sabonis playing together. Hell, the entire team feels pretty new with Brogdon coming over from the Bucks, T.J. Warren coming over from Phoenix, and Jeremy Lamb coming over from Charlotte. They did lose Bojan Bogdanovic to Utah, who was a strong offensive player.
Victor Oladipo is not expected to be back for the first two months but the team still held it together with their defense last season (3rd in defensive rating, giving up 106.5 points per 100 possessions). But with the league wide open this season, who knows what damage they could do, especially at full strength.
I think Dale Davis and Antonio Davis would love this team.
“As organisms, do we really live in this plane of existence?”
(PHOTO CREDIT: Nicole Sweet/USA Today.)
6) BROOKLYN NETS (41-41): So let’s remember that there will likely be no Kevin Durant this season. But maybe a rejuvenated Kyrie Irving could do something with these Nets. DeAndre Jordan also joined the team but I hope that this doesn’t alienate Jarrett Allen too much.
It’s undeniable that guys like Joe Harris, Caris LeVert, and Spencer Dinwiddie are good NBA players. Let’s just hope that Kyrie can learn from his experience in Boston and not give out too many anecdotes about nature, life, and the number 42.
7) ORLANDO MAGIC (40-42): They surprised me last season. They hadn’t made the playoffs in so long that the run they made was unexpected to me.
Their main core was largely unchanged. While I don’t think they’ll make that much of an impact, I am curious on what Markelle Fultz can do. He is a GO for this season. Will we see a redemption story? Or will he just be lost in the shuffle?
I’m obviously rooting for that redemption story. I would not root for anyone to fail. Unless you like pineapple on your pizza.
8) WASHINGTON WIZARDS (35-47): Oh, my gosh. Do I really have them making the postseason with this mediocre win total? Whoops.
Bradley Beal is really, really good. But he obviously needs more help. Maybe Isaiah Thomas, the old King of the Fourth, can rise from the ashes? I’m certainly intrigued by their first-rounder Rui Hachimura and you know how much I love rooting for the Asians.
John Wall is likely to miss all of this season. But wouldn’t they be the most dangerous 35-win playoff team ever if he comes back? He doesn’t have to be in full strength but his presence alone can boost a team.
9) ATLANTA HAWKS (35-47): I really like Trae Young, man. Probably could shoot better from behind the arc than last season and I expect him to do that. John Collins doesn’t get much pub but the dude consistently gets double-doubles (I do, too; from In-N-Out).
It’ll be interesting to see how the other castoffs do in this Hawks team. Evan Turner can provide steady playmaking off the bench. Cam Reddish is smooth. Jabari Parker has another chance to get his career back on track. What the hell? Chandler Parsons is on this team?
Anyway, the team doesn’t look like a .500 team yet but with the way I projected, don’t be surprised if they’re fighting until the end for a postseason berth!
10) DETROIT PISTONS (34-48): I don’t see much here. I feel like Blake Griffin would want out soon because this situation doesn’t look the most optimal. Andre Drummond is still there. Reggie Jackson is still there. They got Derrick Rose. Okay, fine. Whatever.
That’s how I look at this team. Okay, fine. Whatever.
The, uh, mercurial Jimmy Butler is in his third team in three seasons.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Brynn Anderson/AP.)
11) MIAMI HEAT (34-48): I suppose the sooner Dion Waiters is out, the better (he’s currently suspended). I do look forward to see how Justise Winslow and Bam Adebayo do.
Also, are we going to get some sort of sitcom between Jimmy Butler and Tyler Herro soon?
12) CHICAGO BULLS (34-48): Zach LaVine is apparently focused on becoming an all-star. I think we’ll see him put up good numbers; he averaged 24-5-5 last season in 63 games.
Again, though, this is more about the young guys. We’ll continue to see development from Lauri Markkanen, Wendell Carter Jr., and Chandler Hutchison. Coby White is such a polite guy that I want to see him succeed.
Let’s hope it’s sooner than later.
13) CHARLOTTE HORNETS (32-50): THIS is Terry Rozier‘s team. I can’t wait to see him make every bad decision there is.
Just kidding. Of course, I hope he makes good decisions on the court to please the Hornets and their fans. But the roster is so mediocre by NBA standards that I’m just not sure how high these guys can go.
14) NEW YORK KNICKS (22-60): It’s the Knicks.
15) CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (15-67): Maybe I’m being really harsh on this team; Kevin Love alone should be worth about 20 wins, right? But I also don’t expect him to stay on the team. There’s just something about the environment that is not conducive to winning.
That’s the story I’m sticking with. Once Kevin Love is gone, I just don’t see this team winning many games.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Denver is ready to go to the next level.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Aaron Ontiveroz/Getty Images.)
1) DENVER NUGGETS (55-27): Continuity would do them well here. And they’re also adding a very talented Michael Porter, Jr..
Leading a team while having pizzas and burgers every day is the dream. Thanks for making it realistic, Nikola Jokic.
2) LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS (54-28): Paul George won’t be available for probably the first month. And I know they’ll do that whole “load management” thing (I really dislike that term) with Kawhi Leonard. But remember that this was a team that was on top of the West for a bit WITHOUT these two stars. This is a team that will be reckoned with.
Yes, THESE ARE THE CLIPPERS THAT I’M TALKING ABOUT.
3) HOUSTON ROCKETS (53-29): Sure, there will be an adjustment period between James Harden and Russell Westbrook since they haven’t played together in seven years (save for some all-star games, etc.). But this your-turn, my-turn thing will work better, I feel, than it did with Chris Paul. And both are really willing passers more than they’re being given credit for (Westbrook led the assists the last two seasons and Harden led the year before). And you know they’re going to put up A LOT OF THREE-POINTERS.
SOMEONE CALL THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.
4) UTAH JAZZ (52-30): They added Mike Conley and Bojan Bogdanovic. And if Donovan Mitchell ends up getting it, this is going to be a very menacing team.
That defense, man. That defense is going to be smothering.
5) PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS (51-31): I know they went to the Western Conference finals last season. They probably weren’t going to get further even with Jusuf Nurkic healthy. Well, they added Hassan Whiteside, who is certainly talented but has a reputation as an airhead.
They will go as far as C.J. McCollum and Damian Lillard will carry them. But, man, do they need some nasty dogs on this team.
LeBron hasn’t been exactly making a lot of people happy these days.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Zhong Zhi/Getty Images.)
6) LOS ANGELES LAKERS (51-31): Living here in L.A. where it’s all Laker talk, it’s easy to get caught up in the smoke. I do think they have a shot at the title. After all, they do have LeBron James and Anthony Davis. I still think Dwight Howard can be productive when he’s not being a knucklehead. And I hate that Kyle Kuzma is being looked at as a terrible player when he’s clearly not. He does have to shoot better, though.
Okay, never mind. The Lakers are going 246-0 this season. Each win counts as three.
7) GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS (49-33): This isn’t the 5-time NBA finalists that we know. Kevin Durant is gone. Andre Iguodala is gone. Shaun Livingston is gone. Klay Thompson has a torn ACL.
They do still have Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. And they added D’Angelo Russell. That alone should keep them afloat for the season. If Klay Thompson comes back by the playoffs, this could be something.
It’s just so weird that a team from the West can actually beat the Warriors now. It’s been a while since that’s happened.
8) SAN ANTONIO SPURS (45-37): No matter what, we can’t kick these Spurs out of the postseason. They still have talent in LaMarcus Aldridge, DeMar DeRozan, and DeJounte Murray. They probably also lead the league in name prefixes.
Anyway, they’ll be in whether we like it or not. I know I say there are no guarantees in life but man…
9) MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES (42-40): I know it’s chic to say that Andrew Wiggins is not a very good NBA player. Sure, he could be better. But it’s not often you can get a player that can consistently put up 18 points and play 35 minutes a game (you’d be amazed how many players aren’t conditioned enough to play that many minutes).
With that said, YOU KNOW he can be so much more effective than this. It just sort of wastes away Karl-Anthony Towns.
The talent on this team is not bad but there’s nothing that blows you away, except maybe Towns. With that said, at least, they stopped that playoff drought streak in 2018.
10) SACRAMENTO KINGS (42-40): It’s a good thing they locked up Buddy Hield. They probably have a bit of buyer’s remorse on Harrison Barnes but Hield is right when he implied that nobody goes to Sacramento through free agency.
The Kings are going to continue to get better within. Marvin Bagley III wants to prove that he’s one of the best. De’Aaron Fox might be the fastest player in the NBA today. Cory Joseph is one of the more reliable PGs in the league. And Bogdan Bogdanovic can make shots from anywhere.
More experience and they can go farther. What the hell are they playing? Final Fantasy VII?
Chris Paul has come full circle.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman.)
11) OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER (38-44): This is a far cry from the Thunder teams in the last near-decade. It’s Chris Paul in the twilight of his career along with Steven Adams, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Danilo Gallinari. Gallinari can be an offensive powerhouse at times while Shai has the guile of a 10-year veteran. And I think Adams can bench press a truck.
But this is such a loaded Western Conference. They’re probably better off rebuilding. GM Sam Presti can probably draft a couple more MVP-types in his sleep.
12) NEW ORLEANS PELICANS (36-46): So I’m pretty much looking at the 2017 L.A. Lakers and Zion Williamson.
The problem is that Zion is out for the next 6-8 weeks. So much for that.
In that case, I’m looking for Brandon Ingram to make that jump. Maybe Lonzo Ball stays healthy and gets better as he’s away from the toxic L.A. environment (yeah, I know what I said). Adding J.J. Redick is big for their shooting and Jrue Holiday continues to be an ace perimeter defender. Oh, yeah. And they added Derrick Favors.
It’s just that, man, this West is so loaded. They can’t afford to lose one of their main guys and they already lost THE main man for the first quarter of the season.
13) DALLAS MAVERICKS (34-48): The post-Dirk era begins! Luka Doncic is just so friggin’ good but they’re going to need more from that team. Kristaps Porzingis is coming off a major injury and I’m very apprehensive about big men coming back from that. They’ll get some scoring from Seth Curry and Tim Hardaway, Jr..
But aside from Luka and maybe Kristaps, they’re not scaring anyone.
14) MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES (26-56): Clearly in a rebuilding situation. Ja Morant should be fun. Jaren Jackson Jr. should continue to build on his rookie season.
Ahh, the days when they were grittin’ and grindin’.
15) PHOENIX SUNS (20-62): So apparently, former Sun Marcin Gortat said this (from ClutchPoints):
Man, oh, man…
SEASON AWARD PREDICTIONS
COACH OF THE YEAR: Steve Kerr, Warriors.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Zion Williamson, Pelicans.
MOST IMPROVED PLAYER: Bam Adebayo, Heat.
SIXTH MAN OF THE YEAR: Terrence Ross, Magic.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Rudy Gobert, Jazz
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: Nikola Jokic, Nuggets
PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Milwaukee over Washington
Toronto over Indiana
Philadelphia over Orlando
Boston over Brooklyn
Milwaukee over Toronto
Philadelphia over Boston
Milwaukee over Philadelphia
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Denver over San Antonio
Utah over Portland
L.A. Clippers over Golden State
L.A. Lakers over Houston
Utah over Denver
L.A. Clippers over L.A. Lakers
L.A. Clippers over Utah
NBA FINALS
L.A. Clippers over Milwaukee
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME EVER I PICKED THE CLIPPERS TO WIN THE CHAMPIONSHIP.
I mean, yeah, whatever. That’s nothing.
BUT IT WOULD BE AMAZING IF THEY ACTUALLY WON IT ALL.
Let’s have fun this season, guysh!
Rey-Rey is on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass.
TNLP on FaceBook.