NBA Season Preview and Predictions
AWARDS
MVP:
- G James Harden (HOU)
- F Kawhi Leonard (SA)
- F LeBron James (CLE)
- F Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL)
- F Kevin Durant (GS)
Rookie of the Year:
- F Ben Simmons (PHI)
- G Lonzo Ball (LAL)
- G Donovan Mitchell (UTA)
- G Milos Teodosic (LAC)
- F John Collins (ATL)
Coach of the Year:
- Gregg Popovich (SA)
- Mike D’Antoni (HOU)
- Brad Stevens (BOS)
- Quin Snyder (UTA)
- Jason Kidd (MIL)
Defensive Player of the Year:
- C Rudy Gobert (UTA)
- F Draymond Green (GS)
- F Kawhi Leonard (SA)
- F Anthony Davis (NO)
- F Paul George (OKC)
Sixth Man of the Year:
- F Andre Iguodala (GS)
- G Eric Gordon (HOU)
- F Rudy Gay (SA)
- C Tristan Thompson (CLE)
- G Lou Williams (LAC)
Most Improved Player:
- F Aaron Gordon (ORL)
- G Gary Harris (DEN)
- G Rodney Hood (UTA)
- F Brandon Ingram (LAL)
- G Jamal Murray (DEN)
First Team All-NBA:
- G James Harden (HOU)
- G Stephen Curry (GS)
- F LeBron James (CLE)
- F Kawhi Leonard (SA)
- C Rudy Gobert (UTA)
Second Team All-NBA:
- G John Wall (WAS)
- G Russell Westbrook (OKC)
- F Giannis Antetokoumpo (MIL)
- F Kevin Durant (GS)
- C Anthony Davis (NO)
Third Team All-NBA:
- G Chris Paul (HOU)
- G Jimmy Butler (MIN)
- F Draymond Green (GS)
- F Gordon Hayward (BOS)
- C Karl-Anthony Towns (MIN)
POWER RANKINGS
Eastern Conference:
- Cleveland Cavaliers (54-28)
- Washington Wizards (53-29)
- Boston Celtics (49-33)
- Toronto Raptors (48-34)
- Milwaukee Bucks (46-36)
- Miami Heat (41-41)
- Detroit Pistons (40-42)
- Charlotte Hornets (39-43)
- Philadelphia 76ers (37-45)
- Orlando Magic (30-52)
- Indiana Pacers (29-53)
- Atlanta Hawks (26-56)
- Brooklyn Nets (26-56)
- New York Knicks (24-58)
- Chicago Bulls (23-59)
Western Conference:
- Golden State Warriors (70-12)
- Houston Rockets (65-17)
- San Antonio Spurs (61-21)
- Oklahoma City Thunder (56-26)
- Minnesota Timberwolves (49-33)
- Denver Nuggets (45-37)
- New Orleans Pelicans (43-39)
- Utah Jazz (43-39)
- Los Angeles Clippers (41-41)
- Portland Trail Blazers (40-42)
- Memphis Grizzlies (40-42)
- Dallas Mavericks (30-52)
- Los Angeles Lakers (28-53)
- Phoenix Suns (27-55)
- Sacramento Kings (27-55)
PREDICTIONS
Playoffs:
- WCF – Warriors > Rockets (4-3)
- ECF – Cavaliers > Wizards (4-3)
- Finals – Warriors > Cavaliers (4-2)
Trades:
- Eric Bledsoe, finally.
- Jahlil Okafor gets traded to a team that will also never use him.
First time All-Stars:
- Karl-Anthony Towns
- Bradley Beal
- Nikola Jokic
- Rudy Gobert
- Jeremy Lin
- Joel Embiid (if healthy)
Like how last year was defined by triple-doubles, Kevin Durant on the Warriors, and pettiness, this year will be remembered as the year that big men returned (KAT, Joker, Embiid, Gobert, Porzingis, and Maker). But even more so as yet another year of “Where will LeBron play next year?”
The best sports league in the world is back! NBA BACK!