2020 PREDICTIONS? Lineups, Playoffs Matchups, Breakouts, MVP, 6Man, ROY, DPOY, etc?

[50CalClips]

Clippers-specific and NBA-in general predictions for 2020:

MVP - Giannis Antetokounmpo; Donovan Mitchell will get 1st Place votes, despite not being 2019 All-Star
DPOY - Patrick Beverley
6th-Man - Montrezl Harrell
ROY - Zion WIlliamson
MIP - Kevon Looney (might double his production from 2019; 6.3, 5.2, 1.5)
COY - Quin Snyder, Utah Jazz

Clippers Starting Lineup without Paul George, if he misses the first few weeks of the season (recovering from surgery)?
PG - Pat Beverley
SG - Landry Shamet
SF - Kawhi Leonard
PF - JaMychal Green
C - Ivica Zubac

Clippers Roles:
- Pat Beverley will win Defensive Player of the Year, leading the best Defensive team in the league
- Landry Shamet will play PG and SG and will take a good chunk of Lou Williams minutes/attempts; MIP Candidate
- Kawhi will put up career-high average in Assists
- Mfiondu Kabengele will be the fan-favorite (when he eventually gets minutes)
- Lou Williams will be load-managed more than Kawhi or George (save him for 4th Qtr and Playoffs)

[50CalClips]

Playoff Matchups:

1 - L.A. Clippers
8 - Warrior

4 - Nuggets
5 - Rockets

2 - Jazz
7 - Mavericks

3 - L.B. Lakers
6 - Blazers

===============

1 - Bucks
8 - Pistons

4 - Pacers
5 - Celtics

2 - 76ers
7 - Heat

3 - Nets
6 - Raptors

[50CalClips]

Breakout/Most Improved candidates:


MVP CANDIDATES:

DONOVAN MITCHELL, G, Utah Jazz - 3rd year, age 23
Will receive 2020 MVP 1st Place Votes but wasn't even an All-Star in 2019! Already high in usage-rate, his improvement will come by way of efficiency, thanks to the additions of Bojan Bogdanovic and Mike Conley. With Utah conceivably winning 55+ games, lead the West, Mitchell won't be over-looked in 2020.
23.8 pts, 4.1 rebs, 4.2 asts, 1.4 stls, 0.4 blks
33.7 mins, 77 starts/77 games
19.9 FGA, .493 eFG, 31.6 usage

...[to be continued]...


ALL-NBA TEAM CANDIDATES:

LUKA DONCIC, SG, Dallas Mavericks - 2nd year, age 20
The 2019 Rookie of the Year will lift his team into the Playoffs. Kristaps Porzingis, returning from injury, takes a back seat to Luka. He'll will knock Kemba, Westbrook, or Lillard off the All-NBA Team 3-deep roster.
21.2 pts, 7.8 rebs, 6.0 asts, 1.1 stls, 0.3 blks
32.2 mins, 72 stats/72 games
34.8 FGA, .497 eFG, 30.5 usage

...[to be continued]...


ALL-STAR CANDIDATES:

JONAS VALANCIUNAS, C, Memphis Grizzlies - 7th year, age 27
Already had a mini, late-season, "breakout" after Toronto trade to Memphis in 2019, but still only started 27 games on 11.0 FGA for the season. Won't do a lot of winning in Memphis, but I'm projecting 23 pts and 12 rebs, and may be difficult to ignore.
15.6 pts, 8.6 rebs, 1.4 asts, 0.4 stls, 1.1 blks
22.3 mins, 27 starts/49 games
11.0 FGA, .572 eFG, 28.5 usage

PASCAL SIAKAM, PF, Toronto Raptors - 4th year, age 25
Showed his potential in the Playoffs. Among all the Raptors, Siakam will step-up the most to fill the holes left by Kawhi and Green.
16.9 pts, 6.9 rebs, 3.1 asts, 0.9 stls, 0.7 blks
31.9 mins, 79 starts/80 games
11.8 FGA, .591 eFG, 20.8 usage


...[to be continued]...


MOST IMPROVED PLAYER AWARD CANDIDATES:

SHAI GIL-ALEXANDER, G, OKC Thunder - 2nd year, age 21
Things will be completely wide open in OKC for our guy Shai. I could see him leading the team in Scoring and Usage Rate over Chris Paul and Danilo Gallinari.
10.8 pts, 2.8 rebs, 3.3 asts, 1.2 stls, 0.5 blks
26.5 mins, 73 starts/82 games
8.7 FGA, .503 eFG, 18.3 usage

KEVON LOONEY, C, G State Warriors - 5th year, age 23
After four years of gradual progress, the timing is perfect for a breakout season for Looney. He'll have the of opportunity to step up; no Durant, no Klay, no Cousins.
6.3 pts, 3.9 rebs, 1.5 asts, 0.6 stls, 0.7 blks
4.3 FGA, .627 eFG, 12.8 usage, 6.0 win-share
18.5 minutes, 24 starts


...[to be continued]...


CLIPPERS MOST IMPROVED CANDIDATES:

LANDRY SHAMET,G , L.A. Clippers - 2nd year, age 22
Move over Lou Will and Montrezl, the Clips have yet another 6th-Man of the Year Candidate. The steal of the 2019 Draft. The steal of the Tobias/Phila trade. Starter for the Clippers last season, Landry will play back-up to MVP-candidate, Paul George, MVP-candidate, Kawhi, and All-Defense candidate, Pat Bev... and will still prove to be one of the most improved players. Landry "Luxury" Shamet is too good not to get minutes; at PG, SG, SF, anywhere he can find them.
10.9 pts, 1.7 rebs, 1.5 asts, 0.5 stls, 0.1 blks
22.8 mins, 27 starts/79 games
7.1 FGA, .581 eFG, 15.0 usage

IVICA ZUBAC, C, L.A. Clippers - 4th year, age 22
Promising big man had a "sophomore slump," but things are trending up heading into his 4th season.
8.9 pts, 6.1 rebs, 1.1 asts, 0.2 stls, 0.9 blks
17.6 mins, 37 starts/59 games
6.4 FGA, .559 eFG, 20.3 usage

[esqtvd]

fun stuff, Mr. 50

good to see you over here from the defunct [and unlamented] Scout.com board