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[ecuhus1981]

I would like to discuss predictions for the upcoming season. You can go into depth as to why you choose the players and teams you did, or leave it for us to argue! My one request: bold opinions, that you firmly believe.

Here's my list:

Champs: Nets, obvs (over Indy in 5, then Philly in 6, then Milwaukee in 5, then LAL in 6)

MVP: Embiid (they're gonna end up trading Ben for the sake of locker room harmony. Joel's gonna beast out of necessity). Harden 5th and Durant 6th in voting

All-NBA 1st Team: Curry, James (even though Harden will easily deserve it more), Durant, Antetokounmpo, Embiid

All-Star Snubs: Lavine, Alexander, Williamson (gets in as injury sub), Morant

RotY: Jalen Green (it'll be a very close 3- way race w/ Suggs and Cunningham, though)

MIP: Marcus Smart

6MotY: Derrick Rose (but Payne should get it)

DPotY: Rudy Gobert (le sigh)

CotY: Erik Spoelstra

All-Rookie 1st Team: Suggs, Green, Cunningham, Murphy, Sengün

All-Rookie 2nd Team: Mitchell, Thomas, Duarte, Barnes, Mobley

[Papi_swav]

Nets in 4

[Prokorov]

I think the nets are going to lose alot more regular season games then most predict. its about health again not just with the big 3 but guys like blake and johnson and mills. We have more depth and defenders but Nash is still a huge detriment when he cant rely on multiple stars.

I think closer to 55 wins then 60+.

Nets win the title with even decent health. But I can easily see Miami beating us too. They have a 60+ win team with 2 way guys all over and an elite coach. They are this years hurdle. Lakers i think will be worse and again fight to stay out of the play-in round. Clips are trash without Kawhi. Jazz dont scare me but they didnt scare me last year and had the #1 record so cant ignore that. Denver is meh. suns are meh. Bucks are meh especially without PJ tucker to harass durant.

Dont get why people continuially pimp philly. its been 5 years now where they cant do squat even if embid gives them 30/15. Thats why you dont talk, it clutivates a losing culture. Embiid is like a better vucevic. pretty numbers impressive shooting but overall he isnt a guy who carrys you to a title

For me tis re ally just the heat and nets. the nets 6 teams will be in a jumble. and no one out west scares me. if i had to pick RS records:

Heat
Bucks
Nets
Philly
Raptors
Hawks
Hornets
Celtics/Knicks/pacers/wiz

Denver
GSW
Jazz
Dallas
Portland
Suns
LAkers
clippers/NOP/Griss/kings

MVP: Butler/jokic/Curry

MIP: Holmes

6MOY: patty

DPOY: Jrue

[LOUiS-D]

This one might have a rapid expiry date if the twittersphere is to be believed...

DJ stays and proves useful in the regular season, gets some burn in the playoffs in the right match ups. He finds that chemistry with Harden that we saw glimpses of. He squeezes the maximum juice out of the aging rim running big body post only defender role. Still gets played off the floor when picked on, but the efficiency is undeniable. He pouts less and the effort is consistently there. Averages 20+ minutes on the season with a 20 PER.

[Prokorov]

This one might have a rapid expiry date if the twittersphere is to be believed...

DJ stays and proves useful in the regular season, gets some burn in the playoffs in the right match ups. He finds that chemistry with Harden that we saw glimpses of. He squeezes the maximum juice out of the aging rim running big body post only defender role. Still gets played off the floor when picked on, but the efficiency is undeniable. He pouts less and the effort is consistently there. Averages 20+ minutes on the season with a 20 PER.

this is what should happen.... there is 0 excuse not to play 15 minutes of a rim runner on this team and with james harden. if claxton is that guy, awesome, but he has been somewhat inconsistent on offense, even as a guy being spoonfed.

DJ isnt some washed scrub. some effort issues but as a rim runner he is top 5-10 in the league sitll and he can finsih lobs with the best of them.

We need to get over the obsession to play 5 shooters as often as possible. with the big 3, you dont need much spacing and we will always have at least 3 shooters at all times anyhow. 4 is a luxury, 5 is awesome at times but can hurt you sometimes too. people talk about spacing the the floor, but some of our opponents benefitted from not having to play a center and not having to defend the rim because we had all jumpshooters.

I think Marks made a smart move, and kind of forced nash's hands with this roster. Bembry, Brown, Johnson, Claxton... Nash is forced to play some of these guys who defend/finish and dont shoot well.

[CalamityX12]

Getting older n less athletic is the way to go!!!!

[MrDollarBills]

I really see no reason to get rid of Jordan, but whatever. Nash is going to have us playing small with Blake at center so I guess it's irrelevant.

[HardenGoat]

With Mills running the second unit and fitting in superbly we are a 65+ win team. Harden is going to be at the top of his game and hungry. Heat is definitely the hurdle this year and will get second seed. Bucks 3rd and Philly 4th. Lakers are going to fizzle out after a good start. Top west teams are Denver, GSW, Phoenix, and Utah.

[Prokorov]

With Mills running the second unit and fitting in superbly we are a 65+ win team. Harden is going to be at the top of his game and hungry. Heat is definitely the hurdle this year and will get second seed. Bucks 3rd and Philly 4th. Lakers are going to fizzle out after a good start. Top west teams are Denver, GSW, Phoenix, and Utah.

65+ wins is rare. like only 16 teams ever type rare. like Jordans bulls, kareems lakers, lebrons superteams type rare. wilt/oscar rare.

We are talented enough to do it. but we likely wont, nor should we try to. Kyrie/durant wont play enough to do it. Harden shouldnt try and play enough to do it. Nash isnt a good enough coach to scrap together the wins during rest/injury/adversity/back to backs.

60 is within reach but i think 55-58 is more likely.

I dont think any of the big 3 care about 65 wins. i think they care about being healthy in the playoffs and down the stretch