2023-24 season standings and award prediction thread

[Qwigglez]

The 2023-24 season is about 5 days away. Figured it was a good time to post your prediction on season standing, who you got winning it all, who wins what awards, and could even do all-star game appearances if you want as well.

I won't go as far as posting wins and losses except maybe for the Suns...

East:
1. Bucks
2. Celtics
3. Cavs
4. Nets
5. Heat
6. Sixers
7. Hawks
8. Raptors
9. Magic
10. Knicks

West:
1. Suns (61 wins)
2. Nuggets
3. Kings
4. Warriors
5. Clippers
6. Mavs
7. Lakers
8. Thunder
9. Wolves
10. Grizzlies



MVP -

Spoiler:

Devin Booker
The league won't want to crown Jokic as 3 in a row MVP winner, especially if the Suns end up with the No 1 seed.

Sixth Man -

Spoiler:

Chris Paul

Most Improved -

Spoiler:

Mikal Bridges

Rookie of the Year -

Spoiler:

Wemby

Will lock this thread once the season starts.

[Book1Nation]

East

1) Celtics
2) Bucks
3) Knicks
4) 76ers
5) Heat
6) Cavs
7) Nets
8) Raptors
9) Hawks
10) Pacers

West

1) Nuggets
2) Suns
3) Kings
4) Lakers
5) Warriors
6) Thunder
7) Clippers
8) Pelicans
9) Grizzlies
10) Timberwolves

But I have no clue.

[bwgood77]

MVP -

Spoiler:

Devin Booker
The league won't want to crown Jokic as 3 in a row MVP winner, especially if the Suns end up with the No 1 seed.

Embiid was MVP last year.

These are always hard. I just have to decide whether or not to anticipate injuries. Like, I would put the Clippers high if healthy, but will they be? I don't know, but I can't assume they won't be but the Suns will, etc.

So I may just have to do it assuming all teams are healthy.

Denver was the healthiest last year and it made the difference in regular season record, and probably for playoffs because they got to play all season together and of course have the best player.

[King4Day]

East

1) Celtics
2) Bucks
3) Nets
4) 76ers
5) Cavs
6) Heat
7) Knicks
8) Hornets
9) Hawks
10) Raptors

West


1) Nuggets
2) Suns (54-56 win range)
3) Lakers
4) Kings
5) Grizzlies
6) Mavericks
7) Clippers
8) Warriors
9) Thunder
10) Timberwolves

MVP - Luka

Sixth Man - Derrick White

Most Improved - Poole

Rookie of the Year - Chet

EDIT: With the Adams news, I altered my West standings.

[SunsRback4Good]

East

1) Celtics
2) Bucks
3) Nets
4) 76ers
5) Cavs
6) Heat
7) Knicks
8) Hornets
9) Hawks
10) Raptors

West

1) Grizzlies
2) Nuggets
3) Suns (54-56 win range)
4) Lakers
5) Kings
6) Mavericks
7) Clippers
8) Warriors
9) Thunder
10) Timberwolves

MVP - Luka

Sixth Man - Derrick White

Most Improved - Poole

Rookie of the Year - Chet

You have the Warriors pretty low. I see finishing top 4 unless they are riddled with injuries.

[bwgood77]

West again will be brutal and tough so I don't see anyone getting more than like 55 wins and I can see 5-6 teams between like 51-55.

If all healthy...

Suns
Denver

Next 3 are close...if Ja wasn't out Memphis would be 3, but Smart will help a ton...toughest D maybe with him, Bane, JJJ and Adams..and Clarke.

Clippers
Lakers
Memphis

GS
Sacramento
OKC

Houston
Utah
Portland
San Antonio

If health issues similar to last year...

Denver
Sacramento
Grizzlies
Suns
Lakers
Clippers
GS
OKC

for top 8.

It will be really tight barring major injury to superstar or multiple stars.

I could see any of top 5 being in any order...and even GS could be really tough if Paul, Curry, Draymond, Klay, Wiggins, etc, healthy.

East:

Celtics
Bucks

This is where it gets really tough. Probably

Cleveland
Philly (really depends on Harden and Maxey)

Knicks
Heat
Hawks
Raptors
Nets
Pacers
Magic
Bulls

Hornets
Pistons
Wizards

Hornets and Pistons could jump depending on Cade, LaMelo..

[Qwigglez]

Embiid was MVP last year.

Good catch. I haven't been sleeping lately and my memory has been terrible because of it Actually, looking at the standings for 2022-23 season I didn't realize the Nuggets actually had only the 4th best record behind the Bucks, Celtics, and Sixers. And actually, looking at the top 5 in MVP voting last season, it appears Booker will have to post huge career numbers in order for him to get an MVP award. While I think Booker could very well average over 30 PPG, over 7 assists, and 6 rebounds, I'm unsure if he could do that with KD and Beal on the team, nor should he have to.

[bwgood77]

Embiid was MVP last year.

Good catch. I haven't been sleeping lately and my memory has been terrible because of it Actually, looking at the standings for 2022-23 season I didn't realize the Nuggets actually had only the 4th best record behind the Bucks, Celtics, and Sixers. And actually, looking at the top 5 in MVP voting last season, it appears Booker will have to post huge career numbers in order for him to get an MVP award. While I think Booker could very well average over 30 PPG, over 7 assists, and 6 rebounds, I'm unsure if he could do that with KD and Beal on the team, nor should he have to.

I think Book has a good chance, but I think Tatum will have a good chance too. He seems to be more liked around the league and higher ranked (not that I think he deserves it) and Book may not get as much credit since many seem to think KD is better, though based on the playoffs it didn't appear that way, so that could change this year.

Then I think Giannis has a good chance, not having won it in 3 years and they could be better this year.

And with more of an outside chance, if a lot of the top teams have injuries and OKC or Dallas have crazy good years, SGA or Luka have a chance.

OKC was really tough last year and if Chet plus their new players add a lot, plus the young players continue to improve, they could be very tough. I think their team is probably better now than they were when they tied for the 4th seed with Paul, but the west is also a lot tougher.

I would probably say the chances are something like:

Giannis
Tatum
Jokic
Booker
Embiid
SGA
Luka

then there could be someone else if like an LA team finishes atop the standings and Kawhi or AD finish atop the standings...either of them could easily get it.

[lilfishi22]

East:
1. Celtics
2. Bucks
3. Cavs
4. Heat
5. Nets
6. Sixers
7. Knicks
8. Hawks
9. Pacers
10. Raptors

West:
1. Suns (57 wins)
2. Nuggets
3. Warriors
4. Kings
5. Clippers
6. Lakers
7. Mavs
8. Thunder
9. Grizzlies
10. Pelicans



MVP -

Spoiler:

My heart: Booker.
My head: Jokic

Sixth Man -

Spoiler:

Eric Gordon

Most Improved -

Spoiler:

Mikal Bridges

Rookie of the Year -

Spoiler:

Wemby

Edit: Had Grizzlies way too low. I don't think they are a play-in team unless Ja does more stupid ish which is entirely possible but I'm assuming decent health and no craziness from any team.
Edit 2: Forgot to put in Heat

[Fifii]

East

1) Celtics
2) Bucks
3) Cavs
4) 76ers
5) Heat
6) Knicks
7) Nets
8) Raptors
9) Hawks
10) Raptors

West

1) Nuggets
2) Suns
3) Lakers
4) Warriors
5) Kings
6) Memphis
7) Clippers
8) Dallas
9) Timberwolves
10) Thunder

MVP

Spoiler:

Devin Booker

Sixth Man

Spoiler:

Tim Hardaway Jr

Most Improved

Spoiler:

DeAndre Ayton

Rookie of the Year

Spoiler:

Henderson

[Calvin Klein]

I thought I was the only thinking Booker might have a good chance to win MVP but it looks like we're all homers after all

[bwgood77]

Would be good to put some money on it. Put down $100, can win between $1,800 and $2K. That fanduel LeBron odds are crazy. I don't think he will win, but it is possible if the Lakers finish 1st in the west (though seems like AD should be ahead....but LeBron has tons of fans, probably even from media). But despite no one here wanting him to win it, putting $20 to win $1K seems like taking advantage of odds that seem off.

[bwgood77]

I totally forgot about the Pelicans. They were in 1st last year before they started having injuries and then at the end of the season made a comeback, but fell short in the play in. They have a wide range of potential finishes too.

[sunskerr]

I can see some of the Lakers, Kings, and Wolves not making the playoffs this year, mainly from internal improvement of the Pelicans and Thunder, and if LeBron declines significantly (which for him is still over 20 ppg). Dallas could be good too with internal improvement from Hardy and Green, and if Lively is a real rotation player in his rookie year.

[bwgood77]

Well, I had Memphis is 5th, but in the 3rd-5th range. With Adams out, if other teams stay healthy, I drop them to 9th...since I had forgotten about the Pelicans, who could finish anywhere from 3-9.

[lilfishi22]

Well, I had Memphis is 5th, but in the 3rd-5th range. With Adams out, if other teams stay healthy, I drop them to 9th...since I had forgotten about the Pelicans, who could finish anywhere from 3-9.

Just when I changed my standings to put some respect on their name. That's a pretty big blow.

[darealjuice]

East:

Spoiler:

1. Celtics
2. Bucks
3. Cavs
4. Knicks
5. Sixers
6. Heat
7. Hawks
8. Nets
9. Pacers
10. Raptors

Pretty wide gap between the top 2 teams out East and the rest of the pack. Excited to see the Celtics and Bucks match up, Jrue has always been tough for Dame. Sixers will drop off with the Harden drama, but they still have a strong enough roster to stay competitive. Hawks with a full offseason with Quin Snyder should be a stronger team. Pacers will be a fun team to watch this year, they have solid depth, and Brown and Toppin are solid additions for them. Magic should be in the running for a play-in spot too

West:

Spoiler:

1. Nuggets
2. Suns
3. Warriors
4. Clippers
5. Lakers
6. Kings
7. Wolves
8. Grizzlies
9. Pelicans
10. Thunder

West is a blood bath this year. Hard to predict with a good mix of experienced contenders and young teams aiming to take the next step. I'm confident the Blazers will be the worst team, but even they could be relatively competitive if Scoot has a strong rookie year and Ayton pans out. Mavs will be competitive with Luka and Kyrie, I don't think their roster stacks up with the healthy Pelicans or Thunder though. Spurs could make a run if Wemby lives up to the hype, but not sure they have the depth or high end talent around him with how strong the West is.

MVP:

Spoiler:

Nikola Jokic

Best player, best record, strong narrative after Embiid last year and dominant playoff run.

6MOY:

Spoiler:

Norman Powell

Really good scorer off the bench for a strong team usually ends up winning. CP3 is a fun pick too, seems like he might have a good role cut out for him.

MIP:

Spoiler:

Mikal Bridges

Will get all of the opportunity in the world to take the next leap, and he looked like he was ready for it last year. Already playing at a high level with the Nets last year might hurt the narrative. I could see Maxey taking a step up with Harden out too.

Rookie of the Year:

Spoiler:

Victor Wembanyama

Expecting him to hit the ground running. He looks skilled on offense and extremely impactful on defense already. Hard to see anyone in the running outside of him, Chet, and Scoot.

[sunsbg]

Don't care much about anything else other than staying healthy and with better depth finishing in front of DEN in RS, so they don't have the altitude and home court advantage in the playoffs. Outside the Suns there are a few teams worth watching for fun.

1. Suns
2. Nuggets
...

[8on]

East:
1. Celtics
2. Bucks
3. Cavs
4. Knicks
5. Magic
6. Nets
7. Sixers
8. Bulls
9. Heat
10. Hawks

West:
1. Suns (52-30, can't expect the big 3 to give us 60 games each)
2. Kings
3. Thunder
4. Nuggets
5. Lakers
6. Warriors
7. TWolves
8. Jazz
9. Clippers
10. Mavs

MVP
Jayson Tatum

6MOY
Eric Gordon

MIP
Jonathan Kuminga

ROY
Victor Wembanyama (or is it....Chet?)

[sunsbum]

Suns.