Since it's prediction season I thought we could have a thread for posting your personal predictions for the upcoming NBA season! Post who you think is going to win MVP, Rookie of the year, Defensive player of the year, Most improved and NBA champion!
Post away!
Awards/Championship Prediction Thread
Moderator: G R E Y
Awards/Championship Prediction Thread
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Nolan
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Awards/Championship Prediction Thread
@bruce_arthur "And finally, as a whore." RT @docfunk "Here is what LeBron looks like as a Knick, a Fireman, an Astronaut..."
Re: Awards/Championship Prediction Thread
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-Sammy-
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Re: Awards/Championship Prediction Thread
FINALS: GS over CLE
My Finals prediction is the same as pretty much everyone else's, and though I'll be pulling hard for Cleveland again if it happens, I think the trophy goes back to Oakland. I don't think GS is quite the juggernaut some do, as they gave up a lot of depth for KD, but rotations shorten in the playoffs and it really does tend to be about the talent at the top of the rotation. If the matchup happens, though, and LBJ leads the Cavs to a series win over the Ws again, he goes to #2 all-time on my list.
I'll hit my individual award predictions up in a bit.
My Finals prediction is the same as pretty much everyone else's, and though I'll be pulling hard for Cleveland again if it happens, I think the trophy goes back to Oakland. I don't think GS is quite the juggernaut some do, as they gave up a lot of depth for KD, but rotations shorten in the playoffs and it really does tend to be about the talent at the top of the rotation. If the matchup happens, though, and LBJ leads the Cavs to a series win over the Ws again, he goes to #2 all-time on my list.
I'll hit my individual award predictions up in a bit.
Re: Awards/Championship Prediction Thread
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Nolan
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Re: Awards/Championship Prediction Thread
Yeah I've got Golden State winning it all as well. It's kinda hard to justify picking anyone else.
As for the others:
MVP - Russell Westbrook - He's gonna have a **** you all type year and tear it up and because of that I can see the Thunder sneaking into one of the bottom 2 or 3 slots in the western conference playoff picture which should be enough to legitimize him as a true MVP.
DPOY - Kawhi Leonard - Our defense doesn't much of a step back or doesn't step back at all with Duncan gone and he three peats.
ROY - Joel Embiid - Kinda of a darkhorse pick but he's looked sensational in preseason, which I know doesn't mean much. But the talent is obviously there and if he stays healthy he can run away with the ROY race. Jamal Murray would of been my second pick, another kinda out there pick but the kid can score and with Harris out for a bit he could establish himself as a key player for the Nuggets early on.
MIP - Kent Bazemore - This was a tough one. I was originally going to pick one of Steven Adams or Dennis Schroder, two young talented third year players that are going to take on expanded roles this year. But I changed my mind and went with Kent Bazemore. He poised to take on a bigger offensive role in Atlanta and I can really see him excelling this year and becoming their number two behind Milsap.
As for the others:
MVP - Russell Westbrook - He's gonna have a **** you all type year and tear it up and because of that I can see the Thunder sneaking into one of the bottom 2 or 3 slots in the western conference playoff picture which should be enough to legitimize him as a true MVP.
DPOY - Kawhi Leonard - Our defense doesn't much of a step back or doesn't step back at all with Duncan gone and he three peats.
ROY - Joel Embiid - Kinda of a darkhorse pick but he's looked sensational in preseason, which I know doesn't mean much. But the talent is obviously there and if he stays healthy he can run away with the ROY race. Jamal Murray would of been my second pick, another kinda out there pick but the kid can score and with Harris out for a bit he could establish himself as a key player for the Nuggets early on.
MIP - Kent Bazemore - This was a tough one. I was originally going to pick one of Steven Adams or Dennis Schroder, two young talented third year players that are going to take on expanded roles this year. But I changed my mind and went with Kent Bazemore. He poised to take on a bigger offensive role in Atlanta and I can really see him excelling this year and becoming their number two behind Milsap.
@bruce_arthur "And finally, as a whore." RT @docfunk "Here is what LeBron looks like as a Knick, a Fireman, an Astronaut..."
Re: Awards/Championship Prediction Thread
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-Sammy-
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Re: Awards/Championship Prediction Thread
I think this has the potential to be one of the very wildest MVP races of all time. I tend to agree with your reasoning regarding WB, and if the criteria were strictly statistical contribution, I think he'd be a lock (assuming health), but the WC doesn't have quite as many heavy-hitters as it's had in years past, what with OKC's de-balling, Houston's unexpected semi-reboot, Memphis and Dallas' slow fades, and the teams with the best young talent still in up-and-coming mode (N.O., Utah, and to a lesser extent Minnesota). In my opinion, GS, SA, and the Clips are the only teams we can ink-in for 50-win seasons.
All that to say I don't think WB leading OKC to a low playoff seed will have the same cachet it would've a few years ago, with the bulk of the conference's playoff teams likely jostling around in the 42-48 win pool, and I expect the conventional guidelines, of the MVP being on a 50-win, top-four seed, to hold.
Frankly, that doesn't leave a lot of options. KD and Curry render each other mostly obsolete here-- especially given the Heatles effect, which will neutralize both players' candidacy the way LBJ and Wade teaming up did to theirs. Harden and Lillard are in the same position as WB, given their teams' probable seasons. LBJ is the default, but he'll likely cruise through the RS; Leonard and CP3 are obvious candidates...
...but I've got my pick narrowed down to Paul George or Blake Griffin. I think Griffin wants to re-assert himself as a top player after his lost year, and I think Indy is primed to improve just enough to justify giving it to an all-around stud like PG. This just 'feels' like an outlier year for MVP, and those two are in the best positions to be that outlier.
All that to say I don't think WB leading OKC to a low playoff seed will have the same cachet it would've a few years ago, with the bulk of the conference's playoff teams likely jostling around in the 42-48 win pool, and I expect the conventional guidelines, of the MVP being on a 50-win, top-four seed, to hold.
Frankly, that doesn't leave a lot of options. KD and Curry render each other mostly obsolete here-- especially given the Heatles effect, which will neutralize both players' candidacy the way LBJ and Wade teaming up did to theirs. Harden and Lillard are in the same position as WB, given their teams' probable seasons. LBJ is the default, but he'll likely cruise through the RS; Leonard and CP3 are obvious candidates...
...but I've got my pick narrowed down to Paul George or Blake Griffin. I think Griffin wants to re-assert himself as a top player after his lost year, and I think Indy is primed to improve just enough to justify giving it to an all-around stud like PG. This just 'feels' like an outlier year for MVP, and those two are in the best positions to be that outlier.
Re: Awards/Championship Prediction Thread
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-Sammy-
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Re: Awards/Championship Prediction Thread
DPOY- I think this goes to Green. Voter fatigue will prevent Kawhi's three-peat, and the voters will be eager to reward Green, as many folks thought he got robbed in at least one of Kawhi's seasons. My dark-horse is Whiteside.
ROY- I tend to agree with Nolan on Embiid, though this will largely come down to how quickly Simmons recovers and what he's able to do when he gets back, and Embiid and Simmons could cannibalize each other's chances here. I like Buddy Hield if that happens.
MIP- I'm digging the Schröder pick, but I'm going to take Porzingis. I think he's going to be much-improved in season two, and with the press perpetually desperate to shine light on the Knicks, I think his improvement and likely all-star selection will be enough for them to give it to him, even if he isn't the most deserving player.
ROY- I tend to agree with Nolan on Embiid, though this will largely come down to how quickly Simmons recovers and what he's able to do when he gets back, and Embiid and Simmons could cannibalize each other's chances here. I like Buddy Hield if that happens.
MIP- I'm digging the Schröder pick, but I'm going to take Porzingis. I think he's going to be much-improved in season two, and with the press perpetually desperate to shine light on the Knicks, I think his improvement and likely all-star selection will be enough for them to give it to him, even if he isn't the most deserving player.