Mr. E's "Don't mean @#$%" 2018/2019 Predictions

[Mr. E]

My preseason predictions are about as valid as any NBA "expert" you'll see on print or screen...so completely forgettable & useless. I am only focusing on the West, as that is where they are playing basketball. I know that some bias will play in, but it is hard to find any prediction that is free from any type of bias. I am not basing this on numbers, inside knowledge or paranormal ability.

Without further ado:

The West Playoff Teams:

1) Houston - yep. Our guys. Home court will mean more to Houston than anyone else again this year, including Golden State. While Harden & Paul may ease up a bit there are still a lot of guys with something to prove. The loss of Ariza & Luc will be the most-repeated thing about the Rockets, but the people that do that are ignoring everything else (including the little fact that Harden, Paul, Capela, Gordon & Tucker are all still here...they're kind of good, you know).

2) Golden State - Even at the #2, the Champs are still the favorites. I just don't think that they'll try as hard in the regular season as Houston. They have no reason to. Plus, I don't think that Cousins will fit in as well as they hope. The distraction over KD's future will be a negative for the squad as well.

3) Utah - They are really good...and that should say a lot about the gap between the top two and the rest of the West. They are an incomplete squad with a weak inner-identity and two star players who are easily mitigated by superior teams. They are going to be better than last year, but not approaching the Champs or Houston.

4) Denver - maybe a stretch for some here, but I think that these guys will really gel over the season, and they will be more cohesive than the teams I am putting behind them. They will have the third-strongest team identity in the West, but not enough talent to overtake the Jazz.

5) OKC – They will be the second-most dysfunctional team in the West. The talent will be there, but the turmoil will be even greater. We’ve seen the narratives with this team over and over again, and I don’t see it changing now. There is no Melo to blame this season.

6) San Antonio – Yep. I’m going with the oldies & Pop to do as Spurs do and make the playoffs. This team still has LMA & Derozan. Plus, Pop. They won’t make a big impact, but will surprise a lot of people. Surprise Team of the Year (which is weird to say about SAS)

7) Lakers – LeBron. That’s all. That is what this team will live & die by. I can’t shake the feeling that he’s focusing more on other things right now, though. While he’s playing they’ll be competitive, and could jump up the rankings…but again, I get the feeling that won’t happen. If for any reason he misses games I do not think that they win many of those. This will be the most dysfunctional team in the West.

8) Portland – I keep thinking that I should put them higher; but I guess that I’m sleeping on them like so many others. I just can’t get too enthused by a team fronted by Lillard & McCollum. They’ll win some games; but I just don’t know if this team has kept up the pace in the Western Conference Arms Race.


MVP – Should be Harden, but it will go to Kawhi
Coach of the Year – Pop (almost a “lifetime achievement” mentality on a really good season)
Defensive Player of the Year – Gobert
6th Man – Tatum
Most Improved – Jamal Murray
ROY - Ayton
All NBA 1st Team - Harden, Kawhi, Giannis, Davis & Curry
WCF – Rockets & Warriors
ECF – Celtics & Bucks(!)

[Coeur]

Good job. Like most of your picks.

Is Tatum coming off the bench?

That 3-6 or so range in the west is tough to pick

[inquisitive]

1st seed.... Gary Clark gets good minutes!