2016-17 NBA Predictions

NBA

The NBA is back! Tonight the Cavaliers will receive their championship rings before facing the new look Knicks in Cleveland. It just so happens that the Indians will be hosting Game 1 of the World Series at the same time. It is a good time to be a Cleveland sports fan… well at least the Browns might get the #1 pick.

NBA LogoThe NBA off-season was jam packed with new developments. The Knicks acquired Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah and Courtney Lee to join Carmelo Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis in the starting line-up as well as Brandon Jennings to lead their completely redone bench. Dwayne Wade actually left Miami to join his hometown Chicago Bulls, joining fellow new addition Rajon Rondo and their remaining superstar Jimmy Butler. Honestly, I don’t know how well that trio will mesh, three ball dominant guards and neither can shoot the three ball.

Perhaps the biggest signing of the entire off-season was Kevin Durant joining the Golden State Warriors to form the greatest super team in history (at least on paper). I don’t expect the Warriors to win 73 games again though, as I do think that they will take some time to gel together, similar to when Bosh and LeBron joined Wade in Miami. Will there be enough ball to keep Curry, Durant, Green, Thompson happy? I think they will probably end up making that work, but they will be exposed with the lack of depth on the bench and essentially zero rim protection (sorry Zaza, but he is a major downgrade from Bogut and Ezeli).

With all of these new developments, and a plethora of others not mentioned above, here is how I see the NBA season unfolding:

Eastern Conference:

Southeast Division:

  1. Wizards
  2. Magic
  3. Hawks
  4. Hornets
  5. Heat
 Atlantic Division:

  1. Celtics
  2. Raptors
  3. Knicks
  4. 76ers
  5. Nets
 Central Division:

  1. Cavaliers
  2. Pacers
  3. Bucks
  4. Bulls
  5. Pistons

Western Conference:

Southwest Division:

  1. Spurs
  2. Rockets
  3. Grizzlies
  4. Mavericks
  5. Pelicans
 Pacific Division:

  1. Warriors
  2. Clippers
  3. Suns
  4. Lakers
  5. Kings
 Northwest Division:

  1. Blazers
  2. Thunder
  3. Timberwolves
  4. Jazz
  5. Nuggets

Playoffs:

East:

  1. Cavaliers
  2. Celtics
  3. Raptors
  4. Wizards
  5. Pacers
  6. Bucks
  7. Knicks
  8. Magic
 West:

  1. Warriors
  2. Spurs
  3. Blazers
  4. Clippers
  5. Thunder
  6. Rockets
  7. Timberwolves
  8. Grizzlies

Eastern Conference Finals: Cavs over Celtics

Western Conference Finals: Warriors over Blazers

NBA Finals: Warriors over Cavs

MVP: James Harden
Defensive Player of the Year: Kawhi Leonard (3-peat)
Rookie of the Year: Kris Dunn (3-peat for the Timberwolves)
Sixth Man of the Year: Brandon Jennings
Most Improved Player: Victor Oladipo
Coach of the Year: Frank Vogel

Thoughts? Do you agree or disagree?

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