2018-19 NBA Season Predictions

Mike's Pick of the Day, NBA

The NBA is back! We had a jammed packed off-season with all sorts of player movement and drama. The NBA is doing a ton right in terms of keeping the NBA relevant and interesting. The other sports leagues should be taking notes.NBA Logo

Most notably of all, we will have a new representative from the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals. With LeBron’s decision to leave Cleveland and join the Lakers, for the first time since the 2009-10 NBA Finals, LeBron’s team will not be the Eastern Conference representative.

And finally, there is at least a possibility that the Warriors won’t make the Finals this year, it may be microscopic, but it is there. The West is absolutely loaded, especially compared to the East. Expect to hear plenty of talk around March about how the NBA should allow the best 16 teams regardless of conference to make the playoffs.

Now on to the predictions:

Atlantic Division:

  1. Toronto Raptors
  2. Boston Celtics
  3. Philadelphia 76ers
  4. Brooklyn Nets
  5. New York Knicks
 Central Division:

  1. Milwaukee Bucks
  2. Indiana Pacers
  3. Detroit Pistons
  4. Cleveland Cavaliers
  5. Chicago Bulls
 Southeast Division:

  1. Washington Wizards
  2. Miami Heat
  3. Charlotte Hornets
  4. Atlanta Hawks
  5. Orlando Magic
Northwest Division:

  1. Utah Jazz
  2. Oklahoma City Thunder
  3. Denver Nuggets
  4. Portland Trailblazers
  5. Minnesota Timberwolves
 Pacific Division:

  1. Golden State Warriors
  2. Los Angeles Lakers
  3. Los Angeles Clippers
  4. Phoenix Suns
  5. Sacramento Kings
 Southwest Division:

  1. Houston Rockets
  2. New Orleans Pelicans
  3. San Antonio Spurs
  4. Dallas Mavericks
  5. Memphis Grizzlies

Playoffs:

Eastern Conference:

  1. Raptors
  2. Celtics
  3. 76ers
  4. Bucks
  5. Pacers
  6. Wizards
  7. Heat
  8. Pistons
 Western Conference:

  1. Warriors
  2. Rockets
  3. Jazz
  4. Thunder
  5. Lakers
  6. Nuggets
  7. Pelicans
  8. Blazers

Eastern Conference Finals: Celtics over Raptors
Western Conference Finals: Warriors over Rockets
NBA Finals: Warriors over Celtics

Awards:

MVP: Kawhi Leonard (Raptors)
Rookie of the Year: Ben Simmons (76ers) (just kidding) Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Clippers)
Coach of the Year: Nick Nurse (Raptors)
Defensive Player of the Year: Anthony Davis (Pelicans)
Sixth Man of the Year: Terry Rozier (Celtics)
Most Improved: Brandon Ingram (Lakers)

Hot Take: At least two Western Conference teams won’t make the playoffs that would’ve made the playoffs if they were in the East.

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