What I’m most trying ahead to …
I can’t wait to see what Anthony Edwards seems like after his first style of playoff success and a summer time to absorb inspiration from taking part in alongside his heroes. Because the lone No 1 general choose remaining on the Wolves with the departure of Karl-Anthony Cities, the keys to the franchise at the moment are his. He’s primed for a real breakout season. CDL
LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Stephen Curry’s makes an attempt to channel Tom Brady. Whereas the trio are nonetheless taking part in at a excessive stage with no hints of retirement, a brand new crop of stars are rising. Just like Brady’s remaining seasons with Tampa Bay, LeBron, KD, and Steph will problem youthful NBA stars to show their reign is over. AS
Within the latter half of final season, the NBA appeared to shift from permitting ticky-tack fouls to letting the gamers play extra bodily. Refs might swallow their whistles. I grew up within the period of Nineties basketball the place remaining scores have been typically within the 60s. And whereas we don’t want to return to that, my hope is that the league will focus extra on bodily play and cease permitting guys like James Harden to trick refs into 10,000 foul calls per recreation. JU
Largest offseason improvement …
The splashiest commerce this summer time was actually the Cities / Julius Randle swap between New York and Minnesota, however personally I’m most intrigued by the first large commerce the Knicks made this summer time: buying Mikail Bridges from neighboring Brooklyn. Bridges is simply what the Knicks have been lacking, they usually’re now effectively positioned to provide Boston a run for his or her cash. CDL
New hope for the Knicks. Since 1973, Knicks followers have entered most seasons holding unreasonable expectations of successful the title. This season, that dream might be realized. With Jalen Brunson taking part in at an All-NBA stage, the offseason additions of Bridges and Cities place the Knicks in a major place to dethrone the Celtics. AS
The splashiest have been Paul George to Philly and Cities to New York. And whereas I’m extra within the latter than the previous there, what the basketball nerd in me is most trying ahead to seeing are the additions in Oklahoma Metropolis. Typically, to win a championship means to make the fitting strikes on the margins and the Thunder getting Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein was a coup. JU
The shock bundle might be …
This has already been mentioned an excessive amount of by diehards to be a “shock,” however the basketball viewing public has, as an entire, forgotten in regards to the Memphis Grizzlies. And that’s a mistake, as a result of Ja Morant is on a revenge tour, GG Jackson had a breakout season, and Dillon Brooks has been changed by the equally spicy however extra mature Marcus Sensible. Memphis might be a surefire playoff workforce. CDL
The Grizzlies and Morant’s return. It’s straightforward to overlook that earlier than Morant’s off-the-court mishaps and season-ending harm, the Grizzlies have been the No 2 workforce within the West. If Morant returns to high kind and steers away from off-court shenanigans, the Grizzlies have sufficient to realize a deep playoff run. AS
The Orlando Magic will soar out to one thing like a 20-5 begin and folks will start to surprise if they’re a title contender. And whereas they in the end is not going to be, the workforce would be the darling of the NBA and grow to be some of the enticing locations for probably disgruntled stars like Giannis. JU
The LeBron James-Bronny James link-up is …
Actually, actually cool, however inflicting a variety of overblown hand-wringing. The youthful James will in all probability spend most (if not all) of his season within the G-League. This quantity of hullabaloo over a late second-round choose is outsized. CDL
A second that must be cherished as a result of it might not occur once more. The rarity of a father-son duo within the NBA will make it a must-see occasion the primary time it occurs within the common season. However the critics gained’t be type as Bronny endures his rookie studying curve. AS
Cute, good, historic. However in the end it gained’t matter by way of the last word purpose. I hope Bronny is sweet. I hope he will get time to develop. Debating nepotism is pointless on this case: it’s simply not that essential on the subject of the precise video games. Although, if JJ Redick can flip Bronny right into a participant, that might be spectacular. JU
One daring prediction …
Denver could also be in additional bother than many assume. They misplaced a couple of essential supporting forged members, they usually’re including Russell Westbrook, who has a notoriously brief honeymoon interval. The remainder of the West has gotten higher round them, and it’ll take a herculean effort from Nikola Jokić to ensure they aren’t the worst they’ve been in years. CDL
The Lakers will wrestle to make the playoffs. LeBron and Anthony Davis will proceed to place up All-NBA numbers, however the Lakers is not going to beat the Warriors to the ultimate playoff spot. The end result might be Redick’s first season as Lakers head coach being his final – a chance he jokingly acknowledged. AS
Jimmy Butler might be traded. His time is simply up. He’s recognized for acrimonious exits and the Warmth don’t need to give him an enormous sum of money as they start to reset and he approaches his late 30s. If and after they wrestle this season, they’ll take cellphone calls and somebody might be determined sufficient to take Butler on for an excellent bundle. JU
MVP
NBA Awards voters generally tend to have a little bit of a sadistic streak. That’s to say, they like when candidates have a tough highway to MVP glory – a couple of shut losses on their strategy to a win is mostly rewarded. Luka Dončić, by these metrics and a number of other others, are due. My guess is he’ll lastly get it this 12 months. CDL
Anthony Edwards proved he’s able to be the brand new face of the league following the Timberwolves’ Western Convention finals run and his spectacular play within the Paris Olympics with Group USA. With out Cities, Edwards’ offensive numbers will enhance considerably as he carries the Wolves to a top-three seed within the West. Ant Man’s leap to superstardom might be simple in 2024-25. AS
Luka Dončić. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jayson Tatum will make their claims, nevertheless it’s simply time for the Slovenian. The Mavs must be nice and Luka is the attention of their storm. SGA is a quieter participant and Tatum is surrounded by an awesome workforce. So they are going to end top-five, together with the Joker and Brunson. JU
Japanese Convention playoff groups
Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, Miami Warmth, Cleveland Cavaliers, Orlando Magic, Milwaukee Bucks, Indiana Pacers. CDL
Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, Milwaukee Bucks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Indiana Pacers, Orlando Magic, Miami Warmth. AS
Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, Orlando Magic, Indiana Pacers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Milwaukee Bucks, Miami Warmth. JU
Western Convention playoff groups
Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder, Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors. CDL
Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder, Minnesota Timberwolves, Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Pelicans, Golden State Warriors. AS
Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder, Dallas Mavericks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Memphis Grizzlies, Phoenix Suns, Denver Nuggets, Sacramento Kings, Los Angeles Lakers. JU
Japanese Convention remaining
New York Knicks over Boston Celtics. CDL
Boston Celtics over New York Knicks. AS
Boston Celtics over New York Knicks. JU
Western Convention remaining
Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder over Minnesota Timberwolves. CDL
Minnesota Timberwolves over Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder. AS
Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder over Dallas Mavericks. JU
NBA finals
New York Knicks 4-3 Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder. There may be, admittedly, a component of speaking-it-into-existence to say the New York Knicks are going to lastly break by way of and win the championship, however they’ve newfound top-end expertise and have retained their wonderful core from final 12 months. They’ve a variety of mixed playoff expertise, nice offensive and defensive expertise, and a bona fide star in Jalen Brunson. The Thunder are formidable and might be wonderful, which is why I’ve them popping out of a crowded West. However they’re a 12 months away from hoisting the trophy. CDL
Boston Celtics 4-2 Minnesota Timberwolves. The NBA finals will characteristic a showdown between Edwards’ Timberwolves and the Celtics led by Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Edwards is provided with the talents and toughness to make each second uncomfortable for the Celtics. However the Timberwolves will ultimately be outmatched by the Celtics’ depth and the star energy of Tatum, Brown, Vacation, and Porzingis. The Celtics will grow to be the primary back-to-back NBA champions for the reason that Golden State Warriors. AS
Boston Celtics 4-3 Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder. The NBA is deep and stuffed with expertise this 12 months. Which means the common season and playoffs might be slogs. However atop the Japanese and Western Conferences sit two groups with much more depth and expertise. Boston and OKC are only a reduce above. And whereas their rivals, the brand new look Knicks and reigning Western Convention champ Mavericks, will push them, it gained’t be sufficient. It’ll be seven-game sequence throughout, together with within the finals. However Boston will win again to again. JU
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