The patience that organizations have suddenly decided to execute is likely a result of teams realizing the unlikelihood of a championship appearance in the very near future and a decision to build a true team while keeping morale high so that they might all reach new heights once this Warriors era is completed. Teams like Milwaukee, Boston, Portland, Miami and Washington are just a couple of the teams trying to grow their own big threes under now-veteran coaches. If a Kevin Durant/Stephen Curry/Lebron James barrage of injuries occur this year, the short-term answer for who replaces Cavs-Warriors this season is Houston or San Antonio versus Boston. After this year, the Celtics, Bucks, Timberwolves, 76ers and many more may have played together long enough that everyone gets on the same page and one of those teams could break up the inevitable. It's an optimistic view but hey... not everybody can or should tank just because they cannot win this year.
As per usual, I must make my predictions before the Cavaliers and Celtics tip off the regular season and give some type of analysis to back up said predictions. Unlike most years where I give a long paragraph write-up on each team, this year I'm only ranking the rosters with a sentence-long summary on each team. The NBA season starting two weeks early has interfered with my already tight schedule of writing about a fantasy football league a select few care about and writing seven obituaries (Not a blog thing, more of an inside joke thing, not about actually deceased people because that'd be dark).
Here is a run-down on every NBA team... (Rosters as of October 15th, 2017)
+ = injured for a potentially significant amount of the season.
Atlanta Hawks
2016-17 Result: 43-39, 1st Round Exit
Head Coach: Mike Budenholzer
Losing Dwight Howard might have seemed like a positive but, will not result in any positive productivity.
Boston Celtics
2016-17 Result: 53-29, Conference Finalists
Head Coach: Brad Stevens
Was adding two all-stars with only four returning players too much turnover for a finals appearance? I'm leaning yes.
Brooklyn Nets
2016-17 Result: 20-62, No Playoffs
Head Coach: Kenny Atkinson
The league's most intriguing bad team is basically one large test on D'Angelo Russell's NBA future.
Charlotte Hornets
2016-17 Result: 36-46, No Playoffs
Head Coach: Steve Clifford
Michael Jordan continues to underwhelm as an owner with a team praying for a playoff appearance.
Chicago Bulls
2016-17 Result: 41-41, First Round Exit
Head Coach: Fred Hoiberg
At least these tankers have a piece to build around (LaVine), unlike the Hawks.
Cleveland Cavaliers
2016-17 Result: 51-31, Conference Champions
Head Coach: Tyronn Lue
Defense and depth were the two things they could improve to match the Warriors and they absolutely got deeper.
Detroit Pistons
2016-17 Result: 37-45, No Playoffs
Head Coach: Stan Van Gundy
The Van Gundy era is almost over and the Drummond/Jackson duo will be shipped elsewhere.
Indiana Pacers
2016-17 Result: 42-40, First Round Exit
Head Coach: Nate McMillan
Indiana still has playoff talent but, no one is confident in Nate McMillan.
Miami Heat
2016-17 Result: 41-41, No Playoffs
Head Coach: Erik Spoelstra
The island of misfit toys added Kelly Olynyk's intensity to hopefully surpass .500.
Milwaukee Bucks
2016-17 Result: 42-40, First Round Exit
Head Coach: Jason Kidd
If Thon Maker dramatically improves, this team will be in the East's top four this year and for a while.
New York Knicks
2016-17 Result: 31-51, No Playoffs
Head Coach: Jeff Hornacek
Losing Carmelo will be the second best example of the Ewing Theory New York has ever seen.
Orlando Magic
2016-17 Result: 29-53, No Playoffs
Head Coach: Frank Vogel
Nobody knows anything about this team but, the pieces (specifically Gordon and Payton) began jelling by last season's end.
Philadelphia 76ers
2016-17 Result: 28-54, No Playoffs
Head Coach: Brett Brown
I've been in on The Process since day one and I'll be the first to wildly overrate this young squad before they play a game together.
Toronto Raptors
2016-17 Result: 51-31, Second Round Exit
Head Coach: Dwane Casey
In 2017, The Raptors are the same as they were four seasons ago, only older and more injury-prone.
Washington Wizards
2016-17 Result: 49-33, Second Round Exit
Head Coach: Scott Brooks
This team is a Marc Gasol trade away from taking on the Cavs in a game 7 but, that's not happening.
Dallas Mavericks
2016-17 Result: 33-49, No Playoffs
Head Coach: Rick Carlisle
The potential of Dennis Smith Jr. will be the one thing keeping the Mavericks from being the most boring team in the NBA.
Denver Nuggets
2016-17 Result: 40-42, No Playoffs
Head Coach: Mike Malone
Denver is still ridiculously deep and could make a trade for the biggest names on the deadline market, propelling them into postseason success.
Your defending 2017 NBA Champion Golden State Warriors
2016-17 Result: 67-15, Won the championship in 5 games over the Cavaliers
Head Coach: Steve Kerr
74 wins? 16-0? What milestones do they have in them this year?
Houston Rockets
2016-17 Result: 55-27, Second Round Exit
Head Coach: Mike D'Antoni
Between Harden and Paul, D'Antoni should always have an elite ball-handler on the floor.
Los Angeles Clippers
2016-17 Result: 51-31, First Round Exit
Head Coach: Doc Rivers
A breakout season awaits one of their two point guards (Beverley and Teodosic) and a playoff spot should follow.
Los Angeles Lakers
2016-17 Result: 26-56, No Playoffs
Head Coach: Luke Walton
With all of the hype surrounding the Ball family, it was easy to miss Brook Lopez finally getting traded and the Lakers quietly adding the rising KCP.
Memphis Grizzlies
2016-17 Result: 43-39, First Round Exit
Head Coach: David Fizdale
Memphis makes the postseason this year if they get anything out of Parsons and don't sleep on David Fizdale bursting into Coach of the Year talks if they do play above .500 ball.
Minnesota Timberwolves
2016-17 Result: 31-51, No Playoffs
Head Coach: Tom Thibodeau
Thibodeau might just keep playing 8 or 9 guys every night and if the newest veteran reserves (Crawford and Gibson) play too much, the cracks will show in Thibs' scheme.
New Orleans Pelicans
2016-17 Result: 34-48, No Playoffs
Head Coach: Alvin Gentry
They have the talent but, the potential for an unfortunate team chemistry is especially elevated in New Orleans.
Oklahoma City Thunder
2016-17 Result: 47-35, First Round Exit
Head Coach: Billy Donovan
GM Sam Presti built a big three and hung on to his first rounders so the team can add necessary depth at the deadline.
Phoenix Suns
2016-17 Result: 24-58, No Playoffs
Head Coach: Earl Watson
Plenty of flashy young pieces and they're still tanking. What even are the Suns?
Portland Trailblazers
2016-17 Result: 41-41, First Round Exit
Head Coach: Terry Stotts
A full season of Jusuf Nurkic could take pressure off the guards but, other teams in the West did more to improve this Summer.
Sacramento Kings
2016-17 Result: 32-50, No Playoffs
Head Coach: Dave Joerger
An entertaining bad team that's headed in the right direction now with younger core players and veteran mentors.
San Antonio Spurs
2016-17 Result: 61-21, Conference Finalists
Head Coach: Gregg Popovich
I'm not sure who the breakthrough player Pop will unveil this season is but, the mystery man will need to step up early or the team's regression is imminent.
Utah Jazz
2016-17 Result: 51-31, Second Round Exit
Head Coach: Quin Snyder
Gordon Hayward will be missed but, there are multiple players ready for a breakout season with the newest Celtic gone.
2017-18 Predictions
Western Conference
1. Golden State Warriors
2. Houston Rockets
3. Oklahoma City Thunder
4. San Antonio Spurs
5. Denver Nuggets
6. Los Angeles Clippers
7. Utah Jazz
8. Memphis Grizzlies
9. Minnesota Timberwolves
10. Portland Trailblazers
11. New Orleans Pelicans
12. Dallas Mavericks
13. Los Angeles Lakers
14. Sacramento Kings
15. Phoenix Suns
2. Houston Rockets
3. Oklahoma City Thunder
4. San Antonio Spurs
5. Denver Nuggets
6. Los Angeles Clippers
7. Utah Jazz
8. Memphis Grizzlies
9. Minnesota Timberwolves
10. Portland Trailblazers
11. New Orleans Pelicans
12. Dallas Mavericks
13. Los Angeles Lakers
14. Sacramento Kings
15. Phoenix Suns
Eastern Conference
1. Cleveland Cavaliers
2. Boston Celtics
3. Washington Wizards
4. Milwaukee Bucks
5. Toronto Raptors
6. Philadelphia 76ers
7. Miami Heat
8. Indiana Pacers
9. Charlotte Hornets
10. New York Knicks
11. Orlando Magic
12. Detroit Pistons
13. Brooklyn Nets
14. Atlanta Hawks
15. Chicago Bulls
3. Washington Wizards
4. Milwaukee Bucks
5. Toronto Raptors
6. Philadelphia 76ers
7. Miami Heat
8. Indiana Pacers
9. Charlotte Hornets
10. New York Knicks
11. Orlando Magic
12. Detroit Pistons
13. Brooklyn Nets
14. Atlanta Hawks
15. Chicago Bulls
 |
| Benny Sieu- USA TODAY Sports The 2017-18 regular season leads to a Bucks-Raps round 1 rematch. |
MVP: Lebron James
ROTY: Ben Simmons
DPOTY: Rudy Gobert
6th Man: Norman Powell
Coach of the Year: Quin Snyder
Most Improved: Myles Turner
Western Playoffs
1st Round
GSW 4 - MEM 0
HOU 4 - UTA 1
OKC 4 - LAC 0
DEN 4 - SAS 3
2nd Round
GSW 4 - DEN 1
HOU 4 - OKC 3
Western Conference Finals
GSW 4 - HOU 0
Eastern Playoffs
1st Round
CLE 4 - IND 0
BOS 4 - MIA 3
WAS 4 - PHI 1
MIL 4 - TOR 2
2nd Round
CLE 4 - MIL 2
BOS 4 - WAS 1
Eastern Conference Finals
CLE 4 - BOS 3
Predictable Finals Prediction - Golden State Warriors over the Cleveland Cavaliers in 4.
Finals MVP - Draymond Green. I foresee the physicality becoming an issue and at least one Warrior will be injured, leading to the return of MVP-caliber Draymond, the player everybody loves to hate. NOTE: The Nuggets were the only team to take a game from Golden State in the scenario I have drawn out. That's about as bold as I'm getting this year.
1st Round
GSW 4 - MEM 0
HOU 4 - UTA 1
OKC 4 - LAC 0
DEN 4 - SAS 3
2nd Round
GSW 4 - DEN 1
HOU 4 - OKC 3
Western Conference Finals
GSW 4 - HOU 0
Eastern Playoffs
1st Round
CLE 4 - IND 0
BOS 4 - MIA 3
WAS 4 - PHI 1
MIL 4 - TOR 2
2nd Round
CLE 4 - MIL 2
BOS 4 - WAS 1
Eastern Conference Finals
CLE 4 - BOS 3
Predictable Finals Prediction - Golden State Warriors over the Cleveland Cavaliers in 4.
Finals MVP - Draymond Green. I foresee the physicality becoming an issue and at least one Warrior will be injured, leading to the return of MVP-caliber Draymond, the player everybody loves to hate. NOTE: The Nuggets were the only team to take a game from Golden State in the scenario I have drawn out. That's about as bold as I'm getting this year.
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