2017-18 NBA Predictions

Here are my predictions for the 2017-18 NBA season.

Eastern Conference
The conference's best two teams made a huge trade over the summer headlined by the swapping of point guards with Kyrie Irving going to the Boston Cetlics and Isaiah Thomas going to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Along with Irving, Gordon Hayward, and rookie Jayson Tatum join Al Horford on a revamped Celtics team that should be one of the best offensive teams in the league. Thomas will be out the first few months of the season due to the hip injury he suffered in the playoffs, but LeBron James is still the best player in the league and he should carry the team along with Kevin Love. The team got Jay Crowder in the Irving trade and he will help them as well and Dwayne Wade isn't the guy he was with the Heat, but he should help them too. The Washington Wizards are looking to build off their Semifinals appearance from a season ago in which they lost in seven game to the Celtics. John Wall and Bradley Beal are one of the best backcourt duos in the league and Otto Porter Jr is one of the more improved players in the league and their front court isn't bad either with Marcin Gortat and Markeiff Morris. The Milwaukee Bucks are a team on the rise led by MVP candidate Giannis Antetokounmpo. Jabari Parker is out recovering a torn ACL and he'll be back around the All-Star break, but guys like reigning Rookie of the Year Malcolm Brogdon and Khris Middleton need to step up. The Toronto Raptors have been one of the better East teams the past few seasons and that should be the case again this year. Kyle Lowry and Serge Ibaka were re-signed this summer and DeMar DeRozan and Jonas Valenciunas are still around too. The Miami Heat should have made the playoffs last season but a slow start doomed them. Hassan Whiteside is one of the better centers in the league and Goran Dragic is still around as well. Guys like Tyler Johnson, Josh Richardson, and Dion Waiters were big contributors to the Heat's late season push a year ago and Justice Winslow is coming off a torn labrum and it should be interesting to see how Winslow looks. The Charlotte Hornets are looking to make the playoffs after missing out last season. Dwight Howard is on this team now, but he's past his prime. Kemba Walker is underrated at his position and Nic Batum is a solid two-way player when healthy. Rookie Malik Monk will make a bigger impact than people think and he could be a steal. The Philadelphia 76ers are a team most people think will make the biggest win total improvement from a season ago and I believe that will be the case. Rookies Ben Simmons (who missed all of last season due to injury) and Markelle Fultz join Joel Embiid to form a core that (when all healthy) should be really good. JJ Reddick was a nice free-agent signing as well and Robert Covington has improved his game over the last few seasons. The Detroit Pistons are looking to get back to the playoffs after missing a season ago. Reggie Jackson and Andre Drummond are still around as the key cogs on this team and Avery Bradley is an upgrade on the wing. The bottom six teams in this conference are and should all be tanking this season. The Indiana Pacers traded away Paul George and now will rely on Myles Turner to be the guy. Victor Oladipo and Domontas Sabonis come over in the George trade and their nice players but not worth the value of George. Thad Young and free agent acquisition Darren Collison are possible trade candidates. The Orlando Magic made some offseason moves to try to improve their team such as signing Jonathon Simmons and Arron Afflalo and drafting Jonathan Isaac. The main core remains intact with Nikola Vucevic, Elfrid Payton, and Evan Fournier. The Brooklyn Nets made some moves to try to improve their team such as trading for guys who needed a change of scenery such as D'Angelo Russell, DeMarre Carroll, and Allen Crabbe. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Isaiah Whitehead, Sean Kilpatrick, and Caris LaVert showed promise a season ago and they should all make impacts. The New York Knicks traded Carmelo Anthony away and fired Phil Jackson this past summer. The Knicks are now Kristaps Porzingis's team and he should make the All-Star team this season assuming he stays healthy. Doug McDermott and Enes Kanter come over in the Melo trade and they'll provide offense. Tim Hardaway Jr is a nice player, but was massively overpaid by the Knicks this past summer. Guys like Courtney Lee, Kyle O'Quinn, and Kanter will be used as trade bait. The Atlanta Hawks are going to be bad as well after trading Dwight Howard away and losing Paul Milsap in free agency. Dennis Schroeder is a nice player and was thought to be the Hawks point guard of the future, but he might be trade bait. Guys like Ersan İlyasova and Kent Bazemore will be trade bait too. The Chicago Bulls might be the worst team in the league this season after trading away Jimmy Butler. Kris Dunn and Zach LeVine come over in the Butler trade and they also got a lottery pick in Lauri Markkanen and that wasn't enough for Butler. They do have some other nice young players in Bobby Portis, Denzel Valentine, and Cameron Payne. Robin Lopez and Justin Holiday will be trade bait.

1. Boston Celtics (55-27)
2. Cleveland Cavaliers (54-28)
3. Washington Wizards (50-32)
4. Milwaukee Bucks (48-34)
5. Toronto Raptors (47-35)
6. Miami Heat (46-36)
7. Charlotte Hornets (44-38)
8. Philadelphia 76ers (41-41)
9. Detroit Pistons (39-43)
10. Indiana Pacers (30-52)
11. Orlando Magic (28-54)
12. Brooklyn Nets (27-55)
13. New York Knicks (27-55)
14. Atlanta Hawks (25-57)
15. Chicago Bulls (20-62)

Western Conference
Despite some improvements from other Western Conference contenders, the Golden State Warriors are heavy favorites to repeat as NBA champions. Kevin Durant and Steph Curry re-signed with team and Draymond Green and Klay Thompson are still around. The Oklahoma City Thunder added Carmelo Anthony and Paul George to go with Russell Westbrook to form a Big Three. Patrick Patterson was a sneaky addition for the Thunder and Steven Adams is a solid big man. The Houston Rockets acquired Chris Paul to join James Harden to form a fordable backcourt. Eric Gordon and Trevor Ariza will have their good offensive nights and Clint Capela is capable of putting up double-doubles. The San Antonio Spurs core is aging, but they are still a force in the West. Kawhi Leonard is an MVP candidate and is tremendous on both ends of the floor. Pau Gasol, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili are the aging guys, so it's remain to be seen if they have enough left in the tank. Guys like LaMarcus Aldridge, Rudy Gay, Danny Green, and Patty Mills need to step up. The Los Angeles Clippers will take a step back after trading away Chris Paul, but they'll still be a playoff team because Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan are still around and they are a deeper team now with the return they got back for Paul. Patrick Beverley, Lou Williams, Sam Dekker, Montrezl Harrell, were the players in the return for the Paul trade and they'll have an impact on the Clippers this season. Austin Rivers, Miloš Teodosić, and Danilo Gallinari will also have impacts this season. The Minnesota Timberwolves will be one of the leagues most improved teams this season thanks to the trade acquisition of Jimmy Butler to pair with Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins. Taj Gibson and Jeff Teague were added in the offseason as well and they'll both start for the Wolves. The Portland Trail Blazers should still be a playoff team led by the dynamic backcourt of Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum. The team played better after trading for Jusuf Nurkic last season and now they get a whole season with Nurkic. Guys like Evan Turner, Mo Harkless, and Al-Farouq Aminu will have to be contributors too. The Denver Nuggets should be an improved team this season after the free agent signing of Paul Milsap. Milsap joins Nikola Jokic, Gary Harris, and Juan Hernangomez to form a nice core. The Utah Jazz lost Gordon Hayward this summer, but this team isn't bad. Rudy Gobert, Derrick Favors, and Rodney Hood are a nice core to build around and Donovan Mitchell is a sleeper for Rookie of the Year. The New Orleans Pelicans have a chance to be good thanks to their dominant frontcourt of Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins and if it doesn't work out, Cousins will be trade bait. Jrue Holliday was re-signed in the offseason as well and the team signed Rajon Rondo and Tony Allen in free agency. The Memphis Grizzlies may be heading for a rebuild after losing Zach Randolph and Tony Allen in free agency. Marc Gasol and Mike Conley are still around, but they could very well be trade bait if things get bad for the Grizzlies. The Dallas Mavericks are a team that's starting to begin a rebuild although Dirk Nowitzki is around. Dennis Smith Jr will be a Rookie of the Year candidate. Guys like Wesley Matthews and Harrison Barnes will help, but could very well be trade bait. The Los Angeles Lakers will be improved, but the win total may not show it. Lonzo Ball and Kyle Kuzma will be Rookie of the Year candidates and Ball has a chance to be special. Ball and Kuzma will join Julius Randle, Brandon Ingram, Jordan Clarkson, and Larry Nance Jr to form a nice core. The Sacramento Kings are a weird team with a mix of young guys and veterans. Lottery pick De'Aaron Fox joins Buddy Hield, Skal Labissiere, and Willie Cauley-Stein to form a nice core. George Hill and Zach Randolph are among the veterans the team brought in. The Phoenix Suns look like the worst team in the West. Devin Booker leads the way for the Suns young core and lottery pick Josh Jackson looks to make an immediate impact. Dragan Bender and Marquese Chriss look to improve in their respective second seasons. Veterans like Tyson Chandler and Eric Bledsoe will be trade bait.

1. Golden State Warriors (65-17)
2. Oklahoma City Thunder (58-24)
3. Houston Rockets (57-25)
4. San Antonio Spurs (55-27)
5. Los Angeles Clippers (48-34)
6. Minnesota Timberwolves (47-35)
7. Portland Trail Blazers (46-36)
8. Denver Nuggets (45-37)
9. Utah Jazz (43-39)
10. New Orleans Pelicans (39-43)
11. Memphis Grizzlies (37-45)
12. Dallas Mavericks (33-49)
13. Los Angeles Lakers (30-52)
14. Sacramento Kings (27-55)
15. Phoenix Suns (24-58)

2018 NBA Playoffs
- Quarterfinals
(E1) Boston Celtics vs (E8) Philadelphia 76ers: The 76ers will be making their first playoff appearance since 2012, but the revamped Celtics will sweep the upstart 76ers.
Prediction: Celtics in four games

(E2) Cleveland Cavaliers vs (E7) Charlotte Hornets: The Hornets aren't a bad team when healthy, but the Cavs will be healthier this time around with Isaiah Thomas back and will pull off a sweep.
Prediction: Cavaliers in four games

(E3) Washington Wizards vs (E6) Miami Heat: This will be a fun series, but the dynamic backcourt of John Wall and Bradley Beal will lead the way.
Prediction: Wizards in six games

(E4) Milwaukee Bucks vs (E5) Toronto Raptors: A rematch from the first round series from last season, but Giannis Antetokounmpo will lift the Bucks to the second round.
Prediction: Bucks in seven games

(W1) Golden State Warriors vs (W8) Denver Nuggets: The Nuggets are an improved team, but the Dubs offense will be too much for them to overcome.
Prediction: Warriors in four games

(W2) Oklahoma City Thunder vs (W7) Portland Trail Blazers: This should be a fun series, but the trio of Russell Westbrook, Paul George, and Carmelo Anthony will be too much for the Blazers to handle.
Prediction: Thunder in five games

(W3) Houston Rockets vs (W6) Minnesota Timberwolves: The Wolves are a fun and up and coming team, but the Rockets are just better led by the duo of James Harden and Chris Paul.
Prediction: Rockets in five games

(W4) San Antonio Spurs vs (W5) Los Angeles Clippers: Despite losing Chris Paul, the Clippers will make a series out of this, but Kawhi Leonard will carry the Spurs here.
Prediction: Spurs in six games

- Semifinals
(E1) Boston Celtics vs (E4) Milwaukee Bucks: Giannis Antetokounmpo will keep the Bucks lurking here, but the Celtics are the better team.
Prediction: Celtics in six games

(E2) Cleveland Cavaliers vs (E3) Washington Wizards: This should be a fun series to watch, but LeBron James will lift the Cavs back to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Prediction: Cavaliers in six games

(W1) Golden State Warriors vs (W4) San Antonio Spurs: A rematch of last seasons Western Conference Finals will end in the same outcome, except I see Kawhi Leonard healthy and at least carrying the Spurs to one win in the series.
Prediction: Warriors in five games

(W2) Oklahoma City Thunder vs (W3) Houston Rockets: This series should be absolutely epic. Stars galore and this screams seven game classic! Give me the new look Thunder with the home court advantage.
Prediction: Thunder in seven games

- Conference Finals
(E1) Boston Celtics vs (E2) Cleveland Cavaliers: A rematch of last seasons Eastern Conference Finals, except it will be a better series than last time with the revamped Celtics roster. The Cavs are a deeper team than the Celtics and that will show here as the Cavs go to their fourth straight finals.
Prediction: Cavaliers in six games

(W1) Golden State Warriors vs (W2) Oklahoma City Thunder: This should be an epic series as well with the revamped Thunder team going against the best team in the league. Kevin Durant will be motivated to play his former team and he'll lead the way for the Dubs to face the Cavs for the fourth straight season.
Prediction: Warriors in six games

- NBA Finals
(W1) Golden State Warriors vs (E2) Cleveland Cavaliers: The fourth straight season of this matchup. The Cavs are a deeper team than a season ago, but the Dubs core is just too good and will repeat as NBA champions.
Prediction: Warriors in six games