NBA Playoff Predictions
posted by Zaire Jones | October 23, 2023 | In SportsWith a little over a week until opening night in the NBA, teams are aiming for that goal of winning an NBA Title.
NBA Western Conference
The Western Conference usually has more high-end talent and deeper teams than the opposing Eastern Conference.
This year’s Western Conference should be a bloodbath with a lot of good teams. Here are the 8 teams I believe will make the cut.
1. Denver Nuggets
The defending NBA champion, Denver Nuggets look to seek a repeat of winning another title. With most of the team, led by Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, coming back, this team should be in contention of the West if they stay healthy.
2. Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers had a tale of two seasons last year. The beginning of the year was rough, starting the season 2-10, but turning the season around finishing 43-39. Most of the key players, such as Lebron James, Anthony Davis, Austin Reaves and others are coming back. The Lakers have also made key additions with Gabe Vincent and Christian Wood. On paper this is the best team the Lakers have had since their 2020 title year and should be a big player in the West.
3. Phoenix Suns
This will be the first full season with Kevin Durant and Devin Booker for the Suns. The acquisition of Bradley Beal brings another type of scoring for the team. I believe this team will take time to gel, but should figure it out to finish as a top 3 seed in the West.
4. Golden State Warriors
When a team has a guy like Stephen Curry, you always have a chance. The core is getting older as Klay Thompson and Draymond Green have lost a step, but Golden should still be a major player.
5. Los Angeles Clippers
For the past 4 years, the Clippers main stars Kawhi Leonard and Paul George have not been able to stay on the court. When they are on the court together, this team can be scary. This team is still good and can make noise, but it all depends on health.
6. Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder are a young and upcoming team. This year, they can put the pieces together and pose a threat in the West. Led by guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder are a team with solid offensive and defensive players that scare a lot of teams.
7. Memphis Grizzlies
Memphis is going into the year without star guard Ja Morant, who is serving a 25-game suspension. Despite that, the Grizzlies have a good enough team to hold over the absence of Ja with the acquisitions of Marcus Smart and Derrick Rose at the guard positions. This team should sneak in the playoffs.
8. Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota looks to get back into the playoffs, and they have the team to do it. Anthony Edwards should step in as the main guy, and Jalen McDaniels is due for a breakout year. The main concern is the front court duo of Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert. Gobert is a great rim protector, but on offensive he clogs up the paint. With that being said, the Wolves have a team that can get into the playoffs and win some games.
NBA Eastern Conference
There are teams in the Eastern Conference who are contenders and a piece or two away from competing.
1. Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are coming off a heartbreaking game 7 in the ECF versus the Miami Heat. They were very active in free agency, trading their heart-and-soul of the team Marcus Smart to the Grizzlies. They were able to get forward Kristaps Porzingis in that trade to beef up the front court and replace Smart with Jrue Holiday a few months later. Boston looks prime for a run for the title, but can they reach it?
2. Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks were the best in the East in the regular but lost to eighth-seeded Miami Heat in the first round of the playoffs. Knowing they had to do something to keep their franchise player Giannis Antetokounmpo happy with the team, they had to make a splash. Enter Damian Lillard as now the Bucks have the scariest duo in the NBA. The Bucks are one of the favorites to come out the East with Lillard and Antetokounmpo, but will they do it in year 1?
3. Miami Heat
The defending Eastern Conference champions are looking to make it back to the Finals and win it all. The team will look a little different this year. Key additions of Thomas Bryant and Josh Richardson should help, as well as young guys like Nikola Jovic and Tyler Herro. The Heat do have a huge hole at point guard losing Gabe Vincent in free agency. The Heat are more than able to go back to the Finals, but the guard position is a huge question mark.
4. Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cavs are coming off their first playoff appearance since 2018. With stars such as Donavon Mitchell and Darius Garland, the Cavs can be a sleeper contender. How far they go depends on third year man Evan Mobley and his offensive contributions. If he expands his game, sky’s the limit for the Cavs.
5. Philadelphia 76ers
The Sixers are worrying coming into the season. All off-season James Harden wanted out and is still on the team. The hope is new coach Nick Nurse can lead them somewhere, but it’s hard when other teams are just better.
6. New York Knicks
The Knicks were another team that did little with their roster in free agency. They reunited point guard Jalen Brunson with Donte DiVincenzo as they were teammates at Villanova University. The Knicks can compete, but they are a team that is a piece away from contending.
7. Brooklyn Nets
The Nets are a solid all-around team, but their issue is they don’t have a guy that puts fear into a team. The hope is Ben Simmons can play and return his former self but this year should be another year of competing for Brooklyn.
8. Indiana Pacers
The Pacers had a quality off-season, signing Bruce Brown Jr, and drafting Jarace Walker to help with star guard Tyrese Haliburton. The Pacers should turn some heads this year.
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