The new NBA season tips off October 16, Will the Golden State Warriors walk over the entire league again after adding Demarcus Cousins? Have the Houston Rockets ruined the team that was built to topple the Warriors? Will Giannis start maximizing his potential this season to win the MVP?
Our contributors do their best to answer some of these burning questions and to give their predictions for the new season.
What will happen in the Eastern Conference, now that Lebron is gone ?
The east is wide open, it’s a battle between Raptors and Celtics for supremacy , Raptors can match Celtics with depth and match them with defence and spacing as well as having the best player in Kawhi. However Embiid and Giannis can make a run at being the best player in the east and eventually the NBA , as well as the defensive player of the year candidates. Ben Simmons is gonna be someone to watch out for as well as Marcelle Fultz. - Bolu
It’s going to be a battle between the Toronto Raptors and the Boston Celtics - Uzo
The Raptors have been the most consistent team in the East over the last 3 years, and after a much needed roster change and upgrade from Demar to Kawhi, they’re ready to take the next step. The Celtics would take a step back this season as they’d struggle to get their best lineups as there are too many similar players and egos would clash.
Raptors 4-2 Boston. #ECF.
It’s crazy how the 4 time reigning eastern conference champs might not even make the playoffs. - Bob
Celtics did really well without Kyrie and Gordon for a huge part of last season, so I expect them to top the Eastern Conference. Also expect Raptors, Bucks and 76ers to give the Celtics a good fight. - Iyin
On Golden State Warriors adding Demarcus Cousins:
Injuries, Demarcus returning in February to destabilize things on the court or to cause some trouble in the locker room. Otherwise zero chance stopping them this season - Iyin
We don’t really know which Demarcus they’d be getting when he comes back in February. This signing might be as relevant as when they signed McGee - Bob
Exciting teams to focus on this season:
For me it’s all about the Bucks and my Nigerian brudda Giannis, the Bucks have had the worst coaching in the NBA leading to a putrid defence and offence, with an above coach now. Bud has his work cut out for him but Giannis and bucks can be amazing filling it out, they can go for 55 wins and be an amazing team. - Bolu
Obviously we going to have to focus on the Lebron led lakers with the meme team he has over there.
The Dallas Mavericks are also going to be a fun team to watch with Denis Smith Jr, Luka Doncic and Deandre Jordan, they could be a new version of lob city - Uzo
Naturally, the Lakers will grab most of the limelight. It’ll be fun to see how that team gels and who will emerge as Lebron’s lieutenant - Iyin
Teams with the most interesting story lines going into the season:
The wizards are the most interesting, their locker room is already suffering from a plague of all talk and no action and then they added a locker room cancer in Dwight Howard. They could either be a good playoff team or a lottery team. - Uzo
I’m not going to say straight up that the Houston Rockets have a worse looking team than last year. But at least defensively there should be a drop, after losing Trevor Ariza, Ryan Anderson & Luc Mbah a Moute. Offensively, integrating Carmelo into the team and his acceptance of a possible bench role could be a story on its own all season - Iyin
The Lakers, how Lebrun handles being around a young and athletic team , a reborn showtime lakers , can he be a guiding force like captain skyhook and nurture them to a great team, how do they handle all the crazy personalities , Lebrun can be a diva , Kuz wants to be superstar, Ingram blossoming but reserved nature, Rondo , Lance , Mcgee . It’s gonna be crazy - Bolu
The TimberBulls: With all the drama in Minnesota, Butler will not get traded and hence change the culture of the young guys KAT & Wiggins(who I think is average). Derrick Rose has a semi come back year and averages 15+ ppg. And finally Butler signs a max extension. - Bob
Individual awards Prediction:
MVP : Giannis Antetokounmpo
DPOY : Anthony Davis
MIP : Brandon Ingram
ROY : Luka Doncic - Bolu
MVP: Future Laker Anthony Davis
DPOY :Rudy Gobert
MIP : Brandon Ingram
ROY : Luka Doncic - Uzo
MVP: James Harden (back to back)
DPOY: Rudy Gobert
MIP: Markelle Fultz
ROY: Deandre Ayton - Iyin
MVP - Lebron
DPOY - KD
MIP - Brandon Ingram
ROY - Trae Young - Bob
Bold predictions / Hot takes:
The 76ers will not be as good as everyone expects them to be this season, the loss of Belinelli and Ilyasova and the addition of Fultz to the starting line Up should affect them - Uzo
Anthony Davis is going to win defensive player of the year. Paul George is going to have his best season and crack top 5 contention again.
Lebron and the lakers won’t finish in the top 6 in the West. The warriors won’t be representing the west in the NBA finals. - Bob
Mike D’Antoni will come up with a great offensive plan to bring the best out of Carmelo for one last go at the Warriors. Because they know it’s possible, they were a Chris Paul Hamstring injury away from making the finals even with AN unreliable post-season James Harden. - Iyin
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