NBA Season Predictions
Sunday, December 20, 2020
11:30 P.M.
Where I want to be:
The only way I can think of my blog posts this year is like comparing myself to Michael Jordan of Chicago Bulls fame. A few years ago I was on point, posting a few blogs every month, covering a variety of topics and getting likes and comments from friends and family both. Now I'm like the Washington Wizards version of Michael; my teammates don't like me, I don't really give a s*** anymore as every day I feel uninspired and disinterested. My defense has sagged off as of late, and I'm certainly not going to hit a game winner. It looks like my last post was a lazy interpretation on how I thought the NFL season might go, although predicting that the Saints would meet the Titans wasn't my worst guess. I like 3 other teams in the AFC a little bit more, but up until that debacle against the Eagles, the Saints looked like they were overcoming all adversity. Now I attempt to redouble my efforts, and become a solid writer in the way of Charlotte Hornets owner.
Well outside of not paying attention to the quietest off-season of my lifetime, I think I have a handle on what teams can challenge for an NBA title vs those that have absolutely no chance of doing so. I will rank them accordingly, make some playoff predictions, and naturally a Nate's 9 to watch to complete. As always, feel free to make your own guesses in the comments and thank you for reading!
Eastern Conference:
No chance: Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls.
Playoff sniff: Charlotte Hornets, Orlando Magic, Washington Wizards
Gets in: Atlanta Hawks, Indiana Pacers, Philadelphia 76ers, Toronto Raptors, Miami Heat, Brooklyn Nets, Milwaukee Bucks, Boston Celtics.
Playoffs: Boston vs Atlanta - Winner: Boston Celtics
Milwaukee vs Indiana - Winner: Milwaukee Bucks
Brooklyn vs Philadelphia - Winner: Brooklyn Nets
Miami vs Toronto - Winner: Miami Heat
Boston vs Miami - Winner: Miami Heat
Milwaukee vs Brooklyn - Winner: Milwaukee Bucks
Conference Championship: Miami vs Milwaukee - Winner: Milwaukee Bucks
Western Conference:
No chance: Sacramento Kings, Oklahoma City Thunder.
Playoff Sniff: Minnesota Timberwolves, Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs, Portland Trailblazers, Memphis Grizzlies.
Gets in: New Orleans Pelicans, Phoenix Suns, Utah Jazz, Golden State Warriors, L.A. Clippers, Denver Nuggets, Dallas Mavericks, L.A. Lakers.
Playoffs: L.A. Lakers vs New Orleans - Winner: L.A. Lakers
Dallas vs Phoenix - Winner: Phoenix Suns
Denver vs Utah - Winner: Denver Nuggets
L.A. Clippers vs G.S. - Winner: Golden State Warriors
L.A. Lakers vs Phoenix - Winner: L.A. Lakers (It'll be really close)
Denver vs G.S. - Winner: Denver Nuggets
Conference Championship: L.A. Lakers vs Denver - Winner: L.A. Lakers
NBA Finals: Milwaukee vs L.A. Lakers - Winner: Milwaukee Bucks
Synopsis: I really think everything that the Bucks have done this off-season will turn to gold. The extension of Giannis made complete sense, and they have full control until 2024. I love that they brought in Jrue Holiday and I think we'll really see how much better that makes an already good team this year. I'm a huge Dallas Mavericks guy, but I think the lack of a gritty playoff experience will bite them against Chris Paul and the Suns. I think the Suns might be the most difficult team for the Lakers to get by, but I do think it'll be personal - Paul wants to beat Anthony Davis and the Lakers. He's still bitter. I love Boston this year as well, but there's something about Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo that I can't pick Boston to beat those guys yet. It's confounding. I really thought I could pick a Celtics-Lakers final, but I just can't pull the trigger. I also really like Ibaka on the Clippers, but that organization is jinxed. I'm only one guy sitting in front of a computer, I can't get rid of that hex.
Nate's 9 Players to Watch.
9. Kevin Durant. What is he going to do with Kyrie Irving and his 3rd NBA franchise? One part of me wants to love him - he wins wherever he goes, he's one of the best shooters I've ever seen, and seems like a good locker room guy, because he doesn't take himself seriously. But I don't like him because he's had James Harden, Russell Westbrook, Serge Ibaka, Klay Thompson, Steph Curry, and Draymond Green as teammates. And he couldn't seem to find happiness while playing alongside such NBA talent. This team is low-key very talented; Spencer Dinwiddie, Caris LaVert are nice supporting players, and evidently they're chasing James Harden as well. This season will tell us a lot about KD.
8. Paul George. The Clippers had dreams of making it to the finals last year, I think PG13 cost them their ambitions. They gave him a max deal, and I guess things will be different this time. Similar to KD, I wonder why he has problems where he goes. Indiana wasn't perfect, OKC felt awkward. What makes this time unique?
7. Devin Booker. The Suns have been built for Devin to be their star; near the end of the bubble experience he was playing his a** off. They brought in Chris Paul to take away some of the burden, this is the year that Booker should take that next step to be great. I always thought he would end up a Timberwolf, now that the dream is over, I'll have to enjoy watching the Suns.
6. LaMelo Ball. Charlotte needed a center piece and I think they have found it. For the next few years, the Wolves choice of taking Anthony Edwards will be scrutinized next to Ball. While I think that all 3 teams at the top took the right player for the franchise - how does D'Angelo Russell play with Ball? - Edwards might not be the early factor the Timberwolves need. Ball will be playing heavily for the Hornets from day one. Should be better than older brother, and not sure it'll be close.
5. Rajon Rondo/Trae Young. I like this signing for the Hawks. Rondo should be a great mentor for Young, and I really wanted for him to consider the Timberwolves before they were able to bring back Rubio. He defends, rebounds, and outside of some of his diva antics, is a pretty good locker room presence. I really like him for Trae Young, because I think his strengths translate to improving on Young's weaknesses. With the signing of Bogdanovic, Atlanta should be pushing for playoffs this year.
4. Karl Anthony Towns. This is the time. If the Timberwolves are ever going to get out of this lottery situation and into the western conference playoff race, they need KAT to take that next step up. This might be the most talented roster he's ever been a part of. He has friends on the roster. He has a mentor on the roster. He has a guy, that in the college game, wasn't afraid to take on the big moments, so KAT won't need to do as much. I would love to see us win 40 games this year, but we are going to need an All-NBA Towns to do so.
3. Luka Doncic. The Mavericks were literally on their way to being the new Timberwolves of the western conference. And then Doncic fell into their lap. In every sport over my lifetime, there's been a handful of guys where I see them play one time, and I can tell they're going to be great. Aaron Rodgers in football. Wayne Rooney in soccer. Johan Santana in baseball. They just seem to shine immediately, and nothing is too difficult for them. In fact, it looks easy. This is how I feel about Doncic. He can shoot. He can pass. He can defend. He can put the ball on the floor. He is a natural born leader, and maybe his most important attribute, he knows how to win. My top 4 has always seemed lacking - it's been Michael, LeBron, Kobe and Bird. I love Bird and I think he was great, but the other 3 were must watch television. I think I finally found my true 4th.
2. Jamal Murray. I don't get fired up too often, but when I do, it's when the Timberwolves decide to draft Kris Dunn ahead of Jamal Murray. I really don't believe in drafting players to fit a team; in the NBA when you can only play five players at a time, and need 5 good players in most crunch times situation, that you give up the bigger talent to get the right player into your team. So we drafted the defensive minded Kris Dunn to maybe take the burden off of LaVine, Wiggins and Towns. Okay, I understand the thought process in that draft pick, but what they didn't see was Wiggins is afraid of the big moments, LaVine is a volume scorer that is flashy and fun, but has no killer instinct, and Towns needs a good distributor that can help him finish. Murray is a killer, that also makes his big man look better (Jokic). Dunn was a liability on offense that still couldn't guard the Westbrook's and Curry's off the world. And maybe with Murray the Timberwolves don't bring in Russell - who knows what that means for Towns' ego, but maybe we keep Butler around, and maybe we'll challenging in the deadly west. Murray is that good.
1. Jayson Tatum. I think he's ready for superstardom. He is quietly becoming the total package for the Boston Celtics. He can score like LeBron, maybe outside of the physical finish at the rim. He can defend the perimeter and keep up with the quicker forwards in the league. He can body some of the bigger forwards in the league. He is still maturing physically and developing the leadership skills that can make the Celtics his team instead of their tried efforts of making Gordon Hayward and Al Horford their leaders. He involves his teammates offensively, and can do the other things to keep the team in it, while Jaylen Brown and Kemba Walker are scoring. It wouldn't surprise me at all if the Celtics won the title this year, and it wouldn't surprise me at all if they were doing it with the league MVP.
Note: The reason I have Boston bowing out early in the playoffs has nothing to do with Tatum. I think Walker will spend a majority of the playoffs on the injury shelf (he just can't seem to stay healthy all the time), and I think Marcus Smart may be missing as well. If this team can stay healthy, and establish an order within their core, they very well could be playing for a championship. Maybe in 2021.
