Hoops Rumors Writers’ 2019/20 NBA Predictions

21 thoughts on “Hoops Rumors Writers’ 2019/20 NBA Predictions”

1. Luke Adams • 5 years ago

   Some follow-up thoughts on my picks:

   I really didn’t want to take the consensus top eight teams in each conference, but I just couldn’t convince myself that any of them are good bets to drop out of the playoffs. … So I’m excited to see which ones will.

   I probably have Orlando way too high, but I have a good feeling about Isaac and Aaron Gordon making leaps, and it didn’t seem quite daring enough to just put them in the 5-8 range.

   I think a Northwest team will finish first in the West, but a Pacific team will go to the Finals. Would not shock me if it’s the Jazz and Lakers instead of the Nuggets and Clippers.

   My award picks are based on the idea that voters will want some new narratives, since I could easily see Giannis, Gobert, and Lou Williams repeating.

   If Zion Williamson comes back in December and is healthy the rest of the way, I think he still wins the ROY award. I’m just not convinced he won’t miss more time later in the season (but I hope he proves me wrong).

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   • Nebraska Tim • 5 years ago

     I feel like everyone forgot what the 2017-18 Raptors were like, and how this year’s team might actually be better.

     I have them at around 58 wins this year. I could maybe see either the Bucks or Pacers push 60 (depending when Oladipo comes back), but I don’t see the Sixers getting much over 50, and Celtics are still a mess.

     I’ll post my picks later today, but it seems like I’m way off the national consensus when it comes to my view that the Sixers, Celtics, and Clippers are grossly overrated, while the Raptors, Pacers, Spurs, and Nuggets are being completely undersold.

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     • brian214 • 5 years ago

       Haha, don’t bother posting your picks because they are going to be trash. If you don’t think the Sixers are gonna be one of the top 5 teams this year then there really is nothing that can be done for you. No sense in putting anything more out there to make you look even worse.

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     • Luke Adams • 5 years ago

       I’m with you on the Raptors, Spurs, and Nuggets. I had the Raptors at No. 3 in my first draft here and would be surprised if they fall further than No. 5 (barring a bunch of injuries, etc). I think I have the Nuggets and Spurs a little higher than the consensus too.

       I’m not as high on the Pacers. It’s unclear when Oladipo will be back, and they lost a lot of nice role players from last year’s roster (Thad Young, Bogdanovic, Collison/Joseph, etc). They’re still solid enough that I could see them making a run at a top-4 seed if Oladipo comes back strong, but they make me a little nervous.

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   • Michael Chaney • 5 years ago

     I was actually about to ask about Orlando being the 4 seed. I personally don’t agree (I think Clifford is a great coach and they have a few intriguing young pieces but I’m skeptical that there’s enough overall talent), but I like that you (and a lot of the others here) didn’t just regurgitate the same takes and put your own name on it.

     There are always surprises, so I think it’s cool to look out for one. This is a good way to spark discussion anyway, so I like it.

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2. Perry W • 5 years ago

   lol at clippers winning the championship

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   • amk3510 • 5 years ago

     Its more popular to be edgy and pick the Clippers. People question the Lakers stars for injury concerns. Yet the Clippers 2nd star is already out a month.

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3. kawg • 5 years ago

   East:
   Bucks
   Sixers
   Pacers
   Nets
   Toronto
   Orlando
   Detroit
   Atlanta

   West:
   Jazz
   Nuggets
   Lakers
   Clippers
   Blazers
   Golden State
   Rockets
   San Antonio

   ECF: Bucks over Pacers
   WCF: Nuggets over Jazz
   Finals: Bucks over Nuggets

   MVP: Giannis
   ROY: Morant
   DPOY: Myles Turner
   6th Man: Lou Williams
   COY: Snyder
   MIP: John Collins

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4. Major Factuh • 5 years ago

   Austin Kent with the best prediction: Mavs snaggin’ the 8th spot! I’ll take it.

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5. Michael Chaney • 5 years ago

   I tried this last year and it didn’t go well, but I’ll try again anyway.

   East:
   Milwaukee
   Indiana
   Philadelphia
   Toronto
   Boston
   Brooklyn
   Miami
   Atlanta

   West:
   LA Clippers
   Denver
   Houston
   LA Lakers
   Utah
   Golden State
   Portland
   Sacramento

   ECF: Milwaukee over Indiana
   WCF: LA Clippers over Denver
   Finals: Milwaukee over LA Clippers

   MVP: Giannis
   ROY: Tyler Herro
   DPOY: Gobert
   6th Man: Montrezl Harrell
   COY: Nick Nurse
   MIP: Kevin Huerter

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6. RubexCube1 • 5 years ago

   How are the 1 and 4 seeds meeting in the WC finals?

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   • Austin Kent • 5 years ago

     Never underestimate the heart of a champion Cory!

     Hahah. Good catch. I tinkered with my seeding after my final prediction was in. I’ve had Luke adjust it back to my initial gut pick… which is even wilder…

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7. Tazza • 5 years ago

   Lots of people have the Celtics high still. I don’t understand. I see Kemba and a downgrade from Kyrie. They lost Morris and Horford, two really solid defenders and leaders for them and Terry Rozier who was a nice 6th man. They replaced these guys with G Williams, C Edwards, R Langford, Kanter and stuff but all these guys lack experience and defence. Tight games and bench minutes are usually won by vets not rookies. I see the Celtics falling to 6th.

   I think lots of people are sleeping on the Pacers. Brogdon is a solid defender and shoots efficiently. They also got in Lamb, McConnell and Holiday. Think they have really good depth and good mix of scorers, defenders and playmakers.

   I don’t think either Clippers or Lakers will finish in the top 3 in the west. Clippers will be missing PG to start the year and will take time to gel. The Lakers, well LeBron is back and will have a huge year but I can see that team as a while staying healthy. I think the Jazz, Nuggets, Rockets will out there playing their butts off trying to win 82 games.

   As for the Awards, can’t see Ben Simmons and Joel Embid getting MVP with that stacked team unless they produce insane insane numbers. I’m think Giannas goes back to back. Best defender will probably go to a big again (Gobert, Green, Embid, AD, etc) but I’d like to see it go to a wing or guard. Jimmy B or Holiday if there teams do well should be close. 6th man maybe Marcus Smart he will be vital for the Celtics. Rookie I think will be Ja Morant with a 16-7-3 stat line. Most improved, DeJonte Murray or Bam Adebayo. Coach .. don’t really care

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   • Nebraska Tim • 5 years ago

     Celtics are somehow always overrated. I think they’re very clearly worse than last year (though every good team minus the Nuggets all got worse). I think your analysis of them is spot on. I could see them dropping even further than 6th in an underrated Eastern Conference.

     I feel like people forget how important shooting is in the NBA. I’m not convinced that the Sixers can shoot enough to win big. Their big lineup is very interesting though, and I’m curious to see if bucking the trend starts a new trend. But I suspect they’ll find themselves in trouble against faster, better shooting teams. Jimmy Butler and JJ Redick are HUUUGE losses, in my eyes.

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8. Rewane • 5 years ago

   On mobile Android app, the format is a mess.

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   • Luke Adams • 5 years ago

     Damn, sorry about that. For posts like this, where I use tables, I usually double-check on the app and the mobile site to make sure they look okay. But I have an iPhone, so it’s hard to do that for Android. Unfortunately I’m not sure there’s much I can do about it besides recommending the desktop/mobile view at HoopsRumors.com for this post.

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9. Nebraska Tim • 5 years ago

   East:
   Bucks
   Raptors
   Pacers
   Sixers
   Heat
   Celtics
   Magic
   Nets

   West:
   Nuggets
   Rockets
   Spurs
   Blazers
   Jazz
   Clippers
   Lakers
   Warriors

   ECF: Bucks over Raptors
   WCF: Rockets over Nuggets
   Finals: Rockets over Bucks

   MVP: James Harden
   ROY: Ja Morant
   DPOY: Myles Turner
   6th Man: Lou Williams (though I really want to put FVV here, but I think he’ll start too many games)
   COY: Nick Nurse
   MIP: Dejounte Murray (I think Anfernee Simons makes for an interesting high-risk pick too)

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   • Nebraska Tim • 5 years ago

     though brian214 suggests: “Haha, don’t bother posting your picks because they are going to be trash.”

     Here are my picks from last year:
     East:
     Raptors
     Celtics
     Bucks
     Sixers
     Pacers
     Heat
     Pistons
     Wizards

     West:
     Rockets
     Warriors
     Lakers
     Spurs
     Jazz
     Nuggets
     Trail Blazers
     Thunder

     Eastern Finals: Raptors over Bucks
     Western Finals: Rockets over Warriors
     NBA Finals: Warriors over Raptors

     MVP: Antetokounmpo
     ROY: Doncic (but barely, over Young)
     DPY: Gobert
     6MY: Isaiah Thomas
     MIP: Murray
     COY: Budenholzer

     via link to hoopsrumors.com

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     • Nebraska Tim • 5 years ago

       and yes, I know that last year I had the Rockets beating the Warriors, and then somehow the Warriors beating the Raptors in the final.

       I was really wavering on which of the Warriors/Rockets would win, especially since I thought the Rockets had a good shot of landing Jimmy Butler.

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     • El Don • 5 years ago

       Should have listened to brian214 while you had the chance

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10. GreenWood Porter • 5 years ago

    The Lakers will not be one of the top 4 teams in the West.

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