The NBA’s 2019/20 regular season will tip off on Tuesday night, as the defending-champion Raptors host the Pelicans in the early game and the Lakers “visit” the Clippers in the late game.
With opening night finally here, the Hoops Rumors writing team is weighing in with our predictions for the coming year.
Listed below are our picks for the Eastern and Western Conference standings, the major awards, and – of course – the eventual champions. Disagree with our takes? Head down to the comment section to weigh in with your own predictions!
Luke Adams:
|
East |
|
Eastern Finals |
| 1 |
Sixers |
|
Sixers over Bucks |
| 2 |
Bucks |
|
Western Finals |
| 3 |
Celtics |
|
Clippers over Rockets |
| 4 |
Magic |
|
NBA Finals |
| 5 |
Raptors |
|
Clippers over Sixers |
| 6 |
Heat |
|
MVP |
| 7 |
Nets |
|
Nikola Jokic |
| 8 |
Pacers |
|
Rookie of the Year |
|
West |
|
Ja Morant |
| 1 |
Nuggets |
|
Defensive Player of the Year
|
| 2 |
Clippers |
|
Joel Embiid |
| 3 |
Jazz |
|
Sixth Man of the Year
|
| 4 |
Rockets |
|
Spencer Dinwiddie |
| 5 |
Lakers |
|
Most Improved Player
|
| 6 |
Spurs |
|
Jonathan Isaac |
| 7 |
Blazers |
|
Coach of the Year |
| 8 |
Warriors |
|
Steve Clifford |
Chris Crouse:
|
East |
|
Eastern Finals |
| 1 |
Sixers |
|
Sixers over Bucks |
| 2 |
Bucks |
|
Western Finals |
| 3 |
Celtics |
|
Lakers over Rockets |
| 4 |
Heat |
|
NBA Finals |
| 5 |
Nets |
|
Sixers over Lakers |
| 6 |
Pacers |
|
MVP |
| 7 |
Raptors |
|
Ben Simmons |
| 8 |
Bulls |
|
Rookie of the Year |
|
West |
|
Zion Williamson |
| 1 |
Jazz |
|
Defensive Player of the Year
|
| 2 |
Rockets |
|
Rudy Gobert |
| 3 |
Clippers |
|
Sixth Man of the Year
|
| 4 |
Lakers |
|
Lou Williams |
| 5 |
Nuggets |
|
Most Improved Player
|
| 6 |
Warriors |
|
Bam Adebayo |
| 7 |
Blazers |
|
Coach of the Year |
| 8 |
Spurs |
|
Quin Snyder |
Dana Gauruder:
|
East |
|
Eastern Finals |
| 1 |
Bucks |
|
Bucks over Sixers |
| 2 |
Celtics |
|
Western Finals |
| 3 |
Sixers |
|
Clippers over Nuggets |
| 4 |
Heat |
|
NBA Finals |
| 5 |
Pacers |
|
Bucks over Clippers |
| 6 |
Pistons |
|
MVP |
| 7 |
Nets |
|
Kawhi Leonard |
| 8 |
Raptors |
|
Rookie of the Year |
|
West |
|
Ja Morant |
| 1 |
Lakers |
|
Defensive Player of the Year
|
| 2 |
Clippers |
|
Rudy Gobert |
| 3 |
Nuggets |
|
Sixth Man of the Year
|
| 4 |
Rockets |
|
Derrick Rose |
| 5 |
Blazers |
|
Most Improved Player
|
| 6 |
Jazz |
|
Bam Adebayo |
| 7 |
Kings |
|
Coach of the Year |
| 8 |
Spurs |
|
Erik Spoelstra |
Arthur Hill:
|
East |
|
Eastern Finals |
| 1 |
Sixers |
|
Sixers over Bucks |
| 2 |
Bucks |
|
Western Finals |
| 3 |
Celtics |
|
Clippers over Rockets |
| 4 |
Raptors |
|
NBA Finals |
| 5 |
Nets |
|
Clippers over Sixers |
| 6 |
Heat |
|
MVP |
| 7 |
Pacers |
|
Anthony Davis |
| 8 |
Magic |
|
Rookie of the Year |
|
West |
|
Zion Williamson |
| 1 |
Clippers |
|
Defensive Player of the Year
|
| 2 |
Rockets |
|
Rudy Gobert |
| 3 |
Lakers |
|
Sixth Man of the Year
|
| 4 |
Nuggets |
|
Lou Williams |
| 5 |
Jazz |
|
Most Improved Player
|
| 6 |
Blazers |
|
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander |
| 7 |
Warriors |
|
Coach of the Year |
| 8 |
Spurs |
|
Doc Rivers |
Austin Kent:
|
East |
|
Eastern Finals |
| 1 |
Bucks |
|
Bucks over Raptors |
| 2 |
Raptors |
|
Western Finals |
| 3 |
Sixers |
|
Rockets over Warriors |
| 4 |
Pacers |
|
NBA Finals |
| 5 |
Celtics |
|
Bucks over Rockets |
| 6 |
Nets |
|
MVP |
| 7 |
Heat |
|
Giannis Antetokounmpo |
| 8 |
Pistons |
|
Rookie of the Year |
|
West |
|
Darius Garland |
| 1 |
Rockets |
|
Defensive Player of the Year
|
| 2 |
Nuggets |
|
Draymond Green |
| 3 |
Clippers |
|
Sixth Man of the Year
|
| 4 |
Lakers |
|
Derrick Rose |
| 5 |
Jazz |
|
Most Improved Player
|
| 6 |
Warriors |
|
Thomas Bryant |
| 7 |
Blazers |
|
Coach of the Year |
| 8 |
Mavericks |
|
Nick Nurse |
JD Shaw:
|
East |
|
Eastern Finals |
| 1 |
Bucks |
|
Sixers over Bucks |
| 2 |
Sixers |
|
Western Finals |
| 3 |
Nets |
|
Clippers over Lakers |
| 4 |
Celtics |
|
NBA Finals |
| 5 |
Heat |
|
Clippers over Sixers |
| 6 |
Pacers |
|
MVP |
| 7 |
Raptors |
|
Giannis Antetokounmpo |
| 8 |
Bulls |
|
Rookie of the Year |
|
West |
|
Zion Williamson |
| 1 |
Clippers |
|
Defensive Player of the Year
|
| 2 |
Rockets |
|
Rudy Gobert |
| 3 |
Lakers |
|
Sixth Man of the Year
|
| 4 |
Jazz |
|
Lou Williams |
| 5 |
Nuggets |
|
Most Improved Player
|
| 6 |
Blazers |
|
Lauri Markkanen |
| 7 |
Warriors |
|
Coach of the Year |
| 8 |
Kings |
|
Doc Rivers |
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
lol at clippers winning the championship
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.
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
Austin Kent with the best prediction: Mavs snaggin’ the 8th spot! I’ll take it.
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
How are the 1 and 4 seeds meeting in the WC finals?
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…
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
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.
On mobile Android app, the format is a mess.
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.
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)
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
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.
Should have listened to brian214 while you had the chance
The Lakers will not be one of the top 4 teams in the West.