EAST:
1st seed: Brooklyn Nets. This one is super easy, based off this year's “big three” I think they will go deep in the playoffs but ultimately lose in the conference finals to someone smaller.
2nd seed: Milwaukee Bucks. This one could go hand in hand with the sixers, but I think Giannis will start to pick up the pace and start producing better results.
3rd seed: Philadelphia 76ers. Like I said before, this one could go hand in hand with the bucks but I think the sixers will start to regress from the current 1st seed as Seth Curry goes on a cold streak and injuries bug the sixers
4th seed: Boston Celtics. This one was an easy decision, I think Jayson Tatum will start to play better while Jaylen Brown’s numbers spiking.
5th seed: New York Knicks. This one may be a shock, but I have the Knicks as a sleeper team this year with MIP candidate Julius Randle’s scoring numbers continuing to increase.
6th seed: Toronto Raptors. This one was a difficult decision to make when the Raptors won the NBA title 2 years ago and were the 2nd seed last year, but, Kyle Lowry hasn’t been as good and Fred Vanvleet cannot carry this Raptors team.
7th seed: Charlotte Hornets. This one is kind of an easy decision, Charlotte has been playing really well and with Lamelo Ball becoming more and more consistent with this well rounded team, they could go very far.
8th seed: Miami Heat. This might be confusing why I put them at the 8th seed, but they aren’t playing like the bubble heat and I think they’re going to pick up the pace a little just to make it to the 8th seed.
WEST:
1st seed: Utah Jazz. You are probably wondering why it wouldn’t be the Lakers but Donovan Mitchel has just been playing well with a good bench and Rudy Gobert is currently second in rebounds per game.
2nd seed: Los Angeles Clippers. I think that with Paul George starting to show Playoff P was just a fluke and Kawhi Leonard being himself, this team is better than last years 3-1 lead vanishing with the wave of my hand team in my opinion.
3rd seed: Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers are a good team don’t get me wrong, but LeBron isn't playing great and is currently being overhyped for MVP and I think Anthony Davis will get plagued with injuries as we go along with this NBA season, especially because the Lakers don’t have a strong bench.
4th seed: Phoenix Suns. This one was an easy decision with Devin Booker’s scoring talent and this Suns team is absolutely loaded with talent.
5th seed: Denver Nuggets. I think that the nuggets will turn themselves into a very strong team with Jamal Murray playing well and Nikola Jokic competing with Joel Embid for MVP.
6th seed: Portland Trailblazers. I think that Damian Lillard will absolutely take over this blazers team and turn them into a better team with him currently 4th in ppg (points per game) while averaging 29.6.
7th seed: Golden State Warriors. I have this team at the 7th seed which was kind of an easy decision with Stephen Curry playing well and Kelly Oubre starting to shine significantly.
8th seed: San Antonio Spurs. I have the Spurs at this 8th seed spot by barely beating out Dallas and Memphis with a strong well rounded team who doesn’t really need a star to be good, just to be decent enough for the 8th seed.
MY PREDICTIONS FOR AWARDS AND TITLES:
MVP: Joel Embid-76ers (Predicted Season Stats: 27 ppg, 11.5 rpg, 4 apg)
MIP: Christian Wood-Rockets (Predicted Season Stats: 24 ppg, 12 rpg, 1 apg)
ROY: Lamelo Ball-Hornets (Predicted Season Stats: 16 ppg, 7 rpg, 8 apg)
DPOY: Myles Turner-Pacers (Predicted Season Stats: 3.8 bpg, 0.9 spg)
NBA CHAMPION: Philadelphia 76ers beat the Los Angeles Clippers in 7 games.
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