NBA 15-16 Bold Predictions Thread

[NanashiWake]

Let's hear it! What are you guys brave enough to predict is gonna happen this upcoming NBA season?

1) My Lakers will make the playoffs in the battle royale-cluster fuck Western Conference

2) Emmanuel Mudiay will take home rookie of the year for Denver

3) Anthony Davis slaughters everyone in MVP voting (Probably Defensive Player Of The Year too)

4) Clippers choke yet again in playoffs

5) Derrick Rose gets another major injury (Unfortunately, love this dude's game)

What about everyone else?

[Mattybriand]

Celtics win 50+games

Brad Stevens wins COY

[Silogical]

Sacramento wins 11 games, cousins is traded.

Phil Jackson abandons the triangle.

[NanashiWake]

Celtics win 50+games

Brad Stevens wins COY

Woah, that's be a surprise to me, I think if the 50+ mark happens then he's in contention, however although I like a lot of the players and pieces in Boston, I don't feel they have to star power.

[NanashiWake]

Sacramento wins 11 games, cousins is traded.

Phil Jackson abandons the triangle.

Cousins one is possible, without a doubt. Sacramento always seems (ever since the Webber-Stojakovic-Bibby days) that they enter the regular season time-after-time with potential to win a lot of games, and then they end up losing a lot of games. Lol

As for Phil, I can easily see this. I always thought Fisher would be a great NBA coach, but I haven't been impressed at all thus far with what he's shown and his demeanor. I wouldn't be surprised if he tries to convince Phil of going a different route and it just might work, for the time being.

[lakeshowak7]

No way the Lakers are making the playoffs.

I'm going to go out on a limb and say the Bucks get at least a 3 seed.

The Thunder stay healthy and make it to the Finals, beating the Cavs.

The Warriors take a small step back, lose to OKC in the WC finals.

[Rob]

Spurs will be a bottom 6 team of the playoffs.
OKC loses in the second round
Hawks are a bottom 6 team in the playoffs.
Okafor wins ROY
Draymond wins Dpoy
Pels lose in the second round
Clips choke again
Miami makes ECF
Jazz is the final seed in the west

[NanashiWake]

No way the Lakers are making the playoffs.

I'm going to go out on a limb and say the Bucks get at least a 3 seed.

The Thunder stay healthy and make it to the Finals, beating the Cavs.

The Warriors take a small step back, lose to OKC in the WC finals.

I strongly feel that a lot of people are overlooking Kobe Bryant's ability if he can stay healthy. I'm not denying that it's a decently sized 'if', however this is the same guy that the last season he was healthy (2012-2013) was putting up 27.3ppg - 5.6reb - 6apg, shooting 46% from the field. He has shown countless times his durability in the past and determination to challenge any obstacle. I personally feel this is Kobe's last season and he isn't going to allow himself to go out the way he has the last 2 seasons, he'll go through hell and high water to make sure that doesn't happen.

Add to Kobe, the improvement of Julius Randle, additions of Hibbert, Russell, Williams, and even Huertas who looks like a steal for the 2nd unit if he makes the roster. Remember this team had 339 games sat last season due to injury ( http://www.latimes.com/sports/lakers/la ... story.html ). The motive is there for this team to surprise a bunch of people and we'll have to seriously improve defensively from what I've seen in the pre-season, but it's something that can happen, and the bias in me believes will happen.

[Jestor]

I'm a Lakers fan myself (hence why I took them in this league in large part), and there's no way in hell they're making the playoffs. Kobe needed to retire like three years ago (and giving him the extension in the first place was a very stupid move that still pisses me off when I think about it). Randle and Russell are exciting young pieces, yeah, and Clarkson was a steal. And Huertas is fun as hell to watch, but they're still a late lottery team at best.

[Rob]

No way the Lakers are making the playoffs.

I'm going to go out on a limb and say the Bucks get at least a 3 seed.

The Thunder stay healthy and make it to the Finals, beating the Cavs.

The Warriors take a small step back, lose to OKC in the WC finals.

I strongly feel that a lot of people are overlooking Kobe Bryant's ability if he can stay healthy. I'm not denying that it's a decently sized 'if', however this is the same guy that the last season he was healthy (2012-2013) was putting up 27.3ppg - 5.6reb - 6apg, shooting 46% from the field. He has shown countless times his durability in the past and determination to challenge any obstacle. I personally feel this is Kobe's last season and he isn't going to allow himself to go out the way he has the last 2 seasons, he'll go through hell and high water to make sure that doesn't happen.

Add to Kobe, the improvement of Julius Randle, additions of Hibbert, Russell, Williams, and even Huertas who looks like a steal for the 2nd unit if he makes the roster. Remember this team had 339 games sat last season due to injury ( http://www.latimes.com/sports/lakers/la ... story.html ). The motive is there for this team to surprise a bunch of people and we'll have to seriously improve defensively from what I've seen in the pre-season, but it's something that can happen, and the bias in me believes will happen.

Not gunna lie, when they spanked the Dubs in preseason they looked nice. However I will put money on that they wont make the playoffs. However they will be one of those teams that can beat anyone on any given night and shouldnt be taken lightly. Randle will be a nice player but he does not look like a franchise changer. Neither does Russell. Once Kobe retires, their core of Randle, Russell and Clarkson might be good enough for a superstar to bite and sign with LA.

[NuggOlesk]

*Clippers will be Champions!
*Anthony Bennett will have a good year!
*Timberwolves will be fighting for the 8th spot with Sacramento, Pelicans, Suns, Jazz!
*Lakers will be a bottom team in the west (15th). But will get the 4th pick by lottery, what means the 76ers will get the Lakers pick
*So 76ers will have 2 picks in the top 5 in next years draft!!!
*Karl-Anthony Towns will be ROY!

[NanashiWake]

*Clippers will be Champions!
*Anthony Bennett will have a good year!
*Timberwolves will be fighting for the 8th spot with Sacramento, Pelicans, Suns, Jazz!
*Lakers will be a bottom team in the west (15th). But will get the 4th pick by lottery, what means the 76ers will get the Lakers pick
*So 76ers will have 2 picks in the top 5 in next years draft!!!
*Karl-Anthony Towns will be ROY!

Clippers as champions?! Woah, that's a bold one right there. Lol They have the depth but I just don't think their style suites the playoffs, similar to how the Suns (Under Nash - Stoudamire - Johnson) couldn't get it done, although they were the best regular season team.

Agree with the Wolves competing this season, really like their team this year.

Obviously I disagree about the Lakers, but we shall see! Lol

[Rob]

*Clippers will be Champions!
*Anthony Bennett will have a good year!
*Timberwolves will be fighting for the 8th spot with Sacramento, Pelicans, Suns, Jazz!
*Lakers will be a bottom team in the west (15th). But will get the 4th pick by lottery, what means the 76ers will get the Lakers pick
*So 76ers will have 2 picks in the top 5 in next years draft!!!
*Karl-Anthony Towns will be ROY!

Clippers as champions?! Woah, that's a bold one right there. Lol They have the depth but I just don't think their style suites the playoffs, similar to how the Suns (Under Nash - Stoudamire - Johnson) couldn't get it done, although they were the best regular season team.

Agree with the Wolves competing this season, really like their team this year.

Obviously I disagree about the Lakers, but we shall see! Lol

Cant see Clips as champ. Their perimeter D is still bad. Smith and Stephenson and Crawford are inconsistant. They have no PG behind CP3. (Rivers does not count). And as great as Pierce is, he is more of a small ball 4 than a regualar SF these days.

[Marcos_Beck]

Bold predictions right?

* Kevin Durant will be league MVP
* Emmanuel Mundiay will be ROY
* Pelicans will be a top-4 see in the West
* Carmelo Anthony will be traded from NYK
* The Bulls will finally beat LeBron in a playoff series even though Cavs will have the top seed in the East
* GSW x OKC battle at WCF will be absolutely fantastic
* The Chicago Bulls will win the NBA defeating GSW at the Finals
* Derrick Rose will be named Finals' MVP
* KEVIN DURANT will join the Wizards next summer.

[KW]

- Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden lead the NBA in scoring.
- KD wins MVP, scoring title, all-star MVP, and Finals MVP as the Thunder win their first title of several.
- Boston misses the playoffs and get three lottery picks next season (their own, Brooklyn's, and Dallas).
- Lance Stephenson sees a major career revival and wins 6th man of the year.
- The Cavs trade Kevin Love after yet another defeat in the Finals.
- Anthony Bennett will be out of the NBA completely by January.
- Andrew Wiggins will average 23ppg but get snubbed from the All-Star game.
- Andre Drummond will average 15/15.
- Kemba Walker will take advantage of the improved offense in Charlotte, break out, become an All-Star, and lead Charlotte to the 7th seed with a 41-41 record.

[emplep7]

If you;re gonna go bold then its gotta be that the Sixers will go 82-0.



However, Okafor should have ROY locked up after the first month.

[Rizzo]

Celtics win 50+games

Brad Stevens wins COY

Woah, that's be a surprise to me, I think if the 50+ mark happens then he's in contention, however although I like a lot of the players and pieces in Boston, I don't feel they have to star power.

@Matty - Are you a Celtics fan?

I've grown up around Boston my entire life. I love the Celtics and don't expect them to contend for a title any time soon. With that said, I think they finish between 44 and 48 wins this season, challenge Toronto for the Atlantic and win a playoff series.

@Nanashi - I think the lack of star power will be a huge problem for them come the postseason when teams usually go about 7 or 8 deep on their roster. In the regular season, their ability to play 10 guys on a regular basis will be a huge advantage, especially on back-to-backs.

Stevens' system actually flourishes without a star player and I actually wonder what a star player would look like in his system. He never really had one at Butler (Gordon Hayward was a college star but didn't exactly need to have the ball to be effective) and I'm half anxious, half nervous to see what that looks like when Boston finally does acquire one. I think the perfect player for his system would be Paul George but I don't see any way the Pacers move on from him.

[Sun Scorched]

Man... I went to SMU and HATE the NCAA. Mudiay could have played here and it would have been awesome!

[Mattybriand]

Celtics win 50+games

Brad Stevens wins COY

Woah, that's be a surprise to me, I think if the 50+ mark happens then he's in contention, however although I like a lot of the players and pieces in Boston, I don't feel they have to star power.

@Matty - Are you a Celtics fan?

I've grown up around Boston my entire life. I love the Celtics and don't expect them to contend for a title any time soon. With that said, I think they finish between 44 and 48 wins this season, challenge Toronto for the Atlantic and win a playoff series.

@Nanashi - I think the lack of star power will be a huge problem for them come the postseason when teams usually go about 7 or 8 deep on their roster. In the regular season, their ability to play 10 guys on a regular basis will be a huge advantage, especially on back-to-backs.

Stevens' system actually flourishes without a star player and I actually wonder what a star player would look like in his system. He never really had one at Butler (Gordon Hayward was a college star but didn't exactly need to have the ball to be effective) and I'm half anxious, half nervous to see what that looks like when Boston finally does acquire one. I think the perfect player for his system would be Paul George but I don't see any way the Pacers move on from him.

Huge Celtics fan!! Grew up in Haverhill

Also a long time lurker of celticsblog.com

I love watching the team we have now, I don't think we are a championship caliber team. But we do have a star and his name is Brad Stevens the way he got these guys to play last year was amazing. Honestly this team is built with a bunch of 6th men but their team work is what makes them dangerous

[Rizzo]

Huge Celtics fan!! Grew up in Haverhill

Also a long time lurker of celticsblog.com

I love watching the team we have now, I don't think we are a championship caliber team. But we do have a star and his name is Brad Stevens the way he got these guys to play last year was amazing. Honestly this team is built with a bunch of 6th men but their team work is what makes them dangerous

Haha, I've lived in Revere my whole life. I've been following Celticsblog for what seems like 10+ years at this point. Stevens is definitely the star of the franchise and he's a great asset to have. A lot of casual fans won't want to watch the Celtics since they don't have a star player but it makes it very enjoyable to watch them actually run plays and sets and get everyone involved. On any given night, anyone can have a big game for them.