I'll include explanations aswell!
EAST
New York Knicks. The Knicks last season were probably good enough to win, but now adding KAT to the team aswell allows them to play amazingly with probably the best 3PT scorer big man ever. Record 59-23.
Boston Celtics. The reigning champions will continue their great form into this season. Having almost an identical roster to last season, unless an injury happens to Tatum or JB, I don't see them struggling. Record 56-26.
Philidelphia 76ers. After a disappointing loss to the Knicks last season, the sixers will want to come back with revenge. Adding PG13 to play alongside Maxey and Embiid, they look like a very strong team and see them having a great season. Record 50-32.
Orlando Magic. PAOLO IS HIM! Paolo is going to go off this season. And having all the support beams for Paolo on the Magic, they seem like a very strong team that will challenge with the big teams this season. Record 46-36.
Indiana Pacers. I see the Pacers continuing on with their hot form and where they left off last season. Hali will improve over the course of the season alongside Pascal and Myles. The Pacers have a great chance to do something special this season. Record 45-37.
Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cleavland Cavaliers look good this season, but I just don't see everyone on the team performing together. Spida, Garland and Allen seem like a great big 3. I just don't see it working again this season. Record 43-39.
Milwaukee Bucks. The Bucks will not work out this season. Giannis can't carry a team all the way to the top. Dame is also just hit and miss. Which causes Dame to request a trade, will go into detail into that later. This aging team has to blow it up next season. Unless their fans and team will have lots of long sessons ahead of them. Record 41-41.
Miami Heat. I just don't see the Heat to have a great season this year, Jimmy and Terry are past their prime on their decline. Herro and Jaquez are the Heats only chances and young trade power pieces this season. Will Jimmy request a trade this season? I don't think so. Record 41-41.
Atlanta Hawks. The Hawks led by Trae Young are going to be OK this season. Along with the addition of number 1 pick Zaccharrie Risacher, I think the Hawks will play fine this season. However I think Trae will request a trade out if they don't start of well. This could vary position from 5th all the way down to 13th. Record 40-42.
Charlotte Hornets. If LaMelo is healthy for this entire season, they could be much higher, potentially a shock top 6 seed. However I don't see that happening. LaMelo will stay play many of the games, but not every game. Brandon Miller will also play well this season and can shock some people this season. Record 39-43.
Toronto Raptors. Did anyone else just forget the Raptors existed? This season I feel like will just be like their past seasons, Mid. With the few exceptions of good players, there isn't really any great talent in Toronto. Record 34-48.
Chicago Bulls. Alongside the Raptors, they're just mid. Not much talent except for a few and really no big additions. However depending on how Matas Butzelis plays, they could be higher, I don't see that happening. Record 33-49.
Detroit Pistons. I don't see Cade performing this season again. Unless the Pistons acquire someone, I don't see anything too special coming out of Detroit. Even though they have other talent, I still just don't see them performing either. Record 29-53.
Washington Wizards. The only thing I see for Washington is just to tank and hope for a good pick in next years draft. Very little talent on offer in Washington. Poole will still play bad and just make the team worse. Record 19-63.
Brooklyn Nets. Same with Washington, all I see is to tank. I also think the Nets should trade all their decent players like DFS and Cam Thomas to hope to have better picks, and to have a better future in the years to come. Record 12-70.
WEST
Oklahoma City Thunder. Shouldn't really be a surprise to anyone. The best team on offer with the most to prove. No-one on the Thunder is bad. They seem like the team to beat this season. SGA and Chet together will be even better then last season. Record 65-17.
Minnesota Timberwolves. Some people might say this is too high for the TWolves. Ant will continue his hot form from the Playoffs. Even though they lost KAT, they've revieved great role players back and seem like a great team and will contend. Record 54-28.
Dallas Mavericks. Potential team bias here from me. But I think the Mavs with the addition of Klay, their offense will be substantially better which will cause a great record. Luka and Kyrie will continue on their hot form. And Lively is a beast in the paint. Record 50-32.
Denver Nuggets. The big 4 in the West, will remain the same, Jokic and Jamal are great, but nothing much else, MPJ is there, but will he actually play well and help this team to be better? I don't think that will happen. Record 49-33.
My shock of the season. HOUSTON ROCKETS! Rockets look amazing this season. I think they'll get off to a really hot start and challenge the top. That's where they trade for a superstar. Who better then Damian Lillard. Dame in Houston will just unlock him again. The Rockets will be the shock of this season. Record 47-35.
New Orleans Pelicans. Zion will be mostly healthy this season. However, Ingram won't be great this season and will be very inconsistent. Herb will play ok but not enough to lead the Pelicans to a better seed. Also the Pelicans need a proper Centre, I think they'll trade for someone during the season. Record 45-37.
Memphis Grizzlies. Everyone overrates the Grizzlies, yes they have a good team, but will they work together and rely on eachother? There are tons of what ifs for the Grizzlies this season. Sorry, but I don't see the Grizzlies playing together well, they'll still have a good season, but not as good as people are expecting them to do. Record 44-38.
Phoenix Suns. The big 3 of Phoenix will once again, not play well together. Their salary is in shambles, and DBook can't lead a team to a good seed. This is the beginning of the end for KD. And Beal is just not good enough with that salary. Record 42-40.
Sacramento Kings. The Kings won't be a bad team this season, but not a good team either. Even though they added DeMar to the team, they need to start of well to keep it going. I see injuries hurting this team even though most players aren't injury prone. Record 42-40.
Los Angeles Lakers. AD and LeKing will have to carry this poor Lakers team. Even though Dalton had that insane preseason game, I don't see that form carrying into the regular season. Record 41-41.
San Antonio Spurs. Will Wemby and CP3 help this team reach the Playoffs? No, Chris Paul just isn't the same anymore and will Regress this season. Wemby is Wemby and will carry this team, just not far enough. Record 35-47.
Golden State Warriors. Warriors fans will hate me for putting them this low. But it's true, in probably the most competitive Confrence ever, the Golden State Warriors just don't have enough talent to bring them up. Yes Steph is still there, but not much else. Sorry Dub nation, but it's the truth. Record 35-47.
Los Angeles Clippers. After losing PG13 and Kawhi through injury, this team is just destined for not great things this season. Depending on how often Kawhi is available, this could drop even further. Record 30-52.
Portland Trailblazers. Not much talent on offer for the Blazers, their only chance of greatness in the future, is just to try and get a good pick to land some great prospects in this special draft. Record 27-55.
Utah Jazz. Except for Lauri, this team has just 0 decent talent IMO. Yes Kessler is good, but not enough to help a team. Once again, they just need a good prospect and they'll be right back up Contending. Record 27-55.
AWARDS
MVP: SGA, honourable mentions ( Luka Doncic, Anthony Edwards)
ROTY: Reed Sheppard, honourable mentions ( Zach Edey, Stephon Castle
DPOY: Victor Wembenyama, honourable mentions ( Bam Adebayo, Rudy Gobert)
SMOTY: Donte DiVincenzo, honourable mention ( Issiah Hartenstein)
MIP: Jalen Green Honourable mentions ( Victor Wembenyama, Zion Williamson)
CPOTY: DeAaron Fox honourable mentions ( Steph Curry, Jalen Brunson )
COTY: Mark Daigneault
EOTY: James Dolan
Scoring Champ: Luka Doncic
PLAYOFFS!
East Play-In
7 Bucks > 8 Heat
9 Hawks > 10 Hornets
8 Heat > 9 Hawks
West Play-In
7 Grizzlies > 8 Suns
10 Lakers < 9 Kings
8 Suns < 9 Kings
East 1st rnd
1 Knicks > 8 Heat in 4
2 Celtics > 7 Bucks in 5
3 76ers < 6 Cavaliers in 7
4 Magic > 5 Pacers in 5
West 1st rnd
1 Thunder > 8 Kings in 4
2 Timberwolves > 7 Grizzlies in 6
3 Mavericks > 6 Pelicans in 4
4 Nuggets < 5 Rockets in 7
East 2nd rnd
1 Knicks > 4 Magic in 7
2 Celtics < 6 Cavaliers in 7
West 2nd rnd
1 Thunder > 5 Rockets in 6
2 Timberwolves > 3 Mavericks in 7
East Finals
1 Knicks > 6 Cavaliers in 4
East MVP: Jalen Brunson
West Finals
1 Thunder > 2 Timberwolves in 7
West MVP: SGA
FINALS
1 Knicks < 1 Thunder in 7
THE OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER ARE NBA CHAMPIONS!!!! FMVP: SGA!
Thank you for reading my predictions for this NBA season.
Also some added stuff for SpiralDubs's Pickem challenge.
5 players traded
1 Damian Lillard
2 Fred VanFleet
3 D'Lo
4 Ben Simmons
5 Jordan Clarkson
NBA TEAMS
All-NBA 1st team
Luka Doncic, SGA, Jason Tatum, Wemby, Jokic
2nd Team
Brunson, Anthony Edwards, Jaylen Brown, Giannis, Embiid
3rd
Steph, Haliburton, Jalen Green, Kevin Durant, Zion, Bam Adebayo
All-Rookie 1st
Reed Sheppard, Stephon Castle, Dalton Knecht, Alex Sarr, Zach Edey
2nd
Rob Dillingham, Ron Holland, Cody Williams, Bub Carrington, Donovan Clingan
All-Defensive 1st
Jrue Holiday, Kawhi Leonard, Victor Wembenyama, Bam Adebayo, Rudy Gobert
2nd
Derrick White, Alex Caruso, OG Announby, Jaren Jackson JR, Anthony Davis.
They are my picks for SpiralDubs's Pickem!