East Standings:
Bucks: 57-25( Hot start keeps them at the top of the East)
Sixers: 56-26(Midseason trade for De'aron Fox vaults them towards the top of the East)
Heat: 54-28(New acquisitions coupled with Nets injuries and drama get them a top 3 seed)
Nets: 52-30(They have Harden and KD, but the injuries and drama prevent them from top 3 seed)
Hawks: 48-34(Young squad ready to compete but not as good as the teams above it)
Bulls: 46-36(Team will take time to build chemistry but very talented)
Celtics: 45-37(They have a good squad but the teams above it are just better)
Knicks: 43-39(The Knicks have a good squad with depth but lack a superstar that the teams above have)
Wizards: 41-41(The Wizards have a very solid squad that will be fun to watch)
Hornets: 40-42(They have a young team and Lamelo needs to grow as their leader)
Miss the Playoffs:
Raptors: 39-43(They're back in Toronto but it will be hard to compete with the best of the East)
Pacers: 37-45(Injuries and trade rumors seem to fill this team)
Cavaliers: 32-50(Sexton is unhappy and they have a crowded big man group)
Pistons: 30-52(Cade should take over the reins of the team for Jerami and there is a bright future)
Magic: 26-56(By far the worst team in the East) _
Western Conference:
Jazz: 62-20(The Jazz are always an amazing regular season team but we need to see the playoffs)
Suns: 59-23(CP3 is back to lead a hungry Suns team with nothing to lose)
Lakers: 58-24(They have a great team but injuries will be a problem)
Nuggets: 57-25(This team will be solid in the west and Jamal Murray's return makes them a contender)
Warriors: 55-27(When Klay comes back this team will significantly improve but the cast is weak)
Mavericks: 48-34(They have Luka but the rest of the team is basically the same from last year)
Blazers: 45-37(They did not significantly improve the team. Dame's last run in Portland.)
Clippers: 43-39(PG, Reggie Jackson, and Mann should hold down the fort until Kawi comes back.
Grizzlies: 42-40(Ja leads a nice young grizzlies team although they downgraded at center)
New Orleans: 38-44(Zion is out for the start of the season and they will struggle with injuries)
Miss the Playoffs:
Spurs: 36-46(Dejounte is now the leader of an underatted Spurs team)
Timberwolves 35-47(The team is good but does not have enough star power to compete in the west)
Kings: 32-50(A hot start and fast collapse lead to a Fox trade and Luke Walton firing)
Rockets: 28-54( Great young team for the future but lack veteran leadership)
Thunder: 25-57(Wait 5 years and this team will be amazing)
Awards:
MIP: MPJ
ROTY: Cade Cunningham
DPOY: Giannis Antentokoumpo
MVP: Luka Doncic
6MOTY: Montrezl Harrell
COTY: Quin Snyder
All NBA First Team:
PG Steph Curry: 28.3 PPG, 6.8 APG, 3.4 RPG SG Luka Doncic: 29.5 PPG, 7.7 APG, 6.6 RPG SF Kevin Durant: 26.4 PPG, 4.5 APG, 7.5 RPG PF Giannis Antetokoumpo: 26.7 PPG, 5.3 APG, 9.6 RPG(MVP Runner Up) C Nikola Jokic: 24.8 PPG, 8.2 APG, 7.8 RPG
All NBA Second Team:
PG Damian Lillard: 26.8 PPG, 5.9 APG, 2.4 RPG SG James Harden: 25.6 PPG, 7.9 APG, 6.8 RPG SF Paul George: 26.3 PPG, 5.2 APG, 7.4 RPG PF Lebron James: 24.8 PPG, 8.2 APG, 7.7 RPG C Joel Embiid: 25.6 PPG, 2.1 APG, 10.6 RPG
All NBA Third Team:
PG Lamelo Ball: 21.8 PPG, 7.4 APG, 6.7 RPG SG Donovan Mitchell: 26.8 PPG, 5.4 APG, 4.8 RPG SF Jimmy Butler: 23.7 PPG, 6.6 APG, 6.8 RPG PF Jayson Tatum: 25.2 PPG, 5.7 APG, 6.9 RPG C Karl Anthony Towns: 24.7 PPG, 3.4 APG, 8.5 RPG
Main Takes:
Ben Simmons is traded mid-season in a groundbreaking deal for De'aron Fox
The Nets struggle in the first part of the season, but Kyrie comes back to help them
The stars shine proving that depth is not everything
Stars such as Myles Turner, Ben Simmons, and Colin Sexton are traded mid-season
The Pacers blow things up mid-season
Bradley Beal, Damian Lillard, and Kyrie are not traded