The 2022-23 NBA season is off and running and the Daily News Sports Section is quickly behind with out predictions for the season.
Corbin Hubert, Reporter
Eastern Conference – 1. Boston Celtics, 2. Milwaukee Bucks, 3. Philadelphia 76ers, 4. Miami Heat, 5. Toronto Raptors, 6. Brooklyn Nets, 7. Cleveland Cavaliers, 8. Atlanta Hawks, 9. Chicago Bulls, 10. New York Knicks
Bucks over the Celtics in the Conference Finals
Western Conference – 1. Golden State Warrios, 2. Memphis Grizzlies, 3. Denver Nuggets, 4. Phoenix Suns, 5. Los Angeles Clippers, 6. Minnesota Timberwolves, 7. New Orleans Pelicans, 8. Dallas Mavericks, 9. Los Angeles Lakers, 10. Portland Trailblazers
Warriors over Nuggets in the Conference Finals
Coming into this NBA season, I think the divide between “contenders” and “pretenders” has never been more clearly defined. The Golden State Warriors, Milwaukee Bucks, Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers and Brooklyn Nets are probably the popular picks for who will be hoisting up the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy at the end of the season and it’s hard to disagree.
Finals: Bucks over Warriors
Most Valuable Player: Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics
Defensive Player of the Year: Myles Turner, Indiana Pacers
Rookie of the Year: Jabari Smith, Houston Rockets
Sixth Man of the Year: Tyler Herro, Miami Heat
Coach of the Year: Mike Malone, Denver Nuggets
Contact Corbin Hubert with comments at cchubert@bsu.edu or on Twitter @corbin_hubert_
Calvin Scott, Reporter
Eastern Conference – 1. Boston Celtics, 2. Miami Heat, 3. Milwaukee Bucks, 4. Atlanta Hawks, 5. Philadelphia 76ers, 6. Brooklyn Nets, 7. Cleveland Cavaliers, 8. Chicago Bulls, 9. Toronto Raptors, 10. Orlando Magic
Celtics over Heat in the Conference Finals 4-3
Western Conference – 1. Phoenix Suns, 2. Golden State Warriors, 3. Los Angeles Clippers, 4. Memphis Grizzlies, 5. Denver Nuggets, 6. Dallas Mavericks, 7. New Orleans Pelicans, 8. Minnesota Timberwolves, Los Angeles Lakers, 10. Portland Trailblazers
Grizzlies over Nuggets in the Conference finals 4-3
I believe this year we will see great basketball with a plethora of historic milestones, the most important being Lebron James passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on the all-time scoring list. This will be the year we will really see the new generation become what it is presumed to become in the near future.
Finals: Heat over Grizzlies 4-2
Most Valuable Player: Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets
Defensive Player of the Year: Jaren Jackson, Memphis Grizzlies
Rookie of the Year: Benedict Mathurin, Indiana Pacers
Sixth Man of the Year: Norman Powell, Los Angeles Clippers
Most Improved Player: Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers
Coach of the Year: Taylor Jenkins, Memphis Grizzlies
Contact Calvin Scott with comments at calvin.scott@bsu.edu or on Twitter @CalvinAJScott.
Caleb Zuver, Reporter
Eastern Conference – 1. Milwaukee Bucks, 2. Boston Celtics, 3. Atlanta Hawks, 4. Cleveland Cavaliers, 5. Brooklyn Nets, 6. Philadelphia 76ers, 7. Chicago Bulls, 8. Miami Heat, 9. New York Knicks, 10. Detroit Pistons
Bucks over Celtics in the Conference Finals
Western Conference – 1. Los Angeles Clippers, 2. Denver Nuggets, 3. New Orleans Pelicans, 4. Golden State Warriors, 5. Phoenix Suns, 6. Dallas Mavericks, 7. Memphis Grizzlies, 8. Los Angeles Lakers, 9. Minnesota Timberwolves, 10. Portland Trailblazers
Clippers over Pelicans in the Conference Finals
Finals: Bucks over Clippers
Most Valuable Player: Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans
Defensive Player of the Year: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
Rookie of the Year: Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic
Sixth Man of the Year: Malcolm Brogdon, Boston Celtics
Most Improved Player: Tyrese Maxey, Philidelphia 76ers
Coach of the Year: Willie Green, New Orleans Pelicans
Contact Caleb Zuver with comments at cmzuver@bsu.edu or on Twitter @zuves35.
Brayden Goins, Reporter
Eastern Conference -- 1. Boston Celtics, 2. Miami Heat, 3. Philadelphia 76ers, 4. Brooklyn Nets, 5. Dallas Mavericks, 6. Atlanta Hawks, 7. Cleveland Cavaliers, 8. Chicago Bulls, 9. New York Knicks, 10. Charlotte Hornets
Cavaliers over Nets in the conference finals (five games)
Western Conference -- 1. Los Angeles Clippers, 2. Golden State Warriors, 3. Memphis Grizzlies, 4. Denver Nuggets, 5. Dallas Mavericks, 6. Minnesota Timberwolves, 7. Phoenix Suns, 8. New Orleans Pelicans, 9. Portland Trailblazers, 10. Sacramento Kings
Grizzlies over Mavericks in the conference finals (seven games)
Finals: Grizzlies over Cavaliers in six games
Most Valuable Player: Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans
Defensive Player of the Year: Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat
Rookie of the Year: Paolo Blanchero, Orlando Magic
Sixth Man of the Year: Norman Powell, Los Angeles Clippers
Most Improved Player: Terrence Davis, Sacramento Kings
Coach of the Year: Taylor Jenkins, Memphis Grizzlies
With a young talented core and a potential big three in Ja Morant, Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr., the Grizzlies could be scary this year. Not to mention their other big is the rebounding machine of Steven Adams. I think the Cavaliers' trade for Donovan Mitchell will become key to their success this season and he will lead them to the Finals but will eventually fall to the Grizzlies. The lights-out 3-point shooting of Desmond Bane could be the deciding factor.
Zach Carter, Reporter
Eastern Conference – 1. Milwaukee Bucks, 2. Boston Celtics, 3. Miami Heat, 4. Philadelphia 76ers, 5. Brooklyn Nets, 6. Atlanta Hawks, 7. Cleveland Cavaliers, 8. Chicago Bulls, 9. New York Knicks, 10. Charlotte Hornets
Bucks over Heat in the Conference Finals 4-2
Western Conference – 1. Denver Nuggets, 2. Golden State Warriors, 3. Phoenix Suns, 4. Minnesota Timberwolves, 5. Dallas Mavericks, 6. Los Angeles Lakers, 7. Memphis Grizzlies, 8. Portland Trailblazers, 9. New Orleans Pelicans, 10. Los Angeles Clippers
Warriors over Suns in the Conference Finals 4-3
Finals: Warriors over Bucks 4-3
Most Valuable Player: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
Defensive Player of the Year: Bam Adebayo, Miami heat
Rookie of the Year: Jaden Ivey, Detroit Pistons
Sixth Man of the Year: Malcolm Brogdon, Boston Celtics
Most Improved Player: Tyler Herro, Miami Heat
Coach of the Year: Steve Kerr, Golden State Warriors
Contact Zach Carter with comments at zachary.carter@bsu.edu or on Twitter @ZachCarter85.
Derran Cobb, Reporter
Eastern Conference – 1. Milwaukee Bucks, 2. Philadelphia 76ers, 3. Boston Celtics, 4. Miami Heat, 5. Atlanta Hawks, 6. Cleveland Cavaliers, 7. Brooklyn Nets, 8. Chicago Bulls, 9. Toronto Raptors, 10. Charlotte Hornets
Bucks over Hawks in the Conference Finals in six games
Western Conference – 1. Phoenix Suns, 2. Golden State Warriors, 3. Denver Nuggets, 4. Dallas Mavericks, 5. Los Angeles Clippers, 6. Memphis Grizzlies, 7. Minnesota Timberwolves, 8. New Orleans Pelicans, 9. Los Angeles Lakers, Portland Trailblazers
Warriors over Nuggets in the Conference Finals in five games
I think this will be another competitive year of NBA Basketball, with it all ending in a great Finals where Giannis Antetokounmpo wins his second ring in three years. After another stellar performance last season and an even better playoff performance, I think Luka Doncic will be crowned MVP. It will be close between Doncic and Joel Embiid, who has finished second in MVP voting the past two years.
Finals: Bucks over Warriors in seven games
Most Valuable Player: Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks
Defensive Player of the Year: Jaron Jackson, Jr., Memphis Grizzlies
Rookie of the Year: Jaden Ivey, Detroit Pistons
Sixth Man of the Year: Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic
Most Improved Player: Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers
Coach of the Year: Doc Rivers, Philadelphia 76ers
Contact Derran Cobb with comments at derran.cobb@bsu.edu or on Twitter @Derran_cobb.
Kyle Smedley, News Editor
Eastern Conference – 1. Boston Celtics, 2. Brooklyn Nets, 3. Milwaukee Bucks, 4. Miami Heat, 5. Philadelphia 76ers, 6. Clevland Cavaliers, 7. Chicago Bulls, 8. Atlanta Hawks, 9. Charlotte Hornets, 10. Toronto Raptors
Celtics over Bucks in the Conference Finals in six games
Western Conference – 1. Golden State Warriors, 2. Los Angeles Clippers, 3. Minnesota Timberwolves, 4. Phoenix Suns, 5. Denver Nuggets, 6. Los Angeles Lakers, 7. Memphis Grizzlies, 8. Dallas Mavericks, 9. New Orleans Pelicans, 10. Sacramento Kings
Clippers over Warriors in the Conference Finals in seven games
Last year, these NBA predictions didn’t quite go my way. Full disclosure, the NBA isn’t my favorite, or even second favorite professional sports league. That said, basketball has been deeply rooted in me for my entire life (shoutout dad and grandpa), so I will always pay attention. I believe this is the Boston Celtics’ year. Last season, they were knocking on the door of their 18th NBA Championship in franchise history, however, I believe they will achieve that feat this season.
Finals: Celtics over Clippers in seven games
Most Valuable Player: Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers
Defensive Player of the Year: Robert Williams, Boston Celtics
Rookie of the Year: Jabari Smith, Houston Rockets
Sixth Man of the Year: Jordan Poole, Golden State Warriors
Most Improved Player: Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers
Coach of the Year: Tyronn Lue, Los Angeles Clippers
Contact Kyle Smedley with comments via email at kyle.smedley@bsu.edu or on Twitter @smedley1932.
Daniel Kehn, Sports Editor
Eastern Conference – 1. Boston Celtics, 2. Milwaukee Bucks, 3. Miami Heat, 4. Cleveland Cavaliers, 5. Philadelphia 76ers, 6. Chicago Bulls, 7. Brooklyn Nets, 8. Charlotte Hornets, 9. Atlanta Hawks, 10. Toronto Raptors
Celtics over Bulls in the Conference Finals 4-2
Western Conference – 1. Denver Nuggets, 2. Golden State Warriors, 3. Phoenix Suns, 4. Memphis Grizzlies, 5. Los Angeles Clippers, 6. Los Angeles Lakers, 7. New Orleans Pelicans, 8. Dalla Mavericks, 9. Minnesota Timberwolves, 10. Portland Trailblazers
Warriors over Clippers in the Conference Finals 4-0
If I didn't make it abundantly clear with my picks last year, I do not pay a whole lot of attention to the NBA. In fact, I think the NBA is the worst of the top five sports leagues. Yes, that is below the NHL and the MLS; it's just the worst. Either way, who knows? Maybe I get it spot on this year.
Finals: Celtics over Warriors 4-3
Most Valuable Player: Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics
Defensive Player of the Year: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
Rookie of the Year: Jaden Ivey, Detroit Pistons
Sixth Man of the Year: Malcolm Brogden, Boston Celtics
Most Improved Player: Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers
Coach of the Year: Steve Kerr, Golden State Warriors
Contact Daniel Kehn with comments at daniel.kehn@bsu.edu or on Twitter @daniel_kehn.
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