The NBA’s 2018/19 regular season will tip off on Tuesday night, as the Celtics host the Sixers in the early game and the Thunder visit the Warriors in the late game. With opening night finally here, the Hoops Rumors writing team is weighing in with our predictions for the coming year.
Listed below are our picks for the Eastern and Western Conference standings, the major awards, and – of course – the eventual champions. Disagree with our takes? Head down to the comment section to weigh in with your own predictions!
Luke Adams:
|
East |
|
Eastern Finals |
| 1 |
Celtics |
|
Raptors over Celtics |
| 2 |
Raptors |
|
Western Finals |
| 3 |
Bucks |
|
Warriors over Rockets |
| 4 |
Sixers |
|
NBA Finals |
| 5 |
Heat |
|
Warriors over Raptors |
| 6 |
Pacers |
|
MVP |
| 7 |
Wizards |
|
Giannis Antetokounmpo |
| 8 |
Hornets |
|
Rookie of the Year |
|
West |
|
Luka Doncic |
| 1 |
Warriors |
|
Defensive Player of the Year
|
| 2 |
Rockets |
|
Rudy Gobert |
| 3 |
Jazz |
|
Sixth Man of the Year
|
| 4 |
Nuggets |
|
J.J. Redick |
| 5 |
Pelicans |
|
Most Improved Player
|
| 6 |
Thunder |
|
Jamal Murray |
| 7 |
Lakers |
|
Coach of the Year |
| 8 |
Spurs |
|
Mike Budenholzer |
Chris Crouse:
|
East |
|
Eastern Finals |
| 1 |
Raptors |
|
Raptors over Celtics |
| 2 |
Celtics |
|
Western Finals |
| 3 |
Sixers |
|
Warriors over Rockets |
| 4 |
Heat |
|
NBA Finals |
| 5 |
Bucks |
|
Warriors over Raptors |
| 6 |
Wizards |
|
MVP |
| 7 |
Pacers |
|
LeBron James |
| 8 |
Pistons |
|
Rookie of the Year |
|
West |
|
Deandre Ayton |
| 1 |
Warriors |
|
Defensive Player of the Year
|
| 2 |
Rockets |
|
Draymond Green |
| 3 |
Jazz |
|
Sixth Man of the Year
|
| 4 |
Thunder |
|
Eric Gordon |
| 5 |
Lakers |
|
Most Improved Player
|
| 6 |
Spurs |
|
Jamal Murray |
| 7 |
Pelicans |
|
Coach of the Year |
| 8 |
Nuggets |
|
Gregg Popovich |
Clark Crum:
|
East |
|
Eastern Finals |
| 1 |
Celtics |
|
Celtics over Sixers |
| 2 |
Sixers |
|
Western Finals |
| 3 |
Raptors |
|
Warriors over Rockets |
| 4 |
Pacers |
|
NBA Finals |
| 5 |
Wizards |
|
Warriors over Celtics |
| 6 |
Bucks |
|
MVP |
| 7 |
Heat |
|
LeBron James |
| 8 |
Pistons |
|
Rookie of the Year |
|
West |
|
Trae Young |
| 1 |
Warriors |
|
Defensive Player of the Year
|
| 2 |
Rockets |
|
Kawhi Leonard |
| 3 |
Thunder |
|
Sixth Man of the Year
|
| 4 |
Nuggets |
|
Eric Gordon |
| 5 |
Jazz |
|
Most Improved Player
|
| 6 |
Lakers |
|
Josh Richardson |
| 7 |
Trail Blazers |
|
Coach of the Year |
| 8 |
Spurs |
|
Brad Stevens |
Dana Gauruder:
|
East |
|
Eastern Finals |
| 1 |
Celtics |
|
Celtics over Sixers |
| 2 |
Sixers |
|
Western Finals |
| 3 |
Bucks |
|
Rockets over Warriors |
| 4 |
Pacers |
|
NBA Finals |
| 5 |
Heat |
|
Celtics over Rockets |
| 6 |
Wizards |
|
MVP |
| 7 |
Raptors |
|
LeBron James |
| 8 |
Pistons |
|
Rookie of the Year |
|
West |
|
Deandre Ayton |
| 1 |
Rockets |
|
Defensive Player of the Year
|
| 2 |
Warriors |
|
Rudy Gobert |
| 3 |
Pelicans |
|
Sixth Man of the Year
|
| 4 |
Thunder |
|
Dennis Schroder |
| 5 |
Nuggets |
|
Most Improved Player
|
| 6 |
Lakers |
|
Jonathan Isaac |
| 7 |
Jazz |
|
Coach of the Year |
| 8 |
Timberwolves |
|
Mike Budenholzer |
Arthur Hill:
|
East |
|
Eastern Finals |
| 1 |
Celtics |
|
Celtics over Sixers |
| 2 |
Raptors |
|
Western Finals |
| 3 |
Sixers |
|
Warriors over Rockets |
| 4 |
Heat |
|
NBA Finals |
| 5 |
Pacers |
|
Warriors over Celtics |
| 6 |
Bucks |
|
MVP |
| 7 |
Wizards |
|
LeBron James |
| 8 |
Pistons |
|
Rookie of the Year |
|
West |
|
Luka Doncic |
| 1 |
Warriors |
|
Defensive Player of the Year
|
| 2 |
Rockets |
|
Anthony Davis |
| 3 |
Thunder |
|
Sixth Man of the Year
|
| 4 |
Jazz |
|
Carmelo Anthony |
| 5 |
Nuggets |
|
Most Improved Player
|
| 6 |
Pelicans |
|
Markelle Fultz |
| 7 |
Lakers |
|
Coach of the Year |
| 8 |
Trail Blazers |
|
Nick Nurse |
JD Shaw:
|
East |
|
Eastern Finals |
| 1 |
Celtics |
|
Celtics over Raptors |
| 2 |
Raptors |
|
Western Finals |
| 3 |
Sixers |
|
Warriors over Lakers |
| 4 |
Bucks |
|
NBA Finals |
| 5 |
Pacers |
|
Warriors over Celtics |
| 6 |
Wizards |
|
MVP |
| 7 |
Heat |
|
Giannis Antetokounmpo |
| 8 |
Pistons |
|
Rookie of the Year |
|
West |
|
Deandre Ayton |
| 1 |
Warriors |
|
Defensive Player of the Year
|
| 2 |
Rockets |
|
Rudy Gobert |
| 3 |
Lakers |
|
Sixth Man of the Year
|
| 4 |
Thunder |
|
Tyreke Evans |
| 5 |
Jazz |
|
Most Improved Player
|
| 6 |
Nuggets |
|
Markelle Fultz |
| 7 |
Trail Blazers |
|
Coach of the Year |
| 8 |
Spurs |
|
Brad Stevens |
Eric Spyropoulos:
|
East |
|
Eastern Finals |
| 1 |
Raptors |
|
Celtics over Raptors |
| 2 |
Celtics |
|
Western Finals |
| 3 |
Sixers |
|
Warriors over Rockets |
| 4 |
Bucks |
|
NBA Finals |
| 5 |
Pacers |
|
Warriors over Celtics |
| 6 |
Wizards |
|
MVP |
| 7 |
Heat |
|
LeBron James |
| 8 |
Hornets |
|
Rookie of the Year |
|
West |
|
Trae Young |
| 1 |
Warriors |
|
Defensive Player of the Year
|
| 2 |
Rockets |
|
Joel Embiid |
| 3 |
Thunder |
|
Sixth Man of the Year
|
| 4 |
Jazz |
|
Tyreke Evans |
| 5 |
Nuggets |
|
Most Improved Player
|
| 6 |
Pelicans |
|
Jamal Murray |
| 7 |
Lakers |
|
Coach of the Year |
| 8 |
Spurs |
|
Mike Budenholzer |
Wow, that’s a lot of Celtics love…
I find it hard to trust a team that’s so often riddled with injury, though they’re definitely deep.
I have the Celtics and Raptors in a tier of their own in the East, with the Bucks outpacing the very-overrated Sixers. As things stand now, I’d expect the Raptors to easily dismantle the Celtics in the playoffs.
I also have the Rockets and Warriors in a tier of their own in the West (as does pretty much everyone), though I’m bullish on the Lakers, since I think they have enough assets to make a deal that pushes them into contention.
East:
Raptors
Celtics
Bucks
Sixers
Pacers
Heat
Pistons
Wizards
West:
Rockets
Warriors
Lakers
Spurs
Jazz
Nuggets
Trail Blazers
Thunder
Eastern Finals: Raptors over Bucks
Western Finals: Rockets over Warriors
NBA Finals: Warriors over Raptors
MVP: Antetokounmpo
ROY: Doncic (but barely, over Young)
DPY: Gobert
6MY: Isaiah Thomas
MIP: Murray
COY: Budenholzer
I am a hawks fan but I wonder if young’s body can hold up for 82 games
He’s definitely one of the most interesting players from this year’s draft. It will really come down to how much work he has put in – to his game, his body – and if he can stay healthy. But you can say that about most players.
Young feels like a guy who could be any of:
-a perennial all-star
-solid starter
-decent-to-great scoring 6th man
-can’t handle the NBA’s athleticism and flames out after his rookie deal
He’s got a chance to be great – and that’s really all you can ask/hope for in a draft pick.
I think you (and fellow Hawks fans) should have a lot of fun watching him play this year. Hawks should also be in the mix for another top 3 pick, and the 2019 draft looks to be one worth tanking for.
Seems like a smart/solid rebuild to me – especially since they nabbed that extra Dallas pick in the trade.
Warriors so good they can win the nba finals without winning the western finals
Haha, whoops!
It was a coin toss, and I thought I’d go with the Rockets winning it all.
But apparently when I got to typing my finals prediction, the part of my brain that believes the Warriors are practically an unstoppable force of awesome took over.
Meant to have it as Rockets over Raptors, but partly because I believe the Rockets will make another big move before the end of the season (I still think they have a chance at landing Butler, but who knows at this point?).
So warriors lose in western conference finals and then win the nba finals
June is going to be crazy
Jd the only one him with a brain. Lakers are 3 seed with bron. Lakers beat the breaks off warriors in preseason with all there starters. Outside of rockets and warriors few have the depth lakers do.
Please don’t ever bring up the preseason again trying to justify any teams value good or bad . Lmao
Yet if lakers got blown out trolls like you would use it to condem them. You guys can hate to admit that lakers are good again lol
Draymond didn’t play either game. Durant and LeBron didn’t play the 2nd game. Those games are irrelevant.
Trolls? The nba preseason is just like nfl. Has zero meaning. Just getting players feet wet. Go be overly sensitive somewhere else
JD is wrong about one thing
If the Lakers finish 3rd in West there is no way Lebron doesn’t win MVP
Lotta love for the Raptors who have been to the conference finals once in their history
I don’t really understand this comment.
What does history have to do with a specific franchise?
The NBA has 100 times more to do with a collection of players on a team than a team’s history with players who no longer play.
History – apart from sample sizes that tell us who a player is and what a group of players might be together – means nothing in predicting the future in any sport.
What JD says except Warriors over Rockets in the western conference finals. Eastern conference finals is all about Kawhi. They could beat Boston or they could be like the Raptors of old. For rookie of year, Trae Young reminds me of DeAaron Fox. Ayton says he wants him and Booker to be next Shaq and Fox. Aayton will help bring back the center position. Anthony Davis for defensive player of year. Between him and Gobert it’s all about staying healthy. Sixth man of year is too early to call. Sixers say they will start Fultz in the first half and Reddick in the 2nd half. Murray sounds good for most improved.
Was out of town for a few days so haven’t updated my lists for the regular season, but coming into training camp I had
East
Boston Celtics
Toronto Raptors
Philadelphia 76ers
Miami Heat
Washington Wizards
Milwaukee Bucks
Indiana Pacers
Detroit Pistons
Brooklyn Nets
Cleveland Cavaliers
Chicago Bulls
Charlotte Hornets
Orlando Magic
New York Knicks
Atlanta Hawks
West
Golden State Warriors
Houston Rockets
Los Angeles Lakers
Utah Jazz
San Antonio Spurs
OKC Thunder
Los Angeles Clippers
Denver Nuggets
New Orleans Pelicans
Portland Trail Blazers
Memphis Grizzlies
Minnesota Timberwolves
Dallas Mavericks
Phoenix Suns
Sacramento Kings
I didnt know where to place Minnesota. If Butler plays, I would probably have them right there behind OKC. It also depends what they could get in a potential trade. That ranking is essentially without Butler. I could see the Spurs injuries pushing them down a bit, and same for OKC, but depending on what happens with Minnesota, I dont think there is enough past those top 4 in the West to keep them out of that range of spots
MVP: LeBron James
For the first time ever, I believe GS is actually vulnerable to a few teams. I cant say I can pick anyone over them, but the Celtics, Toronto (first time they’ve ever been a contender), Philly, the Lakers, Utah, and Houston all have reasonable matchups that give them actual shots. If I had to pick one, I could see the Celtics beating them if they get to the finals
Dude most accurate post here! Thank you i agree with this!
I love that you did the whole league!
Who do you see as the bottom 5 teams this year? Who has the best shot at picking first overall?
Atlanta is the clear cut favorite to be the worst team. After that, I cant say for sure. Injuries and close games will play into it. The league has gotten better overall, so even the teams I picked at the bottom will be competitive on most nights
Knicks & Magic will be the worst. Hawks will have their best players on the court!
NBA Finals Celtics over the Lakers in 5 Tatum Finals MVP
ECF Celtics over the Bucks in 6
WCF Lakers defeat Rockets in 7
East:
Celtics
Raptors
Pacers
Sixers
Bucks
Heat
Wizards
Cavs
West:
Warriors
Rockets
Jazz
Lakers
Thunder
Nuggets
Pelicans
Spurs
MVP: LeBron (he’ll always play well enough to win it; it’s just a matter of if there’s another candidate that’s so much more deserving of it than he is…Greek Freak or AD could very well take an even bigger step forward this year though)
Finals: Warriors over Celtics (I’m not discounting the Rockets, Raptors or the Lakers with playoff LeBron, but I just can’t bring myself to predict any other outcome than this)
Rookie of the Year: Trae Young (whether he’s efficient or not he’ll light it up because Atlanta doesn’t have much else, so I’m not a full believer on him but I’m betting on the volume)
DPOY: Draymond is probably the safest bet
Sixth Man: Eric Gordon
Most Improved Player: as a Cavs fan I really want to say Cedi Osman because I think he’ll be a solid player with consistent minutes but him winning MIP likely means that he plays at an All-Star level which seems extreme…so I’ll go with Brandon Ingram
Coach of the Year: Budenholzer (I really like the Bucks’ roster and if there’s a guy that helps them take that next step, he’s the one)
Sad to see LeBron leave the Land… but I love that you’re still so optimistic!
I see the Cavs more as a bottom 10 team, though they might be bad enough to actually have a good pick this year.
Osman is a good pick as MIP… seems like the popular pick, Jamal Murray, is already improved!
East
1. Boston Celtics
2. Philadelphia 76ers
3. Toronto Raptors
4. Milwaukee Bucks
5. Indiana Pacers
6. Miami Heat
7. Washington Wizards
8. Charlotte Hornets
Detroit Pistons
Chicago Bulls
Cleveland Cavaliers
Brooklyn Nets
Orlando Magic
New York Knicks
Atlanta Hawks
West
1. Houston Rockets
2. Golden State Warriors
3. Utah Jazz
4. Denver Nuggets
5. San Antonio Spurs
6. New Orleans Pelicans
7. Los Angeles Lakers
8. OKC Thunder
Portland Trail Blazers
Minnesota Timberwolves
Dallas Mavericks
Memphis Grizzlies
Los Angeles Clippers
Phoenix Suns
Sacramento Kings
The Western Conference is going to be ultra-competitive, with easy wins tough to come by. I see only 4-5 games separating teams 4-10.
Eastern Finals: Celtics over 76ers
Western Finals: Warriors over Rockets
NBA Finals: Warriors over Celtics
MVP: AD
ROY: Trae Young
DPY: Gobert
6MY: Isaiah Thomas (credit to Nebrasketball for putting this on my radar)
MIP: Fultz
COY: Coach Bud
I love that you did the whole league!
Who do you have with the best odds of picking 1st overall at the 2019 draft?
Atlanta has to be the favorite to get the highest lottery chances. Hopefully though, they are the rare worst team in the league that is fun to watch on league pass.
Season starts tonight! Let’s get it on!!!
warriors mentally/physically spent? they’re in their prime, coasting on cruise control and collecting rings. why lebron would move west makes zero sense to me.
I knew Luke would have the common sense to pick Charlotte to make it in the East, having Eric do the same just makes it that much better
It looks like when Luke did his predictions he had Jimmy Butler playing for Miami.
I still think there’s a very real chance he’s playing in Miami by the trade deadline. Even if he isn’t, I like the continuity and culture in Miami and dislike the turmoil in Minnesota.
I’m predicting GSW over LAL, Detroit over Boston, and GSW #1. The East is wide open and Detroit can get on a roll without injuries. Not sold on the other leaders.
James MVP, Alexander Rook, Embiid Defense, Anthony 6th…
If Fultz gets most improved, that puts Reddick up for 6th man! But I don’t think much will happen with Fultz.
1.TOR, 2.BOS, 3.PHL, 4.DET, 5.MIL, 6.MIA, 7.IND, 8.CHA, 9.CHI, 10.WAS,
11.BRK, 12.CLE, 13.ATL, ORL, NYK
1.GSW, 2.HOU, 3.UTA, 4.DEN, 5.LAL,
6.SAS, 7.NOP, 8.OKC, 9.LAC, 10.POR,
11.MEM, 12.MIN, PHX, DAL, SAC
Gaps between 3-4 and 9-10.