Hoops Rumors Writers’ 2019/20 NBA Predictions

The NBA’s 2019/20 regular season will tip off on Tuesday night, as the defending-champion Raptors host the Pelicans in the early game and the Lakers “visit” the Clippers 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 Sixers Sixers over Bucks
2 Bucks Western Finals
3 Celtics Clippers over Rockets
4 Magic NBA Finals
5 Raptors Clippers over Sixers
6 Heat MVP
7 Nets Nikola Jokic
8 Pacers Rookie of the Year
West Ja Morant
1 Nuggets Defensive Player of the Year
2 Clippers Joel Embiid
3 Jazz Sixth Man of the Year
4 Rockets Spencer Dinwiddie
5 Lakers Most Improved Player
6 Spurs Jonathan Isaac
7 Blazers Coach of the Year
8 Warriors Steve Clifford

Chris Crouse:

East Eastern Finals
1 Sixers Sixers over Bucks
2 Bucks Western Finals
3 Celtics Lakers over Rockets
4 Heat NBA Finals
5 Nets Sixers over Lakers
6 Pacers MVP
7 Raptors Ben Simmons
8 Bulls Rookie of the Year
West Zion Williamson
1 Jazz Defensive Player of the Year
2 Rockets Rudy Gobert
3 Clippers Sixth Man of the Year
4 Lakers Lou Williams
5 Nuggets Most Improved Player
6 Warriors Bam Adebayo
7 Blazers Coach of the Year
8 Spurs Quin Snyder

Dana Gauruder:

East Eastern Finals
1 Bucks Bucks over Sixers
2 Celtics Western Finals
3 Sixers Clippers over Nuggets
4 Heat NBA Finals
5 Pacers Bucks over Clippers
6 Pistons MVP
7 Nets Kawhi Leonard
8 Raptors Rookie of the Year
West Ja Morant
1 Lakers Defensive Player of the Year
2 Clippers Rudy Gobert
3 Nuggets Sixth Man of the Year
4 Rockets Derrick Rose
5 Blazers Most Improved Player
6 Jazz Bam Adebayo
7 Kings Coach of the Year
8 Spurs Erik Spoelstra

Arthur Hill:

East Eastern Finals
1 Sixers Sixers over Bucks
2 Bucks Western Finals
3 Celtics Clippers over Rockets
4 Raptors NBA Finals
5 Nets Clippers over Sixers
6 Heat MVP
7 Pacers Anthony Davis
8 Magic Rookie of the Year
West Zion Williamson
1 Clippers Defensive Player of the Year
2 Rockets Rudy Gobert
3 Lakers Sixth Man of the Year
4 Nuggets Lou Williams
5 Jazz Most Improved Player
6 Blazers Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
7 Warriors Coach of the Year
8 Spurs Doc Rivers

Austin Kent:

East Eastern Finals
1 Bucks Bucks over Raptors
2 Raptors Western Finals
3 Sixers Rockets over Warriors
4 Pacers NBA Finals
5 Celtics Bucks over Rockets
6 Nets MVP
7 Heat Giannis Antetokounmpo
8 Pistons Rookie of the Year
West Darius Garland
1 Rockets Defensive Player of the Year
2 Nuggets Draymond Green
3 Clippers Sixth Man of the Year
4 Lakers Derrick Rose
5 Jazz Most Improved Player
6 Warriors Thomas Bryant
7 Blazers Coach of the Year
8 Mavericks Nick Nurse

JD Shaw:

East Eastern Finals
1 Bucks Sixers over Bucks
2 Sixers Western Finals
3 Nets Clippers over Lakers
4 Celtics NBA Finals
5 Heat Clippers over Sixers
6 Pacers MVP
7 Raptors Giannis Antetokounmpo
8 Bulls Rookie of the Year
West Zion Williamson
1 Clippers Defensive Player of the Year
2 Rockets Rudy Gobert
3 Lakers Sixth Man of the Year
4 Jazz Lou Williams
5 Nuggets Most Improved Player
6 Blazers Lauri Markkanen
7 Warriors Coach of the Year
8 Kings Doc Rivers
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