2019-2020 NBA Predictions – Playoff Picture and Awards
The 2019-2020 season is finally here!!! Do you remember an offseason with more player movement than we saw this past summer? I can’t think of one. Should be an interesting and exciting season.
For in-depth analysis on each Division, check out my Preview and Predictions articles (links below). In this article, I will be predicting the Playoff picture, as well as all the Award winners. Enjoy.
Southeast Division Preview and Predictions
Atlantic Division Preview and Predictions
Central Division Preview and Predictions
Northwest Division Preview and Predictions
Southwest Division Preview and Predictions
Pacific Division Preview and Predictions
Eastern Conference Playoff Teams (and seeds)
1. Milwaukee Bucks
2. Philadelphia 76ers
3. Boston Celtics
4. Indiana Pacers
5. Toronto Raptors
6. Orlando Magic
7. Miami Heat
8. Brooklyn Nets
Western Conference Playoff Teams (and seeds)
1. Los Angeles Clippers
2. Denver Nuggets
3. Houston Rockets
4. Los Angeles Lakers
5. Utah Jazz
6. Golden State Warriors
7. Portland Trailblazers
8. San Antonio Spurs
Playoff Predictions
Eastern Conference Finals – Milwaukee Bucks over Philadelphia 76ers
Western Conference Finals – Los Angeles Lakers over Los Angeles Clippers
NBA Finals – Los Angeles Lakers over Milwaukee Bucks
MVP – This could be a compelling race this year. How many votes do LeBron & Anthony Davis take away from eachother? Same question applies to Paul George & Kawhi Leonard and Harden & Westbrook. Nikola Jokic, Steph Curry, and Joel Embiid will likely get some run as well. But I will take the best player in the NBA, and the reigning League MVP. Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Rookie of the Year – This one is hard, because Zion Williamson is expected to miss 6-8 weeks. Will that be enough to prevent him from winning it? Perhaps. Of the remaining rookies, I happen to think that Knick rookie RJ Barrett will have the best season, as he appears to be the most NBA-ready. Ja Morant should have a nice season as well, but it’ll be the Dukie. RJ Barrett.
Defensive Player of the Year – I am not exactly going out on a limb on this one, but can you see anyone being a more dominant defensive force than Rudy Gobert? Over the last few seasons, he has averaged about 12 rebounds, 2 blocks, and 1 steal per game. There are plenty of other good defenders in the league, but nobody as dominant as him. The ultimate rim protector. Rudy Gobert.
Sixth Man of the Year – Like Gobert for the Defensive Player of the Year Award, there doesn’t seem to be anyone that will unseat Lou Williams for the Sixth Man. He is again the backup point guard (to Patrick Beverly), and has already won the award 3 times (2015, 2018, & 2019). Unless he (or Beverly) gets injured, hard to think he won’t win it again. Lou Williams.
Most Improved Player – This award is always tough to predict because, well, you don’t know who is going to get that much better from the previous year. I will go with a lesser known player here, Collin Sexton. He averaged almost 17 points per game last year, but his game improved mightily in the 2nd half of the season. I think this kid will be a star. Collin Sexton.
Coach of the Year – This Award I have never been a fan of. Not that it shouldn’t be given out, but because it rarely goes to the most deserving Coach. It usually neither goes to the best Coach, nor to the Coach with the best team. It ends up going to the Coach whose team is “better” than expected (something the media typically predicted). Anyways, with that in mind, I will take a team that I believe will both exceed last years season, and this years expectations. Led by 1st year head coach Luke Walton, I think the Kings will shock some people this season. Luke Walton.
Now, tell me what you think!!!
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