NBA 2019-2020 Bold Predictions

[Kliq]

Place your dumb predictions here. We'll make fun of them later.

* Clippers beat the Bucks in the Finals. Bucks beat the Sixers in a thrilling ECF series and Philly seriously has to consider trading either Simmons or Embiid in the off-season as their playing styles (no jumper for Simmons, too many jumpers for Embiid) cause problems.

* Lakers have a disappointing regular season due to LeBron and Davis both missing time. They turn it on in the postseason but lose in the WCF to the Clippers despite great play from LeBron and Davis.

* The Warriors fail to make the playoffs and Klay Thompson does not return for the regular season. Curry plays superbly but gets shut-down in March after a minor injury.

* Celtics finish fourth in the East behind Milwaukee, Philly and Miami.

* Detroit trades for Chris Paul in a hail mary attempt to avoid a re-build.

* The Hornets have the worst record.

* The Harden and Westbrook pairing does not work out and Houston flames out in the first round of the playoffs. Harden puts up his usual numbers but Westbrook only averages a 16-5-5 and gets traded in the offseason.

* Zion plays under 50 games. Ja Morant is the ROTY after averaging 19-8 for Memphis.

* Nikola Jokic is the MVP.

 

[Sam Ray Not]

The Harden and Westbrook pairing does not work out and Houston flames out in the first round of the playoffs.

With Daryl Morey ritually sacrificed at a Finals halftime ceremony honoring our Beijing overlords.

 

[johnmd20]

With Daryl Morey ritually sacrificed at a Finals halftime ceremony honoring our Beijing overlords.

This thread is for bold predictions. The above is a lock to happen.

 

[DJnVa]

One of Philly or Milwaukee does not make the ECF.

 

[PC Drunken Friar]

Westbrook changes his style of play and Harden and him actually work. Houston competes for the 2nd seed and makes the WCF.

The Hawks make the playoffs as a 7 seed and put a scare into the 76ers in the first round.

 

[santadevil]

Raptors Repeat

 

[Big John]

The Nets miss the playoffs.

 

[the Trotman cometh]

De’Aaron Fox finishes top 10 in MVP voting, a top 3 seed loses in the first round of the playoffs

 

[HomeRunBaker]

I cannot wait to be mocked in the spring!!

* The Lakers will get off to a blistering start. The Clippers will not.
* LeBron will be in the early season discussions regarding MVP, PED, and maybe even STD.
* Celtics win 53 games/win the Atlantic/Brad is named Coach of the Year (all in one prediction).
* Zion misses more early season games than expected, returns, and suffers another injury which ultimately leads to him being shut down after 32 games this year.
* Tyler Herro becomes and also nicknamed a Cult Herro in Miami.
* Portland finishes below .500
* Spurs miss playoffs, Pop gives identical "There's no blame to be placed" speech he gave following World Cup, reporter makes Pop aware this is same word-for-word statement, Pop gives reporter grimacing stare.
* Jaylen Brown is widely recognized as a better player than Jayson Tatum.
* At least one active NBA player dies due to opioid OD (morbid i know but hey just calling it like i see it).
* Markelle Fultz is released/bought out/shutdown by Orlando prior to end of the season and never to see an NBA floor again.

 

[Rich Garces Belly]

Clippers lose to Philly in the finals.

celtics best Milwaukee and lose a close game 7 to Philly.

Phoenix Suns and Timberwolves and Kings are all playoff contenders all season.

IT starts to show that he might not be all done in Washington and shows some signs of life.

Lakers do not make the playoffs.

 

[lovegtm]

Philly’s shooting/spacing doesn’t work and there are calls to break up the team/trade Simmons, even as they’re winning games on the strength of stifling D.

 

[pjheff]

* The Warriors fail to make the playoffs and Klay Thompson does not return for the regular season. Curry plays superbly but gets shut-down in March after a minor injury.

The Warriors make one last run to the Finals, and Sam Ray Not is banned for being completely insufferable.

 

[HomeRunBaker]

Philly’s shooting/spacing doesn’t work and there are calls to break up the team/trade Simmons, even as they’re winning games on the strength of stifling D.

I agree with this as well.

* Zion misses more early season games than expected, returns, and suffers another injury which ultimately leads to him being shut down after 32 games this year.

Check the time stamps with Woj’s I think I’m 1-0 about 12 minutes into my post. Scary sick.

 

[Kliq]

The Warriors make one last run to the Finals, and Sam Ray Not is banned for being completely insufferable.

Meh, SRN being happy his team does well doesn't really bother me. Now, if he starts a thread titled "Marquese Chriss: Max guy?," then it is a different story.

 

[benhogan]

Place your dumb predictions here. We'll make fun of them later.

* Clippers beat the Bucks in the Finals. Bucks beat the Sixers in a thrilling ECF series and Philly seriously has to consider trading either Simmons or Embiid in the off-season as their playing styles (no jumper for Simmons, too many jumpers for Embiid) cause problems.

* Lakers have a disappointing regular season due to LeBron and Davis both missing time. They turn it on in the postseason but lose in the WCF to the Clippers despite great play from LeBron and Davis.

* The Warriors fail to make the playoffs and Klay Thompson does not return for the regular season. Curry plays superbly but gets shut-down in March after a minor injury.

* Celtics finish fourth in the East behind Milwaukee, Philly and Miami.

* Detroit trades for Chris Paul in a hail mary attempt to avoid a re-build.

* The Hornets have the worst record.

* The Harden and Westbrook pairing does not work out and Houston flames out in the first round of the playoffs. Harden puts up his usual numbers but Westbrook only averages a 16-5-5 and gets traded in the offseason.

* Zion plays under 50 games. Ja Morant is the ROTY after averaging 19-8 for Memphis.

* Nikola Jokic is the MVP.

Dumb predictions? entering my wheelhouse...feel free to fire your arrows early folks, remember you can only haze me later if you haze me now

1. Carson Edwards finishes top 3 in ROY

2. China situation worsens and the NBA salary cap takes a hit

3. Warriors don't make the playoffs. Russell and Kerr clash. Steph is worn down to a nub. They raise the white flag early and tell Klay to come back next season healthy. They end up with the #1 pick in the draft and a new dynasty begins.

4. Mavs make the playoffs. Team Europa will be the early talk of the NBA

5. Maine Red Claws go undefeated. Tremont Waters G-League MVP (is there such a thing?)

6. a sub .500 team in the East makes the playoffs

7. Daniel Theis counting numbers will stink but he'll be a valued role player with the starting unit

8. Marcus Morris Jr MaMo leads the league in fights and technical fouls. NYC loves his feistiness, and the Knicks resign him to a multi-year deal. He still won't play help defense.

9. Kyrie Irving plays fewer games than Zion, even after surgery

10. Aron Baynes gets a standing ovation upon his return to the Garden

11. legitimate Gordon Hayward trade rumors surface this season

 

[Ale Xander]

Celtics win NBA title
Kemba finishes 2nd in MVP
3 Celtics on ASG roster
GWill shoots 63%+ from the field.

 

[Sam Ray Not]

Lol, as long as we’re making predictions involving Port Cellar denizens, I’ll play: Clippers go 66-16 and crush the Bucks 4-0 in the finals... and El Uno still isn’t buying the hype.

 

[Sam Ray Not]

Oh, and if we’re fantasizing about the Warriors punting the season and lucking into the #1 pick ... I’ll boldly/dumbly predict that pick immediately heading to Milwaukee with DLo, Draymond and Milwaukee’s own Looney and Poole — and Giannis forcing his way to the Bay.

 

[chilidawg]

GWill and Arson Edwards make the all rookie team
Brown and Walker make the All star team
Tatum turns out to be a high volume low efficiency scorer
Kanter is just as bad defensively as we feared and is traded mid season
The VP/Theis tandem is more than adequate at the 5
3rd in the East, beat Milwaukee in the semis, lose to Philly in the ECF. Philly wins title.

 

[mcpickl]

Ben Simmons makes a three pointer.

Maybe two.

 

[Light-Tower-Power]

The Lakers miss the playoffs again.

 

[luckiestman]

Celtics win it over Denvah as both LA teams breakdown

 

[nighthob]

Anthony Davis misses 30 games to injury and another 20 to load management. The Lakers go sub-.500 and draft LaMelo Ball after winning the lottery.
Boston beats Philadelphia in the playoffs again.
The Brooklyn Nets snag the #8 seed with 36 wins and get frogmarched out of the postseason.
Kevin Durant demands a trade.

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

In a serious vein, Denver gets the top seed in the West and Dallas challenges for the eight seed. The Clippers come out of the West ultimately but the WC playoffs are essentially tight from start to finish.

In the East, Miami and the Pacers will surprise some people, each finishing within the top five. Philly emerges from the East.

 

[Devizier]

Rockets win the #1 seed in the WC. Get bounced in the second round.

 

[ElUno20]

Lol, as long as we’re making predictions involving Port Cellar denizens, I’ll play: Clippers go 66-16 and crush the Bucks 4-0 in the finals... and El Uno still isn’t buying the hype.

Im buying the hype, just not in the regular season. I just want health in April.

 

[Phil Plantier]

My out-there predictions:

1. A changing of the guard: top teams in the west will be Denver, Portland, and Utah.

2. Bulls make the playoffs, Pacers and Raptors miss the playoffs

 

[benhogan]

BOLD adjective
(of a person, action, or idea) showing an ability to take risks; confident and courageous.


Stating what the oddsmakers say is neither risky or courageous.

Thanks to those that have some sack to go out on a limb or say something funny...

 

[Sam Ray Not]

Fwiw, the NYT writers panel is (somewhat surprisingly) unanimous on the WC Champ, but highly divided on the WC runner-up:

• Araton: Clippers over Trail Blazers
• Bergeron: Clippers over Lakers
• Bromwich: Clippers over Nuggets
• Cacciola: Clippers over Jazz
• Deb: Clippers over Rockets
• Hoffman: Clippers over Nuggets
• Lowe: Clippers over Warriors
• Stein: Clippers over Jazz

The East meanwhile has a distinctly 1983-ish vibe...

• Araton: Sixers over Bucks
• Bergeron: Bucks over Sixers
• Bromwich: Sixers over Bucks
• Cacciola: Sixers over Bucks
• Deb: Bucks over Celtics
• Hoffman: Sixers over Bucks
• Lowe: Sixers over Celtics
• Stein: Bucks over Sixers

In the "wild prediction" vein, a bunch of them seem to be buying low on OKC, including this doozy by Harvey Araton: "The Oklahoma City Thunder finish with a better record than the Houston Rockets."

Araton also predicts bloodletting in Houston, but stops short of my prediction that will be Morey ritually sacrificed (I'm picturing MIDSOMMAR) at halftime of a Finals game: "everyone’s angry at the Rockets for lost China revenue, but D’Antoni takes the fall because the league can’t cave on firing Daryl Morey, Houston’s general manager."

link

 

[gammoseditor]

Dumb predictions? entering my wheelhouse...feel free to fire your arrows early folks, remember you can only haze me later if you haze me now

1. Carson Edwards finishes top 3 in ROY

2. China situation worsens and the NBA salary cap takes a hit

3. Warriors don't make the playoffs. Russell and Kerr clash. Steph is worn down to a nub. They raise the white flag early and tell Klay to come back next season healthy. They end up with the #1 pick in the draft and a new dynasty begins.

4. Mavs make the playoffs. Team Europa will be the early talk of the NBA

5. Maine Red Claws go undefeated. Tremont Waters G-League MVP (is there such a thing?)

6. a sub .500 team in the East makes the playoffs

7. Daniel Theis counting numbers will stink but he'll be a valued role player with the starting unit

8. Marcus Morris Jr leads the league in fights and technical fouls. NYC loves his feistiness, and the Knicks resign him to a multi-year deal. MaMo still won't play help defense.

9. Kyrie Irving plays fewer games than Zion, even after surgery

10. Aron Baynes gets a standing ovation upon his return to the Garden

11. legitimate Gordon Hayward trade rumors surface this season

The bolded really would be quite a story.

 

[Tony C]

I buy OKC as overachieving -- I can't stand CP3, but he's not done and I think he'll be on a mission. And people forget that in Gallo and Gilgeous-Alexander they picked up two really good players -- Shai is ready for a breakout.

Better than Houston is bold, though. I buy Houston will underachieve but a a bit too much for me to say OKC will end up higher than them unless I'm getting good odds.


o .

 

[Sam Ray Not]

If I'm selling high on anyone right now, it's the Jazz. I'm not persuaded that Conley Jr. is any kind of a massive upgrade on Rubio (much better shooter but worse at everything else, plus significantly smaller, older, and less durable) or that Donovan Mitchell is much more than Monta Ellis with a three ball. Bojan's a nice enough addition, but he's also slow and on the wrong side of 30, and their other wing (Ingles) is even older and slower. With Mitchell, that may be one of the worst defensive groups of wings in the league. And they lost a beastly defender who's been a big part of what they do in Favors. Barring a big step up in efficiency from Mitchell (not out of the question at age 23, but not a given either) I could easily see them as a bubble playoff team. Seeing them on so many people's lists of title contenders is just perplexing to me.

 

[benhogan]

The bolded really would be quite a story.

"8. Marcus Morris Jr MaMo leads the league in fights and technical fouls. NYC loves his feistiness, and the Knicks resign him to a multi-year deal. He still won't play help defense."

That's a lock. I should have specified. Fights include not only the opposing team BUT teammates, refs, Daryl Morey, coaches, KD at a Manhattan club, fans, beat reporters, Mom's ex-boyfriends, siblings, and former NY Knicks.

For example, after the Knicks 3-17 start, a drunk Charles Oakley is seen booing from the sidelines. MaMo drops Oak like the bag of dirt he is...Dolan quickly maxes MaMo

He warmed up his fight game this pre-season:
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDz_xzPSZA4

 

[queenb]

"8. Marcus Morris Jr leads the league in fights and technical fouls. NYC loves his feistiness, and the Knicks resign him to a multi-year deal. MaMo still won't play help defense."

That's a lock. I should have specified. Fights include not only the opposing team BUT teammates, refs, Daryl Morey, coaches, KD at a Manhattan club, fans, beat reporters, Mom's ex-boyfriends, siblings, and former NY Knicks.

For example, after the Knicks 3-17 start, a drunk Charles Oakley is seen booing from the sidelines. MaMo drops Oak like the bag of dirt he is...Dolan quickly maxes MaMo

he warmed up in the pre-season

If he's gonna get in that much trouble he should never leave the crib.

 

[benhogan]

As usual SoSH ahead of the curve:

https://celticswire.usatoday.com/2019/10/22/5-bold-predictions-for-the-boston-celtics-in-2019-20/3/

This hack even lifted my Hayward prediction.

 

[Red Right Ankle]

"8. Marcus Morris Jr leads the league in fights and technical fouls. NYC loves his feistiness, and the Knicks resign him to a multi-year deal. MaMo still won't play help defense."

That's a lock. I should have specified. Fights include not only the opposing team BUT teammates, refs, Daryl Morey, coaches, KD at a Manhattan club, fans, beat reporters, Mom's ex-boyfriends, siblings, and former NY Knicks.

He's a Sr., dude.

 

[HomeRunBaker]

"8. Marcus Morris Jr leads the league in fights and technical fouls. NYC loves his feistiness, and the Knicks resign him to a multi-year deal. MaMo still won't play help defense."

Knicks ahead of the curve on this one. They sign Marcus Morris Jr on the cheap for his Age 2 season to retain his rights to secure him on a multi-year deal for his Ages 3 thru 6 years. Kids gonna be a beast by the time he hits kindergarten!

 

[benhogan]

Knicks ahead of the curve on this one. They sign Marcus Morris Jr on the cheap for his Age 2 season to retain his rights to secure him on a multi-year deal for his Ages 3 thru 6 years. Kids gonna be a beast by the time he hits kindergarten!

I can't remember but did he have Morris Sr. on the back of his jersey?

Morris Jr had a more efficient "on/off" number than Sr last season, so I could see the Knicks signing him over dad

 

[Sox and Rocks]

My Denver Nuggets will be 2019-2020 NBA Champions! Remember, you heard it here first.

 

[Kliq]

If I'm selling high on anyone right now, it's the Jazz. I'm not persuaded that Conley Jr. is any kind of a massive upgrade on Rubio (much better shooter but worse at everything else, plus significantly smaller, older, and less durable) or that Donovan Mitchell is much more than Monta Ellis with a three ball. Bojan's a nice enough addition, but he's also slow and on the wrong side of 30, and their other wing (Ingles) is even older and slower. With Mitchell, that may be one of the worst defensive groups of wings in the league. And they lost a beastly defender who's been a big part of what they do in Favors. Barring a big step up in efficiency from Mitchell (not out of the question at age 23, but not a given either) I could easily see them as a bubble playoff team. Seeing them on so many people's lists of title contenders is just perplexing to me.

Conley is a big upgrade over Rubio. Rubio is younger, but given we are only evaluating this season, Conley is still in his prime at 31, as opposed to Rubio being 28. Rubio is bigger and has the length of a wing player, which is useful defensively but Conley is still a very capable defender. Conley also played in more games last season than Rubio and played more minutes. Conley also turns the ball over significantly less than Rubio. Conley holds significant edges in almost all advanced metrics (WS, WS/48, VORP, BPM and PER).

Most importantly though, Conley fills a critical role in Utah's roster which is a second guy that could create his own shot and score points against tough playoff defenses. Rubio did some things better than Conley, but if Conley plays up to his usual standard, he fills an important need that Utah did not have last season.

Favors I think is a good player but playing him and Gobert wasn't optimal. I think Gobert/Conley/Mitchell + wing shooters (Bogdanovic, Ingles, Royce O'Neale, Jeff Green) is a better closing lineup.

 

[nighthob]

On the other hand the 5'11"/6'2" backcourt is going to cause its own issues.

 

[Kliq]

On the other hand the 5'11"/6'2" backcourt is going to cause its own issues.

Yeah, but Mitchell is a top athlete and has a 6'10" wingspan. They also have the greatest rim-protector in the game watching their back and a top defensive coach scheming for them. Utah has ranked in the Top 3 of defensive rating each of the last three seasons, I'm not worried about their defense.

 

[nighthob]

People get too carried away with wingspan. When you're 6'1" and change and 220, your wingspan gets inflated by broad shoulders. In terms of length his standing reach is only 8'1". So his strength helps, but at 6'2" in shoes the bigger guards are going to eat him up when he's on D. The advantage of Rubio was that he could take the tough assignments freeing up Mitchell. Now Mitchell's getting stuck with those thankless tasks. The guy they really needed was Marcus Smart.

 

[Sam Ray Not]

Conley is a big upgrade over Rubio. Rubio is younger, but given we are only evaluating this season, Conley is still in his prime at 31, as opposed to Rubio being 28. Rubio is bigger and has the length of a wing player, which is useful defensively but Conley is still a very capable defender. Conley also played in more games last season than Rubio and played more minutes. Conley also turns the ball over significantly less than Rubio. Conley holds significant edges in almost all advanced metrics (WS, WS/48, VORP, BPM and PER). Most importantly though, Conley fills a critical role in Utah's roster which is a second guy that could create his own shot and score points against tough playoff defenses. Rubio did some things better than Conley, but if Conley plays up to his usual standard, he fills an important need that Utah did not have last season.

Conley's 32 (and Rubio's 29); otherwise no major disagreements. I think Conley's better, for the reasons you note; I just think people are overstating the delta. Conley's shot creation / scoring was excellent last season, but has been fairly modest over his career (16.4 pts per 36 on .564 ts regular season, 15.9 pts on .517 ts playoffs), And I think people are understating their potential defensive shortcomings, possibly assuming "Utah = perennially good at defense" without realizing how big a role Rubio and Favors played in that, and how much of a defensively liability Bojan is.

 

[HomeRunBaker]

I can't remember but did he have Morris Sr. on the back of his jersey?

Morris Jr had a more efficient "on/off" number than Sr last season, so I could see the Knicks signing him over dad

Yes he wore the Sr. once it became the thing to do.

On/Off is for schmucks

 

[Big John]

It's not a very bold prediction, but Frank Vogel will be fired and replaced by Tyronn Lue before the all-star break.

 

[Lazy vs Crazy]

It's not a very bold prediction, but Frank Vogel will be fired and replaced by Tyronn Lue before the all-star break.

Lue coaching for the Clippers makes this unlikely.

 

[Big John]

Maybe not, but that big bus is just idling in the Lakers parking lot, waiting for LeBron to throw Frank Vogel under it.

 

[The Social Chair]

Replace Lue with Jason Kidd and you might be correct. Kidd was on the bench last night sharpening his shiv.

 

[oumbi]

And let the pettiness begin...

https://www.foxnews.com/sports/jason-kidd-lakers-frank-vogel-tweet-picture