Bold predictions for the rest of the 2023-24 NBA season

Steph Curry famously turned the first-ever unanimous MVP once more in 2015-16. Nikola Jokic will develop to be the second this season. Jokic has fairly a bit working in his favor. Most importantly, he’s most certainly going to be a top-20 participant of all-time (probably even greater), he’s in the middle of his prime, and he’s having arguably his most interesting season (27.5 PPG, 13.1 RPG, 8.9 APG with 57.9 space objective share). On this tempo, he would moreover reset his private Participant Effectivity Rating doc (32.85) with a PER of 33.79. Lastly, full transparency voting for NBA awards has led to further groupthink, which led to him not worthwhile the MVP remaining season, nonetheless may additionally lead to these self similar voters coming once more to Jokic to stay away from the an identical embarrassment as remaining postseason.

Leaps by good youthful teams usually make the leap a little bit of forward of everybody appears to be anticipating. Assume the 1994-95 Orlando Magic, or the 2011-12 OKC Thunder, or 2014-15 Golden State Warriors. Properly, be ready for the 2023-24 OKC Thunder to make an an identical leap this 12 months. And put together for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to get some extreme MVP consideration as the best participant on presumably the best workforce throughout the Western Conference (they’re at current in second with an 11-4 doc. SGA has the numbers (30.4 PPG, 6.3 APG, 6.1 RPG, 2.4 SPG with 54-36-93 taking photos splits) and the killer late-game swagger that’s easy to grasp. 

This Rookie of the 12 months strikes a chord in my memory of the LeBron James-Carmelo Anthony race from 2003-04. Every had been destined to be good – LeBron was a larger whole participant and prospect, nonetheless on a foul workforce; Melo was an excellent scorer on a playoff workforce. LeBron in the long run obtained the award, and rightly so, nonetheless it was an necessary race. Fast forward to this season, Victor Wembanyama is in LeBron James’ state of affairs and Chet Holmgren is in Carmelo Anthony’s state of affairs (albeit even greater). This time spherical, nonetheless, the upper prospect goes to return again in second. Wemby has (18.8 PPG, 9.5 RPG, 2.5 APG, 2.6 BPG and 1 SPG on 43-28-81 taking photos) and may finish with further spectacular raw numbers, nonetheless Chet can have a lot better effectivity on associated ample numbers (17.1 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 2.5 APG, 2.3 BPG and 0.9 SPG with 56-43-88 taking photos splits through 15 video video games), plus be a key contributor for a contender. 

The Celtics at current have the NBA’s most interesting doc (13-4) and internet rating (plus-8.5). Their starting 5 – Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis, Derrick White and Jrue Trip – is the best throughout the NBA and the core players in that lineup are of their respective primes. And the stats once more up the reality that they’re an elite unit (plus 27.7 elements per 100 possessions). These are all indicators that Boston will win 60-plus video video games and finish with the best frequent season doc throughout the NBA. 

The Pacers have the quickest tempo throughout the league and may parlay that into the very best offensive rating per 100 possessions in NBA historic previous (current doc is held by the 2022-23 Kings, which had been at 119.4 elements per 100 possessions). With the best look ahead connector throughout the league, Tyrese Haliburton, surrounded by flooring spacers like Buddy Hield and Myles Turner, and athletic fast-breakers like Obi Toppin and Bruce Brown, the Pacers will merely breach the 120 elements per 100 possessions mark – really, they’re at 122.6 elements per 100 possessions through their first 16 video video games. 

118 elements per 100 possession locations a workforce throughout the top-10 all-time for offensive scores. Correct now, the Pacers (122.6), 76ers (121.5) and Hawks (119.5) are all on tempo to interrupt the current doc. The Bucks are tied for the doc at 119.4. After which the Mavericks (119.0), Suns (118.7) and Thunder (118.2) are all on-pace for top-10 marks. I’m guessing that the Celtics (117.7) moreover end up above 118 elements per 100 possessions as correctly. Offense is as atmosphere pleasant as doable, and the NBA is as offensively-talented as a result of it has ever been.

In case you frequent 26 PPG, 12 APG and put up 50-40-90 taking photos splits, and lead your workforce to the best offensive rating in NBA historic previous, which is what Tyrese Haliburton is doing correct now, then you definitely undoubtedly ought to make First-Workforce All-NBA. Pretty simple. He’ll be part of Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Joel Embiid, and Giannis Antetokounmpo. 

The Ant-Man is making his leap into superstardom this season, and he’s doing it at a extreme diploma on every ends of the courtroom docket. On offense, he’s averaging occupation highs in PPG (26.2), RPG (5.9), APG (5.0) and all taking photos splits (46-38-86). If that weren’t ample, he’s moreover one among many defensive catalysts for the workforce with the best defensive rating throughout the league, and the best doc throughout the Western Conference. 

The Warriors are a bottom-seven workforce throughout the NBA if Steph Curry is out (and likely league-average as at current constructed when he does play), so he greater play on the very least 70 video video games – one factor he not usually has been able to do – or else Golden State is kaput. And the Clippers are going to be in hassle if any of their three stars (Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and James Harden) miss important components of the season – which Kawhi and PG have been weak to do). 

After a stellar 2022-23 season –  one throughout which they’d the best defensive rating and second-best internet rating throughout the NBA – the Cavaliers have stumbled out of the gates this season and are at current sitting at 10-9 (eighth throughout the East) with the Twelfth-best defensive rating and the 20th most interesting internet rating. They’ve all of the gadgets on paper, nonetheless the workforce hasn’t meshed similar to you’d suppose. Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland are superb, nonetheless they seem like greater when the alternative wouldn’t play. Evan Mobley has plateaued a bit. Jarrett Allen continues to be struggling after the ugly playoff effectivity remaining season. Max Strus and Caris LeVert have been good, nonetheless neither strikes the needle ample to get this workforce out of its funk.

How ironic wouldn’t it’s if the 76ers lastly made it earlier the second spherical of the playoffs after the James Harden fiasco this offseason? Tyrese Maxey will win the NBA’s Most Improved Participant Award. Joel Embiid win the scoring title for the third straight season whereas doing his most interesting Nikola Jokic impression by averaging virtually seven APG. And Daryl Morey will use the property acquired from the Harden commerce to land one different impression wing like Alex Caruso or Jerami Grant. It’ll culminate throughout the workforce upsetting the pesky Miami Heat, who can have as quickly as as soon as extra taken out the Bucks on their technique to an inconceivable fourth Conference Finals beforehand 5 seasons, on their technique to the championship the place they’ll sq. off in opposition to… 

Hey, these are daring predictions, bear in mind. Clearly, the Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets are the clear favorites throughout the Western Conference so long as the best participant in basketball is healthful. And teams identical to the T’Wolves, Thunder and Suns all have been far more spectacular than the Lakers to date. Nonetheless…on this daring prediction actuality, I’m envisioning an an identical elite defensive effort by Anthony Davis and the Lakers down the stretch, and a very healthful LeBron James (recall, he was dealing with a foot hurt all postseason that robbed him of any explosiveness). In addition to, Rob Pelinka makes the exact deal – unclear what that’s in the meanwhile because of the Lakers are so injury-riddled, nonetheless Kyrie Irving, Jerami Grant, Alex Caruso and Malcolm Brogdon would all be preferrred fits – and LA makes a run to the title. Plenty of ifs, nonetheless it’s not unimaginable!

Joel Embiid fully owns Anthony Davis, nonetheless Playoff AD is the best defensive participant in basketball (though he nonetheless leaves fairly a bit to be desired on the offensive end every completely different recreation), so this assortment will come down as to if LeBron can rev the engine ample to duplicate the participant he was throughout the Bubble Finals. I think about he nonetheless can – if LeBron James will get to a distinct Finals, he ain’t dropping. He’ll run all of the tank empty, after which some. Truly, he’ll go so onerous that he’ll announce his retirement after the clinching recreation (and un-retire within the summertime correct sooner than the NBA Draft), giving the Lakers their second title throughout the LeBron-AD interval…that’s…

That is the contingency…if the Thunder, who’ve 37(!!!) first-round picks between now and 2030, make an unlimited switch on the deadline – say they commerce for Mikal Bridges or Myles Turner and Buddy Hield – then they may shock the world and win the title. If any group understands the brevity of a championship window, it’s the Thunder, given what occurred once more in 2012. If I had been Sam Presti, I may be SGA collaborating in like an MVP candidate, Chet Holmgren collaborating in like a future star, Jalen Williams and the rest of the stable all wanting good, and I may be pushing the chips now.

The Bulls are a miserable put together wreck of a workforce this season. They don’t have any likelihood of making the playoffs and must be inserting up a For Sale examine in entrance of every participant on their roster. Severely, they don’t have a single participant to assemble spherical. In all probability essentially the most impactful participant on their workforce isn’t DeMar DeRozan or Zach LaVine, it’s Alex Caruso, who’s among the many most interesting defenders throughout the league and an necessary connector on offense. He’s on in all probability the best contracts throughout the league – in distinction to DeRozan, who’s a free agent subsequent summer season, or LaVine, who’s on one among many ugliest contracts throughout the league – and may have a bevy of contenders lining up for his firms. Seek for Caruso to worth someplace throughout the neighborhood of two unprotected picks.

The NBA is so loaded with experience that there are on the very least a dozen, probably further, teams which will communicate themselves into making a deep run throughout the playoffs and, thus, will probably be shoppers on the commerce deadline. Conversely, there are on the very least eight teams that already don’t have any likelihood on the playoffs and will definitely be sellers. There’ll most certainly be numerous further by February too. Which implies we should all the time have a very vigorous commerce deadline. Avid gamers like Alex Caruso, Malcolm Brogdon, Gordon Hayward, and Jordan Clarkson are on unhealthy teams and may just about undoubtedly be dealt. Don’t be surprised if way more impactful players like Jerami Grant and Pascal Siakam change teams as correctly. 

Whether or not or not it’s Donovan Mitchell, Lauri Markkanen, Brandon Ingram, Zion Williamson or one other individual (Kyrie Irving?), you merely get the sense that some seismic commerce is on the horizon. Mitchell seems destined for a fair greater market, and the Cavs might get a major return within the occasion that they dealt him this season. Markkanen is probably all in favour of competing for a playoff workforce, which the Jazz don’t enterprise to be for numerous years. And everybody is aware of that Pelicans’ authorities David Griffin is not going to be afraid to swing for the fences when his once more is in opposition to the wall (see, David Blatt’s firing). 

So long as Kevin Durant and Devin Booker are healthful, the Suns will merely be a contender. Nonetheless, if Durant misses his customary 25-plus video video games  – one factor he’s achieved in all three of his post-Achilles tear seasons – the Suns will plummet down the standings as all of the burden of carrying a workforce filled with minimal contract players will fall upon Devin Booker (Bradley Beal has opted to WFH this season). Booker can take care of this burden, to an extent, nonetheless every Durant and Booker needs to be completely healthful for this workforce to have any shot throughout the playoffs. Putting this quite a lot of an on a regular basis season burden on the two of them will come once more to chew them.

Similar to remaining 12 months’s Cavs, the Magic have surprised all of the NBA through the first quarter of the season and at current sit at amount two throughout the East with a 13-5 doc. Identical to the Cavs, the Magic are doing it with their safety (second throughout the NBA in defensive rating), which has led to their having a plus-6.5 internet rating per 100 possessions (Cavs accomplished remaining season at plus-5.6). The Cavs accomplished fourth throughout the East remaining season with 51 wins, and that appears like a danger for the Magic if they may proceed to defend like they’ve to date. Nonetheless, throughout the playoffs, their youth and inexperience will current, and they also’ll have an early exit from the postseason, nonetheless hundreds to be exited about transferring forward.

The Pistons are throughout the midst of a horrific dropping streak (16 video video games in a row on the time of this slideshow), and it’s about to get fairly a bit worse. They started the season 2-1, nonetheless have misplaced every recreation since. Monty Williams seems to be the improper coach for this terribly raw, terribly unbalanced roster. That said, I depend on ample enchancment from the likes of Cade Cunningham, Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson that this workforce will lastly start collaborating in semi-competitive basketball by the ultimate quarter of the season. The Wizards (3-15), alternatively, wouldn’t have any experience and can probably commerce their solely first price players this deadline. They’ll finish with the NBA’s worst doc when it’s all said and achieved.

Are you aware that De’Aaron Fox is averaging 30.7 PPG correct now? He’s solely appeared in 12 video video games to date, nonetheless that may at current put him in fourth place and only one.3 PPG behind Joel Embiid for first. Fox is clearly the Kings most interesting participant this season, and is the quickest participant in all of basketball, so he can get wherever he wants on the courtroom docket. He’s lastly starting to develop a relentless three-point stroke (36.3 p.c), and I consider he’ll be in a great deal of shootouts this season, so he’s my determine to steer the league in scoring.

As you’ve gotten most certainly seen, there hasn’t been loads level out of the Mavericks on this slideshow though Luke Doncic appears to be spectacular through his first 17 video video games (31.1 PPG, 8 RPG, 7.9 APG with 49-39-77 taking photos splits) and has the workforce out to a powerful 11-6 start. Sadly, Dallas’ safety, which is ranked twenty third, will probably be their undoing. The workforce will make the playoffs, nonetheless an early exit will push Doncic to the brink and, throughout the wake of Mark Cuban selling his majority stake of the workforce, he’ll request a commerce and set off the craziest bidding warfare for a celeb the participant the NBA has ever seen.