With the season upon us, I thought it was a good time to document my thoughts, opinions, and predictions about what’s to come in the next eight months. There are obvious challenges to trying to be a basketball Nostradomus – – inevitably there will be players that get hurt, trades that alter certain franchise’s fortunes, and off-the-court drama that leads to suspensions or extended absences for key performers. Nonetheless, I am excited to dive into my expectations for the 79th season of the National Basketball Association. 

In this piece I will predict how all 30 teams will fare in regards to their offensive rating, defensive rating, and overall record (with 1,230 wins as the benchmark). I will pick my winner for all of the individual awards and make my playoff predictions including Eastern Conference Champions, Western Conference Champions, and 2024-25 NBA Champions. I’ve also collected some predictions from my colleagues at TheCenterHub and will include them as well. Here’s hoping these don’t look too foolish in June. 

Offensive ratings (+/- indicates expected change from their CleaningTheGlass 2023-24 ranking):

1: Boston Celtics (NA)

2: Indiana Pacers (NA)

3: Phoenix Suns (+6)

4: Dallas Mavericks (+4)

5: Milwaukee Bucks (+1)

6: Oklahoma City Thunder (-3)

7: New York Knicks (NA)

8: Denver Nuggets (-3)

9: Philadelphia 76ers (+6)

10: New Orleans Pelicans (+3)

11: Cleveland Cavaliers (+7)

12: Atlanta Hawks (-1)

13: Golden State Warriors (-3)

14: Los Angeles Lakers (-2)

15: Sacramento Kings (-1)

16: Minnesota Timberwolves (NA)

17: Memphis Grizzlies (+13)

18: Houston Rockets (+2)

19: Miami Heat (+2)

20: Toronto Raptors (+4)

21: Charlotte Hornets (+6)

22: Los Angeles Clippers (-18)

23: Orlando Magic (-1)

24: Utah Jazz (-7)

25: Chicago Bulls (-6)

26: San Antonio Spurs (NA)

27: Brooklyn Nets (-4)

28: Detroit Pistons (NA)

29: Portland Trail Blazers (NA)

30: Washington Wizards (-5)

Defensive Ratings (+/- indicates expected change from their CleaningTheGlass 2023-24 ranking):

1: Minnesota Timberwolves (NA)

2: Oklahoma City Thunder (+2)

3: Boston Celtics (NA)

4: Cleveland Cavaliers (+2)

5: Miami Heat (NA)

6: Orlando Magic (-4)

7: Memphis Grizzlies (+6)

8: Houston Rockets (-1)

9: Philadelphia 76ers (+2)

10: Dallas Mavericks (+7)

11: Denver Nuggets (-2)

12: Golden State Warriors (+3)

13: New Orleans Pelicans (-5)

14: Milwaukee Bucks (+5)

15: Los Angeles Lakers (+1)

16: New York Knicks (-6)

17: San Antonio Spurs (+4)

18: Los Angeles Clippers (-4)

19: Toronto Raptors (+9)

20: Portland Trail Blazers (+3)

21: Phoenix Suns (-9)

22: Sacramento Kings (-4)

23: Indiana Pacers (+1)

24: Atlanta Hawks (+2)

25: Detroit Pistons (NA)

26: Utah Jazz (+4)

27: Brooklyn Nets (-7)

28: Chicago Bulls (-6)

29: Charlotte Hornets (-1)

30: Washington Wizards (-1)

My Projected Eastern Conference Standings:

1: Boston Celtics (59-23)

2: Cleveland Cavaliers (53-29)

3: Milwaukee Bucks (52-30)

4: New York Knicks (51-31)

5: Philadelphia 76ers (50-32)

6: Indiana Pacers (49-33)

7: Miami Heat (46-36)

8: Orlando Magic (46-36)

9: Atlanta Hawks (39-43)

10: Toronto Raptors (34-48)

11: Charlotte Hornets (27-55)

12: Chicago Bulls (25-57)

13: Detroit Pistons (20-62)

14: Brooklyn Nets (20-62)

15: Washington Wizards (16-66)

Eastern Conference Playoff/Play-In Predictions:

7 vs 8 (Play-In): Magic @ Miami (Heat win and secure 7 seed)

9 vs 10 (Play-in): Raptors @ Hawks (Hawks win, travel to face Magic)

8 vs 9 (Play-in): Hawks @ Magic (Hawks win and secure 8 seed)

1 vs 8 (First Round): Hawks vs Celtics (Celtics win in 5)

2 vs 7 (First Round): Heat vs Cavaliers (Cavs win in 7)

3 vs 6 (First Round): Pacers vs Bucks (Bucks win in 5)

4 vs 5 (First Round): 76ers vs Knicks (76ers win in 6)

1 vs 5 (Conference Semifinal): 76ers vs Celtics (Celtics win in 7)

2 vs 3 (Conference Semifinal): Bucks vs Cavaliers (Bucks win in 6)

1 vs 3 (Conference Final): Bucks vs Celtics (Celtics win in 6)

Eastern Conference Champion Prediction:

My Pick: Boston Celtics

Julian Mendelsohn: Boston Celtics

Nate Koesel: Boston Celtics

Steven Bagell: Boston Celtics

Josh Url: Boston Celtics

Corban Ford: Boston Celtics

Cody Ramsey: Boston Celtics

My Projected Western Conference Standings:

1: Oklahoma City Thunder (58-24)

2: Minnesota Timberwolves (55-27)

3: Dallas Mavericks (54-28)

4: Phoenix Suns (52-30)

5: Denver Nuggets (49-33)

6: Memphis Grizzlies (47-35)

7: Golden State Warriors (46-36)

8: New Orleans Pelicans (45-37)

9: Los Angeles Lakers (44-38)

10: Sacramento Kings (42-40)

11: Houston Rockets (41-41)

12: San Antonio Spurs (30-52)

13: Los Angeles Clippers (30-52)

14: Utah Jazz (26-56)

15: Portland Trail Blazers (24-58)

Western Conference Playoff/Play-In Predictions:

7 vs 8 (Play-In): Pelicans @ Warriors (Warriors win and secure 7 seed)

9 vs 10 (Play-In): Kings @ Lakers (Lakers win, travel to face Pelicans)

8 vs 9 (Play-In): Lakers @ Pelicans (Pelicans win and secure 8 seed)

1 vs 8 (First Round): Pelicans vs Thunder (Thunder win in 6)

2 vs 7 (First Round): Warriors vs Timberwolves (Timberwolves win in 7)

3 vs 6 (First Round): Grizzlies vs Mavericks (Mavericks win in 6)

4 vs 5 (First Round): Nuggets vs Suns (Nuggets win in 6)

1 vs 5 (Conference Semifinal): Nuggets vs Thunder (Thunder win in 5)

2 vs 3 (Conference Semifinal): Mavericks vs Timberwolves (Mavericks in 7)

1 vs 3 (Conference Final): Mavericks vs Thunder (Thunder in 6)

Western Conference Champion Prediction:

My Pick: Oklahoma City Thunder

Julian Mendelsohn: Dallas Mavericks

Nate Koesel: Denver Nuggets

Steven Bagell: Oklahoma City Thunder

Josh Url: Oklahoma City Thunder

Corban Ford: Oklahoma City Thunder

Cody Ramsey: Minnesota Timberwolves

1 vs 1 (NBA Finals): Celtics vs Thunder (Thunder in 6)

NBA Champion Prediction:

My Pick: Oklahoma City Thunder

Julian Mendelsohn: Boston Celtics

Nate Koesel: Boston Celtics

Steven Bagell: Boston Celtics

Josh Url: Oklahoma City Thunder

Corban Ford: Oklahoma City Thunder

Cody Ramsey: Boston Celtics

Individual Accolades:

Most Valuable Player: 

My Pick: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Julian Mendelsohn: Luka Doncic

Nate Koesel: Luka Doncic

Steven Bagell: Luka Doncic

Josh Url: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Corban Ford: Luka Doncic

Cody Ramsey: Luka Doncic

Defensive Player of the Year: 

My Pick: Victor Wembenyama

Julian Mendelsohn: Rudy Gobert

Nate Koesel: Victor Wembenyama

Steven Bagell: Victor Wembenyama

Josh Url: Victor Wembenyama

Corban Ford: Victor Wembenyama

Cody Ramsey: Victor Wembenyama

Rookie of the Year: 

My Pick: Zach Edey

Julian Mendelsohn: Matas Buzelis

Nate Koesel: Zach Edey

Steven Bagell: Zach Edey

Josh Url: Zach Edey

Corban Ford: Dalton Knecht

Cody Ramsey: Zach Edey

Sixth Man of the Year: 

My Pick: Donte DiVincenzo

Julian Mendelsohn: TJ McConnell

Nate Koesel: Miles McBride

Steven Bagell: Grayson Allen

Josh Url: Malik Monk

Corban Ford: Malik Monk

Cody Ramsey: Malik Monk

Most Improved Player: 

My Pick: Jaden Ivey

Julian Mendelsohn: Jalen Johnson

Nate Koesel: Donte DiVincenzo

Steven Bagell: Jalen Johnson

Josh Url: Jalen Williams

Corban Ford: Jalen Green

Cody Ramsey: Jalen Williams

Coach of the Year:

My Pick: Chris Finch

Julian Mendelsohn: Mark Daignault

Nate Koesel: Joe Mazzulla

Steven Bagell: Mark Daignault

Josh Url: Rick Carlisle

Corban Ford: Mike Budenholzer

Cody Ramsey: Joe Mazzulla

Executive of the Year: 

My Pick: Sam Presti

Julian Mendelsohn: Leon Rose

Nate Koesel: Sam Presti

Steven Bagell: Leon Rose

Josh Url: Sam Presti

Corban Ford: Leon Rose

Cody Ramsey: Brad Stevens

There you have it. The picks are in. Hopefully we aren’t too far off base – – but, if we are, then we learn from it and move forward. If you enjoyed this and want to make some predictions yourself, send me (@garrettbugay) or @Thecenterhub_bb your picks. Now let’s sit back, relax, and enjoy another wonderful season of NBA basketball!