NBA Preview Series: Staff Predictions

It's time for our first annual staff prediction post! All predictions were made before the season started Tuesday, and are surely to go wrong before the calender hits December.



Quick Thoughts

Kevin - Despite the historically exciting free agent offseason, promising rookie class, as well as a host of budding superstars, NBA royalty will remain largely unchanged. 

Matt - With five legitimate title contenders, the most exciting rookie class since 2008, and the "homecoming" of the league's best player, we enter the 2014-15 season high on intrigue. 

Shawn - The 2014 offseason felt like 2010 all over again.  I expect that theme to continue into the regular season.  Lebron James is in his most vulnerable situation since his debut in south beach four years ago.  Will his new "big three" gel in time or can the Bulls finally emerge from the East?  Meanwhile, the West remains loaded and superior.

Tapan - This is going to be fun. A basketball season so rife with story lines and fantastical characters that it might as well be Mother Goose: NBA Edition. What prevails in a landscape of fairy tales? The homecoming, the quest for a dynasty, or the revival of a former prince? Only tip-off time will tell. 

Vineeth - We get to potentially see the greatest offense of all time (Cavs), maybe the last year of harmony for a team containing two generational players (Thunder), two superstars looking to make the leap in the playoffs (Blake and CP3), the return of the Triangle (Knicks) and the league's youngest MVP trying to avoid becoming the next Gale Sayers.  I could not be more excited.  Go Bulls.


Award Winners

Award		Kevin	Matt	Shawn	Tapan	Vineeth
Rookie of the Year		Jabari Parker	Jabari Parker	Jabari Parker	Andrew Wiggins	Jabari Parker
Most Improved Player		Anthony Davis	Jordan Hill	Anthony Davis	Anthony Davis	Anthony Bennett
MVP (Non-LeBron)		Stephen Curry	Chris Paul	Blake Griffin	Chris Paul	Blake Griffin
Scoring Leader		Carmelo Anthony	James Harden	Lebron James	Lebron James	Carmelo Anthony
Rebounding Leader		DeAndre Jordan	Andre Drummond	DeAndre Jordan	Kevin Love	Dwight Howard
Assist Leader		Chris Paul	Chris Paul	Ricky Rubio	John Wall	Rajon Rondo

Eastern Conference Playoffs

Seed		Kevin	Matt	Shawn	Tapan	Vineeth
1		Bulls	Cavs	Bulls	Cavs	Cavs
2		Cavs	Bulls	Cavs	Bulls	Bulls
3		Raptors	Raptors	Raptors	Wizards	Hawks
4		Wizards	Hawks	Wizards	Raptors	Raptors
5		Heat	Wizards	Pistons	Heat	Hornets
6		Hornets	Hornets	Nets	Hornets	Wizards
7		Nets	Heat	Knicks	Knicks	Nets
8		Hawks	Pistons	Heat	Pacers	Heat

Western Conference Playoffs

Seed		Kevin	Matt	Shawn	Tapan	Vineeth
1		Warriors	Spurs	Clippers	Spurs	Spurs
2		Spurs	Clippers	Spurs	Warriors	Clippers
3		Clippers	Warriors	Blazers	Clippers	Thunder
4		Rockets	Rockets	Rockets	Thunder	Grizzlies
5		Thunder	Thunder	Thunder	Grizzles	Warriors
6		Blazers	Grizzlies	Suns	Blazers	Rockets
7		Grizzlies	Blazers	Pelicans	Rockets	Mavs
8		Pelicans	Pelicans	Warriors	Mavs	Blazers

Final Four

		Kevin	Matt	Shawn	Tapan	Vineeth
East Finals		Cavs over Bulls	Cavs over Bulls	Bulls over Cavs	Cavs over Bulls	Cavs over Bulls
West Finals		Thunder over Spurs	Spurs over Clippers	Clippers over Spurs	Spurs over Warriors	Thunder over Spurs
NBA Finals		Cavs over Thunder	Spurs over Cavs	Clippers over Bulls	Cavs over Spurs	Cavs over Thunder

Bold Prediction

Kevin - Deja vu 2010 for the Bulls: Regular season champs. Worn out for the playoffs. LeBron shuts down Derrick Rose. Lose 4-1 in the Eastern Conference Finals. Only positive for Bulls fans is they get more of this.

Matt - The Thunder lose their opening round series and Scott Brooks is fired, fueling speculation about Kevin Durant's possible departure in 2016.

Shawn - The Raptors will have three all-star selections (DeRozan, Lowry, Valanciunas).

Tapan - The Clippers owner will not drop a racial slur on the record.

Vineeth - Elfrid Payton to Aaron Gordon alley-oops will take over YouTube.