7 NBA predictions which are truly daring for the 2023-2024 season

The NBA has a status as probably the most predictable league in sports activities. That’s not totally unfair. Within the 43 years from 1980 to 2023, solely 14 totally different franchises have gained the league championship.

It’s attainable that’s altering now. The NBA has seen 5 totally different champions within the final 5 years, one thing that hasn’t occurred since 1975-1980, when the league topped six totally different champions in six years. The 2023 NBA Playoffs had been maybe the best instance of a much less predictable NBA panorama: a No. 7 seed (the Los Angeles Lakers) reached the Western Convention Finals, and a No. 8 seed (the Miami Warmth) made the NBA Finals.

In the beginning of a brand new season, we’re able to make some daring predictions. Like, truly daring. This isn’t the place for a “the Celtics end with the very best file within the NBA” prediction, as a result of everyone seems to be saying that proper now. Listed here are seven predictions that most likely qualify as a “scorching take” firstly of yr.

The Thunder make the Western Convention Finals

The Thunder’s leap from 24 wins to 40 wins made them one of many NBA’s most nice surprises final yr. OKC nonetheless has one other leap in there. With Chet Holmgren lastly debuting within the lineup this yr, the Thunder have the correct mix of gamers to not simply make the playoffs, however go on a deep run.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a licensed famous person as a shot-creator within the backcourt. Holmgren will probably be act because the 7-foot connective tissue offensively whereas additionally placing a lid on the rim as a shot blocker. Jalen Williams and Josh Giddey are supersized secondary creators who’re nonetheless getting higher and higher. The Thunder have continued so as to add reliable function gamers round their core items, they usually have loads of ammo so as to add one other piece on the commerce deadline.

The Thunder lineup simply feels good for the switch-heavy fashion of playoff basketball. With Gilgeous-Alexander and Holmgren trying like they’re already primed to play starring roles, I wouldn’t be shocked if OKC gained two collection within the NBA Playoffs to succeed in the Western Convention Finals.

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Victor Wembanyama is known as an All-Star and All-Protection

There hasn’t been a rookie All-Star within the NBA since Blake Griffin in 2010-2011 … however even that one comes with an asterisk, as a result of Griffin was truly in his second yr after struggling a season-ending harm shortly after he was drafted. The final true rookie to be named an All-Star was, fittingly, Tim Duncan in 1997-1998. Duncan was additionally named Second-Crew All-Protection as a rookie. We’ll predict Victor Wembanyama does the identical.

The No. 1 choose within the 2023 NBA Draft, Wemby is accustomed to accolades after being named MVP of the highest French professional league at 19 years outdated. His size and athleticism has regarded each bit as impactful on an NBA court docket throughout the preseason. Even when the Spurs don’t win loads of video games, Wembanyama will both lead the league in blocks or be very shut, and that ought to propel him to All-Protection standing whereas his scoring flashes push his All-Star case.

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Daryl Morey quits the 76ers

There merely isn’t a great way out of James Harden’s commerce request for the Philadelphia 76ers. High govt Daryl Morey gained’t be capable to get equal on-court worth for the veteran guard with the Clippers as the one actual suitor. Harden is not the famous person he was in his prime, however he proved he may nonetheless carry out at an All-Star stage throughout the common season. In fact, Harden’s notorious postseason struggles once more bubbled to the floor final season. The fact is that Philly seemingly wouldn’t be ok to win the East even when he had been engaged and able to go this season.

The massive query about Harden’s commerce request is the way it impacts Joel Embiid. The reigning MVP is aware of the clock is ticking on his prime, and Philadelphia simply doesn’t appear able to placing a championship staff round him within the close to future. The guess right here is that Morey will see the writing on the wall about Embiid’s personal commerce request and step down from his place. Morey isn’t actually sufficiently old to retire but at 51 years outdated, but it surely’s laborious to consider he’ll have the abdomen for full teardown and rebuild as soon as Embiid strikes on.

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Zach LaVine begins the All-Star Recreation

There’s going to be no less than two new All-Star starters within the Japanese Convention this season after Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving had been each despatched to the West ultimately yr’s commerce deadline. The backcourt spots are comparatively extensive open getting into the season with Jimmy Butler and Jayson Tatum thought-about frontcourt gamers. Damian Lillard appears like a lock for one of many beginning spots. Donovan Mitchell (an All-Star starter within the East final yr) stays a robust candidate. Trae Younger, Tyrese Haliburton, and Jrue Vacation may make a run. Since we’re doing preseason scorching takes right here, I’ll take Zach LaVine to nab the opposite backcourt beginning spot within the East subsequent to Lillard.

LaVine had a sluggish begin to final yr as he recovered from offseason knee surgical procedure, however the Bulls guard was as efficient as ever as soon as the calendar turned to Dec. He’s nonetheless an electrical athlete at 28 years outdated, and he’s one of many league’s higher three-point shooters, too. LaVine has been an All-Star twice earlier than, however this might be the primary yr he emerges as a starter if he stays wholesome. Just one drawback: the Bulls will most likely have to exceed middling expectations for LaVine to start out the All-Star Recreation, and Chicago’s schedule feels front-loaded with tough opponents. I feel LaVine is in for a giant season that establishes him as among the finest off-guards alive.

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Franz Wagner will probably be a primary time All-Star

The Orlando Magic really feel like they’re attempting to duplicate the Celtics with two jumbo scorers main their rebuild in Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. Banchero, as the previous No. 1 general draft choose and reigning Rookie of the Yr, is mostly thought-about to be the higher of the 2 gamers, profiling because the Magic’s Jayson Tatum. Are we certain about that?

Wagner has already established himself as a very good NBA participant after averaging 18/4/4 on 59 % true taking pictures as a 21-year-old in his second season final yr. He’s coming off an important run with Germany within the FIBA World Cup, and appears able to take one other step. The spacing in Orlando across the two younger stars isn’t doing both participant any favors, however Wagner is so good as a shot-creator, off-ball cutter, and spot-up shooter that it won’t matter. Whereas Banchero nonetheless struggles to attain effectively, Wagner is additional alongside in his growth. He’s my choose for the Orlando teenager to make an All-Star leap this yr.

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The Pacers would be the season’s greatest shock

There’s at all times one staff that comes out of nowhere to seize a excessive playoff seed on the finish of the common season. Two years in the past, it was the Grizzlies taking pictures from 38 to 56 wins. Final season, it was the Sacramento Kings’ leap from 30 to 48 wins. If any staff goes to make an identical leap this season, our cash is on the Indiana Pacers.

Indiana has a star guard orchestrating the offense in Tyrese Haliburton, and he’s solely getting higher. Myles Turner is a reliable middle who can stretch the ground and defend the rim. Bruce Brown comes over from the Nuggets so as to add point-of-attack protection and a connective talent set offensively. Buddy Hield goes to assist this staff preserve its three-point charge excessive, whereas Andrew Nembhard ought to be able to take one other step after a superb debut as a second-round rookie final yr. Ben Mathurin, Jarace Walker, and Obi Toppin characterize the kind of emergent younger expertise groups have to take an enormous leap up the standings.

With some turmoil within the East after Boston and Milwaukee, there’s room for a shock playoff spoiler. We’ll go together with the Pacers.

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The Nuggets repeat as champions

Sure, that is probably the most lukewarm take of the day. The Nuggets ran by means of the playoffs with a 16-4 mark final yr, and although they misplaced Bruce Brown in free company, the remainder of the core is again. All the important thing items listed below are both nonetheless of their prime or getting higher. Whereas it’s simple to be captivated by the flashy new additions made by the Bucks, Celtics, Suns, and Warriors, the league nonetheless runs by means of Nikola Jokic and Denver till additional discover.

Denver has the very best participant on this planet in Jokic. It has among the finest playoff performers alive in Jamal Murray. Greater than something, Denver’s lineups simply match rather well collectively, with complementary talent units everywhere in the court docket tied collectively by Jokic’s brilliance. Nobody has gone back-to-back within the NBA since Kevin Durant’s Warriors in 2017 and 2018, however the Nuggets have all of the items to do it.