The Big Lead NBA Predictions for 2016-2017 Season
By The Big Lead
The 2016-2017 NBA season kicks off tonight in Cleveland and will likely end sometime in June in either Cleveland or Golden State. At least that’s what everyone here thinks. Plus other awards predictions. Welcome back, basketball!
STEPHEN DOUGLAS
MVP: Paul George
Scoring Leader: Russell Westbrook
First Coach Fired: Alvin Gentry
Rookie of the Year: Brandon Ingram
Defensive Player of the Year: Karl Anthony-Towns
Team Most Excited to Watch on League Pass: Minnesota Timberwolves
Worst Record in the NBA: Philadelphia 76ers
Warriors Over/Under 66.5 Wins: Over
East Playoff Teams: Cleveland, Boston, Indiana, Toronto, Washington, Chicago, New York, Atlanta
Eastern Conference Finals: Cavs over Indiana
West Playoff Teams: Golden State, LA Clippers, San Antonio, Houston, Utah, Memphis, Portland, Minnesota
Western Conference Finals: Warriors over Clippers
NBA Finals: Cavs over Warriors (7 games)
MICHAEL SHAMBURGER
MVP: LeBron James
Scoring Leader: James Harden
First Coach Fired: Alvin Gentry
Rookie of the Year: Not Ben Simmons (Joel Embiid)
Defensive Player of the Year: Draymond Green
Team Most Excited to Watch on League Pass: Ummmmm
Worst Record in the NBA: 76ers
Warriors Over/Under 66.5 Wins: Over, by a couple
East Playoff Teams: Cavs, Heat, Hornets, Pistons, Pacers, Hawks, Raptors, Wizards
Eastern Conference Finals: Cavs over Raptors
West Playoff Teams: Warriors, Spurs, Thunder, Clippers, Mavs, Timberwolves, Trail Blazers, Pelicans
Western Conference Finals: Warriors over Trail Blazers
NBA Finals: Cavs over Warriors (6 games)
JASON MCINTYRE
MVP: Kevin Durant
Scoring Leader: Damian Lillard, Portland
First Coach Fired: Alvin Gentry, New Orleans
Rookie of the Year: Dario Saric, Philadelphia
Defensive Player of the Year: Draymond Green
Team Most Excited to Watch on League Pass: Golden State
Worst Record in the NBA: Brooklyn Nets
Warriors Over/Under 66.5 Wins: OVER
East Playoff Teams: Cleveland, Toronto, Indiana, Boston, New York, Detroit, Milwaukee, Orlando
Eastern Conference Finals: Cleveland over Indiana
West Playoff Teams: Golden State, Portland, San Antonio, LA Clippers, Minnesota, Oklahoma City, Utah, Memphis
Western Conference Finals: Warriors over Blazers in 5
NBA Finals: Warriors over Cavs in 5
RYAN PHILLIPS
MVP: LeBron James
Scoring Leader: James Harden
First Coach Fired: Alvin Gentry
Rookie of the Year: Kris Dunn
Defensive Player of the Year: Kawhi Leonard
Team Most Excited to Watch on League Pass: Golden State
Worst Record in the NBA: Brooklyn Nets
Warriors Over/Under 66.5 Wins: Under
East Playoff Teams: Cleveland, Toronto, Indiana, Boston, Atlanta, Washington, Detroit, Milwaukee
Eastern Conference Finals: Cavs over Pacers
West Playoff Teams: Golden State, San Antonio, Oklahoma City, LA Clippers, Memphis, Portland, Utah, New Orleans
Western Conference Finals: Warriors over Spurs
NBA Finals: Cavs over Warriors in 7
RYAN GLASSPIEGEL
MVP: James Harden
Scoring Leader: James Harden
First Coach Fired: Michael Malone
Rookie of the Year: Joel Embiid
Defensive Player of the Year: Tony Allen
Team Most Excited to Watch on League Pass: Not ordering League Pass because Comcast refuses to show most games in HD.
Worst Record in the NBA: Brooklyn Nets
Warriors Over/Under 66.5 Wins: Under
Eastern Conference Finals: Cavs over Raptors
Western Conference Finals: Warriors over Clippers
NBA Finals: Cavs over Warriors in 7
JASON LISK
MVP: Stephen Curry
Scoring Leader: Russell Westbrook
First Coach Fired: Jason Kidd
Rookie of the Year: Buddy Hield
Defensive Player of the Year: Rudy Gobert
Team Most Excited to Watch on League Pass: Golden State Warriors
Worst Record in the NBA: Brooklyn Nets
Warriors Over/Under 66.5 Wins: Over
East Playoff Teams: Cleveland, Boston, Indiana, Charlotte, Toronto, Orlando, Atlanta, New York
Eastern Conference Finals: Cavs over Pacers
West Playoff Teams: Golden State, San Antonio, LA Clippers, Utah, Oklahoma City, Portland, Houston, Minnesota
Western Conference Finals: Warriors over Spurs
NBA Finals: Warriors over Cavs (6 games)
TY DUFFY
MVP: Kevin Durant
Scoring Leader: James Harden
First Coach Fired: Jason Kidd
Rookie of the Year: Caris Levert
Defensive Player of the Year: Draymond Green
Team Most Excited to watch on League Pass: You hooking me up, J-Mac?
Worst Record in the NBA: Brooklyn Nets
Warriors Over/Under 66.5 Wins: Under
East Playoff Teams: Cleveland, Boston, Indiana, Charlotte, Toronto, Orlando, Atlanta, Detroit
Eastern Conference Finals: Cavs over Celtics
West Playoff Teams: Golden State, San Antonio, LA Clippers, Utah, Oklahoma City, Portland, Houston, Minnesota
Western Conference Finals: Warriors over Clippers
NBA Finals: Warriors over Cavs (5 Games)
KYLE KOSTER
MVP: LeBron James
Scoring Leader: Russell Westbrook
First Coach Fired: Alvin Gentry
Rookie of the Year: Denzel Valentine
Defensive Player of the Year: Karl-Anthony Towns
Team Most Excited to watch on League Pass: Detroit Pistons
Worst Record in the NBA: Brooklyn Nets
Warriors Over/Under 66.5 Wins: Over
East Playoff Teams: Cleveland, Boston, Indiana, Toronto, Orlando, Milwaukee, Detroit, Charlotte
Eastern Conference Finals: Cavs over Pacers
West Playoff Teams: Golden State, San Antonio, LA Clippers, Utah, Portland, Houston, Minnesota, New Orleans
Western Conference Finals: Warriors over Timberwolves
NBA Finals: Cavs over Warriors (6 Games)