2015-2016 NBA Predictions
By The Big Lead
The 2015-2016 NBA season begins tonight. Can the Golden State Warriors repeat? Can LeBron James reach the NBA Finals for the 6th straight year? How will Kevin Durant’s final season in Oklahoma City end? Our NBA experts look into their crystal ball and have all the answers for you.
Jason McIntyre
MVP: James Harden, Houston Rockets
Scoring Leader: Kevin Durant, OKC Thunder
First Coach Fired: George Karl, Sacramento Kings
Rookie of the Year: Jahlil Okafor, Philadelphia 76ers
Defensive Player of the Year: Nerlens Noel, Philadelphia 76ers
Team Most Excited to Watch on League Pass: Minnesota Timberwolves
Worst Record in the NBA: Dallas Mavericks
East Playoff Teams: Cleveland, Miami, Milwaukee, Chicago, Washington, Toronto, Atlanta, Orlando
Eastern Conference Finals: Cleveland over Milwaukee
West Playoff Teams: Golden State, Houston, Oklahoma City, San Antonio, LA Clippers, Memphis, New Orleans, Utah.
Western Conference Finals: Golden State over OKC
NBA Finals: Cleveland over Golden State (my preseason guess for the 2nd straight year)
Rob Perez
MVP: Anthony Davis
Scoring Leader: James Harden
First Coach Fired: George Karl
Rookie of the Year: Jerian Grant
Defensive Player of the Year: Rudy Gobert
Team Most Excited to Watch on League Pass: Milwaukee Bucks
Worst Record in the NBA: Philadelphia 76ers
East Playoff Teams: 1) CLE, 2) CHI, 3) MIA, 4) ATL, 5) TOR, 6) WAS, 7) MIL, 8) NYK
Eastern Conference Finals: Cavs def. Heat
West Playoff Teams: 1) SAS, 2) GSW, 3) LAC, 4) MEM, 5) HOU, 6) NOP, 7) OKC, 8) UTA
Western Conference Finals: Spurs def. Warriors
NBA Finals: Spurs def. Cavs (5 games)
Kyle Koster
MVP: Anthony Davis
Scoring Leader: James Harden
First Coach Fired: George Karl
Rookie of the Year: D’Angelo Russell
Defensive Player of the Year: Kawhi Leonard
Team Most Excited to Watch on League Pass: Cleveland Cavaliers
Worst Record in the NBA: New York Knicks
East Playoff Teams: Cleveland, Toronto, Atlanta, Miami, Chicago, Milwaukee, Washington, Detroit
Eastern Conference Finals: Cleveland over Atlanta
West Playoff Teams: San Antonio, Golden State, Los Angeles Clippers, New Orleans, Memphis, Houston, Utah, Oklahoma City
Western Conference Finals: San Antonio over Golden State
NBA Finals: Cleveland over San Antonio
Ty Duffy
MVP: LeBron James
Scoring Leader: Kevin Durant
First Coach Fired: Byron Scott
Rookie of the Year: D’Angelo Russell
Defensive Player of the Year: Nerlens Noel, Philadelphia 76ers
Team Most Excited to Watch on League Pass: Someone buying this for me?
Worst Record in the NBA: I’ll take the chalk. Philadelphia 76ers
East Playoff Teams: Cleveland, Chicago, Miami, Atlanta, Washington, Milwaukee, Orlando, Toronto
Eastern Conference Finals: Cleveland over Chicago
West Playoff Teams: Golden State, Oklahoma City, San Antonio, Houston, LA Clippers, Memphis, New Orleans, Utah.
Western Conference Finals: Golden State over San Antonio
NBA Finals: Cleveland over Golden State
Jason Lisk
MVP: Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans
Scoring Leader: James Harden, Houston Rockets
First Coach Fired: George Karl
Rookie of the Year: Jahlil Okafor
Defensive Player of the Year: Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs
Team Most Excited to Watch on League Pass: San Antonio Spurs
Worst Record in the NBA: Denver Nuggets
East Playoff Teams: Cleveland, Miami, Chicago, Atlanta, Milwaukee, Washington, Toronto, Orlando
Eastern Conference Finals: Cleveland over Miami
West Playoff Teams: San Antonio, Golden State, Oklahoma City, LA Clippers, Houston, New Orleans, Memphis, Utah.
Western Conference Finals: San Antonio over Golden State
NBA Finals: Cleveland over San Antonio
Stephen Douglas
MVP: Russell Westbrook
Scoring Leader: DeMarcus Cousins
First Coach Fired: Derek Fisher
Rookie of the Year: Jahlil Okafor
Defensive Player of the Year: Dwight Howard
Team Most Excited to Watch on League Pass: Sacramento Kings
Worst Record in the NBA: Philadelphia 76ers
East Playoff Teams: Toronto, Atlanta, Cleveland, Chicago, Washington, Miami, Indiana, Boston
Eastern Conference Finals: Cavs over Wizards
West Playoff Teams: Golden State, LA Clippers, San Antonio, Houston, Memphis, OKC, Utah, New Orleans
Western Conference Finals: Warriors over Spurs
NBA Finals: Cavs over Warriors (6 games)
Ryan Glasspiegel
MVP: Stephen Curry
Scoring Leader: James Harden
First Coach Fired: George Karl
Rookie of the Year: Justise Winslow
Defensive Player of the Year: Anthony Davis
Team Most Excited to Watch on League Pass: Warriors
Worst Record in the NBA: 76ers
East Playoff Teams: Cleveland, Chicago, Washington, Indiana, Atlanta, Milwaukee, Miami, Detroit
Eastern Conference Finals: Cavs over Wizards
West Playoff Teams: Warriors, Spurs, Thunder, Clippers, Grizzlies, Pelicans, Rockets, Mavericks
Western Conference Finals: Warriors over Grizzlies
NBA Finals: Warriors over Cavs
Michael Shamburger
MVP: LeBron James
Scoring Leader: James Harden
First Coach Fired: George Karl
Rookie of the Year: D’Angelo Russell
Defensive Player of the Year: Anthony Davis
Team Most Excited to Watch on League Pass: Yeah, this is already part of my job.
Worst Record in the NBA: 76ers
East Playoff Teams: Atlanta, Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Milwaukee, Miami, Toronto, Washington
Eastern Conference Finals: Cleveland over Chicago
West Playoff Teams: Dallas, LA Clippers, Golden State, Memphis, San Anotnio, Houston, New Orleans, Thunder
Western Conference Finals: Golden State over San Antonio
NBA Finals: Cleveland over Golden State