Danimalia Posted October 25, 2016 Posted October 25, 2016 Any NBA basketball fans here? What team(s) do you root for? Any season predictions? The NBA regular season starts up tomorrow night in Oakland, CA. I'm from the SF Bay Area, and for most of my life have lived about 15 minutes South of the Oakland Coliseum/Arena. For years, this was a pitiable fact as it meant I'd grown up a Golden State Warriors fan. The Warriors, along with the LA Clippers, were longtime doormats. Bad. Mostly irrelevant. Occasional bursts entertainment with some of the Don Nelson teams. A few years ago, things clicked in a major way and they won the NBA Championship. Last year, they followed that up with a record 73-9 regular season, a Western Conference title, and then, of course, the Finals were called off with the Warriors up three games to one. That's how I remember it, anyway. This year, they've added Kevin Durant, either the best, 2nd best, or 3rd best player in the NBA depending on your rankings, and look to have another great year. Aside from the Warriors, the NBA as a whole is in a great place. The league is loaded with exceptional, charismatic talents. Attendance and business is through the roof. The league continues to attract international talent and attention. As far as predictions go, I'll say: Western Conference Champs: Warriors Eastern Conference Champs: Celtics NBA Champs: Warriors MVP: Anthony Davis, Pelicans DPOY: Draymond Green, Warriors ROY: Brandon Ingram, Lakers
Sophistic Posted October 25, 2016 Posted October 25, 2016 Davis would have to avg 34/14/4b to get the mvp, nobody wants to give the trophy to a guy on a team losing 50-60 games in a season. 1
wabashcr Posted October 25, 2016 Posted October 25, 2016 Pacers season ticket holder here. I love the NBA. Will be missing a good part of game 2 of the World Series (I'm a lifelong Cubs fan) to go to opening night. Tough to pick against GSW to win it all this year. I think they might have some growing pains early, and we'll be flooded with "What's wrong with the Warriors?" and "Is Durant killing their chemistry?" takes. But they're an unselfish, well coached, supremely talented group. Barring major injuries, it's surely their title. Will be interesting (to me anyway) to see if anyone can challenge Cleveland in the east. I wouldn't be surprised if Boston or Toronto lock down the 1 seed, but I still don't see either of them beating Lebron in the playoffs. Should also be a pivotal season for other contenders in the west. This could be the last year of the CP3/Griffin Clippers if they fail to live up to expectations. San Antonio will be looking at life without Tim Duncan. Even though he was marginalized last year, his shadow loomed large. Not anymore. It's LMA and Kawhi's team now. And OKC has this year and next year to convince Russell Westbrook they can build a winner around him. I think he wins the MVP this season. If not for Steph I think Russ should have won it two years ago when KD got hurt. If they'd made the playoffs I think it would have been close.
JohnInCleveland Posted October 25, 2016 Posted October 25, 2016 It is interesting that people mention Boston as a team to unseat Cleveland in the East, considering Horford has never beaten the Cavs in a series ever. Toronto took a step back losing Biyombo, without him they'd have been lucky to beat Cleveland once. It's hard to imagine a finals that doesn't include Cleveland and Golden state. What a time to be alive in Northeast Ohio. More success in 2016 than...my previous 32 years of life. As a Cavs season ticket holder, let the good times roll.
Danimalia Posted October 25, 2016 Author Posted October 25, 2016 8 hours ago, Sophistic said: Davis would have to avg 34/14/4b to get the mvp, nobody wants to give the trophy to a guy on a team losing 50-60 games in a season. A. I don't think the Pels will lose 50 games again. I think they'll be much better this year. B. I won't predict AD will average 34/14/4, but I think he's going to have a monster season. We'll see. I think Steph and KD split the warriors vote. LeBron could win it every year, but I see someone else getting it this year. 1
Danimalia Posted October 25, 2016 Author Posted October 25, 2016 11 minutes ago, JohnInCleveland said: It is interesting that people mention Boston as a team to unseat Cleveland in the East, considering Horford has never beaten the Cavs in a series ever. Toronto took a step back losing Biyombo, without him they'd have been lucky to beat Cleveland once. It's hard to imagine a finals that doesn't include Cleveland and Golden state. What a time to be alive in Northeast Ohio. More success in 2016 than...my previous 32 years of life. As a Cavs season ticket holder, let the good times roll. Yeah, I think the Cavs are the clear favorites, but I think Boston has a good team, and a great coach. They gave the warriors all kinds of trouble last year
JohnInCleveland Posted October 25, 2016 Posted October 25, 2016 4 minutes ago, Danimalia said: Yeah, I think the Cavs are the clear favorites, but I think Boston has a good team, and a great coach. They gave the warriors all kinds of trouble last year As far as coaches go, there probably isn't a better, more respectable coach than Brad Stevens. I just don't know that Boston has the horses to beat Cleveland in a 7 game series.
wabashcr Posted October 25, 2016 Posted October 25, 2016 48 minutes ago, Danimalia said: We'll see. I think Steph and KD split the warriors vote. LeBron could win it every year, but I see someone else getting it this year. I think it will be virtually impossible for Steph or KD to win the MVP playing on a team like that. How much value can a guy provide when his team would still be the clear favorites to win it all without him? That's why I think Russ wins the MVP this year. He'll put up absurd numbers and drag a mediocre roster to the playoffs in the west. 1
Sophistic Posted October 25, 2016 Posted October 25, 2016 why should the pels be better? eric gordon and ryan anderson out, buddy hield and lance stephenson in...and davis already with injury problems, holiday out because his wife has cancer...i would bet that they win even less this year. warriors the obvious favs, cavs in the east, celtics need to flip one of their nets picks for another really good player (like horford), dont like the gasol-aldridge combo at the spurs. lebron mvp or may be harden, thunder will struggle and so will westbrook (high numbers, low efficiency). roy...simmons if he comes back quick enough, think m.chriss was the steal of the draft and could take the trophy: freak athlete, can shoot, not much competition at the suns.
cpmurrin Posted October 25, 2016 Posted October 25, 2016 Warriors season ticket holder. Opening tonight vs Spurs, cant say I'm too excited. The season starts too early and goes too long IMHO, especially if your team plays into June... Not complaining but its a long season. Warriors-Cavs final for the trilogy. Dubs in 6. Lillard wins the MVP. Green finally gets the Defensive Player of the Year. 1
Danimalia Posted October 26, 2016 Author Posted October 26, 2016 7 hours ago, cpmurrin said: Lillard wins the MVP. Yeah, that's a good call. I like him a lot. I hope Green wins DPOY. Not that there's anything wrong with giving it to Leonard (a legit MVP candidate in my book), but Draymond is what allows the Warriors defensive system to work.
Dimmers Posted October 26, 2016 Posted October 26, 2016 8 hours ago, cpmurrin said: Lillard wins the MVP Dame is fearless, love him. Though its got to be Westbrook for mvp, he will be on a mission + putting up stooopid numbers all season. That 1st Warriors-Thunder matchup on Nov 3 should be interesting! Warriors- Cavs again for finals methinks, And barring major injury/ Draymond meltdown/ LeBron eclipsing what he did in the last 3 finals games, Warriors to win it all. Bummed that Ben Simmons is injured, but looking forward to seeing how the rest of the aussies fare, particularly Exum's return from injury and Thom Maker's rookie campaign.
hughness Posted October 26, 2016 Posted October 26, 2016 Big NBA fan here. League pass holder here haha. Play fantasy every year. Naturally coming from Chicago origin, bulls is my team but they are far from winning anything soon. Nevertheless best wishes to a new team. Conference finals, I would say Spurs vs Cleveland. MVP may be either Harden or Westbrook. Nba is not the most popular sports but definitely enough for me to get excited. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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