The MLB regular season is long over, the NHL just began a few weeks ago, the NFL is in mid-season and college football is about to release the playoff polls. That can only mean the NBA season is back! After one of the most dramatic off-seasons and just four months removed from one of the most eventful NBA Finals in NBA history, the season is finally here. Recently on “Double Coverage”, show host Noah Alvarez invited new KSSU DJ Chris Bullock and myself to his show to do a full season NBA predictions with former sports director Andrew Pasquini sending in his picks to the show as well. The season predictions and playoffs picks go top to bottom in the order of my myself, Andrew, Noah and Chris.
ALEC ROMERO’S PREDICTIONS:
EASTERN CONFERENCE
1. Cleveland Cavaliers: 56-26
The defending NBA champions are back, are we looking at another Warriors-Cavaliers matchup in June?
2. Toronto Raptors: 54-28
Lost Bismack Biyombo but were able to keep Demar Derozan. They’re barely a playoff team if they played in the West but luckily for them they play in the East
3. Charlotte Hornets: 52-30
Kemba Walker and Nicholas Batum are the future for this team.
4. Boston Celtics: 46-36
Big 3 days are over, Rondo is gone but they have rebuilt well
5. Atlanta Hawks: 43-41
Taking a big chance on Dwight Howard. What happened to the team that took first place in the East back in 2015?
6. Chicago Bulls: 42-40
From Rose and Noah to Wade and Rondo. Time for Chicago to get back in the playoffs
7. Washington Wizards: 41-41
Bradley Beal, Otto Porter Jr. and John Wall. Just give it a year or two and watch out for these guys.
8. Indiana Pacers: 39-43
They have enough with Teague, Ellis and George to sneak into the playoffs again.
9. Detroit Pistons: 38-44
Andre Drummond led the league in rebounding and double-doubles last year. He has some premier shooters around him now, they’ll barely miss the playoffs.
10. New York Knicks: 36-46
I said it on the air and I’ll say it again. This is a very overrated basketball team!
11. Miami Heat: 35-47
Time to bring in or draft rebuilding talents to south beach
12. Orlando Magic: 32-50
This team basically disappeared themselves after Dwight Howard was traded in 2012.
13. Milwaukee Bucks: 29-53
The O.J. Mayo era didn’t work and they traded away Michael Carter-Williams. At-least you have Wisconsin basketball.
14. Philadelphia 76ers: 24-58
Ben Simmons is probably out for the year, Joel Embiid is finally starting to play two years after he was drafted and who hears about Jahlil Okafor anymore?
15. Brooklyn Nets: 17-65
Hey New York, at-least you have the Islanders and Rangers right?
WESTERN CONFERENCE
1. Golden State Warriors: 67-15
Lost some key pieces from their bench last year which will stop them from repeating their record breaking season last year, however they averaged 115 points a game last year and now add in KD’s 28 PPG he had last year in Oklahoma City.
2. San Antonio Spurs: 59-23
Now that Tim Duncan is gone it is becoming a new era with Kawhi Leonard. He will finish second in MVP and win defensive player of the years.
3. Utah Jazz: 51-31
Good head coach and new players such as George Hill. I don’t know why but I see this team being a contender in the West this season.
4. Minnesota Timberwolves: 49-35
They’re going to be the most improved team in the NBA this season. They were the laughing stock of the NBA for awhile now that have rebuilt with Karl-Anthony Towns, Zach Lavine and Andrew Wiggins, they’ll be laughing at the NBA for years to come.
5. Los Angeles Clippers: 48-34
Can’t talk about getting to the NBA Finals if you can’t make the Western Conference Finals
6. Portland Trail Blazers: 46-26
Lillard keeps getting better and they added Festus Ezeli, Shabazz Napier and Evan Turner. Look for them to keep it up all season.
7. Oklahoma City Thunder: 45-38
Westbrook is the MVP if the Thunder make the playoffs. He is all in for Oklahoma City despite everything that happened in the offseason.
8. Memphis Grizzlies: 42-40
Still have the core of Mike Conley, Tony Allen, Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol since 2010, but they lost nine players, added nine players and they have a new head coach.
9. Dallas Mavericks: 41-41
Dirk Nowitzki and who else?
10 .Denver Nuggets: 40-42
They need a superstar to get into the playoffs. No one has taken on that role in Denver since Carmelo Anthony and he was traded almost six years ago.
11. Houston Rockets: 37-45
They lost not only Howard but Michael Beasley, Terrence Jones and Josh Smith. James Harden will have more points but it’ll be similar to Demarcus Cousins who averaged 27 PPG and the Kings are terrible.
12. New Orleans Pelicans: 36-46
Eric Gordon and Ryan Anderson are gone. They have to build around Anthony Davis who has a great shot at winning MVP this year.
13. Sacramento Kings: 27-55
One of the best arenas in American sports for one of the worst teams in American sports.
14. Phoenix Suns: 26-56
The Steve Nash days have been done for a long time. Has the front office realized that yet?
15. Los Angeles Lakers: 25-57
Great draft pick on Brandon Ingram from Duke University. He’ll probably win rookie of the year and the Lakers will improve, but we have to remember this team only won 17 games last year.
EASTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFFS FIRST ROUND
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Indiana Pacers
Cleveland Cavaliers in 5
Toronto Raptors vs. Washington Wizards
Toronto Raptors in 6
Charlotte Hornets vs. Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls in 7
Boston Celtics vs. Atlanta Hawks
Boston Celtics in 7
WESTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFFS FIRST ROUND
Golden State Warriors vs. Memphis Grizzlies
Golden State Warriors in 5
San Antonio Spurs vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
San Antonio Spurs in 6
Utah Jazz vs. Portland Trail Blazers
Portland Trail Blazers in 7
Los Angeles Clippers vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
Los Angeles Clippers in 5
EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMI-FINALS
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Boston Celtics
Cleveland Cavaliers in 6
Toronto Raptors vs. Chicago Bulls
Toronto Raptors in 7
WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMI-FINALS
Golden State Warriors vs. Los Angeles Clippers
Golden State Warriors in 7
San Antonio Spurs vs. Portland Trail Blazers
Portland Trail Blazers in 7
EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS: Cleveland Cavaliers over Toronto Raptors in 5
WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS: Golden State Warriors over Portland Trail Blazers in 6
NBA FINALS: Golden State Warriors over Cleveland Cavaliers in 7
ANDREW PASQUINI’S PREDICTIONS:
EASTERN CONFERENCE
- Cleveland Cavaliers
- Boston Celtics
- Toronto Raptors
- Atlanta Hawks
- Indiana Pacers
- Chicago Bulls
- Milwaukee Bucks
- Washington Wizards
- Miami Heat
- Detroit Pistons
- New York Knicks
- Philadelphia 76ers
- Charlotte Hornets
- Orlando Magic
- Brooklyn Nets
WESTERN CONFERENCE
- Golden State Warriors
- Los Angeles Clippers
- Memphis Grizzlies
- San Antonio Spurs
- Portland Trail Blazers
- Houston Rockets
- Oklahoma City Thunder
- Utah Jazz
- Dallas Mavericks
- Minnesota Timberwolves
- New Orleans Pelicans
- Sacramento Kings
- Phoenix Suns
- Denver Nuggets
- Los Angeles Lakers
EASTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFFS FIRST ROUND
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Washington Wizards: Cleveland Cavaliers
Boston Celtics vs. Milwaukee Bucks: Boston Celtics
Toronto Raptors vs. Chicago Bulls: Chicago Bulls
Atlanta Hawks vs. Indiana Pacers: Indiana Pacers
WESTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFFS FIRST ROUND
Golden State Warriors vs. Utah Jazz: Golden State Warriors
Los Angeles Clippers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder: Los Angles Clippers
Memphis Grizzlies vs. Houston Rockets: Memphis Grizzlies
San Antonio Spurs vs. Portland Trail Blazers: Portland Trail Blazers
EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMI-FINALS
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Indiana Pacers: Cleveland Cavaliers
Boston Celtics vs. Chicago Bulls: Boston Celtics
WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMI-FINALS
Golden State Warriors vs. Portland Trail Blazers: Golden State Warriors
Los Angeles Clippers vs. Memphis Grizzlies: Los Angeles Clippers
EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Boston Celtics: Cleveland Cavaliers
EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS: Golden State Warriors vs. Los Angeles Clippers: Golden State Warriors
NBA FINALS: Golden State Warriors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers: Golden State Warriors
NOAH ALVAREZ’S PREDICTIONS:
EASTERN CONFERENCE
- Cleveland Cavaliers
- Toronto Raptors
- Boston Celtics
- Indiana Pacers
- New York Knicks
- Chicago Bulls
- Charlotte Hornets
- Milwaukee Bucks
- Atlanta Hawks
- Washington Wizards
- Detroit Pistons
- Miami Heat
- Orlando Magic
- Philadelphia 76ers
- Brooklyn Nets
WESTERN CONFERENCE
- Golden State Warriors
- San Antonio Spurs
- Los Angeles Clippers
- Oklahoma City Thunder
- Memphis Grizzlies
- Portland Trail Blazers
- Houston Rockets
- Utah Jazz
- Dallas Mavericks
- Phoenix Suns
- Minnesota Timberwolves
- New Orleans Pelicans
- Sacramento Kings
- Los Angeles Lakers
- Denver Nuggets
EASTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFFS FIRST ROUND
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Milwaukee Bucks: Cleveland Cavaliers
Toronto Raptors vs. Charlotte Hornets: Toronto Raptors
Boston Celtics vs. Chicago Bulls: Boston Celtics
Indiana Pacers vs. New York Knicks: Indiana Pacers
WESTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFFS FIRST ROUND
Golden State Warriors vs. Utah Jazz: Golden State Warriors
San Antonio Spurs vs. Houston Rockets: San Antonio Spurs
Los Angeles Clippers vs. Portland Trail Blazers: Portland Trail Blazers
Oklahoma City Thunders vs. Memphis Grizzlies: Oklahoma City Thunder
EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMI-FINALS
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Indiana Pacers: Cleveland Cavaliers
Toronto Raptors vs. Boston Celtics: Boston Celtics
WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMI-FINALS
Golden State Warriors vs. Oklahoma City Thunder: Golden State Warriors
San Antonio Spurs vs. Portland Trail Blazers: Portland Trail Blazers
EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Boston Celtics: Cleveland Cavaliers
EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS: Golden State Warriors vs. Portland Trail Blazers: Golden State Warriors
NBA FINALS: Golden State Warriors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers: Golden State Warriors
CHRIS BULLOCK’S PREDICTIONS:
EASTERN CONFERENCE
- Cleveland Cavaliers
- Indiana Pacers
- Boston Celtics
- Toronto Raptors
- Charlotte Hornets
- Chicago Bulls
- Atlanta Hawks
- New York Knicks
- Washington Wizards
- Detroit Pistons
- Milwaukee Bucks
- Orlando Magic
- Miami Heat
- Philadelphia 76ers
- Brooklyn Nets
WESTERN CONFERENCE
- Golden State Warriors
- San Antonio Spurs
- Portland Trail Blazers
- Los Angeles Clippers
- Minnesota Timberwolves
- Oklahoma City Thunder
- Utah Jazz
- Memphis Grizzlies
- Dallas Mavericks
- Houston Rockets
- New Orleans Pelicans
- Los Angeles Lakers
- Phoenix Suns
- Sacramento Kings
- Denver Nuggets
EASTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFFS FIRST ROUND
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. New York Knicks: Cleveland Cavaliers
Indiana Pacers vs. Atlanta Hawks: Indiana Pacers
Boston Celtics vs. Chicago Bulls: Boston Celtics
Toronto Raptors vs. Charlotte Hornets: Toronto Raptors
WESTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFFS FIRST ROUND
Golden State Warriors vs. Memphis Grizzlies Golden State Warriors
San Antonio Spurs vs. Utah Jazz: San Antonio Spurs
Portland Trail Blazers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder: Portland Trail Blazers
Los Angeles Clippers vs. Minnesota Timberwolves: Los Angeles Clippers
EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMI-FINALS
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Toronto Raptors: Cleveland Cavaliers
Indiana Pacers vs. Boston Celtics: Indiana Pacers
WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMI-FINALS
Golden State Warriors vs. Los Angeles Clippers: Golden State Warriors
San Antonio Spurs vs. Portland Trail Blazers: Portland Trail Blazers
EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Indiana Pacers: Indiana Pacers
EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS: Golden State Warriors vs. Portland Trail Blazers: Golden State Warriors
NBA FINALS: Golden State Warriors vs. Indiana Pacers: Golden State Warriors
KSSU The Blog 
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