At long last, amidst a sea of uncertainty and difficulty especially in my own county, the oasis of NBA basketball has returned. In what promises to be one of the most exciting seasons in recent memory; with the return of superstars, big money offseason signings and high profile rookies, I present to you my season predictions, starting with the stacked Western Conference.
Although the small offseason and limited preseason action makes it a challenging task, I’m never usually wrong, so sit back, get your snacks and enjoy.
Western Conference
15 Sacramento Kings
Record last Season: 31-41
Following the max extension of their explosive superstar De’aaron Fox and the drafting exciting young rookie Tyrese Haliburton who may end up being the steal of this year’s draft at number twelve, Kings fans should enjoy an exciting season in 20-21.
Their deadeye guard Buddy Hield should have an even more productive season following Bogdan Bogdanovic’s trade to the Atlanta Hawks and the addition of Hassan Whiteside on the minimum to compliment its solid veteran core that includes Harrison Barnes, Richaun Holmes and Cory Joseph should see the Kings improve on last season. I just don’t see Marvin Bagley elevating his game to the elite level required to make a serious playoff push this year in a stacked Western Conference. The lack of any elite talent to compliment Swipa sees them sit at the bottom of the west.
14 Oklahoma City Thunder
Record last season: 44-28
Sam Presti is not a man who takes conservative decisions at GM and this offseason was no different, with OKC swapping its veteren pieces for significant draft picks that should set them up for playoff contention in seasons to come.
Their exciting young roster including Darius Bazley and Shai Gilgeous Alexander should build off decent performances last year, but the significant casm left by the departure of its elite veteran talent that inspired last season’s impressive bubble performance in the offseason makes it difficult to predict that they will be anywhere except the basement of the West this season.
Fear not though as we look forward to what promises to be a stacked 2021 draft, Thunder fans should be excited to what the future might hold.
13 San Antonio Spurs
Record last season: 32-39
It seems the rest of the NBA has at last caught up with the Spurs. Despite their all star talent in the form of Lamarcus Aldridge and DeMar Derozan,and their Hall of Fame coach who seems as determined as ever, the Spurs disappointingly missed out on playoff basketball for the first time since the 1996-97 NBA season and have done little to bolster their ranks since. The lack of significant elite talent is this roster outside of its two allstars is problematic and will inevitably see back to back losing seasons for the boys down in San Antonio.
Their exciting rookies in Devin Vassell and Tre Jones will have to provide instant impact and Dejounte Murray, Lonnie Walker and Derrick White will each have to take mammoth leaps in production for the Spurs to have any chance contending for playoff spots in a Western Conference that appears to be improving considerably every season.
12 Houston Rockets
Record last season: 44-28
With the James Harden situation deteriorating daily that leaves the superstar guard keen for a swift exit, the Rockets sit on the outside looking in with regard to playoff contention.Harden’s disgruntlement is disappointing as the Rockets added some nice pieces this offseason including the much anticipated return of former number 1 overall pick John Wall, previous all-NBA second team and all round bad man Damarcus Cousins, and Christian Wood who is coming off a very productive 2019-20 season for the Detroit Pistons.
The supporting cast of Eric Gordon and PJ Tucker are also returning and coming off decent seasons and we are yet to see what a James Harden trade package will look like with the possibility of superstar for superstar swap most definitely possible.
Should Harden stay, this team would surely elevate itself to a playoff position but perhaps not a title hence his eagerness to get out of dodge. I predict a trade happening sooner rather than which will inevitably end Houston’s playoff hopes.
11 Memphis Grizzlies
Record last season: 34-39
After an overachieving 2019-20 season that saw the rise of its own human highlight real Ja Morant who was on a mission of baptising the league’s unsuspecting centres all season long, and Jaren Jackson Jr whose skillset has all the hallmarks of a future all-NBA star, the Grizzlies did very little to improve their roster this past offseason.
Beyond their young studs and ever effective veteran centre Jonas Valanciunas in addition to impressive small forward duo Dillon Brooks and Brandon Clarke, the Grizzlies lack the depth in their roster to get over the hump in the west. They will be on the back foot early on with Jaren Jackson and Justise Winslow both missing going into the season, a challenge that will be difficult to overcome in an unforgiving Western Conference.
10 Minnesota Timberwolves.
Record last season: 19-45
The Wolves have struggled massively since the departure of Jimmy Butler as its once promising young core have consistently failed to deliver on expectations. This roster however presents perhaps the best chance since the Butler trade to get back into the playoffs with the addition of Ricky Rubio to a solid backcourt that already contains all-star talent in D’Angelo Russell.
Not to mention the Wolves also managed to steal the number one pick and Anthony Edwards may have some instant payoff as he is likely to see some decent minutes this season. Malik Beasley has impressed in preseason and Juancho Hernangomez will help provide some much needed depth to the roster.
I however am not impressed with the decision to waive Rondae Hollis Jefferson who will have provided some seriously needed toughness on both sides of the floor and the Wolves have not really looked to improve their defence which was among the worst in the league last season. Hence I think Wolves fans will have to wait a little longer before the return of playoff basketball.
9 New Orleans Pelicans
Record last season: 30-42
The Pelicans will be one to watch this season. Zion will be entering his sophomore season healthier and more in shape than he was during his fairly turbulent and I think he will be the explosive, dominant player we have seen throughout his young basketball career.
What’s best of all for the Pelicans is that he won’t be on his own. The Pelicans have built a roster with some seriously good young, explosive talent including Brandon Ingram, whose elevation in productivity earned him his first all star selection last season, Lonzo Ball also looking to build off a much improved season not to mention his jumpshot is looking a lot better, and Jaxson Hayes who had an impressive rookie season.
But they have managed to balance this youth with veterans who will take the team into serious playoff contenders with the return of JJ Reddick, whilst adding Steven Adams and Eric Bledsoe who will add a gritty toughness. Although I predict the Pels to compete for the play-in tournament, they could finish higher
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8 Phoenix Suns
Record last season: 34-39
The Suns have come a seriously long way since Charles Barkley’s hilarious rant about the state of the organisation a few years ago. Over the past few years, they have managed to build one of the most exciting rosters in the league and wowed us in the bubble last season. Form that Phoenix fans will hope transfers over to this season.
They are a team with insane potential and depth, led by their talented backcourt of Devin Booker and future hall of famer Chris Paul in addition to the blossoming D’Andre Ayton who is quietly transforming himself into one of the league’s premier big men.
The addition of Jae Crowder and E’Twaun Moore will provide much needed defense and grit to the Suns to compliment their talented roster and Dario Saric, Cam Johnson and Mikal Bridges will look to build off solid seasons last year. Pressure is now on to see if the Suns, with the best roster they’ve had in years, can at last live up to the hype.
7 Golden State Warriors
Record last year: 15-50
Without the greatest shooting backcourt of all time, the Warriors unsurprisingly ended the season with the worst record in the league. Unfortunately for Warriors fans, a devastating freak injury to Klay Thomson means that the Warriors are only getting half of it back. Fortunately for Warriors fans, that man is Stephen Curry. Healthy and balling again, Curry returns to arguably a deeper, more talented roster to the one he had before his injury.
With Draymond Green still showing glimpses of his DPOY self and the addition of Kelly Oubre and Andrew Wiggins as talented, scoring wings looking to pick up the slack left by the loss of the other splash brother. A poor season last year also saw talented centre James Wiseman fall into their lap and should serve as their starting big man for years to come.
The fact is that despite the gut wrenching loss of Klay, the Warriors have the talent to go back into the playoffs, although the undependability of Wiggins especially means that Steph will inevitably be taking on the brunt of the offensive load, but that is something he is more than capable of.
6 Portland Trailblazers
Record last season: 35-39
The Blazers journey to the playoffs was hardly plain sailing last year, just sneaking in by the skin of their teeth. I predict an easier run in this time around.
They possess the most stacked backcourt in the league, led by the best point guard of the last couple seasons Damian Lillard, accompanied by elite scorer CJ Mccollum. The Blazers are also without the injury woes suffered last season with big man Jusuf Nurkic now fully fit after being out for most of last year’s regular season.
Resigning Carmelo Anthony and picking up Robert Covington and Enes Kanter will give them talent and depth on both sides of the floor in addition to bringing back Rodney Hood who is coming off the best year of his NBA career. This team only being predicted a sixth seed should give you an indication of how stacked this conference is.
5 Utah Jazz
Record last season: 44-28
Utah were a consistent regular season performer in the West last year coming away with 44 wins and gave us one of the most exhilarating battles in the bubble before being toppled by eventual Western Conference finalists Denver Nuggets.
Their roster has managed to stay relatively the same although they brought back Derrick Favours in the offseason who will provide solid bench production for centre Rudy Gobert. This team will be led again by its explosive guard Mitchell who will look to take another step up as one of the premier two guards in the league following his incredible bubble performances in which he averaged 29.5 points per game off an efficient 47.3% shooting.
The depth in this squad is impressive too with the ever consistent Rudy Gobert protecting the rim and benefitting from getting easy buckets due to the attention on Mitchell. Sharpshooter Bojan Bogdanovic, veteran Mike Conley and consistent wings Joe Ingles and Royce O’Neal will likely fill out the starting spots, and 6th man Jordan Clarkson will get his buckets off the bench. The depth of talent in this roster should see them comfortably make playoff basketball this season and perhaps even make a deep playoff run.
4 Dallas Mavericks
Record last season: 43-32
The Dallas Mavericks boasted one of the most exciting rosters in the NBA last season, posting the most efficient offensive performance of all time with an incredible 115.9 offensive rating. However they struggle massively to get stops down the stretch which significantly dented their title ambitions.
The Mavericks front office has sought to rectify that through its intelligent additions this offseason, swapping out Seth Curry for lockdown wing Josh Richardson whilst also picking up former Heat teammate James Johnson who can defend all five positions.
The team will of course be led by its talismanic superstar Luka Doncic whose meteoric rise last season and clutch performances will without a doubt make Dallas legit contenders next season. This does depend however on the health of its second superstar Kristaps Porzingis who had another season shortened by injury in 2019-20, but if he manages to stay on the floor, Dallas can make a serious challenge for the title.
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3 Denver Nuggets
Record last season: 46-27
The Denver Nuggets shocked the basketball world in the bubble last season by overcoming the heavily fancied Clippers over 7 games in the bubble last season which is a testament to the skill and the depth of their roster. They will however be without last year’s fourth option Jeremi Grant whose consistent bubble performances helped them to get past the Clips.
This will however give Michael Porter Jr a starting role he deserves after his electrifying offensive performances in the bubble, as a 6’10’’ guard with handles, quickness and shooting ability that will more than make up for Grant’s absence.
That’s before we even get to Denver’s established superstars Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic who will surely dazzle the NBA again this season and keep the Nuggets as one of the teams to beat in the West. With anchors Gary Harris, Paul Millsap and Will Barton all running it back this season and looking to get back to their old form, Denver are looking like very serious title contenders.
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2 LA Clippers
Record last season: 49-23
The Clippers turned into a bit of a meme following their disappointing emilmation in 7 games to the aforementioned Denver Nuggets but I predict that they will return as motivated as ever. Having been one of the best teams in the NBA and nearly the Western Conference last season.
Superstar wing pairing Kawhi Leonard and Paul George will be returning with something to prove following their lukewarm showing in the West Semis and, on paper at least, they remain among the best wing pairings in the league.
The loss of last year’s sixth man Montrezl Harrell to the cursed Lakers will be disappointing to Clipper fans however they maintained much of the formidable supporting cast that helped them win nearly 50 games including defensive pest Pat Bev, sixth man Lou Williams, skilled centre Ivica Zubac and Marcus Morris. Serge Ibaka is a great pickup for them as a skilled big man who can protect the rim in a team with an already impressive defensive core.
Whether or not the Clippers will match the heavy expectation on their shoulder remains to be seen and it is doubtful they can afford another slipup of the proportions suffered last season.
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1 LA Lakers
Record last season: 52-19
Was there really any doubt? Off the back of their historic 17th championship, the Lakers only needed to stay relatively the same to run it back again this season. Except they got even better. Adding Montrezl Harrell and Dennis Schroeder will give them significant bench and ball handling depth which was lacking in parts last season and will be sorely needed after the departure of secondary ball handler Rajon Rondo to the Hawks.
Marc Gasol and Wesley Matthews are also two very good pickups who will provide defensive depth and can also get it done on the offensive side of the floor with good efficiency.
AD and Bron were straight dominant last year and will likely be MVP candidates again this year as they look to go back to back, they are a force with just one of them on the floor, but when both are out there, they are unstoppable. It would take something extraordinary to knock the Lakers off their perch, but even with some solid rosters in the league this season, I don’t see it happening.
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