2016-2017 NBA Season Predictions | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Sports

2016-2017 NBA Season Predictions

Award winners, conference playoff standings, and championship teams

39
2016-2017 NBA Season Predictions
Hustle Boy DJ Radio

A lot has happened since June 19th in the NBA. After a determined LeBron willed Cleveland to a championship over the greatest regular season team of all time - featuring the League MVP - in the Golden State Warriors, I assumed that the 3-1 Finals comeback would be the focal point of this offseason. And in a way, it has. But the storyline of the summer has been primarily centered on Kevin Durant and his decision to head out west. I mean...if you can't beat em, join em...right? KD suddenly became the most hated player in the NBA, but he wasn't the only one who left his long-time team for a different buyer. D-Wade headed home to Chicago, while Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah bolted from the Windy City to join Melo in New York. Dallas picked up Barnes and Bogut from the Warriors. San Antonio lost Duncan to retirement, but added Pau Gasol. Mike Conley inked the biggest contract in NBA history with the Grizzlies. All in all, it was a very, very crazy offseason.

Now that everything is behind us, it's time to take a look at the 2016-2017 NBA season. Here are my predictions - MVP, Conference champs, division winners, and even how many times Draymond Green will kick Steven Adams in the groin. Maybe not the last one...although if I did, I would set the O/U at 3 (and take the over).

NBA MVP: LeBron James

The greatest player of this generation will once again post incredible numbers, even with his minutes being limited. LeBron has reached his physical peak and is now staring down the decline every player faces in their early-to-mid thirties. I think we will see one last great season from James. Harden and Westbrook will finish in the top three, but the King will hold them off and earn his 5th MVP award. Curry has won the past two, but now with KD in town, the votes will be shared enough for LeBron to win it.

Most Improved Player: Devin Booker

Booker averaged nearly 14 ppg in his debut season, and he is poised to jump up to 19-21 this year. In a guard-heavy roster, he is possibly the most talented. Add a floor-spreading big man - Dragan Bender - and the opportunity for an expanding offensive game presents itself.

Rookie of the Year: Brandon Ingram

With Ben Simmons out for the first two months of the season, Ingram has a very good chance of claiming ROTY honors. The lanky swingman from Duke is essentially a discount KD, and he has a lot of explosive young talent around him. Look for Buddy Hield to challenge him though, as a healthy Anthony Davis will need some help on offense; Hield will bring a healthy dose of scoring in New Orleans.

Coach of the Year: Brad Stevens

Brad Stevens just turned 40, but his young age doesn't matter: the man can coach. After winning 48 games with Boston last season, Stevens is poised to add another 7-9 wins this year. The Celtics were unselfish and gelled well in 2015-16, but they should only get better after adding Al Horford into the mix. Tom Thibodeau will be a close second to Stevens, as the defensive-minded coach is back in Minnesota where he started his coaching career; the Wolves have a budding star in Karl-Anthony Towns and a plethora of young talent surrounding him.

Sixth Man of the Year: Jonathon Simmons

It would be easy to put Jamal Crawford here after he won the same award last season. Heck, it would be easy to choose Andre Iguodala. But I am going with my darkhorse pick. Not many people know who Simmons is, and rightly so. The 27 year old shooting guard has been turning heads in San Antonio. I know what you're thinking...if I am going with a shooting guard for the Spurs as my Sixth Man of the Year pick, how would it not be Manu Ginobili? I just have a really good feeling about Simmons, and if Gregg Popovich does what he always does, he will get the best out of his players (including Simmons).

Defensive Player of the Year: Karl-Anthony Towns

Towns is long, athletic, and showed a lot of promise as a rookie last year. The Wolves' centerpiece averaged nearly 8 defensive rebounds and 2 blocks per game for a team that won 29 games; those numbers will only increase as the supporting cast gets better.

Western Conference Playoff Standings

  1. San Antonio Spurs (Southwest Division Champs)
  2. Golden State Warriors (Pacific Division Champs)
  3. Los Angeles Clippers
  4. Portland Trail Blazers (Northwest Division Champs)
  5. Utah Jazz
  6. Dallas Mavericks
  7. Minnesota Timberwolves
  8. Memphis Grizzlies

Eastern Conference Playoff Standings

  1. Cleveland Cavaliers (Central Division Champs)
  2. Boston Celtics (Atlantic Division Champs)
  3. Toronto Raptors
  4. Indiana Pacers
  5. Atlanta Hawks (Southeast Division Champs)
  6. Washington Wizards
  7. Chicago Bulls
  8. New York Knicks

Western Conference Championship: Warriors over Spurs

Eastern Conference Championship: Cavaliers over Celtics

NBA Finals: Warriors in 7

Finals MVP: Klay Thompson

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
friends
Photo by Elizeu Dias on Unsplash

If I have learned one thing in my lifetime, it is that friends are a privilege. No one is required to give you their company and yet there is some sort of shared connection that keeps you together. And from that friendship, you may even find yourself lucky enough to have a few more friends, thus forming a group. Here are just a few signs that prove your current friend group is the ultimate friend group.

Keep Reading...Show less
ross and monica
FanPop

When it comes to television, there’s very few sets of on-screen siblings that a lot of us can relate to. Only those who have grown up with siblings knows what it feels like to fight, prank, and love a sibling. Ross and Monica Geller were definitely overbearing and overshared some things through the series of "Friends," but they captured perfectly what real siblings feel in real life. Some of their antics were funny, some were a little weird but all of them are completely relatable to brothers and sisters everywhere.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Types Of Sorority Girls

Who really makes up your chapter...

2322
Sorority Girls
Owl Eyes Magazine

College is a great place to meet people, especially through Greek life. If you look closely at sororities, you'll quickly see there are many different types of girls you will meet.

1. The Legacy.

Her sister was a member, her mom was a member, all of her aunts were members, and her grandma was a member. She has been waiting her whole life to wear these letters and cried hysterically on bid day. Although she can act entitled at times, you can bet she is one of the most enthusiastic sisters.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

10 Reasons Why Life Is Better In The Summertime

Winter blues got you down? Summer is just around the corner!

1966
coconut tree near shore within mountain range
Photo by Elizeu Dias on Unsplash

Every kid in college and/or high school dreams of summer the moment they walk through the door on the first day back in September. It becomes harder and harder to focus in classes and while doing assignments as the days get closer. The winter has been lagging, the days are short and dark, and no one is quite themselves due to lack of energy and sunlight. Let's face it: life is ten times better in the summertime.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

10 Things That Describe You and Your College Friends

The craziest, funniest, and most unforgettable college memories are impossible to create without an amazing group of friends.

1560
College Friends
Marina Lombardi

1. You'll never run out of clothes when you have at least four closets to choose from.

2. You embrace and encourage each other’s horrible, yet remarkable dance moves.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments