Presuming health, the Celtics and Raptors should battle for the top spot in the East, while the Sixers have an equally high ceiling but more questions about their fit. The middle of the conference is more fluid, with the Pistons, Cavaliers, Nets and Hornets likely battling for that final playoff spot. The guess here is Detroit will take it.
Second Round
1. Boston Celtics
2. Toronto Raptors
3. Philadelphia 76ers
4. Milwaukee Bucks
Conference Finals
1. Boston Celtics
2. Toronto Raptors
Finals
1. Boston Celtics
All chalk here. The four teams at the top of the East are a clear cut above the rest and will move on. In the second round, we'll get a rematch of the first round series between the Celtics and Bucks last year, with Boston again coming out on top in a hard-fought series. Toronto and Philadelphia will be an absolute slugfest, with Toronto's depth - particularly on the wing - winning the day. And while Boston and Toronto should be an incredible conference finals, home court will tip the scales in Boston's direction.
Western Conference
1. Golden State Warriors
2. Utah Jazz
3. Houston Rockets
4. Oklahoma City Thunder
5. New Orleans Pelicans
6. Denver Nuggets
7. Portland Trail Blazers
8. San Antonio Spurs
9. Los Angeles Lakers
10. Los Angeles Clippers
11. Minnesota Timberwolves
12. Memphis Grizzlies
13. Dallas Mavericks
14. Phoenix Suns
15. Sacramento Kings
Even with their feet not fully on the gas, Golden State is the pick to finish first. Utah's cohesion, meanwhile, should allow it to edge Houston for second. After that, spots 4-11 could go in any direction. Injuries will likely dictate the finish, and they have already had an impact with the loss of Spurs point guard Dejounte Murray for the season with a torn ACL. The biggest wild card of all is the status of Jimmy Butler. If he stays with the Timberwolves, they will be a playoff team. If he doesn't, it's hard to see the Wolves being all that close.
Second Round
1. Golden State Warriors
2. Utah Jazz
3. Houston Rockets
5. New Orleans Pelicans
Conference Finals
1. Golden State Warriors
3. Houston Rockets
Finals
1. Golden State Warriors
The one "upset" on either side of the bracket in the first round will be the Pelicans edging the Thunder, with Anthony Davis being enough to push New Orleans past Oklahoma City and into the second round. And, with rematches on both sides of the bracket from this past season, they also will end with the same result - Golden State and Houston squaring off in the conference finals. This time, though, it will only take five games for the Warriors to advance to a fifth straight NBA Finals.
NBA Champion
Golden State Warriors over Boston Celtics in six games
The Celtics (and the Raptors, for that matter) have the length and depth across the board to give the Warriors their stiffest test since Kevin Durant arrived in 2016, and the lingering knee issues for Draymond Green are a concern. But until the two-time defending champions lose - or Durant leaves - the Warriors should be considered the favourites.
Most Valuable Player
1. Giannis Antetokounmpo
2. Anthony Davis
3. Kawhi Leonard
4. Kevin Durant
5. LeBron James
We went into detail about why Antetokounmpo will win the MVP award, so we won't do so again. Davis is probably the other leading contender for it, though Leonard, James, Durant, James Harden, Stephen Curry and Joel Embiid all could have cases.
Defensive Player of the Year
1. Rudy Gobert
2. Anthony Davis
3. Kawhi Leonard
Gobert could win this award for the next several seasons in a row. The Jazz will be among the NBA's best teams and should also have the league's best defense again. If he's healthy, this is his award to lose.
Sixth Man of the Year
1. Marcus Smart
2. Eric Gordon
3. Dennis Schroder
With Boston likely to be among the best teams in the league, it will provide an opportunity for Smart to earn this award. Gordon will be in the mix, too, while Schroder should fit perfectly into it in Oklahoma City. Mr. Sixth Man, Lou Williams, will be a factor for the Clippers, as will Fred VanVleet leading the bench mob in Toronto.
Rookie of the Year
1. Luka Doncic
2. Trae Young
3. Deandre Ayton
This should be a fun race. The pick here is that Doncic will win it, but Young, Ayton, Jaren Jackson Jr., Wendell Carter Jr. and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander all have the potential to win it.
Most Improved Player
1. Jamal Murray
2. Pascal Siakam
3. Myles Turner
This award is always just about impossible to decipher. But Murray, who has been given the keys to Denver's offense and finally had a healthy offseason to work on his game, feels primed for a breakout. Dejounte Murray would've been a strong contender before he was lost for the season to a torn ACL last week. Siakam could grow into a bigger role on a strong Toronto team, while Turner has a chance to be this year's version of what his teammate, Victor Oladipo, did a year ago. Other possibilities: Dante Exum, Brandon Ingram, Jakob Poeltl, James Ennis.
Coach of the Year
1. Gregg Popovich
2. Mike Budenholzer
3. Brad Stevens
There are always a handful of coaches who are in the running for this award. That said, if Popovich is able to get the Spurs into the playoffs, he should get it. Budenholzer, Stevens, Toronto's Nick Nurse and Utah's Quin Snyder will all have cases, too.
