It’s that time of the year again. The NBA is back in action, and the lovers of hoops are making their crazy predictions for the NBA season. Confession: For better or worse, the NBA might be the most predictable of the four major North American sports. Barring injury, the NBA team with the star players wins the seven-game series in May and June. But hope springs eternal in October! I’ll give you some of my most wild predictions for the 2023-24 NBA season.
Shameless plug: If you haven’t checked out my Hall of Fame articles, check them out here:
Hall of Fame Spotlight- Dwyane Wade
Hall of Fame Spotlight- Dirk Nowitzki
Top Three Reasons Andre Iguodala Belongs in the Hall of Fame
Hall of Fame Spotlight- Gregg Popovich
The NBA In-Season Tournament Doesn’t Catch On
The NBA has a new In-Season Tournament that promises to be a competitive new spin on the NBA season. The tournament begins in November, with games already on the NBA calendar. The winners of those games go on to the knockout stage, and the tournament’s Final Four is played in Las Vegas. The teams in the championship game will have played 83 games by the season’s end, one more than the typical 82. The NBA plans on making a ton of revenue with the new format, and Vegas gets an early December economic jolt with visitors flying in. Honestly, this is an audition for Vegas to get an NBA team soon.
Ok, did you get all that? Was that confusing? Trust me, it will be very confusing the more people try to explain it. So the NBA is trying to take eyeballs away from the beloved American game with shoulder pads and oblong pigskin balls? How does the travel to Vegas and elevated intensity level affect the teams when they return to regular play? Will it even be intense (will the players care)? I don’t think this tournament was all the way thought out, and I believe the audience will have a hard time catching on.
Jamal Murray Is Still Not an NBA All-Star
Yes, the NBA predictions are getting wilder! Nikola Jokic still leads the defending champion Denver Nuggets, but now teams will be gunning for them. Jamal Murray has never made an All-Star Game, and I predict the streak will continue. The depth of the Nuggets will be the culprit, as the offense will lean egalitarian when defenses key on Jokic. Murray won’t have the numbers that other guards will have. Starting guard spots will be dominated by fan favorites like Steph Curry and Kyrie Irving. Ja Morant will come in guns blazing after his suspension (Yeah, the dreaded intended pun. I’m sorry). Breakout stars will soak up the remaining spots (Anthony Edwards, De’Aaron Fox, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and perhaps Devin Vassell).
The Spurs Make the Playoffs Comfortably
My favorite prediction is that the San Antonio Spurs, led by phenom first-overall pick Victor Wembanyama, will be a fifth or sixth seed in the Western Conference this year. As a reminder, the greatest player of all time, LeBron James, failed to make the playoffs until his third season. This is a new NBA, though. Less physical harm will come of Wembanyama as his impressive guard skills will allow him to play outside of the paint often. The Spurs with Wemby will be must-watch television this season.
The New York Knicks Are a Play-in Team
The Knicks return most of the same faces from last year’s fifth-place team bounced from the second round of the playoffs by the Miami Heat. That’s not a good sign, considering Tom Thibodeaux-coached teams historically start wearing down as the years go by. Star guard Jalen Brunson was humbled over the summer as Team USA basketball swallowed losses in the World Cup. The team chose not to extend the contract of guard Immanuel Quickley. That could affect his game. Julius Randle has hit the ceiling with his talents. I don’t see what makes this year’s Knicks team exciting. The teams in the East will be significantly improved, pushing the Knicks down a few pegs.
LeBron James Plays 75 Games
LeBron becomes an Ironman of sorts and plays 75 games. It’ll be the first time in six seasons that James breaks 70 games, and the Lakers will need every one of those games. I think the Lakers will struggle to slog through this season. Darvin Ham will coach standing up because his seat will be so hot. LeBron won’t complain in the media nearly as much as usual because his focus will be USC games and Bronny James on Lakers off nights.
Klay Thompson Gets Traded
The Golden State Warriors were defeated by the Phoenix Suns at home on opening night. They are going to look old all year. Draymond Green is already out with an injury. The Warriors season stalls until they take a chance and shake up the roster. Klay Thompson and the Warriors couldn’t agree on an extension, which spells tension and perhaps some selfish play for the first time in a while. The Splash Brothers split up this season.
Finals Prediction: Lakers over Hawks (4-1)
Okay, this was a fun one for NBA predictions. This is my prediction in full. The Lakers get the seventh seed and beat the two-seeded Sacramento Kings in round one. Another team takes down the Nuggets (who have the Lakers number) before the conference finals. That team is subsequently too worn down to handle the Lakers’ depth—the Lakers roll to LeBron’s fifth (and final) championship.
The Hawks, meanwhile, have the healthiest team in the playoffs with the best chemistry. A full year under Quinn Snyder will lead to an MVP-level season from star guard Trae Young. The Hawks will fly under the radar as a three-seed until they eliminate the Celtics in the semifinals and get everybody’s attention. Remember, the core group competed in the conference finals just a few years ago. Better coaching gets it done for them as they topple the Bucks in seven and reach their first NBA Finals since they were the St Louis Hawks in the 50’s (shoutout to Hall of Famer Bob Pettit). The Hawks turn into pumpkins when the clock strikes June.
Actual Finals Prediction: Suns over Bucks (4-2)
Yeah, this is chalky. I know. But the team with the superstars generally wins in a seven-game series. I predict that the Phoenix Suns, with Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and the newly acquired Bradley Beal, will be healthy come playoff time. New Phoenix Suns head coach Frank Vogel knows what it takes to win a championship, having won one with LeBron in LA. They roll through Giannis Antetokounmpo and new Buck Damian Lillard for Phoenix’s first-ever NBA championship. Durant gets a third ring. And global warming makes it very hot outside for the Arizona parade.
How do you think the NBA season will play out? Make your wild predictions in the comments below.
Photo Credit for featured cover image: Getty Images.
Follow me on Twitter (now called X) for NBA news and articles. Please also follow Belly Up Sports for the latest sports content.
1 Comment
Wow! I didn’t think about that but definitely believe now that the spurs could make the playoffs. Murray Will definitely be an all star this year. I don’t think LBJ plays 75 games. If they are able to keep his minutes under 30 then maybe he does, but I think he will end up having to go over from time to time. Making him play about 65 games. I think it will be the bucks and Denver in the finials. I believe Denver beats the Suns in the WCF and Milwaukee beats Boston in the ECF.