the pause of NBA All-Star has ended and there are less than two months left before the 2022-2023 season concludes. With this in mind it is time to try to make some predictionswhich includes the individual award candidates, the teams that will be in the Playoffs and who will win the ring.
Here are the predictions for the last part of the NBA season.
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NBA predictions for the remainder of the season
MVP: Nikola Jokic, Nuggets
There is no doubt that this is an award that has the name of Nikola Jokic on it. The Denver Nuggets are on pace to take first place in the West, and are arguably playing better than they have in their first two awards.
Jokic leads pretty much every advanced stat: EPM, RAPTOR, DARKO, and LEBRON to name a few. His traditional stats are also amazing. He is shooting 63.2% from the field, 39.1% on 3-pointers and 82.2% on free throws. Those are unheard of numbers and the Serb could become the first member of the 60/40/80 club.
Oh, and all that while averaging a triple-double with 24.7 points, 11.5 rebounds and 10.1 assists.
If nothing changes between now and the end of the year, he will most likely win his third consecutive MVP award.
Rookie of the Year: Paolo Banchero, Magic
Banchero was one of the favorites at the start of this course and is meeting all expectations. His 19.9 points per game serve to lead among rookies, while with 6.6 rebounds he ranks fourth and with 3.6 assists third place.
Banchero’s shooting percentages aren’t that good. A recent drop from beyond the arc has left him with 28.1% shooting from 3-pointers. Something that is explained from the great burden of responsibility that falls on him when it comes to creating a game in Orlando.
He is capable of creating his own shot and improving those who accompany him on the court, something that will lead him to get the Rookie of the Year.
Defensive Player of the Year: Jaren Jackson Jr., Grizzlies
Jackson’s rim protection numbers are out of this world. According to Crafted NBA, opponents are shooting 14.8% at the basket against him, ranking in the 99th percentile among insiders.
If you need block data when evaluating someone defensively, the Grizzlies player is also one of the best. With 3.3 tapas per night, he is ahead of the second, Nic Claxton, who “only” averages 2.6.
The two areas where Jackson may struggle in this career are playing time (he’s already missed 17 games) and his high volume of fouls. But when he’s been on the court, he’s been without a doubt the best defender for the third-best defense in the NBA.
Sixth Man of the Year: Malcolm Brogdon, Celtics
Brogdon has gone from starting every game in his previous four seasons to none with the Celtics. The point guard has been invaluable as a sixth man for the Greens, allowing him to stay healthy and injury-free.
The veteran has solid season averages of 14.7 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists per night. All this while he shoots a ridiculous 45.5% on three-pointers and brings a great level on defense.
He’s been exactly what the Celtics needed: a point guard who can give them what they lacked on their way to the ring in 2022. Boston wouldn’t be in first place in the East without Brogdon’s contributions.
Coach of the Year: Joe Mazzulla, Celtics
Mazzulla found himself in a challenging situation with very little time to prepare after the unexpected departure of Ime Udoka. And the rookie has lived up to it by keeping the Celtics at the top of the league.
Mazzulla’s quirky leadership style has made Boston a favorite this season.
Playoff teams in the Eastern Conference
- Boston Celtics
- Milwaukee Bucks
- Cleveland Cavaliers
- Philadelphia 76ers
- Miami Heat
- New York Knicks
- Brooklyn Nets*
- Toronto Raptors*
- Atlanta Hawks*
- Washington Wizards*
* Play-In
After Antetokounmpo’s minor wrist injury, the Celtics they should be able to hold first place in the East for the rest of the term.
The Cavs are having to deal with a fairly easy schedule, while the Sixers have the toughest in the NBA. Hence, Cleveland can finish in third position.
Miami Heat should get a boost by adding Kevin Love, thus avoiding the Play-In, just like the Knicks with Josh Hart. Already in the Play-In I would highlight the rise of the Raptors.
On the other hand, it is to be expected that the Nets are going to sink after losing Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, they have some cushion compared to the rest.
As for the last places in the Play-In, there will not be much movement. The Bulls are in free fall and have not moved in the deadline. The Pacers have also been down for some time and the Hawks and Wizards will enter by inertia.
Playoff teams in the Western Conference
- Denver Nuggets
- Memphis Grizzlies
- Los Angeles Clippers
- Sacramento Kings
- Phoenix Suns
- Dallas Mavericks
- Golden State Warriors*
- New Orleans Pelicans*
- Oklahoma City Thunder*
- Los Angeles Lakers*
* Play-In Tournament
Something very serious has to happen so that the Nuggets do not end up leading the Western Conference, just like the Grizzlies in second place.
The third through 12th spots in the West are much more open. A bad week could see a team fall from that fourth place all the way to the Play-In. The Mavs and Suns are the obvious candidates for promotion. after moving in deadline.
Meanwhile, the Kings have continued to climb, accumulating a good lead. Among those four teams the noble zone of the West should be divided.
The Warriors and Pelicans haven’t been able to avoid the injury factor. Stephen Curry is expected to return soon and Zion Williamson, as well. Both teams will be in the battle for the Play-In.
Meanwhile, the OKC Thunder and the Lakers will share the last two places in the Play-In after good season closures.
Eastern Conference Champion: Celtics
The Celtics were the best team in the East last season and they’ve gotten even better this year. Jayson Tatum is playing at MVP level, Jaylen Brown has taken another leap forward, and they’ve upgraded their bench with Brogdon and Muscala.
They are a terror on both ends of the field, ranking third in offensive efficiency and fourth in defense. They are the only team to place in the top five in both categories.
Sixers and Cavs are the other two teams in the top 10, who will be their big rivals. The Celtics have done well against Philly this season, while Cleveland has won both of their games.
The Bucks are always a looming threat, but their offense hasn’t kept up with the absence of Khris Middleton for much of the year. The addition of Jae Crowder could give Milwaukee a boost, but it’s hard to bet against the reigning Eastern Conference champions.
Western Conference Champion: Clippers
The West is much more open than the East. The Suns, Nuggets and Clippers lead the pack of contenders, but it would be surprising if the Warriors or Grizzlies managed to make a splash.
Denver has been a dominant team, but they have weaknesses that could be exploited in the playoffs. They don’t have great defensive versatility with Jokic as an inside player and that can hurt them in certain matchups.
The Suns have obviously added a ton of talent, but they’ve struggled to be consistent on both sides. Something similar to the Clippers, who have been one of the most difficult teams to evaluate due to constant absences and changes.
Ultimately, the safe bet would be the Clippers. They haven’t had a great Regular Season, but they have strengthened a lot of their weaknesses in the deadline. Hyland and Gordon give them more creation and points, and Plumlee gives them much-needed size when Ivica Zubac needs to rest.
NBA Champion: Celtics
The Celtics have been the best NBA team for a while. They should have home field advantage in any Finals matchup and have the experience of getting to that point after what happened in 2022.
Tatum has shown that he is a star, capable of scoring in any context and being a leader.
However, this is much more than a one-man ensemble. The Greens can easily grow to an eight-man rotation and have already shown they can reach another level in the playoffs.
The opinions expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of the NBA or its organizations.
