Masterlist. 27/30 rankers submitted. This is our 10th annual predictions thread. Predictions are fun to look at now and a great way to lock in the general sentiment about teams early in the season. I recommend mobile users to open in your mobile browser (safari, chrome, etc.) if you are having difficulty viewing in an app. We are still looking for a ranker for the Clippers, Pelicans, and Raptors. You can apply at the link here.
#WESTERN CONFERENCE STANDINGS
#EASTERN CONFERENCE STANDINGS
#STANDINGS SUMMARY
#Finals Champions
| Team | Count |
|---|---|
| MIL | 13 |
| DEN | 7 |
| BOS | 5 |
| LAL | 1 |
| NYK | 1 |
#Finals Match Ups
| Match Up | Count |
|---|---|
| DEN- MIL | 8 |
| DEN- BOS | 6 |
| PHX- MIL | 4 |
| PHX- BOS | 2 |
| GSW- BOS | 1 |
| DEN- PHI | 1 |
| LAL- MIL | 1 |
| LAL- BOS | 1 |
| MIN- MIL | 1 |
| DEN- NYK | 1 |
| GSW- MIL | 1 |
#Western Conference Finals Match Ups
| Match Up | Count |
|---|---|
| DEN- PHX | 12 |
| DEN- GSW | 4 |
| DEN- LAL | 4 |
| DEN- LAC | 1 |
| GSW- PHX | 1 |
| MEM- LAL | 1 |
| SAC- PHX | 1 |
| DEN- DAL | 1 |
| SAC- MIN | 1 |
| DEN- OKC | 1 |
#Eastern Conference Finals Match Ups
| Match Up | Count |
|---|---|
| BOS- MIL | 19 |
| MIL- MIA | 2 |
| MIL- CLE | 2 |
| BOS- CLE | 1 |
| PHI- CLE | 1 |
| MIL- NYK | 1 |
| NYK- BOS | 1 |
#Playoffs Summary
#AWARDS
#Most Valuable Player
| MVP | Votes |
|---|---|
| Nikola Jokić | 10 |
| Jayson Tatum | 5 |
| Luka Dončić | 5 |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | 4 |
| Anthony Davis | 2 |
| Jalen Brunson | 1 |
Defensive Player of the Year
| DPOY | Votes |
|---|---|
| Evan Mobley | 7 |
| Anthony Davis | 5 |
| Bam Adebayo | 4 |
| Jaren Jackson Jr. | 4 |
| Brook Lopez | 2 |
| Victor Wembanyama | 2 |
| Frank Ntilikina | 1 |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | 1 |
| Rudy Gobert | 1 |
Rookie of the Year
| ROY | Votes |
|---|---|
| Victor Wembanyama | 19 |
| Chet Holmgren | 6 |
| Scoot Henderson | 2 |
#6th Man of the Year
| 6MOY | Votes |
|---|---|
| Immanuel Quickley | 8 |
| Malik Monk | 4 |
| Chris Paul | 3 |
| Norman Powell | 2 |
| Al Horford | 1 |
| Bobby Portis | 1 |
| Caris LeVert | 1 |
| Derrick White | 1 |
| Jonathan Kuminga | 1 |
| Josh Hart | 1 |
| Jrue Holiday | 1 |
| Malcolm Brogdon | 1 |
| Naz Reid | 1 |
| Robert Williams | 1 |
Coach of the Year
| COY | Votes |
|---|---|
| Mark Daigneault | 9 |
| Michael Malone | 3 |
| Quin Snyder | 3 |
| Joe Mazzulla | 2 |
| Rick Carlisle | 2 |
| Adrian Griffin | 1 |
| Billy Donovan | 1 |
| Chris Finch | 1 |
| Frank Vogel | 1 |
| Jamahl Mosley | 1 |
| Mike Brown | 1 |
| Taylor Jenkins | 1 |
| Tom Thibodeau | 1 |
#Most Improved Player
| MIP | Votes |
|---|---|
| Jordan Poole | 4 |
| Tyrese Maxey | 3 |
| Alperen Şengün | 2 |
| Austin Reaves | 2 |
| Cade Cunningham | 2 |
| Jalen Suggs | 2 |
| Jonathan Kuminga | 2 |
| Josh Giddey | 2 |
| Mikal Bridges | 2 |
| Bruce Brown | 1 |
| Franz Wagner | 1 |
| Markelle Fultz | 1 |
| Payton Pritchard | 1 |
| RJ Barrett | 1 |
| Tyrese Haliburton | 1 |
#Most Surprising Team
| Most Surprising Team | Votes |
|---|---|
| ORL | 7 |
| MIN | 4 |
| OKC | 4 |
| BKN | 2 |
| NYK | 2 |
| DAL | 1 |
| HOU | 1 |
| IND | 1 |
| LAC | 1 |
| MEM | 1 |
| NOP | 1 |
| POR | 1 |
| SAC | 1 |
#Most Disappointing Team
| Most Disappointing Team | Votes |
|---|---|
| DAL | 8 |
| MIN | 3 |
| NOP | 3 |
| ATL | 2 |
| MEM | 2 |
| CLE | 1 |
| IND | 1 |
| LAC | 1 |
| MIA | 1 |
| NYK | 1 |
| PHI | 1 |
| SAC | 1 |
| UTA | 1 |
Frank Ntilikina getting a random DPOY vote from the Knicks voter is Charlotte’s only representation in the entire damn spreadsheet LOL. This team hurts me soul
My favorite player of all time. I’ll gladly take my licks here for boosting him every year. I’ve watched every single minute of film of his from Euroleague to World Cup to NBA and I think he’s got the highest defensive IQ of any player in the NBA right now
He is also hurt and will miss at least the first month of the season excluding him from reaching 65 games. Also please do not talk to Steve Clifford, he will look for any excuse to play an alright defender who is horrific offensively.
The tibia fracture news broke my heart. Been rooting for this kid since he was 16.
I’m completely ambivalent about the Hornets in general but will always root for a team that Franky Smokes plays for.
I even bumped into him once in the South of France while incredibly drunk at 3am. Interrupted his date like a moron to gas him up and he stood, dapped me up, and talked ball with me in both French and English for like 10 minutes. Will never forget that experience. Made a fan forever.
Frank Ntilikina DPOY season incoming! Book it!
Western Conference is wack this year.
Fast forward to two weeks from now when everyone claims that they were all over the Pelicans as obviously a contender.
And then four weeks after that not a single soul will claim they thought the Pels were contenders.
Pels were 1st seed last year 40% through the season last year. The bear case for the Pelicans solely relies on Zion and BI missing half the season again
For all the talk about the Clippers being a “hypothetical team”, y’all are pretty fucking close too.
I would just like to confirm that I am indeed a Golden State Warriors hater and they should have treated Jordan Poole better.
What a bunch of rankers.
Christ I must have done these when I was on the verge of passing out cause I do not remember my western conference rankings whatsoever.
Grizzlies could still be contenders, but losing Steven Adams take us out of the 1 seed race.
I’m surprised I’m the only ranker who had Giannis as DPOY. Dame taking over more of the scoring load should theoretically give Giannis more energy to expend on defense
I nearly voted Giannis but flipped to Bam instead. I think Giannis and Lopez might split votes so neither wins it, even if Milwaukee has one of the top defenses.
Doesn’t work that way because Jrue makes it easier for bucks to plsy drop n Giannis to only play help where he’s best n most impactful .also helps team defense ratibg due to Giannis negative spacing teams have been more important to have shooters so atm I’m not sure they’ll be a particularly good to great defence unless Giannis upgrades to AD on defence , but he isn’t that lvl to me. Bucks will need a lot of him eith Dame dying on screens b Brook being older getting cooked on drop . Worse team defence = worse dpoy . Marc gasol dpoy over Bron cos Tony Allen and better defensive team
As a diehard Nuggs fan, I will say we “underperform” and get the 3 seed, all while being bashed and ignored along the way by the media and fans (“what’s wrong with the Nuggets?!” Etc etc)
Then playoffs start and we go back to back.
Our playoff run won’t be nearly as easy and we will have multiple 6 or 7 game series and nail-biters, but we win our 2nd championship
Nuggs/Bucks Finals
I’m buying land cheap on Sengun island if anyone wants to get in early
SGA and Embiid not being on the MVP list is wild.
Surprised no one voted for a Heat Celtics ECF. Dread it, run from it, that’s probably what we’ll get.
Whoever put Philly first is a fucking homer
Well bad read because I put them 4th.
MIN being tied second for most surprising and most disappointing is very Minnesota sports
Memphis to high, Miami too low