Preseason Predictions: 2024-25 NBA Season

Daniel Waddleton

Oct 21, 2024

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East

1. Boston Celtics

2. New York Knicks

3. Milwaukee Bucks

4. Miami Heat

5. Indiana Pacers

6. Orlando Magic

7. Philadelphia 76ers

8. Cleveland Cavaliers

9. Atlanta Hawks

10. Toronto Raptors

11. Charlotte Hornets

12. Chicago Bulls

13. Detroit Pistons

14. Brooklyn Nets

15. Washington Wizards

ECF: Celtics vs Bucks

Finals: Celtics

Dark Horse Finals Run: Heat

West 

1. Oklahoma City Thunder

2. Denver Nuggets

3. Memphis Grizzlies

4. Minnesota Timberwolves

5. Phoenix Suns

6. Dallas Mavericks

7. Los Angeles Lakers

8. Golden State Warriors

9. Houston Rockets

10. Sacramento Kings

11. New Orleans Pelicans

12. Los Angeles Clippers

13. Utah Jazz

14. San Antonio Spurs

15. Portland Trailblazers

WCF: Thunder vs Nuggets

Finals: Thunder

Dark Horse Finals Run: Lakers

MVP: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

ROTY: Zach Edey

DPOY: Victor Wembanyama

6th Man: Malik Monk

MIP: Jalen Johnson

COTY: Taylor Jenkins

FMVP: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Finals Pick: Oklahoma City (4) Boston Celtics (3)

. . .

Predictions Meter

Icy – Victor Wembanyama will win the Defensive Player of the Year award.

Cool – The Los Angeles Clippers will miss the playoffs this season, leading them to forfeit their pick to Oklahoma City.

Lukewarm – The Atlanta Hawks will be a sneaky fun team this year, and they might even make the playoffs through the play-in tournament.

Mild – Oklahoma City and Denver will finish first and second, respectively, in the Western Conference.

Warm – The Memphis Grizzlies are back, and Taylor Jenkins will win Coach of the Year.

Heated – The Miami Heat will return to being a serious threat in the Eastern Conference again, and will comfortably make the playoffs without needing the Play-In.

Hot – Anthony Davis, as I argued in my top 100 list, is a top-six player in the NBA, and he will cement that status this season.

Sizzling – The only team that can beat Milwaukee in a fully healthy playoff series is Boston.

Blazing – The New Orleans Pelicans won’t find a suitor for Brandon Ingram this season, and his poor fit on the team along with the stunting of Trey Murphy’s growth will prove costly in a stacked West. Combined that with having no center, and the Pelicans will miss even the play-in.

Scorching – The 76ers will land in the Play-In due to poor availability from their stars. In the postseason, the same red flags of an aging star Paul George showed in last year’s playoff series against Dallas will worsen, leading to a first-round exit.

Inferno – Ben Simmons is back.