Predictions for the 2022-23 NBA Season
The NBA season is less than a week away and the hype is building up to be one of the most exciting seasons. After an exciting offseason with big trades and drama, the NBA has finally returned. I will do predictions on who will win the finals and individual awards.
2023 NBA Champions: Golden State Warriors
The Warriors will win the championship again this season. Curry had a chip on his shoulder last year and this year it will be Klay Thompson. After missing two seasons Thompson came back but he wasn’t the exact person he was before his injuries. With a full offseason with no rehab expect Thompson to come out with fire. Oh yeah no Thompson is on the Top 75 lists best believe he still remembers that. Jordan Poole will be a candidate for the sixth man of the year. Averaging 18.5 mostly off the bench last season Poole is looking to replicate that and do more this season. They also get James Wiseman back who is poised to have a full season with no injuries. An agile big man in the middle who can face up and put his back to the basket will be scary for all other teams in the league.
MVP: Kevin Durant
Before his injury last season he was on track to win MVP and run away with it too. 29.9 points, 7.4 rebounds and 6.4 assists per game is what Durant averaged last season. During a crazy drama-filled season Durant was having one of his best seasons. If Durant can lead the Nets past what happened last season the MVP award will go home with him.
Rookie of the Year: Paolo Banchero
This one was tough to choose. Jaden Ivey, Jabari Smith, and Keegan Murray are others who can win this award but I believe Banchero will take it. Banchero is coming in NBA-ready in terms of athleticism and strength. He will be the Magic’s best offensive player, expect the team to play through him. Not many expectations coming from Orlando other than seeing Banchero take over and establish himself as the future.
Sixth Man of the Year: Christian Wood
Last season Wood had a great season starting for the Houston Rockets. Averaging 17.9 points, 10.1 rebounds, and a block per game, Wood looks to bring that to Dallas this season. Coming off the bench doing this will almost certainly put him up for the sixth man of the year. He will dominate other big men coming off the bench. A lob threat, a rebounder, and a scorer inside and out Luka Doncic will have a field day with Wood down low.
Most Improved: Anthony Edwards
One of my favorite players to watch who will be an MVP one day. Last season he averaged 21.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.5 steals per game. His ability to score and use his athleticism is what makes him so good. Expect the numbers to go up and every category. With the addition of Rudy Gobert, he will be required to do more.
Defensive Player of the Year: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Almost every year Giannis has been in the race for defensive player of the year. His length and quickness are what allow him to be so good on that end. He can guard all five positions on the court and guard guys bigger than him. If he can come close to what he did last season averaging 1.4 blocks and 1.1 steals per game he will be in the conversation. Also, look at who he guards in the clutch when his team needs a stop that should come into play when talking about a defensive player of the year.
Coach of the Year: J.B. Bickerstaff
Bickerstaff is coaching one of the teams no one should be sleeping on. He already had Evan Mobley, Darius Garland, and Jarred Allen. Now he has Donovan Mitchell in the backcourt with Garland. Two guards that can score at will and big men down low that can rebound and block shots on the defensive end. The team bought in on the defensive end and that is what got them so close to the playoffs last season. As long as he can get Mitchell in on the offensive end this might be one of the best teams in the east.
The team that surprised me the most this offseason was the Timberwolves. Going all in on Gobert is still head-scratching. Why go all in on someone who is very limited on the offensive end? Not many posts moves if any, and he can’t shoot either. Yes, he is a former defensive player of the year but will the twin tower move really pay off for them? Gobert is a great rim protector but if you put him in a pick-and-roll he gets lost in nomads’ land. This is one of those I won’t believe it till I see it type of trades. Gobert is for sure not the answer to all the Timberwolves’ problems so to go all in the way they did will be questioned the whole season.
