Tag: NBA

My NBA Predictions for the 2018/2019 NBA Season

Posted on by georgefattell

The NBA season has been under way for almost a week and I am clearly late posting my predictions at this time, but I can honestly say that the early games have not influenced any of the following predictions.

Eastern Conference Champions: Boston Celtics 

Western Conference Champions: Golden State Warriors

You could say that that Celtics and Warriors were the obvious choices to win their respective conferences, but I did not find it easy to pick either team. I think there will be strong competition in both Conferences and I won’t be shocked at all if either team is denied a trip to the Finals this season.

In the East I think Toronto, Milwaukee and Philadelphia will pose real threats.

In the West I think Houston and Utah will be dangerous rivals to the defending Champions.

Most Valuable Player: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks

MVP was another very difficult choice. There are probably at least half a dozen players that have a legit shot, including Lebron, Durant, Anthony Davis, James Harden, as well as young guns Ben Simmons and Jayson Tatum.

Rookie of the Year: Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks

Coach of the Year: Brad Stevens, Boston Celtics

NBA Champions: Golden State Warriors

I really can’t say that I want the Warriors to win another championship, but with their current roster it is very difficult to pick very difficult to pick against them.

 

 

 

Podcast Listening: 03-12-17 to 03-19-17

Posted on by georgefattell

In a few prior posts on this blog I have written brief reviews for Podcasts that I listen to regularly and enjoy. I haven’t published a Podcast related post recently, but remain a avid fan of podcasts. I now listen to more podcasts now than I ever have have previously. Going forward I am going recommend specific podcasts from my favorite podcast hosts that I have enjoyed and found informativerather than just write a general post about a particular podcast.

Here are two Podcasts from last week that I enjoyed:

March 13, 2017:  The Joe Rogan Experience #930 – Guest: Will MacAskill

March 17, 2017: The Bill Simmons Podcast, Ep 189 – Guest: Steve Ballmer

 

 

 

 

 

Predictions for 2014-2015 NBA Season

Posted on by georgefattell

The NBA has already started and I need to get my predictions in before I’m influenced by the first few games of the season. This year I’m just going to make predictions for the conference champions, NBA Finals, MVP and Coach of the Year. I can’t remember a year when I had a harder time making NBA predictions. I really don’t think there is too much separating the top 8 to 10 teams in the league and I also think that there are at least 5 or 6 truly exceptional players that are poised to have great seasons and that will be in the hunt for the MVP award.

Eastern Conference Champion: Chicago Bulls

Picking the Eastern Conference Champ was not quite as difficult as the picking the Western Conference Champ, but it was still hard because the top two teams are very close imo. I picked the Bulls to win the East, but I think the Cleveland Cav’s are potentially the better team, but that they may lose more games during the regular season because it may take a little longer to fully integrate a team that has many new players and a new coach, but once they fully adjust to playing together, look out! I think the Bulls and the Cav’s will be on a collision course when the playoffs arrive.

Western Conference Champion: San Antonio Spurs

There are probably at least 4 or 5 teams capable of winning the West and I would certainly include San Antonio, the LA Clippers, the Golden State Warriors and Dallas Mavericks in that group. I would have also included the OKC Thunder had they not recently lost MVP Kevin Durant and All-Star G Russell Westbrook to injury for an extended period. The temporary loss of those two players will prevent the Thunder for challenging for the best regular season record in the West, but if they both come back healthy that team will again be very dangerous in the playoffs.

NBA Finals: Chicago Bulls vs Los Angeles Clippers

Why did I pick the LA Clippers to make to the Finals over the Spurs and the other strong teams in the West? I think the Clippers added several valuable pieces in the offseason

NBA Champion: LA Clippers

What? The Clippers as Champs!?! Hey, believe it, it could finally happen.

MVP: Blake Griffin

Blake Griffin emerged as a legitimate MVP candidate last season, although I would agree that he was significantly behind Durant and James. I don’t think that will be the case this season.

Coach of the Year: Doc Rivers