With a new year starting, I thought a good way to get back into the writing game was to take a quick look back at how my 2024-24 NBA predictions are going so far. Since the Toronto Raptors are pretty awful to cheer for right now, I am glad there are so many exciting and surprising NBA storylines going on.
So let’s get into it and see how good or bad I am doing.
Pre Season Eastern Conference rankings (regular season)
(current standings as of Jan 5th, 2025)
- Boston Celtics (2nd)
- New York Knicks (3rd)
- Indiana Pacers (8th)
- Cleveland Cavaliers (1st)
- Philadelphia 76ers (11th)
- Orlando Magic (4th)
- Milwaukee Bucks (5th)
- Miami Heat (6th)
- Atlanta Hawks (7th)
- Toronto Raptors (13th)
- Chicago Bulls (10th)
- Detroit Pistons (9th)
- Brooklyn Nets (12th)
- Charlotte Hornets (14th)
- Washington Wizards (15th)
I have two right. I guess I am good at picking who will be the worst teams. Other surprises to me – Cleveland being unstoppable, Indiana regressing and I did not think Toronto would be that bad.
Pre Season Western Conference rankings (regular season)
(current standings as of Jan 5th, 2025)
- Oklahoma City Thunder (1st)
- Memphis Grizzlies (3rd)
- Denver Nuggets (4th)
- Dallas Mavericks (7th)
- Minnesota Timberwolves (10th)
- Sacramento Kings (11th)
- Houston Rockets (2nd)
- Phoenix Suns (12th)
- Golden State Warriors (9th)
- Los Angeles Lakers (5th)
- New Orleans Pelicans (15th)
- San Antonio Spurs (8th)
- Utah Jazz (14th)
- Los Angeles Clippers (6th)
- Portland Trail Blazers (13th)
I got one right and to be honest, everyone picked OKC to be first. The LA teams doing so well is a huge surprise to me. Houston being this good so fast is not that surprising. New Orleans, Minnesota and Sacramento are a mess.
NBA champions
Boston Celtics (still a great bet)
MVP award winner
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (he would be my pick right now)
Rookie of the Year
Rob Dillingham (nope)
Defensive Player of the Year
Victor Wembanyama (no brainer)
Sixth Man of the Year
whoever is 6th man on Knicks (nope. Their starting 5 is legit though)
Most Improved Player
Donte DiVincenzo (not right now)
Coach of the Year
Tom Thibodeau (great year so far, but he won’t beat Kenny Atkinson)
NBA Finals MVP
Jalen Brown (we shall see)
Conference champions (East/West)
Boston Celtics / Oklahoma City Thunder (seems like a great pick)
Number of wins for the best team
59 (I think OKC and Cleveland will go 60+)
Number of wins for the worst team
18 (In play as I don’t see the Pels or Wiz reaching 20)
Scoring champion (most points per game)
Luka Doncic (injuries will be his demise. Giannis looks like he will take this one)
Assist leader (most assists per game)
Trae Young (called it)
Rebound leader (most rebounds per game)
Domantas Sabonis (sitting in second place)
Block leader (most blocks per game)
Victor Wembanyama (super easy pick and he will win)
Steals leader (most steals per game)
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA is third but it will be hard to catch Dyson Daniels)
Team with the best home record
Oklahoma City (in play)
Team with the best road record
Boston Celtics (in play)
First team to win 50 games
Oklahoma City (in play)
First team to lose 50 games
Portland Trail Blazers (maybe but I would guess New Orleans or Washington)
Most 3-pointers made by a player in a season
Steph Curry (not going to happen. Curry is 8th, 20 behind Anthony Edwards)
Player with the highest 3-point percentage
Luke Kennard (Kennard is 6th, 4% behind leader Nikola Jokic)
Team that will make the biggest improvement from last season
Memphis Grizzlies (very much in play)
First coach to be fired
Willie Green (nope, it was Mike Brown in Sacramento)
First player to get a triple-double
Nikola Jokic (correct)
Team with the most All-Star selections
Boston Celtics (I think it will be Cleveland)
Team that will win the NBA draft lottery
Charlotte Hornets (I hope not)
All-Star Game MVP
Steph Curry (In play)
Best offseason acquisition
Mikal Bridges (I don’t think so although he is getting better. Right now it might be KAT)
Well there you have it, I’m not doing that bad right?
