Via Sports Gambling Podcast
Real basketball fans know the season doesn't really start until Christmas and doesn't really really start until around All-Star Weekend. But that's beside the fact.
Basketball is back!
With the season tipping off this week, every player thinks they're in the best shape of their lives and every team thinks they have a chance to make some noise. As the title so eloquently stated, this article will predict the players and teams whose accolades will actually match their confidence.
Eastern Conference Playoff Teams
1.) Boston Celtics 63-19
2.) Toronto Raptors 60-22
3.) Philadelphia 76ers 58-24
4.) Miami Heat 55-27 (Assuming Jimmy Butler trade happens)
5.) Washington Wizards 52-30
6.) Milwaukee Bucks 50-32
7.) Indiana Pacers 50-32
8.) Detroit Pistons 44-38
Western Conference Playoff Teams
1.) Houston Rockets 67-15
2.) Golden State Warriors 65-17
3.) Oklahoma City Thunder 59-23
4.) San Antonio Spurs 52-30
5.) Denver Nuggets 50-32
6.) New Orleans Pelicans 49-33
7.) Los Angeles Lakers 48-34
8.) Utah Jazz 48-34
Rookie of The Year
Via NBA
Winner: DeAndre Ayton
Thanks to "first"-year stars, like Ben Simmons, Donovan Mitchell, and Jayson Tatum, leading playoff teams, last year's Rookie of the Year race was the best in recent memory. The 2018-2019 rookie class probably won't be playoff contributors, but the group has just as much star power as last year's bunch.
The greatest player in European basketball history, a Steph Curry look-a-like, a hit song, and a mythical creature walk into a bar. Who walks out with the Rookie of the Year?
The mythical creature.
While, DeAndre Ayton's main competition for the award, Luka Doncic and Trae Young will carry a large load of their respective team's offense, both of the young guards struggled with turnovers and efficiency at their past levels, suggesting the transition to a higher level of play won't be a smooth one. Ayton, on the other hand, will be a focal point of his team's system while being able to hide behind his superstar running mate Devin Booker when his offensive game is struggling.
Other Notable Names to Watch: Luka Doncic, Trae Young, Marvin Bagley III
Dark Horse Names to Watch: Kevin Knox, Mo Bamba, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Coach of The Year
Via Getty Images
Winner: Mike Malone
The NBA's Coach of the Year is a tricky award. For the last five years its been reserved for the coach of either the Eastern or Western Conference's best team. This way seems lazy, as the best teams tend to have the best players that would succeed regardless of coaching. However, every now and then the award goes to the most deserving hands -- a coach that leads his team to new heights.
After just missing out on the playoffs the last few years, the Denver Nuggets are primed to reach new heights. A 50-win season and a playoff berth will lead Denver's personnel to collect a few accolades this season.
Other Notable Names to Watch: Gregg Popovich, Mike Budenholzer, Brad Stevens
Dark Horse Names to Watch: Nick Nurse, Alvin Gentry, Luke Walton, Billy Donovan
Sixth Man of the Year
Via Sports Illustrated
Winner: Kyle Kuzma
Four of the last 10, NBA Sixth Man of the Year award winners played in Los Angeles. Four of the last 10, NBA Sixth Man of the Year award winners were named Lou Williams or Jamal Crawford.
These facts come as no surprise, as the Sixth Man of the Year is a hard award to keep up with. NBA teams switch up their first man off the bench sporadically, so there are only a few consistent players to pick from; and, of those consistent players, only a few (i.e. Jamal Crawford and Lou Williams) have the clout to be known league-wide. This leads the award to generally to go to the sixth man of one of the most televised teams. Thanks to the arrival of LeBron James, the Lakers lead the league with 43 nationally televised games, making Kyle Kuzma prime candidate for the 2018-2019 Sixth Man of the Year award.
Other Notable Names to Watch: Lou Williams, Carmelo Anthony, Eric Gordon
Dark Horse Names to Watch: Julius Randle, Bobby Portis Jr., Dennis Schroder
Most Improved Player Award
Via Getty
Winner: Nikola Mirotic
The NBA's Most Improved Player award is usually reserved for the player that makes the jump from role player to star. The most recent winners have included: Victor Oladipo, Giannis Antetokounmpo, C.J. McCollum, and Jimmy Butler.
However, every-now-and-then a Ryan Anderson or Goran Dragic manages to snatch the award. New Orleans Pelicans forward Nikola Mirotic will play that role this season. Filling in as the big man partner of Anthony Davis, the stretch-four will have ample opportunity to make use of double teams on Davis and will have the green light to let it fly in Alvin Gentry's fast-paced offense.
Mirotic has been doing just that in the Pelicans' first two games, averaging 33 points an outing.
Other Notable Names to Watch: Jamal Murray, Brandon Ingram, Aaron Gordon
Dark Horse Names to Watch: Myles Turner, D'Angelo Russell, Otto Porter Jr.
Defensive Player of the Year
Via Zimbio
Winner: Giannis Antetokounmpo/Anthony Davis
This one was honestly a toss-up, so rather than making the tough decision of choosing one, I'll do the Old El Paso thing and list both.
Davis finished last season second in Defensive Player of the Year votings, while many felt Giannis Antetounmpo and his 10 rebounds, 1.5 steals, and 1.5 blocks were snubbed from an All-Defensive Team selection. However, one of the two winning this year's award has nothing to do with last year's shortcomings; instead, this year's award will serve as a conciliation for neither receiving the most coveted of individual awards.
Other Notable Names to Watch: Rudy Gobert, Andre Roberson, Joel Embiid, Draymond Green
Dark Horse Names to Watch: Victor Oladipo, Andre Drummond, Al Horford
Most Valuable Player
Via Footwear News
Winner: LeBron James
One can argue that excluding Stephen Curry's unanimous 2015-2016 MVP, LeBron James should have won every MVP award dating back to his first in the 2008-2009 season. But that wasn't the case; instead of the best player on the world displaying 10 MVP trophies on his mantle, he and his house guests have to settle for looking at just four.
This is because the MVP isn't based off the league's best player or even the league's best individual season, instead the award is gifted to the player with the best storyline. LeBron James has fell victim to this emotional voting year-after-year as storylines like a 22-year-old blur named Derrick Rose and last year's tale of perseverance from James Harden strip from his Hall of Fame of legacy.
Coming into this season at 33-years-old and leading the resurrection of the Los Angeles Lakers, the storyline is finally in LeBron James favor. With the oldest MVP award winners being 35-years-old and LeBron turning 34 in a few months, the media is less likely to take his accomplishments for granted as he enters the last years of his prime. Young stars like the aforementioned Giannis Antetokounmpo and Anthony Davis will play the role of the deserving recipient going home empty-handed, but the two will have the next decade to compete for the award. This year is for LeBron.
Other Notable Names to Watch: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Anthony Davis, Kawhi Leonard
Dark Horse Names to Watch: Stephen Curry, John Wall, Joel Embiid
That concludes this year's '31in30'. Enjoy the basketball season!
Want a preview of your favorite team's season? They're all right here. Just go to the 'tags' section and look for your teams name.