NBA 2016 Projections

I’m not going to pretend I’m a basketball expert. However, I can repeatedly yell a single factoid and claim it to be an argument, so step aside Stephen A. Smith. Here’s just a few storylines from first week-odd of the season, and my predictions.

Big addition Kevin Durant has not yet skyrocketed the Golden State Warriors to the 80-2 season their fantasy-draft lineup might suggest. However, that result is technically still within the realm of possibility (currently 5-2).

The team he left, the Oklahoma City Thunder, have not missed him, having beaten Golden State already, and are currently leading the Western Conference.
No team is without a tick in the loss column, but the Charlotte Hornets, Los Angeles Clippers, Cleveland Cavaliers and previously-mentioned Thunder are close.
Following a ten-win season in 2015-16, the Philadelphia 76er’s are 0-7 thus far, and approaching their record—set last year—of 18 consecutive losses to begin a season.
Kristaps Porzingis has been a bright spot for the New York Knicks; but like many young players, or people in general, he cannot do it all on his own right away. The development of that team will depend upon his growth.

The abundance of talent within the Western Conference right now makes it difficult to decide on a likely winner. This opens the door for a surprise playoff team, the Utah Jazz, to come along and screw with expectations. Their consistency and relative anonymity make them a great underdog.
Meanwhile in the East, Cleveland continues to be the team to beat. Their main competition will be the “Greek Freak,” Giannis Antetokounmpo, and the Milwaukee Bucks. I am telling you, this is their year.

Stephen Curry, who recently missed all his three-point attempts in a game for the first time since 2014, will three-peat as MVP. However, he will get the award because Golden State is not able to make the playoffs after he is injured (ankles) and cannot play. Truly the most valuable indeed.

Milwaukee and Cleveland will face off in the East, while OKC and the Jazz meet from the West. After an offensive shootout, the Thunder beat Cleveland in the Finals. Russell Westbrook’s horrible fashion sense is mentioned on ESPN only 21 times throughout the six games.