his pause NBA All-Star is over and there are less than two months left in the 2022-2023 season. With that in mind, it’s time to try making some predictionswhich includes the individual award nominations, the teams that will be in the Playoffs and who will win the ring.
Here are the predictions for the final part of the NBA season.
subscribe to NBA League Pass to see all games: United States | The rest of the world
NBA predictions for the rest of the season
MVP: Nikola Jokic, Nuggets
There is no doubt that this is an award named after Nikola Jokic. The Denver Nuggets are on pace to take first place in the West and are arguably playing better than in their first two wins.
Jokic leads in almost every advanced stat: EPM, RAPTOR, DARKO and LEBRON to name a few. His traditional stats are also amazing. He is shooting 63.2% from the field, 39.1% on threes and 82.2% on free throws. These are unheard of numbers and the Serb could become the first member of the 60/40/80 club.
Oh, and all while averaging a triple-double with 24.7 points, 11.5 rebounds and 10.1 assists.
If nothing changes between now and the end of the year, he will likely win his third straight MVP award.
Rookie of the Year: Paolo Banchero, Magic
Banchero was one of the favorites at the start of this course and lives up to all expectations. His 19.9 points per game are tied for the lead among rookies, while his 6.6 rebounds rank fourth and third with 3.6 assists.
Banchero’s shooting percentages aren’t that good. A recent slump from beyond the arc has left him shooting 28.1 percent from three. Which is explained by the heavy weight of responsibility that falls on him when it comes to making a game in Orlando.
He’s capable of creating his own shot and improving those around him on the court, which should lead to him winning Rookie of the Year.
Defensive Player of the Year: Jaren Jackson Jr., Grizzlies
Jackson’s rim protection numbers are out of this world. According to Crafted NBA, opponents are shooting 14.8% at the basket against him, ranking in the 99th percentile among insiders.
If you need block data when evaluating someone defensively, the Grizzlies player is also one of the best. With 3.3 tapas a night, he is ahead of the runner-up, Nic Claxton, who averages “only” 2.6.
The two areas where Jackson may struggle in this career are playing time (he’s already missed 17 games) and his high volume of fouls. But when he’s on the floor, he’s arguably the best defender for the third-best defense in the NBA.
Sixth Man of the Year: Malcolm Brogdon, Celtics
Brogdon has gone from starting every game in the previous four seasons to none with the Celtics. The point guard has been invaluable as a sixth man for the Greens, allowing him to stay healthy and injury-free.
The veteran has solid season averages of 14.7 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists per night. All this while shooting a ridiculous 45.5% on 3-pointers and providing an excellent level of defense.
He was exactly what the Celtics needed: a point guard who can give them what they’ve been missing on their way to a ring in 2022. Boston wouldn’t be in first place in the East without Brogdon’s contributions.
Coach of the Year: Joe Majula, Celtics
Mazzulla found themselves in a difficult situation with very little time to prepare after the unexpected departure of Ime Udoka. And the rookie responded by keeping the Celtics on top of the league.
Mazzulla’s quirky leadership style has made Boston a favorite this season.
Eastern Conference Playoff Teams
- Boston Celtics
- Milwaukee Bucks
- Cleveland Cavaliers
- Philadelphia 76ers
- Miami Heat
- New York Knicks
- Brooklyn Nets*
- Toronto Raptors*
- Atlanta Hawks*
- Washington Wizards*
* Play-In
After Antetokounmpo’s slight wrist injury, Celtics they should be able to hold first place in the East for the rest of the term.
The Cavs face a fairly easy schedule, while the Sixers have the toughest in the NBA. Therefore, Cleveland can finish in third place.
Miami Heat should get a boost by adding Kevin Love, thus avoiding the Play-In, just like the Knicks with Josh Hart. Already in play-in I would single out the rise of the Raptors.
On the other hand, it is expected that the Nets will sink after losing Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, they have some cushion compared to the rest.
As for the last places in the Play-In, there will not be much movement. The Bulls are in freefall and have not moved to deadline. The Pacers have also been out for some time, and the Hawks and Wizards will be inactive.
Playoff teams in the Western Conference
- Denver Nuggets
- Memphis Grizzlies
- Los Angeles Clippers
- Sacramento Kings
- Phoenix Sans
- Dallas Mavericks
- Golden State Warriors*
- New Orleans Pelicans*
- Oklahoma City Thunder*
- Los Angeles Lakers*
* Play-In Tournaments
Something very serious has to happen for the Nuggets to not end up leading the Western Conference, just like the Grizzlies in second place.
Third through 12th in the West are much more open. A bad week could see a team drop from fourth place all the way to the Play-Ins. The Mavs and Suns are the obvious candidates for promotion. after the move deadline.
Meanwhile, the Kings continued to climb, building up a nice lead. Between these four groups should be divided the noble zone of the West.
The Warriors and Pelicans haven’t been able to avoid the injury factor. Stephen Curry is expected to return soon and so is Zion Williamson. Both teams will be in contention for the Play-In.
Meanwhile, the OKC Thunder and Lakers will share the last two spots in the Play-In after a strong close to the season.
Eastern Conference Champion: Celtics
The Celtics were the best team in the East last season and have gotten even better this year. Jayson Tatum is playing at an MVP level, Jaylen Brown has taken another leap forward, and they’ve upgraded their bench with Brogdon and Muscala.
They are a terror at both ends of the pitch, ranking third in offensive efficiency and fourth in defence. They are the only team in the top five in both categories.
The Sixers and Cavs are the other two teams in the top 10, who will be their biggest rivals. The Celtics have done well against Philly this season, while Cleveland has won both of their games.
The Bucks are always a looming threat, but their offense hasn’t kept pace with the absence of Khris Middleton for much of the year. The addition of Jae Crowder could give Milwaukee a boost, but it’s hard to bet against the Eastern Conference champions.
Western Conference Champion: Clippers
The West is much more open than the East. The Suns, Nuggets and Clippers lead the pack of contenders, but it would be surprising if the Warriors or Grizzlies were able to make a splash.
Denver has been a dominant team, but has weaknesses that could be exploited in the playoffs. They don’t have much defensive flexibility with Jokic as an inside player and that can hurt them in some matchups.
The Suns have obviously added a ton of talent, but have struggled to be consistent on both ends. Something similar to the Clippers, who were among the most difficult teams to evaluate due to constant absences and changes.
Ultimately, the safe bet would be the Clippers. They didn’t have a great regular season, but they have strengthened many of their weaknesses in the deadline. Hyland and Gordon give them more creation and scoring, and Plumlee gives them the size they need when Ivica Zubac needs a rest.
NBA Champion: Celtics
The Celtics have been the best team in the NBA for a long time. They should have home field advantage in every Finals game and have the experience to get to this point after what happened in 2022.
Tatum has shown that he is a star, capable of scoring in every frame and being a leader.
However, this is much more than a one-man ensemble. The Greens can easily grow to eight players and have already shown they can reach another level in the playoffs.
The views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of the NBA or its organizations.
