Zach Lowe's knicks predictions are stolen from McLovin (minus Frank Nik MIP)

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/2...-19-nba-season

my prediction: carmelo "not enough help" anthony plays 25 solid min per game for the well run free flowing offense rox in the playoffs and they upset the dubs in 7 and crush the celtics (who don't even have to play the raptors in the playoffs). durant bolts to restore balance to the force.

Melo will be better than last year but he's unplayable vs the Warriors imo.

2018-19 NBA Season Predictions

1. Raptors
2. Celtics
3. 76ers
4. Pacers
5. Bucks
6. Wizards
7. Heat
8. Pistons
9. Hornets
10. Cavaliers
11. Bulls
12. Nets
13. Knicks
14. Magic
15. Hawks

1. Warriors
2. Rockets
3. Jazz
4. Thunder
5. Pelicans
6. Lakers
7. Nuggets
8. Spurs
9. Blazers
10. Clippers
11. Wolves
12. Mavericks
13. Grizzlies
14. Kings
15. Suns

Raptors > Bucks
Celtics > 76ers
Warriors > Pelicans
Lakers > Rockets

Celtics > Raptors
Warriors > Lakers

Warriors > Celtics

MVP: LeBron, Brow, Kawhi
DPOY: Gobert, Brow, Kawhi
ROY: Doncic, Ayton
COY: Brad, Pop

Impressive having all the records add up to 1230-1230

He predicts the Rapz to win it all, and this is the thing that bigt comments on?!

Got tickets to 2 of the first 4 Bulls home games. Only ever seen the Knicks at MSG and the Nets at Barclays in end of season dead rubbers before, so at least even though the teams are terrible they're technically meaningful games this time!

Impressive that you bothered adding it up

Sup Zach Lowe?

How about next time you give me some ****ing credit.

Lol, good luck with bolded

I think Cavs have a good chance to playoff too. Think there is def merit to the idea that LeBron's teammates always get underrated because of how dominant he is in all aspects of the game, they just get reduced to "stand out of the way and take shots I get you sometimes" guys. Everyone loved going on about how awful his supporting cast was in last year's playoffs but I think they'll surprise. Or maybe I'm way off and he DID just GOAT them along, who knows.

Agreed on all points 76ers, think they're very good if full health. Think Embiid misses a ton though, reckon last year was a top percentile outcome health wise for a season, even missing the time that he did.

LOLOLOL

To bigt that's a standard, unremarkable prediction

Ahhhhhh, its almost here!!!

https://youtu.be/fZKX-cf_p90

Yeah I just saw 3.DEN and figured the rest was true, no need to fact check.

I'm enough of a nerd that I added up my wins to see if it was 1230. It was 1234 so I knocked 4 wins off of the Kings because lol Kings.

Cavs surroundings would have been better in the playoffs if Love was anywhere near 100%. He was bad for most of the playoffs. They also messed up big time with Hood and instead of played way too much Clarkson. I feel as though even if the Cavs do have talent, do you really think Lue is good enough to lead the Cavs into the playoffs? Guy seems clueless to me.

Sixers success could come down to health as well as how effective Fultz can be. Even him being league average would be a huge lift for the Sixers his second year.

2018-19 NBA Season Predictions

1. Raptors
2. Celtics
3. Bucks
4. Sixers
5. Pacers
6. Heat
7. Hornets
8. Wizards
9. Pistons
10. Cavs
11. Nets
12. Magic
13. Knicks
14. Bulls
15. Hawks

1. Warriors
2. Rockets
3. Thunder
4. Lakers
5. Jazz
6. Nuggets
7. Pelicans
8. Blazers
9. Spurs
10. Grizzlies
11. Wolves
12. Clippers
13. Mavericks
14. Suns
15. Kings

Raptors > Sixers
Bucks > Celtics
Lakers > Warriors
Rockets > Thunder

Raptors > Bucks
Lakers > Rockets

Raptors > Lakers

MVP: Kawhi
DPOY: Gobert
ROY: Ayton
COY: Nick Nurse

From Off Season Thread (I assume we just use this one now):

LISTS ARE FUN!

All rankings are on current management except Philly and Suns who just changed, they're most recent (so Colangelo not Hinkie for Philly)

Playing Chess vs Checkers: Celtics, Rockets, Warriors, Spurs*

Seem sharp enough: Pacers, Mavs, Nuggets, Raptors, Nets, Lakers, Jazz

Meh: Heat, Bucks, Grizzlies, Clippers

Doing best to squander their advantages: Thunder, Pelicans, Cavs, 76ers

Poor: Pistons, Hornets, Bulls, Trailblazers, Wizards

LOL: Suns, Kings, Hawks, Magic, Knicks, Wolves

*Spurs I'm giving the benefit of the doubt because of their track record, but they haven't had a good past year lol

Nice. I would prob bump the Cavs down a tier, maybe the Grizz also.

I'd move the Heat and Raps up a tier. I'm not sure the Raps belong in the top tier but they're definitely above the other sharp teams imo.

I dunno what to do with the Spurs; long track record puts them at or near #1 but they've been bad since Timmy retired.

Cavs have done some dumb **** lately, but they did a better job than anyone else has been able to of surrounding LeBron with the "right" type of players originally. Trading Wiggins for Love is huge, and JR Smith and Mozgov were great signings at the time. Also they get points for willingness to go deep into tax. Still not great, but don't deserve to be too low imo.

Raps yea I guess they're at the top of that second tier, don't think they quite deserve own tier though.

Heat are smart enough but lose points for weird priorities (seem to have locked in a mediocre low playoff team, could be worse but don't really have any way of getting anywhere now).

i don't see a big difference between the seem sharp enough and meh teams other than being a bit results oriented about teams who have surprised, for example: rehabilitating victor "not enough help" oladipo or binking a jokic. those teams have warts on their record too (mcdermott signing, plumlee trade, etc)

heard a sharp person say this, forget who, but basically theres top 5 coaches bottom 5 coaches and rest are interchangeable. probably similar for FO

That Nance deal is probably good enough by itself to keep the Cavs where they are. Just a baffling move on his part.

In 2023 he's going to be making MLE money(the deal declines over time) and the deal covers his entire prime.

It's not like it's some crazy prediction. I have the Raptors winning 65 +/-4 games if they stay healthy. I think they'll probably lose in 6 or 7 to the Warriors (probably 6 since I think they will have HCA in the finals). I think the Raptors have a 15-20% chance of titling this year and a 62% chance of finaling if healthy (98% chance of first round, 90% 2nd round (probably avoiding Philly/Boston in the 2nd round since they will be the 2nd/3rd seeds imo, 70% chance of ECF. Think they match up fairly well with Warriors now, but obviously are out raw-talented.

I think Philly is really the only team really good that is a tough match up for the Raps as they match up really well with Boston/Milwaukee and probably Indiana too.

I feel like you have to be a bit results oriented, no? Like, e.g. Oladipo. Obviously there's a fair bit of luck involved, but the fact of the matter is, there were lots of options available for a PG trade, but Pritchard wanted Oladipo, and he's turned out to be an All NBA player. I feel like if you go out on a limb like that and it works out you deserve credit. He didn't just fall into his lap. You can't just dismiss everything as variance or why even rank?

Denver could be lower maybe, but Millsap signing was good, they've drafted multiple guys who have well overperformed position (and look to have again with Porter at #14). Plumlee contract is nuts though yea.