It seems like just yesterday Jrue Holiday threw that signature lob up to Giannis to secure a Game 5 victory in the NBA Finals.
This was followed by Giannis giving us a 50 piece to win the NBA Championship.
The NBA is officially BACK next Wednesday!!
The preseason NBA favourites (Brooklyn) come into Milwaukee to see the Bucks raise their Championship banner to open the 2021/22 season, in what may very well be a preview of the Eastern Conference Finals!
Across the country, the revamped LA Lakers go toe to toe with a team they helped kick out of the NBA Playoff race last season in the Play-In tournament (Golden State).
Which brings us to some NBA Season Predictions.
Brooklyn are rightly so the favourites to win the NBA Championship, with one of the best trios to play the game of basketball together in one squad.
That is if these three guys can ever get on the court together.
Last season Brooklyn couldn’t stay healthy, and off court issues with Kyrie Irving this season may very well derail their chances of winning the title this season.
Kevin Durant needs to step in at some point.
They simply can’t afford to play the vast majority of games without Kyrie. Even with the additions they’ve made to their squad, it’s no longer a guarantee this team wins the title without him.
With that being said, as long as Kyrie continues his stance against the vaccine and the state of New York don’t allow unvaccinated players to play, the Brooklyn Nets will NOT win the NBA Championship this season.
Milwaukee will be the team who prevails out of the East if Brooklyn can’t get their star trio on the court this season.
Stability is a big thing in this league, and in a shortened off season being an Olympic year, the Bucks have what it takes to at the very least get back to the NBA Finals.
They lose PJ Tucker, which is a big loss. But the additions of Grayson Allen, Rodney Hood and even Donte DiVincenzo coming back from injury, put this team right back in the thick of things at the business end of the season.
The Lakers made the most noise out West this off season.
They brought in Russell Westbrook and Carmelo Anthony to a veteran led Lakers line up looking to help LeBron win his 5th NBA Championship.
Some would say this team would walk into the 2014 NBA Finals and sweep anyone in their path, but we are a few years down the track from that point in time.
Westbrook and LeBron are both ball dominant, and unless LeBron takes a back seat to this (given Russ can’t play off the ball as seen in Houston), the Lakers may struggle to get out of a loaded West.
As long as their stud can stay healthy, Utah finally takes that next step and is the team to get out of the West and make the NBA Finals.
Donovan Mitchell was hurt towards the back end of last season. They are in a similar situation to Milwaukee, who have the majority of their pieces back to make another run at winning the title.
Similar to the importance of Mitchell staying healthy, Mike Conley falls in the same category.
Conley needs to be managed throughout the season to have his body primed and ready to go for a playoffs assault we haven’t seen since his days in Memphis.
The additions of Rudy Gay and Eric Paschall gives them a solid bench punch. They add to their star studded bench duo of Jordan Clarkson and Joe Ingles, and it’s finally time for the Jazz to return to the NBA Finals.
The biggest Smokey’s that could potentially steal a spot from some of the top heavy teams this season in both conferences:
Miami Heat and Dallas Mavericks.
As much as you’d love to put Philly in this spot, you just have no idea what this team is going to be this season.
The Ben Simmons saga puts this team behind Miami in that next level pecking order outside of Milwaukee and Brooklyn, as Miami have added some key pieces to make a run at the Finals.
Jimmy Butler brings in Kyle Lowry and PJ Tucker to go with a young core of Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro and Duncan Robinson.
If they can get something out of Victor Oladipo this year (health dependant again), then this team can make some noise come playoff time.
As seen at the Olympics, Luka Doncic can carry anyone to the promise land, almost landing Slovenia their maiden medal at their first games.
He’s that special, almost knocking off a Clippers team on his own last season in the 1st round of the playoffs.
This season you get the feeling Mark Cuban won’t be sitting on his hands and waiting for Porzingis to fire with Luka. If there’s no help, expect a big trade to get Luka the help he needs to progress further in the NBA Playoffs!
NBA Finals: Milwaukee v Utah (Milwaukee 4-3)
MVP: Luka Doncic
6th Man of the Year: Joe Ingles
Most Improved: Jaren Jackson Jr.
ROY: Cade Cunnigham
It should be a season filled full of surprises.
Who’s your best bet for the NBA Season??
Bauky