10 bold predictions for 2019

Guessing you’re a Nets fan? 

 Loving the audacity in your list. There are some contradictions, though.

I think Denver makes playoff with at least the 5th seed. I also think they finish better than the overrated Thunder. My belief in their success fuels my doubt that they trade Millsap. 

I love the Jarrett Allen prediction. I concur. While any trade predictions always seem irrational until the transaction completes, Brooklyn does have a number of attractive assets for Minnesota. I also think Young will struggle mightily this season. Defensively, he’s going to need entire seasons to adjust, and I’m not willing to believe his offense transfers smoothly all things considered. 

I also think Fultz will be in contention for MIP.

 I don’t think Young will be the best rookie on his own team, let alone of all rookies in the class (Huerter will be the best rookie on the Hawks). 

OKC falls short of WCF again. 

Portland makes playoffs, Spurs do not.

More predictions will come to mind I’m sure. These are the main ones.

I’m a little confused about why the Lakers are included in #5 lol is it bold to say Orlando will be worse than LA?

1. Celtics get eliminated in the ECF by Philadelphia 

2. Ben Simmons takes a huge leap and lands himself in the Top 5 of the MVP race

3. Markelle Fultz silences critics and averages 17ppg, 6 assists and 1.5 steals 

4. Dario Saric wins 6th man

5. Joel Embiid will remain healthy, still be forced to sit out 12 games

6. Zaire Smith returns from injury THIS season breaking the routine of Red shirting rookies

7. Zaire Smith shows people why the 76ers traded for him on draft night and appears to be the steal of the draft after a great playoff run, he’ll look like a young Iguadola with flashes of Kawhi

8. Brent Brown finally wins a Coach of the Year award after the 76ers finish a 58 win season and the 2nd seed in the conference 

9.76ers lose in 5 games to the Warriors

10. Joel’s Rn Ben make the All Stargame as starters

1. Lakers miss the playoffs

2. Lebron misses 20 plus games due to injury

3. Warriors trade Steph Curry to the Hornets for Kemba, Batum and Cody Zeller(not to mention every draft pick from here to the next century)

4. Rockets finish 5th in the West (Warriors, Jazz, Spurs, Thunder will have better records

5. Damian Lillard gets traded to East (Brooklyn or NYK)

6. AD begins to show major frustration after missing the playoffs

7. Jazz take a huge leap in the standings, finish second in the West

8. Grayson Allen wins RoTY

9. Trae Young will look like a total bust

20. Lakers Trade Brandon Ingram at the deadline

9. Trae Young will look like a bust

 Tobias Harris will make his first all star game

 I can’t see Toronto winning 60 games. Lowry and Leonard are both not that durable….

 I am a huge Jarrett Allen fan, still can’t work out the hype with jonathan isaac

Washington Wizards will trade Otto Porter Jr or Kelly Oubre Jr, they can’t afford both and they both starting caliber wings.

 1. LeBron James will spend half his minutes playing center. "Center" is a vague term these days, but the Lakers’ best lineup will feature a frontcourt of Ingram/Kuzma/James, and that means James will be guarding the likes of AD, Aldridge, KAT and Jokic. 

2. Gordon Hayward will be seventh on the Celtics in minutes per game.

3. Dwight Howard will have another good year statistically, but the Wizards will win more win they go small with Morris or Jeff Green at center. Howard will be eighth on the Wizards in minutes per game.

4. The Jazz will struggle relative to expectations, and end up with the 7th or 8th seed. Defenses will be more ready for Mitchell this year, and he doesn’t have a lot of safety valves. It will become obvious that they need more shooting.

5. No one on the Timberwolves’ bench will average 18 minutes per game. That is, until one or more of the starters gets hurt, which is almost inevitable on a Thibs team.

6. Heading into the playoffs, the Warriors will start Kevon Looney along with their four all-stars. And down the stretch of the toughest playoff games, it will still be the "Hamptons Lineup" that closes out games.

7. The Rockets will head into the playoffs starting Gerald Green at 3 and P.J. Tucker at 4, with Melo coming off the bench.

8. The Spurs will win a first-round series as a road team.

9. The Lakers will knock off either the Rockets or Warriors in the Western semis (then lose to the other team in the Western finals).

10. Coach of the Year will be either Popovich or Luke Walton.

Charlotte Hornets suck again & reluctantly trade Kemba Walker (They’ll work together so Charlotte get decent return and Kemba goes somewhere he wants)

The interested parties will be Brooklyn and indiana who will offer up cap relief by taking back a guy like MKG or Williams. The Knicks will also be interested with a package around Ntilikina.

• Taurean Prince will average more points than Andrew Wiggins
• Celtics will win 65 games
• Bulls will just narrowly miss the 8th seed behind the pistons
• Harry Giles will make all rookie first team
• Mario Hezonja will lead Knicks in scoring before KP returns
• Damian lillard will win scoring title
• If Conley goes down again, grizz will trade Marc Gasol
• Jon issac will look like a young Andre kirelenko in 2nd half of season
• Suns 31st pick Ellie Okobo plays great and proves he’s pg of future
• Like Walton unfortunately gets fired mid-season

1. A significant Warriors starter (KD, Steph, Draymond) will miss a large porition of the season and the playoffs. 
2. The Spurs continue to surprise and finish with the third seed in the West.
3. Thunder, Pelicans, Timberwolves, and Nuggets get the 4-8 seeds.
4. Boston makes the finals from the East knocking out two seed Toronto in round two.
5. John Wall finishes top 5 in MVP voting, LeBron wins it.
6. Trade deadline is remarkably quiet.
7. Pistons surprise people, grab a top 5 seed in the East.
8. Giannis starts to add a 3 point shot.
9. LeBron led Lakers knock out banged up Warriors in 6 in the second round, then get knocked out by Houston.
10. Houston wins the finals, YES Carmelo Anthony wins an NBA finals… You guys did say bold…