Predictions are like armpits. Everyone has them, and most of them stink.
I could have used a different anatomical reference than armpits, but my dad reads this site and calls me on the phone and yells at me when I use naughty words, so I am holding back.
But you get the idea.
The opening of the NBA season means writers at all the national Web sites and newspapers will be making predictions. Most of them will be wrong. But as long as the writer or broadcaster or commentator has given the matter some serious thought, it’s nice to see who everyone likes.
Myself, I think the Lakers are capable of winning 70 regular-season games — even in the tough Western Conference. And I’ll admit that prediction is something I’m going to hear about from my tweeps if it doesn’t happen. And that’s OK. I have thick skin.
But we are talking about the perfectly constructed team, with four future Hall-of-Famers in the starting lineup, and a fifth guy, Metta World Peace, who says they can win 73. Sometimes, you have to blindly follow Metta — as anyone who follows him on Twitter can relate to.
Anyway, we have about 100 years of NBA journalism experience accumulated among the staffers here, and they have been polled on their picks for East champs, West champs, NBA champs, and the various individual awards. Here they are:
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
KYRIE IRVING, CLEVELAND
Chris Sheridan, Editor-in-Chief
KEVIN DURANT, OKLAHOMA CITY
Mark Heisler, Senior Columnist
KEVIN DURANT, OKLAHOMA CITY
Chris Bernucca, Managing Editor; Senior Columnist
LeBRON JAMES, MIAMI
Jan Hubbard, Senior Columnist
CHRIS PAUL, L.A. CLIPPERS
Moke Hamilton, Senior Columnist
KEVIN DURANT, OKLAHOMA CITY
Chris Perkins, Columnist
LeBRON JAMES, MIAMI
Adam Zagoria, Columnist
LeBRON JAMES, MIAMI
Jim Park, Blogger
KEVIN DURANT, OKLAHOMA CITY
Jeremy Bauman, Blogger
LeBRON JAMES, MIAMI
Joe Kotoch, Draft Guru
RAJON RONDO, BOSTON
Brian Geltzeiler, Executive Producer, SheridanHoopsRadio
Rookie of the Year | Coach of the Year | Defensive Player of the Year | Sixth Man Award | Most Improved Player | Executive of the Year | East Champs | West Champs | NBA Champion
I can see any of these but Rondo. He is still too much of a baby/moody jerk to be MVP. Case in point, the flagrant against Wade in the opener.
I’d go with Durant though, as he will have to be even better without Harden this year, and I think he will be. He likes pressure and expectations.
Picking Kyrie Irving for MVP is a way to get the site talked about I guess. Kyrie instantly became one of my favourite players outside of Miami last season, but he’s playing on a terrible team and it’s his 2nd year. Simply too early for him to be in the conversation.
Oh, and the only way LeBron James doesn’t win MVP again is injuries or if Durant magically became an A-grade defender over the off-season (doesn’t look like it).
A terrible team whose 4 recent draft picks dropped 63 points on opening night and Irving closing yet another game with clutch daggers.
Ok Sheridan….Kobe for DPOY. And Kyrie for MVP. Ummm. What?