I weighed in with my predictions over the weekend, going big-time chalk on the NBA finalists — Spurs over Cavs — and off the grid, figuratively speaking, with Tom Thibodeau being the coach whose seat could get hottest quickest.
Today, our esteemed staff of columnists and staff weigh in with their picks. Most of these guys are vets whose tenured covering the NBA are better counted in decades, not years, so their opinions are culled from their experience, intelligence and what they discussed with their high IQ brethren at their most recent MENSA meetings.
Feel free to tweet at them. Their Twitter links are next to their mug shots.
JAN HUBBARD
The man who literally wrote he NBA Encyclopedia, Hubbard is an 8-year veteran of the league office and a former NBA columnist for Newsday, the Dallas Morning News and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Click here for his column archive. His Twitter address is @whyhub.
NBA Champion: San Antonio
MVP: LeBron James
Rookie of the Year: Andrew Wiggins
Coach of the Year: Rick Carlisle
Sixth Man: Taj Gibson
Defensive Player of the Year: LeBron James
Most Improved Player: Jonas Valanciunas
Executive of the Year: David Griffin
East Finalists: Cleveland-Toronto
West Finalists: San Antonio-Dallas
Good Player Most Likely to be Traded: Rajon Rondo
Coach on the Hot Seat: Scott Brooks
Most Overrated Player: Deron Williams
Most Underrated Player: Draymond Green
Most Overrated team: Houston Rockets
Most Underrated Team: Dallas Mavericks
Who will win the Scoring Title? Stephen Curry
MARK HEISLER
Hall of Fame writer Mark Heisler is a founding member and regular contributor to SheridanHoops and Forbes.com. Here is his column archive. His Twitter address is @MarkHeisler.
NBA Champion: Oklahoma City Thunder
MVP: LeBron James
Rookie of the Year: Nerlens Noel
Coach of the Year: Scott Brooks
Sixth Man: Jamal Crawford
Defensive Player of the Year: DeAndre Jordan (continuing tradition of guy who should have gotten it last season)
Most Improved Player: DeAndre Jordan (continuing tradition of guy who should have gotten it last season)
Executive of the Year: David Griffin
East Finalists: Chicago-Miami
West Finalists: San Antonio-Oklahoma City
Good Player Most Likely to be Traded: Rajon Rondo
Coach on the Hot Seat: Jason Kidd
Most Overrated Player: Andrew Wiggins
Most Underrated Player: Dwyane Wade
Most Overrated Team: Washington
Most Underrated Team: Dallas
Who will win the Scoring Title? Carmelo Anthony
CHRIS BERNUCCA
The managing editor of SheridanHoops.com, Bernucca is the former editor of SportsTicker, a veteran of AP and ESPN, and the most meticulous chronicler of NBA goings-on anywhere. His around-the Association columns run every Monday. Click here for his archive. His Twitter address is @ChrisBernucca.
NBA Champion: LA Clippers
MVP: LeBron James
Rookie of the Year: Nerlens Noel
Coach of the Year: David Blatt
Sixth Man: Andre Iguodala
Defensive Player of the Year: DeAndre Jordan
Most Improved Player: Gorgui Dieng
Executive of the Year: David Griffin
East Finalists: Cleveland-Atlanta
West Finalists: LA Clippers-San Antonio
Good Player Most Likely to be Traded: Rajon Rondo
Coach on the Hot Seat: Monty Williams
Most Overrated Player: Dwight Howard
Most Underrated Player: Nicolas Batum
Most Overrated Team: Chicago
Most Underrated Team: Atlanta
Who will win the Scoring Title? Kevin Durant
DANNY SCHAYES:
A retired 18-year veteran of the NBA, Schayes is a Director of Business Optimization at Intensity and a leader in the business of professional sports. Click here for his column archive. His Twitter address is @DanSchayes.
NBA Champion: Chicago
MVP: LeBron James
Rookie of the Year: Jabari Parker
Coach of the Year: Steve Kerr
Sixth Man: Shawn Marion
Defensive Player of the Year: Tony Allen
Most Improved Player: Anthony Bennett
Executive of Year: David Griffin
East Finalists: Cleveland-Chicago
West Finalists: LA Clippers-Golden State
Good Player Most Likely to be Traded: David West
Coach on the Hot Seat: Kevin McHale
Most Overrated Player: Dwight Howard
Most Underrated Player: Miles Plumlee
Most Overrated Team: Miami
Most Underrated Team: Charlotte
Who will win the Scoring Title: Carmelo Anthony
BOBBY GONZALEZ
Bobby Gonzalez is a former Division I coach at Manhattan College and Seton Hall University. He has been writing columns for SheridanHoops since March 2014. Check out Gonzo’s column archive.
NBA Champion: Chicago
MVP: LeBron James
Rookie of the Year: Jabari Parker
Coach of the Year: Tom Thibodeau
Sixth Man: Taj Gibson
Defensive Player of the Year: Serge Ibaka
Most Improved Player: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Executive of the Year: David Griffin
East Finalists: Chicago-Cleveland
West Finalists: San Antonio-Oklahoma City
Good player most likely to be traded: Rajon Rondo
Coach on the Hot Seat: Monty Williams
Most Overrated Player: Chris Bosh
Most Underrated Player: Klay Thompson
Most Overrated Team: LA Clippers
Most Underrated Team: Charlotte
Who will win the Scoring Title? James Harden
PETER MAY
Peter is the only writer who covered the final NBA games played by Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan. He has covered the league for three decades for The Hartford Courant and The Boston Globe and has written three books on the Boston Celtics. His work also appears in The New York Times. Check out his column archive. His Twitter address is @_PeterMay
NBA Champion: LA Clippers
MVP: Chris Paul
Rookie of the Year: Jabari Parker
Coach of the Year: Doc Rivers
Sixth Man: Jamal Crawford
Defensive Player of the Year: Anthony Davis
Most Improved Player: DeMarcus Cousins
Executive of the Year: David Griffin
East Finalists: Cleveland-Chicago
West Finalists: LA Clippers-Dallas
Good Player Most Likely to be Traded: David West
Coach on the Hot Seat: Scott Brooks
Most Overrated Player: James Harden
Most Underrated Player: Taj Gibson
Most Overrated team: Houston
Most Underrated Team: Dallas
Who will win the Scoring Title? Kobe Bryant
BRIAN KAMENETZKY
Brian is a radio host and sportswriter who has covered the NBA and the Lakers over the last 10 seasons for ESPN.com, ESPNLA 710 and the Los Angeles Times. If you wanna talk smack about alma maters, Brian to Vanderbilt. Follow the smart-ass Tweets of Brian and his brother, Andy, at @KamBrothers.
NBA Champion: Oklahoma City
MVP: LeBron James
Rookie of the Year: Jabari Parker
Coach of the Year: Rick Carlisle
Sixth Man: Isaiah Thomas
Defensive Player of the Year: Anthony Davis
Most Improved Player: Mason Plumlee
Executive of the Year: Rich Cho
East Finalists: Chicago-Cleveland
West Finalists: Oklahoma City-Golden State
Good Player Most Likely to be Traded: Rajon Rondo
Coach on the Hot Seat: Jacque Vaughn
Most Overrated Player: Dwight Howard
Most Underrated Player: Dwight Howard
Most Overrated team: Houston
Most Underrated Team: Dallas
Who will win the Scoring Title? James Harden
ANDY KAMENETZKY
Andy is a radio host and sportswriter who has covered the NBA and the Lakers over the last 10 seasons for ESPN.com, ESPNLA 710 and the Los Angeles Times. If you wanna talk smack about alma maters, Andy went to Southern Cal while his brother was off at Vanderbilt. Follow the smart-ass Tweets of Andy and his brother, Brian, at @KamBrothers.
NBA Champion: San Antonio
MVP: LeBron James
Rookie of the Year: Jabari Parker
Coach of the Year: Monty Williams
Sixth Man: Taj Gibson
Defensive Player of the Year: Dwight Howard
Most Improved Player: Anthony Davis
Executive of the Year: David Griffin
East Finalists: Chicago-Cleveland
West Finalists: San Antonio-LA Clippers
Good Player Most Likely to be Traded: Rajon Rondo
Coach on the Hot Seat: Scott Brooks
Most Overrated Player: Gordon Hayward
Most Underrated Player: Joe Johnson
Most Overrated Team: Mavericks
Most Underrated Team: Pelicans
Who will win the Scoring Title?: Carmelo Anthony
JON MARKS
Jon Marks has covered the Philadelphia 76ers from the days of Dr. J and his teammate, Joe Bryant (best known as Kobe’s dad). He has won awards from the Pro Basketball Writers Association and North Jersey Press Club. His other claim to fame is driving Rick Mahorn to a playoff game after missing the team bus. His Twitter address is @Hoopman09.
NBA Champion: LA Clippers
MVP: LeBron James
Rookie of the Year: Jabari Parker
Coach of the Year: Tom Thibodeau
Sixth Man: Andre Iguodala
Defensive Player of the Year: DeAndre Jordan
Most Improved Player: Victor Oladipo
Executive of the Year: David Griffin
East Finalists: Cleveland-Washington
West Finalists: LA Clippers-Oklahoma City
Good Player Most Likely to be Traded: Rajon Rondo
Coach on the Hot Seat: Monty Williams
Most Overrated Player: DeMarcus Cousins
Most Underrated Player: Draymond Green
Most Overrated team: Brooklyn
Most Underrated Team: Washington
Who will win the Scoring Title? Carmelo Anthony
SHLOMO SPRUNG
Sprung is a national columnist who loves advanced statistics and the way they explain what happens on the court. He is also the web editor of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle. A 2011 graduate of Columbia University’s Journalism School, he has previously worked for the New York Knicks, The Sporting News, Business Insider and other publications. His Twitter address is @SprungonSports.
NBA Champion: Chicago
MVP: LeBron James
Rookie of the Year: Jabari Parker
Coach of the Year: Tom Thibodeau
Sixth Man: Isaiah Thomas
Defensive Player of the Year: Serge Ibaka
Most Improved Player: Terrence Jones
Executive of the Year: David Griffin
East Finalists: Chicago-Cleveland
West Finalists: San Antonio-Oklahoma City
Good Player Most Likely To Be Traded: David West
Coach on the Hot Seat: Monty Williams
Most Overrated Player: Dwyane Wade
Most Underrated Player: Goran Dragic
Most Overrated Team: Golden State
Most Underrated Team: Phoenix
Scoring title: Kevin Durant
JOE KOTOCH
Our draft guru, Joe is the Editor-in-chief of Pro Basketball Draft, a leading scouting service in the world of professional basketball. Before Joe created PBD he served as an NBPA & FIBA certified agent and scouted players all across the world. Born and raised in Cleveland, Joe also contributes to Fox Sports Ohio and the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Joe’s Twitter address is @Probballdraft.
NBA Champion: Cleveland
MVP: LeBron James
Rookie of the Year: Jabari Parker
Coach of the Year: David Blatt
Sixth Man: Isaiah Thomas
Defensive Player of the Year: Anthony Davis
Most Improved Player: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Executive of the Year: David Griffin
East Finalists: Cleveland-Chicago
West Finalists: San Antonio-Oklahoma City
Good Player Most Likely to be Traded: Rajon Rondo
Coach on the Hot Seat: Scott Brooks
Most Overrated Player: Klay Thompson
Most Underrated Player: DeMarcus Cousins
Most Overrated Team: Houston
Most Underrated Team: Golden State
Who will win the Scoring Title?: James Harden
A.J. MITNICK
AJ Mitnick is an American living in Israel and working as an assistant coach in the Israeli Basketball Super League. A graduate of IDC Herzliya, Mitnick is an assistant coach with Bnei Herzliya, following three seasons with Maccabi Rishon-Lezion. His Twitter address is @AJMitnick.
NBA Champion: Cleveland
MVP: LeBron James
Rookie of the Year: Andrew Wiggins
Coach of the Year: David Blatt
Sixth Man: Reggie Jackson
Defensive Player of the Year: Joakim Noah
Most Improved Player: Mirza Teletovic
Executive of the Year: David Griffin
East Finalists: Cleveland-Chicago
West Finalists : San Antonio-Golden State
Good Player Most Likely to be Traded: Eric Gordon
Coach on the Hot Seat: Frank Vogel
Most Overrated Player: Deron Williams
Most Underrated Player: Jamal Crawford
Most Overrated team: Brooklyn
Most Underrated Team: Golden State
Who will win the Scoring Title? Carmelo Anthony
MICHAEL SCOTTO
Mike Scotto is a New York-based columnist covering the Knicks and Nets. Click here for his column archive. His Twitter address is @MikeAScotto.
NBA Champion: San Antonio
MVP: LeBron James
Rookie of the Year: Jabari Parker
Coach of the Year: Steve Clifford
Sixth Man: Jamal Crawford
Defensive Player of the Year: DeAndre Jordan
Most Improved Player: Mason Plumlee
Executive of the Year: David Griffin
East Finalists: Cleveland-Chicago
West Finalists: LA Clippers-San Antonio
Good Player Most Likely to be Traded: Rajon Rondo
Coach on the Hot Seat: Scott Brooks
Most Overrated Player: James Harden
Most Underrated Player: Al Jefferson
Most Overrated Team: Houston
Most Underrated Team: Charlotte
Who will win the Scoring Title: Carmelo Anthony
JIM PARK
The chief blogger and deputy editor for SheridanHoops, Park is an entrepreneur in Manhattan who lives for the game of basketball and is an unrepentant night owl thanks to those after-hour West Coast games. His Twitter address is @SheridanBlog.
NBA Champion: Golden State
MVP: Stephen Curry
Rookie of the Year: Jabari Parker
Coach of the Year: Steve Kerr
Sixth Man: Jamal Crawford
Defensive Player of the Year: Andrew Bogut
Most Improved Player: Jared Sullinger
Executive of the Year: David Griffin
East Finalists (two teams): Cleveland-Chicago
West Finalists (Two Teams): San Antonio-Golden State
Good Player Most Likely to be Traded: Rajon Rondo
Coach on the Hot Seat: Byron Scott
Most Overrated Player: Dwight Howard
Most Underrated Player: Andrew Bogut
Most Overrated team: LA Clippers
Most Underrated Team: Denver
Who will win the Scoring Title?: Kevin Durant
KENT WILLIAMS
“Coach” Kent is a Canadian national who writes the daily fantasy basketball column for SheridanHoops.com. A veteran of the harness racing industry, he has made a living off of professional sports — especially the kinds that offer some sort of wagering action — since before many of you were born. His Twitter is @SheridanHoopsFantasy.
NBA Champion: Cleveland
MVP: LeBron James
Rookie of the Year: Jabari Parker
Coach of the Year: David Blatt
Sixth Man: Isaiah Thomas
Defensive Player of the Year: Anthony Davis
Most Improved Player: Trey Burke
Executive of the Year: Masai Ujiri
East Finalists: Cleveland-Chicago
West Finalists: LA Clippers-San Antonio
Good Player Most Likely to be Traded: Rajon Rondo
Coach on the Hot Seat: Monty Williams
Most Overrated Player: Kobe Bryant
Most Underrated Player: Kyle Lowry
Most Overrated team: Houston
Most Underrated Team: Toronto
Who will win the Scoring Title? LeBron James
VOTING BREAKDOWN OF OUR SWEET 16 STAFFERS
NBA Champion: San Antonio 4, LA Clippers 3, Cleveland 3, Chicago 3, Oklahoma City 2, Golden State 1.
Most Valuable Player: LeBron James 13, Chris Paul 1, Stephen Curry 1, Blake Griffin 1.
Rookie of the Year: Jabari Parker 12, Andrew Wiggins 2, Nerlens Noel 2.
Coach of the Year: David Blatt 4, Tom Thibodeau 3, Rick Carlisle 2, Steve Kerr 2, Scott Brooks 1, Doc Rivers 1, Monty Williams 1, Steve Clifford 1, Mike Budenholzer 1.
Sixth Man: Jamal Crawford 5, Isaiah Thomas 4, Taj Gibson 3, Andre Iguodala 2, Reggie Jackson 1, Shawn Marion 1.
Defensive Player of the Year: DeAndre Jordan 4, Anthony Davis 4, Joakim Noah 2, Serge Ibaka 2, Tony Allen 1, LeBron James 1, Dwight Howard 1, Andrew Bogut 1.
Most Improved Player: Mason Plumlee 2, Giannis Antetokounmpo 2, Jonas Valanciunas 1, DeAndre Jordan Gorgui Dieng 1, Anthony Bennett 1, DeMarcus Cousins 1, Anthony Davis 1, Victor Oladipo 1, Terrence Jones 1, Mirza Teletovic 1, Jared Sullinger 1, Trey Burke 1, Kawhi Leonard 1.
Executive of the Year: David Griffin 14, Rich Cho 1, Masai Ujiri 1.
East Finalists: Cleveland 15, Chicago 13, Atlanta 1, Washington 1, Miami 1, Toronto 1
West Finalists: San Antonio 12, LA Clippers 8, Oklahoma City 6, Golden State 4, Dallas 2.
Good Player Most Likely to be Traded: Rajon Rondo 11, David West 4, Eric Gordon 1.
Coach on the Hot Seat: Monty Williams 5, Scott Brooks 4, Jason Kidd 1, Kevin McHale 1, Jacque Vaughn 1, Frank Vogel 1, Byron Scott 1, Tom Thibodeau 1.
Most Overrated Player: Dwight Howard 4, James Harden 2, Deron Williams 2, Andrew Wiggins 1, Chris Bosh 1, Gordon Hayward 1, DeMarcus Cousins 1, Dwyane Wade 1, Klay Thompson 1, Kobe Bryant 1, Paul Pierce 1.
Most Underrated Player: Draymond Green 2, Dwyane Wade 1, Nicolas Batum 1, Miles Plumlee 1, Klay Thompson 1, Taj Gibson 1, Dwight Howard 1, Joe Johnson 1, Goran Dragic 1, DeMarcus Cousins 1, Jamal Crawford 1, Al Jefferson 1, Andrew Bogut 1, Kyle Lowry 1, Tobias Harris 1.
Most Overrated Team: Houston 7, LA Clippers 2, Brooklyn 2, Dallas 1, Washington 1, Chicago 1, Miami 1, Golden State 1.
Most Underrated Team: Dallas 4, Charlotte 3, Golden State 2, Atlanta 2, New Orleans 1, Washington 1, Phoenix 1, Denver 1, Toronto 1.
Who will win the Scoring Title? Carmelo Anthony 6, Kevin Durant 3, James Harden 3, Kobe Bryant 2, Stephen Curry 1, LeBron James 1.
I enjoyed reading the predictions. I was shocked to see anyone pick Kobe as scoring champion.
Similar to the Spurs I wouldn’t put anything past Kobe when it comes to basketball, but in sheer point of fact, scoring champ seems virtually impossible.
A. He probably isn’t “realistically” good enough to win it at this stage against the big guns currently in the league. Not that he can’t still fill it up.
B. Even if injury doesn’t bite him, he is old enough to have questionable wind if given the minutes it would take to win it, even if he is willing to turn a blind eye to defense entirely.
C. It is almost certain he won’t get the minutes. This is not the last year of his contract with the Lakers. Any scenario other than rest Kobe as much as is reasonably possible even if it takes some creativity to do so, would be Russian Roulette. While the Lakers organization has slipped dramatically over the years, I am not ready to take them for doddling fools. ….. yet
That said, I GET that those are dark horse, longshot picks. Very gutsy. Possibly stupid. But regardless, entertaining.
How about an additional category: Biggest Elephant in the Room that the Media Doesn’t Have the Balls to Raise. My selection goes to LeBron James for, at least for now, being off the anabolic steroids.
Nah, the NBA doesn’t have a huge anabolic steroids and HGH problem. Shhhhhhhhhh! Let’s all pretend it doesn’t exist.
I think you are confusing roids with carbs.
LBJ is off Carbs.
Carbs. Kinda like Ivan Rodriguez and Travis Hafner when they suddenly showed up to spring training with their neck sizes reduced to twigs and looking like they had been stranded with Tom Hanks on that desert island. They had simply cut out the carbs to extend their careers. Carbs.