NBA Preseason Predictions Check In: All-Star Break

6 min readFeb 19, 2018

In October, I wrote a post including my predictions for the 2017/18 NBA season which you can find here. With the All-Star weekend festivities behind us and regular season games resuming on Thursday, now would be a good time to check in on those preseason predictions and see how right and often wrong I was…

Worst team so far: Atlanta Hawks/Phoenix Suns

Original Worst team: Atlanta Hawks

The Hawks were a favorite before the season to be one of, if not the worst teams in the NBA. At 18–41 (.305), the Hawks agreed to buy out Marco Belinelli who was fourth on the team in scoring. This leaves Dennis Schroder, Kent Bazemore, and Taurean Prince as their most talented players. The only redeeming quality about this team other than Schroder is John Collins who looks like a promising player going forward in the Hawks rebuild.

Devin Booker has played in about three quarters of the Suns games this year, but are still only 15–29 when he is in the starting lineup. The Suns, who are tied with the Hawks at 18–41 (.305), aren’t lacking as much talent as the Hawks. They just so happen to be in a loaded Western Conference where they get pushed around on a nightly basis. The Suns traded for Elfrid Payton at the trade deadline only paying a second round pick for him. We will have to wait and see if he makes an impact on this team in the second half of the season.

Surprisingly Good team so far: Indiana Pacers

Surprisingly Good team: Milwaukee Bucks

There is still time for Giannis & Co. to climb in the East standings and fulfill the promise most thought the Bucks had before the season. But the Indiana Pacers hold this category for now. After dealing Paul George to the Thunder this past summer, a deal in which everyone thought Indiana got the worse return, many thought the Pacers were in full tank mode. Little did we know that Victor Oladipo had game to this level. Oladipo is putting up a career season of 24.4 ppg/4.1 apg/5.3 rpg this year as the main option in Indiana. All of his percentages have increased year to year along with this year being the largest volume he has seen in his career. A solid core and nightly contributors off the bench have the Pacers in the fifth spot in the East at the midway point.

The “Yikes. They’re making the playoffs?” team so far: Miami Heat

The “Yikes. They’re making the playoffs?” team: Charlotte Hornets

Charlotte is currently six games out of the last playoff spot in the East at this point, but its the team that has filled that spot that has some scratching their heads. The Heat aren’t a bad team, but no one seems convinced they are a good team either. The Denver Nuggest and the Miami Heat are the only potential playoff teams at this point that don’t have a player averaging 20 ppg. Dragic and Whiteside are clearly the most talented players on this team filled with role player after role player. Their current position can also be attributed to superb coaching by Eric Spoelstra. If the Heat make the playoffs, Spelstra will be in the conversation for Coach of the Year.

Eric Bledsoe’s Trade Destination: Milwaukee Bucks

Most Likely Eric Bledsoe Trade Destination: Denver Nuggets

The Suns traded Eric Bledsoe to the Milwaukee Bucks for Greg Monroe and two protected picks in 2018 (1st & 2nd rounders). The Suns concluded on buying Monroe out, in which he has since joined the Boston Celtics. It seems as though the picks were the only value the Suns got in return. Bledsoe is the last piece of what was the incredible back court of Isiah Thomas, Goran Dragic, and Eric Bledsoe.

The “Nothing Has Changed” Team so far: Toronto Raptors

The “Nothing Has Changed” Team: Toronto Raptors

The Raptors currently hold the number one seed in the Eastern Conference, without much change from a year ago. Consistent play from their starting five as well as bench contributors providing a boost has lead the Raptors to familiar territory in the top seeds of the East.

Most Annoying Topic so far: Will Lebron go anywhere after this year?

Most Annoying Topic: Will Lebron go to L.A. after this year?

...and it goes on and on my friends…

MVP so far: James Harden, Houston Rockets

MVP: James Harden, Houston Rockets

James is lighting up the league this year with 31.3 points, 9.0 assists, and 5.1 rebounds. That’s first in the league in points, second in assists, and .2 rebounds per game behind Curry for fifth among point guards. Not to mention Harden has a 30.53 PER with the second highest usage rate. Barring an injury, this is Harden’s award to lose.

Defensive Player of the Year so far: Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans

Defensive Player of the Year: Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz

This category is hard to gauge but has been affected by injuries to a lot of potential candidates. Porzingis, Cousins, and Leonard have all dealt with injuries this year that have likely bumped them out of contention. So far I would say Davis has a slight upper hand on others like Lebron and Drummond.

Rookie of the Year so far: Ben Simmons, Philadelphia 76ers

Rookie of the Year: De’Aaron Fox, Sacremento Kings

It came down to Fox or Simmons in my preseason rankings, but should have sided with Simmons offensive game versus Fox. Simmons is currently averaging 16.4 ppg/7.3 apg/7.8 rpg which is insane for a rookie. Donovan Mitchell is the other surprise contender averaging 19.6 ppg/3.5 apg/3.5 rpg, but I think given Simmon’s boost in the assist and rebounds categories he takes this one home.

Most Improved Player so far: Victor Oladipo, Indiana Pacers

Most Improved Player: Paul George, Oklahoma City Thunder

I referenced Oladipo earlier, but I think he’s the clear run away with this award. He’s averaging about 9 points more per game from last year as well as bumps in rebounds and assists.

Sixth Man of the Year so far: Lou Williams. L.A. Clippers

Sixth Man of the Year: Lou Williams, L.A. Clippers

Williams has been so good that he’s played himself into a new contract extension and likely his second 6th Man of the Year award.

Coach of the Year so far: Brad Stevens, Boston Celtics

Coach of the Year: Brad Stevens, Boston Celtics

Incorporating Kyrie Irving into his lineup of young, fresh talent has proved yet again the coaching excellence of Brad Stevens. The Celtics have the second best record in the East thanks to the perfect mix of young talent and playing style. Dwane Casey of the Raptors will also be in the conversation if the Raptors can hold onto the first seed in the East.

Shaqtin’ a Fool MVP so far: Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers

Shaqtin’ a Fool MVP: Joakim Noah, New York Knicks

If Joakim played more than seven games this year this battle would have been a lot more entertaining. Embiid has been a Shaqtin’ nominee multiples times this season already included the segment below when he missed three dunks in a game.

West Playoffs (by seed) so far: Rockets, Warriors, Spurs, Timberwolves, Thunder, Nuggets, Blazers, Pelicans

West Playoffs (by seed): Warriors, Rockets, Thunder, Spurs, Nuggets, Timberwolves, Blazers, Jazz

East Playoffs (by seed) so far: Raptors, Celtics, Cavaliers, Wizards, Pacers, Bucks, 76ers, Heat

East Playoffs (by seed): Celtics, Cavaliers, Wizards, Bucks, Raptors, Heat, Hornets, 76ers