Hello all. Here we are on the eve of the NBA season and since we can’t record a podcast this week, I thought it’d be fun to get some predictions from Carl and myself and put it into the ol’ written form, like we did in the good old days. My plan with this is, at season’s end, to get Carl and I to do a podcast and see just how we did. Are we smart or morons? We shall find out.

We will be predicting all the award winners, including All-NBA, defense and rookie teams, as well as the final standings for each conference, and finally, each conference’s representative in the finals, and the team we think will win it all. To add to that, we both will be making one BOLD prediction, to see if we can get close on something crazy.

As always, follow us on Twitter, @onpointayden and @onpointcarl, as well as our main account, @sportcodex and let us know what you think of our picks. Enough chit-chat, let’s do this.

Bold Prediction

Carl: The San Antonio Spurs will finish with the worst record in the Western Conference.
Ayden: The Atlanta Hawks will trade for a star, but it won’t be James Harden. It’ll be Karl-Anthony Towns.

Yeah, I feel I went way bolder than Carl did with these, although the Spurs finishing bottom of the West does seem really unlikely as well.

MVP

Carl: Damian Lillard (POR)
Ayden: Luka Dončić (DAL)

I feel both of these picks require significant leaps from their respective teams to be feasible, but with Bron potentially resting after a long season and short offseason, and the likelihood that voters won’t want a Giannis threepeat, both of these picks are well within the realm of possibility. I also think Bron and AD take votes off of each other, because we know even if he is coasting, Bron gonna get that Rachel Nichols vote.

Rookie of the Year

Carl: Cole Anthony (ORL)
Ayden: Isaac Okoro (CLE)

Surprisingly neither Carl or I went with the “sexy picks” of LaMelo Ball (I was mighty tempted) or James Wiseman. Cole Anthony has the opportunity to be a main contributor off the Magic bench as T-Ross is the only other guy who can score there. Coming into the league, Okoro’s jumpshot was questionable but he was touted as NBA-ready defensively. Well, his jumpshot looked great in the preseason, and he will have the opportunity to play.

Sixth Man

Carl: Caris LeVert (BRK)
Ayden: Carmelo Anthony (POR)

LeVert is a great pick here IF he can accept a bench role; something that coach Steve Nash is apparently trying very hard to convince Caris to do. If he accepts it with no qualms, he could be deadly as the leader of the second unit. I went a more under-the-radar pick, which is weird to say considering Carmelo Anthony is a future Hall of Famer. He seems motivated; he was playing hard defense for the first time in his career last year, and this will be his first ever season as a sixth man, so I think he will feast against opposing second units.

Most Improved Player

Carl: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC)
Ayden: DeAndre Ayton (PHX)

I see a lot of people predicting this for Michael Porter Jr this season, but I like second year players winning this award as much as MPJ likes vaccines or playing defense. Carl goes for another popular pick in SGA, a guy who could’ve broken my rule last year with how well he played. With Chris Paul gone, SGA has the keys to the offense this season. Speaking of Paul, he is now with my pick, Ayton, and I am expecting him to have a similar effect on him. We have already seen clips from the preseason of Paul coaching Ayton on the sideline during games, so I expect Ayton to soak that up and become a legit 20-10 guy.

Defensive Player of the Year

Carl: Kawhi Leonard (LAC)
Ayden: Anthony Davis (LAL)

Carl goes for Kawhi to become a 3-time DPOY here, a feat only three other players and NO forwards have accomplished before. I really wanted to pick my boy Jrue to become the first guard since Gary Payton in 95-96 to win it, but I feel, much like Brook Lopez last season, his defensive achievements will be overshadowed by Giannis. I also don’t see the Lakers winning no regular season awards, and because I think Bron will save himself until the playoffs, hence no MVP award, I feel the voters will give this to AD as a (well-deserved) consolation prize.

Coach of the Year

Carl: Frank Vogel (LAL)
Ayden: Terry Stotts (POR)
I personally think Vogel will lose votes because, much like Steve Kerr did, he is coaching the defending champs and that team will be doing what is expected of them. I don’t necessarily think it’s fair, but it’s something we see in all award voting. I am predicting Portland to make a big leap this season, and I think Stotts is genuinely underrated with his coaching, particularly his defensive schemes, so it’ll be nice for him to get some recognition.

All-NBA Teams

1st Team

Carl:
G – Damian Lillard (POR)
G – Luka Dončić (DAL)
F – LeBron James (LAL)
F – Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL)
C – Nikola Jokic (DEN)

Ayden:
G – Damian Lillard (POR)
G – Luka Dončić (DAL)
F – LeBron James (LAL)
F – Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL)
C – Anthony Davis (LAL)

Almost identical teams here, with the only difference being our Centers. I think AD is going to have a massive campaign, almost MVP-worthy, so give him the nod here over Jokic. The rest of the picks are self-explanatory.

2nd Team:

Carl:
G – Steph Curry (GSW)
G – James Harden (HOU)
F – Devin Booker (PHX)
F – Kawhi Leonard (LAC)
C – Anthony Davis (LAL)

Ayden:
G – Steph Curry (GSW)
G – James Harden (HOU)
F – Kawhi Leonard (LAC)
F – Kevin Durant (BRK)
C – Joel Embiid (PHI)

Only three same choices this time round, as Carl and I pick the same backcourt and Kawhi Leonard. Carl has gone for the bold move of choosing a player out of position in Devin Booker, and I respect the pick. I am picking about a 90% return to form for KD, and 90% of KD is better than the vast majority of the league, so he makes my second team. I am also expecting Embiid to figure some things out with a more competent coach and a better team around him.

3rd Team

Carl:
G – Ja Morant (MEM)
G – Bradley Beal (WAS)
F – Jimmy Butler (MIA)
F – Jayson Tatum (BOS)
C – Karl-Anthony Towns (MIN)

Ayden:
G – Ben Simmons (PHI)
G – Devin Booker (PHX)
F – Jayson Tatum (BOS)
F – Jimmy Butler (MIA)
C – Nikola Jokic (DEN)

Carl and I only have two crossovers here; Tatum and Butler, the two forward positions. I have Joker here, not because I think he will struggle, but because I think Embiid and AD just have better seasons. I think Carl has the biggest longshot here with Ja, but if he takes another leap, it’s certainly possible. I also drafted him in Fantasy so I am all for it.

All-Defense Teams

1st Team

Carl:
G – Marcus Smart (BOS)
G – OG Anunoby (TOR)
F – Kawhi Leonard (LAC)
F – Bam Adebayo (MIA)
C – Rudy Gobert (UTA)

Ayden:
G – Jrue Holiday (MIL)
G – Ben Simmons (PHI)
F – Kawhi Leonard (LAC)
F – Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL)
C – Anthony Davis (LAL)

Carl going risky here putting another player out of position, with OG being at guard. I assume it was a typo and he meant to put Jrue there because Jrue is a beast. I think all the other picks are pretty straightforward.

2nd Team

Carl:
G – Jrue Holiday (MIL)
G – Eric Bledsoe (NOP)
F – Paul George (LAC)
F – P.J. Tucker (HOU)
C – Anthony Davis (LAL)

Ayden:
G – Eric Bledsoe (NOP)
G – Marcus Smart (BOS)
F – Robert Covington (POR)
F – Bam Adebayo (MIA)
C – Rudy Gobert (UTA)

Again, I assume Carl made a typo putting Jrue here, but I type it as I see it. Other than that, I think both squads again are pretty self-explanatory. Although I must say it is absolutely insane to me that P.J. Tucker has literally never made an all-defense squad. That’s blasphemous. Only reason I don’t have him in mine is because I feel his situation is a bit up-in-the-air. The Harden trade demand has already overshadowed the fact P.J. asked for a trade first.

All-Rookie Teams

1st Team

Carl:
LaMelo Ball (CHA)
Killian Hayes (DET)
Cole Anthony (ORL)
Deni Avidja (WAS)
James Wiseman (GSW)

Ayden:
LaMelo Ball (CHA)
Killian Hayes (DET)
Isaac Okoro (CLE)
Deni Avidja (WAS)
Obi Toppin (NYK)

The Rookie teams don’t require positions so this is basically who we think the five best rookies will be. I nearly went with Cole Anthony as well, but I think Toppin is gonna do some things in New York. Someone is going to have to. All these guys listed will have opportunities to do some things though so none are surprising.

2nd Team

Carl:
Tyrese Haliburton (SAC)
Desmond Bane (MEM)
Isaac Okoro (CLE)
Anthony Edwards (MIN)
Obi Toppin (NYK)

Ayden:
Cole Anthony (ORL)
Tyrese Haliburton (SAC)
Anthony Edwards (MIN)
Patrick Williams (CHI)
Bol Bol (DEN)

Both of us had a risky pick in this one. Carl had late first round pick, sharpshooter Desmond Bane of the Grizzlies, a pick I kinda love. I actually wanted Bane to fall to the Hornets at 32, so I like the pick. I went with a real dark horse in Bol Bol, who is technically still a rookie. This is due to the league ruling the Bubble games as “not counting.” With Jerami Grant and Mason Plumlee both in Detroit, there is a spot for Bol² to get some minutes.

Western Conference Final Standings

Carl:
1. Los Angeles Lakers
2. Los Angeles Clippers
3. Portland Trail Blazers
4. Denver Nuggets
5. Golden State Warriors
6. Dallas Mavericks
7. Utah Jazz
8. Phoenix Suns
9. Houston Rockets
10. Memphis Grizzlies
11. New Orleans Pelicans
12. Oklahoma City Thunder
13. Minnesota Timberwolves
14. Sacramento Kings
15. San Antonio Spurs

Ayden:
1. Los Angeles Lakers
2. Portland Trail Blazers
3. Dallas Mavericks
4. Los Angeles Clippers
5. Denver Nuggets
6. Golden State Warriors
7. Phoenix Suns
8. Houston Rockets
9. Utah Jazz
10. San Antonio Spurs
11. Memphis Grizzlies
12. New Orleans Pelicans
13. Sacramento Kings
14. Minnesota Timberwolves
15. Oklahoma City Thunder

Eastern Conference Final Standings

Carl:
1. Milwaukee Bucks
2. Philadelphia 76ers
3. Toronto Raptors
4. Brooklyn Nets
5. Boston Celtics
6. Miami Heat
7. Indiana Pacers
8. Washington Wizards
9. Atlanta Hawks
10. Detroit Pistons
11. Chicago Bulls
12. Charlotte Hornets
13. Orlando Magic
14. Cleveland Cavaliers
15. New York Knicks

Ayden:
1. Milwaukee Bucks
2. Brooklyn Nets
3. Philadelphia 76ers
4. Boston Celtics
5. Miami Heat
6. Toronto Raptors
7. Atlanta Hawks
8. Indiana Pacers
9. Washington Wizards
10. Chicago Bulls
11. Charlotte Hornets
12. Orlando Magic
13. Cleveland Cavaliers
14. Detroit Pistons
15. New York Knicks

So we already saw Carl’s bold prediction with the Spurs being bottom in the West, but maybe his bold prediction should’ve been Detroit making the play-in tournament. No other real surprises from Carl, except maybe OKC being 12th in the West. My most shocking pick here would be Utah missing out on the Top 8. I can’t even give a reason really, I just have a funny feeling about that squad. Of course, it’s all out the window if Harden is moved. In that scenario, I’d move them down about 3-4 spots depending on the return. I also used all of my willpower to not homer my Charlotte Hornets into the play-in tournament.

Finals Predictions

Carl:
West Champ: LA Lakers
East Champ: Milwaukee Bucks
NBA Champ: Milwaukee Bucks
Finals MVP: Giannis Antetokounmpo

Ayden:
West Champ: LA Lakers
East Champ: Philadelphia 76ers
NBA Champ: LA Lakers
Finals MVP: LeBron James

My predictions made me feel sick for two reasons; one, I want my boy Jrue to get a chip. But I think the Sixers are gonna thrive this season. Two, I think the Lakers are far and away the best team in the NBA. I don’t think second place is relatively close either, and it sickens me. I also think Bron is super motivated to catch MJ’s six chips…not that it matters. MJ the GOAT now and forever. I do hope the Bucks make it work this season. I think Jrue is an upgrade over Bledsoe for sure and should make them better. I will be happy to get this one wrong if it means Carl gets it right.

Alright, there we have it. Tweet me your picks if you so desire, or some spicy hot takes. Best of luck to Carl with his picks, and let’s have a great fucking season. Hell Yeah!

As always, until next time…

PEACE!