2019 NBA Season Preview

2019 NBA Season Preview

August 23rd, 2018

This upcoming year is going to special and I can feel it. Maybe I might just be a super fan and caught up in the anticipation but I see this year being extremely entertaining and must watch television virtually every night. Below is a list of predictions I have for the upcoming season starting with first my picks for the 2019 NBA Awards. 

Kia NBA Most Valuable Player Award

PF/C Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans

Now is the time for AD to really showcase his dominance in the NBA. Davis averaged 28 & 11 last year while also adding two blocks per game. Davis had 32 games in which he scored 30 or more points, which also includes a 50 point performance, and 14 games in which he got five or more blocks. Davis is certainly an MVP caliber player and the tear that he went on after Boogie's injury should indicate that. I project AD averaging 31 & 13 next year and finishing above the LeBron and Giannis for the 2019 Kia NBA MVP Award. This will be the year of Anthony Davis.

Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award

C Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers

This pick could have easily been Anthony Davis again but I think this will be a year where there are a lot of candidates for this award but Embiid will edge out names like Draymond Green, Rudy Robert, Anthony Davis and Kawhi Leonard. Joel Embiid was ranked eighth last year in player defensive metircs if you exclude the two game stint of LA's Andre Ingram. The 76ers will most likely be top three seed in the Eastern Conference and we will pay close attention to their nationally televised games. Embiid is an elite rim protector, great at timing shots and rebounds very effectively. I think the only thing that can hold him back this year is injuries. If Embiid catches the injury bug, look for my dark horse pick Giannis Antetokounmpo to emerge and steal the award. Nevertheless, if Embiid can play 65+ games this year this award is his. 

Kia NBA Rookie of the Year Award

SF Kevin Knox, New York Knicks

I know what you are thinking...why Kevin Knox over the biggest names of the draft such as DeAndre Ayton, Marvin Bagley III, Luka Doncic, Trae Young and Colin Sexton. My answer is simply opportunity and his natural scoring ability. Knox is coming into a situation in New York that needs a scoring boost while Kristaps Porzingis recovers and there is no real threat on the roster to keep Knox on the bench. I think Kevin Knox could have easily been a top 3-5 pick in any other draft but the 2018 draft is projected to be a very special one. Kevin Knox has a long build at 6'9 and roughly 215 pounds and can shoot the rock. Knox also should be a matchup problem around the league given that he has a smooth shooting stroke and can handle the rock. The Kentucky native did have games where he went through scoring woes but his upside is almost unmatched with this class and I expect 15-17 PPG and 25 MPG from Knox. 

Kia NBA Most Improved Player Award

C Myles Turner, Indiana Pacers 

Yes sir! I picked the MIP Award to stay in Indiana after Victor Oladipo's 2018 recognition. Now my pick could have easily been F Aaron Gordon, G Dejounte Murray, or C Clint Capela but I like what Indiana is doing and they are in a prime position to have Turner excel this upcoming season. Turner averaged 12 & 6 in his third NBA season which was a little drop-off from his sophomore season. Turner and the Pacers should be an intriguing and more balanced team in the East with the additions of G Tyreke Evans, SF Doug McDermott, PF/C Kyle O'Quinn, PF Trevor Booker and rookie G Aaron Holiday. We should see Turner blossom into a sure option this year and average around 18 & 8 this season. 

Kia NBA Sixth Man Award

PF Julius Randle, New Orleans Pelicans

I love the situation that Julius Randle is in as of now in New Orleans and that is why I pick another award to go to New Orleans. Last year with the Los Angeles Lakers, Randle played all 82 games and averaged 16 and 8 and looked to get stronger and better as the season progressed. Randle will probably split minutes with PF Nikola Mirotic at the four and most likely come off the bench given that Mirotic can space the floor more for AD to go to work. Randle is a tough and rugged style forward that can back you down as well as the ability to  handle the ball enough to make plays for others. Randle can show flashes of a next generation Lamar Odom at times with the ability to grab a board and start a break. If Randle continues to work on his outside shooting and picks up where he left off in LA, look for him to snag this award. Other names that will be in the conversation will be G Daren Collison, SF/PF Kyle Kuzma, G Lou Williams and G Eric Gordon.

NBA Coach of the Year Award

HC Quin Snyder, Utah Jazz

I like the unconventional pick in HC Quin Snyder here. I know the favorite heading in to the year is Boston's HC Brad Stevens but Snyder has been doing a great job in Utah and I think this is the year where he gets recognition for it. Over the past four years Snyder has turned Utah into a gritty team that nobody looks forward to playing on their schedule. I think this is the year where Utah breaks into the top four in this year's west standings and win about 55 games. Center Rudy Gobert missed time last year with his injury so having him healed up will benefit and having promising sophomore G Donovan Mitchell again who looks to be the next transcendent talent. Pair those two with veteran G Ricky Rubio, PF Derick Favors, F Joe Ingles, F Jae Crowder, and others, and I see a very solid season for Utah and a Coach of the Year Award for Quin Snyder. 

Best Rebuild Award

Chicago Bulls

I am going to do something a little new here. Every year we talk about the teams that are tanking and searching for draft picks. I am going to note the team that will bounce back the best after tanking or being at the bottom quarter of the 2018 standings (aside from the Lakers due to them getting LeBron.) Chicago is setting themselves up great for the upcoming years. Now I am not promising a championship, but they have very solid young pieces moving forward and I expect a bump from last season's 27 wins to anywhere between 35 and 40 wins this year. Chicago found a gem in last year's draft with selecting PF Lauri Markkenen and I have a strong feeling that they drafted another gem this year in PF/C Wendell Carter Jr. from Duke. Speaking of Duke they acquired Chicago-native F Jabari Parker this summer in free agency who has shown to be a top level scorer when healthy. Moreover, G Zach LaVine should be in full stride after recovering from injury last season and G Kris Dunn continues to improve. The wild card they got in the draft is G Chandler Hutchison from Boise State University. Hutchison has one of the best shooting strokes our of anyone in the 2018 draft class and could be another scoring punch this season along with other pieces such as F Bobby Portis, G Justin Holiday and vet C Robin Lopez. Expect the Bulls to turn heads this upcoming season and fight for that eighth seed in the East. 

Projected NBA Finals Matchup & Champion

Matchup:Golden State Warriors vs. Boston Celtics

Champion: Golden State Warriors

I think this is the fair and reasonable 2019 NBA Finals matchup that most NBA fans are anticipating. Golden State only got better this offseason by adding C DeMarcus Cousins, PF Jonas Jerebko and drafting G Jacob Evans out of Cincinnati. With that being said, they will probably get close to 70 wins again and with Houston loosing key pieces this offseason, I do not see a team taking the Warriors past a six game series in the Western Conference Playoffs. On the other hand, Boston will have to earn their stripes throughout the course of the year and battle with Philadelphia and Toronto in the East this year. However, with G Kyrie Irving and SF Gordon Hayward back in the mix this season with G/F Jaylen Brown, F Jayson Tatum, F/C Al Horford, G Terry Rozier and G Marcus Smart, they should handle the East considerably after getting in the groove of the season. I predict an action packed seven game series in which Golden State nearly pulls out the last game in the final few minutes. I think the Boston team is constructed to dethrone the Warriors and with HC Brad Stevens leading Boston, do not be alarmed when Boston has Golden State on the ropes. 

Projected 2019 NBA Standings  

          

Eastern Conference                                                                     

1. Boston Celtics 64-18                                                                  
2. Philadelphia 76ers 56-26

3. Toronto Raptors 55-27

4. Indiana Pacers 49-33

5. Milwaukee Bucks 47-35

6. Washington Wizards 44-28

7. Detroit Pistons 42-40

8. Cleveland Cavaliers 41-41

9. Miami Heat 39-43

10. New York Knicks 36-46

11. Chicago Bulls 36-46

12. Charlotte Hornets 32-50

13. Orlando Magic 30-52

14. Atlanta Hawks 29-53

15. Brooklyn Nets 27-55

Western Conference

1. Golden State Warriors 68-14

2. Houston Rockets 62-20

3. Utah Jazz 56-26

4. Oklahoma City Thunder 54-28

5. Los Angeles Lakers 47-35

6. New Orleans Pelicans 46-36

7. San Antonio Spurs 44-39

8. Denver Nuggets 43-38

9. Minnesota Timberwolves 42-39

10. Portland Trail Blazers 40-42

11. Los Angeles Clippers 37-47

12. Dallas Mavericks 36-46

13. Phoenix Suns 33-49

14. Sacramento Kings 28-54

15. Memphis Grizzles 26-56