It’s rare that the NBA champion, in this instance a team that slayed the ghosts of Cleveland past, to the delight of many beyond Ohio, begins defense of its title on the bottom of the marquee.
The Cavaliers won the title, but the Warriors are the undisputed stars of the show. They have dominated the offseason spotlight and will continue to do so. That’s that natural by-product of losing The Finals in historically devastating fashion and responding by reloading your nuclear offense with the cyber-nuclear weapon that is Kevin Durant.
[RATTO: Six things Warriors can do to mitigate the looming 'Warrior Fatigue']
Yet the season must be played before the next champ can be crowned or the MVP can receive his trophy. There will be interest and intrigue, rumors and speculation, allegations and insinuations.
With that, we open the door to the 2016-17 season. We will miss the departed icons – Kobe and KG and Tim – but there are games to play and votes to count, results to be debated and, of course, disputed.
Here are our key predictions for the upcoming NBA season:
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WESTERN CONFERENCE
Pacific Division: Golden State Warriors. After they lose two or three games in the first six weeks, they’ll be gold. Good luck stopping this offense. Assuming good health, Curry & Durant and Co. should approach 70 victories.
Northwest Division: Oklahoma City Thunder. With Kevin Durant, they were on the verge of a Finals appearance. Without him, Russell Westbrook and a very good supporting cast are good enough to win 55 games.
Southwest Division: San Antonio Spurs: It’s going to be strange, indeed, to see them without Tim Duncan. But they still have Pop. They’re not championship good anymore, but they are to be feared.
Western Conference Finals: Warriors over Spurs in 5.
[POOLE: Curry: 'There's nothing that's going to derail' 2016-17 Warriors]
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Atlantic Division: Boston Celtics. Surprised? Don’t be. We’re not buying the Raptors. The addition of Al Horford, and a still-stingy defense, gives the Celtics the best team they’ve had since the Pierce-KG-Ray-Rondo years.
Central Division: Cleveland Cavaliers. It’s Ty Lue and basically the same crew. LeBron is still great after all these years. Moreover, take a look around this division. Nobody is a threat to even come close.
Southeast Division: Atlanta Hawks: We know. Horford is gone, Dwight’s tread has worn thin and Bazemore is making Klay Thompson money. The coach is solid. So, go ahead and take a look around this division. Who else is there?
Eastern Conference Finals: Celtics over Cavs in 7.
NBA Finals: Warriors in 5
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MVP: Russell Westbrook, Thunder. OKC won’t dip as far as you might think. So when they do better than expected, all eyes will turn toward Russ. Runner-up: Damian Lillard, Trail Blazers.
Rookie of the Year: Buddy Hield, Pelicans. Coach Alvin Gentry needed a shooter, and Buddy is it. Turn him loose and hope he avoids the Bayou injury hex. Runner-up: Kris Dunn, Timberwolves.
Coach of the Year: Brad Stevens, Celtics. A top-five coach handed a new toy by GM Danny Ainge, Stevens will see to it that his team wins some of those close games lost last season. Runner-up: Billy Donovan, Thunder.
Defensive Player of the Year: Kawhi Leonard, Spurs. The most versatile stopper in the NBA, and it’s hard to see that changing. Runner-up: Avery Bradley, Celtics.
Most Improved Player: Jusuf Nurkic, Nuggets. A future All-Star, 7-footer just turned 22, is confident and willing to mix it up. Runner-up: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks.
Sixth Man of the Year: Andre Iguodala, Warriors. Never underestimate a skilled 32-year-old chasing a championship in a contract year. Runner-up: Boris Diaw, Jazz.
