It’s only been a few months since the Denver Nuggets won the Larry O’Brien, followed by the Draft, followed by Free Agency, followed by Summer League, followed by other NBA happenings, however we can finally look forward to a brand-new season.

In the Eastern Conference, the elite Teams made massive moves! The Milwaukee Bucks traded for Damian Lillard and hired a new coach in Adrian Griffin. The Boston Celtics traded for Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis. Both Teams were already ranked at the top of the conference and will continue to do so, especially with their talented rosters. The Miami Heat failed in their pursue of Lillard, however if we know anything about this Team and its ‘culture’ they’ll definitely be pushing for another NBA Finals appearance. Keep an eye on the Brooklyn Nets as they’ll continue to surprise the league with a balanced roster. At some point, the Toronto Raptors will have to make a decision with regards to their own free agents. Time to rebuild or add pieces at the trade deadline and next summer in free agency. As for a fun Team to watch, the young & talented Orlando Magic will compete on a nightly basis and will take one of the play-in playoff spots.

In the Western Conference the Denver Nuggets are still the Team to beat! The Phoenix Suns made moves by trading for Bradley Beal, Jusuf Nurkic and hiring new coach Frank Vogel. The Golden State Warriors will always be contenders as long as Stephen Curry is playing, and the core championship roster is in tact. Adding Chris Paul gives them another presence in the starting five or leading the second unit. The Los Angeles Lakers bolstered their roster from top to bottom and will be playing tough the entire season. If Anthony Davis is healthy, they will be contenders. The Oklahoma City Thunder will not surprise anyone this season as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will continue to rise among the league’s best players. This young Team has been together for a few years now and with the addition of Chet Holmgren to the starting five which includes Luguentz Dort and Josh Giddey, the Thunder will be competing with every Team! Other Teams to keep an eye on include the Los Angeles Clippers and the New Orleans Pelicans.

This will definitely be another fun and exciting season! The superstars will continue to be just that, and the rookies will rise. Stay tuned…

Predictions for the season…
MVP: Nikola Jokic (Denver)
Defensive: Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee)
Most Improved: Jonathan Kuminga (Golden State)
Sixth Man: Nikola Jovic (Miami)
Coach: Jacque Vaughn (Brooklyn)
Rookie: Chet Holmgren (Oklahoma City)
Rookies of note: Scoot Henderson (Portland), Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio), Jaime Jasquez (Miami), Anthony Black (Orlando)

Eastern Conference
1. Milwaukee Bucks
2. Boston Celtics
3. Miami Heat
4. Brooklyn Nets
5. New York Knicks
6. Cleveland Cavaliers
7. Philadelphia 76ers
8. Chicago Bulls
9. Toronto Raptors
10. Orlando Magic

Western Conference
1. Denver Nuggets
2. Phoenix Suns
3. Golden State Warriors
4. Los Angeles Lakers
5. Oklahoma City Thunder
6. Los Angeles Clippers
7. New Orleans Pelicans
8. Sacramento Kings
9. Minnesota Timberwolves
10. Dallas Mavericks

Eastern Conference Finals: Milwaukee Bucks/Miami Heat
Eastern Conference Winner: Milwaukee Bucks
Western Conference Finals: Denver Nuggets/Golden State Warriors
Western Conference Winner: Denver Nuggets
NBA CHAMPIONS: Milwaukee Bucks