NBA: Regular season preview and picks
Western Conference:
1. Clippers (57-25)
2. Nuggets (55-27)
3. Rockets (52-30)
4. Jazz (52-30)
5. Lakers (51-31)
6. Trail Blazers (50-32)
7. Warriors (48-34)
8. Kings (47-35)
9. Spurs (45-37)
10. Mavericks (36-46)
11. Pelicans (35-47)
12. Thunder (33-49)
13. Timberwolves (32-50)
14. Grizzlies (31-51)
15. Suns (17-65)
Eastern Conference:
1. 76ers (59-23)
2. Bucks (59-23)
3. Celtics (51-31)
4. Pacers (50-32)
5. Nets (47-35)
6. Raptors (43-39)
7. Heat (41-41)
8. Pistons (41-41)
9. Magic (40-42)
10. Hawks (38-44)
11. Bulls (32-50)
12. Knicks (30-52)
13. Wizards (22-60)
14. Cavaliers (20-62)
15. Hornets (16-66)
Most valuable player:
Ariun Paige: James Harden (Rockets)
Charles Post: LeBron James (Lakers)
Chinedum Wejinya: James Harden (Rockets)
Jibreel O'Bannon: Anthony Davis (Lakers)
Raven Martin: Stephen Curry (Warriors)
Tyler Taylor: Kawhi Leonard (Clippers)
Coach of the year:
Ariun Paige: Mike Malone (Nuggets)
Charles Post: Kenny Atkinson (Nets)
Chinedum Wejinya: Doc Rivers (Clippers)
Jibreel O'Bannon: Doc Rivers (Clippers)
Raven Martin: Steve Kerr (Warriors)
Tyler Taylor: Doc Rivers (Clippers)
Defensive player of the year:
Ariun Paige: Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks)
Charles Post: Rudy Gobert (Jazz)
Chinedum Wejinya: Rudy Gobert (Jazz)
Jibreel O'Bannon: Paul George (Clippers)
Raven Martin: Bam Adebayo (Heat)
Tyler Taylor: Myles Turner (Pacers)
Rookie of the year:
Ariun Paige: Zion Williamson (Pelicans)
Charles Post: Ja Morant (Grizzlies)
Chinedum Wejinya: Ja Morant (Grizzlies)
Jibreel O'Bannon: Zion Williamson (Pelicans)
Raven Martin: Tyler Herro (Heat)
Tyler Taylor: Terrance Mann (Clippers)
Scoring champion:
Ariun Paige: Stephen Curry (Warriors)
Charles Post: James Harden (Rockets)
Chinedum Wejinya: James Harden (Rockets)
Jibreel O'Bannon: Stephen Curry (Warriors)
Raven Martin: Stephen Curry (Warriors)
Tyler Taylor: Paul George (Clippers)
Sixth man of the year:
Ariun Paige: Spencer Dinwiddie (Nets)
Charles Post: Lou Williams (Clippers)
Chinedum Wejinya: Lou Williams (Clippers)
Jibreel O'Bannon: Lou Williams (Clippers)
Raven Martin: Goran Dragic (Heat)
Tyler Taylor: Lou Williams (Clippers)
Biggest disappointments:
1. Warriors fall to the 7th seed.
2. Jim Boylan doesn't play Coby White enough.
3. The Nets struggle early on.
4. Both LA super duos fail to play 60+ games together.
5. Pistons struggle despite higher expectations.
Biggest surprises:
1. Kings make the playoffs.
2. DeAndre Ayton averages 24 points, 12 boards.
3. Karl-Anthony Towns joins 50-40-90 club.
4. Stephen Curry breaks own three-point record.
5. Thunder deal Chris Paul for Andrew Wiggins.
NBA finals picks:
Ariun Paige: Bucks over Rockets (unless Klay is healthy)
Charles Post: Lakers over Bucks
Chinedum Wejinya: Clippers over 76ers
Jibreel O'Bannon: Clippers over 76ers
Raven Martin: Warriors over 76ers
Tyler Taylor: Clippers over Bucks
Photo Credit: ESPN.
