NBA: 2020-21 regular season guide

Below is our full 2020-21 regular season guide with projected awards, records, and more!

Eastern Projections:

1. Bucks (54-18)

2. Nets (52-20)

3. Celtics (50-22)

4. 76ers (45-27)

5. Heat (44-28)

6. Raptors (43-29)

7. Wizards (40-32)

8. Hawks (38-34)

9. Pacers (36-36)

10. Hornets (34-38)

11. Knicks (30-42)

12. Magic (28-44)

13. Bulls (23-49)

14. Pistons (18-54)

15. Cavaliers (17-55)

Western Projections:

1. Lakers (55-17)

2. Clippers (53-19)

3. Nuggets (51-21)

4. Mavericks (45-27)

5. Trail Blazers (43-29)

6. Suns (41-31)

7. Jazz (38-34)

8. Warriors (37-35)

9. Rockets (36-36)

10. Grizzlies (33-39)

11. Pelicans (32-40)

12. Timberwolves (31-41)

13. Spurs (20-52)

14. Kings (19-53)

15. Thunder (18-54)

NBA Finals Picks: The most common pick from our NBA staff saw the Los Angeles Lakers-Brooklyn Nets (3 votes) in a rematch of the 2002 Finals. In that scenario, we'd see LeBron James and Kevin Durant face off in the Finals for the fourth time since 2012. Three other Finals matchups, including the Lakers-Bucks, Mavericks-Bucks, and Clippers-Nets, each received one vote. According to Vegas Insider, the Lakers (+325) and Bucks (+550) are favored to win their respective conferences. As for who is going to win it all, four of our six writers selected LA to successfully defend their title. The other two votes were split between Brooklyn and Milwaukee. If the Lakers do repeat, it will be the franchise's record 18th championship.

Major Awards:

- MVP: Luka Dončić (Mavericks)

- ROTY: LaMelo Ball (Hornets)

- COTY: Monty Williams (Suns)

- DPOTY: Anthony Davis (Lakers)

- MIP: Michael Porter Jr. (Nuggets)

- SIXTH: Caris LeVert (Nets)

Top-10 Games:

- Warriors @ Nets (12/22)

- Clippers @ Lakers (12/22)

- Nets @ Celtics (12/25)

- Clippers @ Nuggets (12/25)

- Bucks @ Mavericks (1/15)

- Lakers @ Bucks (1/21)

- Nets @ Suns (2/16)

- Heat @ Lakers (2/20)

- Wizards @ Blazers (2/20)

- 76ers @ Raptors (2/23)

Award Projections: Luka Dončić (3 votes) led the way in our MVP projection after averaging 28.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 8.8 assists per game last year in just his second season in the NBA. LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Giannis Antetokounmpo each earned one vote as well. LaMelo Ball (3) edged out Anthony Edwards (2) and Deni Avdija (1) for Rookie of the Year, while Monty Williams (2) and Steve Nash (2) earned the most Coach of the Year nods. Anthony Davis (4) outlasted Bam Adebayo (1) and Kawhi Leonard (1) for Defensive Player of the Year. Meanwhile, we're riding with Michael Porter Jr. (2) over Christian Wood (1) for Most Improved Player and Caris LeVert (2) over Montrezl Harrell (1) for Sixth Man of the Year.

Photo Credit: NY Times.