NBA Bold Predictions in Review
With the NBA season in the rear view mirror, it's time to reflect on what happened during the regular season. Before the season began, I made bold predictions for each NBA team. How did it fare out?
Eastern Conference: Atlanta Hawks: What I said: They would have the worst record in the NBA.
What actually happened: Close, they finished with a 24-58 record and the Phoenix Suns finished with the worst record in the NBA at 21-61.
Boston Celtics: What I said: With the additions of Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward, they would win 60 games.
What actually happened: Hayward injured his leg in a freak accident during the first game of the regular season and Irving was ruled out for the season last week with a knee injury and Boston won 55 games and clinched the two seed in the east.
Brooklyn Nets: What I said: D'Angelo Russell would average 25 PPG and 10 APG.
What actually happened: He averaged 15.5 PPG and 5.2 APG.
Charlotte Hornets: What I said: Malik Monk would average 20 PPG as a rookie.
What actually happened: He only averaged 6.7 PPG as a rookie.
Chicago Bulls: What I said: The Bulls would have the worse offense in the NBA.
What actually happened: Close, they had a bottom-five offense in the NBA, just averaging 102.9 PPG.
Cleveland Cavaliers: What I said: Derrick Rose would return to MVP form and average 24.9 PPG and 8 APG.
What actually happened: I wasn't even close as the Cavaliers decided to trade him during the regular season and he didn't meet expectations.
Detroit Pistons: What I said: Reggie Jackson would get traded mid-season.
What actually happened: He didn't.
Indiana Pacers: What I said: Glenn Robinson III would lead the team in scoring.
What actually happened: He only averaged 4.1 PPG and Victor Oladipo led the Pacers in scoring with 23.1 PPG.
Miami Heat: What I said: Goran Dragic would make it to the all-star game this season.
What actually happened: He didn't at first, but Dragic made it because of some injuries to all-stars.
Milwaukee Bucks: What I said: Giannis Antetokoumpo would win MVP.
What actually happened: He will get some votes, but James Harden will win MVP.
New York Knicks: What I said: Kristaps Porzingis would stay healthy for an entire season.
What actually happened: He tore his ACL before the all-star break.
Orlando Magic: What I said: Nikola Vucevic would average 2 BPG.
What actually happened: He averaged 1.1 BPG.
Philadelphia 76ers: What I said: All the young players would stay healthy and win over 40 games and make the playoffs.
What actually happened: Bullseye, the 76ers won 52 games and clinched the three seed in the east.
Toronto Raptors: What I said: They wouldn't be a top four seed in the east.
What actually happened: They finished with the top record in the east with a 59-23 record.
Washington Wizards: What I said: Otto Porter Jr. would finish with the most three-pointers made on the team.
What actually happened: Otto Porter only made 138 3's. Bradley Beal had 199.
Western Conference: Dallas Mavericks: What I said: Dennis Smith Jr. would win rookie of the year.
What actually happened: He averaged 15.2 PPG 3.8 RPG 5.2 APG and 1.0 SPG as a rookie, but Philadelphia's Ben Simmons or Utah's Donovan Mitchell will win rookie of the year.
Denver Nuggets: What I said: They improved their roster during the offseason by adding Paul Millsap in free agency in a tough western conference and they would make the playoffs.
What actually happened: They just missed the playoffs with a 46-36 record and had they beaten the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday Night, they would have been in.
Golden State Warriors: What I said: Warriors would break their 73-9 record.
What actually happened: Too many injuries during the regular season and they finished with a 58-24 record and the two seed in the west.
Houston Rockets: What I said: The addition of Chris Paul would hurt Houston rather than help them and they wouldn't finish in the top four in the west.
What actually happened: The addition of Chris Paul actually helped the Rockets. The Rockets only lost three games all season when Paul, James Harden, and Clint Capela all played in the same game and the Rockets clinched the one seed in the west with a 65-17 record.
Los Angeles Clippers: What I said: Blake Griffin would average a double-double.
What actually happened: He averaged 22.6 PPG and 7.9 RPG during the regular season, but Griffin was traded to the Detroit Pistons mid-season.
Los Angeles Lakers: What I said: Julius Randle would make it to the all-star team.
What actually happened: He didn't.
Memphis Grizzles: What I said: They would be a bottom five team in the standings.
What actually happened: Bullseye, they finished with the second worst record in the NBA at 22-60.
Minnesota Timberwolves: What I said: With the additions of Jimmy Butler, Jeff Teague, and Taj Gibson, they would be a top-three team in the western conference.
What actually happened: They defeated the Denver Nuggets on the final day of the regular season for the eighth and final playoff spot with a 47-35 record.
New Orleans Pelicans: What I said: The DeMarcus Cousins and Anthony Davis experiment wouldn't work and one of them would get traded mid-season.
What actually happened: None of them got traded. Cousins ruptured his Achilles before the all-star and it only elevated Anthony Davis's game. The Pelicans finished sixth in the west with a 48-34 record.
Oklahoma City Thunder: What I said: Paul George would win the scoring title.
What actually happened: James Harden won the scoring title.
Phoenix Suns: What I said: Devin Booker would score three 40-point games during the regular season.
What actually happened: Bullseye, he had exactly three 40-point games during the regular season.
Portland Trail Blazers: What I said: C.J. McCollum would average more PPG than Damian Lillard.
What actually happened: Close, Lillard led the team with 26.9 PPG and McCollum averaged 21.4 PPG.
Sacramento Kings: What I said: De'Aaron Fox would average most assists as a rookie than Lonzo Ball.
What actually happened: Eh, Fox only averaged 4.4 APG and Ball averaged 7.2 APG.
San Antonio Spurs: What I said: They won't reach the conference finals this season.
What actually happened: It could very well happen because they don't have Kawhi Leonard and the Spurs face the Golden State Warriors in round one.
Utah Jazz: What I said: They would miss the postseason because Gordon Hayward left in free agency.
What actually happened: They got off to a slow start because of the injury to Rudy Gobert, but when he came back, the Jazz got better and rookie sensation Donovan Mitchell helped Utah to a 48-34 record and the five seed in the west.
