NBA Preview: Awards, Hype, Prediction Edition

With the NBA Season getting ready to start it’s only right that we answer a few questions in regards to awards, playoff seeding, finals predictions etc…. Please be sure to sound off and voice your opinions and enlighten us on your predictions.

Statistical Predictions:

Who will lead the league in scoring?

  
Hornback: Kevin Durant

Fort: Kevin Durant

Carter: Kevin Durant

Who will lead the league in rebounds?

  Hornback: Andre Drummond

Fort: Hassan Whiteside

Carter: Deandre Jordan

Who will lead the league in assists?

  

Hornback: John Wall

Fort: John Wall

Carter: Chris Paul

Who will lead the league in PER? (Player Efficiency Rating)

    
Hornback: Anthony Davis

Fort: Anthony Davis

Carter: Chris Paul

Who will lead the league in usage percentage?

  Hornback: LeBron James

Fort: Carmelo Anthony

Carter: James Harden

What will be the top 5 offenses?

   
Hornback:

1. Warriors
2. Clippers
3. Thunder
4. Hawks
5. Spurs

Fort:

1. Warriors
2. Clippers
3. Thunder
4. Hawks
5. Spurs

Carter:

1. Clippers
2. Warriors
3. Thunder
4. Rockets
5. Heat

What will be the top 5 defenses?

    
Hornback:

1. Jazz
2. Warriors
3. Bucks
4. Grizzlies
5. Wizards

Fort:

1. Warriors
2. Wizards
3. Cavaliers
4. Bucks
5. Thunder

Carter:

1. Bucks
2. Bulls
3. Pelicans
4. Warriors
5. Jazz

Awards Predictions:

Who will be this season’s Coach of the Year?

  

Hornback: Alvin Gentry

Fort: Erik Spolestra

Carter: Jason Kidd

Who will be this season’s Executive of the Year?

  
Hornback: R. C. Buford (San Antonio)

Fort: Pat Riley (Miami)

Carter: John Hammond (Milwaukee)

Who will be the season’s Rookie of the Year?

  Hornback: Jahlil Okafor

Fort: Emannuel Mudiay (Winslow very close 2nd)

Carter: Karl-Anthony Towns

Who will be this season’s Most Valuable Player of the Year?

  Hornback: James Harden

Fort: Kevin Durant or Russell Westbrook

Carter: James Harden

Who will be this season’s Defensive Player of the Year?

  Hornback: Rudy Gobert

Fort: Dwight Howard

Carter: Anthony Davis

Who will be this season’s Sixth Man of the Year?

  Hornback: Isaiah Thomas

Fort: Louis Williams

Carter: Isaiah Thomas

Who will be this season’s Most Improved Player?

  
Hornback: Derrick Favors

Fort: Jordan Clarkson

Carter: Rudy Gobert

All NBA 1st Team

Hornback:
Steph Curry
James Harden
LeBron James
Anthony Davis
Dwight Howard

Fort: 
Russell Westbrook
James Harden
LeBron James
Kevin Durant
Anthony Davis

Carter:
Chris Paul
James Harden
LeBron James
Blake Griffin
Anthony Davis

All NBA 2nd Team

Hornback:
Chris Paul
Russell Westbrook
Kevin Durant
LaMarcus Aldridge
DeMarcus Cousins

Fort: 
John Wall
Steph Curry
Paul George
Lamarcus Aldridge
Blake Griffin

Carter:
Steph Curry
Russell Westbrook
Kevin Durant
LaMarcus Aldridge
Demarcus Cousins

All NBA 3rd Team

Hornback:
John Wall
Jimmy Butler
Kevin Love
Blake Griffin
Marc Gasol

Fort: 
Chris Paul
Jimmy Butler
Kawhi Leonard
Chris Bosh
Marc Gasol

Carter:
John Wall
Jimmy Butler
Kawhi Leonard
Pau Gasol
Marc Gasol

All NBA Defensive 1st Team

Hornback:
John Wall
Tony Allen
Draymond Green
Anthony Davis
Rudy Gobert

Fort: 
John Wall
Jeff Teague
Kawhi Leonard
LeBron James

Carter:
Chris Paul
Jimmy Butler
Anthony Davis
Rudy Gobert

All NBA Defensive 2nd Team

Hornback:
Chris Paul
Jimmy Butler
Kawhi Leonard
Serge Ibaka
Marc Gasol

Fort: 
Chris Paul
Jimmy Butler
Paul George
Anthony Davis
Deandre Jordan

Carter:
Michael Conley
Tony Allen
Draymond Green
Serge Ibaka
Deandre Jordan

All NBA Rookie Team

Hornback:
D’Angelo Russell
Emmanuel Mudiay
Mario Hezonja
Stanley Johnson
Jahlil Okafor

Fort: 
Emmanuel Mudiay
D’Angelo Russell
Justice Winslow
Karl-Anthony Towns
Jahlil Okafor

Carter:
Emmanuel Mudiay
Mario Hezonja
Stanley Johnson
Karl-Anthony Towns
Jahlil Okafor

Playoff Predictions

  
DeShawn Hornback:

1. Warriors
2. Spurs
3. Rockets
4. Clippers
5. Thunder
6. Grizzlies
7. Pelicans
8. Jazz

Ryan Fort

1. Thunder
2. Warriors
3. Rockets
4. Spurs
5. Clippers
6. Grizzlies
7. Pelicans
8. Mavs

Tyler Carter:

1. Spurs
2. Warriors
3. Clippers
4. Rockets
5. Thunder
6. Grizzlies
7. Suns
8. Kings

  
Hornback:

1. Cavaliers
2. Hawks
3. Wizards
4. Bulls
5. Raptors
6. Heat
7. Bucks
8. Detroit

Fort:

1. Cavaliers
2. Hawks
3. Wizards
4. Heat
5. Bulls
6. Raptors
7. Bucks
8. Pistons

Carter:

1. Cavaliers
2. Bulls
3. Heat
4. Raptors
5. Wizards
6. Bucks
7. Hawks
8. Pacers

Final Four

Hornback: 

Spurs vs Warriors
Cavaliers vs Wizards

Fort: 

Thunder vs Rockets
Cavaliers vs Heat

Carter:

Spurs vs Clippers
Cavaliers vs Heat

Finals Predictions:

  
Hornback:

Spurs vs Cavaliers Cavaliers in 7

Fort: 

Thunder vs Heat Thunder in 6

Carter:

Spurs vs Cavaliers Cavaliers in 6

Can Anyone Beat The Heat?

Throughout this season people have said the Heat are shoulders above the rest and can’t be beaten. Me and my partners, Kenton13 ( http://wp.me/p33YLP-71) and AllenRmon ( http://wp.me/p33YLP-5A) are here to debate that claim.

Can Memphis, San Antonio or Indiana beat the Heat?

Kenton:
Yes. I think that either team could, but I feel like the Spurs have the best shot because they can score.

Ryan: I understand that, but i feel like Memphis has a better shot because of their defense and the bigs they have downlow.

R’Mon: NO!!!! When the Heat are on their game and playing their pressure defense, they are virtually unstoppable. Not to mention they have the best player in the world (just a thought).

Kenton: When anyone of these teams are on their game, they’re hard to beat!

Ryan: Fair enough, but Chicago did provide a minor blueprint on how to beat the Heat!

R’mon: Not really they eventually got beat at their own game. Miami can get physical too!

Kenton: Miami physical? I find that comical. Miami doesn’t like getting roughed up. With Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol under the basket Miami might not be able to handle it.

Ryan: Miami can get physical. Just not as much as Memphis or Indiana.

R’mon: Didn’t they handle it last year for two straight rounds against two physical teams, (Celtics and Pacers?) So you guys are factually incorrect. Sounds like a bunch of foolishness to me.

Kenton: But the Heat haven’t played big men like Randolph, Gasol and Duncan before. Big men who can go out there and get it for themselves.

Ryan: Honestly if Miami struggled with Noah and Boozer (laughs,) David West and Roy Hibbert are going to abuse them.

R’mon: Yes, but at the end of the day they will have a hard time defending Miami as well.

Kenton: True, it’s going to be hard for a team to beat the Heat, but I think it’s a possibility that someone can.

Ryan: All in all Miami can be beaten. It’s just a matter of will Indiana an Memphis stay true to their game when matched up against Miami. San Antonio plays too fast which would be disastrous in a series against the Heat.

R’mon: Well I don’t think anybody can I just can’t see it.

R’Mon Allen

Kenton Adams

Ryan Fort