NBA predictions: Can anybody cease the Thunder's Western Convention reign?

The 2024-25 NBA season suggestions off on Tuesday and FOX Sports activities’ NBA workers is locking of their predictions earlier than the video games get going.

The Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder completed final season because the No. 1 seed within the Western Convention, sending a message to the league that their younger core is perhaps forward of schedule. Can they duplicate their success this season, or will a sleeping big within the west rise from their relaxation?

Let’s check out what our consultants needed to say:

1. The Suns and Lakers each fired their head coaches after first-round exits in final yr’s playoffs. Which workforce is extra more likely to get a lift from a change on the bench? Clarify your reply.

Yaron Weitzman: Mike Budenholzer has coached 801 common season video games. His groups have gained 484 of them. For individuals who need assistance with the mathematics, that is simply over 60 p.c. If you wish to criticize Bud for a few of his poor playoff outcomes, high-quality (although it’s value declaring that he gained a title in Milwaukee), however there may not be a greater common season coach within the NBA. Mix his acumen with the expertise of the Suns and you’ve got a mixture that would very nicely result in a top-four seed within the West.

Melissa Rohlin: I am going with the Lakers right here. Morale is completely different across the workforce this yr. Final yr, the gamers had been disillusioned and annoyed with Darvin Ham’s frequent lineup modifications and there was clearly a breakdown in belief and communication. All through this preseason, there is a completely different feeling, with the gamers praising JJ Redick’s preparedness and diligence. His fashion appears to jive higher with the Lakers and there is a palpable pleasure from the gamers to work with Redick, a former participant who’s extensively thought to be having a superb basketball thoughts however had by no means coached professionally, collegiately and even at a highschool stage earlier than getting the NBA’s premier teaching gig this summer season.

2. Three Western Convention heavyweights misplaced marquee names in free company over the summer season: the Clippers (Paul George), the Warriors (Klay Thompson) and the Nuggets (Kentavious Caldwell-Pope). Rank every workforce primarily based on how well-positioned they’re to compete with out mentioned participant and clarify your pondering.

Weitzman: I hated the Nuggets’ offseason and their possession’s refusal to spend cash. Shedding KCP will harm, however, the Nuggets nonetheless have Nikola Jokic, and so long as he is there, they are a contender.

The Warriors are in a special boat. Seeing Klay in one other uniform will really feel unusual, nevertheless it will not harm them on the court docket. The Warriors will be capable of give extra minutes and photographs to Jonathan Kuminga, and free agent addition De’Anthony Melton will bolster their perimeter protection, if he can get wholesome.

To me, the Clippers are on the surface trying in—not simply with this group however by way of the playoffs. Their bets appear to be that Kawhi Leonard can stay wholesome and that James Harden can nonetheless carry an offense. These are two bets I would not have made.

Rohlin: Nuggets No. 1, Warriors No. 2 and Clippers No. 3.=

On the subject of the Nuggets, do not get me improper, KCP was an enormous a part of them profitable a championship. He is a grind-it-out defender, a dependable 3-point shooter and a savvy veteran who is aware of what it takes to go all the way in which. However the Nuggets nonetheless have most of their core, together with Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon and Michael Porter Jr. They need to be simply high-quality.

As for the Warriors, dropping Thompson was stunning however inevitable. He hasn’t been the identical following back-to-back ACL and Achilles accidents and he felt disrespected when the Warriors did not provide him a max contract extension and his function modified after he helped them win 4 championships. A contemporary begin for each Thompson and the Warriors appears mutually useful for each events. Now for the Clippers, with out George I simply do not see how they’ll compete.

Kawhi Leonard is seemingly all the time injured and James Harden is a wild card. They misplaced their most dependable star as of late, and, with out George, I do not see them with the ability to hold within the ultra-competitive West.

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3. After ending because the No. 1 seed within the Western Convention final season, the Thunder added Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein to their depth chart within the offseason. Do the 2 veterans make the Thunder favorites to win the West or are there nonetheless groups value placing forward of them?

Weitzman: Sure, very a lot so. This Thunder workforce is totally loaded, with the whole lot you search for in a title contender. OKC has an MVP candidate (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander) and a number of secondary playmakers and shotmakers (Jalen Wiilliams and Chet Holmgren). It will possibly play massive, it might probably play small. It has taking pictures. Wing protection. An awesome coach. The one factor the Thunder haven’t got is deep playoff expertise. That can change this season.

Rohlin: They’re on the prime, if not No. 1. Caruso is without doubt one of the most underrated gamers within the league. And Hartenstein is an enormous asset as nicely. You mix these two with a workforce that was already hovering, led by famous person Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and you have got a squad that would actually make one other large leap this season, brimming with offensive and defensive firepower.

4. Coming off of their first Finals look since 2006, the Mavericks bolstered their perimeter taking pictures round Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving by signing Klay Thompson to a three-year, $50 million contract in free company. Will the chance repay for the Mavericks or will they’ve purchaser’s regret sooner moderately than later?

Weitzman: Klay will give the Mavericks one other offensive weapon, and his skill to harm protection’s off the ball makes him an awesome match for enjoying alongside Luka and Kyrie. The issue goes to be on the opposite finish of the court docket. Can the Mavericks cease anybody if these three are sharing the ground? If not, are we going to see an analogous state of affairs to final season the place Klay often will get benched in crunch time and pouts? That, to me, is the a part of this bears watching.

Rohlin: I actually like this match. Klay helps open up the ground for the Mavericks, who confirmed they may actually use some perimeter taking pictures when defenses collapsed on Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving final postseason. The truth that Klay has gained 4 championships and may help information Luka mustn’t go understated as nicely. I agree with Yaron that the problem right here is the Mavericks’ protection. It is too dangerous as a result of earlier than Klay’s accidents he was a really underrated defender. However now, I anticipate the Mavericks to be one of many prime groups within the West due to their unbelievable offense – however whether or not that is sufficient to get them so far as they need this postseason is a query mark.

5. For the primary time since 2015, the Timberwolves will go into the season with out their star massive man Karl-Anthony Cities. Can the Timberwolves replicate their success from final season with Julius Randle in KAT’s place or is hassle brewing in Minnesota?

Weitzman: The Timberwolves did not simply commerce KAT for Randle. Additionally they acquired Donte DiVincenzo, and so they’ll now have extra minutes to offer reigning Sixth Man of the Yr Naz Reid. Even when you do imagine they’ve misplaced a little bit of expertise—and I do not—they’re actually greater than made up for it with depth. Mix all of it with the continued ascension of Anthony Edwards and an awesome coach in Chris Finch and you’ve got, in my opinion, a reliable title contender.

Rohlin: Shedding Karl-Anthony Cities was a hard-to-swallow tablet for a lot of Timberwolves followers contemplating he had been part of the group’s ups and downs since 2014. However the Timberwolves ought to nonetheless be contenders. They’re deep, Randle and DiVincenzo are robust additions and this transfer permits them to have the long run monetary flexibility to develop younger abilities Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels and Naz Reid.

Yaron Weitzman is an NBA author for FOX Sports activities. He’s the creator of “Tanking to the High: The Philadelphia 76ers and the Most Audacious Course of within the Historical past of Skilled Sports activities.” Observe him on Twitter @YaronWeitzman.

Melissa Rohlin is an NBA author for FOX Sports activities. She beforehand lined the league for Sports activities Illustrated, the Los Angeles Occasions, the Bay Space Information Group and the San Antonio Categorical-Information. Observe her on Twitter @melissarohlin.

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