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Predicting the 2024-25 NBA season MVP, champion, DPOY, ROY and more originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
A new NBA season is here.
To jog memories, the previous campaign ended with the Boston Celtics finally claiming Banner No. 18, doing so in a gentleman’s sweep over the Dallas Mavericks.
The Celtics are essentially running it back with the same personnel as no major changes to the roster were made under head coach Joe Mazzulla. But other teams, like the Mavericks, will be hoping to dethrone an elite Boston side.
Individually, Nikola Jokic will hope to repeat as league MVP and chase his fourth such honor as the Denver Nuggets also look to bounce back into Finals contention.
The rookie landscape is more precarious for the first time in a while. Headlined by No. 1 overall pick Zaccharie Risacher of the Atlanta Hawks, it’s not quite clear which youngsters will emerge as the best of their respective class.
So, who will win NBA MVP, Defensive Player of the Year and more? Let’s predict it all before the 2024-25 NBA campaign officially tips off:
Who will win the 2024-25 NBA Finals?
The Celtics and Nuggets, winners of the last two titles, exhibited the formula of a title-winning and contending team: superstars who defy the opposition’s tactics offensively and deploy a foundation of switchable defenders who are disciplined and can handle multiple positions.
Denver dropped a few tiers after losing key role players in Bruce Brown and Jeff Green, while Boston, as aforementioned, is running it back.
As long as the Celtics stay healthy, it’s safe to have them high on the list. Other teams who fit the bill are the New York Knicks and Oklahoma City Thunder. Teams a few tiers below include the Philadelphia 76ers, Milwaukee Bucks, Phoenix Suns, Mavericks and Nuggets due to injury concerns or lack of enough quality.
There are a few sleeper teams worth keeping tabs on, but that’ll be explored later.
Prediction: Thunder win.
Who will win 2024-25 NBA Rookie of the Year?
Last season saw the San Antonio Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama and the Thunder’s Chet Holmgren being the obvious candidates for Rookie of the Year. It’s a more strenuous…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/predicting-2024-25-nba-season-235927192.html
Author : NBC Sports Boston
Publish date : 2024-10-21 23:59:00
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