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Golden State Warriors

Free NBA Picks: Season Preview 2018/19

Tagged: NBA

Can anyone stop the Warriors?

NBA fans get excited because the first jump ball of the 2018/19 season is almost upon us.

This campaign promises to be one of the most exciting and enthralling yet, and it is largely thanks to one man.

LeBron James's move to the Lakers will not only see him based in the West for the first time in his career, but play in the same division as the all-conquering Warriors, who are strong favourites to pick up yet another title. 

Over in the East, it's the Atlantic Division that holds the most interest.

The Celtics, Raptors and 76ers all boast a formidable starting five, and are all capable of halting the Golden State train.  

 

Eastern Conference

After what Boston managed to do last season, it's no surprise they are favourites to finish top of the East this time.

Who could forget big-money recruit Gordon Hayward going down in the very first game? 

Celtics star Kyrie Irving also missed a large chunk of the season through injury.

But it was Boston's younger generation that stood up, taking them all the way to the conference finals where it took seven games and some LeBron magic for the Cavs to progress.

This young core of Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart and particularly Jayson Tatum will only improve on last season's showing.

Combine this with the proven quality of Irving and Hayward, and you have a side that are capable of reaching the 60-win mark.

Their chances will only be strengthened if head coach Brad Stevens can replicate the stingy defence of last season, that saw the Celtics concede only 100 points per game, the fewest in the East. 

NBA Free Picks

Kyrie Irving                                                               Source: AAP

 

The Celtics won't have it all their own way in the East however, as both the Toronto Raptors and the Philadelphia 76ers will be determined to build on their promising 2017/18 campaigns.

Raptors fans have good reason to be excited with the massive recruitment of Kawhi Leonard from the Spurs. 

However, this deal saw DeMar DeRozan go the other way.

While Toronto will feel they got the better result out of this trade, it splits up the long and successful backcourt partnership between DeRozan and Kyle Lowry.

It may take a few months before the Raptors begin to gel without a player who has been at the heart of their team for half a decade. 

 

Back across the border and Philly fans are right to be optimistic about their team's chances this season.

They were asked to trust the process and they've certainly been rewarded with the likes of Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid, who are both ready to explode.

Simmons picked up an astonishing 12 triple-doubles in his rookie season, the second-most for any rookie in NBA history.

Embiid meanwhile is a beast in the paint, and well on the way to becoming the league's best centre. 

And don't forget power forward Dario Saric.

The Croatian is another of Philly's overseas stars, as well as one of the most underrated players in the NBA.

 

A final team to keep your eye on from the East is the Milwaukee Bucks.

With LeBron departing the Eastern Conference, Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo now shapes up as the best player in this half of the competition.

With a smattering of other players with all-round basketball prowess on their roster, the Bucks can expect a strong showing.

This is especially the case as respected head coach Mike Budenholzer has taken the reigns.

While it's not wise to put too much stock into pre-season form, the Bucks are looking very impressive under Budenholzer.

If he can get the best out of Antetokounmpo, opposition teams better watch out.

 

Free NBA Pick Free NBA Picks:

Boston Celtics to win the Eastern Conference @ $1.91

Milwaukee Bucks to win the Central Division @ $2.10

 

Western Conference

Just when we thought this Warriors side couldn't pack any more firepower into their roster, they went and signed multiple all-star centre DeMarcus Cousins form New Orleans.

Their starting five now reads as Curry, Thompson, Durant, Green and Cousins.

With names like this, the question becomes not whether Golden State will win the Western Conference, but how much they will win by.

The Warriors won 58 of their regular season games last season, finishing second behind the Rockets on the Western Conference table.

But don't forget, this was in an injury hit campaign that saw Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant and particularly Stephen Curry miss significant portions through injury. 

If all their star power can stay on the court, Golden State won't be losing many games.

 

Even with these names, nobody is bigger than LeBron, and he's the reason why the Los Angeles Lakers are the team on everyone's tongue.

You don't need me to tell you how good a basketballer LeBron James is.

What I will say is that young Brandon Ingram is perhaps an even bigger asset for the LA franchise going forward. 

Ingram averaged 16.1 points, 5.3 boards and 3.9 assists in a standout last campaign.

His game will reach new heights this season and in years to come, as he continues to develop his skills alongside one of the all-time greats. 

 

The side that many view as having the most realistic chance of toppling the Warriors in the West is the Houston Rockets. 

With reigning NBA MVP James Harden in their side, the Rockets will always be a chance.

However, there is a whisper around that if the Rockets were to win their third NBA Championship, last year was their best chance.

Their star players aren't getting any younger, with Harden, Chris Paul and Eric Gordon all entering the latter portions of their careers. 

This made the acquisition of 34-year old Carmelo Anthony all the more interesting.

Houston clearly believe that there is no time like the present, and will be looking for another strong season.

 

Finally, this year might well be the year where it all starts to click for the Minnesota Timberwolves.

With the latest reports suggesting that Jimmy Butler will stay put in Minnesota, the Timberwolves will be a danger team to any side they come up against.

This is largely because of Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota's star centre who was the number one draft pick in 2015.

KAT is one of the most talented big men in the comp, and just as adept at shooting from range as in the paint.

Don't forget Andrew Wiggins either, who was the number one draft pick in 2014.

With two number one draft picks in their side, and who are also at the right age to start reaching their peak, common sense says the Wolves have to be a threat.

Head coach Tom Thibodeau needs to stamp his trademark defensive solidity on his side, as well as get the best out of all the talent at his disposal.

He is definitely capable. 

 

Free NBA Pick Free NBA Picks:

Golden State Over 62.5 regular season wins @ $1.87

Minnesota Timberwolves to win the Northwest Division @ $7.50

 

Regular Season MVP

With so many contenders, this season emerges as one of the hardest in recent memory to pick the MVP winner.

There is a mix of the more senior brigade, with the likes of LeBron, James Harden and Kevin Durant all receiving support in the market.

But it is two of the younger bucks who are joint favourites to take out the prestigious award: Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo and New Orleans' Anthony Davis.

To narrow it down, ruling Durant (and Steph Curry for that matter) out of contention seems a smart move.

With so many stars at Golden State, they will surely take points off each other, with no one player set to dominate above the rest.

Fans of James Harden will be pleased to learn that since the turn of the century, four players, including LeBron James on two separate occasions, have won back-to-back MVPs. 

Harden had a phenomenal 2017/8 season for the Rockets, averaging 30.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and 8.8 assists per game. 

While he has all the weapons to have another standout season, only something extraordinary would see Harden replicate these numbers.

When LeBron is on, there is no player you'd rather watch.

He can do everything on the basketball court, but in recent years it has been his passing game in particular that has gone to a new level.

Last season, James averaged a career-high 9.1 assists per game, as well as an equal-career high 8.6 boards per game, demonstrating that his game is so much more than points scored.

But in a new environment with new teammates this season, LeBron may need a few months to find his feet in the iconic Lakers jersey.

The player who is slowly wrestling away the title of the league's most exciting player from LeBron is Giannis Antetokounmpo.

The "Greek Freak" is a supreme athlete who is quick and agile across the floor, but also a player who uses every bit of his 6 feet and 11 inches to dominate in the air. 

 

Antetokounmpo has improved each year he has played in the NBA, and another improvement is on the cards. 

Taking out the MVP wouldn't surprise, especially if Milwaukee have a good season.

But it's Anthony Davis who is primed to claim the MVP award this season.

Davis has long been the star man down in New Orleans, and is now ready to explode in the absence of DeMarcus Cousins.

With two dominant, point scoring big men in the paint, Davis and Cousins never really had room to spread their wings for the Pelicans. 

But with Cousins seeking greener pastures with his move to Golden State, it is actually AD who stands to benefit the most.

This is backed up by the numbers, as in the final 24 games last season for the Pels, Davis averaged some of his career-best numbers, including 29.8 points, 11.8 rebounds and 3.5 blocks per game.

Significantly, in these 24 matches after the all-star weekend, Cousins was sidelined after rupturing his Achilles.

Look for Davis and the Pelicans to have a huge year.   

 

Free NBA Pick Free NBA pick:

Anthony Davis to win the regular season MVP @ $5

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