We are just days away from a new NBA season, and it is looking to be a good one after one of the most tumultuous offseasons in recent memory. With some of the league’s best players finding new homes, the league promises to have more parity than we’ve seen in years. Without further ado, here are the picks.

Eastern Conference:

Atlantic:

1. Boston Celtics(61-21)

2. Philadelphia 76ers(57-25)

3. Toronto Raptors(55-27)

4. New York Knicks(32-50)

5.Brooklyn Nets (28-54)

Possibly the most stacked division in the NBA with three Finals contenders, the Celtics are just a cut above the rest. They have the best point guard in the East in Kyrie Irving, a former All-Star returning from injury in Gordon Hayward, a veteran presence at the 5 in Al Horford, and an assortment of young talent. They are easily the best team in the division and the Eastern Conference. Behind them are the Sixers and Raptors, the second and third best teams in the East, although the order is disputable. While the Raptors have arguably the best perimeter defender in the league in Kawhi Leonard, the Sixers have a more complete lineup overall, and get the second seed. After that are the Knicks and Nets. The Knicks were dealt a major blow a few days ago when Irving announced his plans to stay in Boston rather than move to New York after this season, which many thought he would. With scarcely anyone outside of Kristaps Porzingis to be able to boast about, they look headed for another year in the cellar. The Nets finally have some legitimate young talent, and could contend soon, but for now they remain among the league’s worst.

Central:

1. Indiana Pacers(49-33)

2. Milwaukee Bucks(47-35)

3. Cleveland Cavaliers(42-40)

4.Detroit Pistons(40-42)

5.Chicago Bulls(30-52)

The Cavaliers’ four-year reign within the division is finally over with the loss of LeBron James, as the Pacers and Bucks rise up to take control of the division. Led by the likes of All-Stars Victor Oladipo and Giannis Antetokounmpo respectively, both teams have a near-equal chance at the division title, and you could make a case for the race to go either way. The Cavs are obviously reeling after the loss of James, but they still have an All-Star in Kevin Love, who has prior experience leading a team and is still capable of a 20/10 season, especially in the absence of James. The Pistons have one of the best big man duos in the NBA, with Blake Griffin and Andre Drummond averaging a combined 34.8 point and 22.6 rebounds per game. However, Griffin is steadily declining, and the team has yet to develop the chemistry it needs to contend in the East. The Bulls are a team with loads of young talent with the likes of Lauri Markkanen, Zach LaVine, Wendell Carter Jr., Kris Dunn, Bobby Portis, and Jabari Parker. Unfortunately, none of them have reached their prime yet, and it will be a while before Chicago contends again.

Southeast:

1. Washington Wizards(45-37)

2. Miami Heat(43-39)

3. Charlotte Hornets(38-44)

4. Orlando Magic(27-55)

5. Atlanta Hawks(22-60)

This is quite possibly the worst division in the NBA, just two years after it sent four teams to the playoffs. Washington is the only team in the division that made a relatively big acquisition this offseason outside the draft. The Heat did close to nothing this offseason, and with many players aging and regressing, things don’t look too good for the near future. Charlotte is similar to Miami, except with much less depth. They remain in the middle of the standings, with Kemba Walker being unable to lift his team over the top. Orlando and Atlanta are two of the worst teams in the league,Orlando falling steadily after the loss of Dwight Howard six years ago,and Atlanta is due for a sub-30 win season after regressing for some time now after a 60 win season in 2014-15.

West:

Northwest:

1. Utah Jazz(52-30)

2. Oklahoma City Thunder(49-33)

3. Denver Nuggets(47-35)

4. Portland Trail Blazers(43-39)

5. Minnesota Timberwolves(42-40)

This was the hardest division for me to predict this year, with every team having a legitimate case to be crowned the division champ. The Jazz are probably the deepest and most talented team in the division, headlined by last year’s Rookie of the Year runner-up and Defensive Player of the Year winner in guard Donovan Mitchell and center Rudy Gobert respectively. They are only improving, and will win the division this year. OKC has two returning All-Stars in Russell Westbrook and Paul George and will once again be a Western Conference contender, albeit failing to win their division. The Nuggets have one of the most underrated players and arguably the best passing big in the league in Nikola Jokić and a solid supporting cast with the likes of Paul Millsap and Gary Harris and are an interesting sleeper candidate for 50 wins. Portland’s lack of defense may cost them in a much tougher division and even though they were the 3rd seed last year, they only finished two games ahead of the 8th seed and were swept in the first round. Minnesota is by no means a bad team, but with all the drama surrounding Jimmy Butler, I can’t really put them much higher as they would experience a huge dropoff without him.

Pacific:

1. Golden State Warriors(64-18)

2. Los Angeles Lakers(48-34)

3. Los Angeles Clippers(37-45)

4. Phoenix Suns(24-58)

5. Sacramento Kings(18-64)

Golden State is almost inarguably the best team in the league, and their only flaw this year may be overconfidence. If they try to win every game, they could easily break their own record of 73 wins in a season, but that is not something they are focused on or that they need to do. They will still roll through the league and earn the number one seed in a tough Western Conference. The Lakers may be the most interesting team in the NBA, with a completely overhauled roster from last year including four-time MVP LeBron James and the so-called, “Meme Team” of Rajon Rondo, Lance Stephenson, JaVale McGee, and Michael Beasley. They are automatically a contender with James, as nearly any team would be, but can they go toe-to-toe with the big dogs in the West? That remains to be seen. On the other side of Staples Center, the Clippers enter a rebuild with a sense of what-could-have-been. With the loss of DeAndre Jordan to Dallas, Lob City is officially dead, and the Clips enter a period of uncertainty and decline. Phoenix and Sacramento were two of the worst teams in the West last year, and despite some youthful acquisitions in DeAndre Ayton and Marvin Bagley Jr, respectively, that trend should continue. Neither team should contend for a playoff spot until next year at the very least.

Southwest:

1. Houston Rockets(58-24)

2. New Orleans Pelicans(50-32)

3. San Antonio Spurs(42-40)

4. Dallas Mavericks(36-46)

5. Memphis Grizzlies(32-50)

Houston had the league’s best record a season ago, but don’t expect them to repeat the feat this year. The loss of a few key players and the strengthening of the West this past offseason will prevent them from matching their 65 wins from last year, but they will still enjoy a great season. New Orleans lost DeMarcus Cousins to Golden State in free agency, but still has MVP candidate Anthony Davis, and really should improve. They went 27-21 with Cousins and 21-13 without him. Davis also improved greatly, and the Pels could be even better than any of us think. San Antonio has made the playoffs 21 straight seasons, tied for second all time with the Blazers and behind the Sixers with 22, but just like the Blazers 15 years ago, the streak will end one short of the record. The losses of Kawhi Leonard, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginóbili will hurt team chemistry, and with Dejounte Murray out for the season with a torn ACL, the end of an era is near in San Antonio. Dallas and Memphis could both squeak into the playoffs if everything goes right for them. Dallas is helped by one of the NBA’s best rim protectors in DeAndre Jordan while Memphis looks to rebound from an injury-riddled 2017 with the likes of Mike Conley and Marc Gasol returning from injury.

Playoff Seeds:

East:

1. Boston Celtics(61-21)

2. Philadelphia 76ers(57-25)

3. Toronto Raptors(55-27)

4. Indiana Pacers(49-33)

5. Milwaukee Bucks(47-35)

6. Washington Wizards(45-37)

7. Miami Heat(43-39)

8. Cleveland Cavaliers(42-40)

West:

1. Golden State Warriors(64-18)

2. Houston Rockets(58-24)

3. Utah Jazz(52-30)

4. New Orleans Pelicans(50-32)

5. Oklahoma City Thunder(49-33)

6. Los Angeles Lakers(48-34)

7. Denver Nuggets(47-35)

8. Portland Trail Blazers(45-37)

First Round:

East:

Celtics over Cavs

Sixers over Heat

Raptors over Wizards

Pacers over Bucks

West:

Warriors over Blazers

Rockets over Nuggets

Lakers over Jazz

Pelicans over Thunder

Conference Semifinals:

East:

Celtics over Pacers

Sixers over Raptors

West:

Warriors over Pelicans

Lakers over Rockets

Conference Finals

East:

Celtics 4-2 Sixers

West:

Warriors 4-1 Lakers

NBA Finals:

Golden State Warriors 4-1 Boston Celtics

Finals MVP: Stephen Curry

Awards:

MVP: Anthony Davis, Pelicans

Defensive Player of the Year: Joel Embiid, Sixers

Rookie of the Year: Luka Dončić, Mavs

Most Improved Player: Markelle Fultz, Sixers

Sixth Man of the Year: Carmelo Anthony, Rockets

Coach of the Year: Alvin Gentry, Pelicans