NBA Season Preview Roundtable: Section 400

Before every major sports season, the Section 400 staff will try their absolute hardest to predict the league champion, award winners, and surprise storylines after season’s end.

With the NBA season tipping off tonight, it’s time to correctly predict who will hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy, who will win the MVP, ROY, and which teams will surprise us in 2024-2025.

Here are what Section 400 writers Brian Hauch, Matt Kolen, Zach Meyers, and Jack Albanese have to say.

Underwhelming

After an abundance of talent along with a generational prospect entered the Association last season, this year’s rookie class is slightly underwhelming. Which rookie stands out enough to take home the Rookie of the Year by season’s end?

BH: I hope to make it to a few Wizards games this year. For that reason, and the fact I have a soft spot in my heart for the Perth Wildcats, I’ll be taking a shot on 19-year-old Alex Sarr to win the Rookie of the Year. Reed Sheppard probably takes home the hardware just because of his opportunities in what should be a high-volume scoring attack in Houston.

MK: It’s going to be Reed Sheppard. The guy just gets buckets. I believe he will pace all rookies in points per game this year.

ZM: Honestly I don’t know. This seems like a really bad class. Anyone can win this. I’ll give out Bronny James.

JA: Like Zach said, I don’t know. I’ll go with Dalton [Knecht 4].

Drought

Last season I pointed out that an American-born player hadn’t won the NBA MVP award since James Harden in 2018. That drought continued for the Americans after Nikola Jokic took home the award again last season. Do we finally see an American take home the hardware in 2024-2025?

BH: The results of November’s election are sure to cause some chaos in the United States, but the calamity won’t be enough to creep its way into the NBA MVP race. Not only do I believe the award won’t go to an American again, but I think the top five vote-getters will all be players from overseas, or north of the border. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is going to win the award, with Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Victor Wembanyama finishing behind him in that order. Anthony Edwards could find his way into the conversation with Karl-Anthony Towns no longer in the picture in Minnesota, but his lack of “stat-sheet stuffing” ability will be his downfall.

MK: The drought continues. It’ll be Nikola Jokic again. Do you really need me to explain why the 26 points per game triple-double machine is my pick?

ZM: An American is winning it this year and it’s going to be Tyrese Maxey. The guy is a superstar. I know people will call me “Sixers biased” but it’s because I watch the games. With Joel Embiid and Paul George already hurt, Maxey is going to prove right away that he is a top player in this league.

JA: The drought ends. I’m going back in my bag and saying Anthony Edwards. With Karl-Anthony out of Town(s), a lot will be in his shoulders and I think he’s ready after playing with the Olympic team this summer.

Expectations

Last season I asked you guys which squads would surprise people in 2023-2024. As a group we gave out the Thunder, Timberwolves, and Pelicans. All three made the playoffs, while the Thunder and Timberwolves won a combined three playoff series. Which squad(s) will come out of nowhere to make a run at the Larry O’Brien Trophy this time around?

BH: The Houston Rockets went on a 14-2 stretch towards the end of last season, putting them in position to narrowly miss the Play-In Tournament. I don’t think Houston is close to an 87% winning percentage team, but the Rockets have all the pieces that the Thunder had last year. The team is young, has a bonafide super star in Jalen Green, and a fair amount of role players who have all the ability in the world to become All Stars. We’ll see Jabari Smith Jr. and Alperen Şengün made that leap this year, and the Rockets will finish in the top half of a competitive west. With a playoff experienced veteran in Fred VanVleet and a head coach that has been around the block in Ime Udoka, I’ll be watching plenty of the Rockets this season.

MK: Let’s have some fun with it. Give me the Detroit Pistons (+1040) to make the postseason. Cade Cunningham is back healthy, Tobias Harris plays well when the pressure is off, Ausar Thompson is looking to improve in his sophomore campaign, and Jaden Ivey should have another strong year. Detroit has an emerging star in Center Jalen Duren and very nice role players in Malik Beasley, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Sixers legend [B-Ball Paul] Reed. I’m not saying the Pistons win it all, but this lineup can sneak into the playoffs behind a coach with experience, JB Bickerstaff.

ZM: I think the Spurs are a team that can turn some heads. Victor Wembanyama alongside Chris Paul could be a pretty insane 1-2 punch. Why not the Spurs?!

JA: Heat.

Best of the West

The Dallas Mavericks came out of nowhere to win the West last season. Which squad represents the conference in the NBA Finals this time around?

BH: As much as I want to put my money where my mouth is and pick the Rockets, I think this is the year we see one last “Swan Song” from Lebron James and the Lakers. While Lebron seems like the prototypical cornball to thoroughly enjoy a “Retirement Tour”, I think it’d be even more on brand for James to finally play with his son, get him a few minutes with the big league club on opening night, then ground him to the G-League before forcing the Lakers to forfeit the future for one final NBA Finals run. Lebron knows his time as a dominant force in the NBA is running short, and he’s going to do everything in his power to win a championship with his son. James and the Lakers hold off the young Thunder for the final time on a Dalton Knecht game winning mid-range jumper in game seven.

MK: Dallas is primed for another run. The Mavericks take down the Kings in 6 games.

ZM: The Mavericks are going back to the NBA Finals. Dallas beats the Suns in 5 games.

JA: Give me whatever Brian is having. Lebron James and the Lakers take down the Suns in 5 games.

Beast of the East

The Celtics are not only the favorites to win the East, but the favorites to repeat as NBA Champions as well. Does anyone from the NBA’s weaker conference take them down before the Finals?

BH: I’m going back to the same well I did last season. Damian Lillard is due for his postseason run. He’s now in year two with Giannis and the Bucks, this is the year they break through. Milwaukee takes down the Miami Heat in 6 games. I was close to picking the Heat as my surprise team but chose to go a little deeper with the Rockets. Miami is going to have a special season this year, and I’ll be rooting for them along with friend of the program Steve, although my brain tells me the Bucks get back to the finals.

MK: If they are fully healthy, which we know won’t be the case, the Sixers can make it and will play the Celtics. I don’t see Boston losing though. Celtics in 6. If you want my non-bias option, I’ll say the Celtics take down the Knicks in 7 games.

ZM: The Celtics go back to the Finals after beating the Sixers in 6 games.

JA: The Knicks beat the Celtics in 7 games.

Poppin’ Bottles

Which team is going to raise a banner at this time next year?

BH: Lebron James lifts his fifth and final Larry O’Brien Trophy after the Lakers defeat the Bucks in 6 games.

MK: Unfortunately, the Celtics chances to repeat look very strong this year. Boston gets it done.

ZM: The Celtics are the team to beat. Boston wins the Finals again.

JA: It’s the year of New York. The Knicks take down the Lakers to claim the trophy.