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AD: Hey everyone! Thanks for joining us for another episode of EE-SPN. I’m Arjun Dhruv, here with my co-host, Manas Kottakota. Today, we’ll be discussing our predictions for the upcoming season, touching on end-of-season awards, in-season tournaments, and our thoughts on the overall standings. Manas, what do you think?

MK: First up, we should discuss our picks for the finals in each conference. Who do you believe are the top three teams in each conference?

AD: We’ve seen the Cavs on an impressive 15-0 streak. I definitely see them as a contender in the East. The Celtics are another obvious choice. For my third pick, I’d go with the Knicks. They seem to have gained some star power with Karl Anthony Towns joining the squad, and though they haven’t quite hit their stride yet, I believe they have the potential to come together and become serious contenders in the East.

MK: From what I’ve observed, I think the Knicks haven’t fully lived up to expectations, especially after acquiring a talent like Karl Anthony Towns. I’m leaning more towards the Cavaliers and the Celtics, with preference for the Celtics over the Cavs. Historically, the Cavaliers haven’t seen much postseason success lately, and I doubt they possess the veteran experience needed to advance.

AD: That’s a fair point. The Celtics are fresh off a championship and have solidified their stars, with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown standing out, plus we can’t overlook their depth, like Payton Pritchard. They’ll definitely be a strong force in the East. Now shifting to the West, what’s your take, Manas?

MK: The West is packed with contenders, making it tougher to make bold statements. However, the Warriors have been quite the surprise this season. The OKC Thunder are performing as anticipated, and the Lakers have also turned heads. It’s been unexpected to see the Warriors and Lakers doing so well, so I wouldn’t be shocked to see them make lengthy playoff runs.

AD: The West is indeed challenging to forecast, given all the competitiveness, especially with the Warriors and Lakers stepping up, along with the Rockets. The 10th seed in the West is currently sitting at 7-7, which is quite remarkable. In any case, the West is a powerhouse this year with many teams like the Warriors, Thunder, Lakers, Nuggets, and Timberwolves all vying for a shot.

MK: The Timberwolves were expected to excel this season, so what do you think about their current status outside the top six seeds and scrambling in the play-in tournament?

AD: It’s still early in the season. There’s a lot of basketball left. Julius Randle’s addition has been fantastic for them, and he’s complementing Anthony Edwards well. He recently hit a game-winner and is making up for what Karl Anthony Towns left behind in Minnesota, so I’m optimistic about their future.

AD: Let’s shift gears and chat about some potential end-of-season accolades. Who do you believe will be this year’s MVP?

MK: Before the season kicked off, I thought Luka [Doncic] would be the frontrunner, but with the Mavericks’ success thus far, it’s uncertain if their regular-season record will be enough for him. Luka is capable of filling the stat sheet, so he was initially my pick. However, it seems like it might be another Jokic season given how he’s producing and how well the Nuggets are performing.

AD: I agree, Luka is impressive, but the MVP could very well go to either Shai [Gilgeous-Alexander] or Jokic, as both have been leading their teams with remarkable stats. Jokic has consistently demonstrated his prowess each year and hasn’t diminished in production, keeping him in the MVP conversation.

MK: I think we might encounter some voter fatigue with Jokic, considering he’s in the race for his fourth MVP now. He’s already won three in the past four years, so I feel there will be some reluctance to award him another. It’s possible that players like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander could be favored for their first MVP this season.

AD: Now, turning to Defensive Player of the Year, I feel Victor Wembanyama is the clear choice. He’s been performing astonishingly, especially with his shot-blocking and defensive presence. However, I think a dark horse could be Dyson Daniels. He’s been showing exceptional defensive skills as a guard for the Hawks, racking up deflections and steals, and might contend with Wemby for the award as the season progresses.

MK: What about Chet Holmgren? We have seen that the Defensive Player of the Year award often considers the whole team’s defensive success, alongside individual achievements. For example, when Rudy Gobert was on the court, his teams typically performed better defensively. The OKC Thunder have become one of the top defensive teams in the NBA, in stark contrast to the Spurs or Hawks.

AD: Chet could have been a contender for Defensive Player of the Year, but he recently suffered an injury and is expected to be out for around eight to ten weeks, which will be a huge blow for the team. They struggled against the Warriors without him, and his absence will definitely impact the Thunder’s defense.

MK: Regarding your Dyson Daniels assessment, I feel he’s currently on a somewhat unsustainable streak, whereas Wembanyama has been able to maintain his high level of play from the start of the season. I don’t see Daniels continuing to average nearly four steals per game.

AD: I agree it’s early in the season, but based on recent games, I think he could emerge as a dark horse to challenge Wemby. Nevertheless, I still view Wembanyama as the frontrunner for Defensive Player of the Year.

MK: I’m inclined to say Wembanyama is the favorite for DPOY as well. I don’t anticipate it being very competitive, particularly in upcoming years as he will undeniably be a top candidate. Circling back to the NBA championship, who do you think will take the title? That’s the key question.

AD: Let’s review the East. As mentioned before, the Celtics and Cavs are both strong teams, but the Cavs are impressively untouchable right now. They’re dominating opponents, including a recent win against the Warriors by a significant margin, which is commendable for a young squad. Historically, no team has started 15-0 or better and not reached the finals. I foresee them making a deep playoff run and emerging from the East, contrasting with the Celtics. What do you think?

MK: I have to disagree. I’m still backing the Celtics for the win due to their playoff experience. They secured a championship last year. While the Cavaliers are having a stellar season, I doubt they’ll be able to carry that momentum all the way to the NBA Finals after last season’s disappointments.

AD: The Cavaliers have a new head coach, Kenny Atkinson, who’s making a significant impact. So, I don’t believe it’s fair to judge them solely on last year’s disappointments when they’re a completely transformed team now.

MK: Honestly, I think the Cavaliers might just be benefiting from a temporary lucky streak, and once that luck runs out, we’ll see their true skill level come to light.

AD: While I can see your point, they have been defeating real competitors, and they’re set to face the Celtics soon, so we’ll see how they perform in that matchup. Their ability to beat quality teams impressively is notable.

MK: So it’s down to either the Cavaliers or the Celtics, but it seems we’ll have to agree to disagree as I have more faith in the Celtics’ capabilities.

AD: Now, turning to the Western Conference. There are strong teams there as well, but who do you predict will come out on top?

MK: I’m still placing my bets on the Warriors. I anticipate a rematch between the Boston Celtics and Warriors this season. The Warriors have shown surprising success, and their confidence is evident. Their depth is extraordinary, allowing them to maintain high energy levels, knowing there’s always another player ready to step up, which has propelled them to the upper echelons of the Western Conference.

AD: I agree the Warriors can be a formidable force in the West, but I’m unsure they’ll ultimately emerge, considering last year wasn’t great for them. This year’s turnaround feels stark when compared to consistently strong teams like the Thunder, Nuggets, or even the Mavericks, who I believe have a better shot at advancing.

MK: What you’re describing is essentially what happened in 2022. In previous years, the Warriors missed the playoffs, got eliminated in the play-in tournament, and then won the championship the following season. I sense we’re witnessing a similar journey with how the Warriors’ GM has managed the roster, paving the way for potential success again.

AD: That wraps things up for today. Thank you for joining us for Episode 7 of EE-SPN. We’ll catch you next time!