Written by Tim Bontemps at Washington Post.com
There’s nothing more fun than making predictions.
Well, that’s not quite true. What’s more fun than making predictions? Going out on a limb and making bold predictions.
Sure, there’s a chance they might not work out — that’s why they are bold. But if they do? Well, there’s a whole summer ahead to brag about them before the next season comes, and another round of bold predictions is required.
Here are 10 such prognostications about a combination of players and teams from around the NBA, and how much success — or lack thereof — they will experience this upcoming NBA season.
1. The Timberwolves win 50 games
Anyone who has watched or followed this space all summer knows how much I believe in the Timberwolves. Minnesota already had the best group of young talent in the league, led by future megastar center Karl-Anthony Towns, and now pair it with one of the best coaches in the NBA in Tom Thibodeau. Behind Thibodeau and that young core, which also includes Andrew Wiggins, Zach LaVine and Ricky Rubio, the prediction here is the Timberwolves can jump from 29 wins to 50 — much like the Oklahoma City Thunder did in 2010, when they went from 23 to 50.
2. The Warriors will have three players finish with over 200 three-pointers
Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson have been rewriting the record books over the past few seasons, finishing 1-2 in three-point shooting in the NBA each of the past three seasons, and finishing first and third the season before that. Kevin Durant has never hit 200 three-pointers in a season before, but this team is going to play fast and have a ton of open looks, so the prediction here is all three stars will set an NBA record by having three teammates make that many in a single season.
3. Toronto, not Cleveland, will have the best record in the East
Cleveland is the best team in the East, and LeBron James remains the heavy favorite to make it back to the NBA Finals for a seventh straight season. But the Cavaliers have no reason to push themselves during the regular season; they believe, and rightly so, they can win anywhere and against anyone in the East. Toronto, however, will come into this season motivated to get home court in the East after losing to Cleveland in the Eastern Conference finals last season, and that motivation — combined with Cleveland’s lack of it — will allow the Raptors to leapfrog them in the standings.
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