2016-17 NBA Predictions and Preview

We enter the 2016-17 with the Cleveland Cavaliers as the defending NBA Champions.  They won an epic game 7 over the Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena in June.

The off-season was dominated by free agency.  Kevin Durant led the way by joining the Warriors, Dwayne Wade to the Bulls, Al Hereford to the Celtics, Pau Gasol to the Spurs and Dwight Howard to the Hawks.

This season we will be without three first ballot Hall of Famers as Tim Duncan (Spurs), Kevin Garnett (Timberwolves) and Kobe Bryant  (Lakers) have all retired.

The top 5 teams we predict to have improved records in 2016-17 are Timberwolves, Pelicans, 76ers, Bucks and Suns.  The teams on the decline record wise this season are Heat, Thunder, Spurs and Hornets and Bulls.

The top teams in the league remain the same this season.  There will be a few changes in the playoff teams and a new NBA Champion will be crowned.

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Get our predicted betting lines for NBA Opening Night featuring Knicks at Cavs, Spurs at Warriors and Jazz at Blazers.

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2016-17 Power Rankings

RANK TEAM
1 Golden State Warriors
2 Cleveland Cavaliers
3 San Antonio Spurs
4 Toronto Raptors
5 Los Angeles Clippers
6 Boston Celtics
7 Oklahoma City Thunder
8 Portland Trail Blazers
9 Atlanta Hawks
10 Indiana Pacers
11 Charlotte Hornets
12 Memphis Grizzlies
13 Detroit Pistons
14 Dallas Mavericks
15 Houston Rockets
16 Washington Wizards
17 Utah Jazz
18 Milwaukee Bucks
19 New Orleans Pelicans
20 Minnesota Timberwolves
21 Chicago Bulls
22 Miami Heat
23 Orlando Magic
24 New York Knicks
25 Denver Nuggets
26 Phoenix Suns
27 Sacramento Kings
28 Brooklyn Nets
29 Los Angeles Lakers
30 Philadelphia 76ers

2016-17 NBA Predictions

We give you predicted records and division standings for the upcoming NBA season. We start with the three divisions in the NBA Eastern Conference and then the Western Conference.

ATLANTIC DIVISION
Team Wins Losses
Toronto Raptors 53 29
Boston Celtics 49 33
New York Knicks 33 49
Brooklyn Nets 24 58
Philadelphia 76ers 16 66
CENTRAL DIVISION
Team Wins Losses
Cleveland Cavaliers 56 26
Indiana Pacers 44 38
Detroit Pistons 43 39
Milwaukee Bucks 38 44
Chicago Bulls 38 44
SOUTHEAST DIVISION
Team Wins Losses
Atlanta Hawks 49 33
Charlotte Hornets 43 39
Washington Wizards 42 40
Miami Heat 39 43
Orlando Magic 33 49
SOUTHWEST DIVISION
Team Wins Losses
San Antonio Spurs 62 20
Memphis Grizzlies 43 39
Houston Rockets 42 40
Dallas Mavericks 41 41
New Orleans Pelicans 37 45
NORTHWEST DIVISION
Team Wins Losses
Oklahoma City Thunder 50 32
Portland Trail Blazers 45 37
Utah Jazz 42 40
Minnesota Timberwolves 36 46
Denver Nuggets 32 50
PACIFIC DIVISION
Team Wins Losses
Golden State Warriors 72 10
Los Angeles Clippers 54 28
Sacramento Kings 30 52
Phoenix Suns 27 55
Los Angeles Lakers 17 65

2016-17 NBA Playoff Predictions

Eastern Conference Playoffs (Seed)

1st Round

(1) Cavs over (8) Wizards

(2) Raptors over (7) Hornets

(3) Hawks over (6) Pistons

(4) Celtics (5) Pacers

Conference Semi-Finals

(1) Cavs over (4) Celtics

(2) Raptors over (3) Hawks

Conference Finals

(1) Cavs over (2) Raptors

Western Conference Playoffs (Seed)

1st Round

(1) Warriors over (8) Rockets

(2) Spurs over (7) Jazz

(3) Thunder over (6) Grizzlies

(4) Clippers over (5) Blazers

Conference Semi-Finals

(1) Warriors over (4) Clippers

(2) Spurs over (3) Thunder

Conference Finals

(1) Warriors over (2) Spurs

NBA Finals Prediction

Warriors over Cavs

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