The Timberwolves made the biggest splash of the summer, trading for three-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert to pair with All-Star big man Karl-Anthony Towns. The Dallas Mavericks' Luka Doncic and the Memphis Grizzlies' Ja Morant are lurking. The Suns return their core and are coming off an NBA-best 64 wins in 2021-22. Two-time reigning MVP Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets - who check in fifth in our panel's projections - will welcome back Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. Leonard and fellow superstar Paul George lead one of the league's deepest teams, but the Clips aren't the only squad getting healthier in a loaded West. While the Warriors take top billing here - more on them below - LA is a trendy Finals pick because of the return of Kawhi Leonard, who missed the entire 2021-22 season after suffering a partial right ACL tear during the 2021 playoffs. Toronto Raptors: 1 point Who will win the Western Conference finals? Boston Celtics: 67 points (42.1% of first-place votes) Not in the picture? The Nets, who despite still having Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving on the roster could be due for a massive shake-up by the time the 2023 playoffs roll around.ġ. Tucker's former team, the Miami Heat, check in fourth despite retaining the bulk of the roster that went to Game 7 of the East finals last season. Sitting at third on our panel's list are the Philadelphia 76ers, who will have a full season of the James Harden-Joel Embiid partnership and welcome defensive stalwart P.J. Boston keeps its core while adding former Rookie of the Year Malcolm Brogdon, and Milwaukee returns to full strength after losing All-Star Khris Middleton in the opening round of the 2022 playoffs. The reigning conference champion Celtics and the 2021 NBA champion Bucks emerge as the clear front-runners, according to ESPN's Summer Forecast panel. Two teams that battled through last season's epic seven-game conference semifinals series check in as the East's favorites to reach the 2023 NBA Finals. Who will win the Eastern Conference finals? Note: Our 2022-23 NBA Summer Forecast will continue Thursday with our predictions for every major award, including MVP and Rookie of the Year. We asked our panel to rank its top three choices for the East, West and NBA champions - with a first-place vote receiving five points, a second-place vote receiving three and a third-place vote receiving one. The Minnesota Timberwolves are all-in after pulling off a blockbuster trade.Īnd what about the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Lakers: Could either drama-filled franchise figure things out and make a run? The Phoenix Suns are running it back after a league-best 64 wins in 2021-22. The LA Clippers, Denver Nuggets and Milwaukee Bucks are healthy again. They'll have plenty of challengers: The Boston Celtics are seeking to avenge their NBA Finals defeat after a second-half charge turned them into a juggernaut. Are we predicting back-to-back championships for the Dubs? The Golden State Warriors shocked many around the NBA world - including our panel - by rebooting their dynasty and capturing the 2022 title. NBA, Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, Phoenix Suns, LA Clippers, Brooklyn Nets, Boston Celtics, Dallas MavericksĮSPN's NBA Summer Forecast has revealed which elite teams will finish with the best regular-season records in the Eastern and Western conferences.īut which contenders will rise in the playoffs? NBA projections 2022-23: Our picks for Eastern Conference, Western Conference and NBA champions You have reached a degraded version of because you're using an unsupported version of Internet Explorer.įor a complete experience, please upgrade or use a supported browser
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