NBA predictions are what fans live for. They want to know where their team stands in the decision. The best time to find out is a week before the season starts. Articles release saying this and that about favorite teams to win. Sports writers put out player rankings and you follow every post you can find. Why? Because you love the NBA just like I do.

Eastern Conference – NBA Predictions

1. Cleveland Cavaliers - The Cavs are the NBA champions. They have the best overall team in the East and the best player in the game, LeBron James.

Ranked 1^st in overall NBA predictions

2. Indiana Pacers - The Pacers made a few off-season moves that should benefit their team this year. Paul George will push for MVP and an Eastern Conference showdown with the Cavs.

Ranked 4^th in NBA overall predictions

3. Boston Celtics - The Celtics needed one more piece in last year's playoffs, a big man. They added Al Horford, who is still a top big in the NBA. They will challenge the East for the top seed in the playoffs.

Ranked 3^rd in overall NBA predictions

4. Toronto Raptors - The Raptors are a young and talented team. Most NBA predictions will give this team the 2nd or 3rd spot. The Raptors are good, but with the Pacers and Celtics beefing up, they’ll challenge the Raptors with ease.

Ranked 2^nd in overall NBA predictions

5. Detroit Pistons - The Pistons have one of the best centers in the NBA. They snapped a seven-season losing streak (44-38) and made the playoffs. Reggie Jackson will be something to deal with as he gets better and better. Andre Drummond is starting to play big and that’s what it will take to defeat Cleveland.

Ranked 5^th in overall NBA predictions

6. Atlanta Hawks – The Hawks lost two key starters to free agency, Al Horford and Jeff Teague. The team wanted a new start so they grabbed Dwight Howard from the free-agency pool and promoted Dennis Schroder. I’m still not convinced this will work.

Ranked 6^th in overall NBA predictions

7. Chicago Bulls – Dwyane Wade is in town along with the NBA Assist Leader, Rajon Rondo. The Bulls lost Derrick Rose and Pau Gasol, but I’m sure Jimmy Butler is much happier now. This is a brand new Bulls team and their season should be highly televised.

Ranked 9^th in overall NBA predictions

8. New York Knicks – With all of the talk Derrick Rose has done. I had no choice but to put them here. Hopefully, he can back it up. This team is full of injury prone players. These guys can’t stay healthy in a video game. If the Knicks can stay healthy, I can see them taking the 8^th seed in the Eastern Conference.

Ranked 10^th in overall NBA predictions

Western Conference – NBA Predictions

1 Golden State Warriors – The Warriors added one of the best offensive threats in the game, Kevin Durant. Stephen Curry is the best scorer in the game and now, you throw KD in the mix with Klay Thompson and Draymond. A team that with 73-9 last year. You can bet the Warriors will be playing in the NBA championship.

Rank 1^st in overall NBA predictions

2. LA Clippers – The Clippers are the second best team in the West. They have some of the best athletes along with great leadership. Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, and DeAndre Jordan will all work to stay away from injury. The team injury list is something that has bothered them for years.

Rank 3^rd in overall NBA predictions

3. San Antonio Spurs – Timothy Theodore Duncan is gone, the San Antonio Spurs will have some adjustments to make. Pau Gasol is the new guy in town and will try to pick up where Duncan left off. Their roster is solid and they only thing that could stop the Spurs from remaining a top team in the West, is team chemistry.

Ranked 2^nd in overall NBA predictions

4. Memphis Grizzlies – The Grizzlies are back to full strength. Mike Conley became the highest-paid player in the NBA in history. Why, I don’t know. Chandler Parsons joined the team and is expected to add some offense. If the Grizzlies can start out their season winning and build some confidence. They could be a problem in the playoffs.

Ranked 5^th in overall NBA predictions

5. Portland Trail Blazers – The Blazers are a young and talent group. Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum are expected to lead this team into the playoffs. McCollum’s game has improved over last season. The Blazers added big man, Festus Ezeli from the Warrior and Evan Turner from the Celtics.

Ranked 6^th in overall NBA predictions

6. Oklahoma City Thunder – With Kevin Durant moving on, the Thunder fell from the top of the list to compete with the Golden State Warriors. Russell Westbrook won’t be alone in his quest to the Western Conference Finals. The Thunder made some great off-season moves by picking up Victor Oladipo and Ersan Ilyasova.

Ranked 7^th in overall NBA predictions

7. Utah Jazz – I haven’t paid attention to this team since Karl Malone and John Stockton. People get caught up in other teams that are playing at an exciting level. The Jazz is one of the best up-and-coming teams in the West. Joe Johnson, Boris Diaw and George Hill were picked up in the off-season.

Ranked 4^th in overall NBA predictions

8. Houston Rockets – James Harden is the heart and soul of the Houston Rockets. Dwight Howard (Atlanta Hawks) is no longer with the team and has moved back home. Harden is playing point guard and I’m not sure about the move yet. The Rockets will miss Howard’s defensive presence in down low, but I still believe they’re good enough to steal the 8^th seed in the Western Conference.

Ranked 8^th in overall NBA predictions