The 2022-23 NBA season is off and running and the Daily News Sports Section is quickly behind with out predictions for the season.

Corbin Hubert, Reporter

Eastern Conference – 1. Boston Celtics, 2. Milwaukee Bucks, 3. Philadelphia 76ers, 4. Miami Heat, 5. Toronto Raptors, 6. Brooklyn Nets, 7. Cleveland Cavaliers, 8. Atlanta Hawks, 9. Chicago Bulls, 10. New York Knicks

Bucks over the Celtics in the Conference Finals

Western Conference – 1. Golden State Warrios, 2. Memphis Grizzlies, 3. Denver Nuggets, 4. Phoenix Suns, 5. Los Angeles Clippers, 6. Minnesota Timberwolves, 7. New Orleans Pelicans, 8. Dallas Mavericks, 9. Los Angeles Lakers, 10. Portland Trailblazers

Warriors over Nuggets in the Conference Finals

Coming into this NBA season, I think the divide between “contenders” and “pretenders” has never been more clearly defined. The Golden State Warriors, Milwaukee Bucks, Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers and Brooklyn Nets are probably the popular picks for who will be hoisting up the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy at the end of the season and it’s hard to disagree.

Finals: Bucks over Warriors

Most Valuable Player: Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics

Defensive Player of the Year: Myles Turner, Indiana Pacers

Rookie of the Year: Jabari Smith, Houston Rockets

Sixth Man of the Year: Tyler Herro, Miami Heat

Coach of the Year: Mike Malone, Denver Nuggets

Contact Corbin Hubert with comments at cchubert@bsu.edu or on Twitter @corbin_hubert_

Calvin Scott, Reporter

Eastern Conference – 1. Boston Celtics, 2. Miami Heat, 3. Milwaukee Bucks, 4. Atlanta Hawks, 5. Philadelphia 76ers, 6. Brooklyn Nets, 7. Cleveland Cavaliers, 8. Chicago Bulls, 9. Toronto Raptors, 10. Orlando Magic

Celtics over Heat in the Conference Finals 4-3

Western Conference – 1. Phoenix Suns, 2. Golden State Warriors, 3. Los Angeles Clippers, 4. Memphis Grizzlies, 5. Denver Nuggets, 6. Dallas Mavericks, 7. New Orleans Pelicans, 8. Minnesota Timberwolves, Los Angeles Lakers, 10. Portland Trailblazers

Grizzlies over Nuggets in the Conference finals 4-3

I believe this year we will see great basketball with a plethora of historic milestones, the most important being Lebron James passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on the all-time scoring list. This will be the year we will really see the new generation become what it is presumed to become in the near future.

Finals: Heat over Grizzlies 4-2

Most Valuable Player: Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets

Defensive Player of the Year: Jaren Jackson, Memphis Grizzlies

Rookie of the Year: Benedict Mathurin, Indiana Pacers

Sixth Man of the Year: Norman Powell, Los Angeles Clippers

Most Improved Player: Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers

Coach of the Year: Taylor Jenkins, Memphis Grizzlies

Contact Calvin Scott with comments at calvin.scott@bsu.edu or on Twitter @CalvinAJScott.

Caleb Zuver, Reporter

Eastern Conference – 1. Milwaukee Bucks, 2. Boston Celtics, 3. Atlanta Hawks, 4. Cleveland Cavaliers, 5. Brooklyn Nets, 6. Philadelphia 76ers, 7. Chicago Bulls, 8. Miami Heat, 9. New York Knicks, 10. Detroit Pistons

Bucks over Celtics in the Conference Finals

Western Conference – 1. Los Angeles Clippers, 2. Denver Nuggets, 3. New Orleans Pelicans, 4. Golden State Warriors, 5. Phoenix Suns, 6. Dallas Mavericks, 7. Memphis Grizzlies, 8. Los Angeles Lakers, 9. Minnesota Timberwolves, 10. Portland Trailblazers

Clippers over Pelicans in the Conference Finals

Finals: Bucks over Clippers

Most Valuable Player: Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans

Defensive Player of the Year: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks

Rookie of the Year: Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic

Sixth Man of the Year: Malcolm Brogdon, Boston Celtics

Most Improved Player: Tyrese Maxey, Philidelphia 76ers

Coach of the Year: Willie Green, New Orleans Pelicans

Contact Caleb Zuver with comments at cmzuver@bsu.edu or on Twitter @zuves35.

Brayden Goins, Reporter

Eastern Conference -- 1. Boston Celtics, 2. Miami Heat, 3. Philadelphia 76ers, 4. Brooklyn Nets, 5. Dallas Mavericks, 6. Atlanta Hawks, 7. Cleveland Cavaliers, 8. Chicago Bulls, 9. New York Knicks, 10. Charlotte Hornets

Cavaliers over Nets in the conference finals (five games)

Western Conference -- 1. Los Angeles Clippers, 2. Golden State Warriors, 3. Memphis Grizzlies, 4. Denver Nuggets, 5. Dallas Mavericks, 6. Minnesota Timberwolves, 7. Phoenix Suns, 8. New Orleans Pelicans, 9. Portland Trailblazers, 10. Sacramento Kings

Grizzlies over Mavericks in the conference finals (seven games)

Finals: Grizzlies over Cavaliers in six games

Most Valuable Player: Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans

Defensive Player of the Year: Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat

Rookie of the Year: Paolo Blanchero, Orlando Magic

Sixth Man of the Year: Norman Powell, Los Angeles Clippers

Most Improved Player: Terrence Davis, Sacramento Kings

Coach of the Year: Taylor Jenkins, Memphis Grizzlies

With a young talented core and a potential big three in Ja Morant, Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr., the Grizzlies could be scary this year. Not to mention their other big is the rebounding machine of Steven Adams. I think the Cavaliers' trade for Donovan Mitchell will become key to their success this season and he will lead them to the Finals but will eventually fall to the Grizzlies. The lights-out 3-point shooting of Desmond Bane could be the deciding factor.

Zach Carter, Reporter

Eastern Conference – 1. Milwaukee Bucks, 2. Boston Celtics, 3. Miami Heat, 4. Philadelphia 76ers, 5. Brooklyn Nets, 6. Atlanta Hawks, 7. Cleveland Cavaliers, 8. Chicago Bulls, 9. New York Knicks, 10. Charlotte Hornets

Bucks over Heat in the Conference Finals 4-2

Western Conference – 1. Denver Nuggets, 2. Golden State Warriors, 3. Phoenix Suns, 4. Minnesota Timberwolves, 5. Dallas Mavericks, 6. Los Angeles Lakers, 7. Memphis Grizzlies, 8. Portland Trailblazers, 9. New Orleans Pelicans, 10. Los Angeles Clippers

Warriors over Suns in the Conference Finals 4-3

Finals: Warriors over Bucks 4-3

Most Valuable Player: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks

Defensive Player of the Year: Bam Adebayo, Miami heat

Rookie of the Year: Jaden Ivey, Detroit Pistons

Sixth Man of the Year: Malcolm Brogdon, Boston Celtics

Most Improved Player: Tyler Herro, Miami Heat

Coach of the Year: Steve Kerr, Golden State Warriors

Contact Zach Carter with comments at zachary.carter@bsu.edu or on Twitter @ZachCarter85.

Derran Cobb, Reporter

Eastern Conference – 1. Milwaukee Bucks, 2. Philadelphia 76ers, 3. Boston Celtics, 4. Miami Heat, 5. Atlanta Hawks, 6. Cleveland Cavaliers, 7. Brooklyn Nets, 8. Chicago Bulls, 9. Toronto Raptors, 10. Charlotte Hornets

Bucks over Hawks in the Conference Finals in six games

Western Conference – 1. Phoenix Suns, 2. Golden State Warriors, 3. Denver Nuggets, 4. Dallas Mavericks, 5. Los Angeles Clippers, 6. Memphis Grizzlies, 7. Minnesota Timberwolves, 8. New Orleans Pelicans, 9. Los Angeles Lakers, Portland Trailblazers

Warriors over Nuggets in the Conference Finals in five games

I think this will be another competitive year of NBA Basketball, with it all ending in a great Finals where Giannis Antetokounmpo wins his second ring in three years. After another stellar performance last season and an even better playoff performance, I think Luka Doncic will be crowned MVP. It will be close between Doncic and Joel Embiid, who has finished second in MVP voting the past two years.

Finals: Bucks over Warriors in seven games

Most Valuable Player: Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks

Defensive Player of the Year: Jaron Jackson, Jr., Memphis Grizzlies

Rookie of the Year: Jaden Ivey, Detroit Pistons

Sixth Man of the Year: Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic

Most Improved Player: Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers

Coach of the Year: Doc Rivers, Philadelphia 76ers

Contact Derran Cobb with comments at derran.cobb@bsu.edu or on Twitter @Derran_cobb.

Kyle Smedley, News Editor

Eastern Conference – 1. Boston Celtics, 2. Brooklyn Nets, 3. Milwaukee Bucks, 4. Miami Heat, 5. Philadelphia 76ers, 6. Clevland Cavaliers, 7. Chicago Bulls, 8. Atlanta Hawks, 9. Charlotte Hornets, 10. Toronto Raptors

Celtics over Bucks in the Conference Finals in six games

Western Conference – 1. Golden State Warriors, 2. Los Angeles Clippers, 3. Minnesota Timberwolves, 4. Phoenix Suns, 5. Denver Nuggets, 6. Los Angeles Lakers, 7. Memphis Grizzlies, 8. Dallas Mavericks, 9. New Orleans Pelicans, 10. Sacramento Kings

Clippers over Warriors in the Conference Finals in seven games

Last year, these NBA predictions didn’t quite go my way. Full disclosure, the NBA isn’t my favorite, or even second favorite professional sports league. That said, basketball has been deeply rooted in me for my entire life (shoutout dad and grandpa), so I will always pay attention. I believe this is the Boston Celtics’ year. Last season, they were knocking on the door of their 18th NBA Championship in franchise history, however, I believe they will achieve that feat this season.

Finals: Celtics over Clippers in seven games

Most Valuable Player: Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers

Defensive Player of the Year: Robert Williams, Boston Celtics

Rookie of the Year: Jabari Smith, Houston Rockets

Sixth Man of the Year: Jordan Poole, Golden State Warriors

Most Improved Player: Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers

Coach of the Year: Tyronn Lue, Los Angeles Clippers

Contact Kyle Smedley with comments via email at kyle.smedley@bsu.edu or on Twitter @smedley1932. 

Daniel Kehn, Sports Editor

Eastern Conference – 1. Boston Celtics, 2. Milwaukee Bucks, 3. Miami Heat, 4. Cleveland Cavaliers, 5. Philadelphia 76ers, 6. Chicago Bulls, 7. Brooklyn Nets, 8. Charlotte Hornets, 9. Atlanta Hawks, 10. Toronto Raptors

Celtics over Bulls in the Conference Finals 4-2

Western Conference – 1. Denver Nuggets, 2. Golden State Warriors, 3. Phoenix Suns, 4. Memphis Grizzlies, 5. Los Angeles Clippers, 6. Los Angeles Lakers, 7. New Orleans Pelicans, 8. Dalla Mavericks, 9. Minnesota Timberwolves, 10. Portland Trailblazers

Warriors over Clippers in the Conference Finals 4-0

If I didn't make it abundantly clear with my picks last year, I do not pay a whole lot of attention to the NBA. In fact, I think the NBA is the worst of the top five sports leagues. Yes, that is below the NHL and the MLS; it's just the worst. Either way, who knows? Maybe I get it spot on this year.

Finals: Celtics over Warriors 4-3

Most Valuable Player: Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics

Defensive Player of the Year: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks

Rookie of the Year: Jaden Ivey, Detroit Pistons

Sixth Man of the Year: Malcolm Brogden, Boston Celtics

Most Improved Player: Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers

Coach of the Year: Steve Kerr, Golden State Warriors

Contact Daniel Kehn with comments at daniel.kehn@bsu.edu or on Twitter @daniel_kehn.

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