NBA Coaches, Scouts, Executives Predict 2023 Champion

NBA
NBA Analysis Network

After a stretch of time in which superteams and Big 3’s dominated the NBA, the league has become pretty wide open. While players are still maneuvering their way into playing with specific teams, things are as wide open as they have been in recent memory when it comes to title contenders.

There are numerous teams in both conferences that can make legitimate claims to being title contenders. A few more can rise to those ranks if moves made this offseason pay off and players continue on the path of development that they have been on.

Right now, according to some betting odds that have been set, the Boston Celtics are the favorites to win the NBA Finals this upcoming season. The defending champion Golden State Warriors, LA Clippers, Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks round out the top five. 

The 15 scouts, coaches and executives that made up the panel of ESPN’s offseason survey would mostly agree with those rankings. They almost unanimously selected either the Bucks or Celtics to win the Eastern Conference, each receiving seven votes. The Miami Heat, who have the 10th best odds of winning the title, received the final vote.

“I just think Milwaukee would have done it last year if [Khris] Middleton was healthy,” a West scout said. “I think Giannis will be the best player in a series, and my default in most things in the NBA is whoever has the best player tends to win.”

In the Western Conference, the votes weren’t any closer. The Clippers ran away with it, receiving eight votes. The Warriors and Suns each received three, while the final vote went to the Denver Nuggets.

LATEST NBA NEWS: Shaquille O’Neal Reveals Pick For NBA’s Best Player

However, only four of the seven teams received votes for who would win the NBA Finals. This voting was much closer, but the edge was given to the Clippers, who received five votes. The Bucks and Celtics each received four, while the Warriors received two.

“[Klay] Thompson is going to be better, they’re coming off the championship, [James] Wiseman is back, [Moses] Moody, [Jordan] Poole will both be a year older,” an East scout said.

“You’ve got to pick them, because of experience.”

A big reason that the Clippers are receiving so much support is that they should have their All-Star duo of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George back healthy. With a deep, talented roster and excellent coaching staff, people are expecting great things from them.

“I don’t know if [Leonard will] necessarily be MVP, because he won’t play enough and I don’t think he cares about that,” an East executive said. “But when it comes to playoff MVP, he has an excellent chance of that.”

Could sitting atop these surveys be a curse for the teams? Last season, the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Lakers were overwhelming favorites in the survey to win their respective conferences and take home the Larry O’Brien Trophy. The LA Clippers, Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics are certainly hoping that is not the case and that they can prove their voters right during the upcoming season.

Latest NBA News & Trade Rumors

For the latest news and trade rumors surrounding the Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets, Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors, LA Clippers, Miami Heat, and Milwaukee Bucks, and from around the NBA, check out our feed.

NBA Scout Provides Brutal Take On Purdue’s Zach Edey

NBA scouts and fans alike are all locked in on the 2024 NCAA Tournament. That is where all the attention of basketball fans will be

Mike Brown Boldly Pushes Domantas Sabonis MVP Narrative

Sacramento Kings big man Domantas Sabonis is producing at a level that we have never seen previously in the NBA. He has recorded a double-double

Warriors’ Stephen Curry Takes Shot at Steve Kerr for Reduced Minutes

The Golden State Warriors’ 2023-24 NBA season is hanging on by a thread. The team is only one game ahead of the Houston Rockets for