2021-22 NBA Awards: S-and-S Staff Roundtable

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2021-22 NBA Awards Predictions: NBA Finals Winner (and loser)

DJ: Los Angeles Lakers 4-2 Milwaukee Bucks

With Clippers superstar Kawhi Leonard presumably out for the season, the Lakers are the clear favorites in the Western Conference. The East has also become more clear with the uncertainty surrounding both Kyrie Irving and Ben Simmons. I do, however, think the Lakers would take the series. It’s so hard to bet against both LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

SS: Milwaukee Bucks 4-3 Denver Nuggets

I’m going with the Bucks repeating this season. The Nets would be my favorites but, availability is the best skill set you can bring to a team and if Kyrie Irving isn’t going to be able to step into the arena for home games then that’s a massive loss. Kevin Durant and James Harden are good enough to do it on their own but I struggle to believe that this distraction won’t affect them and the rest of the team. Since I’ve predicted a MIP award for Porter Jr. I have to believe that he will be good enough to help Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray get over the hump to reach the NBA finals, but unfortunately, they fall short to a team that has a two-time MVP, defensive player of the year, and is now an NBA champion and finals MVP. Giannis Antetokounmpo now knows how to win.

JP: Brooklyn Nets 4-1 Utah Jazz

The Nets were a toe away from going to the NBA finals, this season that won’t stop them. The only thing that might is Kyrie Irving, but I believe by the time the finals are around he’ll be good to go. The west is full of teams that can make it, but my pick is the Jazz. Donovan Mitchell continues to become a superstar and Rudy Gobert will still be a dominant defender. It won’t be easy but Utah has the pieces to make the finals, just not win.

GM: Brooklyn Nets 4-2 Phoenix Suns

I cannot in good conscience pick against the behemoth from Brooklyn. Even if I wasn’t taking a specific team over the field, there’s still clear reason to see them as favorites, especially with a weaker Philadelphia and the Bucks going through hell and needing an extra inch to get rid of them last year with 1.5 of their big 3 playing. They got deeper, they have continuity, they really check every box except great defense. On the side of the west, I do not trust the Lakers, Kawhi is out and the Suns will now have real playoff experience for their young core on their side, plus a backup big since the lack of one hurt them vs both the Lakers and Bucks. Anyone can beat anyone in this conference, but if it wasn’t for the fact that going to the finals back to back without a superteam is really freaking hard, I would feel really comfortable with a Suns pick.

EB: Los Angeles Lakers 4-2 Brooklyn Nets

The Los Angeles Lakers and the Brooklyn Nets enter the season as NBA Finals favorites, and with good reason. The Los Angeles Clippers will be without Kawhi Leonard for the foreseeable future, while the Philadelphia 76ers are still dealing with the Ben Simmons debacle. Even without Kyrie Irving, the Nets are the most talented team in the conference
sans injury. Predicting the Lakers to win it all is a vote of confidence in LeBron James’ leadership over Kevin Durant’s.

JH: Los Angeles Lakers 4-2 Brooklyn Nets

Even though many are calling them old, the Lakers are just way too talented and experienced to blow this opportunity of winning another title. LeBron is poised to have a bounce-back season, Russell Westbrook should help tremendously when either LeBron or Anthony Davis is out, and the depth of the team is much stronger than it was last year. The Nets might not have Kyrie Irving for half the year but they’ll be just fine with Kevin Durant and James Harden before coming up just short to LA.

MW: Brooklyn Nets 4-3 Los Angeles Lakers

After a season full of surprises in 2021, the two powerhouses of their respective conferences will face off. Both of these teams struggled with injuries last season, but I am banking on Kyrie to join his teammates and push them over the top. Plus, I’m never betting against Kevin Durant in a game 7 when he has a full cast around him.

QE: Brooklyn Nets 4-2 Los Angeles Lakers

Boooooorrrrinnnngggg, I know! But with Kawhi Leonard bound to miss a chunk of the season, the Lakers should have a clear path out of the West, as long as they can schedule their games around bingo night and Ed Sullivan Show reruns. (Because they’re old). The Russell Westbrook, Lebron James, and Anthony Davis trio will “work” because they’re all really, really good at basketball. The Lakers’ additions of Malik Monk (miss you king), Kendrick Nunn, Wayne Ellington give them solid guard depth, too. I’m going to be sick if I write one more nice thing about the Lakers. Assuming Kyrie Irving will be able to play in Brooklyn this season (@ oldtakesexposed), the Nets are clearly the favorite in the East. The Bucks will give them a run again, and Miami will be pesky, but a healthy Brooklyn team is scarier than fresh seafood in Nebraska.

JF: Los Angeles Lakers 4-2 Brooklyn Nets

It’s boring, but I’m going chalk on this one. Barring injuries (or other, dumber reasons to miss games), both of these teams are just too talented from top to bottom. Maybe the Lakers could even talk Westbrook into playing center for AD.

Final tally: Los Angeles Lakers 4, Brooklyn Nets 4, Milwaukee Bucks 1

Takeaways: The people want a Lakers-Nets finals – and I think it would be extremely entertaining. Depending on what both rosters look like come playoff time, it could be an interesting matchup.

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