ESPN’s NBA Summer Forecast has revealed which elite teams will finish with the best regular-season records in the Eastern and Western conferences.
But which contenders will rise in the playoffs?
The Golden State Warriors shocked many around the NBA world — including our panel — by rebooting their dynasty and capturing the 2022 title. Are we predicting back-to-back championships for the Dubs?
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. The LA Clippers, Denver Nuggets and Milwaukee Bucks are healthy again. The Phoenix Suns are running it back after a league-best 64 wins in 2021-22. The Minnesota Timberwolves are all-in after pulling off a blockbuster trade.
And what about the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Lakers: Could either drama-filled franchise figure things out and make a run?
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.
Here are the results:
Note: Our 2022-23 NBA Summer Forecast will continue Thursday with our predictions for every major award, including MVP and Rookie of the Year.
Who will win the Eastern Conference finals?
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. The reigning conference champion Celtics and the 2021 NBA champion Bucks emerged as the clear front-runners, according to ESPN’s Summer Forecast panel. 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.
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 PJ Tucker into the mix.
Tucker’s former team, the Miami Heat, checked in fourth despite retaining the bulk of the roster that went to Game 7 of the East finals last season.
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.
1. Boston Celtics: 67 points (42.1% of first-place votes)
2. Milwaukee Bucks: 55 points (36.8%)
3. Philadelphia 76ers: 28 points (10.5%)
4. Miami Heat: 19 points (10.5%)
T-5. Cleveland Cavaliers: 1 point
T-5. Toronto Raptors: 1 point
Who will win the Western Conference finals?
The Clippers have reentered the chat.
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.
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. Two-time reigning MVP Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets — who checked in fifth in our panel’s projections — will welcome back Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr.
The Suns returned their core and are coming off an NBA-best 64 wins in 2021-22. The Dallas Mavericks’ Luka Doncic and the Memphis Grizzlies’ Jay Morant are lurking. 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.
What about the Lakers? After leading this list last summer, LeBron James and LA did not receive a single vote to join the West champion favorites.
1. Golden State Warriors: 75 points (52.6% of first-place votes)
2. LA Clippers: 44 points (31.6%)
3. Phoenix Suns: 20 points
4. Dallas Mavericks: 12 points (5.3%)
5. Denver Nuggets: 10 points (5.3%)
6. Minnesota Timberwolves: 6 points (5.3%)
7. Memphis Grizzlies: 4 points
Who will win the NBA title?
The dynasty will continue, at least according to our panel. The Warriors check in as the favorites to capture the 2023 title, which would be the franchise’s fifth in nine seasons.
And why shouldn’t they? Golden State returns its core of Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson, the latter now back to full speed after working his way back from ACL and Achilles tears. Andrew Wiggins is coming off an All-Star campaign. Young players Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody and James Wiseman will see expanded roles. Jordan Poole is expected to provide starter-worthy numbers off the bench.
The Clippers, Celtics and Bucks, meanwhile, round out our panel’s top four and feature plenty of championship experience on their rosters. Is this finally the Clips’ year? Could Boston avenge last season’s Finals loss? Can Giannis Antetokounmpo & Co. make it two titles in three seasons?
1. Golden State Warriors: 52 points (36.8% of first-place votes)
2. LA Clippers: 35 points (26.3%)
3. Boston Celtics: 30 points (10.5%)
4. Milwaukee Bucks: 21 points (10.5%)
5. Miami Heat: 11 points (5.3%)
6. Phoenix Suns: 8 points
T-7. Denver Nuggets: 5 points (5.3%)
T-7. Minnesota Timberwolves: 5 points (5.3%)
9. Philadelphia 76ers: 3 points
10. Dallas Mavericks: 1 point
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