A pivotal year for the NBA gets into gear with its annual Christmas Day NBA-athon. A ready reminder they’re eagerly preparing to cushion our sports fall as football seasons conclude. Pretty soon, the trade rumors will become actual trades, All-Star Weekend will underwhelm, and then boom, we’re looking at the stretch run and the real season.
Here’s a quick look at the major storylines this season to get you prepared for what should be another fantastic finish. Then, of course, my vaunted predictions.
What’s Up with the Cavs? - A season of great expectations is becoming just another harsh reminder of the fate of sports in Cleveland. The pre-season East favorites currently sit in 7th place with a 17-14 record. Injuries have hurt, but the Cavs are shooting well below last year’s performance, and it’s probably affecting everything.
Cleveland was the 1st seed in the East last year, finishing 2nd in the league in 3-point percentage. This year, they’re 21st in percentage but first in attempts. They also haven’t beaten the lack of toughness allegations from last year. People are getting nervous.
The good news is there’s still plenty of time for the Cavs to turn it around yet and still be THE team in the East. But it’s not gonna be easy, and they’re going to have to figure out what team they want to be first. Or else they’re just letting their Christmas foe Knicks walk away with the conference.
Can anyone beat OKC? - The worst years of this NBA revival of the last decade were KD on the Warriors when the title was a foregone conclusion, health withstanding. Some argue it killed all momentum from the emergent Curry-LeBron rivalry, and the NBA hasn’t since recovered.
KD’s Choice in 2016, however, led to significant luxury tax reforms that helped put the kibosh on super teams and ushered in seven straight titles won by seven different franchises. The NBA seemed to be well on its way to competitive parity and greater fan engagement.
Ironically, the team that Durant jilted eventually rejected the Super Team model, and because of that, is now in prime position to dominate the NBA for the next decade. The NBA can’t claim parity if nobody can beat the Oklahoma City Thunder.
It didn’t look like anybody could, as they dominated teams en route to a 24-1 start, but hope has risen for the rest of the league, with OKC losing three of its last five games. Two of those victories came at the hands of the young Spurs, who’ve shot up to 2nd in the West and play the Thunder again on Christmas. And let’s not forget that the 4th-seed Pacers took them to 7 in the Finals just six months ago. It’s also more exciting when the David beats the Goliath.
Changing of the Stars -
Player A (December): 24.1 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 4.5 APG, 1.3 BPG, 1.0 SPG, 52.7% FG
Player B (12 starts): 26.3 PPG, 12.9 RPG, 4.0 APG, 3.6 BPG, 1.1 SPG, 50.2% FG
Player C: 25.2 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 4.0 APG, 1.0 BPG, .8 SPG, 50.9% FG
Player D: 28.7 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 4.3 APG, .5 BPG, 1.3 SPG, 47.3% FG
Player E: 20.4 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 7.0 APG, .7 BPG, .8 SPG, 48.1% FG
I don’t think we’re ready for how quickly the faces of this league are gonna change. Player A is 19 and may have already taken “the step” in his second full month in the league. Cooper Flagg is better than advertised. Player B is 21 and has his team as the top threat to the defending champs, all while on a minutes restriction. Wemby has arrived.
I fear we’re seeing the end of the heydays for players C, D, and E, in their 18th, 17th, and 23rd seasons, respectively. And what remarkable stats at that! They just won’t have the same consistent impact on winning at this point in their careers, and power is shifting because of it.
With one of the most anticipated drafts ever coming in 2026, the NBA is going to be embracing a serious youth movement. It will be the latest evolution of the sport and led by people who grew up watching KD (Player C), Curry (Player D), and LeBron (Player E). An end of an era is on the horizon. I’m sure that’s been said before.
2025 NBA Season Predictions
I made my picks before the season started, and I got no choice but to stick with them. It’s probably why I still believe in the Cavs. I thought Detroit would definitely contend for the playoffs, not the one seed. A potential Bucks trade of Giannis could change everything.
My Picks Current Standings (as of 12/24)
Eastern Conference
1. Cleveland Cavaliers 1. Detroit Pistons
2. New York Knicks 2. New York Knicks
3. Milwaukee Bucks 3. Boston Celtics
4. Orlando Magic 4. Toronto Raptors
5. Philadelphia 76ers 5. Philadelphia 76ers
6. Boston Celtics 6. Orlando Magic
7. Atlanta Hawks 7. Cleveland Cavaliers
8. Miami Heat 8. Miami Heat
9. Detroit Pistons 9. Atlanta Hawks
10. Indiana Pacers 10. Chicago Bulls
11. Toronto Raptors 11. Milwaukee Bucks
12. Charlotte Hornets 12. Charlotte Hornets
13. Chicago Bulls 13. Brooklyn Nets
14. Brooklyn Nets 14. Indiana Pacers
15. Washington Wizards 15. Washington Wizards
Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder 1. Oklahoma City Thunder
2. Houston Rockets 2. San Antonio Spurs
3. Denver Nuggets 3. Denver Nuggets
4. Golden State Warriors 4. Los Angeles Lakers
5. Los Angeles Lakers 5. Minnesota T-wolves
6. Los Angeles Clippers 6. Houston Rockets
7. Minnesota Timberwolves 7. Phoenix Suns
8. San Antonio Spurs 8. Golden State Warriors
9. Memphis Grizzlies 9. Memphis Grizzlies
10. Dallas Mavericks 10. Portland Trail Blazers
11. Portland Trail Blazers 11. Dallas Mavericks
12. New Orleans Pelicans 12. Utah Jazz
13. Sacramento Kings 13. Los Angeles Clippers
14. Phoenix Suns 14. New Orleans Pelicans
15. Utah Jazz 15. Sacramento Kings
Regular Season Awards
MVP: Luka Doncic
Rookie of the Year: Cooper Flagg
Defensive Player of the Year: Victor Wembanyama
Sixth Man of the Year: Lonzo Ball
Most Improved Player: Victor Wembanyama
Coach of the Year: Ime Udoka
Playoffs
Eastern Conference:
Look, I’m gonna be honest. The Cavs are gonna have to do a lot to make me feel confident about my pick. Even though Detroit is currently dominating, due to playoff experience, this conference is the Knicks’ right now. I can see Boston having a legit shot as well, especially if Jayson Tatum can make a ridiculous recovery. At least Detroit has basketball again, but they’ll have to prove it in the playoffs.
First Round:
Cavs over Heat
Knicks over Hawks
Celtics over Bucks
76ers over Magic
Second Round:
Cavs over 76ers
Celtics over Knicks
Conference Finals
Cavs over Celtics
Western Conference
OKC is still in a league of its own, but there are multiple true contenders in the West. The Nuggets and Rockets are still the best choices, in my opinion, to take them down in the playoffs. The Spurs are a dark horse to do so, and the Lakers could if they make the right trade(s) by then. It’s still about who can defeat Oklahoma City, but whoever does is gonna be hard to beat.
First Round
Thunder over Spurs
Rockets over Timberwolves
Nuggets over Clippers
Lakers over Warriors
Second Round
Thunder over Lakers
Rockets over Nuggets
Conference Finals
Rockets over Thunder
NBA Finals
Rockets over Cavs