
104.5 The Team’s Staff NBA Preview
The 2018-2019 NBA season has officially tipped off and the staff at 104.5 The Team is offering up their predictions for the season. What team finishes where? How will the New York based teams finish? Who wins the championship in June? Find out what each guy is predicting below.
Tom "Goz" Goslowski co-host Levack and Goz 2-7pm
Eastern Conference Playoff Standings
1. Boston
2. Toronto
3. Philadelphia
4. Indiana
5.Washington
6. Milwaukee
7.Pistons
8.Heat
Eastern Conference Finals: Boston Celtics over Toronto Raptors
I believe Kyrie with the help of Gordon Hayward and company get to an NBA Finals. I really really like the Indiana Pacers after they almost took down Cleveland last year. The Pacers might be a Jimmy Butler away from being right in the mix of it for a Conference Finals spot.
Western Conference Playoff Standings
1. Houston Rockets
2. Golden State Warriors
3.Denver Nuggets
4.Utah Jazz
5.Oklahoma City Thunder
6..Los Angeles Lakers
7. New Orleans Pelicans
8. Portland Trail Blazers
Can LeBron James really lmake the Lakers that good that fast in his 15th season in the NBA? A top six seed would still be incredible for the Lakers. However if Minnesota does not trade Jimmy Butler, I would put Minnesota at 6 Lakers at 7, and Pelicans at 8. Minnesota had the hype in 2017 like the Lakers do this year. I will have to believe it when I see it that the LeBron can be that good that fast.
Western Conference Finals Golden State Warriors over Houston Rockets
Record prediction for Knicks 33-49
Brooklyn Nets-39-43
Atlanta Hawks-28-54
NBA MVP: Lebron James
Finals Predictions: Golden State over Boston in 4 games.
Jeff Levack,co host of" Levack and Goz"
Eric Hannmann, fill in host/producer for 1045 The Team
Eastern Conference:
1. Philadelphia 76ers
2. Boston Celtics
3. Indiana Pacers
4. Toronto Raptors
5. Milwaukee Bucks
6. Washington Wizards
7. Detroit Pistons
8. Miami Heat
Conference Finals: 76ers vs. Celtics
Western Conference:
1. Golden State Warriors
2. Houston Rockets
3. Oklahoma City Thunder
4. New Orleans Pelicans
5. Portland Trailblazers
6. Utah Jazz
7. Los Angeles Lakers
8. Denver Nuggets
Conference Finals: Warriors vs. Thunder
Knicks Record: 36-46
Nets Record: 35-47
Hawks Record: 20-62
NBA MVP: Kevin Durant
Finals Prediction: Warriors defeat Celtics in 5 games (how original)
Summary: It’s the Warriors league and the rest are just playing in it. No shocker that the defending champs are favorites to 3-peat. The silver lining could be some teams coming into their own to give them a run for their money. Houston and Boston could end up being legitimate threats while I love the Thunder and Pacers to maybe become unquestioned contenders this season. Philly and New Orleans are the last two teams that I’ll mention who have an above average chance but still probably won’t have quite enough to beat Golden State.
Bonus pick: Wendell Carter Jr. of Chicago Bulls as Rookie of the Year
Mike James, studio host/ producer for 1045 The Team
"I'll make it easy. Warriors win title again"
Taylor Lattimore producer for 1045 The Team
Top East Teams
1. Raptors
2. Celtics
3. 76ers
4. Bucks
5. Pacers
6. Wizards
7. Heat
8. Pistons
Kawhi returns to form and leads the Raps to back-to-back #1 seeds.
Celtics vs. Raptors in ECF
Top West Teams
1. Warriors
2. Pelicans
3. Rockets
4. Jazz
5. Lakers
6. Thunder
7. Trailblazers
8. Nuggets
Warriors dominate but Anthony Davis shines as he wills the Pelicans to the #2 seed.
Warriors vs. Pelicans in WCF
Knicks: 25-57...No KP= Lottery again.
Nets: 30-52...At least they don't have to give Boston their pick this year.
Hawks: 29-53...Trae Young and Kevin Huerter try to turn around the struggling Hawks.
MVP: Anthony Davis
Finals-
Golden State Warriors vs. Boston Celtics
Golden State completes the three-peat.
Bryce Zielinski producer for 1045 Team
Eastern Conference Top 8:
- Boston Celtics
- Philadelphia 76ers
- Toronto Raptors
- Washington Wizards
- Milwaukee Bucks
- Indiana Pacers
- Miami Heat
- Cleveland Cavaliers
Western Conference Top 8:
- Golden State Warriors
- Houston Rockets
- Oklahoma City Thunder
- Los Angeles Lakers
- Utah Jazz
- New Orleans Pelicans
- Portland Trail Blazers
- Minnesota Timberwolves
Conference Finals:
Boston defeats Philadelphia (4-2)
Golden State defeats Houston (4-1)
NBA Finals:
Golden State defeats Boston (4-1)
NBA MVP:
Russell Westbrook
Knicks:
13th in East- This has the marks of a disaster season in New York, without Porzingis this roster is barren. The Knicks are in full rebuild mode, and they’ll be scratching and clawing their way to try and get 25 wins this year. This team is destined for a lottery pick in 2019 with hopes of landing some big name free agents next summer.
Nets:
12th in East- The Nets are doing their best to try and recover from the infamous 2013 trade that stripped them of all their assets for years to come. The team has some nice young players to build around, and could surprise some people by being competitive enough to grab 30+ wins this season. However, that’s probably not ideal for a team that finally, for the first time since that trade, will have their own draft pick. The arrow is certainly pointed up, though.
Hawks:
15th in East- Kevin Huerter might be in for rough rookie season, playing for what could be the worst team in all of the NBA. This team is looking into the future, and that was evident with Huerter, Trae Young, and Omari Spellman coming into the fold. It’s hard to believe nothing is left to this franchise that had a 60-win season in 2014-15. The Hawks are in year 1 of a long process and will be lucky to get to the 20-win mark. As for Huerter, he’s going to get consistent minutes and I think has a chance to surprise a lot of people outside of the Capital Region. This kid is a special talent that, if healthy, could average close to 15 points a game.