2025 NBA postseason predictions: SGA wins MVP over Jokic, Lakers make Finals

The outcomes for the NBA awards might be trickling in quickly, so it is time for a spotlight reel of my picks, in addition to my playoff predictions. 

It is all the time an honor to be among the many media members chosen to vote for the awards, regardless that my eyes have glazed over watching video games and analyzing stats, and I’ve positively misplaced sleep pondering some very powerful selections. 

However alas, the poll has been crammed out. The playoffs are starting. And here is how I feel every part ought to go down. 

MVP: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

This yr, the very best participant on the very best crew deserves the award. Gilgeous-Alexander led the youngest crew within the NBA to a 68-win season, averaging a league-leading 32.7 factors a sport on a particularly environment friendly 51.9 p.c capturing. He had essentially the most 20, 30, 40 and 50-point video games of anybody within the league. To not point out, he had the bottom turnover proportion of anybody together with his utilization charge or increased for the final 20 seasons.

However what actually pushed him over the sting for this award was his phenomenal two-way play. He was one of many high defenders on the top-rated defensive crew within the league. He not solely led the NBA in win shares, but additionally in defensive wins shares, rating top-five in steals. 

Whereas his competitors for the award, Nikola Jokic, additionally put up astounding numbers on the offensive finish, Gilgeous-Alexander’s play on each ends of the courtroom gave him the benefit in a really shut two-horse race. 

Defensive Participant of the Yr: Draymond Inexperienced

When Victor Wembanyama’s season got here to an sudden finish due to a deep vein thrombosis in his proper shoulder in February, this award turned up for grabs. Inexperienced has distinguished himself from his rivals. The perfect argument for Inexperienced to win Defensive Participant of the Yr? Watch him play. He can guard one-through-five, he reads the courtroom higher than anybody and his genius lies in stopping performs earlier than they even occur, a phenomenon that does not present up in field scores. Take a look at what he did in opposition to Zion Williamson and Giannis Antetokounmpo this season, for reference. 

After the All-Star break, the Warriors had been the top-rated defensive crew within the league. (They completed seventh total.) And regardless that the stats solely inform a part of the story in terms of Inexperienced, he shined in superior metrics, coming in No. 1 within the league for defensive LEBRON,

Coach of the Yr: Kenny Atkinson

Beneath Atkinson, the Cavaliers did not simply surpass their expectations, they shattered them. They went from being considered a crew that ought to make the playoffs, to turning into a crew that not solely clinched the highest seed within the Jap Convention, however can be thought-about a shoo-in to succeed in the Jap Convention Finals. 

Atkinson rejiggered the Cavaliers’ offense, emphasizing ball motion and 3-point capturing, whereas additionally taking a number of the load off of All-Star Donovan Mitchell. The Cavaliers opened the season with a 15-0 file and have not misplaced a lot steam since, ending with the top-rated offense within the league, an enormous leap from their Sixteenth-place end final yr.

Rookie of the Yr: Stephon Citadel

Citadel averaged 14.7 factors on 42.8 p.c capturing, 4.1 assists and three.7 rebounds in 26.7 minutes over 81 video games this season. He led all eligible rookies in scoring and was named MVP of the Rising Stars sport over All Star weekend, in addition to ending second within the slam dunk contest. Citadel is one among 4 rookies to have a number of 30-point video games this season. The sphere for this award wasn’t robust this season, and Citadel did simply sufficient to separate himself. 

Finals: Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers

Within the East, the reigning champion Celtics are going to advance, with the duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown in the end getting the very best of the Cavaliers. Regardless of the Cavs’ unbelievable season, they do not have sufficient expertise enjoying collectively in high-stakes video games to get previous a duo that has performed collectively for eight seasons, reaching the Convention Finals six occasions and the championship spherical twice. 

Within the West, the Lakers are going to make the Finals as a result of a sure 40-year-old named LeBron James is aware of that that is one among his closing alternatives to win his fifth championship, and he now really believes he has an opportunity to make it occur alongside Luka Doncic. James is aware of how one can go all the best way, successful 4 championships and making 10 Finals appearances, together with eight in a row from 2011-2018. Doncic, in the meantime, took the Dallas Mavericks to the Finals final yr, earlier than they shocked the world by dealing a 25-year-old in his prime to one among their rivals in February. James and Doncic take their video games to a different stage come playoff time, and, collectively, alongside Austin Reaves, will create nightmares for defenses. 

Finals MVP: Luka Doncic

Publicly humiliate a generational celebrity by buying and selling him from a franchise he wished to play for his complete profession, name him out of practice … and watch what occurs.

Melissa Rohlin is an NBA author for FOX Sports activities. She beforehand coated the league for Sports activities Illustrated, the Los Angeles Instances, the Bay Space Information Group and the San Antonio Specific-Information. Observe her on Twitter @melissarohlin.

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