Translator's note: The original text was published on ESPN. The data in the article were as of the time of the original text (August 28 local time). The dates and times involved are local time
ESPN expert team's 2025 summer forecast has answered some of the biggest questions before the league's 80th season, and has made predictions about the league's biggest questions, major awards, and the rankings of the east and west. Now, they will end this prediction with the predictions of the division champion and finals champion.
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Related readings: Western analysis: The Thunder reaches the top, the Rockets strengthen their shortcomings, the Lakers are highly anticipated, the Warriors fall into the play-offs
Related readings: Eastern analysis: The Cavaliers lead the championship group, the Knicks Magic disrupts the situation, the Bucks and Celtics become the middle-level
This season, the Thunder will strive to become the first defending champion since 2018, breaking the record of winning championships by different teams for seven consecutive years, but they will face many challengers. The Cavaliers ranked second in the regular season record last season, second only to the Thunder, and they will fight fiercely in the injury-ridden East. However, the Knicks hired Mike Brown, who has extensive playoff experience as their new coach in the offseason, which put them on the horizon.
We invited experts to rank the East and West champions in their minds and the final NBA championship. The first place vote is counted for 5 points, the second place vote is counted for 3 points, and the third place vote is counted for 1 point.
The following are the votes:
Who will win the Eastern Conference Finals?
1. Cavaliers: 98 points
2. Knicks: 72 points
3. Magic: 21 points
4. Bucks: 7 points
5. Pacers: 3 points
The Cavaliers' start of the new season is not very good, and starters Darius Garland and Max Struz will be absent for a long time after undergoing foot surgery in the offseason. But the division finals are still a long time away, and if they stay healthy, the full roster should make them popular.
One thing that must be considered in this current era is that the Knicks are different from the Cavaliers, who are currently below the second tyrant line, which gives them significantly more flexibility when replenishing or adjusting the roster during the season. The Knicks' current lineup is relatively stable, but if any big-name players enter the market before the February trading deadline, they have the ability to chase it. This may affect the team's competitiveness in the future.
After years of silence in trading, the Magic exchanged four first-round picks for Desmond Bain, and this extremely aggressive deal was a big bet. The deal only makes sense if the Magic's lineup is enough to compete for a place in the division finals. Maybe it is, maybe it is not--we will not know each other in seven months.
Who will win the Western Conference Finals?
1. Thunder: 106 points
2. Nuggets: 50 points
3. Rockets: 35 points
4. Lakers/Timberwolves: 7 points
5. Warriors: 2 points
The Rockets are not here to stop the Thunder from rushing to the first defending champion in the NBA since the Warriors, which is somewhat surprising. Given their offseason power operation, bringing in Kevin Durant, arguably the league's best scorer, to join a lineup full of young talents, the Rockets should challenge the defending champions, even though the latter is far ahead in the summer's vote. The Nuggets finished second in this vote based on their performance of dragging the final championship into seven games last season's Western Conference semifinals, not necessarily their active offseason operation. They traded Michael Porter Jr. for Cameron Johnson, and also obtained Jonas Valanciunas, Bruce Brown and Tim Hardaway Jr.
But the continuity of the lineup is also important. The Thunder's first priority in the offseason is to complete the contract renewal with their talented trio - Shay Gilgers Alexander, Jaylen Williams and Chet Homegren. In fact, the Thunder are expected to retain 14 players from last season's 15-man roster, making them a favorite to defend the Western Conference champions.
Who will win the 2026 NBA Finals?
1. Thunder: 101 points
2. Nuggets: 36 points
3. Cavaliers: 27 points
4. Rockets: 21 points
5. Knicks: 11 points
According to our expert group, the Thunder has a high probability of ending the league's record of winning the championship by different teams for seven consecutive seasons. There is reason to believe that after winning the championship, the Thunder will become a stronger team, purely based on the natural growth of their young core players, who are talented and 27-year-old new MVP Shay Gilgers Alexander. .
However, the 2023 championship Nuggets are regarded as the biggest challenger on the Thunder's road to defending their title. After forcing the Thunder into seven battles in the Western Conference semi-finals, the Nuggets have carried out a series of operations this summer to provide Nikola Jokic with the deepest substitute of his career. The Thunder proved last season that having experience in the playoffs is not a prerequisite for winning the championship. The Cavaliers hope to achieve a similar breakthrough in the East, retaining the core foursome despite their disappointing out in the second round after a 64 win in the regular season.
The Rockets have never broken through the first round since trading James Harden five years ago. But with the addition of future Hall of Fame member Kevin Durant, the team, which has achieved double-digit growth in winnings in the past two seasons, has been strengthened and has entered the discussion scope of the championship team.
Author: NBA insiders
Translator: GWayNe
source:bóng đá livescore