NBA Tipoff: 2015-16 preview and predictions
The time is finally come -- NBA basketball is back. After a long and eventful offseason, sneakers shall squeak, basketballs will be dribbled and Joey Crawford T's will fly once again.
The Chicago Bulls will host the Cleveland Cavaliers on TNT at 8 p.m. ET, followed by a banner-raising affair in Northern California as the Golden State Warriors take on Anthony Davis and the New Orleans Pelicans.
The day of the season opener tends to act as the unofficial filing day for season predictions, so before tonight's games tip off, we present to you our officially official predictions for the 2015-16 NBA season.
It's important to remember that there are as many as five teams that have a realistic shot at coming out of the Western Conference to take on the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals. The call was tough, but our Western Conference champ is the Los Angeles Clippers.
And once the championship series is underway, we don't think it'll be long before a long-tortured city can finally rejoice. The Cavs will knock off the Clips in seven games, earning Cleveland its first championship since 1964.
Take a look at the complete bracket below, followed by the league's top awards.
MVP: Anthony Davis, New Orleans
Rookie of the Year: Jahlil Okafor, Philadelphia
Sixth Man of the Year: Isaiah Thomas, Boston
Defensive Player of the Year: Rudy Gobert, Utah
Most Improved Player: C.J. McCollum, Portland
Coach of the Year: Quin Snyder, Utah
NEXT: We rank the top 50 players in the NBA:
