We dropped our bold preseason predictions a few weeks ago, and now it’s time for a reality check. It’s early—way early—but the NBA never disappoints with surprises. Let’s see what we got right, what we got wrong, and what’s completely blindsiding us.
⚡ WHAT WE NAILED:
✅ THUNDER (8-0, 1st West) – We called them winning 64 games and dominating the West. They’re perfect through 8. SGA is inevitable.
✅ PISTONS (5-2, 3rd East) – Our dark horse pick! We said “the young core is really good, and nobody’s taking them seriously yet.” Well, they’re 5-2 and sitting 3rd in the East. Cade Cunningham is HIM.
✅ ROCKETS (4-2, 5th West) – We had them 2nd in the West at 57-25. Started slow at 1-2, but the bigs rotation is finding its rhythm and they’re gaining momentum.
✅ 76ERS (5-2, 2nd East) – We predicted them 3rd in the East. They’re currently 2nd. Maxey and Embiid are cooking.
❌ WHAT WE MISSED (THE BIG SURPRISES):
1️⃣ SPURS (5-1, 2nd in West) – NOT IN OUR TOP 8. Wemby looks like an MVP AND DPOY. San Antonio is legit and we completely overlooked them.
2️⃣ BULLS (6-1, 1st in East) – NOT IN OUR TOP 8. Billy Donovan has these boys HOOPING. Chicago leads the entire Eastern Conference and nobody—including us—saw this coming. 🐂
3️⃣ RAPTORS (4-4, 8th in East) – Also not in our predictions, but Toronto is quietly in the thick of the playoff race. Scrappy and competitive.
4️⃣ BUCKS (5-3, 4th in East) – We had them 7th at 44-38. Giannis said “not today” and is putting up MVP numbers. Milwaukee is clicking way ahead of schedule.
5️⃣ LAKERS (6-2, 3rd in West) – We predicted 46-36 and a 7-seed. They’re 6-2 WITHOUT LEBRON. Luka dropped 40+ in his first THREE games, Austin Reaves is playing for a MAX BAG, and LA is overdelivering. 💰
6️⃣ WARRIORS (5-3, 6th West) – Our dark horse is delivering. We said “don’t sleep on Steph with Jimmy Butler and healthy Draymond.” They’re playoff-bound and competitive.
😬 THE DISAPPOINTMENTS:
KNICKS (4-3, 6th East) – We predicted 59-23 and the #1 seed. New coach Tom Thibodeau is still working to get everyone on the same page, and they’re sitting 6th.
CAVALIERS (4-3, 7th East) – We had them 2nd in the East at 55-27. Injuries have derailed the early season, and they’re struggling to find consistency. Sitting 7th.
HAWKS (4-4, 9th East) – We called them 4th in the East. They’re 9th and struggling to find their groove.
MAGIC (3-5, 10th East) – Predicted 6th, sitting 10th. Injuries and inconsistency have derailed Orlando early.
CLIPPERS (3-4, 10th West) – We had them 5th at 50-32. They’re barely hanging on in the play-in picture.
MAVERICKS (Not even shown) – We predicted 44-38 and an 8-seed. They’re nowhere close. Rough start for Dallas.
🔥 THE BOTTOM LINE:
It’s a long season, and we’re only 2.5 weeks in, but the early returns are wild:
- The Thunder are the only lock we got right.
- Our Pistons dark horse is paying off big time.
- The Bulls and Spurs came out of nowhere to lead their conferences.
- The Knicks (new coach), Cavs (injuries), and Clippers are underperforming—but there’s time to turn it around.
Plenty of basketball left to play. Let’s check back in at Thanksgiving and see if these trends hold or if the league flips again. 🦃
What do you think? Are the Bulls and Spurs for real, or will they come back to earth? Drop your takes below. 👇
