The 2023-24 NBA season is ready to tip off, and there’s no shortage of contenders and powerhouse teams this season.

The Milwaukee Bucks, already a contender for the last few seasons, loaded up by acquiring Damian Lillard from the Portland Trailblazers, adding the star guard to a cast with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton.

The Boston Celtics also got a new point guard, adding Jrue Holiday to the mix with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.

When Joel Embiid and James Harden are both on the court producing, the Philadelphia 76ers are hard to beat: but just how often will that happen this season?

In the Western Conference, the Denver Nuggets will run back the same star thing five that won them their first ever NBA championship. They have all the tools to run it back: but the Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors, and Los Angeles Lakers, among others, pose a serious threat to a Denver’s crown.

Read on for my 2023-24 NBA Standings and Playoff Predictions, and if you’d like to debate or discuss any predictions, join the conversation with @SakSports on Twitter.

Eastern Conference

(Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
  1. Milwaukee Bucks (60-22)
  2. Boston Celtics (58-24)
  3. Philadelphia 76ers (50-32)
  4. Cleveland Cavaliers (48-34)
  5. Miami Heat (46-36)
  6. New York Knicks (43-39)
  7. Atlanta Hawks (42-40)
  8. Chicago Bulls (40-42)
  9. Brooklyn Nets (39-43)
  10. Toronto Raptors (38-44)
  11. Charlotte Hornets (36-46)
  12. Indiana Pacers (35-47)
  13. Washington Wizards (34-48)
  14. Orlando Magic (29-53)
  15. Detroit Pistons (20-62)

Western Conference

(AZ Central)
  1. Denver Nuggets (55-27)
  2. Phoenix Suns (52-30)
  3. Los Angeles Lakers (49-33)
  4. Sacramento Kings (48-34)
  5. Golden State Warriors (46-36)
  6. Los Angeles Clippers (44-38)
  7. Memphis Grizzlies (43-39)
  8. Oklahoma City Thunder (42-40)
  9. Minnesota Timberwolves (42-40)
  10. Dallas Mavericks (40-42)
  11. New Orleans Pelicans (39-43)
  12. Utah Jazz (34-48)
  13. Portland Trail Blazers (29-53)
  14. San Antonio Spurs (26-56)
  15. Houston Rockets (23-59)

Playoffs and NBA Finals Matchup

For simplicity’s sake: I’m presuming the Top 8 seeds in each conference hold their standing heading in to the playoffs: aka, no play-in teams will advance from the #9 or #10 position in these scenarios.

Eastern Conference

First Round

#1 Milwaukee Bucks over #8 Chicago Bulls in five games

#2 Boston Celtics over #7 Atlanta Hawks in four games

#3 Philadelphia 76ers over #6 New York Knicks in six games

#5 Miami Heat over #4 Cleveland Cavaliers in six games

Conference Semi-Finals

#1 Milwaukee Bucks over #5 Miami Heat in seven games

#2 Boston Celtics over #3 Philadelphia 76ers in six games

Conference Finals

#1 Milwaukee Bucks over #2 Boston Celtics in seven games

Western Conference

First Round

#1 Denver Nuggets over #8 Oklahoma City Thunder in four games

#2 Phoenix Suns over #7 Memphis Grizzlies in six games

#3 Los Angeles Lakers over #6 Los Angeles Clippers in six games

#5 Golden State Warriors over #4 Sacramento Kings in six games

Conference Semi-Finals

#1 Denver Nuggets over #5 Golden State Warriors in seven games

#2 Phoenix Suns over #3 Los Angeles Lakers in six games

Conference Finals

#1 Denver Nuggets over #2 Phoenix Suns in six games

NBA Finals Matchup

#1 Denver Nuggets over #1 Milwaukee Bucks in seven games

Denver Nuggets: Repeat Champions?

(Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)

If your choices are the Denver Nuggets or the field, obviously the field would be the better bet. There is statistically less than a 50% chance the Nuggets will repeat as NBA champions. And yet, there is no single team better equipped to raise the Larry O’Brien Trophy this June, than the same team that did so last season.

The Nuggets have a talented starting five from top to bottom, a solid bench, and of course, Nikola Jokic, the best all-around player in the NBA. Another Finals run won’t happen without a little magic, and there are many worthy contenders standing in Denver’s way: the Suns, Lakers, and Warriors in the West all have the firepower to go toe-to-toe with the Nuggets when playing their best basketball, and not to divert any credit from last year’s championship, but I’m sure the Nuggets were happy not to have to face a loaded Boston Celtics team. The Milwaukee Bucks are also scarier than ever after pairing Damian Lillard with Giannis Antetokounmpo.

But if I have to roll with one team heading in to the 2023-24 season, it’s the defending champs: the Denver Nuggets.

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