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2019-20 NBA season: Record predictions for every team

By Christopher Kline

PLAYA VISTA, CA - SEPTEMBER 29: Los Angeles Clippers Forward Kawhi Leonard (2) and Los Angeles Clippers Forward Paul George (13) pose for a photo during media day at the Los Angeles Clippers Training Center on September 29, 2019 in Playa Vista, California. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
PLAYA VISTA, CA - SEPTEMBER 29: Los Angeles Clippers Forward Kawhi Leonard (2) and Los Angeles Clippers Forward Paul George (13) pose for a photo during media day at the Los Angeles Clippers Training Center on September 29, 2019 in Playa Vista, California. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
(Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) /

Golden State Warriors

Kevin Durant, gone. Klay Thompson, hurt. Golden State Warriors, top-three seed. I’m in on Golden State, and more specifically, I’m in on Stephen Curry. He’s my MVP pick. The second-best player in basketball will lift the Warriors to the third seed in a stacked Western Conference.

Golden State still lacks a certain degree of depth, which is why Curry’s expected brilliance doesn’t land Golden State at the top. Even with a shaky perimeter rotation beyond Curry, D’Angelo Russell and eventually Klay Thompson, it’s hard to project the Warriors any lower than this.

Curry’s impact is singular. He’s wholly unique, with a skill set undreamt of prior to his revelatory breakout in the Bay. Curry pressures the defense at every point, whether it’s 30 feet from the rim, on an off-ball cut, or when he’s snaking his way to the basket. He requires constant defensive attention, and it’s seldom enough.

Defenses will warp and bend to cover Curry to the best of their ability, in turn opening up opportunities for Curry’s teammates. He’s a tremendous pick-and-roll guard due to his limitless pull-up range. He’s also the single most effective off-ball scorer on the planet. He does it all.

The Warriors will ride Curry’s historically efficient shooting to a cool 52 wins. He will put up numbers comparable to his 2015-16 MVP run — the first unanimous decision in league history. He won’t win quite as decisively, but Curry will reassert his status as a domineering force in KD’s absence.

At this point, Klay is out until at least the All-Star break. It’s unwise to anticipate a full return to form at any point during the regular season, so it’s difficult to factor Klay strongly into these rankings. But Russell will add another release valve on the perimeter, one who can help ease Curry’s burden when necessary. Draymond Green remains a criminally smart two-way force.

Final prediction: 52-30, No. 3 seed Western Conference