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NBA Predictions: December 21st updated 2020-21 NBA win total projections

By Duncan Smith

December 25, 2018; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) dribbles the basketball against Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) during the third quarter at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
December 25, 2018; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) dribbles the basketball against Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) during the third quarter at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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NBA Mandatory Credit: Quinn Harris-USA TODAY Sports /

Chicago Bulls

Projected wins: 31 (-1)

Eastern Conference standings: 10th (previously 9th)

The Chicago Bulls had a quiet offseason from a personnel perspective, but they did have a successful offseason off the court. They swept out an ineffective front office led by John Paxson and Gar Foreman and replaced them with Arturas Karnisovas as executive vice president of basketball operations. Karnisovas then removed the embattled Jim Boylen from his position as head coach, replacing him with Billy Donovan. While just about anything is an improvement on Boylen, Donovan isn’t exactly an inspired choice, but the outlook for the Bulls should be better by default. They may also get the opportunity to participate in the Eastern Conference’s first play-in.

Cleveland Cavaliers

Projected wins: 22

Eastern Conference standings: 15th

The Cleveland Cavaliers are going to be one bad team next season. They were bad last season and lost Tristan Thompson to the Boston Celtics, but they did add JaVale McGee via trade and drafted Isaac Okoro. That was a puzzling choice, but at least they didn’t stack another rookie guard on top of Collin Sexton and Darius Garland this time around after what had been an annual NBA draft tradition. Anyway, the Cavs will be real bad.