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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: Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports /

Detroit Pistons

Projected wins: 21 (-2)

Eastern Conference standings: 15th

What changed: The Detroit Pistons are going to be one of the worst scoring teams in the NBA this season and very possibly the actual worst. That won’t cut it in this league.

If you were under the assumption that the Detroit Pistons jumped through all those hoops a couple of weeks ago in the hopes of being good this season, boy are you in for a surprise. They paid up for the backup frontcourt of the Denver Nuggets and then stretched and waived multiple players to be able to fit them in and they let their own exciting young player, Christian Wood, walk with very little struggle on their own part. On the plus side, they drafted Killian Hayes, and it’s ok to lose a lot while letting your rookies develop. And lose a lot, they shall.

light. Related Story. Pistons: 5 takeaways from their chaotic and bizarre offseason

Golden State Warriors

Projected wins: 37 (-1)

Western Conference standings: 9th

The Golden State Warriors have perhaps the highest potential for variance of any team in the league. If Stephen Curry gets hurt again, the Warriors may not win a game without him. If he has another MVP-level season, Draymond Green decides to try, Andrew Wiggins cuts the mid-range and figures things out, James Wiseman ends up being a standout rookie and Kelly Oubre Jr. gets unlocked by his All-Star teammates, on the other hand, the Warriors may end up with homecourt advantage for a round or two in the playoffs. That’s probably the ceiling without Klay Thompson though.