2022-23 NBA Season Predictions; Playoff Teams & NBA Champions

With the 2022-23 NBA season tipping off tonight (October 18), we decided to predict whom we believe will be playing in the NBA playoffs this season, as well as whom we think will become the 2023 NBA champs.

We will start in the Eastern Conference, where we have the defending Eastern Conference champs, Boston Celtics beginning as the one seed in the East; followed by the defending Eastern Conference runner-ups, Miami Heat, who are led by arguably the best coach in the NBA Erik Spoelstra. Coming in at the three seed will be Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks, followed up by the Cleveland Cavaliers at number four, taking a giant leap thanks mainly to their new acquisition Donovan Mitchell. Then, at the five seed will be James Harden, Joel Embiid, and the Sixers, with the young Raptors sliding in at the six seed led by all-star guard Fred VanFleet and reigning rookie of the year Scottie Barnes. Rounding up the Eastern Conference playoff picture will be the Chicago Bulls at the seven seed after making significant acquisitions to solidify their depth with the signings of Goran Dragic and Andre Drummond; followed up by the “shady” Brooklyn Nets coming into the final spot led by Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.

Out in the West, we have the defending champion Golden State Warriors at number one with the Denver Nuggets at number two thanks to their point guard Jamal Murray being back from injury. At number three, we have the Memphis Grizzlies with the significant rise of Desmond Bane; while at four is Luka Doncic-led Dallas Mavericks and the Minnesota Timberwolves significantly improving to capture the five seed due to the success of the new big men pairing of Karl Anthony-Towns and Rudy Gobert. The final three in the West will be the Clippers at six, the Suns at seven, and the Lakers securing the final spot.

In the Eastern Conference Championship, we have the top-seeded Celtics falling to the three-seeded Milwaukee Bucks, being eliminated at home in TD Garden in game six of that series, with enormous contributions coming from Bobby Portis in this series.

While in the Western Conference Championship, we have the defending champs, the Warriors, being knocked out at home in game seven of the conference finals by none other than Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets.

In the 2023 NBA Finals, we have the Milwaukee Bucks defeating the Denver Nuggets in game seven to become the 2023 NBA Champions. Giannis Antetokounmpo will not just add another ring to his resume but also another NBA Finals MVP Award as he and Jokic will go toe to toe in this fantastic series led by these two foreign-born superstars.

Check out the series-by-series predictions below:

East Playoff Picture-

1. Celtics
2. Heat
3. Bucks
4. Cavaliers
5. 76ers
6. Raptors
7. Bulls
8. Nets

East 1st round:

1. Celtics vs. 8. Nets = Celtics in 5
2. Heat vs. 7. Bulls = Heat in 6
3. Bucks vs. 6. Raptors = Bucks in 5
4. Cavaliers vs 5. 76ers = Cavaliers in 6

East 2nd round:

1. Celtics vs. 4. Cavaliers = Celtics in 5
2. Heat vs. Bucks = Bucks in 6

Eastern Conference Championship:

1. Celtics vs. 3. Bucks = Bucks in 6

West Playoff Picture-

1. Warriors
2. Nuggets
3. Grizzlies
4. Mavericks
5. Timberwolves
6. Clippers
7. Suns
8. Lakers

West 1st round:

1. Warriors vs. 8. Lakers = Warriors in 4
2. Nuggets vs. 7. Suns = Nuggets in 7

1. Grizzlies vs. 6. Clippers = Clippers in 6
2. Mavericks vs. 5. Timberwolves = Timberwolves in 6

West 2nd round:

1. Warriors vs. 6. Clippers = Warriors in 7
2. Nuggets vs. 5. Timberwolves = Nuggets in 5

Western Conference Championship:

1. Warriors vs. 2. Nuggets = Nuggets in 7

NBA Finals:

1. Nuggets vs. 3. Bucks = Bucks in 7

Let us know what you think about these predictions by either leaving a reaction at the bottom of the post or by sending us a tweet at @celebsecrets.