NBA Offseason Roundtable Finale: A 2015 NBA Champion Is Crowned
Jan 25, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) celebrates scoring during the first quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Who will win the NBA championship?
Michael Saenz: It’s finally Kevin Durant‘s time. The Oklahoma City Thunder will win the 2015 NBA Championship.
Even though logic tells me to pick the Cleveland Cavaliers, I have this feeling that this is going to be Durant’s year. I’m not sure who the Thunder will meet in the NBA Finals, it could very well be the Cleveland Cavaliers, I just know that Durant is going to get it done this time. Not matter who is in front of him in June.
John Armstrong: It’s hard to pick against what Cleveland is building. LeBron James brings his championship pedigree home with a scary starting lineup which now includes Kevin Love, and the resident guards Kyrie Irving and Dion Waiters.But perhaps they have a first year like the 2011 Heat, that fumbled in the Finals. It’s hard to predict. I think the East will hold the next few for sure. My pick, which is a paper pick, will be Cleveland. Since we’re dealing with hypothetical situations, show me a team on paper that tops theirs. We’ll see how everything works out once the game is being played.
Morten Jensen: It’s between the Spurs and Cavs, the way I see it. While Cleveland will need adjustments, it’s impossible to deny them their chances, even against San Antonio. Having said that, if the Spurs play like they did in the 2014 Finals, there is no way they don’t end up with ring number six. Outside shots to the title are the Bulls, pending healthy Derrick Rose, Thunder, pending an aggressive enough Kevin Durant, Clippers, pending Chris Paul actually lives up to his stature as the best point guard in the league (yes, I went there), and of course the New York Knicks given that J.R. Smith is now, according to himself, one of the best shooters… Ever.
Bryce Olin: Hmmm… Minnesota I’m going to say Chicago. I really like what I’ve seen from Derrick Rose with Team USA. I’m one of the few that thinks Pau Gasol is going re-emerge as 2012 Pau, and be really productive. Coach Thibs knows how to get the defense playing as well as anyone. Plus, I don’t think the Cavs are going to gel as quickly and easily as people think. There’s now way Cleveland, as their built now, can stop Chicago’s frontline.
David Ramil: Sticking to my guns and picking the Dallas Mavericks. Good coaching, experience, talent, depth…all these things make the difference. The Cavaliers are the best team in the league but they’re a step or two away with too many players – and coaches – having no postseason experience. Mavs in 5 over Cleveland.
Brandon Osborne: The San Antonio Spurs. I could easily see the Cavaliers or Thunder also winning it but the Spurs looked like the most dominant team last season, and they all return this year. If they can avoid father time, then the Spurs should go back-to-back.