The NBA season is here, and ESPN has posted their yearly season simulation. Although they note that this is an algorithm, and not their “prediction,” the article generated a lot of buzz between fans of the NBA online.
This simulation puts a lot of faith into the Orlando Magic, predicting they not only win the East, but the entire NBA championship. Some fans do believe that the Magic, led by Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, and Desmond Bane can take over a relatively open East.
However, there are an abundance of skeptics who question how a team that was seventh seed last year and a first round exit could have such a colossal turn around. Not to mention having any chance against any Western team, which has been considered to be the stronger of the two conferences in recent years.
On the topic of controversy, another point of contention is their simulated NBA Finals opponent: none other than Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors.
The simulation has the Warriors as the top seed in the West, overshadowing the reigning Oklahoma CityThunder with a record of 63-19, which would be their first 60-plus win season since 2017. The simulation has Curry and co. beating the Sacramento Kings, Houston Rockets and Thunder before losing in seven games to the Magic.
Similarly to Orlando, the Warriors have a good roster to be sure, featuring Curry, Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green and others. However, the team was eliminated in the second round of the playoffs last year by the Timberwolves, and were, like the Magic, just the seven seed.
It is hard to believe that their conservative offseason moves, being the signings of the 39 year old center Al Horford, as well as De’Anthony Melton, while both being talented players, is going to push them over the hump and get them to the Finals.
One of the other major question marks in this simulation that got fans talking was the fate of the teams involved in one of the hottest trades last season: the Los Angeles Lakers and the Dallas Mavericks. Although the general consensus is that Los Angeles won the trade handily, the simulation sees both these teams actually end up much worse for it.
Both the Lakers and the Mavericks finish with identical records, and they aren’t good ones. They end up 36-46, and don’t even make the play-ins. For a season that may be LeBron James’ last, it is really mind boggling to see them fully miss the playoffs; another of the many storylines present in this simulation that fans don’t agree with.
Lastly, the Spurs and Victor Wembanyama, who has looked virtually unguardable in the first three games of the season, will also be another team missing out on the playoffs altogether, with just a slightly better record of 38-44. Although the West is competitive, there is no chance that all three of these teams will miss the playoffs entirely.
For all this simulation controversially predicted, it is important to note it’s off to a shockingly good start. It correctly predicted the two opening night games stating “the Thunder showed why they were favored to repeat with an impressive win” and that “the Warriors spoiled Luka Doncic’s first home opener with the Lakers.” While it didn’t get the details spot on, it got the main result correct.
Simulations and predicting seasons are fun and engaging ways to spend the time before a season kicks off, especially when they spark controversy like this one. Fans might have written this year’s simulation off early, but who knows? Maybe in a few months, we’ll think much differently.