RICHMOND, Va. – The NBA season got underway just a few weeks ago, so we decided to check in with the VCU men’s basketball program to see what their predictions were for this upcoming year in “The League.”
This edition will feature what the 13 players on this year’s roster predicted. Next week, we’ll check in with what the coaching staff had to say.
Rob Brandenberg |
Bradford Burgess |
Troy Daniels |
Treveon Graham |
Jarred Guest |
D.J. Haley |
David Hinton |
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Atlantic Division Winner
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Knicks
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Celtics
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Knicks
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Knicks
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Knicks |
Celtics
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Knicks
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Central Division Winner
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Bulls | Bulls |
Bulls |
Bulls |
Bulls |
Bulls |
Bulls |
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Southeast Division Winner
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Heat | Heat | Heat | Heat | Heat | Heat | Heat |
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Eastern Conference Finals
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Heat vs. Knicks | Heat vs. Bulls | Heat vs. Knicks | Heat vs. Knicks | Heat vs. Bulls | Heat vs. Celtics | Heat vs. Bulls |
| Eastern Conference Champ | Heat | Bulls | Heat | Heat | Heat | Heat | Heat |
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Northwest Divison Winner
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Thunder | Thunder | Thunder | Thunder | Thunder | Thunder | Thunder |
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Pacific Division Winner
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Clippers | Lakers | Lakers | Clippers | Lakers | Lakers | Clippers |
| Southwest Division Winner | Spurs | Mavericks | Mavericks | Mavericks | Mavericks | Spurs | Spurs |
| Western Conference Finals | Lakers vs. Thunder | Mavericks vs. Thunder | Thunder vs. Mavericks | Lakers vs. Thunder | Lakers vs. Thunder | Lakers vs. Thunder | Clippers vs. Thunder |
| Western Conference Champ | Thunder | Mavericks | Mavericks | Thunder | Thunder | Thunder | Thunder |
| NBA Finals | Thunder vs. Heat | Mavericks vs. Bulls | Mavericks vs. Heat | Thunder vs. Heat | Thunder vs. Heat | Thunder vs. Heat | Thunder vs. Heat |
| NBA Champion | Heat | Bulls | Mavericks | Heat | Heat | Thunder | Heat |
| MVP | LeBron James | Derrick Rose | Dirk Nowitski | Kevin Durant | Derrick Rose | Kevin Durant | LeBron James |
| Rookie of the Year | Kemba Walker | Norris Cole | Norris Cole | Kemba Walker | Norris Cole | Kyrie Irving | Kyrie Irving |
| Most Overrated Team | Bulls | Knicks | Heat | Clippers | Clippers | Heat | Bulls |
| Most Underrated Team | Kings | Spurs | Knicks | Spurs | Grizzlies | Clippers | Nuggets |
| Most Overrated Player | Pau Gasol | Joe Johnson | LeBron James | Joe Johnson | Russell Westbrook | LeBron James | Kevin Durant/ Derrick Rose |
| Most Underrated Player | Kevin Love | Ed Davis | Joel Anthony | Tyson Chandler | Tyrek Evans | Lamar Odom | Rudy Gay |
| Player You Want Taking Shot with the game on the line | Dwayne Wade | Kobe Bryant | Kobe Bryant | Kobe Bryant | Kevin Durant | Kobe Bryant | Kobe Bryant |
Heath Houston |
Reco McCarter |
Teddy Okereafor |
JuvonteReddic |
Darius Theus |
Briante Weber |
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Atlantic Division Winner
|
Celtics
|
Celtics
|
Celtics
|
Knicks | Knicks |
Celtics
|
|
Central Division Winner
|
Bulls | Bulls |
Bulls |
Bulls |
Bulls |
Bulls |
|
Southeast Division Winner
|
Hawks | Heat | Heat | Heat | Heat | Heat |
|
Eastern Conference Finals
|
Heat vs. Bulls | Heat vs. Bulls | Heat vs. Bulls | Heat vs. Knicks | Heat vs. Bulls | Heat vs. Celtics |
| Eastern Conference Champ | Heat | Bulls | Heat | Heat | Heat | Heat |
|
Northwest Divison Winner
|
Thunder | Thunder | Thunder | Thunder | Thunder | Thunder |
|
Pacific Division Winner
|
Clippers | Lakers | Lakers | Clippers | Lakers | Clippers |
| Southwest Division Winner | Grizzlies | Mavericks | Grizzlies | Grizzlies | Mavericks | Grizzlies |
| Western Conference Finals | Clippers vs. Thunder | Lakers vs. Thunder | Thunder vs. Lakers | Grizzlies vs. Thunder | Mavericks vs. Thunder | Clippers vs. Thunder |
| Western Conference Champ | Thunder | Thunder | Lakers | Thunder | Thunder | Thunder |
| NBA Finals | Thunder vs. Heat | Thunders vs. Heat | Lakers vs. Heat | Thunder vs. Heat | Thunder vs. Heat | Thunder vs. Heat |
| NBA Champion | Heat | Heat | Heat | Thunder | Heat | Heat |
| MVP | Chris Paul |
LeBron James |
LeBron James |
Kevin Durant | Dwayne Wade |
Kevin Durant |
| Rookie of the Year | Kemba Walker | Norris Cole | Norris Cole | Norris Cole |
Norris Cole | Norris Cole |
| Most Overrated Team | Clippers | Lakers | Clippers | Clippers | Heat | Lakers |
| Most Underrated Team | Spurs | Grizzlies | Nuggets | Grizzlies | Nuggets | Grizzlies |
| Most Overrated Player | Dirk Nowitzski |
Russell Westbrook |
Russell Westbrook |
Kyrie Irving |
LeBron James |
Russell Westbrook |
| Most Underrated Player | Kevin Love |
Brandon Jennings |
Zach Randolph |
James Harden |
James Harden |
Rajon Rondo |
| Player You Want Taking Shot with the game on the line | Kobe Bryant |
Dwayne Wade |
Carmelo Anthony |
Kevin Durant |
Dwayne Wade |
Kevin Durant |