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With the regular season just about to start, it’s time we make our NBA standings predictions 2022.
Here, we’ll discuss which teams are playoff locks, playoff hopefuls, or won’t even be close to the postseason. Notably, the Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes could have a major impact on the standings next season.
NBA standings predictions 2022
So, with everybody trying to get the first-overall pick and land the French superstar, let’s take a look at what we believe will be the final picture in both conferences by the end of the 2022-23 NBA regular season:
Western Conference standings prediction
15. Spurs
Most NBA standings projections have the San Antonio Spurs leading the race for Wembanyama. They don’t have a good roster, and Gregg Popovich is a master tactician, so he might well come up with new ways to lose games just to land the French stud.
Also, they have plenty of veterans to trade.
14. Jazz
Talking about trading veterans, the Utah Jazz will focus solely on gathering as many draft picks as they can this season.
They have some intriguing young players that may benefit from the additional playing time, but it’s not like they’ll try to win, either.
13. Thunder
The Oklahoma City Thunder have already ruled Shai Gilgeous-Alexander out for the season opener, meaning they’re not serious about contending at all.
They continue to hold their star player back so they can keep on losing games, but hey, it got them Chet Holmgren and a plethora of draft capital.
12. Rockets
The Houston Rockets don’t sound like a team that’s intentionally trying to lose games anymore. If anything, they’ll look to put their young studs in a position to try and compete.
However, they’re still quite raw and young, so chances are that they’ll be bottom feeders anyway, regardless of how much they try to win.
11. Kings
The Sacramento Kings will continue to involuntarily tank, as they’ve done for nearly two decades now.
It’s not like they try to lose; it’s just that they can’t seem to help themselves. This team is poorly coached, terribly run, and has a roster that’s just a good fit altogether. They’ll waste De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis for another year.
10. Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers will flirt with .500 basketball for most of the season.
We know Damian Lillard is more than capable of keeping a team in contention on his own, but there are still some questions about how this roster will mesh, and it’s not like Chauncey Billups‘ first year as a coach was promising at all.
9. Pelicans
The New Orleans Pelicans finished last season strong after trading for CJ McCollum, and they should be much better now that Zion Williamson is back to full strength.
However, we still don’t think they have what it takes to be a playoff lock in the stacked Western Conference. Can they prove us wrong? Of course.
8. Mavericks
Our projected NBA regular season record has the Dallas Mavericks as a play-in team.
Losing Jalen Brunson was a big blow, as Luka Doncic will once again be the sole playmaker in the first unit, and he’s looked better with someone taking some pressure off his shoulders. He’s still a top three player in this league, though.
7. Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers couldn’t do any worse than under Frank Vogel.
They should be better, and you know they’ll get hot during some stretches and look like a legit championship contender. However, we can also expect them to get ice-cold and to go through a bit of a roller-coaster season, especially if (when) Anthony Davis gets hurt.
6. Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves gave a lot to land Rudy Gobert to fix their interior-defense woes.
That fit next to Karl-Anthony Towns will be questionable, to say the least, but they have an up-and-coming roster and a budding star in Anthony Edwards, so we still believe they’ll make the playoffs after an adjustment period.
5. Suns
The Phoenix Suns have been a powerhouse in the West since Chris Paul‘s arrival, but they may have peaked already.
They looked angry and not in a good way, and some expect major regression from them this season. Will Deandre Ayton finish the season in Phoenix? Will Devin Booker step up? Will Jae Crowder be traded?
4. Grizzlies
People continue to sleep on the Memphis Grizzlies, yet they continue to find ways to silence their doubters, so we’re not going to make that same mistake again.
They’ll certainly miss Jaren Jackson Jr’s elite defense early in the season, but they’re deep, proud, and hungry. They’ll be just fine.
3. Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets have a true superstar in Nikola Jokic, and that can always take you to great lengths.
But more than that, Jokic will have his buddies by his side for the first time in ages, as both Michael Porter Jr and Jamal Murray are finally healthy and ready to pick up things where they left them.
2. Warriors
The NBA standings predictions 2022 had the Golden State Warriors as a fringe playoff team, which was clearly a massive mistake.
The dynasty is alive and well, and the reigning champions will look to win back-to-back championships for the first time since the Kevin Durant era.
1. Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers could have the best record in the NBA by a very, very long stretch. If Kawhi Leonard doesn’t miss any time and Paul George is back to his prior form, then there’s simply no stopping this team.
John Wall gives them another guy who can push up the pace and is the best playmaker they’ve had since Chris Paul left.
Eastern Conference standings prediction
15. Magic
The Orlando Magic are finally on the right path. They’re building a nice, balanced team through the NBA Draft, and Paolo Banchero has the makings of a franchise player.
However, they may not be satisfied yet, and they’ll tank as hard as they can to get either Wembanyama or Scoot Henderson.
14. Pacers
Most NBA standings predictions 2023 have the Indiana Pacers finishing with the second or third-worst record in the Association. Buddy Hield and Myles Turner are prime trade candidates, and other than Tyrese Haliburton, they’re not exactly reeking of young talent.
This could be a long, ugly season in Indy.
13. Wizards
Bradley Beal will have a tough time paying back that massive contract he signed in the offseason.
Kristaps Porzingis and Kyle Kuzma are wildly inconsistent, and their roster has a lot of holes in it. We expect them to flirt with .500 basketball for most of the season and then just give up in the final month or so.
12. Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are in a similar position to the Houston Rockets.
They have an up-and-coming, elite set of young prospects that will compete hard night in and night out, and they may even pull off some major upsets. However, they may still need more time and experience before making their first trip to the playoffs.
11. Hornets
The Miles Bridges situation was a massive blow for the Charlotte Hornets. They were an improved season but are now likely to regress unless one of their young players steps up big time.
LaMelo Ball has the makings of a superstar, but he’ll need more help to turn this ever-struggling team into a legit playoff contender.
10. Knicks
Judging by our projections of NBA win totals, the New York Knicks will be a play-in team at best.
They committed a ton of money to a Big 3 consisting of Jalen Brunson, RJ Barrett, and Julius Randle. It doesn’t get any more ‘mid’ and overpaid than that, and it seems like this organization will never learn from its mistakes.
9. Raptors
The Toronto Raptors are always in the market for a big trade. So, they could wound up parting ways with one of their veterans or try and swoop in to get a star; you just never know with Masai Ujiri.
Whatever the case, they could mess around and make the playoffs, as they’re putting together a young, impressive, hard-fighting squad.
8. Bulls
The Chicago Bulls’ hopes linger on DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine going wild again next season. Alex Caruso‘s return gives them a big defensive boost, and Andre Drummond and Goran Dragic will give them a nice punch off the bench.
However, they’re not championship material yet, especially if Lonzo Ball is unable to play.
7. Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks should fare much better next season with Dejounte Murray next to Trae Young.
They have the potential to be an elite defensive team, and we already know what Young is capable of on the offensive end of the floor. However, there are still doubts about their coaching and ability to beat winning teams.
6. Heat
The Miami Heat have one of the best coaches in the business and Jimmy Butler, so they’re a lock to make the playoffs.
But losing PJ Tucker is a big blow to their defense, and whether Tyler Herro will finally step up and prove his worth remains to be seen.
5. Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers were one of the biggest surprises in the league last season, and they’ll only get better after landing Donovan Mitchell.
Their backcourt is explosive offensively, and the paint is well guarded with a young Kevin Garnett in Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. They’re must-watch TV right now.
4. Celtics
The NBA standings predictions 2022 had the Boston Celtics as a top-four team in the Eastern Conference, and this season is no different.
Even without Ime Udoka and with some regression, we’re talking about a team fresh off a trip to the NBA Finals and completely stacked at every single position.
3. Nets
There’s only one thing that could stop the Brooklyn Nets this season, and that’s the Brooklyn Nets.
They have arguably the best Big 3 in the league, at least on paper. Yet, their egos, poor coaching, and lack of defensive commitment could all be major issues. You just can’t count on them, nor count them out either.
2. Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks are often overlooked, but they still boast the same core that won the NBA championship just two seasons ago, not to mention they have that guy named Giannis Antetokounmpo leading the way.
Even with Mike Budenholzer’s well-documented playoff meltdowns, they’re a team to look out for all year long.
1. 76ers
And, finally, the Philadelphia 76ers sit at the top of our NBA standings predictions 2023 for the Eastern Conference, and for very good reasons.
For starters, Doc Rivers is a regular-season coach. Moreover, they had the best offseason in the league, and James Harden seems more locked in than ever in his career. They finally have some depth at every position, and they know it’ll be championship-or-bust for them.
