The Golden State Warriors knocked off the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2015 NBA Finals. Will one of those two teams take home the crown next year? Or is another squad ready to claim the title?
We asked our ESPN Forecast panel to predict who will emerge as NBA champions in 2016.
To participate in the discussion and perhaps get your opinion published on this page, #ESPNForecast is the Twitter hashtag to use. Or you can follow along @ESPNNBA.
Who'll be the best in the NBA?
NBA champions projections
1. Cleveland Cavaliers
Proj. record: 59-23
Points: 119
The "healthy" Cavs can see anybody in the West in a seven game series, even GS #ESPNForecast
- B. Stew-Gotti (@onlyicanbstew) September 2, 2015
2. Golden State Warriors
Proj. record: 60-22
Points: 84
Golden State is too talented & too deep to not repeat as champs AND they have the best, most essential ingredient: chemistry.
#espnforecast
— Mehdi Mansour (@Mehdi_M5) September 2, 2015
3. San Antonio Spurs
Proj. record: 56-26
Points: 52
@espnnba #espnforecast Despite Tim & Tony aging, the Spurs will not slow down thanks to LMA and the emergence of Kawhi as a star player.
- Zach (@zjl00) September 2, 2015
4. Los Angeles Clippers
Proj. record: 56-26
Points: 14
Join the conversation on Twitter using #ESPNForecast
5. Oklahoma City Thunder
Proj. record: 55-27
Points: 12
2 MVP candidates/top5 players on 1 team... interesting to see how @okcthunder plays this yr now that they've been written off #ESPNforecast
- Derek Peterson (@DrPetey15) September 2, 2015
Also receiving votes: Houston Rockets (3), Chicago Bulls (1)