Top 5 seed predictions for Eastern and Western Conference teams heading for playoffs in the 2022-2023 NBA season Notifications New User posted their first comment this is comment text Approve Reject & ban Delete Logout

Top 5 seed predictions for Eastern and Western Conference teams heading for playoffs in the 2022-2023 NBA season

Golden State Warriors (2022 NBA Finals - Game Six) In recent years, the have been a toss up. There are perennial contenders in the West like the Dallas Mavericks and the . There are also powerhouse contenders in the East like the and . It feels like any team could emerge from either conference. Several big moves took place this offseason. The Utah Jazz blew up their team. They sent to the Timberwolves in a blockbuster, multi-player trade. A month later, they dealt to the . In the Eastern Conference, the acquired from the Spurs to pair with . Some experts believe the will win back-to-back NBA championships. Others feel as though the Brooklyn Nets will figure things out and win their first NBA title in franchise history. On a recent episode of 'The Old Man and the Three' podcast, former NBA veteran previewed the 2022-23 season. In the Western Conference, Redick predicted:

1 Warriors

2 Clippers

3

4 Suns

5

6 Nuggets

7 Mavericks

8 Minnesota

9 Lakers

10 Blazers

In the Eastern Conference, Redick predicted:

1 Celtics

2 Bucks

3 76ers

4

5 Nets

6 Cavaliers

7 Raptors

8 Bulls

9 Hawks

10 Knicks

Check out Redick predicting both conferences in the video below. His Western Conference prediction is at the three-minute mark. His Eastern Conference prediction is at the 12:40 mark. There were quite a few interesting takes in Redick's breakdown. So we're going to take a look at the top five teams in both conferences, according to Redick:

Breaking down JJ Redicks predictions

Western Conference

1 - Golden State Warriors

2022 NBA Finals - Game Six This pick came as no surprise. With the Warriors entering the season as the defending NBA champions, many have predicted that they will go back-to-back. The team will have to move past the controversy of punching .

2 - LA Clippers

Los Angeles Clippers v Chicago Bulls The Clippers started the season off strong, defeating the Lakers 103-97 in their season opener. With playing limited minutes, the team edged out a win despite some scoring trouble in the second quarter. With the addition of , the team seems destined to make noise in the West.

3 -

Memphis Grizzlies v Minnesota Timberwolves - Game Six Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies have continued to raise their ceiling year after year. Last season, the team finished second in the West with a 56-26 record. In the Grizzlies' season opener, Morant put up 34 points and nine assists. They are a true contender and will be a tough out come playoff time.

4 -

Phoenix Suns v Portland Trail Blazers Two years ago, the Phoenix Suns cemented themselves as contenders in the Western Conference when they made it to the NBA Finals. They have a dynamic young duo of and , and a future Hall-of-Famer in . It seems like a core destined for greatness. This is one of Redick's bolder predictions. They finished first in the West last season. It's hard to envision them falling off this much.

5 - New Orleans Pelicans

New Orleans Pelicans v Charlotte Hornets With healthy once again, the Pelicans have quite a high ceiling. Adding CJ McCollum to the roster last season was huge. They have the makings of a team poised for a breakout season. Of course, much of that will hinge on the health of Williamson. Yes, Redick projected the Pelicans to finish fifth in the conference. But it's anyone's guess where they will end up in the standings.

Eastern Conference

1 - Boston Celtics

Philadelphia 76ers v Boston Celtics and Jaylen Brown reached the NBA Finals for the first time last season. Fans are eager to see if they can repeat their dominance this time around. A healthy could propel the Nets to the number one seed. The Eastern Conference has also got a lot deeper. Redick's prediction is far from a guarantee.

2 - Milwaukee Bucks

Atlanta Hawks and Milwaukee Bucks - NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2022 The Milwaukee Bucks won the NBA championship just two seasons ago. However, many have doubts about whether they have another championship run in them. The team narrowly edged out the Philadelphia 76ers in their season opener. It gave their fans hope about how they will fare in a tough Eastern Conference.

3 - Philadelphia 76ers

Miami Heat v Philadelphia 76ers - Game Six With the acquisition of last season, the Philadelphia 76ers finally got themselves a legitimate star to play alongside . The 76ers will look to put their shortcomings behind them and set their sights on an NBA title. With that being said, Redick's prediction of the team finishing third in the East is bold. They 76ers have yet to advance past the second round of the playoffs since drafting Embiid.

4 - Miami Heat

New Orleans Pelicans v Miami Heat In the notorious 'Bubble Playoffs', the Miami Heat put on a spectacular display en route to the NBA Finals. Although the team succumbed to the LA Lakers, they cemented themselves as contenders in the Eastern Conference. Last season, the Heat came up short in the Eastern Conference Finals. They are on a mission this season to capture their first championship since 2013.

5 - Brooklyn Nets

New Orleans Pelicans v Brooklyn Nets This one came as somewhat of a surprise. With eligible to play and Ben Simmons back at full strength, many have predicted that the Nets will win the Eastern Conference. But with all the drama that ensued this offseason, it could be tough for the team to develop chemistry. Only time will tell. Give us a breakdown of how the standings will shake out in the comments below! Check out some of the best plays from the history of opening week: Poll : 0 votes Quick Links More from Sportskeeda Thank You! Show More Comments No thanks Delete Cancel Update Reply ❮ ❯ No thanks Delete Cancel Update Reply ❮ ❯ Be the first one to comment on this story More from Sportskeeda Fetching more content... 1 Logout No Results Found