2015-16 NBA Predictions

FILE - In this June 17, 2015, file photo, Golden State Warriors Stephen Curry, left, and Andre Iguodala kiss with the Larry O'Brien Trophy after defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers 105-7 in Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals in Cleveland. NBA players James Harden and Anthony Davis checked right away to see their rating in a video game. Soon enough they can see how their teams rate in the NBA's Western Conference, where Stephen Curry's Golden State Warriors are the champs.  (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)
WASHINGTON — The NBA season begins Tuesday night, which means it’s time for those of us in the WTOP Sports department who dare to take guesses at how the season will unfold and later hide from our predictions when they are proven horribly wrong. Not one of us had the Golden State Warriors taking home the title last season, though a few did pick the Cavs in the Finals. Take a look through the slides to see which teams we think are playoff bound, who will take home the title, and how the Washington Wizards will fare in the 2015-16 campaign. Note: all playoff teams are listed alphabetically, not in order of projected finish. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)
Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James (23) looks for a teammate under pressure from Los Angeles Clippers’ Matt Barnes (22) during an NBA basketball game Thursday, Feb. 5, 2015, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
J. Brooks — Sports Anchor East Playoff Teams: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Miami, Milwaukee, Toronto, Washington West Playoff Teams: Golden State, Houston, LA Clippers, Memphis, New Orleans, Oklahoma City, Sacramento, San Antonio East Champion: Cleveland West Champion: LA Clippers NBA Champion: Cleveland Wizards Regular Season Wins: 48 Wizards Division Finish: 2nd Wizards Playoff Finish: Eastern Conference Semifinals (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
San Antonio Spurs' Manu Ginobili (20), from Argentina, drives past Cleveland Cavaliers' Anderson Varejao (17), from Brazil, during an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2014, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
Chris Cichon — Operations/Sports East Playoff Teams: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Indiana, Miami, Toronto, Washington West Playoff Teams: Dallas, Golden State, Houston, LA Clippers, Memphis, New Orleans, Oklahoma City, San Antonio East Champion: Cleveland West Champion: San Antonio NBA Champion: San Antonio Wizards Regular Season Wins: 54 Wizards Division Finish: 1st Wizards Playoff Finish: Eastern Conference Finals (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) shoots over Washington Wizards guard John Wall (2) during the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game in Oklahoma City, Friday, Jan. 2, 2015. Oklahoma City won 109-102. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Noah Frank — Digital Sports Editor East Playoff Teams: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Indiana, Milwaukee, Toronto, Washington West Playoff Teams: Golden State, Houston, LA Clippers, Memphis, New Orleans, Oklahoma City, San Antonio, Utah East Champion: Washington West Champion: Oklahoma City NBA Champion: Oklahoma City Wizards Regular Season Wins: 50 Wizards Division Finish: 1st Wizards Playoff Finish: NBA Finals (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James, right, dunks the ball in front of Los Angeles Clippers’ Blake Griffin (32) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Feb. 5, 2015, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
Ben Raby — Sports Anchor East Playoff Teams: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Miami, Milwaukee, Toronto, Washington West Playoff Teams: Golden State, Houston, LA Clippers, Memphis, New Orleans, Oklahoma City, Phoenix, San Antonio East Champion: Cleveland West Champion: LA Clippers NBA Champion: Cleveland Wizards Regular Season Wins: 48 Wizards Division Finish: 1st Wizards Playoff Finish: Eastern Conference Finals (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan (21) strips the ball from Cleveland Cavaliers’ Kyrie Irving, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, March 12, 2015, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
George Wallace — Sports Director East Playoff Teams: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Miami, Milwaukee, Toronto, Washington West Playoff Teams: Golden State, Houston, LA Clippers, LA Lakers, Oklahoma City, Portland, San Antonio, Utah East Champion: Cleveland West Champion: San Antonio NBA Champion: San Antonio Wizards Regular Season Wins: 52 Wizards Division Finish: 1st Wizards Playoff Finish: Eastern Conference Finals (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
FILE - In this June 16, 2015, file photo, Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) puts up a shot against Cleveland Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith (5) during the first half of Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals in Cleveland. NBA players James Harden and Anthony Davis checked right away to see their rating in a video game. Soon enough they can see how their teams rate in the NBA's Western Conference, where Stephen Curry's Golden State Warriors are the champs. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak, File)
Rob Woodfork — Traffic/Sports East Playoff Teams: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Miami, Milwaukee, Toronto, Washington West Playoff Teams: Dallas, Golden State, Houston, LA Clippers, Memphis, New Orleans, Oklahoma City, San Antonio East Champion: Cleveland West Champion: Golden State NBA Champion: Golden State Wizards Regular Season Wins: 50 Wizards Division Finish: 2nd Wizards Playoff Finish: Eastern Conference Finals (AP Photo/Tony Dejak, File)
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FILE - In this June 17, 2015, file photo, Golden State Warriors Stephen Curry, left, and Andre Iguodala kiss with the Larry O'Brien Trophy after defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers 105-7 in Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals in Cleveland. NBA players James Harden and Anthony Davis checked right away to see their rating in a video game. Soon enough they can see how their teams rate in the NBA's Western Conference, where Stephen Curry's Golden State Warriors are the champs.  (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)
Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James (23) looks for a teammate under pressure from Los Angeles Clippers’ Matt Barnes (22) during an NBA basketball game Thursday, Feb. 5, 2015, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
San Antonio Spurs' Manu Ginobili (20), from Argentina, drives past Cleveland Cavaliers' Anderson Varejao (17), from Brazil, during an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2014, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) shoots over Washington Wizards guard John Wall (2) during the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game in Oklahoma City, Friday, Jan. 2, 2015. Oklahoma City won 109-102. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James, right, dunks the ball in front of Los Angeles Clippers’ Blake Griffin (32) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Feb. 5, 2015, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan (21) strips the ball from Cleveland Cavaliers’ Kyrie Irving, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, March 12, 2015, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
FILE - In this June 16, 2015, file photo, Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) puts up a shot against Cleveland Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith (5) during the first half of Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals in Cleveland. NBA players James Harden and Anthony Davis checked right away to see their rating in a video game. Soon enough they can see how their teams rate in the NBA's Western Conference, where Stephen Curry's Golden State Warriors are the champs. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak, File)
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