Returning to a regular 82-game schedule after last season’s 72-game affair, and many teams who appear poised and ready to chase after a ring, this could be one of the most wide-open seasons in recent memory.
There are, of course, the true powerhouses and bottom-feeders in the league. But heading into this new season, it looks like there could be more teams than usual who make the leap up into true contender status.
In an attempt to make sense of what could come, Sportsnet polled some of its basketball experts to try to predict some of the major award winners and who will win it all.
Sixth Man of the Year
Donnovan Bennett, staff writer and digital host: Jordan Poole, Golden State Warriors Michael Grange, senior basketball insider: Patty Mills, Brooklyn Nets William Lou, Raptors Show host on Sportsnet 590 The FAN: Alex Caruso, Chicago Bulls Steven Loung, NBA section editor: Patty Mills, Brooklyn Nets Blake Murphy, co-host of the FAN Morning Show on Sportsnet 590 The FAN: Joe Ingles, Utah Jazz Eric Smith, Raptors play-by-play announcer on Sportsnet 590 The FAN: Joe Ingles, Utah Jazz
Coach of the Year
Bennett: Ime Udoka, Boston Celtics Grange: Erik Spoelstra, Miami Heat Lou: Nick Nurse, Toronto Raptors Loung: Steve Nash, Brooklyn Nets Murphy: Steve Nash, Brooklyn Nets Smith: Steve Nash, Brooklyn Nets
Most Improved Player
Bennett: Chris Boucher, Toronto Raptors Grange: OG Anunoby, Toronto Raptors Lou: Michael Porter Jr., Denver Nuggets Loung: Michael Porter Jr., Denver Nuggets Murphy: Jaren Jackson Jr., Memphis Grizzlies Smith: Michael Porter Jr., Denver Nuggets
Defensive Player of the Year
Bennett: Ben Simmons, Philadelphia 76ers Grange: Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors Lou: Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors Loung: Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors Murphy: Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers Smith: Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz
Rookie of the Year
Bennett: Jalen Suggs, Orlando Magic Grange: Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons Lou: Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons Loung: Jalen Green, Houston Rockets Murphy: Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons Smith: Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons
MVP
Bennett: Steph Curry, Golden State Warriors Grange: Steph Curry, Golden State Warriors Lou: Kevin Durant, Brooklyn Nets Loung: Steph Curry, Golden State Warriors Murphy: Steph Curry, Golden State Warriors Smith: Kevin Durant, Brooklyn Nets
Biggest sleeper team
Bennett: Chicago Bulls Grange: Golden State Warriors Lou: Toronto Raptors Loung: Golden State Warriors Murphy: Cleveland Cavaliers Smith: Golden State Warriors
Finals matchup
Bennett: Brooklyn Nets vs. Golden State Warriors Grange: Milwaukee Bucks vs. Golden State Warriors Lou: Brooklyn Nets vs. Los Angeles Lakers Loung: Brooklyn Nets vs. Golden State Warriors Murphy: Brooklyn Nets vs. Denver Nuggets
NBA champion
Bennett: Golden State Warriors Grange: Milwaukee Bucks Lou: Brooklyn Nets Loung: Brooklyn Nets Murphy: Brooklyn Nets
OTTAWA – American receiver Justin Hardy will miss the Ottawa Redblacks’ regular-season finale Friday.
Hardy, who leads the CFL in receptions (97) and is second in receiving yards (1,343), was listed off Ottawa’s depth chart Thursday. Hardy was named Wednesday as the Redblacks’ nominee for the league’s outstanding player award.
American Andrew Miller will start in Hardy’s place.
Ottawa (8-7-1) concludes its regular season hosting the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (7-10). The Redblacks have already clinched third in the East and will visit the Toronto Argonauts (10-7) in the division semifinal Nov. 2.
Hamilton has been eliminated from playoff contention.
Incumbent Dru Brown is listed as Ottawa’s starting quarterback.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 24, 2024.
BOLOGNA, Italy (AP) — AC Milan’s weekend match at Bologna in Italy’s top soccer league has been postponed, Bologna officials announced Thursday following extensive flooding in the central Italian city.
The Serie A match had been scheduled for Saturday.
Bologna is the capital of the Emilia-Romagna region, large parts of which have been hard hit by torrential rains and bad weather for days.
The game was not immediately rescheduled.
“Following the flood that affected Bologna, intense work is underway to clean up the situation,” the city of Bologna said while announcing the game postponement on X.
BASEL, Switzerland – Canada’s Denis Shapovalov advanced to the quarterfinals of the Swiss Indoors tennis tournament with a 6-3, 7-6 (4) win over Roberto Bautista Agut on Thursday.
Shapovalov used a strong service game to overcome the Spanish veteran for the win at the ATP 500 event in just under one hour 40 minutes.
The 25-year-old from Richmond Hill, Ont., fired 18 aces, including one to set up match point in the second-set tiebreaker, and won 79 per cent of first-serves and 63 per cent of second-serve points.
Shapovalov, a former top-10 player on the ATP Tour, entered this year’s Swiss Indoors ranked 95th and will appear in just his second quarterfinal of the season.
He improved to 3-0 against Bautista Agut, who he beat in July en route to a quarterfinal appearance in Washington.
Shapovalov will next face the winner of a match scheduled for later Thursday between defending champion Felix Auger-Aliassime of Montreal and France’s Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 24, 2024.
