ESPN surprises with its predictions for the regular season
We analyze the conclusions reached by the renowned ESPN specialists and warn about possible flaws.
ESPN has already put on the table its projections for the NBA 2026/27 standings, and some of its predictions are particularly striking. The forecast places the Knicks and Pistons tied at the top of the East, while in the West, the Spurs emerge as the best team in the entire competition, even ahead of the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder.
These are forecasts made months in advance that can change radically with injuries, trades, or individual developments but serve to gauge which franchises generate more confidence right now.
Pistons and Sixers, the big surprises in the East
ESPN projects New York Knicks and Detroit Pistons with 53 victories, followed by the Cleveland Cavaliers with 51. The case of Detroit is probably the most surprising. After a project that is still consolidating around Cade Cunningham, the Pistons are expected to make a leap to become one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference.
Even more remarkable is the fourth position of the Philadelphia 76ers, with 50-32. The arrival of LeBron James and Jaylen Brown has raised the ceiling of the roster, but placing them already as the fourth-best team in the East demonstrates ESPN's enormous confidence in their ability to compete from the get-go.
Boston Celtics, on the other hand, appear fifth with 48-34, ahead of the Hawks and Heat. The fact that the Celtics are below Philadelphia, despite their enormous competitive strength in recent years, is another prediction that could generate much debate.
Also surprising is the ninth position of the Indiana Pacers, with 44-38. The franchise falls behind Toronto and out of the direct playoff positions, a particularly demanding assessment considering that Tyrese Haliburton will return from the start of the season.
Absolute distrust towards Lakers, Warriors, and Mavericks
The West presents even more headlines.
ESPN places San Antonio Spurs first with a spectacular 62-20, two wins above the Oklahoma City Thunder. The commitment to Victor Wembanyama and the evolution of the San Antonio project is evident, although it is especially curious to place the Spurs above the reigning champion. In ESPN's recent projections, the enormous competitiveness of both projects had already been highlighted.
Denver Nuggets and Houston Rockets are tied with 51 victories, while the Minnesota Timberwolves reach 50.
The harsh reality hits the Los Angeles Lakers, projected sixth with only 45-37. Luka Doncic doesn't seem to be supported, according to this prediction, by a solid enough structure to make the Angelinos one of the top favorites in the West. The reading coincides with the doubts generated by the Lakers' market during the summer.
Further down, the Golden State Warriors are ninth with 35-47, and the Dallas Mavericks are twelfth with 32-50. For two franchises with stars of the caliber of Stephen Curry and Anthony Davis, respectively, these are particularly pessimistic figures.
Are they too conservative with Miami and too harsh on Indiana?
Miami Heat also falls short of the expectations that the presence of Giannis Antetokounmpo could generate. ESPN places them seventh with 47-35, behind the Hawks and Cavaliers. The signing of the Greek MVP does not automatically guarantee a dominant season, but it is clear that there is room for Miami to far exceed this prediction if they manage to build a balanced rotation.
At the bottom of the table, the Milwaukee Bucks plummet to fourteenth place with 25-57, while the Brooklyn Nets would be last with just 18 wins.
And in the West, the Sacramento Kings appear as the worst team in the NBA alongside Brooklyn, with only 18 victories.
ESPN's predictions paint a very different NBA from what many could imagine right now: Detroit and Philadelphia growing strongly in the East, San Antonio overtaking Oklahoma City, while the Lakers, Warriors, and Mavericks fall far from the top positions. With many months ahead, these figures are still a provisional picture, but they do make clear which teams inspire confidence and which enter the season with significant question marks.
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, ESPN sorprende con sus pronósticos para la temporada regular
