It may be hard to believe, but the NBA season is just 8 weeks away.  Training camps will start soon, and we look towards a new season and a fresh start for every team, why not make a way-too-early finals prediction?

The Denver Nuggets remain the class of the West, coming off their first-ever NBA title, and keeping their core mainly tact, including reigning finals MVP Nikola Jokic, and sidekick Jamal Murray.  Losing Bruce Brown to Indiana in free agency will hurt, but the Nuggets shouldn’t have any problem filling those minutes in-house if rookie standout Christian Braun takes a step in his second season.

But the West around Denver is much better this year.  The Phoenix Suns are the obvious ones to stand in their way.  With the addition of Bradley Beal, along with some of the prudent fringe moves to fill out the roster (which included snagging veteran Eric Gordon), the Suns are primed for a title run.

Defence and size will be a problem for Phoenix, but with the potential their offence has, it might not matter.

Then there’s the Los Angeles Lakers, who also deserved to be mentioned.  The Lakers were a dumpster fire for ⅔ of last season before some trade deadline moves changed their fortunes.  This year, they’ll come into camp locked and loaded and should expect a jump from rising star Austin Reaves, if his play at the FIBA World Cup are indicator of anything.

These three teams are probably the class of the west, and when it's all said and done…

Milwaukee remains in the mix, though an aging and somewhat underwhelming roster gives pause to their championship case.  Giannis is still all-world, but the pieces around him don’t inspire much confidence, other than Jrue Holiday, who was overused and overworked last season.

The Boston Celtics have made some moves, mainly swapping out their emotional leader Marcus Smart for the oft-injured but immensely talented Kristaps Porzingis.  It’s a gamble for sure, but if it pays off, Porzingis might make more sense for the Celtics in their halfcourt offense, something that’s killed them in deep playoff rounds over the past few seasons.

Sorry Philly fans…but I’m totally out on the Sixers.