Only 4-to-5 games into the season, let's play a little game of 'This or That', where I pose a question and decide between two teams to answer it. Including, which struggling team is in bigger trouble to start the season, the Nuggets or Bucks? (0:51) Which young team is a more serious threat to contend in the East, the Magic or Cavs? (19:10). Which head coach has had a greater impact on their new team, JJ Redick or Mike Budenholzer? (33:29) Which team has created greater separate in their respective conference, the Thunder or Celtics? (52:03) Which aging roster has been the bigger pleasant surprise, the Clippers or Warriors? (1:04:35) And which West playoff contender more desperately needs to make a move, the Pelicans or Rockets? (1:07:31)

Let's discuss 10 semi-bold predictions for the upcoming NBA season, including:

-The Clippers will be a bottom-3 team in the West (1:32)

-The Hawks will make the postseason (7:51)

-The Celtics will lose in the second round (14:44)

-The Pelicans will trade Brandon Ingram midseason for a starting center (21:28)

-The Bucks will make the NBA Finals (26:53)

-Reed Sheppard will replace Jalen Green in the Rockets' starting lineup (35:22)

-The Suns will be a top-3 seed in the West (40:34)

-The Mavericks will lose in the first round (48:39)

-The Hornets will make the play-in (53:49)

-The Heat will miss the playoffs and it will be Jimmy Butler's last season in Miami (57:40)

Then, some quick hitting predictions including regression for a young team, some first time All-NBA players, a contender who will finish lower than expected, an unsuspecting winner for MIP, and public perception changing on one of the major offseason trades (1:01:16). Finally, I will wrap up with my formal predictions for how the standings will shake out and reveal my pick to win the NBA Finals (1:08:09).

Let's wrap up the preseason contender tiers. In part 2, I'll cover the following tiers:

Tier 4 - NON-SERIOUS PLAYOFF TEAMS (0:53)

15) Orlando Magic (3:06)

14) New Orleans Pelicans (10:13)

13) Los Angeles Lakers (19:41)

12) Cleveland Cavaliers (27:22)

11) Indiana Pacers (34:44)

10) Memphis Grizzlies (42:16)

Tier 3 - SLEEPING GIANT (50:14)

9) Phoenix Suns (51:16)

Tier 2 - IF THE BALL BOUNCES OUR WAY (1:00:52)

8) Minnesota Timberwolves (1:02:02)

7) Dallas Mavericks (1:10:07)

6) Philadelphia 76ers (1:21:19)

5) New York Knicks (1:29:50)

4) Milwaukee Bucks (1:38:08)

3) Denver Nuggets (1:46:58)

Tier 1 - THE FAVORITES (1:55:49)

2) Oklahoma City Thunder (1:56:27)

1) Boston Celtics (2:06:18)