By Alex Tarowsky ’14, Staff Writer

With the 2013-14 NBA Season tipping off, we brought in Alex Tarowsky, a senior member of the Newark Academy men’s basketball team, to offer his opinions on which players and teams will shine this year.

Postseason Awards

MVP: LeBron James, Miami Heat- No surprise here, as LeBron is undoubtedly the best player in the world and has claimed this award four times in the past five years. During the playoffs last season it was clear that Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh are both past their respective primes. LeBron will need to play an even larger role this year than he did when he first joined the Heat. We’ve learned that he can do just about anything on the court, and I fully expect him to keep producing at historic levels as the Heat try to win their third straight championship.

Other Candidates: Kevin Durant, Chris Paul, Derrick Rose

Rookie of the Year: Victor Oladipo, Orlando Magic- To be honest, I questioned the Magic’s decision to select Oladipo second overall in June’s draft.  After watching Oladipo play during Summer League and preseason, however, I have completely changed my mind about him. He is an explosive athlete, and he’s improved his shot-creating skills as well as his perimeter shooting. He has also done a good job playing the point guard position, considering the fact that he never did so in college.  He probably won’t be a member of the Magic’s starting lineup, at least to begin the season, but I still expect him to play roughly 28 minutes per game and have plenty of opportunities to shine.

Other Candidates: Ben McLemore, Trey Burke, Anthony Bennett

Defensive Player of the Year: Roy Hibbert, Indiana Pacers- The Pacers are one of the best defensive teams in the NBA, and Hibbert is their most important defender. This 7’2” monster anchors the paint as well as anyone in the league. His importance to the Pacers was shown throughout the playoffs, as he made a huge impact in every game he appeared in. Hibbert can change the outcome of the game he plays in, as he is one of the league’s elite shot-blockers and alters all shots in the paint.

Other Candidates: LeBron James, Serge Ibaka, Avery Bradley

Coach of the Year: Doc Rivers, Los Angeles Clippers- I expect the Clippers to finish the regular season as the top team in the Western Conference, and Doc Rivers is a huge reason why. The Clippers have been awful defensively in recent years, and although they still lack great defenders outside of Chris Paul, Rivers will help mold them into a solid defensive team.

Championship Prediction: 

Oklahoma City Thunder over Indiana Pacers in six games

I believe that the Thunder will win the championship. By playoff time, they will have a fully healthy roster, and when Durant and Westbrook are at their best, they are the NBA’s best duo. The playoffs are all about defense. The Thunder have two excellent perimeter defenders in Westbrook and Thabo Sefolosha, and Serge Ibaka is the league’s best shot-blocker and one of the best defenders in the NBA overall. Rookie Steven Adams also has a lot of defensive potential. No other Western Conference team will be able to stop both Durant and Westbrook.

While there is no way to tell exactly what will happen this year, there is no doubt that we are in for one of the most exciting seasons in recent memory.  With established veterans and rising young stars littered throughout the league, there will be no shortage of interesting story-lines, and the championship race figures to be fascinating as teams try to dethrone the Heat as champions.  Basketball fans should be on the edge of their seats as the season begins.