Rarely are there finals rematches in sports at any kind of level, including professional sports. NBA 2K17 has predicted that, though. Same finals teams, same finals result. The Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers will meet again for the third NBA finals in a row. It doesn’t seem too farfetched though; no one seemingly can stop LeBron James or Stephen Curry for the Cavs and Warriors, respectively. Add that Kevin Durant has joined the Warriors on a two-year deal and you’ve got an even more powerful squad than the 2015-2016 squad that set the NBA regular season record for overall record, besting the 95-96 Bulls’s record of 72-10 by one game, going 73-9.
Other noticeable predictions are the New York Knicks qualifying for the playoffs as the No. 3 seed. The Knicks went shopping during the off season, becoming the next “super team” this season, signing multiple seasoned veterans in Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah and Courtney Lee. Along with fan favorite Kristaps Porzingis, the Knicks may able to go that high, given that the group of old and new players are able to gel quickly.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are predicted to barely squeak into the playoffs, getting a No. 8 seed and facing the No. 1 seed Golden State Warriors in the first round, marking the first time former teammates Russell Westbrook and Durant would face each other in best-of-seven series.
Unfortunately for me, the Charlotte Hornets aren’t predicted to make the playoffs, despite taking the then No. 3 seed Miami Heat to game 7 despite taking a 3-2 series win. The Hornets lost key players Al Jefferson, a rejuvenated Jeremy Lin and Lee to free-agency, but kept the corps of Kemba Walker, Nic Batum and Marvin Williams.
NBA 2k17 isn’t the only game to predict the champions of the league they’re representing; at the intro of Madden 16, you play as the Pittsburgh Steelers making a game winning touchdown in Super Bowl 50 against the Arizona Cardinals despite the Denver Broncos winning the Super Bowl against my Carolina Panthers.