Your quick NBA season previews begin now. Plus, Liberty, Lynx tied in WNBA Finals

The Bounce Newsletter | This is The Athletic’s daily NBA newsletter. Sign up here to receive The Bounce directly in your inbox. There was an awkward and hilarious interaction with Sam Mitchell and Chris Miles on NBA TV on Friday night. Watch it here. Bask in all its uncomfortable glory. We will break this down tomorrow! Can the 76ers and Knicks challenge the Celtics? Over the next six editions of The Bounce, we’re going to be previewing the 2024-25 season! Opening night is eight days away, and we’re going through each division and each major individual award. For each team, I’ll make a bold prediction and a prediction on the over/under set by BetMGM. Five 🥶 emojis on the hot seat meter equals job security. Five 🔥 means “Update that resume.” Let’s preview the Atlantic! Best-case scenario? We see a remix of last year as they repeat as champions. Worst-case scenario? They get knocked out early in the playoffs by the Heat. Best-case scenario? KAT fits right in, and they win the East. Worst-case scenario? The interior defense is terrible, and they get smoked before the conference finals. Best-case scenario? This is the right mixture, and the Sixers make at least the conference finals. Worst-case scenario? Amazing regular season, and they’re knocked out in the first round. Best-case scenario? Ben Simmons is good again, Cam Thomas scores a lot, and they land the first pick in the draft. Worst-case scenario? They’re unwatchable, Simmons gives nothing, and they get the sixth pick. Best-case scenario? The trio of Barnes, Quickley and Barrett is great offensively, and they get into the Play-In Tournament. Worst-case scenario? They’re not bad enough for a high draft pick, not good enough to matter. Who will win the Most Improved Player award? I’m fortunate enough to have a vote in the NBA’s regular-season awards. It’s something I take very seriously, and, by take very seriously, I mean it stresses me out to pick the right winners. I think that’s how you’re supposed to feel when voting for awards. Most Improved Player has the ambiguity to be all over the place, so I try to impose my own boundary/standard for the award. I don’t believe second-year players should truly be eligible for the award. I generally just consider third-year players or those later in their career. After their rookie season, they’re supposed to jump up in comfort and understanding of how to approach the season and their role. A player’s third year is when they can start differentiating themselves from previous verisons. With that said, here are BetMGM’s favorites for this coming season’s MIP: 🔮 My prediction: Ben Simmons. (Second year in a row for me. I might be stuck in a bit.) It looked like the New York Liberty’s nightmare scenario was about to happen again in Game 2 of the WNBA Finals yesterday. After they blew a big lead in Game 1 and crumbled to the Minnesota Lynx, we were getting a repeat performance by both squads. The Liberty were up big. Then, their lead dwindled down to 10 at halftime. The Lynx’s defense showed up in the second half, and it was a two-point game with 3:40 left. The Liberty didn’t collapse, though. Betnijah Laney-Hamilton hit a massive 3-pointer, Leonie Fiebich hit another one after a Lynx turnover and the Liberty’s defense carried them to an 80-66 victory. The series is tied at 1-1 heading back to Minneapolis. What was the difference for the Liberty? Laney-Hamilton and Jonquel Jones stepped up big in the second half. Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu struggled in the second half, but the role players came through. What do the Lynx need to change for Game 3? Don’t give the ball away. They had 20 turnovers, including several key ones in the fourth that thwarted their comeback attempt. Who needs to step up for the Lynx? Kayla McBride. The Lynx need the Kayla who dropped 22 in Game 1. How should the Liberty adjust for Game 3? They have to get Stewart and Ionescu easier looks in the second half. Stewart did play great defense down the stretch, though. When is Game 3? Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN from the Target Center in Minneapolis. The “No Dunks” crew predicted the awards for the 2024-25 season. Is everybody on Team Zach Edey? You have to read David Aldridge on Vince Carter making the Hall of Fame. Here’s how NBA scouts feel about 2024 No. 2 pick Alex Sarr and what he can be for the Wizards. I smell an upcoming Beef Court trial between Donte DiVincenzo and Rick Brunson. 📫 Love The Bounce? Check out The Athletic’s other newsletters.