Western Conference
Northwest
Oklahoma City Thunder 60-22
They have lost nothing from the core of the team last year
and didn’t age at all like other teams.
The core is arguably one of the best in the league with Durant,
Westbrook, Harden, and Ibaka and will again dominate games from start to
finish. With some maturity and addition of some defensive minded bigs
(Collison, Aldrich and Thabeet) the Thunder are poised to make another big run
through the playoffs and back to the NBA championship series.
Utah Jazz 50-32
The Jazz may be the deepest team in the league, especially
in the front court with Favors, Jefferson, Millsap, Kanter, Williams, and
Evans. They will be able to stay in games because of their bench play against
opponent’s weaker second units. They need to make a few moves with some bigs to
bring in a super-star or elite point guard that can help them over the hump of
a packed Western Conference.
Portland Trail Blazers 48-34
Speed, youth and small ball will be the Blazers scheme all
year unless Leonard can develop quickly and give the Blazers a center they
haven’t had since Walton. Batum and Lillard’s production and Aldridges health
will be the key factors to the Blazers success. In arguably the deepest
division in the league, the Blazers will have a lot of tough games to overcome.
Denver Nuggets 41-41
Karl ball is fun to watch and the players enjoy his style,
but playing in the toughest division in the league this year is going to be a
hard task for the Nuggets. Denver has talent to run and gun, but the half-court
offense is a rough situation in the Rockies. Denver will struggle in the stack
division and miss out on the playoffs this year.
Minnesota Timberwolves 38-44
Starting the year without your best two players in something
no team wants, but sadly the Timberwolves are stuck with role players and no
star until Love and Rubio return. A slow start will hinder the T-wolves from
the playoffs this year.
Pacific
LA Lakers 60-22
An unbelievable starting lineup with guaranteed future Hall
of Famers, they should be able to win a ton of games and battle for the top
seed in the West. They must figure out a way to overcome some of the biggest
egos (Kobe, Dwight, World Peace and Jamison) in the league. If the stars can
align just right and they understand Kobe is still the King in LA, they have
the ability to make a great run at a title this year and for a couple of years
if they remain healthy.
LA Clippers 54-28
The biggest factor for the Clippers this year is their
health and defense. With Billups back and the addition of Grant Hill the
leadership is dominating in the back court and off the bench. If the young guys
(Griffin and Jordan) can play some defense and the new bench (Crawford, Odom,
Green, Hill and Barnes) can score and play consistently the Clippers will make
a big run in the playoffs this year.
Golden State Warriors 45-37
The Warriors youth and run and gun style will be
entertaining as always, but the inexperience and health problems of their stars
will keep them just outside the playoffs again in the loaded Western
Conference.
Sacramento Kings 30-52
The Kings have some unbelievable talent on their roster, but
a ton of one-on-one players usually don’t work together very well. With one of
the biggest drama queens (Cousins) in the league and a roster of gaurds with no
leadership, the Kings will struggle and should certainly consider the
revamp/start over option that the new Seattle stadium contract may provide.
Phoenix Suns 28-54
In a year of “rebuilding” the Suns will struggle and look
for players of the future or trades that could help bring super-star talent
back to the desert. The Suns will have a rough season, with very few bright
moments.
Southwest
San Antonio Spurs 56-26
Even with their big 3 aging for the past few years, Popovich
(one of the best coaches all time) knows how to coach the young guys to win a
lot of games and remain under the radar until the playoffs come around.
Popovich will again coach them to a high seed in the playoffs and remain a
tough out.
Dallas Mavericks 53-29
With the acquisitions of Brand and Kaman the Mavericks front
court is better than it has been in years, but the age and health could be a
factor. The Mavs did go out and get
youth in the back court (Collison and Mayo) that can run with the young,
athletic gaurds that are dominating the league. Carlisle will need to get the
team back to the defensive mentality they had in the 2010-2011 season that
helped them to the franchise’s first title.
Memphis Grizzlies 46-36
The Grizzlies will again rely solely on the front court
talents of Gay, Randolph and Gasol to carry them through the season and squeak
into the playoffs again. With no major changes in the off season the Grizzlies
will have a tough time competing with some of the newer “super teams” that the
league is gaining. Look for the Grizzlies to be a tough opponent that no one
wants to be matched up against.
NO Hornets 35-47
Young talent is something that the Hornets have plenty of.
Unproven veterans and leadership is something they nowhere on the roster. If
their future stud, Davis can adapt quickly to the NBA game they may be a team
to watch for in the future, just not this year.
Houston Rockets 27-55
Jeremy Lin is the new star in Houston, problem is he only
has 64 games of experience and hasn’t been able to be a dominant player for entire
NBA season. Kevin Martin will always put up a lot of points, but the rest of
the Rockets are unproven.
Eastern Conference
Southeast
Miami Heat 68-14
Adding one of the best 3-point shooters of all time in Ray
Allen, any team could be a contender. Adding him to the defending NBA Champions
and you should be looking at a repeat. Miami and LeBron have the talent and
skills to make a dynasty in South Beach and win a couple titles, so they can
try and live up to the debacle that was “The Decision.” The Heat will be
smoking hot this season and make a run at history with one of the best regular
season records in league history.
Washington Wizards 40-42
With John Wall missing the first 2 months of the season the
Wizards are going to have a difficult challenge to win games early. Nene will
produce a quality season on offense and defense and with the rookie stud
Bradley Beal they have an outside threat that will greatly improve their
starting line-up. If the Wizards can win a couple games in the first 2 months,
Wall will come back and carry the team to a decent second half of the season
and take the Wizards back to the playoffs in a weak East.
Atlanta Hawks 32-50
The loss of Joe Johnson and Marvin Williams is going to be a
huge blow to the Hawks offense and perimeter defense. Horford and Smith now
have the roles of leading the team to the promised land, but neither have had
the experience of leading a team. Harris and Korver have been brought in to
replace Johnson, but neither have the consistent score ability that Johnson
gave the team.
Orlando Magic 22-60
Even though the Magic were able to end the Howard drama that
plagued them for the past two years, the Magic got nothing in return. Afflalo
and Harrington are not pieces that the Magic can build a team around. This
season is going to be a worse drop off, compared to the 96-97 season the year
after Shaq left the team, because Afflalo and Harrington aren’t as good now as
Hardaway and Hill were then. The Magic will be struggling this season and for
years to come.
Charlotte Bobcats 18-64
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist will be the only shining moment on
this team, being asked to be the star as a rookie. He has the potential and work
ethic to be a super star in the league, but that day will not come until after
he leaves the Bobcats and joins a team with players that can help him out.
Bringing Ramon Sessions in from the Lakers this off-season will again delay the
development of Kemba Walker and may lead to more interesting player moves
during and after the season.
Atlantic
Boston Celtics 57-25
Boston has quietly put together a deep bench this off-season
including Jason Terry, Leandro Barbosa, Jared Sullinger and Fab Melo. With Jeff
Green back from injury the Celtics are looking to remain near the top of the
Eastern Conference even with the loss of one of the best shooters in league
history. Boston will again manage playing time for Garnett and Pierce to keep
them healthy down the stretch and Rondo will carry the team with his vast array
of talent as part of the Big 3 in Boston.
Brooklyn Nets 48-34
The Nets didn’t quite get the All-star line-up they hoped
for this off-season losing out to the Lakers in the Howard race. But they were
able put together a quality squad to help keep super star, Deron Williams
around and hopefully help him share the load of the team. Johnson’s offense is
a huge addition and if Wallace can get back to the skill he showed as the star
of the Bobcats years ago, the Nets could be able to make some noise in the
Eastern playoffs.
NY Knicks 41-41
The Knicks did a great job at gaining experience in the back
court with the acquisitions of Kidd and Felton, but can they help turn the team
into the Knicks it once was? Any team that has Carmelo and Stoudemire is going
to be extremely explosive offensively, but has to understand that neither one
are much help on the defensive end. Kidd won’t contribute much defensively off
the bench either because of age, competing in a young guard league. The Knicks
will be entertaining, but not much else.
Philadelphia 76ers 37-45
Jrue Holiday is going to have a break out year and become a
solid guard for the Sixers. Andrew Bynum is a huge upgrade for the Sixers front
court, but Bynum will struggle with his attitude and the pressure of being a
franchise player. Turner could be the X-factor for the Sixers if he can improve
is aggressiveness on the offensive end and his outside shooting.
Toronto Raptors 28-54
The Raptors are relying heavily on the big foreign front
court of Andrea Bargnani and Jonas Valanciunas, neither of which will be
All-Star performers. They greatly improved the defense of their back court,
picking up Kyle Lowry and Landry Fields, which should help with the lack of
defense DeRozen provides. DeRozen may have a break out year playing for a new
contract, but I doubt that it will propel the Raptors very far.
Central
Indiana Pacers 56-26
The Pacers play good team defense and are effective in their
half court helping them become the San Antonio Spurs of the East, slow and
difficult to watch on a nightly basis, but highly productive in the standings.
As long as Granger and Hibbert can do the same as last year, Hill and West can
play their roles and George can live up to the potential and Pippen comparisons,
the Pacers will be a force to be recon with this season.
Chicago Bulls 46-36
The season for the Bulls is all determined on “The Return”
of Derrick Rose. They will again be able to win games and continue to play
solid team ball, led by Luol Deng, much the same as they did last year when
Rose was out for a good chunk of last season because of multiple minor
injuries. The Bulls need Boozer and Hamilton to produce a lot more this season
before and after Rose returns to the team. They are the keys to the Bulls
making the playoffs and competing with the elite teams of the league.
Cleveland Cavaliers 35-47
There will be no sophomore slump for the dynamic, young star
Kyrie Irving, who will have another fabulous season for the Cavs. The fourth
overall pick in this summer’s draft, Dion Waiters will be a quality, quick
producer with his versatility to play multiple positions. The Cavs may have a
good back court this season, but they won’t have much or any real help from the
big guys on the roster.
Detroit Pistons 31-51
Greg Monroe could definitely be the future for the Pistons
and will continue his improvement this season. Andre Drummond will become
another Darko Milicic, only faster because of available playing time, in
Detroit and be another disappointing top 10 pick for the Pistons. Tayshaun’s
minutes and skills will diminish this season and the Pistons will start to play
a lot of young players and suffer another rough year to gain experience for the
future.
Milwaukee Bucks 25-57
In a division that is stacked at both guard positions, the
Bucks may have one of the best scoring combinations with Ellis and Jennings.
The Bucks added size this year, picking up Dalembert, Hansen and Przybilla, but
don’t expect those three to turn the franchise around at their positions. The
Bucks have two talented gaurds that don’t have much else to work with on the
roster.
Eastern Conference
Playoffs
1.
Miami Heat 68-14 vs. 8. Philadelphia 76ers 37-45
(4-0 Heat)
2.
Boston Celtics 57-25 vs. 7. Washington Wizards
40-42 (4-2 Celtics)
3.
Indiana Pacers 56-26 vs. 6. NY Knicks 41-41 (4-3
Pacers)
4.
Brooklyn Nets 48-34 vs. 5. Chicago Bulls 46-36
(4-2 Bulls)
Eastern Conference
Semi-Finals
1.
Miami Heat vs. Chicago Bulls (4-2 Heat)
2.
Boston Celtics vs. Indiana Pacers (4-3 Pacers)
Eastern Conference
Finals
1.
Miami Heat vs. Indiana Pacers (4-0 Heat)
Western Conference
Playoffs
1.
OKC Thunder 60-22 vs. 8. Memphis Grizzlies 46-36
(4-1 OKC)
2.
LA Lakers 60-22 vs. 7. Portland Trail Blazers
48-34 (4-0 LA)
3.
San Antonio Spurs 56-26 vs. 6. Utah Jazz 50-32
(4-3 Spurs)
4.
LA Clippers 54-28 vs. 5. Dallas Mavericks 53-29
(4-2 Clippers)
Western Conference
Semi-Finals
1.
OKC Thunder vs. LA Clippers (4-1 OKC)
2.
LA Lakers vs. San Antonio Spurs (4-1 LA)
Western Conference Finals
1.
OKC Thunder vs. LA Lakers (4-3 LA)
NBA Finals
Miami Heat vs. LA Lakers (4-3 Miami)
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