Early nba predictions

[puttincomputers]

do yal remember how the western conference was so stacked last year?
just because the jazz miss the playoffs does not mean they dont make it over .500!
okur is out till december at the earliest. and i am seeing rumors that jefferson came to camp overweight, not to mention he has that has that knee that wont hold up forever.

[Axel The Great]

OK, so here are my predictions:
West-
1. Lakers (They have an upgraded bench, with Blake, Barnes, and Ratliff, it's a sure lock for first seed)
2. Blazers (If Greg Oden can stay healthy, definitely can get to the second round)
3. Spurs (I like the players they drafted this year; a legitimate C and a great shooter. Good backups for their aging players)
4. Thunder (They're either 4-6 seed. Depending on their health)
5. Rockets (Even without Yao, this team can cause major damage to other teams in the playoffs, as long as injuries don't plague them as bad as last season)
6. Mavs (Depending on how well their aging backcourt (Kidd, Terry) plays, they may be 5th to 4th seed, but again, they may lose against the Spurs in the first round)
7. Jazz (They could be as high as 4th seed. I like how they stole Al Jefferson from Minnesota, very good move. )
8. Suns (I like their addition of Warrick, but again, this team will be all offense, and will probably be borderline)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
9. Nuggets (They could be as high as 7th seed, depending on whether the Melo thing is solved and whether or not they get something good in return)
10. Hornets (Chris Paul can make this team competitive, as long as Ariza doesn't chuck up 20 shots a game)
11. Clippers (I like their lineup, even though they are playing an aging B-Diddy, they have a good chance at the 8th seed)
12. Kings (DeMarcus Cousins is gonna wreck it. Playing with Tyreke Evans, the Kings have a chance to also snatch that 8th seed)
13. Grizzlies (Injuries will plague them, and again, another losing season)
14. Warriors (Not a defensive stopping team, obvious they will probably not make the playoffs)
15. T-Wolves (They will only get 10-20 wins)

East-
1. Heat (They may have to get used to playing together, but the Big 3 in Miami is definitely in for a 60-70 win season)
2. Magic (Very obvious why they're up here)
3. Celtics (If they play like they did in last season's playoffs, they may get as high as 2nd seed)
4. Bucks (I am confident that this is a very well-improved team)
5. Bulls (I like their addition of Boozer, but that doesn't automatically make them contenders)
6. Hawks (They will probably get swept in the first round by the Celtics)
7. Bobcats (They can probably get a higher seed if they can trade for a legit PG during the season)
8. Knicks (Stat will single-handedly carry them to a sweep in the first round)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9. Pacers I think Collison and Granger can play very well together)
10. Cavs (hard to believe they're borderline, but with other teams that will struggle more than them, it's not a surprise)
11. Wizards (If Wall and Arenas can play well, they may get that 8th seed)
12. Nets (Improved, but still not enough for the 8th seed)
13. 76ers (Yeah, no way)
14. Pistons (Lamrock said it above! )
15. Raptors (If Andrea Bargnani is the best player on your team, you're definitely a 15-25 win team)

[Rip32]

I think you guys are underrating the Pistons. Last year's abortion isn't even comparable to this year (even though it's the same team with McGrady and Monroe). Last year's team played together for 11 games. That's going to destroy any chance at gaining some chemistry, throw guys into a YMCA-style of confused basketball

I think that's especially true for Gordon and Villanueva. They were injured all year, but they had also never played with the team so it was even more of an)

I honestly think they can be as mediocre as the 2008 Iverson-led team. They have people who can score, something the good Pistons teams couldn't even do, and they should be able to build some sort of identity if the injury bug leaves town. Having Monroe on the roster already gives them an infinitely better option at PF/C off the bench than last year and with Jerebko, Daye, and McGrady someone is going to solidify them self as a solid bench option.

I don't think they'll have the chance to be that team though. My head tells me Dumars will finally blow up the Prince-Hamilton combo and that will et the team back because they're going to be giving away solid talent for raw talent or so-so draft picks.

[Martti.]

East :

1. Miami (66 wins)
2. Boston (58 wins)
3. Orlando (57 wins)
4. Chicago (51 wins)
5. Milwaukee (49 wins)
6. Atlanta (47 wins)
7. New York (41 wins)
8. Charlotte (39 wins)
------------------------
9. Philadelphia (37 wins)
10. Washington (36 wins)
11. Detroit (33 wins)
12. Indiana (30 wins)
13. New Jersey (26 wins)
14. Cleveland (24 wins)
15. Toronto (20 wins)

West :

1. LA Lakers (60 wins)
2. Dallas (57 wins)
3. Oklahoma City (54 wins)
4. Portland (53 wins)
5. San Antonio (49 wins)
6. Denver (47 wins, if Melo stays for full season)
7. Utah (46 wins)
8. Phoenix (45 wins)
------------------------
9. Houston (45 wins, if Yao's healthy for full season, then in the Playoffs)
10. New Orleans (39 wins)
11. Memphis (38 wins)
12. LA Clippers (31 wins)
13. Sacramento (29 wins)
14. Golden State (27 wins)
15. Minnesota (14 wins)

MVP - Kobe
6th man - Mike Miller
ROY - John Wall (Though I'm rooting for Turner)

[TheMC5]

EAST

1. Miami
2. Boston
3. Chicago
4. Orlando
5. Atlanta
6. Milwaukee
7. New York
8. Indiana
-------------
9. Charlotte
10. Philadelphia
11. Washington
12. New Jersey
13. Detroit
14. Cleveland
15. Toronto

WEST
1. LA Lakers
2. Utah (for realz)
3. Portland
4. Dallas
5. Oklahoma City
6. Houston
7. San Antonio
8. Denver
------------
9. Phoenix
10. Memphis
11. New Orleans
12. Golden State
13. Sacramento
14. LA Clippers
15. Minnesota

MVP: Kobe Bryant (unfortunately)
DEF: LeBron James
MIP: Greg Oden (contingent of course on his health)
6th: Tyson Chandler (see Greg Oden)
RoY: DeMarcus Cousins (anyone really think Dalembert's gonna be starting all season?)
Coach: Jerry Sloan
Exec: Riley, duh
Finals MVP: Garnett, as Boston again goes 7 with LA, but this time wins

[Rip32]

11. Chicago

Wut?

[puttincomputers]

I think he meant washington

[TheMC5]

11. Chicago

Wut?

Yeah, Washington.