The following fact is all that is important to me right now at this moment (over school, especially!):
The NBA season began yesterday! (Update: This was written before the season actually began and was completed after the second day of the season, but all of the predictions were made before the season began. . . I promise.)
The World Series is now over (Congrats to the Boston Red Sox!). The NFL is in the midst of a great season (and one that I am picking very well) that will be highlighted on Sunday with the massive Patriots/Colts throwdown in Indy. But besides that, it is ALL ABOUT the NBA!!!
And just like last year, I am previewing the upcoming season with full predictions for each team. This is just one man's opinion, but it is as always one FAN'S opinion and you know what that means! But just wait: there's real reasons for everything!
So the format of this bad boy is as follows: I have ranked the teams 1-15 in their respective conferences. I will be starting in the East and showing each division separately in the order I think they will finish. In parentheses will be their overall rank in their conference. Got it?
Then on to the West discussion (but that will come tomorrow night. . . I'm tired).
Casual sports fans, get ready to have your world rocked! Because here comes my second annual NBA SEASON PREVIEW!
And away we go. . .
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Atlantic Division
Boston Celtics (2)
The team with probably the biggest expectations going into this season because of their additions of Kevin Garnett (yes, I still resent the fact that the SUNS couldn't get him) and Ray Allen to go along with the already-there star power of Paul Pierce. The biggest question mark for this team is the supporting cast, which includes second year guard Rajon Rondo (a potentially very good point guard) and rookie Glen "Big Baby" Davis, who will be a factor for this team. Also, the potential to pick up some veterans at the trade deadline (look for Juwan Howard and Sam Cassell to be putting on the green and white at some point this year) is much more likely because of the Big Three. They will be good. It's true. However, they are not the best team in the East and unless Rondo and starting center Kendrick Perkins have improved substantially, they won't win the title like many believe they will.
Toronto Raptors (5)
The Raptors surprised a lot of people last year, including yours truly, when they took over the terrible Atlantic Division but fell to the New Jersey Nets in the first round of the playoffs. They will be in the thick of things in the East this year because of the star power of Chris Bosh (an absolute beast that no one knows about) and free agent signee Jason Kapono (a pure three-point shooter). They still have T.J. Ford at the point and the much improved Anthony Parker at the shooting guard position. Second year center Andrea Bargnani will be better and they also picked up Carlos Delfino from the Pistons, who played relatively unnoticed in the Motor City, but look for him to contribute off the bench. I still don't think they are as good as the top 4 teams in the East and are most likely looking at another first round exit.
New Jersey Nets (7)
I'm not sure how this team is not better. They should have been in the Finals at least once since they have trotted out J-Kidd, Richard Jefferson, and Vince Carter every night. But injuries have plagued this team and you can almost guarantee that one of those three (or forward/center Nenad Kristic) will go down for a month or two with some sort of leg injury. It's bound to happen, and as long as they make the playoffs (which they always seem to do) the lottery will escape them as a helpful tool. The only way to benefit this team is to trade one of the main three guys (most likely Jefferson) and some bench players for a big name that can stay healthy. They couldn't get Kobe or anything, but I think they should try harder to get Jermaine O'Neal (Jefferson, Kristic, and a future draft pick would be plenty to get it done in February when Indiana is in the East cellar). They'll be outed in the first round and left to wonder why they gave Carter so much money this summer.
New York Knicks (9)
I'm not sure if a sleeper pick has to make the playoffs, but I think the Knicks are gonna be better than everyone thinks this year. They showed signs of life last year in parts, and the acquisition of Zach Randolph will give them some wins. I like the combo of Randolph and Eddy Curry and David Lee, who I wish was on the SUNS, but I don't think that they have enough to crack the top 8, even in the abysmal (although improved) East.
Philadelphia 76ers (13)
It's sad that this team had to drop off the map after finally trading Allen Iverson last year. At the beginning of the year last year, they had both AI and Chris Webber, both of which helped teams make the playoffs that were not the 76ers. How nice. Andre Miller is still okay and Andre Iguodala has to improve as a go-to-guy. They have little-to-no post game as well. Watch for Kyle Korver to get recognition and become one of the elite behind-the-arc scorers in the game.
Southeast Division
Washington Wizards (4)
My cousin Josh, who lives in Maryland and is as big of a fan of the Wizards as I am of the SUNS (well, maybe not. . . I'm pretty crazy!) had this to say of the upcoming season:
"You seen how low in the east all the analysts are pickin the wiz??? It's ridiculous, we were the #1 team in the east before all the injuries in the 2nd half of last season and now we are supposed to suck? It's like their bosses pay them to promote the Celtics because they're marketable. Well none of the big 3 in boston have ever been passed the 2nd round of the playoffs, and they have zero supporting cast. Why should i be scared of them? I'm sure theyll be good, but don't sleep on the Wiz!"
I won't! (Although sorry Josh, your facts are a little wrong: Both Garnett (2004) and Pierce (2002) have made it to the Conference Finals)
The Wizards are the best team in their division with a healthy Gilbert Arenas, Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison, who was phenomenal when both of the guards were out at the end of the year. Here's the thing: in the East, if the Celtics can be favored to practically win it all with their three, then why not the Wizards? Arenas is just as prolific scorer as Pierce (and maybe moreso), Butler drives to the hole a lot more than Allen but doesn't shoot nearly as well (but is younger), and Jamison doesn't really match up to KG, but he is still a good player. They have no bench (neither does Boston - yet) but that could change by February's trade deadline. Watch for Nick Young, the rookie out of USC, to make a run for Rookie of the Year (Besides the shoe-in for the award, Kevin Durant).
Orlando Magic (6)
They gave Rashard Lewis $118 million to score 20-some points a game. That should help. . . The team is better (Jameer Nelson is another in the long line of competent, but not quite great, point guards) and this year will only prove that Dwight Howard is THE dominant big man of the future (that is, except for Amare. . .). They will be good, win more than half of their games, and make the playoffs, but their season will most likely end after one round and they won't have anyone to blame but themselves, because all they did this off-season was overpay a small forward who is replaceable by most of the other same exact players in the NBA. . . What a shame.
Miami Heat (11)
I have been saying this last season ended: the Heat WILL NOT make the playoffs this season. The best thing that they could do in the off-season was sign Smush Parker, the SUNS 6th man from the last few playoff series (you see, the former Lakers point guard was SO BAD when it came to defending Steve Nash that I considered him to be our sixth man. . .), and then trade Antoine Walker to the helpless T'Wolves for Ricky Davis (who apparently is supposed to turn everything around for the team) and o yeah, they signed, wait for it, Anfernee Hardaway. That's right. . . Penny Hardaway. From forever ago. . . No word yet whether or not the Heat also get the rights to Lil' Penny. This team is old. And they aren't healthy. And they just are not good anymore (except for D-Wade, but the way he plays, well, let's just say that he might want to change that slogan about getting up all the time. . .).
Charlotte Bobcats (12)
This was going to be my sleeper team of the year (I changed my mind, though. . . I'll get to them in the West) but injuries to both Adam Morrison (terrible facial hair and all) and Sean May (this was the killer) mean that Jason Richardson (their off-season pick-up from Golden State) will have even more pressure on his shoulders. Raymond Felton is good, Gerald Wallace can score, but without those two young guys, I just don't think that Emeka Okafor and company can put it all together this year. . . I guess the only hope is that they get a good draft pick and put it all together next year!
Atlanta Hawks (14)
. . . and the Hawks. Some people think they are going to win this year. However, they are the Hawks and the Hawks always suck. I know that is not a good reason, but I guess I just really want them to be terrible because the SUNS get their draft pick next year no matter what it is and I really want a high pick! Something good has to happen for my team! Either way, Joe Johnson is still the same scoring shooting guard and Josh Smith is athletic and all, but they are not going to do better than they usually do. I love their draft pick (Acie Law IV) and truly wish the SUNS had him instead, but I don't think that he improves them that much. He's good, but he's not THAT good! Come on now people! These are the same old Hawks!
Central Division
Detroit Pistons (1)
This is still the best team in the East. They have been for several years now (they have averaged 54 wins a year over the last six years and have never finished below 2nd place in the East since 2001) and don't expect anything to change this year. They still have a starting five that includes the names of Billups, Hamilton, Prince, and Wallace (that would be 'Sheed) and then any other bum in Detroit. This team is still good and still will be in the hunt at the end of the year. It's that simple.
Chicago Bulls (3)
This pick is odd, because the Bulls may or may not end up with Kobe and that would throw a wrench into everything. But I don't know if that would make them better or not. . . I still cant decide. But before any Bulls trade happens, they still have Hinrich, Gordon, Nocioni, and the defense (plus terrible free throw shooting) of Big Ben. The extra help of youngins Tyrus Thomas (coming into his own) and Joakim Noah (a younger, shorter Big Ben) will put this team ahead of most of the East and may even get them into a Conference Finals matchup with the Pistons. But no finals for them this year. . . Unless they get Kobe. Then all bets are off.
Cleveland Cavaliers (8)
And that is a very nice position for them. Lebron got no help and there are still contract disputes between the Cavs and key players Sasha Pavlovic and Anderson Varejao (although apparently Pavlovic has re-signed). I just don't think that the NBA and its wonderful referees could allow THE Lebron James to miss the playoffs so they'll fit in the last position just to potentially make a run (if they got past Detroit, they could potentially do some damage) because of all the help Lebron gets. But don't count on it. The off-season for them next year will be filled with questions about who they should get to help out King James, and who knows what they come up with. . .
Milwaukee Bucks (11)
Another forgettable year for a truly forgettable team. Michael Redd would be a household name if he played for a team not located in Wisconsin but he is again left to his own devices and will fail again to make the playoffs. Yi Jianlian was a terrible draft pick and won't be anything except an extra in all the new dunk posters that come out (he will be the guy being posterized by the likes of Vince Carter and Josh Smith). Tough time for the Bucks right now. . . maybe they can get a good draft pick next year! What a horrible future, huh?
Indiana Pacers (15)
Wow. Not only do I think that Jermaine O'Neal will be gone by the trade deadline (finally!) to either New Jersey or Chicago (if they don't make a push for Kobe) but this team might not even win 25 games. They are terrible and if it wasn't for a few really bad teams in the West (more on that tomorrow) I would say they would have the best chance to get next year's number one pick. . . Go figure that the last team on here would be the worst (I really didn't plan it that way!). . . It's just sad really. . .
EASTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFFS
FIRST ROUND
(1) Detroit over (8) Cleveland (4-2)
(2) Boston over (7) New Jersey (4-3)
(3) Chicago over (3) Orlando (4-1)
(4) Washington over (5) Toronto (4-1)
__________________________________
CONFERENCE SEMI-FINALS
(1) Detroit over (4) Washington (4-1)
(3) Chicago over (2) Boston (4-3)
__________________________________
CONFERENCE FINALS
(1) Detroit over (3) Chicago (4-2)
The Detroit Pistons will represent the East in the Finals! They will lose (I predict) but to who???
Come back tomorrow to find out :)
Until then,
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