NBA Predictions

The NBA is starting tonight so let's switch directions for a bit and do a little NBA Preview:

WEST
1.) Lakers: This team is loaded.  Whether or not they're fully healthy or not (Kobe/Bynum) for the entire season and get the #1 seed is irrelevant, come playoff time they will be the clear favorites.  The best team in the league last year got better by adding Steve Blake who's probably a better pg than starter Derek Fisher and 3's and D specialist Matt Barnes.  That will be enough to counter Kobe's decline.

2.) Spurs: Assuming that Parker is healthy and playing for a future contract I believe the Spurs deserve this spot.  Also, Richard Jefferson can only be better than last year, George Hill and Dejaun Blair have another year of experience and Tiago Splitter comes over to give Duncan some more rest.  The Spurs always play for the playoffs rather than wining in the regular season, but they now have the depth to do that while getting a top seed.

3.) Thunder: I'm not quite ready to anoint them as the #2 team in the west, but I really like them.  They were a little bit lucky last year playing the entire season without any real injuries, but they're super young and haven't hit their peak yet, that includes stars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.

4.) Mavericks: Dirk and co. are a lock for another 50 win season but without a real chance for the finals.  The one hope is that their midseason acquisitions last year (Caron Butler, Brendan Haywood) take a big step forward in the system.  I love Dirk, he's one of my favorite players, but I just don't see them competing beyond the regular season and the first round of the playoffs.

5.) Trail Blazers: I'm ranking them 5th but they could easily be 2nd if they're healthy.  If, and it's a huuuuuuuge if, Oden is healthy, the Blazers have probably the best defensive frontcourt in the league with him and Camby.  Brandon Roy is a true star, Aldridge is a solid wing man and they have the pieces to possibly make a midseason trade to really become a competitor.

6.) Jazz: Boozer out, Jefferson in.  Jerry Sloan with a top pg is always going to be a good team, but sadly that's about where their ceiling is in a loaded west.

7.) Rockets: They almost made the playoffs without Yao, so even if he gives them nothing (again), they have a chance to be be one of the top 8.  They have more depth than any team in the league, they literally go 12 deep.  That will help them deal with the long season as well as give them pieces to possibly make a trade, much like Portland.

8.) Hornets: If Paul is healthy the rest of his team is irrelevant, they'll always have a chance to make the playoffs.  That's no sure thing, and while their roster isn't good enough to keep Paul in New Orleans past his current deal, it's certainly better than last years, 50 win potential.

Sleepers
Suns:  Nash's teams will always be competitive, they were still solid without Amare, but 84 small forwards may be a little too much on one roster

Clippers: No real depth at all but Blake Griffin has a chance to be one of the league's best players which makes them an interesting team, especially if Baron Davis shows up.

EAST
1.) Heat: No surprise here.  They may not win 72 games but aren't they a lock for 65?  People are focusing on Joel Anthony's inability to possibly stop Dwight Howard but what about the league's inability to stop LBJ and DWade?

2.) Magic: They have a deep roster and the 3rd best player in the league.  The Celtics size shut down Howard in the playoffs last year, but Howard should go wild on the rest of the league, Miami included.

3.) Celtics: They're now the Big 4 with Rondo being the leader.  He still can't shoot for shit but having Nate Rob all year and new addition Delonte West can help mitigate that.  They also added great frontcourt depth with the O'Neals, Shaq and Jermaine.  They have the size to compete with the Magic and the depth to compete with the Heat, should be a nice 3-man race.

4.) Bulls: I'm expecting a big Derrick Rose jump this year which should catapult them to the 4th spot in the East with or without a fully healthy Boozer.

5.) Bucks: FEAR THE DEAR!!!!!  Brandon Jennings should get better and new additions Corey Maggette and Drew Gooden should add some offense to an already great defensive team. It will be interesting to see how Scott Skiles deals with success, in the past he's lost his team let's see if he can keep them going this year.

6.) Hawks: This is the same boring roster (if that's possible with Josh Smith on your team) as last year just with a new coach. They're kind of like a bad version of the Mavericks, a team who should gain a solid seed but have no (realistic) aspirations for a title.

7.) Knicks: Chris Duhon could have been the worst possible point guard to run D'Antoni's system, adding Felton is a bigger deal to this team than swapping David Lee for Amare.  They won't be good, but you don't have to be to sneak into the top 8 in the east.

8.) Wizards: I'm a believer in John Wall.  Brandon Jennings made the Bucks a playoff team in his rookie year and Rose brought the Bulls to a game 7 with the Celtics in his.  They also add Gilbert Arenas for a full season and have enough potential upfront with Blatche, Yi, and McGee to make some noise.

Sleepers
76ers: I'm not saying they're any good, they'll end up with a sub-.500 record but they have enough young talent that could take a leap forward, especially if Evan Turner does something.

Pacers: The Pacers finally got a pg who can run like the coach wants.  Darren Collison was good enough filling in for Chris Paul last year that a boring/bad team like the Pacers could sneak in with a little bit of luck

Boring prediction but an exciting finals matchup, I'm saying Heat vs. Lakers, Heat in 7 (they'll get home court, which is underrated in the NBA, I think).

AWARDS
Rookie of the Year:  I love John Wall but I think this is Griffin's award to lose.  If he's healthy most of the season he should sleepwalk to a double double and could even go 20-10.  Wall may be the better player, even as soon as this year, but Griffin will win the award

MVP: Even if the Heat win 70 games LBJ will have to put up a triple double to take this award,  that's how much the media will hate on him.  Plus, playing with Dwayne Wade will hurt his chances too even though it shouldn't..  Plus plus, everyone loves Kevin Durant and they have essentially given him the award already.  Durant may not play well enough to deserve the award (meaning LBJ performs better) or the Thunder may disappoint a little this year, but there is no way Durant plays bad enough to change the voters already decided minds, he's winning the MVP.