NBA Season Predictions

Basketball started already?! I missed it with all the football and World Series baseball going on. No, I knew it started; I just didn’t give you my predictions yet. Here they are… and basketball has to be one of the easiest sports to predict. Maybe not game to game and it’s never definite because of injuries, but every year it’s pretty obvious who will contend for the title.

Eastern Conference

1. Boston Celtics- Adding Rasheed Wallace makes them nearly unbeatable.

2. Cleveland Cavaliers- I don’t know how well slow old Shaq will fit in with Lebron but LJ is so good it won’t matter what Shaq does.

3. Orlando Magic- Having a healthy Jameer Nelson will equal out the loss of Hedo Turkoglu. Adding Vince Carter doesn’t hurt either.

These Teams Can’t Contend for the Championship, But They’ll Make the Playoffs

4. Atlanta Hawks- Their young talent guided by the veteran leadership of Mike Bibby gives them a lot of wins, but I think they’re too young to contend for a title.

5. Chicago Bulls- Derrick Rose will bring Chi town a championship eventually. They’re very similar to the Hawks.

6. Miami Heat- Michael Beasley will average about 20 points this year and of course Wade will carry the team. I think Jermaine O’Neal will play better but will get hurt at some point like he does every year and won’t be healthy enough to matter in the playoffs.

7. Philadelphia 76ers- Andre Iguodala is the best AI in the league. There wasn’t enough room for two AI’s in Philly and I think the organization made the right decision on which one to keep.

8. Washington Wizards- We will see the reemergence of Gilbert Arenas, but the talent of their complete roster can’t compete with the top three beats of the east.

How The Playoffs Will Go

First Round

- The Celtics sweep the Wizards.

- The Cavilers beat the 76ers, but it will get interesting. I predict 4-2.

- The Magic dominate the Heat with Howard killing O’Neal and Haslem down low. Wade will get them one win.

- D Rose will get the Bulls past the Hawks in seven putting a dagger in the Hawks fans hearts in Atlanta.

Second Round

- Rose shows just how great he is by making it a seven game series against the Celtics, but comes up just short. Boston is too talented to lose, but soon enough Rose will be so good that he will be able to single handily defeat a team like Boston.

- Lebron will be Lebron and get the Cavs past the Magic in six while enjoying the sweet taste of revenge since the Magic knocked the Cavs out last post season.

Third Round

- The Celtics all around talent defeat the Cavs in game seven in Boston. Critics will start to question if Lebron can ever win the big one. Shaq will prove to be worthless but he will stick it out another year to try and leach off of Lebron’s talent in hopes of getting another championship.

Western Conference

1. LA Lakers- How can anyone say Ron Artest won’t help as much as Trevor Ariza did last year? That’s asinine. Kobe keeps Ron’s head on straight as they defend their title.

2. San Antonio Spurs- Richard Jefferson is a perfect fit. This team is dangerous.

3. Denver Nuggets- As long as Carmelo stays out of trouble, which I think Chauncey helps with a lot, I see the Nuggets really pressing the other elite teams, putting themselves in the conversation about competing for the title.

These Teams Can’t Contend for the Championship, But They’ll Make the Playoffs

4. Portland Trail Blazers- They have a lot of talent, but they’re too young to compete with the elite’s for the title.

5. Utah Jazz- These guys really should be in the conversation for competing for the trophy but they just can’t seem to win once the playoffs start.

6. Dallas Mavericks- I don’t think Dirk will ever miss the playoffs.

7. New Orleans Hornets- Chris Paul is a winner and a great leader. He is the Hornets D-Wade.

8. Oklahoma City Thunder- Their young team will gel enough to inch them into the final playoff spot.

First Round

- Lakers sweep the Thunder.

- The Spurs beat the Hornets in five. Chris Paul gets the Hornets one win.

- Chauncey Billups leads the Nuggets past the Mavericks in six games.

- The Jazz win in game six in Utah. Portland is still too young and inexperienced. They will over-take the aging Spurs in the next two years for the top three in the West.

Second Round

- Lakers dominate the Jazz and win in five games.

- The Spurs experience and maturity get them past Denver in six.

Third Round

- The Spurs win a classic series in seven at LA. Jack Nicholas will be crying as the quiet Tim Duncan proves yet again that he’s the best ever power forward, even though he's playing center this year for the most part.

Championship Series

- Tim Duncan gets another ring as they take down Boston in six games. Rasheed Wallace and Kevin Garnett will get frustrated by Timmy the Great.