NBA: Predictions

12:58 PM
I: The NBA is back. Rejoice. In ten years, the NBA will be as huge as the NFL and MLB. Mark my words.

The successful business that Bulls Michael Jordan left behind in 1998 has struggled almost as much as Wizards Michael Jordan. The NBA of yesteryear was popular, suave, and attracted fans of all ages...just like Bulls MJ. The NBA of late was a shell of itself, unsuccessfully trying to do things it once could, but falling painfully short...just like Wizards MJ (who can forget that missed dunk in the All Star Game?).

Until the NBA makes its full comeback, NBA fans like myself have to continually absorb insults thrown upon us and our precious league. The only good thing that came from this dip in NBA interest is that the few remaining NBA fans are strong, proud, and true. You can liken it to Red Sox fans before the 2004 World Series. If you were a Sox fan, you were probably a hardcore Sox fan.

Thankfully for the NBA, talented charismatic stars have made it through their formative years and are ready to take this country by storm. The best talent in the league is young. It starts with LeBron, D-Wade, and Carmelo and continues with Bosh, Arenas, Chris Paul, Yao, Amare, Dwight Howard, Josh Smith, and soon Gerald Green. Add in the plethora of veteran established stars still in their primes like Kobe, Duncan, Garnett, Dirk, Vince, Tmac, Nash, Pierce, Jermaine, Ray Allen, Brand, and Iverson, and you have a league that is bursting at the seams with marketable talent. Imagine if Shaq were still in his prime? (I think that has gone unnoticed...Shaq's admirable job of bridging the gap between MJ and LeBron. Sure, he's appreciated for the four titles and being the dominant player in the league, but not much is said about him, more than any other player of the last eight years, keeping the league alive. Just thought I should say it.)

Needless to say, I'm very excited to be back in the NBA season. Saj, I'd like to see some of your predictions. I want predicted division winners, surprises, dissapointments, Conference and NBA Finals. Feel free to just list them, and then I'll come back with my thoughts and even throw in some details to my picks.

As little as I know about the NFL, I know less about the NBA. But you're right, the NBA is chock full of very, very talented young men. I was watching the Knicks/Grizzlies game last night with my roommate Rob (a semi-Knicks fan) and was enjoying it for no other reason than Walt Frazier's amazing color commentary (scroll down and read under "Broadcasting" here.) when the most anemic triple overtime game in history broke out. I'm not going to harp on Jamal Crawford's (lack of) shot selection or how Isaiah Thomas left Channing Frye on the bench in crunchtime or even how terrible a game that actually was. What I will harp on is the fact that Rudy Gay and Hakim Warrick looked very, very good for the Grizzlies. And in the overtime periods, rookie Kyle Lowry, stepping in for the lame duck Damon Stoudamire, ran the offense like a veteran. My point, even though it's not so clear, is that there are A LOT of good young players in the NBA, even the guys that aren't stars (yet).

Predictions: I'm not good at these, I don't know enough, but here goes. NBA Champion: Los Angeles Clippers. Eastern Conference Champion: New Jersey (Brooklyn) Nets. Over/under on Pacers getting arrested on firearms and/or drug charges: 4. Number of times we see that quixotic "LeBrons" commercial where afro-ed Lebron does a fancy dive into the pool with his cellphone in his pocket: 157. MVP: Old man LeBron edges little boy LeBron in the closest MVP vote in history and all four LeBron incarnations are in the top ten. Most unlikely All-Star: Kevin Martin. Most likely All-Star that doesn't deserve it: Kobe (because he's an a******). Worst free throw percentage: Ben Wallace. NBA star I'd least like to fight: Ron Artest. NBA star I'd most like to fight: Steve Nash. Cutest: Dwyane Wade. Ok, I should probably stop there. Thoughts?


Nice ideas. I'll continue the format.
Most exciting thing about the coming season: LeBron James playing in four rounds of the playoffs. As you know, I teach high school. My oldest kid was 9 when Jordan was last a Chicago Bull. My youngest kids weren't born yet when the Bulls won their first championship. My point is, the Jordan they remember was the MJ that was a shell of himself in Washington. They never got to see greatness unfold. Well, you can see where this going. This generation now has its Michael Jordan.
Least exciting thing: The Atlantic Division. It's the Nets, two teams that are rebuilding, and two teams that are a mess. Due to this, I fully expect the Nets to have the best record in the Eastern Conference. Miam, Detroit, Cleveland, Chicago, Washington, and maybe Orlando will be beating up on each other all year in their tighter divisions. Hopefully, Little Lawrence Frank can rest Kidd and let the underrated Marcus Williams play more and more minutes, or at the very least sing the Munchkin Land song.
Feel good story: New Orleans will continue the sports resurgence of the city, continuing what the Saints started. Chris Paul is their Reggie Bush (quantum young talent) and Stojakavich is their Drew Brees (established, talented Free Agent coming off an injury). The Hornets, despite the difficult conference, WILL make the playoffs.
Feel bad story: Vince Carter will have a great year because it's his contract year, reminding us once again of how much a jerk he was in Toronto.
Funniest thing: Increased ejections. We've already Seen three players tossed out of gams for arguing, including Rasheed Wallace. Good luck with that one.
Most contrived storyline: Dallas and San Antonio hating each other.
Legitimate storyline: Can LeBron match Wade? Can Carmelo catch up to either? Can Chris Bosh say "What the f*** about me?!" in French-Canadian?
Huge years, perhaps unexpectedly: Ron Artest, Larry Hughes, Kirk Hinrich, Caron Butler, Emeka Okafor, Peja Stojakavich, Mike Miller, Ricky Davis, Lamar Odom, Shareef Abdur-Rahim.
MVP Race: Lebron, Duncan, Kobe, Nash, Kidd, Vince, Wade, Billups, Pierce, Dirk, Yao.
Atlantic: New Jersey (57 wins), Boston (41), Philly, Toronto, New York (21)
Central (TOUGH DIVISION): Chicago (53), Cleveland (51), Detroit, Milwaukee, Indiana (33)
Southeast: Miami (50), Orlando (48), Washington, Atlanta, Charlotte (27)
Southwest (TOUGHEST DIVISION): San Antonio (59), Dallas (56), New Orleans, Houston, Memphis (35) Northwest: Denver (55), Utah (47), Seattle, Minnesota, Portland (26)
Pacific: Pheonix (58), LA Lakers (51), LA Clippers (50), Sacramento, Golden State (29)

Eastern Conference: New Jersey, Chicago, Miami, Cleveland, Detroit, Orlando, Washington, Boston
Western Conference: San Antonio, Pheonix, Denver, Dallas, Lakers, Clippers, Utah, New Orleans

EC Final: Cleveland d. New Jersey
WC Final: San Antonio d. Pheonix

NBA Final: San Antonio d. LBJ in 6