Another NBA Season is Upon Us

Last season there were the usual suspects for the crown of NBA Champion — the Spurs, Mavs, Pistons, and Suns… but one man (and an officiating crew) took the trophy to South Beach.  The “New Breed” of NBA talent is and may have already taken over the league.  D-Wade, LeBron, Melo, Chris Bosh, and Dwight Howard are going to get some of that superstar attention, and it’s well deserved.  Those guys are the real deal.  Some mainstays, like Kobe, AI, K-G, and Paul Pierce are going to whittle away on sub-par teams.  Meanwhile the Spurs and Mavs will plug away victory after victory, and the Suns will…run.  

The Champion comes from the East, but the competition is in the West.  I get the inkling that 7 of the top 10 teams in the league are west of the Mississippi.  I don’t have many big predictions, or bold statements to make, because I think they are all futile given no one has played a game yet.  For all I know, the two teams I like to play in June could be in the lottery, that is how fragile some teams’ hopes are.  This is just an average man’s take on what might happen in the 06-07 NBA season.  Good luck fellas.Eastern Conference:

Atlantic Division: I hate to be a broken record, but this division sucks. Don’t be surprised to see only one team come out of this and make the playoffs. Of course that is by default because every division winner gets in. My pick is the Nets. They still have the triple threat in Carter, Jefferson, and Kidd. They just can’t play with the powerhouses in this conference. Carter will look inhuman some nights because he is playing for a contract somewhere else. I wouldn’t be surprised if he got traded if the Nets don’t think he will re-sign. As for everyone else, the Celtics and Raptors are somewhat decent. Raptors are too green, and the Celtics have one superstar and the pieces of a team that is going to be 10 games under .500. The 76ers can’t guard a bank with a platoon, and the Knicks are in a mess. I think this division should be allowed to make an all-star team and have that team go to the playoffs. Be kind of interesting right?

Southeast: Miami…Miami…Miami. As long as D-Wade has two legs and a pulse they win this division. Only competition is a trendy Wizards team. The Magic are a playoff caliber team too. They have some nice pieces, but are looking at Vince Carter in the off-season to give them that push. Hawks are abysmal, and the Bobcats are wretched. Yes, I have my thesaurus out. My guess is, Adam Morrison averages 30 a game on 35 shots, and just stays at half court while on D.

Central: Very interesting. Best division perhaps. Everyone was a playoff team last year. It could happen again. But don’t put too much stock in the Pacers and Bucks. One of them isn’t making the playoffs. I really don’t think the Pacers can do it. The Pistons win the division, but not by much. The Cavs and Bulls are really good, too good. That is why I don’t like any of the teams in this division to get to the Finals. They will all beat up on each other just like the Rockets, Mavs and Spurs will. Meanwhile, the Heat have the easiest road of any team, in any division, to repeat. Did Big Ben make the right choice? Is Detroit better off? I think Detroit is, they still have the most talented starting 5, and a decent bench to stay in the elite in the East. LeBron is an early MVP candidate, and his team is thinking they have the best team in the conference. They could be right too.

East Rankings:
1.Miami

2.Detroit
3.Cleveland

4.Chicago

5.Washington

6.New Jersey
7.Milwaukee
8.Orlando
9. Indiana
10. Boston

11. Toronto
12. Philadelphia
13. New York
14. Atlanta
15. Charlotte

Conference Finals: Miami over Cleveland in 6

Western Conference:

Southwest: Another death division. The five teams in here are all playoff caliber teams, but Memphis is the first to get the injury bug. Gasol is out till at least December. Without him they are incredibly thin. Houston added some good pieces in Battier and Wells, they are a good pick to go far. But the talent of the Spurs and Mavs is too much. I say it is just like last year, it’s either the number 1 or 4 seed come playoff time. Then they will see each other again until the NBA fixes the problem. Don’t sleep on the Hornets either. Paul is as gifted a point guard as there is in the league and they have some depth. Peja is a shot in the dark. Big risk…big reward. I like Dallas.

Pacific: Amare is back, and the Suns are tough to predict against. At least in the division. They go as he goes. The Clippers and Lakers will fight for second and the city of Los Angeles. I think both can make the playoffs, but will likely get a punch to the stomach against Dallas, Phoenix, or San Antonio in the first round. The Kings were solid last year, but they will miss Bonzi. Mike Bibby still gets overlooked for being an All-Star, and Artest has a shot at being an MVP, mark my words. The Warriors are going to run a lot. Nelson is a good coach, and he might shake things up in the Conference with a playoff run for the Warriors. Suns get the division early.

Northwest: Up for grabs really. Denver has a good mix and a good chance to repeat in the division. I still think K-G is one of the best talents, and he is getting absolutely wasted in Minnesota with no help. He might get traded. Utah is a dark horse, Jerry Sloan always gets the best out of his guys. Seattle was true to form last year, a fluke the year before, they will be in Oklahoma City soon. Portland is atrocious. Maybe good for 20 wins…maybe. My money is on Denver or Minnesota.

West Rankings:
1. Dallas

2. San Antonio

3. Phoenix
4. Houston

5. L.A. Clippers
6. Denver

7. L.A. Lakers
8. New Orleans
9. Sacramento
10. Minnesota
11. Utah
12. Golden State
13. Memphis
14. Seattle
15. Portland

Conference Finals: Phoenix over San Antonio

The Finals: Phoenix over Miami

Disclaimer: Don’t bet on anything I have predicted. It’s the NBA, anything could happen. Just ask Mark Cuban.

Solid Prediction: The new ball is going to be the most used excuse for missed three’s and free throws. Guaranteed.

Here is to a good season!