yerotsluap
30th October 2006, 18:40
Eastern Conference
Atlantic Division
On paper one of the weakest divisions in the NBA. Boston are putting too much faith in the youngsters they've drafted over the last couple of seasons. Paul Pierce is likely to have a nervous breakdown with the addition of Sebastian Telfair, hardly a pass first point guard who could end up in jail before the end of the season. The only scoring threat other than Pierce is Wally Szczerbiak, who is hardly reliable from a health stand point. New Jersey are a team who should walk this division, they have a hugely talented trio in Jason Kidd, Vince Carter and Richard Jefferson who on their day are as good as any in the league. Nenad Kristic emerged into a top drawer centre last season and the Nets have improved their bench with the additions of Marcus Williams and Josh Boone from Uconn. The New York Knicks were horrible for the whole of last season. They are another team with a shoot-first point guard in Stephon Marbury. The Knicks are a team full of overpaid, underachieving players who seriously lack motivation. Philadelphia are a team who should be much better than they are. Their two superstars are ageing, Iverson and Webber are not the players they were a couple of years ago. Toronto have one of the premier young players in the league in Chris Bosh. Bosh could eventually be as good as Kevin Garnett. Toronto, in my opinion made a big mistake trading away Charlie Villaneuva for TJ Ford.
My Prediction
1 New Jersey 2/7
2 Toronto
3 New York
4 Philadelphia
5 Boston
Central Division
This is one of the strongest divisions in basketball. There is a very good chance that 4 out of the 5 teams in this division could make the playoffs. Chicago was one of the best defensive teams in the league last season and has on paper improved with the additions of PJ Brown and Ben Wallace. Cleveland are pretty much a one man team. If Larry Hughes can play the full year he'll provide a scoring threat that will make defences think twice about how many cover LeBron James. Detroit have suffered a fairly big loss in Ben Wallace but otherwise this is pretty much the same team that has reached at least the conference finals for the last three years. The re-addition of Al Harrington in Indiana should give the Pacers an extra scoring threat and provided Jermaine O'Neal stays fit for the majority of the season they should have another good season, which they hope will not be sabotaged by the erratic behaviour of Stephen Jackson who is starting to make Ron Artest look the most sane guy in the NBA. Milwaukee are the weakest team in this division but they should still be challenging for the playoffs. Michael Redd is a danger from anywhere beyond the 3 point line, and in Andrew Bogut and Charlie Villanueva the Bucks have two good young big men.
My Prediction
1 Detroit 9/5
2 Chicago
3 Cleveland
4 Indiana
5 Milwaukee
Southeast Division
Atlanta are a very poor team perhaps the worst in the Eastern conference. Ownership issues have caused problems over the last couple of seasons and as result they have a roster of young guys and guys who are never going to step up to the next level. Charlotte are doing a great job of picking up proven college stars, they just need to get experience at this level. The latest addition Adam Morrison is a definite scoring threat but at this stage offers little else. Miami are the defending champs and have pretty much the same roster they had last season. The only problem they have is that their star players with the exception of Dwyane Wade are ageing very quickly, they are going to rely heavily on Wade throughout the regular season. Orlando could be the dark horse of the East, they have good talented young players in Darko Milicic, Dwight Howard and Jameer Nelson. If Grant Hill truly is over his injuries problems they could be really good with the 3 point shooting of JJ Reddick to come off the bench. Washington are a talented shooting team who should be there or there abouts in the playoff picture, however they lack a legitmate NBA quality big man to do the dirty work inside.
My Prediction
1 Miami 1/7
2 Orlando
3 Washington
4 Charlotte
5 Atlanta
Western Conference
Southwest Division
This is another tough division. Dallas made it to the NBA finals last year and they have kept pretty much the same core group of players whilst adding some veteran assistance from the bench. Houstons season depends completely on Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming staying healthy. They've added a good third scoring option in Bonzi Wells and a good defensive player in Shane Battier. Memphis could struggle this season, espe as Pau Gasol is likely to be out for the first couple of months of the season. They've added Stro Swift a year after he left them for Houston. New Orleans and Chris Paul were one of the surprise packages of the last NBA season, the addition of Tyson Chandler should help Paul, but the addition of the delining Peja Stojakovic is a major risk especially given the cash they've thrown at him. San Antonio as always are a big threat to win this year, their star players Parker, Ginobili and Duncan are still at the top of their game.
My prediction
1 San Antonio 23/20
2 Dallas
3 New Orleans
4 Houston
5 Memphis
Northwest Division
Denver are a team that should challenge for the playoffs but they are particularly injury plagued. Nene, Kenyon Martin and Marcus Camby have all struggled with injuries over the last few years putting even more pressure on the improving Carmelo Anthony. Minnesota have one of the best players in the league in Kevin Garnett but they have absolutely no assistance for him whatsoever. Portland are going to have a horrible season, they have no leadership but at least they appear to have got rid of their off-court problems. Seattle have two good scorers in Rashard Lewis and Ray Allen but they lack any kind of defence giving up 114.4 points per 100 possessions. Utah has a strong looking front line. Andrei Kirilenko is a top player on both ends of the floor if he can stay fit and with Deron Williams really improving at the end of his rookie season they could have a very good season
My prediction
1 Utah 21/10
2 Denver
3 Portland
4 Minnesota
5 Seattle
Pacific Division
Another contender for the toughest in the league. Golden State are going to play hard and committed basketball but they have a point guard who isn't going to help them win. Baron Davis is a me-first player who doesn't help his teammates. The LA Clippers made it to the playoffs for the first time in ages. They have a talented big man in Elton Brand and a savvy veteran in Sam Cassell who make this team tick. The Lakers as always will rely heavily on Kobe Bryant, but should have a decent season if Lamar Odom can overcome the personal tragedy that struck during the off season. Phoenix should win the division playing their usual brand of attacking, little defence basketball that has brought Steve Nash the MVP award in the last two season. The return of Amare Stoudamire if he can reproduce the form of two seasons ago should make them one of the top teams in the West. Sacramento should challenge for the playoffs with players as talented as Ron Artest and Mike Bibby.
My prediction
1 Phoenix 2/7
2 LA Lakers
3 LA Clippers
4 Sacramento
5 Golden State
Season Predictions
Western Conference: San Antonio 5/2
Eastern Conference: New Jersey 5/1
Champs: San Antonio 5/1
Atlantic Division
On paper one of the weakest divisions in the NBA. Boston are putting too much faith in the youngsters they've drafted over the last couple of seasons. Paul Pierce is likely to have a nervous breakdown with the addition of Sebastian Telfair, hardly a pass first point guard who could end up in jail before the end of the season. The only scoring threat other than Pierce is Wally Szczerbiak, who is hardly reliable from a health stand point. New Jersey are a team who should walk this division, they have a hugely talented trio in Jason Kidd, Vince Carter and Richard Jefferson who on their day are as good as any in the league. Nenad Kristic emerged into a top drawer centre last season and the Nets have improved their bench with the additions of Marcus Williams and Josh Boone from Uconn. The New York Knicks were horrible for the whole of last season. They are another team with a shoot-first point guard in Stephon Marbury. The Knicks are a team full of overpaid, underachieving players who seriously lack motivation. Philadelphia are a team who should be much better than they are. Their two superstars are ageing, Iverson and Webber are not the players they were a couple of years ago. Toronto have one of the premier young players in the league in Chris Bosh. Bosh could eventually be as good as Kevin Garnett. Toronto, in my opinion made a big mistake trading away Charlie Villaneuva for TJ Ford.
My Prediction
1 New Jersey 2/7
2 Toronto
3 New York
4 Philadelphia
5 Boston
Central Division
This is one of the strongest divisions in basketball. There is a very good chance that 4 out of the 5 teams in this division could make the playoffs. Chicago was one of the best defensive teams in the league last season and has on paper improved with the additions of PJ Brown and Ben Wallace. Cleveland are pretty much a one man team. If Larry Hughes can play the full year he'll provide a scoring threat that will make defences think twice about how many cover LeBron James. Detroit have suffered a fairly big loss in Ben Wallace but otherwise this is pretty much the same team that has reached at least the conference finals for the last three years. The re-addition of Al Harrington in Indiana should give the Pacers an extra scoring threat and provided Jermaine O'Neal stays fit for the majority of the season they should have another good season, which they hope will not be sabotaged by the erratic behaviour of Stephen Jackson who is starting to make Ron Artest look the most sane guy in the NBA. Milwaukee are the weakest team in this division but they should still be challenging for the playoffs. Michael Redd is a danger from anywhere beyond the 3 point line, and in Andrew Bogut and Charlie Villanueva the Bucks have two good young big men.
My Prediction
1 Detroit 9/5
2 Chicago
3 Cleveland
4 Indiana
5 Milwaukee
Southeast Division
Atlanta are a very poor team perhaps the worst in the Eastern conference. Ownership issues have caused problems over the last couple of seasons and as result they have a roster of young guys and guys who are never going to step up to the next level. Charlotte are doing a great job of picking up proven college stars, they just need to get experience at this level. The latest addition Adam Morrison is a definite scoring threat but at this stage offers little else. Miami are the defending champs and have pretty much the same roster they had last season. The only problem they have is that their star players with the exception of Dwyane Wade are ageing very quickly, they are going to rely heavily on Wade throughout the regular season. Orlando could be the dark horse of the East, they have good talented young players in Darko Milicic, Dwight Howard and Jameer Nelson. If Grant Hill truly is over his injuries problems they could be really good with the 3 point shooting of JJ Reddick to come off the bench. Washington are a talented shooting team who should be there or there abouts in the playoff picture, however they lack a legitmate NBA quality big man to do the dirty work inside.
My Prediction
1 Miami 1/7
2 Orlando
3 Washington
4 Charlotte
5 Atlanta
Western Conference
Southwest Division
This is another tough division. Dallas made it to the NBA finals last year and they have kept pretty much the same core group of players whilst adding some veteran assistance from the bench. Houstons season depends completely on Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming staying healthy. They've added a good third scoring option in Bonzi Wells and a good defensive player in Shane Battier. Memphis could struggle this season, espe as Pau Gasol is likely to be out for the first couple of months of the season. They've added Stro Swift a year after he left them for Houston. New Orleans and Chris Paul were one of the surprise packages of the last NBA season, the addition of Tyson Chandler should help Paul, but the addition of the delining Peja Stojakovic is a major risk especially given the cash they've thrown at him. San Antonio as always are a big threat to win this year, their star players Parker, Ginobili and Duncan are still at the top of their game.
My prediction
1 San Antonio 23/20
2 Dallas
3 New Orleans
4 Houston
5 Memphis
Northwest Division
Denver are a team that should challenge for the playoffs but they are particularly injury plagued. Nene, Kenyon Martin and Marcus Camby have all struggled with injuries over the last few years putting even more pressure on the improving Carmelo Anthony. Minnesota have one of the best players in the league in Kevin Garnett but they have absolutely no assistance for him whatsoever. Portland are going to have a horrible season, they have no leadership but at least they appear to have got rid of their off-court problems. Seattle have two good scorers in Rashard Lewis and Ray Allen but they lack any kind of defence giving up 114.4 points per 100 possessions. Utah has a strong looking front line. Andrei Kirilenko is a top player on both ends of the floor if he can stay fit and with Deron Williams really improving at the end of his rookie season they could have a very good season
My prediction
1 Utah 21/10
2 Denver
3 Portland
4 Minnesota
5 Seattle
Pacific Division
Another contender for the toughest in the league. Golden State are going to play hard and committed basketball but they have a point guard who isn't going to help them win. Baron Davis is a me-first player who doesn't help his teammates. The LA Clippers made it to the playoffs for the first time in ages. They have a talented big man in Elton Brand and a savvy veteran in Sam Cassell who make this team tick. The Lakers as always will rely heavily on Kobe Bryant, but should have a decent season if Lamar Odom can overcome the personal tragedy that struck during the off season. Phoenix should win the division playing their usual brand of attacking, little defence basketball that has brought Steve Nash the MVP award in the last two season. The return of Amare Stoudamire if he can reproduce the form of two seasons ago should make them one of the top teams in the West. Sacramento should challenge for the playoffs with players as talented as Ron Artest and Mike Bibby.
My prediction
1 Phoenix 2/7
2 LA Lakers
3 LA Clippers
4 Sacramento
5 Golden State
Season Predictions
Western Conference: San Antonio 5/2
Eastern Conference: New Jersey 5/1
Champs: San Antonio 5/1