The 2007 NBA season has already featured many interesting headlines from Greg Oden's season-ending injury to major off season trades and summer transactions. The San Antonio Spurs are in good position to defend its title, while other elite teams, such as the Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns, are hungry for their crown. Here's a look at how each division will play out this season. Please note that some of the predicted final standings have been adjusted from the team previews due to changes in rosters (i.e., Oden's season-ending injury) that occured after those articles were written.
Pacific Division
Predicted Final Standings
- Phoenix Suns 60-22 (clinch playoffs)
- LA Lakers 44-38 (clinch playoffs)
- Golden State Warriors 38-44
- Sacramento Kings 29-53
- LA Clippers 26-56
The Clippers plunge in the standings mostly because of star forward Elton Brand's long-term injury. He'll miss several months of the season and will leave the Clippers thin up front. In addition, the Clips have several other injury prone players on its roster, such as Corey Maggette and Chris Kaman. This could be a long season for them.
The Warriors could barely miss the playoffs if Baron Davis doesn't have a full and healthy season. He's been known as been heavily injury prone in the past, but was relatively healthy last season. He's crucial to Golden State's success.
Midwest Division
Predicted Final Standings
- Dallas Mavericks 62-20 (clinch playoffs)
- San Antonio Spurs 56-26 (clinch playoffs)
- Houston Rockets 49-33 (clinch playoffs)
- New Orleans Hornets 41-41 (clinch playoffs)
- Memphis Grizzlies 38-44
This might end up being the toughest division in the NBA next season. The Mavericks should start the season fired up and primed to avenge its embarrassing first round exit in the the 2007 NBA Playoffs.
The Hornets will slip into the playoffs if they can stay healthy. They were very competitive last season, despite dealing with numerous injuries. Peja Stojakovic probably can't be counted on to be completely healthy, but New Orleans hopes for healthier seasons from Chris Paul, David West and others.
Northwest Division
Predicted Final Standings
- Utah Jazz 54-28 (clinch playoffs)
- Denver Nuggets 51-31 (clinch playoffs)
- Portland Trail Blazers 31-51
- Minnesota Timberwolves 26-56
- Seattle Supersonics 24-58
The Denver Nuggets will be a lot better than they were last season, as Iverson and Carmelo will have an entire season to learn to co-exist. Keeping Marcus Camby on that roster was key.
Despite the improvement of the Nuggets, the Jazz are getting better too. Rookie guard Morris Almond will have a subtle, yet productive, effect on the Jazz's success. Moreover, look for Deron Williams to be even better than he was last season.
The Timberwolves and Supersonics will drop a lot. Both teams are rebuilding and though they'll get a lot of media attention, they won't be very competitive.
Central Division
Predicted Final Standings
- Detroit Pistons 54-28 (clinched playoffs)
- Chicago Bulls 51-31 (clinched playoffs)
- Cleveland Cavaliers 47-35 (clinched playoffs)
- Milwaukee Bucks 30-52
- Indiana Pacers 23-59
The Detroit Pistons should be even better than they were last season. Chris Webber is gone, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. He was a defensive liability and Nazr Mohammed should have gotten more playing time last year anyway. Moreover, the Pistons will have a renewed bench, as several of its young prospects should be ready to step up. Rodney Stuckey might have been the steal of the 2007 NBA Draft and will turn heads right away.
The Cavaliers didn't give LeBron James any help this off season and at some point he may get burned out from doing so much. In addition, Zydrunas Ilgauskas is another year older.
The Bucks have the talent do win more games than 30, especially in the Eastern Conference. However, given the amount of injuries they sustained last season, it's not likely they'll be able to ensure 100% health this season. For instance, if Redd goes down, they may be in trouble.
The Indiana Pacers are on a serious downslide. Expect Jermaine O'Neal to be traded by the February trade deadline. Larry Bird won't want to, but he wasn't motivated at all at the end of last season and nagging injuries may keep him off the court.
Atlantic Division
Predicted Final Standings
- Toronto Raptors 46-36 (clinched playoffs)
- Boston Celtics 46-36 (clinched playoffs)
- New Jersey Nets 44-38 (clinched playoffs)
- Philadelphia 76ers 34-48
- New York Knicks 30-52
The Raptors and Celtics will lead the division in an exciting race. Boston's biggest setback will be nagging injuries to Paul Pierce and Ray Allen during the season. They added some depth with the additions of James Posey, but they still can't afford to lose any of their big three for long periods.
The New York Knicks will be bad again. Its defense will be the worst in the league with two poor post defenders, Eddy Curry and Zach Randolph, anchoring a shoddy effort.
Southeast Division
Predicted Final Standings
- Washington Wizards 45-37 (clinched playoffs)
- Orlando Magic 41-41 (clinched playoffs)
- Miami Heat 38-44
- Charlotte Bobcats 38-44
- Atlanta Hawks 34-48
Barring injuries, the Wizards should have no trouble clinching this division. The Miami Heat will fall out of the playoffs. Shaquille O'Neal will play in only 30-40 games and Dwayne Wade will also miss several games. The Charlotte Bobcats will make a jump in the right direction with Jason Richardson providing the offensive boost they badly needed last season. Meanwhile, the Orlando Magic will sneak into the playoffs and Rashard Lewis will post career numbers as the team's go-to-guy.
2007-2008 Predicted NBA Scoring Leaders
- Kobe Bryant - Lakers 33.4
- Dwayne Wade - Heat 28.7
- LeBron James - Cavaliers 28.4
- Gilbert Arenas - Wizards 27.4
- Michael Redd - Bucks 27.3
- Carmelo Anthony - Nuggets 26.5
- Dirk Nowitzki - Mavericks 25.9
- Amare Stoudemire - Suns 24.4
- Yao Ming - Rockets 24.2
- Tracy McGrady - Rockets 24.1
2007-2008 Predicted NBA Rebounding Leaders
- Kevin Garnett - Celtics 12.9
- Dwight Howard - Magic 12.7
- Emeka Okafor - Bobcats 11.7
- Tyson Chandler - Hornets 11.6
- Marcus Camby - Nuggets 11.4
2007-2008 Predicted NBA Assist Leaders
- Steve Nash - Suns 11.0
- Chris Paul - Hornets 9.3
- Deron Williams - Jazz 8.8
- Jason Kidd - Nets 8.6
- Baron Davis - Warriors 8.3
2007-2008 Predicted NBA Breakout Players
- Devin Harris - Mavericks 11.8 ppg, 4.9 apg
- Kendrick Perkins - Celtics 7.2 ppg, 9.2 rbpg
- Andrew Bynum - Lakers 9.5 ppg, 7.2 rbpg
- Danny Granger - Pacers 16.1 ppg, 4.8 rbpg
- Andrew Bogut - Bucks 13.6 ppg, 9.2 rbpg
- LaMarcus Aldridge - Trail Blazers 15.3 ppg, 7.2 rbpg
- Brandon Roy - Trail Blazers 20.8 ppg, 4.9 rbpg, 3.9 apg
- Robert Swift - Supersonics 12.1 ppg, 8.7 rbpg, 2.0 bspg
- Andrea Bargnani - Raptors 14.9 ppg, 5.2 rbpg
Check out Suite101's team-by-team previews:
NBA Eastern Conference Team Previews: Atlanta Hawks; Boston Celtics; Cleveland Cavaliers; Chicago Bulls; Charlotte Bobcats; Detroit Pistons; Indiana Pacers; Miami Heat; Milwaukee Bucks; New Jersey Nets; New York Knicks; Orlando Magic; Philadelphia 76ers; Toronto Raptors; Washington Wizards
NBA Western Conference Team Previews: Dallas Mavericks; Denver Nuggets; Golden State Warriors; Houston Rockets; Los Angeles Clippers; Los Angeles Lakers; Memphis Grizzlies; Minnesota Timberwolves; New Orleans Hornets; Phoenix Suns; Portland Trail Blazers; Sacramento Kings; San Antonio Spurs; Seattle Supersonics; Utah Jazz
Also Check Out: NBA Fantasy Basketball Guide
