NBA 2008-09 Predictions (Updated)
The Spurs and the Bulls are bound for the finals
Here is a prediction for the NBA’s standings next season:
Eastern Conference
1) Chicago Bulls -- 55-27
2) Boston Celtics -- 52-30
3) Cleveland Cavaliers -- 51-31
4) Toronto Raptors -- 50-32
5) Detroit Pistons -- 47-35
6) Orlando Magic -- 44-38
7) Washington Wizards -- 42-40
8) New Jersey Nets -- 41-41
The Boston Celtics were not in the playoff picture before this week, but since their acquisition of Kevin Garnett, things have gotten a little more interesting. Garnett now joins Paul Pierce and Ray Allen in Boston to form one of the best three-player tandems in the league. And while the rest of the roster isn't exactly championship caliber, Danny Ainge added capable role players Eddie House and Scot Pollard to the mix. In the Eastern Conference, where LeBron James could've made it to the finals with broomsticks for teammates, the Celtics now have as good a shot as anyone.
The Bulls are young, energetic and they play basketball the right way. They haven’t been able to get by the Pistons for the last few years but now that Detroit is weakened, the Bulls will have a free shot at either the Cavs or the Celtics in the conference finals. Ben Gordon, Kirk Heinrich, Loul Deng and Chris Duhon play on both ends of the floor, and no one guy is bigger than the team. It’s fun to watch. Add defensive superstar Ben Wallace in the middle and you have a certified contender.
The Pistons are over the hill. They might have one more run left in them now that they locked up Chauncey Billups for the next five years, but Detroit has yet to fill the gaping hole in its defense left by Ben Wallace. Wallace was sorely missed in the Eastern Conference Finals when LeBron James was flying freely in the paint. Toronto could surprise a lot of people next year, even though they already did that this year. Chris Bosh is legit and the ideal franchise player for an organization to rally around.
Orlando just made a blockbuster signing and brought a now-overpaid Rashard Lewis to town, but that might not help their cause considering that Lewis won’t have much of a supporting cast.
LeBron James willed his team to the NBA Finals last season and he shouldn’t come anything short of the conference finals next season. If Cleveland adds a complimentary offensive weapon that could take some pressure off of James when the team encounters a potent defensive team (a.k.a the Spurs), then making it to the Finals again is a possibility, if they can get by the Bulls and the Celtics.
The Wizards, Pacers and Nets have not made significant strides towards improvement during this offseason and their drafting hasn’t made any splashes. They’ll get into the playoffs and be first-round road kill.
Western Conference
1) Dallas Mavericks 58-24
2) Phoenix Suns 55-27
3) San Antonio Spurs 50-32
4) Utah Jazz 48-34
5) Denver Nuggets 44-38
6) L.A. Lakers 43-39
7) Houston Rockets 43-39
8) L.A. Clippers 42-40
The Mavericksand the Suns will have stellar regular seasons again, and the Suns will come up way short in the playoffs as always because they don’t prioritize defense. When Kevin Garnett signed with the Celtics, the Suns kissed an improvement to their defense goodbye. If Mike D'Antoni doesn't get rid of his cavalier attitude and buckle down on the defensive end, the Sunswill not make it to the NBA Finals next season.
The Mavericks will be back and contending, and maybe they won’t lay an egg and actually challenge the Spurs for Western Conference supremacy. The loss to the Warriors last season was beyond embarrassing, but Mark Cuban has proven his willingness to do whatever it takes to win, and Avery Johnson was a championship player and is a championship coach. So the Mavs will be back and competing next season.
The Spurs will win the conference again next season because of Tim Duncan. The guy is the most underrated player in NBA history and he will win with whoever wears the Spurs uniform in any particular season. The Spurs will be in the finals again next year.
The Jazz, Nuggets, Lakers, Rockets and Clippers are all in the unfortunate position of second fiddle to the Mavs, Spurs and Suns. None of these teams are ready to compete with the big guys, and the Rockets might be the only team talented enough to do it. But Tracy McGrady is not a winner and Yao Ming is overrated, so that rules the Rockets out. Maybe Mitch Kupchick will do something to remedy the current Kobe fiasco, but short of that there won’t be any surprises in the western conference next season.
Read other NBA articles by Rob Greenfield:
nba.suite101.com/article.cfm/the_nbas_best_of_the_offseason
nba.suite101.com/article.cfm/donaghy_gambling_and_the_nba
nba.suite101.com/article.cfm/garnett_to_the_boston_celtics
nba.suite101.com/article.cfm/garnett_mania_in_boston
nba.suite101.com/article.cfm/the_nbas_power_struggle
nba.suite101.com/article.cfm/the_nba_fans_and_globalization
nba.suite101.com/article.cfm/boston_celtics_chaos
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