philly is a perennial 7th or 8th seed. iggy will get them their 40 wins and they'll be one and done again...

Brand might be good...again...

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

Washington, assuming they stay healthy (Jamison is already out for about a month, and Arenas' injury history is well known) is going to win a lot of regular season games by outscoring their opponents. Arenas, Jamison and Caron Butler are a very good scoring trio, and then add in a few other guys like Randy Foye, Nick Young and Mike Miller provide lots of secondary scoring punch. I can see them winning a lot of games in the 115-110 range, but I also realize that they won't play much defense so that will eventually be their demise.

The Lakers and Spurs (probably can add Boston in the East) are just playing for the playoffs. They have good enough rosters that they will be at the top of their conferences without having to run their guys into the ground during the regular season. Adding Richard Jefferson to the mix (as well as McDyess) will be great additions for the Spurs - they won't need to depend as heavily on Duncan, Parker and Ginobili. Obviously, the same can be said for the Lakers with the acquistion of Artest. On a nightly basis, Kobe, Artest, Gasol, Bynum and Odom are going to be pretty tough to beat.

Portland is a good team, but I don't think they are any better than they were last season, a team that could sneak into Round 2, but that's about it. They have a lot of depth, but outside of Brandon Roy, I don't see another star player here. L.Aldridge is a good player, but that's about it.

West:

1. Lakers
2. Spurs
3. Denver
4. Portland
5. Dallas
6. Utah
7. New Orleans
8. Phoenix


East:

1. Celtics
2. Cavs
3. Orlando
4. Atlanta
5. Washington
6. Miami
7. Chicago
8. Philly

Finals: Celtics over Lakers

ROY: Griffin
MVP: LeBron

_________________
"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

On paper, the Clippers have some good parts with Baron Davis at PG, Eric Gordon/Al Thornton nice young players, adding the probable ROY in Blake Griffin and then some veteran big guys in Chris Kaman and Marcus Camby.

Everything I have read about Davis indicates says that he is healthy, and interested in playing this year after looking horrible last season. That is probably my #1 concern. If he is motivated, I think this team could be good. The 2nd big concern is the health of their big men. Both Kaman and Camby haven't been durable (Kaman especially of late). At least one of these guys need to stay on the floor this season.

As for GS, anytime you are starting Corey Maggette at PF, which is what I have been reading, obviously sends the signal that Nelson isn't going to change anytime soon and will simply look to put up a ton of points (while giving up a ton of points). Monta Ellis is now the face of this team, and questions about how much of a distraction Stephen Jackson will be continue to dominate the early season story line for this team. Anthony Randolph is expected by many to break out this season and Stephen Curry provides even more scoring. So, assuming Ellis is as good as many think and Randolph/Curry provide additional scoring punch, this team will be tough at home, but I don't see this act working as well on the road. I see them as a young team with potential to improve, but probably in the 35-40 win range.

If he's healthy, he'll be a contributor, but what to what level? Brand's style of play seems to clash with Philly's desire to be a running team. Brand, when healthy, was better suited for the half court style of play.

Agreed with Heat comments - Wade is going to have to carry this team. Chalmers, Beasley and J.O'Neal (the definition of questionable for nearly every game the last few seasons) would have to really have to step up in their consistentcy.

Evans and Griffin seem to be the top candidates. Stephen Curry could be in the hunt if he puts up good numbers in that GS offense.

Agreed, they really aren't much different than a few teams in the East, sort of battling for a playoff spot in those #6-#8 slots.

Oklahoma City has a very nice young lineup. I'm looking forward to watching them play this season.

I think Houston will be a scrappy team, but I just don't see them being competive. They have some nice spare parts there, but without McGrady (I know this guy has been an interesting case in Houston, and really his entire career)/Ming, they really don't have that big time player for close games.

I predict (say it like you mean it) that...
the Celtics will falter to a low seed due to major injuries
the Washington Wizards will wish Gilbert had never come back
the Lakers will be on a pace around the All-star break with the record setting Bulls before settling for about 67 wins
the Pistons will rue the day they signed BG (he will perform as always, but they will be in the blob of mid-level NBA teams)
the Bulls will be better than expected (4th or 5th seed).

_________________
“Mr. Trump is unfit for our nation’s highest office.”- JD Vance
“My god, what an !diot.”- JD Vance tweet on Trump
“I’m a ‘Never Trump’ guy”- JD Vance

you dont think they'll be competitive? They will play real smart and real hard. Considering over half the teams dont do that in the regular season that will be a big edge. They'll also be a very good perimeter defensive team

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

blake griffin broke his knee cap and is out maybe six weeks, maybe indefinitely. Clippers curse strikes again. I'll switch my roy pick to evans

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

I'm psychic

I feel bad for the guy though, that sucks.

they'll be competitive for one reason...Rick Adelman is a great coach.

_________________
Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

Ariza is a good athlete, but we don't know if he'll be able to be effective without having Kobe on the floor.....Scola and Brooks look like guys with good upside and Battier is still there.

Like you said, they will be competitive, a pesky team.

I laughed too when I saw it this morning. Felt bad afterward, but it was kinda predictable. I still think he will be a great player if/when he gets off the Clippers.

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

he IS going to be a good player. Just not with the Clips.

_________________
Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

I should of known it, since I picked him on my fantasy team.

_________________
"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

The Los Angeles Clippers are like that Climax Blues Band song, circa 1978, "Couldn't Get It Right." The fact that Blake Griffin is out 6 weeks makes you wonder if that franchise is snake-bitten, let alone cursed...

Aside from the Cavs missing the finals, I think it is likely that none of your predictions are right.

_________________
"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

2 to go for the Perfecto!

The Bobcats are going to make the playoffs...

_________________

Only the Bulls landing a stud and the Lakers winning 70. The rest all seemed very plausible before the season.

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

I can't believe I didn't make any predictions here....

I guess I"ll always have my Grizzlies prediction

I vote for this as the winner of the thread.

I did say the Thunder would win about 45 and be in contention for the 8th spot, and Houston would win 40+, so those werent bad. I'm never gonna say another positive thing about the Clippers in preseason again though.

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul