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| Russell Westbrook and Ty Lawson will battle it out for Western Conference supremacy in the conference Finals. |
I know the season started last night and the Heat are already well on their way to another championship, but there's still time for predictions. And since the NBA is the only sport I think I really know, I'm going to take a shot at predicting the 16 playoff teams, how the playoffs will shape out, the All-Star teams and the awards (Bar Down Style).
1. Oklahoma City Thunder (59-23)
The Thunder are just too young and too talented not to run rampant through the league once again. Yeah, they might have just traded away one of the better players in the game, but they're still uber-talented and still have a nasty big three. They received a pretty serviceable player inKevin Martin and Durant, Westbrook and Ibaka will only get better. Plus, I think they'll be playing with a chip on their shoulder since everyone is ripping this Harden trade to shreds. Durant will of course be in the running for MVP.
2. Los Angeles Lakers (55-27)
We'll see how well this team meshes, but if they do then they'll be a force to be reckoned with. I think they'll experience some bumps along the road early, but they'll go off in the second half. There are still too many All-Stars on this team for them to fail, but the meshing of egos could be a real issue. Again, as I've stated before Nash needs to run the offense and if that happens this meshing could start earlier. I'm expecting a monster year out of Pau Gasol and don't forget this is only year one.
3. Denver Nuggets (51-31)
This team is no joke. They're deep, talented and very young. The addition of Andre Iguodala is a seriously big one and makes them even more formidable on defense. Their starting five is extremely athletic and will be extra fun to watch. Ty Lawson is one of the more underrated players in the game and with him at the helm things should run smoothly enough on offense for this defense-centric squad to make some noise. Don't forget about the Nuggets when the Thunder and Lakers take all the press, this team is sneaky good and is a true contender in the West.
4. Los Angeles Clippers (49-33)
Any team with Chris Paul at the helm is a playoff team. Any team led by Chris Paul that has the depth that this team has, is going to be a threat in the playoffs. The addition of older, role players like Grant Hill, Ronny Turiaf, Jamal Crawford and a healthy Chauncey Billups might make the Clippers the NBA's deepest team. This team's sole downfall at this point is the lack of a complete big man. DeAndre Jordan is a great defender, but a terrible offensive player. Blake Griffin, an unstoppable athlete on offense, struggles in the rebound department and couldn't stop a nose bleed. If either one of these guys can improve their all-around game then watch out, this team will be good.
5. San Antonio Spurs (46-35)
I'm sleeping on the Spurs this season. We saw them shockingly run out of steam in the Western Conference Finals and I think the emergence of several younger, more athletic and now more experienced teams in the West will give them fits. Popovich is going to have to once again rest guys like Tim Duncan and Tony Parker simply because of mileage which will hurt their regular season record. But if they still have energy come the post season, they'll be dangerous.
6. Memphis Grizzlies (45-36)
What we saw out of Memphis two seasons ago, when they took the Thunder to a seventh game in the semis, was pretty much a fluke. They were beat out by a much less deep and less experienced Clippers team last season and the loss of O.J. Mayo only hurts them. Zach Randolph has regressed back to his old ways and Rudy Gay absolutely does not want to assume the team leader role. I still love Tony Allen on the perimeter as a defender, but the loss of Mayo and Randolph's issues means this team will struggle scoring.
7. Dallas Mavericks (42-40)
The Mavericks are slowly drifting off into the sunset, now two years removed from their amazing championship run. I like what they did in the off season acquiring Elton Brand, O.J. Mayo and Darren Collison, but Shawn Marion, Vince Carter, Nowitzki and Brand aren't getting any younger. As I said with the Spurs, it's going to be hard for them to run with the young high-flying Clippers, Nuggets or Thunder. I also expect a serious decline in Nowitzki's play.
8. Phoenix Suns (39-43)
Phoenix will benefit from a considerably weaker Western Conference and a few offseason moves that should be enough for the final playoff spot. There's talent up front with Beasley (at times), Goran Dragic, Marcin Gortat and Luis Scola. We'll see what they get out of Jared Dudley and Shannon Brown at the #2 but I see a team that gels more effectively than the other eighth spot contenders. They'll be right there with the Rockets and T'Wolves in a #8,#9,#10 battle, but in the end they'll just have enough depth to sneak a playoff spot.
Playoffs
WC-Quarterfinals
1. Thunder over 8. Suns (4-0)
2. Lakers over 7. Mavs (4-2)
3. Nuggets over 6. Grizzlies (4-2)
4. Clippers over 5. Spurs (4-3)
WC-Semis
1. Thunder over 4. Clippers (4-3)
3. Nuggets over 2. Lakers (4-2)
WC-Finals
1. Thunder over 3. Nuggets (4-2)
All-Star Squad:
Starter-Dwight Howard
Starter-Pau Gasol
Starter-Kevin Durant
Starter-Russell Westbrook
Starter-Chris Paul
Bench-Kobe Bryant
Bench-James Harden
Bench-Eric Gordon
Bench-Ty Lawson
Bench-Serge Ibaka
Bench-Andre Iguodala
Bench-Kenneth Faried
Awards (Western Conference Only)
Best Addition
Andre Iguodala, Denver
Iguodala completely fortifies the Nuggets as an elite defensive team, and provides a weapon at getting to the rim. Dwight Howard is too easy of an answer anyways.
Biggest Underachiever
Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas
I have a feeling that Nowitzki is going to struggle with a more aggressive and not as pass-centric point guard in Darren Collison. He'll get his numbers, but not at an effective rate.
Rookie of the Year
Harrison Barnes, Golden State
Barnes' style wasn't built for the slower more structured college game, he'll explode in the NBA. The Warriors might not be good but at least it's going to be fun to watch him and Steph Curry tear it up.
Best Player not Named Kevin Durant
Chris Paul, L.A. Clippers
Paul will continue to be the Western Conference's best point and will almost single handedly carry his squad to the Western Conference Finals.
Ready to Takeoff
Ty Lawson, Denver
If there ever was a guy being slept on, it's Ty Lawson. I see him being the main cog in a surprisingly good Nuggets squad.
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