Eastern Conference Preview 1. Chicago Bulls The Bulls were obviously without superstar Derrick Rose all of last season but with Rose's return the Bulls have my vote for the best team in the East. The Bulls managed to finish fifth in the Eastern conference last season with injuries to others not named Derrick Rose. Top to bottom this is a very talented roster and they are coached by one of the best in business. I look for the Bulls to finish with the best record in the East and possibly overall in the NBA and for Rose to be neck and neck with LeBron James in the MVP race. Projected Starters: PG: Derrick Rose SG: Jimmy Butler SF: Luol Deng PF: Carlos Boozer C: Joakim Noah 6: Taj Gibson 2. Miami Heat The two time NBA champions will be again highly talked about and again highly scrutinized as every great team is. If the roster wasn't stacked enough, the Heat add Michael Beasley in which was their first round draft pick in 2008 while also adding college superstar Greg Oden. Both haven't played up to their star potential yet but look to be contributors this season for the Heat. The starting five will be the same five it has been for the past two seasons. This is still the most talented team in the country but with improved teams throughout the Eastern Conference this, in my opinion, is the year come short of the NBA championship. Projected Starters: PG: Mario Chalmers SG: Dwyane Wade SF: LeBron James PF: Udonis Haslem C: Chris Bosh 6: Ray Allen 3. Indiana Pacers The play of Paul George a season ago was one of the bigger headlines in all of last season as he led the Pacers to an Eastern Conference title showdown with Miami. George was the most improved player in the NBA in 2012 and rightly so. Hibbert has vastly improved since coming into the league and a banged up Danny Granger should be ready to compete in late November. This team is full of young talent and with a tremendous upside and an incredible home court advantage, the Pacers could finish off with the best record in the East not surprising anyone. Projected Starters: PG: George Hill SG: Paul George SF: Danny Granger* PF: David West C: Roy Hibbert 6: Lance Stephenson 4. New York Knicks Mike Woodson took over a Knicks team last season that was underachieving in every aspect. With key additions and solid bench play, the Knicks captured the second best record in the East in 2012 with an opening playoff series win versus rival Boston. Carmelo Anthony won the scoring title last season just inching past MVP candidate Kevin Durant of the Thunder. Anthony was not efficient but was effective in both positive and negative plays but was by far the most valuable player on the New York roster. With Amare Stoudemire's struggles and injuries the Knicks picked up Andrea Bargnani giving the Knicks a versatile player at the four position. Metta World Peace will add some nice depth to a very talented bench headlined by JR Smith. The Knicks have a very talented starting five but consistency was the issue last season and pressure needs to be taken off Anthony for the Knicks to be a legitimate threat. Projected Starters: PG: Raymond Felton SG: Iman Shumpert SF: Carmelo Anthony PF: Andrea Bargnani C: Tyson Chandler 6: JR Smith 5. Brooklyn Nets Projected Starters: PG: Derron Williams SG: Joe Johnson SF: Paul Pierce PF: Kevin Garnett C: Brook Lopez 6: Andray Blatche 6. Atlanta Hawks Projected Starters: PG: Jeff Teague SG: Kyle Korver SF: Demarre Carroll PF: Paul Millsap C: Al Horford 6: Elton Brand 7. Cleveland Cavaliers Projected Starters: PG: Kyrie Irving SG: Dion Waiters SF: Earl Clark PF: Tristan Thompson C: Andrew Bynum* 6: Jarrett Jack 8. Detroit Pistons Projected Starters: PG: Brandon Jennings SG: Chauncey Billups SF: Josh Smith PF: Greg Monroe C: Andre Drummond 6: Rodney Stuckey ______________ Eastern Conference: Bulls over Heat Finals: Bulls over Thunder | Western Conference Preview 1. San Antonio Spurs I have already been getting some flack for putting San Antonio #1 but the Spurs seem to have 50-plus wins every season and about the time everybody wants to write them off they end up playing in the Finals while just seconds away (Game 6) from capturing another title. The three headed monster returns and I, again, pick the Spurs to finish with the best record in the Western Conference. Projected Starters: PG: Tony Parker SG: Danny Green SF: Kawhi Leonard PF: Tim Duncan C: Tiago Splitter 6: Manu Ginobili 2. Oklahoma City Thunder This is by far the most talented team in recent years to not win the Finals. Kevin Durant is the best scorer in the NBA and is even undervalued as a defender. Russell Westbrook will be nursing a knee injury in the early portion of the season but once he returns the Thunder will roll. With the majority of the points coming from those two a third contributor is needed, especially while Westbrook is out. Thabo Sefolosha is especially known for his defense but his backup Jeremy Lamb could be a guy to keep an eye on. Lamb was a big time scorer at UConn in college and has the potential to break twenty every game. Lamb may play a more important role this season especially when Westbrook is out. Defense is not a problem this season but more offensive threats are needed as Durant and Westbrook can't do it all alone as seen in the playoffs these recent years. Projected Starters: PG: Reggie Jackson // Russell Westbrook* SG: Thabo Sefolosha SF: Kevin Durant PF: Serge Ibaka C: Kendrick Perkins* 6: Nick Collison/Jeremy Lamb 3. Los Angeles Clippers Top to bottom I like this team a lot as it is filled with a talented bunch of players with All-Star potential. Chris Paul may be the most valuable player to his team in the NBA. (I really mean that) Paul leads a team that has been on the verge of a Western Conference Finals appearence in which is definitely a possibility this year with new additions with most importantly head coach Doc Rivers. Rivers established himself as a winner in Boston and now has another talented but younger roster in LA. The Clippers seem to be everybody's preseason favorite in the West but I believe this team may be a year away from really doing something special. Finally, the best team in LA. Projected Starters: PG: Chris Paul SG: JJ Redick SF: Jared Dudley PF: Blake Griffin C: DeAndre Jordan 4. Houston Rockets James Harden carried this team last season to a spot in the playoffs but didn't get far as there was a lack of depth and not much of a spark powering this team. Dwight Howard has now brought a spark to Houston. Howard chose the Rockets over others last season and now gives the Rockets a chance to go far this season with a vary talented lineup. Jeremy Lin will continue to carry the point guard duties and a much improved Chandler Parsons will fire from the small foward position. The Rockets will have to hold off Golden State four the fourth spot, which would make for a HUGE first round matchup in the playoffs. Projected Starters: PG: Jeremy Lin SG: James Harden SF: Chandler Parsons PF: Donatas Motiejunas C: Dwight Howard 6: Patrick Beverley 5. Golden State Warriors Projected Starters: PG: Stephen Curry SG: Klay Thompson SF: Andre Igoudala PF: David Lee C: Andrew Bogut 6: Harrison Barnes 6. Denver Nuggets Projected Starters: PG: Ty Lawson SG: Randy Foye SF: Danilo Gallinari PF: Kenneth Faried C: JJ Hickson 6: Wilson Chandler 7. Memphis Grizzlies Projected Starters: PG: Mike Conley SG: Tony Allen SF: Tayshaun Prince PF: Zach Randolph C: Marc Gasol 6: Jerryd Bayless 8 Portland Trail Blazers Projected Starters: PG: Damian Lillard SG: Wes Matthews SF: Nicholas Batum PF: Lamarcus Aldridge C: Robin Lopez 6: Mo Williams ________________ Western Conference: Thunder over Spurs Finals: Bulls over Thunder |
MVP: 1. Derrick Rose, Bulls 2. LeBron James, Heat 3. Kevin Durant, Thunder 4. Chris Paul, Clippers 5. Carmelo Anthony, Knicks 6. Kevin Love, T-Wolves 7. Stephen Curry, Warriors 8. James Harden, Rockets 9. Paul George, Pacers 10. Russell Westbrook, Thunder 11. Kyrie Irving, Cavs 12. Kobe Bryant, Lakers | Rookie of the Year: 1. Victor Oladipo, Magic 2. CJ McCollum, Blazers 3. Otto Porter, Wizards 4. Anthony Bennett, Cavs 5. Ben McLemore, Kings 6. Trey Burke, Jazz Defensive Player of the Year: 1. Dwight Howard, Rockets 2. Serge Ibaka, Thunder 3. LeBron James, Heat 4. Paul George, Pacers | Most Improved Player of the Year: 1. Jonas Valanciunas, Raptors 2. Andre Drummond, Pistons 3. Eric Bledsoe, Suns 4. Iman Shumpert, Knicks Sixth Man of the Year: 1. Jarrett Jack, Cavs 2. JR Smith, Knicks 3. Harrison Barnes, Warriors Coach of the Year: 1. Mark Jackson, Warriors |