NBA Season Preview

Wow. It's been a while, hasn't it? I must be pretty terrible at this blogging thing. I don't know if I get bored with it, or if I simply forget about it, or if I become too busy to worry about it. But whatever the reason, my posts have come further and further apart.

Now, I won't sit here and make the same promise I always make when I return from the blogging abyss. I won't say that I'll be absolutely, 100-percent sure to blog more often from now on. I won't say it because, if history is any indication, I can't hold true to that promise. My shortcoming, I guess. But it's not like it's such a big deal. No one reads this thing anyway. (Of course, that could also be because of how infrequently I update. I'm sure if I made this thing a priority, at least a few people would find it and regularly check in. But, when posts are half a year apart, it's no wonder I don't have frequent visitors.)

But alas, I'm back. For now. With my patented one-sentence NBA 2007-08 season preview. (By patented, I mean stolen. Michael Wilbon did this once years and years ago, and I liked it. So I stole it. Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery, right? That's what I'll say if I hear from Mr. Wilbon's lawyers.)

Before I begin I wanted to mention that the East became markedly better. They'll be more competitive, for sure. Does that mean they've caught up with the West? Absolutely not. But better, nonetheless. But surely the team that comes out of the East this season has to be better than that sorry Cleveland squad from last year. What a joke of an EC representative. It made me angry because the Wizards, had they been healthy, would've disposed of the Cavs in Round 1. (And yes, I'm a Wizards fan so you know where I stand.)

The Celtics are better, but not as good as everyone thinks. I'll explain later. The Knicks are better on paper, but we'll have to see how that front-court duo meshes. The Pistons, Bulls and Wizards are still hanging around. The Heat are up or down. The Cavs look thin. The East will have some intrigue. And yes, the last couple of teams vying for a playoff spot may still be waging a futile battle, but the final rep from the EC should be better than last year's Cavs.

Anyway, on to the previews, follwed by seedings and playoff predictions.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Atlanta Hawks: The Hawks have loads of young talent (Josh Smith, Al Horford, Marvin Williams), a proven scorer (Joe Johnson) and a decent inside presence (Zaza Pachulia), but they're also incredibly undisciplined, selfish and unintelligent when it comes to basketball IQ, so this team will again feed other NBA squads easy wins.

Boston Celtics: Another Big Three (KG, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce) looks to overturn the Eastern Conference, but the real keys to this team are young PG Rajon Rando and C Kendrick Perkins, and if those two don't add a dimension to this team, those top three will wear themselves out early, especially because the C's have no bench to speak of; however, the C's have too much talent not to make the playoffs and maybe advance one round.

Charlotte Bobcats: Gerald Wallace, Jason Richardson and Emeka Okafur make a nice trio of players, but the bench is weak, the PG, Raymond Felton, is a second-stringer at best, and the coach is unheard of; add it all up, and this team continues to battle Atlanta for last in the Southeast.

Chicago Bulls: It's the same question every year (Can this team score points?), and it hasn't mattered for the past two seasons because the Bulls play lock down defense, which is always good enough to get you into the playoffs and into the second round; but they're going to need to get more scoring somewhere from someone to be a legit threat in the EC playoffs.

Cleveland Cavaliers: This is the team that could face the biggest fall because Anderson Varajeo and Sasha Pavolic remain unsigned, meaning LeBron James will have to do all the work himself, which could mean the Cavs could finish outside the playoff picture.

Detroit Pistons: The gold standard of the EC, the Pistons have an opportunity to return to the Finals with so many EC teams in flux, but the question, as always, will be whether the players (notably Rasheed Wallace) will continue to respect coach Flip Saunders.

Indiana Pacers: Last year, Larry Bird made one of the most ridiculous trades in NBA history, so now his team is stuck with retreads and second stringers like Troy Murphy and Mike Dunleavy, Jr., and all this means is that Jermaine O'Neal will continue to beg for a trade as the Pacers miss the playoffs again.

Miami Heat: The Heat and the Cavs are the two playoff teams from last year that could miss them this year; the Heat won't have Wade for at least a month, Shaq is in major decline, the team has no bench and the general skill level is low, so the Heat are really going to struggle, so much so that they won't continue their run of Southeast Division titles.

Milwaukee Bucks: This is a fringe team that could squeeze into the playoff picture because Michael Redd is a legit scorer, but the real progress has to be made down low because if Bogut and Villanueva can't demonstrate that they're a real low-post presence, then Redd is working by himself, and he's not enough to will this team into the playoffs.

New Jersey Nets: This team continues to get older, but they still want to play and upbeat style of ball; yet, last year they focused too much on getting into half-court sets, which completely diminishes Richard Jefferson's effectiveness, so if they run, they could be a playoff team, but if they walk it up, they're done.

New York Knicks: So much talent, so many chemistry questions, so little coaching acumen, but I go back to that so much talent part, and I think they have enough to get into the playoffs, despite the chemistry questions, particularly down low, early on.

Orlando Magic: Rashard Lewis is in the house to help Dwight Howard make the Magic a perennial contender, but, while a Lewis-Howard tandem is probably playoff-ready, the Magic still aren't ready to be a legitimate threat.

Philadelphia 76ers: Andre Miller and Andre Iguodala are nice players, but the rest of this team is awful.

Toronto Raptors: This team oozes young talent at every position, and because they're so explosive and dynamic, the Raptors should continue to make the playoffs; although, they won't make much noise in the second season.

Washington Wizards: This is the most enigmatic team in the EC because a triple threat of Gilbert Arenas, Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison should be a 50-win team every season, but a lack of defensive philosophy and little depth have made them mediocre; still, this team is good enough to take the EC, so they'll make the playoffs and possibly advance a round or two.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Dallas Mavericks: No real need to go into great detail here because this is a top 3 team in the WC.

Denver Nuggets: George Karl said he has his team thinking defense again, so a new philosophy and a full year of AI and 'Melo should boost this team in the WC standings.

Golden State Warriors: They won't be fooling anyone this year, but that offense may be the best in the league, so this team should return to the playoff as a No. 6-8 seed.

Houston Rockets: This is an interesting team because Yao, T-Mac and some decent depth players (with the addition of Luis Sciola), which means the Rockets could shove themselves into the top tier of the WC.

Los Angeles Clippers: Without Elton Brand, this team stands little chance of making the playoffs because Chris Kaman, Cuttino Mobley and Corey Maggette simply don't instill fear in many opponents.

Los Angeles Lakers: With Kobe, without Kobe, who cares because this team is not getting to the playoffs.

Memphis Grizzlies: The Griz have great guard talent and depth, especially when Mike Conley Jr., emerges, to pair with Gasol underneath, which means a lot of points, but not necessarily a lot of wins by virtue of their division and conference.

Minnesota Timberwolves: Kevin McHale has traded everyone away, so I think they'll suit up the first five players who walk through the arena doors every night.

New Orleans Hornets: Chris Paul is such a dynamic player and excellent passer/scorer that, with a healthy Peja in fold, the Hornets should be able to spread opposing defenses and eventually make the playoffs.

Phoenix Suns: The Suns are one of those top 3 teams in the West because, as everyone knows by now, they are the most offensively dynamic and efficient--what more has to be said, except that their defense (and crooked refs) is what keeps them from the Finals.

Portland Trailblazers: Brandon Roy is a stud shooting guard, and Lamarcus Aldridge will continue to improve, but without Greg Oden, there isn't much else there.

Sacramento Kings: Mike Bibby and Brad Miller, the nucleus of the team, are old, which means Sacto will be leaning on former Southern Conference star Kevin Martin to carry it, and, despite Martin's offensive prowess, that spells big-time losses for the Kings.

San Antonio Spurs: The class of the West is always undervalued and unappreciated, but they'll be there in the end again this season.

Seattle Supersonics: No Rashard Lewis (in Orlando) and no Ray Allen (in Boston) means a kiddie corps will lead this team to a long season.

Utah Jazz: Coach Jerry Sloan always mans one of the toughest teams in the league, and this Jazz team is no difference, as they play hard defense and efficient offense with a variety of inside and outside weapons.

HOW THEY'LL FINISH:

EASTERN CONFERENCE

ATLANTIC DIVISION

Boston Celtics (3)
Toronto Raptors (5)
New York Knicks (8)
New Jersey Nets (10)
Philadelphia 76ers (15)

CENTRAL DIVISION

Detroit Pistons (1)
Chicago Bulls (2)
Cleveland Cavaliers (7)
Milwaukee Bucks (9)
Indiana Pacers (14)

SOUTHEAST DIVISION

Washington Wizards (4)
Orlando Magic (6)
Miami Heat (11)
Charlotte Bobcats (12)
Atlanta Hawks (13)

WESTERN CONFERENCE

NORTHWEST DIVISION

Denver Nuggets (5)
Utah Jazz (6)
Portland Trailblazers (13)
Seattle Supersonics (14)
Minnesota Timberwolves (15)

PACIFIC DIVISION

Phoenix Suns (3)
Golden State Warriors (7)
Los Angeles Lakers (9)
Los Angeles Clippers (11)
Sacramento Kings (12)

SOUTHWEST DIVISION

Dallas Mavericks (1)
San Antonio Spurs (2)
Houston Rockets (4)
New Orleans Hornets (8)
Memphis Grizzlies (10)

EASTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND

Detroit Pistons d. New York Knicks
Chicago Bulls d. Cleveland Cavaliers
Boston Celtics d. Orlando Magic
Washington Wizards d. Toronto Raptors

EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS

Washington Wizards d. Detroit Pistons
Chicago Bulls d. Boston Celtics

EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS

Washington Wizards d. Chicago Bulls

WESTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND

Dallas Mavericks d. New Orleans Hornets
San Antonio Spurs d. Golden State Warriors
Phoenix Suns d. Utah Jazz
Denver Nuggets d. Houston Rockets

WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS

Dallas Mavericks d. Denver Nuggets
Phoenix Suns d. San Antonio Spurs

WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS

Dallas Mavericks d. Phoenix Suns

NBA FINALS

Dallas Mavericks d. Washington Wizards

So there you have it. The Mavs beat the Wizards. I might be the only person gutsy enough (or dumb enough) to pick the Wizards to represent the EC in the NBA Finals, but I think with Gilbert Arenas and Antawn Jamison both in contract years, with Caron Butler continuing to improve as an NBA player and with a bench that is much deeper than last year (Andray Blatche, Oleksiy Pecherov, Antonio Daniels, Nick Young, Dominic Maguire), the Wizards could be a major force in the playoffs. And as for the Mavs, well, I just think it's finally their time.

Call me crazy or stupid or both. I don't care. At least I'm back here blogging.