Official Predictions Thread

[TylersLakers]

Well.. we usually have one of these every year, but I haven't seen too many so far. So what's everybody's predictions for the upcoming NBA season?

Fast forward to the end of the season, and what will everybody's stats, awards, records be?

Western Conference

1: Los Angeles Lakers (61-21)
2: New Orleans Hornets (58-24)
3: Houston Rockets (55-27)
4: Utah Jazz (54-28)
5: Dallas Mavericks (52-30)
6: San Antonio Spurs (50-32)
7: Phoenix Suns (48-34)
8: Portland Trail Blazers (46-36)

9: Los Angeles Clippers (44-38)
10: Golden State Warriors (41-41)
11: Denver Nuggets (39-43)
12: Minnesota Timberwolves (36-46)
13: Sacramento Kings (35-47)
14: Memphis Grizzlies (29-53)
15: Oklahoma City (27-55)


In the West, as many others predict, the Lakers come out on top. Lakers and Hornets will be the best two teams in the West all season, and with a healthy Bynum and a "contract year" Lamar Odom, the Lakers pull the race out towards the end. The final playoff spots won't be AS GOOD as last year in my opinion. Ellis getting hurt for the first part of the season REALLY hurts them. Once everybody is back healthy though, I think they'll make a push towards the end, but ultimately coming up short. The Minnesota Timberwolves will improve with Kevin Love, Mike Miller and Corey Brewer, who I think could be a most improved player candidate this year.

Eastern Conference

1: Boston Celtics (58-24)
2: Detroit Pistons (56-36)
3: Philadelphia 76ers (52-30)
4: Orlando Magic (50-32)
5: Toronto Raptors (51-31)
6: Cleveland Cavaliers (49-33)
7: Washington Wizards (44-36)
8: Atlanta Hawks (40-42)

9: Indiana Pacers (39-43)
10: Miami Heat (38-44)
11: Chicago Bulls (37-45)
12: Charlotte Bobcats (36-46)
13: New Jersey Nets (35-47)
14: Milwaukee Bucks (34-48)
15: New York Knicks (30-52)

Boston is still the front runners. Pistons still steady, although you wonder how everyone will play after the summer of trade rumors. We saw what happened with the Bulls last year. The 76ers improve under Elton Brand and Iguodala. The Raptors improve with Jermaine O'Neal and no PG controversy; even though Jose and Ford did a relatively good job with that. They have depth all around off the bench with Jason Kapono, Andrea Bargnani (who is said to be "greatly improved" by pretty much everyone), newcomer Roko Ukic (who will surprise some people), Jawai and Humphries. Don't forget Anthony Parker and Jamario Moon on the wings as well. The East gets a lot tougher this year, there's not as many laughing stocks. The Nets fall. Loss of Richard Jefferson, no Kidd, etc.

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Awards

Most Valuable Player: Chris Paul - New Orleans Hornets
Defensive Player of the Year: Jermaine O'Neal - Toronto Raptors (Kobe coming in 2nd)
Rookie of the Year: Kevin Love - Minnesota Timberwolves
Coach of the Year: Phil Jackson - Los Angeles Lakers
Most Improved Player: Andrew Bynum - Los Angeles Lakers

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Los Angeles Lakers Player Statistics

Kobe Bryant: 26.5 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 7.5 APG, 1.8 SPG
Pau Gasol: 19.0 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 3.5 APG, 1.1 BPG
Andrew Bynum: 16.5 PPG, 10.8 RPG, 2.2 APG, 2.5 BPG
Lamar Odom: 13.5 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 5.0 APG
Trevor Ariza: 10.1 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 3.2 APG, 1.5 SPG
Sasha Vujacic: 9.3 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 2.0 APG
Derek Fisher: 9.0 PPG, 3.5 APG, 2.5 RPG, 1.3 SPG
Jordan Farmar: 8.5 APG, 2.5 RPG, 3.5 APG, 1.3 SPG
Chris Mihm: 7.0 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 0.9 BPG
Josh Powell: 6.5 PPG, 5.7 RPG
Luke Walton: 5.5 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 2.5 APG
Vladimir Radmanovic: 5.0 PPG, 3.0 RPG
Sun Yue: 4.5 PPG, 1.3 RPG, 1.5 APG
DJ Mbenga: 2.5 PPG, 2.0 RPG
Coby Karl: 2.4 PPG, 1.0 APG, 1.5 RPG

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PG: Derek Fisher/ Jordan Farmar/ Sun Yue
SG: Kobe Bryant/ Sasha Vujacic/ Coby Karl
SF: Lamar Odom/ Trevor Ariza/ Luke Walton
PF: Pau Gasol/ Josh Powell/ Vladimir Radmanovic
C: Andrew Bynum/ Chris Mihm/ DJ Mbenga

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So.. what does everyone think? Lol. I got Coby Karl getting the last spot on the roster, with Brandon Heath being the final cut. Because of Sun's mono, Coby and Heath will battle it out.

[Tommy Trojan]

On BSPN it has Lakers # 2 in the West after Utah! Damn Utah!

[That Nicka]

Western Conference
1. Los Angeles Lakers: 65-17
2. New Orleans Hornets: 58-24
3. Houston Rockets: 56-26
4. Utah Jazz: 56-26
5. Phoenix Suns: 52-30
6. San Antonio Spurs: 50-32
7. Dallas Mavericks: 50-32
8. Portland Trailblazers: 46-36
_____________________________

9. Denver Nuggets: 45-37
10. Los Angeles Clippers: 38-44
11. Golden State Warriors: 34-48
12. Minnesota Timberwolves: 32-50
13. Sacramento Kings: 28-54
14. Memphis Grizzlies: 24-58
15. Oklahoma City Thunder: 20-62


Rockets finish with 3rd seed despite Tracy McGrady struggling with injuries all season... Spurs struggle to get to 50 wins with Manu missing over a month to start the season... Everything else pretty much goes as expected



Eastern Conference
1. Boston Celtics 60-22
2. Detroit Pistons 54-28
3. Philadelphia 76ers 52-30
4. Orlando Magic 50-32
5. Cleveland Cavaliers 50-32
6. Toronto Raptors 48-34
7. Washington Wizards 45-37
8. Miami Heat 42-40
_____________________________

9. Atlanta Hawks 40-42
10. Charlotte Bobcats 38-44
11. Chicago Bulls 38-44
12. Indiana Pacers 36-46
13. Milwaukee Bucks 34-48
14. New Jersey Nets 24-58
15. New York Knicks 22-60


Philadelphia is the big surprise here.. They were decent last year, without a post threat, taking Detroit to 6 games... Their defense will be ridiculous with Miller-Iggy-Young-Brand-Dalembert; all good defenders... Gilbert returns to full strength around mid-season to make the Wizards respectable... Hawks miss out because Wade returns to a legit MVP candidate


All NBA First Team:
Chris Paul
Kobe Bryant
LeBron James
Tim Duncan
Dwight Howard

All NBA Second Team:
Deron Williams
Dwyane Wade
Dirk Nowitzki
Kevin Garnett
Yao Ming

All NBA Third Team:
Steve Nash
Tracy McGrady
Carmelo Anthony
Amare Stoudemire
Chris Bosh

ROY: Michael Beasley

Los Angeles Lakers Stats:
Kobe Bryant: 26ppg, 6rpg, 6apg, 2 stl, 48%
Pau Gasol: 18ppg, 8rpg, 56%
Andrew Bynum: 16ppg, 11rpg, 2.5bpg, 60%
Lamar Odom: 13ppg, 8rpg, 48%
Derek Fisher: 10ppg, 3apg, 44%, 40%3pt
Jordan Farmar: 10ppg, 3.5apg, 46%, 39%3pt
Sasha Vujacic: 9ppg, 46%, 44%3pt
Trevor Ariza: 7ppg
Luke Walton: 6ppg, 4rpg, 4apg
Vladimir Radmanovic: 5ppg, 39%3pt
Josh Powell: 5ppg, 5rpg, 52%
Chris Mihm: 3ppg
DJ Mbenga: 2ppg
Coby Karl: 2ppg

Team Average: 108ppg
Points Against: 98ppg

[Chubby Chaser]

Lakers Record 63-19
*Best record in the NBA
*Kobe wins MVP again 2nd year in a row. (Best player on best team)
*Bynum makes all star game behind Yao Ming.
*No injuries to our core players: Kobe, Pau, Bynum, Lamar, Fisher, Sasha.


ROY: Beasley

MIP: Charlie Villanueva

DPOY: Josh Smith

COY: Maurice Cheeks.


Los Angeles Lakers Stats:
Kobe Bryant: 24ppg, 5rpg, 7apg, 2 stl, 48%
Pau Gasol: 16ppg, 3apg 9rpg, 2.1bpg 56%
Andrew Bynum: 19ppg, 11rpg, 2.5bpg, 62%
Lamar Odom: 13ppg, 5apg 7rpg, 46%
Derek Fisher: 10ppg, 4apg 3apg, 44%, 42% 3pt
Jordan Farmar: 8ppg, 3.5apg, 46%, 38% 3pt
Sasha Vujacic: 12ppg, 46%, 44% 3pt
Trevor Ariza: 7ppg
Luke Walton: 6ppg, 4rpg, 4apg
Vladimir Radmanovic: 5ppg, 35% 3pt
Josh Powell: 5ppg, 5rpg, 52%
Chris Mihm: 5ppg 4 rpg
DJ Mbenga: 2ppg
Dwayne Mitchell: 2ppg

[Big Bird]

I'll do mine later, but just by glancing at some of your posts, I don't think 7+ apg is realistic for Kobe. The last time someone was dishing 7 apg (let alone more than that) in the triangle offense was in 1991-92 and his name was Scottie Pippen.

[ChocolateThundr]

On BSPN it has Lakers # 2 in the West after Utah! Damn Utah!

Actually I dont want ESPN to rank us number 1. We dont need more hype.

[fareweatherfan]

^yup, yup.

I was thrilled when I saw Utah at No. 1 the other day. Just wish they would've put the Rockets at No. 2.

[Verbal]

Bynum for MIP? wow.


I'll predict that we'll be in the playoffs if we're healthy.