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As we head in to another year here, how do you guys see the season playing itself out?

Any bold predictions? Which team will surprise? Which team(s) will disappoint?

Who's the MVP? Tope seed in the East?

Can anyone dethrone the Cavs? Will we get 3 All Stars selections this year?

Thoughts?
Predictions?

Concerns?

My division winners in the East: Chicago, Toronto...and WASHINGTON.
I foresee this new, fast-paced attack utilized by the Wizards making them much more formidable. Beal is in for a BIG year. We let WAS win the division at the end of the season...just to dodge the Cavs in the 2nd round.

Top 4 Playoff Seeds
1 Chicago
2 Cleveland
3 Washington
4 Hawks

Chicago I think could see a bump similar to what we saw with Steve Kerr and Golden State last season. They have the talent, now they should feature an attack that will make getting buckets much easier in the half court. Also, Noah appears to be recovering nicely. Hawks will fend off Miami and TOR for the #4 spot. Cavs will focus solely on getting healthy and hot at the right time. They will just sit on cruise control until after the All Star break.

MIA and Indy crash the playoffs, making for a much more competitive field in the EAST.

MIL slips a bit in year 2 without much shooting or a true PG.

DET competes for a playoff spot down to the wire.

ORL will drastically improve under Skiles.

Okafor wins Rookie of the Year.

Joe Johnson will be waived by end of the season and will help a contender make a deep run in the playoffs.

Indiana will have the largest increase in wins from last season to this season.

Hawks Predictions

• I foresee Horford having a career year as he heads into Free Agency. Leading the team in Rebounds and Blocks. Something like 17 ppg 9 rpg 1.5 blks 1.5 steals.
• Millsap leads the team in scoring and Teague leads the team in assists.
• Dennis' production will increase (due to more PT), but his efficiency will take a bit of a dip.
• Horford and Paul make the AS team.
• Hawks win 52 games. Lose the division in the Final weeks which allows us to dodge CLE until the Conference Finals.
• Hawks lose in the 2nd round of the playoffs all the same.
• The choice between Teague or DS as the future PG of this team will become obvious by next April

BOLD PREDICTIONS

1. Lebron will win his final MVP award.
2. Cleveland wins their 1st NBA Championship
3. Wade plays his final season in Miami
4. Durant re-ups with OKC on a LeBronesque One year contract with an additional year as Player Option

MVP: Anthony Davis
Top EAST Seed: CLE

Surprising Teams:
Hawks (i think people writing off last year as a fluke are shortsighted. I do not think they are a 60 win team, but I think they are a top 3 team in the east).

Bulls: I think they see a major improvement. I think they will surprise people in terms of HOW good they can be. Moving Noah to the bench, Butler is the real deal. Will dougie mcbuckets find his groove? that team has a ton of talent.

Miami: I think they have a LEGIT shot at being a top 3 team and challenging CLE if they are healthy. Not sure they can beat them, but they can challenge them. Their starting 5 is as good as any in the league.

Disappointing Teams:
Raptors, I just look at that team, they LOST a few pieces, Im just not sold they are a good team with their combos of people.

Washington, same as above.

Indy, get ready for that Lottery pick

My EAST Seed Predictions:
CLEVELAND
Atlanta
Miami
Chicago
Washington
TOR
BOSTON
Milwaukee

Hawks win 56 games.
Baze in consideration for MIP.
Dennis in the running for 6th man.
Hawks back to the ECF.

Hawks to see the Cavs in the ECF, and to win 54 games, good for 2nd in the East. I don't buy into Miami being a top 4 team: they'll be behind Cleveland, Atlanta, Chicago, and Washington.

So...I was pretty hit or miss in my predictions for the season.

I called CLE as Champs, Horford & Paul as All Stars, us as #4 seed and a Hawks second round exit.


But, man, I greatly over-estimated CHI and WAS this year:

Jamaaliver wrote:Top 4 Playoff Seeds
1 Chicago
2 Cleveland
3 Washington
4 Hawks

That is terrible.

Bad Jamaaliver.


This was one of the worst NBA Playoffs ever, so many blowouts. An uncompetitive Eastern Conference. Hawks team collapsing because our opponent learned to hit 3s.

But the season will go down as one of the most memorable ever, thanks to a record setting regular-season by GSW and a storybook ending for CLE in the Finals.