ESPN "experts" Predictions

[Serpo]

Why is 30 too much for the Nets ? If Carter and Harris are healthy thats probably a realistic figure.

To get 30 wins your team just needs to play hard night in and night out . We aquired some solid veteran players that will do that now if the whole team does it 30 wins really should be the minimum. The roster isn't talentless it's just very young .

[RockTHECasbah]

30-40 is too many for the Knicks

[semi-sentient]

So, the Lakers will have Pau Gasol from the start of the season and Bynum will return, yet they win 2 less games?

Awesome.

other teams have become healthy as well dont forget

Most of the other top teams in the West were relatively healthy last season. The only ones in the top 8 really "hampered" by injury were the Rockets and Lakers. The Blazers did lose Oden for the season, so they count as well. Still, I don't think those 2 teams being healthy would result in a drop off from the Lakers win total as I'd expect them to split.

Whatever the case, I suppose it doesn't matter. The rankings are fine, but I think the win totals are off.

[Number34]

[quote="joe.linnen"]

50 win teams

Raptors
/quote]

Mid 40s at the best.

[M.Balla]

Why is 30 too much for the Nets ? If Carter and Harris are healthy thats probably a realistic figure.

To get 30 wins your team just needs to play hard night in and night out . We aquired some solid veteran players that will do that now if the whole team does it 30 wins really should be the minimum. The roster isn't talentless it's just very young .

That's my opinion.
Because last year the Nets had 34 wins and I expect a drop-off.
Because you have replaced Richard Jefferson and half-season Jason Kidd with Devin Harris (fine player), Bobby Simmons (pfff) and Yi Jianlian (bust).
Because I dont trust on Vince, and he could be gone any given day for some expiring.
Because you're on the same division than Boston and Philadelphia.
Because Brook has to develop, its hard for non ultra mega talented big mans to excel on their rookie year.
Because your frontcourt has some talented players but no proven starter neither on PF or C, and your division has two new neighbours: Elton Brand and Jermaine O'Neal.
Because Najera, Harris and Hayes probably will play hard night in and night out... but would Vince Carter, Bobby Simmons, Yi Jianlian, Sean Williams or Stromile Swift would do the same? On that roster I see more lazy players than hard workers.

Taking account of all that, my prediction it's the Nets will be in the 20-25 win range. Of course I may be wrong (and probably I have positevely jinxed NJN right now xD ) but that's how I see it.

[adjacent2bench]

They only have the Heat winning 39 games? Ok!

[Serpo]

I don't think you can call Yi a bust . It was pretty clear that he is / was a project when he was drafted .

[Manocad]

Like many others I thought the East looked pretty good.

[_venom_]

East:

1 Boston (61-21)
2 Detroit (57-25)
3 Orlando (50-32)
4 Cleveland (47-35)
5 Philadelphia (45-37)
6 Toronto (45-37)
7 Washington (44-38)
8 Chicago (39-43)
-----------------------------
9 Miami (38-44)
10 Atlanta (36-46)
11 Indiana (35-47)
12 Milwaukee (32-50)
13 New Jersey (31-51)
14 Charlotte (27-55)
15 New York (22-60)

West:

1 LA Lakers (61-21)
2 New Orleans (58-24)
3 Houston (56-26)
4 Utah (55-27)
5 San Antonio (52-30)
6 Phoenix (48-34)
7 Dallas (44-38)
8 Portland (42-40)
-----------------------------
9 Denver (38-44)
10 Golden State (37-45)
11 LA Clippers (35-47)
12 Sacramento (32-50)
13 Minnesota (25-57)
14 Memphis (20-62)
15 Oklahoma City (18-64)

1230 Wins-1230 Losses Total

[DaVoiceMaster]

In all honesty the only teams I see having a better record than the Jazz this season in the west is LA and possibly SA (given the every other year variable). The Jazz WILL have a better record than New Orleans, as well as Houston. The idea of having Artest, Yao, and McGrady is a scary thought but I'll take continuity over a stacked roster any day. The Lakers should be number 1 considering they have the best player on the planet, the Zen master, and two 7 footers in their starting lineup. With Manu having surgery I honestly believe the Jazz will be in the mix for the 2nd best, if not the best record in the west. I doubt Utah loses to all the sub .500 teams they did last year and someone already mentioned their horrific December. They're a year older and I fully expect this team to be firing on all cylinders.
When it's all said and done I see the West shaping out like this:

1. Lakers
2. Jazz
3. Spurs
4. Hornets
5. Rockets
6. Suns
7. Blazers
8. Mavericks

Say what you want about this prediction but the Jazz will have a better road record this year and will be 4-6 games better. Lakers and Jazz are the elite with San Antonio right there when Manu comes back. Hornets have no depth, and the Rockets are still unproven, lets see how they play before we crown their ass. I'm out

I'm with a lot of the others. I don't really care about the win/loss totals. Assign your own win/loss totals for each team and see if they come out ranked in the same order.

Now, as for the listing above... I would love to see that happen. I'd even settle for Portalnd to be #2 and the Jazz be #7, but let's not get carried away. That'll be the following season! hahahaha ... Anyways, I think there is going to be a real rivalry developing over the next several seasons between the Blazers and Jazz and this would be a fun series to watch!!!

[celticfan42487]

I think the parity we saw last year will no longer be there. And there will be even more basement dweller teams.

I'm certian one of the Lakers,Celtics,Pistons will hit that 60 win mark. GS I see droping noticably off with DEN as well as DAL having a rougher go at it then they're used to.. And the East now has 7 good teams, but that's only 7 out of 8 playoff spots.

[funkatron101]

I could just be a homer, but I see the Wolves above the Thunder, Kings, Grizz, and perhaps even a spot higher.

They improved a lot the second half of the season when they all got used to playing together, and when Foye came back.

[GreenWithEnvy]

thats not that much of a stretch because Minnesota is better than all those teams.

[funkatron101]

thats not that much of a stretch because Minnesota is better than all those teams.

I think so, but a lot of people put them in the middle of that group. I think they are above, and depending on injuries and other factors, they could be in the 9th spot looking to crack into the playoffs (although I don't think they will make it in).