2007 Playoff-Spot Predictions

<u>Eastern Conference</u>

1) Miami Heat
2) New Jersey Nets
3) Cleveland Cavaliers
4) Chicago Bulls
5) Detroit Pistons
6) Washington Wizards
7) Indiana Pacers
8) Milwaukee Bucks

<u>Western Conference</u>

1) Phoenix Suns
2) Dallas Mavericks
3) San Antonio Spurs
4) Los Angeles Clippers
5) Los Angeles Lakers
6) Houston Rockets
7) Sacramento Kings
8) Utah Jazz

 

East:

1) Detroit- Alot of people are sleeping on this team because of the loss of Ben Wallace but their ofensive production should go up with Ben out and Mohammed and Flip Murray in. This team is probably better suited for Flip Saunders' offensive style, they may not get too far in the playoffs but I can see them winning alot of regular season games in the east.

2) Cleveland- I'm predicting Hughes and the rest of the supporting cast will have a relatively injury free season and help LeBron out a little. I really like Shannon Brown and I believe he'll be able to contribute immediately off the bench, I also think the Cavs will make some kind of trade either in the offseason or the trade deadline that will help them out alot, probably Hughes, Big Z, or Gooden for a few nice defensive role players that will make them a more balanced team.

3) New Jersey- Yet another team built for the regular season, their team from last year has been kept mostly intact but they got some solid rookies who can help immediately. I can see some injuries setting them back a little bit but since they play in the weakest division in the league it shouldnt be much of a problem.

4) Miami- This is more of a playoff style team, Shaq will miss about 20 games and alot of their key role players are getting old but they'll still be a very dangerous team in the playoffs. I see some of the young players (Wright, Simien, Barron) playing a larger role this season which will lead to quite a few mistakes but it will be better for the Heat in the long run.

5) Chicago- Another team built for the playoffs, they aren't done dealing in the offseason yet but it looks like they may have trouble with scoring in the frontcourt and overall experience because their team is so young. Their reliance on their young wing players for scoring could lead to the offense being stagnant but they have the defense to make up for it. This season could be more of a struggle than many fans think because there are so many new players, especially new young players who will need time to adjust or find their niche in Chicago.

6) Indiana- JO will stay healthy all year and they have a solid, deep backcourt to help out. I think they'll make a good trade or signing sometime this offseason (Al Harrington?) and they could have some young players come into their own during the regular season.

7) Washington- They didn't do much to improve this offseason but they've still got a good scoring punch with Arenas/Butler/Jamison. Theri defense will continue to be terrible but they should be able to win enough games on their offense alone to get into the playoffs.

8) Orlando- A solid young team that wil have their ups and downs throughout the season, they don't stand much of a chance in the playoffs but with their young players developing they'll be contenders in no time.

West:

1) Phoenix- The Suns will have the best record in the NBA. It won't even be close. This team is a regular season juggernaut and they're even my favorite to win the NBA championship next year. I don't see Amare being that great initially but as the season moves on he'll get his Amare-ness back and dominate come playoff time.

2) Dallas- They'll win a ton of games again with their athleticism and versatility. They're just a Dirk injury away from falling way down in the seedings but I'll give the reigning western conference champs the benefit of the doubt to have another good season.

3) San Antonio- I think they'll remain healthy for most of the season, though I get the feeling that Ginobli won't go back to his 04-05 form. They need someone to start at center and they could probably use some youth. They'l manage to do well in the regular season and, as always, contend in the post season.

4) Utah- Although they're injury prone, the Jazz should be able to win their division if their key players can stay on the floor. I like the additions of Ronnie Brewer, Dee Brown, and Paul Millsap and Derek Fisher should be able to contribute quite a bit as a scorer (especially in crunch time).

5)Houston- The addition of Battier will really help out their team in the short run, they have some holes on their roster but they are very strong at the center and wing positions. A very dangerous team in the post season.

6)LAC- They keep their team mostly intact, maybe trade Maggette for some added depth but remain a solid team that is potentially dangerous in the playoffs. Brand should have another good season and I think Livingston will continue to improve and contribute off the bench.

7) Sacramento- They should be able to retain their explosive offense but with Musselman running the show I think their overall team defense will really improve. They have a very solid team but the west is very competitive so their seeding may not represent how good of a team the Kings really are.

8) LAL- Phil and Kobe will get the Lakers into the playoffs, beating out teams like the Hornets, Warriors, Timberwolves, Grizzlies, Nuggets etc. Odom will have a solid year, Kobe's production may go down a bit but its for the better with some of the young players improving. Farmar will really surprise and probably start by mid-season unless the Lakers acquire a good PG before then.

 

<u>East</u>

1) Miami Heat - With Detroit losing Ben Wallace, I think Miami is the clear-cut number one in the east. I'd take Wade over LeBron anyday, then you factor in Shaq, the Heat are going to win the east next year.

2) New Jersey Nets - This team is going to be deadly next year. They have the big 3 returning. They've added Marcus Williams and Boone, add that to a more seasoned, more experience Kristic, this team could be a finals team next year.

3) Cleveland Cavaliers - This team won't be much better than last year's, IMO. Shannon Brown is a nice addition, but I think a lot of people are over-hyping him. It's going to take him some time to get used to the NBA game. Also, an even bigger impact on Brown is, will he even fair well in the NBA? There's always the possibility that he could fizzle out. Larry Hughes is destined to get injured again, he gets paid to do it. LeBron can only take this team so far.

4) Chicago Bulls - It's obvious the addition of Ben Wallace is going to help the Bulls, but I think their improvement this year is going to be based on their guards. Hinrich and Gordon have another year of experience under them, the same goes for Nocioni and Deng. Ben Wallace is going to add experience, veteran knowledge, and a voice in the locker room for this team.

5) Detroit Pistons - The addition's of Flip and Nazr should help this team, but they lost more than a defensive anchor in Wallace, they lost a team anchor. Ben was the face of this team. He brought the intensity, the emotion, the desire, the want to win. He was right when he said the Pistons forgot about defense, and it showed when Detroit failed to advance to the Finals after one of the most stellar regular seasons in NBA history.

6) Washington Wizards - Darius Songaila will help, but not much. This team is gearing itself for the style of ball Dallas and Phoenix play. Arenas, Butler, and Jamison is one hell of a scoring punch, but the team still has of weakness on defense. I think you'll see an impact by some of their young guns, as well, mainly Andre Blatche. He should see a lot of minutes compared to last year, backing Caron Butler.

7) Charlotte Bobcats - Yes, I think this team is playoff material. For an expansion team, they've made themselves a respectful team in no time. If their young core can stay healthy (Emeka and Felton) along with May, the addition of Morrison is going to benefit this team in many ways. They've got their defense (Wallace, Emeka), they've got their leader (Brevin Knight), they've got their initiators (Knight, Felton), they've got their big man who can score the ball (Brezec), and now they've added their need, a pure scorer, a guy who can put the ball in the basket when the team needs it the most. Morrison is going to work magic for this team on his way to the ROY, and I believe he'll lead them to their first ever play-off birth.

8) Indiana Pacers - This team is always tough. They're backs seem to always be at the wall, but they always find a way to make the playoffs. I think with the additions they made, and the possibility of acquiring Harrington, Indiana will once again make the playoffs. I think this is Jermaine's last shot in Indiana, so I expect him to have one hell of a year, as well.


<u>West</u>

1) Dallas Mavericks - They proved in the play-offs that they were the best team in the West, I don't expect that to change. They re-signed Jason Terry, they're number one goal heading into the off-season, and DJ Mbenga. They have the same core, but have also added new players, Maurice Ager, Greg Buckner, and Austin Croshere. I expect this team to make the WCF easily, possibly the Finals again. They've gotten a taste of the Finals, I think they want it all now.

2) San Antonio Spurs - They haven't added anybody worth mentioning, and they lost both their C's, Rasho and Nazr. Tim Duncan isn't getting younger, Tony Parker looks to be the future of the Spurs, alongside Manu. The trio will still be very lethal, but I don't think the Spurs are a championship caliber team anymore. They've had their runs, and honestly, I think they're done. I still expect them to be a top team out west, but I can only see them advacing to the WCF, at the most.

3) Phoenix Suns - The Suns have lost a big part of their playoff run, Tim Thomas to free agency this off-season, and like the Spurs, they haven't added anyone of note. However, they still have two-time current MVP Steve Nash, rising star Boris Diaw, and defensive machine Raja Bell. Marion has been in some trade rumors, but I don't expect it to effect his game. They also have STAT coming back, but how will he play? He had a serious surgery that can ruin careers, hopefully it doens't ruin his. None the less, I see this team with an outside shot at the Finals. But they'll be the most exciting team to watch as they run their opponents out of the building during the regular season.

4) LA Clippers - The Clippers retained Sam Cassell and lost Radmanovic. That loss won't effect them much though, as they quickly replaced him with Tim Thomas. I don't see this team as any different from last years, outside of the experience they gained. They're a mid-level team in the west, a 2nd round-bound team at best.

5) LA Lakers - They made a key acquisition in signing Vladimir Radmanovic. The Lakers needed a shooter, and Radmanovic should get the opportunity alongside Kobe and Odom to shoot the lights out. They're better than last year's team, but still not a top 4 team in the West. I expect Kobe, Odom, and Vlad to be able to battle it out for a 2nd round birth, in the first round against the Clippers.

6) Houston Rockets - Plain and simple, if McGrady stays healthy, they're playoff bound, if not, they're lotto bound.

7) Sacramento Kings - Ron Artest. Two words. He made a difference for them last year, they now have a full season with him.

8) Denver Nuggets - I see another first round exit for the Nuggets. The western conference is much tougher than last year, so I think they'll struggle.