Early-Early 2010 NBA Predictions….
Matt graduated from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale in May of 2007 majoring in TV Production. Matt is currently a writer at StaticMultimedia.com, TheBleacherReport.com, NationalSportsNation.com, SportsMixed.com, FanFever.com, Filmcatcher.com, 2 Much Swag, and TheHoopDoctors.com. Matt will provide you with insightful wit and an eager eye for sports.
Eastern Conference
Atlantic Division
Boston 58 24
Toronto 50 32
Philadelphia 41 41
New Jersey 34 48
New York 30 52
After last season’s dismal performance the Atlantic Division drastically improves because Toronto dramatically improved this off-season. Boston is easily the best team in the Atlantic division and Philly will likely see a similar season as last. The Sixers lost their floor leader and are depending on a SG to play PG. I do not think the Nets will be as bad as everyone thinks and they have a nice future with Devin Harris, Brook Lopez, and lots of salary cap space. The Knicks will be in the John Wall sweepstakes come June.
Central
Cleveland 60 22
Chicago 49 33
Indiana 41 41
Detroit 39 43
Milwaukee Bucks 25 57
Cleveland will likely run away with this division and it might be over by the New Year. Chicago and Indiana will improve making the Central division respectable but I have the Pacers missing the playoffs by a game. Detroit signed two talented offensive players but neither Ben Gordon nor Charlie Villanueva can play defense and that spells trouble. The Bucks will have a great chance to win next season’s lottery.
Southeast
Orlando Magic 61 21
Atlanta 50 32
Washington 44 38
Charlotte 42 40
Miami 41 41
The Southeast division will be much improved from a year ago, as the Washington Wizards are again a playoff team and the Atlanta Hawks are one of the best teams in the conference. I also expect the Charlotte Bobcats to be a playoff team this season and that leaves the Miami Heat in last place with a .500 record. That would make them the best last place team in the NBA and the proposition of Dwyane Wade leaving Miami for Chicago even greater.
Western Conference
Northwest
Portland 55 27
Utah 51 31
Denver 50 32
OKC 32 50
Minnesota 30 52
The Northwest division race will be my favorite to watch all season long. I think Portland is the best team in the division but Utah and Denver will be in contention all season long. I would really like putting OKC in the playoffs but I cannot do it this season (hopefully next). There are a lot of fun exciting players and teams in this this division which makes it one of the best to watch.
Pacific
Lakers 63 19
Clippers 43 39
Phoenix 41 41
Golden State 30 52
Sacramento 27 57
The Lakers should win this division by at least 20 games but that does not mean it is an exciting division. The Clippers should make Los Angeles a professional hoops haven as they have a good chance to make the post season this year (gulp). Phoenix is back to their run and fun style but their defense is miserable along with Golden State and Sacramento. Sacramento has a very good nucleus to build around and they should add another stud rookie after this season.
Southwest
San Antonio 64 18
Dallas 55 27
New Orleans 48 34
Memphis 30 52
Houston 28 54
As long as San Antonio can stay healthy they have a great chance to return to the top of the NBA and will be on top of this division from day one. Dallas reloaded this off-season by adding Shawn Marion, Drew Gooden, and Tim Thomas and they are a contender for the first time since their 2006 Finals appearance. New Orleans will sneak in the playoffs this season but they would be near the top of the lottery if not for Chris Paul. Memphis is talented but I do not see that roster meshing well and Houston’s season ended when Yao went down.
Playoffs
1. San Antonio Spurs
2. Los Angeles Lakers
3. Portland Trailblazers
4. Dallas Mavericks
5. Utah Jazz
6. Denver Nuggets
7. New Orleans Hornets
8. Los Angeles Clippers
1. Orlando Magic
2. Cleveland Cavaliers
3. Boston Celtics
4. Atlanta Hawks
5. Toronto Raptors
6. Chicago Bulls
7. Washington Wizards
8. Charlotte Bobcats
Spurs over Clippers
Lakers over New Orleans
Portland over Denver
Utah over Dallas
Magic over Bobcats
Cavs over Wizards
Bulls over Celtics
Raptors over Hawks
Spurs over Utah
Lakers over Portland
Magic over Raptors
Cavs over Bulls
Spurs over Lakers
Magic over Cavs
Spurs over Magic
MVP – LeBron James
ROY - Blake Griffin
DPOY - Dwight Howard
Matt,
Good list. I agree with almost all of it. Although I also think that the Bobcats will be improved, I don’t feel that they are better than the Sixers. They have a great nucleus of young players and won’t rely heavily on a “point guard” be definition. Lou Williams will start but his inexperience and deficiencies will be sheilded by Eddie Jordan’s Princeton offense. They have the perfect athletes for the system and have a healthy Elton Brand.
Out West I wouldn’t have Utah so high even though I’m sure that Jerry Sloan will get the most out of the roster with or without Carlos Boozer on it. Dallas could either be good or bad and unfortunately are one player down already with Tim Thomas hurt. I would predict Boston vs San Antonio with Boston winning again.
[...] Anaya of Hoop Doctors is on the “Net’s aren’t that bad” bandwagon and picks them ahead of the Knicks in their [...]
Matt,
You have way more wins than losses on your list. Although I guess you are trying to appeal to a broad base of nba fans; nobody wants their team to have less than 20 wins. Other than that I agree with the order in general; although I think San Antonio might be getting a little more credit than they deserve.
When I was making the list I was thinking, there has to be a team that does not win 20 games and I bet the win total is way off. What can I say, other than the Knicks I think every team has a bright future.
Anyways, it was fun to think about a real sport like hoops and I can’t wait for Brett Favre to be irrelevant in my life.
Thanks for reading.
MIAMI WILL MAKE THE PLAYOFF IF Micheal Beasley plays well!!!!!!!!!
First of all, you’re a tool. The nuggets get 6th? What kind of a fucking prediction is that? The jazz get ahead of them? And Portland is #3? You need to pass whatever the fuck you’re smoking dude, because thats gotta be some dank shit. This sounds more correct…..
1. Lakers
2. Spurs
3. Nuggets
4. Mavericks
5. Blazers
6. Jazz
7. Hornets
8. Suns
1. Boston
2. Magic
3. Cleveland
4. Toronto
5. Atlanta
6. Chicago
7. Miami
8. Washington
Fuck your Jazz are going to contend shit, people hear that every shit every year and they are going to be disappointed with that prediction yet again. With Chauncey leading Denver they will make the WCF despite SA bolstering their roster. Andre Miller has a shitty shot and thus will not contribute to Portlands offense. Mavs? Well they made some useless trades that they won’t bebefit from much.
bulls over celtics?? u must be from chi town… my grandma even knows the celtics will make the finals
my grandma has been dead for 10 years and even she knows KG sucks lol … thanks for the compliments Nate!
i love my readers
What, is everybody gonna win 50 games this year? If you add all of the records up, the NBA as a whole will be 166 games over .500. You may want to fix that. Every team can’t win every game they play. You’re giving teams way too much credit. The T-Wolves are gonna win 30 games? Raptors 50 wins? The Spurs are gonna get 64 wins and be better than the Lakers? The Magic better than the Cavs and Celtics? You’re nuts and unrealistic.
Nuggets, jazz and portland are all contender don’t think that the nuggets will repeat for the division. BTW even though its preseason seems like the nuggets got raped by Utah.
Somebody has to be bad like 15 wins bad I cant remember a season nobody won less than 20-25
i love your predictions and im a spurs fun.. and i want the triumirate of boston-celtics-and lakers to end let magic and spurs as underrateds to shine my spurs winning in 6 at home!i oul also love to see celts spurs spurs winning at 4…i think that the rookie of the year should be definitely based on his effect on the team and stat sheets.blair is a good one to win,16 minutes for doubl double as a rookie?what?!griffin cant do that in 16 mins blair has proven it.so i guess if POP plays him for 20-24 minutes no doubt,except if they want hype,theyll go for those overrated guys,superman is still dpoy!