Western Conference

#1 – Los Angeles Lakers

No other team has 3 footers as versatile as they have and no other team has Kobe Bryant on the backcourt. The Lakers are still the team to be beaten.

#2 – San Antonio Spurs

The acquisition of Richard Jefferson extends their window to fight another championship. San Antonio is the deepest team of the West but since Poppovic doesn’t care about home court advantage, the Spurs should finish in second.

#3 – Portland Trail Blazers

The Blazers still have a young, deep rotation. They are dressed in almost every position, they have a premier closer in Brandon Roy and they are a year older but the PG controversy can be a problem. A lot of people doubt that this is the year Portland becomes a contender, I think they are ready.

#4 – Denver Nuggets

The Nuggets didn’t improve at all in the offseason. They still can’t score inside and their big men still can’t match with more physical teams like the Lakers for example however Carmelo Anthony is already taking to the next level again this season and looks like he’s ready to carry them.

#5 – Dallas Mavericks

With the acquisition of Shawn Marion, Dallas intends to emulate Orlando. The idea is to play Dirk at the 5 and stretch the floor with Marion at the Power Forward spot. Before the season I thought it wouldn’t work but after their performance Friday against the Lakers, maybe I was wrong.

#6 – Utah Jazz

After 24 seconds into the first game, Utah faced the first injury of the season. This could be an indication that this year can be another long one. Boozer will probably be moved before the deadline but this team is just too talented not to win their 50 games and make the playoffs.

#7 – Los Angeles Clippers

After an outstanding offseason, the Clippers start this season 0-4 but because they faced such a tough schedule we shouldn’t quit on them yet. Unless Dunleavy kills them, and it could easily happen, I still believe the Clippers will be the comeback team of the year and reach the playoffs.

#8 – Houston Rockets

Last season on the playoffs without Yao Ming against the Lakers, the Rockets showed a lot of heart and were able to win two games at home and took LA to seven when they eventually lost. This season with a better chemistry guy in Trevor Ariza, who is also a good defender, I do believe Houston can emulate that spirit again. They miss Yao inside but I believe that rotation of Scola, Hayes, Landry and Andersen can get it done. They won’t rebound at all but their three points shooting will be outstanding and with that “nobody believes in us” thing going on and a piece that will arrive after they move McGrady before the trade deadline, the Rockets do have chances to be there and make it hard to the Lakers again.

Eastern Conference

#1 – Boston Celtics

After only four games into the season, we already saw that when everybody is healthy and even Rasheed Wallace seems motivated, the Celtics are the better team of the league. Their defense mentality is just amazing.

#2 – Orlando Magic

Even without Turkoglu, which now makes them a more conventional team, Orlando still have a lot of firepower and Rashard Lewis to cause the matchup nightmare. When even Vince Carter seems to give a crap, things are on the right way.

#3 – Cleveland Cavaliers

Don’t expect the Cavaliers to run over people like they did last season. With Shaq there, it won’t happen. He clearly doesn’t suit well to that offense (and by offense I mean: LeBron 1 on 5) because he can’t shoot like Ilgauskas can, nobody benches Shaq and when they are both out there, they miss the agility of Varejão to guard (or at least try to) the high screens and that will cost them a lot of games before the coach change happens.

#4 – Chicago Bulls

This is a team that is not very deep, they will probably use an eight man rotation, but this is a team that allows Vinny Del Negro a lot of variations. The Bulls have a lot of combo guys who can play in two positions which allows Del Negro a lot of matchup possibilities.

#5 – Atlanta Hawks

With Crawford and 125 year old Joe Smith off the bench, the Hawks did boost their second unit which was one of the last things they were missing but I still don’t see them being able to compete against the powerhouses. Something is still missing.

#6 – Toronto Raptors

With all the contracts that Brian Colangelo shot around throughout the summer, Toronto did improve their chances to make the playoffs right now and convince Bosh to stay however they are still a level behind the powerhouses.

#7 – Detroit Pistons

Last season they tried everything they could for not to make the playoffs and still they made it. AI and ‘Sheed are now gone and they added another two guys that can score. They do have too many outside shooters and no rebounders however I believe Dwayne Wade won’t be healthy the whole season which opens a spot and Detroit is just too talented not to make the playoffs on the Eastern Conference.

#8 – Washington Wizards

Expected to be the comeback team of the year, the Wizards looked impressive in their first games. Antwan Jamison’s injury can be a problem and Butler will miss some games however Gilbert Arenas looks great. Washington moved pieces on the offseason to make sure that they wouldn’t depend only on Agent Zero but if he somehow makes it through the season without his knees hurting, they become such a dangerous team when push comes to shove.

MVP

#23 – LeBron James

There is no way LeBron doesn’t repeat as the Most Valuable Player of the National Basketball League again, just because of the way the Cavaliers play. They have no offense there, so everything relies on what James does and that’s great for him to keep winning individual prizes and for people to wonder where he stands between the best of all times however hurts his chances to win a championship each and every year.

Defensive Player of the Year

#12 – Dwight Howard

This is such a stats driven award and that’s why I believe Howard will be the winner. He’ll certainly lead the league in defensive rebounds and blocks which will make it clear his impact on that defense.

Rookie of the Year

#32 – Blake Griffin

He’s just the best one of all of them and he’ll play for the team with the best situation.

The Finals

Boston Celtics vs. San Antonio Spurs

It’s tough to predict injuries and as lovers of the game, we always cheer for that not to happen so if they don’t happen I believe the Celtics will face the Spurs on the Finals. Boston is the best defensive team of the league while San Antonio is just the better team on clutch time.

Champion

# – San Antonio Spurs

After maybe a battle for the ages, I believe the Spurs will win the championship.

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