NBA Predictions
Many teams made moves to upgrade their roster, and many teams also now have a healthy roster. Either way, the playoffs will look slightly different this upcoming season.
Here are my predictions:
Eastern Conference
Atlantic Division
1. Boston Celtics(1)*
2. Toronto Raptors(7)*
3. Philadelphia 76ers
4. New Jersey Nets
5. New York Knicks
Central Division
1. Cleveland Cavaliers(3)*
2. Chicago Bulls(6)*
3. Detroit Pistons
4. Indiana Pacers
5. Milwaukee Bucks
Southeast Division
1. Orlando Magic(2)*
2. Washington Wizards(4)*
3. Atlanta Hawks(5)*
4. Miami Heat(8)*
5. Charlotte Bobcats
Western Conference
Northwest Division
1. Denver Nuggets(3)*
2. Portland Trailblazers(4)*
3. Utah Jazz(6)*
4. Oklahoma City Thunder
5. Minnesota Wolves
Pacific Division
1. Los Angeles Lakers(1)*
2. Los Angeles Clippers(7)*
3. Phoenix Suns
4. Golden State Warriors
5. Sacramento Kings
Southwest Division
1. San Antonio Spurs(2)*
2. Dallas Mavericks(5)*
3. New Orleans Hornets(8)*
4. Houston Rockets
5. Memphis Grizzlies
(#)-denotes playoff position
WEST FINALS
Los Angeles Lakers over San Antonio Spurs (7 games)
EAST FINALS
Orlando Magic over Boston Celtics (7 games)
AWARDS
MVP-Carmelo Anthony (Denver Nuggets)
Coach of the Year- Flip Saunders (Washington)
6th Man-Lamar Odom (Los Angeles Lakers)
Most Improved player-Courtney Lee (New Jersey Nets)
Rookie of the year-Blake Griffin (Los Angeles Clippers)
SprungOnSports’ NBA Predictions
-As the season begins tonight, here is what I think will go down during the 2009/2010 season.
Eastern Conference *=playoff team
Atlantic- Boston*, Toronto*, Philadelphia, New Jersey, New York.
Central- Cleveland*, Chicago*, Detroit, Indiana, Milwaukee.
Southeast- Washington*, Orlando*, Miami*, Atlanta*, Charlotte.
Western Conference *=playoff team
Southwest- San Antonio*, Dallas*, Houston*, New Orleans, Memphis
Northwest- Denver*, Utah*, Portland*, Oklahoma City, Minnesota.
Pacific- LA Lakers*, Phoenix*, Golden State, LA Clippers, Sacramento.
Conference Finals- Boston over Washington, LA Lakers over Denver.
NBA Finals- Boston over LA Lakers.
MVP- Gilbert Arenas, G, WSH.
Defensive Player- Kevin Garnett, F, BOS.
Rookie- Blake Griffin, F, LAC.
Coach- Flip Saunders, WSH.
6th Man- Manu Ginobili, G, SA.
Comeback Player- Arenas.
Most Improved Player- Aaron Brooks, G, HOU.
Inside The NBA
-It was supposed to be the defending NBA champions against top overall pick Blake Grifiin on TNT as the Lakers and Clippers will hook up this evening at 10:30 from Staples. But a broken kneecap has derailed Griffin’s start up to six weeks as he recovers. Los Angeles’ other team still has Baron Davis and Eric Gordon, but the main focus will be on newest Laker Ron Artest and how he deals with Hollywood’s bright lights. It should be an interesting game as the Lake Show looks to lay down the LA Law.
-The other TNT game features two eastern favorites as Boston visits Cleveland at 7:30 eastern. Shaquille O’Neal will make his Cavalier debut as he tries to help The King get his ring. Rasheed Wallace blending in with the rest of the Celtics will be a sight to see tonight. Also, Yahoo! Sports is reporting that Rajon Rondo will not sign a contract extension during the season and will join the 2010 free agent class . Don’t be surprised if Wallace blends in with the rest of his teammates who had a bunch of technical issues last season. Two teams that look for revitalized starts match up tonight as Dallas visits Washington. The Mavericks will be without Josh Howard, but the addition of Shawn Marion brings another legitimate athlete to the frontcourt to alleviate Dirk Nowitzki’s overwhelming burden. The expectations for Flip Saunders’ Wizards seem sky high with a healthy Gilbert Arenas along with a deeper squad featuring Mike Miller and Randy Foye, but will also be without a star player in Antawn Jamison. As you’ll see in my season predictions, I expect great things from Washington as well. The Rockets no longer have Artest or a healthy Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady, but Trevor Ariza leads a youngry (young & hungry) squad along with Luther Head, Luis Scola and PG Aaron Brooks. They play another young up-and-coming team in Portland tonight.
-With Delonte West dealing with domestic issues, the Cavaliers are close to signing free agent PG Antonio Daniels, says the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
-The Grizzlies outsmarting the Lakers? Are you crazy, Sprung, don’t you remember the Pau Gasol trade? Quiet naysayers. With Andrew Bynum not wanting to work with LA assistant Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (you’ve heard of him, right?), the Grizzlies have asked the Lakers for permission to add him to their coaching staff, according to the Memphis Commercial Appeal. With Hasheem Thabeet and Marc Gasol on the Grizz, this seems like a no brainer for Memphis. Which happens to be their specialty. My NBA predictions blog will be up later. Until then, peace and enjoy having been Inside The NBA.
Week 7 Katy Perry Report
Hot
QB- Carson Palmer, CIN (5 TD’s). Tony Romo, DAL (311 yards, 3 TD’s). Aaron Rodgers, GB (3 TD’s).
RB- Ricky Williams, MIA (3 TD’s). Shonn Greene, NYJ (144 yards, 2 TD’s). Cedric Benson, CIN (189 yards).
WR- Miles Austin, DAL (176 yards, 2 TD’s). DeSean Jackson (136 total yards, 2 TD’s). Chad Johnson, CIN (118 yards, 2 TD’s).
TE- Vernon Davis, SF (93 yards, 3 TD’s). Owen Daniels, HOU (123 yards, TD). Fred Davis, WSH (73 yards, TD).
DT- Broderick Bunkley, PHI (6 tackles, sack, recovered fumble).
DE- Calvin Pace, NYJ (7 tackles, 3 sacks).
LB- Will Witherspoon, PHI (8 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT, 1 TD). James Farrior, PIT (15 tackles, 1 sack).
CB- Leon Hall, CIN (7 tackles, 2 INT). Tracy Porter, NO (6 tackles, 1 INT, 1 TD).
S- Yeremiah Bell, MIA (9 tackles, 1.5 sacks). George Wilson, BUF (10 tackles, 1 INT)
Team Defenses- New York Jets, San Diego, Philadelphia.
K- Nick Folk, DAL. Nate Kaeding, SDG. David Akers, PHI.
Hot Teams- New Orleans Comeback Saints, Arizona Cardinals defense, Pittsburgh Steelers, Houston Schaub Texans.
Cold
QB- Jake Delhomme, CAR. Derek Anderson, CLE. JaMarcus Russell, OAK. Shaun Hill, SF.
RB- Larry Johnson, KC. Michael Turner, ATL. Frank Gore, SF. Jamal Lewis, CLE. Matt Forte, CHI.
WR- Terrell Owens, BUF. Braylon Edwards, NYJ. Dwayne Bowe, KC.
TE- Zach Miller, OAK. Greg Olsen, CHI. Brent Celek, PHI. Chris Cooley, WSH.
Team Defenses- KC Chiefs, St. Louis Rams, Cleveland Browns, Chicago Bears, Miami Dolphins.
Cold Teams- Washington L25 Redskins, Chicago Benson Bears, Tampa Bay Sinking Bucs, Oakland Russell Raiders.
Monday Night Matchup
With DeMarcus Ware close to signing a huge contract extension and Alex Smith being named the starting San Francisco QB, Leon Washington being placed on IR and Braylon Edwards being charged for assault a lot has gone on in the NFL today but week seven still has one game left. Monday Night Football features a division battle between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Washington Redskins with both teams desperately needing a win to keep up with New York and Dallas in the NFC East. What does each team have to do to win?
Philadelphia- Washington is good against the pass and has a halfway decent pass rush, so the offensive line will need to give Donovan McNabb a ton of time to throw. The Skins are 24th in the league against the run, and Andy Reid may need to go against his philosophy on the road and pound it in there with Brian Westbrook and LaSean McCoy. DeSean Jackson needs to step up for the Eagles because Jeremy Maclin won’t be able to carry the load all by himself along with Brent Celek.
Washington- An anemic offense with a bingo caller for an offensive coordinator could use a break, but won’t get one with Philadelphia’s third ranked defense. The Skins aren’t really settled on who their QB is and I expect both Jason Campbell and Todd Collins to get reps. Clinton Portis needs to bounce back with a strong performance because of the team’s banged up offensive line and the fact that Asante Samuel will be matched up with Santana Moss. That makes Chris Cooley exceptionally important in this game, because the Eagles have given up big games to tight ends, most notably Zach Miller in their loss to Oakland just last week. So Portis and Cooley need to get it done so perhaps those Raiders comparisons will cool for at least a few days.
Bottom Line- Eagles 20-Redskins 13
