Better late then never, right? After a lockout cost the league thousands of fans and 16 scheduled games, the NBA will begin its 2011-2012 on Christmas day, the traditional time for ABC games to start. Before there’s another work stoppage, let’s get to the predictions.

Division Predictions (playoff seed)
Eastern Conference
Atlantic Division- Boston (3), New York (5) Philadelphia, New Jersey, Toronto.
Central Division- Chicago (2), Indiana (6), Milwaukee, Cleveland, Detroit.
Southeast Division- Miami (1), Orlando (4), Atlanta (7), Washington (8), Charlotte.

Western Conference
Southwest- San Antonio (2), Dallas (4), Memphis (6), Houston, New Orleans.
Northwest- Oklahoma City (1), Portland (7), Denver (8), Utah, Minnesota.
Pacific- LA Lakers (3), LA Clippers (5), Golden State, Phoenix, Sacramento.

Playoff Predictions
East First Round- Miami over Washington, New York over Orlando, Chicago over Atlanta, Boston over Indiana.
West First Round- Oklahoma City over Denver, LA Clippers over Dallas, San Antonio over Portland, Memphis over LA Lakers.
East Semifinals- Miami over New York, Chicago over Boston.
West Semifinals- Oklahoma City over LA Clippers, San Antonio over Memphis.
Conference Finals- Chicago over Miami, Oklahoma City over San Antonio.
NBA Finals- Chicago over Oklahoma City

Awards Predictions
MVP- Kevin Durant, F, Oklahoma City
Rookie- Kyrie Irving, G, Cleveland
Defensive- Joakim Noah, F, Chicago
Most Improved- Nicolas Batum, G/F, Portland
6th Man- Mo Williams, G, LA Clippers
Coach- Flip Saunders, Washington.