2012-13 NBA Season Predictions

[Lamrock]

With the pre-season underway, it's time for that obligatory season predictions thread. As always, analysis is welcome.

Eastern Conference:
1. Miami - NBA Finalist
2. Indiana
3. Brooklyn
4. New York
5. Chicago
6. Boston - Conference Finalist
7. Philadelphia
8. Atlanta
----------
Detroit
Milwaukee
Washington
Toronto
Cleveland
Charlotte
Orlando

Miami wins the East pretty easily. Detroit should improve but fall short towards the end. Bynum misses some games, Boston coasts and deals with injuries during the regular season.

Western Conference:
1. Oklahoma City | Conference Finalist
2. Los Angeles Lakers | NBA Champions
3. San Antonio
4. Denver
5. Los Angeles Clippers
6. Memphis
7. Utah
8. Dallas
----------
Minnesota
Golden State
Sacramento
Portland
Houston
New Orleans
Phoenix

Lakers dominate the playoffs with their size. Minnesota disappoints.

Awards:
MVP - Kevin Durant
Leads the league in scoring again and finally gets that #1 seed.
RotY - Anthony Davis
Has by far the best statistical season of any rookie.
DPotY - Dwight Howard
Of course.
MIP - Goran Dragic
Dragic puts up Nash-esque raw numbers on the worst team in the league
6MotY - Antawn Jamison
I think this was a great addition. Should get a lot of minutes.
CotY - Mike Woodson
Really.

All-NBA First: Paul/Wade/Durant/LeBron/Dwight
All-NBA Second: Westbrook/Kobe/Melo/Griffin/M. Gasol
All-NBA Third: Rondo/Deron/Dirk/Love/Bynum

Probably do the other teams later. Have at it.

[Martti.]

Eastern Conference:

1. Miami (Champs)
2. Indiana (Conf-Finalist)
3. Boston
4. Brooklyn
5. New York
6. Chicago
7. Philadelphia
8. Atlanta
----------
Milwaukee
Washington
Cleveland
Detroit
Toronto
Charlotte
Orlando

Western Conference:

1. Los Angeles Lakers (Conf-Finalist)
2. Oklahoma City (Finals Opponent)
3. Denver
4. San Antonio
5. Los Angeles Clippers
6. Memphis
7. Dallas
8. Minnesota
----------
Golden State
Utah
Portland
Sacramento
New Orleans
Houston
Phoenix

Awards:

MVP - LeBron James
RotY - Anthony Davis (Though I hope Harrison Barnes)
DPotY - Serge Ibaka
MIP - Evan Turner
6MotY - Ray Allen
CotY - George Karl

All-NBA First : Paul/Wade/Durant/LeBron/Dwight
All-NBA Second : Westbrook/Kobe/Melo/Griffin/Cousins
All-NBA Third : Rondo/Deron/Dirk/Love/Gasol

All-Defensive First : Rondo/Paul/LeBron/Ibaka/Dwight
All-Defensive Second : Wade/T Allen/J Smith/P George/Chandler

All-Rookie First : Davis/Barnes/Lillard/Beal/Kidd-Gilchrist
All-Rookie Second : P Jones/J Lamb/Henson/Waiters/Robinson

[Andrew]

Eastern Conference

1. Miami
2. Indiana
3. Boston
4. New York
5. Brooklyn
6. Philadelphia
7. Chicago
8. Atlanta
----------
Detroit
Milwaukee
Washington
Toronto
Cleveland
Charlotte
Orlando

I've got the Bulls finishing a little lower than you guys. I believe they'll make the Playoffs, scraping by without Rose for most (if not all) of the season, but it'll be as one of the bottom two seeds. I think they make it in at seventh. I'm going to agree with Lamrock's predictions for the lottery teams.

Western Conference

1. Los Angeles Lakers
2. San Antonio
3. Oklahoma City
4. Los Angeles Clippers
5. Denver
6. Memphis
7. Utah
8. Dallas
----------
Minnesota
Portland
Golden State
Houston
New Orleans
Sacramento
Phoenix

Got a feeling the Lakers will dominate from day one and finish with the top seed and probably the best record in the league, they I'll say they finish short of 70 wins. I also have a feeling they'll be defeating the Heat in the Finals, though I'm hoping to be surprised.

Awards

MVP - Kevin Durant
RotY - Anthony Davis
DPotY - Dwight Howard
MIP - Al-Farouq Aminu
6MotY - Ray Allen
CotY - Avery Johnson
EotY - Mitch Kupchak

All-NBA First: Chris Paul/Kobe Bryant/Kevin Durant/LeBron James/Dwight Howard
All-NBA Second: Russell Westbrook/Dwyane Wade/Carmelo Anthony/Blake Griffin/Andrew Bynum
All-NBA Third: Rajon Rondo/Deron Williams/Dirk Nowitzki/Kevin Love/Marc Gasol

All-Defensive First: Rajon Rondo/Chris Paul/LeBron James/Serge Ibaka/Dwight Howard
All-Defensive Second: Dwyane Wade/Kobe Bryant/Josh Smith/Kevin Garnett/Tyson Chandler

All-Rookie First: Anthony Davis/Harrison Barnes/Damian Lillard/Bradley Beal/Michael Kidd-Gilchrist
All-Rookie Second: Perry Jones/Jeremy Lamb/John Henson/Dion Waiters/Thomas Robinson

[SteveHTOWN]

Eastern Conference

1. Miami (win title)
2. Indiana
3. Boston (advance to conference finals)
4. New York
5. Philadelphia
6. Brooklyn
7. Atlanta
8. Chicago
----------
Detroit
Milwaukee
Washington
Toronto
Cleveland
Charlotte
Orlando

I've got the Bulls even lower, as I expect them to play without Rose this season. I'm going to agree with Lamrock's predictions for the lottery teams too.

Western Conference

1. Oklahoma City (advance to conference finals)
2. Los Angeles Lakers (advance to finals)
3. Los Angeles Clippers
4. San Antonio
5. Denver
6. Memphis
7. Dallas
8. Minnesota
----------
Utah
Portland
Golden State
Houston
New Orleans
Sacramento
Phoenix

I really appreciate the Lakers new additions. Still I'm not sure if this Lakers squad (aging Kobe, aging Nash, Howard coming off a back injury, Hill having a back injury and an aging Jamison) are as good as the 2009-2010 Lakers who had AMMO and other capable benchwarmers on their team and Phil as head coach.
Heat had now two years to grow together and improve as a unit even with new additions like Allen or Lewis.
With no serious injuries to either squad, I'd still pick Heat slightly over the Lakers. My prediction is, that Lakers will win something between 62-65 games that season.

Awards

MVP - Kevin Durant
RotY - Anthony Davis
DPotY - Dwight Howard
MIP - This really could be Goran Dragic or John Wall
6MotY - O.J. Mayo if he comes of the bench, if not Antawn Jamison
CotY - Mike Brown
EotY - Mitch Kupchak

[airBerlin]

heat
celtics
pacers
nets
76ers
knicks
bulls
bucks
- -
pistons
wizards
hawks
cavaliers
raptors
magic
bobcats
.....................
thunder
lakers
clippers
nuggets
mavericks
spurs
grizzlies
timberwolves
- -
jazz
warriors
suns
blazers
kings
hornets
rockets


i think people are overrating the hawks, underrating the suns. probably underrating the mavs too.
also, i'd be very surprised if charlotte finished with a better record than orlando...

[Andrew]

I went back and forth in regards to the Bobcats and Magic, but the Bobcats at least have a few young players who could overachieve. The Magic pretty much blew everything up with the Howard trade.

[Radioman]

Eastern Conference

1. Miami (NBA Champions) - just like last year even stronger with Ray Allen
2. Indiana (1st rd)
3. Philadelphia (2nd rd)
4. New York (1st rd) - same as every year
5. Boston /2nd rd)
6. Brooklyn (1st rd)
7. Chicago (CF Finals) - with Rose back the Bulls might have a deep run in the East
8. Toronto (1st rd)
----------
Atlanta
Detroit
Cleveland
Washington
Charlotte
Orlando

The only question remains can the Magic win less Games than Charlotte last year even it is a 82 Game season?


Western Conference

1. Oklahoma City (NBA Finals)
2. San Antonio (2nd rd)
3. L.A. Lakers (CF Finals)
4. Los Angeles Clippers (1st rd)
5. Memphis (2nd rd)
6. Utah (1st rd)
7. Minnesota ( 1st rd)
8. Dallas (1st rd) if Dirk misses due to his knee, Mavs might even drop out of the playoffs
----------
Denver
Golden State
Houston
Sacramento
New Orleans
Portland
Phoenix

[benji]

I'll take a stab.

East
1. Miami
2. Indiana
3. Boston
4. Atlanta
5. Brooklyn
6. Chicago
7. Philadelphia
8. New York
(Washington, Detroit, Milwaukee, Toronto, Cleveland, Charlotte, Orlando)

West
1. San Antonio
2. Oklahoma City
3. Denver
4. Los Angeles
5. Los Angeles
6. Memphis
7. Minnesota
8. Dallas (or Utah)
(Utah (or Dallas), Golden State, New Orleans, Phoenix, Portland, Houston, Sacramento)

Wonder what the stats would think.

[NovU]

It's too bad Dirk's knees look troubling at the moment. Big chance they underachieve this season. But then Kevin Love is expected to miss about 10-15 games. And Rubio is to be back in January. And Roy is their first guy at SG. Sould be an interesting battle between DAL, UTA, and MIN in the bottom seed pack.

Any reason you put SAC at the bottom? I hear Cousins matured quite well with attitude this offseason. And Tyreke has contract to sign after this season so I think he'll put on some good show this year. I'm more doubtful about PHX due to Channing Frye's lack of heart. So PHX is my top bottom team along with HOU.

Wonder what the stats would think.

Same.

[benji]

None of those teams are very good. But I think Gortat-Scola-Dragic with Dudley-Beasley is probably the "best" of that group of teams with one and a half to two good players plus some alright starters plus a bunch of bombs. They might fix O'Neal and get ten good minutes a game out of him on defense. Maybe they'll teach Wesley Johnson to shoot.

[airBerlin]

yeah, like i said in my post, i don't understand why people are putting phoenix so low. maybe i'm biased since i'm a huge fan of gortat and dragic. really looking forward to watching the suns, actually.

[rise]

East:
1) Miami - sweep Philly in 1st round - - - beat NY in 2nd round (4-2) - - - beat Boston in CF (4-3) - beat LA in finals (4-2)
2) Boston - beat Atlanta in 1st round (4-1) - - - beat Indy in 2nd round (4-2)
3) Indiana - beat Chicago in 1st round (4-3)
4) New York - beat Brooklyn in 1st round (4-3)
5) Brooklyn
6) Chicago
7) Atlanta
8) Philadelphia
9) Toronto
10) Milwaukee
11) Detroit
12) Cleveland
13) Washington
14) Charlotte - win lottery and select Cody Zeller
15) Orlando

West
1) LA Lakers - beat Golden State (4-1) - - - beat Spurs (4-3) - - - beat Thunder (4-3)
2) Oklahoma City - beat Dallas (4-1) - - - beat Denver (4-3)
3) Denver - beat Memphis (4-2)
4) LA Clippers
5) San Antonio - beat Clippers (4-3)
6) Memphis
7) Dallas
8) Golden State
9) Utah
10) Phoenix
11) Houston
12) Minnesota
13) Sacramento
14) Portland
15) New Orleans

MVP: Lebron James (28/8/8 on 55% shooting)
FMVP: Lebron James
6th: Jason Terry (15ppg)
DPOY: Lebron James
MIP: OJ Mayo (22ppg)
ROY: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (14/7/3) (only somewhat of a homer pick)
COY: Pop
EOY: Kupchak

All-NBA Teams:
Howard/James/Durant/Bryant/Rondo
Chandler/Love/Aldridge/Westbrook/Paul
Bynum/Griffin/Anthony/Wade/Deron Williams

All-Defensive Teams:
Howard/James/Smith/Allen/Rondo
Chandler/Noah/Deng/Wade/Paul

All-Rookie Teams:
Davis/Robinson/Kidd-Gilchrist/Beal/Lillard
Drummond/Harkless/Barnes/Rivers/Lamb

[mrmoves20]

East Standings
1.Miami (Conf. Finalists)
2.Boston
3.Indiana
4.New York
5.Brooklyn
6.Chicago
7.Philadelphia
8.Milwaukee
Toronto
Atlanta
Detroit
Cleveland
Washington
Orlando
Charlotte

West Standings
1.LA Lakers (NBA Champs)
2.Oklahoma City
3.LA Clippers
4.San Antonio
5.Memphis
6.Denver
7.Dallas
8.Minnesota
Utah
Phoenix
Golden State
New Orleans
Portland
Sacramento
Houston
*Note: The West Standings was hard to predict; almost all of them has the talent to make the playoffs

Awards
MVP: Kevin Durant
DPOTY: Dwight Howard
6MOTY: Ray Allen
MIP: Goran Dragic
ROTY: Anthony Davis
CoTY: Erik Spoelstra

1st Team All-NBA: CP3/Kobe/LeBron/KD35/DH12
2nd Team All-NBA: Rondo/D-Wade/Melo/Love/Bynum
3rd Team All-NBA: Westbrook/D-Will/Gay/Griffin/Chandler

Defensive 1st Team: Rondo/CP3/LeBron/Ibaka/DH12
Defensive 2nd Team: Westbrook/D-Wade/Kobe/KD35/Chandler

All-Rookie 1st Team: Lillard/Beal/MKG/Davis/Robinson
All-Rookie 2nd Team: Rivers/Waiters/Barnes/Drummond/Zeller

[benji]

So...um...if the Warriors are healthy and Brandon Rush shoots like he did again, we're going to be wrong about that team. And if Harrison Barnes is any good, we're going to be really wrong.

And I even did projections where Charles Jenkins played PG for 75% of the season with Curry only getting 25%.

[Nick]

Western Conference
1. LA Lakers
2. San Antonio Spurs
3. Oklahoma City Thunder
4. LA Clippers
5. Denver Nuggets
6. Memphis Grizzlies
7. Utah Jazz
8. Dallas Mavericks
---
9. Minnesota Timberwolves
10. Houston Rockets
11. Golden State Warriors
12. Sacramento Kings
13. Portland Trailblazers
14. Phoenix Suns
15. New Orleans Hornets

Eastern Conference
1. Miami Heat
2. Boston Celtics
3. Indiana Pacers
4. New York Knicks
5. Brooklyn Nets
6. Chicago Bulls
7. Philadelphia 76ers
8. Atlanta Hawks
---
9. Toronto Raptors
10. Detroit Pistons
11. Milwaukee Bucks
12. Cleveland Cavaliers
13. Washington Wizards
14. Orlando Magic
15. Charlotte Bobcats

Eastern Conference Champions: Miami Heat
Western Conference Champions: LA Lakers
NBA Champions: Miami Heat (tough choice!)

Awards
MVP: LeBron James
Defensive player of the year: Dwight Howard
Rookie of the year: Anthony Davis
6th man of the year: Ray Allen
Most improved player: James Harden
Coach of the year: Mike Brown

All-rookie team 1: Lillard / Waiters / Davis / MKG / Beal
All-rookie team 2: Barnes / Crowder / Sullinger / Drummond / Nicholson

All-NBA 1: Paul / Wade / LeBron / Durant / Dwight
All-NBA 2: Rondo / Deron / Josh Smith / Love / Bynum
All-NBA 3: Kobe / Westbrook / Melo / Gay / M.Gasol

[JaoSming]

yea, like I freakin' know....



Western Conference
1. Lakers
2. Nuggets
3. Spurs
4. ThuDner
5. T'Wolves
6. Clippers
7. Jazz
8. Mavericks
---
9. Grizzlies
10. Rockets
11. Hornets
12. Warriors
13. Kings
14. Blazers
15. Suns

Eastern Conference
1. Heat
2. Pacers
3. Hawks
4. Celtics
5. Bulls
6. Knicks
7. Wizards
8. Nets
---
9. Pistons
10. Raptors
11. 76ers
12. Bucks
13. Cavaliers
14. Bobcats
15. Magic

Eastern Conference Champions: Celtics
Western Conference Champions: Nuggets
NBA Champions: Celtics
cause why the fuck not?
Awards
MVP: Durant
Defensive player of the year: Dwight
Rookie of the year: Unibrow
6th man of the year: Jeff Green
Most improved player: Jeff Green
Coach of the year: George Karl


I am on that Nuggets bandwagon.....stupid ESPN Mag poo-reading, affecting my amazing judgement...

[Nick]

yeah, like i said in my post, i don't understand why people are putting phoenix so low. maybe i'm biased since i'm a huge fan of gortat and dragic. really looking forward to watching the suns, actually.

I think it's less a matter of people putting Phoenix low, and more a matter of other teams going higher. There is not one bad team in the West, imo. It's hard to say how the bottom 6 or 7 teams will order. I think in the case of the Suns, since so much of their lineup are new additions it may take them a while to build the chemistry that a lot of the teams out West already have. But i agree, i think they're underrated and will be good to watch this season.

[NovU]

NBA Champions: Miami Heat (tough choice!)

tough choice? more like easiest choice ever, especially with roseless bulls, rayless celtics in east and beardless thunder, untested lakers being the top dogs from west. repeat never been this easy

[Nick]

Disgusting homerism. NovU, please don't make me hate Heat fans. I like the Heat.

[kevin02]

Eastern Conference

1. Miami
2. Boston
3. Indiana
4. Philadelphia
5. New York
6. Chicago
7. Brooklyn
8. Atlanta
----------
Cleveland
Detroit
Milwaukee
Toronto
Washington
Charlotte
Orlando

Western Conference

1. Oklahoma City
2. Los Angeles Lakers
3. Denver
4. Los Angeles Clippers
5. San Antonio
6. Memphis
7. Utah
8. Dallas
----------
Minnesota
Golden State
Houston
Portland
New Orleans
Sacramento
Phoenix

Awards

MVP - Lebron James
RotY - Anthony Davis
DPotY - Dwight Howard
MIP - Goran Dragic
6MotY - Ray Allen
CotY - George Karl

[rise]

Editing my predictions following the Harden trade, which I think drops them to 4th behind Miami, LA, and Boston. Had them winning it all this year.

[Lamrock]

Harden trade throws a wrench in things. I'd probably give the Rockets the Mavs' 8 seed but I still figure OKC can make the WCF still. Kevin Martin is going to be great for them as long as he can stay healthy.

[NovU]

While there's a lot to like about Kevin Martin's shooting, he's more of one way player than not. Probably will do ok as a spark off the bench but considering him only excels in one area, he's not going to bring Hardon type of impact to the game. IMO OKC just messed up what seems to be their best chance at the title. Not liking this move for the Thunder. Because One title = worth the loss of Hardon.

Disgusting homerism. NovU, please don't make me hate Heat fans. I like the Heat.

Meh, nothing new people wanting to hate the best.

[Andrew]

I've updated my predictions, dropping the Thunder to third in the West. Ultimately, I think they'll still do quite well.

[Nick]

Disgusting homerism. NovU, please don't make me hate Heat fans. I like the Heat.

Meh, nothing new people wanting to hate the best.

Stop it.


Didn't i just say i like the Heat? They're interesting to follow. But you're giving their fans are special place in my brain as an annoying bunch.

[airBerlin]

before the trade i had houston finishing dead last. with the addition of harden, i think they'll improve some, but definitely not enough to make playoffs.

my prediction was;

thunder
lakers
clippers
nuggets
mavericks
spurs
grizzlies
timberwolves
- -
jazz
warriors
suns
blazers
kings
hornets
rockets

i think they'll definitely finish with the a better record than the hornets. good chance they beat out the kings also, maybe even the blazers, but that'll probably be a close finish.

[NovU]

Didn't i just say i like the Heat? They're interesting to follow. But you're giving their fans are special place in my brain as an annoying bunch.[/color][/b]

Stop it. I been playing that role in this forum since the day 1.

[Andrew]

Before we get any further, I'm changing my prediction for MIP from JaVale McGee to Al-Farouq Aminu and locking that in until we do the mid-late season predictions.