2013-14 Predictions

[benji]

Since we're closing in on a week away, I'll start it off with some no-stats, straight from the ass, predictions:

Eastern Conference:
1. Miami Heat
2. Chicago Bulls
3. Indiana Pacers
4. Brooklyn Nets
5. Atlanta Hawks
6. New York Knicks
7. Detroit Pistons
8. Toronto Raptors
(Cavaliers, Wizards, Bucks, Bobcats, Celtics, Magic, 76ers)

Western Conference:
1. San Antonio Spurs
2. Los Angeles Clippers
3. Houston Rockets
4. Oklahoma City Thunder
5. Memphis Grizzlies
6. Minnesota Timberwolves
7. Denver Nuggets
8. Golden State Warrios
(Mavericks, Blazers, Pelicans, Lakers, Jazz, Kings, Suns)

Finals: Clippers over Bulls (go back and tell myself about this in 2000)

[Andrew]

East

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

West

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

[NovU]

@benji Why you have Wolves at 6th?

[benji]

Because I give the Grizzlies a slight edge still.

[NovU]

I don't believe their defense is good enough with Corey Brewer as their best D-man. Their offense should be ok though but 6th to me is bit too high.

1. Miami Heat
2. Chicago Bulls
3. Indiana Pacers
4. Brooklyn Nets
5. Atlanta Hawks
6. Toronto Raptors
7. Washington Wizards
8. New York Knicks
Pistons
Bucks
Magic
Cavaliers
Bobcats
Celtics (LoL)
76ers

1. Oklahoma City Thunder
2. Houston Rockets
3. Los Angeles Clippers
4. San Antonio Spurs
5. Memphis Grizzlies
6. Dallas Mavericks
7. Golden State Warriors
8. Denver Nuggets
Blazers
Kings
Timberwolves
Pelicans
Suns
Lakers (LoL)
Jazz

PREDICTION: Somehow Lakers and Celtics get #1, 2 lotto
FINALS: Nets vs Rockets (LBJ still re-signs w/ Heat)

[_Steve_]

Nets won't beat the Heat in a 7 game series.
Only team in the east capable of that are the (healthy) Bulls.
I also wouldn't bet much money on the Rockets making a trip to the finals in year 1 AD (anno Dwight).

[NovU]

Maybe but I don't think the Bulls can. The Heat's beat them already in Rose MVP season. The Heat are better and more experienced since then. Can you say the same for the Bulls?

The Nets are a match up problem entirely for the Heat imo. Brook Lopez is a big big over 7 feet, KG is the other. And add Kirilenko, you have pretty good length there defensively. Prolly could overpower the Heat the way Pacers did last season.

As for the Rockets, I think they're as good as any team in West now in 7 game series. They'll probably fiddle around their roster and will have improved roster by the end of the season. They were one piece away from being a contender anyway and they did it. It's adjustment time now. And I like the Clippers too but coach change is all that happened. Grizzlies still has their numbers in my mind. Don't forget how they were eaten alive by Grizziles in grind house last season, and how they struggled against them season before that.

[Andrew]

The ghost of the Bulls put up a respectable fight against the Heat in the 2013 Playoffs, all things considered, so I don't think they can be counted out entirely. However, if it's teams that can potentially knock off the Heat we're talking about, the Pacers need to be given their due.

[NovU]

Any teams of Bulls caliber stand pretty good chance against the Heat. I am just predicting it's going to be the Nets and Rockets finals one way or the other. Perhaps Nets won't even have to fight the Heat, who knows.

the Pacers need to be given their due.

They might pose threat to the Heat but for some reason, I just can't imagine having them in the Finals, lol, especially with Rose back and revamped Nets. There are bigger hurdles to climb for them than for the Heat this season imo.

[_Steve_]

The Pacers missed on a once in a decade opportunity. The road to the Finals should be much rockier with an improved Nets team, healthy Bulls and Heat.
That's why I think the ECF are anything but sure for the Pacers.
Funnily the same counts for a similar team in the West: the Grizzlies.

[shadowgrin]

If Olynyk plays at least 30 mpg then the Celtics will be at most 5 games below .500

[NovU]

Nerlens Noel to Sit Out Entire Season?

Prediction: I think so. PHI probably wants to sit him and invest in greatest tanking in league history full force no friction whatsoever. Probably they have this dream to start their new era with Noel and Wiggins altogether as their rookies.

PS: This is kinda wrong thread to be posting this but w/e.

[_Steve_]

Read about that too. That's something Jalen Rose and Bill Simmons were predicting in their 2013/14 preview.
'76ers seem to aim for one of the worst records ever.

[Alpha_]

East

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

West

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

[Radioman]

East:

1. Miami - 67 wins
2. Indiana - 62 wins
3. Chicago - 60
4. Brooklyn - 58
5. New York - 56
6. Cleveland - 44
7. Washington- 41
8. Detroit - 39

9. Milwaukke - 37
10. Toronto - 35
11. Atlanta - 35
12. Charlotte - 32
13. Boston - 26
14. Orlando - 25
15. Philadelphia - 14


West:

1. San Antonio - 62
2. Golden State - 60
3. LA Clippers - 58
4. Houston - 58
5. Oklahoma City - 57
6. Memphis - 56
7. Minnesota - 52
8. Dallas - 50

9. Denver - 46
10. New Orleans - 44
11. Portland - 40
12. LA Lakers - 39
13. Sacramento - 32
14. Phoenix - 28
15. Utah - 22

[NovU]

So far Dwight Coward and James Hardon looking like a legit contender as expected. Heat looking pretty bad. Spurs so so, Thunder so so, same goes for Bulls, Knicks, and Pacers. If Nets vs Rockets Finals really happen this year, I won't bother watching it.

Also surprisingly Wolves are looking pretty good while Nuggets are looking like a 20 win team. LoL.

[_Steve_]

Games like the last one show how much OKC misses Westbrook. I'd say OKC without Westbrook is a worse team than the Rose-less Bulls were last season.

I agree on the Wolves. They showed some promising signs.

LeBron should throw away his headband and his bulls#~t gestures, watch some old MJ tapes and start taking over...

[miesomn]

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

West
1. San Antonio Spurs (at least 5 games ahead of the pack)
2/3 Houston Rockets / Los Angeles Clippers
4. Oklahoma City Thunder
5. Golden State Warriors
6. Portland Trail Blazers
7/8/9 Memphis Grizzlies / Minnesota Timberwolves / Phoenix Suns
10/11 Denver Nuggets / Dallas Mavericks
12. New Orleans Pelicans
13. Sacramento Kings
14. Utah Jazz
15. Los Angeles Lakers

Final 4
Indiana < Miami in 7
Spurs > Clippers /OKC in 6 (or Rockets if they don't meet the Spurs in the semis)
Spurs > Miami in 5 or 6

Picks
#1 Bucks Wiggins , #2 76ers Parker , #3 Celtics Embiid , #4 Lakers Randle , #5 Utah

Free Angets
- Duncan , Wade, Bosh , Dirk , Z Randolph, Lowry - resign
- LBJ , Carmelo - Bollywood Drama