The Spurs are 2007 champs!(much more inside)

[Tupik]

I prefer Phoenix, but it's always defensive teams that win the championnship, so Dallas is the favorite.

[RSox]

Chicago Bulls

[Martti.]

I think Finals will be Mavericks and the Pistons.. But I hope that the Bulls will beat Detroit.. And maybe even win the Champoinship. I rule out Phoenix, cause like some one said, Defense wins championships.. Bulls have them both.. Gordon, Hinrich, Deng and Nocioni - all can score.. Wallace defends.. And all of the others also.. And the next year will be maybe even better.. They have the Knicks pick, what I think will be top 15.. even though the Knicks are rising.. 25-31.. Maybe 30-35 wins..

[scrub]

Dallas. We thought they won it last year till they choked. They could do the same this year but with Steve Nash on the Suns anything is possible.

[McDwyane]

Chicago Bulls

who will be the mvp in case they win?

[shadowgrin]

The Bulls won't be champions this year. They're basically a donut in the offensive end.

[Metsis]

You people are so out of the woods... Phoenix plays comparable defense to Dallas... Phoenix games just have plenty more posessions than with any other team. That's why the scores run high every time.

Phoenix will win it all... Steve Nash, season MVP and Amare for finals MVP for totally demolishing San Antonio, Dallas and Detroit...

[maes]

Out of the woods...?

I agree Phoenix is underrated defensively. Marion is a great defender, so is Diaw (although he's inconsistent). Raja Bell can also D up. They're middle of the road in opponent FG%, which is probably higher than most people think.

But still, Dallas is #8 in opponent FG & #4 in opponent PPG...They're a cut above Phoenix in defense.

I would say that Phoenix has bad defense for a playoff team, but good defense in comparison to all NBA teams.

[Christopherson]

Phoenix is ranked 13th in defensive efficiency (points allowed per 100 possesions). There is only a couple of playoff caliber teams ranked below them. Interestingly enough though, is the fact that Phoenix is the number one team in the league in terms of the margin of offensive efficiency to defensive effiiciency. Per 100 possesions, they outscore their oponent by more points than does any team in the league. I think this is a very tell-tale stat. I think if you looked at the data, which I don't have, you would see that particular statistic is perhaps the best predictor of success in terms of winning championships.

The top teams in efficiency margin:
Phoenix 8.6
San Antonio 8.5
Dallas 8.3
Houston 6.8
Detroit 5.4
Chicago 5.0
Utah 2.2

[BigKaboom2]

I call Spurs over Pistons in 5.

[McDwyane]

one question:CAN THE MIAMI HEAT DEFEND THEIR TITLE?also please give your opinions on the playoff seeding.(ex. 1 detroit vs. 8 miami)

[Matt]

I call Spurs over Pistons in 5.

no way would Spurs win in less than 6....if at all

[Gedas]

I think that Dallas will advance from the West. Even though Phoenix are incredibly strong and all that, Dallas is a team whitch plays both - one of the best defense and one of the best offense. While from the East, since Heat are probably not making the playoffs, it's probably going to be Detroit. But Cleveland, Washington could be contenders, if Arenas and Lebron don't choke in the playoffs.

[shadowgrin]

Dirk Nowitzki has MVP caliber defense.
(Steve Nash is the reigning MVP.)

[McDwyane]

it's down to the wire!it's already march!

[beau_boy04]

didn't Josh Howard got injured last game he played?

[McDwyane]

The NBA playoffs are less than two months away, and several teams are emerging as NBA Finals candidates in both the Eastern and Western Conferences. In the East, the Detroit Pistons separated themselves from the rest of the pack with a 37-20 record and sit atop the conference. Spots two through five are separated by only 2.5 games and are within striking distance of the Pistons if Cleveland, Washington, Toronto or Chicago gets hot. The West is a completely different story. Dallas and Phoenix are playing steps above any other team and should face off in a Western Conference final that could be one of the greatest basketball series of recent memory. Don't sleep on San Antonio or Utah either; both have played outstanding basketball as of late.

The Pistons have won 12 of their last 14 games, including wins over Cleveland, Toronto and Chicago. The Pistons have been led by Chauncey Billups, who is averaging 17.7 ppg and 7.5 apg. The addition of Chris Webber has also been huge for the Pistons. Webber has contributed on both ends of the court and provides an extra forward up front. The Cavaliers and all world player Lebron James and the Raptors have played consistent basketball over the past month. Cleveland defeated the Lakers and Raptors twice but suffered close defeats against Dallas, Chicago and Utah. The Raptors, led by Chris Bosh have beaten Houston, Chicago, the Lakers and Washington to take control of Atlantic Division.

In the West, Dallas has been all but unstoppable, winning a franchise best 15 games in a row. After losing 3 in a row in early February, Phoenix has bounced back to win 7 of 8 and sits 4.5 games behind Dallas for the best record in the league. The two will play each other twice more this season, while both still have important games against conference foes, San Antonio, Utah and Houston. The Utah Jazz has surged as of late, led by Mehmet Okur and Deron Williams. Utah has won 11 of 13, including impressive wins over Chicago, Cleveland, Phoenix and Denver. San Antonio is currently on an eight game win streak and is once again poised to run deep into the playoffs behind the veteran leaders that have been there before. Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker have led the team as of late and will continue to lead them down the stretch run of the season.

The Wizards will get Caron Butler and Antwan Jamison back so look for them to make a run for a top seed in the Eastern Conference. The Pistons will be tested in the upcoming weeks when they play the Suns, Mavericks, Spurs and Rockets, with only one game at home. Its going to be an exciting next couple of weeks, so continue to tune in.

[Jugs]

Plaigarism ftl.

[diddy]

if dwade return and be healthy, miami gonna went to the final! it's for sure! as a west conf, i'm going with dallas, but i think PHX is stronger, but i hate 'em!

[IceCold]

I am thinking about wizards,but if they would win it would the best wictory ever,but i think this is unreal.I would prefer Dallas with Dirk in front

[Indy]

I'm rooting for a Utah vs. Chicago final. Both those teams play solid defense and move the ball well, it would be very interesting.

[CMJ3]

A Utah vs Chicago final would bring back memories and would flare up the rivalry again but i dont think it will happen. I hope the Suns win the title this year, they have everything that a team needs to win a championship. Dominant Big Man (Amare), Pass first PG (Nash), Triple Double threat (Diaw, possibly Marion), Solid Rebounding (Marion, Stoudemire, Thomas, Diaw), Three Point Shooting (Bell, Nash, Barbosa). The only worrying factor with this team is defense and defense wins championships so it could be interesting.

Saying all that i have a feeling San Antonio might win another.

[cheater1034]

I do not think phoenix will attend the NBA finals this year because of defense That's why dallas is a better team.

For the west you'd assume it would be dallas, unless they get upset or something - I dont think they will.

For the east though it's an entirely different story, it can be anybody (I hope it's the cavs :-p) You have detroit though, #1 seed presently (hopefully about to lose it to cleveland), cleveland at #2 --- which are probably the 2 best teams in the east right now. But behind them you have the wizards, who I dont think can do it, they've been struggling lately. You have MIAMI, who is playing excellent ball without dwade right now, if they keep this up when Dwade gets back they will make even more noise. Then you have Chicago, who is too inconsistent especially on the road, which will just kill a team no matter what. I cant forget about Toronto, who is playing good ball lately, they have a chance at the conference finals if they continue. Then you have the teams like: Indiana, New York, New Jersey, and Orlando who are competing for the 8th spot, and will not get close to the NBA finals.
RECAP (my opinions ):
W/ Chance to make conference championship (1-6 most likely): (1) Pistons or (2)Cavs - (folks, this could be our conference final series), (3) Washington, (4) Chicago, (5) Miami, (6) Toronto.

All the teams with no chance at winning series #1: Indiana, New York, New Jersey, Orlando.

...To The Finals: I can't pick this category :X, it's too difficult a decision. I can only hope it's the team I'm cheering for.

...Winner of the Finals: .....dallas (geez... I hate this team)

These are all my opinions, only from personal knowledge, but from the perspective of a cavs fan (who loved, hated, and in the present loves his team this year)

And something offtopic, MVP = LeBron James :-p

[Indy]

Anybody can come out of the East except for the Pacers. The Pacers are the worst team in the NBA. I'm not joking either.

[Matt]

there are only 2 teams in the East that can actually WIN against the West....Detroit & Miami. All the other teams have way too many flaws when going against the West.