NBA 2008-09 Season and Playoff predictions?

Question

Western Conference

1. Los Angeles Lakers (59-23)

Kobe, Bynum, Gasol, and Odom will lead them to dominance

2. Houston Rockets (57-25)

Artest provides significant contributions on offense and defense to take load off Yao and T-Mac

3. Utah Jazz (55-27)

Other than Portland, not much competition in their division because Denver doesn't play defense and Minnesota and Oklahoma City are developing.

4. New Orleans Hornets (54-28)

The reason I give No. 4 is because they have no bench after James Posey, but their starting five is great.

5. San Antonio Spurs (50-32)

Ginobili out two months, Duncan and company another year older. I'm being generous by giving them the 5.

6. Portland Trail Blazers (47-35)

Will put a scare into other Western teams, but they need experience.

7. Los Angeles Clippers (45-37)

I only give them the spot because they have Baron.

8. Phoenix Suns (44-38)

Frankly, I'm being VERY generous with this spotting. They don't play defense. Nash, Shaq, Bell, and Hill are all getting old, and they have a rookie coach.

Eastern Conference

1. Boston Celtics (56-26)

Boston's big three should keep them as the class of the East

2. Philadelphia 76ers (54-28)

Adding Elton Brand to all that talent makes Philly a legitamite threat to Boston.

3. Orlando Magic (51-31)

Howard will dominate, but Orlando has no power forward, shooting guard, or point guard.

4. Detroit Pistons (48-34)

Their time is gone. They only win the division because it is weak.

5. Toronto Raoptors (48-34)

O'Neal (if healthy) will help Bosh dominate.

6. Cleveland Cavaliers (46-36)

Williams gives James some help, but the rest of the roster is weak.

7. Atlanta Hawks (43-39)

The younger players have experience, and should give the Hawks a winning season this year.

8. Indiana Pacers (41-41)

Giving them the benefit of the doubt over Chicago.

Playoffs

Lakers over Suns, 4-1

Hornets over Spurs, 4-2

Rockets over Clippers,4-1

Jazz over Blazers, 4-1

Celtics over Pacers, 4-0

Raptors over Pistons, 4-3

Sixers over Hawks, 4-1

Magic over Cavaliers, 4-2

Lakers over Hornets, 4-2

Rockets over Jazz, 4-3

Celtics over Raptors, 4-1

Sixers over Magic, 4-3

Lakers over Rockets, 4-2

Celtics over Sixers, 4-3

Lakers over Celtics, 4-2

Answer 1

i agree with you except for the playoffs. i do not think that lakers will make it to finals. In finals i think it might be Rockets and Celtics.Raptors,cavaliers and pistons,celtics will make it to semi finals. Cavaliers will v.s Celtics in conference finals,but celtics will win. In western conference lakers,rockets,hornets and suns. Suns will beat hornets and rockets will beat lakers. In conference finals rockets v.s lakers. Rockets will win.

Rockets v.s Celtics,  Rockets will win because of t-mac,artest and yao ming.    

Answer 2

Cavs will do a lot better then seeded. The rosters ALWAYS been weak and for the past two years they've made it to the finals and conference semis. And this past year they battled the best team harder then any other. Why would they do worse this year WITH Williams?

Answer 3

i think in the west its gonna be up to hornets lakers or rockets and the east is gonna be pistons or celtics

Answer 4

Quite frankly, I gave a thumbs up to all the people who even mentioned Miami. I think Miami will most definitely make it to playoffs because they have Wade, Marion, and Beasley.

This is what will happen:

West

1. Lakers

2. Rockets

3. Hornets

4. Spurs

5. Jazz

6. Suns

7. Blazers

8. Clippers

East

1. Celtics

2. Cavaliers

3. Sixers

4. Magic

5. Raptors

6. Detroit

7. Heat

8. Wizards

First Round:

West

Lakers vs Clippers 4-1

Rockets vs Blazers 4-0

Hornets vs Suns 4-3

Spurs vs Jazz 3-4

East

Celtics vs Wizards 4-0

Cavaliers vs Heat 3-4

Sixers vs Detroit 4-2

Magic vs Raptors 3-4

Conference Semis

West

Lakers vs Jazz 4-1

Rockets vs Hornets 3-4

East

Celtics vs Raptors 4-2

Heat vs Sixers 4-1

Conference Finals

Lakers vs Hornets 4-2

Celtics vs Heat 4-0

Finals

Celtics vs Lakers 2-4

Lakers are champions

Explanation time:

As the Asker stated, Cavaliers lack other players besides Mo Williams and James. That is why Miami had a better chance against them, then other teams. Pistons are old, and in their current roster, their not beating Brand and Igoudala. Obviously, Magic lack other players. All they have is Jameer Nelson, Lewis, and Howard, which can't defeat Calderon, Jermaine, and Bosh. Jazz are faster than the Spurs, and beat them in 7 games. I dont need to explain why the Rockets, Lakers, and Celtics won the first round.

Chris Paul is getting better and better, and T-Mac just got out of the first round slump, I don't see them beating the Hornets. If Heat had played any other team, they would have lost. But what the 76ers lack is 3-point shooting, something that D-Wade, Marion, and Beasley can do. They'll dominate the team in 4-5 games.

Lakers barely missed playing the Hornets last season, now that they get the opportunity, Posey will use his playoff experience to beat the Lakers in 6.

And obviously, our champs are from the West. Lakers!!!

Now that I'm done with that, I just need to say that the playoffs are ALL about matchups. if you have a different scenario, different champions will win. If the Asker's scenario were true, I'd pretty much agree with what he has for the playoffs.

I can tell ur a Lakers fan, cuz im a lakers fan, too!

Answer 5

philly is pretty high and boston can not go to the finals again. watch out for the lakers early exit by hornets. the jazz will shake up some people. the other things are pretty good though if you undrstand the rockets will not even make the playoffs. and where is the blazers in all this mix

Answer 6

i dont agree. first of all i dont think sixers would be in the semi finals because i think they have a rookie team. i do agree on lakers winning though with paul Gasol and \Kobe Bryant !

Answer 7

Orlando is over rated!  I'd slide either Det or Tor in their 3rd slot

Answer 8

im with you

Answer 9

East

Celtics

Cavaliers

Pistons

Orlando

Toronto

Washington

Miami

Philadelphia

West

Lakers

Houston

New Orleans

Utah

Spurs

Dallas

Denver

Portland

East

Celtics over Phil 4-1

Cavs over Miami 4-2

Pistons over Washington 4-2

Orlando over Toronto 4-3

Celtics over Orlando 4-2

Cavs over Pistons 4-3

Celtics over Cavs 4-3

West

Lakers over Portland 4-0

Houston over Denver 4-2

HORNETS over Dallas 4-2

Spurs or Jazz 4-3

Lakers over Spurs 4-2

HORNETS over Houston 4-3

HORNETS over Lakers 4-3

Championship

Celtics over Hornets 4-2

How do the pacers get better withount Jermaian O'neil i dont get. And Elton Brand makes Philly better but up to number to in the east is a bit much. Everything else is cool and can be mixed around for me .

Answer 10

Alright Laker fan this is the TRUE standing.....

West:

1. Rockets

2. Lakers

3. Spurs

4. Jazz

5.  Hornets

6. Suns

7. Clippers

8. Mavericks

East:

1. Celtics

2. Pistons

3. Magic

4. Cavaliers

5. Wizards

6. Raptors

7. 76ers

8. Heat

Western Conference Finals:

Rockets vs. Lakers

Rockets win

Eastern Conference Finals:

Celtics vs. Pistons

Celtics win

NBA finals:

Rockets vs. Celtics

Rockets win

Rockets 2008-09 NBA Champions