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Nuggets in the WCF, give me a break. The Kings and Rockets will be stronger.
NBA Predictions
By InsideHoops.com | Oct. 30, 2005
http://www.insidehoops.com/predictions-103105.shtml
The 2005-06 NBA season begins November 1. InsideHoops.com has been covering the league since the 1999-00 season. Just before things tip off, basketball analyst and site editor Jeff Lenchiner presents NBA season predictions for just about everything that matters.
2005-06 NBA Champion: San Antonio Spurs
The defending champions had an incredible summer, adding Nick Van Exel and Michael Finley to their roster without losing a single free agent of note. They're the clear favorite to win the whole thing again.
Runner up: Detroit Pistons
The best team in the East for the last two seasons lost their head coach but gained some bench depth and should be able to reach the finals again.
Eastern Conference Finals: Detroit Pistons over Miami Heat
The Pistons, who won the championship in 2003-04 and lost to the Spurs in Game 7 of the finals last season, have a great shot to do it again. But the Heat are loaded on paper and although it will take all season for them to find chemistry, they should have it all together by the time the playoffs start. Still, Detroit should survive. If they don't, perhaps it's the Larry Brown factor.
Alternate East Finalist: Indiana Pacers
Two years ago the Indiana Pacers rocked the league and reached the 60 wins mark. Not including the retired Reggie Miller, every key player from that squad is back, only now the bench is a bit improved. So, Indiana has as great a shot as anyone to win the conference. But what worked in the past doesn't always work again. Perhaps the magic will be gone. I expect terrific things from the Pacers this season. But Miami and Detroit have the slight advantage.
Western Conference Finals: San Antonio over Denver
The Spurs are the easy pick. As for the Nuggets, they were incredible for most of the final few months last season. But they're no sure thing to reach the conference finals. The Nuggets don't have proven stars like the Spurs do, but they have a hugely talented, loaded, deep roster that should go far.
Alternate West Finalist: Lots of teams
After the Spurs, the West is pretty wide open. There is a stack of teams with the ability to reach the Western conference finals. In the same division as the Spurs (and therefore unable to get the #2 or #3 seed if the Spurs get the #1 seed) are the Rockets and Mavericks, of which I feel the Rockets are the tougher compe ion for the Spurs. As for possible Western conference finalists, the Seattle Sonics are a long-shot but a possibility. The Kings clearly have a shot. And If the Suns can make the playoffs and get Amare Stoudemire back, they are a legit contender as well.
Eastern Conference Playoff Teams:
1) Miami Heat
2) Detroit Pistons
3) New Jersey Nets
4) Indiana Pacers
5) Cleveland Cavaliers
6) Milwaukee Bucks
7) Philadelphia 76ers
8) Chicago Bulls
Remember that the division winners get the 1-3 seeds. That's why either Detroit or Indiana has to drop to #4. The bottom half of the Eastern conference playoff race is a total tossup. New York could make the playoffs, but it'll take a very successful coaching job from Larry Brown. Which is quite possible. Also, the Washington Wizards were solid last season. But the loss of Larry Hughes may be greater than many realize. It also feels wrong leaving them off. I should not be surprised to see both of those teams make the post-season with Philly, Chicago or even Milwaukee falling off. The Orlando Magic are also possible, simply due to Steve Francis and the growth of Dwight Howard. Also, Boston could make it, but only if almost every player on the team not named Paul Pierce shows major improvement. How likely is that?
Western Conference Playoff Teams:
1) San Antonio Spurs
2) Denver Nuggets
3) Sacramento Kings
4) Houston Rockets
5) Dallas Mavericks
6) Phoenix Suns
7) Seattle Sonics
8) Golden State Warriors
Almost every team above should make the playoffs. The teams with the greatest shot to miss out are the Suns and Warriors. And if they fall off, the Grizzlies, Timberwolves, Lakers and Clippers are the teams most likely to replace them. I must say, it feels totally wrong to predict that Kevin Garnett will again miss the playoffs. Is that even legal? But unless Rashad McCants is great, or Michael Olowokandi (contract year) suddenly becomes a real player, the Wolves face a tough battle.
Regular Season Division Winners:
Atlantic: New Jersey Nets
Central: Detroit Pistons
Southeast: Miami Heat
Southwest: San Antonio Spurs
Northwest: Denver Nuggets
Pacific: Sacramento Kings
The Pacers definitely could finish higher than the Pistons in the Central division. Also, the Mavericks could rack up a better record than the Rockets. And if the Kings wind up looking better on paper than on the court, the Suns could upset them. Though, probably not.
Regular Season Division Bottom-Finishers:
Atlantic: Toronto Raptors
Central: Chicago Bulls
Southeast: Charlotte Bobcats
Southwest: New Orleans Hornets
Northwest: Portland Trail Blazers
Pacific: Los Angeles Clippers
Other possibilities include the Celtics or Knicks winding up up last in the Atlantic. Also, the Timberwolves have a shot to finish last in the Northwest. And the Clippers or Warriors could finish last in the Pacific.
Finals MVP: Tim Duncan
Assuming the Spurs repeat as NBA champions, Manu Ginobili could win it if Duncan doesn't.
Regular Season MVP: LeBron James
Other top candidates include Tim Duncan, Shaquille O'Neal, Dwyane Wade and Steve Nash. Though, I think Nash is a long-shot to repeat. Tracy McGrady could also compete for the award.
Defensive Player of Year: Ben Wallace
Ron Artest could win it, and it would be a cool story if he did. Bruce Bowen also has a shot. And Tim Duncan as well.
Rookie of Year: Chris Paul
Deron Williams could take this award. Andrew Bogut, even with Jamaal Magloire around, has a shot. Danny Granger might wind up being the best non-starter on the Pacers this season, so even off the bench he could take it, though it'll be tough. Even with Brevin Knight around, Raymond Felton will have every opportunity to rack up huge stats. And although the Bobcats also have Emeka Okafor, Sean May has a shot as well. Charlie Villanueva is a contender if he gets major minutes like in preseason, but chances are he'll see less time. Marvin Williams is competing for playing time on the Hawks, so he faces an uphill battle. A long-shot is Rashad McCants, who could in it because the Timberwolves have no clear shooting guard right now, so if he plays well, he could rack up massive minutes and a key role.
Most Improved Player: James Jones
Quentin Richardson and Joe Johnson are gone from Phoenix this season, and James Jones is on board and ready to put up big stats. Same with Raja Bell. Smush Parker has every shot in the world to put big digits up as the only point guard on the Lakers. Darko Milicic should be a key Pistons bench contributor this season, though his minutes will still be limited. Also, Dwight Howard may put up monster stats this season. I don't expect him to explode quite as much as Amare Stoudemire did, but his numbers should still skyrocket.
Coach of Year: George Karl
Coach of the year is always tough to predict. Tons of great coaches with top superstars deserve to win but often don't. And then great coaches who get their team to overachieve have a shot as well. One candidate that stands out is Mike Brown, who gets to coach LeBron James and the Cavs. They didn't make the playoffs last year. If they fly into the postseason, Brown may get credit. Also, Rick Carlisle does wonders with every team he coaches, even if all the best players are suspended. He's got a great shot as well.
Sixth Man of Year: Antoine Walker
If Chicago keeps using Ben Gordon off the bench, as it appears they will at least to start the season, he's got a very good chance at this award again. Jerry Stackhouse or Keith Van Horn could do it in Dallas. Also, Michael Finley should put up big stats off the bench in San Antonio. And Donyell Marshall should be prime time off the bench in Cleveland.
Executive of the Year: Danny Ferry
Ferry re-signed Zydrunas Ilgauskas, added outside shooting in Damon Jones and Donyell Marshall, and added defensive and scoring help in Larry Hughes. He had a great summer. RC Buford did great for San Antonio, getting Nick Van Exel and Michael Finley to sign, but that was more of a case of good older players wanting to jump on a championship bandwagon than having to pull strings to make big things happen.
All-NBA First/Second Team: Dwyane Wade, Steve Nash, Vince Carter, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Tracy McGrady, Dirk Nowitzki, Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, Shaquille O'Neal
That's a general list of players who should make up the first and second NBA teams. If I had to pick a first team it would be Dwyane Wade, Tracy McGrady, LeBron James, Tim Duncan and Shaquille O'Neal.
All-Rookie First Team: Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Marvin Williams, Charlie Villanueva, Andrew Bogut
The top rookies here will probably be Chris Paul and Deron Williams. Villanueva looked great in preseason. If he gets 30+ minutes per game during the regular season, he should make this team. The top rookie candidates for the second team, all of whom have a shot at the first, are Raymond Felton, Rashad McCants, Danny Granger and Sean May. If Ike Diogu can get time in Golden State, he has a shot as well.
The players above are all in compe ion with other guys at the same position on their own teams, but they have the talent and chance to win major minutes.
All-Defensive Team: Larry Hughes, Bruce Bowen, Ron Artest, Tim Duncan, Ben Wallace
The usual suspects. Others who could make it include Andrei Kirilenko, Kobe Bryant and a long-shot is Andre Iguodala.
Nuggets in the WCF, give me a break. The Kings and Rockets will be stronger.
I didn't even read this......as soon as I saw the first response....I laughed.
There, I fixed that glitch.
Kings?
Rockets i can see, they are strong but 4get the kings
The problem is that the Rockets will likely have to play the Spurs in Round 2, which means that if the Spurs will be in the WCF, the Rockets won't. As for the Kings/Nuggets (a plausible 2/3 matchup in Round 2) I could see plenty of reason why the Nuggets could win a playoff series against the Kings, particularly if they had HCA.
Of course, at this time last year, everyone agreed that the Spurs would play the T'Wolves for the west le.
MVP, DPOY, Finals MVP, Champion - Duncan,Duncan,Duncan,Duncan
I think the Nuggets will come out strong, but most definitely not as strong as the writer thinks!
Where is the love?RC Buford did great for San Antonio, getting Nick Van Exel and Michael Finley to sign, but that was more of a case of good older players wanting to jump on a championship bandwagon than having to pull strings to make big things happen.
I think the Kings will win the PacificKings?
Rockets i can see, they are strong but 4get the kings
Now that Amare is hurt, I don't see how the Kings don't win the Pacific. To me, the real question is which is the weakest division in the league, Pacific or Atlantic? I guess someone might have another candidate, but I don't really see how. The Southeast isn't anything to write home about either, I suppose.
The Atlantic is as weak as herbal tea again this season. I don't see the vicious cycle ending any time soon, because when it comes to first round picks, the AD has ADHD. (Thank you, I'll be here all week.) It's not just the players; most of the truly BAD organizations are in the Atlantic. Even the "better" organizations have serious issues. Can anyone pass a Nets physical?
I dont buy the hype with bron winnin mvp, imo if spurs wins 65+ games then duncan is a lock for mvp/dpoy
LBJ is the new poster child for the NBA. As long as he posts good numbers, wins a few more games, and stays healthy, Lebron is guaranteed the MVP.
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