NBA Predictions for 2005-2006 Season

I know, I know – you’re upset that I didn’t post my NBA predictions before the season started. I apologize. I’ve been too busy listening to T.O. say that if Brett Favre was the quarterback of the Eagles they’d be undefeated…And reading about how the Saints owner is saying his family felt threatened when the team played in Baton Rouge and that he will never go to another game there.

Anyway, since I make my predictions to my buddies all the time about who will make the playoffs, I figured I would let you all in on the secret. Here goes…

Eastern Conference
1) Miami Heat 62-20
2) Indiana Pacers 61-21
3) New Jersey Nets 53-29
4) Detroit Pistons 58-24
5) Milwaukee Bucks 48-34
6) Washington Wizards 47-35
7) Chicago Bulls 44-38
8) Cleveland Cavs 43-39

On the outside looking in: Philadelphia, Boston and Atlanta. All will be right around .500, but none will make the playoffs this year.

The Heat are the team to beat. With the additions of Antoine Walker, Gary Payton and Jason Williams I don’t see them having a bad season. The nay-sayers always will chirp about ‘not enough ball to go around’…I’m not buying that. Walker and Payton want to do whatever they need to grab that championship, and neither are selfish players. Williams is going to thrive in this situation. He’s very flashy and playing alongside ‘Flash’ Dwayne Wade these two are going to do some very exciting things.

The Nets with Kidd, Vinsanity and RJ will win the Atlantic Division and get the three seed and the Pacers with Artest back will be the two seed. The Pistons still have a great team and play stifling defense, but I see them in the 4 spot this year. The bottom four playoff teams are all young teams that are on the rise. Led by the Michael Redd and T.J. Ford the Bucks are a very nice team. Andrew Bogut will be the rookie of the year this season and the Bucks are going to surprise a lot of people. The Wiz kids and the Baby Bulls are a year older and will both get back to the playoffs. The addition of Larry Hughes was big time for the Cavaliers. LeBron has a ‘Pippen’ now and after a slow start they’ll come on strong to nip both the Sixers and Celtics for the last spot in the East.


Western Conference
1) San Antonio Spurs 61-21
2) Seattle SuperSonics 57-25
3) Phoenix Suns 53-29
4) Houston Rockets 53-29
5) Minnesota T’Wolves 53-29
6) Dallas Mavericks 50-32
7) Golden State Warriors 45-37
8) Denver Nuggets 43-39

Same old West with the top three spots going to the Defending Champion San Antonio Spurs, the Northwest Division back to the Sonics and the Pacific Division to the Suns. The rest of the playoff picture is going to be wonderful. The Rockets and Timberwolves are going to be right behind the top three with Dallas not far behind. The problem in the West again is that six teams are very good and that’s it. This season the top six teams are all very close with the Spurs being the definite favorite.

The number seven playoff spot will be occupied by the Golden State Warriors this year. Oh yeah, I’m making that prediction and Tim Hardaway’s ‘Killer Crossover’ and Chris Mullin’s ‘Three Ball’ aren’t coming back to play…but they’ll be led by five young studs: Baron Davis, Jason Richardson, Troy Murphy, Adonal Foyle and Mike Dunleavy. They have talent and are growing together each day. I’m picking them as the big sleeper in the West Conference. The last spot in the playoffs this year will be a disappointment. The Nuggets will again get to the playoffs but barely. They’ll hold off both teams from Los Angeles to get a ticket to another beat-down from San Antonio in the opening round.

Awards:
Most Valuable Player: Tim Duncan, San Antonio
Rookie of the Year: Andrew Bogut, Milwaukee
Defensive Player: Ron Artest, Indiana
Sixth Man: Michael Finley, San Antonio
Coach of the Year: Stan Van Gundy, Miami