The season is upon us.

[holder_account]

And I know I'm not the only one in the forums that's excited.

Predictions:

East - Won by Magic
West - Won by Spurs

NBA Finals :

Lakers vs Celtics (if they stay healthy, Magic otherwise).

Sleeper teams:

East - Wizards
West - Mavericks

Enjoy the season, boys. I know I will.

[Hunter]

Hoping Melo, D-Wade, and LBJ all play out of their minds this season and provide entertainment when I watch their games. If the Cavs fail to win a championship (likely) and LeBron goes to New York (???) it would be a major bonus because I can make fun of all the fair weather Cavs fans in Columbus.

[holder_account]

If James leaves Cleveland, can we agree it'll become the first city to commit suicide?

[Hunter]

They probably should have done it years ago.

[vikeme428]

If James leaves Cleveland, can we agree it'll become the first city to commit suicide?

They still have the Browns....wait...that's not much of a team...well they have.....umm.....Zydrunas Illgasukas!!!

[tbod10]

I'm really excited for the season. There's a ton of good young players in the NBA right now.

A few predictions:

MVP: LeBron
Comeback: Gilbert Arenas
Scoring Leader: Kevin Durant

Underrated Teams (teams that will be better than most experts predict):
Oklahoma City, New Jersey, Chicago, Los Angeles Clippers

Overrated Teams (teams that will be worse than most experts predict):
Portland, Toronto, Detroit, Dallas

Playoff teams:

East
1) Cleveland
2) Boston
3) Orlando
4) Atlanta
5) Chicago
6) Washington
7) Miami
8) Toronto

West
1) LA Lakers
2) San Antonio
3) Denver
4) Utah
5) New Orleans
6) Oklahoma City
7) LA Clippers
8) Dallas


Eastern Conference Finals: Cleveland defeats Boston in 7
Western Conference Finals: San Antonio over Denver

Finals: San Antonio over Cleveland

[EL Guapo]

My season consists of dreaming of Lebron James on the Knicks

[ryanwest]

East:

1) Celtics
2) Magic
3) Cavaliers
4) Hawks
5) Heat
6) Wizards - If Arenas stays healthy
7) Bulls
8) 76ers

West:

1) Spurs
2) Lakers
3) Jazz
4) Hornets
5) Blazers
6) Nuggets
7) Mavericks
8) Rockets

Eastern Conference Finals: Celtics over Magic in 6
Western Conference Finals: Spurs over Jazz in 6

Finals: Spurs over Celtics in 7. Would be an epic battle of very fundamental teams and teams that have their window closing in terms of contending. I think this would be favorite series since the Jordan Era.

[ryanwest]

My season consists of dreaming of Lebron James on the Knicks

I think he could go to the Nets also. The Jay Z influence with the new owner makes the idea very enticing.

[Leelee2]

I don't really follow the NBA that much.

Are my Knicks still the laughing stock of the league?

[Walter]

I'll have picks tomorrow.

[Matt McGuire]

Really glad the NBA is back - I'm really going to try to follow it this year. Playing fantasy basketball and everything. Fantasy BBall is underrated imo.

Sucks Blake Griffin is out 6 weeks - was actually going to watch my Clipps tonight vs. Lakers. Ugh, now we are going to get killed.

East
1. Orlando
2. Boston
3. Cleveland
4. Chicago
5. Washington
6. Atlanta
7. Miami
8. Philadelphia

West
1. LA Lakers
2. Portland
3. Dallas
4. Utah
5. Houston
6. San Antonio
7. Phoenix
8. New Orleans

Championship: Portland over Cleveland
MVP: Dwight Howard
Rookie of the Year: Tyreke Evans

[Vbsiena]

The Clippers curse continues!

[vikingfan173]

4. Chicago

Matt you are wise :D

[Hunter]

After the big three teams the East is crazy, there are a ton of teams who have a realistic chance at the #4 seed. I hope Beasley progresses nicely this year and gives Wade some more talent to work with.

[holder_account]

Good to see this take off.

I don't think this is the year that the Blazers will explode, although they are destined to do so. They need time to get used to having Andre at point. Give them another year or two and watch them take over.

Spurs and Celtics finals will be, hands down, the most exciting finals I could think of.

Good to see you back, Matt.

[Hunter]

Blazers still need one to two years IMO. I think them and the Thunder (if they can get a big) will be running the west in the near future.

[ryanwest]

Seems to me that the Cavs look exactly like they did last year in the playoffs.

Jumped to a big lead, and now are trailing at half. Boston hasn't even played that great.

[JustwalkawayMC]

I almost had a heart attacked when KG jumped up for that alley oop.

[holder_account]

Seems to me that the Cavs look exactly like they did last year in the playoffs.

Jumped to a big lead, and now are trailing at half. Boston hasn't even played that great.

Did you catch how Cleveland seemed to play at 80% and Boston at around 60% and Boston still won?

Barring injuries, Boston will take it this year.

[Hunter]

And the Cavs are still the worst 60+ win team ever.

[holder_account]

I apologize Holder, but I'm contractually obliged to say this on all of my accounts.


So........


A jew walks into a gas chamber....

This is good. It must help your depressed, attention craved self to try and ruin anything that's enjoyable in the moment.

Just don't stop. We wouldn't want you going over the edge.

[holder_account]

Miller showing his veteran help at the end of this game to try and close out the Rockets. Oden's stats are puzzling. 0 points. 10 rebounds. 7 turnovers. 4 blocks. Not sure if I'm happy or sad that I picked him up. Brooks will run the team, not Ariza.

[holder_account]

Couple of good games coming up tonight. Excitement can barely be contained.

[chicagojay]

Well, as a Kings fan, this is going to be a long year.

Looking for the team to be competive tonight, Oklahoma is soft on D so we should put up 100, its just whether we can stop anything

[chicagojay]

I will be watching Sacremento, is there going to be an ingame thread?

[holder_account]

We could start an in-game thread, but most people don't get games outside of TNT and ESPN.

[chicagojay]

wow, nice athletism from Pietrius.

[chicagojay]

Early observations from Magic Sixers.

Howard finally has some post moves and Philly cannot hit threes at all

[Hunter]

Early observations from Magic Sixers.

Howard finally has some post moves and Philly cannot hit threes at all

For real. Because if so 29 NBA coaches should be changing their underwear right now.

Go Raptors.

[chicagojay]

christ, last night was terrible, we were out of the game by the 1st quarter.. Sean May ****ing sucks.. Omar Capissi looked pretty good though. No one else play well. Why has Spencer Hawes been benched? he may suck defensively but at least he is versitile on offense? this is going to be a long year.

[holder_account]

The Thunder are way too much offense for the Kings to handle.

[Centurion]

Anyone get to see NO/SA last night? The Spurs looked really legit. We have a 10-man rotation of guys who would start on most teams.

Also, LOL at Cleveland beating the wins record. Gotta get #1 before you can think about #73.

[flaming thumbtack]

After the big three teams the East is crazy, there are a ton of teams who have a realistic chance at the #4 seed. I hope Beasley progresses nicely this year and gives Wade some more talent to work with.

I still think the hawks are a cut above the rest, but an argument could easily be made for wiz, toronto, and chicago. of those 3, chicago scares me the most, they have all the talent int he world, but still haven't put it all together, and rose is a special, special player. I dont like the heat this year. wade is a great player, but i dont think they have a single other above average player on their roster. (chalmers and beasly could become those players, but they are not there yet). 1 man can only do so much.

[holder_account]

1 - Orlando
2 - Boston
3 - Cleveland
4 - Chicago
5 - Washington
6 - Miami
7 - Atlanta
8 - Toronto

That's my prediction.

[ddg]

I know I'm a bit late to this thread but I'll put my picks here.

West:
1. Lakers
2. Nuggets
3. Spurs
4. Blazers
5. Mavericks
6. Jazz
7. Hornets
8. Clippers (I made this before Griffin got hurt but I'll stick with it)

Lakers over Spurs in the WCF

East:
1. Cavs
2. Magic
3. Celtics
4. Wizards
5. Hawks
6. Raptors
7. Bulls
8. 76ers

Celtics over Cavs in ECF

Lakers over Celtics in NBA Finals.

MVP: LeBron
Sleepers: Wiz & Clips

The reason I gave the Celts & Spurs the 3 seeds is because I think with their older legs they will mail in games here in there to keep themselves fresh so their reg season records will not indicate how good they actually are.

[Mister3nOut]

The Thunder are way too much offense for the Kings to handle.

Are you a Sac fan?

The Thunder have moved out of the cellar of the NBA. That's a big step.

[ddg]

Are you a Sac fan?

The Thunder have moved out of the cellar of the NBA. That's a big step.

they moved out the minute they drafted Durant, the question is if they can take the next step and get to .500

[holder_account]

Not a Sac fan since the 2001 season. Love the Thunder. They are the Suns of old with Defense.

I will say that if Boston remains healthy, nobody can beat them in a 7 game series.

[chicagojay]

Im a Sac fan, see rant above..

[2 kewl 4 U]

Most Improved: Tyrus Thomas

[chicagojay]

The only reason i have to watch this team is the two rookies, Tyreke and Capissi. Sean May is seriously terrible and the rest of the players are irrelevant. Kevin Martin is a real good player but will leave before we get good.

future line up..

PG - John Wall
SG - Tyreke Evans
SF - Omar Capissi
PF - Jason Thompson
C - ???

[holder_account]

Thompson needs to get his head out of his ass.

[chicagojay]

Thoughts on Kings game last night..

We should of won, we played hard for the first three quarters but gave it away in the 4th.

Kevin Martin cost us the game he missed so many three's it was unbelievable..

Evans looked good, but really shouldnt play PG.

Andres Noicini really needs to start, Mason ****ing sucks.

Sean May can't rebound, at this point i dont know what he's good for

[Centurion]

Looks like I should get my picks on the record.

West
1. San Antonio
2. Denver
3. LA Lakers
4. Dallas
5. Portland
6. Utah
7. Oklahoma City
8. Memphis

First-rd losers; Memphis, OKC, Utah, Dallas
Conf. Finals; San Antonio over LA Lakers

East
1. Orlando
2. Cleveland
3. Boston
4. Atlanta
5. Washington
6. Toronto
7. Miami
8. Philadelphia

First-rd losers; Philly, Miami, Washington, Boston
Conf Finals; Atlanta over Cleveland

NBA Finals: San Antonio over Atlanta

MVP: Dwayne Wade
ROY: James Harden
MIP: Gilbert Arenas
6M: Manu Ginobli
DPOY: Kevin Garnett
Coach: Gregg Poppovich

Sleepers: Toronto, Oklahoma City

[EAkadima15]

I think it was the Sporting News that had the Wizards as their surprise pick to win the division. I would love that...

[holder_account]

I agree. Wizards are the sleepers in the East.

And I don't mean to be a douche, but are you kidding me? Atlanta in the finals?

[chicagojay]

Thoughts on last nights Sac game

we suck, i mean seriously Kevin Martin absolutely carried us last night, although Spencer Hawes played really well last night, Sean May needs to hit the bench and never return

Tyreke Evans had as many assists as points, dont expect that to happen very often

A hallmark of a bad team is that is starts players that wouldnt make teams like the Spurs bench. See Desmond Mason and Sean May.

[holder_account]

The Kings are done for this season.

[Hunter]

The odds of the East not being represented by Boston/Orlando/Cleveland in the finals are microscopic.