NBA 2009/10 Predictions

Ok so the NBA 2009/10 season is upon us. I am not sure what sort of coverage we are going to get over here in the UK. The NBA as it stands gets very scant coverage in the media and even the attention it gets in the media tends to be misplaced. Case in point, this morning when going through the BBC sports section I picked up an article on the start of the NBA season. For starters they had the date all wrong in terms of when the season tips off and then their predictions were quite lackadaisical to be honest. (They have gone on to update the page and made the appropriate changes but not quite sure where they are coming from. Why not get (read pay) the likes of Pop Mensah-Bonsu or John Amaechi to do this section for you?


Anyway below are my NBA 2009/10 predictions


Western Conference

Most pundits have the West as a very tight conference, but for some reason I do not see it.

Lakers (67-15)

It is very difficult to see areas in which the Lakers can and need to improve. I think the addition of Ron Artest will definitely bring a new dimension to the game. Bynum needs to feature more on post and suffer less injuries. The only other thing I am interested to see this season is how much rope Kobe is given in terms of calling plays. He showed in the 08/09 post season how his coaching side of the game is developing and with Phil Jackson unlikely to travel to all games - due to his health - this should give Kobe an opportunity to impress in this area.

Denver Nuggets (61-21)


The close nature of last seasons Western Conference final actually has me more worried about this team than any of the Texas teams. Last season they had a 54-28 season but it is their ability to travel and put together a series of wins that will really put them in strong contention. They play hard ball, and take no prisoners.

I know I know I have two 60 plus teams in the West.....call me crazy!!

San Antonio Spurs (58-24)

I really do not rate this team at all, and were it not for their past achievements I would have gone for a lower win record. But Tim Duncan is Tim Duncan and he deserves my respect. So they will come out of the Southwest as the winners there but only just. Infact I think it will be close.

Players worth mentioning from the West

Chris "CP3" Paul will again have a spectacular season for New Orleans, but as has been the case in the recent past, not enough to mount a serious charge. Many teams will struggle when they visit the Arena, but it won't make a difference to the aggregate.

What about Allen "A.I" Iverson? Curious to see how that works out in Memphis. Will he combined with O.J. Mayo and [Rudy] Gay to cause some upsets? I don't know is the honest answer..it's A.I. after all.


Eastern Conference

The East will see 2 teams on the 60 plus game winning streak



Orlando Magic (65-17)

I am not sure who will have more impact on the court Vince Carter in Orlando or Shaq in Cleveland. Based on the preseason form, I think Vince Carter will and already has made Orlando Magic a better team. They are the only team to have an 8-0 record in the preseason and are coming into this pumped. Last season in amongst my basketball loving friends, I seemed to be the only one who saw Orlando peeping Lebron and the Cavs to the Eastern title. They are the team to beat in this conference...Dwight "Superman" Howard will make sure of that. Moreover, I think this is the only team in the East that will trully bother the Lakers on the road.

Cleveland Cavaliers (62-20)
When I looked at the problems of this team I really did not see Shaq as the solution. He is a good addition but he will not have the staying power for an entire season and the over reliance on King James will be come all too apparent as the season advances.


Boston Celtics (59-23)
Most people have Boston as a 60 plus team. I for one do not see this. I believe that the  07/08 team was a one off. They were not supposed to repeat the fete and Doc "The Doc" Rivers needed to destroy and start rebuilding more or less immediately. That said the addition of Rasheed Wallace is a boost, but he is 35.

Players worth mentioning in the East

This is a huge season for Dwyane "D-Wade" Wade and LeBron "King" James. It comes back to the nagging question "will they stay or will they opt out?" I watched the Bulls vs Utah  in preseason and left that game all the more convinced that they have cleared space for D-Wade to come in and lead the franchise.

As for LeBron, well, it is well documented. The 2 teams where he is likely to end up in my opinion, are New Jersey Nets (or the future Brooklyn Nets) or New York Knicks. This is assuming he doesn't opt to stay in Cleveland, given how much money is going into that team

*I found the this years draft unexciting so won't opine on any of the picks.