Alright, here's some quick picks here:
West:
1. Spurs
2. Wolves
3. Kings
4. Lakers
5. Mavericks
6. Rockets
7. Suns
8. Blazers/Jazz/Nuggets/Grizzlies
East:
1. Pistons
2. Pacers
3. Heat
![Roll Eyes ::)](https://www.jedidefender.com/yabbse/Smileys/classic/rolleyes.gif)
3.5 I'm with Scott, after this, who cares?
4. Cavs
5. Nets
6. Knicks
7. 76'ers
8. Hornets
Realistically:
Spurs over Wolves
Pistons over Pacers
Spurs over Pistons
In my world:
Lakers over Spurs
Pistons over Pacers
Lakers over Pistons
Additional notes:
I think all the bull**** contract squabbling in
Minnesota is really going to ruin what could've been a great thing. Two of their top three are being whiny little bitches, and are just going to create a bad vibe up there this season, I think. That's unfortunate, 'cause I think they were ready to finally take that next step.
I'm surprised at how much everyone's been downplaying the
Kings this year. Sure, they'll screw things up in the middle of the playoffs, as always, but I think they'll definitely still be one of the top 5 teams in the league this year. Aside from ditching Vlade, it's pretty much the same crew up there, which is still a formidable lineup. I guess it kinda depends on Peja's mood, and how "into it" he's going to be, since he wants out. But with Bibby, Webber, Miller, et al, they're still solid, if not mental.
I think
Denver's probably the most overrated team in the league right now. I think they overachieved last year, and yeah, they "bettered" themselves by adding Kenyon, but I just don't see them doing anything better than .500 this year, and probably missing the playoffs this time too.
Houston will be interesting to watch. On the off chance that T-Mac and Yao can bond and blend well, they'll be tough with that 1-2 punch. But I think it'll take a little while for that to happen. Probably not this year. But they'll be in the middle of the Western pack, fighting for homecourt at the 4 spot.
I'm praying that Miami fails miserably, though in the week East, I'm sure they'll have a pretty solid year, barring further injuries to Shaq. If he goes down for any extended periods of time though, they'll be in trouble since they don't have much else left in the tank after Duane Wade and Eddie Jones. Shaq's still a total bitch for FINALLY deciding after all these years that he's motivated enough to drop a TON of weight and get his fat, lazy ass into decent game playing shape again. And he says no one ever asked him to do that in L.A., which is why he never did. Yeah, sure. Right. Stupid fat ****.
![Roll Eyes ::)](https://www.jedidefender.com/yabbse/Smileys/classic/rolleyes.gif)
Christmas day is going to be pretty freakin' crazy here in SoCal this year, that's for sure!