Ash's 2009-10 NBA predictions

Another year of hardwood hoops is here and I couldn't be more excited. There are a few different teams who could be standing on the podium next to Commissioner Stern at the end of the year. Here are my precitions in order of finish for the NBA this season.

Western Conference

1) LA Lakers - (63-19) The defending champs are back for the repeat and they have a new teammate who showed he wanted to win instead of make more money in Ron Artest. I think Artest is an upgrade from Trevor Ariza and will be on his best behavior all year long.

2) San Antonio Spurs - (58-24) Many people felt the Spurs were getting too old too fast and they were probably right, but they went out and added Richard Jefferson to help out the Big 3 and to me that is enough to get the Spurs back to the top of the Western Conference contender talk.

3) Portland Trail Blazers - (56-26) They had a great season last year and are looking to build on that success. Brandon Roy is one of the most unheralded stars in the game. Greg Oden should be a much bigger factor this season in the middle.

4) Dallas Mavericks - (54-28) Mark Cuban still wants to win and the Mavericks got hot at the end of the season and into the playoffs. That showed him enough to go and add a few vets to help out including the Matrix Shawn Marion. They also added Tim Thomas who should help off the bench.

5) Denver Nuggets - (52-30) A full season with Chauncey Billups should make the Nuggets feel good, but something tells me they might drop off a bit on the record from last year.

6) Utah Jazz - (50-32) I can't figure this team out at all. They have the talent and the home court advantage, but Carlos Boozer is a chemistry killer in that locker room and might implode this team at some point this season.

7) New Orleans Hornets - (49-33) Chris Paul needs his teammates to stay healthy this year if the Hornets want to have any shot at being acontender.

8) Phoenix Suns - (47-35) This is our new look Suns without the Big Cactus in the middle and I know there are some players who are glad he is gone. Not because Shaq was a bad guy, but his size limited what many of these players feel is the Suns biggest strength...SPEED! The Suns will win some games they shouldn't this year but unfortunatley probably lose some they shouldn't more. I think 47 wins is a fair guess, but one injury and it could be lottery time again.

9) Houston Rockets - (43-39) Too many injuries for this bunch to overcome, but something tells me they will go on some stupid winning streak of 10 or more games just when we all count them out.

10) Oklahoma City Thunder - (39-43) I think this is one of the up and coming teams in the league. Kevin Durant is a star in the making and he has some help around him although they are very young. They won 23 games last year so if my prediction holds true there will be a lot of happy Thunder fans.

11) Golden State Warriors - (38-44) This team could be much better or could be MUCH worse. The chemistry on this team is terrible, but the talent is pretty darn good. I am interested to see how Steph Curry does in the NBA.

12) Memphis Grizzlies - (34-48) Allen Iverson might not practice much with the Grizz, but he could add a nice veteran touch to this young team.

13) LA Clippers - (32-50) Blake Griffin is already hurt. Shocker! Not because of him but because of the Clippers fortunes or should I say misfortune!

14) Minnesota Timberwolves - (24-58) Good luck Kurt Rambis trying to get these guys to play like the Lakers.

15) Sacramento Kings - (18-64) Good thing the Maloffs have fun when they are in Vegas because it won't be much fun at Arco this season. I did like the pick of Tyreke Evans though and think he will be a star.

Eastern Conference

1) Cleveland Cavaliers - (64-18) King James has the Diesel to help him bring home the title. Can Shaq do it again with one of the greatest players in the NBA? He did it with Kobe and D-Wade, LeBron sure hopes so.

2) Boston Celtics - (63-19) Rasheed Wallace said the Celtics could win more games than the Bulls did when they won 72. Ummm I don't think so, but this team will be good if KG is healthy.

3) Orlando Magic - (60-22) Dwight Howard is my favorite player in the NBA and I think one day he will be the MVP of this league. Not this year though. Does Vince Carter still have it? I'm not sure, but he will win them some games this season on his own when he gets hot.

4) Atlanta Hawks - (50-32) Joe Johnson has already said he will test the free agent market. Really? Shocker there!

5) Washington Wizards - (47-35) Agent Zero Gilbert Arenas is back and they will make the Wizards a playoff team again.

6) Miami Heat - (43-39) If the Heat don't win D-Wade could be the free agent that bails in the big summer of 2010.

7) Philadelphia 76ers - (41-41) Can Elton Brand get healthy??? If so the sixers can compete a little.

8) Chicago Bulls - (41-41) Derrick Rose is a star even if he didn't take the SAT.

9) Detroit Pistons - (39-43) I'm not sure how Ben Gordon and Rip Hamilton play together, but the Pistons definitley got younger.

10) NY Knicks - (37-45) The Knicks are waiting to make the big splash in 2010 and maybe land LeBron (which they won't in my opinion) in the meantime they will continue to improve under Mike D'Antoni.

11) Toronto Raptors - (34-48) This will be Chris Bosh's last year north of the border.

12) Charlotte Bobcats - (32-50) Michael Jordan went into the Hall of Fame this off-season. It was for his work as a player not for the way he runs a team. You will see what I'm talking about if you dare watch more than one Bobcat game.

13) Indian Pacers - (27-55) Danny Granger is a star, but he is alone and it will hurt the Pacers chances of being anything but a bottom feeder in the East.

14) New Jersey Nets - (25-57) No more Vince Carter, no more surprising people like they did last year by winning 34 games.

15) Milwaukee Bucks - (22-60) Where is Paul Mokeski when you need him?

NBA Finals
Lakers over the Cavs

NBA MVP
LeBron James

Rookie of the Year
Tyreke Evans