The 2007-2008 NBA season was one of the greatest we have ever seen. With the Lakers and the Celtics re-establishing themselves as two of the greatest franchises in the NBA. Not to mention the up and coming teams with emerging superstars such as the Hornets with Chris Paul, the Atlanta Hawks with Josh Smith, and the Portland Trailblazers with Brandon Roy. With many surprises and upsets this past season like the Miami Heat finishing dead last in the East, or Chicago not making the play-offs, and the Orlando Magic winning their division, it is never too early to start thinking about NEXT season.
Only a week after the NBA draft, I'm putting together one of the most extensive prediction articles on the web, and I will be doing the same from here on out for the NFL and MLB.
First of all, I'm going to give my surprises for the season. Last season I predicted the Atlanta Hawks to make the play-offs, and the year before I picked the Toronto Raptors. This season, the picks are a bit easier to make, but there are many more teams who are on the verge of making the play-offs. I like the Portland Trailblazers and the Los Angeles Clippers to make the play-offs in the West. In the East, the only new play-off team I can see is going to be the Chicago Bulls.
Portland is going to dominate. Brandon Roy is one of the best young players in the league, and he is surrounded by a ton of young talent, LaMarcus Aldridge, Greg Oden, Channing Frye, Martell Webstel, and Travis Outlaw, not to mention the addition of one of the best European players Rudy Fernandez. I see the Trailblazers easily making the play-offs, and the way I see it, they will come out of the regular season with the 6 seed.
Many people believe that the Los Angeles Lakers are the best team in L.A. and this year that was clearly the case. But this upcoming season? Don't count on it... The Clippers are going to easily be the best team in California, with the addition of Baron Davis, to play along side Elton Brand the Clippers are going to be scary good. I also believe that Al Thornton is going to have the best sophomore season out of any of the rookies from the 07 class and with the return of Shaun Livingston and the what should be reported as a felony of a steal in DeAndre Jordan in the 2nd round this year, The Clipps are loaded with young talent and I see them finishing the season with the 4 seed in the West.
In the East, not much is going to change. Except for the Bulls making it back to the play-offs, and not just "making" it back, I see the Bulls being one of the top 3 teams in the East this year. With the drafting of Derrick Rose with the #1 overall pick in the draft, the Bulls solidified their point guard position for the next 15 years. Rose is a playmaker, something that Kirk Hinrich could not be. As good of a player as Hinrich is, he can not create the same type of scoring opportunities that Rose can for himself, and for his teammates. Rose is a dynamic true point guard and if he plays to his potential, could make a Chris Paul type impact on the Bulls. The most important thing to look at with this pick is the
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