NBA Expectations and Predictions

Ahh, it feels so good to be back. The NBA season is starting up tonight, Halloween is on Saturday, I'm nowhere near a law school-life is good!

As usual, I will write my column in 15 minutes or less, with no edits, no proofreads, and no modicum of political correctness.

Things to Expect for 2009-2010

1- At some point this season, Shaq will say that LeBron James is the best basketball player he's ever played with. The only question I have is whether he will say it outright or wait for a reporter to ask him the question in the midst of a long winning streak. Either way, you can expect to hear the aftermath of this on every sports show for a solid week or two.

2. Either Boston, Cleveland, Orlando, Lakers, Spurs, or Nuggets will win the championship this year .  'Nuff said.

3. Vince Carter is going to be an All-Star this year . I give credit to Bill Simmons for this one. In his NBA preview article, he provides an interesting fact about how Carter has never played with a first team NBA player in his career. Not to mention a stacked team that made it to the Finals without their all-star point guard. Orlando is going to be better than last season.

4. San Antonio will benefit most from the Lakers loss of Trevor Ariza . After following last year's Western Conference Finals, I'm thoroughly convinced that the Lakers would not have beaten the Nuggets without Ariza. The Lakers have Artest now, but you have to wonder if an aging, unstable Artest is going to be better than a young, unselfish Trevor Ariza. Against Carmelo, I'm not too worried. But if the Lakers see the Spurs, Ginnobli and Richard Jefferson are two guys Artest will not be able to keep up with.

5. Boston will be the most DOMINANT team this year . I hear about Shaq. I Hear about Artest. Um, does anyone realize that Boston was without their best (and most loathesome) player for the last quarter of the regular season and the entire playoffs. As far as I'm concerned, if Garnett is still at 80 percent, the trifecta of Rondo, Pierce, and Allen will keep this team head and shoulders above everyone. Not to mention that Kendrick Perkins is one of the most underrated defensive bigs in the league.

6. LA will not repeat . Think of everything that went in the Lakers favor last year. Garnett was injured. Ginnobli was injured. Orlando's point guard in last year's finals was Rafer Alston. Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady were out for the Rockets. Fisher could run without a respirator AND be clutch. Kobe was the undisputed alpha and no characters like Ron Artest could mess up the pecking order. Oh, and they had Trevor Ariza.

Predictions:

MVP: Tim Duncan - The NBA has a popular saying—"great players make their teammates better." What you don't usually hear is "great teammates give great players more media buzz." This is the best team Tim Duncan has had post-David Robinson. This won't be a typical Spurs year where the warm up until the end of the season and turn the switch on. The roster is deeper, better, and healtheir than past years. Tim Duncan also got some extra rest since his early exit. All signs point to Tim Duncan cementing his spot as the best power forward to ever play the game. 

Rookie of the Year: Blake Griffin - no contest.

Defensive player of the year: LeBron James- Did you see how he began blocking shots on a regular basis towards the second half of last season and all through the playoffs? Ya, he is going to dominant this year.

6th man of the year: Rasheed Wallace. After playing on a sorry Detroit Pistons team with no heart and soul, you don't think Sheed is hyped up for this season? Well, I do.

Comeback player of the Year: Gilbert Arenas . If he can stay healthy, this award won't even be a contest.

Coach of the Year: Doc Rivers. I'm telling you, it is Boston's year.

NBA Finals Prediction:

Boston vs. Lakers. Celtics in 6.

Finals MVP: Rajon Rondo