2009 NBA Preview: Will The Celtics Repeat As NBA Champs? Part 1

The Boston Celtics won the NBA finals last year in impressive fashion, but can they keep on their pace?  Here are my sure-fire NBA predictions for this up coming season.

Projected Playoff Teams

Western Conference

1.  New Orleans Hornets

The new look New Orleans Hornets are locked and loaded, led by All-World guard Chris Paul.  They will undoubtedly be a fun team to watch in 2008.

Grade:  98

2.  Los Angeles Lakers

MVP Kobe Bryant leads a Lakerteamthat could go all the way this season.  A healthy Andrew Bynum and some help from a very deep bench gives the Lakers a very formidable squad.

Grade: 97

3.  Houston Rockets

The only question with the Rockets is can they stay healthy?  Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming are scoring machines, and Carl Landry is one of the fast rising players in this league.  I like the Rockets to do some damage in the playoffs in '08.

Grade:  96

4.  Utah Jazz

Deron Williams leads one of the deepest Jazz squads in recent years.  They have shooters galore, and when you have a superstar point guard victories are inevitable.

Grade:  96

5.  Portland Trail Blazers

I really like the Blazers this season.  They have one of the most talented squads in the NBA.  Portland could be the "Rays" of the NBA.

Grade:  94

6.  San Antonio Spurs

The Spurs are definitely a team on the down-slope if you ask me.  They aren't getting any younger, but as is the law:  Innocent until proven guilty.  The Spurs are always going to be a threat until Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and Tony Parker all retire.

Grade:  92

7.  Phoenix Suns

The Suns are another one of those teams that you just don't know about.  Steve Nash has been injury prone of late, and they havn't shown up in the playoffs yet.  I'm just not sold on them as contenders.

Grade:  89

8.  Dallas Mavericks

The Mavericks are not a lock for the playoffs this year, and I hesitated to put them in this spot over Minnesota or Denver.  I think this year is going to be the beginning of the end for the Mavs as we knew them.

Grade:  86

Best of the Rest

9.  Minnesota  (84)

10.  Denver  (84)

11.  Golden State  (83)

12.  Memphis  (78)

13.  Sacramento  (75)

14.  Oklahoma City (74)