2012-2013 Eastern Conference Predictions

 2012-2013 Eastern Conference Predictions

 

 1. Miami Heat

The Heat won't challenge the record for regular season wins.  But they will have the longest regular season winning streak in the NBA.  Ray Allen will fit like a glove.  LeBron won't come close to averaging a triple double or breaking the regular season PER record, but he will continue to improve and refine his game in ways that may not be reflected in any stat, but will further solidify his position as the best in the game.  Wade will continue to get dinged up here and there, but it won't matter. Everyone will forget Rashard Lewis plays for the Heat until the playoffs, when he rides a shooting streak to a standout performance, or hits a dagger 3 in a decisive game.

 

2. Boston Celtics

The culture that KG, Doc, and Pierce have created in Boston has allowed them to win lots of regular season games with little depth.  This year, they are deep, which will allow them to win even more games while reducing the minutes of Pierce and KG significantly.  Rondo won't have nearly the dominant regular season many are expecting him to have.  Terry will prove a solid addition, and Jared Sullinger will be a pleasant surprise.  But despite being second in the Eastern Conference for wins, the Celtics will never present a legitimate threat to the Miami Heat.

3. Brooklyn Nets

Joe Johnson will be little more than a glorified role player, and come to be regarded as possibly the worst contract in the NBA.  Deron Williams will have trouble adjusting to having talented teammates at first, and his field goal percentage will continue to suffer.  But by the end of the season he will be back in the conversation with Chris Paul for best point guard in the league.  Nets fans will fall in love with Gerald Wallace.  Kris Humphries' numbers will fall off.  The Nets will thrive as the coolest team in New York.

4. Atlanta Hawks

Josh Smith will have a breakout year and be an All-Star.  Everyone will remember how good Al Horford is.  Lou Williams will lead the team in swag (yes, even over J-Smoove).  The Hawks won't be as good as some people seem to think they will be, but Danny Ferry has put them in a position to succeed in the future.

 5. Philadelphia 76ers

Evan Turner will have a breakout season.  When Andrew Bynum gets healthy (or healthy by his standards), he will dominate the Eastern Conference in the same way that Dwight Howard did for years.  Nick Young will shoot himself out of the rotation, and possibly out of the league.  Spencer Hawes will continue to have the worst hair in the league.

6. Indiana Pacers

After seeming poised for a breakout, the Pacers will regress.  The world will realize that Roy Hibbert has already hit his ceiling as an NBA player.  Paul George will be put up numbers, and the Pacers will be regarded as his team going into the offseason.  The Pacers will regret the George Hill contract.

 

7. New York Knicks

Just as in the past, this team will generate more headlines than they deserve.  Carmelo will challenge for the league lead in scoring.  Raymond Felton will put up numbers similar to those he put up in Charlotte.  The Knicks will be one team with Tyson Chandler, and an entirely different, much worse team without him.  Amar'e will continue his decline, and be little more than a role player before long.  The Knicks will resemble the 90s Knicks in one regard: they will win games ugly.

 8. Chicago Bulls

Derrick Rose will barely make a cameo this NBA season, but the Bulls will still somehow manage to squeeze into the playoffs because of how prepared Tom Thibodeau will have his team night in and night out.  Many Bulls fans will call for the team to tank, but the pride of the team and the coach will win out, and the Bulls, who struggle to score points all year, will be served up as sacrificial lamb in the first round of the playoffs.

Playoffs:

Heat vs. Bulls - Heat in 4

Celtics vs. Knicks - Celtics in 6

Nets vs. Pacers - Nets in 6

Hawks vs. 76ers - 76ers in 7

Heat vs. Nets - Heat in 4

Celtics vs. 76ers - Celtics in 7

Heat vs. Celtics - Heat in 6

NBA Finals

Heat vs. Lakers - Heat in 6