BuzzerBeater Forums

I don't think the celtics will take the #1 seed in the east and they won't need to. I am a Celtics fan and I know getting the one seed isn't as important to them as winning the championship. Towards the end of the season they will slow down and rest Allen, Pierce, KG, and probably Shaq and others. The Heat should take the number one east seed, but the Celtics could upset them in the playoffs.
I have Lakers in the west for the same reasons, except I don't think steve Blake was an upgrade from Jordan Farmar.
Finals, Lakers vs. Celtics, I could see the Heat or Magic in the finals easily for the east, or the Thunder, Mavericks, or Spurs for the west to, but to me a finals rematch seems likely.
MVP Kevin Durant, the best player not on a stacked team.
Rookie of the year, Evan Turner or Blake Griffin. I think Turner has an NBA ready game and will put up nice numbers in Philadelphia. Griffin knows what awaits and is very skilled, but needs to improve his defense. I think John Wall will be better then both Griffin and Turner later in their career, but as for their first year its got to be Turner or Griffin.
Southeast is easily hardest division, 2 top 5 teams, 4 playoff teams, 1 rebuilding team that has John Wall and could upset a good team here and there. Northwest will be good with 4 playoffs teams and one trying to rebuild team, but they don't have any top 5 teams. Southwest has 2 playoff teams, 2 potential playoff teams, and one other mediocre team, so i give them 3rd best division. Pacific has 2 playoff teams including perhaps the best team. Atlantic has 1 playoff team, 2 perhaps playoff teams and 2 teams that are hoping to get 30 wins. Central has one team that fell apart, 2 perhaps playoff teams and two trying to rebuild but failing teams.

I hear you, and think you have a point on that "no need to be number 1" argument. They've done it last season, and I reckon they'll pass on that late season push, letting the veterans get some rest. Still, I doubt they'll want to repeat that fourth place. Home court advantage could have saved them some stamina last playoffs.

Do you seriously think Blake isn't an upgrade from Farmar? I liked him on the Clippers, let's see how Farmar does on the Nets.

you know what would be a surprise finals game that would still be awesome???

Bulls vs Thunder! 2 rising stars and future of the nba players in rose and durant! and it is 2 of the youngest teams in the nba with the most optimistic fans! too bad it probly wont happen though heheh

I don't know about Chicago, specially since Boozer got injured again.
It's possible, but we have to remember the competition on the East is very fierce this year. Orlando, Miami, hell: even Milwaukee will give teams an hard time.

But yes, I definitively agree with you on Oklahoma. We saw the trouble they caused to the Lakers last season. They basically are the same team one year older, so we could perfectly see Durant lead them to the Finals.

I wouldn't mind a Final like that. One of NBA's greatest qualities is the ability to give the fans something new and unexpected!