Perhaps the match-up we’ll see in June seems inevitable (Heat-Lakers), but very few seasons strike me as interesting as this one.  There are a ton of plots and sub-plots to keep us entertained until the end, and I believe there are no less than 10 teams in each conference with a shot at making the playoffs.  There are so many injuries affecting the season already, and there are bound to be more to shift power one way or another.  Here are the regular season predictions with the awards and playoff picks below.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

SOUTHEAST

Miami               63-19

Atlanta            42-40

Washington     32-50

Orlando           18-64

Charlotte         13-69

CENTRAL

Indiana            50-32

Chicago            44-38

Cleveland         43-39

Detroit             36-46

Milwaukee       36-46

ATLANTIC

Boston             50-32

Brooklyn          49-33

Philadelphia      46-36

New York         42-40

Toronto           39-43

 

WESTERN CONFERENCE

PACIFIC

LA Lakers         58-24

LA Clippers       55-27

Golden State    43-39

Sacramento     30-52

Phoenix           23-59

NORTHWEST

Oklahoma City 56-26

Denver             51-31

Utah                44-38

Minnesota       38-44

Portland          25-57

SOUTHWEST

San Antonio     60-22

Memphis          50-32

Dallas              41-41

Houston          35-47

New Orleans   18-64

 

PLAYOFFS

FIRST ROUND

Heat over Knicks, Celtics over Cavs, Bulls over Pacers, Sixers over Nets

Spurs over Warriors, Lakers over Jazz, Thunder over Grizzlies, Nuggets over Clippers

CONFERENCE SEMI-FINALS

Heat over Sixers, Celtics over Bulls

Spurs over Nuggets, Lakers over Thunder

CONFERENCE FINALS

Heat over Celtics

Lakers over Spurs

NBA FINALS

Lakers over Heat in 7 (Did you really think I’d have anything else?)

 

MVP:

1. LeBron James, Miami 2. Kobe Bryant, LAL, 3. Kevin Durant, OKC

Rookie of the Year:

1. Brad Beal, Washington 2. Damien Lillard, Portland 3. Anthony Davis, NO

Coach of the Year:

1. Eric Spolestra, Miami 2. Mark Jackson, GS 3. Byron Scott, Cleveland

Defensive Player of the Year:

1. Dwight Howard, LAL 2. LeBron James 3. Kevin Garnett

6th Man of the Year:

1. Lou Williams, ATL 2. Ben Gordon, Charlotte 3. Jason Terry, Boston

Most Improved Player:

1. Paul George, Indiana 2. Greg Monroe, Detroit 3. Kenneth Faried, Denver