We pick every playoff team, every division winner, and every playoff game

SCOTT JACOBS

Last year, more talk centered around the NBA’s off-season then it’s terrific post-season.  This year that is not the case.  With the much ballyhooed 2010 Free Agent class now situated in their respective cities, all the talk is now on the present.  The Tri-Nasty is ready to go in Miami and the Lakers are shooting for another 3-peat.  Shaq has hopped the coat-tails of yet another good NBA team hoping to extend his relevance (what relevance?) and his ego another few years.  Kevin Durant has a huge new deal and Oklahoma City is the new darlings of the NBA, representing small-market teams everywhere.  The Bulls got Boozer, the Knicks got Amar’e, the Suns traded team chemistry for a bunch of spare parts, and the Jazz got Jefferson.  Melo is a big question mark in a not so mellow Denver, and Chris Paul has the Hornets fanbase scared stiff.

The Warriors will look a lot different this year sporting blue and yellow.  The Jazz have returned to their popular, albeit 20 years too old “J” note.  The now no-name Cavs now look as generic as their roster.  The Clippers have new uniforms.  The Mavs shifted their roadies from navy to a lighter shade of blue.  The NBA completely overhauled their system of dress entirely.  Now players can play 1/10th of a percent faster!  Yeah!

Of course, more change is coming, in the form of a potential work-stoppage in 2011.  With no progress made whatsoever, and a model losing the NBA hundreds of millions of dollars, the league has to figure out a way to keep all this good karma going.  No one’s ever been this intrigued by the start of an NBA season before.  No one’s ever been more curious about the chemistry of a team like they are with the Heat.  While Super-teams may be the new big thing, the Lakers and Celtics are still the teams to beat.

From there picking the NBA’s second tier is a real crapshoot. You probably have a better shot playing on a blackjack site or partaking in video poker.  Nevertheless, we’re prepared to take our crack at it.  What’s the worst that could happen?  We already picked the Panthers to win the NFC South.  Can’t do much worse than that!

Everyone has had time to yap, yap, yap, but tonight, finally the NBA gets it going.  Preseason is history, the real season is here.  Now that we got you hyped up, here’s how we see 2010-2011 playing out (Playoff teams and their predicted seed in parentheses).  On your mark, get set…  GO!

How they’ll finish:

THE EAST

Atlantic

Division storyline:  Barring a shrew of injuries to a stacked, but aging Celtics team, everyone else in this division is playing for second

1. Celtics (2):  Over-rated O’Neals hop aboard Big 3 + Rondo’s coat-tails for one last run. Celts came just short last June.
2. Knicks (7):  Return to respectability?  That’s Amar’e’s challenge.  Felton comes in at PG, though he’s no Nash. Sayonara Lee.
3. 76ers:  Doug Collins leaves TV booth again for another crack at the bench. Brand needs to play the way he’s getting paid.
4. Raptors:  Bosh off to South Beach, leaving different look for 2010. Hedo’s out too. Enter the Brazilian Blur: Leandro Barbosa.
5. Nets: Big offseason of talk ultimately landed them Favors, Farmar, Murphy, and Outlaw. Improved, still not very good.

Central

Division storyline:  LeBron and the Cavs used to own this division.  Now it’s back on the market, with James in Miami, and the Cavs staring at a major rebuilding effort

1. Bucks (4):  Bogut’s healthy again, Maggette arrives for scoring punch.  He joins a 46 win team from a year ago determined to get better.
2. Bulls (5):  Wanted King James, landed Carlos Boozer. Korver and Brewer also join from Utah. Just how far can Rose take young squad?
3. Cavaliers: Gilbert’s piping mad.  If Scott’s no-name roster plays with fight of owner’s scathing letter, new looks Cavs will be competitive.
4. Pacers:  Collison brings them PG to build upon, Granger one of NBA’s overlooked talent. Rest of roster: a real headscratcher.
5. Pistons: Ill advised overspending spree on Gordon, Villanueva crippled once dominant team. Do they deal Hamilton, Prince?

Southeast

Division storyline: Solid division, now stacked with LeBron and Bosh’s arrival, Magic’s determination, and Johnson’s ATL commitment

1. Heat (1):  Here comes The Tri-nasty.  Sports’ most talked about team takes court with one mission: win it all. To do that they must stay healthy.
2. Magic (3):  No big additions but, the same nucleus that won 59 games last year is more motivated than ever. Can Dwight develop scary post game?
3. Hawks (6):  Huge deal to keep Johnson, kept him from bolting for Knicks. With team intact, can Hawks rebound from ugly post-season exit?
4. Wizards (8):  Wall’s arrival, Arenas’ return to the court, and the acquisition of Kirk Heinrich make D.C. a potential sleeper in top-heavy East.
5. Bobcats:  MJ’s Cats made the post-season for the first time last year.  Felton’s gone. Can Augustin replace him? Can Cats score enough?

THE WEST

Northwest

Division storyline: Oklahoma City’s the chic pick, but Utah and Portland return strong teams too.  What in the world does Denver do with Melo?

1. Blazers (2):  A quiet offseason brings back a very good team snakebitten by injuries in 2010. Roy is healthy, question is, can Oden stay on the court?
2. Thunder (4):  Mega-hype for young Thunder after pushing Lakers in first round last year. Ibaka, Harden look to take next step, Aldrich adds more inside punch.
3. Jazz (7): Boozer’s gone, Al Jefferson’s in. After years of misery with losing teams is Big Al ready to shoulder load for Sloan and friends?   Brought back J note.
4. Nuggets:  An offseason of Melo uncertainty has franchise star halfway out the door.  Denver’s loaded with good players, bigger questions. Karl returns.
5. Timberwolves:  Beasley gets crack at new start, joins youngsters Love and Flynn.  Wolves were 38 games out of first place last year. Book em for at least 16 wins.

Pacific

Division storyline:  With Amar’e out the picture, Los Angeles looks to have a stanglehold on this five pack. And no, I’m not talking about the Clippers.

1. Lakers (1):  Back to back champions, bring back Zen Master for one more go. Addition of Blake a nice move, but 3-peat ultimately comes down to Kobe’s health.
2. Clippers (8):  Bledsoe joins very talented, but young team. Griffin, Gordon, and Kaman lay the foundation for the future.  Maybe Baron Davis will play like it’s the present.
3. Suns:  After pushing Lakers in fierce W.C. finals, Suns bring back shell of last year’s team.  Out is Amar’e, Barbosa, and Aumundson. Warrick, Turkoglu, and Childress left to take their place.
4. Warriors: Spent major money on double-double machine Lee.  He’ll pair up with Curry and Ellis, as Warriors return to their Blue and Yellow era with new coach, new owner.
5. Kings:  Evans played big-time for Sac-Town in 2010 netting Rookie of the Year.  Unfortunately with a lockout looming and contraction talks swirling, that’s the only positive here.

Southwest

Division storyline: Texas heavy division looks to be a Lone Star State struggle as Yao and Dirk return; Old guard Spurs go for one last ring

1. Rockets (3): Return of Yao means return of hope for Rockets.  Courtney Lee was swapped for last year’s big signing Ariza.  He joins Brooks, Battier, and Landry on a team looking to surprise.
2. Spurs (5):  No longer the hunted, San Antonio goes for one last rodeo with aging stars Duncan, Ginobili, and Parker. Jefferson is back in the fold, but it’s Blair and Spitter that are key for Spring success.
3. Mavericks (6):  Good for 50 wins every year, Mavs return a very good, albeit aging team virtually intact.  Chandler brings shot blocking and a good playmate for high flying Marion.
4. Hornets:  Chris Paul wants to play for a championship contending team.  George Shinn doesn’t want to pay for one.  Ariza a nice pickup, but this team lacks in so many areas.
5. Grizzlies: 40 win team last year overachieved.  Gay is in it for the long haul.  Mayo and Gasol are nice pieces around him.  Thabeet needs to do something, anything to justify horrid #2 selection.

THE PLAYOFFS

First Round

(1) Heat over (8) Wizards in 4
(2) Celtics over (7) Knicks in 5
(3) Magic over (6) Hawks in 5
(5) Bulls over (4) Bucks in 7

(1) Lakers over (8) Clippers in 5
(2) Blazers over (7) Jazz in 6
(6) Mavericks over (3) Rockets
(4) Thunder over (5) Spurs

Second Round

(1) Heat over (5) Bulls in 5
(3) Magic over (2) Celtics in 7

(1) Lakers over (4) Thunder in 6
(6) Mavericks over (2) Blazers in 7

Conference Finals

(1) Heat over (3) Magic in 6
(1) Lakers over (6) Mavericks in 6

The Finals

(1) Heat over (1) Lakers in 7

The logic:  Kobe’s got a lot of tread on his tires and the Tri-Nasty is determined unlike any trifecta before.  LeBron has been heckled, ridiculed, and emasculated.  He remembers every last person who has called him out, called him racist names, or doubted his decision.   Let us not forget Wade, who put on a clinic in the NBA Finals versus Dallas in 2006.  The two were born for this stage, and together they take down the mighty Lakers in an unforgettable, ratings bonanza.  Whether there’s a lockout or not after the season, this seasons Finals will be one to remember.

Finals MVP:  Wade

Photo: AP

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