Since most of the dust has settled in a busy off-season, here is a look ahead at the full 82 game season. From playoff seeding to must-watch first round matchups and a thrilling Finals matchup, this is Bases and Baskets complete 2013 NBA season predictions.
It will no doubt be a very exciting season, with multiple big names changing the letters on the front of their jersey. Bubble teams have improved and will challenge the lower seeds for playoff spots and some of the league’s best have only gotten better.
Dwight Howard, Jason Terry, Ray Allen and Andrew Bogut
highlight the big moves that have taken place over the past four to five
months. The question is: will all of them make the playoffs?
(Check out last
season’s playoff predictions where I had nearly every single winner
correctly chosen, including the Finals matchup and champion. Those predictions
were made just prior to the commencement of the postseason—after the seeding
was already set.)
Eastern Conference
Teams to watch:
Philadelphia 76ers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Brooklyn Nets
The Dwight Howard trade was one of the biggest blockbusters
in NBA history. Philadelphia managed to sneak into the trade, and almost
quietly move Andre Iguodala.
Not only that, but the 76ers—not the Magic—ended up with
star center, Andrew Bynum. They will be an exciting team to watch while the
Magic will struggle mightily.
Brooklyn picked up Joe Johnson and Deron Williams, which was
almost a disappointment considering they had been in the Dwight Howard
sweepstakes for the longest time period. Add a Brook Lopez max-contract and the
Nets move to Brooklyn hopefully has more excitement than flashing cameras.
And the Cleveland Cavaliers may sneak up on the rear end of
the conference. If they miraculously land the eight-spot in the playoffs, Round
1 would be a very entertaining matchup in the east: LeBron James vs. the
Cleveland Cavaliers.
Wouldn’t you watch that just to see Dan Gilbert’s face? Then
again, he already looks rather foolish after his infamously passionate all-caps
guarantee that Cleveland would beat Miami to a title.
Here is the playoff picture in the east.
8. Chicago Bulls
With Derrick Rose’s
injury sidelining him until
March, the Chicago Bulls will far fall short of their 50 win season last
year. In fact, they will barely scrape into the playoff picture.
Unless Rose heals much sooner than expected, this will be a
season to forget for Bulls fans—a sad repercussion from one bad decision at the
end of a playoff game.
7. Philadelphia 76ers
The 76ers have a surprisingly well-rounded roster with Jrue
Holliday, Nick Young, Evan Turner, Thaddeus Young, Jason Richardson, Spencer
Hawes and the newly-acquired
Andrew Bynum.
Unfortunately for the 76ers, the eastern conference is not
as weak as it has been in years past. The Sixers will make a run at the
seven-seed in the east, but that is their ceiling unless Bynum averages 20 and
14.
6. Brooklyn Nets
The additions of Deron Williams and Joe Johnson to Brook
Lopez and Kris Humphries will be enough to put the Nets in the middle of the playoff
hunt.
Although they seriously lack depth—which will cause problems
late in the season and into June—the star power that they possess will carry
them above the likes of the Sixers and the Bulls.
5. Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks will remain a middle-of-the-road team as
their roster has remained essentially static. But with the Chicago Bulls
dropping more than a few spots because of Derrick Rose, the Hawks will, by
default, land the number five spot.
Trade talks have swirled around Josh Smith, and if he is
moved then the Hawks may finally commit to a rebuilding process of sorts. But
when it comes time for the playoffs, they have given playoff contenders like
the Boston Celtics trouble in years past. Although it makes for entertaining
basketball, the front office will not be satisfied with one-and-done seasons
for much longer.
4. Indiana Pacers
Frank Vogel and Larry Bird put together a very cohesive unit
in Indiana.
Although the loss of point guard Darren Collison may be a
bump in the road for the Pacers, their depth will be what puts them over the
Brooklyn Nets. If Roy Hibbert
continues his upward trend after signing a max-contract
of his own, the loss of Collison may be overcome by the seven-footer who is
still only 25 years old.
3. New York Knicks
After losing Jeremy Lin to the Houston Rockets, the Knicks
are truly Carmelo Anthony’s team.
Things will change (for the better) in 2013 because the
Knicks will have the buffer of a couple rounds before they even have to see the
defending champions. The acquisitions of Ronnie Brewer and Jason Kidd will help
Anthony and Amare Stoudemire.
Iman Shumpert is an exciting young player to watch and is
capable of taking over the role as point guard for the Knicks. According to 82games.com, when Shumpert
ran the point, the Knicks won 54 percent of their games—not bad for a rookie.
2. Boston Celtics
Avery Bradley has the potential to be a perennial all-star.
With the addition of Jason Terry as a three-point threat to support Rajon Rondo
and (the re-signed)
Kevin Garnett, the Celtics will climb up in the standings.
Look for Rajon Rondo
to make a run at league MVP en route to a number two spot in the eastern
conference.
1. Miami Heat
There isn’t much explanation necessary for this pick. LeBron James,
Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh will carry the Heat to the number one spot and
possibly a 60-win season. Place a few NBA moneyline bets on the Heat this year and make some cash.
Western Conference
Teams to watch: New
Orleans Hornets, Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves
The Warriors glory days have been few and far between since
the “We Believe” days of 2007. 2013 will renew hope for the Bay Area faithful
and if the core can stay healthy, the Warriors will be in great position to
make a run into and possibly deep into the playoffs.
The Hornets and Timberwolves are in similar positions,
having very limited playoff experience of late. Anthony Davis holds the keys to
the Hornets future, but there is more than one door between New Orleans and the
playoffs.
Minnesota will make a very strong case in the West. If they
can remain healthy, the Timberwolves will surprise a lot of people in 2013 with
a strong core in Kevin Love, Andrei Kirilenko and Ricky Rubio.
8. Minnesota
Timberwolves
Speaking of Minnesota, look no further than the final spot
in the West for Kevin Love & Co.
If things click with Kirilenko, Love, Pekovic and Brandon
Roy can add a punch, the Timberwolves will be in good hands. The blue and black
will have to wait for Ricky Rubio to return until December, but he
will not have to rescue the T’wolves but rather help them compete for higher
seeding.
7. Golden State
Warriors
With the additions of Andrew Bogut and first-round draft
pick Harrison Barnes, the Warriors (like
the Timberwolves) will make
the playoffs in 2013.
Stephen
Curry no longer has to compete with Monta Ellis for scoring and playmaking
which will prove to be a huge difference for the Warriors. Curry, Jarrett Jack
and Klay Thompson make an excellent guard rotation. David Lee and Bogut make
the perfect “Vanilla Towers” duo. Health has been and will be the biggest issue
and limiting factor for the young Golden State team.
If they stay healthy, a nice playoff run may be within
reach.
6. Memphis Grizzlies
Although many experts and fans have had high hopes of the
Grizzlies, Memphis has consistently disappointed come the playoffs. While this
has not had much of an impact in regulars seasons past, some contention may
arise within the Grizzlies organization in 2012-13.
But as long as you have Zach Randolph, Marc Gasol, Rudy Gay
to go with some solid depth, there will be a place in the playoffs for a team
like Memphis.
5. Denver Nuggets
With the acquisition of 76er star Andre Iguodala, the
Nuggets will only improve. Ty
Lawson and the young group that general manager Masai Ujiri has assembled
nearly shocked the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2012 playoffs and will look to
make it past the first round in 2013.
After losing Carmelo Anthony to the Knicks, the Nuggets
looked like they were a franchise left behind, but they have turned it around much
quicker than expected.
4. Los Angeles
Clippers
Chris Paul, Blake
Griffin and now Lamar Odom provide a second team in Los Angeles that is
more than a mere shadow of the purple and gold. Paul has proven to be one of
the league’s best point guards and Blake Griffin is a monster in the making.
While Griffin’s overall game is still raw, his double-double
average in 2011-12 shows that he is more than just a highlight-reel player.
3. San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio took the league by surprise last year—something
that is hard to do when you have future Hall of Famer Tim Duncan and four-time
NBA champion head coach Gregg Popovich at the helm. Coasting into the western
conference finals with a 20-game winning streak, San Antonio met their match in
the Oklahoma City Thunder.
While there is no doubt that the Spurs are still a great
team, they won’t be the number one seed going into the 2013 playoffs.
2. Los Angeles Lakers
On paper, Los Angeles is stacked. Steve Nash, Kobe Bryant,
MWP, Pau Gasol and Dwight Howard. Unless the injury bug derails the Lakers,
there is no place lower than the number two seed already reserved for Kobe’s
team.
The place where L.A. may falter is late in the season and
into the playoffs, but when you have three—maybe even four—future Hall of
Famers in your starting lineup, there is no excuse you should not win a
championship.
1. Oklahoma City
Thunder
Similar to the final standings last season, the better team
may not always end up with the higher seed. San Antonio beat out OKC for the #1
seed in 2012 but, as previously mentioned, the Thunder would advance farther in
the playoffs than the Spurs.
Similar things can be said about the 2013 seeding. OKC’s
squad does not have the well-rounded talent that Los Angeles does, but
three-time scoring champion Kevin Durant
is the league’s second best player.
Playoff Predictions
Final seeding:
Western Conference Eastern
Conference
(1) Oklahoma City Thunder
|
(1) Miami Heat
|
(2) Los Angeles Lakers
|
(2) Boston Celtics
|
(3) San Antonio Spurs
|
(3) New York Knicks
|
(4) Los Angeles Clippers
|
(4) Indiana Pacers
|
(5) Denver Nuggets
|
(5) Atlanta Hawks
|
(6) Memphis Grizzlies
|
(6) Brooklyn Nets
|
(7) Golden State Warriors
|
(7) Philadelphia 76ers
|
(8) Minnesota Timberwolves
|
(8) Chicago Bulls
|
FIRST
ROUND:
Eastern Conference
Miami Heat (1) vs. Chicago Bulls (8) – MIAMI wins, 4-1
Indiana Pacers (4) vs. Atlanta Hawks (5) – INDIANA wins, 4-2
Boston Celtics (2) vs. Philadelphia 76ers (7) – BOSTON wins, 4-2
New York Knicks (3) vs. Brooklyn Nets (6) – NEW YORK wins, 4-2
Western Conference
Oklahoma City Thunder (1) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (8) – OKLAHOMA CITY wins, 4-0
Los Angeles Clippers (4) vs. Denver Nuggets (5) – DENVER wins, 4-3
Los Angeles Lakers (2) vs. Golden State Warriors (7) – L.A. LAKERS win, 4-2
San Antonio Spurs (3) vs. Memphis Grizzlies (6) – SAN ANTONIO wins, 4-2
First round notes:
If the Warriors have a completely healthy roster by the time
the playoffs roll around, Golden State is capable
of upsetting the Lakers. (Remember “We Believe”?) But that is a tough
proposition based on recent history with injuries to Stephen Curry and former
Warrior, Monta Ellis. Similar things could be said for the Celtics vs.
Timberwolves series.
A Clippers vs. Nuggets matchup should go an entertaining six
or seven games and Los Angeles definitely has a realistic shot at winning the
series.
SECOND
ROUND:
Eastern Conference:
Miami Heat (1) vs. Indiana Pacers (4) – MIAMI wins, 4-1
Boston Celtics (2) vs. New York Knicks (3) – BOSTON wins, 4-2
Western Conference:
Oklahoma City (1) vs. Denver Nuggets (5) – OKLAHOMA CITY wins, 4-1
Los Angeles Lakers (2) vs. San Antonio Spurs (3) – L.A. LAKERS win, 4-2
Second round notes:
Each of these matchups should provide no surprises. The only
chance something unexpected happens is if the San Antonio Spurs remain as
impressive in 2013 as they were in 2012. But Dwight Howard should be able to
keep Tim Duncan well under control which should mean a relatively easy win for
the Lakers if Kobe Bryant can be a
cooperative teammate.
CONFERENCE
FINALS:
Eastern Conference:
Miami Heat (1) vs. Boston Celtics (2) – MIAMI wins, 4-2
Western Conference:
Oklahoma City Thunder (1) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (2) – OKLAHOMA CITY wins, 4-3
Conference finals
notes:
Déjà vu in the eastern conference? Don’t expect it happening
any other way. And do not foresee it ending up with different result unless
Avery Bradley becomes an elite scorer. LeBron James is still hungry and he is at
the top of his game. With the pressure removed of winning his first title,
LeBron James has the knowledge of what it takes to win and will prove that he
is much more than just a “one-and-done” player.
In the west, the Thunder are not about to back track. The
upgraded Lakers won’t intimidate Scott Brooks’ young studs—although they will certainly
give OKC a run for their money.
NBA FINALS:
Miami Heat vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
NBA Finals preview:
The last time two teams appeared in consecutive NBA Finals
was in 1997 and 1998 when Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls played Karl
Malone, John Stockton and the Utah Jazz.
Just like in the late 90s when the same result occurred the
second time around, so will the Miami Heat repeat as NBA champions. The
addition of Ray Allen to LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh is the best
in the business and with reasonable
back-ups, Miami will raise another championship banner in 2013.
Oklahoma City needs changes within their starting lineup if
they are to beat LeBron & Co., and even then it will still be tough to beat
the reigning regular season and NBA
Finals MVP.
MIAMI wins, 4-2
Keep checking back in on Bases and Baskets for our picks
to win the 2013 NBA awards and be sure to voice your agreement/disagreement with these picks.
I think the Thunder can beat the Heat, they have experience now and one injury will kill the Heat.
ReplyDeleteThe Thunder are still a big man away from beating the Heat. Also, the Heat have proven one injury will not kill them. Remember Chris Bosh during the 2012 playoffs?
DeleteUmm I think you are overlooking the moves the Jazz made to shore up perimeter defense and improve 3 point shooting without having money to work in free agency. They are improved from last year when they made the playoffs but now they are not even in the hunt? ha!
ReplyDeleteThe Warriors and Timberwolves will prove to be more impressive teams in 2013. Also, check out my most recent article on sleepers where I did mention the Jazz. While I do agree that last year was impressive, don't expect 2013 to be the same.
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Folks let be real to basketball how it is played -Thunder will win
ReplyDeletereasons:
still youth
still talented
still angry
and now they know the heat- remember as a ball player once you know your opponent well and you are young and learning- well enough said!!
LeBron is still in the prime of his career. I see where you are coming from which is why I still picked them to win the West, but the Heat are going to still be too much for them. They will get their ring eventually, no doubt, but it won't be in 2013.
DeleteAddition of deron Williams , joe Johnson, brook Lopez, Humphrey??? Last time I checked Williams,Lopez and humphries were on their pitiful team last year. Joe Johnson is their only new addition.
ReplyDeleteAddition of deron Williams , joe Johnson, brook Lopez, Humphrey??? Last time I checked Williams,Lopez and humphries were on their pitiful team last year. Joe Johnson is their only new addition.
ReplyDeleteI dont see Boston going far. The new New York Knicks team with a healthy Melo and Stat are easily going to floor the Celtics. Jason Terry is no Ray Allen.
ReplyDeleteAvery Bradley is going to be an absolute monster (check out my NBA award predictions for more on that). And I'm just not sold on the Knicks because Melo is too much of a me-first player. He will be what holds the Knicks back in 2013.
DeleteMelo will not hold the Knicks back. He is at his best when there is no other major scorer in the lineup. With Stat out there is no other person to run the offense through. Melo is too good to not help the Knicks do well. Even if he is a me-first player, the additions of Kidd and Felton will know when to not pass him the ball and get other people involved. The Knicks have a lot of talent and this year should be very interesting.
DeleteYour knicks are way over rated; they might not even make the playoffs.
ReplyDeleteThey landed the three spot by default. The East is not a very strong conference overall. Who do you see surpassing the Knicks?
DeleteThe Knicks are not over rated in the East. The East is not the stronger conference except for the top 2 teams. The last 6 spots are always up for grabs and the last 3 are up for grabs between players with losing records.
DeleteThey landed the three spot by default. The East is not a very strong conference overall. Who do you see surpassing the Knicks?
ReplyDeleteAvery Bradley is going to be an absolute monster (check out my NBA award predictions for more on that). And I'm just not sold on the Knicks because Melo is too much of a me-first player. He will be what holds the Knicks back in 2013.
ReplyDeleteLeBron is still in the prime of his career. I see where you are coming from which is why I still picked them to win the West, but the Heat are going to still be too much for them. They will get their ring eventually, no doubt, but it won't be in 2013.
ReplyDeleteThe Warriors and Timberwolves will prove to be more impressive teams in 2013. Also, check out my most recent article on sleepers where I did mention the Jazz. While I do agree that last year was impressive, don't expect 2013 to be the same.
ReplyDeleteThe Thunder are still a big man away from beating the Heat. Also, the Heat have proven one injury will not kill them. Remember Chris Bosh during the 2012 playoffs?
ReplyDeleteto bad you scrubs traded harden
ReplyDeleteWow. Jazz got overlooked big time
ReplyDeleteThey're 8th seed in the West right now and the Nuggets are underperforming. They're right on the brink of the playoffs which is where I had them. By the end of the season I still think they won't be able to pull it off.
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