Getting our NBA predictions on record

Since everyone else is doing it, I guess I should, too.

In the East: (link) (posting links has kind of been screwed up lately, not sure why)

1. Celtics            5. Magic
2. 76'ers             6. Wiz
3. Pistons           7. Heat
4. Cavs               8. Bulls

In the West:

1. Lakers            5. Rockets
2. Jazz               6. Suns
3. Hornets           7. Clippers
4. Spurs              8. Mavericks

Eastern Semis: Cavs over Celtics
Western Semis: Lakers over Spurs
Finals: Lakers over Cavs

MVP: LeBron James
ROY: Derrick Rose

I've been looking at a lot of NBA previews over the last few weeks, and not one of them has tabbed Rose to win ROY. After seeing him this preseason, consider me sold. Plus, when everyone goes one way....

The Bulls lineup/rotation should be:

C Noah
PF Gooden
SF Deng
SG Gordon
PG Rose

Sixth man: Hinrich. Followed by: Tyrus, Noce. Only if necessary: Hughes, Gray.

A few Bulls thoughts....

- Perhaps the best thing about Del Negro is that he represents a clean slate. Gone are the clear biases against Gordon, Noah, and Tyrus. Same goes for the favoritism of Noce. Everything has been reset. If this holds up, Gordon (as detailed in the Hughes post) should be in for a huge year. (And yes, my Gordon flip-flop is as bad or worse than anything Mariotti has ever done. Guilty as charged.)

- Notice how I have Hughes ticketed for ninth spot in my proposed eight man rotation. That says a lot more about Thabo than it does Hughes. I don't think I've ever seen a guard less talented offensively than Sefolosha. He can't take anyone off the dribble, he can't shoot, he can't pass. On the plus side, Thabo has really long arms.  So he's got that going for him.

- Tyrus: one nice dude! Notice how his level of production will correlate with likability has a person this season. I don't want to say Tyrus is set to take over the team- mostly because I think Drew Gooden (27 years old, playing for a contract) is ready for a big year- but there is no doubt in my mind he'll save himself from the 'bust' tag.

*

I wanted to follow up on the NBA Top 50 we did last year, but I'm short on time, so here the quick version with absolutely zero analysis on why each player is ranked where they are. Feedback is welcome.


1. LeBron                   6. Garnett
2. Kobe                      7. Amare
3. CP3                       8. Dirk
4. Duncan                  9. Dwight Howard
5. Wade                    10. Yao

11. Deron                   16. Nash
12. Bosh                    17. Pierce
13. Arenas                 18. Tony Parker
14. T-Mac                   19. Elton Brand
15. Melo                     20. Carlos Boozer

21. Al Jefferson            26. Joe Johnson
22. Gasol                    27. Ginobli
23. Billups                   28. David West
24. Baron Davis            29. Shawn Marion
25. Iverson                   30. Igoudala

31. Kevin Martin              36. Josh Smith
32. Monte Ellis                37. Rasheed Wallace
33. Brandon Roy             38. Jose Calderone
34. Andrew Bynum          39. Ron Artest
35. Caron Butler              40. Corey Maggette

41. Kevin Durant                 46. Greg Oden
42. Rudy Gay                     47. Richard Hamilton
43. Gerald Wallace             48. Tayshaun Prince
44. Richard Jefferson           49. Danny Granger
45. Antwaan Jamison          50. Josh Howard