We do this yearly. What order do you see the teams being ranked at the end of the year. Either do the full East and West or if that is too daunting just the 8 playoff teams.

Good call. I love seeing the predictions when all is said and done hahaha!


EAST:

1 - Heat
2 - Celtics
3 - Orlando
4 - Atlanta
5 - Milwaukee
6 - Chicago
7 - Charlotte
8 - New York

Worst Three:

- Toronto, Detroit, and New Jersey


WEST:

1 - Lakers
2 - Thunder
3 - Utah
4 - San Antonio
5 - Houston
6 - Portland
7 - Dallas
8 - Memphis

Worst Three:

- Golden State, TWolves, and Clippers.

West
1. OKC
2. Lakers
3. Utah
4. Portland
5. Dallas
6. Houston
7. Phx
8. Spurs

Worst:
Wolves
Sacto
Golden State

East
1. Miami
2. Orlando
3. Boston
4. Chicago
5. Atlanta
6. Knicks
7. Bucks
8. Pacers

Worst:
New Jersey
76ers
Toronto

East:

1. Orlando
2. Celtics
3. Heat
4. Chicago
5. Atlanta
6. Charlotte
7. New York ( no Melo)
8. Indiana

Worst 3:
12. Milwaukee ( going with last year as a fluke)
13. Wizards
14. Cavaliers

West

1. Lakers
2. Jazz
3. Thunder
4. Dallas
5. San Antonio
6. Portland
7. Pheonix
8. Houston

Worst 3:

12. Golden State
13. Clippers
14. Memphis

Added thoughts...

1. We are into full year 3 of Pau to the Lakers and that team being dominant in the West. I think it is time for them to get a big lazier in the regular season. That is why I put OKC #1. I could be convinced another team sneaks up for that too.

2. During both Derrick Rose years the Bulls were very slow starters who underperformed in the regular season only to make a huge leap in the post season. I think they will be better this year but the theme still holds. Not yet a 50 win team.

3. Clippers - Simmons is in a lather. Screw them they are still just as jinxed as us.

4. One of the old guard will fall (Phx, Spurs, Dallas)

5. I have no idea what to expect of the Knicks (even before the Carmelo madness infected the NBA rumor mill)

pants wrote:
- Dangit, I shouldn't have put the Lakers #1 now that I think about it... but I don't want to change it and be a copycat. Bynum won't be back until god knows when. Kobe isn't even fully healthy. Lots of talk about the Lakers taking it easy in the regular season so they are ready for the playoffs. I wouldn't be surprised if they finish anywhere from 1-4.

- Clippers are definitely jinxed. I concur.

- Phoenix by far the most likely to fall in my opinion.

- Knicks should be in the running for the 7-8 seed I'd think? With or without Melo.

Yeah Phx or Dallas seem most likely because they are most devastated by 1 guy being hurt. Both Steve and Dirk have a ton of wear and tear on them and eventually they'll start missing time.

But there is one x-factor. The Spurs are so damn lucky and with Duncan just over his peak I wouldn't put it past them to have 3 main guys go down, suck for 1 year, win the lottery and next season we are looking at Barnes at SF with Duncan, Manu and Parker looking like new men.

If that happens Glen Taylor should walk up and punch the Spurs lottery representative in the face. I don't care who it is.

pants wrote:
I just threw up in my mouth. That sucks because its plausible.

If that happens, every other team should sue the Spurs and David Stern. And then punch everyone related to the organization in the nuts repeatedly.

College Wolf wrote:
I'm tying my hopes to that Richard Jefferson contract bursting their aura.

pants wrote:
It's probably our only hope.

EAST:
1 - Orlando
2 - Boston
3 - Miami
4 - Chicago
5 - Milwaukee
6 - Atlanta
7 - Charlotte
8 - Washington

Bottom 3:
Cleveland
Toronto
Indiana

WEST:
1 - Lakers
2 - Blazers
3 - Thunder
4 - Spurs
5 - Mavs
6 - Jazz
7 - Rockets
8 - Clippers

Bottom 3:
Warriors
Wolves
Grizzlies

I was surprised to see that Memphis went 8-0 in the preseason. Its better the Wolves didn't do that. It'd make the mockery all the more viscous when they lose in the regular season.

EAST:
1 - Miami
2 - Orlando
3 - Chicago
4 - Atlanta
5 - Boston
6 - Indiana
7 - Charlotte
8 - Philadelphia

Bottom 3:
Cleveland
Toronto
Milwaukee

WEST:
1 - Thunder
2 - Mavs
3 - Jazz
4 - Lakers
5 - Grizzlies
6 - Blazers
7 - Nuggets
8 - Clippers

Bottom 3:
Warriors
Wolves
Hornets

pants wrote:
I saw some state that since like 2005 or sometime (can't remember the year), any team that has went undefeated or had only 1 loss in the pre-season has made the playoffs.

Will be very interesting to see if that applies to Memphis this year. Good thing I predicted them to get the 8th seed in the playoffs!

College Wolf wrote:
Or because they are so @#$@ing lucky Richard Jefferson would play up to his contract for the first time since he was a rookie. God I hate the Spurs.