Eboy's 07 NBA Preview

Alright, there will be a much more detailed Heat preview coming (just keep looking....) but this is my abbreviated take on the upcoming season.

Eastern Conference

Atlantic (The Growing Pains Divison)


W L

Boston 56 26
Toronto 52 30
New York 48 34
New Jersey 43 39
Philadelphia 29 53

Boston rides rocky early in the year and Toronto and the Knicks provide some entertainment until the Boston massacre takes hold late. Sorry, Jersey, mediocrity is not working for you this year.

Central (The Centralized Monopoly Divison)


W L

Chicago 57 25
Detroit 53 29
Cleveland 50 32
Milwaukee 40 42
Indiana 35 47

Chicago steps up big. The Pistons lose a little horsepower. Cleveland realizes that repeating as conference champs is rough. The Bucks and the Pacers are looking up.

Southeast (Southland Tales)


W L

Miami 53 29
Washington 46 36
Orlando 44 38
Charlotte 40 42
Atlanta 37 45

The Heat come back hard for one last Shaq/Wade run. Agent Zero gets the Wiz to move up and into the playoffs again. Orlando, Charlotte & Atlanta all improve but will watch from home (maybe for the last time).


Western Conference

Northwest (Northern Exposed)


W L

Utah 55 27
Denver 52 30
Portland 34 48
Seattle 32 50
Minnesota 25 57

Utah uses their playoff run and holds off a Melo/AI duo that finally gets it together. Portland's big Oden blow kills their shot at a playoff run, while the Rookie of the Year reigns in Washington. Minny is just that.

Pacific (California Dreaming)

W L

Phoenix 57 25
Golden State 47 35
Lakers 45 37
Sacramento 37 45
Clippers 28 54

The Suns rise again. Although not quite as high as last season. The Warriors put together a nice season, just a little better than those Laker boys. The Kings will be slightly better that the Clippers due to Brand's injury.

Southwest (Lone Stars)

W L

San Antonio 60 22
Dallas 58 24
Houston 54 28
New Orleans 42 40
Memphis 35 47

The class of the West, the Spurs and the Mavs will battle for the division title until the last week of the season. The Rockets will be stronger and ready for the playoffs, finally. New Orleans, maybe next year.


Playoffs

East

1st Round

Chicago/Washington
Chicago Too much D, too much depth. Gil better have a pair of shoes with blood droplets and bull horns on them.

Boston/New York
Boston No upset against the "Big Three". Unless Gorilla-Face suits up for the Knicks and claims harrasment against KG.

Miami/Cleveland
Miami Sorry Lebron, unless your boys play out of their minds for 4 games, you're leaving in six.

Detroit/Toronto
Detroit Nice series. Maybe seven games. Experience and frontcourt depth wear down Bosh's boys.

2nd round

Chicago/Miami
Miami (sorry) Revenge is sweet. It will be the Heat's "championship".

Detroit/Boston
Boston The Big Three come through big and use their experience and desire to pull this series out.

East Finals

Miami/Boston
Boston The Diesel will finally wear down, the Heat's lack of perimiter D speed will catch up to them and Boston will complete their big return to the Finals.

West

1st Round

San Antonio/Lakers
San Antonio Another first round exit for Kobe and the boys. San Antonio cruises in five.

Phoenix/Golden State
Phoenix Most entertaining series, maybe in the entire playoffs. Phoenix wins out on Nash's brilliance.

Utah/Denver
Denver Contrast of styles. AI/Melo beat the Williams/Boozer combo. Great series.

Houston/Dallas
Dallas 7 games. Rough, physical series. Dallas eek's it out.

2nd Round

San Antonio/Dallas
San Antonio Another 7 game series for the Mavs. Prove's to be too much.

Phoenix/Denver
Denver I know I'll get eaten alive for this, but I think that much like the Heat will upset Chicago, Denver has the ability to do the same.

West Finals

San Antonio/Denver
San Antonio Denver's mountain high success reaches it apex and burn's out. The Spurs keep marching forward.


NBA Finals

Spurs/Celtics
Spurs in 6

I believe this is the Spurs last hurrah as champs and I think they get it done and repeat for the first time. Boston's big moves pay off for the city of Boston and they have the nucleus for another strong run in '08-09.